Ch.307Academy Festival (12)

At that moment.

The Border Planetary System.

“How far has the erosion toward Earth… progressed?”

Pink Beard asked, gripping an alien’s neck.

“Kuhurk…!”

It was Ymir, the 4th ranked powerhouse in the galaxy. He was struggling with his head in Pink Beard’s grasp.

“Ah… well, that…!”

One of the staff members opened his mouth.

“Those who try to open rifts toward Earth are being killed one after another. We’ve confirmed the death of the Beast Tamer as well.”

The staff member reported.

“Furthermore… the people of Portalia, the planet responsible for the technology to open rifts, have all risen in rebellion. Currently, our military forces are fully concentrated on containing the rebellious planet.”

The staff member continued, squeezing his eyes shut.

“I see…”

Pink Beard tightened his grip.

Crunch-!

The head of Ymir, the 4th ranked being in the galaxy, burst pathetically.

It was Pink Beard’s way of venting his humiliation at failing to consume Earth. He had eliminated all forces including the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th ranked beings in the galaxy. Through this, Pink Beard sought to reassure himself of his own strength.

“Entrusting tasks to incompetent beings like you was my mistake.”

Pink Beard said while wiping the blood from his hands.

“Can you open… a portal large enough for one person?”

Pink Beard asked, tilting his head slightly.

“Well… we can open one.”

The staff member replied.

“I don’t need anyone else. I’ll go myself. I’ll go personally… and kill them all.”

Pink Beard declared.

“Opening it will take… quite some time. Given the sheer magnitude of your existence…”

The staff member explained.

“How long will it take?”

“About one month in Earth time, we can open it.”

The staff member hastily replied.

“Is that the best you can do?”

Pink Beard asked.

“Yes!!”

The staff member nodded desperately.

“Fine. Then there’s no helping it.”

Pshwoooong-!

Pink Beard suddenly fired a beam from his finger. The staff member’s head exploded.

“All of you are so incompetent…”

Pink Beard clicked his tongue as he stood up.

“I’ll kill them all. With my own hands.”

Pink Beard then clenched his fist.

Rumble-!!

Behind Pink Beard, something resembling a massive planet rose up. That was Pink Beard’s psycho-robo, ‘Earth.’ It was the ultimate psycho-robo capable of absorbing the power of planets themselves.

And so, the final boss began to move.

———–

At that time, from Shota’s perspective.

“Ow!! Stop it!!! You crazy woman!!”

I tried desperately to stop Lei Lifeng’s hand holding a kitchen knife.

“Xingkuailiao!! Tingbudong!! Tingbudong!!”

As if in panic, Lei Lifeng started spouting Chinese with all her might.

“What are you saying! This woman!!”

Anyway, I succeeded in knocking away the knife.

“Hey, Shota. Came to play fighting games.”

At that moment, Sasitsu and Frill opened the door and entered.

And… Sasitsu quickly took in the scene of me struggling with Lei Lifeng, and everyone else.

“Hmph. I’ll come back later.”

Sensing he might get dragged into troublesome business, Sasitsu left with Frill, wearing a cool smile.

“Hey!! You disloyal bastard!!”

I shouted loudly. Running away just like that?!!

Anyway, after subduing Lei Lifeng, I threw the knife far away.

Struggle-! Struggle-!!

Lei Lifeng was thrashing wildly in my arms. No… when a cool senior acts like this, it’s character destruction!! Plus… she’s strong!! How can someone who just draws pictures be this strong? Did she build muscles through drawing?!!

“Ayu!! I’m sorry!! Senior!!”

I delivered a karate chop to Lei Lifeng’s neck.

Whack-!!

My hand strike landed cleanly on the back of Lei Lifeng’s neck.

“Guhk… zhen hao…!”

With that, Lei Lifeng passed out.

———

“Phew……”

Somehow, there were now two unconscious people in my house. Aki, who was shocked by my mother’s harem recruitment, and Lei Lifeng, who had received a physical shock, were both lying quietly. In the center was the Emoi-kun doll that Kana had received as a prize. The whole scene was chaotic. It could almost be called contemporary art.

“What a mess….”

Eri made a single comment.

“By the way… hasn’t Aki been unconscious for too long? She might just be sleeping.”

Umi said.

That’s true. It was concerning that she remained lying down through all this commotion.

After a while, Lei Lifeng opened her eyes.

“Ah… duibuqi… I apologize. I momentarily felt intense jealousy and became agitated.”

Lei Lifeng apologized refreshingly. Her tone was so dignified and majestic that it almost made me forget her previous outburst. She spoke like a righteous person but acted like pure chaos incarnate.

“I should become a confident madman like her too.”

I resolved. Somehow… I felt like I’d found a new role model for life.

“Shota… don’t be influenced by that…”

Eri looked at me with pitying eyes.

“Aren’t you already practicing it quite well…?”

Kana also took a jab at me. What are you talking about? I’m exercising maximum restraint.

“Anyway, Umi was it? Would you consider joining the art club? With you… we could conquer Asia together. What do you think?”

Lei Lifeng immediately extended her hand toward Umi.

“No… I’m not interested in club activities.”

However, Umi wore an indifferent expression.

“You can draw pictures without joining a club… and I started drawing to create web novel illustrations for my boyfriend. I’m not that serious about art.”

