"I really think we should protest vigorously about the fact that Laiel-san forgot about us. Best Laiel... I think this is going to have a huge impact on Best Laiel! Missing out on this is absolutely a huge loss!"
The Third Generation made his case passionately inside the Jewel, but the response he got was disheartening.
There simply weren't enough of them.
The Fifth Generation let out an exasperated sigh.
"It might not even be over yet."
The Seventh Generation shook his head, saying that wasn't likely.
"Given the small scale of the battle, I doubt it. If this much time has passed without a resolution, it can only mean something went wrong..."
Mireia had pulled a muzzle-loading pistol from the puffy sleeves of her dress. It was an older model than the one the Seventh Generation used—one that required you to reload after every single shot.
She checked the weapon as she spoke.
"...Punishment is in order. I was looking forward to this so much. Do you have any idea how long I've waited for this moment?"
The Seventh Generation was gazing at Mireia's pistol with nostalgia. He loved guns, and the Third Generation wondered if perhaps Mireia's influence was the reason why.
(Well, one way or another, the two of them do get along.)
As they were talking, the Fifth Generation looked up at the ceiling. The blurry image gradually sharpened, and it showed Laiel apparently explaining something to his companions.
"Oh, it looks like from here on... it's already over."
Sensing from the Fifth Generation's words and the atmosphere that the war had concluded, the Third Generation stood up from his chair.
"It's already over?! Come on, Laiel-san on the battlefield is such a rare sight—I really wanted to see it!"
They had seen him fight large Monsters before, but none of them had witnessed Laiel-san fighting on the actual battlefield. In that sense, missing this was a real blow for the Third Generation and the others.
...From the Best Laiel perspective, at least.
However, just as the Third Generation was about to voice his complaint, he froze at Laiel's words.
"Come on, line up and wait for a kiss!"
Monica was raising her hand to get Laiel's attention after he said something like that. She was jumping up and down, her maid outfit and twin tails bouncing with every hop.
"Yes! Yes!! Am I getting a kiss too!! This is important, you know! Super important!"
At that, Laiel looked thoroughly exasperated.
"Are you an idiot? But I guess that idiotic side of you is cute too. Of course I'm going to kiss you! Whether it's pointless or not, I want to kiss Monica too!"
Surrounded by the women and making the most shameless statement imaginable, Laiel declared it all with utter confidence. If you only looked at the atmosphere, you might even think he was saying something cool.
However, to the Third Generation—
"Huh, Laiel-san... you're not going to bring them in here, are you? All of them? ...There's no need for that!"
The Successive Heads believed there was little benefit in being discovered now. They had been putting it off, and with the matter of Ceres's Jewel, they figured that having their existence known would come with far more disadvantages than advantages.
That was why, having come this far, they thought it would have been better to end things without a meeting. They even found that idea more interesting.
"If Aria finds out we've been watching all sorts of things, she's going to blow her top."
The Fifth Generation said that as he stood up to retreat into the room. But Mireia grabbed his arm.
"What's the harm? Come now, Father—let's go meet Laiel's bride."
She was smiling, but the Third Generation could tell she was somewhat irritated underneath. She seemed to be enjoying making the Fifth Generation uncomfortable. No—perhaps she was just being clingy.
The Third Generation started to head back into the room as well. Then—
"Hmm? What's—"
At that moment, the door to Laiel's memories burst open with force, and the Third Generation and the others were involuntarily transported back to their own memory rooms.
The last thing they saw was the small Laiel standing in front of the room——.
I had been planning to kiss everyone, but Clara had pointed something out with her usual calm, and I was now hesitating.
According to Clara—
"I understand you have your reasons, Laiel. But having everyone's consciousness taken away would be a problem. We need people standing guard, and more importantly, this is a battlefield — there's no telling what might happen. Don't let your guard down just because the battle is over."
A fair point. Hearing that, I decided to incorporate Clara's suggestion.
"In that case, who should I bring inside the Jewel…"
I scanned the room and my eyes landed on Shannon. Looking at her golden eyes, I was reminded of Mireia. She had once said she wanted to meet her great-granddaughter someday, so I glanced at Shannon and Miranda and nodded.
