The One Who Chose Me
[Love Meter – Lily: 97%]
The countdown in the sky was relentless.
[Time Until Final Wave: 5 Hours, 42 Minutes.]
But right now, I didn't care.
After twelve long days, I was finally back where I had last seen Emma.
And to my shock, she was still here.
Standing in the exact same spot where I had left her.
Her gaze lifted.
Our eyes met.
Time froze.
Neither of us hesitated.
We ran to each other, everything else fading away.
The moment I reached her, she threw herself into my arms, clutching me tightly.
A broken sob escaped her lips.
"Ethan…" She buried her face in my chest. "Where did you go?!"
Her whole body trembled, her fingers gripping my clothes like she was afraid I'd disappear again.
"I was so scared… I—I thought I lost you…"
Her voice broke as she clung to me.
"Please, Ethan… don't leave me again…"
I felt my heart shatter.
She had always been strong, but now she was just a girl—terrified, desperate, and relieved beyond words.
Her small, trembling frame pressed into me. That's when I noticed—she had injuries.
Bruises. Scratches. Deep cuts.
Without thinking, I activated my healing skill.
A warm glow wrapped around her, closing her wounds.
Her breathing steadied.
After a long while, she finally calmed down, though her grip on me never loosened.
I held her shoulders gently. "Emma… where's my family?"
She sniffled, wiping her eyes. "Mom and Dad are safe… They're resting in a nearby ruin. We found shelter. You don't have to worry."
Relief flooded me.
"Thank god…" I exhaled.
I suddenly bit my lip, hesitating.
Then, she looked into my eyes—and in them, I saw something raw and painful.
"Emma… Thank you."
She blinked. "For what?"
"For everything."
She stepped back slightly, rubbing her arms.
"I'm alive today because of you. You saved me when I was at my worst. You had every chance to abandon me. But you didn't."
My voice cracked.
"And even now… Even after everything… You're still here."
I inhaled shakily.
Then she says.
"I don't care if your system forces you to take monster wives. I don't care how many you have to marry."
Her eyes softened.
"I just want to be with you."
Her words hit me like a storm.
I felt my chest tighten, emotions crashing into me.
Tears welled in my eyes.
She chose me.
She accepted me, despite everything.
Despite the fact that I was bound to a system that forced me into relationships with monster girls… she still chose to love me.
I felt my vision blur.
Before I knew it, tears streamed down my face.
I broke down, crying.
But this time, I wasn't crying from pain.
I was crying because I felt loved.
Emma wrapped her arms around my neck, pressing her forehead against mine.
"Ethan, you idiot," she whispered, her breath warm against my skin. "Stop crying already. You're making me cry again too."
I laughed weakly through my tears.
And then—
A soft, slimy warmth pressed against me from behind.
Lily.
She had changed into her human form and wrapped her arms around both of us, pulling us into a tight embrace.
A three-way hug.
I felt her cool, soft body pressing against me as she whispered, "Master, I don't like seeing you sad. I love you."
Emma tightened her hold on me.
I closed my eyes.
For the first time in a long while…
I felt safe.
I felt home.