#721 The Veteran Witches' Marriage

“Sir Gobukichi! I have long admired you!”

Woaaaaah!

She actually said ittttttt!

As expected of a teacher or, should I say, merfolk, Teacher Carp is brave.

Was this competition meant to set the stage for Teacher Carp’s dramatic confession? 

Typical of Lady Mahi, who’s rich in life experiences.

“So, would you, um, you and me…!”

Oh, wow.

She’s going to push this all the way through, isn’t she?

Even though there are still spectators around, she shows incredible determination.

“Would you like to discuss the future of education with me?!”

Guess not. 

She chickened out at the very last moment.

“What the hell is that buffoon doing? After all the effort Sis Mahi has gone through to set the stage, isn’t it time she showed some guts?”

Even Zoth Syra, who participated in the competition to bolster Teacher Carp’s courage, can’t help but let out a strained laugh.

“What are you talking about, Zossy? You’re confessing too, aren’t you?”

“Whaaaaat?! Why would I?!”

But suddenly, she too is caught in the crossfire.

“Well, isn’t your love interest also here? That’s why I chose you as a competitor. If I simply wanted to instill courage, I could have chosen anyone else. It could’ve been me, even.”

“That would have been a quick defeat for Carp, wouldn’t it?!”

“To bridge the path of love for my two younger sisters at once...what do they call this on land again...killing two dragons with one stone?”

What kind of beast are you planning to take down with your stone, dear mother-in-law?

It’s well known that Zoth Syra is also in love. Her crush is more or less an open secret on the farm. 

She seemed smitten from the very moment she set foot here.

Her crush is...

Orkubo-kun, the leader of the farm’s orc team.

He is also among the spectators.

After all, everyone on the farm loves a good show now and then.

“You’ve been longing for him for a long time, haven’t you? Then seize this opportunity and go for it.”

“Guh...!”

She herself probably had some thoughts about making a move. 

After a slight hesitation, however, she quickly pulls herself together and confronts Orkubo.

“Hey, Orkubo... um, you know...! Um...!”

With determination, she says, “Why don’t you and I start a war and become kings of the world?!”

“She chickened out too?!”

And her shy demeanor hides an ominous yet grand proposal. 

In some ways, it’s more shocking than a proposal.

“Why are my younger sisters so lacking in backbone, I wonder.”

Not even Lady Mahi can hide her disappointment.

“Normally, when a mermaid falls in love, she goes straight for the guy she likes and never lets go...”

“I can tell.”

How should I say it... Uh, I’ve encountered many examples of this, so...!

“Now then, you two.”

“YES’M?!”

“You’re Orkubo and Gobukichi, correct?”

They are important figures in this situation but haven’t spoken a word or made their presence known until now.

When Lady Mahi names them, they officially become characters...

...They sure look bewildered.

“These girls may not be assertive, but you have a general idea of what they’re trying to say. Normally, the men should be the ones to make the first move. Since they took the initiative, you must at least make a smart comeback, right?”

“Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-Yes...!” “You are most correct, madam...!”

Orkubo and Gobukichi are sweating bullets.

Under normal circumstances, they would undoubtedly be among the world’s strongest. They wouldn’t flinch in the face of any danger.

Yet... there are still things that can fluster them.

“So, what do you think?”

“U-U-U-Um, I think Zoth Syra is very wise, passionate about research, and charming!”

“Teacher Carp is also earnest and wonderful with a sense of independence...!”

The pressure from Lady Mahi, persistently pressing the two for a response, is tremendous.

As her son-in-law, I would never want to face her like this.

“So, you both fancy them, don’t you?”

“Yes!” “Absolutely!”

“Why not get married, then?”

“But we’re not humans; we’re monsters... Can we really...?!”

“Moreover, we’re in a position to serve Lord Saint; we can’t neglect our duties...!”

They’re flustered, to say the least.

Then, Lady Mahi admonishes, “Silence.”

She silenced them.

“Why is it that men lack courage at times like this? You’re full of unreasonable excuses... Right, my son-in-law?”

“Y-Yes?!”

Why is she suddenly turning to me?!

“They both were professing their loyalty to you, so does that mean they can get married if you just give them permission?”

“I give my permission!!!”

There goes my immediate response.

“It’s settled then. They’ll get married. Let’s call it a day. See you next week.”

“YAAAAAAY!!!”

The first to cheer was none other than Zoth Syra and Teacher Carp.

They had been nearly silent since their confessions, only observing the situation.

“It’s all thanks to you, Sis Mahiiii! If it weren’t for you, things wouldn’t have gone so smoothlyyyyy!!!”

They both cling to her.

“For the first time, I feel grateful to have you as my sister figureeeeeeee!”

“...Are you sure there weren’t any other instances?”

“I’m serious; this is the first timeeeeeeeeee!!!”

“Surely, you’ve felt the same way before?”

Lady Mahi persistently asked, but Zoth Syra and Teacher Carp were busy clinging to her, their emotions running high.

*    *    *

Thus, two couples were formed.

Zoth Syra and Orkubo.

Teacher Carp and Gobukichi.

In all honesty, though.

I’ve always known about Lady Mahi’s assertiveness, but this time I’m genuinely in awe.

I know all too well the force of the blood that flows through Platy, but the strength of that source is nothing short of extraordinary.

Now, we must also talk about how each situation changed as a result of their bonds. 

First, Teacher Carp completely resigned from her position at Mermaid Witch Academia upon getting married.

It’s what one would call a ‘retirement upon marriage.’

She moved into the farm with her husband, Gobukichi, and while leading a married life, she assists at the Farm School.

In other words, even though she left Mermaid Witch Academia, her role as an educator hasn’t changed. 

In fact, very little has changed. 

On the other hand, Zoth Syra’s situation isn’t one where she can simply quit because she’s no longer single. 

After all, she is the Prime Minister!

She is incredibly competent, and the administration of the Mermaid Kingdom depends on her. Arowana, the Mermaid King, commented that he wants her to keep serving for at least thirty more years.

Thus, Zoth Syra couldn’t leave the Mermaid Kingdom, and Orkubo couldn’t leave the farm, either. This led to the question, “So, what do we do?” the solution was a teleportation potion.

Miraculously, her disciple, Puffer, developed this potion to stay connected with her own crush, Arowana. As a result, one invention connected two pairs of couples.

Zoth Syra now spends her days conducting governmental affairs in the Mermaid Kingdom, and upon nightfall, she returns to the farm via the teleportation potion.

It’s a sort of teleport-commute.

Gobukichi and Orkubo also started a household, built a house on a corner of the farm, and moved in there.

Will this detached house eventually bustle with activity?

As a side note, Teacher Carp started getting requests from the Farm School students to teach them the combat methods from the physique-boosting potion.

“No, you see, that is an uncouth... barbaric way to fight for a lady who has mastered potion-compounding...! I couldn’t possibly teach something like that...!”

Even though she made excuses, the young ones, always eager for something new, wouldn’t take no for an answer and kept begging for classes.

“Just stop making excuses and teach us already! Seriously, why didn’t you teach us such an interesting concoction before?!”

“Princess Praty! You never showed interest in the proper potion classes for ladies, so why are you keen now?!”

With the research-hungry Platy joining in, the classes became even livelier.