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Chapter 479: 「Is This One of Those Situations Where I Can’t Refuse?」

I was hurting all over as well. Although I managed to avoid taking any direct hits, I was grazed by sword tips multiple times. Even though the swords had been blunted, the strikes had the nobles’ enhanced power behind them, so they were enough to tear through my clothes and leave me with cuts. Sigh, this was one of my few decent outfits…

Why did things turn into such a bloody mess when I was just here to greet my political family? Well, that’s because…

☆★☆

The first place that the sulky Serena guided us to was a room with a lavish interior—probably some sort of reception room. Could this be what they call a salon?

「I’m glad you could make it. Come closer so I can get a good look at you.」

As soon as we entered, I was greeted by a voice from the back of the room. Towards the back, in a well-lit area, several women… well-lit? No, this place should be close to the center of this massive structure, so there shouldn’t be any sunlight. Then that light must be some kind of artificial sunlamp, right? So is this room a combination salon and sunroom? The concept of this room is rather confusing.

As I moved toward the source of the voice, I found three beautiful women. Maybe ‘gorgeous’ would be a better description? Each of them radiated a refined elegance. They seem older than Serena, so perhaps they are her sisters?

「Mother… M-Mother!?」

「Why are you so surprised?」

Serena looked at me with a puzzled expression as I gasped in shock.

「What do you mean, ‘why’? When you say ‘Mother’… does that mean she’s your mother!?」

「Yes, that’s correct. This is Father’s first wife, Mother Anneliese, next to her is the second wife and my biological mother, Mother Hildegard, and the last one is the third wife, Mother Beatrix.」

The three women Serena introduced—who I initially mistook for her older sisters, but who are in fact her mothers—each greeted me with grace and elegance. I quickly returned their greetings, but I was utterly shaken by the unexpected situation.

「Was it really that surprising?」

Anneliese-san, the first wife, asked me directly, so I nodded and decided to be honest about my impression.

「It was very surprising. You all look so young and beautiful. To be honest, it’s hard to believe you’re Serena’s mothers… I almost thought you were her sisters.」

When I glanced over at Serena after saying this, she had a stern expression.

「They are indeed my mothers.」

「I see… Oh, I almost forgot to introduce myself. I’m Captain Hiro, a mercenary. As for titles… I have a few, but which one would be the most appropriate? Platinum Ranker, Honorary Viscount of the Empire, or perhaps Gold Star recipient?」

「I think ‘Platinum Ranker Mercenary’ would be the safest choice.」

「Well then, there you have it. So, um… what should we talk about?」

How exactly do you introduce yourself to the family of your fiancée? Especially when you’ve brought along not just your fiancée but also another of your women and a maidroid? Is this even acceptable? Neither Elma nor Mei said anything about their presence here being a problem, so I hope it’s not entirely out of line.

「Standing around talking like this isn’t ideal, is it? My neck will start to hurt if I keep looking up at you like this. So, why don’t you sit and tell us how you and Serena met and what you’ve been up to together?」

I nodded at Hildegard’s suggestion and, together with Elma and the others, took the seats offered to us. I began recounting how I met Serena and what we’ve experienced together since then. Of course, I carefully glossed over details that I couldn’t share, like my background and the matter involving the singing crystal.

As we talked, more people began to gather in the salon—Serena’s sisters, or rather, her younger sisters.

「Hmm, interesting…」

「I see.」

「He doesn’t look that strong, does he…?」

Serena’s younger sisters seemed about the same age as Chris and Mimi, but looking at the mothers’ appearance I was losing confidence in my ability to judge someone’s age. The anti-aging techniques of this universe are too incredible. Hildegard-san, for instance, is a striking beauty who looks a lot like Serena—if someone told me she was Serena’s older sister, I would have believed it without question. Still, Serena’s younger sisters probably look their actual age… probably.

「If you judge by appearances, you might find yourself regretting it.」

「Do I really look that weak…? If anything, I thought I leaned more toward the intimidating side.」

I don’t exactly have the friendliest of looks, and since arriving here, I’ve been working out regularly. My physique should be noticeably well-built, even through my clothes. Should I take my shirt off?

「The aura you give out changes a lot between combat and normal times.」

「Is that so? Well, I guess that’s true. If I were on high alert all the time, I wouldn’t be able to perform at my best when it really matters. But is the difference really that noticeable?」

「It is.」

「Yes, it is.」

「I think so, too.」

Even Elma and Mei agreed with Serena. Is it really that different? Do I look that feeble when I’m not in combat mode? That’s a bit of a shock, honestly…

「Hehe, you have a cute side, too.」

「Indeed. I was a little worried about what kind of person he would be when I heard he was a brave and daring mercenary, it seems my fears weren’t warranted.」

Anneliese-san, the first wife, and Beatrix-san, the third wife, seemed to agree on their impression of me. Being called ‘cute’ doesn’t exactly make me happy… what part of our conversation made them think that?

「Everything is ready!」

With a loud bang, the door swung open, and I turned to see who had entered. It was a ridiculously handsome man with blonde hair and red eyes. He was not only tall but also incredibly well-built, with a thick, muscular frame. This guy is a ball of muscle, no wonder Serena’s sisters thought I look weak, compared to him everyone looks weak.

「That’s my brother, Leon.」

Serena whispered to me. Ah, so this is the older brother. That makes sense, but why is he approaching me with such a big grin?

「So, you’re Captain Hiro! Alright, let’s go!」

「Wait, wait, wait! Where are we going? Serena, could you please explain?」

Leon grabbed both my shoulders, forcing me to stand as he started to drag me off. I resisted as much as I could, turning to Serena for some sort of explanation.

「Leon-niisama, what is this all about? Where are you taking my fiancé, and what do you plan to do with him?」

「A duel!」

Leon declared, throwing an arm around my shoulders in a gesture that felt more like a headlock. What’s with this guy, he’s too intense.

「You have always turned down marriage proposals because your suitors couldn’t match your skill with a sword. You, who were always so stubborn have finally decided on a fiancé, however, the man you have chosen is a former commoner mercenary, even if he is a Platinum Ranker, there are plenty of people who aren’t satisfied with this. So, I’m going to duel him so he can prove his worth with the sword! Now, let’s go!」

「Is this one of those situations where I can’t refuse?」

「Just give up.」

Elma cut off my complaints while giving me a pitying look. Please tell me this is a joke…