How to Manage a Harem
“So, to summarize everything I’ve heard, you tried to consult me about saving Miss Sienia, but Sirca hit me with that weird… beam, which then struck Sienia, and now you’re asking for permission after the fact?”
“It sounds unbelievable, but it’s the truth…”
I knelt before Agnes and looked up at her, wearing the most pitiful expression I could muster. It had been less than a month since I declared I would stop mindlessly expanding my harem, yet here I was adding both Olga and Sienia to it. What could I possibly say for myself?
“…I’m not angry, Agnes.” But when I raised my head, her expression was startlingly calm. After what happened last time, I had been certain she would be furious.
“It would be a lie to say I’m not disappointed, but this time I was expecting something like this.”
“You… were expecting it?”
“Isn’t it stranger if nothing happens when you’re alone with a woman, Artin?”
“Is my image really that bad?”
It wasn’t like I was some kind of sex-crazed demon. How could she think that? But since the whole thing had escalated in under six hours, I had no ground to stand on.
“Still, it’s a relief. I was prepared for it to be Princess Marianne, but if it had been the Heavenly Demon… that would have been a bit much, wouldn’t it? With Grandmother, I mean.”
“Y-yeah! I have zero intention of doing anything weird with the Heavenly Demon!”
“But you didn’t intend to do anything weird with Miss Sienia either, and look how that turned out. You need to recognize yourself more objectively and be careful, Artin.”
“…”
The facts hit like physical blows, sinking straight into my bones. The realization that I couldn’t give my lovers the trust they deserved hurt even worse.
“…I-I won’t add anyone else. I really mean it this time!”
“Artin, it’s better not to make promises you can’t keep.”
Maybe my credibility had hit rock bottom, because Agnes simply stared at me with a detached expression. Just when that gaze became too painful to bear, she stood and pulled me to my feet.
“Stop wallowing and get up. It’s not enough that you only show me your cool side—how can you kneel there looking so pathetic?”
“B-but…”
“Don’t misunderstand. It’s not that I’ve given up on you completely. I’ve simply decided to think about this differently.”
“…Differently?”
Agnes took my hand, led me to the sofa, and sat us down side by side. She patted my chest to position herself, then rested her head against it like it was a pillow.
“…Agnes?”
“Just stay still. This position is perfect.”
At her firm tone I closed my mouth. She settled comfortably in my arms, even stretching luxuriously.
“Can I ask you one thing, Artin?”
“…Sure. What is it?”
“Why do you always try something new every time you start a new life?”
“…”
The sudden, incisive question left me speechless. Agnes continued as though she had anticipated my silence.
“You quit swordsmanship even though you were good at it, learned magic and alchemy instead, then abandoned those to study kingdom-style combat techniques. Now you’re even learning martial arts from the Republican Federation.”
“…”
“In your first round, you even learned a hunter’s fighting style, didn’t you? Twenty years might not be enough to master a single path, yet you keep jumping to new ones. Why?”
“That’s…”
“That’s…?”
She echoed the word, but I couldn’t answer lightly. The question cut deep, like a blade twisting in my gut.
“…There’s a saying that new wine belongs in new wineskins, right? So I thought it would be good to try different things.”
“Hmm… Is that really it, Artin?”
I had given a convenient excuse, but the moment I met her eyes I felt as if every corner of my heart had been laid bare. Come to think of it, someone had recently told me I was terrible at lying when caught off guard. I wondered what my face looked like right now. I had no idea.
“…All right. Let’s go with that, then.”
Whatever emotion she had read on my face, Agnes nodded, rose from my embrace, and pressed a light kiss to my cheek.
The soft warmth of her lips and the lingering heat against my chest calmed my trembling heart a little.
“I’ve finished my talk with Violet. I’ve decided to give up on trying to monopolize you.”
“…What do you mean?”
“Think about it. After living five different lives, how many women has Artin seduced? I can’t make you kneel like this every single time one of them appears, can I?”
…Ugh. It was a different angle from before, but it still struck the vital point perfectly. If any woman from my previous lives approached me the way Olga had, I wasn’t confident I could reject her outright.
“Instead, you must always remain our cool, dignified lover. Understood?”
“Agnes…”
“Which means you’ll have to pass Brother Richard’s test with flying colors this time too. Only then can I declare you my fiancé first, right?”
I am pathetically weak to loneliness. And I can’t bring myself to push away anyone who approaches me with genuine affection. It’s probably because of the memories from my past lives. Every time I feel the care and intimacy I never once experienced in Yang Hee-min’s life, I unconsciously want to keep that person glued to my side.
If someone asked whether that was true love, I would say yes. Others might disagree.
