After a long silence following the shocking words Isis-san had just spoken, I slowly opened my mouth as if to confirm the reality of it.
"……In other words, this world practices 'polygamy'?"
"……Polygamy? ……What…… is that?"
"Ah, well……"
I see, so the word 'polygamy' doesn't even exist here……
Realizing this from the way Isis-san tilted her head in confusion, I started by explaining the concept.
"Basically, it's a system where one husband has multiple wives."
"……Then…… this world…… is like that…… This world is? ……Is Kaito’s world…… different?"
After nodding in understanding at my explanation, she tilted her head again.
It was a little late to be noticing this, but…… her face was so close! Since she was still clinging to me, our faces were at a distance that made my heart hammer against my ribs.
However, Isis-san’s gaze was purely serious, and I felt it would be wrong to try and awkwardly change the subject.
So, for the time being, I decided to let my reason fight the good fight and continued the conversation.
"Yes. In my world…… there might be exceptions I’m unaware of, but basically, it's a system of one husband and one wife."
"……Is that so? ……Why?"
"Eh? Ah, no, even if you ask me why……"
Even if she asked me why we practiced monogamy, I could only really say it was because it was the common sense of my world.
However, the same could be said for Isis-san’s side. I suppose it was just a case of common sense shifting when the world changed.
In any case, polygamy seemed to be the norm here, and it appeared it wasn't considered strange at all for one man to be involved with multiple women.
I wondered why it had turned out that way.
The moment that question popped into my mind, words I had heard before surfaced in my memory.
—Megiddo, it seems that in the 'otherworld', the number of boys and girls is almost the same, you know?
That’s right. Kuro had definitely said that.
At the time, I had been swept up in the moment and didn't pay it much mind, but thinking about it now…… that phrasing suggested that this world was different.
Which meant, in other words……
"Isis-san. May I ask you something?"
"……Yes."
"In this world, is it possible that…… 'there are more females than males'?"
Yes, if I looked at it that way, many things started to make sense.
Most of the people I had met since arriving in this world were female, and female heads of households or even emperors seemed to be perfectly normal.
Come to think of it, even among the people I saw in the city…… I felt like there were more women.
"……Yes…… There are…… significantly more…… women than men."
"I-I knew it……"
"……For example…… the Gods are all female…… There isn't a single male."
"Eh? Is that true!?"
"……Yes…… All Gods are female…… but…… they cannot have children."
Another shocking fact came to light: all the Gods were apparently female.
I had only met Shiro-san, Chronoa-san, and Fate-san, but it was true they were all women.
As for their inability to have children, I recalled Fate-san mentioning something to that effect.
"……Among Humankind…… there are both men and women…… but there are more women."
"I see…… Is it the same for Demons?"
"……Demons are…… a bit…… complex…… Some have no gender…… like Megiddo…… and some can change it freely…… like Kuromueina or…… Shaltier."
"Come to think of it, I remember hearing something like that."
I already knew that Kuro could change her gender at will since she had told me herself…… but this was the first time I had heard that Megiddo-san had no gender and that the Phantasm King could also change at will.
"……By the way…… Lilliwood and I…… are female…… Magnawell is…… a male."
"I see…… I understand now. Thank you."
"……No…… If there is anything you want to know…… ask me…… anything."
Based on Isis-san’s explanation, it seemed this world really did have a higher population of females than males.
Moreover, the gender ratio might be quite extremely skewed. Perhaps that was why polygamy had naturally become the accepted norm.
Now, I understood that this world practiced polygamy, but…… it wasn't as if the thought of 'Then I'll date lots of women!' immediately occurred to me just because I’d heard that. Well, in the first place, there was no way an inexperienced guy like me would suddenly end up in a situation where I was dating many people anyway.
At any rate, I might not be able to adjust to this world's common sense right away…… but, perhaps, I felt relieved.
I liked Kuro…… but now, I was also starting to be drawn to Isis-san.
While I felt pathetic for my indecisiveness, I also felt a sense of relief that I didn't have to reject Isis-san’s feelings by being forced to choose one over the other.
Well, even if I were to confess to Kuro…… I didn't even know if she would accept me in the first place.
I…… what on earth should I do?
Isis-san said it didn't matter what rank she held, and that she loved me even if I loved someone else.
I was truly happy…… but right now, I hadn't organized my heart enough to accept those feelings immediately.
"……Isis-san."
"……Yes?"
"……May I say something…… very selfish?"
"……Eh? ……Yes."
Staring at Isis-san with a serious expression, I began to voice the feelings I still hadn't fully processed.
"……As I said before, the world I grew up in was one where you only date one person. That’s why, even hearing that this world practices polygamy, I can't change my way of thinking right away."
"……Yes."
Hearing my words, Isis-san lowered her gaze with a slightly lonely expression.
However, that expression shifted completely once she heard the words that followed.
"So…… could you wait for me?"
"……Eh?"
"Once I’ve found my resolve, I’m going to tell Kuro…… the feelings I have in my heart. And after that, I will think about this properly."
"……Think about it?"
"Yes. I’ll think carefully about my own feelings…… and once I’ve found the resolve to accept your feelings, Isis-san…… at that time, I will be the one to confess to you!"
"……!?!?"
I would stop being indecisive and weighing things in my heart.
I would tell Kuro the feelings I had now—that I loved her. And then, I would not run away from, but accept the feelings for Isis-san that were beginning to blossom in my heart.
That meant…… it was equivalent to choosing to stay in this world instead of returning to my original home.
That was exactly why I couldn't decide right now.
I loved this world…… but my uncle and aunt…… the people who had raised me until now, were in my original world.
I couldn't just…… discard them so easily.
"It might take some time. Even so, well…… will you wait for me?"
I knew this was a truly selfish request.
Even though Isis-san felt so strongly about me, I was asking to put her answer on hold.
After a long silence, Isis-san smiled as large tears began to stream from her eyes.
"……Yes…… I’ll wait…… forever…… for however long it takes…… My feelings…… for Kaito…… will never fade…… I’ll love you forever and ever…… By the time Kaito gives me an answer…… I will love…… Kaito…… even more."
"……Isis-san."
"……Kaito…… I love you…… so…… until you are satisfied…… you can think…… as much as you want."
"……Thank you."
Receiving such straightforward, pure feelings, I was overcome with emotion and pulled Isis-san into a tight hug.
I was truly a lucky man…… to have such a wonderful person harbor feelings for me. It was a stroke of good fortune so great that even using up a lifetime’s worth of luck wouldn't be enough to pay for it.
Dear Mother, Father—I never considered it when I first came to this world, but in my heart…… the option of staying in this world is beginning to take root. That feeling is painful yet happy…… and to have met people who make me think I don't want to leave, that I want to be with them, is truly——a happy thing.