Chapter 267: Family Man (1)

As morning dawned, the very first thing I did was submit an application for thesis correction. Since the Magic Tower was full of rigid old fogies and picky bastards, there was no way they would pull down the thesis just because I recklessly threatened them with a mace. Therefore, the priority was to follow the minimum formalities, submit the application for thesis correction and proposal, and wait for their reaction. It wouldn't be too late to get angry if these bastards ignored my words here.

"Soya. If I offer them money and tell them not to publish it in the thesis, will they really not publish it?"

Soya shook her head. She tucked her pink hair behind her ear and mumbled. I urged her for an answer.

"It's fine, so go ahead and tell me."

"They'll probably just ignore it and publish the thesis anyway. Now, um... since a case like Ms. Eve's is incredibly rare, it could immediately attract attention in academia. They could even aim for things like the Thesis of the Year award... Considering that, a proposed measure like this will actually have little meaning."

"I see. Then what happens if I forcibly stop them?"

Soya hesitated again. She cautiously gauged my reaction and spoke.

"Um... can you promise not to get mad?"

"Speak."

"The Magic Tower will likely put the Peta Territory on the watchlist and, um... freeze magic resources like magic stones. They might not provide help later when we need mage support."

"I see."

I didn't care much about that level of retaliation. I had Ati by my side, who was more awesome than all the Magic Tower mages combined. Still, I planned to try talking it out first. Since the rule of law was widespread in this world, I would easily be criticized for recklessly committing murder. Since it was fucking uncomfortable to have my wife's infertility permanently recorded in a thesis, I planned to politely demand they not publish it while I was still speaking nicely.

If they didn't want to drop dead from a mace strike, they would figure out how to behave. I sealed the demand letter I had roughly scribbled down and sent it off with a servant. They said the Magic Tower responded fairly quickly to nobles, so a reply would return soon. I asked Soya, who was still in my room.

"Soya."

"Y-Yes!"

Startled by my words, Soya straightened her back. I asked her.

"Soya, you were originally from the Magic Tower, right?"

"Yes."

"But if... our territory becomes enemies with the Magic Tower over this matter, it'll be impossible for you to return to the Magic Tower, Soya. So I want to ask your opinion. If the Magic Tower has no intention of pulling down the thesis, what will you do next? If you want to leave..."

"I-I don't want to leave!"

Soya jumped up and spoke. I was a bit surprised by her firm resolve. I naturally thought she would make a gloomy sound and sneer, or show a somewhat materialistic attitude and at least pretend to ponder it. But she distorted her eyes as if the very fact that I made such an assumption was unpleasant.

"I-I like it here. Even if I make weird... weird tools, everyone tells me it's fine and supports me saying I'm doing a good job... They acknowledge my magic abilities too... A-And... and... I like you, My Lord... My Lord...!"

"Me?"

"B-Because you're handsome, I like you! I like you! S-So, I um... I don't want to leave. Okay?"

I knew Soya liked me. But I didn't know she would confess so actively. I was staring at her blankly like an idiot. Then I smirked. There had been many complicated matters recently, but it felt like they were all blown away by Soya's single word.

"Hahahahaha!"

"H-Hahaha... Hahahaha..."

Seeing me like that, Soya awkwardly started laughing along with me. Her courage was like a candle flame, extinguishing instantly when it met a strong wind. She awkwardly laughed along until I finished laughing. I laughed for a long time and then spoke.

"Thank you, Soya. Thanks to you, it feels like all the complicated things lately have been blown away. That's what's important. The fact that you like me."

"Y-Yes?"

I gave Soya a tight hug. Soya's breasts pressed firmly against my chest. Blushing, Soya awkwardly hugged me back. I stroked her back, kissed her on the cheek, and then spoke.

"Soya. Do you like me that much? Enough to give up returning to the Magic Tower? Later on, the Magic Tower might offer you a deal. Like telling you to quit the Peta Territory and they'll let you return."

"I don't care. Hehehe..."

She gave a goofy grin with a face so red it looked ready to burst. I stroked her back and began to skim through the remaining documents. Newsletters that had arrived in the territory were scattered all over the documents. Among them were some informing us of the recent situation in the Eastern Plains region. I couldn't help but frown at the news. It was an article stating that they had annihilated the Church of Love branch in the Eastern Plains region and were currently looking for a way to storm the Church of Love central branch.

I fell deep into thought for a moment while reading this content. Eve's matter was one thing, but if the incident in the Eastern Plains region had progressed this much, it was obvious the kingdom would summon AA and me soon. Since there was no knowing how long the training in the Dwarf Kingdom would take, it seemed right to prepare good weapons in advance. As soon as I made my judgment, I hurried my steps and looked for Robin. Robin was a ghost floating through the mansion with a haggard face.

