Idol?

With Ian joining the wives, making things even livelier, I became certain of one thing.

“You’ve become a Swordmaster, Ian?”

“That’s incredible, Ian! A Swordmaster at your age! As expected, our son is a once-in-several-centuries genius!”

“Well... we taught him hard, after all. It’d be a problem if he couldn’t manage that much! ...Still, good job.”

“Ian. Excellent.”

They were all hopelessly doting parents.

They’d already been praising Ian like that for thirty minutes.

There wasn’t much time left before academy classes started, either.

“…Hero, please make them stop. We have to get to class.”

“…Sorry, but even I can’t stop them. Just skip class.”

“…Wait, don’t you all have to go to class, too?!”

“Oh.”

Of course, no one would complain if Ian or I skipped a few classes.

We were Swordmasters, and we did well in our studies, too.

The problem was the Hero.

Naturally, the Hero hadn’t come all the way to the academy just to see his son.

His official excuse was that he wanted to see how skilled the academy students were.

In other words, the Hero’s party was supposed to take part in class as visiting instructors or something.

And if the Hero’s party showed up late because they’d been chatting with their son?

There probably wasn’t a student bold enough to complain, but they’d still be annoyed.

…They would be, right? They wouldn’t just say, ‘Well, the Hero can be late!’ and stick up for him, would they?

“Well... that’s true, but it’d be a little difficult for me to go over there and stop them...”

“…Why?”

Having abandoned the serious tone he’d used until a moment ago, the Hero spoke with genuine fear in his eyes.

“…Something like that happened once before, and they used it as an excuse to make me sleep with all four of them at once.”

“…Setting aside what you’re telling a younger girl, wouldn’t that actually be a good thing? Four-way sex is a guy’s dream.”

“…That’s what I thought, too.”

There was nothing in the Hero’s expression but fear as he said that.

…He’s the Hero, but he can’t even handle four women? Should I be disappointed, or is that to be expected?

“Sigh... All my illusions about the Hero have been shattered. I was hoping for a noble Hero from another world...”

“…That’s a lot to ask for.”

“I don’t care. You’re useless.”

The Hero ought to keep his wives in line. Good grief.

“And that’s our Ian...”

It was funny that Ian was happily accepting all this, too.

Even if they were his parents, look at him grinning like an idiot because four unbelievably beautiful women were praising him.

Good grief. And this guy’s a Swordmaster.

Watching him was starting to put me in a bad mood, so I snatched Ian away from the women surrounding him.

…With my arm linked through his.

Well, we had the excuse that we were lovers, and this was simply the surest way to get him away from them quickly.

I had no ulterior motives whatsoever.

“Oh?”

“Oho.”

The Hero’s wives looked flustered.

…They were flustered, right? Their eyes looked a little different.

Whatever the case, I couldn’t ask them about it now.

Since it had come to this, I had to see it through.

“…Plia?”

“Our class is about to start, so I’ll take Ian with me.”

“Wait, Plia, you...”

“Quiet. Just follow me.”

Honestly, you have absolutely no sense of timing at times like this.

I forcibly dragged the bewildered Ian away.

“Ohoho. How youthful.”

“I know. So fresh.”

I didn’t hear a thing from Elisia or Airi.

If I say I didn’t, then I didn’t.

…

So that girl is Plia, the youngest Swordmaster.

I’d actually wanted to meet her at least once, but Plien was so overprotective that I’d never gotten the chance.

He said he couldn’t let her see how promiscuous I was, with four wives and all.

…It’s even more annoying because I can’t argue with that.

Anyway, at last, the meeting finally happened.

I’d planned to approach her normally and strike up a conversation, but I changed my mind when I heard Ian say something from afar.

-Sharing the same house and sleeping together every night?

…Our Ian has a girlfriend!

As his father, I couldn’t be happier.

Of course, an unmarried man and woman sleeping together every night could be called promiscuous, but on Earth, getting pregnant before marriage was

so common, and I’d been in that situation myself, that I had no intention of criticizing them.

If anything, I ought to praise him for winning over such a pretty girl.

Besides, according to Plien’s boasting, she was smart, talented, and kindhearted—a perfectly suitable bride.

…Though, since it was coming from that doting father, I had to take some of it with a grain of salt.

