The winter at Dedris Academy was a season blanketed in snow, pure white as far as the eye could see.

Hoo…

As I exhaled, a puff of white breath spread out before my eyes.

“It’s especially cold today, isn’t it?”

“Mary, you’re surprisingly sensitive to the cold.”

“Having the Blessing of Frost doesn’t make me immune to cold, after all.”

Walking beside me, Mary’s cheeks and hands were reddened from the cold as she blew warm breaths onto her hands to warm them.

Finding her endearing, I naturally reached out to hold one of her hands.

Having warm hands felt like a blessing at times like this.

Hehe.

Holding hands had become such a natural gesture for us now that it didn’t spark the same excitement as before. But even so, Mary smiled brightly, enjoying the warmth of my hand.

It was one of the rare moments when I could see her express emotions beyond her usual stoic demeanor.

‘Maybe I should invent a camera or something.’

Whenever she smiled like this, the urge to develop something using my modern knowledge would spring to life.

“I hope everyone enjoys this.”

As we walked, holding hands for a while, Mary suddenly spoke up.

“They’re all good cooks, so they’ll probably eat anything happily.”

Each of us carried a large bag in our hands.

Of course, I had a spatial pocket, so normally, there wouldn’t be any need to carry bags like this. I could just put everything in the pocket.

“Sorry about this. I ended up forgetting my pocket at home.”

I had always kept it at my waist, but I somehow misplaced it this morning. I assumed it was somewhere in the room, but no matter how hard I looked, I couldn’t find it.

“I think this is nice.”

Mary held up her bag and smiled sweetly.

“Doesn’t it feel like we’re really newlyweds?”

“It’s not just a feeling. We are newlyweds.”

“The point is the feeling. If we just stored everything in the pocket, it wouldn’t feel like we’re on a proper outing.”

She had a point.

A man and a woman walking together, holding hands and carrying shopping bags, looked just like the picturesque image of a married couple.

“I’ve always admired this a little… Someday, when we have kids, I imagine we’ll be holding their little hands too.”

Mary blushed faintly as she tightened her grip on my hand.

The blush on her cheeks, which were already rosy from the cold, took on a different, warmer hue.

“…Don’t tell me you’re the one who hid the pocket, Mary?”

“……”

She said nothing for a moment, avoiding eye contact as she turned her gaze elsewhere.

It seemed I had guessed correctly.

“Well, it’s rare to get drawn lots that let us shop alone together… And I kind of wanted to try this…”

She eventually confessed after I kept looking at her silently. Her bashful honesty was so adorable that I pulled her closer, wrapping my arm around her shoulders.

Teasing the embarrassed Mary, we continued walking and soon arrived at our destination: a grand mansion located a little away from the city center.

This was a mansion I had obtained through an event quest in the past, called the ‘Mansion of Horrors.’ Initially, everyone had been hesitant about living here due to the eerie memories tied to it.

However, since the four of us needed a larger space to live together, and buying a new big house would cost too much, we decided to use this mansion.

Though Mary had an inheritance from her father and could easily afford a house, it felt wrong to rely on that money, so I insisted on using the mansion I already owned.

“Ken! Perfect timing. Can you taste this for me?”

On the second floor, in the kitchen, Emily was standing in front of a steaming pot of stew, ladle in hand, waving me over.

“How is it? Delicious?”

“Yeah, it’s perfect.”

“Ugh, you always say that without a second thought. Mary, what about you?”

“It’s delicious, Emily. I think it’s great.”

“Really?”

Perhaps my casual praise wasn’t convincing enough.

‘Then why call me first?’ I wondered. But I figured she just wanted me to be the first to try it.

“Emily, let me help you. Should I prep these?”

“Oh, thank you. Once that’s done, could you boil some potatoes?”

“Then I’ll help too. What should I do?”

“Hmm? There’s nothing left to taste right now.”

“No, I mean, anything other than taste-testing…”

“There’s nothing else, so just sit down and relax, hubby.”

And so, I was banished to the sofa.

Apparently, I was just the designated taste-tester. Even then, Mary would take the final taste test.

“I’m exhausted…”

Just then, someone trudged over to the sofa and plopped down next to me.

“Ugh… Prepping is so tiring. I wanted to cook. I’m the best cook here, don’t you think, Ken?”

“Well, we did draw lots to decide, so it can’t be helped. Are you done?”