“…Thank you, Agnes.”
“Hmph. I didn’t earn the title of your very first lover for nothing, you know?”
“…Haha. True. You seem to understand me better than I understand myself.”
But one thing I could say with absolute certainty: the feeling I had for Agnes was love, no matter what anyone else might claim. Unable to contain it, I pulled her back into my arms the moment she left them.
“…You won’t just do naughty things with Miss Sienia, right? You’ll study properly too?”
“Trust me. Who do you think I am? The guy who stormed the Demon King’s Castle alone? Prince Richard isn’t even my rival.”
“I’ll trust you. Because it’s you saying it.”
After that, Agnes and I shared two more kisses, searing each other’s warmth into memory before we finally drew apart.
“Oh, Olga contacted me. She wants to see you tomorrow. She said it’s important, so she asked you to bring Cayen along.”
“…Olga wants to see me? Calling Cayen too… Does this have something to do with the Hero?”
“Probably. After tomorrow’s lessons, stop by the church. All right?”
Olga had presided over an official event recently, but publicly it was recorded that she had only visited the academy briefly to secretly appoint the Hero before returning to the northern church. In truth, they had sent back a body double who resembled her, while the real Olga remained here.
“Got it. Still, I’d like to spend a little more time with you, Agnes…”
“No. Today is Unicor’s and Violet’s turn, remember? You have to maintain order in the harem.”
Hng. The mood had been nice and I wanted to keep it going, but Agnes stood up with firm refusal.
“…This weekend is my turn. Let’s spend some quality time together then. Understood?”
“All right. Thank you, Agnes.”
Even while acting decisive toward everyone else, the occasional shy glimpses she showed were unbearably adorable.
“Ah, Artin? Since it’s not my turn today… Mmm… Chuup…”
In the end I stole one more deep kiss before releasing her. Though her mouth said no, she didn’t resist very fiercely.
The next morning, a peaceful day of study should have begun. Instead, two problems immediately appeared.
“Ahaha! Good morning, everyone! The weather is simply wonderful today, isn’t it? I hope you all have a happy start to your day!”
“…Teacher, it’s raining outside right now.”
“Oh my, is it? But rain is good too! Trees need rain if they’re going to grow big and strong!”
Miss Sienia beginning homeroom with unusually high tension wasn’t much of an issue. She blushed faintly whenever our eyes met, but she handled students asking if she was sick with clever replies and continued without a hitch.
“Artin? Could we talk for a moment later?”
“…? What’s up, Zorba? You’re the one coming to me?”
The first problem came from none other than Zorba. Right after morning homeroom ended, he approached me and quietly asked for help.
“What’s the problem? Is someone causing trouble? Upperclassmen throwing their weight around? Or do you need me to take care of someone?”
“…Artin, don’t you only ever imagine extremely violent scenarios? It’s not that kind of problem.”
“Then why are you whispering like this? Shao Mei and Cayen are giving us weird looks.”
Shao Mei watched us with puzzled eyes, while that bastard Cayen—for reasons I couldn’t fathom—stared at Zorba with clear jealousy. Was he jealous of two guys standing close and whispering? If so, I really wanted to smack him.
“…Hey… ya.”
“…What?”
Ignoring Cayen’s glare, I leaned my ear closer. What Zorba said next was so unbelievable I had to ask again.
“Did I mishear? The great Zorba Pelkas has woman problems…?”
Who was Zorba Pelkas? A man constantly surrounded by women, who—even after getting stabbed in the gut a few times for his mistakes—still managed his harem like a true professional. And now that same Zorba was troubled by a woman? Shouldn’t I be the one asking him for advice?
“…Shut up. This is all your fault, Artin.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
Zorba silently flicked his gaze to the right. I followed it.
“Lord Zorba! What class are you taking today? The history of tea ceremony you recommended last time was wonderful!”
There stood Claire, smiling innocently while gazing at Zorba with eyes far too passionate.
“Because of you, Claire fell for me! I can’t handle her at all!”
“Even the great Zorba? Claire, does she happen to carry a dagger in her cleavage?”
“…? A dagger? Why?”
Whoops. Almost spoiled it. ‘Because in a few years you’ll be one of the poor bastards she stabs, and she’s a yandere who keeps a knife tucked in her bosom.’
I carefully swallowed the words. I didn’t want to meddle in their relationship and change the future… and honestly, Zorba probably needed a stab wound or two before he came to his senses.
“Never mind, it’s nothing. Just tell me what’s going on.”
“…Is it really nothing? You’re sure?”
Zorba asked suspiciously, but I simply shrugged as if I had no idea what he was talking about.