Chapter 267: Side Story – ‘Fathers-in-Law’ Please Give Me Your Daughters! (3)

I looked at the envelope of money in front of me.

Yes, it was money given by the king of the Potato Empire—the Dunaleff House.

It was surely a check with an absurd sum.

But that wasn’t the important part.

I had already made Marie my woman.

I couldn’t accept this no matter how much money it was.

“I can’t accept it, father-in-law!”

“I told you not to call me father-in-law!!”

The duke convulsed when he heard “father-in-law.” But I couldn’t back down.

“I can’t accept this money!”

“Is it because it’s too little?”

“No!”

“One million isn’t enough for you? Then I’ll give you two million!”

“Either way, no— Huh?”

How much did he say?

Two million gold?

20 trillion dollars?

As my mind finished converting the currency, Duke Marde slammed the table and pointed at me as if he knew.

“This bastard is tempted, isn’t he?! Huh!? You’re considering it, right!”

“N-no, it’s not that.”

It’s because I never imagined a father-in-law would offer me twenty damn trillion to leave his daughter! It’s not that I was considering it!

“I knew a filthy worm that wants to build a harem would react like this!”

“It’s obvious! Like a parasite stuck to our Marie, the poor thing doesn’t know how to say no and keeps getting dragged along by you!”

“Just because you’re a hero everything is allowed? Just because you’re an elite knight you think you can come and take my daughter like it’s nothing? Miserable thief!”

Face red, the duke looked around and grabbed a steaming espresso cup.

“Father-in-law, no!”

I grabbed his hand. No more telenovela scenes!

“You can’t throw it at me! It’s hot!”

“That’s why I’m going to throw it at you! Let go! Are you going to let me go or not?!”

“I’m heat-immune anyway! Even if you set me on fire, not a single hair burns!”

“And what about it?! It’s so you’ll feel terrible, idiot!”

“Calm down! Marie and I even already have a child!”

“What…!? Hahaha, do you think I’ll believe that? Don’t use Duggu for your tricks! He’s eleventh in the line of succession.”

“…He entered the succession? And me?”

“Why the hell would I leave anything to you?”

“But I’m his biological father.”

What!? I want to enter the line of succession too!

“Let go of me!”

“I’m not letting go!”

“I said let go!”

The duke was a high mage. I was a supreme knight. Obviously, when pushing, he was the one being forced back.

“Sir, calm down, calm down.”

The guards gently warned us, and when I responded yes, the duke freaked out even more.

“What are you doing!? I was attacked! Arrest him right now!”

“…”

“…”

The guards made a face like “there’s no way.” The captain said honestly.

“Who could detain a Sun Knight? We saw his battle records—he literally flies.”

“Hey, useless idiots!”

“Duke, for Miss Marie’s future, calm down and speak slowly.”

“Tsk…”

He tried calling for the butler Paul or the wyvern cavalry captain, Berg, but in the end he gave up.

“Haa…”

The duke looked like he had aged ten years in an instant. I felt a bit sorry for him.

“Ehm… father-in-law.”

“Don’t… call me that… haa…”

He sighed, no longer having the strength to argue.

“Then… the marriage…”

“…You intend to do it, right?”

“Well… yes.”

“And you really… plan to marry all seven?”

“Yes…”

The duke lowered his head and answered.

“Do it.”

“Huh?”

Just like that? So easily?

“Just like that?”

“…It was part of a pact.”

“A pact?”

The story went back to last winter, during the famous “Great Battle for the Son-in-law.”

— My Corin will marry Marie.

— No. I’ll give him my two daughters and make him a consort.

— Don’t touch the son-in-law I paid more for.

It was an absurd war between Dunaleff, El Ras, and Arden.

Dozens of trillions moving, troops deployed, tax audits on allied noble families.

In the end, they stopped the war through an agreement.

But the war hadn’t ended, only been postponed. When the continent stabilized, it would erupt again.

“We made an agreement—if after everything the problems resurfaced, we would let the children decide.”

“Oh…”

“Oh?”

“Nothing, nothing.”

I avoided his fierce gaze and nodded as if I understood everything.

“We couldn’t destroy the entire kingdom just to get a son-in-law…”

So there was a pact behind all this…?

I suppose my value was so high that none of them wanted to leave me completely in the hands of the others. Sharing me was better than letting one monopolize me.

I shot up and bowed deeply to the duke.

“Father-in-law! Thank you for giving me your daughter!”

“S-stop… call— Aaaagh!”

Still trembling with anger, he took my hand. I spoke sincerely.

“I will make Marie happy. Truly. Please trust me.”

“Ghh….”

Though distrustful, he ended up accepting me.

“Take care of my Marie… please!”

