CHAPTER 944: CHAPTER 943: EIRIRI’S LIFE CONSULTATION (PART 2)

"...Huh?"

Although Asuna had mentally prepared herself for all sorts of possibilities when she asked the question, Eiriri’s answer still took her by surprise.

"Not...dating?"

"It depends on what kind you’re talking about. If you mean regular dating relationships, like confessing, going on dates, that kind of thing...well, I think our relationship is somewhat different. Have you ever seen me go on a date with Mr. Fang Zheng? I haven’t behaved particularly affectionately with Mr. Fang Zheng in front of others, have I?"

"That’s...true."

Hearing Eiriri’s response, Asuna instinctively nodded. Indeed, Eiriri had never shown any peculiar behavior in front of everyone, so Asuna never thought she was dating Fang Zheng. Therefore, witnessing the intimate scene between Eiriri and Fang Zheng left Asuna so shocked.

Seeing Asuna’s bewildered expression, Eiriri giggled.

"In fact, I did confess to Mr. Fang Zheng. At the time, Mr. Fang Zheng told me he could accept my confession, but he also informed me that he has several girlfriends. If, knowing this, I still wanted to confess to him, then he would accept."

"What———?!"

Upon hearing this, Asuna screamed.

"Mr. Fang Zheng has several girlfriends?"

"At least that’s what he said, and it didn’t seem like he was joking."

"But, but... I didn’t see Mr. Fang Zheng as being so...so..."

Asuna’s eyes spun in confusion. She blinked and stared blankly for a long while before speaking.

"So... fickle?"

As Asuna said, Fang Zheng had always behaved like a gentleman in front of everyone. He never showed special attention to any particular girl or took advantage of them. So Asuna never imagined Fang Zheng could be such a playboy. However, according to Eiriri’s words, Fang Zheng wasn’t just fickle.

This time, Eiriri didn’t speak immediately. She quietly observed Asuna before softly asking a question.

"Asuna, if it were you, would you prefer a fickle person or a devoted one?"

"Of course, someone devoted."

This time, Asuna answered without any hesitation, and Eiriri chuckled.

"You haven’t been in love, have you?"

"Ugh..."

"I used to think that way too."

Eiriri looked up, gazing through the window at the azure sky.

"I once had a childhood friend whom I liked very much, and I hoped he would like me too. That he would only have eyes for me, always be with me. Then I would confess to him, we would date, get married, and live happily ever after..."

Listening to Eiriri, Asuna didn’t say much. To her, this was normal. After all, Eiriri’s thoughts were also Asuna’s thoughts or what most girls in the world would think.

"...But, I wasn’t the only girl by his side."

As she said this, Eiriri’s eyes dimmed.

"I wasn’t his destined person, no matter how hard I tried. He only saw me as a regular childhood friend. Of course, we’re still friends — very good friends. But that’s it. He would never see me as his most important person, let alone his only one."

Eiriri shook her head, clenching her fists tightly.

"That kind of unique love, loving only one person, is a privilege only given to the main heroine. Have you watched harem anime, Asuna? The male protagonist always has several beautiful girls around him, and each one secretly harbors feelings for him. But in the end, he only picks the main heroine. So...what happens to the others? What can they do?"

"......."

Asuna remained silent. To be honest, she didn’t know what to say.

"I’m just a supporting character, not the main one. I can’t win the male lead’s favor and become his only one like the main heroine. No matter how hard I try, I can’t win. Even if the rival is an insignificant main heroine. If she’s the main heroine, I just can’t win."

"......."

Facing Eiriri’s words, Asuna was speechless. Just as Eiriri said, she had never been in love, and her understanding in this area was limited. Yet even so, she could still hear the profound anger and sadness in Eiriri’s voice.

"I don’t hate the main heroine; in fact, we are very good friends. But, I still dislike this situation. Why is it like this? Even with the best friend and the best childhood friend, two kinds of happiness combined, why does it bring such pain? If that guy wasn’t so devoted, if he were just a bit fickle, would I have had a chance?"

As she spoke, Eiriri leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then opened her eyes and smiled at Asuna again.

