---

How ridiculous it was. At first, I was so dumbfounded that I couldn’t even speak.

Girlfriend? What on earth does that even mean?

And multiple daughters-in-law? I’ve heard of Chinese men having three fathers, but hearing about someone with multiple daughters-in-law (there’s even a famous person with 29 mothers-in-law!) was a first for me. Especially since I was the protagonist of that story!

This was malicious slander like no other.

“Just say it clearly. What kind of nonsense are you talking about?”

I pressured Older Brother Jerry, who was muttering nonsense like he was hitting the ceiling in 16-bit, but I didn’t receive any clear answer.

– “Um… I’m at a loss for how to explain this too.”

“What’s that—no, forget it. Just know I’ll be there soon.”

What on earth has happened that made both the company and Jerry go to such lengths?

Frustrated, I hung up the phone and sighed.

Side Episode – I Was Harassed by All Kinds of Slander

The official residence in the middle of Abas’s capital resembled a multi-party meeting venue.

Diplomats emerging from the embassy formed clusters, moving in groups. The Kien Empire, Cult, Magic Tower, Al-Yabd, Patalia… even employees from the Jamria Federation’s embassy were present.

Behind them stood the embassy security squad. The soldiers, lined up along the walls, were wearing bulletproof vests unlike their usual attire, and the tense expressions of the squad leader and deputy captain were palpable.

Seeing the security squad deploy bulletproof vests and public weapons was a sign that something was seriously amiss.

Police cars with flashing lights were also rampant, and foreign journalists and high-ranking civil servants were milling about, so it was no wonder that Camila and I were wide-eyed, looking around.

“What’s going on here?”

“I have no idea….”

While I didn’t know the details, it was obvious that these unfolding events were connected to my family. I declined the change and quickly threw a bundle of bills to the taxi driver before rushing into the residence.

“Jerry, Adela!”

I dashed through the crisp night air.

Before the security squad could even shout something, I successfully entered the residence, sprinting up the stairs and flinging open the front door.

Peeking inside the residence, I heard gasps of breath brushing against my ears, soaking in the warm air mixed with cold sweat.

In the living room sat my Nostrim family gathered together, in opposition sat the guests—

“Oh, you’re here!”

“Is the Colonel here?”

“…Huh?”

They greeted me with such warmth.

Francesca waved her hand gently.

Lucia sat quietly, offering a slight nod.

Akande chomped away at snacks, laughing heartily.

“…?”

Why are those who should be in Jamria here?

The moment I recognized the familiar faces, my mind froze as if someone hit the pause button on reality.

It was a situation so bewildering that I couldn’t even process my thoughts anymore.

I was dumbfounded, standing there slack-jawed without even thinking to greet them. Just then, Camila rushed behind me and peeked inside the residence.

“Huh?”

A look of disbelief crossed Camila’s face, as if she hadn’t anticipated this scenario.

“Why are you all here?”

“Why do you think, you little rascal?”

“Professor, why are you—?!”

As Camila looked around inside, she was suddenly grabbed and lifted into the air. Dark shimmering magic from the Esculapian faction had ensnared her in the blink of an eye!

The old man, who caught his student like fishing up a whale, clucked his tongue in annoyance, shaking his head as if he had seen something he shouldn’t have.

At that moment, I rubbed my eyes in disbelief, wondering if I was seeing things, but the mystical silvery hair didn’t disappear.

“Wait….”

Did the Duke come here too?

“I committed the blunder of invading a family I’ve never met without a word because of you. What the hell happened to you?”

“Why are you taking it out on me? I don’t even understand what you’re talking about!”

“Oh dear. You don’t even know what you did wrong. What am I supposed to do with you….”

“Gyaaaah!!!”

With Camila flailing in the air, I finally managed to open my mouth, like a goldfish gasping for air.

“Uh, I thought everyone was in the Jamria Federation….”

In shock, I couldn’t string two words together.

What in the world is going on? Why are my companions here in the residence, and what nonsense is the old man (the Duke) spouting while punishing his student?

I wished someone would explain quickly. Just then, Francesca, who had been quietly sitting, finally spoke up.

“I was waiting for the Colonel’s news, but when there was no contact, I came here.”

