C.S.O.

 The next morning, Kuro and Chiaki went to school together.
This was a rare occurrence as Chiaki always left earlier than Kuro.
But today, due to a certain reason, they departed together.

As usual, Kuro always carried a bamboo sword wrapped in cloth, while Chiaki also went as usual.
The slight difference was that they were now holding hands on the crowded train, their faces flushed as they faced each other and brushed against each other.

Kuro's taller physique allowed him to see what was in the gap of Chiaki's unbuttoned shirt.
A red bra and breasts that were not too big but tantalizing.

One unusual thing this time was the ring on their ring fingers, symbolizing their marriage in CSO.
It was somewhat relieving because now Chiaki and Ruko also wore the same ring as Flamia, but it also posed a problem as the ring couldn't be taken off their ring fingers.

“……”

Kuro recalled what had happened earlier that morning.

As usual, he woke up early, but this time he was surprised to find not only Flamia in his room completely naked, but Chiaki and Ruko also appeared in Kuro's room in the same condition.

“Kuro-chan, what are you thinking? Are you thinking something lewd?”

Behind his glasses, Kuro saw Chiaki gazing up at him with a mischievous smile.
She was incredibly cute in moments like this.

“Don't speak as if I'm a pervert.
I was just thinking if it's okay to leave Flamia alone at home.”

Flamia came to this world again in the same way as yesterday.
She came after having a marital relationship with Kuro.

Unlike the three of them, Flamia didn't go to school, so there was no other choice but to leave her alone at home.
Kuro had asked if Flamia could return to CSO instead of waiting for them to come home, and he received an unexpected answer.

Flamia could now come to this world whenever she wanted and return whenever she wanted, but she couldn't stay the entire day due to a time limit.
That was the explanation from last night.

“Considering her nature, I don't think it's a good idea to leave Flamia-chan alone.”

Kuro could only laugh bitterly because he was also thinking the same thing.

After about an hour, they arrived at the station near their school.
Chiaki and Kuro separated at that spot.
They didn't want to attract too much attention, so this was for the best.

Kuro walked leisurely while reading a book he had borrowed from the library.
According to his calculations, with that pace, he would arrive at school just before the usual bell rang.

He arrived at school as he had anticipated.
He knew that everyone he met would surely look at him or whisper after seeing him.
It was an unpleasant experience considering Kuro didn't like being the center of attention.

Ms.
Frenda entered the classroom, and the lessons began as usual without any significant issues.

During the lunch break, Kuro went to the rooftop as he knew it was the only place he could relax.
He brought the book and the packed lunch prepared by Ruko, but he was surprised to find Chiaki already waiting for him with the same packed lunch, which was made by Ruko.

“Kuro-chan, want to have lunch with me?”

Kuro simply smiled and took a seat next to Chiaki.

Kuro and Chiaki unwrapped their packed lunches.
Since they were made by Ruko, there was no difference in their lunches, which were filled with sandwiches.
But what might be slightly different was the taste because Chiaki had helped Ruko make the sandwiches.

They ate in silence.
No one spoke, but Kuro ate while reading a book as usual.
It was Kuro's bad habit, but Chiaki had no reason to stop or forbid him from doing so.
After finishing lunch, Chiaki helped pack Kuro's lunch and placed it a little farther away.

Slowly, Chiaki rested her head on Kuro's lap and used it as a pillow.
Kuro didn't mind, but…

“Why are you acting so spoiled here?”

“Can't a wife act spoiled towards her husband?”

As usual, Chiaki responded to Kuro with sharp and cutting words.

“Sorry if it bothers you, but only at school i can monopolize you by myself.”

At home and in CSO, Chiaki had to share Kuro with Flamia and Ruko.
The school was the only place where Chiaki could be with Kuro alone.

“I never said I mind.
…I'm just a little surprised by your change in behavior.”

Chiaki held Kuro's free left hand and gently placed it on her cheek.
Chiaki was truly acting spoiled this time.
Kuro could only smile and understand Chiaki's spoiled nature.

Kuro then resumed reading his book while gently caressing Chiaki's soft and smooth cheek.

“Kuro-chan…
do you regret what we did?”

“Um…
do you mean about me having relations with the three of you in turns? Somehow, I feel like I became a gigolo last night…”

Kuro's face turned blue as he remembered the events after he went online.

He was dragged by the three of them to their bridal chamber and ended up having intimate relations with his three wives.
It started with Chiaki and Ruko's jealousy, and Kuro encountered a new problem, but thanks to that, they learned that some of the rules of CSO no longer bound them.

One of those rules was that the three of them could have sexual relations with Kuro even while inside CSO.
This was actually impossible considering that marriage in CSO was equivalent to marriage in a typical game.
They could kiss, be intimate, and have interconnected storage spaces, but sex was something that couldn't be done in CSO.

That meant the three of them had become exceptions, just like Flamia.
The question was, to what extent had they become exceptions?

“That's not what I meant.”

“…….?”

“We forced you to have relations with Ruko, someone you consider to be your own blood sister.
Initially, we were just talking without any intention like that, but I slowly provoked the two of them…
and in the end, you had to do something you didn't want.
Kuro-chan…
I have become a bad person.”

Chiaki immediately looked gloomy and regretful, but Kuro sighed and stared at the sky for a moment.

The events of last night were indeed a bit unusual.
There were signs from Ruko and Chiaki that they desired the rights they gained as wives, but Kuro couldn't blame them.
Everyone surely wanted to do that with the person they loved, especially those who were married.

