“Waait a moment!”

As I arrived at the ceremonial hall, Manarisama was just about to kiss Claire-sama .

I hurriedly stopped her, but it was truly within a hair’s breadth .

Everyone’s gazes gathered on me .

Their expressions turned uniformly into surprise .

No surprise .

I was in tatters .

“You’re slow”

“Ah, I met some unexpected difficulties”

After lightly apologizing to Misha who said I was worried, I forced my way towards Claire-sama and Manarisama .

“You didn’t run away . I acknowledge you for at least this much”

Manarisama said so with a displeased face .

“Who would escape . I’ve said I absolute won’t lose, right?”

Threateningly sticking out my tongue, I pulled Claire-sama’s hand to separate them .

Claire-sama looked at me with a complicated expression .

“You…”

“Claire-sama, please be at ease . I won’t hand over Claire-sama”

Breathing roughly, I declared to Claire-sama .

“Even if you say so, the match has already started . I don’t know what kind of an offering you brought, but my offering is a floss flower . There’s no better offering than it, is there?”

Saying so, Manarisama held out a s.h.i.+ning flower .

“Even if you bring a floss flower, it’s first come, first served . I’m the winner no matter――”

“This is my offering”

Interrupting Manarisama, I took “it” from my bag .

“What is that… branch?”

It’s as Claire-sama muttered, my offering is a tree branch .

At first glance it’s a plain branch .

“Have you only managed to obtain such a thing?”

“No, I’ve been searching for this all this time”

While everyone, especially Manarisama, was suspicious, I said full of confidence .

“You’ll understand when I dedicate it”

Hurry up, I urged Manarisama .

Claire-sama is looking here anxiously, but I nodded to rea.s.sure her that I’m alright .

“Sure thing . Then why don’t we dedicate them”

Saying so, Manarisama stepped towards the love scales .

Although the love scales are made from old-looking wood, they have a st.u.r.dy appearance .

Rather than extravagantly, they’re decorated in a refined manner, they possess dignity worthy of a sacred treasure granted by G.o.d .

“Then, my turn . From within my heart, unto G.o.d’s judgment”

After reciting the pa.s.sage from the Amour’s Poem a little theatrically, Manarisama reverently dedicated the floss flower to the scales .

The flower dedicated to the scales s.h.i.+ned all the brighter .

It’s an appropriate offering to be extolled in the legend .

The scales tilted greatly .

“I’m next . I dedicate”

Not saying the line from the legend on purpose, I dedicated the branch to the scales .

There’s no sign of the scales moving .

“I knew it, I’m the wi――”

When Manarisama was about to finish, rumbling resounded .

“Earthquake!?”

The surroundings became noisy, but it’s not the ground that shook .

What shook was the love scales .

“What?”

Someone raised a puzzled voice .

Looking at the branch, it sprouted shoots .

That’s not all .

One after another roots sprang, the branch quickly grew, and in the twinkling of an eye became a large tree .

The scales greatly tilted towards it .

“Floss lost to a branch…? This branch… what in the world…?”

I said to Manarisama who muttered overcome with surprise .

“It’s called Intertwined Branch”

It’s a little different from Bai Juyi’s The Song of Everlasting Regret .

The Intertwined Branch is a rare drop from monsters called Intertwined Trees which inhabit the depths of the forest where the ceremonial hall is located .

The Intertwined Branch is a rare drop from monsters called Intertwined Trees which inhabit the depths of the forest where the ceremonial hall is located .

Intertwined Trees are very strong monsters resistant to magic, but as a matter of fact they do have a weak point .

Slimes’ secretion rots them .

With the help from my familiar Relaire, I’ve been devotedly hunting Intertwined Trees .

The branch only dropped just now .

“Weren’t floss flowers the best offering…?”

“Among the offerings known until now, floss flowers were certainly the best . But, I searched for a better offering”

I think everyone already noticed, but this is the fruit of the game knowledge .

In Revolution, there’s also a love scales episode .

Fundamentally, it’s okay if you can obtain a floss flower, but if you obtain the Intertwined Branch you can see a special still .

In other words, the Intertwined Branch is a hidden item .

To win using the game knowledge, I wonder if some people are uncomfortable with that .

Probably .

Even I at first didn’t intend to use the knowledge of the Intertwined Branch .

I felt it was unfair to bring into love the knowledge obtained through the unique situation of transmigration .