I thought this would be the biggest obstacle, but it was easier than expected.

············

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“Corin! How did it go?”

“Your dad accepted!”

“Really?!”

I lifted Marie in my arms. I felt the duke’s bitter gaze, but it was too late.

As I lifted her, I admired her generous curves. I no longer had any reason to hold back.

“I can’t believe this is mine…”

“Hmm? What is?”

“Nothing… wife.”

“Yes, husband!”

“I offer my entire fortune to whoever kills that bastard…”

“No, Duke…”

“Please control yourself…”

***

The Kingdom of El Ras was practically an empire that dominated most of the continent.

And because it possessed such a vast territory, the defense of its borders was more important than anything else.

For a long time, the most unstable areas of the kingdom had been the north and the east.

In particular, the east—an important trade route connecting to the eastern kingdoms, and at the same time bordering monster-filled regions and demon-infested zones.

Unlike the south, which enjoyed fertile lands and sea, the east was arid and harsh. That is why the “warrior nobles” prospered there, families that solved everything with military power.

It was in that east, full of warrior families, where a man appeared and changed everything.

Garand Arden, the Emperor of the Sword.

A man who was the pinnacle of his era.

His appearance marked the beginning of the pacification of the eastern region.

In his youth, he dominated through pure brute strength.

In his maturity, he displayed an unprecedented martial mastery.

Raising the prestige of House Arden—already famous for its sword arts—to a position unreachable for any common family.

And although it was Garand who built the foundation, those who elevated House Arden to the level of a prestigious national power were the current patriarch Gerard Arden and his wife, Sophia Arden.

As a swordsman, Gerard had average talent.

But as a businessman, he was a genius.

He founded Arden academies across the continent, strengthening the influence of the eastern main house thanks to the exclusive permits granted only to the direct line.

And none of that would have been possible without his wife, Sophia Arden.

She possessed a talent comparable to her husband’s, but in the theory of combat.

She was the one who compiled and structured the martial arts theory of the Arden style.

The Emperor of the Sword Garand Arden had developed the final theory of the Arden style, called the “Heavenly Sword Theory”—the absurd but symbolic idea that an absolute master could cut even the sky.

Sophia classified that concept into single-sword arts, dual-sword arts, long swords, daggers, and illusionary swords.

Thanks to her theory, the complex “Heavenly Sword” could be transformed into a manual accessible to common people.

If the supreme technique were handed directly to people, they couldn’t even imitate the first line.

That’s why Sophia’s systematized theory was essential for the national expansion of the Arden style.

And so, three generations after the Emperor of the Sword—

Two brilliant swordmasters were born in the Arden family.

Lunia Arden, the prodigy swordswoman who rose to Semi-Elite Knight as the youngest in history, and considered the most promising heiress.

And Alisha Arden, the family’s troublemaker, who blossomed in the academy and managed to manifest “Domain Cut,” the zenith of the Arden style.

While the family secretly debated which of the two would be the next leader, their return home became a huge event.

And even more so because they were returning with the supreme hero of the Solar War, Corin Loch.

“We greet Sir Corin Loch!”

“We greet Sir Corin Loch!!”

Thousands of muscular men bowed in unison.

It looked like entering the headquarters of a mafia.

“What a reception.”

Lunia let out a small laugh. She had received exactly the same treatment a few minutes earlier.

“Lunia, you didn’t order this, right?”

“Many must have come on their own. You know the customs here.”

“Survival of the strongest, right?”

“And they’re not doing it just because of you.”

Her gaze turned toward the back of the residence. A prickling sensation emanated from there.

“Ugh… Grandpa must be here.”

Alisha shrank, clinging to my side as if she saw a ghost.

“Weren’t you close with the Emperor of the Sword?”

Of her entire family, only Lunia and Garand had protected her when she was scorned.

“Mmm… I’ve surpassed most of them already. But the old man… I still can’t beat him.”

“…”

So this girl also had the eastern “might makes right” mindset embedded.

“I guess Alisha really is a legitimate daughter of the Ardens.”

“Well… let’s go.”

Thousands of swordsmen opened a path for us toward the center of the Arden residence.

“Oh~ you arrived.”

There were the former patriarch Garand Arden, the current patriarch Gerard Arden, and Sophia Arden.

“Sit down.”

The one leading the meeting was not the current patriarch, but the former one.

The name of the Emperor of the Sword was still legendary across the continent.

His strength was at a world level.

Not even a “patriarch” could compete with that authority.

“Then, excuse me…”

I sat in the guest seat, with Alisha and Lunia at my sides. A few gazes watched us.

“Hm~ Yes, I already heard. You want to take Lunia and Alisha as wives?”

“Father…”

The one who protested wasn’t the patriarch, but the patriarch’s wife, Sophia.

