Chapter 180 - I Now Know Who I Should Be Talking To
The 1st day of the Earth month. It’s still a little early in the morning for breakfast, but there’s something…… worrying about.
[……Kaito-kun?]
Kuro, who has been sitting on my lap with a bag of baby castellas (cream-flavored today) in her hand, notices my troubles and asks.
Meeting Kuro’s gaze, even though I’m somewhat nervous, I spoke.
[……Kuro, there’s actually something I have to tell you.]
[Unnn?]
What I’m thinking about at this moment is…… Yes, it’s Isis-san.
I have received Isis-san’s confession, but my reply to her was put on hold.
For the j.a.panese me’s mind, since I have a girlfriend named Kuro, I’ll have to decline Isis-san’s confession…… However, rejecting Isis-san who is so wholehearted in love with me…… isn’t something I want to do.
This is where the common sense of this world comes into play. In this world, polygamy is just the norm, and men are supposed to marry more than one woman.
However, even if that is so, that doesn’t mean I can just get used to it, and that’s why I’m troubled right now.
And most importantly, if I accepted polygamy and responded to Isis-san’s feelings…… I’m more concerned about what Kuro would think.
I would need lots of courage to talk to her about it, however, not talking about it to her isn’t an option.
So now, while I’m alone with Kuro like this, the confession I’ve received from Isis-san, and that I’m still withholding my response…… and the fact that I’m beginning to be attracted to Isis-san as well, I’ve decided to talk about it to her without hiding anything at all.
I was quite nervous explaining to her about the situation, but Kuro didn’t interrupt me and continued to silently listen.
When I finished explaining everything, I slowly let out a sigh.
[……And that’s the situation…… Errr, Kuro…… Ummm, what do you think?]
Feeling like a defendant waiting for the judge’s sentence, I wrung that question out of my mouth, and in response, Kuro turned towards me…… and brightly smiled.
[Isn’t that good!? For Isis to like you that much, as expected of Kaito-kun!]
[……Ehh?]
Arehh? Her reaction is kinda different from what I was expecting.
How should I say this, I was expecting that she would scold me for being unfaithful or ask me if I even have the ability to cheat with two people or something like that…… Rather than that, doesn’t she sound kind of happy?
[K- Kuro…… Is that really fine with you?]
[Eh? What is?]
[I- I mean, I- I’m now Kuro’s boyfriend…… but don’t you feel that me liking Isis-san is being unfaithful……]
[Why? I’d be happy if Kaito-kun and Isis became lovers…… Ahh, I see……. Speaking of which……]
Kuro, who has been tilting her head as if she’s really wondering, seems to have gotten some idea and started thinking with her hand on her chin.
After a few moments of silence, Kuro returns her gaze to me and opens her mouth.
[……As I recall, in Kaito-kun’s world, it’s normal to have only one marriage partner, right?]
[Y- Yeah.]
Of course, there are also some cases of people getting remarried, and I heard that there is polygamy in some other countries but…… At least, in modern j.a.pan, monogamy is the norm.
When she saw me nod, Kuro crossed her arms and tilted her head in contemplation.
[Hmmm…… I see, so that’s what troubles you……]
[……So, I thought I’d ask Kuro’s opinion on that.]
[……I’ve only heard about Kaito-kun’s world from Shiro and the children who played the role of Hero in the past, so I don’t know much about it but…… Hmmm. This is quite difficult. Kaito-kun, did you know that boys in this world marry more than one girl?]
[Yeah.]
[I’ve been living in this world my entire life. So, I can’t help but think in terms of the common sense of this world, and since Kaito-kun is my first ever boyfriend, I don’t think I can even say anything that would be very helpful. Sorry.]
Kuro knows a certain amount of things about my world, and she seems to have figured out what my problems are right away.
However, Kuro is still a resident of this world, so she can’t help but think in a way that is closer to the common sense of this world.
I certainly feel like my thoughts are more drawn by the common sense of my original world at the moment, so I know how she feels…… It really seems like our ideas of love and marriage are different.
[……For argument’s sake though…… if I already have my lover named Kuro, but I also fell in love with Isis and went out with her…… No, if I marry a lot more, and not just you two…… What would Kuro think?]
[I would obviously be happy.]
[Y- You’d be happy?]
[Unnn. I mean, look, wouldn’t that show that my beloved Kaito-kun is a fantastic boy who is liked by lots of girls?]
[……………….]
It’s like we have a very different way of thinking.
What I think was that dating more than one woman is being unfaithful, but when it comes to the people of this world, it seems to be a factor for a person’s status, and something that isn’t an object of jealousy.
I don’t know if Kuro is the only one who thinks this way or if it’s also the same way for other people, but I think it’s best if I ask a few people’s opinion first.
