「So, Master? The order for having babies will be decided by who gets pregnant first….no hard feelings!」
Wendy and the other three crowded around me to make their declaration, but Shiro looked rather displeased.
「…I don’t accept this」
「Fufuun. Then hurry up and become an adult」
「We might have our babies first before that happenssu!」
「I’ll stick to lord’s side all day and night. I’ll interfere」
「I’d… really rather you didn’t…」
Shiro, who had been told to wait, was clearly upset.
Alright, maybe it’s time to check on Makoto…
White.
No, gray?
Has he burned out?
Standing there in a daze, his eyes had lost all light, leaving only a dull gray.
「Makoto! Makoto, snap out of it!」
「Hah! What… what was I… Phew, that scared me. I was having a nightmare. A nightmare where I was forced to watch that guy get confessed to by three beautiful girls!!」
「It’s not a dream. It’s reality」
「Lies! That was a dream! Please let it be a dream! Because if it’s not… I… I’ll!」
「Makoto, it’s real. It’s not a dream」
「Noooooooo!」
He let out a high-pitched scream that made me wonder where he was even getting the air for it, clutching his ears.
Was it really that much of a shock?
Well… I suppose it wasn’t exactly something I should have done right in front of him.
「Haa… haa… H-hey… that was a dream, right?」
「No… it was the truth…」
「N-noooooooo!」
Again!? This guy’s going to die of shock at this rate!
His face looked like ‘The Scream’ by Munch.
「Aaaaaah! Why!? Why are you so popular!?」
Like I know…
「Don’t tell me! Are you a hero too!?」
「Of course not… I’m non-combat type…」
「But earlier you said you were a summoner… Wait! Could it be those beautiful girls are your summoned beasts!? Then it would make sense….」
「Ah, sorry. That was a lie. I’m just a humble alchemist」
「Haaah!? An alchemist!? I see now! You must be making aphrodisiacs or strange drugs to brainwash them!!」
「Hey. Keep talking like that and I’m going to get angry」
If I were going to go that far, I’d just quietly make regular trips to the red-light district!
「That’s right. You know, we have the Appraisal skill, so we’d see through something like that instantly…」
「No, you see. It’s because of us Drifters’ unique skills…」
「Unique skill? You mean this? 『Pocket Money』」
If I remember right, today’s a stamp day…
Oh, yep, it is. Let’s press it.
‘Panpapa-papapaan!’
Last time the bunny? icon appeared, it gave me soy sauce in a push-type bottle, but this time… hmm…? Oh?
Oh! Could it be…!
「Something’s… falling from the sky?」
「Yeah. It’s a unique skill called 『Pocket Money』 that gives me money once a day. Lately, I’ve even been getting special items with it. It’s pretty handy」
At least I never have to worry about starving.
And recently, the bonus gifts from Goddess-sama have been especially wonderful.
I honestly love her.
「Po… Pocket Money? Why would Goddess-sama give you something like that…」
「Ah… It was a choice-type skill. I guess yours was different?」
「Goddess-sama selected skills suited to each of us…」
Hmm…
So that’s the normal way…
Or maybe it changed depending on the time?
Maybe they were running out of combinations, so by the time it was my turn, letting me choose was just easier and cleaner…?
I probably came later, so it’s possible.
「…But, could that skill just now actually be space magic?」
Ah… she noticed, of course.
As expected of a 『Warlock』, even if you see a magic you can’t use performed right in front of you, you’d recognize it.
「Yes… as you guessed, it’s space magic」
「I see! Then you can use that skill to defeat enemies, 」
「Well, space magic is more support-oriented, so it’s not much use in combat」
「Is that so?」
「Yeah. It’s good for storing things in a magic space, moving around, or sensing presences, but unfortunately, I don’t have any attack skills」
「I understand… I was interested in space magic, but perhaps my skill was the better choice」
It’s possible to attack with 『Invisible Jail』, but it’s useless if the opponent has high magic resistance…
It’s better suited for defense.
