Chapter 571: Bridegroom Training The Escape of Leona Shishido

Leona was begging for help. The one cornering her? My daughter, Soto.

... Wait a minute. I was worried for my daughter as a father, but isn't she becoming for resilient and reliable than me?

"Uh, what happened—Leona? What's going on?"

"That girl's... she's more of a succubus than a succubus... The little devil's driving me mad...!"

"Leona, don't tell me you made a move on Soto-chan...!? You shouldn't do anything with a child like that!"

"I haven't! I haven't done anything yet! She made me promise something for when she grows up, though!"

Well, even if Soto is an exception... she's a Dungeon Core, so she'd just need to use DP to grow... wouldn't it just take a moment then?

Rokuko could switch between adult and child forms without using DP. So can Haku-san.

I've never seen it, but it wouldn't be odd if Soto had an adult form.

"Hey Leona. You're being tricked."

"Huh? Oh, come on, Kehma. There's no way I'd be deceived by a child."

"But aren't you basically being brought to tears by that child right now?"

And she got outwitted by Nerune, too.

Wait, could it be that, outside of combat, Leona is pretty easy to get to?

"... At this rate, she might be in your bed tonight."

"No way. Soto-chan wouldn't just grow up overnight, would she? She's a child who absolutely keeps her promises. She'd never break them!"

Leona really seemed to trust Soto. Did she already fall for her?

"Right, so if she does grow up, you'll make her keep her promise. By the way, about Soto's origins... Leona, don't you know what she is?"

"Huh? Uh, well, I knew, but... Oh."

I spoke vaguely because Wataru was present, but it seemed Leona caught on.

"Huh? Soto-chan is Kehma and Rokuko's daughter, right? Is there something wrong?"

"Do you know how old Haku-san is? Soto is the daughter of Haku-san's younger sister."

"I've realized that my common sense doesn't apply here."

By the way, Nerune's actual age was in the single digits... not that I'd mention it, though.

"... Kehma! Today, I will conduct the final exam! Wataru can help, too. Beat me!! After witnessing that, I'll depart!!"

"Eh? I can help too?"

"If you're marrying Nerune-chan, then you can cooperate as one under Kehma-san."

"Well, if you say so, I can't refuse."

Wataru nodded with a smug look. But like... didn't you fail to break through Leona's barrier during the date?

"Alright. I'm gonna give it hard, so take it easy on me."

"Leave it to me. I won't move an inch or attack. If you can break through my barrier, it's a win for Kehma-san."

Our interests somehow aligned here.

And all of this was thanks to my beloved daughter, Soto! That includes the Space-Time God Karinisoto!

"Huh? By 'final test', you mean the results of our training, right? Is that okay?"

"Don't worry about it... man, this is so tiring. Let's get this over with."

"That's right. I want to keep my distance from Soto-chan, and Kehma-san wants to distance himself from me. Our interests align."

Wataru tilted his head at Leona's statement.

"... Um, do you dislike Soto-chan, Leona-san? From what I've heard, it doesn't seem that way."

"I like her so much that it scares me!!"

"So it's mutual love. You're going to be Kehma-san's future daughter-in-law, huh?"

Hey, stop it, Wataru. Having her for a daughter-in-law sounds terrifying.

"Age aside, are there any other problems?"

"If you take one step closer, she'll dive in a hundred steps deeper!! If I'm doted on by that girl to that extent, I won't be able to do anything for about ten years. Well, if it's only ten years, that might be a relief..."

What is she, a machine that makes you useless? Was my daughter always like that?

"I want to enjoy this world more. I can't melt into her just yet."

"I see. I also want to go places like Wakoku, so is it something like that?"

It looked like Wataru was more or less convinced.

"... [Elemental Shot]"

"Ouch."

A light beam shot from the fingertips and grazed Leona's shoulder.

Well, that shouldn't have been just an 'ouch' level of power. What kind of magical defense is that?

"... Um, Kehma-san? What are you doing?"

"Huh? If it's already started, isn't it the fault of the person caught off guard?"

"! That's right, you pass, Kehma-san!"

