This is a detailed version of chapter 259, "Solutions to Discord."

"Let's start with introductions. Even if it feels redundant, let’s do this properly♪"

Selene took the lead.

She then placed her hand on her chest.

"I’ll go first. I’m Selene from Affilm Empire, a half-elf. My clan is technically deep green, but don’t worry about that. As a female slave, I am your second choice♪"

Then she prompted Apple beside her.

Apple looked flustered for an instant, glanced at me, and then squared up with determination.

"I’m Apple. My clan system is purple, though as you can see, I’m a half-elf. I don’t remember this myself, but apparently I was the first female slave. Nice to meet you."

"You don’t remember...?"

"What’s going on?"

Sharon and Almeida raised their eyebrows.

“Ah, this sounds interesting.”

“You shouldn’t do that, Tetes.”

Naris held back Tetes as she leaned forward. “Aa…”

For a moment, Apple was intimidated.

“But before Andy returned, he had been severely injured in a conflict with the north and lost his memories. But it’s true that this girl was the first one to become his female slave.”

Selen provided an accurate follow-up.

Irina cleared her throat.

“Regarding that matter, there is no way for us to apologize… but it has already been confirmed at the clan council meeting. Apple had been in a coma for years and was revived by Lady Hilda... and lost her memories.”

“Is that so?”

“...Well, conflicts arise everywhere. It’s not surprising.”

Sharon and Almeida seemed to be satisfied with this explanation.

“I wonder if it’s Diane next?”

Iryna prompted as Diane stood up.

“She is Diane Ashton, daughter of the Dark Elf from the Southern Desert. As you all know, she’s a bit clumsy but wants to marry Andy.”

Tetes chimed in.

“Isn’t she your slave then?”

“No... I didn’t make such an agreement with her.”

“Aren’t you at a disadvantage? Unlike everyone else.”

“I haven’t felt any discomfort, and I have no intention of being submissive or making anyone else submit. I want to love Andy on equal terms.”

Diane said it confidently.

…That’s right, she had never once wanted a collar.

It was the more normal thing, but she was an unusual existence.

“I see, so that works here too…”

“By the way, Tethys, why are you here? And Christie as well.”

“What? Isn’t it interesting to meet such amazing people?”

Tethys gave me a puzzled look in response to my question—why would I ask something like that.

She had some guts. She really did stick out like a sore thumb.

“Besides, there’s nothing more amusing than watching others’ tangled affairs.”

"Hey, Tetes-chan, you should be a little more tactful."

At sixteen, she’s already this bold. It's scary to even think about how much worse it could get.

Then she turned her gaze towards Christie and said,

"...But Mr. Smisson sometimes tries to make me pregnant!"

"At least call it sex!"

"It might actually happen... so I don’t see why it’s strange for me to be here."

"Can't you question your own position a little?"

"And anyway, it's Mr. Smisson who is being too extreme by putting an actual collar on Irina! The Azure Princess alone could already become an international incident, and he’s the clan leader of all people—let alone such a small one..."

"I am not small because I'm young!"

“…Um. Anyway, since we’re here, I’ll take it that you agree to get pregnant by Andy-san.”

Selen spoke seriously as she wrapped things up.

“Is that okay?”

Christie stopped for a few seconds before responding.

“…Well, that’s…”

“Do you have any objections?”

“No… well, if Smythe-san wants to do it, I wouldn’t mind…”

“Would you be willing to be his sex slave?”

Selen. That wasn’t something she should ask about herself.

“Well, uh… It doesn’t seem like a proper marriage is going to happen anyway.”

Christie reluctantly agrees to go along with it, but Tettese interrupts.

“Looks like you’re ready and willing to be a slave girl.”

“N-no! It’s not that bad…”

“You look like a widow who’s well into her affair. How about I call you sensei for short?”

“Please don’t say such weird things, Tettese-san!”

I wonder if Christie and Tettese are teacher and student.

…Tetthes seems to have the upper hand mentally.

Next, Angelos stands up.

He hesitates a bit, considering the mood of the room, but in the end he raises his fist to his chest and announces himself.

"Directly under the Celesta Army Command, Special Forces Team Dianne, Guard Infantry Captain Anzeross. I've known Andy for about eight years."

Her introduction was very formal in public settings... though.

"Hmm. The only ones who would recognize your rank here are Almeida and the Glorious Princess, wouldn't they?"

Irina pointed out.

Indeed, military ranks or ten-man captains were completely foreign to Fennel and her sisters. Therefore, the first part of her introduction was meaningless to them.

"Anzeross... Introduce yourself based on where you're from."

When I prompted her, she pursed her lips but introduced herself again.

"I'm Anzeross, daughter of Linda Noiman from Trot's capital city and Aaron from the White Clan."

Ah... Fennel and her three sisters nodded in recognition.

"I've met your father. His archery skills were on par with my dad."

“Huh, isn’t that amazing?” Laurel said. Sebory’s eyes widened.

Maybe she was pretty good after all?

“Well, my father and mother were adventurers outside, so…”

…Now that he thought about it, that might have been the case.

Yeah, if elves went out to be adventurers, their families would worry unless they could at least handle something like the Labyrinth of Holy Beasts. And Laurel’s dad might also be pretty amazing in order to compete with them.

“…Well, Laurel is from a warrior family anyway.”

Oregano added as an explanation.

…Huh?

“Swordsman rank...”

"Hmm. It’s someone who takes the lead in battle, like a noble or knight family among humans. Though they don’t boast as much."

"Laurel is actually pretty strong too. At least she's the best at martial arts among us."

Irina and then Oregano explained to me. But Laurel herself looked troubled... more like annoyed.

"I can't really live up to that expectation… I didn't take my training seriously, so I’m not good enough to fight monsters."

"How strong are you? Could we spar with swords?"

Angelos seemed a bit excited by the prospect, but Laurel shook her head vigorously.

"No way. I only know self-defense techniques... just enough to avoid getting hurt if some guy tries to grab me."

"I see… so about as strong as Jeanne then."

“I’m stronger than that. I can take out monsters.”

Jeanne argued back against Angelos’ words. Well, she does have some experience, after all. Yeah.

“H-Heaven forbid you do something reckless. You’re not in the best shape to get hurt.”

“Well… I wouldn’t go looking for a fight anyway. I’m not as agile as Angelos is.”

“That’s good. Jeanne and Peter will be protected by me and Lila.”

Angelos patted Jeanne on the head, treating her like a little sister. In reality, Jeanne was only slightly older than him.

Next up was Aurora.
Unlike Angelos, she didn’t put on airs.
As befitting an elf princess, she took a graceful bow by tugging at the hem of her dress.

“Aurora, daughter of the blue-blooded chieftain Dior of Colony Leader Clavess. You should know her.”

“Surely you can’t have missed meeting Aurora.”
Irina was right; Aurora was well-known even in the counter area.

“Selen told me to take it seriously and not say something like that to Selen…”

“Well said.”

Selen clapped her hands together, praising Aurora.
“But why is someone of your caliber a master’s slave…?”

“I’m curious,”
Fennel and Sevory chimed in.

“Of course, ever since I saw how big Andy’s vessel was…”

Aurora, on the other hand, started answering smoothly... but was grabbed by the shoulder by Angeleos.

“Are you skipping over any misunderstandings about General Lucas?”

“It’s not a big deal.”

“I think it’s hard to say that. Andy did have his leg cut off and suffered quite a bit, but in reality he didn’t win…”

“Yes, but actually, Andy had the potential to be greater than his brother as an outstanding hero, so that’s fine♪”

I also thought her justification was a little forced.

But the Counter group was interested in something else.

“Leg cut off!?”

“My, my master, did you have your leg cut off!? By that southern noble!? ”

Sebory and Oregano were all ears.

...Oh yeah, I felt like I was stuck with the injury for a long time, but my leg had healed by the time I got involved with the Elfhame territory.

"...So you went through such hardship?"

"I didn't know that... It's recent, right?"

Ah, so even Irina and Christi don’t know about it.

"Come to think of it, something like that did happen..."

Luna seems troubled too. Back when I first met her, I had to treat myself with magic and force myself to have sex despite the injury.

I just realized how many people in my group didn't know about this major injury.

"My left leg... from here, ouch... It was actually the worst pinch so far."

"But you fought back, Andy-san. For me and Angelos-san♪"

Selen adds dreamily to my explanation, while Apple looks interested too.

