Chapter 71

When Leon encountered a battlefield.

Marie, the villainess who completed the reverse harem and was the sister of Leon's previous life, was at her wits' end.

At the entrance of the mansion.

There, Eriq was prostrating himself on the ground.

The beautiful young man with red hair is a classmate of Marie's.

A classmate with medium-length, spiky red hair.

He was abnormally attached to Noelle and had attacked Leon's mansion, resulting in his disinheritance.

Facing such a young man, Marie had a strained expression.

(What is going on here!?!)

Marie herself was in a battlefield.

Eriq—[Eriq Let Barrille]—was shouting at the top of his lungs.

"I've fallen in love with you, my lady. Please, let me stay by your side!"

Despite saying such things, Eriq was originally the son of a great noble family.

The former heir of the Barrille family, one of the seven great noble families of the Republic of Arzel—now one of the six—was prostrating himself before Marie and begging to be by her side.

Previously, Eriq was attached to Noelle, but now he was attached to Marie.

Marie was taken aback by Eriq's enthusiasm.

(Why is he coming to me! I haven't caused any events. Besides, you're not my type!)

Eriq, a target in that dating game, was supposed to be paired with Noelle, the protagonist of the second game.

If they don't get together, the world will be in danger.

Surrounding Eriq were the five men with different colored hair—Julius and the others.

"To switch from loving a different woman to Marie, you've got some nerve."

All five of them were angry.

"You need some education."

Zirk was quietly angry.

"I haven't forgotten the injuries you inflicted on me."

Gregg, who had been injured in a fight with Eriq, snapped his fingers as a warning.

"Are you prepared? We won't let you get close to our Marie without a fight."

Chris, who had also been injured, was carrying a wooden sword on his shoulder.

"Do you understand how we feel about you? You've caused so much trouble, and you're acting like a spoiled brat."

Eriq hadn't done it, but Brad, a noble from the same republic who had been severely injured, was genuinely angry.

Despite the five of them, Eriq showed a bold attitude.

"It's none of your business. I've fallen in love with Marie—no, Onee-sama. Onee-sama, please let me stay by your side!"

Surprisingly, he called her "Onee-sama."

Marie felt like holding her head.

(What is going on here! Help me, big brother!)

Threatening the handsome men, he came to ask to be taken in as a younger brother.

Marie silently called out to Leon for help.

Behind her, Kyle was slumping his shoulders.

"We have another person to take care of."

Carla agreed.

"It's already difficult with just the five of them, and now another one—"

Even the servants who came with the Holfort Kingdom's delegation were there, but the situation was only getting more complicated.

Marie said to Eriq.

"Go home."

But Eriq replied—

"I don't have a home to go back to."

He explained to Marie that he had been kicked out of his family home after the incident with Pierre, which had caused a tumultuous relationship between the Kingdom of Holfort and the Republic of Arzel.

Just as negotiations were about to be finalized, Eriq attacked Leon, causing more trouble.

Eriq was disinherited.

Returning to the Barrille family would offer no bright future.

Realizing this, Marie thought—

(He looks like a lost puppy! It's not my fault. Damn! I feel bad for kicking him out, and I can't just pass him off to my brother—)

—Ange and the others are with Leon now.

Marie couldn't ask Leon for help because she had taken Julius, her fiancé, from him in the past.

She was afraid to meet Ange.

Julius advised Marie.

"Protest through the embassy to the Republic. This isn't something you should worry about."

It was the right approach.

However, Marie, being a woman with a heart, was willing to take care of the troublesome five.

"—You're not a guest. If you work here, I'll accept you."

"Marie!"

"It's fine. But if you complain, I'll kick you out."

Julius tried to stop her, but Eriq smiled.

"Yes, Onee-sama! I'll work hard!"

Eriq, who had lost everything, ended up being taken in by Marie.

◇

At Leon's house.

Livya was confused by Ange's words.

"Ange, are you serious about telling Leon to marry Noelle?"

Leon was in a daze.

He hadn't expected to be told to get married.

But Luxion alone understood.

"—Prioritizing the benefits of the Holy Tree. It's the right decision."

"Is that sarcasm? But it's worth it."

The Holy Tree, which had supported the Republic of Arzel.

If its power could be obtained, Ange said he would accept Noelle.

Livya tried to stop him.

"Wait. What about your feelings? And, Ange, is this okay for you!?"

Introducing another woman to his fiancée.

It was abnormal by any standard.

Noelle was also surprised.

"That's ridiculous. You're engaged, right?"

Hugging the case containing the sapling of the Holy Tree, she was flustered.

"If it can solve future energy problems, it's a bargain."

Livya immediately countered.

"But Lux said it won't be like the Holy Tree right away."

The sapling of the Holy Tree.

Since it was still a sapling, it couldn't do what the current Holy Tree could.

It couldn't produce large amounts of magic stones, create jewels, or even grant the same level of blessings.

Luxion added.

"It will take at least three hundred years to reach the same level of benefits as the current Holy Tree."

Ange remained unperturbed.

"It will take time, but it will be a treasure for the future of the Kingdom of Holfort—no, for our descendants. It's an asset for the future. I want it no matter what."

Livya clenched her fists and looked down.