Then I was startled when she asked if I was from Earth.

How had that girl learned a secret I’d told only my wives?

It was possible Plien had secretly overheard it and told her, but I didn’t think that was the case.

He might be a doting father, but I didn’t think he’d betray his friend’s trust.

In other words, she’d investigated me—right down to the most private details of my life.

Thinking about it that way, I was overcome with anger and unconsciously released my killing intent.

Heh. I really am getting old. I can’t believe I’m still unable to control my emotions at this age.

Then I was shocked to hear that Plia was from Earth, too.

Good heavens! To meet someone from back home like this, when I’d never been able to find anyone before!

It was no exaggeration to say it was one of the most surprising moments of my life.

She was someone who, like me, had played [Gaia Academy] until she knew it inside and out, then died after being hit by a truck and was reborn.

The fact that she’d been reborn as my friend’s daughter was a little... something, but I decided not to worry about it for now.

Strictly speaking, unlike me, she’d been reborn rather than possessing someone, so it was easier to think of it as her simply retaining her memories from her past life.

After talking with someone from back home for a while, I was overcome with nostalgia, and our conversation grew more and more animated without my noticing.

Then I didn’t even notice Elisia approaching... When she put her hand on my shoulder, I nearly had a heart attack.

I’m telling you, my wives are scarier than the Demon King.

How could they get jealous of girls that young... Well, I couldn’t blame them, since those very young girls had sent me dozens of love letters.

Hang in there, Plia! Grit your teeth and bear it!

Fortunately, Plia’s quick wit helped me escape the crisis, and Ian tactfully played along. Then I found out Ian truly

loved Plia.

And Plia, too, seemed ready to fall for him if the right opportunity came along.

Just look at them walking off arm in arm.

With her ears red to the tips, who could possibly think she was acting?

“Youth, huh~”

“I know, Leon. What a sweet, innocent romance.”

“I know. Watching them makes me feel all heated up, too.”

…Oh no. Something feels ominous.

“Heheh! That’s nothing compared to us. So, Leon, you’ll make tonight even hotter than that, right?”

“Hero. Tonight. I’m looking forward to it.”

My wives were gazing at me passionately.

Well, looks like I won’t be getting any sleep tonight, either.

I had no choice but to pray I’d survive.

…

“Aah! You two! Why are you coming to school together? And only one minute before you’d be late! Have you finally crossed the line—mmph!”

“What are you talking about?!”

The moment we entered the classroom, I covered Arin’s mouth to stop her nonsense and sat down.

…Come to think of it, I’m sitting next to Ian now.

Since academy seats were assigned by grades, I’d taken Ian’s old seat, and Ian sat next to me in the second-place seat.

…Next to him. It was a strange feeling.

At first, I’d been incredibly jealous when I saw Ian sitting here.

It hadn’t been that long, but somehow it felt like ages ago. Funny, isn’t it?

“…Do you know you have a really strange look in your eyes right now, Plia?”

“…Do I?”

“You looked like a grandmother.”

“Y-you’re so mean...”

Calling a blooming twenty-year-old a grandmother!

“Ahem. Anyway, I heard the Hero was coming today. Why hasn’t he shown up?”

“Who knows? There’s still about a minute before class starts...”

-Rumble.

“Greetings, everyone. I’m the Hero, Leon Jegen Gailis. It’s a pleasure to see the future of the empire.”

Speak of the devil. The Hero walked into the classroom at just the right moment.

“Hello...”

-Aaaaaaaaaah! It’s the Hero!

-Hero, take me!

“Gwah?!”

I’d met him once already and felt familiar enough to greet him, but the students’ screams assaulted my ears.

Ugh... Just hearing those screams makes it feel like we’re looking at some idol.

…Well, isn’t the Hero basically an idol?

“Thank you all for the warm welcome. But class has started, so I’d like you to quiet down a little.”

The Hero quieted the cheering students as if he were used to it.

…That way the Hero talks. It doesn’t really suit him.

After seeing how pathetic he was earlier, that serious tone of his just didn’t fit anymore.

What should I do? I feel like I’m going to burst out laughing.

Perhaps he noticed, because the Hero looked over at me with an awkward expression.

Was he asking me to save his dignity?

…Good grief. And that guy’s the Hero.