It was similar to when Kuro and Chiaki did it for the first time.
They just wanted to be together, but without realizing it, they had already done it.
It was their secret that they had never revealed to anyone.

But the events of last night had revealed everything that had happened between the two of them.
What was Ruko thinking at that time?

Both of them continued to wonder in their hearts.
Ruko was like a little sister to both of them, whom they had to protect and take care of.
They knew of her pure love for Kuro as well.
It was a sincere love that emerged not because they would get married one day, but a pure love that arose because she saw Kuro as the opposite sex.

All this time, Kuro had tainted that love by using the excuse that he still saw her as a sister.
Even Kuro gave a condition that until the marriage certificate was officially signed and Kuro saw Ruko as the opposite sex, their relationship would remain as siblings.

Kuro's thoughts raced through his mind as he reflected on his relationships with Ruko, Chiaki, and Flamia.
Despite the events of last night being driven by jealousy, Kuro couldn't help but feel grateful.
When he first made love with Ruko, he didn't feel any doubts or hesitations.
In fact, he didn't see her as a sister but as a girl he loved.
The same went for Chiaki.
Kuro felt a deep affection for both of them but was unsure about Flamia.

He acknowledged that he was the lowest and worst kind of person, but that was who he was.
If he had to choose just one among the three of them, he didn't know whom he would choose.
However, if there was a choice where he could be with all three of them, why not?

Chiaki smiled softly at Kuro's response.
“You truly are a playboy, Kuro-chan…”

“I guess I can't deny that now.
Ahaha…” Kuro smiled wryly as he gave himself a derogatory nickname.

“But is it okay for us to continue like this?” Kuro asked.
“You know, if we keep going like this, you might end up getting hurt the most.”

Chiaki opened her eyes slightly, her gaze filled with sadness.
“It's okay.
I understand the risks of being in this situation…
That's why I want to be the one who gets to spend the most time with you.
This fleeting happiness is enough for me.”

Compared to Flamia, Chiaki was the one who suffered the most and was most disadvantaged.
Ruko was Kuro's fiancée and now his wife (although not legally), while Flamia was his wife in another world, exempt from the rules that applied to Kuro's world.
Chiaki, on the other hand, was not a part of either category, and she knew that one day she would have to separate from Kuro.
She couldn't marry him due to the rule prohibiting having more than one wife, and the traditions of Kuro's family made it even more impossible.
She was also not from another world, which meant she couldn't receive special treatment.

“Since you told me the secret about your family, I already knew I couldn't be with you.
Although I love you and want to be yours, I know it's just an impossible dream…
Am I being selfish?”

“…I'm sorry if I had the courage to reject Ruko's request, maybe I wouldn't have hurt you more.”

Chiaki smiled softly.
“…You haven't changed at all, Kuro-chan.
You always struggle when it comes to girls and end up making things worse, while with other problems, you handle them perfectly without any mistakes.”

“Is that a compliment or an insult?”

“I don't know.
You decide.”

Kuro could only smile wryly and continue stroking Chiaki's cheek.
The cool breeze blew, and the sun had yet to show its bright light.
It was calm and peaceful.
This feeling could only be experienced when he was with Chiaki.

Kuro put down his book and finally enjoyed the moment of togetherness with one of the people he loved most—his friend, childhood companion, lover, wife, someone precious.
That was Chiaki in Kuro's eyes.

He knew that one day he would hurt her, but…

(No, if there's a way for me not to hurt the person who is precious to me, then I will find that way…)

He made a decision.
He wouldn't retreat or give up.
Even if the possibility was only one percent, as long as it wasn't zero, he would find that way.
The ring that symbolized their bond was not a lie or a mere dream.

Kuro's determination to turn his dreams into reality surged through him.
The power flowing in his veins, once seen as a curse, now held the potential to transform the impossible into the possible.

Unbeknownst to him, he clenched his fist tightly.
It was a sign of his newfound purpose in life.
He had always believed that as long as he enjoyed himself, he could do anything.
But now he realized that it was not enough.

All this time, the power coursing through his veins had been a curse.
But now he understood that this power might be a curse, but it could also become a miracle that could change the impossible into the possible.

“…Mmm…”

The sound indicating the end of the lunch break rang, and Kuro intended to stand up.
However, Chiaki didn't move and instead pretended to be asleep, acting cute.
She looked adorable like this, but it also made Kuro sigh softly.

“Do you want to skip class?” he asked.

“…I want to stay like this for a while,” Chiaki said, holding Kuro's hand that was resting on her cheek.

Kuro smiled.
“Alright, I have no reason to refuse one of my wives' requests.”

Chiaki smiled softly and said, “…Thank you, Kuro-chan.”

Kuro gazed at the sky filled with clouds.
He didn't refuse because he felt that skipping class once in a while wouldn't be a big deal.
He was currently enjoying a moment with Chiaki that he couldn't have at home or in the CSO.
He felt it was a bit unfair, but he didn't see any significant problem.
Even if they were caught, he just needed to explain what happened.
Everything would be fine.

“?”

Suddenly, Chiaki moved, crawling on top of Kuro with a thin but dangerous smile.
She must be thinking of something peculiar again, Kuro thought.

Chiaki crawled and locked Kuro's body with her legs, effectively trapping him.
Kuro didn't quite understand and could only remain silent.
But after Chiaki stopped moving, Kuro's instincts immediately warned him that their current position was quite dangerous.

Chiaki sat on Kuro's lap, and her legs held Kuro's body in place.
Their bodies were positioned dangerously close, with Kuro's groin nestled between Chiaki's legs.
It was a precarious position.

