Bea put on a disguise before dragging me out of the castle. Not the one I gave her when I brought her to my world, of course, just the normal vilge girl look.

  “So so? Where are we going on our first date?”

  “Date, huh…? Are we actually going on a date? You kinda dragged me into this. Don’t decide things by yourself.”

  She linked arms with me as we walked down a random street that led away from the castle. Even though the city was safe following the dragon’s attack, there were still fewer people outside than usual. Information didn’t travel as well here as it did in our world, and some were still scared that the dragon would return. Unfortunately, fewer people didn’t mean fewer eyes on us… Or on me… The tournament was a big deal, and no one forgot about it just because they had to run out of there in a rush. They still remember my face.

  And Bea clinging onto me didn’t help. Her disguise was okay, and there were few who even came close to realizing it was her. But them not recognizing her was also a problem. In the mind of some, Bea was already my rightful wife, so hanging out with another girl like this was a big issue. Treason even!

  “You called me to the castle, and that was fine, but I’m actually pretty busy… I don’t know if I have the time for a date.”

  Maybe she was right before… Maybe I am just pying hard to get. Having a girl try to force marriage on me so openly makes me withdraw a bit, but… Is it just performative? If I meant it, I could withdraw my arm from her grasp at any point. But I haven’t… I enjoy having cute girls clinging onto me… Power has truly gotten to my head…

  “That’s the most boring excuse ever…” She shot me a cute yet whiny gnce from under her shes. “But we can still make it a date. Where are you going?”

  “Let’s see… I was thinking of saying something to Sarasa and Ririna… You startled them when you made them call me to the castle immediately. I have to let them know I haven’t been beheaded yet.”

  “They know that! We don’t behead the princess’s fiancé in this country.”

  “You sure? I think your father would beg to disagree.”

  “*Sigh…* He can be so overbearing at times…” She rested her head against my shoulder. “That is why he doesn’t get to call the shots when it comes to those matters. You’re in good hands.”

  “And it’s those hands that are earning us weird looks from everyone we pass by. How long are you going to cling onto me for?”

  “Hmm?” She was confused for a second, took a look around, and finally got there. “Ah…! Yeah… Don’t worry about them. My rightful pce is next to you, the winner, so they’re not gonna say anything.”

  “But you’re disguised. They don’t know.”

  “They’re smart enough to put everything together in a few days. The more lovey-dovey we act now, the happier they’ll be afterwards. Happy that everything is just as it should be.”

  “I admire your attitude, at least. Nothing ever phases you, huh?” That wasn’t exactly meant as a compliment, but Bea grinned gracefully and received it as such. Case in point, I guess.

  …

  “Welcome back, Iroha! Gehh! Why are you wearing a princess on your arm?” She’s a person, Sarasa, not an accessory.

  “Oh! I get it! The princess didn’t call Iroha to the castle for anything bad! It was just to have her collect her prize!” Ririna couldn’t have been more relieved. Both she and Sarasa had been hanging out in Sarasa’s room at the hotel after I left for the castle.

  “Yep! You totally got it!” They were already well acquainted, but Bea introduced herself to them with a smile. “It’s nice to meet you! I’m Iroha’s test prize! Beatrize Eblyon, and I’ll be your fellow… girlfriend from now on?”

  “Hmm… Something like that… But only if you’re not against it, of course!”

  Always important to clear important decisions with my adorable girlfriends first. I continued. “We were on a pseudo-date just now… Bea was just tagging along while I do whatever. I came here to tell you I haven’t been executed. In case you were wondering.”

  “And what a fun date it has been! This is the first time I’ve ever stepped foot in a hotel before! I think it’s really charming how… tame, it is?” The spark in her eye told us she really meant that as a compliment.

  “Nyahahahaha! Tame? You really think so? This is the nicest pce in your whole country, princess!”

  “Ah… No way… Is it really?” Bea covered her blushing face. Was she really that spoilied?

  “You said it was charming, though, didn’t you? If you like it, that’s all that matters. Don’t worry about it.” Sarasa was able to be surprisingly casual with Bea. Haven’t I seen her suck up to her before? Has she already accepted her as one of us?

  “So? How were things here in the capital after we left with Hecate? Were there any casualties?”

  “No…” Bea shook her head. “The coliseum was the only pce that got damaged, so you probably saw the worst of it already. Nothing short of a miracle, what you pulled off!”

  “What about Lythea? Did Galene expin what she was doing there?”

  “You mean that ridiculously shy girl?” Sarasa’s head adorably tilted to the side.

  “She didn’t say anything about her. Not to us, at least…” Ririna’s gaze settled on Bea. “I didn’t notice when, but she disappeared at some point. Who was she? Wasn’t she flying there at the end when that blonde guy showed up?”

