Chapter 361
Lately, the girls have been getting awfully close to me.
But normally, wouldn't that make the relationships between the girls themselves turn sour or create a bad atmosphere?
Yet, Nell, Amina, and Ingrid are talking together just fine.
From the outside, they seem to be putting on a composed face, but...
"Amina, your hairstyle is so cute!"
"Isn't it great?!"
"I should have him do mine too.""You should get him to!!"
Nell and Amina were casually discussing hairstyles.
Hmm... maybe it's fine because it's just the two of them?
Feeling somewhat relieved that the atmosphere didn't seem bad from an outsider's perspective, I still tensed up a bit when Ingrid happened to pass by the two of them.
"Ah! Ingrid! How was yesterday?"
Amina... bringing that topic up so casually.
"Yes, thank you for your cooperation. I'm glad I mustered the courage.""That's wonderful.""Yes, Lady Nell."
......They're just cheerfully discussing the last three days among themselves.
It's not that I'm hoping for a dramatic confrontation, but seeing their relationships develop so smoothly is somehow unnerving.
***
"I see. So that was the reason you came to see me.""I am truly sorry to impose, but I would appreciate your counsel."
The person I could honestly share this sense of dread with was Claudia, so I went to see her.I had planned to go to Claudia today anyway.
However, unlike the previous three days, I felt apologetic for bringing up a problem first, so I had already given her some homemade sweets I brought.
Claudia, munching on a cookie, seemed to have anticipated this kind of consultation. She took a sip of the tea I'd also offered before delivering her answer.
"It's simple. There's no reason for them to fight among themselves, and on top of that, they understand it's in their own best interest to cooperate in order to deal with the external women who will likely increase in the future.""????????"
For a moment, I couldn't comprehend that answer.Well, I understood the *words*, but I couldn't be sure if they were truly correct.
"They—the women—have already discussed among themselves that it would be more convenient for their future lives to create a community, a harem, centered around you.""......Are you serious?"
But Claudia gave me that confirmation by striking at the core of the matter.
"Frankly, I'm surprised you didn't think it would come to this.""No, but, well... huh?"
A harem is a fantasy.From a woman's perspective, isn't a man who spreads his affections around and dates multiple women the very symbol of disgust?
From a woman's point of view, isn't a man who doesn't look solely at her someone who makes her lose interest?
Well, if asked whether harems exist in reality, I could answer that they do.
"Listen, Liberta. First, understand that what you've given them is of immeasurable value. And from the moment you met, you've sincerely faced them. You've given Nell and Amina dreams, you've empathized with Ingrid's heart—you've done everything you can."
But who would think that applies to *me*?I listened to Claudia's words, spoken with an exasperated sigh, as if they were about someone else, while trying to grasp the situation.
"At first, since you were adventuring with Nell and Amina, I thought you formed the party with that kind of intention. But you didn't seem to have that aura; in fact, you were so focused on adventuring it was as if you were actively avoiding such things."
Claudia's unspoken implication—that I wouldn't understand unless it was stated clearly—made me unconsciously straighten my back.
"However, it's not like you viewed them merely as combat strength, is it? You interacted with them properly, understood what they wanted and didn't want to do, provided for their private lives. And you thoughtfully prepared things that would please them as women... You were doing all this unconsciously."
*What kind of playboy is this?* The person Claudia was describing was me.I stared straight ahead, and the one sitting in the line of her gaze was me.
"......""Right now, you thought, 'I haven't done anything that special,' didn't you?""......I did."
Even looking back on my own actions, I only did what I could.And for those who were with me as comrades, I merely lent my knowledge so we could all enjoy ourselves.
"In a sense, you were selfless towards women. That's probably why this result followed."
Sighing as if giving up, as if to say, "I know, that's just the kind of person you are," Claudia reached for her teacup, seemingly needing a drink to calm down.
"But why the sudden aggressiveness? It wasn't like this before, was it?""That trigger was you as well.""?????"
According to Claudia, who took a breath and composed herself, I understood the *reason* for the girls' affection.Looking back, I could accept that changing someone's life for the better might earn their affection, and that doing so during their impressionable years could naturally lead to admiration.
But even if that were the case, wouldn't they have shown their affection much earlier?
Thinking this, I posed the question, only to be met with Claudia's half-lidded eyes saying, "What are you talking about?"
