Chapter 233: In This World, You’re the Star
Martin turned his head toward her. "That sounded surprisingly reasonable."
"Do not interrupt me while I’m being wise."
"Sorry."
"Our lives are complicated. Cassandra has companies, employees, rivals, and people waiting for her to make a mistake. Elisebeth has tours, fans, contracts, and almost no privacy. Katherine and I have cameras following us, people inventing relationships for publicity, and entire teams deciding which parts of our lives the public gets to see."
She glanced toward the path.
"A normal date could become a headline. One careless picture could turn you into a target. You need to learn more about the celebrity world."
"Exactly."
"And you can’t learn it in a few days."
Martin nodded. "Exactly."
Over the past few days, Martin had learned enough to stop pretending he understood their lives. A careless comment that meant nothing between ordinary people could become a rumor once a famous name was attached to it. Managers controlled schedules, public appearances were planned in advance, and strangers could tear apart a friendship based on one photograph.
Martin used to think celebrities simply lived easier versions of normal lives. After meeting the women behind those public images, he knew better.
Their money and influence opened doors he could barely imagine, but fame also meant that people watched every choice they made.
Alexandra shifted her weight behind the bench. "That is our world."
She lifted one hand and gestured around the academy. "This one is yours."
Martin followed her gesture toward the Light Tree, the buildings carved into the surrounding trunks, and the players moving between quest boards.
"It belongs to the elders."
"You know what I mean."
"Cassandra leads Night Espresso."
"I know. I’m not trying to steal her title and give it to you."
Alexandra placed her palm against his chest.
"Cassandra leads the guild. You connect the people inside it."
Martin frowned, but she continued.
"You brought our party together. Elisebeth became more confident here because you treated her like NukEncore instead of a famous diva. Cassandra remembered why she enjoyed games in the first place. I found the rival I wanted. Katherine entered because of me, but you gave her a reason to become part of the group."
"That last part sounds suspicious."
"It’s still true."
Alexandra ignored his doubtful look.
"NPCs trust you, and players follow your calls. Even when our group splits up, everyone eventually gathers around you again. Cassandra told you the same thing when she made you vice leader."
Martin remembered her words.
People gather around you and remain there.
He looked back toward the academy.
The game had not erased the gap between their lives. Cassandra still carried herself like someone used to running companies. Elisebeth could fill a stadium, while Katherine and Alexandra appeared on screens across the country.
Here, however, none of that decided every interaction before it began.
Martin knew what he could offer. He could protect people, find routes, understand monsters, and earn trust through what he did. When the party faced a problem, nobody cared how many followers he had or what kind of apartment waited for him after he logged out.
They wanted to know whether he would stand with them.
"In the real world, you look at us and see stars," Alexandra said, pulling him closer again. "But in this world, Martin, you’re the star."
"That sounds dramatic."
"I’m an actress."
"That explains it."
She flicked his forehead.
"Ow."
"You’re the person who connects us all."
Martin rubbed the spot she had hit. "You’re giving me too much credit."
"You always say that when someone gives you the correct amount."
"I’m not the center of the world."
"Not the world."
Alexandra smiled down at him. "Ours."
Martin stopped rubbing his forehead.
Voices carried from the quest boards, and someone shouted near the Light Tree, but he barely noticed.
Praise still made him uncomfortable, especially from someone whose life had once seemed so far above his own. A few weeks ago, he would have laughed at the idea that Alexandra could see him as the important one between them.
Now he could not dismiss it so easily.
She had known him since the beginning, back when he had almost nothing in this world except a shield and the need to prove himself. She had watched everything change from up close. If Alexandra really believed he had become the person holding everyone together, perhaps he should at least listen.
She studied his face for another moment.
"You are the man, Martin."
He stared up at her. "What does that even mean?"
"It means you need to stop sitting still while every woman around you does all the work."
"We’re back to that?"
"We never left."
Martin groaned and turned toward the academy again. "I just explained why I can’t start making moves on everyone."
"I heard you."
"It doesn’t sound like it."
"You’re afraid that answering one woman will hurt the others. You think choosing wrong will destroy the group, so you’ve decided not to choose anything."
"That isn’t what I said."
"It’s what you’re doing."
Martin’s jaw tightened.
Alexandra placed both hands on his shoulders. Her chest still rested warmly against the back of his head, but the conversation had finally pushed that distraction aside.
"You keep telling yourself that waiting will protect everyone," she said. "It won’t. The women around you have already made their feelings obvious. If you refuse to answer, they’ll only become bolder while you get more confused."
"So what am I supposed to do?"
"Answer them."
"All of them?"
"Why not?"
Martin twisted around enough to look at her properly. "Because that’s insane?"
Alexandra smiled.
The expression immediately irritated him.
He had just admitted something he had barely been willing to face himself. He had told her he was afraid of losing the first real friends he had gained in years, and she looked amused.
"You don’t need to understand the celebrity world today," Alexandra continued. "You don’t need to choose one woman today, either."
"Then what are you suggesting?"
"Stop pretending you don’t understand what’s happening."
"I understand that all of you enjoy making my life difficult."
"That too."
Her arms slid around his shoulders again, drawing him back against her. Nearby players were still watching, but Alexandra ignored them.
"You enjoy our advances," she said. "You’re attracted to us, and none of us have exactly hidden what we want from you."
Martin’s expression hardened. "Alexandra."
"You only need to start answering us."
"Answering you how?"
Alexandra’s eyes brightened again.
"So... how about you answer all our advances and make it..."
She paused and watched Martin grow more uneasy.
Then she smiled.
"Harem Online?"