Haruto leaned in, his curiosity reaching a fever pitch.
"Is every reincarnation here from Earth?"
"Yes," Lilith replied firmly.
"I once overheard the gods talking. People born in this world simply don't have the spiritual capacity to handle a god's aura. That's why they pull souls from Earth—people who are either naturally powerful or possess a will that exceeds the limits of this reality."
Haruto's mind began to piece together the "game mechanics" of this world. So that's it, he thought. The gods summon us as their 'avatars,' force us to grind and purify their mana, and once we reach our peak, they delete the file and absorb the clean power. My God of Creation will eventually try to do the same to me.
He felt a cold shiver. He realized he wasn't just fighting a "Wizard Quest"—he was in a survival game against the creators themselves.
Lilith watched him closely. "Have you ever interacted with a god directly?"
"No," Haruto lied quickly. Internally, his mind went straight to the three goddesses living in his own house. Could they be planning to kill me too? No, they're my guides... but in this game, can I really trust anyone?
To break the tension, Haruto tried to lighten the mood.
"So, technically, you're what... 308 years old? What's your actual age then?"
Lilith's smile turned slightly sharp and dangerous. "Listen carefully," she said, her voice dropping an octave.
"I carry 308 years of memory, but I was reborn into this body exactly 18 years ago in this world. Physically and legally, I am an 18-year-old girl of this world. My memories are just 'save'. So yes, my age is 18. Don't you dare call me a granny."
Haruto nodded, finally piecing the logic together.
"So, you literally died and came back to life just to live on your own terms."
Lilith laughed, a sound that felt both youthful and ancient. "Exactly."
"But wait," Haruto asked, stopping near the entrance.
"How did you know for sure that I'm a reincarnation too? I mean, I hide my power pretty well."
Lilith smirked, pointing a finger toward his chest where his interface usually manifests. "
Your Heads-Up Display (HUD) gave you away. Normal humans in this world always have a standard blue HUD. Any variation in color—like my pink or your black—is a dead giveaway that you're an 'Outsider.' Plus, your title, 'Star-Child'... it's not something the system just hands out to locals."
She leaned in, her eyes reflecting the glowing sunset.
"So, tell me... which God are you the reincarnation of? Who is your 'Creator'?"
Haruto hesitated. He thought about his philosophy—deleting corrupt files and staying a "Free Bird." But Lilith had already shown him her soul (and her god-slaying past). If they were going to play this game together, he needed to put a card on the table.
"I'm the reincarnation of the God of Creation," Haruto said flatly.
The effect was instantaneous. The playful, confident smirk vanished from Lilith's face. She took a half-step back, her eyes widening in genuine fear. For a woman who had killed the Goddess of Beauty, the mention of the God of Creation—the source of all files in the system—was enough to make her blood run cold.
The fear in Lilith's eyes didn't last long. Instead, it transformed into a sudden, wild burst of laughter. She looked at Haruto with an intensity that bordered on obsession; to her, he wasn't just a partner anymore—he was the ultimate "jackpot." The idea of being with the reincarnation of the God of Creation made her heart race, and her cheeks flushed a deep crimson just imagining the chaotic, overpowered future they would share.
Haruto, seeing her go from terrified to maniacally excited in a split second, felt a wave of pure discomfort. He took a step back, literally folding his hands in a gesture of "please, stop."
"Listen," Haruto said, his voice strained.
"I know your past is incredibly dark, and honestly, I want to know more about it eventually. But right now? We don't have time for this. And please... for the love of the game, go back to your old self. This version of you is creeping me out."
Lilith froze. She had expected Haruto to be disgusted or to break off their "engagement" after hearing she was a god-slayer. Instead, he was just asking her to be her usual, annoying self again. It was the most "Haruto" response possible—treating a world-shattering revelation like a minor glitch in his schedule.
She blinked, and like a light switch flipping, the "Creepy God-Slayer" mask vanished. She bounced back into her innocent, playful persona, her eyes sparkling with mischief again.
"Fine, fine! If you miss the 'cute' me that much, I'll oblige," she teased, standing up from the bench. As Haruto started to walk away, she called out with a knowing grin,
"But mark my words, future husband... the real fun starts once you break past Level 5. You have no idea what's waiting for you."
Haruto pulled his hand back slightly, trying to maintain his "Free Bird" distance.
"Wait a second. I still haven't agreed to this engagement, and I haven't even won the duel yet. I am not your husband."
Lilith didn't let him walk away that easily. She jumped up, ran toward him, and grabbed his hand, holding it tight as if she were afraid he'd vanish. "A reincarnation of the God of Creation doesn't have the option to lose, Haruto," she said, her voice a mix of playful teasing and dead seriousness.
