Chapter 114
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: Cooperating Amicably!
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At Kudan's question, Isihoon, Aika, and Anastasia all jumped in surprise at the same time.
No, Isihoon, why are you surprised?
You already know.
"What's up, Isihoon?"
"Huh? What do you mean 'what's up'! Can you really just reveal that right away?"
Aha.
Isihoon must think I've been keeping this a secret.
And he figures I'm letting him in on the secret I'm hiding.
"Why hide it? There's nothing to hide... I'm totally upfront about it."
"Gah...!"
Isihoon gaped, his eyes and mouth wide open in shock.
Come on, Isihoon, you're the protagonist of Blaze Blood. You can't make faces like that.
"Kudan, why'd you ask about that anyway?"
"Just curious. Back in the classroom... the girls around you had a different vibe."
"I see."
If even the taciturn Kudan noticed, the other cadets probably picked up on it too.
At least those two over there who are still shocked didn't.
"But you're admitting it so readily. That's surprising."
"I told Isihoon too, but there's no reason to hide it. We're not sneaking around—everyone knows about each other, and it's all very harmonious."
"Hmm, a fiancée from the Glassner family who accepts a whole harem..."
"Kudan, they're not just girlfriends—they're all going to be my wives. I don't rank them one or two."
"That's... impressive too."
Even with his stoic face, he says it's surprising, but he doesn't look surprised at all.
"Isihoon, how long are you gonna stay shocked?"
"Dude, how can I not be shocked when you just boldly declare it like that?!"
Fair point.
But ignoring that and pushing forward boldly is the only way to build a harem!
"Heh, Isihoon, you've got a long way to go."
"Ugh, that smug look pisses me off! That's the same annoying face you made when I beat you in the game!"
"Isihoon, get it right. It wasn't when you won—it was when I totally crushed you."
"Hey!"
As I teased Isihoon, Aika approached with awkward steps.
"Um, Lord Rubelt? You're really... really... dating all those girls?"
"Yep. Eli, Rize, Kagura, Yume, and Chisaki from our class. They're all great girls."
"H-How did it end up with so many? Eli's your fiancée, and Rize is a maid, sure, but still!"
Aika seemed extremely curious about my relationships with women.
Of course, she probably wasn't the only one.
Behind her, a stiff-faced Anastasia swallowed hard as she stared at me, and even stoic Kudan was waiting for my answer, expression unchanging.
"They like me, and I like them. Isn't that reason enough between a man and a woman?"
"Uh... y-yeah, that's true..."
Aika couldn't muster much of a response to such a clear, simple explanation.
"Besides, I have the ability to take responsibility for multiple women. Why should I be bound by unethical norms that aren't even law? Plenty of hunters have multiple wives too."
"R-Right..."
"Curiosity satisfied?"
"Y-Yes."
"You, Kudan?"
"Your bold answer cleared it up for me too. That's the confidence of a billionaire..."
Kudan trailed off, nodding as if he'd realized something profound.
"All good now? Then let's keep moving."
We pressed on, and Isihoon muttered under his breath like he was grumbling.
"...I was the only one worrying for nothing."
Isihoon must have been concerned for me after my harem declaration.
Thanks, Isihoon.
I'll help you out more with Yesul.
Anastasia couldn't tear her eyes away from Rubelt walking beside her.
'A harem? He's building a harem? Lord Rubelt? No, it's possible, but a real harem?'
Rubelt's bold harem confession from moments ago.
Anastasia still hadn't fully processed it.
She wasn't naive about the world.
Having entered the entertainment industry, she'd heard plenty of salacious rumors and stories.
Among them, she'd learned that sponsors from certain agencies would entertain the female celebrities they backed, or even build secret affairs despite having wives.
But Rubelt was openly forming a harem without shame, declaring no mere girlfriends—all were future wives.
In other words, he'd marry them all.
She'd never seen anything like it.
'I never knew Lord Rubelt was this open-minded!'
No matter how many times she thought it over, it was shocking.
But as time passed and her mind settled, Anastasia remembered that Rubelt was her fan.
'Lord Rubelt is my fan and sponsor... and he said if he likes someone and they like him, he'd include them in his harem. S-So maybe...!'
Anastasia recalled statistics on marriage partners for idol hunters.
