The informal meeting with Leona’s mother was scheduled for the weekend. Since Leona was also a student and had to focus on her studies, that was the only available time.

As expected, the meeting place was my dormitory. Ideally, I would have preferred a quiet restaurant, but that wasn’t feasible.

The moment I step outside, I would attract all kinds of attention.

While I could disguise myself with the help of others, I didn’t see the need for that. It didn’t seem worth the effort for such a meeting.

So, I waited outside for her mother to arrive. Leona, who had met me beforehand, was waiting quietly by my side.

“Do you usually dress like that on weekends?”

“Yeah. I don’t wear my uniform all the time.”

“Isn’t that outfit a bit too breezy?”

I looked at Leona’s rather revealing outfit. The current weather was a hot summer day.

So, wearing breathable and cool clothes was expected, but Leona’s attire was quite noticeable.

A short sleeveless top paired with short brown shorts, showing her midriff with a cropped tee.

Although it’s a somewhat modern outfit, with training clothes being common, it wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. It was just new to see the ‘model student’ Leona in such clothes.

Thanks to this, her figure was fully revealed, making for a nice visual treat. I glanced at her, enjoying the ice cream I had bought her.

Even in her school uniform, I could tell, but her body was surprisingly voluptuous. She had a well-proportioned figure with curves in all the right places.

‘Come to think of it, beastkin are generally known for having good figures, right?’

Specifically, they have exceptional physical characteristics. Leona, with her seemingly slender frame, weighed over 80kg due to her muscles.

Additionally, their species is characterized by high fertility and large babies by human standards. This naturally leads to larger breasts and hips.

The difference from demons is that while demons follow a survival of the fittest principle, for beastkin, it’s simply ingrained in their genes.

Even Jinai, the new chieftain, was taller than me, which shows how exceptional the physical attributes of beastkin are.

‘Yet, humans hunted these beastkin mercilessly.’

It’s hard to fathom how such a thing was possible. However, under the guise of civilization, such barbarity was justified.

I watched Leona munching on the ice cream cone and called her quietly.

“Leona.”

“Yes?”

Leona, who was chewing on the cone, turned to look at me. Her blue eyes, not the usual golden ones, stared directly at me.

She had hidden her ears and tail, and I wondered how she managed to hide her tail. Maybe it was coiled up inside those short shorts.

“Why did you call me?”

“Just felt like it.”

“How boring. But this ice cream is really good.”

Leona licked her lips, clearly enjoying the ice cream I bought her. I smiled at the sight.

Ice cream is an expensive treat in this world. Even though magic exists, it’s not accessible to commoners.

Even if they used freezing magic, the maintenance cost would be outrageous. Hence, ice cream is a luxury enjoyed by nobles or the wealthy.

“If you want, I can buy more for you.”

“Really?”

“Yes. But if you eat too much, you might get a stomach ache, so you have to eat in moderation.”

“Awesome.”

But I have more than enough money. I have a mountain of gold bars at home, so this kind of indulgence is fine.

Even I love ice cream, so there’s no reason to be frugal about it.

I watched Leona, who was genuinely happy, with a warm feeling. I extended my hand but then retracted it, realizing we were outside.

Although there were no people around at the moment, one can never be too careful. As the headmaster warned, there might be stalkers I was unaware of.

The same goes for devil worshippers. While having Kate as a reliable shield is reassuring, we would become vulnerable if something happened to her.

‘There’s a lot to be mindful of.’

Of course, given Kate’s personality, she wouldn’t think of leaving my side. I looked at the steadfast figures of Adelia and Kate guarding ahead of me.

Behind us was the entrance to the dormitory, with guards posted, so there were no issues there. All that remained was to wait for Leona’s mother.

After some time had passed,

“It’s been a while, Isaac. Our second meeting since the exhibition.”

I had my second meeting with Lucia, Leona’s mother and the third wife of the previous chieftain.

She looked very much like Leona, with the same striking blue eyes and golden hair, though Lucia’s was a more muted shade.

