"Thanks for the meal!"
"Thanks for the meal~!"
"It was just a regular breakfast, but it somehow tasted better than usual!"
After eating, Kunou was amazed by what she called the "camp curry phenomenon", that food made in fun circumstances always tasted better.
Given her position, she's probably only cooked with subordinates before, never with a friend, so it must've felt refreshing… That said, when she fed me simmered potatoes and nervously asked, "I-Isn't this the kind of thing boys like?", I wanted to sink into the floor. Yasaka-san clearly taught her that.
"I'm glad. Then next time, let's cook together again?"
"Hmm… That's good, but I'd also like to cook a full meal for you by myself at least once."
As I watched her ponder seriously, I smiled and said, "Then I'll help out occasionally." She nodded, "That's a great idea!"
A bit later, Yasaka-san arrived, exchanged greetings, and got to the point.
Apparently, not a single general participant had dropped out yet… What exactly is driving them?
I spent some more time relaxing with Kunou until it was time to transfer again.
=====================
This time, things were slightly different, the battered suitor candidates had been teleported near the middle of the battlefield.
The moment I saw them, I dashed in. If I waited, we'd repeat yesterday's disaster.
I grabbed the two on the right by the face and slammed them into the ground. They were already unconscious. I tossed them to the edge of the field and did the same with the remaining three. As long as I watch my positioning, there should be no collateral damage.
Then came another battle with the undying mob. Eventually, I failed to parry one, someIttoued at my side from behind.
Previously, I would've ramped up my touki to defend, but not today!
I had a new method.
Instead of boosting my overall touki, I concentrated the surrounding energy to a single point to defend.
It's the same logic Ikki Kurogane from Chivalry of a Failed Knight used to block the world's strongest swordsman's attack with magic emission! This way, I can defend without needing more touki!
CRACK!
"GUOOOHHH!!?"
…Except I missed the spot, and got slashed hard. Big damage.
Damn it, me! Why would I try pinpoint defense against a full attack like that right off the bat!? I should've tested it on something easier first, like a punch!
"HAHAHA! That one landed, huh!? That's the pain of all our broken hearts!!"
"Pile on!!"
Those crazed lunatics weren't going to let up just because I was injured. Their attacks intensified, even friendly fire didn't matter anymore.
"Seriously, what's wrong with you guys!? Sure, I'm Kunou's fiancé, but I've done nothing to deserve this much hate!"
Isn't it normal for at least one of you to calm down overnight!?
Even psychologists say anger is hard to sustain, don't they!?
"Don't play dumb! You know what you did! Yesterday, you had your head in Kunou-chan's lap! You even sat her on your legs and petted her fluffy tails!"
"And this morning, you made breakfast together! She even fed you with an 'Aa~n'! Aaa… AAAAAHHHHHH!!"
Hold on, how do you know that!? Also, don't go insane before finishing your sentence!
As I braced myself and healed my side, a voice-only transmission from Yasaka-san came in.
[Hmm. Looks like they found out quicker than expected.]
…I had a feeling.
"Yasaka-san!? Just to confirm, was that house full of hidden cameras!?"
[Indeed. But don't worry, it's not broadcast live. I personally edit the footage before showing it to those guys.]
"That doesn't make it better! Why would you do that!?"
Is this why they're so pissed!?
I mean, yeah… If you're a bunch of rugged guys and you see the dude who beat you getting pampered by a beautiful girl… I get the rage.
[If they truly love my daughter and go mad because of it, then one day, they must face the truth… Kunou the idol will eventually graduate… and marry. If they truly want her happiness, they must accept that, even in tears.]
"That still doesn't explain why you'd incite them like this!"
I blasted an enemy away while yelling.
[They're still driven by rage now, but they'll wear down in time. When they keep seeing Kunou's happy face, they'll begin to question everything. Eventually, they'll realize, her happiness was already achieved. Then it'll dawn on them: they're only getting in the way. That realization will break their spirits. And if I handle it right, I can turn their fanatical devotion into loyal obedience.]
I heard Yasaka-san laughing through the line.
This woman… she's poisoning them with happiness.
I used to joke about her being part of some pleasure cult, but now I'm legitimately picturing a certain sadistic priest…
[Oh, and don't tell Kunou about the cameras, okay? I want natural footage. I've already planted the idea of lap pillows and sweet moments in her head, just leave it to her courage to deliver the goods.]
She's actively weaponizing sweetness to crush their spirits!
"…Got it. Leave it to me, dear mother-in-law…"
And with that, the transmission ended.
I now understood what it meant to be on the Buddha's palm. These fanatics still attacking me suddenly felt a little… pitiful.
Well, whether I fully accept this or not, I get it now.
From here on out, I'll stop worrying about their reasons, and just treat them as training dummies.
With that resolve, I charged straight into the fray again, this time, determined to master focused defense.
=====================
Note: Sweet scenes with girls like Kunou are way harder to write than regular romance parts!!