"My love if we take it slow, the strength you could have gained from the same period will be lost. As we are now we cannot battle beside you. We need to gain power, once we do, not only can we help you but we will also be able to recruit allies."
"Husband, I believe in you. Even if the world doubts you. I never will. Please believe in me too. I know you adore us. And we love you so much for that. But this and that are separate. Your love will not protect us in the coming war. We need power. Do not stand in the way because you are anxious."
The reincarnator knew, he understood that he was being both irrational and stupid. His protectiveness interfered with his logic. Under his careful watch, they would remain safe and protected. Like birds in a cage. But similar to what Raylene said, this would only give them false strength. With their mettle untested, like glass, they would shatter when hardships arose.
Fighting when your life is a mistake away from death could be considered insane. But that is the space where strength manifests. Vanessa also said it right, due to Hiro giving his attention to them, He will stagnate. Unable to grow stronger, his desire for their safety will destroy his desperation for strength. And without strength, he would not be able to do anything.
Finally, Jade's unmistakable logic drove the nail in. His fear was detrimental to their survival. Just as coddling a child will prevent the person from growing. Hiro wanted to keep his women safe now at the cost of decreasing the odds of their survival in the future.
Hearing Hiro's story about him becoming the herald when he thought they died made it clear. The man in front of them is broken. He anchored his entire existence in their lives. If they all died or left him. Hiroto Musashi / Hiroyuki Mitsurugi would not survive.
His women all knew this. Thus they decided telepathically. If they hold his life in their hands, then they would protect it above all else. And the only way to do that is to grow stronger. So strong no one can kill them. This was for Hiro, thus even if the man himself disagreed; They would rather fight and get into an argument now than to lose him again in the future.
Both sides loved one another dearly. Both sides also felt what it was like to lose the other. They choose different actions and were now at odds. Yet it seems comical that their fight stemmed from their intense desire to protect the other.
This was a problem when you fall in love with people who disregard themselves. It becomes a paradox of whose life becomes more important. Hiro placed the lives of his harem above all. Nessa, Lene, and Jei similarly valued their husband's life ahead of theirs.
Thus until one relented, they would never see eye to eye. Because both sides fought for what they valued most which ironically in this case was each other. Hiro who still refused to accept their reasoning didn't answer and simply enjoyed the warmth of his women.
They wore almost transparent pajamas that felt extremely good to the skin. If one added the ample chests of each woman and shapely hips, normally the man would grow horny from the stimulation. But right now they were deciding matters in battle, not the bedroom.
As Hiro's left and right sides had a woman, Lene moved behind her man and embraced him. Her husband's broad back looked so powerful and so fragile at the same time. How much pressure did this back have to shoulder alone for so long? Regardless of that, what mattered was he now had his battle harem.
"Darling, we love you. That is why we want this. The stronger we get the easier it will be to protect you. Didn't you train so desperately because you wanted the power to defend us from harm? We are the same. We will not relent on you for this. Because to us. To me. You are most important."
The man took one of Raylene's hands and kissed it. This was what it meant to be married. To have a partner that would push you forward. Hiro right now didn't push his women forward but rather shackled them. How would they fly if he kept them caged? If he really loved them shouldn't he support their endeavors?
None of the women said anything as they continued to bask in the warmth of their husband. Hiro was not stupid, he acted with the big picture in mind. The massacre in Anvil and the monster invasion were both calculated moves to show his power and let everyone know that he meant business.
Hiro, due to experiencing various things could be considered ruthless, psychopathic, and borderline insane. The only saving grace is his anchor to his harem, despite knowing that his women had all the logic. The man refused to listen to their counsel.
And yet Alter Hiro's words reverberated in his mind.
("Hiro, in this world weakness is a sin. Grow stronger, stronger than I ever was, stronger than anything and everything. This is the only way Raylene, Vanessa, and Jade will survive. If not for me do it for them. I don't deserve them due to my stupidity. But you still have the chance to make things right.")
Focusing on them means not being able to focus on himself. He needed to grow stronger but in order to do so he needed to leave them. The paradox prevented him from moving forward. But the man refused to leave them behind, but they will die if he brought them.
Jade then stole his lips with a light kiss as she whispered. "The answer is to become as strong as you so we can grow together. Give us one week. To protect you, my dear husband. I will not let anything get in my way."
"You can read my thoughts?" asked Hiro. A second person gave him a light peck on his cheeks. "She cannot Hiro-sama, but your face has always been easy to read. One week my love. Just one week. We will chase after you at that time. If in one week we cannot beat Aurum, Lars, and Geo we will relent and follow your will."
Seven days, depending on the context it could be short or incredibly long. Hiro started thinking if it was possible. The San-Baka total fun camp days from both sessions was 5 days. In order to gain more power than them they needed to work a lot harder.
Yet the implications were attractive, if they succeeded, it would mean they would be able to fight some of the weakest monsters at Hiro's level. As the exp needed to go up skyrocketed. This gap would grow shorter the longer they fought. Unable to deny them Hiro acquiesced and told his wives his response.
"Seven days, I will let you go as hard as you want in that time. But if after seven days you cannot defeat the San-Baka you will follow my rules moving forward. Are we clear?"
Elated at his response his girls jumped on him to celebrate. Their momentum couldn't throw the man off, but he moved to ensure they did not fall. Sacrificing himself they landed in a rough heap, with the impact from the fall shouldered on his back. His giggling wives all expressed their happiness and delight and thanked Hiro nonstop.
