Return of the Calamity-Class Death Knight
Chapter 362: SS 10

[Translator - Pot ]

[Proofreader - Kawaii ]

Side Story Chapter 10: Damien Haksen's Women (1)

Hello. This is Theo.

I'd like to give you a greeting, but I'm not really in a situation for that.

Because I've been kidnapped right now.

Why was I kidnapped ‘again’? Well, that's the thing.

My life seems to be inseparably tied to kidnapping.

But this kidnapping is very different from all the previous ones.

First of all, my life isn't in danger.

My safety is guaranteed.

However, I'm violently thinking that it would be better to have my life threatened instead.

What do I mean?

"Young Master Theo, we're not asking these questions for personal reasons. All of this can be said to be God's will."

"I don't know if it's God's will, but it's definitely a question that could change the continental power structure."

"Sisters, don't pressure Theo too much. Theo, would you like some chocolate? It was made by the Empire's famous chef."

The people who kidnapped me are my future aunts...

"Theo, I'll ask again."

"You're the only one who can answer us."

"Which of the three of us do you think Damien will choose?"

My aunts asked me with faces full of expectation.

Under the overwhelming pressure, I ended up closing my eyes tightly.

* * *

There are four publicly known ‘women of Damien Haksen.’

Agnes, one of the Five Great Saints of the Church.

Athena Hopper, the Second Mercenary King of the Fafnir Mercenary Group.

Rachel Lichteawer, the Sword Empress of the Empire.

The crazy Veronica Sánchez.

The last one sounds strange? That's right, Aunt Veronica isn't a bad person, but people just misunderstand her for no reason.

Although Aunt Veronica does love killing people a bit too much, she's never actually killed anyone.

That explanation sounds weird?

It's fine. When you meet Aunt Veronica later, you'll understand what I mean.

Anyway, people call these four women ‘Damien Haksen's women’ and pay tremendous attention to them.

It's related to my uncle, and the three aunts have incredible backgrounds.

The Church, the Fafnir Mercenary King, the Empire.

The three of them hold important positions in these massive organizations.

With a little exaggeration, if just one of the three moves, the entire continent would fall into enormous chaos.

On top of that, all three of them are incredibly beautiful.

They're pretty, strong, and have terrifying backgrounds.

Of course they'd be popular.

But people don't know that there's someone troubled by these three women.

"Young Master Theo, why aren't you saying anything?"

"Just relax and tell us. There's nothing to be afraid of."

"Sisters, Theo looks burdened. Come on, speak comfortably."

This is burdensome.

So burdensome that I feel like the food I ate yesterday morning might come back up.

I'd like to meet their expectations if I could, but I haven't heard anything from my uncle about this.

Every time I ask, he avoids the topic.

He probably finds it burdensome too.

I know this, so I've never pressed him for details.

That's why I can't answer the three women's questions.

But if I say this honestly, wouldn't the three of them be disappointed?

"Um..."

"Yes, go ahead and tell us."

"So..."

The problem is I can't think of anything to say to appropriately dodge this.

I had no choice but to tell the truth.

"It seems like Uncle still hasn't made up his mind. He says returning to being human comes first."

As I expected, deep disappointment appeared on all three aunts' faces.

I'm sorry to the three of them, but I felt slightly relieved.

At least I could be freed from this burdensome situation...

"Then Theo, couldn't you persuade him for us?"

Aunt Athena asked me.

Persuade? What are you talking about?

"You could persuade Damien to choose one of us three!"

"Huh? You're joking, right?"

I asked back in surprise.

Then Aunt Athena said with a very serious face:

"No, I'm not."

Ah, no...

No matter how much Uncle likes me, interfering in marriage matters is a bit...

Even I would hate it if Uncle interfered in my love life...

He's already been persistently asking me what kind of relationship I have with Hazel lately, which has been quite annoying.

But for me to act the same way toward Uncle...

I looked at Aunt Agnes with desperate eyes.

Believing that the always rational Aunt Agnes would take my side.

"I would also like to ask you. If it's your words, Lord Damien might listen."

...My expectations were beautifully betrayed.

I was already anxious because it seemed like the two of them were running out of patience recently.

Today was the day they finally exploded!

"Sisters, if you suddenly ask such a favor, won't Theo be troubled?"

Then Aunt Rachel stopped the two of them.

I looked at Aunt Rachel with the face of someone who had met a savior.

"So we should have him guide us on exactly how to bring it up and how to persuade him."

"Oh, that's a good idea."

"As expected, Your Agnes is different."

Correction.

Aunt Rachel wasn't taking my side.

She made things even more difficult for me!

Drip.

I felt cold sweat flowing down my neckline.

How should I handle this? What should I say to get out of this situation?

If these three women were bad people trying to kill me, I could at least call for Uncle.

Ah!