“…Who comes crossing the Warp Gate just because you haven’t heard anything?”

“Well, that’s not the only reason we came here…. We got some interesting breaking news.”

The alchemist gestured towards the TV in the back, which was showing breaking news continuously.

The muted announcer babbled on and beneath that, a quick-moving subtitle popped up.

[Camila Lowell engages in an unanticipated chase in the streets of Abas…]

There she was, running frantically against the backdrop of the plaza, displayed as “tip-off footage.”

Only then did I finally grasp the entire situation.

I couldn’t help but burst out in admiration.

“Oh, crap!”

*

Here’s how the incident began.

While Frederick was having a pleasant time (spy training) with Camila, the Duke and the rest were waiting in the Jamria Federation.

“Are you sure it’s alright to let her go alone?”

“You don’t have to worry. She’s not going to a dangerous country.”

“When have I ever worried about her safety? I just worried whether my scatterbrained student could find her way properly.”

“How could she lose her way in the capital of Abas? It’s not something to worry about….”

By the way, today was a significant day. It was the day Frederick’s investigation was coming to an end.

He had participated in the just and legitimate (and unsolicited) delivery of democracy, but unfortunately, he had committed a ‘minor mistake’ by not obtaining permission from the higher-ups, so Frederick had to be investigated by the Abas government.

(Of course, in a military court, they’d have said this was nonsense.)

As ridiculous as the slander was, it was ultimately the Abas government’s decision. Foreigners had no right to critique it. All one could do was check on Frederick and offer words of comfort.

Thus, the Duke and his companions planned to welcome their comrade out of jail (though he hadn’t actually been imprisoned) returning to Abas, but due to this and that, only Camila was sent alone.

“How could I not be worried? Abas is a foreign place for her. In unfamiliar territory, one can easily get lost….”

The teacher sighed deeply, concerned about her student who had gone far away. However, Lucia, Francesca, and Akande, Camila’s companions, seemed unfazed.

“When do you think the Colonel will return?”

“It seems difficult for him to come back right away. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there are many restrictions on his status as a Colonel….”

“I’ve heard that if personnel from the Ministry of Defense are sent, they might even join the deployed forces. So there’s a chance it might not be impossible.”

“We’ll have to wait on the Abas government’s decision. Ultimately, it’s the Ministry of Defense of Abas that makes the final call.”

“By the way, what are we having for dinner?”

“I know a nearby town with a really great restaurant.”

“Oh, that sounds like a welcome suggestion.”

Whether Alexandra Petrovna was worried or not, the three of them were too busy picking dinner menus to notice.

While the Duke chastised them saying, “Aren’t you all worried?”, they ignored him completely.

Did they think the Abas government would fire Frederick? Even if they couldn’t give him a position as a defense attaché, it was clear they’d find some way to send him back. Besides, Camila wasn’t someone who would get lost as the Duke feared.

Why would Camila be like a six-year-old?

“Stop being ridiculous—”

“That’s enough, aged man.”— etc.

Various insults were filtered (to put it nicely: we must not forget that with his dying brain, this old man is still an Archmage) and poured out.

Given how things turned out, Alexandra Petrovna was left with no choice. After all, her disciple was no child. Would she act like a scared little kid tossed into the water?

“I suppose my worries were unnecessary… tsk.”

“You should trust your student, Grandma.”

“Indeed. What you say is true. Have you all decided on dinner?”

“Not yet. Why don’t you join us, your Grace?”

By this time, nobody was worried at all. Even if Camila’s contact was a bit delayed, they merely shrugged it off as, “Is she busy catching up on a month’s worth of conversations?”

However, after cleaning up after the criminals, even after having dinner and returning to their accommodations—

There was still no contact.

“What could be going on?”

“Maybe something went wrong?”

“Don’t say anything ominous. Just wait for another hour.”

As they all whispered, staring at the phone that seemed reluctant to ring, Akande, switching channels on the TV, suddenly jumped up with a loud shout, capturing everyone’s attention—there was a familiar red pig sprinting across the screen, yelling “Help me, I’m being chased!”

Seeing his student’s escapades shocked the teacher, who then dashed toward the Warp Gate, with the other three following suit, barely thinking to grab their belongings.

