Tales of Wedding Rings (結婚指輪物語)

It's been a week since we were trapped in the Great Library.

We haven't found a means to escape,

and we've begun living in the Elder's research lab.

I'm so glad there was a variety of ingredients.

I just restored some of the dried food,

but it turned out quite well, didn't it?

It would've been even better if we had some fresh vegetables.

Let me see.

I'll taste it for you.

Hey.

I'm back.

Welcome home!

Darling!

You're back, Ring King?

You're late.

Welcome home, Big Brother.

It just finished cooking.

There.

They always come out half-dried here.

Nothing we can do about it.

What is it?

I was just thinking how this is what living with you would be like.

It feels like we're really newlyweds, doesn't it?

We actually are newlyweds, though.

That's right.

Oh! I need to think about tomorrow's menu!

Would you prefer dried meat or vegetables?

Right! I'd like...

Satou?

Everyone, listen up.

We've been trapped in here for a week,

and we've completely acclimatized to our life in here!

But we shouldn't be taking it easy like this!

The world is in crisis!

Oh, what?

You remembered all that, Ring King?

But Big Brother,

the door won't open, so there's nothing we can do right now.

We don't have anywhere near enough power to break that seal.

What are you all doing with your days?

You've been going to read books, right, Nefritis?

Yes.

There are lots of books to go through in the Great Library.

Also...

I've been doing my daily training.

I've been analyzing the spell on the door.

By my current calculations,

in 600 more days, I'll finish analyzing the magic energy imbued into the door.

Huh? That's so far away.

I'm not very good at this work.

Huh?

Was I supposed to be doing anything?

We just need the Ring King to work hard, don't we?

You really haven't done anything.

The Ring King's power is the strength of his bonds with the princesses.

So isn't he lacking power because your feelings for him aren't strong enough?

Which means that one of us here isn't serious about him?

That there's someone afraid of crossing that line with Satou.

Wouldn't that be you, Saphir?

Satou isn't interested in my body in the first place.

That's exactly why Satou and I have built up a firm, chaste bond of trust.

Right, Satou?

Huh? Y-Yeah?

What's with that begrudging response?

That aside,

you've been lacking confidence lately, Granart!

Th-That's not true!

I've always lacked confidence, though.

You don't need to worry about that, Nefritis.

The incompetent one has just been sitting beside you in silence for a while.

And are you really in love with Satou, Amber?

Can machines even comprehend love?

I hate such flimsy logic.

Wha?!

Can each one of you here explain your definition of love?

With things like this, we really should resort to the easy way.

That would be much faster than all this stuff about effort or mindset.

I told you we can't do that!

I'd be the second coming of the last Ring King!

Well, you know...

we have faith you won't do that.

That's not an issue of trust!

You're just demanding that I restrain myself!

At any rate, we just need to do what we can every day.

Says the one who isn't doing anything at all!

Because I don't feel like I'm lacking power.

I think I'm growing capable of using the Ring for a bit longer.

I'd like to concentrate, so I prefer being alone.

You're quite sharp, Big Brother.

Trying to increase your mana by exhausting it and waiting for it to recover?

That's very basic but important training.

It's what your grandpa taught me.

"Your magic power will never betray you."

"You simply have to train it," he said.

If there's anything I can do, than I want to do it.

Big Brother...

are you not that interested in girls?

Where did that suddenly come from?!

I've been wondering why you won't make a move.

I thought all men loved sex.

I... I don't want to hurt Hime just to satisfy my horniness!

That's not what I'm talking about.

You would gain power, too.

It's everything you could ask for.

Well, yeah... I know it's necessary.

And I do want more power.

But if I obtain that power through means I can't accept,

then everything that follows afterward will be just as hard to accept.

Maybe I'm the one who understands the current stakes the least.

You think?

I think your view is a pretty good one to have.

You and I might be surprisingly alike.

Hmm? We are?

In the way we're able to put in the steady effort like that.

That was just because I was affected by the aphrodisiac mist!

It doesn't count! Doesn't count!

Hmm?

Hang in there, Big Brother!

I'm rooting for you!

A-A-And for my big sister too, of course!

Huh?

But that mist only made one's desires run wild.

It wasn't capable of manipulating people.

So deep down, I didn't particularly mind?

U-Um, that contraception spell was honestly a big help.

I've also been thinking... it's high time for that.

So you do want to do it with my sister, after all!

You pervert!

I should take this chance to tell you.

Would you be mad if I told you that contraception spell inscription was incomplete?

O-Oh god!

I'll need more research to improve its effectiveness.

Huh? How?!

It hasn't vanished yet.

Satou...

let's have sex?

That was definitely going too far!

Using a contraceptive means it wouldn't be for procreation!

Which means I made Satou think I just want to have sex with him!

Still, I need to try harder.

If we remain trapped in here, eventually...

I can't keep indulging in Satou's kindness forever.

Satou's holding back too... I think.

Besides, I also...

I'm back!

Good work, Satou.

Were you at the door again today?

Yeah.

I wasn't able to get anywhere, though.

I see.

You worked really hard again today.

So I'm betting you're worn out now, right?

Say, Satou, would you like to take a bath with me?

Huh?!

If we do, well...

I think you'd find plenty of energy again.

Satou?

I'm sorry, Hime.

Now's not a good time for that.

Huh?!

Why not?!

I'm sorry.

Could you leave me alone?

Satou's...

Satou's lost interest in me!

What's so funny?!

Sorry, sorry.

The truth is...

It's incomplete?

What do you mean, the inscription is incomplete?!

That spell inscription, well,