“No…”

“Then rest for a bit, and I’ll help afterward.”

“Huh? …But there’s nothing for you to taste-test.”

‘Am I really just the taste-tester here?’

Hearing my earlier conversation with Emily, Raphne chuckled softly and laid her head on my lap.

And so, the day went on, bustling with activity as we divided tasks—shopping, cooking, decorating, and preparing for our guests.

All this preparation was for a special reason.

Bang!

Bang!

“Congratulations!”

“Took longer than expected, huh? Was there a lot to prep?”

“I’ll be a regular customer. I can trust you to handle this.”

“I bet people from all over Dedris will come here.”

“Ah! Can I buy shares in advance? Wow, if it’s this popular, the profits will be…”

Elise, Siegfried, Adrian, and Alicia each offered their congratulations.

These were people we had grown close to at the academy, individuals who had shared significant experiences with us.

They had gathered today to celebrate with us—or more precisely, with me.

The reason?

“Let’s check out the sign now! I’m so curious about the name!”

“Wait, Alicia! Let’s go together! This is something we should all see!”

I had opened a weapon shop on the first floor of our mansion.

“One, two, three!”

With Emily and Elise counting down, Adrian and Siegfried pulled down the tarp covering the entrance.

“Is that the name of the shop?”

“Hehe, what an amusing name.”

“Ken, did you choose this because it used to be a haunted mansion?”

“No, that’s not the reason…”

I scratched my cheek awkwardly as the questions poured in and looked up.

There, hanging above the entrance, was a sign designed by Mary, crafted from materials selected by Emily, and bearing a name thought up by Raphne.

[The Cursed Weapon Shop of Feinstein!]

"Still, this is impressive~."

"What do you mean, Elise?"

"I mean, you're still just a kid who hasn't even graduated, but you're married to three women and have already opened a shop."

Now that I think about it, it was a pretty extraordinary track record.

"Is your academy life okay? You’ll still graduate, right?"

"Yes, I'll hire an employee to work during the day, and I’ll run the shop in the afternoon. It won't interfere."

"An employee?"

"Yes, there’s a weapon with plenty of free time."

"A... weapon?"

Elise tilted her head, puzzled by my answer.

'It fits the shop’s theme perfectly.'

The employee in question was a cursed sword with too much time on its hands, located at the base of Tarlos’ tower. Since it had nothing to do, I assigned it to run the shop.

With its beautiful appearance, the shop was bound to flourish.

Of course, I didn’t force the position upon it; I discussed it and got its agreement.

-Wow! Yes! Absolutely yes! This girl would do anything for the master! Oh, or maybe as a housemaid instead?

Of course, when it suggested more than the job of a clerk, I firmly restricted it to shopkeeping.

'I can’t let myself become a playboy.'

I had already committed my life to my three wives.

Their happiness was my happiness as well.

Standing in front of my soon-to-open weapon shop, I looked at my loving wives, who gazed at me with affectionate eyes.

Emily’s sharp yet alluring gaze, Mary’s indifferent yet adorable expression.

And then...

"Wait, where’s Raphne?"

I glanced around but couldn’t spot Raphne anywhere.

Emily and Mary chuckled and explained.

"Raphne said she’s waiting in the usual spot."

"She wants to tell you first. Then she’s planning a surprise reveal."

"Oooh, that sounds exciting! Go quickly, Ken!"

"Hmm, in the meantime, we’ll go inside and enjoy the party."

"...For me?"

Ah, so that’s what it was.

Perhaps she had prepared some sort of gift to celebrate the shop’s opening.

Raphne had always loved doing things for me.

"Go on~!"

With Emily waving me off, I stepped out of the mansion.

'The usual spot.'

Between Raphne and me, there was only one place that name could refer to.

I walked briskly, anticipation guiding my steps.

I remembered the first time I headed there.

'I was so out of breath back then.'

Back then, I was determined to lose weight, running and running until I reached her. She was there, drowning in despair, having given up on everything but merely existing.

And she became my beacon of hope.

This time, however, I wasn’t panting.

Having shed the weight, I was quicker and more agile, reaching her in no time.

Soon, I arrived at the tower.

"I already feel nostalgic…"

I looked up at the old tower standing on the outskirts of the academy.

For a time, I came here daily, sharing meals with Raphne.

'She’d cry and cling to me like crazy if I even skipped one meal.'

Thinking back, it was clear how much better her condition had become.

Creak.

