We live at the foot of Dragon Peak.
The Hero’s family’s grand occasion.
A crystal-clear blue sky that seemed to stretch endlessly. Not a single cloud in sight, on the most beautiful day of the year.
Neither too hot nor too cold, the sun enveloped the earth in a benevolent glow.
The best part of summer.
The great bell tower of the sub-capital Ambis rang out with a chime.
Chimes echoed from branch temples throughout the sub-capital.
Bells tolled from the royal palace and public facilities.
Good news resounded throughout the sub-capital Ambis.
Birds took flight, and animals stirred.
As people cheered in celebration, a grand ceremony was about to take place in the great shrine of the sub-capital.
The main plaza in front of the great shrine was carpeted with red, yellow, blue, and white flower petals.
People clad in dazzling attire surrounded the plaza, eagerly awaiting the main figures of the ceremony.
As if to receive the colorful cheers of the people gathered from across the country surrounding the shrine, a man and four women descended from a carriage, adorned in red and black, reminiscent of the holy sword.
The carriage that had paraded triumphantly through the main streets of the sub-capital on their way to the great shrine carried them. They were the main stars of today’s event.
They were the symbols of the Armēdo Kingdom, Hero Listea and his brides.
Led by a high-ranking Miko who waited at the entrance of the plaza, Cerise-chan was the first to alight from the carriage. Next, Kiiri and Inea, followed by Naimi, stepping onto the petal-strewn plaza in turn.
All four were dressed in pure white, radiating an innocent beauty.
Princess Cerise and Naimi, a commoner, wore the same attire. While Kiiri and Inea, who held priestly roles, wore sacred vestments, the embellishments were unified regardless of status or position.
The sight of the beautiful brides drew sighs of admiration from the crowd.
And then, the last to descend from the carriage, hand in hand with the four brides in their innocent attire, was Listea, dressed in a stunning flame-red gown.
Cheers erupted from the royalty, nobles, honored guests in the plaza, and those outside who couldn’t enter, exceeding any previous reception.
A mix of delighted screams and deep, congratulatory shouts resounded, like the blessings of the clergy.
The Hero and his brides, now on the plaza, proceeded slowly, led by a high-ranking Miko wielding a staff.
Listea was in the center. On his left were Cerise-chan and Naimi. On his right were Kiiri and Inea.
They walked in a single line, all holding hands, proceeding towards the great shrine.
This arrangement was Listea’s strong desire.
Due to their differing statuses, Princess Cerise would naturally be Listea’s primary wife.
However, status was irrelevant to Listea and his companions. Whether they were princesses, Mikos, or commoners, they were all equals, and Listea wanted to express their close bond.
Naimi was moved to tears by Listea’s thoughtfulness.
She was the only one of ordinary status among the brides.
Though energetic and a lively supporter of the Hero’s party, she secretly felt a disconnect between herself and the other brides.
Of course, Listea and Cerise-chan were aware of Naimi’s concerns, and this was a gesture intended for her as well.
Cerise-chan held Naimi’s hand tightly as they proceeded down the flower-strewn path, Naimi already teary-eyed.
Listea did not wear the holy sword at his waist.
While he refrained from wearing it for the sacred ceremony, everyone in the kingdom knew that the holy sword did not define Listea’s worth.
He had always thought of the country and its people, without seeking personal gain or harboring selfish desires, and had risked his life to protect them.
Furthermore, during the attack by the Demon Race, the worst since the founding of the kingdom, he had taken the lead in battle, earning him the title of hero.
If the king was the symbol of authority, then the hero was the symbol of the people’s hearts.
Listea, who had achieved unprecedented feats, had become a legendary hero at the young age of sixteen.
His heroic tales were recounted in taverns, and court bards sang of his deeds.
Surrounded by the pealing bells and cheers of the entire nation, the Hero and his four brides walked as beloved figures of the realm.
After Listea and his party proceeded, we who had gathered in the plaza also began to move.
First came the families of the main couple, followed by the clergy. Behind them came us, the associates and distinguished guests.
To honor Listea’s achievements, the attendees included members of the Beast race and Dragon race, and even one Demon.
Leaving behind the vast crowds that had gathered from all over the country to catch a glimpse of Listea and his brides in their finest, those invited to the wedding ceremony stepped into the great shrine.
Within the shrine, adorned with beautiful banners and solemn decorations, we moved to our designated seats.
Listea and his party had already arrived at the altar, as if to welcome us.
This, too, was part of Listea’s arrangement.
While the wedding ceremony was undoubtedly for Listea and his brides, Listea remained the Hero of the Armēdo Kingdom. He had not lost sight of his role as a hero for the people.
Therefore, even though it was their own ceremony, instead of simply having family, companions, friends, and associates attend, he wanted to welcome them with the mindset that they had been able to reach this day thanks to everyone’s support, and that they were receiving them.
Once everyone was seated in their designated spots, the ceremony for them finally began.
Yashura, the Head Miko, representing the temple religion of the Armēdo Kingdom, stood at the altar.
The Mikos played their large staves and rang their bells as they recited the blessings.
We, too, recited the newly learned blessings in unison, praising the Goddess and congratulating Listea and his brides.
When the lengthy recitation concluded, Yashura rang the great staff to purify the air and prompted Listea to speak his vows.
Listea pledged his love, his brides pledged their love, and they all promised their enduring bonds.
Then, Listea and his brides exchanged tokens of their love.
These were gifts prepared for each other, with their feelings for one another in mind.
