"……Why?"

Although Asuna had prepared herself mentally for all kinds of things when she asked the question, Eriri's answer still surprised her a little.

"No...dating?"

"That depends on what you're talking about. If you're talking about normal relationships in the world, like confessing love, dating, dating, etc... well, I think it's different from our relationship. Have you ever seen me go out on a date with Mr. Fang Zheng? I haven't been particularly affectionate with Mr. Fang Zheng in front of other people, right?"

“That’s… not wrong.”

Hearing Eriri's answer, Asuna nodded subconsciously. Indeed, Eriri had never shown any abnormality in front of others, so Asuna had never thought that she would date Fang Zheng. Therefore, when she saw the intimate scene between Eriri and Fang Zheng, Asuna was so surprised.

Looking at Asuna's confused expression, Eriri giggled.

"In fact, I did confess to Mr. Fang Zheng. At that time, Mr. Fang Zheng told me that he could accept my confession, but he also told me that he had several girlfriends. If I was still willing to confess to him after knowing this, then he would accept it."

"Why--?!"

Hearing this, Asuna screamed.

"Does Mr. Fang Zheng have several girlfriends?"

"At least that's what he said, and I don't think he was joking."

"But, but... I can't see that Mr. Fang Zheng is so... so..."

Asuna's eyes rolled around in confusion. She blinked and was stunned for a long time before she spoke.

"Such a... playboy?"

Just as Asuna said, Fang Zheng had always behaved like a gentleman in front of everyone. He never paid special attention to any particular girl, or took advantage of them. So Asuna had never thought that Fang Zheng would be a philandering man. But if what Eriri said was true, then Fang Zheng was not just a philanderer.

However, this time, Eriri did not speak immediately. She stared quietly at Asuna in front of her, and after a moment, she asked softly.

"Asuna, if it were you, would you like someone who is a playboy? Or someone who is loyal?"

"Of course he is a dedicated person."

This time, Asuna gave the answer without any hesitation, and Eriri just chuckled.

"You've never been in love before."

“Woo…”

"I used to think so too."

Eriri raised her head and looked at the blue sky outside the window.

"I once had a childhood sweetheart. I liked him very much, and I also hoped that he would like me. He would only have eyes for me and be with me forever. Then I would confess my love to him, and then we would date, get married, and live a happy life..."

Asuna didn't say much while listening to Eriri. In her opinion, this was normal. After all, Eriri's thoughts were also Asuna's thoughts, or most girls in the world thought so.

"…But I'm not the only girl around him."

Having said this, Eriri's eyes grew dim.

"The person he met in his destiny was not me. No matter how hard I tried, he just treated me as an ordinary childhood sweetheart. Of course, we are still friends, and very good friends. But that's it. He doesn't regard me as the most important person to him, let alone the only one for him."

Eriri shook her head and clenched her fists.

"The only beloved, the one who loves one person exclusively, that's the treatment that only the heroine can have. Have you ever watched harem anime? Asuna, the hero is always accompanied by several beautiful girls, and each beautiful girl has a secret crush on the hero, but in the end, what happens? The hero only chooses the heroine, so... what about the supporting characters? What should they do? What can they do?"

“…”

Asuna didn't say anything. To be honest, she didn't know what to say.

"I am just a supporting role, not the protagonist. I can't be like the heroine, and win the hero's favor and become his only one. No matter how hard I try, I can't win. Even if my opponent is a heroine who has no sense of existence like a passerby, as long as she is the heroine, then I can't win no matter what."

“…”

Asuna was speechless in the face of Eriri's words. As Eriri said, she had never been in a relationship, and Asuna didn't know much about this aspect. However, even so, she could still hear the heart-wrenching anger and sadness from Eriri's tone.

"I don't hate that kid. On the contrary, the heroine and I are good friends. But I still don't like this. Why is it like this? I have a best friend and a childhood sweetheart. Why does the combination of these two joys bring me such pain? If that guy wasn't so loyal, if he was a little more unfaithful, then would I have a chance?"

