Does a Romance Fantasy Transmigrator Dream of a Harem? II

It was hard to hide my panic.

What? Wait a minute.

Could I see the status window in the real world too?

I scanned the status window.

It had definitely changed.

First, the newly added [Bond] list.

I could guess what it was about.

It probably meant that building affinity with people in the real world would grant bonuses in that other world.

Sure enough, when I focused on "Witch," a new window popped up.

Just as I expected.

But there were two strange things.

Why was a new [Blessing] added?

And why was the completed quests section now viewable?

Scratching my head, I opened the completed quests tab.

Wait, it's completed?

I pondered over what that meant,

and only realized it a moment later.

Ah, right.

What happened right after I collapsed!

My memory was hazy, but I remembered her breathing some kind of power into me through her lips.

Wait, then the "expression of affection" was...

Did I... grope her breast?

The description said to express affection to win her attention and a kiss.

So, because I touched her breast, I caught her interest?

...I have no idea what's going on.

Well, whatever.

Anyway, the quest is cleared, right? Cheers to that.

All's well that ends well.

Next was the [Blessing].

Friendly entities.

What does that mean? Someone who looks favorably upon me will appear?

No, looking closely at the description, it says it only applies in Sheol. That means there are friendly entities over there.

Is there a friendly goat-headed monster? Or something else entirely?

Whatever it was, it wasn't a bad thing.

"...Is something the matter?"

Cordelia's voice snapped me back to reality.

I gave an awkward laugh and brushed it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠off.

"It's nothing... I was just lost in thought."

"Is that so? Hmm."

I kept quiet for a moment before speaking up.

"By any chance... did I do anything rude to you while you were helping me, Professor?"

She smirked.

"Oh, you did. You buried your face in my chest and clung to me. Even while you were on the verge of death."

I felt my face burning up.

"...I'm sorry."

"No, it's fine. It was actually quite ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠amusing. Do you like breasts?"

"I fucking love them."

"Want to touch them again?"

"Really?!"

"Oh my, of course it's a joke!"

Damn it, playing with a man's pure heart like that.

What a heartless woman.

"You should go now. It would be best to head back before the sun rises."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Ah, right."

If anyone saw me leaving a female professor's quarters at dawn, it wouldn't end with just a simple scandal.

I gave her a brief bow,

and immediately ran out of her quarters, heading back to my room in the dormitory.

And a moment later,

I realized there was another problem I hadn't anticipated.

"Ah, my bed...!"

The bed I had been using would be completely drenched in blood.

If Thalia came to wake me up in the morning and saw that, she would definitely freak out.

What should I do?

Should I burn the bedding?

No. People might think there's a fire.

But it's not an amount that can be washed out in a hurry...

—Creak.

I cautiously opened the door,

and someone was standing there.

I almost screamed.

...Thalia?!

What the hell?

Why is Thalia here at this hour?

No, more importantly.

I'm fucked. The blood!!

The bed was still covered in blood,

and Thalia was standing with her back to me, staring at the scene.

—!

At that moment,

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Thalia seemed to notice my presence.

No. Don't turn around!

Should I run away right now?

What excuse should I make—

—?

The moment she turned her head,

I flinched in surprise.

Because Thalia's face, as she turned to look at me,

was deathly pale.

"My Lord...?"

"...Thalia?"

She looked as if she had seen a ghost.

She asked in a trembling voice,

"My Lord... are you, are you safe?"

"Uh, of course I'm safe."

Her gaze wavered.

Before I knew it,

she was crying as she looked at me.

"Ah..."

Oh my god, she's crying.

Thalia is actually crying.

'What on earth is this? What have you been doing running around!'

I had expected a scolding like that, so I couldn't help but be quite taken aback.

"My, My Lord was nowhere to be found... and there was blood on the bed, so... I thought something terrible had happened to you... I was just so, so incredibly panicked..."

Tears streamed down her face continuously as she spoke.

"But... seeing that you are alive, I felt so relieved, and the tears just came... I-I am sorry, My Lord. But... what on earth happened to you...?"

I didn't know how to react.

I mean, what is this?!

The always cold Thalia panicked and cried because she thought I was dead? Instead of getting mad at me, she was relieved that I was alive?

Thalia. Were you a tsundere all along?!

Well, of course I didn't think all of her cold words were entirely sincere, but...

"I'm sorry, Thalia. Well... it's a bit complicated to explain, but there's nothing to worry about."

"Are you... really sure?"

"Yeah. I'm sorry for startling you."

Instead of scolding me,

Thalia rushed forward and threw her arms around me.

"I'm so... glad. Truly..."

This is seriously throwing me off.

It seemed she was much more of a soft-hearted girl than I had thought.

She clung to me for a long time,

and only spoke after her sobbing subsided.

"So... My Lord. Can you explain what on earth happened?"

I felt inwardly relieved by her words.

Mm.

Right.

This is the Thalia I know.

"You volunteered to assist with Magic Professor Cordelia's research?"

In the end, I had no choice but to lie.

I mean, think about it.

Even if I explained Sheol and sacred relics, I doubted she would believe me, and I wouldn't even know where to start.

It wasn't like I could explain the part about me being a transmigrator either.

So, I sold out Cordelia's name.

Since it was true that I agreed to help her anyway.

I'd just have to coordinate our stories later.

"That's how it is."

"How could you do something so dangerous without telling me! Ah, is that also why your skills improved so dramatically yesterday?"

Holy shit, are you a genius?

That's an incredibly convenient excuse I hadn't even thought of.

A very plausible setup.

I immediately agreed.

"Yeah... something like that."

"You should have refused. Mages are lunatics who care about nothing but their own research. Have you no fear, throwing yourself in there like a lab rat?"

"I-I'm sorry..."

"It is not me you should be apologizing to. Do you simply not think at all, My Lord?"

Thalia scolded me, her face wearing her usual cold look of disdain.

Honestly, I was more used to this side of her.

Her behavior from earlier... was way too jarring.

"Go and refuse her immediately. Tell her you can no longer assist with her research."

Uh.

That's a bit problematic.

I quickly spun another lie.

"That's impossible. She said stopping mid-experiment might cause physical damage. The blood today was because of that too. I didn't follow the precautions properly..."

As I spoke, the lie kept snowballing.

Sorry, Mommy Cordelia.

I accidentally turned you into a crazy psycho mage.

Thalia grit her teeth.

"Honestly... My Lord."

The atmosphere grew cold.

Hmm.

"I'm sorry. Don't be mad, Thalia. Please, do it for me."

I hugged her, speaking in a playful, coaxing voice.

Now she'd probably scold me and push me away.

Or so I thought,

...Huh?

"..."

Thalia stood completely still, saying nothing.

So my arms remained wrapped around her.

I looked down at her,

but she just kept her head lowered in silence.

Hmm.

Why did the atmosphere get even more awkward?

"...My Lord."

Thalia finally spoke.

"...I am glad you are safe."

She said nothing more.

I didn't try to joke around either.

Instead, I gently tightened my embrace around her shoulders and said,

"I'm sorry, Thalia."

"..."

"From now on, I'll consult you on everything. You're the only one on my side here, right?"

Thalia nodded against my chest.

I let out a soft chuckle.

And at that moment,

without fail, a glowing window appeared before my eyes.