Evening, three days later.
"I have the ring, right?"
I touched the little box in my pocket, just to make sure.
How many times did that make? I couldn't help grimacing internally a
little. I didn't have the Hero blessing, so I got scared.
I was sitting on the bench out in front of the shop for Rit to come back.
It's the opposite of last time.
"Ah, Red! Were you waiting?"
"Yeah. Welcome home, Rit."
"Ehehe. I'm back!"
Rit hugged me and gave me a light kiss on the cheek.
My heart skipped a beat at the feeling of her soft lips.
"You said you'd start making dinner again today, but are you sure you're
well enough? You can keep resting if you like," Rit said.
"No, my Cooking skill is back now. And I like cooking for you."
"Ehehe. In that case, I'll go get changed!" Rit headed inside.
"Oh, all right…"
I touched the box in my pocket.
I couldn't give it to her…
There was a clinking sound in the kitchen.
I washed a cup with soap and water and handed it to Rit. She took it,
wiped it dry with a dish towel, and set it on the shelf.
"There, done," I said.
"Good work." After putting the last cup away, Rit raised her hand, and I
gave her a high five. "Yay." We'd only cleaned the dishes together, yet Rit
smiled as though we'd finished a big job.
Whenever we did something together, we always ended up high-fiving,
shaking hands, or hugging. Well, not when other people were around. Or at
least, I don't think so.
Maybe a little bit…
"All right, I'll go get the bath ready," Rit said.
"Thanks."
I went back to the living room and wiped down the table. I carefully
wrung out the towel I'd been using to dry.
With that done, I waited around while Rit prepared the bath.
"Hmmm."
I couldn't decide when to give her the ring.
"I'm getting nervous. Maybe I should wait for tomorrow."
I thought to procrastinate, but I quickly shook my head and banished
that timid idea.
"Didn't the captain teach me that it wasn't good to draw things out?
Once you've decided on something, you should do it without hesitation.
Decisiveness makes for an invincible blade."
Of course, that advice was for tactics and swordsmanship. The captain
probably hadn't imagined his words could apply to a situation like this.
Recalling them was nostalgic, though. When I first joined the knights
and fought using only the power from the level boost that came with my
blessing, he taught me the importance of swordsmanship.
"That's not swordsmanship, Giddo." He always said things like that
during training, teaching me not to rely too much on my divine blessing.
"Listen here, Giddo. Blessings are absolutely the source of our strength.
But a blessing can't make decisions for you. We have to decide for ourselves
what's right."
Blessings couldn't make decisions. People often forgot that fundamental
fact. Impulses compelled everyone to obey, giving pain when we resisted
and joy when we acquiesced. The church taught that Demis would not
blame people for mistakes or crimes that came from them living as their
Divine Blessings demanded.
Seven years ago, a ferocious man with a Bandit blessing known as the
king of the mountains was executed. It was unknown how many people
he'd killed or how much he'd stolen, but the church and most of the
townspeople respected him for fulfilling the role set by his blessing. He
spent his final days in prison with little restraint. When the date of his
execution arrived, many people came to see, and when he trembled from
fear of death, the audience cheered him on.
He died to a massive round of applause.
"It always felt weird."
I'd been involved in the battle that ended in his capture. He wasn't really
any sort of chivalrous thief. He possessed the sort of charisma that drew
people to him, and he was apparently good at looking after his followers,
but I couldn't feel any sympathy for him while knowing how many he
killed for personal gain.
"The bath is ready!" Rit called out.
Ugh, I was completely lost in thought.
I still hadn't decided on the crucial moment when I'd give her the ring.
I guess I'll think about it in the bath…
Rit and I entered the bath together.
She leaned her back against my chest and relaxed comfortably. From
behind, I could see the back of her neck and her breasts bobbing in the
water. It was a lot to take in, and it made me a little bashful.
We had been out on an adventure for almost a week. It had been a while
since we'd bathed together.
"Today was nice," Rit said. A drop of water on the ceiling fell into the
bath with a drip. "A big adventure was a fun change of pace, but this sort of
carefree life with you really is the best."
"When I came to Zoltan, I thought things would be a bit quieter and
more solitary."
"Really? Would you have preferred it that way?"
I hugged her shoulders.
"Of course not."
We both closed our eyes and basked in the warmth of each other's
bodies.
"R-Rit." I had to say something. "Wh-when we get out of the bath, I
want to give you something. Do you have a moment?"
"Huh? Of course. What is it?"
"It's nothing all that important… No, I guess it is. It's something
important to me."
"Something important…"
We both tensed at that.
Calm down. Deep breaths.
There was a legend associated with the custom of giving an engagement
ring.
It was a part of the myth of "The Demon of Winter and the Dragon
Knight."
After defeating the demon of winter, the dragon knight saved the
princess who'd been trapped in a castle of ice. However, the demon's curse
kept her frozen through to the heart.
