Ch.292292. Bigamy (2)

“That ring has a really expensive jewel in it, they say.”

“…”

“I’m jealous, you know.”

“…”

After the hellish dinner, these were the words that Count Krat Bellium La Kendrid had spoken when he requested to see me one-on-one.

His snickering while looking at my deadpan face as I puffed smoke from the pipe in my mouth was incredibly irritating.

“So. What was the atmosphere like after Elia mentioned that?”

“…What’s the point of talking about it?”

The atmosphere had been so frigid that running away to the Far East would have been preferable.

The only unusual thing was that Elnore, in a situation where I thought a knife fight might break out at any moment, just glared silently at Elia before storming out.

“…”

Come to think of it, that really was unusual.

Considering Elnore’s usual behavior, it wouldn’t have been strange at all if she had drawn her sword right there and challenged Elia to a duel to the death.

“You didn’t go after her?”

“What?”

“If I’m not mistaken, that young lady’s greatest pride or confidence seemed to be that she was closest to you. Wasn’t that completely shattered?”

“…”

That’s true.

The biggest support for Elnore turning a blind eye to my entanglements with other women until now probably came from the fact that she was the only one wearing an ‘engagement’ ring.

“I don’t know what tricks you’ve used to gain favor with all those people, but they’re still human in the end. They can’t just keep tolerating everything, right?”

I just scratch my head silently at Krat’s words.

He’s right, of course.

But.

“…Honestly, consoling her only works once or twice.”

I’m a person with some sense of awareness and conscience. Similar incidents have happened several times before, and if I go to comfort her, it would just be an empty gesture.

Rather than that.

It’s better to wait and see what kind of reaction she shows, then respond accordingly.

In fact, with that in mind, I readily signed the special law for polygamy that Elia presented, saying it was necessary.

I’ve repeatedly said I’m building a harem. If she gets angry despite that, there’s nothing I can do.

“…”

“…What?”

When I answered like that to Krat, who was looking at me like I was trash, the Marquis sighed and opened his mouth.

“So you’re saying you won’t even try to comfort her because this is just who you are?”

“Yes.”

“…”

If you can’t avoid it, enjoy it. In other words, become shameless.

Even for someone like me, who has gained all sorts of abilities to do whatever I want, human emotions are something I can’t control. Whatever Elnore thinks, my job is to accept it later.

Even if it costs me my life.

“Well. If I were that young lady, I would have put handcuffs and shackles on you by now and locked you up somewhere. To stop you from acting like such a jerk.”

“…That’s scary because she might actually do something like that.”

I sigh, my breath coming out in a long white stream due to the temperature.

No, more importantly.

“You didn’t call me here just to make fun of me, did you?”

“To some extent, that’s exactly right.”

“…”

“Well, I do have other business too. First, one thing.”

Krat smiled and handed me a guest book.

It was a list of people who would be staying at the Kendrid border territory for a few days.

“The Holy Maiden sisters, those Furry sisters who are Grand Assassins or whatever, and even the Tribal Chief’s daughter. They’ve all arrived.”

“…”

“If I’m not mistaken, the atmosphere is bound to explode into trouble. Right?”

“…Yes.”

I can’t deny that.

Basically, all the women connected to me except for Her Majesty the Emperor and Sullivan have gathered here.

“Handle it yourself. Just don’t cause too much trouble for Elia or the other servants.”

“…Aren’t you going to offer to help, even just as a formality?”

“Well, if you want, I could lend you the largest bedroom in the castle. You can settle things in there however you want.”

What on earth is he talking about…

As I clutch my head at his alarming words, the Marquis snickers while looking at me.

“And there’s something else too.”

“What is it?”

“A message from Chancellor Sullivan. He says you’ll receive word soon, so be prepared to enter the Demonic Spire.”

“…”

“I think you’ll probably go in right after finishing your vacation here.”

At those words, my eyes immediately narrow.

This must be related to Bogart Marquis.

If my memory is correct, the Demonic Spire is the starting point for the final chapter, ‘The Void Zone Subjugation.’ It’s content that will follow right after the next chapter, ‘Sanctuary.’

Though it’ll be my first time actually going in.

“…”

I close my eyes for a moment with a deep sigh.

The Void Zone.

The place where all demons’ ‘true bodies’ are gathered.

The setting for Sera’s final chapter.

And.

The ultimate destination of my project to bring ‘happiness’ to demons also originates there.

“Come to think of it.”

While I was thinking about that, Krat threw out such a sentence from beside me.

“You used to be just a baron’s family, right?”

“I’ve been promoted to viscount, but yes.”

We’re both considered lower nobility that no one cares about among the five ranks, but still, a promotion is a promotion.

Hearing my words, Krat turned to look at me with gleaming eyes.

What those eyes contained was undoubtedly the expectation that leaving me alone would lead to something entertaining.

As I shiver with an inexplicable sense of foreboding, another voice full of cheerfulness flies my way.

“Then you probably don’t know much about nobility’s marriage customs?”

“I… guess not…?”

“Right.”

