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0% The Academy, which should be a symbol of peace, was no different from a small battlefield for me. Last year’s was because of the 77th year club members’ trolling, and now it was because of the future where I’d be thoroughly grilled.

Because of that, the Academy in my heart was just a place of despair. At this rate, it was worrying that something would go wrong next year, too.

Going back alone would be like walking straight into enemy territory unarmed, so I swallowed my pride and brought reinforcements this time.

“It’s been a while since we’ve all gathered together, hasn’t it?”

“Yes, it’s the first time since the start of the first semester.”

Seeing Penelia look around curiously filled me with a small sense of relief. With her at my side, maybe I had a chance.

Penelia and the Academy weren’t exactly a natural combination, but the timing was perfect. The Masked Unit was on leave, and it was only natural to bring her along since everyone except her was already at the Academy. After all, it’d feel wrong if she were the only one missing.

The more allies, the better.

Plus, with Penelia joining, it was no longer me alone against five, but two of us against five. If I had to choose between the two, of course I’d pick the latter.

I can even recruit Elizabeth.

With Penelia here, Elizabeth was more likely to join my side.

Not only were they close, but Elizabeth was a seasoned civil servant and might also be more understanding about me fighting and getting hurt.

With my sincere persuasion and Penelia’s support, we could push this into a three-against-four fight.

...I felt a bit ashamed to be plotting against my lovers, but my survival came first. If things went wrong, I’d be beaten down by all five at once. I needed an escape route.

Besides, this was a white lie. Rather than mentioning what had already happened and making my lovers worry, it was better to act as if nothing happened.

At least, that’s what I chose to believe.

***No one was there when I went to the pastry clubroom. It was natural for club members to be absent during class hours, but Beatrix must be lecturing seeing that she wasn’t here either.

But Elizabeth wasn’t here, too. Does she usually stay in the dorm instead of the club room?

That’s good.

This might actually be a blessing in disguise. It’d be easier to convince them separately rather than all together. If they’d been together, I wouldn’t even get a chance to try recruiting anyone.

“Penelia, would you like to go to the inspector’s quarters? Elizabeth should be there too, so just rest for a bit.”

“Me alone... you mean?”

“The others are in class so I’ll have to see them later, but Mar is in the president’s office. I’m going to see her for a bit.”

Penelia quickly agreed. Whether her quick acceptance was consideration for Mar as my first wife or simply because she felt guilty monopolizing my time recently, I wasn’t sure.

Either way, she was too kind-hearted for her own good. I wished she’d sometimes be more openly selfish.

“Alright, I’ll be going.”

After a moment’s hesitation, I kissed Penelia’s cheek. It hurt seeing her constantly suppressing her desires, but forcing her to change wasn’t the answer. It was something only time could resolve.

There was no reaction as I turned my back. Again, it was something time alone could fix.

***Beatrix unnie, who was checking her communication crystal that suddenly vibrated, spoke softly.

“Baby has arrived.”

It was a short and simple statement, but my body instinctively perked up. The words of unnie, the Magic Tower’s Master, were certain. Carl would need a mage’s teleportation if he came to the Academy, so it was natural for the news to reach unnie’s ears.

Finally.

I nodded, struggling to hide the smile creeping onto my face. Carl had finally returned. He had finally come back to us after ending the war.

Although I prepared myself mentally after receiving a message from Carl yesterday that he’d return today or tomorrow, hearing that he was really here made my heart race. Nothing could indeed prepare anyone for the excitement of seeing their loved one return home from a distant place.

“It seems Penelia came with him, too. It makes sense. She might not have another chance to visit until winter vacation.”

Good news followed good news. I was worried since she went to the battlefield with Carl, but it seems unnie Penelia also returned safely since she came to the Academy.

“Are they both alright?”

“Fortunately, neither of them is injured.”

When I asked out of concern, I got the answer I wanted. Both Carl and Penelia unnie were safe—

“He must’ve been healed.”

Those words made me flinch involuntarily. Knowing Carl had been injured left me with a bitter mix of disappointment and sadness.

Carl emphasized several times before leaving that he was an inspector so he wouldn’t have to fight, and he told us not to worry. But he fought somewhere without our knowledge and even hid it.

I understand, but...

Actually, I understood his feelings. He couldn’t avoid going to war since His Majesty the Emperor personally appointed him as an inspector.

Since he had to go anyway, he probably reassured us to keep us from worrying unnecessarily.

While the news had thrown me off balance, I understood why he’d acted that way once I’d regained my composure.

