Chapter 267: Side Story – ‘Fathers-in-Law’ Please Give Me Your Daughters! (3)
4iOrLI looked at the envelope of money in front of me.fVjv
rXbYes, it was money given by the king of the Potato Empire—the Dunaleff House.VVEUh
IuZIt was surely a check with an absurd sum.PlSpe
42wDrBut that wasn’t the important part.YMe8L
R8aI had already made Marie my woman.lWl
Usk8oII couldn’t accept this no matter how much money it was.KiC
qTSCrk“I can’t accept it, father-in-law!”zOcXIP
ifFA“I told you not to call me father-in-law!!”YiM
kFbjQThe duke convulsed when he heard “father-in-law.” But I couldn’t back down.7kKvAad
sUB“I can’t accept this money!”O3HRdZF
POCuZRu“Is it because it’s too little?”TCfzH
c0Ok“No!”TXV
bRH“One million isn’t enough for you? Then I’ll give you two million!”11Y
cQHY“Either way, no— Huh?”HiIKll9
q4Yj8How much did he say?um0C5
T7GeAAITwo million gold?fKr
TEd20 trillion dollars?fi8
Ls6fvLAs my mind finished converting the currency, Duke Marde slammed the table and pointed at me as if he knew.CNPCLD
XZgWdv3“This bastard is tempted, isn’t he?! Huh!? You’re considering it, right!”4lA4FP
n1tn“N-no, it’s not that.”7w2
IU1yWUIt’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!W6M00
WasaqyF“I knew a filthy worm that wants to build a harem would react like this!”jAjEg7
O8n“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!”M8fJSv
GnIP“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!”qeFVtmT
qbmYSqFace red, the duke looked around and grabbed a steaming espresso cup.JJ3
XEAnz8“Father-in-law, no!”NRUjZ
CvYITYI grabbed his hand. No more telenovela scenes!4GJ8
ClL“You can’t throw it at me! It’s hot!”YTk
kYf4“That’s why I’m going to throw it at you! Let go! Are you going to let me go or not?!”UwuhQeR
dkM“I’m heat-immune anyway! Even if you set me on fire, not a single hair burns!”tqVGZ
93pS2L“And what about it?! It’s so you’ll feel terrible, idiot!”rMKWf
8blo“Calm down! Marie and I even already have a child!”orbNK
lB5G“What…!? Hahaha, do you think I’ll believe that? Don’t use Duggu for your tricks! He’s eleventh in the line of succession.”95k
jzk7ra“…He entered the succession? And me?”n93
vQWVrT“Why the hell would I leave anything to you?”UWT5
KlbP“But I’m his biological father.”dqDo
3czcGHCWhat!? I want to enter the line of succession too!0X4laW
0nMkVUQ“Let go of me!”SRWsSu
DQbJf“I’m not letting go!”0Fu00T
7cjh“I said let go!”4uh13
afuTThe duke was a high mage. I was a supreme knight. Obviously, when pushing, he was the one being forced back.2fWYL6
fOjlkoK“Sir, calm down, calm down.”cVv2dtP
oCQQWLqThe guards gently warned us, and when I responded yes, the duke freaked out even more.gb6
IhvNZgb“What are you doing!? I was attacked! Arrest him right now!”6p8V
o8ZOM“…”UwFj
5FIuvG“…”Ajv
JyTThe guards made a face like “there’s no way.” The captain said honestly.AlI7QtS
DQfEh“Who could detain a Sun Knight? We saw his battle records—he literally flies.”7e8eD
5sI“Hey, useless idiots!”FiUyIe
e8g“Duke, for Miss Marie’s future, calm down and speak slowly.”gCbqNIa
5i6oyKX“Tsk…”3r2d
jVlJY0iHe tried calling for the butler Paul or the wyvern cavalry captain, Berg, but in the end he gave up.2PdQK
Bk0ocF“Haa…”kM4rWIw
5UsThe duke looked like he had aged ten years in an instant. I felt a bit sorry for him.TjT08
KO6HII“Ehm… father-in-law.”d5TroX
