Ch.387Uninterruptible NPC. (8)

Lies don’t work on Ragni. Especially not for our party who’ve been together for so long, who’ve become family. And I, who she’s always been watching with those sparkling red eyes…

‘…Well, I guess after sharing a night together, it’s inevitable that she’d see through everything.’

In both senses, she’s seen through all my inner thoughts. That’s all I can think about. Certainly, at some point, the me who only wanted to run away for Ira’s sake disappeared. Now I’m sticking my head into various situations, working to overcome our predicaments.

Meanwhile, something strange that never appeared in the game is chasing me, calling me a reincarnator, picking fights. Events are accelerating due to the incomprehensible actions of bosses. Moreover, most of our party members are directly involved. Literally, running away wouldn’t solve anything. Even now…

‘The fall of Aigram wasn’t in the game. If I let Avalitia, who was a deus ex machina, die here, who knows how the continent will change.’

I squeeze my eyes shut as I look at Ira sleeping in my arms, her breathing soft and rhythmic.

This is purely my personal judgment, but I believe I overcame the fate of death in the trial dungeon. There, I nearly died for real at the hands of the previous Luxuria, who was already being controlled.

However, I never told my companions exactly how I died in the game or who killed me. If I revealed that it was [Seven Deadly Sins Luxuria], it would be difficult for her to follow me, and everyone would struggle to accept her as a companion. But in Ira’s case…

‘…I just died because my body was weak. Though I’m not weak at all now, how on earth do I explain that?’

I think Ragni already figured out clues about my death when she heard about my past life. She probably doesn’t know it was Luxuria yet, but she likely realized that Ira got caught up in it too. That’s why she doesn’t want to burden me. Of course, the actual sequence was Ira dying first and then me, but either way, it’s the worst situation I’d want to avoid.

‘Seriously, there’s too much to think about.’

The women following me are also an issue. I don’t want their relationships to deteriorate because they all want my love, but honestly, Chikuyo’s earlier behavior was normal. In reality, if one of the women said, “Since you’ve built a female harem, can I live with you while seeing other men?” I wouldn’t be able to say anything.

‘Honestly, as someone who has no interest in either experiencing or causing NTR, it’s something I absolutely want to avoid.’

So I decided that rather than using uncertain criteria like affection or love, I should prioritize women based on moral obligation.

Ragni and Rei. Between the two, I was actually thinking of Rei first. I had decided that when everyone gathered, I would definitely prioritize Rei. But Ragni mentioned that Rei had pushed her forward. That triggered me to embrace Ragni first. And…

‘That statement itself made it impossible for me not to embrace Rei as well.’

It was such a lovely thing to say. She wanted happiness for Ragni, for Rei who had followed me first, even more than for herself. When she set up the situation like that, how could I put up walls and back away? So I had steeled my resolve, but…

‘Ragni saw through everything…’

I didn’t tell Luxuria everything, but Ragni clearly noticed this much. That’s why she spoke to Luxuria that way. And perhaps, she even calculated that I would realize this.

‘…She’s truly a terrifying wife.’

And a grateful, lovable woman. As a result, Chikuyo’s rampage was temporarily halted, and I gained some time. Anyway, after this is over, after Avalitia is retrieved, I’ll leave the rest to Ponia and the Headmaster and resolve these women issues. It would be nice if I could embrace them all at once, but still…

‘I should prioritize Gor. She’s also constantly worried about her physical issues.’

Holding Ira a little tighter in my arms, I stop thinking. Let me make good use of the time that blue-haired woman bought for me. And let me act properly to prevent further problems. The movements of the ‘world,’ the issues of the religious nation—to keep us from getting any more involved.

With that determination, which I’m not even sure I can keep, I close my eyes, making this promise to my warm little sister sleeping in my arms.

*

“We’re almost there~ Super close now.”

“…Luxuria, you said that an hour ago. When are we actually arriving? It’ll be lunchtime at this rate.”

Seeing Chikuyo walking naturally with Luxuria, it seems they’ve really become friends. But…

“Stupid big sis, be honest. When you say ‘super close,’ you’re measuring by how quickly you could fly there, aren’t you?”

“Huh? Yeah. Why?”

“””……”””

The next morning, as we were walking along the road, we all gave incredulous looks to Luxuria, who stupidly affirmed Ira’s pointed question. This idiot…!

