**Side: Meena**
When I woke up in the morning, Yamato and Prim were nowhere to be seen. That was only natural, as they were already awake and sitting together on the sofa, cuddled up intimately. It was unusual for the morning-weak Prim to be up so early, but judging by their posture, they hadn’t just woken up. Prim had a worried look on her face yesterday, so something must have happened, but what could it have been?
“That’s suspicious.”
“It’s too suspicious.”
Lydia and Flam also noticed the two of them, and indeed, it was suspicious. We had to hear what happened last night.
“Oh, you’re up? Good morning.”
“G-good morning…”
When Yamato noticed us staring intently, he greeted us. Prim also shyly returned the greeting. It made them even more suspicious.
“You two seemed to be flirting this morning, what exactly were you doing?”
Lydia asked the question with an unusually bright tone, yet with an unshakeable voice.
“Ah, about that…”
“Wait, Yamato. I’ll explain. It was something that could have caused trouble for everyone.”
“Is that alright?”
“It’s about taking responsibility. But Rika and Ludia are still asleep, and Mana and Yuri are in their rooms. Can we wait until everyone is gathered?”
Given that, I had a pretty good idea. Prim must have intended to go to Valentia, and Yamato stopped her. Yamato hasn’t become an O-Rank Order yet, and their marriage hasn’t been publicly announced. If Prim had gone to Valentia alone, it could have led to an irreversible situation.
Thinking about it that way, it might have been unavoidable. Still, looking at the two of them made me envious.
“That’s fine, but I think Mana and Yuri will be angry too?”
“Indeed. And we’re angry too. We may not be of much help, but we still wanted you to consult with us, rather than bearing it all alone.”
Flam and Lydia had also noticed. Well, it would be stranger if they hadn’t, so it was only natural. I decided to add to the pressure.
“That’s right. Besides, if Prim were to disappear, we wouldn’t be able to get married either. Thank you, Yamato.”
“I didn’t want you to say that, but I can’t help it. I’m sorry.”
Prim apologized with a wry smile, but her face was free of the harshness it had yesterday. She truly seemed to have moved past it. She would likely receive scoldings from Mana, Yuri, Rika, and Ludia later, but she would have to accept them.
**Side: Manalease**
After breakfast, Prim made a shocking confession. I never thought it would come to this, but she was actually planning to go to Valentia alone… And Yamato stopped her, meaning he knew about it?
“Well, that’s…”
Is he blushing at a time like this? And even if she’s his first wife, this isn’t the time to be bragging.
“Honestly, if you had gone to Valentia alone, it would have been a disaster! In the worst-case scenario, you would have had to fight me.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t think about that at all…”
I knew it. But Mana and I were part of the reason Prim was so distraught, so despite the shock, I couldn’t say anything too harsh. Besides, the words Yamato spoke seemed to have affected Prim far more.
Yamato, embarrassed, had already left the dining hall, so we could ask him what happened without reservation.
“Before that, I think it would be best to have Ed and Raus leave.”
“I agree.”
“Why?”
“That’s right. It’s a perfect chance to get leverage on Yamato.”
Raus seemed genuinely confused, but Ed was another matter. I didn’t think he meant it, but if he did, Prim would tear him to shreds.
“Raus, let’s ask His Majesty about the progress of Mana’s sword!”
“Let’s do that!”
After a light threat, they both left the dining hall. I felt bad for Raus, though. And why would we go to my father’s place? Well, Father is currently forging my sword based on the design Marina made with minor changes to the sword from Yamato’s world. So, it’s understandable that Ed, who provided the Lapis Lazuli, would want to see it.
Still, that’s fine. I’m also looking forward to the Lapis Lazuli sword, and Ed knows more about Lapis Lazuli than I do, so he’ll be useful to Father.
What matters now is Prim.
“P-please, spare me…”
After we relentlessly questioned her, we were very satisfied. Prim is exhausted, but she has to accept this much, right?
**Side: Yamato**
It was good that I managed to persuade Prim to stop last night, but when everyone started questioning me about it, I didn’t know what to do. Prim said she would explain herself, and since I was embarrassed too, I left it all to her and fled to the garden. I thought about how embarrassing it was, but it was the only way I could think of to stop Prim.
The magic stone for the Fly Wind I gave Prim uses a Wind Wolf’s magic stone. Since I gave it to her before coming to the Royal Capital, it’s impossible for her to run out of magic power. Even so, it’s an engraving magic I applied, and it’s an interference-type spell, so I can nullify it by deploying Venus. If she had summoned Fluorite, it would have been dangerous, but in that case, Jade would have come to me, and I didn’t think Prim, who dotes on Fluorite, would involve it. So, I predicted she would use the Fly Wind’s magic stone with high probability, and I was right. Of course, it was also unexpected that Prim reached the gate without encountering anyone.
“Good morning, Yamato.”
“Hm? Ah, good morning, H.R.H. Reinhard, H.R.H. Elis.”
