◆ Avangarde Territory, Pairland Island ◆
There were so many things to decide—dates and locations, guests to invite—but thanks to Sadameru, it all wrapped up surprisingly quickly. If I wanted to invite people from far away, I would have to adjust the schedule, but my father firmly reminded me that we couldn’t invite too many guests to a wedding between two girls. Still, Seigel, Gantetsu, Ai, and Ord all came to celebrate. It made me happy that these people, who were initially hesitant, were now here to support us. Truppo, Rash, and Lord Hast were also seated among the guests. It was true what Rash said—that a wedding between two girls was strange—but after Lord Hast told me to learn that love can take many forms, I kept quiet.
Yes, Kurinka and I are both girls. Normally, parents would strongly oppose such a marriage. If we were born in a different country or era, we might have been disowned. Sadameru even warned us that we could face the worst punishment.
“It is our responsibility that you have faced so many hardships. So from now on, enjoy yourselves as much as you like.”
“I’m relieved that Lua-chan is the one you chose instead of some unknown man! Hahaha!”
It wasn’t just my father; Kurinka’s father accepted it too. Our mothers felt the same way; they were now supportive. It seems that love between girls isn’t as rare as I thought. However, most people keep it secret. I’ve heard stories of those who couldn’t gain acceptance and ended up eloping, only to meet tragic ends. Every time I hear such stories, my heart aches. We were truly fortunate. After all, the entire Ikana Village is celebrating with us.
“Juke, your daughter is something else in many ways…”
“I’d like to say it’s mutual, but you don’t have any children, do you? My apologies.”
“Don’t say such disrespectful things to the Demon Lord! You, of all people, should know your place.”
“Shin, go over there.”
“Yikes! D-Demon Lord!?”
“Wow, choosing Pairland Island for such a grand occasion shows that Sadameru is no ordinary person.”
There are actual Demon Lords here. Eeks, Bathram, and Shin are all present, the entire Demon Lord Army gathered. Seigel and the other Adventurers were filled with fear and astonishment, and it took quite a while to convince them. Lord Hast was also intrigued by the presence of the Demon Lord Army and is now chatting with my father and the others.
“I was worried about how things would turn out, but I’m glad it all came together, Lua-chan.”
“Seeing everyone here, especially the Demon Lord Army, makes it hard to believe this is real. Sometimes I think I’m dreaming.”
“Hehe, it’s all thanks to you, Lua-chan.”
“Me?”
“If you hadn’t rescued Ai and the others from Gametz Trading Company, those three wouldn’t be here. The same goes for Seigel; if it weren’t for that incident, we might never have met.”
I often think about what might have been. If I hadn’t met Kurinka, I would be overwhelmed with anxiety at the thought of such a future. It’s because I’m happy now that the opposite scares me.
“If you hadn’t gotten involved with the Demon Lord Army, you wouldn’t have met even Shin. If you hadn’t gone to the Demon Lord Castle and fought the Demon Lord, the Demon Lord Army would still be threatening the world. You stopped that, Lua-chan.”
Now that I think about it, that might be true. If I hadn’t tried to defeat the Demon Lord Army, I wouldn’t have reunited with Eeks. Furthermore, if Ikana Village had remained peaceful, this scene wouldn’t exist.
“The terrifying Twelve Demon Generals could only be defeated by you, Lua-chan. No one else would have made it this far, probably.”
This moment, this scene, is what they mean. Seigel and Gantetsu are blushing as they drink, while Ai and the others look annoyed at Seigel’s antics. Truppo and Rash have become good friends with the children of Ikana Village. Bathram is inexplicably helping with the food service, and Shin looks like he might cry after being chased away by the Demon Lord. As I gaze from the terrace of Fulunkult Cathedral, it all feels surreal. I can’t believe I created this, but as Kurinka said, at least this is the result of the path I’ve walked.
“Alright, it’s about to begin.”
Taking Kurinka’s hand calms my heart with its softness and warmth. I did something similar in front of a crowd at Moonshine Shop, but now I’m filled with embarrassment. As we slowly descend the stairs toward the first floor, my heart races uncontrollably. This tension is different from battle; I wonder if we can really have a wedding.
“The groom and bride… um, the brides are entering?”
It’s no wonder the priest is flustered. But that only adds to my anxiety. The moment the large doors open, I feel as if I’m diving into another world. Dressed in a mystical, pure white gown, Kurinka and I stand before everyone, who suddenly quiets down.
“Ah…”
Time and sound seem to stop. The only thing I hear is my voice, hoarse and dry. My father, my mother, everyone from Ikana Village, Seigel, Gantetsu, Ai, Mai, Mii, even Ord, Kou, and Bun. Eeks and the Demon Lords too. Even Shin, who was eager to act as the matchmaker, is now staring at us. Everyone’s attention is on us, their expressions a mix of joy and sorrow. Turning to the priest, I couldn’t confirm anything beyond that.
