第２２９掘：乙女？ (Part1)
**Dungeon 229: A Maiden?**
**A Maiden?**
**Side: Yuki**
"Come now, don't make that face. Go and fulfill your duties properly. My daughter, Yuyu, says the same."
"Uu..."
As you can see, Deryu and the other wives have successfully given birth. Though, as usual, I was put to sleep for the occasion.
"Yes, we are just fine, so please work hard, Brother. Right, Schans?"
"Aa..."
Ratz, holding her daughter Schans in her arms, says the same thing.
"Wait, she was just born! There’s no way she can say things like that yet."
As I retort to the two of them, the other wives chime in.
"Yes, yes, Yuki-san, don't be a spoiled brat. We have the negotiations with Enaria coming up soon, and you need to summarize the prisoner interrogations and the future of Betan."
"That’s right. My husband, you have a future to look toward. Do not worry about us. Naturally, we will protect the children with all our might."
Eris and Kirue are holding their daughters as well. Eris’s daughter is Eria; Kirue’s is Shael. They’re all so cute!
"No, I get that, but I can't just leave my wives who just gave birth and my newborn daughters behind!"
Anyone would take paid leave when their wife has a baby! It’s fine to take a break!
"Honestly, what are you saying? There is no way Yuki would abandon us."
"Exactly. Brother, you’ve been glued to our sides every single day since we gave birth, haven't you?"
"Indeed. From what I’ve heard, it doesn't seem like you’ve been neglecting the other wives either..."
"The time you’ve been cutting into is supposed to be your work time."
"Guh!?"
That’s right. For the past four days since everyone gave birth, I’ve left the New Continent alone. I told the fortress reports that I was holding back because of the unidentified army, and since the Enaria army retreated, Princess Miffy has to report to her home country and gauge their next move. I’m essentially free.
Actually, the "unidentified army" is just Mino-chan and his crew, and I can manage the surveillance there however I like. In other words, I’m allowed to stay by my wives and daughters!
"You seem to be convincing yourself that your actions are correct, but it won't work. If you don't work, I’ll start to hate you, Brother?"
"Or perhaps, shall we strip Yuki bare and have you take turns attending to us every single day?"
"Oh, if you’re going to do what Deryu said, it’s fine to skip work."
Eris says this, glaring at me like a predator.
"Naturally, it would be all of us, my husband."
Kirue says this, aiming to break my spirit.
"...Alright, I get it! I’ll work! Hey, you there! Seraria, Rurua, stop wiggling your hands and coming closer! Ria and Jessica, stop trying to take off my clothes!"
" " "Tch." " "
Every single wife clicked their tongue. Even Aslin and Firia look disappointed. Did I do something wrong? I think my judgment is perfectly rational!
"I mean, Rurua, you’re a former Saintess and a member of the clergy, right? Shouldn't you be the one stopping this kind of thing?"
Rurua, who had been wiggling her hands, was stunned by my words, blinking in surprise. After a moment, she crossed her arms in thought. Since she crossed them beneath her breasts, her chest puffed out prominently. She really is the largest among my wives, and on top of that, they’re perfectly shaped and soft.
"Hmm, well, if I were still in training, it would be natural to suppress carnal desires. However, my husband and I share a deep love, and the environment to pursue it is well-established. It is not merely about indulging in pleasure; we have the resolve to bear and raise children. Therefore, engaging in acts with my husband is only natural. In fact, it is indispensable for human life! Now, let’s go to the bed!"
"Calm down! Seraria, don't try to help her!"
I manage to hold back Rurua, who is launching herself at me with a strange, passionate fervor. Seraria is clinging to me from the side, too. The two guards just watch without trying to stop them.
"Hey, you two guards, why are you just watching!?"
"Eh? I want to be with Yuki-san too."
"Indeed. I want to be with Yuki. Oh, it doesn't have to be in bed; an open-air bath would be fine too."
"You’ve gotten too comfortable, Jessica! Where did your pride as a knight go!?"
"Huh? Before being a knight, I am Yuki’s wife. What is wrong with wanting to be with my husband?"
"Don't answer so casually! And stop it, expressing it so directly... you should use more atmosphere..."
When I say that, for some reason, the room goes quiet. Rurua and Seraria pull away from me. Hm? Why?
"...Why are you acting like a sheltered maiden?"
"Ah, Yuki-san is just like this sometimes, Jessica."
"Phew, I wonder why this husband of mine is such a maiden, Rurua?"
"Sigh, I wish I knew, Seraria."
Wait a minute—you were smiling when Jessica was acting like a maiden, but you’re being way too harsh on me?
"Well, the mood is ruined, so go do your work. And you’ll be paying for killing the mood by attending to all of us tonight."
"Eh, that counts as a debt!?"
"Naturally. I want you to be twice as intense as usual."
Seraria smiles as she says this. Twice as intense—isn't that a bit much?
" " "Then, I want double, too." " "
"Everyone!?"
They’re even contacting the members who aren't here right now!? I’d better get to work before I get pulled any deeper into this. Sorry, my beloved daughters!
"He ran away. Well, it doesn't change what we’re eating tonight. Ria, Jessica, take care of our husband."
"Yes."
"Leave it to me."
Well, even if I say "work," there’s nothing I can do until Zilba or Enaria make a move. Even if I talk about reforming the city of Betan, we don't have the time or the luxury for large-scale reforms when we’re at the point of deciding whether or not to end this war. It’s not impossible, but it would likely lead to me having to go to Enaria, which would double my workload.
"In that case, I’ll head to Mino-chan’s place."
There’s nothing I can do at my own workplace, so I might as well finalize things with Mino-chan. We’ll be splitting up when we head to Enaria, so I should discuss the details now.
"So, you came to my place?"
"Yeah."
I head to the large military dungeon where Mino-chan and his group are stationed and drink tea in the reception room.
"Where’s John?"
"Same as always, he’s out working the fields."
"That guy never gets tired of that, does he?"
Even after coming here, John’s love for vegetables hasn't changed. I wonder what went wrong with him. We both drink our tea and take a breather.
"So, Brother, since you don't really have anything to do, couldn't you just stay with your wives?"
"No, if I go back now, I’ll be the main dish in a 'pool of wine and forest of meat' until the day after tomorrow."
"Usually, a man would be happy about that, wouldn't he?"
"If I were the one leading and could change partners on a whim, sure. This time it’s the opposite; I’m the one being toyed with however they like."
"That sounds rough."
"For some reason, my wives are quite proactive about these things."
"Having a good relationship with your spouse isn't a bad thing."
"Well, I suppose so."
We spent the time chatting about preparations for the expedition and such, but then...
*Crash!*
The sound echoed all the way to the reception room.
"What was that?"
"Who knows?"
We look at each other and tilt our heads. In this dungeon, if the alarm isn't sounding, it means it’s nothing serious. Someone probably tripped, or there was a scuffle—that sort of thing. If an armed group or an army had entered, the alarm would be blaring. That’s why this situation is so strange.