“Uh, excuse me, customers? You all have come from a country that does not have a visa agreement with the Abas government. You must first obtain a visa at the embassy and then return—

“Abas.”

“Excuse me?”

“Abas.”

“Can you not hear me…?”

Although there was a commotion with the immigration officers blocking the four of them due to visa issuance issues, thankfully, the Duke was quite capable of resolving such matters.

She opened the Warp Gate in a manner that was very simple, quick, and smooth.

It sounded like bribery.

With that, the four who managed to bribe the officers successfully flew straight to Abas.

They didn’t bring their visas and passports and got caught almost immediately, but they at least managed to enter the country. The only problem was that it was illegal entry.

Though there was a minor scuffle with the Abas immigration officers who noticed the illegal entry. (??? : Emergency, emergency! Mobilize the rapid response unit! Hurry!)

The rapid response unit that took initial action was followed in quick succession by the Special Forces who used teleportation magic, leading to many commanders facing an involuntary discharge crisis. (☆☆ : Is it tough managing the units these days? / Personnel Department: Commanders summoned must report to the reserve unit starting tomorrow!^^)

Anyway, they successfully entered Abas, so it was a win-win situation.

That’s how it was.

*

“…….”

Half-listening to the Duke’s explanation, I was flabbergasted.

…The Warp Gate opened? In terms of the modern world, that would be like an airport.

By South Korean standards, ‘A’ grade national critical facilities include major urban power networks, financial market computing networks, large reservoirs and dams, similar to KBS. Nuclear power plants also categorize as ‘A’ grade critical facilities. The Presidential Office, Ministry of Defense, National Intelligence Service, and Sejong City government offices are similarly included.

It goes without saying how tight the security of the Warp Gate, akin to an airport here, would be.

Yet, that crazy old man managed to breach it all. Twice, no less—once in Jamria and once in Abas.

“Ah….”

Frederick felt a wave of dizziness wash over him.

The Duke’s concealment magic had breached the military barrier, leading to a chaotic scene where commanders who had no clue about the operation were rushing for a headcount check, only to be stopped by their aides, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs from the Kien Empire had a fainting incident numbered 103701.

But none of that mattered to Frederick in the slightest.

What was really important was.

“…Everyone. What on earth did you say?”

“What do you mean?”

“To your families. What did you say that led to… uh, whatever it is? It seems like a misunderstanding has arisen…”

Frederick gathered Lucia and Francesca to interrogate them about the truth, curious how it came to be that his family was mentioning daughter-in-laws and girlfriends.

The two casually replied without a care in the world.

“Oh, is that what you mean?”

Francesca recounted the events that transpired.

“When I first visited your home, they asked about my relationship with the Colonel.”

“…Wait a second. Why would they ask about your relationship with me?”

If they all visited together, there wouldn’t have been a need to ask such questions, right? Frederick couldn’t hold back his curiosity and questioned further.

Francesca, with a slight smile, explained, “There was a bit of a commotion. Everyone was in such a hurry to escape that things got scattered.”

Thanks to the concealment magic granted by the Duke, they could sneak away from the scene; however, they hastily left and ended up completely scattered.

In haste, they tried calling Camila and Frederick, but the calls didn’t go through. Ultimately, they each had to find their own way out.

And the path they chose was to visit the Colonel’s house.

After all, they were there to meet up with colleagues, and now they had a chance to find out if anything happened to Camila. Since they were at it, they thought they might as well stay for a few days before heading back. Everyone had that thought in mind.

The problem was that there was no way to communicate with one another.

Luckily, since they all agreed on a common meeting place, it was set, but being separated meant they could only rely on their own skills to reach their destinations.

“Who is it?”

“Excuse me. Is this Colonel Frederick Nostrim’s residence?”

“Yes, it is.”

For reference, the person who arrived first was Francesca, followed by Lucia.

Had it not been for the unusual circumstances, the two would have first revealed their identities and asked for the family’s understanding before entering the residence. However, it was apparent to all that this was ‘an abnormal situation.’

While the family might be delighted to see esteemed guests, be they an alchemist or a saint, the chance of the Abas government being as welcoming was quite low. If foreigners who should be in the Jamria Federation suddenly appeared right in the capital, it would be tantamount to announcing “I am an illegal immigrant!”