"Alright, Miranda and Shannon are decided. Get ready for now. As for the last spot… Novem, I'm choosing you!"
I pointed at her with a sharp gesture, and Novem bowed her head.
"If that is what you say, Master Laiel."
At that moment, Monica plopped down on the floor.
"…This time, Monica's chance to shine is… and it's right during the fever time, too…"
I walked over to the sulking Monica and kissed the forehead of the face she raised toward me.
"For now, you'll have to make do with this. I'll be back as soon as I'm done. Monica… I'm looking forward to your dinner tonight."
I winked as I said that, and Monica spun to her feet, her twin tails twirling with her — it actually looked rather beautiful.
"Leave it to me! Even if this place is a battlefield, Monica will give it her all and prepare the finest meal!"
And then I thought to myself.
*(Well, with three of them, I should be able to muddle through somehow? Still, it worked out in the end. I don't have to show that wild, unhinged side of Novem that the Successive Heads kept pushing… oh wait, that's only the Third Generation now.)*
The Successive Heads who had once advocated for Novem — with the Fourth Generation gone, only the Third Generation remained. It was still sad, but the Fourth Generation's teachings lived on inside me. Moping about would only earn me a scolding, so I grabbed Miranda's arm — the one who was still wary of Novem — and pulled her close.
"…Hey, I'm still angry, you know?"
Miranda, still not convinced, gave me a slight glare, so I put on a serious expression and —
"Sorry, but I want your lips right now. So I'm not going to ask your reasons, and I don't want to hear them. Give them to me."
Surprised by this forceful attitude so unlike my usual self, Miranda was taken aback long enough for me to kiss her right then and there. I slipped my tongue in and activated my Skill — Connection — and Miranda's body immediately went limp. I gently caught her in my arms and carefully laid her down inside the tent.
"...This Skill of Mine."
When I was about to give my thoughts, Shannon, who had been watching the kiss just now, spoke up.
"It's inconvenient, you know? You have to kiss every single time, and with Laiel in normal situations you sometimes hesitate. When you're pressed for time, it's like, 'hurry up already,' you know?"
Maybe she'd been harboring these complaints all along, because Shannon started grumbling and I retorted.
"Idiot. When a guy kisses a girl he likes or thinks is cute, his heart races. Isn't that adorable?"
When I struck a pose, Shannon recoiled hard while—
"You? Cute? No. Absolutely not. After pulling all that brutal stuff, you're planning to keep doing it, aren't you?"
As I shrugged with Shannon in front of me, I scooped her up princess-style and sealed her mouth with a kiss. Whether it caught her off guard, Shannon lost consciousness before she could struggle, so I gently laid her down next to Miranda.
"Her face is bright red... How cute is that?"
She'd been putting on a brave front before the kiss, but her face was flushed crimson. As I was smugly noting this, I noticed the stares from everyone around me were icy cold.
I looked around at them.
"Don't worry. I'll give you all an even deeper one tonight! Now then, next up is Novem..."
The reason everyone's frustration builds up so easily is probably because they're worried about me. When I think about it that way, even these cold, mocking gazes feel pleasant.
What a happy man I am!
When I descended into the Jewel, I looked around.
The Round Table Chamber was the same as usual, but being the last one to arrive, I tilted my head at the atmosphere.
"Why are you here? And why is it only Mireia?"
There were only two people in the Round Table Chamber.
One was Mireia. She sat in the Fifth Generation's chair, waving with a smile at the astonished Miranda and Shannon. And when she briefly glanced my way, she gave me a sharp glare.
I cleared my throat.
"Now then, let me introduce her. The incomparable beauty of House Walt, Mireia Walt—how should I put this for you, Miranda? She's your big sister Mireia Cerclie."
I made sure to emphasize both "beauty" and "big sister," but Mireia's expression didn't change one bit.
"I don't believe we've met? My memories from after I married into House Cerclie are hazy, so it's possible we've encountered each other before, but as far as I'm concerned, this is our first meeting."
Miranda looked surprised.
"Is it the same situation as Shannon?"
"That's right. But you look more like me than she does. As expected of my great-granddaughter, Miranda."
Shannon, hiding behind Miranda, was watching the other person who sat in the Round Table Chamber with her eyes.
