The study used by successive heads of House Veret.
Its current master — me — picked up an old file standing on the bookshelf and checked its contents.
”…… A nostalgic article turned up.”
The headline: [Saint] Ouga Veret, Messenger of World Peace.
The plan by Floné Milfonti — accused of conspiring to overthrow the nation — staked his own body against, over a long span, obstructing her. At last he captured the mastermind herself and protected the world’s peace. On that trajectory we record—— the article continued.
Of course I didn’t file the article myself.
Most likely Father had been filing articles summing up my exploits.
Flipping through, regardless of which publication, every article written about me had been carefully clipped.
Ahh, this sort of thing happened too. At the time it was rough…… for several hours I kept looking back over the past.
”…………”
I closed the clear file with a flap.
…… Time to return to reality, I rebuked myself, and looked toward the spot I’d kept averting my eyes from.
Stacked on the office desk — mountains, mountains, mountains of paperwork.
I had to finish every last one of these today.
I had just now been struck by that common phenomenon — the more you’re pressed to a deadline, the more you want to do anything else. It was absolutely not reality-escape.
“There are even documents whose deadline is still far off……”
But starting tomorrow I’d be away from the manor on business.
I’m scheduled to accompany King Ambald to a ceremony in the Empire.
By rights I should already be on the carriage to make it in time — but I’d arranged with Gauss to fly me there, securing permission to stay at the manor until the last minute.
Work or private, I wanted to cherish my own time.
In the first place, if Arnia would do his job properly the ceremony wouldn’t need my attendance!
That man…… ever since that incident he supposedly stopped leaving his room entirely, and has already been removed from the next-king rail.
But then the top seat of the Rondism Kingdom is left vacant.
So in place of Arnia — strictly! strictly just rumor mind you…… there’s apparently a voice rising to nominate me as next king.
Why? I want to play dumb, but when reasons are listed out, terrifyingly I can find no objection.
Captured the great criminal Floné Milfonti and protected world peace.
All four marriages I entered into are guaranteed by the kingdom.
First nobleman to take a commoner as legal wife.
Detected early that Lady Reina’s homeland Lamdarb Kingdom was under occupation, and continues supporting it to this day.
First in the world to conduct regular exchange with magic dragons, forging amity between them and humanity.
And — since I’m the cause of Arnia becoming a shut-in, I should take responsibility.
I never moved with any of those intentions, and yet — splendid moat-filling.
…… No, faintly…… vaguely I’ve come to accept maybe I can’t escape this.
I glanced at the summit of the document mountain on the desk.
There sat the bundle titled On Donations from the Ouga-faith to Veret Territory.
Past me would have pocketed donations without a care, fattening himself.
But…… but, see……!
“Lord Ouga…… today too, the divine halo behind you……! So dazzling I can’t bear to look at your gracious form——!”
Walk through town and people worship me like a tourist attraction.
“Lord Ouga! At last in my Satia Territory the Ouga-faith has become number one! I’ll keep striving to spread Lord Ouga’s wondrousness even further!”
A self-styled vanguard that proactively spreads me even to lands unrelated to me.
When I allowed Satia — that captain — to address me by name, she nosebleed-fainted on the spot. Fresh memory.
“Lord Ouga! Thank you for your reply letter! Using the letter as fuel, my family and I have moved to Veret Territory to study Lord Ouga’s true essence so I can serve!”
People worshiping me to the point of moving with their whole family to Veret Territory began appearing.
By whatever route — when I see people believing in me this much — I sought freedom, I never wanted to be a god — I can’t just turn them away, can I!
Guilt overflowing, the donations get used to relieve the underprivileged. As a result more people convert to the Ouga-faith — a pump-feedback spiral!
”…… I feel like I’m the most sinful of all……”
And it doesn’t end there.
Picture books based on my battle with Floné have been published, plays dramatizing my path to marriage with each of the four wives have been produced…… the existence “[Saint] Ouga Veret” has burst beyond Veret Territory and become a treatment beyond just Rondism Kingdom.
This is hardly the life I aimed for. Not at all…… but thanks to it I’m living happily, so it’s hard to complain openly.
”…… Holding my head won’t reduce the paperwork. Let’s get it done.”
I scanned the documents, signed off on the unproblematic ones, and stamped the family crest.
While processing a string of them, I noticed some were addressed to Father or Cerecia.
By rights, having succeeded as head, I should be the one flying around the world like Father did. But the two of them had taken up that role for me.
Father said: I’m not yet at retirement age, so you focus on internal governance.
Sister said: Brother, treasure your family — spend time with them.
Father said: Eventually you’ll be sitting in another seat, so let Cerecia accumulate experience.