[……And so, that’s why I was consulting you……]
[E- Errr, Kaito-san? Since when are you dating Underworld King-sama?]
[……Just the other day.]
[I- Is that so, congratulations. (The first one to make her move really is Underworld King-sama huh, well, I had some guesses seeing how Kaito-san is acting now but……. Mnngghh, small-statured women like her really must be Kaito-san’s taste huh?)]
I’m currently standing before Sieg-san, who had a puzzled expression on her face.
I thought I’d like to hear other people’s opinions as well, so after Kuro went home, I thought I’d visit Sieg-san, explaining the situation to her and asked her about her opinion.
[So, if it’s alright with you, I was wondering if you’d be willing to share your opinion……]
[E- Errr…… Why me? (Are you sure you’re not asking the wrong person?)]
[Errr, Sieg-san kind of looks like a mature woman, so I thought you would be able to give me some good answers if I consult you about it……]
[I- I see. (I’m sorry, that’s impossible! I’ve never been in a relationship before!)]
I’m not sure if my question was too abrupt or not, but Sieg-san looks kind of troubled.
Of course, I don’t intend to force her to answer about all sorts of stuff, but the first person who came to my mind when I thought of someone I can talk to was Sieg-san.
[Of course, I still intend to figure it out on my own in the end, but if possible, I’d like to discuss it with you for a bit…… I’d like to have some advice……]
[L- Let’s see. Errr… (Can you please not look at me with eyes full of expectations!? Something, I need to say something……)]
[Sieg-san?]
[N- No, errr…… The difference in common sense between your world and Kaito-san’s world, it may have been partly due to the fact that there are many women in this world, but I think it’s also due to the fact that there are many long-lived species existing here, just like my kin.]
I see, there certainly are many people in this world like the elves who are long-lived…… and even those who didn’t have the concept of life span at all.
That’s also probably why other than the Humans in this world, the people of this world are quite calm in regards to the flow of time.
Even if you’re married to many women, they must have some kind of wider range of senses in terms like how long they haven’t talked for a long time and how they haven’t seen each other lately.
[There certainly are some exceptions. For example, my father was only married to my mother…… but people like him are quite rare. In fact, people even call my father an eccentric for it.]
[……I see.]
[I also greatly feel like men are supposed to marry lots of women.]
I guess that’s really something that is obvious for the people in this world huh.
Hmmm, I wonder if it’s okay to like Isis-san too, without worrying about it? No, it would be like putting the cart before the horse if I just decided to be ambiguous about it and end up making Kuro and Isis-san sad, so let’s not slacken and properly think about it.
[……There’s something I’d like to ask, just for reference though……]
[Yes, what is it?]
[If, for example…… This is just for example, but if Sieg-san and I were lovers……]
[ ! ? (B- Being lovers with Kaito-san? ……I- I’m glad…… wait, stop thinking about that!?)]
I decided to ask Sieg-san the same question I had asked Kuro.
[And even though we’re lovers, I was loved by another woman, and I also love that woman, how would Sieg-san feel?]
[I would be very delighted to see that Kaito-san is liked by a lot of women…… (Or rather, that’s pretty much the situation at the moment, isn’t it?)]
It seems that is really what she would think huh.
The idea that it’s pleasing for a man to be liked by a lot of women isn’t just Kuro’s, as Sieg-san also seems to have the same thoughts, and I felt a little bit comforted after hearing that.
[Thank you very much. Hearing your thoughts really helps me.]
[No, no…… It’s just if you want to ask for advice for that, wouldn’t it be better for Kaito-san to ask for the opinion of the same gender?]
[I see! You’re right, thank you very much! As I thought, I’m glad I talked to Sieg-san about it.]
[That’s something you don’t really have to be that thankful though. (I’m sorry. I just digressed and threw the conversation to other people. I’m a coward…… So, could you please not look at me with glittering eyes!? I’m starting to feel like running away here, you know!?)]
Indeed, if you’re going to talk about these kinds of problems, it’s easier to talk about various things in depth with someone of the same gender.
And just as I heard about her mention it, I thought of the best person to talk to.
That’s right. I’m going to consult with Orchid…… Orchid is married, has a gentle demeanor and is easy to talk to.
Dear Mom, Dad——- I’ve started to think about my reply to Isis-san, but as someone who had a different common sense that I’m accustomed to, it’s difficult for me to change it and I’m quite confused. However, thanks to Sieg-san——– I now know who I should be talking to.
And with that, Isis arc begins. Hey, Serious-senpai, it’s your turn.
Serious-senpai: [……No matter how I look at it, I don’t see anything that will lead to anything serious…… It would turn into something like “Jealousy? The heck is that?”…… This is a gentle world afterall……]