This kid doesn't know that my limping is due to an injury, huh? Oh yeah.

"And then Diane-chan and I used Polka's sacred spring together to fully heal me."

Hilda sets down her cup and stands up.

"So, I'm Hilda, Diane-chan's big sister and doctor. I've been working on the front lines of southern medicine for centuries, so I can treat any injury or illness you have! My hobby is naughty stuff. Nice to meet you☆"

She’s being too honest.

And she’s completely integrated herself as a female slave.

...Well, I’ve pretty much given up on that recently.

I should really sit down and talk with her sometime.

"Hm. Now there's no one left who doesn't know me. I am Lira of the desert, pet to Black Dragon Andy Smisson."

"...Maya. Blue Dragon. Me too, pet."

Lyra and Miah also took advantage of the stunned silence to quickly introduce themselves.

...I feel like dragons who've made a contract with someone should be introduced in more detail than just saying they're pets, but I guess it's okay this way.

"So I'm Jeanne, the dwarf who gave birth to Andy’s first child."

"...Luna Basil. ...Granddaughter of the leader of the catkin colony that Andy occupied."

"Occupied...!?"

The atmosphere was such that we could have rushed through introductions, but Luna’s introduction stopped everyone in their tracks.

By the way, it was Tetheus who reacted with surprise. He's got a knack for timing his reactions perfectly.

"...Occupation. Andy single-handedly impregnated almost all of the women in a colony full of them."

When Luna quietly said this, there was an uproar.

"......So that’s what they were like over there..."

Naris puts his head in his hands.
The girls, who know little about the cat colony, praise him unnecessarily with a look of admiration.
"Well, it's not surprising for such a lecherous man as this one..."
"The heat of the cat-humanoids is said to be intense. But to do that to so many people..."
Almeida and Christi both wear an expression somewhere between awe and exasperation.
...Since I'm mixed in without any dilution, I don't really feel like chiming in either.
But it's not everyone. Just the young ones up to their thirties or so. The older ladies are out of range anyway.

"Well then, shall we move on to Knight Commander Sharon or Lady Irina next?"
Tetes tries to ease the tension with a friendly smile, but everyone’s gaze stops him from moving on to Sharon and Irina.
The eyes remain fixed on Tetes and Naris.

“...eh, what?”

“If you two are fine with it, I don’t mind continuing as is. But still, I do want to know about the both of you.”

Iryna explained the meaning behind her gaze.

“I’m curious not only why you’re here but also your backgrounds a little bit more.”

...For Oregano, they were indeed two mysterious people.

“Eh, eh… Nalis-chan, go ahead first, since you are kind of qualified?”

“What’s that supposed to mean!? Ah—fine… My name is Nalis. I’m from the Southern Great Plains. As for my clan, I don’t really know. When I was a kid, we got roasted alive in the War of Fire Dragons.”

“That’s…”

“But shouldn’t you be able to look it up now?”

Fennel and others were surprised by Nalis’ background.

“Even if we were to investigate, it wouldn’t do us any good now. Knowing the bloodline doesn’t mean anyone will give me money,” Naris shrugged.

…Though she was joking, her words also seemed like a rebellion against the elven society’s clan and lineage-based system. For someone who had struggled to live outside of that system, there wasn’t much point in trying to reclaim a lost family line now…

“And I’m Tettes Marley. I’m the daughter of a branch house of the noble family of Lefangas, and I’m pretty strong too! And by the way, I don’t have any relations with Smisson’s ten commanders,”

Tetts blew away the heavy atmosphere with her light tone.

…Oh, so it was Marley instead of “Tettes Buster” who didn’t have those kinds of relationships?

“And why are you asking about my lord here?” Sebory asked.

Tetts answered with a smile that had just a hint of something scary in it. “I thought I might hear an interesting story.”

The Sebori could only look confused, not knowing how to read the situation. Those who knew Teetes as an intelligence officer could only smile wryly.

Of course, from a spy’s perspective, this place was full of interesting stories. With two dragons and the children of influential figures lying around like that...

But whether she actually had any interesting stories or not remained unclear.
...Sometimes I still wonder how things got to be this way.

“Renne Duchy in Affilum… I’m from the Almeida family, a green-blooded clan. Though they’ve disowned me already…” She poked the floor with her cane and glared around at everyone. “Don’t look at me like you expect an interesting comment.”

Almeida continued poking the ground while glaring at them.

“What happened to put that collar on you?” Sebori asked, stopping her from moving on.

Those who had been involved, such as Christy and Iryna, smiled wryly. Almeida blushed.

“Whatever.”

But Selene pointed that out.

"That's no good, Almeida. This is a gathering to get to know each other better, so it’s not nice to try and hide your embarrassment, right?"

Almeida made a bitter face.

"...You want me to say it? You really want to dig up my humiliating past, Selene?"

"Humiliating...?"

"Yes, humiliating. I admit that it was humiliating at the time. So I’d rather you didn’t pry into it."

But then she added,

"If you hate it so much, why don't you just take off your collar? Andy gave everyone collars, but he doesn't force most people to keep them on, does he?"

Hilda pointed that out.

"That’s..."

"How did you come to accept Andy's cock? How did you decide to make a statement like this, and walk around proudly as his sex slave? Is it wrong of me to question someone who does so?"

"Guh..."

"You could just say that you lost yourself completely to him."

"Are you going to push me into a corner like this and then back out?"

Hilda had been acting all wise but was actually being cruel.

Next up, Sharon. Unlike Almeida, she didn’t hesitate at all.

"I am Sharon of the ruling family of Arkas, a member of the glorious clan... Smithson is the one who enlightened me, and repeatedly showed through his actions that I am an attractive woman. While I do not deny that he expected to seduce many women and train them with his stamina and skill... He turned out to be much more kind-hearted than I thought! ♪"

Sharon sighs dreamily.

Following Sharon’s words, Christie also begins her introduction.

“I am Christie, the representative of the Sakura clan. My history with Mr. Smisson… well, it was an accident that resulted in a rather naughty incident involving misdelivering some Kanetsuki grass tea. …Mr. Smisson’s honesty about his desires and love, regardless of who he is dealing with… I mean, it was just so… delightful… ♪”

Christie sighs dreamily.

Iryna shrugs her shoulders as she looks at the two women lost in their own worlds.

“Women whose female side starts burning slowly are a bit too hot for me.”

She says this as if it’s nothing to do with her.

Everyone chuckles and seems about to brush off her slight teasing, but Christie quickly retorts when she comes back to herself.

“You say that after being a virgin for 150 years, Iryna?!”

“Mmgh!?”

Everyone there remembered that Irina was definitely the oldest among them. Only the dark elf sisters, Lila, and Christie were older than her.

Seeing her wearing a collar with such delight was just hypocritical.

Finally,

“Silver’s last seat is Fennel. …I hope to continue receiving your masterly affection.”

“I-I’m Oregano of Gold! Being toyed around by you as my lust desires brings me great joy!”

“Oregano, calm down a bit. …I’m Gold Sebory. I guess it’s okay if one or two babies get planted in me,”

“…Laurel. …You’ve taught me so many naughty things.”

The four girls introduced themselves.

Having such attractive women gathered together and eagerly waiting to fulfill my perverted desires was quite the situation.

I was blissfully happy, but that happiness required a considerable amount of effort.
...Though I only vaguely understood this fact.
However, it wasn't my style to hesitate when faced with such happiness.
So there's no need to rehash how I threw myself headlong into the rotten winter break.

This is a detailed version of Episode 259 of the main story, "The Solution to Dissonance 2."

"Well then, shall we start with introductions? Even if you think it's a bit late in the game, let's all do this properly, okay? ♪"

Selen took the lead. Placing a hand over her heart, she continued:

"I'll go first. I'm Selen, a half-elf from the Afilm Empire. Clan-wise, I belong to the Deep Green lineage, but don't worry about that. As far as female slaves go, I'm the second one! ♪"

She then prompted Apple, who was sitting next to her.

Apple showed a flustered expression for a moment, but after stealing a quick glance at me, she pulled herself together with a look of grim determination.

"I'm Apple. My clan lineage is Purple, but as you can see, I'm a half-elf. I don't remember it myself, but apparently, I was the first female slave. It's nice to meet you."

"You don't remember...?"

"What do you mean by that?"

Sharon and Almeida raised their eyebrows.

"Oh, this sounds interesting!"

"Don't start, Tetes-chan."

Naris held back Tetes as she tried to lean forward.

