“Derus—”
“Yes, it’s just the two of us tonight.” “♪Neee—”
Anju seemed genuinely happy to be able to sleep together until dawn tonight.
“Even though we just had parents’ day and walked home from school together, I enjoyed seeing so many different sides of you, Anju.”
“I did too, Derus, it was fun going on a date with you!”
Her eyes were truly pure and innocent.
“Ah, right, I actually bought something secretly on our way home from our date while you weren’t looking.”
“What is it?”
I took out a wrapped package from my Item Box and revealed an accessory from inside—a slightly large, pink ribbon.
“Wow!”
“I wonder if it suits you, Anju.”
That’s right, Anju, who was dressed in a girly outfit on the way home from school. When I looked closely, I saw that she was wearing the necklace I gave her before, tucked inside her shirt, on her chest. Seeing how much she cherished it, I felt compelled to give her something else, which led to me buying this.
“♪Pink ribbon ♪Pink ribbon.”
“Let me try putting it on for you. I hope it won’t be a hindrance during combat.”
“……I’m sooooo happy—!!”
She was bouncing and excited in front of the mirror!
(It doesn’t have any special enchantments, though.)
Normally, large ribbons like this would have some minor enchantment for increased speed or magic resistance. But that’s for items from an adventurer’s shop. This one I bought is just a regular item for the general public.
“Well, I thought it would look cute on you.”
“Oh, I’m going to wear it forever and ever!”
“But if you wear it with your hooded robe, it’ll look really bulky.” “That’s fine!”
Ah, she’s so happy she’s almost crying.
“Um, Anju, please sit down and calm yourself.”
“Okaaaay!”
Even so, she was still kicking her legs while sitting on the bed.
“Anju, what do you plan to do after you graduate from school?”
“I want to get married—to Derus!”
“Right after graduation…” “When? When, tell me?”
Ah, she’s gotten completely high right now.
“After I defeat a few more of the Seven Great Demon Lords.”
“Okay, I’ll do my best!”
“That’s a good girl. Let’s do our best together at a relaxed pace.” “Hehehe—”
I thought about my own future too. A place where I could live peacefully… Yes, Nina Castle might be good enough.
(If I set up Teleportation Magic Circles all over this continent, I won’t have any trouble finding work.)
I stroked Anju, who was nuzzling against my chest.
“Mmm, Anju, what do you think family is?”
“It’s Derus and me, we’re family!”
“Well, well, the Nina Starlights, you do have that kind of bond, don’t you?”
Right. If we’re going to live here, we’ll have to raise everyone’s children. Nina-san would surely teach them swordsmanship, and noble etiquette. Clarice-san about the Church of the Goddess. Then what about Anju?
“Anju, how do you want to raise the child that will be born between you and me?”
“So they won’t be lonely! And also—to take care of their bodies!”
When Anju says “take care of their bodies,” it sounds rather suggestive.
(…When I marry Helen, I really should take off the collar, shouldn’t I?)
I should probably ask her about that tomorrow.
“So, so, Derus.”
“What is it, Anju?”
“I want to do things with you and only you from now on.”
And with that, the two of them…
“I love you, Anju.”
“I looooove you, Derus!”
The pink ribbon Anju was wearing swayed happily.
(Yes, I need to teach Anju that I truly love her too.)
After finishing with Anju, I got up in the middle of the night to go to the toilet. This time, there was no light leaking from Helen’s room, but outside the castle, there were women with tanned skin training late at night.
(Hoho, Deru Deru Ecstasy, they’re really going at it.)
But it seemed the Princess Sisters weren’t here, so I went down to see what was happening.
“Ah, Master!”
Mother was the first to notice me.
“Good work. Speaking of which, did you advance through the preliminary rounds properly?”
“Apparently, those under the ‘Nina Starlights’ umbrella are exempt from the preliminary rounds.”
Mother placed her hands on her hips. I see, so while warriors like Baraka definitely made it, this perverted woman who’s approaching now managed to sneak into the fiercely competitive swordsman bracket.
“Ah, Master, if you win, we don’t get to take the Princesses, right?”
“Camilla, can you even win? Swordsmen can be tougher than Heroes.”
“Don’t worry, I’ve got this. If I show them my chest during the fight, like this—”
It’s dark, so I can’t see clearly, but for now, I should tighten their collars.
“Gyaaaaaaa!!”
“Shouldn’t you learn your lesson properly by now?”
Seeing their pained expressions, Mother also winced.
(But well, if they make it to the top 4, I might praise them.)
If I praise them, all I can see is a future where they say even more unnecessary things and get disciplined again!!
“Well then, do your best. But don’t be so exhausted from staying up all night on the day of the tournament.”
Losing because you were sleep-deprived from practicing all night, that would be a disqualification as a slave… I need to train them properly and raise them as a subordinate party.
(Huh? But wait, did Deru Deru Ecstasy even want to be an adventurer in the first place??)
