"You what?" I blinked.
"To build my own harem," Trent repeated with full conviction. "I have to learn."
The words echoed in my head like a bad punchline to a joke no one should've told.
I just… stared at him.
"…Just die."
"W-Wait! What!?" Trent stumbled back half a step. "Why would you say that!?"
"Because that was the dumbest thing I've heard all week," I said flatly.
He opened his mouth to argue—then shut it, sheepishly.
"You're… really against harems, huh?"
"No," I said with a tired sigh, brushing my hair back. "I'm against morons thinking they can gather a group of girls like it's a damn Pokémon team. You're not building relationships, you're recruiting like it's a cult."
"I-I wouldn't call it a cult."
"You just said 'build my own harem' with your chest like it was some noble goal."
"I mean…" he scratched his cheek. "Don't all the greats in history have multiple lovers? Kings, heroes, sword saints, the guy who tames dragons—"