Was newlywed life with a woman in her 20s too much for a man approaching his 40s? I playfully teased Robin with a subtle tone.

"Robin. You should be happy in your married life, so why do you look so emaciated? Has something bad happened?"

"Pardon? No. Rather, because I'm a newlywed, I'm happy every single day."

It seemed Rosalyn Yuba was a succubus at night. I patted the shoulder of Robin, who was practically skin and bones, and handed him a letter.

"My Lord, what is this?"

"Send it to the post office. There's someone I need to summon from Ahildern."

"From Ahildern, you say?"

"Yes. As fast as possible, please."

It was a letter summoning AA. I planned to take AA, Eve, and Elsi to raid Dagon's treasure vault and come back as quickly as possible. Since this was a task to handle the last of the Four Heavenly Kings, I had to pour all our combat power into it.

While waiting for AA to arrive, I focused on spending time with Eve. Sieri was disappointed that I couldn't spend time with her, but she conceded, saying it couldn't be helped. Come to think of it, I had also dumped massive loads inside Sieri, but she couldn't get pregnant. Was there a problem with her too? I even recommended Sieri to get an examination once.

"Sieri. It seems you can't get pregnant either, so maybe you should get an examination once..."

"It's fine. It could just be that the timing was bad, and it feels like a waste to spend money on something like this again."

Sieri smiled and refused like that. Since she disliked the idea, there was nothing I could do. I could understand Aira since I was paying attention to contraception, but why wasn't Sieri getting pregnant?

It was quite some time later when the carriage from Ahildern arrived. I approached with my arms wide open to welcome the guest alighting from the carriage. As I approached for a hug, AA, who was getting off the carriage, freaked out and stepped back.

"W-What are you doing."

"A hero's hug. It's originally how the hero's party hugs each other. It's a tradition."

"Don't spout nonsense! More importantly, what in the world is going on? Calling me so urgently."

"You heard the news that they nearly annihilated the Church of Love organization in the Eastern Plains region this time, right?"

AA nodded with a serious expression at my story. Since she was quite quick-witted, it seemed she roughly caught on to what purpose I had called her for just from those words. AA nodded and spoke.

"Yes. I figured they would summon us soon anyway, but has the summon order already been issued?"

I shook my head. I confidently showed her Alio Festa's carriage with the Ahildern mark attached to it and spoke.

"There's somewhere else we need to go. Will you follow me? My wives will be coming along besides you."

Behind me, Eve and Elsi were packing their equipment. Eve had recovered her energy to some extent since I had continuously comforted her for several days. AA saw the two of them and smiled while greeting them.

"Hello."

"Nice to meet you."

"Hi."

The two of them accepted AA's greeting and got on the carriage first. AA looked at the carriage, which had no horses attached and no coachman, and asked.

"Sir Priest. Do we just get in that carriage?"

"Yes."

AA tilted her head at my words, but followed them for now. When she blankly squeezed herself into the carriage, it was filled to its capacity. It was so cramped that Eve got annoyed.

"Fuck, do we really have to cram people in like this? One person can just go to the coachman's seat!"

"I will go."

When Elsi opened the door without a single complaint, Eve instead got flustered and grabbed Elsi.

"Hey, hey, hey, just because you say you'll go... I'll go! You can just sit here. I have slightly large feet anyway, so it's better if I go to the coachman's seat."

"Mermaid. You are our cleric's first wife. Me. I am the third wife. The third wife must listen to the first wife."

"No, fucking hell, groom. When did you get married to Elsi?"

Eve couldn't hide her bewilderment at the first time she heard the third wife declaration and questioned me. I calmly replied.

"Is marriage such a big deal? If we had sex, we're married."

Eve chuckled in sheer disbelief at those words. I asked as if to tease Eve.

"Eve. It's not like you dislike Elsi, right?"

Elsi looked at Eve with an anxious face and asked.

"Mermaid. By any chance, if you don't like me as the third wife..."

"No! No! No! Groom! Why are you saying things like that in front of the kid? Hm?"

Startled, Eve comforted Elsi. Because of her simple personality, Elsi immediately relaxed her expression at Eve's denial and giggled. Amidst our jokes, AA hesitantly opened her mouth.

"Um... when are we departing?"

"Hold on, groom. If having sex means getting married, then that means..."

Eve and Elsi looked at AA with strange eyes. Flustered by the two people's gazes, AA shouted.

"What are you thinking! I'm a man! You lewd people!"

Eve giggled. I felt satisfied because her mood seemed quite good. I organized the situation.

"Now then, since it's only for a little bit anyway, Elsi, go to the coachman's seat, and both of you move over to the side just a little. Because I have to get in."

"Um, but how exactly are we going to depart..."

To AA's question, I decided to answer with an action. Smirking, I stroked her thigh and pulled the carriage's lever.