Father also said that a warrior getting wounded in battle was unavoidable. It was best not to get hurt, of course, but living as a warrior meant they couldn’t always expect the best-case scenario.

So, I understood and accepted that Carl participated in battle and got hurt. After all, I had waited safely at home; scolding him for getting hurt in a war would be unfair.

However, Carl remained silent. He kept his mouth shut as if nothing had happened.

I wouldn’t have been upset if only he’d told us honestly.

I let out a small sigh. If I tried to see it from Carl’s perspective, maybe he stayed silent to protect us from worrying. He might also think there was no need to mention it since the injury was perfectly healed.

...But, how could Beatrix unnie not know what happened in the war? With unnie above all mages, it was only natural for the mage who healed Carl’s wounds to report to her.

It was disappointing that Carl didn’t consider that obvious fact.

“But let’s welcome him with a smile. Imagine how hurt he’d be if we give him the cold shoulder.”

I pretended not to hear unnie’s addition of ‘Even though baby was the one who disappointed us first—’

Knock knock—

As we were exchanging small talk, someone knocked softly on the door.

“Mar, it’s me.”

I bit my lip hard at the familiar and longed-for voice that finally came. My heart was racing earlier, but now I feel like I might cry. I couldn’t control my emotions.

It seemed the same for unnie, as tiny droplets appeared in the corners of her eyes. At this moment, both unnie and I had completely forgotten our disappointment in Carl.

“C-come, in, Carl.”

As I barely gathered myself and spoke, the door opened. The familiar black hair and familiar black eyes came into view.

And Carl, who entered with a smile, started trembling as soon as he saw unnie with me.

***I’m screwed. It’s gone wrong from the very start.

I was planning to meet them one by one to divide and conquer, but the two people I feared most were already together in one place.

“It’s been a while. I’ve seen you both through the communication crystal, but seeing you in person is indeed better.”

I spoke while restarting my brain, which had momentarily stopped working. Although my plan had gone wrong, I’d had more failures than successes with my plans, anyway. There was no need to be so sad over it.

“I’ve missed you a lot.”

Besides, now was not the time to rack my brains for a way to survive, but to sincerely celebrate reuniting with my lovers. White lies were one thing, but getting distracted while reuniting with loved ones would be a different matter.

With those words, I hugged them both as they rose from the sofa. Thankfully, humans have two arms, allowing me to hug them simultaneously. It would be perfect if only I had four more. What a shame.

“I’m sorry I’m late. I wanted to come yesterday, but I had some work to do.”

“I-It’s okay. I’m just happy that Carl came back safely like this.”

Mar hurriedly shook her head at my apology. If I didn’t feel guilty about that ‘safely,’ I’d be an animal.

“I’m fine too, baby. What does it matter if you’re a little late? I can still be held by you like this.”

If hearing the word ‘held’ didn’t draw my eyes instantly to my arms, I’d be a heartless beast—

...

Ah.

Only after hearing these guilt-inducing words one after the other did I belatedly realize the truth. No, perhaps I was finally facing the truth I’d been avoiding.

They know.

Forget about divide and conquer or persuading them one by one; they already knew everything.

I was prepared to be found out to some degree since there was no such thing as a perfect crime.

Considering the number of people who saw me rushing to the Sarei front or standing at the vanguard in the final battle, I naturally thought it would be difficult to hide the fact that I participated in the battle.

I just wanted to focus their questioning on whether I participated in battle and not let the topic flow to the injuries I suffered. That was the ultimate goal. It was a strategy of giving up flesh to protect bone.

However, it failed before it even started.

Of course Beatrix would find out.

It seems I used up not just my mana but also my intelligence when using the Sky Cleaver. Logically, there was no being on this continent that could escape Beatrix’s gaze, the Magic Tower’s Master. All mages on the continent were essentially Beatrix’s eyes and ears.

Even at the peak of my mental decline, I must’ve retained a shred of common sense, because I did take some precautions. I asked the mage who came with the Northern Forces’s Commander to keep quiet about my injuries. Thanks to Beatrix’s influence, mages listened to me quite well.

But whose orders would a mage obey if they received conflicting orders from the Master of the Mage Tower and her partner?

Damn it.

My arms hugging them trembled.

“Thank you... thank you so much for coming back like this, Carl.”

My arms started trembling even more at Mar’s voice, which was now sniffling.

“Baby, there’s still a while before club time... could you stay here with us a bit longer?”

It was strange. Her words definitely sounded affectionate and teary, but it sounded like ‘Stay right here so we can grill you.’

Would it help if I dropped to my knees right now and begged forgiveness...?