Chiaki's face was so close to Kuro's that their lips were almost touching.
They could feel each other's breaths and the pounding of their hearts.

“Err…
Chiaki-san, what are you doing?” Kuro asked, his voice filled with uncertainty.

Chiaki fell silent.
Her gaze was sharp as if she no longer cared about their surroundings.
Her smile indicated that she would do anything to get what she wanted.

That smile, that gaze, Kuro knew them well.
He remembered what happened between them a year ago, the day they engaged in their forbidden relationship.

“……….Kuro…”

Slowly but surely, Chiaki's lips drew closer to Kuro's.
Her half-opened eyes reflected submission and desire.
Kuro didn't resist and accepted the kiss from Chiaki.

They kissed intimately, not allowing each other to escape or break free.
But suddenly, Kuro stopped and glanced sharply at a corner of the school rooftop.
His red eyes briefly appeared, and at the same time, the hidden camera used to monitor the rooftop shattered into pieces.

“…Kuro-chan, please don't leave me…”

“I'm not going anywhere, Chiaki.”

They kissed again.
Chiaki embraced Kuro's neck and had no intention of letting him go.

Slowly, Kuro kissed Chiaki's neck, one of her sensitive areas.
Chiaki blushed and let out a soft moan.
She surrendered to everything Kuro did to her body.

And Kuro did the same, doing whatever he pleased to Chiaki's body.
To the person he loved.

Meanwhile, at Kuro's house, Flamia watched TV with a bored expression.
She was alone at home with no one to accompany her.
In the CSO, she was used to being alone, but she was always busy fighting monsters, so she never got bored.

But now she found herself in Kuro's world.
A world that could be considered boring.

“How can 7 billion people live in such a boring world?” It became a big question for Flamia.

“Ahhhh….
bored, bored, bored, bored, bored…”

She rolled around on the carpet, hugging a pillow.
Her head accidentally hit something, but she didn't feel any pain at all.
However, it was enough to make her stop.

She fell silent, staring at the white ceiling.

“What am I doing now…?”

The reason she didn't return to the CSO was that she wanted to experience Kuro's life and the lives of others in their world.
But she didn't know that a significant portion of their time was spent on something called school.

She glanced at the clock, which showed 1 PM.
She remembered that the three of them would return home by 4 PM at the latest.
It was only three hours away, but for someone who was already bored, that time felt very long.

But there was another reason why she couldn't wait any longer.

“…”

She was hungry now.
Her stomach even made scary growling sounds like a ferocious monster.

“!”

Suddenly, she got an idea.
She got up and ran towards Kuro's room where his clothes were kept.

After changing her clothes, she headed towards the exit and jumped with full force.
Flamia disappeared like a leaf carried by the wind.

Back on the school rooftop, Kuro and Chiaki were fixing their clothes and hair.
Kuro put his glasses back on that he had taken off earlier.
Both of their faces were still flushed, and they didn't dare to look at each other, but a small smile appeared on their lips.

Kuro sat back down, and Chiaki also sat close to him.

“Your hair is still a little messy, let me fix it,” Kuro said.

Chiaki nodded softly and leaned her head forward towards Kuro.
Kuro touched her soft hair and gently tidied it up.

“Done, I think it's okay now.”

“Thank you…”

“We should go back to our respective classrooms soon.”

Instead of immediately responding, Chiaki turned her gaze towards the edge of the school rooftop.

“You go ahead, Kuro-chan.
…I still want to stay here a little longer.”

Kuro stood up and kissed Chiaki.
Chiaki was surprised, but she didn't resist.
Then, out of the blue, Kuro flicked Chiaki's forehead with a force that wasn't too strong.

“Ouch! Why did you flick me…?”

“That's your punishment for not being able to control yourself,” Kuro smiled.
“Don't stay here too long, I don't want you to catch a cold.”

Chiaki held her sore forehead and nodded softly.

Kuro then turned around and walked towards the rooftop exit.
After the door closed, Kuro's figure was no longer visible.

“…”

The smile disappeared from Chiaki's lips.
She continued to gaze outside the school.

She remembered Kuro's words about never leaving her again, but Chiaki knew it was just a lie.
Kuro had left her a long time ago.
Even though Kuro's figure was not far away from her, and now they were bound by the ties of marriage, the Kuro she knew was long gone.

Chiaki and Kuro were not just childhood friends, they were more than that.

Chiaki was born one day earlier than Kuro.
Chiaki was born in a hospital, but Kuro was born at home with the help of a doctor called to their house.
There was a reason why they didn't give birth at the hospital, and only Kuro's family knew that reason.
In fact, not only Kuro but all the members of Kuro's family were born at home.
It could be said that it was a tradition in the Kuro family.

Growing up in the same environment and living just across the street from each other, they always played together and were very close.
Unlike now, Kuro was a crybaby when he was a child.
Who else but Chiaki would tease Kuro?

It was a childhood filled with joy and happiness.
Chiaki still remembered those times vividly.
Even if she forgot, there were dozens of childhood photos of them at Kuro's house.
A past she would never forget.

And on a certain day, when they were 6 years old, a little girl arrived at Kuro's house, accompanied by her parents.
The little girl was Ruko.

Ruko is Kuro's cousin.
At first, he thought Ruko was just visiting, but it turned out that from that day on, Ruko started living with Kuro.

Being young, innocent, and unaware of adult thoughts, they spent their time playing.
That's what the three of them did every day.

