Money Can Buy Everything

066: Governing by Non-action

Watching as Momo opened his arms towards her, a hesitant expression flashed across Yui's face, but she quickly dismissed it from her mind and ran towards Momo with a smile, throwing herself into his embrace.

Yui nestled in. She was delicate like porcelain, yet her touch carried warmth, flooding Momo's heart with a strange feeling.

Momo's smile on his face became even brighter.

This must be paternal love!

"No, I don't think so. I think it should be some kind of more sinister and inferior emotion, definitely not so noble."

Reimu timely retorted, and Momo countered in his mind, saying, "If you keep disparaging my noble character like this, be careful I'll end our friendship!"

"Oh, yeah! Couldn't ask for more!"

"The pure gold mountain, the pure gold Hakurei Shrine is gone!"

"Ah, don't remind me of that illusion, it's a sin, a greedy hell— Momo you sly demon!"

Momo opened his arms and embraced Yui, so Momo could almost feel all of Yui's emotions, especially those subtle ones hidden beneath the surface.

Is Yui trembling slightly?

Is it fear?

Fear of whom?

Fear of Momo?

Naturally, Momo didn't believe it. As the most handsome and charming man loved by all, how could he believe that he would be disliked by a little girl?

This reason is too sufficient; Momo never doubted it. Anyone who tried to doubt it was insulting Momo's character.

So, what is Yui afraid of?

At least, Momo can be sure that Yui, tightly embracing him, is not only expressing her intimacy towards him through actions but also seeking a bit of psychological comfort by binding herself and Momo, binding herself and Argo in this way.

It's really amazing, Kayaba Akihiko!

Momo sighed in his heart. Kayaba Akihiko is indeed a genius figure, able to create quantum computers, fully immerse in games, and even create artificial intelligences as advanced as Yui, all by himself, single-handedly advancing the world's scientific level by a century.

Such a person, if placed in a world with heroic spirits, his achievements and deeds would definitely be sung by later generations, enough to become a heroic spirit himself.

So, the question arises, what does Kayaba Akihiko want Momo to do?

On the side, Argo carefully watched Momo and Yui. Only after discovering that Yui truly liked Momo and Momo truly liked Yui did he breathe a sigh of relief, revealing a contented smile.

This feeling is like seeing the husband return from a long journey, immediately recognized by the young daughter, a sense of accomplishment and belonging.

...Why is it so strange?

Well, so what if it’s strange? watching Yui and Momo's intimate interaction, Argo blushed. As for what she's thinking specifically, that's up to her.

"Um, Momo, don't you dislike children?"

"Yes!"

"No, Daddy can't dislike Yui!"

Argo smiled wryly and said, "Yui, whether Momo likes it or not isn't up to you. whether Daddy likes you or not depends on whether Yui is likable or not!"

Yui slightly opened her mouth, seeming surprised, then looked at Momo and said, "Daddy, how can Yui make you like her?"

"So, as long as Yui makes your mom happy, makes your mom smile every day, that's Yui's responsibility, understand?"

"Yeah!"

Yui nodded heavily, then giggled again and hugged Momo, saying, "Yui likes Daddy and Mommy the most!"

Argo watched this harmonious scene, suddenly feeling a bit troubled. Would Momo blame her for her meddling?

Argo felt that although Asuna might not yet understand what was going on, she absolutely couldn't escape Momo's eyes. To be precise, it seemed that nothing could truly escape Momo's gaze.

"Um... Momo..."

Argo twisted her fingers, pursed her lips, and after a few seconds of deliberation, said, "Well, just now I was a bit emotional. Actually, I just can't bear to part with Yui, that's all. Maybe I was a bit impulsive emotionally."

"...Don't misunderstand, I'm not saying you have to be Yui's father..."

"Ah, Mom, what are you talking about? Yui's dad is Yui's dad, no one can change that!"

Mom stroked Yui's head and said, "Alright, just wait a moment, listen to what Mom has to say, okay?"

"...Um... I'll listen to Daddy."

"So...?"

Argo's face was full of hesitation this time. How should she say it?

Should she tell Momo that it's all a misunderstanding, that her actions have nothing to do with Momo?

Certainly, this seems to be the best choice for now. It can cover up her previous excitement, preserve her current relationship with Momo and Asuna, and not break any ties with anyone.

