Chapter 101
Chapter 101
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: Chapter 32 - Grand Banquet #3
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The festival had begun.
It was a festival held after the sudden disaster that struck the royal palace, and the preparation period had been a mere five days or so, but it turned out far more grand than expected, and the reactions from the capital's citizens were exceedingly positive.
[It's because the damage was mostly concentrated in the royal palace, and more importantly, the justification is solid.]
The recovery of Malkuth's King Adon ha Arets.
The news that King Adon, who hadn't appeared before the public for over six years due to his long illness, had overcome his ailment and returned filled not just the capital but the entire Malkuth Kingdom with uncontainable joy among the people.
As such, the festival's first event naturally began with King Adon's parade.
"Long live His Majesty the King!"
"Long live the Malkuth Kingdom!"
The sight of King Adon standing tall atop the massive parade dragon carriage was truly majestic, to the point where no one could believe he had suffered from illness for so long.
[He was already a giant at two meters tall to begin with... but the herb's power must have been incredible.]
[It didn't just cure the illness; it restored his body in one go.]
Thanks to the high priest's healing magic, he had managed to maintain his condition somewhat, but King Adon’s body had deteriorated greatly over those six-plus years of illness.
Without the herb's power, he probably couldn't have endured even a brief appearance before the people, let alone a parade like this.
[Urgh, it's such a shame there was only one root.]
[It would have been great if we'd saved one root as a staple medicine for our Master.]
Amid Integra's admirable inner grumblings, the main festival kicked off with King Adon's declaration after he safely completed the parade.
"Luther, there'll be fireworks at night too. Doesn't that sound fun?"
Aru, who had appeared at his side before he knew it, clung to Luther's arm as usual and tried to drag him out of the palace, but it was not to be.
Yoru and Sandalphon, who knew exactly how Aru would act, caught her and dragged her back into the palace.
"I'll look forward to the grand banquet tonight."
Yoru whispered elegantly into Luther's ear, then turned away with her cheeks slightly flushed.
Both Yoru and Aru were beauties, but Yoru resembled Queen Reina more.
[Neither of them is Queen Reina's child, though?]
"Anyway, whatever."
Brushing it off vaguely, Luther headed to his detached palace to make final preparations before attending the grand banquet in the royal palace.
And two hours later.
As the sun set and night fell, the grand banquet celebrating the king's return began in the royal palace.
And as was only natural, there were two protagonists at this grand banquet.
One was King Adon, who had returned to the palace after leaving the Sea Temple for the first time in six years.
The other was Luther, the "miraculous healer" who had freed King Adon from his long torment of illness.
'Looks like not many people actually saw it properly after all.'
The sight of Luther slicing the Sky Island with his Star-Cleaving Sword had unfolded in the night sky visible to all, but it had also happened several kilometers in the air.
In other words, most people couldn't properly recognize what Luther had done because he looked too small.
Using this to their advantage, Queen Reina had spread rumors framing Luther's destruction of the Sky Island as a one-time miracle achieved using the kingdom's secret treasure.
[It's like covering the eyes and crying wolf, but... it seems effective enough.]
It was a measure to protect Luther as much as possible from the eyes of the Hecatoncheires.
In any case, thanks to this, Luther didn't earn the title of "the one who slashed the Sky Island to protect the capital," but he more than qualified for protagonist treatment at the banquet anyway, so there was no issue.
"Ooooh, savior of the bald!"
"Kuhuk... I truly longed to meet you."
As Luther entered the banquet hall, countless people swarmed him, but some particularly shone in his eyes.
[Master, you know it's a no-go today, right?]
'Yeah.'
Seeing their eyes filled with desperate longing made Luther want to start healing them right away, but doing so would ruin the banquet's atmosphere entirely.
So Luther politely pushed away the shining ones and moved toward the royals.
"Ahh, Sir Luther. You granted me new life."
One of Yoru's guard knights approached Luther and bowed deeply with a face full of emotion.
His hair was extremely short, but Luther recognized him immediately.
He was the first bald one Luther had treated.
"Your hairstyle has changed."
"Hehe, thanks to you."
In truth, calling it a hairstyle was generous—it was just short hair reminiscent of a lawn—but neither Luther nor the guard knight cared about that.
The fact that he could now refer to it as a "hairstyle" was what mattered.
'Healing is truly wonderful.'
It could bring smiles to those who had been downcast.
And then another figure caught Luther's eye.
[It's Grand General's daughter Amina.]
[It's her first time in such a crowded place, so she seems nervous.]
As Integra said, Amina was gripping the Grand General's hand tightly with a tense face, but joy filled her expression.
Afraid and scared of the unfamiliar environment, yet at the same time thrilled and heart-fluttering—something like that?
She looked around curiously, then spotted Luther and bowed her head politely. The Grand General also quietly returned the gesture with a nod.
[Lionel Count's daughter is here too.]
Seeing Count Lionel's daughter, who had been so afflicted with lung disease that she couldn't even leave her room, now standing and chatting with other noble ladies, filled Luther's chest with emotion.
'Integra.'
[Yes, Master.]
'Later, after we defeat the Hecatoncheires and prevent the apocalypse... if I have to stay here then... maybe I should become a doctor?'
[And I'll be the famous nationwide beauty nurse?]
At Integra's words, Luther briefly pictured her in a pink nurse outfit and let out a small sigh of admiration, but then shook his head.
'No, you'd be the practical doctor, Integra?'
[Well... something to think about. I like seeing you happy, Master.]
Integra chuckled and dropped the topic there.
Because Yoru and Aru were approaching Luther.