As I was pondering alone in the garden, Prince Reinhard and Elis approached. Wait, Elis is holding a child?
“I haven’t introduced him yet. This is our son, Lessheit.”
“Ah, so this is Prince Lessheit.”
The boy in Elis’s arms looked at me with a blank stare. I heard he’s two years old, but he seems like a bright child.
“He’s not very shy.”
“He’s too curious, it’s a problem.”
Even so, he’s staring intently at me.
“Hmm, what is it, Rest?”
“Huh?”
Huh? I know it’s not good to say this about a child, but “huh?” to someone you’re meeting for the first time?
“I’m sorry. I was going to say, ‘Who are you?'”
“Ah, is that so?”
So that’s what it is. It’s confusing, but I can’t get angry at a child like this, and he didn’t mean any harm, so it’s fine.
“Oh? Speaking of which, what happened to H.R.H. Maruca?”
“Maruca is in her room cleaning her weapon.”
Cleaning a weapon first thing in the morning is also kind of scary, though.
“Tomorrow, we’re going hunting with the Trial Hearts for the first time in a while. Maruca is a member of the Trial Hearts, so she’s really looking forward to it.”
“We haven’t been able to leave the castle recently.”
Ah, I see. Even as Crown Princess, she’s an active Hunter, so of course she’d go hunting. Wait, could Prince Reinhard and Elis be going too?
“Ah, we are.”
“At today’s ceremony, it will be announced that His Majesty will abdicate in the spring and Reinhard will ascend the throne. Once Reinhard becomes king, it will be difficult to go hunting.”
Of course, a king can’t go hunting.
“It’s not that I can’t go at all. Even if I can’t go once a week, I could go a few times a month if I try. You can see from my father, but just because you become king doesn’t mean you can’t do Guild work.”
Well, looking at His Majesty, he seems to be enjoying his Crafter life, but Crafter and Hunter are completely different things, aren’t they? I mean, relaxation is important, and if he can go, I hope he doesn’t overdo it. Oh, but if it’s tomorrow, won’t Elis and Maruca’s weapons be ready in time?
“They won’t be ready, but neither Maruca nor I are High Class, so we won’t be lacking with our current equipment.”
“Maruca’s seems like it might evolve soon, though.”
Elis is level 32, and Maruca is level 43. Elis still has a way to go, but Maruca could evolve the moment her level increases. Speaking of which, Maruca is at a higher level than Mana.
“Until Holy Grave was introduced, Mana also acted with the Trial Hearts. So, Maruca taught Mana about being a Hunter.”
So, she’s Mana’s Master. She also helped with Elis’s marriage, so she’s quite the big sister type.
“So, why are you here alone? Do you have something on your mind?”
“Well, sort of.”
Mana is engaged to me, and Prim will be my co-wife, so I couldn’t stay silent, but I can’t tell Prince Reinhard about this.
“No, I’m sorry. Somehow, I have an idea of what’s bothering you.”
“Yes?”
“It’s about Prim, isn’t it?”
He saw right through me, and I stammered in confusion.
“Eh, w-well, that…”
“It’s fine. It was our and Mana’s fault for saying unnecessary things. The guards at the gate also reported that you and Prim were embracing.”
“Gah…”
Right. Even if she didn’t meet anyone on the way, there were bound to be guards at the gate! Why didn’t I realize that!
“They didn’t hear the content of your conversation, so you can rest assured about that.”
“No, just being seen embracing is embarrassing enough…”
If there was a hole, I’d want to crawl into it. This is exactly what they mean, isn’t it?
“I won’t ask for details, but thank you for stopping Prim.”
“N-no, Prim is my wife…”
“That’s true. But if we had left Prim as she was, the worst-case scenario could have happened. It’s one thing to meet the Beast King, but if Leona had found out, it would have been over. Of course, even if you get engaged, Prim is married to you, so Leona couldn’t marry her, and Prim wouldn’t have given herself to him. But just the fact that it happened would make Amister unable to fully trust her.”
“If that happened, you would surely crush the Anti-Beast King Organization, but that alone wouldn’t be enough, and you might even take His Majesty the Beast King’s life. If that happened, you would be seen as dangerous by other countries, and a subjugation force might be formed. Of course, Leona would be the cause, but Reinhard and Mana’s names would inevitably be mentioned as indirect causes, putting Amister in a crisis of survival.”
Whoa, that’s heavy stuff. If that happened, I wouldn’t forgive Leona, and I would probably crush the Anti-Beast King Organization, but I hadn’t even thought about dealing with the Beast King. And a subjugation force against me? I’d lose my Helios Orb instantly. This is just hypothetical, but it feels like I’ve become a Demon King.
“Demon King. That’s not too far off.”
“That’s true. But that’s if it happened, and Yamato, you would be the one to defeat the king, not be a Demon King, so it would be rude to call you that.”
I’d rather not be a Demon King, but there are no heroes or Demon Kings in the Helios Orb, so that doesn’t really matter.
