(TLN: We decided to skip the R18 side stories for now.)
‘At least I managed to finish without passing out…’
I barely lifted my body, completely drained, and slowly buttoned up my clothes.
Looking to the side, I saw Sylvia was already fast asleep.
Careful not to wake her, I gently pulled the blanket over her and stood up.
The long affair had skipped right through the evening and only ended by dawn.
We’d placed a barrier over the room and left word that we were out, so we managed to avoid being found out when the others came back.
Still, just thinking about it now gives me chills.
‘If I wasn’t someone who didn’t need sleep, I would’ve been the one to pass out first.’
The only reason I barely managed to win that war of endurance… was sleep.
Even if Sylvia was a stamina monster, there’s no way anyone could go all night without food or rest.
And on top of that, the exchange ratio had been 1 to 10 — it was only natural she’d run out of energy fast.
A textbook case of overcoming overwhelming power with superior tactics.
“Phew… It wasn’t much, really.”
My legs trembled uncontrollably as I forced myself to move.
Even though I had a feeble body and notoriously low stamina, I’d managed to preserve my confidence as a man.
This was something to be proud of, wasn’t it?
If Kali had seen it, she probably would’ve cheered me on.
‘Thank goodness Kali descended…’
Just thinking about Kali made my vision blur.
If she hadn’t descended, and was still possessing me, voyeuristically watching everything I did…
That ‘battle’ with Sylvia would’ve been broadcast live.
Each time I made a move:
[Evil God ‘Kali’ gasps in admiration at your masterful technique!]
And every time I was overwhelmed:
[Evil God ‘Kali’ shakes her head at your pitiful defeat and says, “Is that all you’ve got?”]
There’s no way I would’ve been able to focus.
So I concluded: Kali must never return — she needs to stay in this world for good.
‘Still, if I could overcome Sylvia, there’s no one left to fear.’
Drunk on victory, I clenched my fist.
The toughest opponent was the very first.
Of course, none of my (future) wives are pushovers.
But even among them, there’s no one with more stamina than Sylvia.
If I beat Sylvia, then there’s no one I can’t beat.
Even when Sylvia’s massive baby formula dispensers were shoved in my face now, I wasn’t scared.
I’d already grown used to that terror.
Thanks to that, I was now brimming with confidence.
“Now, whether it’s Irene or the Empress Sister—”
“What about me?”
“…!?”
Creak— The moment I opened the door.
I was met with a silhouette leaning against the wall with arms crossed — and every hair on my body stood on end as I felt a chill run down my spine.
A voice that made my body instinctively shrink in on itself.
Then, click, click — the sound of footsteps echoed from the darkness.
And Irene Vermont stepped into the moonlight pouring through the window.
I slowly turned my creaking neck to meet her gaze.
“B-big sister…”
“Why so shocked? It’s like you ran into someone you really shouldn’t have.”
“No, I just… didn’t expect you to still be awake at this hour…”
“Is that so? Then why’d you mention my name just now?”
“J-just suddenly thought of you…?”
“Hmmm. You mentioned me and Her Majesty together though… hmm?”
She stepped toward me and, with a slight frown, pinched her nose.
Realizing the situation, I quickly shut the door.
But Irene grabbed my collar, pulled me toward her, and buried her nose in the back of my neck, sniffing intensely.
“Ugh. What is this awful smell… Just how long were you two going at it?”
“…”
Zap.
Her eyes locked on me, glowing with a mix of anger and jealousy.
“But this scent… it’s from your guard knight, isn’t it? How are you even still standing after dealing with her?”
“…”
Her expression shifted from irritation to complete shock.
Like she was staring at a gladiator who had returned alive from a deathmatch with a wild beast.
“There’s a trick to it.”
“Hmm… A trick, huh. I’m mad you lost your virginity to someone else without even telling your big sister… but depending on what that trick is, maybe I could forgive you.”
“…!”
Slide.
Her slender fingers traced my cheek.
I shuddered as goosebumps ran all over me.
R-right now…?
I just barely came back from the brink of death, you know…?
