# Side Story (18)
When I opened my eyes, we had somehow become adults.
The Hero Party had adapted to modern life and become fine people.
"Hehe, Mister! Look at me! The Hero is on TV!"
Luna was on live TV, making a V-sign toward me.
This was the result of being influenced by Korean dramas and breaking into Hollywood.
Perhaps she had more talent for acting than expected, as she passed the audition in one go.
*You never know what life has in store...*
As I was thinking that, Hare came out of her room and kicked at me.
"If you're awake in the morning! Prepare breakfast! Mister!"
At times like this, I take a defensive stance and beg for my life.
"Spare me, Hare! I'm sorry! I'll cook right away!"
A good survival strategy.
When I act like this, Hare stops kicking and sits on the sofa to watch TV.
I immediately move to the sink to prepare food.
*Will steak be enough today? Hare won't break the desk, right?*
As I'm thinking that, Saten comes to mind.
Saten, who's been holed up in her room for two years without coming out.
Whenever I tried to see what she was doing inside, she'd get irritated and shout.
*I told you it's a promotion match, Mister. Can't you hear me? You saw Mother last time, didn't you? Why are you interfering with my promotion match?*
Saten, who had somehow become a demon and won't leave her room.
I miss her usual self.
And lastly, Estia, who must be working hard at her job.
Joining the major corporation S Group and taking care of our living expenses...
"...Wait."
That can't be right.
There's no way Estia, who doesn't even do housework, would go out and work.
At that moment, I felt something strange happening before my eyes.
The world collapsed, and the world began spinning round and round.
*What the hell is this...*
As if I'd fallen into a labyrinth.
As if I'd lost my way.
I couldn't escape from the dream—
"What the hell kind of dream was that—!!"
"Ugh, ahhh... Mister, what's wrong so early in the morning...!"
Jolt—
When I sat up in bed, I saw Luna's legs.
Was that the cause of my nightmare?
*More importantly, why is she sleeping here? I said I'd sleep in the master bedroom yesterday.*
I scolded Luna's legs.
"Maybe because you've gained weight, they're pretty heavy, those legs."
"Don't, don't say mean things to my legs! They can hear you!"
"It's fine, I said it so they would hear."
"I'm, I'm going to kick! Don't provoke the Hero for no reason!"
Luna started getting angry from the morning.
But what was that strange dream anyway?
No matter how I think about it, that dream was weird.
Should I say it was like being forced to dream something that should absolutely never happen?
"Something feels strange..."
"What felt strange, Mister?"
"Wh-what? Saten?"
Saten appeared suddenly.
*Why is she awake in the morning? It's not even dawn right now.*
She looked at my face, checking what was strange.
Like a doctor examining a patient.
Her dark eyes scanned me.
"Hmm..."
"Is, is there some problem?"
"No, it's normal for there to be no problem. But there shouldn't be a problem, right?"
That's true, but...
Why are you saying such ominous things, Saten?
I asked if what I was thinking was correct.
"I'm just wondering, and I do suspect you..."
"Yes, Mister. Please speak."
"What did you do while I was sleeping? I suddenly had a nightmare I've never had before."
"...Right now, did you say you had a nightmare? Not a good dream?"
"Yeah."
I explained to Saten what happened in the dream.
A world that was somehow realistic yet somehow had a screw loose.
After hearing that story, Saten answered simply.
"It's just a dream."
"Right? It's just a dream."
"But it's a bit ambiguous to call it just a dream. You'll understand if you look at this."
Saten brought me a glass bottle to show me.
Inside were pills similar to common cold medicine.
"What's that?"
"It's a drug made with magic power. In short, drugs. Originally, I made it with the purpose of making people have good dreams."
That?
"Why would you make that? Do you dream of being a pharmacist?"
"No, I was trying to start a business. I heard modern people these days don't sleep well. So yesterday, while you were sleeping, I gave you one."
"...So I was a clinical test subject."
"No, please express it properly. You're a business partner."
Saten, who learned strange words from somewhere.
More than that, to quit coins and start a business.
She enjoys risk more than I thought.
"After breaking your coin addiction, you're trying to fall into business addiction..."
"Is there such a thing as business addiction?"
"There is. There are people who can't live without coins, and people who can't live without business."
"That's fortunate then. Since I'm not an addict."
Indeed.
Can we really say Saten isn't an addict?