Umi said, snuggling up to me.

“And if I join a club, I’ll have less time to spend with Shota. I don’t want that.”

Umi added.

Umi, who prioritized me above all else… I was so grateful. Really… I must make Umi happy no matter what.

“To waste such talent…!!”

Lei Lifeng wore a distressed expression.

“You… are the first to stimulate me!!! Then at least!! Let’s have a drawing competition!!”

Lei Lifeng shouted.

“Competition… I don’t wanna.”

Umi replied in a cute tone.

“Shota!! You!! You said you write web novels, right?”

Lei Lifeng turned her arrows toward me.

“Ah… yes.”

I nodded.

“Then I’ll draw illustrations too!! Together with Umi!! You judge which one you like better!!”

Suddenly Lei Lifeng threw out an unreasonable proposal.

“But… Senior, you specialize in fine art, right? Illustration might not be your area of expertise…”

I tried to politely decline.

“Are you implying I’m inferior to Umi?”

Lei Lifeng said.

“That’s paranoia!”

I shouted loudly.

“Anyway, I’m doing it. Illustrations drawn by an artist of my caliber. It’ll be good publicity, right?”

Lei Lifeng said.

“Ah… if you put it that way.”

I sighed and replied. I was afraid this person might act out again if I tried to stop her. This lady has a dangerously low boiling point.

“Then… I’ll read through your novel. I’ll deliver the best illustrations.”

With those words, Lei Lifeng left through the window. She could have just used the door…

Anyway, after a while, Aki opened her eyes.

“Aki…..”

Aiko-san seemed genuinely sorry for getting involved with the boy her daughter liked.

“Mom… is it true?”

Aki asked with a sigh.

“Yes… I’m sorry. Mom also… wanted to find happiness as a woman.”

Aiko said.

“Mom… I thought your complexion had been strangely good lately… so that’s why.”

Aki said with a sigh.

“If… Aki doesn’t like it, I’ll give up… Mom will be fine.”

Aiko smiled sadly.

Huh? That seemed… I had such thoughts, but I decided not to interfere with the mother-daughter conversation.

“No… if that’s what Mom wants, I respect it. Mom… you’ve been holding back for my sake all this time. I… don’t want Mom to hold back again because of me.”

Aki said hesitantly.

“Aki….”

Aiko-san opened her eyes wide.

“Still… how many women get the chance to love the same man as their mother?”

Aki chuckled before hugging Aiko.

“Let’s just be happy together. Loving the same man.”

Aki said.

Wow… this actually works out.

“So this is what family bonds are like…”

I was enveloped in warmth as I ran my finger across my nose.

“Shota… don’t say that while getting an erection…”

Kana said, looking at me.

Sorry. I got too excited thinking about mother-daughter bowl.

“Well then, everyone… now that we’ve reconciled with words, shall we reconcile with our bodies?”

I pulled both Aiko-san and Aki.

“W-wait! I’m not mentally prepared… it’s my first time after all…!”

Aki exclaimed frantically.

“Mom will be with you.”

Aiko embraced Aki.

Afterward, I shared deep family love with the three of them.

——–

The next day. The second day of the cultural festival.

In the morning, Eri’s older brother, Shotaro-san, called me.

“Shota! What have you done…!!”

Shotaro-san’s voice came through.

“Mmm… who is it? Big brother?”

Eri, lying next to me, asked while snuggling against me.

“Yeah. Go back to sleep.”

I gently stroked Eri.

“Mmm….”

Hearing that, Eri fell back asleep.

“That famous artist Lei Lifeng… contacted our company! Directly!! She wants to draw illustrations for your web novel exclusively! And she wants exclusivity.”

Shotaro-san said.

“Ah…”

I gave a brief three-line summary of the situation, typical of my generation.

“Haa… so that’s what happened…”

Shotaro-san seemed dizzy from the information.

“Well… since it will help with promotion… we decided to accept. Honestly, it’s like a golden egg falling from the sky… I called because I was so surprised.”

Shotaro-san said.

“Ahaha…”

Right. I didn’t expect it either.

———

Anyway, the second day began with an eventful morning.

“Big brother!!!”

Some unexpected people were waiting in front of our classroom.

It was Madoka.

“Madoka!!”

I immediately opened my arms toward Madoka.

Pitter-patter!

Madoka ran toward me with cute footsteps and jumped into my arms. Yes, this is Madoka.

“Big brother! We came too!”

“Did you miss us?”

“It’s big brother!!”

Eri’s three little sisters were there. They were still cute as ever.

“You come too!!”

I opened my arms wider.

“Big bro!!”

Eri’s three sisters also tackled straight into my embrace.

“Hahaha. This is nice…”

I feel good whenever I see children. They were what you might call the youth of our harem. True prospects.

‘Now I understand why Arsenal’s manager Wenger only recruited promising youngsters…’

He must have been thrilled at the thought of these kids growing up to lead the team in the future. Young talent is the future!!

“But… big brother.”

At that moment, Madoka, who was enjoying the hug, turned her head. Eri’s three sisters also stared at Madoka, not wanting to lose out.

“Who are they?”

Madoka asked.

“Ah. Right. You all haven’t met before.”

I only just realized that.

Well, might as well introduce everyone to each other. I found myself thinking that without even realizing it.