Side: Yuki
"U-Ugh, my body feels so lightheaded and wobbly..."
"There, there, Yuki-san. Here, let me support you."
Supported by Ria, I managed to stay upright.
Man, yesterday I panicked when Eris started crying... She really had been holding back a lot, huh? As her husband, I felt terribly sorry for not noticing sooner.
Still though... is it really okay to indulge like that until I'm completely drained and wobbly?
"Well, it can't be helped, you know? Eris-san had her precious time interrupted. If it were me, I might have unsealed my sword right then and there."
"Please don't say that, even as a joke. That's the 15th-generation Hero's Sword that Narjia made specifically for you, Ria. You've never even drawn its full power, right?"
"No, I haven't. But I'd do that much. I mean—our time alone together was completely stolen by that lecture, even if it was an act. If it were someone mentally weak, they might even kill themselves—worried Yuki-san would hate them, and losing such an important day."
"...Is it really that serious?"
"It is. But yesterday you took good care of Eris-san. I'll give you a passing grade. As expected of our husband."
"...Thanks, I guess."
Incidentally, Eris was currently carrying Aslin in her arms, strolling along leisurely with a glowing, radiant smile on her face.
She did the exact same thing—or rather, Eris was the one moving even more than I was—so why in the world is she so full of energy?
"...That's just a woman's nature, Yuki. If you pour plenty of love into us and let it all out, all of us turn radiant and full of life."
"Is that really how it works?"
"That's how it works."
"It is indeed!"
Since Aslin was currently being carried by Eris today, Labyris wasn't riding on my shoulders, but was in Aslin's usual spot—in my arms.
On the other side, of course, was Filia.
Meanwhile, Sheila, who belongs to the same chibi group, basically doesn't do things like this in public. Though at home, she constantly begs, "Hugs, please~!"
"But man... It's only been three days since we transferred here, and I'm already exhausted."
Beside me, Taiki-kun muttered that.
Though judging by how he was staggering and being supported by Airi-san as he walked, he had probably met a similar fate to mine.
Well, Airi-san was basically in the exact same boat as Eris, after all... Though what Taiki-kun meant wasn't just about that.
"Yeah. The moment we stepped into the academy it was nothing but events and flags one after another. And Samantha-ojousan's over there is a massive flag, but we can't just toss her aside either..."
"Ah, if I remember correctly... she's from an allied nation of Enaria, right? Wasn't Rhodei the country suspected of helping the rebellion during the Holy Sword incident?"
"Precisely. Samantha-ojousan herself probably knows nothing about it, but if we recklessly jumped onto the Headmaster's scheme here and pinned all the blame on Samantha-ojousan, we'd have no choice but to report it to Enaria, right? If that happens..."
"...It could lead to war between Enaria and Samantha-ojousan's country."
"Exactly. For now, the Kingdom of Rhodei claims it was the unauthorized action of a rogue faction, and there are even rumors that the contract between Rhodei and the rebellious minister was a forgery."
"Ah, the classic 'cutting off the lizard's tail' move?"
"Yep. In reality, there's a good chance Rhodei was behind it as a whole nation. They just made sure it could be severed easily. This level of evidence isn't a decisive blow. For all we know, another foreign country might have been operating in the shadows within Rhodei."
"Even if they wanted to start a war, it'd take way too much effort. And it's not like we can go around investigating the truth inside Rhodei ourselves, either."
"Well, the actual damage was just a bit of destruction in the castle town and a few soldiers dying, after all."
"Even though the royal castle was attacked, it makes you want to ask if it's really okay to just let it slide like that."
"They repelled it, plus Enaria has things they want to keep under wraps, too. Since the damage was minimal, there's no reason for them to wreck their current diplomatic relationships, spark a war, and waste people, money, and supplies."
"It's all political maneuvering everywhere you look, huh?"
"That's just how the world works. A nation without profit has no future... So, how are we going to handle Samantha-ojousan from here on?"
"For now, we keep her on hold. She's a perfect stepping stone to build ties with Rhodei, and since she seems deeply grateful to us for this incident, she'll be quite useful, right?"
"Right. Keeping her as a card in our hand definitely isn't the wrong move."
Indeed. Through this incident, we secured an advantageous position against the Academy and the Headmaster, but Samantha-ojousan—the catalyst for it all—occupied a rather tricky position.
Rhodei had backed the rebellious minister who went wild in Enaria... If word got out that the daughter of that very ducal house had obstructed our enrollment, it could spark an international conflict. There would be more than enough justification.
As for us, we wanted to freely investigate across various nations, so a war would be an absolute nightmare. Thus, there was no reason to treat Samantha-ojousan harshly when she could serve as our connection to Rhodei, a country we had no ties with yet.
That's why we made statements supporting and defending Samantha-ojousan so that no responsibility would fall on her, but...
"Ah... Yuki-sama!"
In front of the Academy gates, instead of greeting all of us... The young noblewoman spotted me specifically and came running over with a dazzling smile.