The dragon knight fell in love with the beautiful princess at first sight
and grieved that she was frozen. He took a band from his ring finger, put it
on the princess's chest, and let a drop of his blood fall through it.
The knight's hot blood passed through the princess's skin and warmed
her frozen heart. Life returned to the princess, and she slowly opened her
eyes. Then the two shared a kiss.
Afterward, the dragon knight married the princess and returned to her
homeland, where he became king.
That was the gist of the story.
That's how the custom of giving an engagement ring began on Avalon.
Wearing it on the ring finger similarly originated from that myth.
The story was an obvious metaphor—a drop of blood through a
woman's ring…
While waiting for Rit to get changed after getting out of the bath, I
picked up the little box and fretted that I should have waited for a better
day. Perhaps I could have given it to her at some nice restaurant. I worried
that she might not like it—that she would be disappointed.
"I-I'm changed." Rit stepped out in her usual attire instead of her
nightgown. "S-sorry, but I like this outfit. Fighting with you as a comrade in
Loggervia, living together as partners… I can't really express it well, but
every day with you is more precious to me than some special event. So I
thought this outfit was better… Is that okay? Should I change into
something prettier?"
"No, I love you in those clothes, too."
We both blushed.
Rit tried to cover her mouth with the bandana around her neck, but she
stopped and clenched her fist while looking straight at me.
"What did you want to give me?"
Looking straight into her sky-blue eyes, I felt the ring box in my right
hand one more time. I recalled when I met her in Loggervia.
"Loggervia doesn't need some outsider hero!"
That was what she said the first time we met.
She was hostile, but since we were fighting the same enemy, she tried to
destroy our credibility by achieving things before we could rather than
interfere with us directly.
Rit thought that would change her father's mind about accepting help
from the Hero's party and giving us command of the army.
In the capital of Loggervia, I took out the map from the duke, unfolded it
across the desk, and started writing notes about problems to be resolved.
"There are two occupied villages. The demon lord's main force is
deployed to the south. There are divisions of orc hussars to the west and
east. The supply of lumber from the mountain villages has decreased for
some reason. In the newly cleared land to the north, there have been attacks
by a monster described as a drake. No request for aid has been sent to the
neighboring Duchy of Sunland."
Looking at how the demon lord's forces were deployed, it was clear
their end goal was to encircle and lay siege to Loggervia Castle. They
attacked villages to cut supply lines and wear down Loggervia's army.
That much was evident by how the demon soldiers didn't engage
directly, preferring to send in orc hussars almost exclusively.
"That division of Asura demons concerns me."
Asura demons were fearless elites who made the soldiers of Avalonia
shake in their boots. As infantry, their marching speed was extraordinarily
fast. Even the most difficult of roads were no problem for them.
In particular, they were skilled at attacks from rivers, striking
settlements from little boats. By the time an army gathered to repel them,
they would flee to deeper water where they couldn't be pursued.
Settlements were typically formed near bodies of water. People required
water to live, and it was essential to agriculture. Transport by river was also
an efficient means to conduct trade.
Any map would show lines of towns and villages set along rivers.
"An Asura demon commands the forces invading Loggervia, making
this situation all the more perilous. We'll need to prepare for attacks from
the water."
With command of Loggervia's forces, it would be a lot easier to deal
with that.
"We'll need to make a show of our strength to get the local nobles to
accept us, though. Thus, our first step should be to attack the orc hussars
and liberate the occupied villages to the east and west."
The door to the room flew open.
"It must be rough holed up in a room when it's so bright outside!"
"Oh, it's just you."
I removed my hand from the hilt of the sword at my hip. Rit eyed me
suspiciously.
"Why do you carry a sword inside?" she asked.
"Self-defense. I'd appreciate it if you would knock next time."
"Self-defense for what? This is Loggervia; who do you think is going to
attack you?"
I shrugged without answering.
There was no need to tell her that after all the time I'd spent fighting, I
couldn't relax without a sword at arm's reach.
"What did you come here for?" I questioned.
"Because I heard something." Rit approached me briskly, smirking. I
was lost in her pretty blue eyes for a moment. "The plan to grant you
command of our soldiers was put on hold, right?"
"Thanks to a certain someone."
"Thanks for the compliments!" Apparently, she was here to rub it in.
"Now you guys can leave to go save some other country."
"Unfortunately, it's not that simple."
Rit's expression darkened, and she grabbed my shoulder when I returned
my attention to the map.
"There's plenty of other countries that will gladly accept the Hero. Just
go fight there. There's wealth and fame out there, too. You don't have to
focus on Loggervia."
"If Loggervia falls, the entire northern front lines will collapse."
"I understand that much. That's why we'll protect it ourselves."
"Protecting it isn't enough. We'll gladly leave once our job is done."
Rit was at a loss for words, and for a moment, her gaze wavered.
However, she quickly righted herself and exhaled.
"Fine. I'll accept that you are fighting to help defeat the demon lord's
army."
"Thank you."
