And so, the curtain fell on the first day of the pioneer mission in the Magical Wilds.
After returning with a respectable amount of data, Rest entered the tent provided for him to take his rest.
Though it was called a tent, the size of the one allotted to a count like Rest was comparable to a small studio apartment. It was fully furnished with a bed and a table. It was far closer to "glamping" than actual camping.
"But... there’s only one bed."
"Um... Lord Rest, is it too cramped?"
"No... it’s not that."
Rest answered mindlessly to Primula’s voice, which whispered from right beside him.
The bed was large enough for him to spread both his arms with room to spare, but as expected, it felt quite small with four people lying in it. Beside Rest were Viola and Primula, who had come to support him, and Yuri, who had unceremoniously rolled in as well.
The proximity meant their body heat was constant. He could smell a floral perfume and a hint of sweat. And, though he was trying his absolute best not to focus on it, he could feel the soft curves of their bodies against him.
Why do the physical sensations of men and women differ so much, even though we’re the same species?
The ridiculous thought that girls' bodies might be made of marshmallows drifted through his mind, starting to feel surprisingly plausible.
"It’s been a long time since I’ve slept snuggled up with you, Rest. It feels quite fresh, doesn't it?"
Viola spoke from his right. As she clung to his arm, Rest could feel her heartbeat racing. She seemed genuinely excited by the unusual situation.
"It’s... it’s a strange feeling. Even though we’re outside, it doesn’t feel like we are. My heart is pounding..."
Primula, on his left, was in the same state. Her pulse was slightly faster than Viola’s, and her body temperature was a degree or two higher. The sensation of her chest against him was...
"Cough, cough-cough!"
"Are you all right, Rest?"
"Did something happen, Lord Rest?"
"No... it’s nothing. Maybe the air is just a little dry..."
Rest desperately shook off his impure thoughts and resorted to the classic distraction of counting prime numbers in his head.
"There’s a water pitcher here. Should I get you a drink?"
Yuri’s voice drifted over from beyond Viola. Since there was one person between them, their bodies weren't touching.
While part of him was relieved, there was a profound sense of immorality in sharing a bed with a girl who was just a classmate and friend, unlike his two fiancées.
If Marquis Catreia ever saw this... haha, I wouldn't even be able to laugh. He’d slaughter me.
The thought cooled his excitement instantly. If he so much as laid a finger on Yuri, the Grim Reaper’s scythe would be pressed against his throat. The Rosemary sisters’ father doted on them just as much, but the Marquis Catreia was a different breed of overprotective.
According to the rumors, he loved his daughter so much he had practically kept her under house arrest in their mansion. Rest couldn't even fathom what the man would do if he heard about this sleeping arrangement.
"Hehe... this is actually kind of fun. My heart is racing. Even though I’m just sleeping with friends, I feel like I’m doing something very naughty."
Yuri’s voice was high and bouncy with excitement. Viola let out a light sigh in response.
"Yuri... please, promise me you won’t go getting into a man’s bed when we aren’t there to watch you. There are plenty of wicked men in this world."
"Yuri, you are far too defenseless... I’m worried you’ll give some man the wrong idea..." Primula added, following her sister’s lead. "I know you’re incredibly strong, but there are people who use deception to harm women. You mustn't trust men so easily, all right?"
"Yeah... you’re right. I’ll be careful," Yuri agreed with surprising sincerity. "I was just tricked by my father and brothers and locked away recently, after all. I should definitely be more careful about trusting what people say."
"Right... I think I heard something about that."
"Yes. They told me to come home because my old nurse was suddenly ill. When I got back, she was perfectly fine. They locked me in my room, and I had to half-kill the guards and my elder brother to escape."
"I... I see..."
"What a terrifying family... and I thought my mother was extreme," Viola remarked.
"The Marquis Catreia House is a distinguished military family, after all. I suppose their circumstances are unique," Primula said, her voice strained.
Rest and the Rosemary sisters all felt a chill at the sheer intensity of the Catreia household's internal affairs.
"I’ve decided that I’m never going back there, no matter what! I have to stay away if I’m going to fulfill my mother’s last will!"
"Your mother’s last will? What’s that about?" Rest asked, hearing this for the first time.
However, Yuri met his question with silence.
"...Yuri?"
"...It’s a secret. I’ll tell you someday, Rest."
There was a certain sultry quality to Yuri’s voice as it drifted through the darkness, a glossiness he hadn’t noticed before.
Rest found it strange, but he did his best to ignore the presence and physical sensations of the three girls surrounding him. Eventually, he managed to drift off to sleep.