Chapter 175: You already knew?
The next morning, 7:00.
After waking up, I got ready in the room’s water basin and headed to the living room.
There, Sharle and the others were seriously drawing lots.
They were already in a fighting atmosphere, and when the result came out, two of them raised both hands in joy.
When I asked Teine what the lots were for while she looked dejected, she avoided my eyes and told me it was for the order of guarding.
I smiled wryly at that, but to them it wasn’t a laughing matter.
Seeing how down she was, I hugged each one by one until they smiled, and I let out a sigh of relief.
After that, I went to the garden and had breakfast together with King Adom, Queen 2, Retia, and Tia.
It was also a day to reconfirm that tension after waking up was bad for the body.
I wasn’t unable to speak, but King Adom was coming to ask about yesterday’s events.
He mainly poked around the places where Sharle and the others had been last night, smiling. I was pressured by the queens sitting on both sides.
...Thank goodness, Your Majesty the Queen.
After a while of casual talk, I left the royal residence space, greeted the minister, and exited the royal castle.
The minister was probably suffering from a hangover, holding his head with one hand, and I thought he had a rare sight, so I decided to let yesterday’s matter go down the drain.
By the time I left the royal castle, it was past 8:00.
Walking slowly around the royal castle half a circle led to the academy, and while feeling the morning air and the sunlight, I walked at a leisurely pace.
On my left, almost touching my shoulder, was Mimine, who had a dignified face.
Her light-blue hair was bob-cut and her sideburns were slightly longer.
With her resolute posture and quiet atmosphere, she had the dignity of someone who protects.
Among Sharle and the others, she was the tallest, which made her even more reliable.
But Mimine had raised both hands with a full smile when she drew the lot for today’s order, so I had witnessed it.
That’s why even though I saw her serious, vigilant face, I couldn’t help but laugh thinking she was actually happy.
When I looked at Mimine’s profile, she noticed I was looking and turned her face.
"Raide-sama, why are you laughing all of a sudden?"
"Hmm? ...Ah, it’s nothing."
"...You’re not thinking about this morning’s thing, are you?"
"No..."
When I said that, the resolute attitude from before vanished, and I smirked and lifted the corner of my mouth while clinging to my left arm.
She pressed her grapefruit-sized chest firmly against my arm, wrapped her arms around me, and smiled smugly.
Because her height was close, a strong spring wind scent drifted from her hair—different from Sharle’s refreshing feel.
While watching Mimine’s smug face out of the corner of my eye, I smiled wryly and said,
"You’re surprisingly bold."
"It’s not surprising. My true feelings only want you to touch me."
"You couldn’t hold back and touched me?"
"I thought Raide-sama wouldn’t notice unless you did something like this."
"I knew... but I was restraining myself."
’Fufu, if you restrain too much, you’ll get attacked?’
Mimine kissed my left cheek and let go of my arm.
Since I hadn’t expected a kiss, I turned to Mimine, whose ears and cheeks were slightly red as she scanned the surroundings.
Her action looked like she was hiding her embarrassment, so I laughed "kusu."
There was one more guard selected, and that girl was staring at my interaction with Mimine from the roof on the right side.
When she saw my small wave, she waved both hands back with a "buun" sound as if she were the only one not being seen.
Her water-blue hair, slightly longer than her shoulders, swayed with her pear-like breasts as she waved, so I looked away.
Sim had an interest in fashion and dressed like Sharle and the others, but she was wearing hair accessories.
I had seen it last night, and when I looked closely, the wooden ring I had given her was naturally integrated into the decoration, which made me embarrassed.
When I looked at Sim out of the corner of my eye and faced forward, I saw the academy and students heading to school.
...How long are you going to wave, Sim? We’re entering the academy?
So when I made a small beckoning gesture, the girl came running at incredible speed and I smiled wryly.
When I entered the academy, I headed to the dean’s office to tell Sharle and the others about Croana and the others.
After knocking on the dean’s office door and receiving permission, I opened the door and entered. Croana was sitting at her desk looking through documents.
When she saw me, she smiled, glanced at Mimine and Sim behind me, and said,
"It seems you’ve finally met Raide?"
"You saw, right?"
"I thought you hadn’t noticed."
Croana placed the documents on the desk in surprise at the two of them’s words, smiled wryly, and invited us to sit on the sofa.
When we sat, Mimine and Sim stood quietly behind me, and Croana sat opposite.