"So why are you staring at a map in here all alone?"
"I'm analyzing everything we know first so we can discuss what to do as
a party."
"Huh? You have a Sage in your party, right? Isn't that his job?"
"Hmm… Well, maybe for some, it is."
Rit's expression softened for the first time when she saw my awkward
smile. Perhaps she'd deduced why I was doing this.
"You must have it rough," she remarked.
"I appreciate the sympathy."
Rit's attention turned to the map.
"You've gathered a lot of information so quickly."
"There's not much point trying to set a course without adequate
knowledge."
After looking for a while, Rit picked up the pen on the desk and added a
note to the map. "There's a lodge here where merchants stay when going to
sell supplies."
"A key infrastructure point, huh?"
"And it's not on the map, but there are soldiers there, too. If they're
called upon, it could be an advantageous position."
"Hmm, and if the line is drawn here, it will be easier to maintain a
defensive."
"What's this note about holding the east?"
"Protecting the surrounding rivers will be significantly more difficult if
we lose that area."
"…True. I'll let the army know. I trust you have no complaints?"
"Of course not. But if it looks like the demon lord's main forces are
moving in, it would be better to surrender the point and pull back to this
area."
"I agree. That spot isn't suited to a defensive fight."
"Our enemy's main forces are still deployed to the south, so it will most
likely be a while before they make it that far. The harvest should be rushed
as much as possible so that village can be evacuated to this town, along
with all the supplies."
"That settlement can't hold many people, though."
"Then we'll need to make preparations for temporary lodgings. Hey…"
At my remark, Rit glanced up from the map and looked me in the eyes.
"Why are you helping us?" I asked.
"No matter what I say, you don't intend to leave Loggervia until the
defensive ends, right? It seems best to pitch in and get this over with
quickly rather than let you hang around longer. I haven't accepted you,
though, so don't get the wrong idea."
"I see. Well, I appreciate it… You know…" I couldn't help smirking a
bit.
"What?" Rit pursed her lips. Perhaps she thought I was mocking her.
I quickly shook my head. "It's nothing mean! I was just thinking how
long it's been since I did this with someone else."
"You really do have it rough."
"So anyway…I guess what I'm saying is…thank you."
"D-don't be stupid! It's not like I'm doing this to help you! I'm doing
this for Loggervia!"
Rit pulled the bandana around her neck over her mouth.
Evidently, she had a habit of concealing her expression whenever she
smiled or got embarrassed.
I found it really adorable. Usually, she was openly hostile toward me
and the rest of the Hero's party. That was the moment when I realized I
didn't dislike her.
Klegsna was a village built near a river crossing and connected to
Loggervia by a southern road.
The prosperous farming settlement was home to large pastures of horses
and cows.
The cattle raised there were famous and had been enjoyed by dukes of
Loggervia and kings of Avalon and Cataphract for generations.
If you ever visited Loggervia, it was best to take the southern road.
Travelers plotted their journey to stay the night in Klegsna to enjoy the
local beef, even if they couldn't afford the highest-quality stuff.
"Stop it! Those are breeding bulls!"
"Hnnh?"
The orc soldier holding a curved orc-made saber wore a sadistic grin as
he looked down at the man clinging to him.
"My father and his father before him and his father before him have
reared these animals for generations! You took all the cows already! If you
take the bulls, our breed will die out! Everything our forefathers have done
will be wasted!"
"What do I care?"
The orc swung his saber without hesitation. The blade bit into the man's
back. He screamed in pain before collapsing limply.
"The demons said to take all the food here."
The orc started walking back to the bulls, which were tied in a line.
However, a little girl stood in front of the cowering animals with her arms
spread wide.
"D-don't take Daddy's bulls!"
Next to her, two boys clutched farming tools, their faces pale.
The orc licked his lips.
"Heh-heh…"
The saber, wet with blood from the children's father, hung loose in the
orc's grip.
The girl wanted to run in fear at the sight of her father bleeding on the
ground, but she closed her eyes and held back the terror.
She and her brothers would die helplessly, but that didn't make their
ends meaningless. They had to fight for the sake of their family. Anything
less, and they'd regret it for the rest of their lives.
Sensing the orc raise his saber, the girl's mind was on the verge of going
blank. Her clenched teeth grated in her ears.
However, the pain never found her.
"Ghah?!"
My sword and Rit's stabbed into the gaps in the orc's leather armor. The
monster dropped and never moved again.
"Are you all okay?!" Rit rushed over to the children. Meanwhile, I went
to the farmer and gave him a cure potion.
"I wish I had something stronger, but I'm low on supplies. I hope you
don't mind," I said.
"Ugh…" The blood loss had left the farmer barely conscious, but he
would live so long as his wounds closed and he didn't bleed out anymore.
"Are you Rit the hero?!" the girl exclaimed.
"Yes. Sorry for being late. I'm here to save this village."
