Chapter 38
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Wastrel Son's Solution
-----------------------------------------------------------------
'Talk about getting screwed over.'
In the Mental Realm, I just took a beating until I passed out, woke up, went to school, and now I'm thrust straight into a situation where the whales fight and the shrimp's back explodes?
I don't know who wrote this script, but this kind of development was the last thing I wanted.
'It's chilling.'
The pouring stares and the killing intent from the three women demanding explanations.
In a typical rom-com, I'd grovel here or throw out a bunch of excuses to weasel out of it.
"Do I need to explain? It's exactly what it looks like."
I was the Mountain Lords' successor and already the infamous Wastrel Son with rumors spreading everywhere.
With a thick smile like I'd just joked about calling 119, I casually strolled to my seat with a relaxed expression.
"Let me introduce them. This is Marren, that's Heila, and over there is Airi."
Thud.
I sat down and pointed at each one clearly, introducing them one by one.
"What the hell does that even mean...?"
Naturally, the first to question this situation was Heila.
Heila shot me a look that said, 'That's not what I'm asking you to explain right now.'
Her face screamed confusion at why I was acting this way in a situation that could explode if I said the wrong thing.
"Ah... you need a more detailed explanation, huh?"
And that reaction was exactly what I'd been hoping for.
Whoosh!
In this moment when everyone was hanging on my every word, I naturally wrapped my arm around Marren's waist and yanked her toward me.
"G-Geon-ho...?"
"This is Marren, my desk mate, and as I said, we're getting pretty close."
Whoosh!
With Marren's turn done, I grabbed Heila, who was standing nearby, and pulled her straight onto my lap.
"Wh-what do you think you're doing...? In front of everyone...!"
"This is Heila, my fiancée, and if things keep going like this, we'll get married without a hitch."
Sloooow stretch!
With Heila's turn over, I used some force to suck Airi—who still hadn't grasped the situation—right into my arms.
"Wh-what the hell are you doing!"
"This is Airi, the leader of my group, and like you saw with Heila, we're the type who do that sort of thing alone in hospital rooms."
The Mountain Lords' successor doesn't grovel. A Wastrel Son has to be perfect when it comes to women.
These two conditions left only one perfect course of action—the one I was taking right now.
And the justification for acting this way was rock-solid.
I have what it takes.
I'd saved the black market, tying me deeply to Marren; I'd taken down the giant to rescue Airi; and through that heroic feat, I'd boosted the honor Heila cherished so much.
Of course, raw ability alone couldn't buy full affection, and it didn't mean I could brazenly flaunt octopus legs.
But what if someone who proved he could handle them all acted with confidence?
"I'm going to get close—really close—to all of you, and I'd appreciate it if everyone just accepted that."
The mood shifted strangely.
"...?"
Question marks popped up over the heads of the three women around me and all the classmates.
Some faces said they'd misheard; others couldn't believe I'd really said it.
"Oh, sorry, could you maybe give up your seat there?"
"Huh? Uh... yeah, sure..."
To keep leading this bizarre reaction, I got the cadet next to me to stand up.
My desk mate spot was on the right, but that was Marren's now, so Heila could take the left.
"Heila, sit here."
Thud.
The tense standoff of the past few minutes unraveled bit by bit with perfect traffic control.
Now only Airi's seat was left, but honestly, that didn't matter much.
Airi's spot was... well...
It was right in front of me, the seat diagonally up and to the right.
Click! Click! Click!
As soon as the seat shuffling ended, the cadets—puzzled by the total vibe change—started averting their eyes one by one.
Earlier, it had been a blatant fight-brewing stare-down they couldn't ignore, but now it was purely personal.
They could sneak peeks, but outright staring crossed the line now.
"Geon-ho, is this your conclusion?"
Slap!
"You... can you really handle this?"
Slap!
"Playboy! Idiot! I'm never doing you any favors ever again!"
Slap!
The finishing triple slap flew at me like icing on the cake, but I could have dodged it easily—I just took it.
If getting hit wrapped this up perfectly, I'd take as many as needed.
Targeting them one by one is for idiots. If I can take them all at once, that's way more efficient.
In my first run, I died without a proper relationship, so this time, I'd do everything I could.
With that resolve, I slid my hand down a bit and gently took Marren's.
First, target Marren—she's the most emotionally volatile.
Honestly, "targeting" was an overstatement. Nothing fancy.
I'd just fuck her brains out like a dog until she couldn't think straight.
"That's it for today."
""Thank you for your hard work.""
After wrapping up all the academy classes for the day.
The three women positioned like triangle vertices around me were still radiating icy vibes.
And Marren had the most intense aura among them, so I got right to work.
"Marren, let's talk alone."
"...Today?"
"Yeah, right now, actually."
It wasn't hard to understand. She'd thought our first time meant we valued each other deeply, then suddenly a fiancée shows up—huge shock.
Plus hearing about the weird stuff with Airi? Bound to overthink.
So no dragging it out; time to reassure her immediately.
She's probably worried she'll get discarded since we progressed the fastest.
The reason I couldn't date in my first run wasn't ignorance or being a lifelong virgin.
I simply never had the time!
Even as an adopted kid, Kim Geon-ho had hit the genetic jackpot—handsome as hell.
And that was just the start. Embarrassing to say it myself, but from bone structure to muscle placement, waist thickness—everything was perfect.
Born with maxed-out genes; without the Mountain Lords adoption, I'd have been a model no sweat.
"...You're seriously asking another girl out for a date while I'm right here?"
"Honey, there's an order to things. Just wait a sec."
"Wh-who's your honey? We haven't even had the engagement ceremony! This is ridiculous!"
Spring!
Heila tried to interfere but couldn't get a word in and stormed off in a huff.
One down.
Airi, overhearing, turned away slightly and fired straight at me.
"Playboy, I'm seriously never helping you with anything again."
"I'd love if Airi gave me a handjob."
Slap!
"Don't say that shit in front of everyone, you idiot moron!"
Spring!
Blushing like always, Airi landed her cheeky slap and bolted.
Good, two down.
Targeting them all at once didn't mean some random harem orgy.
It was maintaining just the right affection levels and zeroing in one by one when the chance hit.
Couldn't explain it in words—just flawless Wastrel Son technique through action and perfect timing.
"So, can I head to your place, Geon-ho?"
"Was just about to suggest that."
Squeeze.
"...Can I sleep over?"
"Even if you said no, I was gonna make you."
Squeeeze.
"Then wanna have breakfast together and head to school?"
"We'll shower together in the morning too."
Squeeeeaze.
With every line I said, Marren snuggled deeper into my arms, arms crossed.
If you're building a harem, don't stupidly tailor to each one individually.
Make them all adapt to me.
No one's all strengths, right?
This girl likes A but hates B. Still, the pros outweigh the cons, so she compromises.
That's the ideal way to sustain a harem—make them rationalize it themselves.
"You're the first to come to my place, Marren."
Grip!
Her hug shifted from squeeeze to a bone-crushing grip, instantly showing how much she loved it.
Firsts are special.
First peck, first kiss, first time, first whatever.
Distributing those firsts smartly is key to pulling off the octopus legs.
Marren's the clingy-love type, so she'll love me opening up my private space.
Custom analysis to build the perfect harem, aiming for a group wedding later.
Time to show some real power too.
The little giant Pemb isn't something you catch by luck. Soon, my rough strength stats would leak to the press.
I'd planned this, so even the Mountain Lords couldn't block it.
Typical Wastrel Son characters are third-rate villains—cannon fodder for the hero early on.
But I was gonna shatter that cliché.
Beat all the hero candidates, build a harem as the Wastrel Son.
That was my goal.