Overloaded With Attributes Chapter 76

The Fiancées, Summoned to the Demon Lord's Castle 

Here, in a separate room, were Yuugiri's other fiancées—Kudou Atena, Akashi Shizuka, and Saitou Kikuko—along with their families.

"When they said, 'We're all going on a trip, Kudou family! Don't worry about the cost, we'll pick you up!' I knew something was up."

"They picked us up, alright! When those black luxury cars surrounded the house, I thought we were getting concrete shoes and dumped in the ocean!" That was Atena and her younger sister, Murasaki.

"I never thought they'd actually bring us all the way to Eito..."

"Next thing I knew, I was being stuffed into a dress, and a 'reception' was starting. Mama thought she was going to faint." That was Shizuka and her mother. (They, too, looked more like sisters.)

"Why do I feel so incredibly out of place... this 'away game' feeling is overwhelming."

"That's because you threw a tantrum and put your lab coat on over the dress." Kikuko's mother said, exasperated. Unlike the other two pairs, these two definitely looked like mother and daughter.

All three families had some connection to the "nobility," but not one of them could have imagined being invited as principal guests to a party hosted by a "Count."

"Atena... when you started talking about 'meeting a boy in the Labyrinth Course' and 'maybe getting engaged,' I thought you'd finally lost your mind."

"Mom! That's a horrible thing to say! I even showed you the picture of us!"

"Atena, when a normal mother is shown a photo of her daughter with a singer or an idol, she assumes it's photoshopped."

"You and Murasaki have the exact same reaction. Why does no one in this family trust me?"

"Shizuka! I told you so many times to invite him to dinner! And now we're meeting for the first time in a place like this... I-Is it okay? Will Yuugiri-san hate Mama?"

"What does it matter what he thinks of you?"

"But you're going to live together after graduation, right? If that happens, maybe... just maybe... Yuugiri-san might take a liking to Mama?"

"This mother of mine... what is she dreaming about? That's impossible... ...Although, his 'acceptance range' is so wide, I can't say it's zero... Ugh."

"Kikuko, Mom has no idea what's going on. What? You're getting married? To that boy from earlier? Mom is past 'happy' and has gone straight to 'weirded out'."

"You're supposed to just be happy for me! And I'm just as confused as you are! I mean, yes, he'd said it before. 'Once I get my life settled, will you marry me?' But you assume that's just pillow talk! I never thought he'd actually..."

"...That's wonderful, Kikuko... I mean, I know I should be happy, but... he's a high schooler, right? And you're over thirty. Yeah, Mom's still... pretty weirded out."

"Just be happy for me!"

As confusion swirled through the room, the doors suddenly opened.

"The heads of the Takatsukasa and Rokujou families have arrived. We ask for your silence." The air crackled. As the room fell quiet, the two matriarchs entered.

"Thank you all for attending the Takatsukasa's banquet today." The speaker was the family head, Kuzunoha. Her first words ratcheted the tension in the room even higher.

"Now, ordinarily, this would be the time where we determine if you, ladies, are worthy of the man who is to marry the daughters of Takatsukasa and Rokujou." She paused, her gaze sweeping the room.

"But, as you may know, he is... a rather unique man. If we were to remove any of you from the position of 'fiancée'... he would likely 'cut us loose' instead."

(Kikuko... who is your fiancé? Is he, like, beyond a noble... some kind of imperial prince?)

(Eh? No, no. He's just... a normal boy from a normal family... right?)

(Don't ask me...)

"However. That does not mean you are free to do as you please, taking advantage of his affection." Kuzunoha's posture straightened, and her gaze landed on Shizuka's mother. "...Akashi-san."

"Y-Y-Yes, ma'am!"

(Mother, she's not going to eat you. Please calm down.)

(Shizuka, how can you be so calm?!)

(Why wouldn't I be? I'm marrying him, not the Takatsukasa or Rokujou families.)

"There is no need to be frightened. Through Yuugiri-chan, we are all about to become family. ...Kudou-san. You understand the meaning of 'family,' yes?"

"Y-Yes!"

(Atena?! She called on you! Mom has no idea what she's talking about!)

(If you don't know, just say so. She'll explain. Though I wouldn't recommend asking twice.)

(This is terrifying!)

"As you've all gathered, he is... special. And precious. If I were ten years younger, I would have made him my husband, not my granddaughter's. He is that kind of man."

(Kikuko... 'ten years' seems a little ambitious, don't you think?)

(Mom! She'll hear you! Stop it!)

"Above all else, he is someone who must be protected. You will understand this, and you will engrave it upon your hearts." Kuzunoha made eye contact with every person in the room, before concluding softly.

"...And. Should anyone betray him... ...But that is a needless worry. After all, we are all family now. Please... do not ever forget that."

(Akashi-san... I think we just got involved with some very scary people.)

(Ara? If you feel that way, perhaps you should back out now. I... from the moment he found me... I have been prepared to follow him, be it to heaven or hell. If you can't handle it... you should give up now.)

(Heh. You talk tough. But I'm an active doctor who's seen the 'real world.' I'm not just all talk, like some people.)

(A-And I'm an Explorer who fights monsters in the dungeon!)

As the three bared their fangs, Kazura watched from the back, arms crossed, with a look that said, 'That's my man'.

"Kazura. I don't know what you're thinking, but this is my win. You're just getting my leftovers."

"Ara? Shouko may be one step ahead now, but who do you think will be spending the most time with him from now on?"

"The mochi that Nakatsukasa found, and Takatsukasa kneaded... Rokujou shall now enjoy."

<<PREV | TOC | NEXT>>