Chapter 358: A New Storm Rises
"I'm home."
Facing the familiar girls around him, Sigurd spoke again, lips lifting into a faint smile.
Bronya was the first to move. She sat down beside him, slipped her arm through his, and pressed her cheek against it. Words weren't necessary—just quietly leaning against him was enough to say it all.
Seele watched, fingers twisting together, her eyes reddening as confusion and helplessness clouded her expression.
Mei laid a hand on Seele's shoulder, letting out a soft sigh before smiling gently.
"Come on, Seele. Let's go prepare dinner. Tonight, we'll have a reunion meal together."
With that, she took Seele's hand and led her away, sparing the girl the heartache of watching any longer.
Bang!
The moment Seele was gone, Wendy slapped her hand against the table.
"Hey! Explain yourself—what's going on here!?"
Seeing Sin Mal and Bronya clinging so sweetly to Sigurd, and recalling Seele's reaction just moments ago, Wendy's feelings were a tangled mess.
Sigurd lifted Sin Mal from his lap, settling her at his side. Then, with a gentle tug, he freed his arm from Bronya's grasp and met Wendy's gaze directly.
"It's exactly as you saw. Kiana, Bronya, and Sin Mal… they've all chosen to be with me."
"You… you two-timing scoundrel!!"
Wendy shouted, spinning on her heel and storming out of the living room. Only when she reached the hallway—where no one could see—did she wipe the tears from her eyes, before fleeing to her room in a blur of wings.
Sigurd closed his eyes for a moment of silence, then spoke.
"Fu Hua, your old friends are here. Go see to their lodgings."
"Understood."
With a small smile, Fu Hua turned and left, leaving the space for Sigurd to face his private matters.
No sooner had she gone than Sin Mal crawled back into Sigurd's lap, curling into his chest. She pressed her ear against him, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, her laughter sweet and dazed.
"Sigurd… Sigurd… I missed you so much!"
"Mhm. Speaking of which—you've gotten taller."
Sigurd brushed his hand across the top of her head, lowering his gaze to her with softened eyes.
Sin Mal nodded happily.
Then Sigurd turned toward Bronya, reaching out to press down gently on her head as well.
"You too. You grew 1.31 centimeters."
"Really!?"
Bronya's eyes lit up at once.
Her growth had always been painfully slow—whether from childhood injuries or simply her genetics, no one knew. Her petite frame had its charms, but deep down she longed to grow—especially in those… less-developed curves. Maybe then she could become more captivating, someone Sigurd could never look away from.
Sigurd's lips quirked upward.
"Yes, you're definitely taller… and that's good. Otherwise, being with you might start to make me feel like a criminal."
"Then… does Sigurd prefer Bronya small, or… grown up?"
"Either's fine. As long as it's you."
Bronya's face bloomed with joy.
"Bronya loves Sigurd the most!"
With a sudden burst of boldness, she stood on her toes and kissed him on the cheek.
"Me too! Sin Mal wants one too!"
Not to be outdone, Sin Mal copied her, pressing her lips to Sigurd's cheek before flashing him the sweetest smile.
The last of Sigurd's coldness melted away. He cupped their faces in his hands, his expression filled with warmth.
Only after some time did he pinch Bronya's soft cheek lightly, hesitating as he asked:
"Wendy and Seele… they're not in love with me, are they?"
Bronya rolled her eyes in exasperation, her voice small and childish as she countered—
"What do you think, Sigurd?"
"I… maybe it's just because they're still young. Once they grow up, things will settle down… probably?"
His voice trailed off as he glanced at Sin Mal, who was smiling as brightly as spring blossoms. The longer he spoke, the quieter he became. She was a perfect example—someone who clearly wasn't going to change her feelings no matter how much time passed. And really, wasn't that the same for Kiana and Bronya? Weren't their feelings something nurtured and solidified as they grew?
Why did it feel like the moment he came back, everything had gotten complicated again?
"Bronya doesn't mind. She was prepared for this long ago. Sin Mal won't have any problem either. But Kiana—she probably won't accept having her feelings trampled again and again. If Sigurd wants to expand his harem, you'll have to convince Kiana first!"
Smack!
Sigurd flicked Bronya on the forehead.
"Don't talk nonsense. I'm not some heater who can keep everyone warm. I can't take care of that many people."
"Then do you think they have another choice? Don't forget—they're Herrschers. That makes them fundamentally different from ordinary people. In every sense, really… aside from staying by Your Majesty's side, they don't actually have anywhere else to go."
