Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Did She Find Out My Identity...?
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Did she find out my identity...?
The fluffy atmosphere from just moments ago shattered in an instant.
But somehow, it didn't feel like what I'd expected. I'd braced myself for a slap across the face the moment I said it, but Saki and Ren were just staring at me, analyzing every detail, without any dramatic reaction.
"Sanghyeon-sunbae, so... you're saying you want to do fukuren right now?"
Fukuren?
"What's fukuren?"
It sounded like it used the character for "complex" or "multiple," like in dual citizenship.
"Yuu, you don't know about fukuren? And you said something like that without knowing?"
Saki stood there with her arms crossed, looking utterly incredulous.
"Fukuren is... well, dating multiple people at once. And in a broader sense, it can mean polygamy too..."
"W-what?"
This was a setting that never came up in the game at all.
"Wait, isn't there a law or something? Does this country legally allow polygamy?"
Maybe my dumbfounded expression was funny, because Ren let out a small chuckle.
"Sanghyeon-sunbae must not know much since you're from Korea."
"That's weird~ I figured Korea would've allowed it ages ago since they have way worse low birth rates than us."
Of course I wouldn't know. I'm not actually from "this world's" Korea.
"So you're saying multiple relationships and polygamy are totally fine, no issues?"
"That's right."
Long live this world.
A world where polygamy was a reality! The biggest hurdle in harem stories had been cleared at the world-building level.
I never dreamed I'd find something to like in this godforsaken NTR world.
As I grinned, thinking everything was sorted now, Saki wagged her index finger sternly.
"Hmph. You can't just go wild like some playboy with anyone you want. You need the full consent of your current girlfriend or wife. And there's a strict 'trial period' from the existing wife too. It's all legally protected."
Ah, so that's how it works.
They'd been anxious because they thought I might choose some other girl over Ren, but officially applying to date her and then declaring fukuren was a different story.
Honestly, from my perspective, it was hard to wrap my head around a country officially encouraging this system, but when I thought about it, it wasn't that strange.
Just like people in the Middle East of my old world saw polygamy as normal, people here probably did too.
Better to declare it openly and honestly than sneak around like a sleazy cheater...
As I mused about what a unique world this was, Ren and Saki turned their backs to me for a moment and started whispering.
"I... think so too..."
"For now... let's at least talk about it."
With serious expressions, they whispered back and forth, then beckoned me over to the small bench on the rooftop.
"Yuu. You seem like you don't know much about it, so let me explain fukuren. It's a policy that's institutionally supported, and there are couples who've succeeded at it and even gotten married... but the failure rate is nothing to sneeze at either."
"Huh?"
Saki let out a deep sigh and crossed her arms.
"Huh? What do you mean, huh? Usually, it falls apart because the guy can't love everyone equally... But the you that Ren and I see doesn't seem like the type to confess recklessly or declare fukuren without resolve. But! Even so, there's one more obstacle."
"What's that?"
"A woman's heart. How much do you know about a girl's feelings, huh? Imagine the guy you love most in the world holding hands with another girl, going on dates, hugging her! And, uh, rolling around in bed together, making b-babies!! Stuff like that... no way could I tolerate it!!"
Saki was getting more worked up than anyone, her anger building in waves until tears welled up and she shrieked.
"S-Saki."
"Sniff... sniff... You think there's a girl out there who could just brush that off?"
She's got a point. But I'm not too worried about that either. Because Ren, Harumi, and the girl I plan to pursue next are all bona fide harem-genre heroines through and through.
They might feel a bit of jealousy, but none of them would react with "absolutely not." Of course, that's just knowledge I have as the possessor— I can't exactly say it out loud.
Best to push forward steadfastly in times like this.
"I'll make it work somehow. Trust me. I won't let you down."
I took a step closer, looking each of them in the eye in turn. Neither Ren nor Saki looked away. After about ten seconds of eye contact, Ren raised the white flag first.
"Haa... I know I can't stop you when you look at me like that, Sanghyeon-sunbae. So, tell us about this other woman you're thinking of for fukuren first. We'll decide after hearing it. I'm officially your g-girlfriend now, so I'll be firm on this!"
She's shy, but she doesn't look away or run. She must feel like this is a moment to face head-on with full sincerity.
"Yeah, Yuu. Let's hear what you have to say."
I told them everything about Harumi honestly.
The time she nearly fell into a sex trafficking trap by accident. The coincidence when we'd bumped into each other. How I'd saved her from that paparazzi creep twice. Her tough circumstances. Her fallen family. Her late father, her mother in critical condition. And that creepy little uncle blackmailing her.