"Ah..."

Apple faltered for a moment, but then...

"Before Andy-san came back, she suffered a near-fatal injury during a conflict with the North, and her memories were wiped. But it is certainly true that she was the first to become a female slave," Selen provided timely follow-up.

Airina cleared her throat.

"There is no way to apologize for that... but it is a fact confirmed even at the Clan Council. That Apple remained in a coma for years, was revived by Lady Hilda... and lost her memories, is indeed true."

"Is that so?"

"...Well, friction occurs everywhere. It's not surprising."

Sharon and Almeida seemed somewhat convinced.

"More importantly, is it not Diane's turn next?"

Prompted by Airina, Diane stood up.

"I am Diane, daughter of Ashton the Dark Elf, from the South Desert. As you know, I am clumsy, but I intend to become Andy's wife."

Tetes immediately chimed in.

"So, you're not a female slave, then?"

"...No. We have made no such contract."

"Isn't that a disadvantage? Unlike everyone else?"

"I have never felt any lack of freedom. Furthermore, I have no intention of being subservient, nor do I intend to make him so. I simply wish to love Andy as an equal."

Diane declared this with great dignity.

...Yes, she is the only one who has never once desired a collar.
Logically, that should be the normal way to be, yet she remains a singular existence.

"I see... so that kind of thing is also an option here..."

"I've been wondering for a while now, but why are you even here, Tetes? And Christi, too."

"Eh? But this is such a fascinating lineup, isn't it?"

In response to my retort, Tetes made a face as if to say, "I don't see why you're asking me that."

She has incredible guts. No matter how you look at it, you're a complete mismatch for this situation.

"Besides, there's nothing quite as entertaining as watching other people's romantic entanglements unfold."

"Tetes-chan, please, try to use a little more discretion."

Such audacity for a sixteen-year-old. There’s such a thing as being terrifyingly bold.

When I shifted my gaze toward Christie...

"...B-but, it's because Mr. Simmson tries to get me pregnant sometimes!"

"At least call it 'making love'!"

"In the sense that I might actually end up giving birth... it shouldn't be strange for me to be here..."

"Question your own position a little bit!"

"I-it's mostly Mr. Simmson's fault for being so reckless, like putting a collar on Irina so openly! The Sky-Blue Princess alone could already become a diplomatic issue, and on top of that, a Clan Leader and such a small—"

"I have already told you, my small stature is not due to my youth!"

It was a complete mess.

"...Um. Anyway, since you are here, I'll take this to mean you consent to being impregnated by Andy-san."

Selen stepped in to wrap things up with a deadpan expression.

"Is that alright?"

Christie froze for a few seconds.

"...T-that is..."

"Is it not?"

"No... well, it's just... if Mr. Simmson is serious about it, I wouldn't exactly be opposed..."

"Is a female slave alright?"

Selen. I don't think that's something you should be confirming.

"...Well, it's just... it doesn't look like it's ever going to result in a proper marriage, anyway."

Christie attempted to grant her consent while maintaining a pose of reluctant resignation.

Tetes chimed in.

"You seem all too ready to be made a slave."

"!! I-it's not quite that much..."

"No matter how you look at it, you look like a widow who's well on her way to getting a taste for adultery, Sensei~♪"

"D-don't say such strange things, Tetes-san!"

Come to think of it, Tetes and Christie are sort of like master and apprentice.

...Though Tetes clearly holds all the psychological upper hand.

Next, Anzeros stood up.

He seemed to hesitate for a moment, considering the atmosphere, but ultimately placed his fist against his chest and introduced himself formally.

"Anzeros, Decurion of the Diane Special Task Force, directly under the Celesta Military Headquarters. I have known Andy for about eight years."

That style of introduction was perfectly correct for a formal setting. ...However.

"Hmm. On this side, the only titles that ring a bell are Almeida and the Princess of Glory."

Irina pointed that out.

...It was true; things like "military" and "Decurion" meant nothing to Fennel and the others. Therefore, the first half of his introduction was entirely meaningless.

"Anzel/os. ...Try again, based on your place of origin."

When I prompted him, Anzeros pouted, but introduced himself once more.

"Anzeros, daughter of Linda Neumann and Aaron of the White Clan, from the Trot Royal Capital."

"Ah..." Fennel and the other three girls nodded.

"I've met Aaron-san before. ...His archery skills were about on par with my papa's."

"Wait, isn't that amazing?"

As Laurier spoke, Sebory’s eyes widened.

Could she actually be quite a master?

"Well, my father and mother were adventurers, so in a small way..."

...Now that he mentioned it, I felt like I had heard something to that effect.

That makes sense. Even for an Elf, if you're going out to adventure, your family would be worried unless you were at least at a level where you could take on something like the Holy Beast Labyrinth.

And if Laurier's father was capable of standing his ground against such things, he might actually be someone impressive.

"...Well, Laurier comes from a warrior class, after all," Oregano added.

...Huh?

"A warrior class...?"

"Hmm. It means a lineage of nobles or knights, in human terms, who take the lead in battle if necessary. Though, we don't act quite as high and mighty as they do."

"Laurier is actually quite strong. At least among us, she is the most skilled in martial arts."

Aline, and then Oregano once more, provided the explanation.

However, Laurier herself looked troubled... or rather, annoyed.

"Even if you have expectations like that, it puts me in a difficult spot... I haven't trained very seriously, so my skills aren't at a level where I could take on monsters."

"Just how strong are you? Could you spar with me using swords?"

Anzeros asked with a bit of eager excitement, but Laurier shook her head vigorously.

"No way. I only know enough for self-defense... just enough that I won't be easily overpowered if a man grabs hold of me."

"I see... Then, maybe about the same as Jeanne?"

"I am much stronger! I can defeat monsters!"

Jeanne retorted to Anzeros's remark.

Well, she does have a proven track record. Yeah.

"Now, now. Do not be reckless. You are in no condition to be sustaining injuries."

"...W-well, I'm not going out of my way to seek out fights. I can't leap and bound around as much as Anzeros can, anyway."

"That's for the best. I'll protect both Jeanne and Peter, along with Lyra."

Anzeros patted Jeanne's head as if treating her like a little sister. Though, in reality, Jeanne was technically the older sister by a narrow margin.

Next was Aurora.

She didn't tense up like Anzeros.

True to her status as an Elven princess, she pinched the hem of her dress and gave an elegant bow.

"The Colony Leader of Claves... Aurora, daughter of Dior, Chief of the Sky-Blue Clan. It is a pleasure to meet you."

"Well, she's not exactly a stranger to the other side, is she?"

Just as Aline said, Aurora was someone whose face was well-known even among the opposition.

"Selen told me, 'Don't treat this as a mere formality, take it seriously'..."

"As expected of you!"

Selen clapped her hands, praising Aurora.

"Why would someone like that be... the Master's female slave?"

"I'm a little curious."

Fennel and Sebory chimed in.

"Of course, it was from the moment I saw the sheer greatness of your character, Andy..."

As for Aurora, she began answering smoothly... until Anzeros grabbed her shoulder.

"Are you just going to gloss over the part about the misunderstanding regarding General Lucas?"

"Isn't that a trivial matter?"

"I think that's a bit of a stretch. It's true Andy went through hell—his leg even got chopped off—but the reality is, he didn't actually win..."

"Yes, but the truth is, Andy-san possessed the potential of a true hero, far surpassing his brother, so it doesn't matter! ♪"

I personally thought that particular argument was a bit weak.
However, what caught the attention of the counter-group was something else entirely.

"His leg got chopped off!?"

"M-Master, did you have your leg severed!? By that Noble of the South!?"

Sebory and Oregano lunged at the topic.

...Ah, come to think of it, I felt like I was quite incapacitated for a long time, though my leg was fully healed by the time I became involved with the Elf Territory.

"...You bore such hardships?"

"Um, I didn't know... This was recent, right?"

Right, I forgot that even Irina and Christi didn't know.

"Now that you mention it, I feel like something like that happened..."

Luna looked troubled. When I first met Luna, I had used magic for emergency first aid and then forced myself into... well, sex.
It had only just occurred to me that several members were unaware of how severe that injury actually was.

"From around here on my left leg, there was just a chop... It was quietly the biggest close call I've ever had."

"But he still fought back, Andy-san. All to protect me and Anzeros-san! ♪"

Selen added that with an entranced look at my explanation. Apple seemed interested as well.
Come to think of it, she's seen me limping, but she doesn't know the cause of the injury.

