Chapter 376: 376 Foster Father

"......Are you really going through with this no matter what?"

"Yep. No matter what."

"I see......"

We arrived at Inagawa Technology's main headquarters a little earlier than the scheduled appointment time, but it seemed that they'd already made arrangements beforehand, so we were able to go in for a meeting almost immediately.

The meeting place was a reception room, or rather, a room that seemed like a company executive's private office. Within the room was an office desk that seemed to be equipped with a built-in holo-display. In front of it was a pair of sofas that looked pretty comfy to sit on. Right in the middle was a glass table that matched the height of the sofas. Actually, I wasn't sure if the table really was made of glass or some other similar futuristic material instead.

And now, our group was facing a lone man who was sitting across the table. It was an elderly man who sported a solemn look on his face. Somehow, his atmosphere resembled that of Chris's grandfather, Earl Dareinwald. According to what Dr. Shouko told me beforehand, he was both her direct superior and someone she treated as her foster father.

And he was now directing his gaze toward me. Or rather, he was practically glaring at me.

"You sure fooled me."

"I didn't really mean to, but that's how it turned out anyway. Still, I don't plan to apologize."

I matched gazes with the man and didn't flinch away.

"I am well aware of your situation and status. However, do you not think that humbly apologizing now would pave the way for a smoother relationship?"

"That might be true, but I also have to respect Dr. Shouko's intentions as much as possible. If I apologize here, I'd end up disrespecting her determination and will. That's why I won't apologize. However, since things already turned out this way, I will use all of my strength to protect Dr. Shouko and make sure that she doesn't end up regretting her decision or be disappointed with me. That's a promise I intend to keep no matter what."

After hearing my words, the elderly man, whose name was apparently Dixon, narrowed his eyes before eventually sighing in resignation.

"......I did expect that there would come a time when I would have to send Shouko-kun off to someone else in marriage. However, I didn't think that someone would actually be a mercenary."

"A bride...... Um, Father, Hiro-kun and I are actually...... Um, are we actually like that?"

"I don't mind at all. Or rather, I already plan on taking complete responsibility you know?"

I nodded in response to Dr. Shouko who inquired while tilting her head to the side.

I had to do that much, at least. There's that strange unwritten rule whenever a woman agrees to board a man's starship as well, so I fully intend on accepting Dr. Shouko as my woman. I had to take responsibility.

"I see...... I see. Mm, I see. Right. It's kinda embarrassing."

A blushing Dr. Shouko was really cute. In her mind, I wonder if she previously just treated our relationship as comrades who would travel across the galaxy in the same ship. I guess she did, huh? Actually, she shouldn't have given it much thought in the first place.

"Even so, I'm not suddenly gonna act-all husband-like after this. We should take it step by step and savor every moment."

"Ahaha. You know, for a mercenary who often jumps from system to system on a starship, you sure have a prudent and steady personality, Hiro-kun."

As he watched the exchange between me and Dr. Shouko, Mr. Dixon's expression loosened up a bit.

"To think a man who would make Shouko-kun react like that would really appear...... In any case, both of you seem pretty determined about this, so nothing I say would deter you from going through with it. All the relevant documents have been processed already, so I suppose that's it."

"Thank you, Father. By the way, Hiro-kun, what's my position in the wife hierarchy now that we're getting hitched?"

""Huh?""

Mr. Dixon's and my reaction overlapped.

"Mimi-kun's the first wife, right? No, in terms of social status, it would be Elma-kun huh? Either way, they would be your number one and number two, and after them would be Mei-kun. You fully intend on treating her as your wife as well even if she's an autonomous AI, right?"

"Uh, Dr. Shouko-?"

The more Dr. Shouko spoke, the more Mr. Dixon's expression clouded over, so I tried to reign her in before things got worse, but it was no use.

"Then it would be Tina-kun and Wiska-kun next. And the newest addition before me was Kugi."

"That is correct, Shouko-sama. I was only accepted recently."

Beside me, Kugi nodded in agreement.

"That means I'm the seventh huh? The seventh wife. Wow. There aren't that many nobles who have seven wives."

Dr. Shouko smiled obliviously after saying her piece. Mr. Dixon also displayed a smile.

"Now then, even if we are going to be in-laws from now on, I wonder if it's alright for a father who is marrying away a daughter to be a lecherous man's seventh wife to punch his son-in-law in the face at least once? No, I feel like I absolutely must do so. There is no mistake."

"Please let me off, Father-in-law."

I raised my hands in surrender against the fuming Mr. Dixon. What Dr. Shouko said might technically be correct, but I personally don't plan on ranking my partners like that. I'm gonna work hard to love all of them equally. I'm definitely gonna take full responsibility in my own way. So, please forgive me already, Mr. Dixon.