Mother, Stepmom, Mom! I Brought the Daughters-in-Law! (3)
As I stared at the two of them, Karmine let out a strained 'Ah-ha-ha...' and flashed an awkward smile as she spoke.
"Aaaah, now I get what you're thinking. But don't worry about that! It's not just me who's leaving this time."
"...Huh?"
I wondered what the hell that meant, but it wasn't Karmine who answered—it was Karura.
"It's not just the Pharaoh and me. All the subjects of the Narmer Kingdom are leaving this place. The Pharaoh decided to surrender the autonomy she was supposed to receive from the World Government as recompense for this incident."
Surrendering autonomy?
No, wait—what responsibility?
"...No, why?"
If Karmine hadn't been there, that pedo skeleton bastard would've beaten me to death. What the fuck kind of responsibility was this? Karmine explained to my bewildered ass.
"The foreigners you and the others invited here got seriously hurt or killed, didn't they? Since I was the one who called them, their injuries and deaths fall on me. And... now that I have no divinity left like before, I can't protect all my subjects anymore. It's unavoidable. If those mongrel bastards come swarming again, we all know how that'd end, right?"
That made sense, but...
No, even so.
"...Is that really okay?"
"I can't say it's okay. But it's unavoidable. The reason I'm Pharaoh is because I protect my subjects. Without power, I can't do that anymore, so I no longer qualify as Pharaoh."
The country and people she protected by sacrificing everything.
I couldn't even imagine what Karmine was feeling right now, so I just kept my mouth shut.
"But rather than just being sad, I actually feel a bit relieved! Even if the kingdom disappears, my subjects will keep living in this world, so it's not all that tragic, is it? Some of them have already found mates, so it's something to celebrate!"
Karmine thrust out her massive tits as she said that.
"Moreover, all I'm giving up in taking responsibility is autonomy. I've secured promises for support on the curses dwelling in my subjects' bodies and their future livelihoods, so no need to worry! They've even promised to introduce marriage prospects through some matchmaking thing, so it's all good!"
I could tell she wasn't saying this because she was truly fine.
But I knew this forced cheerfulness was her way of overcoming the sadness—thanks to Ammut's memories I'd seen.
So I just silently watched her.
For Karmine to overcome her grief.
So she could smile genuinely again, like always.
And then, Karmine's expression darkened for a moment.
"...Karmine?"
"But it's not like I have zero worries."
She looked up at me as she said that.
"...Now that I'm no longer 'ye,' it might be hard to keep my promise to grant you anything you desire... And without being Pharaoh of Narmer Kingdom anymore, in this world where I have no connections, I'm just an ordinary woman. Same for Karura."
She leaned her face against my chest.
"So, my hero. Now, all ye and Karura can rely on is you. If you abandon us, I'll have nothing left. So..."
I tightly hugged her waist as she trailed off.
And said,
"Yeah, just trust me."
At my words, Karmine's tail, nestled against me, wagged happily side to side.
"Karura, what are you doing? When a man does this, a woman should rush over and cling to him! They usually grant requests in moments like these."
"Ah, uh, yes. Pharaoh."
At Karmine's words, Karura nodded, set down her luggage, and came over, clinging to me alongside Karmine.
"I beseech thee, my hero. Make ye and Karura happy."
I hugged them both tightly.
And whispered back to Karmine in my arms.
"Yeah, I definitely will."
The one who came to open the space transfer gate on our way back was Hanyujin, who'd brought Hoah before.
Well, there aren't that many people in our neighborhood who can use space transfer magic solo, so it made sense.
That goblin, though.
With two Narmer Kingdom folks by her side... she got properly bitten.
Not that I had room to talk, with Karmine and Karura clinging to me.
Anyway, the dispensers from our neighborhood seemed to have made it out fine.
Good for them.
Since I knew her, I gave Hanyujin a nod as she sent the other dispensers back. She pressed down her wide-brimmed hat with a curt motion.
"What."
I thought maybe she hadn't seen me, but then Karmine squeezed my side hard.
"Something wrong, Karmine?"
"Hm, nothing."
