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"I'm sorry for the trouble, Senpai."
"It's really fine. If someone needs to apologise, then it's my friends who took it to extremes."
My biggest headache now was how to weather tomorrow's class.
After somehow escaping the pursuit of Daiki and other classmates, we arrived at the Adventurer Union's lobby, located just before the dungeon.
"So, Senpai, what have you thought about joining me for dungeon together?"
"Honestly, you beat me to it. I had been thinking of inviting you, so that's just what I wanted."
"T-thank you very much!"
Yesterday might've been a temporary arrangement, but it was obvious our skills had great synergy. It's just... I was worried I might come out as a leech.
She had more levels than me, and then my skills pushed that strength to even higher limits. If I had been a bystander and looking at our team, I would've undoubtedly come off as a bastard enjoying the benefit while letting my junior do all the heavy lifting.
......N-No, wait a minute. Perhaps, the enhancement was temporary? I mean, I only had fifty «Seed of Growth» left. There's no way I’d enough to burn thirty of them every day.
"Alright, then time to gear ourselves up. Let's meet at the lobby 10 minutes later."
"Okay."
One of the benefits of these adventurer’s facilities was you could give your equipment to store when leaving. It felt odd carrying these equipment alongside you whenever there's a plan for the dungeon, even if they're stuffed into some inconspicuous case.
Though thinking about myself, perhaps it wasn't that much of a deal since the only noticeable weapon might be the «Poison Dagger». Shovel was a pretty ordinary tool, so I doubt that would have anyone raise their eyebrows.
"I hope I didn't keep you waiting, Senpai."
"You didn't. I barely arrived a moment ago."
Takamiya-san came dressed in the same clothes I gave her yesterday, albeit with the addition of protectors over it. Curiously enough, she was empty-handed.
"Huh, don't you bring your weapon, Takamiya-san?"
"I do, well, to be precise it should be arriving in a moment. Would it be alright to wait until then?"
"Of course, there's nothing to worry about."
She did lose her Great Shield yesterday, and she was empty-handed when we arrived here. Her family must be bringing in that case.
"Noah, I brought it."
We decided to wait for a while, and a few moments later, a tough-looking man arrived at the entrance while carrying out the Greater Shield, calling out for Takamiya-san. Takamiya-san, her back turned over to him, spun on her heel and dashed over.
"You brought it, Otou-san. Thanks!"
"Of course I will, it's your request after all."
The man barely appeared aged, probably no older than in his 20's. But Takamiya-san called him father… so he ought to be in his 30's at minimum. Quite crazy how he didn't look like someone who had a child old enough to enrol into highschool. Genetics, maybe?
"Between, is he your party member, Noah?"
"Mhm, he's my senior, and super-dependable."
That's strange. I didn't remember showing my 'cool' side to get such praise. In fact, I'd go as far to say Takamiya-san was the most reliable among us. She'd been swatting goblins left and right, you know?
"So he is, huh......"
While I was inwardly confused, Takamiya-san's father walked toward me, his steps lumbering, and with a *thuck*, he placed his hands on my shoulder.
That hurts.
"I hope you are aware enough, but make sure to take care of Noah."
"...I… will."
He had a dangerous aura akin to a feral beast. I felt the only correct answer was ‘I will.’
"And, another thing. I know Noah is adorable, but if you dare lay a single hand on her, I'm gonna kill ya!"
If someone told me he was a Yakuza boss or something, I would've totally believed it.
"You hear me? Drill that in your brain. I will chase you dow—gahh!?"
"For crying out loud, what the hell are you doing, dear?"
"Yeah, ain't no place for ya old timer to stick your face in kid's affairs."
"I-I can understand the worry for Noah-chan, she's a cute kid, but I think threatening young ones is a big NO."
I had felt stuck with Takamiya-san's father, wrecking my mind on how to deal with him, when three ladies, each a beauty in their own way, suddenly appeared behind him. One clawed her fingers into his head, while the other two flanked him, nailing their fists into his stomach.
"Ami okaa-san, Hiiragi-okaa-san, and even Honoka okaa-san! You all are here!"
...Huh, did Takamiya-san's father scare me silly? Why did I felt like I heard something incredulous?
Takamiya-san just called these three beautiful ladies 'okaa-san' when neither of them looked their part at all. I'd say they're in their early 20's from their looks. No way......
"Step-mom maybe?"
"Mhm? That'd be me and Honoka. Ami's Noah’s mother."
One of the women—she'd a delinquent-ish vibe to her—Hiragi-san (?) replied to my murmuring. But that only confused me further.
"You mean you're not, like, Noah's sister?"
"Oh, you sweetheart... Say, Noah, how about you call me onee-chan?"
"That's not what you say to your daughter, Okaa-san!"
"You seem to have a misunderstanding, boy. Ami is the same age as us."
"Y-yeah. It's not good to tease your elders like that."
"......Is this a prank? I don't think anyone is going to believe you're old enough to be the mother of a high school girl.”
I mean, that would put three of them in the ballpark of late 30's.
Wait a minute. I nearly forgot, but Takamiya-san just called all of *three* Okaa-san?
"I am really sorry for my father, Senpai. You got caught in my family’s situation.”
"You don't have to mind that. But, they all are you mothers....?"
"Ah, yes. My father had a harem, so there's him, my three mothers, and nine of us siblings."
"Heh~."
It was the first time I was seeing a harem family. Then again, it should be obvious since only wealthy people were capable of having assets to meet the requirement. There was a little overlap between us to ever stumble on such a scene so close.
"Hmph, boy, you aren't plotting to make Noah one of your harem—gaah!"
"Come now, dear, don't speak nonsense. We're going back."
"Be careful."
"Make sure to not get i-injured."
"I know, we will, okaa-san."
After leaving words of advice, the first harem family I met departed, leaving me with profound impact.
T/N - I messed up chapter numbering and thought I'd updated 6 chapters last week. Apologise for the confusion. Adding the remaining chapter alongside.
Also, starting this week, the schedule would be 4 ch/week (Mon, Wed and Fri). There will either be double update on Wednesday or Friday.