The kids cheered with tears in their eyes. Rit smiled and embraced the
children to reassure them, telling them to hide until the fighting was over.
"Don't worry, I'll finish this before dinner," Rit declared.
The girl's eyes widened. "Really?!"
"Really. Believe in Rit the hero."
"Okay! Is that man one of your friends?"
"Huh?"
Rit looked a little startled when the girl pointed at me.
I grinned, despite myself. "Well, am I?" I asked snarkily.
Rit glared at me, causing the girl to look troubled.
"Y-yes, he is!" Rit said hurriedly. "He's one of my friends. He's really
strong, so even if the demon lord's army attacks, we'll be fine!"
"Wow!"
The children looked at me with sparkling eyes. It was all I could do not
to laugh.
"Thank you, Ms. Rit's friend!"
Rit seemed a little bit put off.
"Don't laugh!"
Rit tried to kick me in the back when I started snickering after we left
the pasture. Naturally, I didn't let her hit.
"Quit dodging!"
"Why should I?"
I was supposed to be paired with Theodora during the fight to liberate
the village.
We planned to wait until the monsters assembled to report to their
commander before springing a surprise attack. From there, Ruti and the
others would strike, slaying the commander to shatter the orcs' morale and
rout them.
Our force didn't even break the double digits, so we couldn't take on an
entire army alone. We had to wait for the right moment.
Rit had tagged along because she supposedly wished to see how we
fought. Originally, she intended to go with Ruti and the group targeting the
commander. However, she couldn't bear to watch the demon lord's forces
pillage the town. Thus, Rit and Theodora had switched places, pairing me
with the princess.
"Argh! What was I supposed to say?! 'No, he isn't my friend'?! That
would just make her worried!"
"True. You really are a thoughtful, reliable friend."
"Grrrr."
While we bantered, we saw four orcs walking around on what seemed to
be a patrol.
"Four orcs up ahead."
"I'll take the two on the left."
"Okay, I'll get the right two, then."
The orcs started shouting when they noticed us.
We'd acted quickly to save the kids before, but we delayed our attack
this time. A little commotion would help our plan.
"All right, that's probably good enough."
I drew my sword and rushed forward.
"What're you doing here?!" The orcs drew their sabers, one of which
blocked my first attack.
"Not bad," I remarked.
The other three immediately tried to cut me down.
"Having trouble already?" Rit came flying in with a shotel in either
hand.
Using the weapons' unique curve, she evaded an orc's attempt to parry
and cut into him. The orc who had blocked me lost concentration, and I
pushed back against his sword and stabbed my blade into his left shoulder.
"Gya!"
"Ugh!"
The two wounded monsters stumbled back, clutching their wounds
before falling over. The remaining two stood back-to-back, showing no sign
of fear. They looked confident, even after seeing our abilities.
They were likely pretty strong.
""Synchronized Martial Art: Alpha and Omega Wind Blades!"" A storm
of slashes erupted all around the orcs.
"Kh?!" For the first time during the fight, Rit looked tense. We both
jumped back to avoid the countless blades of wind.
"Now and then, the demon lord's army has some very capable
warriors…," I whispered.
I looked down at the scratches on my armor, remnants of attacks my
sword had failed to catch. Rit's sleeves were torn up, too. We'd both
escaped without any injury, but breaking through to the orcs would be
difficult.
"I am Gaderut, which means fire bird."
"I am Vijurut, which means lightning bird."
""To face the thirteenth hussar's VijuGade means fortune has abandoned
you!""
These were likely orc champions, fearless warriors who had survived
countless life-and-death battles and reached high blessing levels.
"Synchronized Martial Art…," I muttered.
Such skills boasted increased efficacy when activated by two or more
people at the same time. This one triggered when the Martial Arts Alpha
Wind Blade and Omega Wind Blade were activated simultaneously.
"It's my first time seeing this one," I remarked.
It was best to finish off powerful opponents like these two swiftly.
I tossed a throwing knife to test the waters, and the wind blades
immediately struck it down. Rit tried a Fire Arrow conjured with spirit
magic, but it was similarly repelled.
"Projectiles and magic mean nothing before us!"
That didn't sound like a bluff. A heavy-hitting spell from Ares or
Theodora might fare better, but Rit's magic would have a tough time.
"Argh!" Rit raised her shotels, ready to charge.
"Wait." I held her back with an arm.
"Huh? When did you—?"
I'd used my Lightning Speed to move next to Rit. The orcs looked
shocked for a moment, but they quickly recovered.
"A skill to quicken your movements? Speed is worthless against our
technique!"
True, their Martial Art covered every direction, so my Lightning Speed
wasn't enough. All the skill did was improve my running. It was powerless
against a storm of infinite blades.
Rit glared at me. "You're not going to suggest we flee, are you?"
"Of course not. But we can't afford to let them waste our time."
"So why didn't you let me charge them?"
I put more strength into my grip and looked Rit in the eye.
"Wh-what…?"