For Makoto’s party, in terms of balance, Misa-chan being a 『Warlock』 was probably the right call.
「Guuuuuh! Then why! Are you! So damn popularrrrr! Even though you’re not a heroooo!?」
No… it’s not like you have to be a hero or anything.
It’s just that when people think of heroes, that’s the kind of image they have.
「Hey, my lord? Who’s that?」
「An acquaintance of yours?」
「Black hair, black eyes… maybe a Drifterssu?」
「Guhhh…!」
Oh, you’re only noticing now?
You literally jumped over them just a moment ago, you know?
Sorry, Makoto. I didn’t mean anything by it.
So please, stop clutching your stomach and making that pained expression.
「H-hey, you girls, what’s so great about him? No offense, but he’s just some normal old guy, right!?」
「O-old… guy…!?」
Old guy… huh…
Yeah, I guess so.
From a high schooler’s perspective, I’m nothing but an old guy.
「I-Itsuki-san! Are you alright!?」
「Might not be…」
「Hmm, Shiro will take care of him」
「No, I will….」
「Ah-ah-ah! I’m fine! I’m not hurt or anything!」
Come on, I can’t even have time to feel depressed here!
「…What’s with you? Calling my lord an old guy out of nowhere…」
「That’s right. My liege isn’t old enough to be called that yet」
「Exactlyssu! Mentally, he’s still in kid territoryssu!」
…
You… meant that as a compliment, right?
Right?
Guide-san, stop patting my shoulder like that…
「Master…」
「Thanks, Wendy. Yeah. I’m fine. But if you hug me gently like that, I might actually cry…」
Yeah…
I can chat with Hayato normally, but there’s a pretty big age gap between us…
「Ghh… so you girls really prefer a man who’s protected by women!?」
「It can’t be helped! My lord’s weak!」
「That’s right! If someone says they’re scared, there’s no need to force them to fight!」
「Yaaay! If he’s not a scaredy-cat, he’s not our masterssu!」
Renge, you’re getting a forehead flick later.
You’re obviously messing with me.
Still in a good mood, are you!?
「…So it’s not because he’s strong… or cool…?」
Heh. I don’t have even a shred of that.
Sorry for just being plain old me!
Enough already, stop picking on me!
「Well, we didn’t fall for master for those reasons anywayssu. We just love the master who’s here with us right now more than anyone elsessu」
…
「That’s right. Though I do get moved when he shows that serious face sometimes… But once you fall for someone, you love everything about them. The weaknesses, the perverted side, even the slightly mean side… Well, within reason…」
「My liege does what he can in his own way. We simply give back what we can to him. Give and take… supporting each other. That’s the form we should take, or so I believe」
Hey…
Dropping me down just to lift me up again, that’s cheating…
「We all love Master. You may call yourself ordinary, but to us you’re irreplaceable」
「Hmm. As long as lord smiles and stays by our side, that’s enough」
Ah…
Ahhh…
I can’t help but press my fingertips to the corners of my eyes.
Man… I’m hopeless…
「Itsuki-san has charms beyond just strength or appearance. I like you a lot too. You’re like an older brother, and like a friend. You came to this world, and because of that, I was saved…」
「…Truth is, I’m the one who was saved」
If Hayato hadn’t been there that day, I wouldn’t even be here now.
No matter how many times I thank him, it will never be enough.
Even the fact that I’m able to be here with everyone now, when you get right down to it, it’s all thanks to Hayato.
「That’s not true. From that day on, Hayato changed」
「Yeah… You used to just suffer alone, but you smile more now. And that’s thanks to you」
「Hayato-sama was already cool, but he’s even cooler now nano desu! And that’s thanks to oniisan no desu!」
「Because of your older brother, I was able to become closer to Hayato-sama」
「Guest-sama is a capable man when it counts」
…
Haaah…
I’m really not that great of a man.
