NOVEL NEXT Chapter 316
Side Story: Other World – 6
“…….”
Lize fidgeted, glancing at me. Ever since I reluctantly decided that only one person could accompany me and chose Lize for that role, she had been like this periodically.
I had hurriedly finished the knowledge training I hadn’t completed, so I didn’t have much complaint about the fact that only one person could go. It was an atmosphere where it was easy to overlook that customs and traditions may differ in another dimension.
‘Though the proposal was pretty strange as a solution…’
When I heard the idea of establishing a new country where polygamy was allowed, I almost choked.
In the end, I was relieved that we reached consensus by asking the Goddess if the perceptions of the people here could be altered. I was almost subjected to the scrutiny of the international community.
“Lize.”
Seeing Lize glancing at me again, I interlocked my fingers with hers. As warmth touched Lize’s hand, she flinched and tightened her grip. Creeeak, the knuckles of her fingers turned slightly pale.
“I said it before. I will cherish and love all of you equally, but if there’s a situation where I have to determine an order like now, that method has already been decided. What did I say back then?”
“You said in the order of confessing your feelings to you…”
“Correct. Then Lize, you’re first, right? That’s why I chose you first.”
That was the reason I pushed Eclipse to the very end. I couldn’t allow a regular human to come after Eclipse.
She must always be ahead of the Goddess. That’s how balance is maintained.
“U-uh. I understand. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize, just understand. Now, be confident.”
I slightly pulled the corners of her mouth with my finger. Lize’s face transformed into a smile as she giggled and swatted my hand away. It was a much better expression than when she was tense just moments ago.
I snapped my fingers. The intangible barrier that prevented sounds from escaping inside and blocked sounds from entering elegantly vanished. The surroundings became lively again.
I couldn’t have a conversation like we just did in a subway filled with people, so this minimal safety measure was put in place. I looked around while indulging in Lize’s playfulness. I felt gazes poking at us.
‘Even with the perception-blocking barrier laid down, this much…’
If I set up a barrier that was too effective, it could end up being titled ‘An Empty Wall Where No One Approaches’ in the community, so I had set it to a suitable performance level, and yet, the gazes were overwhelming.
Even though I was standing in a corner of the subway, wrapping Lize in a way that pushed her against the wall, it was easier to find someone not looking at us than someone who was.
There were no one openly staring at us, probably because I was glaringly wrapping around Lize, but glances came pouring in from all directions.
‘No choice.’
Unless I was driving my own car, this was something I had to accept.
At least my outfit was somewhat ordinary, so it helped. I had her dressed in a basic white turtleneck and skinny jeans, with a thin beige coat on top.
Of course, there were limits. Compared to her usual knight’s uniform, this outfit was practically modest, but the destructive power was immense, perhaps due to her figure.
One might wonder how an outfit that covered everything could look so provocative.
Thank goodness it was early spring, allowing her body to be somewhat obscured by the coat; otherwise, if she had no coat, the stares would have been even more intense.
‘…I really think I need to get a car.’
It wasn’t just limited to Lize; anyone stepping out of my house would naturally become the center of attention. To avoid such gazes, having a car was essential.
‘Though it might be too much for now.’
If the son who had just been scraping by with part-time jobs without asking his parents for help suddenly appeared driving a personal vehicle? They’d probably think I had borrowed money from a loan shark.
I didn’t want to cause my parents’ hearts to drop like that and become an out-of-control good son.
“This station is—”
“Oh, we’ve arrived. Let’s get off.”
“Okay.”
I paused on the platform for a moment and tightened the front of my coat.
“Why? Is something out of place?”
“I just felt it should be like this.”
Since it was spring, I couldn’t make her wear something too thick, so trying to completely hide her chest’s volume with the tightly buttoned coat was impossible. Still, it was probably better than when it was slightly looser.
Following the common sense I taught her yesterday, Lize inserted the ticket at the turnstile, and she seemed quite fascinated by the bustling subway station, repeatedly looking around.
“Where do we go now?”
“This way.”
Seeing Lize, who was sticking to my arm and grinning widely, all sorts of gazes were glued to us. Mostly jealousy.
I neatly ignored them. After all, they couldn’t do anything apart from looking. To do anything more, they would have to step into the realm of law-breaking.
However, the more I received attention, the stronger the thought that I needed to get a car grew. Lize might be innocent enough to brush it off, but not everyone could handle it.
