... Well, as a friend?

Looking at her again, Fletta-chan really is adorable. Even among elves, she's top tier — her cuteness rivals Dea-kun's.

Her apparent age is close to Dea-kun's too, and while her chest is on the modest side, as someone with five dwarf wives, I find that endearing.

Her slender, pale limbs are so delicate that she looks like she might break if you hugged her.

Her pale green hair, like fresh spring leaves, is silky smooth, and when she brushes it aside, a lovely floral fragrance wafts through the air.

… No matter hooooow I think about it, this girl is way better suited to be by Dea-kun's side than I am…!!

She makes complete sense as a fiancée.

"Um. Fletta-chan, w-what do you like about Dea-kun?"

"Oh, everything, of course. But if I had to choose, perhaps his earnestness and sense of responsibility."

Gosh, this girl genuinely likes Dea-kun…

"Ahh, I get that. Dea-kun's the type whose seriousness works against him sometimes, right? But that's what makes him so endearing."

"Yes. On top of that, once he decides on something, he's the type to see it through to the end."

"Exactly!"

Dea-kun is definitely the type to follow through on anything he says he'll do.

He promised to listen to what I say, so even though he actually hates the cross-dressing… that's how he ended up as a trap. He even comes to school properly in the girls' uniform.

"And what do you like about Deasalt-sama, Karina-sama?"

"Huh, ah, w-well, probably how cute he is? And, like, his focused expression when he's working on Magic Tools?"

When Fletta-chan asked me, I answered without thinking. Huh, I actually had an answer.

… Well, as a friend? Right, I like him as a friend. Yeah.

Actually, I'd rather have Fletta-chan and Dea-kun flirt with each other. I'll enjoy the show. I won't even ask to be included.

"Magic Tools! He was always skilled with his hands, but he's making things like that now? Oh, I'd love to see that."

"Um, well, want to come over sometime? Dea-kun has a workspace at my place."

"Absolutely! … Is what I'd like to say, but I know nothing about Magic Tool crafting. Wouldn't I just be in the way?"

"I can teach you if you want. Let's make something together."

"In that case, I'd be delighted. Is there anything I should bring?"

"Not really… ah. Maybe wear something you can move around in? Fluttery sleeves get in the way."

"Understood… Hm? Wait, why is Deasalt-sama's workspace at your home, Karina-sama?"

"Oh, we live together. B-but we have separate rooms!"

"Already sharing a bed…!"

"Th-that's not it. Just living together, that's all!"

"Under the same roof as Deasalt-sama, just the two of you!"

Well, technically there's no roof at the base. No weather to deal with, after all.

"It's not just the two of us, though… Aishia's there too, we have a pet, and friends or commuter wives drop by now and then."

"Commuter wives?"

"Ah, um. Actually, I have five dwarf wives."

"Five dwarf wives!?"

Y-yeah, figured that would surprise her. Elves are typically monogamous, after all.

"… I need details!"

"Huh, okay. Well, while traveling, I went to the dwarven nation, one thing led to another, and they took a liking to me. Oh, and dwarves practice group marriage. So in extreme cases, an entire village is one family — all the adults married to each other, like, spouse-spouse-spouse-spouse-spouse, you know?"

"I see, I see. Come to think of it, you mentioned Magic Tools earlier. Is that related?"

"I suppose so? Apparently, gifting your prized creation is how they propose. I received gifts from five of them, and that's how we ended up happily married. Oh, and Dea-kun is also learning Magic Tool crafting from those wives."

"So you ended up married just by following their local customs? I suppose that can't be helped. But what about inheritance rights? Who's the primary wife?"

Oho. Fletta-chan seems interested in dwarf culture. Leave it to me, I know all about this.

"Among dwarves, whoever is most skilled at crafting holds the highest status. Skill matters more than bloodline."

"So even a king's child has no inheritance rights… or rather, every citizen has inheritance rights?"

"That's right. So there's no such thing as a primary wife — everyone's just family."

"Education over blood. In a way, it's similar to a religious nation."

Fletta-chan nodded thoughtfully. Religion, huh. When she puts it that way, calling it a religion that worships craftsmanship wouldn't be much of an exaggeration.

"But still, five wives… I wonder if I could get along with them."

She looked genuinely concerned. Must be thinking about what happens if she runs into them when visiting.

"You'll be fine! They're all good people — as long as you don't pick a fight with them, anyway. Maybe bring a gift?"

"Of course. They're important to Deasalt-sama, so I won't forget proper courtesy."

"Mm-hm, then you'll definitely be fine."

Fletta-chan will surely get along great with the Five Elders. After all, she's cute.

They all love cute girls.

"So then, Karina-sama… will you be becoming Deasalt-sama's concubine?"

"Hweh!? Ah, um. Th-that's not it! Dea-kun and I have a wholesome relationship — we're just friends!"

"Oh? But won't you become Dea-sama's concubine eventually? I wouldn't mind, you know?"

"… Ummm… th-the possibility isn't… exactly zero…?"

"Oh my!"

I-it's just a possibility, okay! Dea-kun is a beautiful girl meant for appreciation only, but possibility-wise, "not zero" means "not exactly zero," so!

"W-well, if Dea-kun asked me, I might consider it? Just consider, you know, yeah."

"That won't do, Karina-sama. Such a passive attitude."

"… I-is that so?"

"Think about it. You have five wives, even if they are dwarves. Wouldn't Deasalt-sama feel intimidated?"

"Y-you're right!"

With me already having five wives, it's entirely possible Dea-kun would hold back…!

"Having five wives really is too much, isn't it…"

"Not at all. In ancient times, High Elf kings had twelve wives and doted on them in monthly rotation. Compared to that, five is only half."

"High Elf kings were something else."

"Partly because children were harder to conceive back then, but the point is — it all comes down to capability."

Capability, huh. In that case… supporting someone like Dea-kun would be a piece of cake. Honestly, my wives earn their own income anyway, and I can make a killing as a Healer. Besides, with Spatial Magic and the base, I wouldn't have trouble getting food even in the middle of a desert.

"Ah, but actually, it's not just the dwarf wives…"

"… There's more?"

"Yeah, actually, um, I have a lover named Mashiro-san who's an ikemofuCool + Fluffy…"

"Ikemofu? … Wait, a lover!? After wives, now a lover… oh. But the wives were more shocking, weren't they?"

"Um, a masculine, cool beastkin, you know?"

"Ah. I see… so you have such tastes."

As expected, having a beastkin partner is treated as an unusual preference.

… I wonder if Dea-kun thinks of me that way too. Hmm. Can't deny it.

"… An admiration for masculinity that went too far…?"

"Y-you know, they end up getting turned into girls!"

"Oh my. Now I understand so much more. But it's alright! I'm open-minded about such things!"

"Really?"

"I'm open-minded!!"

At any rate, from Fletta-chan's perspective, there seems to be no problem with someone like me becoming Dea-kun's concubine.

So this is the composure of the primary wife…!