I suddenly remembered that I had made plans to go out with Aunt Veronica at lunchtime!

I glanced at the clock on the wall.

Just a little longer and it would be time for our appointment.

If I don't show up even after the appointed time, Aunt Veronica won't just sit still.

In other words, if I just hold out a little longer, Aunt Veronica will find me, and I can use that opportunity to escape!

The problem is how to kill time until then.

I hastily brought up any topic.

"But what do you three like so much about Uncle?"

It was a hastily asked question, but I've actually been curious about this for a while.

Of course, there's no one as handsome, cool, strong, and dignified as Uncle.

I guarantee that no one more wonderful than Uncle exists.

But the three aunts are also incredibly beautiful and popular.

Yet the three of them have been waiting for Uncle's choice for over 10 years.

"..."

My goodness.

All three of them blushed and looked away busily.

I wondered if these were really the same confident, assertive aunts I knew.

"Ahem, Young Master Theo asks quite a difficult question."

Surprisingly, Aunt Agnes was the first to speak.

"The answer to Young Master Theo's question is... because I've never seen anyone as devout as Damien Haksen."

Huh? Uncle is devout?

I guess I wasn't the only one who found this absurd.

Aunt Athena and Aunt Rachel had the same reaction.

"Come on, no matter what, saying Damien is devout is..."

"Sister Agnes, that doesn't make sense."

"You, you two, what blasphemous words are those!"

Aunt Agnes scolded the two of them with her face turning red.

I'm sorry to Aunt Agnes, but I agree with the other two.

"God? Where does such a thing exist? I'm the reincarnation of a god."

...I've often heard Uncle say things like that.

"Do you know how many devout words Damien leaves every time he visits the Church? Our Church has even published a collection of Damien Haksen's sayings!"

Ah, I've heard about that from Uncle too.

"I need to maintain a reasonably friendly relationship with the Church. So every time I go, I say a few nice-sounding things and leave."

...That's what he said.

"In the first place, if God hadn't helped him, how could Lord Damien Haksen have overcome such adversity! Lord Damien Haksen must surely be grateful to God!"

I haven't heard this from Uncle, but somehow I think I know what he would answer.

"If it were Damien, he'd probably say it's just because he's great."

"I think the same as Sister Athena. He has a bit of an annoying side."

The two of them said what I would have said.

Aunt Agnes clenched both fists and trembled.

"Sister Agnes, then is there no other reason? You just like him because Damien is devout?"

"Then what other reason would be necessary..."

"Hmm, then Sister likes God, not Damien Haksen as a 'human.'"

Aunt Rachel made a strange expression while saying this.

"...What does that mean?"

"Nothing, no meaning at all."

"Don't lie."

"I really mean it."

Contrary to her words, Aunt Rachel was making an openly mocking expression.

Even as a third party, I could see it was a really infuriating look.

"It's just that I seem to like Damien for purer reasons. I just like Damien."

"Th-there are other reasons too!"

"Hey, you don't need to force yourself to make up reasons."

"M-make up! I would never do such a thing."

"Then let's hear it."

Aunt Rachel said triumphantly with a laugh.

She's probably thinking that whatever reason is given, she can just accuse it of being made up on the spot.

Aunt Rachel has a more cunning side unlike the other two.

"That, that is..."

Aunt Agnes couldn't easily open her mouth. The longer the silence went on, the deeper Aunt Rachel's smile became.

"It seems like there isn't one."

"The f-forearm..."

"What?"

"The f-forearm muscles are g-good."

For a moment, a question mark seemed to appear on Aunt Rachel's face.

Actually, Aunt Athena and I had the same reaction.

"Forearm muscles?"

"When he holds a sword, the prominent forearm muscles that stand out pierce right into my heart. Every time he wears thin clothes and his chest outline subtly shows through, I can't stand it."

What can't you stand?

"The collarbone line that continues from the neckline is also excellent. Especially when he sweats, the sweat drops that form on his collarbone..."

The longer she spoke, the more rigid our three faces became.

Because of her white hair and skin, Aunt Agnes still looks like a young girl just from her appearance.

Maybe that's why it's even more shocking...

"...I like Damien for the same reasons."

After pouring out her storm of words, Aunt Agnes looked at the three of us.

"...Why are you all making such faces?"

"Um... well... it's nothing."

"What do you mean nothing!"

"No, it's nothing. Anyway, I understand well that Sister Agnes's feelings are genuine."

"What do you mean you understand well!"

Aunt Rachel slightly turned her head away.

Aunt Agnes looked at me and Aunt Athena with desperate eyes.

Of course, we two also avoided eye contact.

Seeing our reactions, Aunt Agnes shouted with a face that looked like she was about to cry:

"If you were going to react like this, you shouldn't have asked in the first place!"

[Translator - Pot ]

[Proofreader - Kawaii ]