I opened the tower door and slowly ascended the stairs.

Tap, tap.

The sound of my footsteps echoed through the quiet interior as I climbed.

With each step, memories of the emotions I felt while ascending this tower in the past came flooding back.

Finally, I reached the top.

I stood before the door and closed my eyes.

'Why are you so late?! You didn’t forget about me, did you?! No! Don’t abandon me! Wahhhh!'

Opening the door, I half-expected the Raphne from back then to leap into my arms and say those words.

Smiling softly, I opened the door.

Creak….

"Raphne… what’s the matter—"

Thud!

Suddenly, a familiar red figure dashed toward me, burying herself in my arms.

"You’re late! Why did you take so long to get here?!"

Raphne lifted her head from where she had nuzzled against me.

Her cheeks were flushed pink, and she smiled shyly, gazing up at me with a loving expression.

"I’ve been waiting for you, Ken. Hehe."

"Well, you disappeared all of a sudden."

"Disappearing suddenly is your specialty, isn’t it?"

I had no retort to that.

Perhaps this was payback.

I chuckled and naturally patted Raphne’s head.

As usual, she buried her face in my chest, taking a deep breath to soak in my scent.

It was still a little embarrassing, but it had become her ritual when we were alone.

"So, Raphne, why did you call me here separately?"

"Well, actually…"

At my question, Raphne stepped back from my embrace and let me go.

Taking a delicate step backward, she stood in the moonlight streaming through the window, smiling adorably as she looked at me.

"Do you remember our old conversation?"

"Conversation? Which one?"

We had so many talks that I couldn’t immediately recall a specific one.

Faced with my obvious question, Raphne’s expression turned mischievous, and her gaze darkened in an eerily familiar way.

'That look… I know it.'

Instinctively, my throat tightened, and I swallowed hard.

Maybe it was the location—the tower’s top—but memories of the day I was first locked up here resurfaced vividly.

But Raphne, unfazed, blushed slightly and reached into her pocket.

What she pulled out was…

"A… stone?"

"What color is this?"

"Pink?"

"Yep. Do you know what it is?"

I shook my head.

Even as a gamer, I had never seen such an item before.

At my confusion, Raphne’s blush deepened. Smiling slyly, she pointed at the stone with her finger.

Then, her eyes, which had been eerily hollow moments ago, sparkled with life as her gaze softened.

"This is proof that a new life has begun."

"…Huh?"

Dumbfounded, I let out a dull sound.

Raphne continued softly.

"It’s… a baby. Our baby."

Her words made me recall a past conversation.

-Ken, I’ve got a brilliant idea!

-…What is it?

-I’ll just have your baby! That way, you’ll never leave me!

That exchange from our past echoed in my mind, and for some reason, emotions overwhelmed me.

At that moment—

Thud.

Once again, Raphne threw herself into my arms.

"Hehe, the curse is broken now."

With the same smile as before, she looked up at me.

"And when the baby arrives, we’ll always—"

I couldn’t let her finish.

"What?"

Thud!

I pulled her into a tight hug, my arms wrapping completely around her petite frame.

Feeling her warmth and her familiar scent, tears began to fall from my eyes.

"Huh? Hey, isn’t crying supposed to be my thing? Why are you crying, Ken?"

"I don’t know. I’m just… happy."

"…Ken."

With a calm voice, Raphne reached up to stroke my cheek.

Her hand gently wiped away my tears.

She smiled.

"I’m glad you’re happy."

"Of course I am. I love you, Raphne."

"Hehe, I know."

Raphne stepped back slightly and clasped my hands in hers.

Between our hands was the proof of a new life she had shown me moments earlier.

And, as always, with a voice tinged with longing, she whispered,

"Now… you can’t ever run away from me, can you?"

Hearing those words, I couldn’t help but laugh, even through my tears.

And Raphne laughed with me.

When our shared laughter finally subsided, I held her close again.

"Really…"

Hug.

I wrapped my arms around her tightly.

"You’re so clingy."

I knew I would never escape her hold.

And I was fine with that.

It was the happiness I had chosen.

"This is all your fault, Ken."

Raphne hugged me just as tightly.

"You saved me."

The price of breaking the curse she once bore was that I had become hers forever.

In a way, this was another kind of curse.

But unlike the one she had endured, this curse was one I never wanted to break—a blissful curse.

The Cursed Villainess’ Obsession (Finish)

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