"…Are you trying to drag Mei and Ana into this too?"
"No. Being single is one thing. But if we're talking about romance, then even from a purely practical perspective, a Herrscher's power shouldn't be influenced or controlled by anyone other than you. That means they can't be with normal people."
Rubbing her forehead, Bronya said this with absolute seriousness.
Sigurd shook his head.
"Your concerns are valid, but it's not absolute. As long as their Herrscher powers remain under my control, the rest can be managed. Besides, this restriction only really matters before the final battle. Once everything's over, it won't be so important anymore."
"Sigurd…"
"Hm?"
"Bronya doesn't care about the rest. But… don't let Seele get hurt."
Bronya pressed herself against him, holding him tightly as she spoke in a muffled voice.
To share the person she loves with someone else, even if it's with her best friend… is something that she doesn't really like. But her childhood was unlike most, and her sharp mind had shaped her into someone with a broader perspective.
She already shared Sigurd with two other people—whether it became four, five, or more, as long as they were people she could accept, Bronya wouldn't struggle too much with it.
Sigurd fell silent for a long time before finally saying:
"They're still young. Let's leave it at that for now."
What else could he do but take it one step at a time? They were only thirteen or fourteen. It wasn't like he could just turn to them and bluntly declare, Join my harem. That would be insane.
Who would have thought his first problem after coming back wouldn't be the Honkai, but debts of the heart?
He sighed, but then his eyes narrowed suddenly.
"Come to think of it… why is that little idiot being so quiet? She's lasted this long? Don't tell me her brain glitched again—"
"I am NOT an idiot, you stupid Sig!!"
A black hole blossomed overhead, and Kiana leapt down, landing right on Sigurd's shoulders. Her pale, slender legs hooked around his neck as she pounded angrily on his head.
Sigurd tilted his gaze upward to her pouty, furious face. He didn't look angry at all. Instead, he just patted her thigh and said:
"Get down."
"I don't wanna! You stupid Sig! Rotten Sig! First you disappear forever, and the moment you come back, something like this happens! Do you even deserve my love?! Take this, and this, and THIS!"
Her little fists drummed on his head—hard enough to vent her frustration, but not enough to hurt him. Just enough to be incredibly annoying.
Sigurd silently endured for a while, then said in a low, drawn-out voice:
"I heard you've been gorging yourself on junk food every day while I was gone?"
Kiana froze mid-punch, her hands hovering in the air. Slowly, guiltily, she tilted her head back and stared up at the ceiling.
When it came to these tangled feelings, she knew she couldn't really blame Sigurd too much. He wasn't some fickle womanizer—if anything, it was just his overwhelming charm. It wasn't like he'd crossed the line yet, and she couldn't exactly hate her own friends for it either.
"W-what are you talking about? I'm the healthiest person you'll ever meet! I'd never sneak around like that. Right? Right?"
Whiiistle whiiistle
Cold sweat ran down Kiana's forehead as she stammered, then tried to cover it up by whistling.
That guilty little reaction—she'd been doing it since she was a kid, and it had never changed.
Sigurd looked up at her, half helpless, half exasperated, and sighed.
"Now that you're fully recovered, I won't force you to stay away from it completely. But you need some restraint."
Which, of course, was his roundabout way of saying he wouldn't press the issue.
Kiana's stiff expression melted at once, relief flooding her features. She nodded furiously.
"Mm-hm! Got it!"
"Then come down."
"Okay, okay!"
Kiana slid off Sigurd's shoulders and landed in front of him, wearing a bashful, awkward smile. Partly because she'd been fooling around a little too much, partly because her lie had been so easily exposed.
"Squat."
"Oh."
She obeyed at once, crouching down and tilting her head back. Her big, watery eyes blinked up at him, sparkling with focus and delight.
Sigurd raised his hand and gently ruffled her silvery hair.
The soft, fluffy sensation finally filled the long-empty space in his heart.
A warm smile spread across his face.
That was all it took for Kiana's restraint to snap. She leapt forward and threw herself into the arms she'd been longing for all this time.
Romantic entanglement, junk food, the Honkai—everything else vanished from her mind. For the girl with the radiant smile, only this embrace mattered.
"Sig, I missed you so much!"
"…Me too."
"Don't ever leave me again. Not seeing you when I woke up hurts so much."
"…Alright."
With a quiet smile, Sigurd held her tight, treasuring this most irreplaceable warmth.
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