The moment Croana sat, tea floated in the air and was gently placed on the table in front of me.
Holding the teacup in one hand, I looked at Mimine and Sim, tilted my head with a smile, and said,
"I knew you were there, though you weren’t as clear as Fia or Lea."
"So that was it..."
"You weren’t supposed to be noticed, but apparently it’s good that you were happy you managed it?"
Croana took a sip of tea and laughed happily, and from behind, the two of them smiled wryly.
I took a sip of tea and told Croana about waking up at the royal castle and Sharle and the others. She smiled wryly.
By the way, I confirmed with Sharle and the others whether it was okay to tell my lovers, and I was only speaking after I had permission.
I had told the other lovers that Sharle and the others would introduce themselves... Was it okay not to hide?
Croana must have read my thoughts because she glanced at Mimine and Sim with a smile and said,
"You’re showing your trust. Accept it? Well, it sounds laughable that the proof of that trust is called the same as the royal family, but kuku~!"
"It’s not a laughing matter..."
"You won’t make it public, right? Then it’s fine. Thanks to them, your range of movement will also widen. But don’t do anything reckless?"
"I’ll keep it in mind."
Croana smiled wryly at my words and nodded.
After a little casual talk, she told me the class schedule had been changed.
Previously, training had been from 13:00 after lunch, but it would now be from 15:00.
This was Croana’s consideration to let the students rest their bodies at the Filim Fountain I made and the Fiera Dormitory Erika had opened.
When I tried to bow in apology, Croana stopped me with one hand.
"Don’t. It’s not favoritism because you’re Raide. This came from Erika’s plan because it might benefit the academy in the future. If I’m thanked so much, I’ll be troubled?"
"It might be, but as a result the students’ bodies will heal. You have to be thanked."
"You’re... a troublesome lover, aren’t you?"
Croana looked at Mimine and Sim with a troubled smile and the two behind me quietly laughed.
When I tilted my head, Croana waved one hand and continued.
She said it was worded poorly, so it was hard to know how it would affect the students, but for now only the students in my grade would use the Filim Fountain.
The Fiera Dormitory was the same; if the results were good, the academy side would build a similar facility.
Croana and the academy faculty were worried that the students might get too relaxed.
I thought "I hope not," but Croana smiled wryly, and I nodded because the possibility was indeed there.
Hmm, if that happened, I’d give the adventurers a warning...
While thinking that, Croana said, "Enough?" to me.
The time was 15:00.
At the training ground I saw the students’ energetic faces and let out a sigh of relief.
Because today’s training had a short break, I decided to keep it light—mostly just moving the body.
But in this season, even moving a little made sweat come out.
On top of that, today’s weather was clear, so of course they would sweat.
No problems occurred, and at 17:00 the training ended. Erika told everyone about the Filim Fountain.
I could have explained it myself, but because there were many women, I had Erika explain with consideration.
Erika, who was asked, smiled satisfied and said, "It can’t be helped, can it?" cheerfully.
...If a man said it, it would sound somehow lewd.
The students, after hearing Erika’s explanation, were buzzing happily.
She told the students who hadn’t acted much to return to class, gather at the main gate with their belongings for the way home.
Their swift movements made me laugh.
Roy was being led to class by Rushi, and Erika was still standing beside me.
When I asked if they didn’t have to go back to class, Erika showed me a pouch-type magic bag and smiled.
"I already knew, so it was ready."
"Haha, as expected."
"More importantly, Sharle-san told me?"
"You met Sharle?"
"Yes, she came to see us before school started. She heard from her mother and laughed past surprise."
Erika smiled wryly and pressed close to my arm.
She had been surprised by Sharle’s appearance, but after hearing about our meeting she laughed and understood.
They had laughed saying it was typical of me.
When Erika saw my face, she must have read it because she smiled wryly and let out a small sigh.
"What are you thinking? I can imagine, but it’s not like everyone would do the same thing, right? You know that best?"
"...Yeah."
’Fufu, if you know, it’s fine. Please respond to Sharle and the others’ affection?"
"Of course."
"Good."
When I gave Erika a kiss on her lips for just a moment, her cheeks flushed as she said shyly, "It’s the academy!" and lightly tapped me.
I laughed while shouting in response to Erika’s interesting reaction, and we headed to the main gate together.
I felt happy being stepped on by my lovers’ butts.
I knew they were acting out of concern for me.
I was secretly thinking I wanted to spoil these selfish but kind lovers.