Even if the opponent was Manarisama whom I detest .

But, I realized .

No, I should say I was made to realize .

You can’t win at love if you say such pretty things .

It’s exactly as the song Love is War1 from my previous life says .

You can’t win love with just words .

If I really want to obtain Claire-sama, I can’t care about appearances .

That’s why, I intentionally broke the restrictions I imposed on myself .

I want to show Claire-sama my feelings no matter what .

“Claire-sama”

“…?”

I addressed Claire-sama who’s still overcome with surprise .

I straightened my posture, looked her directly into eyes and said .

“I honestly don’t care about such a match”

“Eh…?”

Claire-sama’s eyes shook in unease .

But it’s different .

That’s not what I want to say .

“I can’t love like in the story . As you’re aware, I can’t say important things without making light of them”

But, I continued .

“Even if I weren’t recognized by the G.o.d’s scales, I would still love you . Whoever lost, I would still continue loving you . That’s why――”

I knelt before Claire-sama and took her hand―― .

I knelt before Claire-sama and took her hand―― .

“Rather than a maid, would you make me your partner?”

Not with the pa.s.sage from the story but with my own words, I wished to be loved by Claire-sama for the first time .

“… You truly are…”

Tears appeared in Claire-sama’s eyes .

I don’t know what type of tears they are .

But―― .

Claire-sama smiled .

“Hahaha! Ah, I completely lost!”

When the atmosphere started getting good, Manarisama’s cheerful laughter resounded .

“Manarisama . We’re at a good spot so please read the air”

“No way . As I thought, you’re great . The best”

Saying so, Manarisama hugged me .

“Hold on, Manarisama”

“No, I thought you’re good, but I didn’t expect you to go to such lengths . Mmhm, you’re for sure fit to be my partner”

What is this person saying .

“O, Onee-sama, what does this mean…?”

“Ah, sorry, Claire . From the start my objective was Rei . Rei’s reactions were fun, so I just teased her by getting close to Claire”

Te he, Manarisama stuck out her tongue and laughed .

Now that we’re on this topic, I remembered her setting from the setting materials .

Manarisama in the game fell in love with the protagonist .

That’s why Manarisama supported her .

Since I had a poor impression of Manarisama in this world, it completely slipped my mind .

“Hey, Manarisama . Please let me go”

“No way . I’ll take you back to Sousa like this”

“I refuse!”

“Mmhm, you’re even sweeter when you are displeased . I love such you”

Right as Manarisama said that, she forcibly brought her lips near me .

“Wait, sto――”

When Manarisama was about to steal my lips .

“Doooon’t!!!”

A loud shriek-like scream grandly resounded throughout the crowded ceremonial hall .

“Doooon’t!!!”

A loud shriek-like scream grandly resounded throughout the crowded ceremonial hall .

“Rei is mine! Don’t steal what’s mine!”

The person surprised the most by that voice was none other than me .

Its owner was Claire-sama .

Everyone is dumbfounded .

“C, Claire-sama…?”

When I nervously called out to her, although it’s too late now Claire-sama seemed to comprehend the meaning of what she blurted out .

“It, it is different! What I have just said does not mean――!”

“Claire-samaa!!!”

I couldn’t control the feelings welling up in my heart, so I instinctively embraced Claire-sama tightly .

“Hey, separate from me!”

“Don’t want to . I love you, Claire-sama!”

I am so happy I embraced Claire-sama and didn’t let her go .

“I dislike it! Se-prte-fro-m-me!”

“Didn’t you say I’m yours!”

“You are annoying! Forget it!”

We had a lively exchange .

The first like that in a while .

“Manarisama, excuse my impoliteness, but I think that’s it for the match?”

“Yup, looks like it”

Misha and Manarisama said so while watching us frolicking about .

“Love with the same s.e.x is a th.o.r.n.y path . I’d wish a happier love for Rei and Claire, but――”

“But?”

Misha urged her to continue .

“But, it’s fine . Those two are unlikely to regret their love”

Saying so, Manarisama gave a broad smile like she became unbound by something .

“Se-prte-fro-m-me!”

“Don-t-wan-t-to”

Claire-sama and I didn’t hear the conversation between Manarisama and Misha as we could freely frolic about for the first time in a while .

But, it goes without saying that my heart was more satisfied than ever .