While Leona’s hair resembled a lion’s mane, Lucia’s was a calm, straight flow, giving her a wise and serene appearance.

She greeted me politely, and I reciprocated with equal respect.

“It’s nice to see you, Mother Lucia. Has it been two months since the exhibition? I hope you’ve been well.”

“As long as my daughter is well, that’s enough for me.”

Lucia answered with a warm smile. Even from what Leona had mentioned, it was clear she deeply loved her daughter.

This made me more nervous. How would Lucia challenge me?

Mentioning the misstep Leona had spoken of might suffice to overcome this, but Lucia had become the chieftain’s wife in Animers purely because of her wisdom.

While she didn’t wield significant power herself, considering the culture of the beastkin, it’s undeniable she was a great asset to the chieftain.

“Shall we go inside?”

“Yes.”

As we moved to enter, the guards at the door opened it without a word.

They were known to be discreet, so there was no concern about rumors spreading. Even if they did, facing it head-on would suffice.

After this, Kate returned to her room, and Adelia left briefly to prepare some simple refreshments in the kitchen.

“By the way, I was quite surprised. To think that Isaac is actually Xenon… I spent some time pondering whether it was true or false when I heard the news.”

Seated, Lucia spoke in a calm voice. I maintained my smile and replied to her.

“It might be hard to believe, but I am indeed Xenon. I’m not a prophet or someone from the future, though.”

“Given your achievements, it would be hard to deny it. I myself believe it.”

“Just to be clear, I absolutely am not.”

Lucia laughed softly, covering her mouth with her hand. If judged solely by this, she seemed like an ordinary woman.

However, those well-versed in politics often carry a metaphorical knife within. As I took a bite of the cookie Adelia had prepared, I observed Lucia.

The rich flavor and aroma of the cookie filled my mouth, and without hesitation, Lucia also picked one up.

And Leona…

“Munch munch munch munch.”

“Is it good?”

“Yes!”

Leona had already revealed her ears and tail and was eating happily. I took the opportunity to gently stroke her head.

Her ears drooped to the sides, and her tail wagged, expressing her pleasure.

If she had no affection for me or if someone else had petted her, she would have rejected it fiercely. This showed the strong bond between us.

“…You seem to have a good relationship, just as I heard.”

Lucia, having observed our interaction, spoke in a slightly subdued voice. There was a hint of complexity in her tone.

Leaving the busy-eating Leona for a moment, I turned to Lucia. While my smile remained, her face mirrored the complexity of her voice.

“Yes, as you can see, Leona and I have a very close relationship. It started by chance, but as we helped each other, it naturally grew this way.”

“Leona has told me. She said it was you who resolved the political turmoil within Animers. Initially, I was skeptical, but understanding your true identity clarified things.”

“Contrary to what you might think, I am not particularly wise.”

“Your humility is excessive. Then, let me ask just one thing.”

It seemed she was finally getting to the main point. This was her original purpose, so I leaned slightly forward.

As Lucia’s words trailed off and the atmosphere grew heavier, Leona subtly put down her cookie. I used a napkin to wipe the crumbs off her mouth. Her ears twitched, but she entrusted herself to my touch.

Lucia, watching us with a curious gaze, then looked directly at me and spoke.

“Isaac, do you like Leona? As a woman, not just out of obligation?”

Anticipating this question, I answered without hesitation.

“Yes, I do.”

“Not because you feel ‘obliged’ by the beastkin culture?”

Lucia emphasized the term ‘obliged.’ This is the crux of the issue. If Leona hadn’t been influenced by beastkin culture, she might not have chosen to become my wife.

Initially, I had no such feelings. I helped Leona and mediated the conflicts within Animers purely out of goodwill.

The cultural obligations caused this situation and led to much hesitation, but that’s no longer the case.

“At first, it was like that. I was quite taken aback when I heard she wanted to become my wife suddenly. I already had a fiancée at that time.”

“I’ve heard from Leona that you don’t just have one fiancée. She mentioned becoming your third wife. The second wife is a princess from Helium, correct?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

As I answered, I glanced at Adelia. She is not only my personal maid but also one of my women. Leona knew this but chose not to mention it, as bringing it up might only complicate the situation.