"And then Diane-chan bandaged the leg, and by combining it with Polka's Spirit Spring, I fully healed it."

With a soft thud, Hilda-san set down her cup and stood up.

"And so, I am Diane-chan's older sister, and I am the doctor, Hilda-san. I've been at the forefront of Southern medicine for hundreds of years, so bring on whatever injuries or illnesses you have! ♪ My hobby is lewd things. Nice to meet you! ☆"

She was being far too honest.
And she has already blended in way too much as a female slave.
...Well, I've started to give up on that lately.
I really need to have a proper talk with her someday.

"Hmph. Though there is little left to reveal to those who did not know, I am Lyra of the Desert. A Black Dragon, and the pet of Andy Smyson."

"...Maia. Blue Dragon. I also pet."

Taking advantage of the stunned silence, Lyra and Maia rushed through their introductions as well.
...I feel like the dragons who have entered into a Contract of Power should be, well, more... something... and shouldn't be dismissed with just the word "pet," but is this really okay?

"And I'm the Dwarf who gave birth to Andy's first child; my name is Jeanne."

"...Luna Basil. ...The granddaughter of the leader of the Cat-Beastman Colony that Andy conquered."

"Conquered...!?"

The atmosphere was primed for everyone to just go for it, but Luna's introduction brought the momentum to a halt.
By the way, Tetes was the one who acted surprised. She has an exquisite sense of timing.

"...Conquered. There is a colony where Andy, almost entirely by himself, impregnated nothing but women."

As Luna spoke quietly, the room erupted into an uproar.

"...So that's the kind of place it was..."

Naris clutches her head in frustration.
Meanwhile, the girls who aren't well-acquainted with the Cat Colony are all offering unnecessary praise, murmuring, "As expected."
"Well, for a succubus of her caliber, it’s not exactly surprising..."
"They say the heat of cat-beastmen is ferocious, but to handle so many at once..."
Almeida and Christie each wear a subtle expression—a mix of awe and exasperation.
...Since it is, for all intents and all, an unadulterated fact, even I find it hard to make light of the situation.
That said, it’s not everyone. It’s mostly just the younger girls, up to their thirties at most. If they're too old, they're well out of my range.

"Now then, shall we move on to Knight Commander Sharon, or perhaps Lady Irina?"

Tetes attempts to smoothly transition the conversation with a smile. However, everyone’s gaze halts her attempt to pass the floor to Sharon or Irina.

The eyes were fixed on Tetes and Naris.

"...Wait, what?"

"I wouldn't mind proceeding according to the seating order, but I cannot help but be curious about you two," Irina explains the meaning behind the stares.

"Beyond why you are here... I am also somewhat interested in your backgrounds, so let's start with that."

...To someone like Organo, the two of them are certainly enigmas.

"Uh, um... Naris, you go first. You're technically a 'qualified individual,' right?"

"What do you mean 'qualified'?! Ugh, enough... My name is Naris. I'm from the Great Southern Plains. As for my clan, I have no idea. My whole forest got roasted alive during the Dragon War when I was a kid."

"That is..."

"But surely, things could be looked up in the south by now?"

Fennel and the others react with shock to the tragedy of Naris's past.

"There's no point in looking it up at this stage. Even if I found out my lineage, it's not like anyone's going to pay me for it," Naribi says with a shrug.

...She's joking, but it doesn't seem entirely devoid of resentment toward the clan-based, lineage-obsessed nature of elven society. For someone like Naris, who was forced to forge a life for herself through hardship, reclaiming a minor seat in a vanished clan probably feels... meaningless.

"And I am Tetes Marley. I'm from a branch family of the nobility in Renfangas, and I'm actually quite strong, you know! Also, unlike the ten Decurions of Smaison, I don't care about gender."

Tetes blows away the heavy atmosphere with her lighthearted tone.

...So, the "Marley" side of her backstory isn't "Tetes Buster," then.

"But why are you here, listening to stories about my Master?"

In response to Severi's question, Tetes replies with a smile... a smile with a slightly chilling edge to it.

"Because this group looks like a treasure trove of interesting stories! ♪"

"............Sigh."

Severi and the others could only look on in confusion, unable to read her intentions, while those who knew Tetes's true identity as an intelligence agent could only manage a wry smile.

Of course, to an intelligence agent, this group looks like a goldmine of "interesting stories." With two dragons and the children of powerful officials all gathered in one place.

However, whether "interesting stories" are actually being told remains to be seen.

...Even now, I occasionally find myself wondering how things ended up like this.

"Almeida. From the Duchy of Renne, Affilm... of the Deep Green Clan. Though I've already been excommunicated by my clan... and well, my combat prowess is exactly as you see it. Don't look at me with such expectant eyes, waiting for some witty comment."

Almeida intimidates those around her, tapping her iron staff against the floor with a rhythmic clack, clack, clack.

"So, what happened that led to you being put on a leash?"

Severi prevents her from cutting the conversation short.

Christie and Irina, who were involved in the incident, can only offer wry smiles. Almeida, meanwhile, turns bright red.

"Whatever! It doesn't matter!"

But Selene interjected.

"You can't do that, Almeida. This is a gathering meant for us to get to know one another; it's not right to try and gloss things over just because you're embarrassed, is it?"

"……"

Almeida wore a bitter, bitter expression.

"……Are you forcing me to say it? Do you truly wish to expose my pathetic past so thoroughly, Selene?"

"Pathetic...?"

"Yes, pathetic. It was pathetic. I will admit that much. So, if possible, I would prefer you didn't dig into it."

Almeida insisted.

However—

"If you hate it that much, why don't you just take the collar off? Andy-kun gives us collars, but he doesn't force almost anyone to keep wearing them, does he?"

Hilda pointed out.

"That's..."

"What happened that made you decide to accept Andy-kun's cock? And why did you decide you wanted to make your intentions known? ...Is it strange of me to wonder such things about a girl who walks around proudly claiming to be Andy-kun's lewd slave?"

"Ugh..."

"Honestly... you should just admit that you simply lost yourself to his cock in total, brainless bliss."

"You corner me like that only to expose me!?"

Hilda was a demon masquerading as someone offering roundabout advice.

Next was Sharon.
Unlike Almeida, she seemed to have no hesitation at all.
"Sharon, the lowest rank of the Arcus rulers, of the Clan of Glory. ...Mr. Smaison is the person who enlightened my ignorance... and furthermore, he is the person who repeatedly demonstrated through his actions that he finds me attractive as a woman. I won't deny that I had expectations for his 'virility and technique that captivate and tame women,' which is renowned even in the forest... but he turned out to be a much more broad-minded and wonderful person than I imagined♪"
Sharon spoke with an air of enchantment.
As if picking up where she left off, Christi moved on to her introduction.
"Christi, acting as the representative for the Cherry Blossom Clan Head. My beginning with Mr. Smaiment was... an accident-like sexual encounter caused by mistakenly serving Kanetsuki herb tea. ...Mr. Smaison's desires and affection, which are—for better or worse—too honest to care about one's origins... are, how should I put it, so very... pleasurable...♪"
Christi spoke with an air of enchantment.
Glancing at the two enchanted women lost in their own worlds, Irina shrugged.
"Women whose feminine sides take a while to ignite are a bit stifling," she said, as if it had nothing to do with her.
Everyone was about to let her slight remark slide with a wry smile, but Christi snapped back instantly.
"You're one to talk, Irina, you 150-year-old virgin!"
"Mug!?"
At that, everyone remembered. Among the members here, Irina was definitely part of the "mature" group.
The only ones certainly older than Irina were the Dark Elf sisters, Lyra, and Christi.
For her to be wearing a collar with such glee was the very definition of "look who's talking."

Finally.

"I am Fennel, of the lowest rank of Silver. ...I wish to continue receiving my Master's affection."

"I-I am also Oregano of Gold! It is my joy to be... to be... played with by Master, as lust drives us!"

"Oregano, calm down a bit. ...I am Savory of Gold. Well, I feel like it wouldn't be so bad if I ended up with a baby or two."

"...Laurel. ...Master taught me so many lewd things."

The four young women introduced themselves.

The situation was that this many charming women had gathered, and rather than being repelled, they were actually looking forward to my lewd desires.

