第１１７５堀：仲良くなるには切っ掛けがいる (Part2)
"Yes, yes! Don't you worry, I'm here to help the three of you," Lilishe chirped.
"And I am here as well, so you may rest easy," Hairen added.
"Lady Lilishe and Lady Hairen are going to assist us?" Orelia and the others exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of confusion and disbelief.
It was true—when it came to actual combat, those two would be more of a hindrance than a help.
"Yeah, well, think of them as your healers. I’ve already asked Kirika to handle the combat side of things."
"Understood," Kirika replied. "Given the caliber of our opponents, it would be difficult for Lady Orelia and the others to engage in direct combat, so the three of us will act as their proxies. We’ve worked together to some extent, so I believe this arrangement should function well."
"I see. That’s a relief. Aside from knowledge, none of us are exactly suited for the battlefield."
"It’s not that we’re completely incapable," one of the others chimed in, "but I honestly don’t feel like we could win against the wives."
"That is an unavoidable reality. Still, if we’re going to do this, we won’t go down without a fight!"
In short, Lilishe, Hairen, and Kirika would be handling the combat portion for Orelia’s team. I had initially thought about abstaining, but Seraria insisted that a tournament wouldn't be any fun without me, which led to this current setup. Now, everything hinged on whether the "strategy" would actually hold up.
Though, considering Lilishe and Hairen were notorious for ignoring plans entirely, I felt like defeat was already a foregone conclusion. It would all come down to how much Kirika could compensate for them.
"Um, excuse me, but we are complete novices when it comes to fighting, and we wouldn't even know how to draft a strategy in the first place..."
"Don't worry about it!" Lilishe waved a hand. "You don't need to map out every single detail from start to finish."
"Exactly," Hairen agreed. "Just simple instructions like 'who to take down first' or 'prioritize offense or defense' will be more than enough."
"Oh, I see. So it’s more of a general direction, then?"
"Precisely," Kirika interjected. "Besides, these two wouldn't listen to a complex strategy anyway, so broad guidelines are all that really matter."
"That makes sense. It’s good to know—very helpful!"
"Wait a minute, Hairen-chan... did Kirika-chan just call us idiots?"
"Eh? Did she?"
Yeah, I decided it was best not to get involved with those two any further. Or rather, it was better to just leave them be. I felt bad for Kirika, but getting caught in the crossfire of those two was even more troublesome. Besides, my own workload had just ballooned thanks to this event.
"So, you’re in charge of preparing the tests to ensure everyone is on equal footing, and setting the rules for the team battles," Seraria said.
"Hey now, you’re just making this up as you go, aren't you?"
"We need to do things like this once in a while, don't we? It helps lighten your load, Yuki, but more importantly, we need events that are just for the family, rather than for all of Weed."
"You’ve got a point there."
Most of our events up until now had been secondary to other business. A gathering meant solely for family and those close to us was probably necessary. And as Seraria noted, with so many newcomers, there was no better time than the present.
"Besides, Deryu and I have been stuck with so much administrative work lately that we’re bored out of our minds. We want to move our bodies for a change."
"That’s fine, but you do realize that Ria, Jessica, Cleena, and Samantha can’t participate in a combat tournament, right?"
Ria had been excitedly talking about forming teams earlier, and I’d noticed Jessica had already joined one, but all of them were currently pregnant. The fact that they were using doppelgangers didn't change the reality of their condition...
"I’ll make the necessary accommodations. Though, that depends on what kind of rules you decide to set."
"Oh, so you’re pushing that onto me too? Fine. I suppose it’ll serve as a good benchmark for the future. I’ll do it."
"Yes, please. Depending on the results, we might need to reorganize things later."
Still, what kind of criteria should I use to measure the strength of all my wives? I’d have to think this through carefully.
First, since they mentioned a tournament, "Combat" was the obvious priority. But I’d need to break that down into "Command" and "Practical Application." Then there was "Knowledge"—or academic ability—though that would also need to be separated from magical technical skills. And, not just because they’re women, but "Cooking" was a skill in its own right.
I should probably consult with Sota-san and Taizo-san. Actually, since this was essentially a talent evaluation, it might be wise to ask my acquaintances from various nations about their own assessment standards.
Right. Step one: gather information. I’d get the answers by tomorrow and compile everything by the end of the day.
To grow closer, you have to share in the joys and the struggles. And, above all, you have to truly know one another.
And so, it was decided: Team battles it is!