Ch.295295. Competition

Elia hummed cheerfully as she rummaged through her closet.

It was natural for her to be in a good mood.

After all, she had finally given Darwood the engagement ring she’d been longing to present him with.

A normal person might worry about rejection, but Elia had never once doubted the outcome in that way.

Originally, confessions or proposals weren’t gambles but rather confirmations of an existing relationship. She had been certain for quite some time that what she and Darwood shared was at least that significant.

More precisely…

‘Wouldn’t he know better than anyone that he couldn’t handle rejecting me?’

Elia whistled as she pulled out underwear she had recently acquired from a drawer—a thought that would make Darwood collapse if he heard it.

This underwear had a design that would make Count Kendrid faint if he saw it, but her mind was completely filled with thoughts of how Darwood would react when she wore it.

“What clothes would the teacher like…”

[Wow. That’s quite a girlish concern?]

As she muttered those words, such a voice flowed from the sword she had left on the bed beside her.

Though the voice sounded cheerful, Elia’s face immediately crumpled upon hearing it.

“…What is it? You were silent for so long.”

Of course, there was a clear reason for her expression.

The Lightbearer inside this damned holy sword only ever spoke when it suited them.

Just recently, during the confrontation with the Brown Demon at the imperial palace, the being inside had shown absolutely no intention of getting involved.

“…”

And there was someone who had actually pointed this out.

Anyway, it’s difficult to affirm this from the position of a hero, but…

That Professor Astrid or whatever was right—there is definitely a suspicious feeling about this.

A strong sense that there’s some hidden scheme being plotted.

[Come on, don’t be like that.]

Indeed, even after hearing such words, the way they continued speaking with a chuckle was incredibly annoying.

[When you hear what I’m about to tell you, you won’t care about any of that.]

“…”

Despite the ominous statement, Elia sighed and picked up the sword.

“…What is it?”

And, most unfortunately.

What the Lightbearer revealed next was exactly the kind of thing they had promised it would be.

●

The morning in the Kendrid Marquisate begins at an extremely early hour.

In other words…

It was a truly burdensome schedule for me, who had barely been released late last night after being held captive by the Victoria sisters and Elnore.

[Do you really feel like you’re dying?]

‘…My whole body feels stiff.’

[…]

Even Calivan fell silent, seemingly unable to argue this time.

After all, he had directly witnessed me being thoroughly squeezed by not only the Victoria sisters but also Elnore yesterday.

And before me now, despite my condition, was the Marquisate’s head maid mercilessly announcing the upcoming official schedule.

“I will prepare breakfast for you. Would you like me to assign a maid to help you get ready?”

“…I’ll do it myself. Coming from a baron’s family, I’m more used to that.”

“I will follow your instructions, but…”

The head maid looked at me with concerned eyes as I responded in a half-asleep state.

“Wouldn’t it be better for you to get accustomed to it?”

“Pardon?”

“Soon you’ll be the lady’s husband, and you’ll have many occasions to be served like this.”

“…”

“Well then, I’ll be going downstairs now.”

The head maid, having dropped that dizzying statement, bowed politely and disappeared through the door.

After staring silently in that direction, I opened my mouth blankly.

“…Calivan.”

[Hmm?]

“How would you feel if I called you brother-in-law?”

[It’s a bit strange, but I think it’s fine coming from someone like you.]

“…”

[As I said before, just make sure I’m not around when you do the first night—]

“…Yes.”

I cut him off before the uncomfortable topic could continue and got up.

No.

Even if he’s ready, I’m not prepared for that.

“…”

I keep my expression calm as I change clothes silently.

Marquis Bogart’s words from before flash through my mind.

-“The past is the past. Every action I’ve taken constitutes who I am. Even if I want to bury such things, they eventually come back.”

-“In my opinion, this is something you probably know well too.”

-“Have you considered that your inability to take ‘the final step’ with women might be because of that?”

“-“

Flashback.

The foul back alley of a brothel. A child barely surviving day by day, eating rats and sewage.

Days of selling my future just to survive another day in hell.

And when I trace back those memories.

At their source is…

-“Hey, let’s date.”

-“Just for a few seconds.”

My first girlfriend ever.

A relationship that lasted 3 seconds.

“…”

Let’s just eat.

Thinking about the past can wait until much later.

●

As Krat had previously informed me, many guests with connections to me had already arrived at the Marquisate.

It was evident just from seeing the dining area filled with people I hadn’t seen until recently.

Except for His Majesty the Emperor and Minister Sullivan, all the Demonic Vessels had gathered.

‘…Quite a crowd.’

Regardless of intentions, the fact that this many people could gather in one place and share a meal together was proof that all my efforts, despite the struggles, hadn’t been in vain.

Faynol, Riru, Yuria, Elnore—originally, according to the scenario, none of them would have made it this far properly.

