A group of three girls walked along a narrow path leading toward Yuuto's workshop.
They were Umi, Kotori, and Honoka.
They were still wearing their school uniforms, their bags hanging from their shoulders. Their steps were filled with enthusiasm—it was clear their destination was not simply home, but a place they had grown accustomed to visiting.
"Honoka," Umi said while turning to her,
"are you sure Melusine has already returned today?"
Honoka, who was walking in front, turned around with her usual bright smile.
"He should have?" she answered uncertainly, then looked at Kotori.
"Right, Kotori?"
Kotori nodded gently, recalling what Yuuto—or Melusine—had said before leaving.
"Hm… yes. Melusine should have returned from his trip to another world by now," Kotori said.
"He said he would be back in a month."
Honoka let out a long sigh, then smiled widely again.
"I wanted to go to another world with Melusine too," she said.
"He must have had a lot of fun there."
Umi immediately snapped back with her sharp tone.
"You idiot," she said bluntly.
"Did you forget what Melusine said? The world he went to was dangerous, and he didn't go there just for fun. You'd only be a burden if you came along."
"Oh, is that so?" Honoka scratched her cheek.
"I guess I forgot, hehe."
Kotori giggled softly and added,
"Melusine said he'd take us someday… if the world is safe."
Honoka immediately clenched her fists with excitement.
"I can't wait!"
"I hope Melusine can take us to another world with him someday!"
"Another world…" Umi murmured softly, her tone gentle—clearly, she was also intrigued by the world Yuuto had visited.
Not long after, Honoka suddenly stopped.
"Look!" she shouted, pointing ahead.
"It looks like Melusine really has come back!"
She pointed toward the flower field surrounding the workshop. Flowers that had previously withered were now blooming beautifully.
Umi and Kotori immediately jogged closer.
"How can these flowers bloom again?" Umi said in shock.
"We tried so hard to take care of them, but they still withered."
Kotori knelt down and gently touched the flower petals.
"There's only one person who can do this," she said quietly.
Without waiting, Honoka had already run through the flower field.
"This place is alive again!" she shouted joyfully.
Umi watched Honoka's back as she ran around.
"She's too cheerful…" Umi muttered.
Kotori smiled softly.
"Well, that can't be denied," she said.
"Honoka was the saddest when she saw these flowers wither."
"She's also the one who worked the hardest to take care of this place while Melusine was gone."
Umi and Kotori followed Honoka into the workshop area.
"Umi! Kotori! Look!" Honoka said as she spun around.
"This place is even more beautiful than before!"
Kotori and Umi stood beside her, looking around.
"Maybe Melusine did something to this place," Umi said.
Kotori looked left and right, her eyes scanning every corner.
"…But where is he?" she asked quietly.
"Melusine?"
Silence enveloped them.
Only then did they realize—
Yuuto was not there.
The workshop was alive again.
Flowers were blooming.
But the person they were waiting for most…
was nowhere to be seen.
As they were still searching for Yuuto,
a voice suddenly came from above them.
"It's been a long time, Honoka, Umi, and Kotori."
All three froze at the same time.
Then they reflexively looked up—their eyes squinting as a strong gust of wind descended along with the voice.
"M–Melusine!"
they shouted almost simultaneously, covering their faces from the rushing wind.
A moment later, Yuuto slowly descended from the air.
He landed gently in the middle of the flower field—
petals scattering as if welcoming his return.
"How have you been?"
he asked gently.
"Are you all doing well?"
They slowly lowered their hands, their eyes sparkling as they saw Yuuto standing before them.
"We're doing fi—"
But their steps stopped.
Because at that very moment, Yuuto carefully lowered someone from his arms.
A silver-haired woman with an elegant bearing landed beside him.
"…Who?"
the three of them asked at the same time, their brows slightly furrowed.
"A… maid?"
Kotori muttered.
"She's very beautiful…"
Honoka said unconsciously.
"Darling,"
the woman said softly, with an elegant accent,
"are these your friends?"
Belfast put strong emphasis on the word darling.
Umi's brows knitted together.
"…Darling?"
Yuuto then smiled slightly and stepped forward.
"Let me introduce them," he said calmly.
"These are my human friends who know that I can use magic, and the people I trust the most in this world."
He pointed at them one by one politely.
"The black-haired one is Umi Sonoda."
"The orange-haired one is Honoka Kōsaka."
"And the ash-brown-haired one is Kotori Minami."
The three of them gave an awkward greeting to the woman.
But Honoka, who had been silent until now, stepped closer and lightly tugged on Yuuto's sleeve.