Listea gave his brides matching rings. Cerise-chan received a hand-woven sword belt. Naimi received a handmade bracelet. Kiiri and Inea received a guardian necklace that they had made together.
The bracelet and guardian necklace were imbued with the sentiment of protecting Listea. Cerise-chan’s sword belt was also very much like her.
As royalty, Cerise-chan could easily obtain any jewel if she desired. But that would not be a symbol of love. A sword belt painstakingly hand-woven over a long period, filled with her feelings, held far more value than jewels obtained without effort.
The gemstones set in the rings Listea gave were precious gems acquired during his adventures.
In Listea’s case, because he always acted as part of the Hero’s party with his brides, he couldn’t gather things alone, unlike adventurers such as the Styler Family.
Nevertheless, these were valuable gems that Listea had collected little by little during his many adventures.
They held an immeasurable value.
Ruiseine, the close friend of Kiiri and Inea, served as witness to their vows and gifts.
Her original position was Battle Priestess.
As she was not typically in the public eye for such events, she had worked diligently up until today, memorizing blessings and studying etiquette.
While the sight of Listea and his brides, filled with happiness, was wonderful, my gaze was fixed on Ruiseine, who was trying her best.
And as I watched the wedding ceremony of Listea and his brides unfold in a solemn yet festive atmosphere, I secretly resolved that I, too, must present my gift to everyone.
Slaton and Creacio’s wedding ceremony had been an arduous, all-day affair, but Listea’s concluded in half a day.
No, not quite.
In a way, the ceremony was still ongoing.
After the sacred ritual at the sub-capital’s great shrine, the reception was held at the royal palace.
From this point on, the state took charge of the ceremony.
As the successor to the holy sword passed down from the founding king, and with a princess from the royal family marrying in, the grand reception, a matter of national prestige, was unprecedented in scale, including nobles and influential clans who couldn’t fit into the great shrine, along with wealthy merchants and powerful families, and guests from the Yorttenitos Kingdom.
Furthermore, it was reported that alcohol and food were being distributed freely to the public in the sub-capital and the capital.
“Congratulations on your marriage, Count!”
“Elnea, don’t call me Count.”
“It’s fine. Didn’t Listea become a Count before the wedding?”
“He’s really come up in the world.”
“You’re right, Slaton. You’ve become a Baron, haven’t you? Congratulations.”
After the banquet for nearly a thousand guests, a lively party ensued.
And as Listea came to greet us, Slaton and I, who were chatting, offered our congratulations.
Yes. That’s right!
In recognition of his past achievements, Listea has now been made a Count.
A Count, the same title as Yugra of the legendary Winged Dragon.
Although he has not yet been granted territory, he is a distinguished noble.
However, he is to be provided with a magnificent mansion near the capital upon his ennoblement.
Though it seems the reconstruction has not quite reached that stage yet.
…I shouldn’t think about how my family home is already completed while the Count’s mansion is still in progress.
I shouldn’t imagine that after returning from a long journey, part of the grounds and surrounding area have become a deep forest due to the actions of a certain Spirit, or that it has turned into a迷い森(mayoimori -迷is forest) due to the influence of some magical jewel.
“Elnea, didn’t you also receive an offer for ennoblement?”
“Yeah, but I turned it down. I also refused the title of Dragon Knight in the Yorttenitos Kingdom, so I can’t accept one here.”
“Hmph. The Dragon King has a different spirit.”
Slaton, now a Baron and current Dragon Knight, glared at me enviously.
He still boasts that he will one day become the Dragon King, so perhaps I am a thorn in his side.
“Hahaha. Elnea-kun even refused the position of Demon Lord.”
“Uwah, Ruilala! You shouldn’t say that here!”
Ruilala, the only Demon attending Listea’s wedding ceremony, dropped a bombshell, causing those around us who had been eavesdropping to gasp in astonishment.
“D-Demon Lord…”
“Elnea, what have you been doing lately?”
“Hahaha… Just ensuring my safety.”
“That’s right. You blew up the Demon Capital, which was ruled by the Demon Lord who attacked last year, along with the Demon Lord’s castle. Speaking of which, Elnea-kun may not have become the Demon Lord, but you are still the ruler of the Necropolis, aren’t you?”
“N-Necropolis!?”
“Elnea…?”
“Ah. I’ll invite you there next time. It’s in the borderlands of the Demon Race’s Country, but I think I can take everyone there. Meduria, who is acting as the steward, is a good Demon!”
“No, no, the city of the undead, you say…”
Come to think of it, there are no longer any undead living there, so it’s not right to call it the Necropolis anymore.
Seeing Slaton’s horrified expression and Listea’s worried look, I finally realized that everyone was misunderstanding the Necropolis.
I hurriedly tried to explain, but there was a commotion around us.
“More importantly, why is Ruilala invited here?”
“Elnea-kun, that’s cruel! I’ve been dispatched by His Majesty as a special envoy, a goodwill ambassador.”
“No, no, what kind of goodwill from the Demon Race?”
“I was involved in the reconstruction of the Human Race’s country.”
“That’s right.”
“Elnea, I personally sent him a formal invitation.”
“Listea, be careful. It’s trouble if someone takes an interest in you.”
“I’d like to say the same thing right back to you, Elnea-kun. The journey where I trampled through the Demon Race’s Country at your request was truly arduous.”
“Stop it! Please stop saying things that could be misunderstood!”
It was only later, after the banquet, that Mistral told me about the incident where many people around our lively conversation were trembling.
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