Infinite Harem System: I Grow Stronger From Every Female Lead
Chapter 49: The Twelve Zodiacs (2)

Chapter 49: The Twelve Zodiacs (2)

『 New Scenario Found... 』

『 Scenario 48: Get close to your cousin, Ayla Val Archaian 』

’Cousin?’

In Magic Academy’s Genius Scholars, Ayla wasn’t a major character. Actually, she only appeared once in the entire game. That meant Arthur knew virtually nothing about her.

But now the system was saying she was his cousin?

’Is her mother... Mom’s sister?’ he wondered. ’No, Mom never told me anything about that. And can the Arcains even have children normally?’

He shook his head.

He wasn’t a biologist, so there was no way he could understand their anatomy.

’Well, there’s no way around missions anyway.’

In front of him stood the eight core members of his faction excluding Ellie: Eric Daemon, Naza El Salvador, Cale Von Agres, Ravian Roderick Valtor, Victor Annabel aka Vicky, Karma Karmis, Emily Snowviel, Winter Asher aka Nari, and Seraph Ravenhearth.

In addition to them, there were two unexpected guests: the princess of the central dragon race, Ayla Val Archaian, and beside her, a face Arthur didn’t expect to see—

The Saintess of the Holy Empire, Cecilia Von Bernadette.

Arthur bowed slightly before the two women. "I greet the Princess of the Central Dragon Race and the Saintess of the Holy Continent."

Cecilia smiled gently, like she’d just reunited with a long-lost lover. "A pleasure making your acquaintance, Prince of the Demonic Dragons."

Ayla didn’t say anything. She simply nodded.

Arthur turned to the other faction members, who returned the gesture with silent nods.

In total, there were six SS-ranks, three S-ranks, and one SSS-rank—him.

’Not bad...’ he assessed internally.

He glanced at Ellie, who stood behind him, glaring at the Saintess.

The moment she noticed his attention, she grasped his hand tightly and asked, "Saintess, what are you doing here? As far as I remember, this is a meeting for faction members only."

The Saintess responded with warmth. "It’s nice seeing you after so long, Ellie."

Ellie clenched her jaw. "Please don’t speak as if we’re friends, Saintess."

Cecilia’s smile faltered slightly. "Sorry. I just recalled old times."

’Wait... they were friends?’ Arthur thought.

This was an unexpected development.

Since Ellie had died early in the game, the plot never revealed whether she had any relationships or if any of the main cast knew her.

’And judging from how they’re speaking... it seems there was a falling out.’

Arthur wasn’t entirely surprised that Cecilia and Ellie had once been friends. Ellie’s father was the Duke of the West, and their territory bordered the Holy Empire.

Which meant that, for political reasons, they must have interacted frequently.

And when the Reinhardt family fell, everyone abandoned them.

To Ellie, it would’ve felt like betrayal, whether or not she’d merely been a child controlled by her parents.

’This is going to be a problem,’ he thought.

His wives had always been peaceful with one another because none of them had personal history or prior conflict.

But if he were to involve Cecilia...

Then—

Crack.

Everything would fall apart.

He sighed. ’Well, I can think about that later.’

He refocused on the two young women. "Why exactly have members of another faction come to visit us?"

Ayla’s moonlit-gray eyes locked onto his golden gaze. "Arthur Arcain. No..." She hesitated. "Cousin, I would like to speak with you."

Everyone’s eyes widened at her words, but Arthur masked his shock.

’It seems she knows more than I do.’

------

(Inside the old bookstore)

Since entering the store and sitting on the weathered wooden chairs in the corner, the shopkeeper had been giving them the stink-eye. None of them paid him any attention.

The tension in the air was palpable as all twelve individuals sat around a circular table.

"So, what did you want to tell me?" Arthur asked, keeping his curiosity in check.

Ayla rested her hands calmly on the table. "You don’t seem surprised that I called you cousin."

Arthur shrugged. "Not really. I’ve seen and heard worse."

Ayla exhaled softly. "In case your mother never told you, my mom is from the Demonic Dragon Race. Specifically, she’s your mother’s older sister."

Then, she explained everything she knew.

Arthur wasn’t comfortable with her sharing this much in a public space, but since it was her story and it didn’t compromise him, he listened quietly.

