Haruto had survived many disasters.
[✓] Accidentally became the Demon King.
[✓] Accidentally started a war.
[✓] Accidentally invaded a kingdom.
[✓] Accidentally got betrothed to Princess Emilia.
And now?
Now he was staring in horror at the official announcement of his own engagement tournament.
A giant golden banner hung across the city square:
"THE GRAND ROYAL ENGAGEMENT TOURNAMENT OF KING HARUTO!"
Haruto gripped his head, shaking.
"WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING TO ME?!"
---
The Tournament Rules (That Haruto Never Agreed To)
The royal announcer stood atop a balcony, addressing a massive crowd of cheering people.
"The rules of the Grand Royal Engagement Tournament are simple!"
"Princess Emilia and any willing challengers shall compete in a series of trials! The winner shall become King Haruto's rightful bride!"
The crowd erupted into applause.
Haruto internally screamed.
"I AM NOT MARRYING ANYONE!"
Stolen novel; please report.
"Yet here we are!" someone shouted.
Haruto threw his hands up in frustration.
---
Haruto's First Sabotage Attempt (Fails Instantly)
"Alright," Haruto muttered, rubbing his temples. "I just need to make this tournament look so bad that no one wants to participate."
His plan was simple.
He would design the dumbest, most impossible trials in history.
No woman would want to compete.
No competition meant no tournament.
No tournament meant no marriage.
Perfect.
"Excuse me!" Haruto shouted, marching toward the royal announcer. "I have decided on the tournament trials!"
The announcer nodded eagerly.
"Of course, Your Majesty! What trials shall be included?"
Haruto smirked.
"Trial One! Contestants must climb the tallest mountain in the kingdom… with no supplies!"
The nobles gasped.
The announcer hesitated. "Uh… alright…"
"Trial Two!" Haruto continued. "Contestants must wrestle a fully grown dragon… and win!"
The crowd whispered excitedly.
"Trial Three!" Haruto grinned. "Contestants must make me a sandwich… WHILE BALANCING ON A RAGING STAMPEDE OF WILD BEASTS!"
The crowd went completely silent.
Haruto crossed his arms, smug.
"There. That should do it."
Then—
The crowd erupted into even louder cheers.
"HE TRULY IS A GENIUS!"
"ONLY THE STRONGEST WOMAN CAN STAND AT HIS SIDE!"
"LONG LIVE KING HARUTO!"
Haruto froze.
"No. No, no, no—"
"SPLENDID!" the announcer declared. "The tournament shall begin tomorrow!"
Haruto fell to his knees.
"I hate everything."
---
And Then More Women Showed Up
Just when Haruto thought things couldn't get worse—
A trumpet blared in the distance.
"ANNOUNCING! A NEW CHALLENGER HAS ARRIVED!"
Haruto turned his head slowly.
A carriage arrived, flanked by armored knights.
The door opened—
And out stepped a tall, elegant woman with silver hair and piercing golden eyes.
She smiled confidently.
"King Haruto, I have come for your hand!"
Haruto choked.
"WHO ARE YOU?!"
"I am Duchess Rosaria of the Northern Empire!"
"WHY ARE YOU HERE?!"
"To compete, of course!"
Haruto grabbed his own head, screaming.
"WHY DOES EVERY WOMAN IN THIS WORLD WANT TO MARRY ME?!"
---
The Harem War Escalates Again
Lilia smirked from the balcony.
"Oh my~. A new challenger?"
Sylphiel nodded serenely. "It seems our dear husband attracts even nobility."
"I AM NOT YOUR HUSBAND!" Haruto yelled.
Emberis grinned. "Well, at least this means more competition. I welcome the challenge!"
Fel leaned on the railing, smirking. "Boss, I think you're gonna need a bigger castle soon."
"I REFUSE TO ACCEPT THIS!"
Princess Emilia stepped forward, eyes burning with determination.
"I will not back down!" she declared. "I shall prove my worth!"
Haruto collapsed onto a chair.
"I hate my life."
---
Haruto's Final Realization
"So let me get this straight."
"I tried to sabotage my own tournament."
"Instead, it became even more popular."
"New women are joining the competition."
"And now I have to deal with an empire watching me too?!"
The entire room nodded.
Haruto groaned.
"I swear, I'm going to run away and live in a cave."
Lilia patted his shoulder.
"Oh, darling, you say the cutest things~."
Haruto collapsed onto the table.
"I hate it here."
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