I was experiencing a happiness so profound it was difficult to put into words, but that very happiness required a level of effort that was, in its own way, quite taxing.
...And I only understood this in a very vague, hazy sense.
Still, it wasn't my style to hesitate in the face of the happiness right before me.
It goes without saying that my newfound momentum would eventually lead me to dive headfirst into the decadent excesses of a most dissolute winter break.

This is an expanded version of Episode 259, "A Solution to Discord 2."

"Then shall we begin with introductions? Even if it’s a bit late, let’s all do this properly! ♪"

Selen takes the lead.

And places her hands on her chest.

"First, I’ll start. I’m Selen, a half-elf from the Affilm Empire. Clan-wise, I’m from the Deep Green lineage, but don’t worry about it. And I’m the second female slave." ♪

Then she prompts Apple next to her.

Apple looks momentarily flustered, glances at me, and then clenches her jaw with determination.

"I’m Apple. Clan-wise, I’m purple, but as you can see, I’m a half-elf. I don’t remember, but I think I was the first female slave. Nice to meet you."

"You… don’t remember?"

"What’s that supposed to mean?"

Sharon and Almeida raise their eyebrows.

"Ah, this looks interesting,"

"Tetes, stop it,"

Naris stops Tetes from leaning in too close.

"Ah…"

Apple hesitates for a moment, but then—

"Before Andy came back, I was mortally wounded in a skirmish with the North and lost my memories. But yes, she was definitely the first to become a female slave."

Selen follows up precisely.

Irena clears her throat.

"There’s no excuse for that… but it’s a fact confirmed at the clan council. Apple remained in a coma for years, was revived by Lady Hilda… and lost her memories."

"Is that so?"

"...Well, friction happens everywhere. Nothing strange about it."

Sharon and Almeida nod in reluctant acceptance.

"More importantly, isn’t it Dianne’s turn next?"

Prompted by Irena, Dianne stands.

"I’m Dianne, daughter of Ashton the Dark Elf from the South Desert. As you know, I’m clumsy, but I intend to become Andy’s wife."

Tetes interjects.

"You’re not a female slave, are you?"

"...No. We haven’t made that kind of contract."

"Isn’t that a disadvantage? Unlike everyone else?"

"I’ve never felt restricted. Besides, I have no intention of enslaving myself or making her do so. I simply want to love Andy as an equal."

Dianne states it matter-of-factly.

...Yes, she’s the only one who has never once wanted a collar.

She should be normal, but she’s an anomaly.

"I see… so that’s also an option here…"

"I've been wondering for a while now, why are you here, Tete? And Christine too."

"Eh? But isn't it interesting to see such an amazing lineup?"

Tete made a face like, Why are you even asking that?

What guts. You're a total mismatch if you ask me.

"Besides, there's nothing more fun than watching other people's messy love lives."

"Tete-chan, try at least pretending to be a little more discreet."

Sixteen years old and already this brazen. I shudder to think what she'll be like later.

Then she turned her gaze to Christine.

"...B-but Smysun-san keeps trying to knock me up sometimes!"

"Say 'fuck' at least!"

"There's a chance I might actually get pregnant... so it makes sense for me to be here..."

"Try questioning your own position for once!"

"I-I mean, Smysun-san is the one who's going too far by putting a collar on Ilyna like that! Just the Sky Blue Princess alone could cause a diplomatic incident, but then she's also the clan leader and this tiny—"

Wara wa chīsai no wa osanai seii dewa nai to iu ni!

This is just rambling.

"...Um. Anyway, since you're here, we'll assume you've agreed to let Andy get you pregnant."

Selen summarized with a straight face.

"Is that alright?"

Christine paused for a few seconds.

"...W-well..."

"Is it not okay?"

"No... well, if Smysun-san is up for it, I wouldn't mind..."

"Are you okay being a female slave?"

Selen. I don't think you're the one who needs to confirm that.

"...Well, I doubt it'll turn into a proper marriage anyway."

Christine tried to reluctantly accept with a forced pose.

Then Tete chimed in.

"You're totally down for being a female slave, aren't you?"

"!! W-well, it's not that much..."

"You look like a widow who's already gotten a taste of adultery and is doing great—sensei♪"

"H-hey, don't say weird stuff, Tete-san!"

Come to think of it, Tete and Christine are kind of like teacher and student.

...Tete's totally the one in the mental driver's seat, though.

Next, Anzeros stood up.

He seemed to hesitate for a moment, considering the atmosphere, but ultimately straightened his posture and announced himself.

"Diaine Special Forces, directly under the Celesta Military Command. Anzalos, squad leader of ten guard infantrymen. I've known Andy for about eight years."

That introduction was perfectly proper in a formal setting… but.

"Hmm. On this side, only Almeida and the Glorious Princess are the ones who'd recognize rank like that," Irene pointed out.

…True enough. The military, squad leaders—things Fennel and her sisters have absolutely no connection to. So the first part is completely meaningless.

"Anzalos. …Try again, based on your hometown."

When I prompted him, Anzalos pursed his lips but introduced himself once more.

"I'm Anzalos, from Trott Royal Capital, daughter of Aaron of the White Clan and Linda Neumann."

Ah… the four Fennel sisters nodded in unison.

"I've met Aaron. …His archery skills were about on par with my dad's."

"Whoa, that's pretty amazing, isn't it?" Loree said, making Sebory widen her eyes.

Maybe he's quite the master then.

"Well, my parents were adventurers of sorts, even if they were a bit… unconventional…"

…Come to think of it, that's how I remember it.

Yeah, even for an elf, adventuring outside means you have to be at least capable of tackling something like the Holy Beast Labyrinth, or your family worries.

And Loree's dad might be amazing too, if he can hold his own against that.

"…Ah, just so you know, Loree comes from a warrior-class family," Oregano added.

…Huh?

"Warror-class…?"

"Hmm. They're the kind who'd take the lead in battle—the human equivalent of nobles or knights. Though they're not quite as pretentious."

"Loree's pretty strong too. At least among us, she knows martial arts best," Irene explained, and Oregano continued.

But Loree looked troubled… or rather, like she was in for a hassle.

"I don't want to be expected to do that… I didn't train seriously enough to fight monsters."

"How strong are you? Could you spar with me using swords?"

Anzalos asked with a hint of excitement, but Loree shook her head vigorously.

"No way. I can only handle basic self-defense… enough to not get easily taken down if a man grabs me."

"I see… so, about as strong as Jeanne, then?"

"I'm stronger than that! I can take down monsters!"

Jeanne retorted at Anzalos's words.

Well, she does have some achievements. Yeah.

"Ho. Don't be reckless. You can't afford to get injured."

"…Well, I wouldn't exactly go looking for a fight. I can't fly or jump around like Anzalos."

"That’s perfect. Jeanne and Peter, I’ll protect them too."
Anzeros patted Jeanne on the head like a little sister. Though technically, Jeanne was the older one by just a hair.

Next up: Aurora.

Unlike Anzeros, she wasn’t trying too hard.

With the grace of an elven princess, she pinched the hem of her dress and bowed elegantly.

"I am Aurora, daughter of Dior, clan leader of the Azure Clan of Claves. A pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"Well, I reckon you’re a familiar face 'round here."

As Irene said, Aurora was well-known even on the counter side.

"Selen told me to take it seriously, even if it’s old news…"

"You’re impressive."

Selen clapped her hands twice in approval of Aurora.

"How did someone like you end up as my Master’s female slave…?"

"I’m a little curious," Fennel chimed in.

"Ever since I saw the size of Anz’s heart at first glance…"

Aurora began answering smoothly, but Anzeros grabbed her shoulder.

"You’re skipping over the whole Lucas incident and all that?"

"It’s trivial."

"I think that’s a bit of a stretch. Sure, Anz lost an arm and suffered greatly, but he didn’t actually win…"

"Yes, but Anz truly possessed the heart of a hero, far surpassing his brother!" she declared with a smile.

I had to agree that her insistence was a little strained.

But the counter crew was interested in something else entirely.

"Lost an arm!?"

"M-Master… you lost an arm?! To that Southern Prince?!"

Savory and Oregano were all over it.

…Ah, right. I’d been limping for quite a while, but my leg had healed by the time we got to Elven territory.

"...So he bore such hardship?"

"Uh, I didn’t know… Was that recent?"

That’s right, even Irene and Christy didn’t know.

"Come to think of it, something like that did happen…"

Luna was also troubled. When we first met, I’d used magic for a quick fix so we could still have sex.

I was just now realizing how many members didn’t know about that major injury.