"It would be better if we worked together. I'll handle the defense, so you
follow behind and focus on offense."
"Work together… I'll admit, you have a point. But…" Rit head-butted
me in the forehead. Oww. "…You've got it backward. My two-sword style
is better for fending off multiple attacks, and your longsword has more
reach. You have two more steps' worth of range. Do you think it's a
knight's job to protect women? Don't be stupid!"
Rit met my gaze while pressing her forehead to mine.
She was right.
"Sorry. Will you protect me?" I said.
"Leave it to me."
Rit took the lead, readying both of her shotels with me behind her.
"Both Alpha Wind Blade and Omega Wind Blade only cover about two
hundred seventy degrees individually. One compensates for the other's
blind spot. However, there's still a low-density spot—head-on. It's one of
their openings."
We ran straight at the orcs, ready to dive in. And that's when the
monsters grinned.
"This is our technique!"
"We know the weakness full well!"
""That's not enough to break us!""
The two back-to-back orcs turned so that we faced their sides, rotating
their storm of attacks to redirect us into the thickest part of the whirlwind.
"Our storm of blades can weather any attack. There's no gap in our
teamwork!"
I quickly grabbed Rit's arm and activated Lightning Speed.
"Wh-what?!" she exclaimed.
In the blink of an eye, we moved to the front of one of the orcs again.
Thankfully, Rit didn't hesitate, immediately lunging into the storm.
Ching-ching-ching-ching-ching-ching-ching-ching!!!
Rit's shotels clashed with the enemy's slashes in rapid succession. Her
blades deflected the cuts threatening to tear into me. However, by raising
her right arm to cover me, she exposed herself. She did well to deflect most
of the wind blades with her left hand, but one traced across her thigh.
"Three more steps!" I shouted instead of stopping to worry over her.
One step forward. A second. Blood erupted from Rit's left arm, but she
persisted.
The third step.
Rit and I changed places, touching shoulders.
I thrust my sword, piercing one of the orc's armor.
"Nghooooohh!!!" the monster cried.
That's when he grabbed my blade.
"What?!"
He tensed all the muscles of his body, refusing to let me withdraw my
sword. The other orc stabbed for my heart.
I held out my left hand; Rit's found it, giving me one of her shotels. I
used to slash upward, tearing into the orc hoping to kill me.
That went well, considering I'm not used to wielding shotels.
The first wounded orc's saber stopped just above my neck. Metal
screeched against metal. Rit's remaining shotel had caught the attack.
"You didn't try to protect yourself at all. To trust your partner so
completely… You're something…"
The orc praised us with a weakened voice. A shotel was buried in the
monster's side, tearing through his organs.
"It was a splendid combination." After his partner collapsed, the orc I
stabbed pulled my sword from his chest. Blood poured from the wound.
It was a mortal blow.
His red-stained lips twisted, and he collapsed next to his partner.
Rit exhaled deeply and sat on the ground.
"You all right?" I asked.
I handed her a High Cure Potion. She was bleeding from her thigh and
the upper part of her left arm.
"Thanks… You're really bad at using a shotel."
"If anything, I deserve some praise for using a weapon I've never held
before."
Rit downed the potion in a gulp. She winced, for the magic subjected
you to all the pain you would've felt during recovery in one go. However, it
passed quickly, and her wounds were closed.
"That's the first time I've fought such powerful orcs," she said.
"They pop up occasionally. The demon lord's army is constantly
fighting. A few monsters grow strong from all the war. Orcs battling for the
demon lord have higher levels than most," I replied.
"Is it always like this for you guys?"
"Well, it kind of has to be, since we don't have an army. If we don't
attempt the impossible, we won't stand a chance against the demon lord's
army."
How else were five people supposed to defeat an army of demons that
employed sound tactics?
Honestly, it was scary. Facing a dozen orcs or demons with nothing but
my sword or armor was terrifying. No matter how many times I did it, I still
wanted to run.
Charging through a disciplined line of soldier demons with spears at the
ready, weaving through spears that thrust from all angles, the burning heat
that came from exceeding my limits as I swung my sword. If I ever lost my
weapon, death was guaranteed.
As a result, I'd grown to be anxious without a weapon close by. I
couldn't sleep unless there was a sword near my pillow. Falling asleep was
easy so long as I had a blade. I could do it just about anywhere. Yet without
one, I'd be wide-awake in a city protected by hundreds of soldiers.
"Why the scary face?" Rit asked.
"Ah, sorry. I got lost in thought for a moment."
"When there's more fighting to be done?"
"So says the girl sitting down to rest." I offered a hand, and Rit accepted
it, blushing.
"I was just a little winded after defeating powerful opponents."
"There may be more like them," I warned her.
"If there are, then I'll deal with them." Rit's confidence helped me relax
a bit. Seeing her face brought me some small relief.
"Will we be working together next time, too?"
