The Land Where Magic Was Born (5)
“……So what exactly is Seidr?”
I asked after turning it over in my mind. I figured I should at least get that straight first. Veronica had insisted Seidr wasn’t the same as sex. Franc had simply misunderstood, and maybe the whole thing wasn’t actually that big a deal!
After a short silence, Veronica answered.
“S-Seidr is… it is enough to stroke the other party’s phallus until they ejaculate, then ingest it or apply it to the body. Penetration is not required.”
“What the actual fuck? What do you mean ‘it’s different from intercourse’!! That is sex!”
I shouted in disbelief. The undead Confucian dragon inside me roared fire! Plenty of people considered even holding hands cheating—I used to be one of them—so how the hell could a handjob and slurping down cum not count as sex? It was as ridiculous as claiming a massage parlor wasn’t a sexual business!
Veronica couldn’t say a word. She simply hung her head. Even she must have realized it was clearly a sexual act once she thought about it. The term “oral sex” didn’t exist for nothing.
“………………”
“………………”
That was when it happened. My wives, having heard the entire conversation, began staring at me.
My mouth fell open in dismay. Anyone stupid enough to ask why right now could live perfectly healthy after removing either their brain or their dick.
I immediately schooled my expression and spoke.
“I won’t do it. I have no intention of laying a hand on Veronica.”
“……Why?” Franc asked.
She could have strung together a long, roundabout question, but she didn’t. I already knew every example or doubt she might have raised. To her sincere question, I answered with equal honesty.
“It’s not like I’ll die if I don’t perform this Seidr ritual. Sleeping with Veronica would be nothing but an excuse for an excuse. There’s no real trouble if I don’t do it, yet I’d still reach out just because a reason appeared? That’s not right.”
I thought about it. If Franc or Dana offered their bodies to another man for the same reason, would I simply let it pass? Would I watch them perform pseudo-sexual acts behind my back, then greet them with an understanding smile and say Ah, it can’t be helped?
That was utter bullshit. If they didn’t want to be carved up like cube steak from their fingertips to their toes, they’d better not pull that kind of crap. Had I still been a virgin, I might have pretended to hesitate before accepting, nodding my head like a rock star who’d died from headbanging until his cervical vertebrae snapped.
“I did choose to take multiple wives. But even that has a line.”
I stated my core principle. Today had turned into the day for speaking my mind without reservation. Since we had come this far, I would clearly define the standard by which I took wives.
“The person I take as a wife must be someone who loves me and whom I can love in return. And I will never, under any circumstances, lay a hand on someone I have no intention of making my wife.”
It sounded painfully obvious, but it was important. I refused to touch someone I felt zero romantic attraction toward and then demand they become my wife. That was the bare minimum line I would not cross if I wanted to live without regrets.
The phrase “without regrets” also meant ensuring no cracks formed in our family. Playing with your dick as you pleased only ever led to destruction. Veronica didn’t even like me the way Dana did.
Telling me to collect new wives like picking coins off the floor in some noble’s harem? Based purely on whether I felt horny or not? Was the harem created that way the future I wanted?
Complete nonsense. I was far happier simply living and laughing and making love with Franc and Dana. What would happen if I carelessly reached for another woman and our home collapsed or someone felt neglected?
Doing something that insane for a moment of pleasure or desire is the act of a retard.
Even if a truckload of women more devoted and kinder than Franc existed, it would mean nothing if Franc could no longer smile. Even if countless women who understood me better than Dana appeared, if I could no longer connect with Dana, I would be living a life worse than death.
The egoist who widened the holes in his wives’ hearts while adding more women to his arms wasn’t a cool harem protagonist. He was simply a fucking asshole. Both refusing to take responsibility after touching a woman and arrogantly declaring you’d take responsibility for everything like your brain was located in your dick were things only idiots did.
Once you were married, responsibility was no longer yours alone.
I spoke with half-lidded eyes.
“I absolutely refuse to touch a woman like an opportunist simply because an excuse has appeared. For me, preventing any regrets from appearing in the family we have built together is far more important than increasing the number of wives.”
In this world’s culture, harem or reverse-harem members (an unpleasant term, yet perfectly accurate) were expected to obey their husband or wife. At its root, polygamy and polyandry originated from primitive humans monopolizing females or males. I personally called it legal slavery, but there were surely those who treated their partners like literal possessions. Just as Dana had warned me I might be torn apart by a translator.
“I don’t want to become that. What others think is none of my concern.”
Hadn’t I resolved as much when I took Dana as my wife? To hell with being praised by outsiders; I would become a happiness harem protagonist who made our family happy! Above all, if I became the kind of bastard who called war trophies obtained through power and authority my wives, I wouldn’t even deserve morning kisses from Franc and Dana.