"It was around here on my left leg… a pretty big pinch, the worst I’ve ever faced."

"Even then, Anz fought back! To protect me and Anzeros!" Selen added dreamily. Apple looked intrigued.

"Looks like this one doesn’t know why I’m dragging my feet, huh? Oh well."

"And then Diene-chan tied our feet together, and with the Polorca Spring of Healing, I completely cured you!"

Hilda placed her cup down with a clink and stood up.
"So, as you can see, I’m Hilda, Diene-chan’s big sister and your doctor. I’ve been at the forefront of Southern medicine for hundreds of years, so any injury or illness is fair game! My hobby is… naughty things. Nice to meet you!"

Too honest.
And completely melted into her role as a female slave already.
…Well, I’ve mostly given up on that lately.
Still gotta have a proper talk with her someday.

"Ho. You all probably know this by now, but I’m Laila of the Desert. And I’m Andy Smisson’s pet."

"…Mia. Black Dragon. Me too."

Laila and Mia, seizing on the stunned silence, quickly finished their introductions.
…Dragons bound by contracts of power shouldn’t be summed up so easily as "pets," but whatever.

"And I’m a dwarf named Jeanne who birthed Andy’s first child."

"…Luna Basil. …Granddaughter of the leader of the feline demi-human colony Andy occupied."

"Occupied…!?"

The atmosphere was one of "just get it all out at once," but Luna’s introduction stalled the flow.
By the way, it was Tethys who feigned surprise with perfect timing.

"…Occupied. Andy has a colony full of women who’ve mostly been inseminated by him alone."

Luna stated calmly, and the room buzzed.
"…So that’s what that place is like…"

Naris buried his face in his hands.
And the girls unfamiliar with the feline colony were filled with unnecessary praise: "As expected."

"Well, for a pervert of this caliber, it’s not surprising…"

"The heat of feline demi-humans is said to be intense, and he did that to so many…"

Almeida and Christy wore expressions of both awe and dismay.
…It’s an undeniable fact, so I can’t exactly chime in.

But it wasn’t everyone. Just young ones up to their 30s, tops. Too old, and they were out of range.

"Now then, shall we hear from Sharon, the Knight Captain, or Lady Ireina next?"

Tethys tried to smoothly move things along with a smile. But everyone’s gaze stopped him from leading into Sharon or Ireina.
Their eyes were fixed on Tethys and Naris.

"…Eh? What’s up?"

"Ironically, the seating order would allow this to continue as is, but I do find myself concerned for you two," Ireina explained the meaning of their stares.

"Why you’re here… and also, I’m a little curious about your backgrounds too."

…To Origanos and the others, they were certainly mysterious figures.

"Eh, um… Naris, go ahead, you’re kind of like a certified member, right?"

"Certified member? What’s that even mean!? Ah—forget it… My name’s Naris. I’m from the Southern Great Plains. As for my clan, I really don’t know. The whole forest burned to the ground in the Dragon War when I was a kid."

"That’s…"

"But now they could probably look it up down south, right?"

Fennel and the others were surprised by Naris’s story.

"Even if they did, what good would it do? Knowing my lineage wouldn’t get me any money."

Naris shrugged.

…She was joking, but it also looked like a rebellion against the clanism and bloodline-obsessed elf society. For Naris, who had been forced to live a life outside of that system through hardship, regaining her place in a long-vanished clan now wouldn’t mean much…

"So, I’m Tetes Maree. I’m from a branch family of the Lenfangus nobility, and I’m actually pretty strong. And just so you know, I don’t have any romantic relationship with Smisson, the Decurion."

Tetes’s light tone blew away the heavy atmosphere.

…So, she’s not "Tetes Buster," but Maree is that kind of character, huh?

"Why are you even listening to stories about your master here?"

Tetes smiled sweetly… a smile with just a hint of something sinister… in response to Sebory’s question.

"Because I think I can hear some interesting stories here!"

"…………Hmph."

Sebory and the others could only look confused, unable to read her intentions. Those who knew Tetes’s true identity as an intelligence agent could only offer a wry smile.

Well, from an intelligence agent’s perspective, this would seem like a treasure trove of "interesting stories." Two dragons, and so many noble children running around…

But whether she’d actually find anything interesting remained to be seen.

…Even now, the question of why things had turned out this way still occasionally popped into her head.

"From the Kingdom of Renne in Affilm… Almeida, from the Deep Green Clan. Though I’m already excommunicated by my clan… Well, as you can see, I’m a warrior. Don’t expect any interesting comments."

Almeida tapped the floor with his iron staff, intimidating those around him.

"Why did you put that collar on in the first place?"

Sebory stopped her from cutting it short.

Christy and Airena, who were involved, gave wry smiles. Almeida’s face turned red.

"What does it matter?"

But Selen cautioned him.

"Almeida, that’s not good. This is a gathering to get to know each other better, so you shouldn’t hide things just because you’re embarrassed."

"…………"

Almeida made a bitter face.

"…Are you asking me to talk about it? Do you really want to know all about my shameful past, Selen?"

"Shameful…?"

"Yeah, shameful. It was shameful. I admit that. That’s why I’d rather you didn’t dig into it."

Almeida insisted.

But…

"If you hate it so much, why don’t you just take the collar off? Andy gives you collars, but he doesn’t force most people to keep wearing them, right?"

Hilda pointed out, "That's…?"

"What exactly made you decide to accept Andy's dick? And what made you want to declare it so openly? …Is it strange to question a girl who’s parading around, unapologetically claiming to be Andy’s slutty little slave?"

"Ugh…"

"Just say you were utterly overwhelmed by his cock and lost your mind!"

"You corner me like that and then spill it all!"

Hilda seemed to be gently guiding her, but she was a demon.

Next up was Sharon.

Unlike Almeida, she showed no hesitation whatsoever.

"I am Sharon, of the ruling Arkus family, scion of the glorious lineage. …Mr. Smyson is the one who enlightened me from my ignorance… and on top of that, he repeatedly demonstrated through his actions that I was attractive as a woman. I won’t deny that I expected him to possess the 'energy and skill to captivate and train women,' which even the forest whispers about, having actually served so many… but he turned out to be far more generous and wonderful than I imagined! ♪"

Sharon was entranced.

As if taking over where Sharon left off, Christy began her introduction.

"I am Christy, representative of the Cherry Clan’s leader. My first encounter with Mr. Smyson was… an accident involving mistakenly serving him Kanesutsuki grass tea. …Mr. Smyson’s desires and affections—honest to a fault, regardless of someone’s origins—were… well… incredibly pleasurable… ♪"

Christy was equally entranced.

Irina shrugged as she watched the two enraptured women lost in their own worlds.

"A woman whose inner fire takes too long to ignite can be a bit stifling."

She said it as if it were someone else’s problem.

Everyone almost chuckled and brushed off her teasing, but Christy snapped back quickly.

"Are you the one to say that? To someone who was a 150-year-old virgin!"

"Mug!?!"

That’s when everyone remembered—among this group, Irina was definitely in the older generation.

The only ones certainly older than her were the Dark Elf sisters, Lila, and maybe Christy.

The fact that she was happily sporting a collar made it the perfect "the pot calling the kettle black" moment.

Finally…

"I am Fennel, of the Silver Lineage. …I hope to continue receiving my Master’s favor."

"M-My name is Golden Oregano! I take joy in being toyed with by my Master, wherever his carnal desires may lead!"

"Oregano, calm down a bit… I’m Golden Savory. Well, if I get trained into having a baby or two, I guess that’s fine."

"...I'm Rosemary… My Master taught me so many naughty things…"

The four girls introduced themselves.

So many captivating women gathered here, all eagerly anticipating my lecherous desires.

It was an indescribably happy situation, but it also meant a considerable amount of work.

…I only vaguely understood that.

But hey, hesitating in the face of happiness wasn’t in my nature.

There’s no need to reiterate how I plunged headfirst into a decadent winter vacation.

This is a detailed version of Episode 259, "Resolution of Dissonance Part 2."

"Shall we begin with introductions? Even if it feels a bit late, let's all take this seriously, okay? ♪"

Selen takes the lead.

She places her hand over her chest.

"Let me start. I'm Selen from the Afilum Empire, a half-elf. Technically, my clan lineage falls under the Deep Green series, but don't worry about that. As a female slave, I'll be second in line♪"

Then she gestures to Apple beside her.

Apple shows a moment of surprise, glances at me, and then gathers herself with a determined expression.