"N-no! I'll handle it myself!" Rit took a moment, then stared at her feet
as she added, "W-well, against an opponent who's difficult to handle alone,
I wouldn't mind working together again. You believed in me. So I trust you
enough to fight side by side."
"I see. Thank you for protecting me."
"I'm impressed that you can say that without getting embarrassed," Rit
praised.
"You're just really bashful."
"Wh-who are you calling bashful?! Say that again!"
I laughed.
Perhaps that's when I fell in love with Rit. In that moment, I forgot
about the battle, my duty, and the weight of the sword at my hip.
Rit's voice pushed them all away. I wanted to talk with her more. I
wanted to see more of her.
Her eyes, which reflected the blue skies, her flowing blond hair, her
beautiful body, her determined face, that quick shift from anger to laughter,
her delicate yet powerful fingers, the healthy thighs beneath her red skirt,
and her refusal to rely on others coupled with a determination to stand on
her own…
"All of it was so endearing. From that moment on, I always looked forward
to seeing you again."
"Red?"
I held out the ring, doing my best to face the feelings building inside me.
I loved her so much. So why didn't I reach out to her in Zoltan? Maybe
Ares kicking me out of the party hurt me more than I first realized. I'd
feared that Rit would reject me, too, and I couldn't bring myself to say
anything.
Despite abandoning the Hero's party without a word, I could never
convince myself to leave Zoltan. Similarly, I never gave up my bronze
sword, even though I'd set my sights on a slow life free of war.
I was trapped at a crossroads, forever unsure. Yet Rit came to me. She
wanted to live with me. And it made me so happy. I grew and became
someone who could win any battle against someone who threatened that
joy.
Rit was the reason I was still here.
"I've loved you since we met in Loggervia," I confessed.
The emotions finally broke through the dam at my lips. Rit's cheeks
reddened. There was no stopping myself now.
"I didn't notice how much I cared initially, but I really do love you."
My speech lacked real structure, but there was nothing for it but to push
onward.
I offered the ring in my right hand to Rit.
"Red…"
Rit's eyes shone with tears.
"Would you marry me? No, that's not right. Rit, please marry me. I'm
not a hero anymore. I might not be a fitting partner for a princess, but I
swear to give you all the happiness I can. I'll make breakfast for you every
day."
"Me too… Please marry me, Red. I'm not a princess anymore; I'm just
Rit. Still, I swear that I'll love you. Even when we're old and wrinkled, I'll
be at your side for the rest of my life."
Rit took the ring from me and put it on her finger.
The blue sapphire matched her eyes perfectly and glittered in the
candlelight.
"I'm so happy… It's like a dream."
Tears rolled down her cheeks. I couldn't hold back anymore, either. I
held Rit close. Her warmth washed over me.
Noon, two days later.
""Congratulations!!!""
We were holding a party out on the lawn.
"So you finally popped the question."
"Wimp."
Gonz and Storm both came over to offer their little jabs.
"Tell him how you reacted when you heard, Gonz," Mido said.
"He wept tears of joy, Big Bro," Tanta added.
Gonz's face turned red. "You! What'd you say?!"
"Uh-oh. He's mad!"
"Ah-ha-ha! Run, Tanta!"
Mido picked up Tanta and fled. Tanta laughed heartily as he was carried
away.
"You're finally getting married, Rit," Nao said.
"The wedding's still a ways off," Rit answered.
"What are you saying? You said yes, so the wedding should be soon.
Men are prone to wavering unless you tie them down quickly."
"Tied down? Was Mido like that?"
"No. He doesn't have the guts for that! He's not much when it comes to
muscles, but he's a good, devoted man."
"Sounds nice. I can't wait to have a family like yours."
It seemed like they were having fun.
Mido, Nao, and Tanta were a wonderful family. Would I be able to make
one like theirs?
"Red."
"Dr. Newman! You came. I was worried you'd be too busy."
"Of course I did. It's your engagement party. I closed the clinic for the
day to celebrate."
"I'm here, too! This salad is really great!" Elenora, the clinic's part-time
employee, had also arrived, apparently.
"I'm glad you like it," I said. "I made that salad myself."
"What? You made the food for your own party?"
"Not all of it. But I wanted to do something for everyone revelling with
us."
"That's worth a lot of boyfriend points! Rit really does know how to
pick them!"
Elenora started eating her salad again. She was really enjoying it. That
made the effort of putting it together worthwhile.
"It's a wonderful party."
"Yarandrala."
She walked over to me as Dr. Newman and Elenora stepped away.
"I'm glad you're here," I said.
"I wouldn't miss it. This is your and Rit's engagement party!" Her tone
was strong, as though to chide me for being silly.
Oddly enough, that made me happy.
"Congratulations to you, too, Rit!" she added.
"Thank you, Yarandrala," Rit said. The high elf took Rit's hand as she
continued, "I found this joy because you gave me that push in the
bewitching woods."
Yarandrala smiled. "And I'm glad I did. Thank you for making my
friend so happy." She turned her attention back to me.
