Chapter 262 The King’s Return ①
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”I’m home!” I called out.
”Welcome back, Master,” Lily replied.
”Aieee-!”
After hitting the Royal Palace, the Convent Canarias ¹ and then the Merchant Guild Garou ² back-to-back to wrap up business, I finally made it through my own front door. Waiting there to catch me the moment I stepped inside were my darling slave, Lily, and my precious daughter, Momo.
”Did everything go well today?” Lily asked.
”Yeah. I’ll be tied up with the Guild for a while, but the Palace and the Convent have finally started playing ball,” I said.
”Ah! Ba-ba!”
”Oh, look at you! Why is Momo-chan so adorable today? That’s my girl! A literal ray of sunshine!”
I slid an arm around Lily’s waist and leaned in to press a tender kiss to each of their foreheads. Basking in the domestic bliss, I moved into the main room to find our elven adventurers, Tania and Laika, in the middle of dinner prep.
”Welcome back, Kento. Sit down, it’s almost ready,” Tania said.
”Welcome hooooome! We’re making some hardcore ‘Adventure Grub’ ³ tonight! Well… I mostly just chopped the veggies, but still!” Laika added.
Tania was wearing an apron and a triangular kerchief; there was a distracting, primal sexiness to her, like a young bride bustling through her first home. Behind her, Laika was practically vibrates, darting back and forth as she looked for a chance to wash the stray dishes.
I patted Laika’s head to calm her down before catching Tania at the right moment to pull her into a light hug from behind.
”I can’t wait. How are you two holding up? Any morning sickness? If you start feeling off, tell me before it gets painful, okay? I can take over the cooking whenever you need,” I said.
”Fufu, don’t be so overprotective,” Tania teased with a soft smile. “Didn’t Miranda say the same thing? Being too sedentary is actually bad for the body. Apparently, the daughters of high nobles who have too many servants are the ones who struggle most with childbirth…”
Lately, Tania had really started to radiate a certain ‘housewife’ aura-not that she wasn’t already my wife, but there was a new, warm domesticity to her.
Up until now, I hadn’t been able to dote on Tania and Laika as much as I had with Lily. Part of it was because their morning sickness hadn’t hit hard yet, part of it was my own schedule, and a big part was simply that they aren’t the type to sit still. Plus, with three women in the house, we weren’t exactly short on help. The real challenge would begin once their bellies really started to show. Until then, I’d have to keep my ‘vitality’ in reserve.
”Hm? That’s a lot of food. This looks like enough for five people. Were you guys that hungry?” I asked.
”Kento, where’s your tact?” Laika pouted.
”Fufu, we’re actually having guests tonight. It’s not just Laika’s appetite talking,” Tania explained.
”Hey! Big sister!”
I started setting the table, blocking Laika’s frantic ‘helping’ maneuvers, when it finally clicked. My intuition had been right; as I laid out three plates, Laika followed behind me with two more.
”Lady Aerith and Lady Tina are coming over,” Laika announced.
”Aerith and Tina…?” I muttered.
Aerith from the Merchant Guild Garou, and Lady Tina of the Duke Badcage estate. Our shop’s resident ‘High-Class Ladies’-or at least, the ones currently in the capital. It wasn’t rare for them to visit, but it was unusual for them to arrive as a pair. That’s when the lightbulb went off.
”Ah. Wait… don’t tell me…?”
Lily broke into a knowing grin. Tania started humming a cheerful tune, and Laika’s tail began thumping against the floor like a drum. I felt the corners of my own mouth twitching into a grin I couldn’t suppress.
It wasn’t long before Aerith and Tina arrived. They were both visibly restless throughout dinner, and once the meal was over, they helped me look after Momo with expressions that bordered on the sentimental.
”So,” I said, leaning in. “You two had something to tell me?”
”U-umu. That is… yes noja,” Tina stammered.
”Yes! We have very happy news! ♡” Aerith chirped.
Tina was blushing furiously, her index fingers twining together nervously. Meanwhile, Aerith was practically begging for headpats, her eyes shouting ‘Praise me!’ while her tail whipped the air. Aerith had basically already spoiled it, but she waited for Tina to find her courage so they could say it together.
”Well… it happened. I-I’m carrying your child…!” Tina cried.
”Yes, me too! It’s a little ‘Darling’ Jr.! ♡” Aerith added.
”I knew it…! Thank you. Thank you both so much!” I said.
”Kyaaa! ♡” they squealed.
Since I’d had a moment to brace myself, I didn’t hesitate to pull them both into a deep embrace. This made it official: following Tania and Laika, the pregnancy reports were in.
All four women who had wanted to conceive were now carrying my children. Children are a gift, and I’d been more than a little anxious about whether it would actually happen. But now the floodgates were open, and everyone was pregnant at basically the exact same time. Honestly, I felt like I deserved a little pat on the back for the… ‘stamina’ of my lower half.
We spent the rest of the evening in full celebration mode. I must have thanked them a hundred times, and I spent a good while nuzzling against their bellies-even if there wasn’t a bump to see yet. I thanked Lily, Tania, and Laika again, and even made sure to give ‘Momo-sama’ the official report.
Not wanting to push them, I saw them off to their respective carriages before it got too late, promising to visit every single day. They tried to tell me I was too busy, but I wasn’t having it.