Ruko was already considered a spoiled younger sister by Chiaki and Kuro, but that was the reality.
That phase continued until one day when Kuro was about 9 years old.

Kuro invited Chiaki to meet at the park.
It wasn't an invitation to play, but to say goodbye.
Kuro said that he would not leave forever, so he wouldn't be gone for long.

Chiaki believed in that.
He waited for Kuro's return alone because Ruko also went with Kuro and her family.

A few days later, Kuro returned with Ruko, but only Ruko was visible.
On that day, Kuro did come back, but as a corpse.
He was dead.

Chiaki couldn't believe what had happened, but on that day, they also held a funeral for Kuro.

On the same day, Kuro had already left their side.
Forever.

So who is the Kuro that is now with Chiaki and even in a romantic relationship with her? He is Kuro, but at the same time, not Kuro.

On the day of Kuro's funeral, an unexpected event occurred.
Kuro came back to life after being dead for 6 hours.
This event shocked Chiaki and made her happy at the same time.
It was a miracle.
Chiaki thought it was Kuro's way of keeping his promise not to leave her.

It was also an extraordinary event that could shake the world because coming back to life is unusual.
But Kuro's family covered up the incident perfectly.
Chiaki was even surprised that her mother forgot about the truth.

A few days later, Kuro returned to school as usual.
But all of Kuro's friends realized that the Kuro they knew had changed.
The cheerful and slightly sensitive Kuro had become very scary and seemed to emit a dangerous aura.

Chiaki also felt the same way as they did.
She couldn't even approach Kuro.
The only one who dared to was Ruko.

Finally, with strong determination, Chiaki greeted Kuro.
She felt the dangerous aura, and it felt like she was about to faint when their eyes met, but suddenly the aura disappeared in an instant as if it were just an illusion.

But at that moment, a question arose on Chiaki's lips on its own.
“Who are you?” That's what Chiaki asked.

“Haa…”

Chiaki sighed as she remembered the past that she almost forgot.
No, more precisely, the past she wanted to forget.

It took some time for Chiaki to get used to the new Kuro, but she realized that nothing had changed with Kuro.
Unfortunately, it was just naive thinking.

One day, Kuro was alone with Chiaki.
They were at the beach together.
Chiaki didn't waste that opportunity and expressed the feelings she had kept hidden for a long time.
But the answer she received was a bitter reality.

(Why am I remembering this? I had already accepted the current Kuro, but…)

She didn't understand what she was feeling right now.
She didn't understand herself.
Could it be that the emotions she had been suppressing were slowly overflowing?

“?”

Suddenly, Chiaki was startled by the presence of a girl walking toward her school while looking around as if searching for something.
The girl was wearing a short skirt, black stockings, and a sweater that exposed part of her shoulders.
She was beautiful like a model and had fiery red hair.

Chiaki knew that girl very well.

“Ah…
why didn't I anticipate this would happen?”

Chiaki sighed.
She grabbed her lunchbox and slowly walked towards the rooftop door.

Kuro walked down the hallway slowly and casually.
Although technically skipping class, he didn't care and politely knocked on the door when entering the classroom.
Of course, he immediately drew attention, and some spoke ill of him, but Kuro didn't care.

After apologizing, Kuro was allowed to continue with the lessons, but of course, he couldn't get away with it so easily.
Miss Frenda gave him a punishment to help the student council for a week.
Kuro's expression was certainly not pleased, but he couldn't refuse.

The lessons resumed, but after about 15 minutes of class, a commotion was heard from the students sitting near the window.

“No way.
Why is she in this school?”

The exclamation of one of Kuro's classmates made many curious about what they saw behind the window.
The class became noisy in an instant, but Kuro was not interested.
Miss Frenda could only sigh as she couldn't prevent the chaos and decided to let it be for a while.

“What is Flamia doing in this school?” one girl said with curiosity.

All of Kuro's friends also showed the same expression, but deep down they already knew why Flamia came to school.
Slowly, they glanced at Kuro, but Kuro's figure had disappeared.

Not long after, they saw a young man approaching Flamia as they entered the school grounds.
Everyone was surprised, especially when they saw Kuro already carrying his bag and walking out of the school with Flamia.

Everyone immediately looked at Frenda with a chilling and puzzled look.

“Kanata-san had permission to leave early due to some issues,” Frenda said.

Of course, no one was satisfied with Frenda's explanation.
They even seemed to blame Frenda for allowing Kuro to leave.

Meanwhile, Kuro went home with Flamia, but they made a stop at a restaurant first to fill Flamia's empty stomach.
Unlike Flamia, Kuro only ordered some snacks and a cup of coffee because he had already had lunch.

Flamia ate eagerly, but her clingy nature also caused some trouble for Kuro as Flamia asked to be fed like a child.
Kuro did it while smiling wryly.

At that moment, he received a message from Chiaki and Ruko.
Kuro didn't know how Ruko found out that Flamia came to his school, but it made things easier for Kuro.

“We need to seriously discuss what we should do about Flamia, CSO, and our real-world lives before everything gets even more chaotic.”

Shortly after, Chiaki and Ruko replied to Kuro's message.
They understood Kuro's intention and were also thinking about the same thing.

Flamia didn't want to go home right away, so Kuro and Flamia ended up going on a date, although technically Kuro was just buying groceries and some items that Flamia would use during her time in Kuro's world.

Around 4 o'clock, Kuro returned home with Flamia.
He was quite surprised to find Chiaki and Ruko waiting for the two of them.
Jealousy emanated from them, but Kuro could only let out a small sigh.

