Yuuto was still holding Irene's hand when a voice sounded behind him.
"Commander," the voice said calmly.
Yuuto released Irene's hand and turned around.
Belfast stood there, her posture as straight as ever.
She bowed her head slightly—
a familiar gesture of respect.
"Before I answer as a woman," Belfast continued in a steady yet clear tone,
"allow me to answer first as your servant… and as your ship."
Yuuto's gaze fixed on her.
"I was created to serve," Belfast continued. "To protect, to ensure your safety, and to uphold your honor above all else, Commander."
She raised her head and looked directly at Yuuto, without hesitation.
"If you choose the path of a king,
then I will become the sword, the shield, and the fortress that supports that kingdom."
Belfast paused for a moment.
Then her voice softened—more personal.
"And… as Belfast, not as a ship," she said slowly,
"I do not mind."
A small smile appeared on her face.
"I have seen every side of you, Commander.
When you fight, cook, eat, sleep…
when you are strong, and when you show your weakest self."
"I know you completely."
Yuuto fell silent for a moment, then smiled faintly.
"Eh… you even know that much," he said honestly.
"I did struggle the first time I killed someone."
He exhaled slowly.
"But that won't happen again, Belfast.
I won't show that side anymore."
Belfast stepped one step closer.
"In my opinion, that is not a problem, Commander," she said gently.
"That weakness proves that you still have empathy."
"That is natural for someone who enters the battlefield for the first time."
"And if you ask me to walk beside you," she continued,
"then that is not a shameful request."
She bowed her head slightly.
"As long as there is one condition."
Yuuto looked at her.
"What is it, Belfast?"
Belfast met his gaze, her eyes clear and serious.
"Never treat me as a mere object or decoration," she said firmly.
"Treat me as a partner who stands at your side."
Then she knelt on one knee—
like a knight who had chosen her lord.
"If that is your will—
then I, Belfast, will willingly become one of your partners."
Silence fell.
Then Belfast added, in her usual calm tone,
"Please take care of me from now on, darling."
A small smile adorned her face.
Yuuto returned it with a sincere smile.
"Yes, please take care of me as well, Belfast."
Yuuto then turned around.
From the beginning, Miku had been standing still—
silent, as if separated from the world.
Yuuto walked toward her.
"Miku," he said gently. "What is your answer?"
Miku did not respond immediately.
It was as if she had lost consciousness.
---
Inside Miku's Mind
Everything was silent.
A familiar dark space. Empty. Only a dim red light remained.
"Ara ara~"
a soft yet seductive voice sounded behind her.
"I didn't expect my Adam to take his first step so early."
Miku stiffened.
"So… what is your answer, my other self?" the voice continued.
"I don't mind at all. From the beginning, I wanted this."
Miku answered without turning around.
"I know you would be happy," she said softly.
"I will answer… but don't misunderstand—this is not because of you."
Footsteps approached.
Lilith emerged from the shadows—
the same face and body, but with crimson eyes gleaming with desire.
"Oh? Not because of me?"
Lilith chuckled and hugged Miku from behind.
"Aren't we one? Your answer is my answer too."
Miku bit her lip.
"Yes, we are one," she said firmly.
"But my answer is not because of you."
"It's because of Yuuto."
Lilith smiled widely.
"Hahaha~ but the answer is still the same."
She turned Miku around, forcing them to face each other.
"You want to be loved by him.
You want to be chosen by him.
You want to be touched, acknowledged, and be with him—don't you?"
Lilith leaned closer.
"Have you forgotten who I am? I am Lilith—
Adam's first wife, who refused submission and left the Garden of Eden."
"I am the embodiment of humanity's deepest lust… and your dark side."
"Now, show me that deepest desire."
Miku slapped her hand away.
"I don't want to love him in such a dirty way," she said trembling.
"I don't want to force him… and I don't want to hurt him."
She stepped back.
"I want sincerity."
Lilith fell silent.
Then she smiled—
softer than before.
"Oh, Miku… you are truly naive."
Lilith touched Miku's chest.
"There is no sincerity in love.
Only desire."
Miku brushed her hand away.
"No," she said firmly. "My love is not born from that."
Lilith lowered her head, her voice deepening.
"Hehehe~ don't lie.
You also love him for his body, don't you?"
"That too is desire."
Miku stepped forward and looked straight at Lilith.
"I love him because I've seen everything about Yuuto," she said firmly.
"I saw him when he was at his lowest—when he refused to open his heart to others."
"I saw him learn, train, fall, rise, and accept himself."
"I love him because my heart admires him."
"And I believe… the others do too."
She exhaled.
"I want us to be together as a family.
Consciously."
Lilith remained silent for a long time.
"You are a very stubborn girl," she finally said.
"I am," Miku replied briefly.
Lilith chuckled softly.
"Very well… I'll retreat for now."
"But remember this, Miku."
"If you fall… I will take over."
"I am the sheath. You are the sword."
"If the sword falls—
only the sheath remains."
Lilith slowly vanished.
"I will not fall," Miku whispered.
---
Back in the Real World
Miku jolted.
Yuuto was still standing in front of her, waiting patiently.
She clenched her fists.
Lifted her head.
Her face flushed—
but her eyes were clear.
