Netori: I Shall Steal All Of My Enemies' Women For Revenge!

Haruto's reputation teetered on the brink of ruin, saved only by Mari's swift intervention.

She made it clear to her friends and the students at school that the video was a fabrication, and most believed her.

It was hard to imagine someone like Mari—a girl admired for her beauty and honesty—would ever date someone who could stoop so low as to cheat with his stalker's mother.

Even Haruto's classmates rallied to his side, pointing out the inconsistencies in the video. The faces appeared messy, almost like a patchwork of poor editing.

This realization cast doubt on Kota's accusations, and many began to suspect his claims were born of desperation.

Whispers swirled that Kota's actions were an attempt to destroy Haruto out of spite for being Mari's boyfriend.

After all, Kota had a history of blackmailing her exes, and his slander—both against Haruto and his own mother—only further tarnished his name.

Even at Kota's funeral, the rumors persisted.

"Look, Hayase is here to pay his respects," a girl whispered.

"He's got no shame showing up here," a boy muttered, scoffing under his breath.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

The girl frowned, her tone sharp as she defended Haruto. "What are you even talking about? Mari already clarified everything. That video was edited."

The boy shrugged nonchalantly. "Still, it looked pretty convincing. Too good to be fake."

"But Kota was an asshole!" the girl snapped, her voice rising slightly. "He blackmailed Mari's exes, remember?"

Their hushed argument was cut short by Mari's stern voice behind them. "What are you two whispering about? This is a funeral. Show some respect."

They turned, startled, and quickly bowed before scurrying away.

Mari sighed, watching their retreating figures. "How dare they speak ill of someone who's already gone…" Her voice trailed off, her gaze shifting to Haruto.

He knelt before the wooden floor, bowing deeply as he paid his last respects. The coffin, surrounded by yellow chrysanthemums, bore Kota's photograph—a haunting reminder of the boy who had once been their peer.

Mari's heart ached as she stared at the scene. The video had hurt her deeply, he knew it was Haruto and Asuka in the video, after all they came clean about their relationship.

But her focus now was on Kota—the boy who had taken his own life.

In some twisted way, she felt responsible. She had played a part in his despair, even if it wasn't intentional.

Her thoughts spiraled. 'He killed himself… because of me too. This is my fault.'

She clenched her hands at her sides, guilt gnawing at her. The video only added to her torment, but her love for Haruto was stronger than her pain.

'I never realized love could hurt this much…' she thought bitterly, a sigh escaping her lips. 'Is this karma for what I did to Kota?'

"Mari, why do you look like that?"

Haruto's voice pulled her from her thoughts. She jolted slightly, startled to find him standing before her, his expression a mix of concern and regret.

"Don't just appear out of nowhere!" she exclaimed, her hand flying to her chest as she tried to calm her racing heart.

Haruto offered a faint, apologetic smile. "Sorry. I just… couldn't stand seeing you with that look on your face."

Mari's gaze softened momentarily, but she quickly turned away, brushing past him. "Let's talk outside. I don't want to give anyone more reasons to gossip about you."

She led the way to the backyard, her steps brisk but uncertain. Haruto followed silently, the weight of unspoken words pressing heavily between them.

The backyard of the Inoue family's home was serene, a zen garden meticulously curated with an array of bonsai trees.

Isamu Inoue had been known for his dedication to the art of bonsai, so it was no surprise that the yard bore the fruits of his lifelong passion.

A few mourners lingered, using the quiet space for a smoke break, but they were far enough away not to overhear as Mari led Haruto to a secluded corner and stopped abruptly.

Without turning to face him, she asked in a trembling voice, "Haruto, that video… it's really you, isn't it?"

Her back remained to him, her posture stiff as though bracing for the answer.

Haruto hesitated for a moment, guilt tightening in his chest. Finally, he admitted, "Yes… it's true." His voice was soft, filled with remorse.

"And Mari, thank you so much for defending me, for clearing the gossip. I don't deserve it."

As he reached out to take her hand, Mari's heart softened. Her love for Haruto overwhelmed her, though it wasn't just her feelings at play.

The Cupid Necklace glimmered faintly beneath his black suit. That necklace could increase 20% of Emotional Bond's points and the Debauchery System's influence weaving its way into her heart.

