※ From here, due to differences between the web version’s Chapter 4 and the book version’s Volume 4, revisions become extensive — going with book-version settings.
Key change: the demon dragon — web dead → book alive, with a reunion-promise.
The dragon proceeds as alive.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
…… What is this situation.
I’m encircled at the entrance by Mashiro and the others.
“Nooo~! I’m still at the manor~!”
I’d seen Cerecia off — Mother restraining her in the carriage.
After my dragon-coming report, Father and Mother agreed Cerecia should immediately return to the empire.
Empire is safer for Mother and Cerecia.
Reasonable.
A short trip to come and go for them — sorry.
Father already left yesterday to report to the King; only us at the manor.
…… So.
Returning from sending family off, I was surrounded.
All four post-bath, smelling nice.
They closed the distance; sweet scent stronger.
Bad……! This morning is very bad……!
I don’t understand what they want with silent heated gazes.
”…… What is it, everyone?”
“Ouga……”
“Yeah.”
“This! Take it!”
Mashiro thrust out a…… bracelet?
Different from normal — irregular-shaped stone pieces strung.
A ring-like piece, a leaf-shape. This is……a wing? Envelope……the last unclear……
But each piece tied deeply to their past.
Each piece slightly rough — not store-bought. The unevenness comes from earnestness, not laziness.
My noble eye for quality says so.
”…… Handmade?”
Mashiro beamed.
Got it right.
“I knew Ouga would understand!”
She glomped on.
Not just her. Karen behind her was fidgeting; I opened my arms, she dove in.
Squished between Karen’s chest and my own, Mashiro sounded happy.
I sought explanation from the elder pair.
“We decided to give you a present. ……With fierce battles ahead, we wanted to help even a little.”
“We brought items that bound us to you and had Yueli help make replicas.”
“I just gave tips; they made everything themselves. Even sleepless nights.”
Yueli yawned big.
That’s why she was bathed this early.
“You have an important promise after, so wanted to give it before. ……Did our feelings reach?”
”…… Yeah. No man wouldn’t be fired up by this.”
I gripped the bracelet.
With this — 100-fold, 1000-fold strength. I can beat anyone.
“Right. Someone put it on? More benediction.”
“Yes! I’ll!”
Mashiro’s arm and voice burst between me and Karen.
”…… Well, Mashiro’s the initiator. I’ll yield.”
“No choice.”
“Ehehe, thanks! Ouga, borrowing the bracelet?”
She took it, held it like a treasure.
Like prayer.
”…… Right. Everyone, send your feelings in last.”
No one refuses.
Each held it, palm-wrapped.
After holding back so long, recently we touch shamelessly.
Ticklish but love overwhelms; foolish couples surely the same.
Yueli passed it to Mashiro last; she fastened it to my left wrist.
“Packed with our love! Praying you return safely…… cherish it!”
“With this I’ll definitely return. Thanks, everyone.”
I stroked the new treasure.
Their warmth still lingered; happy thought.
“Ah, right.”
Reina remembered something and approached.
“One more I forgot to give.”
“Hm? More?”
“Yes. A very important charm.”
She took my hand and pressed her lips to the bracelet.
A small chu.
Too natural; took ten seconds to process.
“R-Reina!?”
“Fufu. First-kiss of bracelet is mine. Tenfold effect.”
“P-perhaps so but!”
She laughed at flustered me.
She’d been teasing.
Knowing the past her, her laughing alone makes me happy. Happy, but losing isn’t my style.
…… If she goes there, I’ll respond.
“Reina.”
“Sorry, I teased a bit——”
I called her name, she turned off-guard. I kissed her cheek.
She traced the kiss spot with her finger…… cheeks bright red.
“Oh? Reina-san, embarrassed~?”
”…… Ouga-kun, step back.”
“If you show me your embarrassed face, sure.”
”…… N-not now…… not now……”
She tried to push me away.
But her flustered weak force can’t push back.
“Ah…… d-don’t look……”
Even her ears red, eyes teary — triggering my sadistic streak.
…… No more or I go down a bad path!
Normally someone would interrupt.
But our resolve had grown; I hadn’t fully realized.
”…… Next is me, right?”
“Karen!?”
“I want to k-kiss Ouga too! We’re going to be a couple, no problem!”
“Th-that…… true.”
Examining her statement…… she’s right.
No rule says no kissing before marriage in this world.
And kissing Reina but refusing Karen — wrong.
I decided — give 100% love to all, not split.
“Th-then…… here we go.”
“M-mn……”
I lifted her chin, neared.
She closed eyes tight, shoulders tense.
…… Such nerves heighten love…… thinking unlike me, I kissed her cheek.
”~~~~!”
”…… Good, Karen?”
”!! !!”
She hid her face behind her hair.
Hair red too; flush impossible to hide.
“Yes yes! My turn!”
“L-Lord Ouga! I’ve heard wives send husbands off with a kiss. P-I should practice for being a wife……!”
“Alice-san! Be straightforward!”
“Wha!? So bold……! Uu…… P-please kiss me!”
“That route!? Alice-san, bold~”
“You said straight!”
The nervously-amped Alice looked at Mashiro disbelievingly.
So Alice is the lip-kiss type……
I’ll accept that too.
“C-calm down, both of you! ……Really okay?”
“Of course! From you is rare!”
“Y-yes…… Alice ready……!”
“Then Mashiro first.”
“P-please……!”
”…… Even with mouth pursed, it’s cheek……?”
Don’t differentiate. I ignored her pursed lips and kissed her mochi cheek.
She wriggled with ehehe~, both hands on cheeks.
If she’s that happy, I am too.
“L-Lord Ouga!”
Alice with too-loud volume. Her eyes ultra-serious, combat-mode-edged.
She stepped close, grabbed my shoulders.
“I-I’ve never done this either…… I-it won’t hurt!”
That sounds like a virgin’s line, Alice!
That phrasing sounds suggestive now!
“E-excuse me……!”
Her eyes circled, distance closed, softness on cheek.
Long, long, long……
“Too long, Alice-san!”
”!! Sorry! I got carried away……!”
Snapped by Mashiro, she said N-no, this is, this is……! waving hands, separated.
Touching there, I felt moisture from her lips; averted my eyes from the unmentionable.
There — grinning Yueli.
“Kid? Want to kiss me too?”
“No!”
“Eh~? I’d give any amount~”
Like a teasing big sister.
But that easy tease lands on the kiss-confused everyone — stop, Yueli……!
“R-right, Ouga-kun! Time, right? Leave this to me; take care……!”
Recovered-fastest Reina pushed me out.
“G-got it. No other plans today; rest well!”
“Oh, bring a dragon scale~! That has more mana than mana-stones~!”
“Don’t say it last minute!”
A huge request, but maybe…… try.
It’d power up [Dragon-Slay Fist · Kai]…… try asking.
Shaking off lingering visions, I dashed for the private beach.