Therefore, I had reached my conclusion.
“I’ll simply learn how to manipulate dreams. It may take some time, but there’s no reason to rush. When I’m with all of you, I don’t even notice time passing.”
This was the truth. For the past month, Franc and Dana had chattered away in my bed as if they were at a training camp, and the days had flown by like seconds. The promotion exam had arrived before I knew it.
“……Franc.”
“Yeah, I know. Dana.”
Once again, my wives exchanged glances. It felt like they had become the closest of friends while I wasn’t looking. It was a good thing, but they could spare a thought for the lonely husband they had abandoned.
I thought that forlornly, but as expected, our wives were different. The moment my thought ended, they hugged me from both sides.
It was the famous wife sandwich of the Nord family. Not for sale—only the owner was allowed to enjoy it.
“Wait, what is this? Why are you doing this? I’m happy.”
“Just because. It made me think we really chose the right husband.”
When Dana rested her chin on my shoulder, Franc nodded as if it were a hundred times correct.
“Truly. But if that’s the case, any girl who wants to join us between us will have a hard time.”
“She should have a hard time. If someone looked at me and thought, ‘Two is difficult but three should be easy, right?’ what would that make me! Other guys should suffer a little too.”
“Girls. Don’t whisper into my ears with your husband stuck between you.”
I wasn’t a two-way radio. Let’s not launch direct attacks on both ears with sexy and cute voices. The serious conversation wasn’t over yet, but my wives kept acting irresistibly charming, which made things difficult.
Thinking that, I stroked their backs, slipped free, and walked over to Veronica. I held out my hand. A handshake.
“I will definitely lift the curse on your race. So please accept this instead.”
Odin’s memories and the ancient ruins were deeply connected to me in many ways. Since it was something I had to do anyway, this simply added one more intermediate step. No—it felt more like filling in a missing link. Wasn’t it better to have a rough idea of the direction than to wander blindly?
Besides, I had already talked nonstop all day, so just accept it. If she said “No?” here, the conversation would only grow more complicated.
“……To speak my true heart, I thought it would not matter if I embraced you.”
Fuck. I should have sent a telepathic message with rune magic.
Veronica let out a deep sigh.
Hadn’t you heard my inner voice? When I twisted my face like a squid on a hot grill at her tone-deaf reply, Veronica chuckled softly.
“Do not make that face. I apologize. I may have unconsciously believed you to be the subject of the prophecy and tried to burden you with everything. It was an embarrassing mistake born of impatience. I wish I could hide in a mouse hole.”
“Too bad. I sealed every mouse hole in our house.”
“What a shame. They were among Theresa’s few pleasures.”
Theresa must be the name of that former Heisvent alley cat wandering around. That roundabout expression seemed to be Veronica’s aristocratic way of saying she intended to freeload in this house. If I hadn’t run my elite brain at full capacity, I would have missed it.
“I withdraw the shameless proposal. Forget the disgrace I showed earlier.”
Veronica politely took my outstretched hand with both of hers and lowered it. Perhaps that was the Aesir gods’ etiquette for declining a handshake that exceeded one’s station.
Instead of releasing my hand, Veronica lightly lifted the hem of her dress.
“This Veronica Eclipse, as a humble descendant of the Aesir gods, shall serve the successor of the Sky God with pride. I pledge this body and soul to protect your will and your life with utmost sincerity.”
Veronica finished with a playful wink.
“Until the day you fulfill our clan’s long-cherished wish or depart on a distant journey.”
“So if I don’t die or lift the curse, I’ll be stuck with a permanent houseguest? You really cast one hell of a curse.”
“Do not worry. I shall pay the price.”
“With Seidr?”
“With gold coins, obviously, you fool.”
Veronica had completely returned to her original attitude. Good. It seemed I had returned to daily life as well. I could switch off the explanation bug possession.
─Clap, clap!
Franc, who had quickly read the room, clapped her hands to bring the moment to a close.
“Thank you everyone for talking. The bathwater must have cooled. I’ll go heat it up!”
“Then I’ll prepare dinner? We’ll gain weight if we eat too late.”
“You’re cooking? I’ll help!”
“The one who worked today should rest. ……If you have any energy left, save it for the night work.”
─Whoosh!
Dana, who had muttered that last part, fled in embarrassment. It seemed I wasn’t the only one who had missed our passionate nights after several days apart.
“Hehehe.”
All my wives are dead, fuck. I wondered if they could handle the five days’ worth of pent-up frustration stored in my Jujidra’s Ramjwi Sanda.