But at the same time, there won't be any progress, any hope.

She and Momo still only have that night of dependency and those impulsive kisses, and all of it will soon become memories as four months pass.

Memories, eventually, will dissipate.

By that time, she and Momo will truly be worlds apart, never even seeing each other again, while Momo and Asuna will truly be together, entering the realm of happiness.

As for her, Argo, she will always just be a passerby.

Is all of this really what Argo wants?

Of course not!

Argo has never been willing to accept this. After finally meeting a boy she likes, even if it was a chance encounter, the problem is they almost had a beginning!

But unfortunately, beginnings also mean endings.

Argo doesn't want it to end like this.

Why, on what basis!

Just because Asuna met Momo before her, just because Asuna is better than her in every way?

Even knowing all of this, Argo doesn't want to give up.

If she gives up, then truly, there will be nothing left.

Four months ago, on that night, Argo ran away in tears, retreated, but this time, Argo doesn't want to repeat the same mistake.

It seems that even the heavens saw this and sent Argo a key to open the next door - Yui. Making herself and Momo assume the roles of Yui's parents is undoubtedly a chain, reinforcing the almost imperceptible relationship between the two.

As long as this Quest is not completed, as long as this relationship remains, as long as she insists that she is Yui's mother and Momo is Yui's father, then this relationship cannot be broken.

Even Asuna can't do anything about it.

After all, this is not her taking the initiative to break up Momo and Asuna, after all, this is system-enforced, nor is it her abandoning her relationship with Asuna, forcibly inserting herself between the two.

The reasons for action, and the interfaces for explaining the actions, are all there. All of this becomes a key, unlocking the dusty impulse in Argo's heart.

‘After all, it's just a game, since it’s just an in-game thing, it should be fine’

‘It's just like playing house, who would get angry?’

Argo comforted herself in her mind, feeling relaxed. As long as she treats it like a game, and plays a game of house with Momo to complete the mysterious Quest on Yui, then wouldn't that be enough?

Even if Asuna gets jealous and unhappy, just tell her it's a Quest, then wait for the Quest to end— that would be fine.

Thinking this way, Argo felt much more at ease, and a smile reappeared on her face. She said, "Momo, just be a good father to Yui! And I, the great Argo, will be Yui's mother! Haha, Momo, as the cost of being your temporary wife, how about giving me 1000 Cols per day?"

Momo's eyes slightly changed, understanding in his heart, and said, "Is that so?"

"Hey hey, Momo, something seems off with the plot development!"

"It's nothing, it's just that Argo started laughing again. She's probably recovered her spirits by now."

"So, your harem is hopeless now, are you going to take the initiative?"

"How could I? Asuna's sword is very sharp."

"Huh, you're afraid of a kitchen knife too!"

"No matter how high the divine rank, when faced with a kitchen knife that can slay all of anime, even gods can be obliterated, so I don't want to touch it!"

Reimu frowned and said, "Isn't that boring? I was looking forward to seeing scenes of you covered in blood! Well, forget it, what are you going to do now, Argo retreated?"

"It's nothing, just governing by non-action."

"Governing by non-action? You mean doing nothing at all!"

"That's right, doing nothing at all!"

"Don't joke around, aren't you afraid Argo will run away?"

Momo smiled slightly and said, "It's not that I'm afraid Argo will run away now, it's that Argo is afraid I will run away. On one hand, she wants to maintain a friendship beyond friends with me using Yui, and on the other hand, she's trying to control the development of this relationship with fake smiles so it doesn't disturb the progress of love, all to preserve her friendship with Asuna."

"This is a dangerous balance, even I dare not easily walk this tightrope. Maintaining balance is difficult in itself, and it's even more difficult when it comes to balancing unpredictable emotions. This kind of thing, perhaps only the male protagonists of some shameless harem works can do with all sorts of twisted theories, right?"

"In reality, how could something like this be possible!"

Reimu squinted, saying, "Are you insulting yourself?"

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know, some mysterious force made me say that, and it's strange that I want to beat up the person who made me say that, feeling like that person is really disgusting."

"I feel the same way."

Reimu crossed her arms and said, "Alright, stop changing the subject. What do you really think and what do you want to do? Give me a definite answer! I can't understand this as a spectator, how am I supposed to write a review!"