A young figure sat on a huge tree, leaning against its trunk under the sun.
"According to the butterfly effect," he said, "the fate of humanity can be changed by one simple choice."
He stared up at the sky and added, "In other words… it's a messed-up phenomenon. At least, for me."
He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. "Because… up until now, I've made several regrettable choices." His eyes flicked to the horizon,
Adrian stood, brushed dust from his clothes, and walked toward the road.
An old man was struggling with a carrot, bent awkwardly over the soil.
"Need a hand?" Adrian asked.
"No, I'm fine," the man replied.
He froze, eyes wide. "Huh? Young Lord Adrian?"
Adrian crouched, brushing the soil aside. "You're planting them wrong. Carrots need straight, firm furrows. Too deep and they'll rot, too shallow and they'll twist. Give them loose but packed soil, and they grow stronger, sweeter, healthier. Planting right makes all the difference."
Adrian straightened, brushing the dust off his clothes, and walked down the road, leaving the old man behind.
"Thank you, Young Lord Adrian!" the man called after him, gratitude in his voice.
Adrian didn't reply, only gave a small nod and continued toward his house. Once inside, he went upstairs, kicked off his shoes, and collapsed onto his bed.
He let out a long sigh, staring at the ceiling. Life sucks… but somehow, it could always suck worse.
Adrian had barely drifted off when a soft voice called, "Honey?"
A moment later, a little sharper: "Honey… are you listening?"
He shot awake, one eye cracking open, sharp and alert, a frown forming.
A knock echoed sharply against the door.
The voice followed, calm but edged with authority: "I came here knowing you're in there. It would be… far better for you to open the door."
"…I already asked Thallia the lodge house master," the voice continued, calm but firm. "They said you don't have any classes scheduled for today. Honestly, it would be better if you just opened the door."
"Are you planning to ignore me until the very end?"
Adrian yanked the blanket over himself and slid to the far edge of the bed, pressing his back against the wall like a nervous cat. His fingers dug into the quilt, and his eyes peeked out, narrowing at the ceiling.
"There's no other stalker like her…" he muttered, voice low and tense.
"Fine," the voice replied, cold and sharp.
A tip of a sword appeared on the wooden door, catching the light as it scraped against the wood.
The woman's voice followed, steady and dangerous: "Then I'll cut my way through."
Adrian stiffened under the blanket, every nerve on edge.
"This crazy woman!!" Adrian thought, eyes widening as he stared at the door.
Suddenly, a series of rapid, sharp slashes tore into the wood.
"I-Isn't that against the rules?!" he shouted, panic rising in his voice.
"The student council's president is the one who carries out punishments when someone goes against the rules…!!" he added, heart pounding.
"Unfortunately for you, I am the president of the Student Council," the voice replied.
The door exploded inward. Adrian tumbled back onto the bed, covering himself with his hands as splinters flew.
A figure stepped inside, calm and teasing. "Haven't you been avoiding me lately? To be specific… thirty-two times."
"You… were counting…?" Adrian muttered, eyes wide beneath his hands.
"I have a question for you," the woman figure asked.
"Adrian Merrick…"
She had long white hair and striking pink eyes. She wore a ruffled white blouse with a black bow, a black buckled harness over a dark garment, white gloves, and thigh-high white boots.
Then she asked, "Will you marry me?"
Adrian raised his hand, stammering, "L-Lirielle? Wai—"
Another voice cut through sharply. "What are you talking about, Princess Caldwell?"
Adrian glanced toward the window—and there she stood. Another problem for him.
Her black-and-white hair framed piercing red eyes. She wore a red top with a cross design, black pants, and a flowing cape. Tattoos snaked across her hands, and a black raven perched on her shoulder, tilting its head like it understood everything.
She looked at Lirielle and sneered, "To think you covet a man who's already taken… is that how your family works?"
Adrian's voice cracked, trembling with shock. "N-Nymerris!"
Lirielle's pink eyes glinted with a mix of curiosity and challenge as they locked onto her target. "This place… far too bright for an Underlord. Aren't you worried about… too many witnesses?"
Nymerris tilted her head lazily, crimson eyes flashing with lethal amusement. Her tongue flicked out in mockery. "Witnesses? They are irrelevant. Every life in my way… is simply part of my creed, Princess."
The tension in the room thickened like a drawn blade. Adrian's chest tightened, caught between awe, fear, and disbelief at the audacity of both women.
Adrian broke the silence, shouting, "W-Wait!!"
The two women turned to look at him.
"I'm very uncomfortable right now! Not just because you broke my peaceful sleep… but, as you know, I haven't even thought about marriage ye—"
An explosion tore across the rooftop, and a figure landed between Adrian and the two women.
"…N-Neru?" Adrian stammered.
The woman grinned at him. "Heyy, Adrian!!"
Neru stepped forward, sliding smoothly in front of Adrian. Her skin was a warm tan, short white hair tousled around her small, curved horns. A white wrap clung to her chest, while a loose jacket and pants allowed for easy movement. Blue, scale-like markings traced along her arms and chest, glinting faintly as she moved, giving her an almost otherworldly presence.
"Live with me!!" she declared, eyes sparkling with mischief and determination.
Neru leaned closer, a playful grin on her face. "The wedding preparations are practically done, so all you need to do now is… come with me!!"
From the shadows, another voice rang out, sharp and disapproving.
"How rude."
A woman stepped forward, her green eyes bright and calculating, green-black hair cascading around her shoulders. "Sir Adrian, pardon me for asking… but what do you do on a day-to-day basis to be surrounded by such… snobs? As your fiancée, I simply cannot let this slide."
Adrian's eyes widened, panic rising. "Y-Ysirea?!!"
Before Adrian could catch his breath, the other side of the house exploded. Dust and debris filled the air, and a new figure emerged.
She had long blonde hair and pale, piercing eyes. A flowing blue dress hugged her form, accented with gold shoulder armor, gauntlets, and boots that gleamed even in the chaos.
"Can you please shut your mouths, you jealous women?" she snapped, striding confidently toward them.
Her gaze locked on Adrian, sharp and possessive. "Adrian Merrick is mine."
"C-Celestine!!" Adrian stammered, eyes wide.
Lirielle's pink gaze locked onto the blonde woman. "I see… it seems this has become a competition."
Nymerris smirked, crimson eyes glinting. "You must be delusional."
Neru's voice rang out, panicked and sharp. "What are you doing, Adrian?! Are you not coming?! Huh!?"
Ysirea stepped forward, green eyes calm but firm. "Sir Adrian… I think you should decline everyone."
Celestine's pale eyes swept over the group, her tone cold and commanding. "If there are objections to something that has already been set in stone… there is only one conclusion."
Adrian's jaw dropped as he glanced at the five women before him—disbelief and shock written across his face.
Without warning, the five women dashed at each other, weapons flashing and spells igniting around them.
Adrian threw his hands up, panic and disbelief overtaking him. "W-Why are you people talking shit among yourselves!!???"