The story began at the dawn of the Era of Generations, when Arthur’s grandmother, after being injured in the Battle of Succession, decided to conceive, giving birth to three daughters:

Alicia, who later renamed herself Alica; Astraea; and her oldest, Amara.

After they were born, a prophecy came:

---

"One of your children shall bear a son.

He shall be born a devil, but do not fret.

The true soul meant to inhabit his body shall return.

He will be a transcendent who doesn’t belong to this era.

The mysterious ruler of originality and color.

The emperor of fortune and depravity.

The world will pray for his help,

And he shall bring them good dreams.

He will raise our race to the top.

He shall have seven stars by his side,

And bring peace to the world,

Not as one chosen by the gods,

But as a god himself.

And when that child arrives,

All other races shall bow before him."

---

But Arthur’s grandmother was furious.

Not only would a man be born into their race, but he’d rule over them and even become a god?

As a devout follower of the goddess, she issued a decree to her most loyal aide: even if she were dead, when the boy was born, he and his mother must be killed before the true soul entered his body.

Years later, Astraea, who had always been closest to Arthur’s mother, fled, terrified that she, the weakest and least favored child, might bear that prophesied son.

During her escape, she met the Dragon King of the East, then just a reckless teenager.

They fell in love during their travels and eventually married.

Years passed. Amara, their oldest sister, gave birth to three daughters. Since the prophecy said the boy would be a third-born, she was cleared of suspicion and declared the new clan head and queen.

Alica had only given birth to two children. Astraea, the middle sister, gave birth to just one—Ayla.

Then came the twist.

Alica gave birth to a third child—

And it was a boy.

Arthur.

She couldn’t bring herself to kill him. He was warm, adorable, nothing like anything she’d seen before.

So, she fled the clan and came to the Central Dragon Race, begging for asylum.

Astraea, fearful of being caught up in it, refused. Her husband also didn’t want trouble, so they sent Alica away.

Terrified, Alica turned to her only friend, a human family with inherited dragon blood: the Ravenhearths.

Her friend agreed to care for her daughters, Selena and Thyra, while she took her son to the Hollow Mountain to train.

Some claimed a mysterious voice within the mountain trained her, one that knew of the prophecy and believed in Arthur’s future.

What people did know was this: when Alica emerged a year later, she was powerful.

She killed her sister and every loyalist, becoming Queen of the Arcains.

That night, snow fell across the continent, and the northern weather worsened, earning her the title: The Frost Knight of the North.

------

"I have no right to ask this, since my mother and father turned their backs on yours, but..."

Ayla bowed her head. "Please..." Her voice broke. "Let me serve you."

Arthur’s eyes widened.

How had none of this appeared in the game?

Even if the Arcains were wiped out in the storyline, this kind of lore should not have been skipped.

And to begin with, how had the Arcains fallen so easily?

He exhaled slowly. ’No need to strain my fragile brain.’

Ayla’s story clashed with what he thought he knew, but it also made sense of so much.

Why his mother doted on him so intensely.

Why the clan had always treated him with such reverence.

Why his mother didn’t react harshly to his sudden change in behavior.

’Did she already know I was someone else?’ Arthur wondered. ’If the prophecy’s true, then to her... the other Arthur wasn’t her real son—but I am.’

He leaned back in his chair. ’And Nathira knew too? Is that how she found me on Earth? And what’s this about her training Mom?’

No matter how much he pondered, the answers didn’t come.

But then... there was Ayla.

At first, he had considered recruiting her. But unlike the instant connection he’d felt with each of his wives, he felt nothing when they met.

So he abandoned the idea.

But now she wanted to serve him.

’Well, I don’t fully understand what’s going on, but having more people under me... wouldn’t hurt.’

He turned to the Saintess. "Miss Cecilia, are you sure you want to hear all this? If what Ayla says is true, I may end up fighting your goddess. Are you okay with that?"

Cecilia smiled bashfully. "I have no problem with it..." she replied. "In fact, I’m actually happy."

She gazed at her palm for a moment. ’Because now I know you have divinity.’ She lowered her head, hiding a faint blush. ’I’ll be waiting for you to save me too... Arthur.’

─── ✦ End of Chapter ✦ ───