['Whispering Allure' skill automatically activated.]

[The skill will be boosted based on the target resistance and Deprivation Matrix.]

[All target resistance decreased by 30%, and host attributes increased by 35%. This will heavily influence the target's decision-making.]

[ERS will decrease by 5 every minute.]

Unable to hold back, Mari turned to him, tears spilling down her cheeks as she flung her arms around him.

"I don't care about that anymore, Haruto! I don't care about the video… I'm just scared. Scared because Kota is dead… and I feel like it's my fault!"

She buried her face into his shoulder, her voice muffled but heavy with anguish.

In her mind, she could imagine Kota's cruelty—stalking, blackmailing, even planting hidden cameras on Haruto making him able to have that porn video.

Haruto's heart clenched. He couldn't deny her words.

"Mari, no. It's not your fault," he said firmly, his hands gripping her shoulders as he gently pulled her back to look at her tear-streaked face.

Of course, he couldn't just say it, that he became his boyfriend because he wanted to destroy Kota's life, it was also the same with Asuka. So he needed to lie a little bit.

"This is on me. All of it. That video… it was his final act of desperation, his way of lashing out before—" Haruto's voice caught, but he forced himself to continue.

"So please, don't carry this guilt. Blame me instead."

Mari searched his eyes, her trembling gaze meeting the calm, steady reassurance on his own.

His expression told her that everything would be alright, even if the words couldn't fully convince her.

"I… I don't know how to feel," she admitted, a weak smile breaking through her tears. "Having you feels like both a blessing and a curse."

Haruto chuckled softly, brushing a hand through her hair. "Then let me change that. From now on, I'll only be your blessing. You just have to be patient with me."

Mari scoffed, wiping her tears away as a small laugh escaped her lips. "Patient? You're unbelievable, Haruto. You test me every day."

The tension between them eased, replaced by a lightness that came with shared laughter. But their moment was shattered by an all-too-familiar voice.

"Ah, sorry for interrupting your little lovefest," Asuka called out, her tone cool and measured. She stood at a polite distance, arms crossed as her gaze locked on Haruto.

"But I need to talk to you, Haruto," she said, her eyes narrowing slightly before flicking to Mari.

"If you don't mind, Hayazawa."

Mari gazed at Asuka clad in a somber black yukata. Her expression was eerily neutral, unreadable.

There was no trace of grief or tears, no sign that she had been mourning. Instead, she carried herself as if it were just another dreary Monday that had soured her mood.

Haruto glanced at Mari, silently seeking her permission. Her hesitation lasted only a moment before she nodded, though unease flickered in her eyes.

Reluctantly, Haruto left Mari's side. Each step he took felt heavier, his dread compounding with the soft murmurs and stifled whispers that followed his every movement.

Asuka walked ahead, her posture straight and unyielding, offering no comfort to Haruto's growing fear. What if she hated him because of the video? What if she blamed him for Kota's death?

He knew that she didn't love her son, but still she was a mother.

They reached a room at the far end of the hall. Asuka opened the door, revealing a small office bathed in the muted light filtering through a set of French windows.

Bookshelves lined the walls, their contents neatly arranged, and a grand wooden desk stood behind a pair of comfortable chairs.

In front of the desk was a coffee table surrounded by sofas. Two men were seated there, their gazes turning toward Haruto the moment he entered. Experience tales at empire

The first man was immediately recognizable—Isamu Inoue, Kota's father. His face was a mask of quiet intensity, his eyes sharp as they assessed Haruto.

The second man was a stranger. Dressed in a sleek black suit, he exuded an air of authority. His brown hair was neatly combed, and his piercing green eyes bore an uncanny resemblance to Asuka's.

"This is Haruto, brother," Asuka said, her voice as calm as ever as she closed the door behind her, the soft click of the lock sending a shiver down Haruto's spine.

Her brother nodded, his gaze unwavering. "I see…" He gestured to one of the sofas across from him.

"Come here and sit. There's something important we need to discuss."

Haruto swallowed hard, his palms beginning to sweat. His mind raced, but there was no need to guess what this was about. 'The video. It has to be about that damned video'