“Are… you really you anymore?”
The mansion had calmed down and everyone had cleaned up after our previous union. I had ended up in the hot spring with most of the other girls present. Even Faeyna and Bernice had found their way there, although Bernice was keeping her distance from me. The hot spring was large enough that every girl could enjoy her space. If any other man walked into this spring, they would find a garden of beautiful naked women frolicking in the water. Thankfully, there was some pretty strong magic that prevented peepers like Prince Edward.
I had been lying in the heat, allowing myself to recover. We decided that tomorrow we’d be heading out to the Ost Republic for this wedding. Today had just been a day of relaxation and recovery. Octius and his sister had already left back to the capital after the battle was cleaned up. I guess Siti had opened a portal for them. I’d have to talk to her shortly, but I let others handle those problems for now. That’s when Shao swam up to me and asked this question.
Although the question hadn’t been spoken loudly, all of the girls quieted down. This was something they had all wanted to ask but didn’t have the confidence to do so.
“You want to know if I’m more Deek, Deedee, am I back to my old self, or am something else entirely, right?”
Shao looked down, almost ashamed to think such a thing. For someone like Elaya, Salicia, or Celeste, it was pretty simple. I was me. However, Shao wasn’t so free-thinking and loose with her affection.
“I can’t say I’m exactly the same person I was before the split, but I could also say I’m not the same person I was before coming to this world. The me four months ago would have been indistinguishable from the me of now, and the me of two weeks ago and the me of now have only changed further.” I explained.
“I-is that true?”
“I’m the same man I’ve always been. I’ve just grown a bit. I will continue to change, but then, so will all of you. It’s impossible for us not to change over time. The world isn’t so static. The important thing is that we change together and that the bonds that tie us together never die.”
“I understand.” She nodded, but she looked like she wanted to ask more.
“What is it?”
“I want to know… you mentioned you… well, one of you, went to Earth. Can we… can we return?”
“Yes,” I responded simply. “I can go back to Earth whenever I want to.”
All of the girls were now leaning forward with interest, and there wasn’t a single breath or whisper. This had probably been everyone’s greatest concern. Only Carmine, Bernice, and Garnet knew a bit more about the whole story.
“What happened on Earth? Will you be going back? W-will you take me?” Shao asked.
“Shao…” I looked at her uncertainly. “Are you certain you belong there?”
She lowered her head. She must have already figured out what I meant. She had heard the demon lord’s words too and had figured out what I meant.
“What does Master mean?” Celeste was a bit slower on the draw and whispered to her mother.
“Shao… may not even be from Earth,” Astria explained. “No, it’s very likely she was born here.”
Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om