"Yarandrala."
"Let me hear it from you one more time, Red."
She looked me straight in the eyes.
Memories of our time together surfaced in my mind. We met when I was
nine, while I was an apprentice in the Bahamut Knights in the kingdom's
capital. She became like an older sister to me while I lived alone and far
from my family.
It had been quite a while since then.
"Yarandrala, I'm going to marry Rit."
"Mhm."
"I'm happy. Thank you."
"!!!"
Yarandrala wrapped me in a massive hug.
"Y-Yarandrala?!"
"I was always so worried about you! You always did everything alone! I
was afraid you'd work yourself to death, but I couldn't do anything to stop
you!"
"I'm sorry for troubling you so much, Big Sis."
People were watching, so I tried to pull away, but I stopped when I
heard her sobbing. She was crying… I made a precious friend fret over me
for a long time.
"Thank you for finding happiness, Red," she said, voice trembling.
I had some truly great friends.
Once Yarandrala calmed down, Van and his party approached.
"Congratulations, Red. I don't understand much about marriage, but I
can tell you're happy."
"Congratulations, Rit! Mm!!! This is wonderful! I want to marry Van
soon, too!"
Lavender was buzzing about joyfully, while Van looked a bit unsure
about it all.
Soon, I wouldn't be able to see them anymore. Their business in Zoltan
was finished. They'd be leaving in a few days.
"Congratulations, Red."
"Congratulations, sir."
Esta and Albert wished me well together.
"Thank you both," I said.
"To think this day would come. May your paths always be linked in
joy." Esta offered a prayer for our happiness, as befit a cleric. "Demis might
not accept the prayer, but I wanted to say one for your sake… I've started to
believe that is the true nature of faith." Esta smiled.
Ljubo sighed. "I'll pretend I didn't hear that."
"I didn't think Your Eminence would deign to attend."
"I am a cleric. To know my blessing for your union is a rare honor."
The way he said it was a bit…typical of Ljubo. Still, he was trying to
show his respect in his own way. He read a wedding blessing for us in a
sonorous tone.
That was a cardinal for you. Even the people of Zoltan who hated him
stopped eating to listen.
"Thank you very much," I said to him earnestly.
Ljubo cleared his throat. "Also…there is something I should discuss
with you."
"Something to discuss?"
"It does not concern me directly… It's more to do with my duty as a
cleric. This is hardly the place to discuss it, though. Come see me
tomorrow."
"Hmmm."
What could it be?
I didn't sense any malice from Ljubo, so hopefully, it was fine to let it be
for today.
Van's party chatted with us a little more before leaving to eat.
Rit came up beside me. "Wow, it's really packed."
We certainly had plenty of guests. There were far more people here than
at the apothecary's opening.
Gonz and all our friends from around the neighborhood.
Yarandrala, Danan, and Esta, who'd traveled with me in the Hero's
party.
Albert and Van, both of whom I'd crossed blades with in the past.
Al and his group, who happened to be visiting Zoltan by chance.
Mistorm, Mogrim, and Godwin, who'd traveled with me to the Wall at
the End of the World.
The regular customers of the store, the doctors—who were especially
valued customers—adventurers, and merchants from their respective guilds.
Even Mayor Tornado and the nobles of the Zoltan assembly were in
attendance.
And many more…
"Red."
"Hmm? You're…"
It was a young monk from the church.
"You saved me once."
"Right. During the incident with Veronia. You're the young man who
got mixed up with those guys from the Thieves Guild."
"Yes, sir! I started practicing with a sword after that. I asked Mogrim to
make me one of the same length you wielded." His eyes shone while he
spoke.
It was a little uncomfortable.
"I'm still an initiate of the church, but please allow me to honor the man
I admire with a prayer for his happy marriage!"
"Thank you, I would love that."
It wasn't as skillful a prayer as Ljubo's, but it was truly heartfelt.
"Congratulations, sir!"
With that, the young monk headed back to the table with the rest of the
people from the church.
"It's amazing," Rit remarked. "To think there are so many people who
would come to celebrate our happiness."
"Yeah…and I'm not even a knight in Zoltan."
"And I'm not a princess."
Yet still, a whole crowd was here to celebrate.
"It's nice."
"It really is."
We both smiled at each other.
"Big Brother."
"Ruti!"
Ruti, Tisse, and Mister Crawly Wawly were here, too, of course.
"Congratulations, Red."
"Thank you, Tisse."
Mister Crawly Wawly waved his forelegs cheerfully in jubilation.
"Ruti…"
I faced my sister, who looked me straight in the eye.
Before Ares pushed me out of the party, I lived entirely for Ruti. My
dream had been to free my sister from the terrible fate of the Hero, so that
she might live happily.
"…I'm going to marry Rit."
Her red eyes wavered. Her small lips moved…into a smile.
"You look so happy. And that makes me really glad."
"Thank you. Hearing that means the world to me."