Sister said: I’m no longer just your cute little sister, I’m a lady you can be proud of.
There’s absolutely no way Father isn’t conspiring with His Majesty. I don’t think any eldest son alive has been subjected to such hinting by his own family.
Haahh……
I only need to spend healthy days here in this land with my family — that alone is enough happiness…….
”…… Hmm?”
Speak of the devil.
Catching the patter-patter footsteps approaching, I snapped my back straight and prepared a welcoming posture.
Right after, the study door flew open with a bang, ushering in small beloved guests.
“Papa~!”
“Father!”
“Tougo, Miyuki.”
I caught the two who flung themselves at me with their momentum, and spun the chair around.
Tougo has my black eyes and Mashiro’s pale-blue hair. Miyuki has Karen’s emerald eyes and my black hair.
Of the four children I have, these two are the same age and get along like brother and sister.
“You two are unfair! Me too~!”
”…… Father, hold Ran too.”
The two who came in after were Mitsuki and Ran.
Mitsuki resembles her mother and has a spoiled-baby side. When I point it out, Reina always huffs “That is not true.”
Ran, conversely, is the opposite of Alice — her affection is extremely direct. Her mother still gets shy sometimes.
“Hahaha! Alright, come here! Daddy’ll hold all four of you~”
Although there’s been less rough business lately, I’m still nowhere near declining.
When I scooped up all four at once and stood, they squealed kya-kya in delight.
I wanted to pour even more love into them, and was about to head out to the courtyard to play when my wives — who’d been chasing the kids — stood at the doorway.
The four duchesses, my precious people, were as lovely as ever today — making me lose myself in them — and no sign of love cooling no matter how many years passed.
“Honestly! Everyone, I told you not to disturb Papa during work!”
Mashiro had grown her hair out and within her cuteness a beauty had begun to peek through.
Her free-spirited nature still soothes me when I’m worn out from work.
After marriage she’d been concerned about being a bit out of shape and her thighs getting thicker — but as her husband I think this level of fullness suits her, so I want her to keep at it.
“Our children really do love you……”
The exasperated sigh came from Karen.
Her looks had only polished further, and her face had taken on much more adult lines. You could say she’d come to exude that bewitching air.
Being a ducal daughter, she gives the children an elite education and has settled comfortably into the role of organizer among the four wives.
Incidentally, while she says this with her mouth, the smirk threatening to break at the corner of her mouth tells you plain — she adores the children beyond reason.
“They must take after us. After all, we love Ouga-kun very much too.”
Watching the exchange between me and the kids, Reina giggled.
After the battle with Floné ended, with Yueli’s cooperation, she successfully had the embedded machinery removed and, bodily, returned to being an ordinary girl.
Whether or not it’s a result, her chest is in a phase of acclaimed growth.
“It’s because Ouga-kun keeps trying to grow them so much, isn’t it,” she’d said as if composed — but I know she was inwardly elated.
She tried out several ways to address me, but in the end “Ouga-kun” fit best, so it stayed.
”…… That’s right. …… Ouga is wonderful no matter how much time passes.”
Face beet red, Alice managed to get the line out without stumbling.
Her emotional age regarding romance was kindergartener-level, but through repeated training with me she’d somehow grown to middle-school level.
The -sama habit kept resisting correction, and all of us struggling together over it is a fond memory.
She’d been all set to give her daughter sword training — but Ran turned out splendidly to be a magic-user type, leaving Alice’s strength surplus. The one absorbing that surplus stamina is me.
And Yueli too is still active on the front lines, now a domestically and internationally recognized machine engineer, plying her craft at the workshop in Veret Territory today.
She isn’t here right now because she’s at the school she opened to raise her own successors.
“All right, all right, everyone. Papa still has things to do — withdraw, withdraw.”
“Ehh~, no~. We won’t get to see Papa, so I want to play loooots~”
Tougo shook his head left and right and clung tightly to my arm.
Mashiro, looking troubled, glanced at me, so I spoke gently to the treasures in my arms.
“Everyone, I’m sorry. Daddy has things he absolutely has to do, so we can’t play right now.”
“No good……? Father……?”
“Instead, when I come back, I’ll grant any wish you have. Everyone, do you have a wish for Papa?”
When I said that, the four of them lit up, eyes sparkling.
”…… Anything’s really okay?”
“Of course, if Papa can do it.”
“Umm, umm~”
“Father!”
“Hm? Miyuki, you’ve thought of one already?”
“Yes! It’s been a while — I want to sleep together with you and Mother, just the three of us!”
“Hahaha! That’s all? Alright, tonight the three of us will sleep together.”
