落とし穴３７掘：そこに女湯があるから 集まる人たち (Part2)
"Did I say something strange?"
"……Hmm, it is no wonder you managed to seal away 1,500 of our Roschur Royal Guards."
"……Literally, no one can get through."
"……It has made me realize once again that Shera’s husband is truly extraordinary. I had assumed that even if the dungeon were impassable, you would simply rely on deep pits or time-outs to wear out the challengers."
The three of them pointed to the first rule written on the flyer:
*Reach the destination within the 30-minute time limit!! That is where the Peach Blossom Spring lies!!*
Ah, the time limit.
Right, if it’s possible to break through, that means it can be done given enough time. That’s precisely why I had to set a limit; otherwise, it would be meaningless. If it were truly impassable, I would have just left it open permanently, like the other dungeons.
"……Changing the subject, who is participating from the women’s side to set up the traps? For Roschur, we have the Royal Guardswomen, led by Lady Aria."
"On our end, it is Lady Alstaire, along with the nuns and knights who have her seal of approval."
"And for us, it is Lowell, Charl, and their younger sisters, along with their personal guards."
……Yeah, the top brass of every nation is participating. Just how far has this situation escalated?
"As for my side, it’s my wives. Unfortunately, they aren't as flashy as yours."
"What are you saying? Even if Lady Seraria is currently pregnant and sitting this one out, we have heard that Yuki-dono’s wives are all intelligent beauties."
"Indeed, Yuki-dono. Those ladies are now referred to by every nation as 'Precious Jewels'."
"Crack-dono is right. Even Shera is called one of those 'Precious Jewels,' which makes me happy as her kin. But it goes to show just how highly they are regarded."
"What do you mean by that?"
I honestly don't get it. Seraria, Rurua, and Shera aside, the others were former slaves or commoners, weren't they?
"Former slaves and commoners, yet they stand as key figures at the cutting edge of Weed in this era. They aren't just for show; they have left behind solid results. They are beautiful, capable in their work, and skilled in combat. Because of this, the nations have dubbed them 'Precious Jewels'."
"And what is the opinion of Teague-niisan, who explained this to you?"
"I think it’s flawless. However, the evaluation of their husband, Yuki, has suffered a bit because of it."
"In what way?"
"They say Yuki is merely the pedestal for these 'Precious Jewels.' If you take it at face value, it isn't an insult, but in this context, it implies that Yuki is a useless ornament. Simply put, they believe that holding a wedding ceremony with over ten people is unheard of. Therefore, they conclude it wasn't a marriage to a husband, but a ritual for Queen Seraria to promote them."
I see. So I’m not a harem-king who keeps wives, but a mere decoration to allow my wives to move about freely.
……Great. Neither evaluation makes me happy.
"……By the way, it is also rumored that the younger girls are a result of Yuki’s personal tastes."
"What is with that malicious rumor!?"
Am I being branded a lolicon across all these nations!?
"It isn't necessarily malicious, you know? Having fiancées of that age isn't exactly rare."
"Indeed. Though, at my age, I would feel a bit hesitant."
"They say you have a good eye for talent. Those three are also educated, intelligent, and skilled. In that sense, some say Yuki isn't just an ornament, since it was Yuki who recommended them."
Either way, it’s not good for me!! At this rate, history will remember me as either a gigolo, a harem-king, or a lolicon. I would have been satisfied with a small footnote in a history book noting that I worked as a diligent strategist...
God, am I really just a harem-king!?
*“Huh? Only now realizing it? You’re nothing but a harem-king.”*
Right, I forgot God is *that* person. The world is so unfair.
……I’ll figure out how to deal with my dishonorable reputation later. For now, I need to end this "peeping at the women's bath" incident peacefully. This is the first step toward rebranding my reputation from "scoundrel" to "gentleman."