Ch.333333. Marriage

“…Right. Thanks for saving me.”

I suppose that’s the first thing I should say.

Even if there are a dozen women in front of me with murderous glares, looking ready to tear apart anything they see with their bare hands.

If I don’t, I feel like my head might be the first thing to get smashed.

“I’m… glad… you’re… safe.”

“…”

No.

Holy Maiden.

You’re not even a demon fragment, so why are you speaking with bloodshot eyes like that?

If a stranger saw you, they’d believe you were a berserker rather than a holy maiden.

“…”

Girls.

Sure, I was planning to fake my crisis to draw out your full power.

But looking at your current state, I think world domination might be possible with just you all…

“…Let’s head back to the Tristan Dukedom for now. Can you stand?”

Among them, Elnore, looking the most demonic with her drawn sword, asked while catching her breath.

Fortunately, as she said, moving itself isn’t much of a problem. Thanks to my ability configuration specialized in life-or-death situations and all kinds of durability pumping.

But before I could say anything—

“No, absolutely not. How could you move in that condition?”

Riru, who had approached without me noticing, suddenly lifted me up.

As if she intended to carry me herself.

“…?”

Yes, I appreciate the concern.

But I’m really fine right n—

“Heh, heh heh, heh heh heh…”

Hearing Riru’s nervous laughter, I feel chills down my spine.

A strange expression, as if she’s excited just from skin-to-skin contact—

“—I’ll take this part.”

“Then I’ll take this.”

“Ah, then I’ll take this.”

“…”

Before I can finish my thought, I’m speechless as they approach and grab my limbs one by one.

Are they transporting a corpse?

Before I can say that I could walk on my own if they just put me down, their hands start creeping up my body.

“…I, I think I should hold up to here.”

“…Hmm, then I’ll just hold up to here too.”

“Then I’ll—”

“…Let’s just go quietly.”

That was a genuinely spontaneous remark.

●

“—Haah.”

Back in the Tristan Dukedom, lying on the bed, I let out a sigh that feels like my soul is being drained.

It’s not simply from fatigue, but a sigh heavy with the feeling of having been taken advantage of.

[What’s wrong?]

“That guy took everything.”

[Hmm?]

“The Luminary, I mean.”

At the beginning, he definitely mentioned a “reconnaissance battle.”

In other words.

I barely saw any of his hand, but he thoroughly examined our “maximum output.”

‘It wasn’t completely one-sided, but…’

Throughout the process, I did somehow figure out what kind of “resources” he has.

That is, his understanding of “demons” far exceeds my expectations.

[Didn’t the Sword Saint also neutralize demonic power?]

‘That’s because the Sword Saint is a monster, and even then, the method to break through was clear.’

The Sword Saint’s neutralization field is an absurd ability that can split dimensions by itself, making such things possible.

Even with such an ability, the method to break through is simple enough that you just need to escape it.

But in contrast…

‘…Even our maximum output couldn’t handle it, right?’

Considering the situation at the old fortress we visited, it’s best to assume that only Seonhwaryun and the Luminary prepared it together.

They probably had some time, but the fact that just two people could make such preparations is threatening in itself.

Judging by the Luminary’s actions, she’ll clearly try to capture and kill demons even if it means collaborating with the Holy Empire. I can’t even imagine how far they could go once they start receiving support from that side.

“…There’s not a single woman around me who isn’t a headache.”

[…Women around you?]

As soon as I said that, Calivan responded with an expression like he was about to lose his mind.

[Are you saying the Luminary is a woman around you?]

“Yes.”

[…]

“…What?”

[No, it’s just, it sounds like you’re trying to seduce her too.]

“Then won’t you take responsibility? She said we even had a child together.”

I reply with a wry laugh.

[No, originally she was close with you from another timeline, not you in this current timeline—]

“That’s not what’s important.”

We should focus on the fact that she “sacrificed” something to return to the past from the future.

Either way, she did it because she felt something precious for the person named “Darwood Campbell.”

So I naturally have an obligation to respond to that.

“There are practical reasons like that, and other moral reasons too.”

[Moral reasons? Like not turning away a woman who comes to you?]

“No. Not that.”

This guy is missing the point.

“In the end, I’m the one who married her and, to put it crudely, slept with her.”

[…]

“If your lower half is promiscuous, you have to take responsibility for it.”

It’s responsibility without pleasure, but whatever.

Having grown up in slums and brothels, I know well. When a child is involved, you feel the weight of responsibility whether you like it or not.

[…I often can’t tell if you’re magnanimous or just crazy.]

“I’ll just be grateful that I’m not petty.”

I answer while shifting around in bed.

Anyway, whether I clash with the Luminary or whatever happens, there’s still quite a bit of time left.

‘…When was the last time I rested?’

I think while struggling to keep my heavy eyelids open.

Now, until the “conclusion.”

There’s only one real hurdle left for me to overcome. And there’s still plenty of time.

With that thought, I let out a deep sigh.

If I could just close my eyes for a moment, I’d feel much better—

“Son, son—!”

“…”

Right.

Rest? What rest in my cursed life?

Thinking that gloomily, I sit up as someone roughly opens my door and enters.

“…Father?”

I mutter as I see the face of the person who suddenly burst into my room.

I knew he was in the Tristan Dukedom, but why did he suddenly appear?

While pondering this, my father dragged a nearby wardrobe to block the door. As if to block “pursuers” who might follow.

“…What are you doing, Dad?”

To my question, my father approached me with heavy steps and gripped my shoulders.

He looks like he’s about to share the most important secret in the world.

“Run away.”

“…”

“It’s not too late…!”

“What?”

“I’ve raised several children including you, so I know. Parenting is hell. It’s not something humans should do…!”

“…”

Wondering what on earth my father is talking about, I listen quietly as he approaches with half-glazed eyes and firmly grips my shoulders.

“From what the Duchess said, you have at least ten now…! They’re planning to squeeze you dry…!”

“…”

“You’re walking straight into hell. It’s not too late, so listen to your father, Darwood…!”

What is this?

He’s talking like someone in a horror movie trying to stop a victim before they face something terrible.

“First, calm down—”

“How can I calm down! You have no idea what hardships await you! The women of this dukedom are all experts at wrapping men around their fingers—”

Before I could calm my desperate-looking father, someone knocked on the door from outside.

Following that came a voice dripping with seduction.

“Baron Campbell?”

“…”

My father freezes like a small animal encountering a predator, almost pitifully so.

“B-Bella, well…”

“My, you need to eat. After the meal, I’ll give you a massage as usual♥”

“B-Bella, I’m a married man—”

“And…?”

“…”

Is this person seriously setting up an affair in front of his son?

I’ve heard this voice once before.

That’s right… Bella. Elnore’s personal maid.

Just as I recall this, the door my father had blocked is violently destroyed. By the looks of it, she blew it away with a single kick.

As expected of one of the Empire’s top martial families. Being a personal maid to the Duchess apparently means having human weapon-level specs.

“Oh, Young Master is here too?”

“…Young Master?”

The form of address seems a bit strange.

Officially, my father and I are guests staying here, but she’s talking as if I’m a family member.

“Well, since you’ll be a member starting tomorrow anyway, I suppose it’s fine to say it in advance.”

“…What?”

Blinking in confusion at what she means, Bella adds with a bright smile.

“The wedding ceremony.”

“…”

“According to the Duchess, the ceremony will absolutely be held tomorrow, even if the sky splits open.”

“…”

“She says she won’t tolerate any more interference.”

Wait.

At least give me time to prepare.

Isn’t this moving too fast?