”Please, don’t overexert yourself on our account. You’re already doing so much…” Tina said softly.
”Indeed. We have maids to look after us, so don’t worry your head about it,” Aerith added.
”I hear you, but Tina, you have a history of trying to carry the whole world on your shoulders noja. And Aerith, you’re just as bad in your own way. Her father, Duke Roost, is still out west dealing with the ‘Stampede’ ⁴ situation, so I know she’s stressed. I’m not letting either of you overdo it,” I told them.
”Hehe, alright. I’ll be looking forward to your visits then,” Aerith conceded.
”Noja… if you insist…” Tina muttered.
As a bonus, I’d already decided to draft my magic medicine mentor, Granny Miranda, into service as a midwife. Both their houses had family doctors, of course, but having her on call for a few check-ups would put my mind at ease.
And so, my new ‘Blissful Routine’ was born.
Mornings started at the Palace to consult with the sleep-deprived Court Mages, followed by a dash to the Badcage estate to check on Tina. Then, it was off to the Convent Canarias to oversee the production lines.
I’d head home for a late lunch with Tania, Laika, Lily, and Momo, and if everyone was healthy and happy, I’d swing by to see Aerith. If she was doing well, I’d finish the day at the Guild to check their gear and vitals before heading home at dusk.
I felt like a wild animal patrolling its territory… circling the capital every single day. It was exhausting, and the threat of the Stampede was always looming, but I’d never felt more fulfilled.
However, there was one more… ‘pressing’ matter left to attend to at the shop. Later that evening, when I finally found a quiet moment, I approached Lily.
”Ahem… Lily-san? Might I have a moment of your time…?”
”Of course, but… what’s with the formal tone?” she asked, tilting her head.
I don’t know why, but my nerves were shot. I felt like a teenager again. I cleared my throat, trying to play it cool while my heart hammered against my ribs.
”Ehem. Right. Well… how are you feeling? Physically, I mean,” I asked.
”My health? As you can see, I’m perfectly fine. You worry so much I’m surprised you haven’t memorized my pulse by now. Why do you ask?” Lily replied.
”Right… yeah. Good point,” I muttered.
I was still being indecisive, and Lily just kept watching me, her head tilted in curiosity. She was usually so quick to catch on-surely she knew where I was going with this?
”Well, it’s just… I think it’s about time, don’t you? For tonight… if you’re up for it? We’re a bit short-handed lately… or rather… short an opening…?”
It was my first ‘invite’ in over a year, and it came out sounding incredibly awkward, my voice even cracking at the end. But Lily didn’t seem to mind. Her expression shifted to one of realization, and then, a soft, knowing smile.
”Of course. I am yours, Master. Always.” She leaned in, her eyes shimmering with a sudden, sultry ‘lustre.’ “Wait for me in the ‘Laboratory’ tonight. Once I’ve put Momo to sleep… I’ll come to see you. ♡”
I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly very dry.
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Summary:
Kento returns home from a busy day to find his harem thriving. Aerith and Tina arrive to join Tania and Laika in announcing their pregnancies. The chapter concludes with Kento finally inviting Lily to the ‘Laboratory’ for an intimate night.
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Character Insight:
Kento struggles with the transition from doting father to assertive husband, showing significant anxiety despite his ‘king’ status. The women show strong domestic solidarity.
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Behind the Scenes:
The title ‘King’s Return’ refers to Kento’s status as the patriarch of his growing household, subverting high-fantasy epic expectations for a slice-of-life domestic setting.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Lily – the sl*ve and primary experiment subject for the magic shop, ‘Harvest.’ She has striking pink hair, Blue eyes, medium breasts, which the Protagonist associates with being ‘wanton’. She has a working knowledge of magic, which she kept hidden from the slave trader.
• Momo – The newborn daughter of Kento and Lily. She has pink hair and her father’s ear and eyebrow shapes.
• Laika – The beastwoman dog.
• Tania – An Elf adventurer who, despite her race’s reputation for low sex drive, is secretly quite passionate. She initially seemed ‘wasted’ (emotionally dry) to her friend Raika, but was easily introduced to the pleasure-items sold at ‘Harvest.’ She is easily embarrassed and attempts to maintain a dignified facade, despite her recent, frequent purchases. She wears practical but light armor over a simple cloth tunic and short pants, highlighting her grace and agility. Her primary relationship is one of friendly senior-junior with Raika.
• Kento – The owner of the magic tool shop ‘Harvest,’ which discretely sells adult goods. He’s a former overworked, ordinary salaryman from modern Japan who was suddenly transported (isekai’d) to this fantasy world. He has dark hair and an unremarkable appearance, typically wearing a plain, slightly suspicious-looking shop owner’s clothes looks like Kazuma Satou from certain series. He has a minimal amount of magic power, enough to craft his specialty items.
• Aerith – A wolf beast-person and Ouka’s daughter. She is intensely attracted to Kento’s creative genius and is not shy about showing her interest. Have gray fur hair and tail, wearing elegant dress.
• Roost – Duke of Badcage and father of Tina Badcage. He has long silver hair mixed with some white, a cool-headed expression, and red eyes. Despite a relatively slender build, he possesses a strong fighting spirit.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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