(Chastity Reversed) The Legitimate Wife War: How I, a Harem-Hater, Ended Up Creating an Ultra-Eccentric Harem with a Villainess, a Sadistic Beauty Teacher, a Scheming Classmate... etc. - Chapter 34: Complaint

The next morning, I had Kazari-san arrange some time with Shiina-san.

I had successfully spoken with the person before her and secured their cooperation as well.

Well, I thought there was no way they wouldn’t cooperate anyway.

“Hello.”

“…It’s been a while, Takeda-sama. What urgent matter brings you to summon me so suddenly today?”

Her tone carried an unspoken reproach, as if saying she wasn’t free to waste time. Well, I could understand why she’d feel that way. I could understand, but I was angry too.

“You’re not using your usual casual tone, are you?”

“As I’ve just pulled an all-nighter, I’m not in a state to be so relaxed.”

“Is that so? Because of our situation?”

“No, Takeda-sama, it has nothing to do with you all. It’s for a different matter.”

Then she’ll probably have to pull another all-nighter tonight.

From her behavior, it seems she doesn’t know anything.

“…So I would appreciate it if you could state your business concisely. Is this about some trouble related to the fiancée voting?”

“No, that’s not it.”

“I see, I thought so. There shouldn’t have been any urgent matters, even if there were some minor disputes, from what I’ve observed within the household.”

“…Yes, within the household, nothing happened.”

“Then that means… something happened outside?”

“Yes, to put it frankly—”

Taking a breath,

“—it’s simply about information leaks.”

“…Information leaks…?”

Shiina-san looked puzzled, probably because this was completely different from what we were just discussing.

“For some reason, both Kuzuryu and Takato knew my whereabouts. I could understand if they came to my home, but this was when I was alone. Don’t you think that’s strange no matter how you look at it?”

“Wait, Kuzuryu and Takato… those two… Ah, I remember now. The former fiancée of Hosho-sama and his partner? How do you know they knew your location?”

“How? Because they approached me twice. Once could be written off as coincidence, but twice changes things, don’t you think?”

“Indeed, twice can’t be dismissed as coincidence.”

Shiina-san’s face began to tense as she seemed to grasp where this conversation was heading.

“Moreover, Kuzuryu somehow knew about my sister being sick and hospitalized. I don’t think many people know about this.”

“…So you suspect that information about you leaked from us at the NAZ organization?”

“Yes, simply put. The NAZ organization is about the only one I’ve told about my sister.”

“I see, certainly… However, couldn’t there be more than one culprit? There could be two information leakers, and though I hate to suggest it, it could be someone among the fiancées, or even their maids?”

“Yes, hence I haven’t ruled out those possibilities. However, you all were the most likely suspects. Besides, just because others might have leaked it doesn’t mean NAZ couldn’t have leaked it too, right?”

“That’s… true.”

“So I’d like to know, did you leak our information? The information about Mio-nee?”

I deliberately maintained a smile.

If I didn’t, my face would probably twist with anger.

“…! I did not leak any information!”

“Really? Can you prove it?”

Just me, huh?

“…Prove it?”

Shiina-san’s face contorted. It was easy to prove when you’d done something. You just needed to find physical evidence, contradictions, or whatever.

But the opposite was difficult.

Proving you hadn’t done something.

“The devil’s proof, as they say.”

“Yes.”

“…I promise that NAZ will conduct a thorough confidential investigation.”

“Hmm, that’s fine, but is there any guarantee you’ll do it properly? Public institutions have been caught up in various corruption scandals lately.”

“I will personally oversee it!”

“Is that so? Then please do. One week should be plenty of time, right?”

“…Yes.”

She was making a face like she’d made a bitter decision. I was aware I was being quite unreasonable. Actually, I didn’t think Shiina-san leaked it—there was nothing to gain from my harem failing. Well, unless she just really hated me, I suppose.

“Then, I’ll leave it at that… Is that all you wanted to discuss?”

“Yes… Ah.”

“Ah?”

As if suddenly remembering something, I added casually, “Come to think of it, Kuzuryu is a candidate for a different harem system, right?”

“…Yes, that’s correct.”

She hesitated for a moment but nodded quickly. She probably considered whether it was personal information or something. I was just confirming, though it didn’t really matter.

“Speaking of which, Kuzuryu came to me and said something about including me in his harem. He said he’d help save my incompetent sister while he was at it.”

Making someone a concubine… it honestly gave me the chills. But Shiina-san’s reaction to hearing this was dramatic.

“…What?”

Her previously uncertain expression changed completely. Her face became as expressionless as a Noh mask.

“Well, that’s about how it went, so I’ll leave it to you!”

“…Could you wait a moment?”

She grabbed my arm firmly.

“Eh, what is it?”

When I turned around, Shiina-san was smiling. Her pantsuit suited her well.

But her eyes weren’t smiling at all.

“Is something wrong?”

“No, please tell me everything in detail. It will help us track down the culprit… I mean, how many people’s work are they trying to mess with? Huh? Are they looking down on us? Should I eliminate them? I seriously might eliminate them.”

“In that case, I will—”

Kazari-san took over from there. Shiina-san listened with serious eyes. Her cheek twitched, and her eyebrows were raised.

…Well, rather than serious, “murderous” might be more accurate.