Krat put on an even more intense smile and opened his mouth.

“Have a good night.”

“…”

Why say something like that in such a meaningful way…?

●

The people Krat mentioned arrived at the border territory very late in the evening.

“…Well, honestly, I think most people would consider this a good thing, right?”

Victoria’s barely uttered words were met with silence from Serath, which spread around them.

Nevertheless, there were clear signs that they were thinking similar thoughts.

Mostly in agreement.

“You were definitely a notorious playboy one way or another. None of us here ever thought we could have you exclusively. Rather than that, it’s better for all of us to have our rights equally recognized.”

“…Yeah, I get that, but—”

I grit my teeth and look around.

I understand that they’ve heard such talk and have such thoughts.

The problem is.

“Why are you saying this here…?”

This is clearly my room.

The time is well past midnight, when any normal human would have long been fast asleep.

But.

Why do these people give the impression that they’ve been waiting for me in my room, wearing only thin robes that reveal their underwear?

“…?”

“…?”

Victoria and Serath look at me with puzzled expressions after hearing my question, which makes me even more confused.

Their expressions seem to say, “This is normal, what nonsense are you talking about?”

“…Darwood senior.”

Serath hesitantly opened her mouth with a voice that seemed to say “surely not.”

“I heard you signed the special decree issued by Her Majesty, is that right?”

“Yes, I did. Why?”

“…”

“…”

At my matter-of-fact answer, the puzzlement on their faces intensified.

“Perhaps, you didn’t know?”

“Know what?”

“Those who practice polygamy have an obligation to share a bed with their spouses. As diligently as possible.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. Usually it’s limited to the legal wife, but since you have multiple legal wives, well…”

“…”

Serath’s gesture of clenching her fists as if to say “Good luck!” leaves a slightly bitter taste in my mouth.

This is the first I’m hearing of this.

Was there such an obligation?

And regardless of whether I had such thoughts or not.

Serath and Victoria spoke with somewhat awkward voices.

“We also, um, well. Not right away, but. We might… entrust our bodies to you… later.”

“…”

“Thanks to you, we got our revenge, and you helped our family come together, so you’re like a benefactor to us—”

“…”

“For now, starting by exploring our physical compatibility seems quite persuasive—”

As they continue speaking while fidgeting, Serath’s words and Victoria’s gaze fixed on the floor, unable to look in my direction out of embarrassment, make my mind go blank.

No.

Hey.

“—We, I mean, such important decisions should be given some time—”

“So, please take care of us…!”

“Listen to me…!”

My head spins.

Okay, I understand they have high affection for me, and I solved both of their biggest wishes in the previous episode at once.

But that and “Thank you. Please take me in return” while crawling into my bedroom are completely different issues.

To begin with!

“We’re not even married, or even engaged yet!”

“Um, senior.”

Serath responded to my words with a troubled tone.

“For high-ranking nobles of the Empire, the act of sharing a bed itself is interpreted as a kind of engagement announcement.”

“…”

“…Think of it as doing both ‘engagement’ and ‘fulfilling an obligation’ at once.”

“…”

“We, we all agreed on the way here that it would be okay if it’s you—”

Krat’s face, smirking while saying “Have a good night” earlier, flashes through my mind.

That bastard.

Did he say that knowing I’d end up in this situation?

“…”

My head spins.

If these two, who most recently developed high affection for me, are this aggressive.

It’s obvious how Faynol Leiphec, Yuria Greyhaunter, and the others who aren’t engaged to me yet will behave.

They’ll all rush to squeeze me dry…!

[Oh.]

‘What is it now…!’

[No, I just realized you’re about to get devoured like a dog by the other ladies.]

‘…’

[Farewell. I won’t be far.]

One valuable piece of knowledge for living well in this world.

Always be careful when signing contracts.

Please…!

“…But come to think of it, this feels a bit unfair.”

As I try to hold onto my fading sense of reality, Victoria glares at me with narrowed eyes and speaks.

“Didn’t you make me and my sister suck your fingers in a very lewd way last time?”

“…Well, I didn’t exactly order that.”

“Anyway, you did something like that.”

“…”

“And after doing such things, you say sharing a bed is too much? Are you kidding?”

“The two are somewhat different in nature—”

“…”

Victoria and Serath’s eyes narrowed simultaneously.

And the next moment.

The sisters grab me by the collar and slam me onto the bed.

“Hey, hey, wait…!”

“Your tongue is always too long.”

“…”

Victoria said with a grin.

What fills her expression is undoubtedly a sense of pleasure.

Or it could be described as a sense of conquest.

“I’m the type of person who needs to return what I’ve received to feel satisfied.”

As soon as those words ended.

A window appears before my eyes.

[ A direct threat to your life is detected. ]

[ Applying ‘Skill: Desperate Situation’ at EX rank! ]

“…”

No.

You guys.

How much are you planning to suck me dry if just hearing those words activates Desperate Situation at EX rank…!

“Sister, grab him-!”

Simultaneously with those words.

The two sisters firmly grabbed my limbs and pinned me down.

●