The four of them decided to discuss their issues in CSO, but they would go online after dinner.
While waiting for the time, which was still quite long, they decided to do what needed to be done.

Kuro practiced in the dojo, but this time he wasn't alone.
Flamia accompanied him in training.
Meanwhile, Chiaki and Ruko worked on their homework in another room, and once they were done, it was their turn to prepare dinner.

A commotion broke out in the dojo where Kuro was training.
The two of them clashed bamboo swords, often shattering their swords into pieces, making it difficult to determine the winner or who was stronger.
But one thing was clear, in terms of sword techniques, Kuro was superior to Flamia.

Flamia's sword technique was the same as in CSO.
All those techniques had a similarity, which was sword techniques assisted by a system.
It meant that Flamia didn't move her body directly and moved according to a predetermined pattern.

This was in stark contrast to Kuro, who had been playing with swords since the age of 5.
His sword technique was born out of hard work and daily practice.
It meant that Kuro's sword technique wasn't a movement aided by a system, but an instinct of a fighter.
Although Kuro's sword technique also had certain patterns, he could quickly adapt during a fight.

That was the big difference between them.
But this was also the reason why Kuro could fight in Alfheim and Vanaheim as Liber with abnormal strength and skills.

While clashing bamboo swords with abnormal strength and speed, suddenly the door opened.
Both of them were startled to see Ruko standing in front of the door with a blank and eerie expression.

They immediately stopped moving and distanced themselves.
They forced a nervous smile as they saw Ruko emitting a dangerous aura.

“Onii-chan, Flamia-chan…
can you two calm down a bit? Don't you know we're studying and need extra concentration?”

Ruko smiled, but it wasn't a pleasant and warm smile.
Anyone who saw it would shudder, including Flamia.

“Errr…
sorry,” Kuro replied.

“Hehh…
and then?”

“We will stop and clean up all the mess.”

“…………..”

“We can take a bath together…?”

After hearing that, a smile appeared on Ruko's lips.
She nodded slowly and without a word, closed the door and slowly left.

Kuro looked pale, while Flamia approached with a frightened expression.
She was even trembling and breaking out in cold sweat.

“K-Kuro, w-what happened to Ruko-chan? This is the first time I've been so scared…”

Kuro let out a small sigh.

“Ahh…
I haven't told you yet.
In this house, it's not me who has the power, but Ruko, so remember that well.
We don't want to see her angry again…”

Flamia quickly nodded, her expression full of fear.
It was also the first time Kuro had seen Flamia like this.

Kuro and Flamia then cleaned up the dojo, which was filled with broken bamboo sword fragments.
In this training session, they destroyed seven bamboo swords.
Fortunately, Kuro's family had plenty of backups.

They both mopped the floor until it was sparkling clean.
Kuro was used to cleaning up, but it was the first time Flamia did it.
It made Kuro feel guilty.
But seeing Flamia happy, Kuro couldn't stop her.

Once everything was clean, at the same time, Ruko and Chiaki finished their studies and homework.
Ruko and Chiaki came to the dojo with a faint smiles and said:

“Onii-chan, let's take a bath toge-“

But Kuro immediately moved and tried to escape.
The promise of taking a bath together was just a way for Kuro to avoid making Ruko angry again, but upon reflection, if they bathed together, the other two would also want to do the same thing.

Although Kuro had seen all three of them naked and had intimate moments with them, he still felt that the situation was dangerous for his soul.

He almost reached the exit of another door in the dojo, but-

“Why do you think you can escape from us?”

Kuro's hands and feet were bound by Flamia's chains of fire.
Not only that, the chains slowly enveloped Kuro's entire body, wrapping him up like a mummy.
Kuro hit the floor hard and couldn't move freely, but he didn't give up and tried to escape like a caterpillar.

Chiaki and Ruko only showed cold gazes.
Flamia was the same.
The three of them then surrounded Kuro and entrusted Flamia to take Kuro away because only Flamia had monster-like power.

Finally, Kuro could only resign himself as he was carried to the bathroom like a sack of rice.

He didn't expect to live a life as a harem character, but he also didn't want his life to become a battlefield, so he couldn't protest his current situation.
But he also didn't want his life to be like this.

That's the story of how Kuro ended up taking a bath with his three wives, but of course, that wasn't the only thing they did.

After a long shower, they prepared dinner together.
Only Kuro sat in front of the TV, while his three wives cooked harmoniously in the kitchen.
Kuro rested his chin on his hand, wearing a tired expression.

(Although they say it's a safe day, it doesn't mean we have to do it all the time…)

Kuro sighed inwardly.
He grabbed the TV remote and changed the channel, but none of the shows caught his attention.

(But you never refuse, don't you? Perhaps you also desire it?)

Shiro's voice resurfaced, mocking him.

(……..if I say no, it would surely be a lie.
Why are you asking something you already know? Are you trying to be senile?)

Kuro and Shiro were two different sides, but they were also a unity that shared the same thoughts and feelings.
If one felt hatred, the other felt the same.
And vice versa.

They were two, yet one.

(Aha ha..)

(….)

(A bad joke.
It seems we're not talented as comedians.)

Kuro sighed softly.

(What do you want?)

(What do you want?)

(………..)

(…you must be aware that sometimes we don't know what we want and what to do, but we both know that what we do is also one of our desires.
Now, is this what you want? We both know that if this continues, we will hurt them all.
We may not be able to retreat, but it's still not too late.)

(You want to say there's a choice to not hurt them all?)

(You already know what you should choose, but can you…
we do it?)