Oh, I did it. It seems that counts as a breakthrough.

"Um, what about the part where I cooperate?"

"You distracted Leona for me, thanks Wataru! It's a victory of our friendship!"

"Yes, that was a wonderful combination! Well then, I'll be off on my journey now. Take care, both of you!"

No sooner had Leona finished speaking than had she quickly wrapped herself in a cloak taken from her [Storage] and flew out the window.

She seemed very keen on putting distance between herself and Soto.

"... Wait, huh? Is this really goodbye?"

"Well, we'll meet again eventually if we're unlucky."

I leaned back into the chair, sinking deeply into it.

... Next time she comes, I should sic Soto on her.

What, I should worry about Soto? It's too late now, so I've given up as her father.

I'd realized that if Soto really put her mind to it, I couldn't really stop her. I had no clue when she'd even gotten close to Leona.

... Suddenly, Wataru murmured.

"With Leona-san leaving, won't it be trouble for Soto-chan?"

"Don't mention it, Wataru. I was trying not to think about it."

Out of the frying pan, into the fire. Although, it should be a slightly better fire.

"... It's better, right?"

"Well, I don't really know."

"I should tell Soto how helpful Wataru was."

"Oh, that sounds... uhh... I'll be leaving the village soon too; I have a hero's duties after all!"

He'd stayed in the village for quite a while since he'd officially started dating Nerune.

"For the great Wataru-san, a special present!"

"Whoa!? Soto!? Since when have you been listening!?"

From under the desk, Soto suddenly popped out.

"From when Leona-san came rushing in?"

"From the beginning?"

... She was surprisingly calm, considering Leona left the village.

"Soto-chan, what's this present for me?"

"Oh, right. This is an item that records Nerune's voice. It's a latest item from a Dungeon!"

With that, Soto handed a conch shell to Wataru.

At a glance, it seemed to be a shell brought by a guest from Paveera, transformed into a Recording Golem.

... I don't recall creating it, but I had recorded the spell [Create Golem] used to make a Recording Golem and given it to Nerune.

Introducing it as a dungeon-produced item implied that Nerune had learned how to produce them. I should reward her for this.

"When you tap here lightly, her voice will play out."

Soto tapped the pointed part of the conch, and from the shell, Nerune's voice saying [Wataru-san~, please do your job properly~, okay~? I'll give you a reward~] played out.

I wondered if that was okay, but Wataru seemed satisfied.

"A voice-recording item? What a wonderful present!"

"The voice will disappear when the magic runs out, so please replenish it before it does. I'll teach you how to record without overwriting. There's another one, so please record a message of love from you to Nerune in this one."

"... Right here and now?"

"Yes! Go ahead!"

"Eh!? Um, Ne, Nerune-san, I, I, I love you! I'll earn a lot!"

"Ah, sorry, it didn't record properly. One more time."

"Eh!? I love you, Nerune-san!"

For Wataru to answer such a sudden request is truly fitting for a hero. Well done.

...

After seeing Wataru off, Soto was still grinning and in high spirits.

Why was she so happy even after Leona had left?

As I pondered, Soto muttered—

"By the way, I've made the Recording Golem learn the [Storage] spell."

"... What did you say?"

A Golem with [Storage]. The method is simple: possess it and use a [Storage Scroll]. It seemed the Space-Time God Karinisoto had taught her the method.

However, the Golem itself didn't have the capability to use magic, so it couldn't activate the magic by itself. So it wouldn't make a difference—

—for anyone but Soto, that is.

Soto could access the [Storage] of dungeon-related people at will.

And by possessing it, the Recording Golem could be treated as a subordinate of the Dungeon... meaning—

"... So Soto, you can go to wherever that Recording Golem is at any time?"

"Exactly. And I gave Leona-san one just like it this morning! She should cherish it, thinking it's from me!"

I see. Now I understand why Soto remained cheerful even after Leona left.

"Should I call myself the Demon King?"

"Don't. There's already a proper Demon King in the Demonlands."

... Leona, whether you like it or not, it seems the day I call you my daughter-in-law is nearing.