“Yep, it looks perfect on both of you.”
Without a doubt, my instincts were correct! Especially Hekate, wearing the “Queen” outfit. Her cold gaze (simply due to shyness) and her light frown made her impression so cold that it sent shivers down my spine.
“Great, with this, we can go shopping without much interruption!”
I quickly offered my arms to the two, since escorting the two of them is why I made them wear such clothes in the first place. Minerva quickly grabbed my right arm tight, while Hekate took the left. Both arms were feeling happiness from different vectors.
“Then, let’s go shopping!”
“Right~!”
“… Yes.”
As soon as the three of us left the alley, eyes quickly turned towards us. Well, I couldn’t blame the male gazes, since the innocent beauty of Minerva and the cool temperament of Hekate were even worth gaining worshippers.
The thing I wasn’t too comfortable with was the gazes from the girls around. I feel like a mouse being stared at by venomous snakes from all directions.
Just as I was getting uncomfortable from the gazes, Minerva and Hekate tightened their hold on my arms. Their eyes were sharp, glancing at the other girls eyeing me. Was it because they got jealous? Anyway, after they did that, the number of gazes dropped drastically.
After that, every time we became the center of attention, the two of them acted like that and intimidated the girls around. Of course, I can’t just be on the receiving end of their protection. I pulled the two of them closer, moving my arms behind their backs and holding their waists.
Just from that, the other guys were turning away one after another. After all, nothing is more painful for single guys than seeing someone flirt in public. Well, it could also apply to non-single guys, though.
Just like that, the three of us enjoyed looking around at stalls, buying things they found interesting and things I found remotely useful for later. We were enjoying our small trip, and before we even noticed, the sun was already setting.
“Then, let’s head back.”
Just as I said that to them, about to open a portal back to the office, a voice called us from behind.
“Will…?”
“Yes?”
I turned around by reflex but realized the mistake I made a moment later. Fina stood behind us, with Yorm and Judy in tow. Her eyes narrowed, looking at the three of us who were sticking close to each other.
“… Unfair.”
That one word alone made me feel like I’d dug my own grave.
As expected, that evening, everyone pestered me about how I took Minerva and Hekate shopping without even telling the others. It was tiring trying to appease everyone. In the end, I managed to lower my sentence and only need to go shopping with everyone tomorrow.
Thankfully, I don’t need to mind the office for now, since my clones should still be working over there nonstop. .𝒎
Of course, that wasn’t the only punishment. That night, I became the pillow for all of them. It should’ve been a blissful moment, but due to my arms and legs getting numb, the situation turned into a living hell. Well, it was supposed to be a punishment, anyway.
The next morning, when I woke up, my arms and legs were still numb. However, the girls were nowhere to be found. After waiting until my limbs woke up, just as I was about to begin searching for the girls, they suddenly popped inside the room using Ember’s portal.
“Woah…”
It was a cosplay festival.
Seeing how refined the costumes they were wearing were, I was convinced that Ember was the one who made them.
Ember was wearing a cute outfit, like that of a magical girl, with her short skirt, knee-high boots, and long gloves all in pink and white colors. It was cute, seeing how it matched perfectly with her pink hair with a small tiara on top.
Fang was wearing a long black cape with a red inner lining and raised collars. Inside, she was wearing a noble-like costume in black and white. Seeing the fluffy white center chest piece, I suspect she’s doing something like a vampire.
For Igni, it was hard to hide her wings and tail, so she instead used the same thing Minerva used. A transparent layer that changed light’s refraction index, turning her wings and tail into a bright blue color instead of red. At a glance, she looked more like a water-element dragon than a fire-element one.
Unfortunately, Fatima and Fina, along with Judy and Yorm, weren’t able to participate. They couldn’t leave their duties behind, after all. Especially Fina, since the event was already for tomorrow.
I already approved of her proposal, so now the only thing left is to prepare them for tomorrow. She should be busy for the day but didn’t want to waste everyone’s chances to go on a date with me. Instead, she managed to get a promise to take her out on a date alone.
I guess she’s getting the best deal out of everyone here.
Fatima, on the other hand, didn’t ask for anything in return for not participating.
“Being able to live like this is already a blessing I can’t even think of how to repay.”
Or so she said, before heading for the Research Institute to continue their research.
Minerva and Hekate, the two who managed to get out with me yesterday, volunteered to help Fina for the day. I guess they’re just holding back for the other girls to keep everything fair and square.
After that, I changed my outfit back to the same one from yesterday before turning to the three.
“Then, let’s go on an outing, shall we?”
—
While Will and the girls were busy enjoying their lives, the Cleaver Kingdom was also getting busy. It wasn’t only because of the engagement announcement slated for tomorrow but also because of the problems on their borders.
“Queen Thalia, the defensive line on the east was broken through, and ten of the thirty-three towns were destroyed.”
“The North is also having trouble defending, so they needed to adjust their defensive line back. One city was sacrificed during the process.”
The damage they were suffering was increasing day after day. And today was the biggest one they have had ever since.
“One day… we need to endure for just one more day and…!”
At that moment, rushed footsteps echoed along the quiet hallway before someone suddenly barged into the audience room, his face pale and almost out of breath.
“M-Message! Emergency Message! The South District had completely fallen! The demons are approaching the Royal Capital as we speak!”
“…!”
Despair, once again, reared its ugly head.
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