No, It's Not Like That!
That wasn't it at all, but now it was too late to backtrack or call it off. In the end, three guests were confirmed to be tagging along with Abel on his trip home—excluding himself, of course. With things turning out this way, it was only natural that the four male leads would throw a fit.
"Why!"
"This is... a bit unexpected."
"What in the world is this thunderbolt from a clear sky?!"
"Impressive. Striking first, eh?"
And amid the chaos, they weren't directing their intense sense of betrayal at Seria—they were aiming it straight at Abel. Even when the bewildered Abel insisted it wasn't like that, even when he clarified that he hadn't invited them himself, they showed no signs of listening.
"Abel! You're something else! But this is cheating!"
"Cheating or not, I really didn't do anything. Flam. And if anyone's cheating, it's Kalligo here."
"Ah, Abel!?"
Flam, Portus, and Rel apparently still had no idea about that. When Abel casually glanced their way, the three immediately swarmed Kalligo, demanding answers.
"What's this, Kalligo? Did you invite Miss Seria to your estate too?"
"Well..."
"I'm disappointed, Your Highness! No, Kalligo! I, Flam Phoenix, as a noble of the Empire, feel utterly betrayed by your actions!"
"Th-that's not it! Just hear me out first!"
"In the south, this would get you impeached on the spot."
"Here, it'd be straight-up treason!"
Having successfully shifted the attention to Kalligo, Abel hurried on with his preparations. Even with teleportation magic, a month was tight. Subtracting travel time and other delays left him with just over two weeks at the estate. It seemed long at first glance, but it was actually pretty precarious. Why? Because from Abel's perspective, he needed at least a week for focused training anywhere he went. In other words, he was treating a quick trip home like heading somewhere else just to train.
More importantly, if I leave things like this, those guys might actually chase us all the way to our family estate.
Irshu and Tarshu were already at their limit as it was. In times like this, it was a relief that Seria was just a regular baron's daughter from some rural territory. Hosting an imperial prince, a prime minister's son, and the offspring of top ability users? Impossible.
"You four. Over here a moment."
Once they saw him as a rival, things got exhausting. For now, he needed to put them at ease to avoid headaches.
"To be clear, this is entirely Miss Seria's decision."
"So why the hell—!"
"Obviously, to give you all some time to cool your heads—and to yourselves."
"To us...?"
"Time, you say?"
That was as far as he went. Abel kept his words brief. The more you say, the more you lose. Flip that around, and the less you say, the more the listeners pick and choose what they want to hear. That was exactly what these guys were doing. He'd deliberately name-dropped and emphasized Seria. To them, she was the sole object of interest.
Seria giving them time? What kind of time? Why? Questions would pile up, and they'd find the answer themselves.
"...I see."
Kalligo spoke first. He looked at Abel with an expression that said, So it's that, right? Abel wanted to snap back, What 'that'? but on the surface, he just nodded along: "Yeah, that's it."
"What do you mean, Kalligo?"
"That's what it means, Flam. With the four of us in this weird standoff right now, it's a chance to figure out who's superior—who can prove themselves to the limit."
Seria was the last person who'd say something like that. She was too kind-hearted to even suggest hanging out only with high-status folks. But they heard what they wanted. And they all believed they'd be the ultimate winner.
"Fair point. Things have been a bit chaotic lately."
Portus's eyes sharpened first, true to his hydrokinesis style—accepting change and gearing up for the next move. Once Portus was on board, Flam naturally jumped in with full agreement. Disagreeing here felt like instant defeat.
"A month should be plenty to catch our breath and show a new side of ourselves. What do you all think?"
"Hah, water boy. Feeling confident, huh? Fine. One month. Let's do it."
"I'm in too. Can't waste the time Miss Seria gave us."
"I agree as well."
Where'd those glares from earlier go? Abel wanted to ask. Anyway, it was a relief. If they'd insisted on coming along, it'd spell trouble for the academy, the Empire, other kingdoms—everything.
And Sis is consulting with Dad about joining the church after graduation anyway.
His homecoming plans were set.
To clarify upfront: All other students from the Ascal Kingdom who had enrolled had already returned home. Several were injured, and there was even one death. Given the situation, the kingdom strongly urging their immediate return was a given. That had influenced Abel's choice for a brief homecoming too.
The Rothschild family was prestigious enough that the royals respected their wishes. But they had to at least appear to deliberate, so this wasn't a bad move.
"Not bad, Bel?"
"Pardon?"
"I mean, until recently, you were all about honing yourself. Looks like you've been up to some sneaky stuff behind your big sis's back, huh?"
Lumine giggled, pointing at the carriage following behind. Thinking of the three female students inside, Abel started, "Ah, you mean them?"
"Not whatever shady thing you're imagining. Absolutely not."
"Sure, sure. The boys at the academy said the same."
"It's true."
"That's what those guys said too?"
No use talking. Abel stared at Lumine for a moment, then decided to convince her properly.
"Sis, what kind of brother have you seen me as all this time?"
"A walking disaster? You'd vanish whenever things quieted down, then come back all torn up, broken, and smashed. Mom fainted at first, but later she barely blinked even when you dragged yourself home half-dead."
"...Expected that answer, but hearing it straight up makes me feel insanely sorry."
Looking back, he'd done some truly insane, reckless things. Miraculously, he'd survived them all. At first, everyone was on edge, but later he'd even cackle to himself, Hey, I'm alive, right? Before awakening his physical enhancement, he'd thought his survival instincts and endurance were his ability. Then he despaired at how lame that was.
"Anyway, a guy like me—suddenly starting to date? And not just one girl, but three at once?"
"Logical enough. But listen, Abel?"
Using his full name, not the nickname. Lumine looked at her brother seriously.
"Relationships don't always start because you take an interest."
"Huh?"
"What if those girls fell head over heels for you without you realizing? Could you still say 'nothing's going on' with a straight face?"
This wasn't playful teasing. She was probing his true feelings. Abel realized he couldn't half-ass his response.
At first, inviting the three girls in the back carriage was just to dodge headaches. But seen another way, as a Rothschild, he'd invited noble daughters—and foreign duchy's princesses—to his home. Not a small matter for the family or kingdom.
"Whatever you're worried about won't happen. Sure, I might be a bit off my rocker, but I'd never do anything harmful to the family or kingdom."
"...What are you even saying? That's not what I'm asking."
"Then what?"
"You, Bel. Abel Rothschild! As a young adult man in his prime, what do you think of those adult women? That's what I'm asking!"
Ah. Abel clapped as realization dawned.
"I haven't thought about it yet?"
"After all that, that's your answer? Even if you haven't, if they have, you'll naturally start thinking that way too!"
"No worries there."
"What makes you so sure?!"
"Well..."
Well, this is a romance fantasy world. Seria's got four guys around her already. The twin princesses are a bit confusing position-wise, but mine—friend to Seria, but the guy who stimulates the male leads? Makes perfect sense.
He couldn't say that outright, so Abel deflected vaguely.
"I enrolled in the academy to strengthen my abilities, not for romance?"
"...Good grief."
Lumine shook her head at her brother's firm declaration. Those male underclassmen, seniors, and peers who always said the same ended up diving headfirst into romance anyway. That was what nagged at her.
Five days later. Ascal Kingdom, Rothschild Family Estate.
"...Dear. It seems..."
"Finally, has Bel taken an interest in that side of things too?"
Count Keres and his wife had braced for rowdy male guests when their son announced visitors. Instead, seeing him arrive with three female students left them beaming with emotion.