"That's—wrong."

Ange agreed with Livya's words but looked a bit sad.

"—I think so too."

◇

At night.

Called by Ange, I ended up talking to him alone.

Luxion wasn't around.

He was apparently doing some work with Claire.

In the room, I asked Ange about what happened during the day.

"—Are you serious about the marriage?"

Ange smiled a little awkwardly and avoided my gaze.

"Are you angry? But it's such an attractive offer. Upon hearing that the Respinaus family existed as a clan of priestesses, it means they have the bloodline suitable for the role of a priestess. The sapling of the Holy Tree alone is not enough."

After hearing Luxion's explanation, he judged it to be for the future.

He must have decided that Noelle's power and bloodline were necessary.

I understand the appeal of the Holy Tree.

In fact, the Republic of Arzel has prospered thanks to the power of the Holy Tree.

The Kingdom of Holfort would want the Holy Tree if it could be obtained.

I understand, but—

"Leon, we are nobles. For the sake of the country, the territory, and the people—nobles have a responsibility for the future. That's why we are nobles."

He was telling me to endure for the future.

I didn't expect to hear this from my fiancée.

Am I not liked that much?

Feeling anxious, Ange lowered her gaze.

"Do you dislike Noelle?"

"I don't dislike her, but I don't think marriage is right."

"Marriage is the most straightforward way to bind. Besides, you can't give her to another family or man. Besides, the sapling would wither if it's not with you, right?"

Luxion managed to keep it alive, but it's uncertain if it would grow elsewhere.

It might grow, but managing it is a different issue.

That sapling might choose another troublesome guardian on its own.

If I take it back and someone from the Kingdom of Holfort takes the sapling and Noelle from me—more trouble will arise.

But I still want the Holy Tree.

—Ange's thinking isn't wrong.

If I ignore personal feelings, but—

"I can't marry three people."

When I said this, Ange smiled at me.

"I understand. Take care of Noelle and Livya. I—can be a bonus. If it's too much, we can break the engagement."

"Huh?"

What is she saying?

"I proposed it. The responsibility is mine. Besides, dealing with three women is difficult. Your situation is special. So, if it's a burden, leave me—"

Hearing that, I immediately—

"Refuse! No! No! I don't want to!"

Ange was a bit surprised.

"Leon, you—"

Ange had been dumped by her ex-fiancé, Julius.

Seeing her subsequent state, I couldn't accept a broken engagement.

I apologized to Ange.

"Absolutely not! I won't break the engagement!"

When I said that, Ange chuckled.

"You really are—no, we both are idiots."

I was in a bind with two fiancées, and suddenly, I was in a situation where I might have to marry another person.

What is happening in my second life?

"Do you really want the sapling of the Holy Tree that much?"

"Most people would want it if they knew. They would do anything to get it. The Republic of Arzel hasn't given up either."

The priestess of the sapling of the Holy Tree.

If it's known, Noelle's origins might also be revealed.

One problem after another keeps coming.

Ange proposed to me.

"Leon, you're coming back with us. We will definitely take the sapling of the Holy Tree and Noelle. The Republic is weak in external wars. If we run, we win."

For the future—Ange was willing to sacrifice herself for it.

I understand the value she sees in it.

But—does that sapling really have that much value?

It seems unreliable to me.

However—

"No, I still have things to do. I'll stay behind."

"Things to do? What are you planning to do next?"

Under Ange's suspicious gaze, I couldn't say, "I'm trying to stop the world's crisis!"

It would sound too unbelievable.

It would sound like a joke.

As I was at a loss, there was a knock on the door.

When I answered, it was Livya who entered.

She was in her nightgown, holding a pillow.

"What's wrong, Livya?"

When Ange asked,

"Can we sleep together tonight?"

It was something beyond lucky pervert.

I felt an even greater fortune had come to me.

Thinking about it, they are my fiancées.

I can make a move, right?

Ange nodded with a smile.

"I don't mind. Leon, what about you?"

"I'm ready anytime!"

Ange was slightly taken aback by my enthusiasm.

"S-Sure. That's good."

God, thank you for this fortune!

◇

God—why do you give me such difficult trials?

The three of us lying in bed.

I was in the center, with Livya and Ange sleeping on either side.

Their peaceful faces made me feel trusted.

But the problem wasn't there.

Should I make a move on these two?

Of course, I should!

Who else would I make a move on?

However, think about it carefully.

"Which one should I make a move on first?"

I only have one body.

I don't have the skill to handle both at the same time.

It's physically impossible.

It might seem like a small problem, but could it cause trouble in the future depending on which one I choose first?

And my feelings—

—I want to make a move on both.

But I don't know which one to choose first.

Considering their social positions and other factors, Ange might be the better choice, but is it right to put Livya on hold?

Thinking about it, I couldn't sleep at all.

Then, two spherical figures appeared.

Luxion with red eyes and Claire with blue eyes.

"You're a wimp."

"But which one to choose is important. You might be held a grudge for life. Women are very jealous."

"Why are you in my bedroom?"

When I asked,

"We were worried you might fail."

"We're here to give advice if you fail."

"Don't spy on me!"

These guys are acting like I'm going to fail—do they really think of me as their master?