The misunderstanding had been solved. Or rather, replaced with another misunderstanding. Rion’s husband-to-be wasn’t Edgar. When I said that, Charles looked very relieved while the girls looked terribly disappointed. I chuckled at the difference, but then a student asked me a question.
“So who is Rion getting married to?”
“Me...?”
“Uh, what?” the entire crowd replied.
Once again, the place descended into a hellscape. Charles let out a strange scream while the girls once again squealed. In the end, Dorothy, who knew the full story, glared at me with such intensity, it could have killed me.
Yeah, that gaze filled with killing intent is so comf— No, not that. I really do feel guilty in this case.
I’d replied almost unconsciously—a careless mistake on my part. These girls were so surprised because they thought that Rion and I were true siblings.
“You mean it’s a forbidden love?!”
“That’s right! That must be it!”
“And you declared it so openly in front of your wife! That means the family approves!”
“Well, I suppose it’s okay, since he is a Rank S adventurer. I hear that the Rank S adventurer Leopardess goes around the world taking men for herself.”
“You girls are so stupid. That would no longer make it forbidden love. What would be exciting about that?!”
“Um...okay?” the other two replied.
“What?! AAAHHHHH!!!”
At any rate, everything they said, though selfish and unrestrained, was understandable. Also, I wasn’t one to actually point this out, but I felt like that last scream sounded like my father-in-law when he was truly mad. He was crying blood too, so hard that it rivaled how Gustav and I had been crying earlier. He was also muttering what sounded like a very real curse.
Um...should he be reciting that curse?
“Kel-nii!” Rion shouted. “You need to fix their confusion! If you let this be, Charles-kun will die!”
“Oh, right! You’re right!”
To address the misunderstanding, Rion and I explained that we weren’t true siblings. With that, the girls’ perspective was corrected to one of Rion marrying the nice older boy from the neighborhood, but...
“You’re still marrying her either way! Aaaggghhh!!!”
The last problem remained. In fact, Charles only started cursing even more fervently.
Hey, did he gain a new Unique Skill or something? Without even Evolving? Maybe he’s surprisingly talented or something? Would he become stronger if I trained him? Hm...maybe.
“You’re free to indulge in useless fantasies, Kelvin, but Charles is only getting worse,” said Bell. “Specifically, he might Evolve in a direction similar to your cursed weapon, Clive.”
“Clive-kun’s level?! He’ll be able to self-generate curses that powerful?!”
Bell confirmed that Charles’s situation was indeed very bad. So I decided to use magic to knock him out while he was still in human form. Then I had Rion touch him so that Absolute Purification would undo all the curses.
If we stay like this for a while, that should completely purify him, I think... But it might be a waste, maybe. Oh, no, I would never stop! Of course I would never consider driving a friend (I think?) of Rion’s in such a sinister direction! No, not at all.
At any rate, we saved Charles (I think?) from becoming a cursekin. Rion had to touch him in order to undo the curses, and I suspected her touch was also the reason his expression changed from one laden with hatred to one that was a lot more peaceful.
No, wait, it went past peaceful. I think he’s filled with worldly desires or something? Rion...you should let go of him soon. What? You haven’t gotten rid of all the curses yet? It’s okay, I’ll use magic to take care of the rest. I’ll do it carefully and thoroughly.
A little while later, both Charles and my father-in-law woke up at the exact same time, gasping and saying, “Wh-Where am I?”
Phew. Looks like we’re out of the woods for the time being. Thinking about DarkMel’s school life, though, I’m actually more worried now. So, it’s about time to dive into the main topic.
“Ugh. This all feels like a happy ending, but I really wanted Ri-chan and me to be together forever...” Rami muttered.
“Sorry to bother you while you’re feeling like this. I have a personal favor to ask of you, Lightning Dragon King.”
I had found the Lightning Dragon King letting out a sigh filled with electricity and had been looking for the best timing to call out to her. She was Rion’s best friend, but she also got along well with DarkMel. Since she was a Dragon King, I could trust her strength, so she was perfect as DarkMel’s guardian.
Please, I will get on my knees to beg you for this!
“Ah, you’re Ri-chan’s hubby. Hey, wait a sec, don’t be so formal around me! Just call me Rami-chan!” she replied.
I took a moment to adjust before saying, “I have a favor to ask, Rami-chan.”
I know it’s a bit late to be wondering this, but why is this peak of dragonkind speaking like a gyaru? In the first place, does this world even have a concept of what a gyaru is? No, wait...this is probably a subject I shouldn’t be thinking too deeply about. Let’s just leave it alone.
“So? What’s the favor? Depending on what it is, I might be NG for it. My mental’s totally shot right now so don’t expect too much,” Rami told me.
“Oh...okay?”
Though I let it go, I still could barely understand what Rami was saying. I got that she didn’t want me to expect too much of her, but I really would have preferred that she just spoke normally.
“Erm... You know that Rion and Bell are graduating, right? So I’m worried about DarkMel. You might tell me not to, but that’s just how parents are. Anyway, I was hoping you’d maybe watch over her so that no one bad gets close to her.”
“Ah, something like a bodyguard, you mean? Someone who protects her so that no playboys or anything can get too close?” Rami asked.
“Uh...play...wha? Oh no, yeah, that’s probably it! Yeah!”
“Suresies.”
I took a moment to process the word but failed. “What?”
“Ah, that means I’ll do it,” Rami clarified. “I mean, I get where you’re coming from.”
“I...see. Thanks.”
In the end, Rami the Lightning Dragon King accepted my request with almost no thought at all. As always, she was almost impossible to understand, but this time I was more grateful for how light on her feet (figuratively) she was.
“But you know, I’m in a different dorm from DarkMel,” she continued. “Like, I’m in Volcann and she’s in Selva, y’know? If you’re that worried, shouldn’t you be asking someone from her dorm?”
“Hrm, you’re right. But is there anyone strong enough in Selva? I’m sad to say that no one comes to mind.”
“Oh, there totally is! See that glasses guy with the perfect part? The huge one? You saw him in the exhibition match, didn’tcha?” Rami asked.
I looked where Rami was indicating and saw a male student with his hair in a perfect 7-3 part, wearing glasses and standing tall enough I had to look up at him. If he hadn’t been wearing a uniform, I would have assumed he was a teacher. If I remembered right, his name was Graham Nakatomiuzi, a student attending with a recommendation from Tsubaki. He was a young man gifted both mentally and physically. He had managed to bring his match with Bakke to a tie, making it onto my secret “someone I eventually want to fight” list. Certainly, he passed muster in terms of both strength and personality. Plus, he was in the same dorm as DarkMel, so in that sense he was perfect. He was also a sworn younger brother to Sylvia and Ema, so his background was rock-solid.
But still...
“Grrr...but a man...”
“Ah, so that’s what you’re worried about. Lul.”
Bell let out a snort as well.
This isn’t a laughing matter! Do you know how sensitive a parent’s heart is?! And Bell, I heard you secretly laughing there! I say again, this isn’t a laughing matter!
“Seriously, you almost become a different person when it comes to DarkMel. You worry way too much. I don’t think you need to be so concerned about that girl,” said Bell. “In fact, you don’t need to worry at all. It would just be a waste of time.”
“I’m glad you trust DarkMel so much, Bell, but she really isn’t that strong—”
Bell interrupted me with a laugh once more.
Ah, you laughed again! This isn’t a laughing matter!