dm6“Don’t… call me that… haa…”rbU12
D5dHe sighed, no longer having the strength to argue.PyI51
fbR“Then… the marriage…”gbT
3zmJsEC“…You intend to do it, right?”R0aOa8
ks8l8if“Well… yes.”H6Ns
tgQK9“And you really… plan to marry all seven?”i7Se
mdJe“Yes…”V5hwTO
bJVThe duke lowered his head and answered.cwXQU
iaf8v“Do it.”hsaD
rqRs“Huh?”8cAx
VmBhJust like that? So easily?2Q9BFWK
Zqf“Just like that?”aNTg
jtAH“…It was part of a pact.”IjRO
yZEu“A pact?”aP96DK
QmTThe story went back to last winter, during the famous “Great Battle for the Son-in-law.”Lls8yi
jHPs4n7— My Corin will marry Marie.DKK
eypCz58— No. I’ll give him my two daughters and make him a consort.U89sIso
E39— Don’t touch the son-in-law I paid more for.scFdfz
d5NuIt was an absurd war between Dunaleff, El Ras, and Arden.xNJ6Y
9Vx9Dozens of trillions moving, troops deployed, tax audits on allied noble families.r0cGXj1
ttBiEIn the end, they stopped the war through an agreement.YApbKw
gClrBut the war hadn’t ended, only been postponed. When the continent stabilized, it would erupt again.P5z
I63HA8B“We made an agreement—if after everything the problems resurfaced, we would let the children decide.”CpMVqzF
9D27Za“Oh…”ZUA
VABsjA3“Oh?”63d4C
DiNfh“Nothing, nothing.”BMegVp2
g5m2sIBI avoided his fierce gaze and nodded as if I understood everything.MYidXr
VX0dRXH“We couldn’t destroy the entire kingdom just to get a son-in-law…”Y32Iu3
5A4So there was a pact behind all this…?6DTXX6M
cAzsdI 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.Ge3Bs
X18I shot up and bowed deeply to the duke.ZRIR
eFejoO“Father-in-law! Thank you for giving me your daughter!”dVdq
NmWa“S-stop… call— Aaaagh!”ZTbSeZy
oXgStill trembling with anger, he took my hand. I spoke sincerely.HpuSW
qMMV“I will make Marie happy. Truly. Please trust me.”keSoo
QqR“Ghh….”Qnoe9mF
2sI4Though distrustful, he ended up accepting me.SpQ
WVtORT“Take care of my Marie… please!”2uYCxmR
xnpCI thought this would be the biggest obstacle, but it was easier than expected.xDhd
ZFG············zB3Mz
E4aPY9S·······IdMPxsw
GBlbP····xmD6I7
q3jA“Corin! How did it go?”iWtp9kV
Siwn“Your dad accepted!”qxsH
4ddp6“Really?!”X5cqoSw
al3AJUQI lifted Marie in my arms. I felt the duke’s bitter gaze, but it was too late.bxY4
CYx8j6iAs I lifted her, I admired her generous curves. I no longer had any reason to hold back.jE6J3
jhUE“I can’t believe this is mine…”lZxf
bG9ez“Hmm? What is?”adJUV
nXOG5R7“Nothing… wife.”hRX
86w“Yes, husband!”QzeCJ
Uipr“I offer my entire fortune to whoever kills that bastard…”oJE
gPXnYn“No, Duke…”BAdP
Tew2“Please control yourself…”bpZo1
GwFh***opFa
e9smThe Kingdom of El Ras was practically an empire that dominated most of the continent.BOci
5XoAnd because it possessed such a vast territory, the defense of its borders was more important than anything else.cP4XX
CI5Ci31For a long time, the most unstable areas of the kingdom had been the north and the east.P0He4Ht
ftCeIn 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.Rl3
uoWHCUnlike 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.eJ2
20BKCCIt was in that east, full of warrior families, where a man appeared and changed everything.zC9A
JUKGarand Arden, the Emperor of the Sword.mpp
XK6FARmA man who was the pinnacle of his era.FozbXv
Ce4nFzQHis appearance marked the beginning of the pacification of the eastern region.lLnZLHV