“We’ve come to formalize alliances. Please moderate your words.”

“The daughter-in-law is still just as harsh.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Come on, dear, don’t be so strict.”

Gerard intervened gently. They said Sophia was far stronger than him in combat.

In the past she would have called me a bastard and a womanizer, but after my own recent sins, I had no moral ground to judge her.

“Besides, Sir Corin Loch, Sun Knight, wants to take our daughters as wives. It’s an honor for the family and a blessing for the east.”

Sophia didn’t seem delighted, but neither did she oppose the double marriage.

After having been betrayed by her husband, perhaps these things no longer surprised her.

As the conversation progressed, the Emperor of the Sword asked me.

“So then, boy. Did you manage to imprint your intent into your sword?”

“Yes.”

“I’m curious. What essence did you imprint in your martial art?”

It was a question from one warrior to another.

During the promotion duel in the Guardian Association, he had already given me hints.

If not for him and my master, I never would have come this far.

It was only right to answer him.

“Penetration… and absence.”

“You mastered two essences?”

I nodded, and Garand let out a huge laugh.

“Well, well. You’re a monster. We need to give you more descendants. Gerard!”

“Y-yes, father?”

Gerard responded, startled by the call.

“Choose some pretty girls from the secondary branches. Give a couple to the boy.”

“Father!”

Not even Sophia’s protest stopped him. Gerard only obeyed reverently.

The one who broke this insanity was me.

“I refuse.”

“Hm? Want to stay chaste? What nonsense. A hero should impregnate twenty or thirty women.”

“What kind of stupidity are you saying?”

“…!!”

Everyone was horrified.

I had directly insulted the Emperor of the Sword.

Not even the king would dare speak to him like that.

“Stop deciding things as you please. I will not allow you to belittle Lunia and Alisha.”

But I wasn’t just anyone.

I was Corin Loch, Sun Knight, the man who saved the world.

Not even the Emperor of the Sword could crush me anymore.

“Hehehe… very well. But tell me honestly—are they really only two? I heard there are more women around you.”

“…”

He hit me where it hurt. I was going to tell them anyway.

“Actually—”

I told them about Marie and the rest of my future wives. Also about my meetings with the in-laws to ask for permission.

“…”

“…”

Neither Garand nor Gerard reacted much.

Of course—it made sense. The royal family, the Dunaleff, and the Ardens already had a pact.

Better to accept my harem than start another civil war.

“Hahaha, Sir Corin is exactly as the rumors say! A great hero who walks a great path!”

Gerard was the first to speak.

He practically begged to accept me while praising my harem.

And now he was my father-in-law, so I had to endure it.

“Good, I approve. Have many children.”

Garand also accepted. I didn’t expect him to oppose.

So House Arden was also approved?

The next place to visit was—

“Are you insane?”

A cold voice cut through the air.

“Mother-in-law?”

“Mother?”

The unexpected opposition came from Sophia Arden.

Even Lunia and Alisha froze.

“A man wants to have seven wives? What kind of shameless adultery is that?”

She stood up abruptly. Her burning gaze made it clear she would never approve of this.

“I do not approve of this marriage!”

A completely logical and normal reaction.

Of course it came from the mother-in-law.

***

Arden guest room.

Lunia, Alisha, and I were resting from the trip.

“Will everything be okay?”

Alisha was the first to speak.

“Hard to say.”

“Corin, you’re the one involved. How can you be so calm?”

“…She didn’t say anything wrong.”

What parent would approve of their daughters being put into a harem?

“The only normal one here is Lady Sophia. The Emperor of the Sword and Gerard aren’t in their right minds.”

“Grandpa only thinks that as long as the man is strong, nothing else matters. Dad sees everything as business.”

Lunia analyzed her family with precision. Alisha tilted her head.

“Business?”

“Corin is the symbol of the Solar War. And as an Elite Knight, he will follow in Grandpa’s footsteps. Besides, we have to consider his connections with the royal family and Dunaleff.”

“Aahh…”

Lunia smiled and stroked my cheek.

“Also, our husband is handsome, talented, and has more than enough connections.”

“Ahem…”

This woman spoiled me more than she showed.

“In any case, don’t worry too much. My mother has weight in the family, but not even she can go against both Dad and Grandpa.”

“I want to convince her properly…”

I wanted to be accepted. It was the least I could do.

“Time will resolve it.”

Maybe I should trust Lunia—I was thinking that when—

“Lunia! Alisha!”

Someone knocked on the door. A servant was panting from having run.

“What’s happening?”

“Lady Sophia…!”

Sophia?

The news the servant gave us was something none of us could have imagined.

“Lady Sophia has started a hunger strike to oppose the marriage!”