Overloaded With Attributes Chapter 74

Granny

"Good work, Yuugiri-san."

"Seriously. I can literally hear my mental fortitude being ground down..." I was in a waiting room, recovering. The greeting line was finally over—a gauntlet of women with overly polite words, gazes that sized me up, and attitudes that bordered just on this side of 'respectful contempt.'

"Fufu, it's okay. A gathering that large only happens... a few times a month." How is that "okay"? I grabbed a drink and was about to sink into the sofa when another knock echoed. Shouko-san answered, and the attendant announced:

"The Matriarch and Rokujou-sama are here to see you." ...Apparently, this wasn't a save point. Wait, not just the Takatsukasa head, but Rokujou-san, too? We already greeted them.

Random encounters over and over and now a boss fight? You've got to be kidding... But if I say that, I'll embarrass Shouko-san and Kazura-san. I straightened my expression, fixed my posture, and prepared to offer my deepest bow as the Matriarch—Kazura-san's grandmother—entered the room.

I heard several sets of footsteps, and then a voice.

"Oh my. I heard you were from a common family, but your mother must have raised you well. Fufu, we'll be family soon. Such formalities are unnecessary. Please, let me see my granddaughter's husband's face."

...All I did was bow. Is the bar for etiquette that low for men in this world? It's not like I made a career of it, but I've negotiated with nobles and been entertained by royalty as a Hero back in the other world. And I'm 26, not 16. I should be able to handle myself better than a high school boy.

"As you wish. It is a pleasure to see you again. I am Kashiwagi Yuugiri."

"Yes, my granddaughter has mentioned your name many times. I hear you're exploring the dungeon together?"

"Yes, Kazura-san has been an immense help. Rokujou-san, it's good to see you again as well."

"Fufu, you're welcome to visit more often, you know." I'm a student. It's weird for me to just "drop by" and visit the head of a massive organization...

---

After that, we slipped into casual small talk about school life and the dungeon. I was braced for the "assessment," the "sizing up the commoner sniffing around my granddaughter," but I didn't feel any hostility at all.

"Takatsukasa-sama, this may be a blunt question, but... are you not... displeased? That someone like me is so close to someone like Kazura-san?"

"Ara, there are many 'Takatsukasa' here. If you mean me, please call me 'Kuzunoha,' or perhaps 'Granny'?" Yeah, that's not happening.

"You really are a strange boy. Yes, I was certainly surprised when Kazura first told me she'd 'found a man she liked.' But you... with 'that beauty serum' alone, you have already brought great profit to the Takatsukasa. Besides, no one would dare feel displeased with a man that Kazura herself has acknowledged."

(Wait, Kazura-san... is she highly regarded by her family?)

(...What, exactly, is that supposed to mean?) I mean, her usual behavior is so... well, she's capable, but...

(It's more a matter of... her personality...)

(I really don't want to hear that from you, Big Brother!) Kazura-san and I bickered back and forth.

"Fufu, I'm glad to see you get along so well. However, I am a little surprised that you were also scouted by the Rokujou family, not just Kazura." Ah, right. The Rokujou delegation was here, too. I had a feeling I knew where this was going.

"Ara, but I heard Ayaka was the one who met him first? We spoke just a moment ago. I am Miyako, the head of the Rokujou family." That was the cue for all ten women with her to introduce themselves.

"I hear you're taking Shouko-san in addition to Kazura-san? Fufu, if you'd like, I'd be happy to offer one of my daughters as well." She said, "if you'd like," but this was clearly a mandatory event. And, well... some of the "daughters" were a bit problematic (a single-digit age is a bit...), but they were all high-born ladies.

"They all seem like wonderful people, but..."

"Ara? ...Are the Rokujou daughters not to your liking?"

"That's not it. It's just... there is already someone among the Rokujou family I would like to ask to be my fiancée, so if possible, I would prefer..."

"Oh my! You already found someone you liked at the party? Fufu, you truly are a mysterious man, Yuugiri-san. And who... if she isn't here, I can summon her immediately."

"Actually, it's Ayaka-san, who is right there. To be honest, it was love at first sight."

"Eh?" "Eh?" "Eh?" "Eh?" "Eh?" "Eh?" "Eh?" "Eh?" "Eh?" "Eh?" "Eh?" "Eh?" "Eh?" "Eh?" "Eh?"

"Ah, I knew it..." (Shouko)

"Y-Yuugiri... san!" (Ayaka) A sea of shocked faces, one dead-eyed Shouko, and one teary-eyed Ayaka.

"Um... Ayaka... she looks young, but she's already in her thirties."

"Mother!?"

"...Come to think of it, those other two are also 'around thirty'."

"I don't think 26 and 32 are in the 'same' category..."

"Kazura?! My birthday is July 11th! I am still 31!"

This is making it sound like I have a thing for older women... but Shizuka-san and Atena are high schoolers. ...Speaking of which, what's happening with their families, who got dragged into this party against their will?

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