In a World Where Chastity is Reversed, I Ended Up Working as a Hot Spring Attendant - Chapter 149

“So, if you’ve already registered this with the authorities, does that mean you’ve met them in person, Tsubame?”

First things first, an interrogation was in order. As bodyguards, we needed to know everything about our protectees.

Tsubame was the only one among us who had met them directly, as she was the one who took the photo we saw earlier.

“Well, um…”

Tsubame awkwardly scratched her cheek, her face turning red. That expression and gesture—this was it. A guilty admission. Whatever she said next, she was already caught.

“Alright, let’s hear the full story, shall we?” My gaze sharpened as I spoke.

Here I was, struggling in a group full of women, while she was off doing this.

“Sorry! She’s officially the twelfth wife, and we’ve already registered it!”

Tsubame confessed honestly, bowing her head. Her blunt sincerity was almost disarming.

“Oh. Uh, congrats.”

Mozu and I both offered lackluster congratulations, unable to say much else.

“Wait, the twelfth?”

Already in double digits?

“Who are they? Name all of them.”

“The report we have only lists Misago and Hachikuma.”

We invited them into the living room to hear the details.

While drinking from the stack of Oronamin C drinks I had prepared as housewarming gifts, Tsubame started explaining. The room was still messy from half-done cleaning and unpacking, but since we were all women, it didn’t matter much.

Talking outside would risk being overheard, and with this number, it couldn’t be ignored. The increase in protectees was significant.

In kidnapping scenarios, there’s a possibility of the primary spouse being dragged into the mess as collateral damage.

As bodyguards, our priority was always the male protectee. But neglecting those recognized as family could sour relationships, so it was essential to maintain proper ties. There might even be opportunities to benefit from these connections.

Misago and Hachikuma were already like family to us, which made things simpler.

“Tell us more,” Mozu urged.

“Well, there’s Lady Yata, Suzume, Tsumugi-san, Tsuburi-nee, myself, three guests, and two additional bodyguards from the Protection Bureau…”

Tsubame explained while showing us new photos on her phone. The earlier names were familiar to me.

“Lady Yata, huh…”

“Well, she does look quite young, doesn’t she?”

She had the appearance of a little girl, almost like a child. Her personality, however, was far from endearing.

“If you dared to say, ‘Don’t overdo it, old lady,’ she’d probably kill you.”

We all shared a distant look. As someone influential, leaving her out would be problematic, so her inclusion made sense.

“She’s been in a dark place since Grandpa Kohaku passed away…”

When she occasionally visited, she’d often remain bedridden.

“But ever since Hisui arrived, she’s been vibrant and lively again.”

“Well, that’s good to hear.”

Her energy seemed to return in the presence of a man—a refreshingly straightforward personality.

“According to Misago, next in line are probably Lady Toki and Aoba.”

“Sounds reasonable.”

Hearing familiar names was reassuring.

“Is Lady Toki still the same?”

“Yes, no signs of aging at all.”

That would firmly place her in the beauty category. Ignoring her would raise serious doubts.

“To think this happened less than a week after arriving here…”

So fast.

My thoughts drifted.

“On the fourth day after we got here, eleven registrations came in,” Tsubame revealed.

“Wow…”

“Even faster,” Mozu groaned.

“On the first day, Misago picked him up from the submerged area of Oyashirazu Coast. That night, she used her authority to establish facts, then called Hachikuma-nee for support on the second day. The registration was submitted to the local office that day.

On the third day, live camera footage from the first day’s coastline was tracked through cached logs, and word got out. The influx of visitors started. On the fourth day, everyone showed up with registration documents, and when I jokingly said, ‘Why not me too?’ they all said, ‘Go ahead,’ and it went through.”

The fact that Tsubame didn’t hesitate to seize the opportunity suggested her mental fortitude was on another level.

“Congratulations.”

Half-jealous, I still genuinely celebrated for her.

“Honestly, I think as long as you apply, it might get approved…”

Tsubame trailed off, her tone uncertain, revealing her faint wish.

“No way it’s that easy…” Mozu muttered, slightly slurring her words.

“But isn’t it just proposing? Could it really free you from the nightmare of being single?”

“Maybe, maybe not.”

Mozu joked, her tone playful. But this lightheartedness was precisely why she hadn’t found a match yet.

Me? Oh, I’m taken! By women, though.

Not exactly what I wanted, but life rarely goes as planned.

“Well, thanks for the useful info.”

I pulled Tsubame into an unconscious habit of hugging her close and patting her head.

“No wonder you’re popular…”

Mozu’s exasperated comment echoed. For now, my popularity was limited to girls.

Someday, I wished to be admired by boys, too.

After extracting all the information we could from Tsubame, we stepped outside and reunited with Hakuto, who carried Hisui, our protectee.

It was an embarrassing first meeting, given that I’d already lost face earlier.

I inwardly cursed Hakuto for robbing me of my chance to make a cool first impression. But since I got to hold his hand, I decided to let it slide.

I really was easy to please.

What could I do? The Self-Defense Forces were full of women, and men were rarer than exotic animals!

It wasn’t that I was dissatisfied with my wives. But my instinctual desire as a woman couldn’t be helped. With that thought, I resolved to take a chance if the opportunity arose.

~Postscript

About the skipped scenes before the critical moment, it’s packed with all this stuff crammed into the paragraph breaks.

Oronamin C, a robust energy drink, is oddly stocked in every household as rural currency.