From my perspective, she already seems addicted to capitalism.
*In the first place, her purpose for making money is to gain power, right?*
I snatched the glass bottle Saten was holding.
"This is confiscated."
"Why?"
"First, it's a drug whose effects haven't been properly verified. Selling it would be illegal. And it's too dangerous and a failure."
"What if I make a drug that makes people have good dreams?"
"That would be real drugs."
Because people wouldn't work and would fall into good dreams, sleeping their whole lives away.
Like Estia, who sleeps until lunch...
"Wait, Saten."
"Why?"
"Not nightmares, not good dreams either—can't you make it so people don't dream at all?"
"That... I don't know since I haven't tried it. In the first place, this is my magic power mixed with other drugs and refined. Using a kind of magic."
But if that succeeds...
*Even Estia, who usually has frequent nightmares, could sleep comfortably.*
Once Estia falls asleep, she sleeps for a long time.
However, she frequently has nightmares, so her sleep quality isn't high.
That's why she sleeps again to have happy dreams.
But if she has nightmares again, her sleep quality decreases—
*Repeat and repeat again.*
In the end, she can't cure her sleep disorder and keeps walking in circles.
That's why Estia sleeps an average of 16 hours a day.
It's a bit better when I'm by her side, but as time passes, I can't always be by Estia's side.
And Estia wastes too much time sleeping.
Because she just sleeps without any meaningful time, she can't even properly adapt to the modern era.
"Did you just say business partner, Saten?"
"Yes, if you agree, we become business partners. The ratio is 9 to 1."
"I get 9?"
"No, you're the 1."
As expected.
Saten answered firmly.
Still, if Saten makes a sleep treatment for Estia...
"That would be fine. Even if we don't sell it to people."
"Right?"
"Try making it into a drug that prevents dreams. If it succeeds..."
What would be good to give her?
What item would satisfy Saten?
I looked at Saten and asked.
"Is there anything you want?"
"Something I want... I think there's one thing."
"What?"
"Marry me."
"...What?"
"Did you mishear? Marry me."
Saten declared confidently.
To marry her.
But that was different from what we initially discussed.
"Originally, I was supposed to take care of you all for a few years..."
"I looked it up, and in South Korea, which belongs to this Earth, there's a saying like this."
If a man takes responsibility once, he takes responsibility to the end.
At Saten's words, I desperately resisted and shouted.
"That's sexist!"
"Then shall I take responsibility for you? Wouldn't that work?"
"..."
I have nothing to say.
At this rare defeat, I bowed my head.
And Saten knelt down, looking up at me from below and said.
"On the day we become adults. We're getting married. The groom is you, Mister. The bride is me... and well, the other three attendees—"
Before Saten could finish speaking.
Hare's cold voice was heard from the living room.
I don't know when she woke up, but I thought she probably sensed it instinctively.
"Why is it different from what we said among ourselves, Saten? We said if there's something to gain, we'd do it with marriage, right? Shall we fight once to see who's strongest in the Hero Party?"
"...First place would be Luna, then you."
"Ah, Mister. Please allow it. I want to fight."
The two looked at me, seeking consent.
If I have a wedding with these women, won't someone get stabbed and carried to the hospital?
Suddenly, that thought occurred to me, and I sighed and said.
"Let's just... all do it together... Well, if we go to another country, we could do it..."
Wasn't this my destiny anyway?
Me, on the spring day I become an adult.
The fate of being dragged by the Hero Party into marriage.
There's no other way to explain the current situation.
At my answer, Hare and Saten smiled and said simultaneously.
"Y-you can't take back those words, Mister."
"I heard it clearly, you absolutely can't back out, so remember it well."
"Okay."
Well, it'll work out somehow.
Even if they're strong, they won't kill me.
More than that, for now.
"Saten, let's make that drug. Let me watch how you make it too. It can't be dangerous."
"Yes, understood. Before that, wear this when you come in."
Saying that, Saten handed me something.
It was none other than...
"A gas mask? Where did you get this?"
"Amazon."
I see.
How did she get in there and purchase—
*No, I shouldn't question it.*
I should just accept it.
If I worry about every little thing, how can I have a married life with four people?
Preparing for the slowly approaching future.
I entered my room. No, Saten's room, which had now changed owners.
That place looked just like...
*I've seen this a lot in American dramas.*
It looked like a drug manufacturing site.