Chapter 180 - Seira's Consultation & Leaffa's Plan

“E-Elmia!”

We teleported back to the Great Shrine, and Seira rushed toward us the moment she saw me carrying Elmia.

“She’s okay. She just fainted. A lot of her mana was drained, her shoulders were dislocated, and she was extremely exhausted. But I’ve replenished her mana and fixed her shoulders. She’ll probably wake up after resting for a while.”

“T-thank you so much. Everyone, please take Elmia to the clinic.”

“Yes, Saintess-sama.”

Several women in holy armor approached, following Seira's orders, and carried Elmia away.

They must be holy knights, I thought, though their armor looked much more functional than Elmia's barely-there attire. Maybe her choice of armor really was just a matter of personal taste...

“Halt-sama, we’re deeply grateful for protecting the Holy City, and for saving both Elmia and Ysha. I’m only standing here now thanks to you.”

“I’m just glad I was able to protect everyone. But I can see you're worried. I’ll take care of the wounded, so you should go be with Elmia, Seira.”

Seira’s eyes followed Elmia as she was carried away. She clearly wanted to go, but hesitated.

“But—”

“It’s fine. Go stay with her.”

Seira, her worry evident, bowed her head repeatedly in thanks before hurrying after Elmia.

Now that everything had calmed down, I took a moment to reflect. We had come to negotiate with the Creator God about managing the dungeon, but things had spiraled far beyond my expectations. Still, we had defeated the demon threatening the Holy City, and I had managed to protect Seira, an old acquaintance. By some stroke of luck, we had arrived just in time.

—***—

The next day...

“A-ahm, excuse me, Ms. Leaffa.”

Leaffa was strolling through the Holy City when a hooded figure suddenly stopped her. The voice was unmistakable.

“S-Saintess? Why are you here alone... Is there something I can help you with?”

It was Seira, the Saintess, with no guards in sight. Leaffa immediately grew cautious, sensing an important conversation was about to unfold.

“Ahm... Halt-sama... Do you think Halt-sama might be interested in, well, a harem?”

“...Excuse me?”

Seira guided Leaffa to a quiet café in an alley off the main street. It was empty, save for the two of them. As soon as they sat down, Seira posed the question again, leaving Leaffa momentarily stunned.

“To be honest, I’ve fallen in love with the Guardian Hero who saved the world a century ago. And that person is—”

“...Halt, right?”

“Exactly. I heard he was once the Guardian Hero, but that he’s been reincarnated and is now Halt-sama. But even knowing that, I... I can’t help it. I’m still captivated by him.”

“So, you love Halt.”

“...Yes.”

“But you’re concerned because Halt is already married to Tina-sama, correct?”

“T-that’s right. I know you’re a close friend of Halt-sama from school, so I was hoping you might know if... well, if he’s open to something like a harem?”

When Seira had been rescued from the warlocks, Halt and his family had introduced themselves to her. But aside from Tina, no one had mentioned their surnames, so Seira didn’t know that Leaffa was also Halt’s wife.

“You’re asking if Halt might be interested in having multiple relationships — in short, if he’s okay with a harem?”

“Y-yes. That’s what I’m asking.”

Leaffa felt a twinge of concern. If she told Seira the truth, the Saintess would likely confess to Halt. And Seira was undeniably beautiful. Knowing Halt, he wouldn’t reject her, and his family would grow even larger.

Still, no matter how many women entered his life, Tina would always be his number one. That was a fact. Every night, Halt slept with Tina, and the rest of his wives would take turns occupying the other side of the bed. At the moment, there were six women in that rotation: Leaffa, Luna, Youko, Mai, and Merdie.

In this world, a week had six days, so each of them had a night with Halt once a week. But yesterday, Ryuka, a dragonoid, had been added to the family. Halt had unintentionally stripped Ryuka of her Dragon Shrine Maiden powers when he saw her naked upon teleporting. To restore her powers, he had to marry her, and Ryuka seemed quite happy with that.

Now that Ryuka was part of the rotation, things were even more competitive. And with Seira likely to join...

Leaffa sighed internally. She wasn’t against other women loving Halt; it validated her choice. But it was disheartening to think that her time with him would diminish even more.

(Haa... maybe I should just create a life-sized Halt doll... Or maybe he can master a duplication spell!)

Leaffa came to a decision.

“Saintess-sama — no, Seira. I didn’t properly introduce myself before. I am Leaffa Ernol.”

“Eh, then—”

“Yes. I am also Halt’s wife. And as for your question... the answer is yes, Halt is open to having a harem.”

“I-is that so...”

“By the way, the seven women who rode the carriage with you, including Tina-sama and myself — all of us are Halt’s wives.”

“Eh!?”

“And as of yesterday, we welcomed a new member.”

“Eh! W-wait, you mean... the Dragon Shrine Maiden—?”

“Yes, that’s Ryuka. She’s part of the family now.”

Seira was speechless from the shock. Leaffa had laid everything bare, and it was clear that Seira would soon be part of the Ernol household as well.

With Halt surrounded by so many women, it was inevitable that more might join. Leaffa couldn’t even count on preferential treatment as the legal wife.

Recently, she had been lucky to get one night a week with Halt. But as his harem grew, that could change.

Something had to be done.

“Ahm, Seira... Have you heard of the ‘Doppelganger’ Bunshin Spell?”