I can barely even stand, I’m that exhausted…
“But… it is late, so I’ll let it slide for today.”
“Whew…”
“How much time do you need? Three days should be enough to recover, right? But — don’t give yourself to anyone else in the meantime. You may have stolen my little brother’s first time, but I absolutely won’t give up his second. Got it?”
“Y-yes…”
She gave me three days.
What overwhelming generosity.
Whispering right into my ear, Irene turned and walked away, her footsteps echoing.
And I, touched beyond words by the boundless grace of my goddess-like sister, sank weakly to the ground.
***
Somewhere in a northern village of the Empire.
A giant man stepped into a tavern in the early evening.
He marched straight into a room sealed with a magical barrier.
“You’ve arrived, Your Grace.”
“Count Vermont…”
The man who emerged from within was none other than Aslan Vermont.
The Archduke of the North found this unexpected, but didn’t let it show as he took a seat.
Count Vermont was always the type to storm in with a commotion, cause chaos, and leave just as loudly.
And yet this time, he hadn’t announced his visit. He came quietly, concealed his identity, and sought a covert meeting.
Not only had he kept it from the Imperial officials, but even from his own family in the House of Vermont.
‘Don’t tell me there’s an enemy inside the Empire…?’
Count Vermont had sharp instincts.
Every time he had raised a concern, it had always turned out to be a real threat.
If he was wary of internal enemies and here to plan a response…
Then this might be the greatest crisis yet.
The Northern Archduke steeled himself, preparing for any shocking revelation.
“So, what’s the matter? Calling me out to such a secluded corner of nowhere…”
“What we talk about today must remain a secret, Your Grace.”
“I’m aware.”
“It’s… something I can’t consult my wives about. I came to borrow your wisdom on this.”
“My wisdom? Well, go on.”
“How in the world does one live with multiple wives in peace, without fights, and also not get squeezed dry to death in the process?”
“…”
A question so absurd, even the Archduke of the North needed a moment of stunned silence.
Aslan Vermont’s face was dead serious.
The Duke sighed deeply and stood up.
“Good grief… I thought something serious had happened.”
“Y-Your Grace! Please don’t go! Just a bit of your wisdom, please!”
“What kind of wisdom do you need for that nonsense? Stop worrying about pointless things.”
“It’s not pointless! I’m seriously in trouble here! Just the nightly work alone is enough to kill me — and some of the wives don’t even get along! There has to be some miraculous solution, right?”
“Ugh…”
Aslan shot up and grabbed the Duke’s shoulders.
Seeing the desperation in his face, the Duke reluctantly sat back down.
This man was about to marry six wives, including Empress Vanessa.
To anyone else, he sounded like an idiot drunk on his own luck.
But on closer thought, it wasn’t an unreasonable concern.
Each of his wives was far from ordinary.
And Aslan Vermont, who couldn’t wield even a drop of mana, had a body weaker than a regular human’s.
Even handling just one of them had to be hell.
“A peaceful home starts with a husband holding firm authority. If you let your wives take the lead in the bedroom, you’ll never escape the quarrels and chaos.”
“Then what should I do?”
“Don’t take more wives than you can handle.”
“Are you telling me to break off the engagements?”
“That is the simplest solution.”
“That’s impossible. If I couldn’t marry the women I love, I wouldn’t have risked jumping timelines to begin with.”
“Then at least exercise. You don’t need to be like me, but bulk up a little. Assert your presence.”
“Ah… I have a body that can’t build muscle.”
“…”
What was he supposed to do with this?
The Duke’s brow twitched.
“Forget the obvious stuff — isn’t there some secret technique to make wives get along?”
“Secret technique, huh. Well, my first and second wives didn’t get along at first either. But once they started sharing my bed together, panting side by side… they warmed up quickly.”
“…”
Hold both Irene and Sylvia at the same time…?
Are you insane?
You want me to be wrung dry and turned into a mummy like some ancient sleeper from a time capsule!?
Not a single piece of the Duke’s advice was remotely helpful.
