Vol 1 Chapter 13 – 60,000 Yandere’s and the Bride Ranking System②

After finally regaining her composure, Tachibana-san began to speak again.

I was a little amazed at how quickly Tachibana-san could switch gears.

I listened closely to what she had to say…

“To put it simply, Yuuma-sama, we would like you to choose sixty brides from among the 60,000 women living in this Special Administrative District and create a harem. You may think of this district as a nation built just for you, Yuuma-sama. You are free to choose whomever you wish!”

Tachibana-san stared at me with a serious gaze.

“I think I have a rough idea of my mission. But… how exactly am I supposed to go about creating a harem?”

I tilted my head as I posed the question to Tachibana-san.

She answered, her voice brimming with confidence.

“It is simple… Sakurai, please bring me that item.”

At Tachibana-san’s words, Sakurai-san nodded and rose from her seat.

She then handed an attaché case to Tachibana-san.

Tachibana-san took the case and placed it on the table in front of me.

I stared at the attaché case, puzzled.

Seeing my expression, Sakurai-san began to explain…

“Inside this case are sixty rings.”

Sakurai-san opened the attaché case, showing it to me.

Inside, sixty rings, each adorned with a large, glittering diamond, were arranged neatly…

I gazed at the rings intently.

“Th-This is incredible… Sixty of them…”

I was captivated by the beauty of the rings.

“These rings are to be given to the women Yuuma-sama chooses. A woman who receives one will become your bride and will come to live in this building. Please, Yuuma-sama, take one and have a look.”

Tachibana-san picked up a ring and handed it to me.

I accepted the ring and examined it closely.

The diamond sparkled brilliantly.

Its radiance was so beautiful I could stare at it forever…

But then I noticed a strange engraving on the diamond.

It was the number 60.

“Have you noticed? The floor number on which the bride can live is engraved on that ring. In other words, the bride who receives the ring engraved with the number 60 will live on the 60th floor of this tower. And she will spend the rest of her life as your bride, Yuuma-sama.”

“So… does that mean this case contains sixty rings, engraved with the numbers 60 through 119? And… the bride who receives the ring for 119, the one closest to my floor, the 120th, becomes the legal wife…?”

So first I have to choose sixty brides from a pool of 60,000, and then from those sixty brides, I have to choose a single legal wife…

Ahaha… man… my head is starting to hurt…

“Yes, that is correct. Yuuma-sama chooses the brides, and he determines their rank. This is the Bride Ranking System. All 60,000 women living in this district are waiting to be chosen by you, Yuuma-sama. They wish to live in this building with all their hearts, and they are always looking up at it. As if praying to a god… they are desperately praying that you will choose them. Please, answer their prayers.”

Tachibana-san stared at me with a serious gaze.

I felt a little overwhelmed by her intensity.

Maybe I was taking this all a bit too lightly…

The 60,000 women living in this district are all serious about this… They truly, genuinely wish to become my brides.

I have to respond to their earnest feelings.

Just as Tachibana-san said, I have to seriously choose sixty brides from among the 60,000 women living in this district.

I etched Tachibana-san’s words deep into my heart.

That is my mission in this world… If that’s the case…!

“I understand… I will choose sixty brides from among the women of this district! And I will do everything in my power to make the women who become my brides happy!”

I declared.

“Yes! I believed you would say that, Yuuma-sama!”

Tachibana-san watched me, a happy expression on her face.

Then, she glanced over at Sakurai-san.

At the signal, Sakurai-san handed me the attaché case full of rings.

“Then, Yuuma-sama, please accept this case. The rings inside have been created with special technology to prevent forgery. It is therefore impossible to recreate them and prepare another sixty identical rings. So please, keep them safe.”

I took the attaché case and nodded.

Seeing this, Sakurai-san gave me a gentle smile.

She then turned back to Tachibana-san.

“This concludes the explanation. Do you have any questions, Yuuma-sama?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“Then, finally, I have a request for you, Yuuma-sama.”

Tachibana-san gazed at me, her expression now serious.

“Yes… what is it?”

I replied to her earnest look.

“Please… in this world, live however you wish, Yuuma-sama. Nothing would make me happier than to see you living freely and joyfully! That is my only wish!”

Tachibana-san said to me, her expression dead serious.

“…Huh? Tachibana-san, just now… did you say ‘in this world’…!?”

“Ufufu… Did I say such a thing? But Yuuma-sama, I am always, everywhere, and at all times on your side. Please, don’t ever forget that, okay♡ Now then, I must go and confirm the future security schedule with the academy staff… Please forgive my rudeness in taking my leave. Sakurai, you are to protect Yuuma-sama well!”

“Y-Yes, ma’am!”

“An excellent reply, Sakurai. Well then, I shall be excused for a short while.”

And with those cryptic words, Tachibana-san departed…

Her words, the phrase ‘in this world,’ kept bothering me.

“Could Tachibana-san also be…”

I muttered to myself, alone…