"Who is she, Melusine?"
she asked quietly.
Before Yuuto could answer, the woman bowed gracefully first.
"Nice to meet you,"
she said softly.
"My name is Belfast. I am darling's wife."
"I–I–I–wife?!"
The expressions on all three of their faces instantly changed.
"Y–You're already married?!"
Umi stared at Yuuto with a mixture of shock, confusion, and clear heartbreak.
"Yes," Yuuto answered honestly.
"I got married during my journey in another world."
They fell silent.
Belfast observed their faces—she could clearly see the disappointment they couldn't hide.
With her calm tone unchanged, she added,
"More precisely… I am one of darling's wives."
"O–One…?"
Umi repeated softly.
Honoka and Kotori looked at each other, confused.
Yuuto let out a small sigh and explained,
"I now have six wives. We all got married together, on the same day. And Belfast is one of them."
"W–What are you—?!"
Umi nearly lost her words.
"Darling married six women at once,"
Belfast said without hesitation.
"What?!"
Honoka shouted.
"How is that possible?!"
Kotori exclaimed.
Yuuto smiled faintly.
"Because I am capable of bearing that responsibility."
"Y–You shouldn't be able to—government rules—"
Umi tried to interrupt.
"That's government law," Yuuto cut in calmly.
"I can marry any woman I want—as long as the woman herself is willing, I will do it."
He looked at them with a firm but non-threatening gaze, then stepped closer.
The three of them flinched in surprise as Yuuto's face came very close to Umi, Kotori, and Honoka. He examined them carefully.
He leaned in, whispering near Umi's and Honoka's ears—close enough for his breath to be felt.
"And I could marry you too… together," Yuuto said softly.
Then Yuuto shifted, his voice still low as he whispered near Kotori's and Honoka's ears.
"How about it?"
"If you want to…"
He smiled faintly.
"I guarantee… it would be something you would never forget."
His whisper was gentle—
yet it sounded like a forbidden offer,
like a contract that should never be signed,
yet far too tempting to ignore.
"W–We—"
they stammered, their faces burning red.
Then Yuuto patted Umi's and Kotori's shoulders, with Honoka standing between them. Yuuto looked at Honoka and smiled.
"Just kidding," Yuuto said teasingly.
"Hahahaha—"
Yuuto laughed, but Honoka, Kotori, and Umi did not laugh. Their faces were red as they looked down.
Annoyed at being teased, Honoka immediately stepped up and punched Yuuto's chest—which was far taller than her.
"Mooo~ Melusine! That joke was awful!" Honoka said, her face flushed.
"Hahaha~ sorry, sorry," Yuuto said as he gently patted Honoka's head, his fingers lightly ruffling her hair.
"Your expressions just now were too cute—I couldn't resist teasing you."
Kotori also stepped closer and lightly pinched Yuuto's muscular arm in annoyance.
"Don't do that again," she said while turning her face away, her cheeks red.
Umi wasn't about to lose either. She stepped forward and quickly pinched Yuuto's side—right against his hard muscle.
"Idiot," she said shortly, her voice firm, though her eyes avoided his.
"Sorry, sorry~" Yuuto said with a smile, then gently patted all three of their heads one by one.
"There's no way I'd marry you now," he continued lightly but warmly,
"you're still in school…."
Umi, Honoka, and Kotori suddenly looked at each other—
as if realizing the same thing.
"S–So… if we've finished scho— w–would you—"
Umi's voice stopped mid-sentence.
Yuuto had already stepped closer.
He raised his hand and gently touched Umi's lips with the tip of his index finger to stop her words.
"Secret," he said softly, accompanied by a warm, sincere smile.
Yuuto then turned around and walked calmly toward the workshop entrance.
"Now let's go inside," he said casually, as if he hadn't just shaken anyone's heart.
"I'll tell you about my adventure in another world."
Umi, Honoka, and Kotori exchanged brief glances—no one spoke.
Without realizing it, the three of them followed Yuuto into the workshop, each lost in her own thoughts.
Behind them, Belfast remained standing where she was.
She watched Yuuto's back and the three girls walking after him, her expression calm as always. Belfast let out a soft sigh.
When they were far enough away, Belfast finally spoke quietly.
"Darling… you truly are sinful," she said with a gentle sigh.
"Not just your appearance, but also your nature."
Belfast's gaze rested on the backs of the three girls walking behind Yuuto.
"This will be difficult," she murmured.
"I doubt they'll ever be able to stay with an ordinary man."
She paused briefly, then stepped forward to follow them.