I’m just doing whatever I can, nothing more.
But… honestly, it makes me happy.
Thanks, everyone…
「…Should I also say something to praise you?」
「It’s fine. Don’t force yourself…」
We just met, Guide-san. There’s no need to force a compliment… really, it’s already more than enough.
「No… no… Then what was all my effort for…? I thought if I became a hero, built a harem, I could answer the feelings of both of them…」
「Ma-kun…」
「Makoto…」
「I… I like both of you! I was happy when you confessed to me! But I liked you both! I couldn’t choose! I didn’t want to only make one of you happy! So… I was glad to come to another world… because I thought if I became a hero and it turned into a harem, I could answer both of you…」
A confession…?
From both of them?
…Hah. So you really are a hopeless, sympathy-proof riajuu after all…
「…But the two of you didn’t like that idea. You thought harems were stupid… that I couldn’t pull it off… So please! I’m sorry for all the trouble I caused! But if you’ve got some secret to loving multiple women without even being a hero, please tell me!」
「Ah, I’d like to hear that too. Itsuki-san… why is it you attract people so much?」
Attract people…? No, I don’t think that’s really the case.
I wouldn’t know any kind of secret like that, hmm…? Wait, what? Why is everyone just staring at me in silence…?
「My lord, you get along with people so quickly」
「Hmm. Like Teresa from the Priestess Order… and even the vice-captain is in danger」
「Isn’t the lord in danger too?」
「And Iris-sama as well…」
「Ahaha, you’re a lady-killer!」
What a terrible way to put it!
I feel like shouting at them to give me back the touching atmosphere we just had.
And yet, the intense stares aimed at me haven’t stopped.
Even Mika-chan and Misa-chan are looking over here…
Fried is watching me with that face of his that says, “Now is the time!”
Wait, do I have to answer? Even though I don’t really know the answer myself!?
「Uh… ah… well… maybe it’s… having the feeling of treasuring each and every person?」
What is this!?
This is so embarrassing!
「Oh! No, wait! But I think of both of them as precious!」
「Ah… but did you ever say it out loud? Sometimes just thinking it isn’t enough… Saying it matters」
「Saying it… ah… I… I’m sorry. I never really told you both properly…」
「I tell everyone. That I love them. Every day, without fail, I hug them and say it. Just like you taught me, Itsuki-san!」
No, I definitely never told you to do that.
At the very least, I never told you to hug them and say it every day!
「It’s embarrassing… but being told that every day by Hayato-sama makes me happy」
「…Yeah. It’s not bad at all」
「Don’t act like that… I know you’ve asked him for it twice, Letty」
「That’s unfair, Letty. Mii wants to be whispered sweet words to every day too nano desu」
I never said to whisper sweet words every day!
Makoto! Don’t get the wrong idea! That’s Hayato’s original method!
「…That sounds nice」
「Hmm. Shiro also recommends it」
「…To hear it every day from my lord…」
「That would… be happiness」
「Yeah, it would…」
Hey, stop it.
Don’t look at me with those expectant eyes!
That’s something you say properly at important moments!
Every day… just thinking about it makes me squirm…
「I see… What else is there!?」
Wait, there’s more!?
And why did you suddenly switch to polite speech?
Uh… and why am I seriously thinking about this?
There’s no right answer to this kind of question…
「Ah… well, if you’re going to ask for something, make sure you also listen to the other person’s requests…」
「If it’s from someone you like, you want to grant anything they ask for, right?」
「I… I’ve basically been all about myself… Doing what I wanted, and making them go along with it…」
「When you were trying to become a hero, you probably did some reckless things, right? If they went along with those dangerous things, did you thank them? I mean… you know… Acting without being embarrassed is important… I think」
I’m seriously dying of embarrassment right now!