"Sir Luther."
"Luther."
Both princesses were stunning.
Yoru wore a white empire dress laced with golden threads, exuding elegant grace, while Aru paired her sky-blue hair with a striking red mermaid dress that plunged deeply at the chest and back, giving off a provocative vibe.
"Luther, aren't you looking way too handsome today?"
"I was truly impressed."
At the two princesses' praise, Integra in her maid outfit shrugged happily.
[As expected of royals—they have good taste. Right?]
She had pulled an all-nighter tailoring Luther's tuxedo, after all.
Luther felt even better knowing Integra was being praised.
"Thank you. You princesses look truly beautiful as well."
It was a clichéd, even crude compliment, but Yoru and Aru both blushed at once.
Because it came from Luther, of all people.
And so a few minutes passed.
As Queen Reina watched Luther chatting with the princesses and gave a signal with her eyes, the musicians changed tunes, and soon the banquet hall filled with an atmosphere suited for dancing.
"May I have the first dance?"
Yoru proposed first—apparently some prior agreement between them—and though Aru shot her a glare, she didn't interfere.
Luther held Yoru's hand, trying not to laugh at the two.
Their dance followed.
Yoru was elegant as always, while Aru was provocative yet lively.
Moreover, both were exceptionally beautiful with superb dance skills, drawing the eyes of everyone in the banquet hall to Luther and the princesses before long.
And when the dance with Aru ended, someone who had been unusually silent spoke up.
[You know it's my turn next, right?]
Integra.
She had only watched from the sidelines at the western festival, but she had no intention of doing so this time.
Before Luther could respond, a hologram projected from the hovering drone, revealing Integra in a steel-blue dress.
[I've modified it, so it's fine, right?]
The chest area, previously wide open, now had semi-transparent dark tulle added. Integra winked playfully, and Luther cleared his throat awkwardly.
The deeply plunging back bothered him too, but he couldn't say that in front of everyone.
"Sp... spirit?"
Then, Aru, standing beside Luther, widened her eyes in surprise and spoke.
The Integra she knew was a fairy the size of a hand, not human-sized like this.
Integra ignored Aru and extended her hand to Luther instead. Luther gave a wry smile and pretended to take her hand.
[May I have this dance?]
"The pleasure's mine."
Everyone in the grand banquet hall was stunned by Integra's sudden appearance and beauty, but professionals were professionals.
The court musicians recovered first and began playing, and though hesitant at first, the atmosphere soon returned to dancing.
Of course, no one could dance properly while staring at Luther and Integra.
And after another three minutes or so.
Finishing their dance under everyone's gaze, Luther and Integra looked at each other. Integra smiled brightly, then vanished in a burst of light as if emphasizing her status as a spirit.
Naturally, the banquet hall fell into quiet chaos.
Exactly as Integra intended.
[Hehehe.]
[Hehehehe.]
[Did you see how shocked everyone was?]
[I love it.]
One of the terraces attached to the banquet hall.
Hidden from view using stealth mode, Integra appeared next to Luther via augmented reality, humming happily.
[Aru and Princess Yoru's reactions were especially great.]
Even Aru, who already knew about Integra, and Yoru, who had only heard stories, had both widened their eyes in shock.
As Integra giggled happily again, Luther ended up smiling too.
He had initially planned to scold her a bit for not holding back, but seeing how delighted she was, that urge vanished.
"Anyway... glad you're satisfied."
Leaning back against the terrace railing, Luther spoke, and Integra chuckled again before leaning against the railing beside him the same way.
"Come to think of it... this feels just like the western festival."
There had been a festival after defeating the beast lord then too.
And he'd danced with Integra.
Luther closed his eyes briefly, reminiscing about the west.
It had been just over a month ago, yet it felt nostalgically distant somehow.
But right then.
[No, it's quite different from then.]
"Huh?"
At Luther's question, Integra looked up at him, tilted her head slightly, and continued.
[You forgot? There's one thing that's completely changed.]
"What?"
Was she referring to how much stronger Luther had become?
Luther tilted his head in confusion, and Integra chuckled, beckoning him closer.
As Luther leaned down, Integra stood on tiptoes and pressed her lips to his cheek.
Soft, soft, soft.
No, honestly, it was so brief it was hard to describe the sensation, but that didn't matter.
Integra's lips had touched him.
At that fact, Luther blanked out for a moment, blinking, then flushed bright red upon realizing.
Integra's face was flushed red too.
Luther blinking, and Integra standing before him, shyly biting her lower lip.
It wasn't a big deal, really.
Just a cheek kiss.
So Luther should just return it—on the cheek or forehead, say.
Integra seemed to expect it too.
But alas, time passed.
By the time Luther swallowed dryly and moved to act after fumbling, not even a second remained.
"Uh, um, er."
Should he wait fifteen minutes and continue, or just let it pass?
Luther hesitated briefly, but it was a conflict that couldn't last long anyway.
"Um... are you here alone right now?"
A voice from beyond the terrace.
Before the startled Luther could turn, the owner of the voice blinked into the terrace.
It was clearly the short-range spatial jump magic, Blink.
A strikingly handsome blond young man with narrow eyes that somehow didn't inspire trust.
[Master, he's a master of highly trained martial arts.]
At Integra's wary tone, Luther nodded.
He already knew who the young man was.
"I came at Ash's introduction. Miracle healer—no, Archangel of Chess."
The young man greeted with a smile.
Ninth among the fourteen executors who enforced the Holy Knights' might.
It was undoubtedly Noel, the Knight of the Sky.