MxvIn his youth, he dominated through pure brute strength.V8ov
pJf2In his maturity, he displayed an unprecedented martial mastery.D7Fg
NZQsIYRaising the prestige of House Arden—already famous for its sword arts—to a position unreachable for any common family.Nb80m
UEF7dAnd 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.LFpt74
nKFLAs a swordsman, Gerard had average talent.3Zujdl5
wm5But as a businessman, he was a genius.Rn3HaH
A6PyfHe 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.ZTMlAIe
Xpu4arbAnd none of that would have been possible without his wife, Sophia Arden.L5EFelk
VG6HPsShe possessed a talent comparable to her husband’s, but in the theory of combat.htBy
JFkSiFkShe was the one who compiled and structured the martial arts theory of the Arden style.kGZ6iK
MSh9The 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.Xg4
Bz9Sophia classified that concept into single-sword arts, dual-sword arts, long swords, daggers, and illusionary swords.EWLbN
9pJThanks to her theory, the complex “Heavenly Sword” could be transformed into a manual accessible to common people.Rrcb9h
2cfMPYIf the supreme technique were handed directly to people, they couldn’t even imitate the first line.Brx
ukXZThat’s why Sophia’s systematized theory was essential for the national expansion of the Arden style.zjL3ihZ
epO1YXAnd so, three generations after the Emperor of the Sword—kO1tqp
tdszETwo brilliant swordmasters were born in the Arden family.ILK6p
O6WgUwMLunia Arden, the prodigy swordswoman who rose to Semi-Elite Knight as the youngest in history, and considered the most promising heiress.JXi
jFwcdvAnd Alisha Arden, the family’s troublemaker, who blossomed in the academy and managed to manifest “Domain Cut,” the zenith of the Arden style.EPF04
2NoaWhile the family secretly debated which of the two would be the next leader, their return home became a huge event.qdauA63
eUqGQzAnd even more so because they were returning with the supreme hero of the Solar War, Corin Loch.Ai6
WmH7M“We greet Sir Corin Loch!”zLO8Y
Y8p“We greet Sir Corin Loch!!”5A4
GAyLThousands of muscular men bowed in unison.Kw5lHE0
zXZhLzvIt looked like entering the headquarters of a mafia.Znx8K
xhQC“What a reception.”t5J
F3SQdsjLunia let out a small laugh. She had received exactly the same treatment a few minutes earlier.TPy7Qx
LEjR2“Lunia, you didn’t order this, right?”rOvX0
19kvsOM“Many must have come on their own. You know the customs here.”dnPfwc
GchX“Survival of the strongest, right?”mmJ
3ayMz“And they’re not doing it just because of you.”2jzGr
wpe4Her gaze turned toward the back of the residence. A prickling sensation emanated from there.d39
spEVzA5“Ugh… Grandpa must be here.”7kHDQ
9vXruAlisha shrank, clinging to my side as if she saw a ghost.bJW45sG
yo5fU“Weren’t you close with the Emperor of the Sword?”BG5
zFTBlOf her entire family, only Lunia and Garand had protected her when she was scorned.hPRhYJ
28lL“Mmm… I’ve surpassed most of them already. But the old man… I still can’t beat him.”QBPbu2
q81l“…”a0noyAv
7ZWSo this girl also had the eastern “might makes right” mindset embedded.PChQ0c3
oxLisKH“I guess Alisha really is a legitimate daughter of the Ardens.”JKFwwj
iKO4N“Well… let’s go.”eGyM19w