Thus, they had no choice but to lie.

“Oh, I’m a friend of the Colonel.”

“I’m an acquaintance of Frederick.”

Fortunately, the Nostrim family did not recognize Francesca and Lucia.

Logically speaking, it would be impossible for a senior official from the Magic Tower and a High Priestess of the Cult to visit sequentially at night.

Adela, who had been working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for quite a while (Public servant, secure position number 2), only thought, “Wow—what a beautiful person,” and couldn’t fathom that they were foreign guests. She simply thought they resembled someone she knew.

“A friend? Oh, you must be the person Fred went out to meet. Please, come in.”

“An acquaintance? Hmm, didn’t we have two people we were supposed to meet today? Well, anyway, please come inside. It’s cold out, so have some tea while you wait.”

Jerry and Adela warmly welcomed the guests visiting the residence.

Since they were said to be the family of a friend, there was no reason to turn them away, and considering how well they knew their sibling, it was unlikely they were foreign company. Furthermore, the earlier guest had previously greeted the arriving one warmly, right?

Thus, the eldest son and daughter received the guests without any suspicion.

Curiosity got the best of them, and the questions about their sibling’s whereabouts and relationships began.

There really was no particular reason for their inquiry—just pure curiosity. Anyone would ask such questions if their sibling brought home a romantic partner.

“But what kind of relationship do you have with our brother?”

“And what about you, acquaintance? What’s your relationship with Fred?”

And then.

The two, Francesca from a noble family and Lucia from a strict society, deemed it exceedingly rude to visit someone’s home without a proper reason. Especially without prior notice.

They needed to come up with a credible explanation that the family could easily accept.

Francesca and Lucia quickly revved their brains to 200%. What excuse would work best?

Saying they came from work would be a poor excuse. There’s no Ministry of Defense in the Magic Tower or the Cult (to be precise, there are similar departments, but the environments are entirely different), and they knew nothing about it. Just engaging in conversation would quickly expose the lie.

As for excuses about being childhood friends or long-lost colleagues, that wouldn’t fly either. Surely the family would know their sibling’s friends?

Neither the workplace nor the past could be used. They had to come up with an explanation the family wouldn’t know. Or a relationship they weren’t aware of.

Then a feasible answer came to mind.

“They’re my girlfriends.”

“…Um, they are my lovers.”

At that, the Nostrim family’s eldest son and daughter, Jerry Nostrim and Adela Nostrim, thought to themselves:

This is messed up!

This crazy younger brother of ours has finally lost it! Two women at the same time?!

In a huge misunderstanding (or perhaps a truth too close), Jerry and Adela guided the guests inside and immediately had an emergency meeting together. The two public servants witnessing the collapse of their family and society panicked, letting out silent screams.

“What do we do, brother? The first one said she was a girlfriend, and now the newcomer says she is too!”

“I have no idea.”

“You’ve got to do something!”

“What do you want me to do…?!”

So far, everything was marginally fine, but then came the call.

They received a message stating, “Currently, the Duke of the Empire has entered the country with your brother’s party, and we are searching for the Duke and the other person. Please do not ask anything and keep both of them with you for today.” The caller was a high-ranking official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

At that moment, the feeble public servants sitting in the living room suddenly realized who the ‘girlfriends’ of their brother were.

“…….”

“…Jerry.”

“…Yeah, Adela.”

“Are we doomed?”

“Probably.”

This dismal news spread faster than the news service of the K-Army throughout the household.

The elders of the Nostrim family collapsed from sheer joy upon hearing the exhilarating news that two potential brides (a saint and an Archmage’s descendant) had come to visit, despite the eldest son having never brought any home before.

And the protagonist of this delightful news, the proud son who brought home two brides (or a real piece of work), Frederick said:

“…Hold on a moment. Just wait. It seems there’s been a tremendous misunderstanding, and can we calm down and talk this out?”

This is defamation.

It’s a genuine misunderstanding, so please let’s have a conversation, but there was no need for lengthy explanations anymore.

Sprawled on the sofa was Adela, who abruptly turned to her mother while watching her flustering brother.

“Mom.”

“…Yes?”

“Are you pleased to have two daughters-in-law?”

 

---