“In times of health and in times of sickness…”
As I stand before the priest, memories flood my mind. Running barefoot, chased by monsters. Being pursued by a Cave Rabbit at the entrance of the Abyss Cave. Ten years of relentless battles. Escaping the darkness and meeting a girl named Roel. The world and time that expanded from there.
“Do you vow to live together?”
No, it’s our time. The irreplaceable experiences that led to this very moment. Perhaps it was the Dragon God that gave me the chance to be with the girl holding my hand. No, we overcame the Dragon God that tried to tear us apart. We’ve worked hard for the time we’ll spend together from now on. I don’t need anyone to tell me how to answer; I’ll say it clearly.
“I vow.”
“I vow.”
I realized we weren’t in sync. Laughter erupted in the once-quiet hall. Even though we’ve fought together until now, we couldn’t get it right at a moment like this. But that’s okay; I know that’s not what matters.
“Now, for the vow of the kiss.”
Yes, being united like this is the greatest happiness.
“Congratulations on your marriage…”
“Congratulations!”
“Honestly, I’ve thought for a while that you two were already together! Congratulations!”
“Lord Hast, is this also a form of love? I really don’t understand…”
Following my father, everyone erupted into applause, shattering the earlier silence. Ord’s cheers were a bit annoying, but I could feel the blessings behind them. Rash, tilting his head while clapping, and a few others seemed unsure, but that’s fine. As long as we’re happy, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.
“Um, ahem! It all began that day when the beloved, beautiful, and strong Demon Lord commanded Shin to keep an eye on these two. Sometimes splitting the sea, slaying Golems, and even subduing the Dragon God, she performed feats that would make even the Divine Being tremble. But after the battles, she’s just a girl with a few screws loose. In other words…”
It was incredibly long, annoyingly long. Most of it was about the Demon Lord, and I wondered what it had to do with our wedding. Just then, the Demon Lord came over and grabbed Shin by the scruff, dragging him back to his seat. The priest looked bewildered, and it was clear he hadn’t asked for any of this. They were just doing as they pleased.
“Now, let’s get back on track…”
The priest regained his composure and continued the ceremony. Finally, it was my father’s turn to speak. For some reason, I felt nervous; what was he going to say?
“From that day ten years ago, due to our immaturity, we made our daughters walk a path of hardship. The time they spent with us was five years… no, even less than that. I should have realized when they turned away from their origins and destinies, and when they parted ways with their best friend. Could we truly make the children we bring into this world happy?”
The hall fell silent once more, with only my father’s deep voice continuing to resonate. It felt heavy, as if it were pressing down on me, making it hard to bear. My father wasn’t to blame; I remembered it clearly, even though I was only five at the time. My mother had always smiled and doted on me, and I had truly been happy. Of course, I had no intention of blaming Tiferia. I didn’t want to think about who was at fault; right now, we were here for a wedding ceremony meant to bring happiness.
“That day remains an indelible stain, one that cannot be erased, even as I see my daughters in their radiant forms. Until recently, I was haunted by dreams of that day. I would see the village burning, my body unable to move while I thrashed about, fully aware of my surroundings… I watched it all from a distance. I would wake from such nightmares, relieved… only to repeat the cycle. But the ones who brought me that relief are the daughters standing here before me. In my dreams, they would take my flailing hands, calming my heart. The flames consuming the village would extinguish, and the scene from that day would unfold before me. So now, let me speak not as a father, but as a man present here today.”
“Father, why do you say such things? We’re not concerned about that; we’ve found happiness here, so it doesn’t matter. I don’t want to remember it either.”
“Lua, Kurinka… I’m truly sorry. And thank you… I hope you find happiness. I will always have a place prepared for you to return to. So wherever you may journey, if you ever wish to come back, you are always welcome. I’ll be here to greet you. Welcome home.”
“Father…”
My eyes softened, and something welled up inside me. No matter how many times I blinked, the tears flowed freely, and it didn’t take long for them to spill down my cheeks.
“I feel unworthy to call myself a father. Kurinka, you must have suffered so much until now, right? I’m sorry… truly sorry.”
“I helped you because I think of you as my father… So please, if you truly care for us, don’t blame yourself so much. I beg you…”
“Ugh… Kurinka…!”
Kurinka’s father broke down in tears, along with her mother, and for some reason, everyone else was shedding tears too. The atmosphere had completely shifted to one of sorrow. I felt a mix of happiness and sadness, a confusing blend of emotions. All I knew was that I was crying.