"The other day, you came to consult me about prostitutes, didn't you?""Yes, I did. I thought this pioneer village will eventually become a town with lots of immigrants, so it might be better to manage that sort of thing.""That judgment wasn't wrong, so I took the consultation seriously and agreed with your thinking. But think about it.""Yes?""The person they're in love with has no lover, and as he grows, he'll naturally become interested in such temptations.""Yes.""Now, could you stay calm if you thought that person might unknowingly end up in that kind of relationship with a stranger?""......I couldn't stay calm.""That's what it is."
Yeah, I did consult Claudia about prostitutes before.And regarding that matter, about such women coming to this pioneer village and managing it, I asked her to mediate with the other women.
Well, of course that reached Nell and the others' ears.If anything, I'm surprised they didn't scorn me for moving forward with such talk.
"It seems they decided, 'Let's stake our claim before someone else takes him.'""I see?""You don't look like you understand.""No, I understood up to a point. 'I don't want him taken by someone else, so I'll be more proactive.' I get that.""Yes, I'm glad you understand that much.""But why a harem?"
Now, back to the point. I understood that hearing about my plans to potentially invite women of that trade made them anxious.So they confessed their feelings. I understood that far.
"That proposal came from Lady Esmeralda.""Lady Esmeralda did?"
That's precisely why I wonder: why would the *women* aim for a harem?Isn't that a male fantasy?
I can't be the only one who thinks that.
But the proposer was Lady Esmeralda.
"She likely came up with that idea because she's a noble. To preserve an excellent bloodline by gathering multiple women. Well, most noble households I know of have rather chaotic relationships among the women.""That's no good.""There are some households that manage it well. With most nobles, the head of the family brings various women home, neglects his official wife, and does as he pleases, which leads to chaos. However, in your case, the women are proactively working to gather around you, so I don't think it will become that much of a problem."
You could say it's a typical noble mindset, but in a way, it's also a plan to get along with Nell and the others, I suppose.The fact that Claudia is telling me this suggests she isn't opposed either.
The only one unaware was me. If I had to point out a flaw, it's that my own will wasn't involved, but I am at least aware that I have feelings for them.
Therefore, that flaw is practically nonexistent.
"Since the women themselves are in agreement, there's no problem. It's like a fairy tale.""It's rare, but not unheard of, and not extremely rare either. It just requires considerable effort and resolve."
After that, it's a matter of whether I accept and whether I have the resolve to continue sincerely caring for them.
"As a priestess?""Paffle-sama, who presides over love, is a free love advocate, so she recognizes various forms of love. The reverse of polygyny—polyandry—also exists. However, she seems to deal harsh punishment for infidelity. Since nobles swear an oath of love to Paffle-sama when marrying, they apparently make sure to secure their partners firmly before making a move to avoid infidelity.""So, from your perspective as Claudia, it's acceptable?""You may interpret it that way."
On that point, I decided to just accept that I need to put in the effort, and took a sip of tea to moisten my own drying throat.The bittersweet taste of the tea helped cool my thoughts.
Then, a single doubt suddenly arose.
"......With that kind of party composition in mind, wouldn't it look from the outside like you, Claudia, also have feelings for me and are part of the harem?""*Cough*?!"
The moment I inadvertently voiced that thought, Claudia choked.Some tea must have gone down the wrong pipe; she covered her mouth, coughing.Seeing Claudia flustered is a rare sight, so it was quite a spectacle.
"Why would you even think that?! There's an age gap between you and me that goes beyond parent and child! Anyone looking normally wouldn't think such a thing!""Well, the age difference is one thing, but you look plenty young, Claudia. Visually, it would be the scene of an adult woman, Claudia, having romantic feelings for a child like me, but if I'm interpreted as a Dwarf, wouldn't that be a plausible scene?""That may be true!! But what man would be interested in a woman covered in scars like—""Eh? I'm perfectly fine with it. It's acceptable.""You!! Of all the—!!"
Claudia seems hung up on the age thing. While her appearance might seem older to women of this world, from my perspective with Japanese sensibilities, she's well within an age I could see as a member of the opposite sex.
With her increased vitality from leveling up and using this world's magical cosmetics for skin care, she looks late twenties at the youngest, mid-thirties at a normal glance.Some might dislike the battle scars covering her body, but I've always liked characters like that.
Gender didn't matter; I thought they were cool.
Well, it's a matter of whether the person themselves minds or not, so even if I don't mind, there are cases where they might.
"That's right! You *are* that kind of person!""That tone isn't being used in a very good way, is it?""In the sense that there's no need to change, it *is* a good meaning!!""Somehow... I'm sorry."
Thinking I'd angered her with that line, I apologized, but she said she didn't mind, and we spent the rest of the time enjoying what was supposed to be a consultation but turned into idle chatter.