1st: Sports hunters.
2nd: Civilians.
3rd: Rich folks holding top positions in major companies.
Digging deeper, many in that third category were fans of the idols.
She slotted herself and Rubelt into the scenario.
'I-It's possible! He's a harem guy!'
If he were just some middling rich guy, declaring a harem would draw endless ridicule.
But who was Rubelt?
Heir to the world's top conglomerate, the Eldra family.
When the world's richest elite builds a harem, most people react with admiration and acceptance rather than envy or scorn.
And that meant no need to quit entertainment after marriage.
Plus, Rubelt's personality—he wouldn't make his wives suffer.
'Lord Rubelt and me... aaah~.'
A blissful fantasy flitted through her mind, lifting the corners of Anastasia's mouth.
Then, not just the fantasy—Aika's presence crossed her thoughts.
'If I'm thinking this far...!'
Anastasia glanced at Aika up front.
'As I thought...!'
Aika kept sneaking peeks back at Rubelt, her lips twitching upward in a sly grin.
From that alone, Anastasia knew Aika was thinking the same thing.
A strange resentment toward Aika bubbled up inside her.
'Aika's always been the type to charge in recklessly. If I don't snap out of it...'
Dark fantasies played in her head.
Aika aggressively hitting on Rubelt, flaunting her charms to become one of his women, while Rubelt—too nice to firmly refuse—goes along.
Excited by his reactions, Aika goes overboard, books a room for a "special event for Lord Rubelt," and invites him.
Then she holds a secret photo shoot just for the two of them.
-It's your top active super-cute idol Nakazawa Aika~ Now we're gonna have a lovey-dovey first-time graduation event with Lord Rubelt~.
-Ah! Ah! Aaaah♡ Lord Rubelt's absolute god sponsor dick feels so good~♡
Imagining lines Aika might say, Anastasia ground her teeth.
'I won't let that happen. At least not before me! I haven't done it either—how dare she try to go first!'
Like Aika, Anastasia had focused solely on her idol career, never dating a guy.
Romantic relationships were practically taboo for idols.
'In that case!'
With a sly smile, Anastasia cooed at Rubelt in a sweet voice.
"Lord Rubelt~."
"Yeah?"
"Are you free after class today? I... I'd love to sing that song you wanted to hear for you."
"Really? Sure, I'll make time."
"Yay!"
'Heh, by approaching first, I'll plant the idea that I'm leading this event!'
"Grr...!"
'Beating me to Lord Rubelt...! Aisha, you vixen!'
Aika, who'd been peeking back, gnashed her teeth.
'...This feels off.'
And in the middle, Isihoon picked up on the tension between them, his stomach churning.
Sure, as a guy, he envied Rubelt's popularity with women, but their catfight was mentally exhausting.
After my harem reveal, I kept feeling glances from Anastasia and Aika.
Eyes full of "maybe I have a shot too?" vibes.
And when Anastasia made her move, Aika shot her a sharp glare.
Anastasia fired back just as fiercely, their rivalry for me plain as day.
But once combat started, they focused solely on fighting, linking up smoothly like pros.
I'd planned to chew them out if their mind games messed up coordination, but no need—good thing.
Still, our party didn't take down the boss this time.
"Whoa! Priests! You're here now. Hehehe! We already beat the boss monster!"
The party ahead of ours—Chisaki, Rize, Eli, Yume, Kagura (my harem crew)—had arrived first and defeated the Wild Oak Champion, an upgraded Wild Oak.
"All those people are..."
"Lord Rubelt's..."
"Impressive, upon second look."
"My, what's so impressive?"
Eli tilted her head at the mutterings from Aika, Anastasia, and Kudan.
"W-Well..."
"They're just amazed that they know we're in a harem together, Eli."
"Oh! Is that it? Hohoho! That makes sense—Lord Rubelt's and greatness would shock ordinary folk!"
"I'm happy when you praise me like that, Eli! Hahaha!"
"If Lord Rubelt's happy, I'm thrilled too! Hohoho!"
Eli and her fiancé shared a harmonious laugh.
"The worldview of the ultra-rich... remarkable."
"No, Kudan. Not all billionaires are like that. The Rubelt family's special."
"Is that so?"