As the surroundings were enveloped in a blinding white light, by the time I opened my eyes and regained my sight, the colossal pillar of the Undead was beginning to crumble. The dragon-headed figure, the great serpent that had been spewing flames, and the viscous magic fungus that resembled dark red slime—all of it was returning to the earth, collapsing into dust.
“This is bad… Gilbert is going to get buried!”
“Hey, hey, we can’t let him be buried alive at the end! I’ll save him!”
Lord Lionel and the mercenaries rushed over instinctively, starting to dig through the earth with their hands. I desperately pulled on the braided cord I held. Everyone was doing their utmost to unearth Mr. Gilbert.
“I never thought we’d end up digging for potatoes at the last moment.”
“It’s not potatoes; it’s Gilbert!”
Mr. Dolf and Ms. Barbara exchanged their usual banter while helping to pull on the cord. Despite their light-hearted words, their expressions were serious.
“We need to hurry. The area beneath us is hollowing out as the Undead Slime disappears. If the vines vanish, everyone here will fall through the floor.”
The Black Knights confirmed the situation beneath the vines and shouted out. The ground woven with Ivy was still sturdy enough to stand on for now. However, since it had once been a sea of Undead Slime, there was a possibility that it would eventually disappear once everything was destroyed.
“Phew… I thought I was going to die…”
Mr. Gilbert was successfully dug out from the earth, and everyone around erupted in cheers.
“Miss Flora, thank you. And you too, big brother, everyone… I’m sorry for such an anticlimactic ending.”
“I was worried, but as long as you’re safe, that’s what matters!”
The mercenaries and Mr. Dolf laughed heartily. Seeing Mr. Gilbert, covered in dirt and laughing without a care, made me feel like crying. Even Lord Lionel had tears welling in his eyes. When our gazes met, Mr. Gilbert stood up and hugged me tightly.
“…Sorry, I’m really covered in dirt, but just for now.”
His voice was a bit shy as he whispered in my ear. In response, I wrapped my arms around him and hugged back. The warmth radiating from him brought me comfort and joy, spreading throughout my entire being.
“I believe all the Undead have been eliminated, but please leave the surrounding checks to us Clergy. It would be best for everyone to retreat for now.”
“Indeed, we should take this opportunity to escape. The ground is unstable, and too many eyes are on us; it’s unsettling.”
Mr. Dolf responded seriously to the Holy Cleric’s words. Now that I thought about it, it felt as though all the eyes in the arena were focused on us. Both Mr. Gilbert and I suddenly felt embarrassed and flustered.
“The carriage can’t be moved with the vines in the way; we’ll deal with that later. For now, let’s prioritize our escape.”
At Mr. Dolf’s command, we ran straight towards the southern gate. Once we exited the arena, we were ushered into the carriage of Weapon Merchant Lord Goliath, who had been waiting, and we were taken to Marquis Beresford’s Residence under Lady Amanda’s arrangement.
At the mansion, everyone was prepared for a warm bath, and by the time we settled down, the sun was beginning to set. The over-tunic that Lady Amanda had kindly provided was quite expensive for a commoner like me. I felt a bit fidgety, as if I were dressed up for a grand occasion. The vines had disappeared before I knew it, but the gentle colors of the handmade accessory Mr. Gilbert had given me matched perfectly.
In the guest room where Mr. Gilbert was, many had gathered to congratulate him. However, as I approached, everyone graciously vacated their seats. A wave of embarrassment washed over me once again, but more than that…
“Mr. Gilbert,”
I had so many words I wanted to convey, but my mind was a jumble, and nothing came out. Instead, I impulsively threw my arms around him. Mr. Gilbert was startled for a moment but then gently embraced me back.
“…Um, Miss Flora. Just now, my face and mouth were covered in dirt. And everyone was watching, so… um…”
Mr. Gilbert spoke softly, hesitating as he looked into my eyes, his gaze turning a shade redder. I realized I must have looked just as flustered. Then, we pressed our foreheads together. It was so close that our outlines blurred, yet we continued to gaze into each other’s eyes.
“Is it alright if I kiss you…?”
His whisper, barely above a murmur, was laced with warmth, causing my heart to race. I couldn’t form a verbal response, so I let my cheeks rise naturally with a smile and nodded softly. When our noses brushed awkwardly, a ticklish joy raced down my spine. Even the mingling of our breaths felt delightful. As I closed my eyes, warmth descended upon my lips.
Every point of contact shared the same heat, and it felt as if the boundaries between us were dissolving. This overwhelming sense of happiness coursed through my entire being, filling me completely.
Unfortunately, our deepening kiss was abruptly interrupted by a knock at the door.
“E-excuse me. I didn’t mean to interrupt…”
Lord Lionel’s face appeared, surprised at first, then flustered as he hurriedly apologized and closed the door.
“No… I almost lost control… No, um…”
Mr. Gilbert’s face was bright red as he fumbled for words. I felt as if steam was rising from my own body.
Lord Lionel had come to summon us for a discussion about the next steps. When we entered the hall where everyone had gathered, I noticed Mr. Dolf and the mercenaries trying hard not to grin, likely forcing serious expressions to avoid teasing us. I found even that sight amusing, as I felt giddy.
However, the discussion was serious, so I straightened my posture and focused. To prevent a repeat of the same mistakes, all the knight orders and the church would work together to check the Royal Capital and the northern regions for any remaining Undead, taking about three months to ensure no Undead Beasts remained.
“Gilbert and Miss Flora, along with the elders, should probably stay hidden.”
“Is that so…? I want to help confirm the remnants, though…”
“Do you wish to be hailed as a hero?”
At the question, Mr. Gilbert’s eyes widened.
“…I don’t wish for that. It doesn’t suit me. Besides, I have many things I want to do with Miss Flora, like building a home together. If I’m hailed as a hero, I’ll have less time for that.”
Hearing Mr. Gilbert speak with such seriousness, everyone smiled and nodded, respecting his wishes. I savored the honor of being chosen to be by his side over receiving accolades.
“From the looks of it, Miss Flora feels the same. The Guide Mage has historically been referred to as the Holy Maiden…”
“I share the same feelings as Mr. Gilbert. Moreover, it’s not something I can do alone…”
When I replied, Ms. Barbara, who had been quietly listening, smiled warmly at me.
As a result of the discussion, Mr. Gilbert and I, along with Mr. Dolf and Ms. Barbara, decided to return to the blacksmith’s village to spend some quiet time. We also promised to visit the Territory of Kelvim once everything settled down. While I had a desire to help if there was something I could do, it was also a precaution to avoid unnecessary chaos, given that we had drawn too much attention to ourselves. Even the Crown Prince, who had arrived midway, emphasized that the country would handle the aftermath.
Mr. Gilbert was already consulting Mr. Dolf about creating house plans. It felt a bit premature, but I found myself completely absorbed in that thought as well.