"Yuuto… I—"
She smiled softly.
Then she stepped forward and kissed Yuuto.
"I want to be by your side."
Yuuto froze for a moment, then smiled gently.
"Thank you, Miku."
Miku returned the smile.
But no one knew—
that behind that smile,
a demon queen was also smiling…
waiting for her turn.
Yuuto looked at all of them and said,
"Thank you for accepting me," Yuuto said happily.
Then Lady Avalon's voice rang out, casual as ever, yet full of meaning.
"Still, honey," she said with a faint smile,
"whether it's courage or foolishness, I must admit one thing."
She slowly twirled her staff.
"You are truly incredibly bold—proposing to all six of us at once."
Yuuto's and Kuroneko's eyebrows twitched slightly when they heard Lady Avalon call him honey.
Yuuto smiled faintly.
"Sensei," he said calmly, "as I said earlier… I don't want to doubt my feelings anymore."
He clenched his fist over his chest.
"I don't want to be too late.
Besides… we spend our days together on the same ship. It would be impossible for me not to develop feelings for all of you."
Kuroneko immediately turned her face away, cheeks burning red.
"E-even so, you're moving too fast, Yuuto!" she protested.
Yuuto turned toward her.
"How is it too fast, Ruri?" he asked innocently.
"Y-you!" Kuroneko blushed even harder.
"You know it's supposed to be done slowly!"
She started counting on her fingers.
"Like… going on dates, watching movies together, holding hands,
watching the sunset at the beach…"
"L-like normal romantic couples!"
Yuuto nodded thoughtfully.
"Hm… that's true," he said honestly.
"But can't we still do all of that after we get married?"
Kuroneko froze.
Yamato immediately jumped in.
"Yeah, exactly!" she said cheerfully.
"We can do all of that together, right? It'd be more fun that way!"
"I don't mind either," Belfast added softly,
"as long as darling is together with us."
"B-but still—" Kuroneko tried to protest.
"Oh?" Lady Avalon interrupted teasingly.
"So you want to do all that alone with honey?"
She tapped her chin as if thinking.
"How cruel, Kuroneko. Leaving all of us behind."
"N-no! That's not it!" Kuroneko panicked.
"Oh?" Lady Avalon narrowed her eyes.
"Or perhaps… you want to do something naughty with honey when you're alone?"
"So lewd, Kuroneko~"
Kuroneko's face burned red.
She collapsed to the ground, covering her face.
"No…" she muttered weakly.
Irene stepped forward and patted Kuroneko's shoulder.
Kuroneko looked up at her hopefully.
"Irene…"
But Irene replied flatly yet firmly.
"You are not allowed to do things like that yet.
You're still too young—it's dangerous for your body."
"Wait a few more years until your body is ready."
Kuroneko's hope shattered.
"No!!!" she screamed.
Tears began to flow.
Miku quickly stepped forward and hugged her.
"You're all so mean," Miku said while patting Kuroneko's head.
"It's okay… it's okay…"
"Hic… hic…" Kuroneko cried in Miku's arms.
Suddenly—
Kuroneko's body lifted.
She gasped and found herself in Yuuto's arms.
One of Yuuto's hands supported her back,
the other held her from below.
Their faces were now extremely close—only inches apart.
"Sorry, Kuroneko," Yuuto said softly yet firmly.
"I'm not the kind of romantic you expect."
He looked straight at her.
"I'm not a rom-com protagonist from manga or anime who hesitates when he loves."
"If I love someone—
I'll say it honestly."
"Without hesitation."
Yuuto's gaze was gentle, yet filled with determination.
"I don't want to lose any of you.
I want you to stand by my side—not as companions, but as my partners."
Kuroneko fell silent, her face red, her breath caught.
Yuuto then turned to Lady Avalon.
"Sensei," he said. "Let's begin the ceremony."
"Please use that place as the venue."
Lady Avalon smiled widely.
"Oh? So you want to use that place as our wedding venue?"
She chuckled.
"Very well."
"Eh?! We're getting married right away?" Miku exclaimed.
"Don't we need preparations first?" Belfast added.
"And deciding the location—we still have many things to arrange, darling."
"No need to worry," Yuuto replied calmly.
"I know a suitable place."
"Oh?" Yamato tilted her head. "Where is it, anata?"
"That place is deeply connected to Arthurian legend," Yuuto said.
"Is it beautiful?" Irene asked.
"Don't worry," Lady Avalon cut in with a smile.
"You'll all love it."
She raised her staff.
"Hope of Avalon—Ever-Open Utopia."
Magic was released.
Woooosh—
The world around them changed instantly.
The ground was covered in flowers, gentle light enveloped the space, and the air felt warm and sacred.
"Where… is this?" Miku whispered.
Kuroneko, still in Yuuto's arms, looked around with wide eyes.
"This is…"
Lady Avalon stepped forward, then turned to face them all.
"Welcome," she said with authority and warmth,
"to the Distant Utopia."
---
(Note: You may not like a chapter like this. Even so, I chose to write it. I don't want Yuuto's relationships with them to be left hanging without clarity. With these chapters, everything becomes clear. And don't expect Yuuto's harem to stop at just these six—this will continue to grow.)