“…First of all, let me say this: I did nothing wrong.”
I stepped out bravely amidst the five pairs of piercing eyes glaring at me.
Thinking back, I didn’t do anything wrong. Instead, I rushed around to stop Bella, so I should be getting compliments. Though, that was two days ago.
“I know.”
In response to my declaration, Karina’s answer was sharper than usual.
“It’s just that… I’m a little… not fond of it…”
What’s not to like?
Is it because of Elisa and Millia clinging to my arms?
Elisa, if you stick any closer, I might get into trouble… I barely escaped the bold temptation of Elisa slipping her hands between my thighs and turned to Karina with the most serious face I could manage.
“Karina.”
“Yes, go ahead.”
…If I don’t say this right, I might just vanish.
I cautiously scanned the surroundings. Viola had a ‘you’ve really done it now’ look, while Renny looked a little awkward.
Karina was smiling, but she definitely didn’t look happy…
What should I say to get out of this crisis?
No, I can’t navigate this crisis with words.
That thought flashed through my mind.
As long as I’m buried in the soft flesh clinging to my arms, no persuasion will work. I stood with confidence, carefully pried the girls off me, and moved over to Karina seated opposite me.
As I suddenly stood up and approached her, Karina looked up at me with wide eyes, seemingly flustered.
Ah, adorable.
“Johann…?”
Honestly, I’m a bit scared of the aftermath… I stole a glance at Renny, who looked slightly bewildered as she met my gaze, then I stood before Karina.
“Karina.”
“Yes?”
“May I borrow a moment?”
“Yes?”
I slipped my hands under Karina’s waist and at the back of her knees, lifting her up. The feeling of her face and the soft, ample breasts pressing against me hit my sanity hard.
“J-Johann?!”
“Johann-nim?!”
“…”
Renny, could you stop gently placing your hand on the sword’s handle, please?
I tried my best to ignore the situation unfolding around us. What mattered right now wasn’t the outside but what was happening here. I spoke to Karina, who was looking up at me with a flushed face.
“I understand how you feel. But do I look like someone who would do that?”
“Uh? W-What do you mean by that…”
Honestly, it might be better for my well-being to just hit her with a straightforward line.
Now that we’re in this situation… dodging this would be more self-destructive than anything. It’d be much better for Karina to carry the emotional wound than to let it fester.
I returned to my seat with Karina still in my arms and set her on my lap. Karina stared blankly at me in shock from my sudden actions.
With the dizzying fragrance emanating from Karina’s body, my lower half was in peril, but this was a realm I could control just fine.
“Karina.”
“Yes, yes?”
“I’m sorry, but I’m quite the greedy person. I don’t intend to give up either side.”
“Johann… don’t you think that’s too sly?”
“Is it too… much?”
“What can I do? I’m a man like this.”
I replied confidently.
Of course, I had three years of business left, but I couldn’t completely ignore the feelings pointed my way.
I didn’t want to see the harmony I built with the kids break or hurt their feelings. There was no excuse for that, even if it was contradictory.
But avoiding it halfheartedly was far more dangerous than mere contradictions.
It’d be like carrying around a bomb that could go off at any moment.
If that bomb exploded at the worst possible time, survival would be the least of my worries.
Now, my real enemies were outsiders, specialized in mental attacks. Even if it was tough, it was wise to carry this burden somehow.
Making a heart’s wound is easy, but healing it is incredibly hard.
“I thought I was Johann the castrated one…”
“Incorrect.”
Like last time, Millia genuinely seemed to doubt whether I was castrated or not. No, it’s just that I was too busy to spare time to ponder such things. I’m sure it works fine… Probably?
“Uncle… you’re bold.”
At Viola’s incredulous voice, I turned to look at her. Viola, sporting an awkward face, glanced at me before averting her gaze.
“Well then…”
“Don’t bother, I’m fine.”
Seeing a group of girls all staring at my lower region wasn’t good for my heart health. I wrapped my arms around Karina, who seemed to be fidgeting, as if worried about my lower half.
The softness of her slim abdomen transmitted to my hand. Karina wore light pajamas over a cardigan, making the softness of her tummy distinctly felt through the thin fabric.