Amidst this, a woman stepped forward with a gentle demeanor. While everyone else was dressed in elegant attire for the wedding, she wore only a sweater and navy pants, as if she were going out for a casual shopping trip. Approaching my father, she knelt, placing her hands and forehead against the ground.
“I’m sorry.”
With just that one word, Tiferia returned to her seat. My father said nothing, merely watching her with a sad expression.
“It’s I who should be apologizing. Please, let me explain why I was in Ikana Village ten years ago.”
“Alright, everyone. The delicious food will get cold if we keep this up. How about we skip the formalities and dig in? That sounds much better, right?”
“Wha—Hey, wait!”
As soon as Eeks stood up to speak, Tiferia interrupted him, clapping her hands to silence him. Eeks looked angry, but he let out a single sigh and sat back down. I wondered what was going on; he usually would have argued back.
“Tiferia just wanted to express her honest feelings in a single word. No amount of explanation would change anything… and she ended up taking the blame for Eeks too. She became the scapegoat all on her own.”
Kurinka spoke about Tiferia’s feelings with a downcast expression. I wasn’t sure if that was true, but if I were in Tiferia’s position, I wouldn’t be able to do anything more than apologize. Ending it with a single word without excuses felt more heartfelt.
“Oh, that’s true. Hic… It doesn’t suit this joyous occasion to dwell on gloomy topics.”
“Gantetsu, you’ve been drinking even before this started, haven’t you?”
“Oh, yes, Seigel. You should join me too.”
“Indeed, let us celebrate the future of our two brides. Hic… Here, even the Demon Lord should have a drink.”
It was clear these people had been drinking for a while. Lord Hast had even taken off his shirt again. I doubted there was anyone else in the world who would offer a drink to the Demon Lord like that.
“Hey, old man. Did you find out anything about my sister’s ribbon?”
“Oh, Elmera, is it? It may be small now, but the material is of good quality; she’ll grow into a real beauty in the future.”
“Alright, let’s pluck some of your beard!”
“What are you doing to the old man, you girl?!”
They were all drunk, and I thought that matter was impossible to resolve now. Besides, Rash probably wouldn’t be able to stop it. The Illusion Magic was clearly ineffective, and soon Rash began to cry. The commotion continued, and it felt like everyone had forgotten it was our wedding ceremony.
“Shall we eat too?”
“We’re already eating… I mean, that huge Wedding Cake has completely disappeared…”
“Oh! Lua-chan, you wanted some too, didn’t you? I’m sorry!”
I decided not to comment further. I leaned in closer to Kurinka, whose mouth was smeared with cream, and gently pressed my lips against hers. I licked the sweet cream away.
“I’m fine with this.”
“Wha—what?!”
“It’s delicious.”
“Then I’ll feed you more!”
The sensation of cream and Kurinka’s soft lips enveloped us as we continued to lick each other. Even when the cream was gone, we kept repeating the action. Everyone else was too drunk to notice us. The sweetness of the cream had long faded, yet I felt an everlasting sweetness lingering within me. Forever.
Avangarde Castle – King’s Chamber
“The king has returned; rejoice!”
On this day, the Kingdom of Avangarde came to an end. From now on, I am no longer Kirkton, Captain of the Avangarde Kingdom’s troops.
“Prepare for the ceremony!”
“Yes, at once!”
Indeed, I am now Kirkton, Captain of the Vandalsia Kingdom’s troops. Ah, things are about to get busy. I must prepare a celebration worthy of the great king, an event, everything. I must dedicate it all.
“Captain Garlyle of the Royal Guard! I pledge my body to the King of Vandalsia! I vow to dedicate my very soul to the King of Vandalsia! The Royal Guard stands united in this resolve!”
““““Please make use of us!””””
The Royal Guard, who had left the castle with Lord Belmund, has returned. With these veteran soldiers by my side, I feel even more reassured. After all, can I truly serve Lord Vandalsia alone? Sleeping or collapsing is out of the question; Lord Vandalsia would never permit it. Not unless he explicitly told me to.
“You said your name was Kirkton…”
“Yes!”
“Crush your left arm. I’ve grown tired of seeing you whole.”
Now, if not now, when will I use this sword? This blade exists solely to crush this left arm. Agonizing pain, fresh blood, my own screams. Fortunately, I was not told to refrain from screaming. Ah, how fortunate. Such intense pain is impossible to endure without a cry.
“I don’t recall granting permission to scream.”
And then my right arm vanished as well.
Shin Report
Ugh, the bride’s maid of honor is uuuugh
I spent ten hours thinking about this
Demon Lord, it seems I’ve grown to dislike Shin during our time apart
Such, such a feeeeeeeling
Tears won’t stop flowing.