Esper Harem in the Apocalypse

"Hmm? What would you do if I ended up falling in love with you?" Ruby asked with a mischievous grin on her face.

"Uhh… I can't imagine you being all touchy and possessive like Maria, to be honest. But that's a sight I would rather see than imagine," Rudy responded honestly.

"I can be possessive if I truly want something so badly. But according to your response, does that mean you want to add me to your harem?" she asked curiously.

"Here is the thing. You already live with my harem, and believe me, that's something that never has and will never happen again. I won't allow any living existence to stay with my harem, even if it's a woman.

You should consider yourself lucky that you are under my safety. And have you ever thought why you are allowed to live with my harem?" he asked in a calm but intimidating voice.

"I was going to ask you that. Tell me, why have I been given the Lord's mercy?" she chuckled.

"Maria asked you to stay with the harem because she wanted you to join my harem. She invited you to join my harem, but you misunderstood her and thought she was asking you to live with her.

Then you ran away and made Maria worried, so I never told you this. She also felt guilty that she was forcing you to do something you didn't want to do. She kept quiet for obvious reasons. But she is always anxious that you will leave her one day."

"...you are lying…"

"I am not. Just recall everything she said the day you disbanded the Ross Syndicate."

"There is no way I would remember everything word by word."

"Well…" Rudy placed his hand on the back of Ruby's head and said, "Allow me to show you everything from two different perspectives. One is mine, and the other one would be Maria's."

Rudy didn't share his memories. Instead, he only showed her what was going on that day. It was like watching the footage of the same room from different angles.

Once Rudy had shown Ruby everything, he hugged her as he could feel Ruby's emotions.

"I didn't ask for a hug."

"You need one, though."

"Shut up. Don't be kind to me after everything you have done to me."

"My deal from that day still remains, but there is one more condition. I won't let you live forever with my harem. All birds leave their nest one day. So be a wise woman and decide for yourself."

"..." After a pause, Ruby looked up into Rudy's eyes and asked, "Are you saying that you will kick me out if I don't join your harem."

"Hey… that's the worst way to put it. I was asking you to make a decision. Listen, you are well aware that you can't stay with Maria for your entire life. You have your life to live too. I am saying this for your own well-being.

Even Maria would feel bad if you wasted your life looking after her. However, there is one way where you can get everything. You can have a lover and the best life and stay with Maria. You know what you have to do."

"..."

"You have time… a lot of time. I personally would never ask you to leave… but one day… you have to."

After thinking about it and staying in Rudy's embrace for minutes, Ruby muttered, "Make me fall in love with you if you want me to join your harem."

"So, should I assume that you won't mind joining my harem?"

"You have to make me fall in love with you first," Ruby replied with a shrug. "But what about you? I know you are not that big-hearted to let a girl join your harem because she didn't want to be separated from her sister. Do you.."

Ruby gulped down nervously and asked, "Do you want me to join your harem? If yes… does that mean you… love me?"

"I think this is a matter of 'can or will' or 'could or would'. I am not trying to brag, but I 'can' add any girl I want in my harem, with or without using my powers, but that doesn't mean I 'will' do that.

Again, I am not bragging, but even in my past life, I have been confessed to many times in school and university, even when I was dating Elise. I am a better version of myself in this life, and I am sure a few girls have unrequited feelings for me— of which I am not aware of.

But does that mean I would or should add them to my harem? I might have an intimate relationship with them— of course, with their consent— and become sex buddies or friends with benefits with them.

But I would never add a girl to my harem unless I truly love her. That doesn't mean I won't care for the said girl or give her respect. She will get everything she wants. I am not trying to be a playboy," he added with a wry chuckle.

"That's very noble of you." Ruby rolled her eyes.

"Thus…" Rudy shrugged with a grin and said, "You have to make me fall in love with you if you want to join my harem."

"Hey! You can't use the same trick as me!"

"As they say, everything is fair in love and war. So…" Rudy squeezed Maria's ass and said, "Good luck, baby. I can't wait to see your attempts to make me fall in love with you. And just so you know, you have to try hard."

"Let's say we managed to fall in love with each other. What would be the best thing that could happen? Uhm… give me an incentive that could motivate me to try harder."

Even though Rudy's hand was massaging Ruby's ass, Maria wasn't repulsed by it.

"Hmm~" Rudy hummed in amusement and uttered, "If you join my harem, we could… have a threesome with Maria."

Ruby raised her brow and squinted her eyes.

"Seriously? That's the only thing you could think of?"

"Hey… believe me, a threesome with a family member is great."

"..."

"Wait, no… that came out wrong. I was trying to say that the best threesomes are where both girls are related to each other, like sisters, mother and daughter, best friends, and such. That's exciting, don't you think?" he asked with a cheerful smile on his face.