"You should have done this from the beginning. Her alcohol tolerance is nothing I have ever seen before…"
Himeko let go of Theresa's shoulders while giving me a strange look. She returned to her seat as if nothing happened. Then she picked up another shot glass and downed it in one go.
"Fwu…"
I felt speechless upon seeing her casually drinking yet another glass. I looked down at the sleeping Teriri, resisting the urge to touch her cheeks. My left hand went behind her knees while my right hand supported her back. I carried her to the comfortable-looking sofa and gently lifted her down. Her faint breaths carried the scent of floral wine. Her flushed cheeks reminded me of her fanatical side whenever I presented my blood to her.
"You don't seem to consider her as your in-law. Won't your wife at home be angry at you?"
I turned around and saw Himeko's half-curious, half-joking look.
"I talked about it with her before."
"Oh?"
I continued explaining amidst her astonished looks.
"I am not blind to others' affections. The fact I kept dragging it on until now is a huge mistake of mine. But I… we realized I shouldn't have done it in the first place."
If I wanted to, I could have gone on a 'marriage' spree and sealed the deal with more than half of my partners in one go.
I did not.
For once, I saw it as a compromise they might not be willing to take. Even if they are, it could end up with them being hurt. Thus, I gave them more time with the pretext of seclusions and the likes. I wanted them to think… if I am worthy of their affection.
It is this guilt that made me apprehensive of starting a "harem" back then. It is very unfair to the other party. If Kiana didn't talk with me back then—to talk me into accepting Seele—I would have rejected them. It is painful, that I know, but I don't want to hurt Kiana even more.
The thousand years of isolation back in the Thirteenth Titan's tomb allowed me to realize not just Remembrance, but also reflect on my past actions. I could have found the perfect time to confront others instead of dragging it for so long. What Wendy did is a reminder.
They would get hurt more the longer I keep them hanging.
Hence I did not reject Theresa's advances just now. I remained silent, understanding where these affections came from—and whether or not I held the same sentiment as hers.
"We agreed on one thing." I said. "I will have a good talk with my partners… and see where it will lead us in the future."
Himeko fell silent. She did not refill her shot glass as usual. Instead, her gaze lingered around me for a good while. Her lips let out a somewhat entertained smile, mixed with a hint of disbelief.
"Now I see why others… nevermind." She paused momentarily before speaking, "I am also a part of that, no? Then let's continue drinking."
I sat down and accepted her invitation for another round of drinking.
*****
Himeko's meeting with Shi Tian could be counted on two hands. They are either formal occasions or decisive battles. Not once did she see who he truly was. Everything she had heard of him are from hearsays.
For once, the public has an overwhelmingly good opinion of him. He was seen as the esteemed Dao Ancestor, the First Cultivator that brought Earth into its current prosperity. At the same time, he is also one of the heroes who fought against the Honkai. The biography written by Sin Mal helped contribute to that endeavor.
There was even a time where he garnered an obsessive following. It was nothing short of a cult. Fortunately, it died down as he appeared less and less into the public eye. Shi Tian's fame blended into the background, being treated as a historical hero and a revolutionary genius. The only other time he appeared was during his Divine Transformation Realm breakthrough. He showed everyone that it could be done. That humans could also reach that level of power through hard work and personal dedication.
In the eyes of others, he is akin to an end of the road. They could not chase his figure, but they could still chase his back.
In short, Shi Tian is Earth's spiritual pillar.
No one could point out a flaw in him… not even his apparent polygamy with six wives. That was what Himeko found incredulous about it.
'What is so special about him?'
As one of his 'partners', she had long been embroiled with the situation around him. Himeko heard gossip about his two psychotic students who once fought on the Moon for some illusory chance that would bring them closer to him.
Before she knew it, she found herself becoming more and more curious. That was until she finally met him today.
'A rabbit.'
That was the only thing she could think of. The peerless First Cultivator, the Dao Ancestor responsible for the spread of the Dao, turned out to be a gentle and kind person in private!
Himeko knew men deep enough to understand some things. Most influential people generally had a following of women behind them. They were the type to get flattered the more women that liked them. A good majority of her failed dates came from Himeko's flamboyant and independent personality. Those men knew they would have their balls crushed the moment they chose Himeko as their wife. As for the rest, they had no women around them. It's just that they disliked Himeko for being too 'strong', both physically and spiritually.
Shi Tian was the equivalent of a mythical find. A golden fish Himeko would have never let go back when she completed blind dates upon blind dates. Though he appeared strong and determined, he remained very considerate of others' feelings. His consideration went as far as to make him feel guilty for others liking him!
He was someone Himeko would have never thought existed, yet he did.
'No wonder others love him.'
The once inexplicable actions of others started to make sense in her eyes. She looked at his contemplating look again. A thought started to bud inside her heart.
'If I am in their position…'