“But I don’t think they will be the only ones. I expect more women will come into Isaac’s life soon.”

“…Why do you think that?”

“Because that’s politics and the world we live in. When a central figure emerges, others naturally gravitate towards them. This is the world as I’ve experienced it.”

Lucia accurately grasped the political dynamics. Such an insight is not something an ordinary person would easily conceive.

While I was left speechless by her prediction, Lucia continued to speak calmly.

“I felt it at Animers. A person with power, especially a male… no, no.”

She quickly corrected herself after a brief slip of the tongue.

“…It’s natural for women to be attracted to men with power. This applies not just to beastmen, but to all races. Especially you, Xenon, who has bestowed blessings upon each race. You saved the demons, rescued the World Tree from danger, and further exposed the existence of devil worshippers hiding in the shadows. There’s no one in this world who can surpass you in power.”

“….”

“Leona may have formed a bond with you before knowing your true identity, but… I’m worried. Living as a powerless concubine, being treated as a ‘prize’ and living passively, needing to prove your ‘usefulness’ to avoid being discarded. I want to prevent that.”

Lucia indirectly expressed her own troubled life. Leona and I listened to her story in silence.

She then looked at Leona with sorrowful eyes and spoke gently.

“Leona’s father, the previous great chieftain of Animers, was a man deeply ingrained in the culture of the beastmen. He treated me as a third wife and regarded even the birth of Leona as a ‘prize’. I wanted to avoid passing that mindset onto my daughter… but I only half succeeded.”

“….”

“I want Leona to be treated as a person, not as a ‘prize’. When I heard that Lord Isaac had refused, I was rather pleased. At least he seems to know how to treat people like people. So, I will say this to you, Lord Isaac.”

After a long speech, she slowly took a deep breath, opened her eyes wide, and said what she wanted to say to me.

“Leona will not be of much help to you, Lord Isaac. She might even become a hindrance.”

“….”

“I won’t oppose your choice, Lord Isaac. My daughter also likes you, so as a parent, I must accept that.”

“I appreciate that, but… Mother Lucia.”

“Yes. Please go ahead.”

Lucia won’t stop Leona from coming to me. She just wants to understand what kind of person I am.

So, I clasped my hands together and smiled. There is a very fitting thing to say in this situation.

“My Noona once asked me this: Do you want to be a scoundrel or a piece of trash?”

“Pardon?”

“And I decided to be a scoundrel.”

It was a resolution I made when I accepted Adelia.

“Rather than being a piece of trash that hurts women’s hearts, I’d rather be a scoundrel who accepts one woman after another.”

Better to be a scoundrel than a piece of trash. It’s an inevitable phenomenon now that the water has already been spilled and my identity as Xenon has been revealed.

However, I will never cause harm. I repeat, I am not that kind of trash.

“Leona is the same. I will never hurt her feelings.”

“….”

“I will act according to my heart, not based on usefulness.”

Hearing my answer, did Lucia realize something? She opened her mouth slightly and stared blankly before lowering her head. Just before she lowered her head, I caught a glimpse of her face breaking into a smile.

“Pfft…”

As soon as she lowered her head, Lucia trembled slightly, trying to suppress her laughter. I patiently waited until she had laughed enough.

Finally, Lucia looked up at me, still covering her mouth with her fist. Judging by the tears in the corners of her eyes, she must have found it quite amusing.

“Really…”

The words that followed from Lucia’s mouth were:

“Lord Isaac, you are truly an incorrigible scoundrel. I should have realized it sooner.”

It was a compliment, albeit a backhanded one. I shrugged and responded playfully to her compliment.

“Thank you for the praise.”

“Then, won’t it be difficult for you, Lord Isaac?”

The biggest problem is exactly that. It’s hard for me to handle.

With a slightly ambiguous smile, I opened my mouth.

“That’s why I’m working hard on my writing.”

I don’t want to die young.