Chapter 64

For some reason, when Lingmeng saw Tohka looking like this, this sentence unconsciously popped into her head.

After all, Tohka now resembles a certain "unyielding" incense king from her past life.

Realizing that her expression seemed to have given away her thoughts, Tohka shook her head sharply.

"Well... it's nothing special. In that case, my cookies are still better."

As she spoke, Tohka placed the cookies in front of Shido.

"Come on, Shido! Whose do you want to eat more!"

"Huh!?"

Looking at the cookie boxes on either side of him, Shido showed a surprised expression.

Meanwhile, Lingmeng, who had been watching the whole thing from the sidelines, took out the cookies she had just made in cooking class from her pocket, opened the package, and started eating.

Lingmeng's expression now resembled that of someone watching a movie, with a sly smile on her face.

At the same time, he was also thinking about who Shido would choose.

Well, I'll die no matter which option I choose.

"Zhongsheng (awkwardly): 'I only planned to write two or three chapters of slice-of-life scenes, but it's gotten longer and longer. But these chapters are the beginning of the second volume of the original work, so it should be fine, right?'"

Chapter Seven: Physically and Mentally Exhausted

"Forehead..."

At this moment, Shido was being stared at with needle-like gazes by Tohka and Origami, while Lingmeng watched the show from the sidelines.

His eyes kept shifting back and forth between the cookies in the two people's hands. In fact, Shido knew very well that no matter which one he chose, he was bound to suffer the consequences.

Then--

Deciding to go all in, since he was going to die no matter which option he chose, Shido decided to go for both.

Then, he reached into each of their boxes and took a cookie, Shido them in his mouth and chewing them at the same time.

"Delicious! Everything is delicious!"

Shido forced a smile, intending to get away with it like this.

At that moment, discontented voices came from behind.

"Huh? You actually made such a pathetic choice? A real man should have decisively chosen only one option! Shido, you're such a loser."

The voice clearly belonged to Lingmeng in the back. Originally intending to watch the show, she instantly lost interest after seeing Shido's "I want them all" choice.

Well, although in most harem anime the male protagonist would choose Shido's option in this situation, Lingmeng still wants to see Love Rival Showdown scenario!

Shido was stunned for a moment, then spoke incoherently.

"Stop... stop nagging, it's not Lingmeng who gets to choose."

"It's precisely because I wasn't the one who chose that I'm saying such heartless things."

"..."

Looking at Lingmeng, who was smiling at him with her eyes half-closed, Shido's face was full of black lines.

Then--

"Oh! Shido is eating my cookies a little faster than you are!"

"No, I'm 0.02 seconds faster than you."

Tohka's Origami spoke almost simultaneously.

This time, they changed the topic of the competition from "whose cookies taste better" to "whose cookies Shido can eat faster."

Not only Shido, but even Lingmeng was speechless when she heard those words.

These two guys actually had to compete over such a trivial matter; they were truly impressed.

More importantly, this kind of thing happens almost every day, and it's not the first time.

"That..."

With his body positioned within their line of sight, Shido felt an inexplicable sense of Oppression.

Next--

"Ha!"

"..."

In the very next second, as expected, Tohka and Origami aimed their attacks at each other's vital points with astonishing speed.

However, naturally, Shido, standing between the two, took all the hits.

"Puff--"

Shido let out a painful cry and collapsed to the ground after his head and abdomen were struck by the fists of the two girls.

At the same time, Lingmeng glanced at Shido on the ground and shook her head with pity.

"Tsk tsk tsk, being the male lead in a harem must be tough, Shido."

----------------This is the dividing line for the transfer time

Sigh~

With the gait of an old man, Shido was walking down a residential street as the sun began to set.

His face was etched with exhaustion, and his bangs, which almost covered his eyes, had lost their luster.

Although she is only sixteen years old, she looks decades older than her actual age.

"Sigh~"

Shido sighed heavily again.

Just then, an impatient voice came from behind him.

"Can you stop sighing and complaining? You're not a seventy-year-old man."

Looking behind, what came into view was Ayame, her arms crossed in front of her chest, looking quite Lingmeng.

Seeing that he looked very tired, the girl in front of him specially accompanied him home.