Stop playing CSO and forget everything that happened.
Then he would choose only one wife, Ruko.

By doing this, Kuro could escape from all the problems that had occurred so far.
He would hurt Chiaki and Flamia, but it would be better before they got hurt even more.

(…..why are you asking? You, we have decided to find a way for all of us to be happy.
We know it's a naive and childish thought, but as long as the possibility exists, we won't give up, right?)

(Yes, but don't forget…
you still have doubts, and that's why I reappeared.
I'm willing to replace you if you doubt and fear that you will fail and end up hurting them all.)

(…..)

(But if I replace you, it means we have already failed and given up before even trying.)

(What do you really want?)

Shiro, like a demon, and Kuro, the human who listened to the whispers and temptations of the demon.

(I just ask you not to do it alone.)

(…eh?)

(Why are you surprised? I am you, and you are me, but we are two.
When you make a decision, I cannot interfere or even help you, but it all happened because you never asked for it.
No, I think it's more accurate to say that you can seemingly do everything because you possess that power, but you know that power alone is still not enough.)

Kuro knew that.
Kuro had never fully utilized his power; he didn't need it.
But for some reason, he felt unsatisfied with his current strength.

(You know, if you accept me, accept who you truly are, you will be able to use my power.
So why do you hesitate?)

(……)

He knew he had doubts, but he also knew what would happen if he accepted Shiro's power, or rather, his true self.

Shiro was indeed another personality of Kuro, but Shiro was born because Kuro never accepted his true self.
But if he accepted it,

 he couldn't go back.
Kuro and Shiro would merge into the true Kuro.

(I..-)

“Onii-chan?”

“?!”

Suddenly, Kuro was startled by Ruko who tapped his shoulder from behind.
Kuro even jumped slightly.

“What's wrong, Onii-chan? You look like you've seen a ghost.”

“Aha ha..” Kuro laughed nervously.
“Why did you call me?”

“Why are you still asking, Onii-chan? Dinner is ready.”

“Um…
uh…”

“Onii-chan must be daydreaming again.” Ruko turned around and headed to the dining room.
“Onii-chan, don't daydream too often.
If you do, I'll kiss you to wake you up fu fufu.”

Kuro sighed softly.

“You just want to take advantage of me when I'm not paying attention, don't you?”

Ruko didn't answer and just smiled slightly as she walked away.

The four of them then had dinner together like a small happy family.
The food on the dining table slowly disappeared as it was delicious.
Perhaps it was because the habit of having dinner alone had vanished in that house.

After dinner, they cleaned the dirty dishes together.
Chiaki went home right after finishing because her VR gear was at her own house.

Flamia disappeared into particles again.
Ruko, who saw it for the first time, felt a bit strange but also somewhat amazed.

Kuro and Ruko went to their respective rooms.
Unlike the previous nights, this time Kuro left his room unlocked.
He used to lock it to prevent Ruko from sneaking in, but since they were now in a husband-and-wife relationship (though not official yet), he didn't do it anymore.

Kuro lay down and put on the VR gear, which almost covered his head.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
And after saying “Transfer Start,” he arrived in another world known as CSO.

He arrived in his room, precisely his bridal chamber.
On the bed, his three wives were already waiting for him in their sexy pajamas.
Kuro wondered where they got them from, but it wasn't a big deal.

Kuro approached and sat on the bed with a serious expression.
The three wives also sat in a circle formation.

“Alright, let's start discussing the issues and some rules we need to establish in this family.”

Kuro began the conversation with a firm tone, like a frightening husband.
He was serious.

The three wives nodded to indicate their understanding.

“But first, there's something I need to know.” Kuro glanced at Flamia.
“Flamia, I'm going to ask for an explanation about this world, but I understand if there are things that we shouldn't know.
So we understand if there are things you don't want to tell us.”

“Eh? B-but you're already involved in this, and if I don't tell you everything, I feel like I'm endangering you.
I don't want that to happen.”

Kuro immediately narrowed his eyes, and Chiaki and Ruko did the same.

“That's why Kuro-chan forbids you from telling us.
If it's a secret, then maybe it's better if we never know,” Chiaki said.

“But what danger are you referring to?” Kuro asked.
“Could it be some kind of secret organization that wants to exploit this world?”

“An organization? No, it's even worse.”

Flamia fell silent for a moment and wore a troubled expression.

“I think I need to start from the beginning, but may I ask for your opinion about this world?”

“It's another world, but also a game world,” Chiaki replied.

“A world where I can be with and have intimate relations with Onii-chan.”

A slightly shocking and terrifying opinion.
Kuro even turned pale immediately.

And now, it was Kuro's turn.

“Another world, but with the rules of an RPG game that exists on Earth.
I think this world was originally a normal world like ours, but for some reason, it underwent a total transformation.
But the mystery is how we ended up in this other world?”

Flamia smiled.

“Everything you said is true, especially you, Kuro.
This world was originally a world from one of your mythologies.
I think you can guess which mythology it is.”

The three of them nodded.
They knew that CSO was based on Norse mythology, but hearing that CSO was the actual world itself was still surprising.

“But if CSO is the world called Yggdrasil, isn't CSO too different from what's described in the stories?” Chiaki said, placing her hand on her chin.

“Yes, if compared, I think that's true.”

Ruko nodded in agreement.
She was also thinking the same thing as Kuro and Chiaki.

The most noticeable difference between CSO and Yggdrasil is the mismatched number of worlds.
CSO has 7 worlds, while Yggdrasil has 9 worlds.
Not only that, the CSO worlds are separate from each other, but Yggdrasil is one world divided into several realms depending on the inhabitants, yet still one unity.