“Ehehe…… thank you.”
“Papa! I want to play with you! Lots, loooots of playing!”
“There, there. When I come back, Tougo, we’ll play from morning to night, full throttle.”
“Yeah! I’ll think up what to do!”
“Ouga-papa…… I learned a new spell recently, I want to show you……”
“Ohh! That’s amazing, Mitsuki. Of course. Mitsuki takes after Papa and Mama — you might be a genius~”
“Mufu~”
Every one was an adorably modest wish.
The kind that made me smile and want to grant them all.
A five- or six-year-old’s wishes never get demanding.
The mothers, hearing their own children’s wishes, were smiling along.
“What’s Ran’s wish? It’s fine to think it over for next time, too?”
”…… Mn, my wish is decided. The thing is, you see……”
Ran fidgeted her fingers.
I waited slowly, nodding mm-hmm, until she could say it at her own pace.
Eventually, having made up her mind, Ran haltingly wove her wish.
“Ran…… I want a little brother or sister.”
—— In an instant, the temperature of the room plummeted.
A moment ago the mood was sunny and warm; now it felt like deep winter.
I knew where the source was.
Behind the children — the women smiling at me with smiles that didn’t reach their eyes.
”…… You must grant a child’s wish, mustn’t you, Ouga?”
“Little brother or sister, huh~. Everyone’s grown into good kids and settled down, so it’s about that time. Even four (4) at once would be fine, right?”
“And tonight just so happens to be the three of us sleeping together, anata?”
“My, my…… Ouga-kun is going to have to work very hard.”
Ran’s wish flipped a switch, and Mashiro’s and the others’ gazes were that of beasts hunting prey.
…… My marital relations are excellent.
They prop me up as husband, comporting themselves so as never to get in my way.
Presentable anywhere…… but at one particular time, the positions reverse.
Trace it to its origin and you reach our wedding day.
I understood there was such a culture as the wedding-night thing in this world.
But — lacking confidence from being a virgin — I couldn’t bring myself to invite them and the day arrived.
The result: before I knew it, I was restrained by all four, and they — who’d been bottling up their own pent-up desire — held the initiative all night long.
Ever since, in House Veret the protagonists of the night are them.
Ran’s wish was synonymous with continued days of me getting wrung out.
“Father…… no?”
”…… No, that’s not so. Papa’ll work hard to grant Ran’s wish too.”
And of course I can’t refuse my cute daughter’s request.
It was the moment a promise was sealed between me and my wives.
“Ouga-kun~?”
“Ouga……?”
”…… Ouga-kun.”
“Lord Ouga……”
Maybe also remembering the wedding night, Mashiro, Karen, Reina, and Alice — using my old names of address — turned heated gazes my way.
”…… A-aaalright! Mothers too, let’s play tag right now! Everyone, run from Daddy~!”
“Eh!? Really!? Yaaay!”
“I’ll play tons!”
“Come on, Ran! Let’s run!”
”…… Yeah.”
“I’ll count to a hundred, so start!”
“Okaaay!”
Energetic replies, and eventually the children’s laughter faded out of earshot.
Releasing the children I’d been holding, we created an adults-only space.
“Spending time with Miyuki and the others is fine and good…… but pay attention to us still too, okay?”
Confirming the children were gone, Karen took my hand tightly.
As if following her lead, Alice took my other arm and entwined her own.
“Me too…… I can’t live without Lord Ouga’s love anymore.”
“That’s right. Ouga-kun, please take responsibility and love me every minute, every second.”
Reina draped her arms around my neck from behind, leaning against me.
“We love you too, Ouga-kun!”
Then Mashiro flung herself at me from the front.
Quite literally feeling everyone with my whole body, I received love with my whole body.
”…… A hundred passed already though.”
“Eh?”
“Got all four of you!”
I hugged them tight.
”…… Fufu, we got caught……”
They hugged me back.
It’s certainly not the future I was picturing…… but this present, with adorable kids and beloved wives, isn’t bad either.
—— For now, let me enjoy this [Saint]‘s life born of misunderstanding.
◇ Everyone who supported The Misunderstood Holy Life of a Villainous Young Master for about two years and nine months — thank you!
The main story concludes with this episode. Hereafter I’m planning to occasionally post SS (short stories), so please keep your follows on.
For starters, I have to write Ouga getting attacked by the heroines, lol.
Starting yesterday I’ve begun a new serialization.
I think those who enjoyed The Misunderstood Holy Life of a Villainous Young Master will enjoy it too, so please support this one as well!
I’m the Evil Magic-Sword Academy Teacher — I Want to Get Fired Already But My Students Keep Adoring Me