This was a brutally aggressive sensation for a man.
“Johann, it’s… embarrassing.”
“Isn’t this what you wanted?”
“Y-Yes, but… in front of everyone like this…”
“I like it.”
“…Ugh!”
“And me? Me!”
“You too.”
“Not entirely fond of it, but… I still like it. Hehe.”
“Wow… I’m going out now.”
Viola gave me a strange look before stepping out of the room. Finally, all that was left were the three girls clinging to me and Renny. Renny looked at me with a face as if to ask, ‘How on earth should I react to this?’ and opened her mouth.
“I thought you’d cause some trouble eventually, but… I didn’t expect this. You’re more reckless than I thought…”
“I won’t stop someone who comes here.”
“Ah, I see…”
“…I thought Karina would have a stronger reaction, but that was unexpected.”
I never imagined Renny, who was usually fiercely protective of Karina, would so readily agree. At least in the original story, she looked down on the protagonist until nearly the latter half. He was a target that was nearly impossible to pursue.
“…It’s clear that Karina truly likes you, how could I stop that? I’m not her mother-in-law.”
So, she wouldn’t stop because Karina liked me. That’s a bit unsettling, but it’s a reasonable rationale. If she adored Karina, she couldn’t ultimately go against her.
In the original as well, she was someone who would fall head over heels for Karina’s words.
“Johann-nim… that’s cowardly…”
“Exactly! Cowardly! Sneaky!”
“Johann… you’re bolder than I expected.”
“Isn’t this what you all wanted? Unfortunately, I only have one body.”
“Feels a bit unpleasant.”
“Don’t poke me there. I lightly tapped Millia’s forehead for punishment and looked down at Karina. Her face, peeking up, was so red it was hard to find any white.
That’s a good sign. She’ll listen to me more closely.
“I have something to say to you all.”
“I won’t push any of you away. But could you promise me a few things?”
“A few things…?”
I surveyed the kids surrounding me, their faces full of curiosity.
I began to lay out my requests while surrounded by the children.
“First… You all liking me is something I can’t change. You know that too. But I hope none of you will fight over it.”
“Does that mean you want us to get along?”
“Yeah. I don’t want you guys fighting.”
Disagreements within the team would ultimately lead to ruin. For me, whose priority was survival, it was the most undesirable of situations. So, I just planned to think about it after graduation… sigh.
“Alright.”
“If that’s what Johann wants…”
“Yeah! I like it!”
“And no matter who new joins, don’t push them away.”
“What if they’re a bad person?”
“Do I seem so incompetent that I can’t tell someone like that apart?”
“If Johann chooses them… I can’t help it. But… just don’t increase the number too much, okay?”
I nodded confidently. How much could they possibly increase? It’d probably only be two or three more people at most.
“I doubt it’ll grow that much with no room for anyone else.”
“Sounds like something you’d say about getting stabbed with a sword if you don’t watch your lower half.”
“Even if I get stabbed, I won’t die.”
“Oh… is that so?”
With an incredulous look, Renny glared at me.
“In any case, the last one. If possible, I’d prefer any official announcements, or whatever, to be postponed until after graduation. As you know… things happening in the world are quite troubling. I’d hope you’d restrain yourselves until things settle down.”
I didn’t want to meet a grim end just from being distracted.
No matter what happened, at least I had to get through graduation first.
After that, I could freely pursue romance or whatever without any consequences.
“Okay! Got it!”
“I understand…”
“Me too…”
Fortunately, they all willingly accepted the rather demanding requests.
“Thanks for understanding, everyone.”
In the end, I managed to survive, somehow.
—————
“It’s exhausting…”
[The contractee, Millia, is worse than the romance novels she was reading!]
“Don’t say anything more…”
I felt like my body wasn’t even mine anymore.
I roughly dried my wet hair with a towel and lay down on my bed, staring at the ceiling.
…I somehow ended up giving all these permissions.
The future looks daunting.
I can’t believe the snowball I rolled began to wreck the original.
…Please don’t let more people show up, okay?
Wait. This isn’t the time to be worrying about that.
What I need to do right now is…
“Status Window.”
I needed to attempt a conversation with the mysterious status window.
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