As I thought, you can't get by with tricks alone. And so, I introduced the other person sitting in my chair.
"So then, this child-like Lyle... how should I put it, she's like a part of my memory. Actually—why are you even here?"
When I tilted my head and asked, Lyle, who had been dangling her legs, propped her elbows on the Round Table, rested her chin in her hands, and answered with a smile.
"Because I absolutely had to see you—does that not count as a reason? It's been a while, Novem."
Saying that, Lyle looked at Novem and smiled gently. But something was off about Novem. She was keeping an unusual distance and was on guard.
She had stepped back half a pace and seemed to be bracing herself against Lyle. Her expression was more blank than usual, and when she saw me, she managed a smile. But it was somewhat stiff.
"What's wrong?"
"It's nothing. It was just rather sudden. And... it was different from what I expected."
It seemed Novem had made her own predictions about my Jewel. And truly, I hadn't expected this situation either.
"Is that so. I'm surprised too. Anyway, go back to your room. If you're lonely, I'll come visit you again. I'm busy today."
I needed to go gauge Mireia's mood next. As I was thinking that, Lyle looked displeased.
"That's a problem, you know. Because I have something to tell Novem. And while I'm at it, you should probably hear it too. As for Mireia, leave it to the two of them—it'll go better that way... and besides."
Lyle looked at Miranda and Shannon with a serious expression.
Touching his chin.
"Big chests and small chests... if you add them together and divide by two, that makes Mireia-san the average chest size. But—"
But even as he said "but," the moment Lyle slowly stood up, he immediately tried to launch himself into Miranda's chest.
"I like the big ones after all!!"
Mireia-san, who had moved without anyone noticing, had her gun aimed at Lyle, and he raised both hands in the air.
Shannon was trembling violently.
"Sister, is this what Lyle's memories are like? Compared to now, he's a huge perverted brat!"
With the gun barrel thrust in his face, Lyle glanced at the frightened Shannon before shaking his head.
"I say small chests have their own value too... but yours don't excite me at all. Put more effort into improving yourself, brat."
"...No, that's definitely Lyle. He said something like this to me before, too."
Then, Mireia-san pulled the trigger with a smile on her face.
"No good, Lyle-kun."
A sharp crack, smoke, and the smell of gunpowder filled the Round Table chamber. So the Seventh Generation had to endure this every time? As I thought it was good that mystery was finally solved, I approached Lyle.
"She shot him! Sister, Lyle got shot! Gwaaaaah!! He's getting back up!!"
The flustered Shannon, watching Lyle stand up while clutching his blood-soaked forehead, looked like she was about to cry. Miranda, though exasperated—
"It should be fine here, right? And the reason you called us here was because you wanted to introduce us to our ancestors? There are quite a few things I'd like to ask about."
Miranda's point was perfectly valid. Just as I was about to explain, Lyle made a suggestion.
"Then you two should ask Mireia-san. I have business with Lyle and Novem. In fact, it's about time Lyle knew about this. Isn't that right, Novem?"
When all eyes turned to Novem, I looked at Lyle.
"If you're talking about carrying the memories of goddesses or evil gods, I already know about that?"
Then Shannon raised her voice.
"Excuse me!? What is that?!"
Miranda told Shannon to be quiet.
"Shannon, let's hear them out first. There'll be plenty of time for questions after."
Seeing Miranda like that, Mireia nodded happily several times. However, Lyle shook his head.
"No, that's not it. That's no big deal. What matters is why Novem is so devoted to Lyle. When it was me, her guard was so up you could call it ironclad. Don't you find that a little strange?"
Hearing that, I said—
"Is that so? It's because I'm more charming, obviously. Sorry, but I'm better-looking than you. Right, Novem?"
Hearing that, Novem gave a wry smile.
"Well, you are both Lord Lyle, but certainly the current one is more..."
To Novem's reply, Lyle directed a sharp gaze. It wasn't jealousy. It wasn't resentment. It truly wasn't born from any of those negative emotions—instead, Lyle spoke.
"Are you planning to keep hiding it forever? Sorry, but... Lyle isn't Novem's toy."
It was as if Lyle was venting his anger at Novem on my behalf.