Yet being able to see them all in one place, all in good condition, isn’t that an incredible blessing?

[Except for those Furry sisters.]

“…”

[Since the princess practically folded you in half—]

Let’s not talk about that.

Thinking this while forcing an awkward smile, I suddenly notice something strange.

‘…Elnore isn’t here?’

[Well, maybe she’s just sleeping in a bit?]

Was she that kind of person?

She has a meticulous personality when it comes to self-management, unmatched by others.

With that thought, I tilt my head and walk down the stairs.

“Yo.”

“Mr. Darwood!”

As soon as I arrived at the dining room on the first floor, Faynol, with an inexplicably bright expression, was waving his hand excitedly like a child.

“…”

And my brain, which had been having warm thoughts until just now, cruelly recalled what this guy had tried to do to me recently.

Because his sexual fantasy involved getting hit, he tried everything to make me hit him—

“…”

Enough.

Let’s stop.

Thinking this, I look around and observe the women who are also greeting me.

[But you know, when you think about it.]

‘Yes?’

[Hasn’t everyone here done something similar to what that red girl did to you at least once?]

‘…’

[They’ve all tried some aggressive move to squeeze something out of you—]

Enough.

Stop it…

You’re making all my efforts to save them seem worthless…

“Teacher.”

“Hm?”

As I was thinking this and taking my seat, Elia, who was sitting next to me, suddenly spoke.

Her expression is somehow a bit terrifying. It’s so fierce that it wouldn’t be strange if lasers shot from her eyes.

Then she continued in an almost solemn voice.

“Let me suck it too.”

“…”

The eyes of everyone at the table turned to Elia.

The Holy Maiden, Yuria, Faynol, and even Riru.

“…”

I haven’t taken a single bite of food yet, but I already feel nauseous.

Give me room to breathe.

No, if it’s that kind of topic, you could bring it up when we’re alone, why when everyone is here…!

I take a deep breath to calm my suddenly dizzy head.

“…What?”

“I heard you let others suck it yesterday.”

“…”

“I, I want to do that kind of thing with you too, teacher-!”

“…What on earth are you talking about…?”

“The Lightbearer told me. Yesterday those assassin sisters proposed to you with the bedchamber ritual!”

Come to think of it.

Once her brakes are off, she’s not less intense than Elnore—if anything, she’s worse.

With an expression of utter indignation, pounding on the table while speaking like that in front of everyone—it’s terrifying in its own way.

It’s truly unsettling to hear such things from humanity’s strongest person, chosen by the highest-ranking angel.

And clearly, I wasn’t the only one shocked.

After a moment of complete silence across the table, an enormous reaction erupted a beat later.

“…Such, a thing, happened…?”

“You, you, what exactly happened between you two…!”

The gazes of Faynol, Riru, and even Yuria and the Holy Maiden are somewhat alarming.

The Holy Maiden with her mouth hanging open. Riru turning bright red and stammering. Yuria with a blank expression, unable to follow the context.

“W-wait, more importantly, what does proposing with a bedchamber ritual even mean?!”

When Riru shouted, Faynol beside her added a comment with an expression of disbelief as he rubbed his face.

“…I’ve heard such customs exist in the Empire.”

Then followed the explanation I had previously heard from the Victoria sisters.

This cursed strange country has a bizarre culture of “sex first, marriage later” spread throughout various noble circles.

“So.”

Elia spoke, grinding her teeth.

Her attitude was firm, as if she wouldn’t yield to anyone.

“I’m going to do it too! Come to my bedroom tonight!”

“…Wait a minute.”

Among those who had been listening quietly, Riru spoke with a hardened expression.

“…The conversation is moving too quickly for me to follow properly, but if such a custom exists, doesn’t everyone here have an equal right to demand it?”

“What?”

“I heard that for this guy specifically, there’s a special provision allowing all his wives to become legal wives. Then don’t we all have the right to, um, sleep… with him?”

Riru continued speaking deliberately despite her reddening face.

Perhaps she was making an effort despite being possibly the most vulnerable to such topics among those present.

“Ah, about that.”

Elia responded with a snort.

“I brought it up here specifically because I thought you might misunderstand that way.”

“…What?”

“I didn’t want anyone else trying to cut in line, so I wanted to make it clear in front of everyone. I wanted to drive the point home.”

Elia crossed her arms and her eyes gleamed.

“Later you can do whatever you want, but this is my homeland, I’m the host, and you’re all guests, right? Don’t get the order confused. In here, I have priority.”

“What do you mean—”

“If you have a problem with that.”

She continued calmly.

Of course.

Though her words were even, the aura she emanated was like that of a growling beast.

“Why don’t you prove yourself with your skills?”

“…”

Somehow.

I have another ominous feeling.

●