「Gratitude… Even if I felt it in my heart, I might not have been able to say it out loud because I was embarrassed… Sorry. You two… I’m really no good…」
「It’s fine, Ma-kun. This was something we decided ourselves」
「Yeah. We just wanted to be with you, Makoto, so we followed you」
「You two… Thank you…」
I see… So this is what it feels like to be forced to watch someone else’s romantic comedy.
Still, this is a good mood.
That should be enough, right?
We’re done here, right!? There’s nothing else, right!?
「Thank you very much… So, is that all? Is this everything!? If there’s still more, please, by all means, tell me!?」
We’re still doing this!?
Ah, well… I guess so.
「…The rest is… the resolve to make them happy no matter the cost. I’m weak, but if it’s for their sake, I’m prepared to make the whole world my enemy」
「…Yes. I too… if it’s for the people I treasure, I’ll turn anyone into my enemy」
When I met Hayato’s gaze, he smiled warmly.
I couldn’t help but smile back.
「O-oh… So I… was lacking in resolve…?」
「No, but, Makoto, you said you’d protect them to the end, didn’t you? Then just follow through with that. Your power is meant to protect, isn’t it? If you keep your vow, I think that would make you the coolest guy there is」
To literally put your body on the line to protect the women you love.
To guard them from any and all obstacles, nothing could be more fitting for someone bearing the name of a Royal Guard.
Maybe Goddess-sama noticed that hidden part of Makoto’s heart and gave him that skill because of it.
「…I will protect them. Because I love them. Because I love both of them. So I’ll do my best to make that come true」
「Maa-kun… If it’s Mika-chan, I wouldn’t mind being together」
「I guess… if it’s onee-chan, I could accept it too… If you’re not unable to choose, but rather say you want both…」
「Thank you… But I’ll become more of a man first, and then I’ll properly confess to both of you. Properly… once I can accept myself…」
…Phew.
Guess that settles it.
Now I can finally get back to work.
Or so I thought, until Makoto came over and gripped my arm tightly.
For reference, that dealt about 20 damage.
It actually hurt quite a bit.
With his head still lowered, he kept holding my hand.
Uh… what is this about?
I was still wondering when his head suddenly shot up and his face closed in on mine.
His expression was brimming with determination, and I noticed Hayato and Shiro growing more alert.
But,
「I’m sorry… for causing trouble!」
「Nah, don’t worry about it. Still, I’m glad for you. Do your best」
「Yes!」
Heh… yeah, I really can’t say this guy is the type I dislike.
He’s different from Hayato, but he’s honest and straightforward, and it’s easy to see he’s not a bad person.
「So! With that in mind, may I call you aniki?」
「No, you may not…」
「Come on, aniki! Teach me more of your ways with women! Show me the path to popularity, aniki!」
「There is no such path!」
If I knew it, I’d keep it to myself!
Actually, I’d be the one wanting to know it!!
Ask Hayato, ask ‘him’!
「Hm? Hmm? Don’t you think you’re getting a little too familiar all of a sudden?」
「What’s your problem! You already learned from aniki, didn’t you? Then it’s fine!」
「That’s not how it works… Look, Itsuki-san is troubled. Let go of him!」
「That’s not true, right? Right, aniki!?」
…For now,
Please. Calm down.
Understand the situation first, and then calm down.
Because right now, two men… are fighting over another man’s arm!
「Is that everything resolved now?」
「I’m sorry. I’ve caused you trouble…」
「It’s fine, I guess. It’s just how my lord is…」
「Is that so? Sounds tough…」
「Yeah, that’s just how our liege is」
「Hmm. I want to take a bath soon」
「Since we’re here, I might as well help.」
「Mii will help too no desu!」
「I-I’ll help as well…」
「This might be a nice rest before heading into the dungeon」
「I’ll lend a hand too. I’m good with heavy work」
「Tch… they stole my rolessu…」
Hey. Stop talking and help me!
Let go already! The damage… the armor’s bumping into me and it hurts… ah…
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