What the hell? But since Karmine was hugging me, I pulled Karura in too.
You gotta match these things evenly to avoid drama later.
"Ah, ugh... In a place with so many people, we should maintain some dignity..."
"Ye's no longer Pharaoh, so no dignity to maintain!"
"I'm just a citizen now too."
Watching Karura's face turn beet red as she clung to me was fun.
Anyway, as I held Karmine and Karura, Karmine muttered.
"...Ye knows it's funny coming from me, but I might've done something a bit too much."
"What?"
"It's nothing, so don't worry about it!"
What the fuck? But I let it slide, and Hanyujin—who'd been glancing between me, Karmine, and Karura before sighing—opened the space transfer gate and came back through.
The moment we crossed, the thick, suffocating city air hit us.
Breathing in the smog after so long made it hit hard that I was really back.
But the sensation of the urban haze tainting my lungs was quickly overwritten by Karmine's cheers.
"Ooooh, oooooh! Is this the land of the new world where ye will live from now on?! The buildings are so tall! Taller than ye's palace, and there are tons of them!"
Not just tall— a soulless forest of sterile skyscrapers. Karmine's eyes sparkled at them, while Karura, less intensely but still curiously, looked around.
But.
We'd popped in via space transfer, and sure, multiple races lived here, but Karmine and Karura's outfits were still ridiculously skimpy—less naked than a streaking slime, but still drawing massive aggro. And with two total babes like them, no wonder.
So I got it was unavoidable.
I got it, but...
Staring that blatantly was crossing the line.
As I pondered what to do with the assholes gawking at Karmine and Karura, she hooked her arm through mine.
Thinking she had something to say, I looked down, and she whispered.
"My hero, it's cute and lovable that you're jealous of those men ogling ye and Karura's bodies, but this isn't the way."
Was I that obvious?
If even Karmine, who seemed distracted sightseeing, noticed, I'd been radiating pissy vibes hard.
Embarrassed, and curious what she meant by "the way," I asked.
"Then what should I do?"
"Hm, ever since time immemorial, outstanding heroes draw women, just as beautiful women attract all sorts. No need to sweat every little thing! It's the natural order of the world. You can't survive if you're always on edge about it. So, my hero, be bolder. Show your heroic bearing with dignity."
She placed her hand on my chest.
"Just show those guys you're the man who claimed ye—that's all."
I didn't get the "heroic, bold, dignified" part, but showing I owned Karmine? Yeah, I could guess.
So I reached out, pulled her to my side, and grabbed her tit.
"Eut...! Th-this is too bold..."
As Karmine startled and tried to speak, I kissed her.
After the short kiss, I pulled away from her dazed, upward gaze. Then I beckoned Karura, who was flustered watching us.
"Karura, come here."
"Ah, got it."
I pulled the approaching Karura in with my other arm, grabbed her tit, and kissed her too.
"Chuuut...♡"
After the brief kiss with Karura, I glared at the guys staring. They flinched and scattered.
"Damn, that worked."
"...That wasn't quite what ye meant, but..."
Karmine stammered, wiping her lips with her fingers.
Whatever she meant or not, no one was staring anymore—that was clear.
Still...
At this rate, I'd have to do this who-knows-how-many times to get home. First things first, solve the root problem.
"Karmine, Karura. I'll buy you some clothes, so come with me."
Clothes for them, and while I'm at it, stuff for me too.
"Oh ho, clothes from this world... That sounds intriguing!"
"M-my clothes are fine as is..."
"Hush, Karura! When a man offers to buy clothes, a woman's duty is to joyfully accept. Come, let's browse what our hero picks out! Dressing in his taste will make us even cuter to him!"
With that, Karmine and Karura linked arms with me on both sides.
"Come, my hero. Let's go!"
"Yes."
Shopping might take a bit, but word of my return would've spread by now, so they'd understand a delay.
Couldn't contact them anyway—my smartphone got smashed fighting those skeleton fucks.
Still, better grab a cake on the way back, just in case. With Karmine urging me on and Karura flustered by her, I headed to the nearby department store, arms linked.