Harumi would be furious if she knew I'd shared her personal story, but right now, telling them was the best move. I need to go all-in to help her—trying to keep secrets while distracted elsewhere would be arrogant. If Harumi finds out later, I'll apologize then and love her even more to make up for it.
Sniffle!
"Waaah!! H-how could such a girl exist...! Hwaaa!"
"Ahem... Her situation is truly heartbreaking..."
After hearing the whole story, Saki burst into loud sobs, and even the usually stoic Ren sniffled. I'd teared up myself seeing it firsthand, so for these sensitive girls, it must've been like a full-on tearjerker machine.
"Help her, Yuu! It'd be a sin not to help a girl like that!!"
"...You're right. Whether we allow fukuren can come later. We can discuss it more once Harumi-sunbae's situation improves. Blocking you after hearing this would make us heartless."
Ren fidgeted with her fingers and added one more thing.
"But... promise you'll come back to me soon?"
"Of course."
Unable to resist her overflowing kindness and affection, I pulled Ren straight into a hug.
Whoosh!
"Kyaa!?"
Ren let out a sharp squeal.
"Woooah! Witnessing lover's skinship live!"
I buried my face deep in her hair. The scent of the Ren I loved soothed my mind and body.
"Thanks for understanding, Ren. I won't disappoint you."
"H-haa... Y-yes..."
I took one last deep breath of her lavender fragrance before pulling away.
The conditions are way stricter than I thought. It's designed to stop you from recklessly banging around before solidifying your harem members. Fair enough—with hurdles like these, only a guy who can truly share love equally deserves multiple heroines.
And raising my relationship with Ren to Affection shouldn't be too hard. I've still got one hidden card up my sleeve I haven't played yet.
For now, I'll batch-process raising Ren's relationship level, unlocking her H-status, Fukuren stuff, etc., over this weekend. Today, focus on rescuing Harumi.
Knock knock knock.
"Come in~"
"It's me, Director."
I opened the door, and from inside the director's office, Mesui looked up with a weary face. She sipped her black tea amid a pile of documents, quietly watching me.
"Ara~ Sanghyeon-kun. It's not even Saturday yet. What brings you here?"
I quietly closed the door and sat in the chair before her desk.
"It's about Harumi."
I didn't plan to explain. As director, she'd surely know the status of a special student like Harumi.
"Just as I thought, it's about that girl."
"You already knew?"
Mesui's lips curved slightly as she tapped her fingers on the documents.
"I know everything about the students in this academy. Especially Kanemochiru Harumi—she's the sole legitimate heir to a major corporation. Of course I'd keep an eye on her."
I met Mesui's gaze steadily.
"Then you must know what Harumi's uncle... Kanemochiru Kenji is up to."
Mesui let out a light sigh.
"The shadow of the Kanemochiru family. A child born a monster."
Her words already carried a wealth of information. As expected, this woman wasn't just any academy director. True to her status as a shadowy power player straddling politics and the underworld, she'd already grasped the core of the issue.
"Director, I have a request. Lend me your strength to help Harumi."
Mesui fell silent for a moment, then smiled. But that smile held cold calculation.
"Sanghyeon-kun. Thanks to the intel you brought from the Nishikiyo-gumi incident last time, I've gained quite a favorable position in Tokyo's political scene. Frankly, that means I owe you big time. Of course! At its core, it was all to protect our dear students from filthy predators."
She swirled the teacup on her desk lightly.
"And this Harumi situation seems much the same. Politically speaking, whether the Kanemochiru family's rightful heir graduates from our academy... And from the director's duty, whether we protect one small, fragile girl student. But it's not easy for me to step in."
"...Why not? Aren't you the one who truly cares for the students?"
I waited for her words.
Clink.
Mesui set down her teacup and stared at me. Her eyes changed.
"Because... of you. You're a rare breed among the men I've seen. Powerful, bold, and effective. You took down the Nishikiyo-gumi single-handedly... and returned on your own with a stabbed wound and broken limbs. Someone like you can't possibly be an ordinary student."
Not polite honorifics—casual speech. She was placing me on equal footing.
"I was going to bring it up during Saturday's discussion on handling Kurogami Reina, but it doesn't matter now."
Her eyes gleamed mischievously as she licked her lips, staring at me.
"You."
Gulp!
I swallowed dryly without thinking.
"After all that rampaging... did you think I wouldn't figure out who you really are?"
My identity?
No... wait, no way.
This woman couldn't possibly...