Especially Kaiquilia, or, well, Kaiquilia.
‘If I end up reaching my peak in front of everyone while trying to stop that…’
I might really have to manipulate memories on a world scale.
“This is the world where Delta lives…”
Once outside the station, Lize began wandering around, filled with curiosity. Since we had quite some time until lunch, I followed her as we walked.
“Uh, uh oh? What should I do?”
“……”
When Lize slightly tugged, a railing was almost torn out, but I quickly restored it using the Power of Restoration.
I had learned that the objects in my world were much weaker than those in Eclipse’s world, but seeing it literally fall apart like this surprised Lize just as much.
Thanks to the unexpected incident, our neighborhood exploration ended up being a wash in under an hour, and when we arrived in front of my house, Lize was standing blankly in front of a white two-story house.
“Delta, what should I do? I’m so nervous I think my heart will burst.”
“Nervous? The 3rd Commander of the Silver Dawn Knights?”
“That’s separate from me being the Commander!”
Seeing Lize who was whining, I chuckled lightly and hid behind the corner of the house’s entrance, kissing her quickly.
At first, I thought she would squirm in surprise, but soon she responded like she was familiar with it. It was a motion we must have done at least hundreds of times and would do countless more.
After a while, Lize pulled away. Her eyes were dazed, and her face was warm and relaxed. I discreetly wiped the drool from her lips.
“Are you feeling a bit more composed now?”
“……Yeah.”
Lize shyly nodded. The thought of using a deep kiss to ease the tension was making me realize I was slowly being influenced by the customs of that world.
After a brief final kiss, I punched in the door lock password. Every time the unique beep of the door lock sounded, Lize’s grip tightened. When I finished entering the final digit, the door opened.
“Let’s go in.”
“W-wait a second. Do I look awkward at all?”
Lize asked while twirling her hair. She said her blue hair and blue eyes stand out too much, and her black hair shone beautifully in the sunlight. Her pupils had turned black as well.
It was quite a fresh experience to see Lize with black hair and black eyes. Lize also seemed pleased, mentioning how she had the same colored eyes and hair as I.
“There’s nothing wrong. Don’t worry.”
“Thank goodness.”
With a sigh of relief, Lize cautiously entered the house, looking around with a slightly moved expression. I shouted towards the inside.
“Mom! I’m home!”
“Shut up! Mom’s at the store!”
A sharp response came back immediately.
As Lize had heard about my little sister during her knowledge training, she couldn’t help but chuckle a bit at the rude conversation that unfolded.
After neatly placing our shoes in the shoe cabinet, I walked into the living room where my sister was sprawled out on the sofa, rapidly tapping on her phone screen. She spoke without even glancing at me.
“Go to your room if you’re here. I’m using the living room.”
“Starting with nonsense again. Did you rent the living room?”
“What are you going to do here? Is playing that strange game the only thing you can do on your laptop? If you’re just going to play a game, go to your room instead of the living room, isn’t that what I’m saying?”
In the past, I would have had no rebuttal and quietly gone to my room to turn on Brightest Darkness 4, but that was not the case now. I confidently replied.
“I have other things to do!”
“What nonsense again…”
My younger sister, who turned her head to retort in annoyance, froze in shock as she saw Lize awkwardly smiling next to me. A face painted with disbelief expressed itself vividly.
“Uh… huh…?”
Thud, the smartphone held in her hand fell onto her chest. Without any resistance, it dropped to her abdomen and plummeted to the floor.
“What’s going on? Who’s that next to you…?”
“Who do you think it is?”
Her trembling black pupils were fixated on Lize’s impressive chest, even though she was still wearing a coat.
“This crazy— Ugh.”
She was about to curse reflexively but quickly covered her mouth. Lize smiled brightly at my younger sister and waved.
“Hi there!”
“Oh, hello…”
Not wanting to act out in front of someone she had just met, my younger sister greeted with a slight bow. I, standing next to her, thrust my hand out as if to make sure everyone could hear me.
“Give me the coat. I’ll hang it up.”
Lize took off the coat. The turtleneck and her underwear wrapped around her chest began to emit an overwhelming presence. Seeing my sister’s expression, I chuckled while accepting the coat and commented.
“Hey, chill out. You’re going to wear your eyes out. But then again, you wouldn’t understand since you don’t have any to wear out anyway.”
“……”
Looking at her expression, it was a critical hit.