"I'm Apple. My clan lineage is Purple, and as you can see, I'm also a half-elf. I don't remember it myself, but I seem to have been the first female slave. Please take care of me."

"Didn't remember...?"

"What do you mean?"

Sharon and Almeida raise their eyebrows.

"Oh, this is getting interesting," Tetes says.

"Don't get involved, Tetes-chan," Naris warns as she tries to hold Tetes back from leaning forward.

"Ahh..."

Apple flinches for a moment, but—

"Before Mr. Andy returned, I suffered life-threatening injuries in a conflict with the North and lost my memory. However, it is true that this child was indeed the first female slave."

Selen smoothly covers up the gap.

Eilina clears her throat.

"While I can't apologize for that... it's a fact confirmed during the Clan Council meeting. Apple remained in a coma for years, was revived by Lord Hilda, and subsequently lost her memory—"

"Is that so?"

"...Well, conflicts arise everywhere. It's not surprising."

Sharon and Almeida seem to accept this explanation.

"Now then, shouldn't it be Diane's turn next?"

Prompted by Eilina, Diane stands up.

"I'm Diane, daughter of Ashton from the Southern Desert, a dark elf. As everyone knows, I'm clumsy, but I intend to become Andy's wife."

Tetes interjects immediately.

"She's not even a female slave, is she?"

"...Yes. We never entered into such an agreement."

"Isn't that a disadvantage compared to the others?"

"I've never felt restricted in any way. Besides, I have no intention of enslaving myself or being enslaved. I simply wish to love Andy equally and on my own terms."

Diane declares this with confidence.

...Indeed, she was the only one who never once desired a collar.

Yet, given that such an arrangement is more common than rare, she stands out as truly unique.

"I see, so there's room for that kind of situation here too..."

"I've been wondering about this for a while now—what is Tetes doing? And Christie too."

"Eh? Well, it's fascinating, isn't it? Such an impressive gathering!"

At my interjection, Tetes made a face as if to say, "I have no idea why you'd ask such a thing."
What guts. No matter how you look at it, this is a total mismatch.

"Besides, there's nothing more relaxing or entertaining than observing the tangled web of another person's illicit passions."

"Tetes-chan, try to keep your teeth and clothes in check!"

At sixteen, she already possesses such audacity. Truly terrifying.

Then I turned my gaze toward Christie.

"...B-but Mr. Smaysen sometimes tries to impregnate people, doesn't he?"

"At least say 'sex'!"

"In that sense, it's not entirely unreasonable for us to be here... considering the possibility of childbirth..."

"Have some self-awareness about your own position!"

"B-but mostly, it's Mr. Smaysen's fault for so boldly attaching a collar to Irina! Even just the Sky Princess alone could become a diplomatic issue, yet he's a clan leader and also..."

"I am not small because I am young!"

This is getting ridiculous.

"...Um, well... since we're all here, I assume everyone agrees that they consent to being impregnated by Andy."

Selen began summarizing the situation with a serious expression.

"Is that okay?"

Christie paused for a few seconds.

"...W-well..."

"Not okay?"

"No... um, well... if Mr. Smaysen is feeling inclined, I wouldn't object too strongly..."

"Does being a female slave matter to you?"

Selen. I don't think that's something you need to confirm.
"...Well, um... it certainly doesn't seem like we can make this a proper marriage."

Christie reluctantly tried to give her approval while putting on an air of reluctance.

Then Tetes chimed in with a teasing remark.

"You're fully prepared to be made into a female slave, aren't you?"

"!! N-no, it's not quite like that..."

"From what I can see, you look nothing more than a widow who has smoothly taken up an affair—sensei♪"

"H-hold on, Tetes-san! Don't say such strange things!"

By the way, Tetes and Christie seem to have a master-disciple relationship of sorts.
...Though it's clear that Tetes holds all the psychological upper hand.

Next, Anzeros stood up.
He seemed to hesitate for a moment, considering the atmosphere in the room, but ultimately raised his fist firmly against his chest and announced himself properly.

"Special Operations Unit Diane, directly under Celesta Army Command. I am Anzoros, captain of the escort infantry. I've known Andi for about eight years."
His introduction was impeccably formal for an official setting... yet.

"Hmm. Among our side, only Almeida and Princess Glory come to mind when someone mentions rank or status like that."
Elenia pointed out.

...Indeed, terms like "Army" or "Captain of Ten" hold no connection whatsoever to Fennel and her daughters. Thus, the first half of his statement is entirely meaningless.

"Anzoros... based on your origin, please state it again."
When I prompted him, Anzoros formed a pout but repeated his introduction.

"I am Anzoros, daughter of Linda Neumann from the White Clan and native of the capital city of Trot."
Ah... Fennel's four daughters nodded in acknowledgment.

"I've met Mr. Aaron before... His archery skills were on par with my father's."

"Wow, that's impressive!" Lorrie exclaimed, causing Sebori to widen her eyes.

Perhaps he is quite a master after all.

"Well, since both my parents were adventurers of sorts..."
...Upon reflection, it does sound like the kind of story they would tell.
That makes sense. Even for elves, venturing outside requires at least reaching a level capable of challenging places like the Holy Beast Dungeon; otherwise, family members would surely worry.
And if Lorrie's father could stand up to such dangers, he might indeed be quite formidable.

"...Well, just so you know, the Lorries belong to a warrior-class family."
Oregano added as an afterthought.
...Eh?

"Warrior class..."

"Hmm. It refers to families among humans who are akin to nobles or knights—those ready to take the lead in battle when needed. Though they don't boast as much as you might think."

"Lorrie is actually quite strong. At least among us, she has the most training in martial arts."

Elenia and Oregano explained once more.

However, Lorrie herself looked troubled—more so than that.

"That's not something I can live up to... I haven't trained seriously, so my skills aren't enough to fight monsters. I can only manage basic self-defense—enough to avoid being easily grabbed by a man."

"Really? Could you spar with me using swords?"

Anzoros seemed delighted and pressed forward eagerly, but Lorrie shook her head nervously.

"No way. I can barely do anything beyond self-defense... Just enough to not be easily overpowered if someone tries to grab me."

"I see... So you're about Jeanne's level, then?"

"I'm stronger than that! I can take down monsters!"

Jeanne countered Anzoros' remark.

Well, she does have some track record. Yes.

"Hmph. Don't push your luck. You're not in a condition to get injured."

"...W-well, I wouldn't seek out battles on my own anyway. Besides, I can't jump and leap around like Anzoros does."

"That's perfect. Jeanne and Peter will be protected by me, Lyra, and the others."
Anzoros pats Jeanne affectionately, treating her like a little sister—though in reality, she's just barely older than him.

Next up is Aurora.

Unlike Anzoros, she doesn't act stiff or overly formal. True to her image as an elf princess, she gracefully lifts the hem of her dress and bows elegantly.

"I am Aurora, daughter of Diore, the Sky-Colored Clan Leader... a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"Well, I suppose there's no one here who doesn't know you," replies Ielina. As expected, Aurora is well-known among the counter team as well.

"Selen mentioned that it was too late to say anything now, so I should take this seriously..."

"Indeed, you're impressive."

Clapping her hands in praise, Selen commends Aurora warmly.

"Why would someone like you choose to become a female slave to your master?" asks Fennel and Sebory in unison.

"I'm genuinely curious about that," adds Fenner.

"Ever since I first saw the depth of Master Andi's character..." Aurora begins smoothly—until Anzoros grabs her shoulder.

"Are you skipping over the misunderstanding regarding General Lucas or something like that?"

"It's not a trivial matter, is it?"

"I have to admit, it's quite difficult to bring myself to say that. While Master Andi did suffer severe injuries, including having his foot cut off, he ultimately couldn't win... yet..."

"Yes, but in truth, Master Andi possessed the qualities of a true hero far surpassing my brother, so everything is fine♪"

Even I find this strong defense somewhat awkward.

However, what caught the counter team's interest was something else entirely.

"His foot was cut off!?"

"D-Did your master actually have his foot severed!? By that southern nobleman!?"

Sebory and Oregano immediately latch onto the topic.

...Ah, right. I vaguely recall being somewhat disabled for quite some time, but by the time we started dealing with Elf territory, my leg had fully healed.

"...So you endured such hardships?" asks Selen solemnly.

"Eh? I didn't know... Is this something that happened recently?"

I see. Even Ielina and Kristie weren't aware of it.