...My head started hurting.
"...Flag confirmed. I thought we'd snapped it clean in half."
"...Damn it, did I mess up the way I covered for her?"
"No, in this case, I think she made the choice herself. It's that thing, you know—an otome game."
"Ah, that kind of route, huh? I thought after getting caught up in the academy incident she'd keep her distance. Instead, she chose to get involved with us."
"Well, looking at it from an otome game perspective, it's a CG event where Yuki-san desperately protects the ojou-sama. You got an event CG."
"I don't need that."
"But you used to complete all the CGs in gal games, didn't you~?"
"You bet~"
While we were having that conversation, Samantha-ojousan arrived and stood right in front of me.
"Yuki-sama, I look forward to working with you again today. Ah, Eris-sama, and everyone else as well, good morning!"
When Samantha-ojousan called out to them, everyone greeted her back normally.
Actually, Samantha-ojousan and my wives got along surprisingly well.
It seems she had been used by the Headmaster in various ways and was mentally pushed to her limit. After the situation with the Headmaster was settled, she had come to us alone, shedding heavy tears while expressing her gratitude.
If she had been forced to take the fall, even as a ducal family, her house might have been ruined at worst.
Well, the Headmaster didn't intend for things to go that far either, so she readily admitted her own fault. However, that didn't change the fact that she had been used, so Samantha-ojousan currently relied on us far more than she did on the Headmaster.
Even though the problem was resolved, the fact that she was waiting for us at the gate like this showed that she possessed a proper sense of noble pride. Naturally, that kind of attitude left a very favorable impression.
This young noble lady merely lacked experience; she was a girl who seemed destined to become someone great in the future... Though her chest was already big enough to rival Rurua's, though.
Anyway, I need to return her greeting.
"Ah, good morning. You really didn't need to wait for us at the gate today, but thank you very much. Sorry to make you go out of your way."
"No, compared to the favor I received, this is nothing at all! In fact, I have not repaid the favor I received in the slightest. Doing at least this much is only natural!"
Samantha-ojousan turned a dazzling, beautiful smile toward me as she said that.
Yeah, a gorgeous blonde drill-haired lady with a phenomenal figure makes for quite a picture, but to a guy who already has wives, it only gave me an uncomfortable feeling.
Seeing me freeze up slightly, Samantha-ojousan asked with a somewhat anxious look.
Ah, crap... Since I need to keep her around as a connection to Rhodei, I have to say something. What kind of line keeps the flags away!?
"...Um, was I being a nuisance?"
Hey, give me some dialogue options here!
Ah, man, this reminds me of the time with Ria... Give me a simple, easy-to-understand binary choice!
"Fufu, it's quite alright, Samantha-sama. My husband, Yuki-san, is merely a bit tired from working hard yesterday, that's all."
"Eris-sama? Is Yuki-sama exhausted? I thought you were the one who worked hard yesterday..."
"Well, we are husband and wife, you see. I received my reward for working hard last night."
"Y-You mean..."
"Yes. Making babies."
"I-I apologize for my rudeness!! I-I asked an impolite question..."
"It's perfectly fine. We are schoolmates and friends, after all. There's no problem talking about these things."
NO. There is a HUGE problem!
What the hell? Is this kind of conversation normal for women!? They're terrifying!
Still... Eris successfully diverted Samantha-ojousan's attention away from me.
"Now then, we shouldn't keep talking at the gate forever. Could you please show us the way?"
"Yes, leave it to me! That was my intention when I waited for you, after all!"
With that, Samantha-ojousan stepped forward to lead the way.
Alright, nice one, Eris.
Then, Eris quietly sidled up next to me.
"I managed to divert the topic just now, but Yuki-san, your only real option for handling Samantha-san now is to pull her into our inner circle."
"...How about leaving her entirely to Taiki-kun?"
"Ehh? What are you talking about? You're the one who raised the flag, Yuki-san! I definitely refuse! That face is the face of a maiden in love—even I can tell! Trying to overturn that now would be sheer cruelty!"
"Just as Taiki-san says, abandoning her after this would make me question your character as a human being. Samantha-san's backing and connections are extremely valuable under our current circumstances, and her personality is very pleasant. As far as I'm concerned, she has my approval. Though we will need to discuss it with everyone later."
"...What exactly are you discussing?"
I asked nervously.
Eris let out a long sigh.
"Haah... Well, we haven't even discussed it yet, and we don't know what might happen in the future, so for now it's fine. But please, if you bring her into our fold, absolutely do NOT leave her hanging like you did with Jessica, okay?"
"...Okay."
Jessica's situation wasn't my fault!
She was practically radiating an aura from her entire body that said she was dedicated to her knightly duties, okay!?
It's not my fault I didn't notice!
Still, just as Eris said, pulling Samantha-ojousan in just to use her, only to throw her away once we're done, would be terrible...