"Congratulations, Big Brother, Rit."
There was a time when I fought to protect that smile. Now Ruti beamed
at the thought of my joy. She'd grown so much. What a gift it was to be her
brother.
It was a wonderful party.
Four days after the party, Van and his party sailed off on the Vendidad,
departing Zoltan on schedule.
Our raucous days had passed, and we were enjoying a peaceful
afternoon at the store.
"Welcome."
"Yo. Sorry for droppin' by unannounced."
A big man in a martial arts outfit entered—Danan.
"Hey, Danan. I haven't seen you since the engagement party."
"Yeah. I had something I wanted to take care of, so I was holed up in my
room for a bit."
"Something you wanted to do?"
It was rare for Danan to stay indoors for that long.
"Anyway," he began as he walked over to me. "I'm leaving Zoltan
now."
"…That's sudden."
"You don't need to see me off. We can say the good-byes here."
"Why? At least let me take you to the city gate."
Danan laughed. "It's fine. Here works."
Rit frantically rushed over from the back of the store. "You're leaving
already?!"
"Yeah! I'm a guy who only knows how to fight!"
"We really should go with you to the gate," Rit said.
"Ah, well…"
Danan scratched his head and then took something out of his pocket.
"I don't really know what sort of gift to give a friend who's getting
married…so I decided on something my dad taught me about."
"Is this…a bell?" Danan handed it to me. Ringing it produced a clear,
pleasant tone. "Did you make this yourself?"
"Something like that. Kids always end up wandering off, right? These
bells produce unique sounds based on their maker's quirks. No other will
sound quite like it. So no matter where your kid ends up, as long as you
remember the sound of that bell, you'll be able to find them. It's a custom in
my homeland. My dad taught me how to make it."
"I never would have guessed."
He'd made a gift for our child.
"That's so sweet. Thank you," Rit said.
"Heh-heh. Anyway, after I've murdered the demon lord, I'll come by to
see your kid." Danan smiled as though a little embarrassed. "It would be
awkward watching me walk slowly into the distance down the road after
giving you that, right? So let's say good-bye here."
"Yeah, all right," I agreed. "Hey, Danan…"
"What?"
"…I'm glad I traveled with you and that I can call you a brother-inarms."
"Me too! I'm proud to call you and Rit friends!"
He shook my hand and then Rit's. I'd never forget his powerful grip.
"See you, Red, Rit… Be well."
With that, Danan left Zoltan.
There were new encounters and farewells.
The heroes left Zoltan, and things returned to the normal, boring, happy
daily life.
I had to work on preparing a wedding ceremony. But first, there was one
loose end to tie up.
It didn't concern the fate of the world. This was the sort of concern that
anyone might experience. Still, it was a big sort of turmoil that could really
change the life of the individual going through it and the people close to
them.
I thought back to the day I went to talk with Ljubo.
I knocked on the door to the inn room where Cardinal Ljubo was staying.
"Your Eminence?" I called.
"Red? Come in."
Ljubo was sipping a glass of red wine and smoking a cigar.
"Importing cigars here is too expensive. Zoltan really should start
making its own, don't you think?"
"That's certainly an idea." I shrugged.
He gestured for me to close the door. I did as he indicated and sat in the
chair opposite him.
"It's not that big a matter, but…" He set the cigar down. "Well, I'm
grateful to you in my own way. I'm telling you this purely as a show of
goodwill."
"I see…"
"It concerns your friend, the boy Tanta."
"Tanta?!"
That was a name I wasn't expecting to hear. Ljubo should've had no
connection to him.
"As a Cardinal, I have knowledge and experience with certain
blessings."
"Knowledge and experience?"
"The common belief is that determining a blessing before the person in
question connects with it is impossible."
"Right. I've heard that even the Appraisal skill doesn't work in that
situation."
"Yes, even a skill granted by Demis cannot reveal a blessing before its
time. Thus, people believe it is impossible to know until the connection is
made."
"Are you telling me that's wrong?" I asked.
"It is wrong when it comes to certain powerful Divine Blessings. And
there is a necessity for cardinals of the church to know the signs of those
blessings."
"You don't mean…"
Tanta's blessing was…
"If young Tanta would like to be the sort of great person who can fight
and win amid the chruch's power struggles, then I will take him under my
wing. If not, then Cardinal Marozia would be a good fit. He is relatively
better among cardinals. I am willing to write young Tanta a letter of
introduction."
"Wait a moment, please. Are you saying Tanta's blessing really is…?!"
"Young Tanta has been given the same role as me: Cardinal."
Tanta dreamed of being a carpenter like his uncle—Gonz—and his
father, Mido. But there was no guarantee that one's blessing corresponded
to their dreams.
"And if neither I nor Cardinal Marozia are satisfactory…then guide him
yourself," Ljubo declared.
That went without saying. Tanta was my friend.
I resolved to use all my knowledge and strength to ensure Tanta's
blessing did not warp his future.