"By the way, I seem to remember something similar happening..." Luna looks troubled. After all, during our first meeting, she had to perform emergency magical treatment on me and force us into intimacy despite my condition.

It's surprising that so many members are unaware of this major injury.

"From about here on my left leg... it was a rather sudden and painful incident. Honestly, it was the most critical moment I've ever faced."

"Yet you still fought back, Master Andi. To protect both me and Mr. Anzoros♪"

As I explain, Selen adds thoughtfully, while Apple also appears deeply interested.

This girl doesn't seem to realize that even though I'm dragging her leg, she has no idea what caused the injury. Oh right.
"And it was Diane who bound her leg, and with Polka's Sacred Spring, I healed her completely."
Clang! Hilada sets down her cup and stands up.
"So, I'm Diane's older sister and Doctor Hilada. Having worked at the forefront of southern medicine for hundreds of years, I've seen every kind of injury and disease imaginable♪ My hobby is... well, let's just say it's something a bit risqué. Nice to meet you all☆"
Too honest.
And she's completely melted into the role of female slave.
...Well, I've mostly given up on that lately.
But someday, I really need to have a proper conversation with her.

"Hmph. By now, everyone should know who I am. I am Lyra of the Desert, Black Dragon and pet of Andy Smithson."

"...Mia. Blue Dragon. I'm also his pet."

Lyra and Mia, riding the wave of that stunned silence, quickly finish their self-introductions.

...Dragons bound by contracts of power should probably have more elaborate titles than just "pet," but maybe it's fine as is.

"And I'm Jeanne, a dwarf who gave birth to Andy's first child."

"...Luna Basil. Granddaughter of the leader of the cat-beast colony that Andy occupied."

"Occupied...!?"

In an atmosphere where everyone was already rushing through introductions, Luna's words brought everything to a sudden halt.

By the way, Tetes looked particularly surprised. She always times her reactions perfectly.

"...Occupied. There's a colony where Andy impregnated almost everyone himself."

As Luna calmly stated this, murmurs rippled through the room.

"...So that's what happened there..."

Naris holds his head in his hands.

And the girls, who know little about cat-beast colonies, fall into an unnecessarily praising tone of "as expected."

"Well, if he's a lust demon like this, it's not surprising..."

"They say cat-beasts have intense heat cycles, but for him to impregnate so many people..."

Almeida and Christie exchange expressions of awe mixed with disbelief.

...Since the fact is that there was no mixing involved, I can't really bring up Tea either.

But it's not like everyone was affected. Mostly young ones, up to maybe their thirties. Older women are out of range anyway.

"Well then, shall we move on to Captain Sharon or Lady Ailina?"

Tetes tries to smoothly transition the conversation, but everyone's gaze stops her from passing it directly to Sharon or Ailina.

Their eyes are fixed on Tetes and Naris.

"...Eh? What?"

"The seating order could remain as is, but I feel compelled to inquire about you two."

Ailina explains the meaning behind their stares.

"Not only why you're here, but also your backgrounds are somewhat concerning, so at least let us know those details."

...For Oregano and the others, these two are indeed quite mysterious figures.

"Eh, eh... Naris-chan, go ahead. You're qualified anyway, right?"

"What do you mean 'qualified'?! Ah—well... My name is Naris. I'm from the Southern Great Plains. As for my clan? No idea. When I was a child, our entire forest was burned to ash in the Fire Dragon War."

"That's..."

"But surely, someone could look into your background now that we're in the south?"

Fennel and the others stared at Naris, stunned.
"Looking it up won't change anything anymore, you know. Even if they found out my lineage, who'd pay me for it?"
Naris shrugged.

...Though she was joking, there was no mistaking the defiance in her words—a rebellion against the clan-based and bloodline-obsessed culture of elf society. For someone like Naris, forced to carve out a life outside those rigid traditions, recovering even a distant seat in her vanished family's legacy would mean little.

"So, I'm Tetes Marey. Daughter of a noble branch from Renfangas, and don't get me wrong—I'm pretty strong too! Also, despite being one of the Ten Leaders of the Smaysion, I have no romantic relationship with anyone."
Tetes blew away the heavy tension with her light-hearted tone.

...Wait, so "Tetes Buster" wasn't her real name? The Marey side has that kind of setup after all.

"Why are you asking about your master here?" Sebori asked.

Tetes replied with a gentle smile—one tinged just slightly with something unsettling.

"Well, this group seems like it might have some interesting stories to share♪"

"...Haa."

Sebori and the others looked confused, unable to read her intent. But those who knew Tetes' true identity as an intelligence officer could only sigh in bitter amusement.
Of course, from an intel perspective, she'd seem like a treasure trove of "interesting stories"—with two dragons and the children of powerful figures wandering around so freely.

Still, whether she actually had anything truly amusing to say remained unclear.
...Even now, questions occasionally surfaced: Why did things end up like this?

"Affilm's Duchy of Renu... deep-green clan origin, Almeida. Though technically exiled from the clan... well, you can see her combat prowess for yourself. Don't expect witty remarks."
Almeida stomped her iron staff against the floor, threatening everyone around her with a clatter.

"Why did you get that collar on?" someone asked.
Sebori stepped in before she could press further.
Christie and Ielina exchanged weary smiles. Almeida's face turned red.

"Doesn't matter what it was."

But Selen called her out.

"No, Almeida. This gathering is meant for us to get to know each other better. Trying to hide things because you're embarrassed isn't a good idea."

"......"

Almeida made a bitter face.

"...Do you want me to speak? You really seem eager to expose my shameful past, Selen."

"Shameful...?"

"Yes, it was shameful. I admit it. So please, don't dig into it if you can help it."

Almeida insisted.

But—
"If you hate it so much, just take off the collar. Andy will give you one, but he shouldn't be forcing most people to keep wearing it, right?"

Hilda pointed this out.

"That's..."

"What made you decide to accept Andy's little member? What prompted you to want to express your feelings openly? ...It seems strange to question someone who confidently walks around claiming to have become Andy's erotic slave."

"Eh...?"

"Well, if you just admit that you simply couldn't resist his little member and gave in completely..."

"You're pushing me too far before revealing everything!"

Hilda appeared to be lecturing indirectly, but she was actually being ruthless.

Next came Sharon.
Unlike Almeida, she showed no hesitation at all.
"Sharon, the youngest of the Arcus ruling family, the glorious lineage... Mr. Smaysion is someone who enlightened my ignorance, and furthermore, someone who repeatedly demonstrated through actions that I am attractive as a woman. While I cannot deny that he has many women in his service and possesses the reputation in the forest for 'captivating women with his stamina and skills,' he was far more generous and wonderful than I expected♪"
Sharon looked utterly enchanted.

As if continuing her words, Kristie moved on to introduce herself.
"I am Kristie, representing the Sakura clan. My first encounter with Mr. Smaysion... well, it was an accidental erotic situation caused by mistakenly serving him tea made from Kanetsuki grass. ...His honesty and love, which ignored both good and bad aspects of one's origins, were... somehow... incredibly... pleasurable...♪"
Kristie looked equally entranced.

With a shrug, watching the two enchanted women lost in their own worlds, Irina spoke.
"Women whose feminine side takes longer to ignite tend to be a bit too intense."
She said it as though it had nothing to do with them.

Everyone almost chuckled off her slight teasing, but Kristie quickly retorted, regaining her composure.

"You say that? You, Irina, who was a 150-year-old virgin!"

"Eh!?"

At that moment, everyone remembered: among the members present, Irina was definitely part of the older group.
Only the Dark Elf sisters, Leila, and Kristie were unquestionably older than her.
The fact that she wore a collar with such joy was truly the definition of "Don't talk to me about that."

Finally came the four daughters introducing themselves.

"I am Fennel, the youngest of the Silver branch... I wish to continue receiving your master's favor in the future."

"And I'm Oregano from the Gold branch too! My joy is being played with by my master according to his carnal desires!"

"Oregano, calm down a bit... I'm Cebollia from the Gold branch. Well, maybe it's okay if I get trained for one or two babies."

"...Laurel... My master taught me so many erotic things."

So many charming women had gathered, all eagerly anticipating my lecherous desires.
It was an incomparable happiness, yet it also required considerable effort to manage such a large group.
...Though I only vaguely understood this at the time.
Still, hesitating before the happiness right in front of me is not our way.
There's no need for me to reiterate now that, spurred on by my momentum, I would fully immerse myself in this rotten winter break.