Nine hours.

One hour for mixing cement for the wall, and another hour for forming per wall, times four walls. Plus one hour for creating gates, installing a portcullis, and a drawbridge on each wall. That was how long Axel needed to finish everything.

Of course, he made sure to deepen the wall's foundation so that it wouldn't shake even in the worst storms or in an earthquake.

When he was finished, the sun was already on its way down, and he was tired both mentally and physically.

"You've worked hard, Sir Axel. Dinner is ready, please have some."

And as soon as he returned, Maria received him, bowing politely.

"Oh, ok." Axel nodded.

He had already skipped lunch, so he was already way beyond hungry. Although he did eat snacks mid-work, that doesn't count as a meal.

"Then, please send it to my room," he added as he walked away.

Maria didn't persuade him otherwise and bowed, "As you wish, Sir."

The tenement was still tilted, of course. However, he was too tired from doing the walls that he couldn't be bothered to fix them today. "...Tomorrow it is," he decided as he nodded to himself.

As soon as he entered his room, he removed his clothes.

Walking straight toward the shower, which wasn't really working, as they didn't have water lines in place. There, he just grabbed a barrel of water and started to wash off his body after so long.

It's not like he didn't want to bathe frequently as a modern person; it was just that he couldn't find the right time to do so. However, now that they had "leeway" in terms of defense and livelihood, he could finally start to loosen up.

"Phew..."

After a short bath—simply washing off the dirt and sweat on his skin—he went out wearing comfortable clothes while drying his hair with a towel.

"S-Sir Axel..."

"Hexel..."

"Huh?"

But to his surprise, he wasn't alone in the room anymore.

As soon as he came out, two little girls were standing near the entrance, seemingly waiting for him. They were none other than Teruria and Eve!

Axel could see Maria by the other side of the dining table, standing still like a statue, hiding her presence like a professional.

"Eve, Ria... what is it, for the both of you to come here?"

Confused, and honestly having no idea, he could only sit down while waving his hand, offering them to sit before him.

The two girls exchanged glances before doing so, sitting across from Axel.

Right then, Maria moved, serving the three of them their food. As if knowing this would happen beforehand, she had already brought enough portions for all of them!

But even as their meal was being set, the two girls remained silent.

"Hmm? What, did you just want to eat dinner with me?" Axel smiled, teasingly saying so.

However, his joke didn't even make them smile, much less react. They just kept looking around, fidgeting, unable to assert themselves properly.

"Sir Axel." It was Maria instead who spoke on their behalf. "Princess Eve and Princess Teruria have come with important matters to discuss. It's with regards to your future too, so please take them seriously."

"Hmm?"

Such foreboding words... Axel couldn't help but feel a bit of pressure. The three looked around, with nothing but silence enveloping the dining table for a full minute.

"T-Then... I'll go first." Finally, Teruria raised her voice. "We... are bound with the Witch's Kiss, remember?" she asked to confirm.

"Yes," Axel nodded. "I do recall you telling me about that. What's the matter?"

Teruria's face was a mix of being apologetic, shy, and expectant at the same time as she continued. "Actually, I... contacted Mother and... apparently, she can't break the Oath between us."

"...Huh?"

Axel was shocked.

The matter with them sharing a Witch's Kiss was practically an accident. A matter done to save his life. Thus, he requested that it be dissolved by the Witch Queen—Teruria's mother. But now, she's saying it can't be broken...

"Actually..."

And then, Teruria began explaining.

Normally, the one who initiated the Witch's Kiss is the one who gets the final say in their "contract," as the one who has more power... more mana.

However, in their case, the caster, Teruria, had less mana compared to Axel.

Thus, to break the contract, the one who needed to act wasn't Teruria, but Axel.

"...But since you're not a witch, and that you don't have aptitude for it, it'd be impossible to break the pact between us."

She said this finally, before dropping the bomb.

"And after learning of this, she's hoping you'd marry me formally when the Teleporter is fixed."

"..."

Axel had a lot of questions.

First of all, the method of communication. How did she contact the Witch Queen from here?

But the answer to that was quite simple... it was the shop's chat.

Teruria, having gained access to Axel's menu, used the shop's chat to talk to her mother. Of course, such a thing would normally alert Axel, too, as receiving messages would ping him. However...

"Navi helped me..." Teruria revealed.

Right after, a cute penguin, smiling smugly, appeared from behind Teruria—with an expression as if saying, "This is payback!"

"...You fucking..."

He couldn't help but curse before shaking his head.

Getting angry now would only work in Navi's favor. He did notice that the bastard penguin wasn't popping up the entire day. However, to think he was working with Teruria to set him up... he couldn't help but feel betrayed.

"Alright, I understand the matter with you and the witches." Axel nodded before turning to the other young lady. "And? What's Eve going to request from me?"

This time, it was Eve who stiffened in nervousness upon getting called.

"Y-Yes! That is... Uhhm..."

And began fidgeting, unable to get straight to the point.

Axel patiently waited for her to find the words to say, but...

"It's with regards to her becoming a monarch, Sir Axel." Unable to just keep watching, Maria spoke on her behalf once more. "As you know, Princess Eve is the last hope and the banner of our new Valkyrie Knight Order, correct?"

"Yes, of course."

Maria nodded, looking over at Eve as she continued. "However, Princess Eve is still young and weak, and needs someone by her side to raise the banner. Someone strong and worthy of our trust."

"..."

Axel figured out what she was about to say, but stayed quiet.

Maria turned back to Axel and finished her words. "Someone... like you, Sir Axel."

Only then did Eve finally stand up, gathering all her courage, and speak.

"Sir Axel! C-Can you please... be my consort!"

Axel paused and thought.

'I'm fucked...'

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