(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 8: Guests and the Good Qualities of the Girls

Kazari-san and I returned to our respective rooms to unpack. Not that we had much luggage to begin with, so it was over in a flash.  

Though I discovered something surprising—apparently, my room and Kazari-san’s room were connected.  

It seemed to be designed that way so that, as my maid, she could respond to my calls at any time.  

At our previous residence, our rooms were physically next to each other, and this setup didn’t feel all that different.  

With the unpacking done and nothing else pressing to take care of, we decided to sneak a quick look at the basement.  

Just as we descended the stairs, however, the doorbell rang.  

“Sounds like someone’s here.”  

“Indeed. Shall we return to the living room for now? The basement can wait.”  

“…Yeah, you’re right.”  

Reluctantly, we headed back to the living room.  

At the same time, we passed by Kurokawa-san, the butler, who was going to answer the door.

“Hey, Kazari-san, shouldn’t you go greet them as well?”  

“No need. I’m Kyo-sama’s maid, after all.”  

…Yeah, sure. Honestly, I was convinced it was just her being lazy.  

When we lived alone together, she’d often send me to grab deliveries and greet visitors.  

This maid might be excellent at her job, but she was surprisingly lazy.  

“Excuse me for intruding!”  

A familiar voice called out from the entrance.  

“…Shiina-san, right?”  

The voice belonged to none other than Maiko Shiina, the very cause of my current lifestyle.  

No, to be fair, she was also the person who helped save my sister.  

“Oh, Kyoya-sama! Thank you so much for your continued cooperation with the government’s initiatives. We truly appreciate your support! Please continue to assist us in the future. The number of participants has been dwindling year by year, after all…”  

So I’d heard.  

It was no secret that men’s sex drive had been decreasing in general. On top of that, interest in women had been waning—or perhaps something even beyond that.  

Society was in a dire state…  

Shiina-san turned to Kazari-san, offering her a formal, practiced smile.  

“Everything’s fine?”  

“Yes, there’s nothing unusual to report.”  

Kazari-san responded with the same level of formality.  

She had been regularly reporting on our life together to the government as part of this arrangement.  

I had been informed of this from the very beginning when I’d accepted this system.  

“That’s good to hear. Please continue as you have been. And Kyoya-sama, if you ever need anything, feel free to ask Sato here.”  

The first half was directed at Kazari-san, while the second half was meant for me.  

Shiina-san’s expression visibly softened when she spoke to me.  

Even in my past life, I thought women could be terrifying… and this moment only reinforced that impression.  

“Well then, Kyoya-sama, let’s head inside. We have some things to discuss, and I’m sure the ladies inside are eagerly awaiting you.”  

“The ladies? They’re still just fiancée candidates, though.”  

“Fufufu, what are you saying? They’ll become your wives eventually, so calling them that isn’t inaccurate.”  

Honestly, the likelihood of that happening felt pretty slim right now.  

If anything, it seemed like a steep uphill battle.  

Shiina-san must have noticed my unease because she started speaking in a calm, soothing tone.  

“Kyoya-sama, at first, everyone tends to feel nervous. That can result in stiff postures, overly defensive attitudes, or even aggressive behavior. Sometimes, they can’t express themselves or showcase what they truly want to. But as time goes on, people usually open up. When you face challenges and trials together, those bonds deepen.  

So please take it easy and allow things to progress naturally. If it still doesn’t work out, that’s fine too. The important thing is to stay true to your feelings and make a decision you’re comfortable with. While the ladies may have their quirks…”  

Shiina-san paused mid-sentence.  

Huh? What about their quirks?  

“Oh! I mean, while they each have some oddities, they also have plenty of great qualities! So you’ll be just fine!”  

…Yeah, she definitely realized trying to minimize their strangenesst was a bit of a stretch.  

“Alright, I’ll give it my best shot.”  

“Yes, please do! May happiness fill all your lives! And let’s work to spread even more joy!”  

Shiina-san beamed, clearly pleased that things were going according to her plan.  

“Well then, may I ask one final favor?”  

“Of course! And please, feel free to relax around me, Kyoya-sama. You’re one of the precious few men we have left, after all.”  

“No, I couldn’t possibly be so casual with an older woman—”  

“Oh my? Did you just imply that I’m an old hag? A washed-up woman in her thirties?”  

Wait, who said anything like that?!  

“I said ‘older woman’, that’s all!”  

“For all you know, I could be the same age as you, couldn’t I?”  

“Eh… well, that’s a bit—”  

Shiina-san’s gaze sharpened, growing more intense.  

This was a minefield. I couldn’t afford to step on any landmines now.  

“…You’re far too beautiful. You exude a charm that people my age simply can’t match.”  

The tension in her expression immediately melted away, replaced by a radiant smile.  

Phew. Close call.  

“So, what’s your question? Your lovely Onee-san will answer it~!”  

Shiina-san suddenly closed the distance between us.  

Before she got any closer, Kazari-san quietly shifted her body between us.  

“W-what I wanted to ask was…”  

“For one last burst of courage, could you tell me one good thing about them? Something to help me stay motivated?”  

“Well, okay… Ideally, I’d like you to discover that for yourself. But if it’s for motivation… hmm…”  

Shiina-san pondered for a moment before nodding slightly.  

“Alright, I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to tell you one thing. Just one, okay?”  

She gave a playful wink.  

Finally! Something I could work with.  

“Their best quality… well… it’s…”  

She paused dramatically, building suspense.  

“Their overwhelming visuals!”  

“…Huh?”  

Her answer was so far off from what I expected that a strange sound escaped my throat.  

“Yes, their looks! And their bodies! Even as a woman, I can say their figures are amazing. Honestly, my own beauty pales in comparison—or is at least on par. You’re so lucky, Kyoya-sama! Do your best for the sake of such gorgeous eye candy!”  

Shiina-san finished with a dazzling smile.  

How could someone be this confident in themselves?  

“What are you talking about, Shiina-san?”  

Hosho-san appeared, peeking out from the entrance.  

“Oh, nothing much! Kyoya-sama was just wondering what kind of people you all are, so I was giving him a general idea.”  

“Didn’t I hear something about faces just now?”  

Hosho-san’s icy gaze bore into me.  

Hey, don’t look at me like that! I didn’t say a thing, okay?!  

“I was just saying that everyone here is beautiful!”  

“I see.”  

Hosho-san didn’t press further, brushing it off with her usual poise.  

Shiina-san remained unfazed, as unshakable as ever.  

“Well, we’ve kept you waiting long enough. Let’s go inside, and I’ll explain the next steps.”  

Shiina-san entered first, leaving the rest of us behind.  

Now it was just me, Kazari-san, and Hosho-san.

Without even glancing my way, Hosho-san muttered, “…Perhaps you should consider behaving with a bit more dignity.”  

With that, she headed inside.  

I stood there, momentarily stunned.  

“Wait… was that my fault?”  

The thought of re-entering the living room felt even more daunting now.