The morning broke in the forest.
As I opened my eyes, something soft and warm was nestled in my arms.
It was staring at me intently with round red eyes.
“…Umm, Raphne. Uh, when did you wake up?”
I rubbed my eyes sleepily and met her gaze.
“About an hour ago?”
“Then why didn’t you wake me up?”
“I wanted to imprint Ken’s face in my memory after our first experience.”
Raphne blushed shyly and drew circles on my chest with her finger.
As she did, the blanket slipped away, revealing Raphne’s fair skin.
“Wow! You’re really healthy first thing in the morning? …I’m totally fine with it, though.”
“T-This is just morning! More importantly, let’s get dressed quickly!”
“Pfft, you looked like a beast yesterday and now you’re shy… But you’re still cute. I love you.”
Raphne smiled as she looked at my flustered face and hugged me tighter.
Soft, warm things squished against my bare skin.
Sure, we did a lot yesterday, but it was still embarrassing to receive such affection from a naked Raphne first thing in the morning.
“Ken’s morning scent… I love it.”
Raphne lay there for a while, nestled against me, breathing in my scent.
Yesterday, we took our first steps into adulthood together, hand in hand.
‘It still feels like a dream….’
What a blissful experience.
I gently caressed Raphne’s hair while recalling that beautiful moment I could never tire of.
“But Raphne… I’m sorry to ask this so early in the morning.”
“Hmm? What is it? Are you trying to decide on names if it’s a boy or a girl?”
“N-no, it’s not that…”
Since we did it outside, that part should be fine.
Of course, if something happens, I’ll consider it a miracle and happily cry tears of joy.
“I mean the two of us… Including Emily and Mary.”
“…….”
“You’ll allow it, right?”
It was a crucial question.
Of course, I didn’t spend the night with Raphne on those terms.
I just wanted to hear a definite answer since I didn’t get one during our conversation yesterday.
The outcome and our night together had no correlation at all.
“…I thought about it.”
Raphne looked up at me after a brief pause.
“I figured it would be okay to share something so amazing with others…”
Raphne pouted and hugged my neck.
Her ample chest pressed against my skin.
Sure, the experience yesterday was incredible, but…!
“B-but Raphne! We can’t just…!”
“Exactly.”
Raphne smirked at my embarrassment.
“One time isn’t enough♥”
And she pouted her lips like a predator eyeing its prey.
“……Huh?”
I got devoured by Raphne about three times.
“Ken! Thank goodness…! I was going to report you to the academy if you didn’t come out today…!”
I arrived late to the academy.
I couldn’t disclose the exact reason for my tardiness.
It involved matters of the spouses.
By the time I dragged my exhausted body into the academy after the first period, Emily welcomed me with a relieved expression.
She spotted me and immediately embraced me.
“E-Emily…?”
“I was really worried…!”
After all, I was kidnapped right in front of her, just like Peach being carried off by Koopa.
Mario and Luigi were probably worried sick.
But still…
“What’s this? Ken and Emily are in that kind of relationship?”
“You didn’t know? During the uninhabited island incident not long ago… The atmosphere was weird back then, too.”
Us hugging at the back door of the classroom was enough to trigger the romantic instincts of the girls in the class.
Whether she realized the gazes around us or not, Emily didn’t let go.
━At that moment
Thud.
“Ugh…!”
Something hit Emily’s head, and she winced, pulling away from me while clutching her head.
With tears welling in one eye, she glared at the person who hit her.
“Stay away… I’m still a bit uncomfortable.”
“R-Raphne!”
The one who struck the head of Emily Epiris, the protagonist of [Epiris Academy], was none other than Raphne, the villain from Part 1.
She pulled my arm and shot a wary look at Emily.
“What’s this? Wasn’t everything resolved?”
“Well, I know it’s like that, too.”
“Even Emily shouldn’t be so clingy in class, you know? I feel a bit uncomfortable.”
“Yet, you’re clinging on tightly to his arm!”
Emily pointed at Raphne, who was snuggling my arm.
Raphne smirked and, as if looking down on her, said to Emily with a victorious grin.
“I’m fine. It’s just an arm around the shoulders, right? Right, Ken?”
“Uh, uh-huh?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Raphne’s expression and my flushed reaction made Emily glare at me with a terrifying look.
Huh? That’s just like the look Raphne often gave.
Shaking under her intense gaze, the response came from another direction.
“Ken’s first is all mine.”
Raphne’s assertive declaration made the nearby girls start murmuring even louder.
“F-f-first…?!”
“What’s going on? How did things turn out like this?!”
“Didn’t Raphne bully Ken? And didn’t Emily do the same…?”
“Could it be that after the bullying, love blossomed…!”
“I know that story! It’s definitely about a bullied kid…!”
“Wait, that sounds a bit too adult…!”