Another difference is the absence of entities called Demon God and Liber.
This uniqueness has piqued people's curiosity and made them start playing CSO.

Suddenly, Chiaki showed an expression as if she understood something.
She turned to Flamia with a serious gaze.

“Flamia-chan, will you not say if what is told in the CSO synopsis really happened?”

Kuro and Ruko were startled.
Meanwhile, Flamia had a complicated and pale face.

Every game, especially RPG games, has a story.
The same applies to CSO.
And every story always starts with a prologue or synopsis.

The CSO story begins with the evil god Loki's desire to accelerate the occurrence of Ragnarok (the final battle of the world).
To fulfill his desire, Loki does something unexpected by the Gods and demons, which is summoning Gods or demons from another world.

But Loki's actions were a big mistake.
The God/Demon now known as Demon God kills Loki who summoned him.
Odin, the leader of the Gods, has no choice but to try to fight against the Demon God who has disrupted the balance of the Yggdrasil world.

Unfortunately, Odin, who is said to be the strongest god, couldn't defeat the Demon God.
Even with the help of other gods and the demons who were enemies with him, the Demon God could not be defeated.
What happened instead was that Odin lost, and the Demon God replaced him as the strongest.

The reason why the Demon God is unbeatable is that he doesn't fight alone.
There are 13 people who assist or fight alongside the Demon God to defeat the gods, known as the Archids.
Some of these 13 individuals are even stronger than the Demon God himself.

One surprising thing is that even though the Demon God mercilessly kills the gods and demons, he and the Archids never harm the humans in Midgard.

No one knows why the Demon God doesn't kill humans, but Odin, the gods, and the demons know that there is an opportunity to defeat the Demon God, and that is by using humans.

Humans were given the power to fight against the Demon God by the Gods.
The power comes in the form of combat abilities and magic.
And this is where the story of Celestial Soul Online begins and the beginning of the existence of humans known as Liber (the god-slaying force).

“This is truly surprising.
I didn't expect that it really happened,” Ruko said.

“It is indeed true, but the actual events are slightly different,” Flamia explained.

Kuro and Chiaki fell silent.
They showed expressions of deep thought and pondered.
The truth about CSO was somewhat surprising, but there were still many mysteries left unsolved.

“Alright, I now understand about CSO, but why our world?”

In the Yggdrasil world, there are also humans living in Midgard, but why are all the Liber members humans from Earth?

“I'm not entirely sure, but it's likely because the humans in your world are quite unique.”

“Unique?”

“You have seen me use magic.
Doesn't it feel strange to you?”

“……….”

The three of them couldn't answer.

It might seem strange to normal people, but for the three of them, magic and similar phenomena happening in the real world were not something unusual.
Of course, the biggest reason was that Kuro was capable of doing all that.

“Magic is a power that can only be performed in a world that has magical circuits, also known as Magic Vessels.
But your world doesn't have anything like that.
Magic in your world should be impossible, yet it still happens.
That's what makes your world different from others.”

Flamia didn't answer their question directly, but they understood that the humans from the CSO world were different from the humans on Earth.
Or perhaps it was the world itself that was different.

Regarding how humans from Earth could go to CSO and transform into game characters, it could be done using some kind of magic or device.
In this case, the most likely possibility was the special CSO VR gear or the highly mysterious ST system.

“Alright, we understand.
One last question, who are you really?”

Kuro's question surprised everyone.

“In Yggdrasil, there are beings called Valkyries, but their number doesn't match the ones in CSO.
What I want to ask is, are you one of the nine Valkyries, or are you a human in Midgard? But I also wonder if you're a human from Earth who received an exception or was chosen.”

Chiaki and Ruko stared at Flamia.
They also wanted to know, just like Kuro.

“Can you tell us?” Kuro added.

Flamia didn't answer right away.
She had a complicated expression and glanced around as if it was difficult for her to reveal the truth about herself.
She bit her lip and slowly opened her mouth.

“…can I tell you another time?”

“…….?”

“I know I shouldn't hide this, but I feel this isn't the right moment.
…would you mind?”

“No.”

“Not at all.”

Ruko just smiled, indicating that she had no problem either.

“Eh? Why?”

“Like I said, you're still you.
Whether you're a human, a genuine Valkyrie goddess, or a fake, it doesn't matter to us, but I still want to know,” Kuro said.

Suddenly, Kuro's expression turned serious.

“Flamia, is there a secret about the true nature of the Valkyrie Maidens that you don't want us to know? Tell me!”

Flamia didn't answer immediately.

Ruko and Chiaki looked at Kuro with puzzled expressions because Kuro seemed to be going too far.

“Tell us that the Valkyrie Maidens won't die forever if they die in battle!”

The three of them were shocked, especially Flamia, who immediately froze and didn't move at all.

“O-Onii-chan, what do you mean Flamia-chan will die forever?”

“This is just my theory,” Kuro calmly replied.
“Flamia is a genuine human in this world, which means that although she is bound by the same rules as us, there must be some rules that are exceptions.
And the possibility of dying forever might be one of them.”

“That seems to be true.
When you think about it carefully, no one has ever seen any Valkyrie Maiden pass through the resurrection point.
It's not because they are too strong and rarely lose, but rather they are not allowed to die.”

Kuro nodded slowly, indicating that what Chiaki said aligned with his thoughts.
Ruko fell silent, contemplating the same thing.
Flamia remained silent as well.