“However, it’s hard to have a hero who saved Amister from crisis have no epithet. Prim, too, you might want to think about something.”
“Yes.”
Wait, what is this epithet thing?
“Hm? You don’t know? High-ranking Hunters usually have epithets. Even Faris of Holy Grave is called the Purple Lightning Windmill.”
Is that so? I’ve met her at Feel, but this is the first I’m hearing of it.
“Faris, I don’t like that epithet.”
“Ah, you’re right. If you know it, it would be Mana.”
Mana… Ah, the Huntress Princess. I thought it was a nickname, but was that an epithet too?
“Well, since you’re becoming an O-Rank Order, ‘Knight of Lapis Lazuli’ is a bit too obvious.”
“Too obvious. Since you can fly, ‘Winged’ is probably out of the question, right?”
“You’re a Human, Yamato, not a Winged Tribe like Prim.”
Winged, huh? Ah, right, I haven’t done it yet this morning. It’s a daily routine from the Alliance, so I want to get a feel for it. I wonder if I can try it with permission. I couldn’t do it in the Royal Castle, so I refrained yesterday.
“H.R.H. Reinhard, may I try using Manaring at full power for a bit?”
“That’s fine, but… why all of a sudden?”
“Well, I forgot my recent daily routine.”
“Daily routine? And why Manaring?”
I see your point. Well, you can just watch. With permission granted, I decided to use Manaring. I didn’t forget to imagine wings on my back.
“Huh?”
“Th-that’s an incredible amount of magic power… Why?”
“If we’re talking about efficiency, I still feel like I can do something about it.”
I can’t feel the wings unless I’m conscious of them, but it still felt successful. However, constantly being in full magic enhancement mode is more than just inconvenient, so I wonder if I can do something about it.
“Sorry to keep you waiting… What is this magic!?”
Ah, I startled Maruca. I didn’t intend to, so I’m sorry.
“Good morning, H.R.H. Maruca. I apologize, I had permission to do my daily routine.”
“Y-Yamato, you? Wait, aren’t you an Ancient Human, but biologically a Human?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Th-then why… are wings growing?”
Oh, perhaps she can see them clearly?
“Can you see them clearly?”
“I mean, I can see fine, but you have magnificent white wings on your back, just like Prim’s…”
Oh, it’s finally done. The image of Prim’s wings was the easiest to use, but until recently, it hadn’t worked well, so it just looked like magic was leaking. Prim and the others said it was taking shape day by day. Alright, let’s try to reduce the magic a bit.
“Ah, they disappeared?”
“They disappeared…”
“Right. And… what was that just now?”
Ah, it didn’t work. But the fact that the wings are clearly visible is progress. Prim should be happy about this.
“Y-Yamato, what was that just now…?”
“Ah, I’m sorry. At the recent Alliance, I used Manaring at full power for the first time, and I was told that my magic was leaking from my back. People who participated said it looked like wings.”
“No, that didn’t look like leaking or anything.”
“I would have believed you if you said you were a Winged Tribe.”
This is the first time it’s worked so well today. When I explained this, along with what happened after the Alliance, to the Crown Prince and Princess, the three of them made complex expressions.
“So, you’re saying that only when Yamato uses Manaring at full power, the excess magic becomes wings, allowing for further enhancement?”
“In short.”
“An Ancient Human, who is already strong, becoming even stronger… aren’t you a little strange?”
“Maruca, even if it’s true, that’s rude… Ah, I’m sorry.”
Elis tried to cover for Maruca’s statement, but it failed completely. It’s really rude, but I can’t say that out loud.
“Well, as it is, it only happens at full power, so the magic efficiency is poor.”
“That’s true, but… ah, so you’re doing this every morning to try and suppress the magic a little?”
“That’s part of it, but getting used to it is also important, so that’s the bigger factor.”
I haven’t felt any strain on my body, but in manga and novels, sudden power-ups like this usually come with a backlash. I know it’s not the same as fiction, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
“Speaking of which, the report from yesterday said you could fly, didn’t it?”
“Yes. So, would it be good to call you Heavenly Wing Knight?”
“Sky Knight is a title for the Order’s Guild, and since you’re becoming an O-Rank Order, it’s not unrelated.”
That might be true, but is it okay to use that for a Hunter’s title?
“What? Yamato’s epithet?”
“Yes. He’s an Ancient Human, and considering his achievements, it’s strange not to have an epithet.”
“Indeed. I didn’t expect you to be able to sprout wings, so maybe that’s fine.”
“Right. I’ll suggest it to Father later.”
Wait, that’s a bit…
However, the conversation moved forward so quickly, and my epithet was officially decided as Heavenly Wing Knight. I thought it was strange to include ‘Wing’ in the title when I’m not a Winged Tribe, but with the Crown Prince and Princess’s exclamations of “We’ve never heard of anyone sprouting wings,” I was left speechless and could only accept it. Well, it’s much better than a less cool or awkward epithet.