As she spoke, Eriri leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then opened her eyes and looked at Asuna again with a smile on her face.

"So, when Mr. Fang Zheng told me that he had another girlfriend but that he could accept my confession, I was very happy."

"……Why?"

Perhaps it was because the gap between the beginning and the end was so huge that Asuna's eyes widened for a moment, unable to react to the connection.

"I didn't lose. Although I can't be considered a winner, I didn't lose either. You see, there are champions, runners-up and third place winners in the competition. Although people often say that runners-up and third place winners are meaningless compared to champions, compared to other contestants who tried their best but got nothing, they at least got runners-up and third place, right? Their efforts were not completely in vain. At least, they also got the results of their efforts instead of getting nothing. Even if I am only the runner-up or third place winner, it is still better than those contestants who got nothing, isn't it?"

"But, but this is...not right, right?"

If Eriri's previous book shattered Asuna's romantic fantasy about love, then Eriri's words now completely overturned Asuna's view on love.

Although I know clearly that what she said is wrong, why does it sound so reasonable?!

"Indeed, from the perspective of worldly morality, it is wrong to do so."

However, Ying Lili acted very free and easy at this moment.

"But what does it matter?"

“What does it matter…?”

"That's right, Asuna. Look, why doesn't the world allow this? Although mistresses and lovers are often in the news, and there are many cases of celebrities cheating, why is it resisted by the world?"

"Um……"

This time, in response to Eriri's question, Asuna frowned and began to think hard.

"If you give birth to a child, wouldn't it be pitiful without a father? Also, if you're not married, there's no legal protection for your property... And if you do this, your parents will be sad if they find out."

"yes."

Ying Lili nodded readily.

"But what does this have to do with us? We are in the game now, not in reality."

"……Why?"

Asuna was completely stunned by this answer, while Eriri stood up and turned around with her arms spread out.

"Have you forgotten? Asuna, we are trapped in this game. Here, our bodies are just data. No matter how many times Mr. Fang Zheng and I have sex, we won't have a child. And my body in reality won't get pregnant. Not to mention, this is a death game. Although Mr. Fang Zheng has been trying hard to protect us, no one knows when an accident will happen."

At this point, Eriri's voice became a little low.

"As we conquer higher and higher floors, the bosses become more and more dangerous. Who knows, one of us might die in an accident. I don't want to die without ever having tasted love. At least now, I can taste happiness in the arms of the man I love. Even if it's just in the game, even if it's just a momentary dream, it's better than making efforts without any reward."

“…”

This time, Asuna did not answer. After all, Eriri was talking about a very realistic issue. That's right, compared to cheating, mistresses, lovers and the like, the most important thing for them right now is to conquer this death game.

However, even though Fang Zheng assured them that he would get everyone out safely, the girls knew deep down that one of them might die at any time, perhaps just because of a single attack.

In fact, didn’t the black cat almost die before?

If Fang Zheng had not stepped forward to protect them, they would probably have lost a companion by now.

In the face of life and death, the world's moral norms do not seem to be that important.

However, just as Asuna was lost in thought, she saw Eriri coming over and staring at her seriously.

"Okay, it's your turn next?"

"……I?"

"That's right."

Eriri nodded.

"I have said so many embarrassing things to you. These are all my secrets. In exchange, shouldn't you tell me your secrets?"

"W-what secret?"

Hearing this, Asuna looked a little panicked and shook her head hastily.

"I don't have any secrets?"

"Do you think I don't know? Mr. Fang Zheng has already told me. To be honest, Asuna, I have seen people who are addicted to books, but it is very rare to be as serious as you. It is very abnormal. Even if ordinary people read books, they will not be so addicted to it."

As she spoke, Eriri stared at Asuna intently.

"…Are you running away from something?"