"I'm not quite ready to die just yet," said Sarius with a cheerful smile, "but being able to talk directly with Del Delatia is such a rare honor—I mean, seriously, it's the kind of thing I'd brag about for the rest of my life—well, not that I actually would! I'm joking, I swear! Please stop looking at me like that, Your Majesty!"
"To stand before Del Delatia and serve—this is the greatest of honors," said Nero, his voice deep and formal.
Li Shen had timidly tried to suggest that maybe these three were a little too important to be spending their time just talking with him.
However, Somnus had rejected the idea immediately and completely, and the three of them—Agares, Rhitahtyn, and Nero—each followed up with words that made Li Shen's skin crawl. It wasn't just flattery; it was too sincere, too intense.
He actually shivered.
Did he just imagine the word "power harassment" flashing through his mind?
But what scared him more was the absolute seriousness in their eyes when they said it. That level of pressure was beyond intense.
"H-Hey! Can you not call me that Dominator-whatever name?!" Li Shen cried out, his face burning. "It's way too embarrassing! I feel like I'm watching a whole montage of my most cringeworthy moments all at once!"
For the record, back in his original world, Li Shen had lived a totally normal life as a middle school student.
He was never into the dark side of fantasy, never wrapped his arm in bandages and never claimed his eye held some cursed power.
So why—why—in this new world, was everyone calling him something that sounded like it came straight out of a teenage fantasy novel?
"Pfft—!!"
Someone snorted. Loudly.
Li Shen whipped his head toward the sound, only to find it came from none other than Nero, the stern-faced military man himself. He had one hand over his mouth, trying and failing to hold back laughter.
Wait— him?! The guy who looked like smiling would crack his skull? Turns out he was the type who laughed easily. What a twist.
Next to him, Rhitahtyn had gone totally expressionless, giving Nero a flat look from the side like Really?
Somnus who is sitting calmly beside Li Shen, simply smiled.
"Hm… It's merely an honorific," he said. "There's no reason for you to be embarrassed, Li Shen. But if it truly bothers you, we can call you something else. What would you prefer?"
"Huh? Just call me Li Shen, that's fine—"
"Only I may call you Li Shen."
Somnus cut in sharply before he could finish the sentence. His beautiful face still wore a soft smile, but his violet eyes suddenly gleamed with something deeper, something stronger than before.
Li Shen blinked his eyes, getting caught off guard.
But… somehow, that wasn't so bad.
Being called by name by Somnus, in that low, gentle voice—there was something about it. It made Li Shen feel warm. It was the name he'd known all his life, but coming from Somnus, it felt strangely special. It sent a pleasant feeling through him.