I just hope the girl walking ahead of us finds some other romance along the way... I mean, I already have 16 wives! If this were a light novel, the readers would definitely be telling me to go die! And on top of that, taking in another one? Am I some kind of harem bastard!?
Right as those thoughts were running through my mind, it happened.
Samantha-ojousan was walking ahead of us, guiding us.
Around us stretched an ordinary road. School buildings stood in the distance. Aside from being in another world, it looked just like any normal campus.
Students walking around us were enjoying normal conversations on their way to class, wrapped in a peaceful atmosphere.
Yes, in such a scenery, there was neither hostility nor malice, so I didn't notice it at all...
"You—!!"
"S-Sorry! It was an accident, an accident!! I'm sorry, okay!? I'm apologizing!!"
A boy and a girl ran past us.
Since they were wearing the Academy's uniform, I knew they were students here, but one thing was baffling.
What the female student was holding was a mop.
...Yes, a mop.
A mop used for cleaning hallways and such. For some reason, holding a cleaning tool, the female student was chasing the male student.
"If you're sorry, stop running!!"
"As if I could! You're definitely going to hit me!! Besides, that's a TOILET mop!!"
Man, I wouldn't want that either.
I thought as I blankly watched the farce unfold—when for some reason, as if drawn by a magnet, he hurtled straight toward Samantha-ojousan walking ahead of us.
"Of course I am!! How many times do you have to peek into my room before you're satisfied?! You BIG PERVERTー!!"
The female student screamed and threw the toilet mop.
It scored a clean hit right on the male student's head.
And then, he tumbled straight into Samantha-ojousan.
"Ara? How noisy—kyaah!?"
The noble ojou-sama got dragged right into it.
Clatter, clatter...
The mop fell onto the stone-paved path, making a sound that rang out absurdly clearly.
Ah, every single one of us, including my group, stood there in utter stupefaction.
Sprawled out before our eyes was the male student who had taken a toilet mop to the head, burying his face right into Samantha-ojousan's massive chest, and Samantha-ojousan herself, who had been tackled down with her skirt completely flipped up, exposing her underwear.
Black... The design of the underwear was a bit disappointing. Well, comparing it to modern underwear is probably unfair.
"Geez... what in the world is—wait, it's you again, Eoid!!! Enought already!!"
"S-Samantha-san, this is a misunderstanding! It was an accident!!"
Saying that, the idiot thrust his hands toward the noble ojou-sama.
However, that was NOT something he should have done while pressed tightly against her. Inevitably, the action of raising his arms and thrusting them forward resulted in him grabbing a full, firm handful of the young lady's luscious chest.
"Kyaah!? Y-You...!! Where do you think you are touching!?"
"Ah—no, this is—!?"
What is this cliché?
"What is this cliché?"
Ah, looks like Taiki-kun thought the exact same thing.
"A-Ah, Yuki-san... that male student over there..."
"Yeah. Come to think of it, he's the protagonist guy we saw on our way back after getting turned away at the gate, right?"
"Right, right! Back then too, if I remember correctly, look—he tackled down that female student who threw the mop over there..."
Taiki-kun didn't get to finish his sentence.
Because...
"ENOUGH ALREADY!!"
"Bwuggh!?"
She sent him flying through the air with a vicious upper-cut.
"Right, right, he was flying through the air just like that back then too, wasn't he?"
"Ah, right. So humans really can fly like that, huh? I saw something nice."
"Indeed~ I never thought I'd get to see a classic trope with my own eyes."
"Well, in reality, that young lady infused wind magic into her fist, which is why he flew like that."
"Hey, don't go bringing scientific or magical logic into a scene like this!"
"Ah, my bad."
Yeah, he's right.
That ruins the mood.
And so, the male student who crashed to the ground proceeded to get thoroughly lectured by both the female student who threw the mop and Samantha-ojousan.
Wait, the other party is a duke's daughter, will it really end with just a lecture?
"So, Yuki-san. No matter how you look at it, that guy is a textbook academy protagonist, right?"
"Right? A miracle like that couldn't be staged even if you tried."
"Then does that mean Samantha-ojousan is one of that protagonist's heroines?"
"Ah, I wonder. If that's the case, then that actually makes things easier for us since we'd just stay in a friendship relationship with her."
"Ehh, in a situation like this, you should fight that cliché protagonist over Samantha-san! It's time for some NTR!!"
"No, it wouldn't be NTR. Neither of us has feelings leaning toward her."
"Then let me win over that female student who threw the mop!!"
"Calm down. Who the heck is doing NTL or NTR here? Besides, taking someone else's heroine isn't our goal. If you're going that far, why don't you do it, Taiki-kun?"
"Eh, no thanks."
"An instant rejection?!"
Even as we bantered, having witnessed a live lucky-pervert moment unfold right before our eyes, both of us spoke at the exact same time:
""Man~ we saw something great.""
As long as you're not the one involved, watching from the sidelines is totally fine.
* * *