I imagined that happy future and began clearing the teacups. That was when Veronica spoke to my back.
“However, my lord. According to what you said earlier, you would do the same.”
“Huh? What?”
I answered carelessly because I was busy organizing the teacups. That was a mistake. If I had put them down later and turned around, I might have seen what expression Veronica wore at that moment.
“It means that even if I or other women develop feelings for you, you will not reach out first, claiming you already have enough with your wives. Then any woman who wishes to be loved by you must bare her entire heart and wait with bated breath until you grant permission. That scheme is truly wicked.”
“……What?”
Completely blindsided by the interpretation, I turned around, but all that remained was a horned cat.
【An ordinary human with such a mindset would not be strange even if they lived their entire life alone. But if it is the successor of the Sky God, the story changes. After all, the excellent ones are meant to obtain many things.】
Veronica was playing with the former alley cat Theresa while sending telepathy through the ᚴ (Kaunan) rune.
【The human whom the Sky God personally held in high regard was granted rune letters and became king of the divine age, was he not? Then in this era where the gods remain silent, I am already eager to see how far you can ascend through your own power.】
“……Hey. Do you want to start using honorifics again?”
【Kukuk. Foolish one. It is already too late.】
The woman who declared she would serve me as her successor was done for.
Veronica left behind a laugh even more arrogant than when we first met and disappeared upstairs. It seemed she was going to inspect the room she would be borrowing. When we returned to Sargadis I had told her she could use the second-floor guest room or furnish another room, but she really was brazen. Still, she was competent, so I let it slide.
Chuckling, I picked up the teacup and headed for the kitchen. But Dana, who had said she would prepare the meal, wasn’t there. When I listened carefully, it sounded like she had gone down to the basement storage.
I set the cup down and followed. Dana, who had been searching for ingredients, frowned when she saw me.
“I told you to rest, yet here you are crawling over anyway. Got energy to spare?”
“That rhyme came out of nowhere but it’s pretty good. Still, if I move around and burn off some steam, our wife won’t pass out with her tongue hanging out tonight.”
“Hey you fuck, dick-only-big husband. I’ve never passed out with my tongue hanging out, okay?”
“You have passed out with your eyes rolled back though.”
“……Yeah, your dick is thick, you bastard.”
Not “your shit is thick” but pulling out such denture-clacking puns. I must be getting older; I burst out laughing at the dad joke and kneaded Dana’s backside while taking the ingredients from her.
Yet Dana didn’t push me away. She simply sighed.
“Hey. Nord.”
Her tone sounded normal enough, but this was how Dana looked when she was controlling her emotions. I had learned that on the night of our first time together.
When I silently asked what was wrong, Dana sighed and opened the safe in the storage room.
“……I was going to tell you tomorrow, but since you’re here, listen. That map—I’ve restored about one-fifth of it.”
─Clank.
When the safe opened, the map we had discovered in the Underground Tower appeared. Dana took out the map she had stored inside and handed it to me.
“Even if we learned the locations of several ruins, we’d just be twiddling our thumbs, so I decided to restore it sequentially. I soaked it in the solution and started with the sections that looked easiest to restore.”
A map from the final days of the ancient civilization recording the locations of other ruins! An incredible artifact that could serve as a clue to the era when the Great War caused the decline of this world’s human civilization.
Yet even while delivering the news that she had restored twenty percent, Dana somehow looked uneasy.
─Tap.
I set the ingredients down and accepted the map. Thanks to the magically created restoration solution, the thick paper didn’t have to worry about tearing by accident. That was fortunate. It meant I could grip it tightly without fear.
“I didn’t intentionally restore that part first, but… it turned out that way.”
Dana spoke as if apologizing to me as I frowned. I relaxed my expression. I couldn’t make Dana feel awkward because of me and still call myself a harem protagonist.
“No, you did well. As expected of my big sis. I was thinking of visiting that region anyway.”
“……When will you leave?”
“Let’s call Franc tomorrow and discuss it together. Since autumn is almost over, we’ll probably depart around winter.”
Dana’s laboratory was finally getting on track, so adjusting the schedule would be no small task. I said as much and examined the restored map.
Because the only recognizable ruin location on it was a place deeply connected even to me—a pathetic master’s degree holder with shit for brains.
The land where the god who called me his successor once reigned. The very birthplace of rune letters and magic!
A continent neighboring the dwarf nation that was Franc’s homeland. A place called the continent of barbarians, yet one whose technological prowess might surpass any other country.
And above all—the place where that woman was.
The mythical continent of Germania was calling me.