"What now?" Haruto groaned, his mind flickering to the workshop. Toya's weapon is almost ready... I need to get there.
To change the subject and distract her, Haruto brought up her earlier comment.
"And what was that about Level 5?"
Lilith laughed, her eyes shimmering.
"Haha, just wait and see. I'm speaking from 308 years of experience. Just remember one thing when the road ahead gets dark: Problems are a part of life, but facing them is the art of life."
Haruto felt those words resonate deep within him. It sounded like a piece of code meant to stabilize a crashing system. But before he could process the "art" of it, Lilith's expression turned chillingly grave. She leaned in, her voice a ghost of a whisper.
"You were chosen as the reincarnation of the God of Gods, Haruto. Do you have any idea what the situation is in the Heavens right now? There is a standing order issued to every single deity in the 99th Layer: If you find the reincarnation of Nothingness or Creation, kill them on sight. At any cost."
Haruto stood there, stunned by the weight of her words.
"But why? Why would they want me dead at any cost?"
Lilith sighed, looking up at the first few stars appearing in the sky.
"Honestly? That's a mystery even to me. But the order is absolute. You have to be extremely careful. And as for the marriage..." She gave him a playful, confident look.
"You'll have to do it. Finding another player who is as beautiful and experienced as I am? Impossible."
Haruto actually found himself agreeing with that part—she was unique—but he shook his head.
"I've always preferred playing a solo game."
"Even solo games come with a multiplayer mode eventually," Lilith countered with a wink.
Haruto sighed, lowering his head. He felt the persistent pressure of her logic.
"Look, even if I wanted to, I couldn't be an 'ideal husband' if I tried."
Lilith softened her expression, her voice becoming gentle.
"Do you know what happened once? I asked a sculptor how he managed to make such a beautiful statue out of a plain block of stone. Do you know what he told me?"
"What?" Haruto asked, looking up.
"He said, 'I don't create anything. The statue is already inside the stone. I just remove the parts that aren't the statue.'" She stepped closer to him.
"It's the same logic for you, Haruto. No one starts as an ideal husband. You just have to remove the parts of yourself that aren't the husband."
The depth of the metaphor hit Haruto hard. It was a profound thought, even if applying it to "husband duties" felt a bit annoying and typical of Lilith's persistent nature. However, he felt a sense of relief; Lilith was finally back to her old self—teasing, philosophical, and energetic—instead of the creepy goddess-slayer from a few minutes ago.
Lilith laughed softly, shaking her head.
"Alright, I get it. That was a bit too deep for you. Just tell me plainly—how can I win you over?"
Haruto felt a flush of embarrassment creep up his neck. He looked away, scratching his cheek.
"Just... keep being this stubborn, I guess. Maybe I'll give in eventually."
As he said it, he reached out and gently patted her head, a small gesture of affection that he wouldn't have dared a few hours ago. He then turned and started walking toward the mansion. Lilith stood there for a second, her face turning a bright shade of pink, before quietly falling into step beside him. She didn't need a formal "yes" anymore; that head pat was all the confirmation she needed.
As they walked, Haruto couldn't help but steal another glance at her. Am I even worthy of someone like this? he wondered. Even if he wasn't ready to call himself her husband, he had to admit she was more beautiful than any goddess he could imagine. He thought to himself, Even if she isn't mine to hold yet, her beauty is always mine to admire.
Lilith noticed him watching her out of the corner of her eye, but she remained silent, a small, knowing smile on her lips. She was starting to see through his "Free Bird" persona. No matter how cold or detached Haruto tried to act, he was still human—and he clearly had a soft spot for the "cute" things in life, even if he'd never admit it.
As they reached the mansion doors, Haruto decided to bypass the main hall for now. His mind was fixed on the workshop, but Lilith tugged at his sleeve.
"One last round," she suggested with a playful tilt of her head.
"One more walk around the garden before we head inside."
Haruto didn't argue. He went along with it, the cool night air settling between them. As they walked, Lilith realized her plan was working; the cold, detached "system" Haruto was starting to show more human emotions. She could feel his guard lowering, piece by piece.
Haruto, on the other hand, was looking at her through a new lens. He saw a fellow traveler—someone who, like him, was just trying to enjoy a life that the "Gods" had rigged against them. He wanted to be a "Free Bird," but he realized that freedom was more meaningful when shared with someone who understood the weight of the sky.
Still, the "Gamer" in him remained focused. He told himself that he had to clear the immediate "Quest" first. He needed to win the duel against Kallen, secure Lilith's future from the King's political games, and master the new weapon waiting in the forge. Only after the corruption of the upcoming duel was "deleted" would he truly be ready to open the next chapter: The Romance Arc.