“What are you talking about? Raphne already made a statement that’s not suitable for minors!”
Hearing all those voices, Emily, interpreting Raphne’s words, turned crimson and trembled, her finger pointing nervously at me.
“W-wait… Ken, you didn’t…?”
“A-aah━!!”
Of course, I shouldn’t drag this conversation on in such a place, so I shouted loudly to drown out Emily’s voice.
“Now that I think about it, I forgot my textbook for the next class━! I-I’ll just run back to the dorm quickly!!”
In times like this, running away is the answer.
My instincts led me to do just that.
“W-wait a second━!!”
Emily’s voice echoed behind me, but—
Thanks to my boosted running speed from my diet, I managed to escape unscathed.
Fortunately, the confession incident concluded peacefully.
“Hold on, Mary! Isn’t that too close…?!”
“Uuugh…!”
Crack.
I heard the sound of Raphne’s spoon breaking.
It’s odd to hear that sound from a silver spoon; it certainly lacks realism.
After all, she’s the top physical education student in the second year.
“But I’m on duty today. …Emily and Raphne were even worse than this the day before yesterday.”
It was lunchtime, and I had made a trashy proposal to three girls to marry and envision our future together.
In the end, I received permission from all three to date them premised on marriage.
Well, saying that sounds really despicable of me.
“No matter what, isn’t it a bit much to be fed while sitting on someone’s lap…?”
“Uuugh…!”
Crash.
A noise erupted from the spoon that shouldn’t be making that sound.
How is Raphne planning to eat properly?
“If you’re jealous, you can do the same next time it’s your turn. Right, Ken?”
“I won’t say a word.”
“Yes, eat this, too. Now, ah~”
“Nom, munch munch.”
For a garbage person like me, there’s no option.
I just need to do my best when it’s my turn with one of the three girlfriends chosen by rock-paper-scissors.
For their happiness, I can sacrifice my mere body any time.
By the way, right now Mary has settled on my lap, feeding me the lunch she made herself.
It seems to be revenge for all the food I fed Raphne yesterday.
‘Even though our relationship is still a bit rocky…’
I think things are gradually improving.
Of course, the dynamics of the three before it became a romantic relationship have deteriorated quite a bit.
Back then, even though we all understood each other’s feelings, it felt more like a close friendship.
Now, since I have feelings for all three, they treat each other more like rivals than friends.
Emily, who used to get along well with Mary pre-relationship, now glares at her jealously and blushes.
To love me this much—I’m truly happy.
‘Still, I hope we could bond like family rather than rivals.’
I guess it’s too early for my wish to come true.
I believe time will heal all.
Aside from that, not much has changed in my academy life.
If I had to point out some differences, it would be that the gazes of the girls who used to shyly look at me have decreased.
That’s because the three girls are fiercely glaring at those students.
After all, two of them are top contenders in the second year.
Moreover, Emily boasts impressive strength, too.
‘But it feels like I’m being owned…’
I imagined myself as the shameless dude who owns three girls.
Three lovely girls nestled in my arms, flashing a carefree smile like a playboy.
Of course, that’s not an image I desired.
But the reality had turned into me being tugged around by the three of them like I’m in stocks.
And another thing that changed.
“Ken, I heard the story. In the end, you… ended up like this with three girls.”
“Wow… Ken, even though your appearance has changed, still…”
Ziegfried spoke with an indifferent gaze, showing no particular emotion, while
Elise looked at me for a while with an expression similar to seeing a bug.
That glare is piercing.
“Ah, the infamous playboy senior! Kya~ I heard the story! You’re amazing if you’re with three girls at the same time…! You’re more of a bad guy than I thought!”
Alicia joked playfully as she teased me when we ran into each other at the academy.
It seems the news about our relationship spread throughout the school.
Aside from the strange change in how people view us, my academy life was just as peaceful as ever.
Most importantly, I couldn’t say it was an exaggeration that my life got better since I could spend happy moments with the girls I love.
‘If only the relationships between the three improved…’
So, as I gazed at the peaceful sky during class, I made a humble wish.
That this peace would remain unchanged.
That the four of us could spend happy days like this and envision a good future together.
That it would end with all of us living happily ever after.
With a grandfather-like smile, I watched the birds flying in the sky.
And just as I made that wish—
“Hey! Is this the academy where the legendary blacksmith Ken Feinstein is located?!”
With the shout of a girl,
It shattered all at once.
“I am the lord of the demon clan ruling the Karab Continent—praise me as the Demon King!”
A girl proudly proclaimed in the academy’s garden, flaunting horn-like ornaments.
With beautiful silver hair, cat-like slit pupils, and two dark horns.
“I am the 13th legitimate heir of the great Zaela Vasa Armalion! I am Reynesis Vana Armalion!”
The Demon King has arrived.
“Ken Feinstein, reveal yourself━!!”