Sigh, even when I try not to compare her to Ragni, she makes me do it!!

“…Let’s have an early lunch here and then run a bit. Okay?”

“Of course!”

“J-Jack? Y-you’re not planning to run super fast like last time, right? Seeing this roadside reminds me… you’re not going to abandon me again…?”

“Master, did you abandon Miho? Then you should have abandoned her completely.”

“Hey, golem. What are you saying about my sister…?”

“Alright!! Let’s prepare lunch!! Miho and Chikuyo, go fetch water!! Gor, prepare the cooking!! Rei, could you gather firewood?!”

“Huh, what should I do?”

“Stupid big sis, go up in the sky and keep watch or something.”

When Gor suddenly tried to pick a fight and I raised my voice without thinking, Ira defused the situation by giving Luxuria a task. Miho and Chikuyo headed to the nearby water source, and Rei tilted her head and went to gather firewood.

Wait, Gor? You’re not usually like this. Why are you suddenly picking fights?!

“…Master. I am a woman before I am a status window.”

“No, you’re a status window before you’re a woman…?”

“No, it’s the opposite.”

No, the opposite is correct!! But this isn’t the time to argue about that. She wouldn’t even look at me as she efficiently unloaded our things, lit a fire with the wood Rei had cut, and prepared to cook. Thanks to her more expressive face, I could tell she was genuinely upset.

“…Really, why? What’s the problem?”

“They’re both too pretty. The probability of Master getting aroused by those beastkin…”

“Hey, when did I ever…!!”

“Are you saying this after doing it over 100 times with Rei and Ragni combined?”

“Guh?!”

You’re really shutting me down!! Hey, I was actually thinking of prioritizing you!! Just thinking about it!! But honestly, polymorphing or changing your appearance to human isn’t something I can do just because I want to!!

“So it’s a problem. Even if you resist those females clinging to you a few times as usual, eventually that iron wall will crumble again. It’s already fallen twice. Hmph.”

Gor’s pouting with puffed cheeks is cute, but I have no way to deal with this. Ah, really. Ragni bought us time, but if you start breaking down suddenly, what am I supposed to do? Sigh, I guess I have no choice. My first wife set things up nicely, and I can’t just sit here blankly and let it fall apart.

“…Once this situation is resolved, I’ll look for a way to do something about your body. Please be patient until then.”

When I whisper quietly in Gor’s ear, she blinks her gray eyes and asks through her status window, [Really?]. No, don’t get your hopes up too much. There was no transformation magic in the game, and I don’t know of any monsters like that either. Hmm, maybe it would be better to gamble on feeding her another Seven Deadly Sins core and see if that changes anything…?

There really is no answer. As I’m helping Gor prepare the meal, Ira suddenly appears beside Gor and starts peeling potatoes. Oh, Ira can cook too…? Huh?

“Ira, that’s not the peel.”

“Eh? But there’s dirt in this crevice?”

“You do it like this.”

Using my knowledge from my past life, I neatly carve out the groove to remove the dirt, sit Ira on my lap, and start making lunch together. Haha~! Our little sister is still far from marriage-ready? You can’t even peel potatoes properly~! Come on, big brother will teach you h…

“What? Ira is already 13, isn’t she? In just two more years, she’ll be of marriageable a…”

“Ahaha! Rei, what are you saying?! Ira getting married, that’s ridiculous…”

“Huh? Isn’t Miss Ira almost at marriageable age? If anything, we’re extremely la…”

“Uwahaha!!! Miho, what are you talking about, Ira getting married?!”

“Hmm, I see. So Jack’s little sister is 13? No wonder I thought she was so cute and pretty. She must be popular with boys…”

“KAHAHAHAHA!! Ira?! Did you have any male friends at the academy?! You didn’t, right? Hmm?!!”

“No. She did. Rock B… from Class F…”

“Gor?! She didn’t, right?!!”

“Hmm? Brother, I did! Rock Bell is a close friend! I couldn’t meet him when we went this time!”

“…What kind of bas… Rock Bell? What kind of friend is he? Ira, tell me more about him.”

It seems there are still issues I need to pay attention to.

I “accidentally” crushed the potato in my hand as I listened to my little sister’s story about her academy “friend.”