"So, when Mr. Fang Zheng told me he had other girlfriends but was willing to accept my confession, I was genuinely happy."

"...Huh?"

Maybe it’s because the contrast is too big that Asuna’s eyes widened for a moment, unable to react to the connection.

"I didn’t lose. Although I can’t say that I won either, I didn’t lose. You see, there are champions, runners-up, and third places in competitions, right? Although people often say that compared to champions, runners-up and third places are meaningless. But for other participants who tried hard and got nothing, at least they got the second and third places, right? Their efforts weren’t entirely fruitless, at least they achieved results from their efforts, rather than getting nothing at all. Even if I’m just a runner-up or third place, it’s still better than those participants who got nothing, isn’t it?"

"But, but that’s... wrong, isn’t it?"

If Eiriri’s earlier doujin was about shattering Asuna’s romantic Fantasy about love, then what Eiriri just said was completely upending Asuna’s view of love.

Even though she knows what she’s saying is wrong, why does it sound so reasonable?!

"Indeed, it’s wrong from the perspective of worldly morals."

However, Eiriri was acting quite nonchalant at this moment.

"But, does it even matter?"

"Does it matter...?"

"That’s right, Asuna. Look, why isn’t this allowed in our world? Although stuff like mistresses and love affairs often make the news, and celebrity scandals aren’t rare, why are they resisted by society?"

"Hmm......"

This time, facing Eiriri’s question, Asuna frowned and began to think deeply.

"In this way, if a child is born, it’s pitiful without a father, isn’t it? And without marriage, there’s no legal protection for property, right... Also, if parents found out, they would be heartbroken, wouldn’t they?"

"Exactly."

Eiriri nodded her head straightforwardly.

"But what does that have to do with us? We’re in a game right now, not in reality."

"...Eh?"

Faced with this answer, Asuna was completely dumbfounded. Meanwhile, Eiriri stood up, spread her arms, and made a spin.

"Did you forget? Asuna, we’re trapped in this game, here our bodies are just data. No matter how many times Mr. Fang Zheng and I do it, there won’t be any children, and my real body won’t get pregnant because of it. Moreover, this is a Death Game. Even though Mr. Fang Zheng is doing his best to protect us, no one knows when an accident might happen."

At this point, Eiriri’s voice became somewhat somber.

"As our conquered floors grow higher, and the bosses become more dangerous, who knows when one of us might die because of an accident. I don’t want to die without ever experiencing the taste of love. At least now, I can taste the happiness in the arms of the man I love. Even if it’s only in the game, even if it’s just a fleeting dream, it’s better than making an effort and getting no reward."

"............"

This time, Asuna didn’t answer, after all, Eiriri was discussing a very real issue. Indeed, compared to issues like infidelity, mistresses, and lovers, what’s most important at the moment is conquering this Death Game.

Yet, even though Fang Zheng promised to bring everyone out safely, deep down, the girls understood clearly that maybe, who knows when, maybe because of a single conquest, one of them might end up dead.

In fact, wasn’t it true that Black Cat nearly died before?

If it hadn’t been for Fang Zheng stepping in to protect them, they might have already lost a companion by now.

In the face of life and death, the moral norms of the world indeed seem to become less significant.

However, just as Asuna was deep in thought, she noticed Eiriri approaching her, staring at her seriously.

"Alright, now it’s your turn, isn’t it?"

"...Me?"

"Yes."

Eiriri nodded her head.

"I’ve told you so many embarrassing things, these are my secrets. In exchange, shouldn’t you tell me your secret?"

"Wh-what secret?"

Hearing this, Asuna appeared a bit panicked, hurriedly shaking her head.

"I don’t have any secrets?"

"Do you think I don’t know? Mr. Fang Zheng has already told me the truth, Asuna. I’ve seen people who are obsessed with doujinshi and can’t extricate themselves, but someone as severe as you is very rare and quite abnormal. Even if people usually read doujinshi, they wouldn’t become so engrossed."

Saying this, Eiriri stared intently at Asuna.

"...Are you avoiding something?"