Overloaded With Attributes Chapter 73

Wait, Is This a Wedding Reception?

May and June flew by as we continued to conquer the dungeon, one zone per week (Mondays and Thursdays with the class, Sundays with just me and Kazura-san).

"They've all leveled up enough to handle the second floor, and their combat power is high enough for the third." Kazura-san said this, having finally grasped the concept of "Stats" after I was forced to explain it to her in excruciating detail (thanks to her non-stop grilling).

"My dictionary doesn't have the words 'impossible,' 'reckless,' or 'overdoing it'."

"It might not be 'impossible,' but I think we are 'overdoing it' and 'being reckless'... or at least, I'm making them do it."

---

Anyway, let's set dungeon diving aside. Let's rewind a bit, to the end of May.

"Fufu, as expected of you, Yuugiri-san. You look wonderful in a sharp suit, not just your usual 'adorable' outfits."

"You think so? When I looked in the mirror, I felt like a kid playing dress-up..." Here I am, stuffed into a pure white tuxedo, feeling incredibly out of place in a room at the Takatsukasa main residence, in the city of "Eito"—a place I'm pretty sure used to be called Tokyo. And I don't think I've ever worn an "adorable outfit." ...Is she talking about the kitty pajamas?

I must have been more nervous than I thought. I was about to ask Shouko-san, "Excuse me, where's the restroom?" when...

"The Matriarch is ready for you." ...Worst timing. A maid? No, a butler? Attendant? A woman who looked the part came to get me.

I may be indebted to the Takatsukasa family, but Kazura-san is the only one I know. So why am I being summoned for a meeting with the head of a great noble house? Well, it all started with a simple, "I should probably go and formally greet Shouko-san's mother." But then Kazura-san, who was there, chimed in.

"Well, if you're doing that, you should meet Kazura's mother, too!" ...And that's when things got weird.

"Why do I need to meet your mother?"

"...You don't want to?"

"It's not that I don't want to..."

"...You don't want to?"

"Shouko-san, Kazura-san is doing this 'teary-eyed' thing, and it's super creepy."

"Creepy?! What do you mean, creepy?!" Well, she wasn't wrong. I probably should greet her family properly at least once.

"Fine, I'll do it... Nyan." So we set the date to match their schedule.

"Oh, and while we're at it, let's bring Akashi-chan and Kudou-chan's families, too! It's time for a nice 'interrogation'... ahem, 'meet-and-greet'!"

"WHY?!" Naturally, neither the Akashi nor the Kudou family was in a position to refuse a great noble house. And Shizuka's family was already indebted to Kazura-san.

The room I was led to—which was more of a "banquet hall"—was packed. I was expecting ten, maybe twenty people. There were over a hundred! With Kazura on my right and Shouko on my left, I entered the room, arm-in-arm with both, to a storm of applause.

"...Um, what, exactly, is this?"

"Hm? It's the debut of the next head of the Takatsukasa family's fiancé. What else?"

"WHY?!" I whipped my head toward Shouko-san so fast it must have made a sound, but all I got back was an apologetic look. I mean, sure, we'd talked about "backing" and all. And it's not like I dislike Kazura-san. I figured something like this might happen eventually...

"...Okay, Kazura-san is getting a 'punishment' when we get home."

"I-It's not Kazura's fault! It's your fault for being too capable, Big Brother!"

Thus began the receiving line from the Nijou, Sanjou, Gojou, Rokujou, Anekouji, and Madenokouji families. Names I vaguely remembered from history class, all attached to beautiful women. Speaking of which, the Rokujou family... with Ayaka-san at the lead... is a seriously stunning group!

"...Yuugiri-san, I think you're drooling a little."

"No, I'm not." I mean, come on! They were all dressed in gorgeous dresses or what looked like twelve-layered kimonos! Sure, a few smelled like a perfume factory, but they were all beautiful! And, in the "family seats"—my "fiancé's" section—sat Shizuka-san, Atena, and Kikuko-san. They, along with their mothers and sisters, looked like their souls had been sucked out.

"...Even a woman would be nervous around this many nobles, but you're acting completely normal, Big Brother."

"Hm? It's not like a business meeting. I'm just here to say hello. And I've got two very reliable women next to me. Why would I be scared?"

"Hehe, you really are..."

The line continued. Finally, the "last boss" appeared—Kazura-san's mother... and grandmother? And the woman standing behind them, stiff as a board, was—

"...My mother."

"Huh? Shouko-san's mother?! Not her older sister?!"

"Just an old hag who looks young."

"Shouko, calling your mother an 'old hag'..." 

The woman's face changed, but before she could speak, the lady in the elegant dress cut her off.

"Be quiet." 

"M-My apologies." 

This must be the famous "main family vs. branch family" power gap.

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