Unexpectedly, Ash did not look very surprised. He only held Sonia tighter and tighter, as if he wanted to knead her into his own body.
Sonia pressed her lips together, her eyes misting over, but her voice grew even more alluring. "Please? I'm willing to help you build your harem. Never mind Freya and the others—there are also Daedalus, Qinna, and all those women connected to you. You can enjoy yourself as much as you want. Even if Witch and the others have objections, I'll help you."
"If you're asking whether it's good, then of course it is."
Ash said slowly, "But if you're asking whether I dare, then of course I don't."
"I really am willing."
"And I really don't dare." Ash's voice was a little hoarse. "Why? All told, we've only been apart for eight days. Why did you suddenly—"
"Because we both died once."
Sonia clutched Ash's back tightly with both hands, her ten fingers like thorns, hooked in and refusing to let go.
"You nearly died in Hell, and I nearly died in Heaven. The reason we can hold each other now and feel each other's warmth is because we received help from so, so many people." She sniffled softly and continued, "If Freya and the others hadn't helped me, I couldn't have Raised Heaven in time. If Witch and the others hadn't willingly taken the risk, I couldn't have unsealed Hell. If Elder Sister Death Frenzy hadn't sacrificed herself, you and I couldn't have reunited."
"Why were they willing to help you? Why were they willing to help me?"
Sonia let out a long, distant sigh, so deep it seemed like an echo squeezed out from the folds of her soul. "Because they love you."
"I always believed before that you only needed me, that