  “My intuition tells me she’s a spy!” The tone in Sarasa’s voice was like she was unraveling a conspiracy. “That blonde guy is Molt, and he’s a formidable fighter. Not only was she strong enough to exchange blows with him, but she was even able to pin that dragon down somehow. I bet her shyness was just an act. There’s something really shady about her!”

  “A spy… I didn’t consider that…” This was a topic Bea had to take seriously considering the position she held. “Where do you think she’s from? Could she be with the demons? But why would she help us then…?” She stared at Sarasa, expecting a conclusion to the spy theory.

  “Well… who knows?”

  That’s what she gets for taking Sarasa seriously. Not a single brain cell was put to work before she cluelessly shrugged. She was just talking out of her ass.

  “I don’t think you need to worry, Bea. I’m not sure either, but I think she’s a friend. The only reason I was on guard against her was because I fought with her before. Maybe it was all just a misunderstanding.” Hmm… And what a heroine Galene turned out to be. Didn’t she promise she’d expin? She really left without doing anything about that promise, huh? Very noble…

  But if she’s not our enemy, then who is?

  With this st fight, I think I can actually piece some things together…

  Ayumu is a threat to us… Same as before. But now it seems she has teamed with Molt, and they’re both working with the person responsible for all the undead. Lythea called them Thivadi’s allies, so can I think of them as a single group? And Thivadi’s the one behind the undead… I thought he was just a normal noble before, but it seems we really can’t rest until we take him and his group out…

  Other than them, there’s the Separator, who might also have a connection with Ayumu. She denied it, but I can’t exactly take her word for it.

  Is there anyone else?

  The person who created the portals…? I’m not sure if they’re an enemy or not, but they’re the reason monsters came to our world in the first pce. Hmm… There’s still a lot we don’t know, but we’ll uncover everything at some point… I won’t let them harm any of my girls…

  And speaking of my girls, they were gossiping in whispers in the background and interrupted my thought process.

  “Hey hey, how far have the two of you gotten, princess?”

  They huddled together near Sarasa’s bed. It’s like the vibe of a sleepover with girls talk included. Bea blushed like a maiden hearing Sarasa’s question. “Well… You see… We’ve only started dating today, but we’ve already pressed our bodies together~ gyaah~!” What a fake squeal…

  “Kyaahh~!” Yet both Sarasa and Ririna squealed back. “That’s so cute! So romantic!”

  “What are you doing? Did you all hit your head while I wasn’t looking?” I crouched next to them, but they completely ignored me. Am I invisible or something?”

  “What about kissing? Have you kissed yet?” Ririna whispered as if I wasn’t right next to them.

  “It’s like a fairy tale! A princess’s kiss! Now that you’ve found your prince, you have to do it! It will be so cute!”

  “*Sigh…* As much as it pains me to say, we haven’t been able to kiss yet! Such is the tragic fate of a princess, unable to see her love realized!”

  Oh… I get it now… They’re teasing me…

  “You poor girl!” Sarasa cried like a baby into her own sleeve. “Iroha! What are you waiting for? Don’t you see how adorable the princess is? Kiss her! Now! Save her from her fate!”

  Bea’s glistening eyes locked with mine. Her lips were slightly parted, giving her an appearance straight out of a fairy tale.

  “Huh?! Here? In front of everyone?!”

  “Don’t be shy! We won’t judge!” Ririna gently pushed Bea’s shoulder from behind.

  “Kiss! *cp!* Kiss! *cp!* Kiss! *cp!* Kiss! *cp!* Kiss *cp!* Kiss!”

  Argghh… Dammit! It’s embarrassing with them both acting like this… That’s what they want, though… They want to see me squirm, don’t they? Won’t give them the satisfaction.

  I reached for Bea’s face and pressed my lips against hers. Forgetting the two idiots in the background, it felt better than I expected. I may have been pying hard to get, but I do like her… She’s cute, and I’ve grown fond of her after everything we’ve been through… “I love you, Bea.”

  Her fingers stopped on her lips while her eyes were left wide open. “Wow… I had no idea it would… Ahahahaha… I can’t remember the st time my heart has pounded so hard… I love you too.”

  “Shoooo kyutee~!” Sarasa crawled over and rubbed her cheek against mine. “The only thing you’re missing now is sleeping together! By the way, give me one too!”

  “That’s right… Everyone else has done it, so that’s your next step.” Ririna said while Sarasa wrapped her arms around my neck and tried to kiss me. I had no reason to refuse. “Don’t forget about me, Iroha.” Now it was Ririna’s turn.

  Don’t they have any shame?

  “Sleeping together…?” Bea was already blushing, and the news made her blush even more. There was so much blushing that she didn’t even process what the other two were doing to me. “You move a lot faster than I expected… Kissing on the first day is already something. Now you’re talking about sleeping together? So soon? How lewd…”

  “Hm?! What are you thinking about? Not that kind of sleep, you naughty princess!”

  Bam100