The reason why this theory emerged was that Valkyrie Maidens always played solo.
If the theory was correct, then it made sense.

“Flamia, we want to hear the answer about its truth.
As we said, we will accept whatever answer you give us, but one thing you should know is that we are a family.
If the truth is that you will die forever, then we will do whatever it takes to prevent that from happening.”

“Kuro…”

“I would be truly saddened if you die and leave us.
So, can you be honest?”

Flamia didn't answer immediately.
She glanced at Chiaki and Ruko, who showed the same look as Kuro.
She realized that by hiding it, she would make them worried and sad.

She didn't want to make them sad, so there was only one choice.

“I will be honest, but unfortunately, I don't know how to answer.”

“Huh?”

“I have never died before, so I don't know, ehe ehe…”

The tense atmosphere suddenly turned into a comical situation in an instant.

Kuro and the others couldn't react, but they knew Flamia was telling the truth.

“But I won't deny the possibility, so I really don't know if I will die or not.
Can we end this conversation? I don't want you to worry.”

“……..alright, just in case, we will consider it as the worst-case scenario, but I ask you to promise us that you won't do anything reckless.
Can you do that?”

“Do not hesitate to ask for our help, as we are family after all.”

“Chiaki-chan is right, so never doubt us.”

Flamia was slightly surprised.
She looked at her entire family, and for some reason, she smiled to herself.
She also felt a warm feeling that she had never experienced before.
She knew she was happy.

“Alright…
I promise.”

Suddenly, tears streamed down her cheeks, but there was no expression of sadness on her face.

“Alright, let's discuss the next issue.”

After Flamia wiped her tears and smiled again, they continued discussing their problems.
The first issue they tackled was the problem of CSO.
After getting married, what would be their next steps?

Firstly, as a Valkyrie Maiden, what would Flamia do? Flamia explained that the primary duty of a Valkyrie Maiden was to serve as an example to other Libers, but they also played a frontline leadership role in fighting against the Demon God.
In war, they were likened to a general.

To achieve that, every Valkryie Maiden would do whatever it took to become the strongest among all Libers.
Flamia realized that even though she only had a two-day break, she had fallen behind other Valkryie Maidens.

The second issue was Chiaki and Ruko, who were the vice-leader and one of the top players in the Ouroboros guild.
They also had their obligations to fulfill.
Currently, they were on break, so they were still together up to now.

As for Kuro, he didn't have any significant issues because he wasn't bound by a guild or other obligations.
You could say he was unemployed, but now he was known as Flamia's husband, so maybe all his actions would be monitored.

Another problem was the issue in the real world.
Now, Kuro was Ruko's husband, but it was not official yet, and no one knew about it.
However, since sooner or later their marriage with Ruko and Chiaki in a game would be revealed, it wouldn't be surprising if someone discovered the abnormality of their relationship as childhood friends and a sibling.
But the most challenging problem was that the public already believed that Kuro and Flamia already knew each other in the real world and were in a romantic relationship.

This complicated relationship would make Kuro known as a man who was never satisfied with one girl, in short, he would be known as a playboy and a jerk.
For Kuro, it wasn't a big problem because he already knew the risks of choosing the harem route.

Now they had to find a way out of all these problems.
They debated and exchanged ideas.
Agreement and disagreement were normal.

…and finally, they decided on a few things.

First, the four of them would return to their normal activities in CSO.
Flamia would continue playing solo and strengthening herself.
The same goes for Chiaki and Ruko; they would return to the Ouroboros guild.
As for Kuro, he would also play solo, but since he had more time, he would take the initiative.

If Flamia wanted to play or complete quests, then Kuro would approach Flamia.
The same applied to Chiaki and Ruko, but Flamia would be prioritized.
This was because compared to the time spent with Kuro, Flamia was said to have the least amount of time with him.

Second, if they wanted to go on dates, they would do it once a week, taking turns.
Whether in CSO or in Kuro's world, it wasn't a problem.
No one was allowed to be jealous or interfere.

Third, although they couldn't meet every day, they would always gather on days off unless one of them had a prior plan.

Fourthly, in the real world, Ruko and Chiaki would continue to act as usual in public, but when they were at home or there was no one around, they could behave like lovers/wives.

Lastly, because Flamia's problem was not yet clear, she should not force herself to strengthen herself.
Flamia was required to ask for help from the three of them if she encountered any issues.

“I'm relieved that we discussed this.
Now I want to rest first.”

Kuro yawned and immediately laid down on the bed casually.
He did look tired, and it was already late at night in the real world, but the sun had just set in CSO.

Kuro didn't care and slowly closed his eyes, but unbeknownst to him, his three wives exchanged glances with a strong competitive aura.
They weren't hostile, but for them, there was still one issue they hadn't decided.

…and this was the right moment to decide it.

“Kuro-chan.”

“Kuro.”

“Onii-chan.”

Kuro opened his eyes again as his three wives called his name.

“What's the matter?”

“We haven't decided…”

“…whose turn it is…”

“..to have sex with Onii-chan first.”

“[Eh?]”

Not only Kuro but even Shiro was shocked.

…and finally, the debate started again within the Kuro family.
After a debate longer than before, almost reaching the point of the war, they made a decision.
Unfortunately, Kuro had no role in deciding this matter.

As for the outcome of the decision, that is another story that may be better left untold…

 

Note

– No one has ever seen a Valkyrie Maiden resurrected from the revival point.

– Flamia can use all her skills from the real world.
However, the direct impact is yet to be known.

– Kuro has already died before.