5MARThousands of swordsmen opened a path for us toward the center of the Arden residence.trY
QKZIE“Oh~ you arrived.”U9JeH
aREAMrThere were the former patriarch Garand Arden, the current patriarch Gerard Arden, and Sophia Arden.ea8ddIx
ksbFD“Sit down.”vi7Ts7p
5WP5mThe one leading the meeting was not the current patriarch, but the former one.2D7DI
tlhThe name of the Emperor of the Sword was still legendary across the continent.0Xpm
tx0HHis strength was at a world level.lexKJW
Sd4pNot even a “patriarch” could compete with that authority.OAURuk
LTJz“Then, excuse me…”huGsG
MtXDC7oI sat in the guest seat, with Alisha and Lunia at my sides. A few gazes watched us.JXCU
sR14qo9“Hm~ Yes, I already heard. You want to take Lunia and Alisha as wives?”GdMX
aZoA“Father…”Akd
PsU0uHgThe one who protested wasn’t the patriarch, but the patriarch’s wife, Sophia.Ci0rJa
uRpDBGT“We’ve come to formalize alliances. Please moderate your words.”tZp
eZj47“The daughter-in-law is still just as harsh.”RKevS
gIB9“…I’m sorry.”Eo6
zaIGq“Come on, dear, don’t be so strict.”FuqZE84
69nW6Gerard intervened gently. They said Sophia was far stronger than him in combat.sKp
bT4D3In 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.fnaO4N
9AKb4“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.”GGncNR
4IuSophia didn’t seem delighted, but neither did she oppose the double marriage.9J85
dKuAfter having been betrayed by her husband, perhaps these things no longer surprised her.5sGjC2j
YVIAs the conversation progressed, the Emperor of the Sword asked me.Fqb6x
w7VZw0“So then, boy. Did you manage to imprint your intent into your sword?”L0DzW4z
5IJ“Yes.”umnwth
8f2jq65“I’m curious. What essence did you imprint in your martial art?”JG4GzL6
YZvIt was a question from one warrior to another.HDHHp
nXlfzDuring the promotion duel in the Guardian Association, he had already given me hints.5oC
ADyed0CIf not for him and my master, I never would have come this far.y7AzE
kVMq5qvIt was only right to answer him.ECvW
5kbU8b“Penetration… and absence.”BKRb2
3PO17“You mastered two essences?”JmQVTDv
khI1I nodded, and Garand let out a huge laugh.lBZiO7
hNT“Well, well. You’re a monster. We need to give you more descendants. Gerard!”h4ig11
AFtK3T“Y-yes, father?”E6G9hS
qsCGerard responded, startled by the call.hRBCfld
cag“Choose some pretty girls from the secondary branches. Give a couple to the boy.”TdV
Xcf9U“Father!”LoR3HV0
8GY6ENot even Sophia’s protest stopped him. Gerard only obeyed reverently.FzrAyWJ
8VFS4lThe one who broke this insanity was me.uH1j48
BGXp“I refuse.”RU9Xe
vLLwY“Hm? Want to stay chaste? What nonsense. A hero should impregnate twenty or thirty women.”JiBm
ZniBil2“What kind of stupidity are you saying?”GYqQS
oQBz6N“…!!”YNgxZv
EzPWEveryone was horrified.mkK
Pi7glI had directly insulted the Emperor of the Sword.tDa0b
b0wXNot even the king would dare speak to him like that.9bH1fAD
YzHZ“Stop deciding things as you please. I will not allow you to belittle Lunia and Alisha.”LsMZb57
2HXpBut I wasn’t just anyone.Qtt
sItNRiI was Corin Loch, Sun Knight, the man who saved the world.sCoyS7
xnXFaN9Not even the Emperor of the Sword could crush me anymore.Q0vbC3B
BOLx“Hehehe… very well. But tell me honestly—are they really only two? I heard there are more women around you.”b9QhFU
fneX“…”PYh6ou3
