-Kelvin’s Mansion – Dakah Farm
“Hmm, and then what happened?”
“Azgrad and Seraphia, along with me, were severely scolded by the adult Shutra. She told us that if we’re going to have secret talks that concern the future of the country, we should act with more caution.”
“Ah, *that* ended up happening, huh?”
Upon returning from Trisen, I found myself speaking with Gerard and Dahak in the mansion’s farm. The engagement commotion with Shutra had already spread throughout the mansion, hence our temporary retreat here. Asking why we’re hiding is pointless. We’ll be back soon. Just grant us a little peace, please.
“I thought you were going to talk about your engagement with my Older Brother Kelvin,” Gerard chortled.
“Gahaha, Shutra is a wise girl. I suppose she weighed various things in her mind and understood what she needed to prioritize. Yes, she wouldn’t have made such a decision otherwise. By the way, Your Highness, shall we exchange swords for old times’ sake? Just a light spar, a spar.”
Gerard proposed it with a casual tone as if discussing everyday matters, but the sharp glint in his eyes from behind his helmet clearly indicated that it wouldn’t end as just a spar. He was conveying, “What have you done to my adopted grandson?”
“Don’t glare at me with such immense pressure. Honestly, it’s tough when Gerard turns into an enemy.”
I had confirmed things properly, you see. The adult Shutra primarily lectured me on the nation’s benefits, and I couldn’t really touch upon Shutra’s personal feelings. However, when I inquired with the child Shutra, her first words were, “Because I like my Older Brother, it’s okay!” — a sentiment that touched my heart deeply. From the adult Shutra, I received a nominal reason, and from the child Shutra, her honest feelings. Whatever the case, my reasons for objection vanished completely, and Shutra and I became engaged.
“The moment you brought up Shutra, Sister Sera punched me with all her might. Thank you for your hard work, I guess.”
“You’re throwing words at me like you’re saying them to someone outside the clergy…”
Sister Sera’s full-power blow was tremendous. My cheek ended up painfully swollen. However, I suspect the real danger is yet to come. I promised to marry Shutra, as regrettable as it is. This decision has completely changed the way Mel, Efil, Sera, and Ange look at me. As we previously agreed, if I were to get married, it would have to be to all of them simultaneously. Failure to comply would likely mean my death.
“It can’t be helped. Once you’ve escaped this predicament, you’ll be cut down by me properly, won’t you?”
“This conversation started with a sword exchange but is now a one-sided slaughter, hey.”
“Let’s put aside the old man’s jokes, and seriously, what are you going to do? Are you really going to marry all of them at once?”
“I actually studied how human mates are established before… It seems quite difficult. It’s not as straightforward as dragons, where it’s decided immediately. You have to get permission from parents and the like, perform complex rituals, and also prepare various other things, right? And if one of them is royalty like Shutra… Older Brother is amazing.”
Not to mention, there’s the issue with Colette’s responsibility as well. In the past, I used to say I wouldn’t get caught up in the troublesome conflicts of royalty and nobles, but now I find myself in this predicament due to the seductive trap of romance. No, it’s my own fickleness that’s to blame, of course.
“Speaking of which, Dahak, why are you so knowledgeable?”
“Heh heh! Well, I plan to become Pretia’s mate someday, so I have to know about that culture too!”
“…Umu, do your best. Try your absolute best. I wholeheartedly support you.”
“Oh, I won’t fall for that, Master Gerard! I won’t let my guard down for a moment!”
No, Gerard is genuinely just cheering Dahak on. However, marriage with Pretia, who is now the Next Reincarnated Goddess. I’m curious out of morbid fascination, but should I follow my Detection Skill that tells me to stop? Besides, would a normal wedding ceremony format even suffice?
“Oh, come to think of it, is Sister Sera also royalty? Older Brother, you’re really in trouble.”
“In terms of gaining family approval, that might be even more difficult than Trisen. She might casually plan a ‘True Trial Tower.'”
“Was that the tower the King climbed in the Grellverelka Empire? That seems plausible. Perhaps I should prepare a suitable tower to judge him as well.”
Eh, Gerard is going to build one too!?
“W-well, it’ll be several months until Rion comes of age. I’ll make plans by then and proceed with preparations for each of them. In the meantime, I also want to search for the remaining Divine Pillars and find people who seem promising. It’s going to get busy from now on. Ah, and I want to visit unexplored areas on the Western and Northern Continents! I want Kuromel to gain various experiences!”
“Wow, you’re branching out quite a bit. Isn’t that too busy?”
“Having many things to do is a good thing, but if something happens to Kuromel—”
“Hey, don’t draw your sword. Don’t draw your sword unnecessarily. It’s going to be alright!”
Dahak seemed a bit worried, but I couldn’t afford to say I was too busy. Before I lost my memories, Kuromel went to great lengths to entertain me eternally, becoming a god and attempting to execute a method to reincarnate the entire world. Now that I’ve rejected that, there’s no time to despair here. There’s no need to reincarnate the world; even if the world remained as it is, I would relish the fight, life, and everything else to no end. And I will show that to my child, Kuromel. That’s what I decided.
“Papar!”
As I held back Gerard’s sword, Kuromel called out to me from the direction of the mansion. My body moved faster than my brain giving orders. Gerard followed suit. The two of them are good friends, and I can’t afford to fight in front of Kuromel. I rushed towards Kuromel, who was running towards me with a smile, and lifted her up.
“What’s wrong? Did Mama take your snacks again?”
“Pffft, no. I’m just sharing my portion with Mama. She did look like she really wanted some, but it was entirely my own will.”
“Sometimes, Kuromel seems more composed than Sister Mel, I feel like.”
“No, well, yes…”
In fact, there are aspects like that, so I couldn’t say anything. Especially regarding her appetite, for some reason, Kuromel eats only as much as a child her age. She might even be a light eater. Mel, on the other hand, is still a big eater, which is a mystery.
“Mama and the others want to talk about future plans. They chose me as the messenger because they thought you wouldn’t run away from me. With this, my mission is accomplished!”
“O-oh, I see, thank you. That was helpful…”
“Oh, they’ve perfectly exploited your weakness, haven’t they?”
“That method would work on me too… The taste is unpleasant…”
Exactly, neither I nor Gerard had any way to avoid this attack. It was a sure hit that captured our hearts.
“Your Highness, you had a determined look on your face just now. You should proceed with that spirit.”
“I’m prepared to savor the stomachache too…!”
“Papar, let’s go?”
“R-right, let’s go.”
I took Kuromel’s hand and, with a determined spirit, turned my feet towards the mansion.
-Flash!
However, something was about to shake my fortitude, which I had earnestly prepared myself for. Specifically, a suspicious cluster of pink light descended from the sky. All the men present froze, and Kuromel tilted her head cutely, wondering what was happening.
“It’s bad…”
“It’s really bad…”
“We’re in trouble! We’re in trouble!”
“?”
We know that pink. It’s seared into our minds. Move, body, it’s not too late!
“Ufufu. Everyone, I’m **heeeere** (heart).”
The new Reincarnated Goddess has appeared. I quickly covered Kuromel’s eyes, doing my best to minimize the visual stimulus.
I have posted the cover illustration for “Kurogane no Mahoutsukai 2” in the activity report.
“Kuro no Shoukanshi 8” is scheduled for release in November.