However, perhaps because she had been sighing ever since school ended, the girl was getting a little impatient.

Realizing that his actions seemed to have affected Lingmeng, Shido gave a slight wry smile and then said apologetically.

"Ah... I'm sorry Lingmeng, I've been too tired lately, that's why I'm like this."

Ever since Tohka Transfer, she and Origami have been arguing every day.

If it were just the usual petty squabbles of ordinary high school girls, Shido wouldn't have gone to such lengths.

But those two girls weren't ordinary high school girls—

One is a powerful creature called "Elf," capable of destroying everything, known as "Cataclysm."

The other is Wizard in the Self-Defense Forces who fights against the Elf Forces (AST).

Both were girls with extraordinary abilities far exceeding those of ordinary people.

Shido, who is still considered Ordinary Person Shido, is forced to stand between these two and try to mediate their fight, which is really beyond his capabilities.

Both Flesh and mentally exhausted, I felt like I was barely surviving.

Seeing Shido's haggard appearance, Lingmeng shook her head and sighed helplessly, as if imitating him just now.

"Ah, don't be so sad. Shido, don't forget, you swore an oath to conquer all the spirits and become the King of the Spirits (harem)! How can you let such a small thing make you so upset?"

"The Elf King? What kind of strange setting is that? I don't remember making such an oath."

Seeing that Lingmeng seemed to be adding some inexplicable character settings to herself, Shido's lips twitched involuntarily.

Well, in a sense, Lingmeng is not wrong.

In response, Lingmeng simply waved her hand casually and smiled.

"Oh, don't worry about the details. In anime, your situation would be a classic case of a harem going on fire. You'll get used to it."

After all, building a harem always requires some sacrifice. I believe Shido as long as you don't get carried away and sleep with every girl you see, Shido, there won't be any major problems."

As she spoke, the image of a headless knight appeared in Lingmeng's mind.

That person only thinks with their lower body, then mishandles the harem issue, and ultimately fails miserably.

He's probably still on a ship, honeymooning with his girlfriend using his own head as a prop (laughs).

"..."

Shido remained silent.

Although I hate to admit it, from an outsider's perspective, I am indeed a playboy who juggles two relationships and might even juggle more.

Noticing that Shido was still frowning, Lingmeng didn't say anything. She simply took off her backpack, unzipped it, and reached inside, seemingly looking for something.

Then--

"Got it!"

Seemingly having found what she was looking for, Lingmeng took it out and placed it in front of Shido.

"Here, would you like some?"

"This is?"

Coming to his senses, Shido looked at what Lingmeng was holding and realized it was a transparent plastic bag containing many pretty cookies.

She tilted her head slightly and smiled gently. Lingmeng began.

"These are cookies I made in cooking class. I wasn't originally planning to give them to you, but seeing how pitiful you are, I'll reluctantly give them to you. I've heard that eating something sweet can make you feel better when you're in a bad mood."

"Oh... thank you."

Shido took the cookies from Lingmeng and nodded his thanks.

To be honest, he was quite surprised that Lingmeng would give him cookies.

Why am I feeling a strange sense of joy?

Chapter Eight: The Sudden Downpour

Shido removed the rubber band used to seal the plastic bag, took out a cookie, looked at it, and then put it in his mouth without thinking much about it.

Then, the instant his tongue touched the biscuit, Shido suddenly opened his eyes wide.

It wasn't because the cookies were bad. On the contrary, the cookies were surprisingly delicious.

Its crispy texture and tempting flavor even surpass those from big-name brands, right?

While chewing on a biscuit, Shido thought to himself.

Although it's unclear whether it's true, as Lingmeng said, that "eating sweets makes you feel better," Shido's mood does seem to have improved considerably.

"Delicious! I've never had such delicious cookies before."

Without any intention of keeping his thoughts to himself, Shido directly spoke his mind.

In response, Lingmeng simply puffed out her ample chest and spoke in a humble tone.

"Haha, just so-so, third in the world!"

Well, that's what I said, but Lingmeng was actually quite pleased with herself.

Lingmeng slung her backpack back over her shoulder and glanced at Shido.

"How are you feeling? Are you feeling better?"

"Hmm, much better."

"That's good, let's go."

Before Lingmeng could Shido, Ayame walked forward.