[No Title Provided]
Reincarnated or not, I'd never had a romantic relationship in either life. Sure, I had acquaintances and friends, but if you asked whether those were bonds where we deeply shared emotions and promised a future together, I'd say no without hesitation.
There were probably many reasons, but the biggest one was likely the memories of my parents from my previous life. Watching people I'd once been so devoted to devolve into nothing but hatred and resentment had made me deeply skeptical of love as a fundamental human emotion.
Love—that balloon at the pinnacle of instability, popping at the slightest prick—might be a dazzling array of colors and beauty to others, but to me, it was just a rose with painful thorns. Swelling uncontrollably, drifting aimlessly, ready to burst at any moment... it was an illusory thing impossible to grasp, so I had no interest in wasting my life on something so pointless, let alone trying to understand those who did.
In typical novels or games, protagonists who possess bodies monopolize opportunities, foresee the future, save the heroines, and build their own harems. But I had zero intention of doing that. I only knew the game's broad storyline anyway—no deep lore—and after escaping the noisy mess of my previous life, my goal in this one was a leisurely, carefree existence as a layabout.
Saving Polo's heroines? That was just so I wouldn't have nightmares if they died. Fundamentally, I'd never felt anything beyond platonic friendship toward them. I vaguely figured they saw me as a benefactor or felt some gratitude, and any kindness they showed was probably just part of that.
"Miss, do you like me?"
But who could've predicted this?
I'd pondered deeply after the Grand Duke's parting words to me. He must've been referring to the female members of our volunteer circle. In the original plot, they were the women destined for Polo. I couldn't know the exact triggers or depths of their feelings, but since I knew who they were meant for, I'd taken on the manager role for their relationships with Polo from the start. Even amid all the recent chaos, I'd done my part, or so I thought.
But maybe it was all a delusion. Maybe I'd already made an irreversible choice.
"What?"
At my question, the young lady scowled and turned to me. Her extraordinary gaze made me shrink back, instantly regretting my arrogant line from moments ago. "Do you like me?" What was that? It wasn't some cheesy line from a handsome idol-turned-actor in a drama. Cringing at my insane overconfidence, I wanted to pretend it never happened and beg her to forget it.
"Isn't it obvious?!"
"…………………?"
What? For a moment, it felt like the Earth had vanished. Sensing my brain activity grind to a halt, I asked her again.
"Uh... yes?"
It was a stupid tone, but I didn't have time to care. Her answer was nothing like what I'd imagined.
"I said it's obvious! Don't tell me you had no idea until now?"
"Th-that's..."
"You know, for someone so oblivious, even this is too much!"
Suddenly, I was on my knees, enduring the young lady's tirade. I was just a bit slow on the uptake, but to her, it must've been an eternity of frustration—now that the chance had come, she pounced like it was her moment.
"I've always thought this, but you're way too indifferent to women's hearts. You need to look around more and understand how the opposite sex feels. Last time, you acted like—"
Feeling my sanity erode under her relentless scolding barrage, I cut her off midway.
"A-anyway, Miss. What about me made you feel that way? As you know, I'm nothing special. Even being an Aura Lord was pure luck, and I'm still just a greenhorn with a long way to go."
"Look..."
The young lady pressed a hand to her forehead, massaging her brow like she had a headache.
"Did you save me or not?"
"Y-yes, I did."
"The others?"
"I saved them too."
"And still?"
"No, come on—lives were on the line! Even I wouldn't just ignore that. I'm not that much of a scumbag!"
What does she think I am? Original plot or not, who could just stand by and watch someone die right in front of them? It was unavoidable, but I didn't regret any of my choices so far.
"And you still didn't know?"
"Anyone would've done that much. Even if it wasn't me, someone would've saved you all."
"But it was you who did."
"That's..."
"I don't know what was going through your head when you saved us. You do inexplicable things sometimes. And we've been dragged into your bizarre messes more than once or twice."
"But we were saved by you—someone like that. To you, it might've been just ordinary, nothing special, a given. But the world is full of people who can't even manage that 'given'."
"Yeah. We're into no one but you. Mars Noctus, that is."
Her calm intensity hit me as our eyes locked wide, each word deliberate. I instinctively staggered back.
What? What was this feeling? A tremor from the depths of my chest—one I'd never felt in my life—suddenly shook my entire body, making rational thought impossible. My vision narrowed, legs buckling, until finally—
"So, what happened?"
"What do you think? He just bolted."
"...Classic him."
Around a round table laden with fragrant tea and pastries from a famous patissier sat five women, chatting about yesterday's events.
"Why do you think he ran?"
"No way he'd get it right away with his personality. He'll hole up, deny it's real, and escape reality. Obvious."
The princess's prediction was spot-on. He'd spent the whole day holed up in bed, replaying the conversation and groaning through the night.
"What's his deal? With beauties like us into him, he'd be lucky to have us throwing ourselves at him."
"Mars has been like that since he was a kid. Way too mature for his age, popular with the girls... but a total idiot when it came to romance."
Luna sighed, recalling her own hardships fending off village girls smitten with him. He'd help anyone in need without expecting anything, and she'd waged endless petty wars blocking their advances.
"His parents seem happily married, though—no reason for that..."
"...Isn't it a bit early to call them Father and Mother?"
Her hypersensitivity to the words showed just how on edge she was.
"Nom nom. Slurp—"
"...Did you come here just to eat?"
Meanwhile, Prazia ignored the others' subtle battle of wills, stuffing her face with every snack on the table. The North's harsh environment made sweets rare luxuries, so she'd loved the Empire's abundance since arriving.
"Do we really need to worry?"
"Huh?"
"I trust Mars. Don't you?"
Prazia's eyes were clear and sincere. With her heart as pure as her exterior, she harbored no doubts about him or their future. She truly believed he'd choose them and become her lover.
"He's a bit dumb and oblivious, but Mars is a good guy. He hasn't realized his own feelings yet for some reason, but someday he'll be honest with himself."
"...Hah, getting owned by this naive girl. Me of all people..."
Stung by "naive," Prazia frowned briefly, but a snack in her mouth melted it away instantly.
"But Mars won't accept us right away. You all know why."
Having spent time with him, they knew his biggest worry without needing to say it.
Heaven God Cult. This shadowy group threatening the Empire and continent was in direct antagonism with Mars. Through a series of incidents, he'd landed on their blacklist, viewing them as pests to eradicate from the continent—pure enmity.
These women had nearly suffered greatly at their hands too, so their hatred matched his.
"One big reason he can't accept us is those Heaven God Cult bastards. As long as they exist, a normal life is damn near impossible."
Whatever their ultimate goal, they clearly weren't sane, so nothing good would come of it. Princess Astraia scanned the four other women and spoke in a low voice.
"From now on, our top priority is wiping out those damn Heaven God Cult scum—and getting with Mars."