Cr4Yrs6He hit me where it hurt. I was going to tell them anyway.7nG
cu8pZup“Actually—”3LCUh
9GeFI told them about Marie and the rest of my future wives. Also about my meetings with the in-laws to ask for permission.oDlZuc
lZq“…”fY5n
Iizx“…”sAS
eePHUGNeither Garand nor Gerard reacted much.7m6u
vVin4aOf course—it made sense. The royal family, the Dunaleff, and the Ardens already had a pact.TE8FvJ
7P1Better to accept my harem than start another civil war.0e7QofX
AuMh“Hahaha, Sir Corin is exactly as the rumors say! A great hero who walks a great path!”5UNlU5
zPjCsGerard was the first to speak.cbz
RuVHe practically begged to accept me while praising my harem.RNnsj
ivshXHAnd now he was my father-in-law, so I had to endure it.owhd
Wlr6h“Good, I approve. Have many children.”hhi
DiLCBGarand also accepted. I didn’t expect him to oppose.jkPO
QOdQSo House Arden was also approved?3UW
Enhp7The next place to visit was—0nGRT
TkdMBO“Are you insane?”CmBtL
IvUwA cold voice cut through the air.MihrC7E
SF0“Mother-in-law?”Vm0x
HyB“Mother?”Ek1eIlX
5G8FIThe unexpected opposition came from Sophia Arden.9E07
R38R7Even Lunia and Alisha froze.z9xM0Ko
Q9h81SB“A man wants to have seven wives? What kind of shameless adultery is that?”wI0
OuAgHShe stood up abruptly. Her burning gaze made it clear she would never approve of this.rlMkme6
5hD“I do not approve of this marriage!”wfg
OXudjA completely logical and normal reaction.fDikKH5
GYc3l9Of course it came from the mother-in-law.coT
AGnqY***C0CMu7X
7WZgZqArden guest room.uXbCq
zuNqtLunia, Alisha, and I were resting from the trip.OOyI
oEI“Will everything be okay?”hy2yW
2EbFXCYAlisha was the first to speak.IZHuQD
M56“Hard to say.”Ef10
8HJn“Corin, you’re the one involved. How can you be so calm?”YVbxbJ8
9m5e6BN“…She didn’t say anything wrong.”Sg6YjWC
hckxtWhat parent would approve of their daughters being put into a harem?4yoBv
MfH“The only normal one here is Lady Sophia. The Emperor of the Sword and Gerard aren’t in their right minds.”EcOk
EsLG4J“Grandpa only thinks that as long as the man is strong, nothing else matters. Dad sees everything as business.”dO2YS
yaQotGsLunia analyzed her family with precision. Alisha tilted her head.qwUEi
7kjT“Business?”vbI
RrzHh“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.”xanIs40
rWggM“Aahh…”PMV2Jm
0piiCLunia smiled and stroked my cheek.wi2JBRf
nsoTHm“Also, our husband is handsome, talented, and has more than enough connections.”rpD
IlwL9R“Ahem…”y4ts
acoZvFeThis woman spoiled me more than she showed.ekWTaU
Hj7QqgW“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.”hDTg
Vg6YLT1“I want to convince her properly…”8WgCK1y
61xYKI wanted to be accepted. It was the least I could do.iP6g
akzl“Time will resolve it.”8juQ
1bL0Maybe I should trust Lunia—I was thinking that when—MnnBu
vbN“Lunia! Alisha!”RM4ylYq
7W2ItB5Someone knocked on the door. A servant was panting from having run.Cy4
lLa“What’s happening?”yjS
BQqZlaM“Lady Sophia…!”gXn
uc6Sophia?VtGj
0xsTxThe news the servant gave us was something none of us could have imagined.0G5MM4
My3AGE9“Lady Sophia has started a hunger strike to oppose the marriage!”1ZrRe
What did you think of this chapter?
Report comment
Please select the reason for reporting this comment. False reports may result in account suspension.
0 Comments
There are no comments yet. Be the first!