Future Plans (2)
Future Plans (2)
"I'll build a small hut...and make a vegetable garden right next to it."
"Ahaha...That sounds lovely......."
"Right?"
"Yess."
Gradually, Ria's answers were slowing down.
But Leon, unable to notice such things, was telling Ria about the things he had been thinking.
Making a small vegetable garden.
And saying it wouldn't be bad to live self-sufficiently while tending to it.
Having one daughter and one son as Ria suggested, and living a peaceful, leisurely life.
To this, Ria's answer was.
"Ehehehe, that's good."
"...Just unilaterally good?"
"Yess."
With a sleepy face, she only smiled and said it was good.
Wondering if he was being too self-centered, Leon asked a question.
"...Ria, is there nothing you want to do?"
"I......."
At Leon's question, Ria, who seemed to think for a moment, slowly smiled and nodded her head.
Thinking she had decided something, Leon made a slightly expectant expression at that moment.
"I just want...to cling tightly to Hero-nim like this."
"...!"
Ria entered Leon's embrace.
As if already fully prepared, her eyes were completely closed.
Flustered, Leon momentarily opened his eyes wide.
But soon, he chuckled and slowly stroked Ria's head.
"Is that so...?"
"Yess......."
Yawning, Ria slowly continued.
"...I want to live a normal life, forming a marital bond, sharing trivial jokes, and living boringly."
"......."
"Boring...? Umm, rather than boring, should I say...a stable life?"
A stable life.
Not bad.
"But if it's too quiet, won't it be uninteresting?"
"...If we have and raise children, I don't think it'll be too lonely...hehe."
"Is that so."
"Yess......."
Since countless things would happen while having and raising children.
Nodding, he talked about how they should raise the children.
It would be good to let them run around freely and play.
He was worried about how to handle school when that time came.
The sound of light snoring coming from somewhere.
Looking at his embrace at this.
"...Zzz."
"You...?"
Ria, drooling while burrowing into his embrace and going zzz, came into view.
"......."
Well, is a plan really that important.
As long as there's a general framework, we can live happily from now on.
Money and fame are also unnecessary.
If I can just live normally with Ria, that's enough.
Brushing back the hair of the softly snoring Ria behind her ear, I also smiled brightly.
How fun will our lives be from now on.
'Tomorrow, we'll officially have the retirement ceremony, right?'
I've lived nearly half my life as a Hero.
Ria has lived most of her life as a saintess.
I've thought before about what would remain if we took away 'Hero' and 'saintess' from us.
Then I wondered if nothing would remain at that moment.
One thing Ria said came to mind.
"...Then, Ria, you said we just have to fill each other's empty parts."
We fill each other's lacking parts.
Those words resonated so deeply with me.
For a long time, I blankly stared at Ria.
I still can't believe Ria is lying here next to me with a comfortable expression.
The cute saintess who clings on if I slightly pull my body back.
Letting out a chuckle, I went to sleep while tightly hugging Ria.
"Due to your efforts, humanity has been able to survive. I, along with all of humanity, will never forget this."
The King, smiling brightly, was praising my efforts.
Standing before such a King with a sublime heart and closed eyes, the King continued his speech.
"All the tributes being sent today by all humanity, regardless of status or origin, belong to you, the Hero. Live the rest of your life with pride. Eternal gratitude to you."
After saying that, the King directly grabbed my shoulder and raised me up.
Soon, our party also rose from our seats and looked straight at the King, Crown Prince, and Princess.
Then, the one who bowed their head was not us.
"Thank you."
Your Majesty, the King.
The King, holding my hand and bowing his head.
The King, who even at the Hero's appointment ceremony looked down upon the Hero candidate from a higher place, had stepped down from his seat.
Rather, I was on a slightly higher podium.
This was also a symbol that even the royal family could not equal the hero who saved humanity.
And a sign of the royal family's respect for the Hero Party.
From my perspective, I wanted to say that the royal family, who had supported me the most until now, were also equal heroes.
"...Leon, just accept it."
My friend grinned and whispered that, so I decided to just accept it.
'Even in an official setting, his speech has become rigid again.'
Grinning, I also bowed my head slightly.
Thus, I cast off the responsibilities of a Hero and became an ordinary civilian.
Of course, as the greatest Hero who saved humanity, I would receive various honors from now on.
'But I'll be living just with Ria.'
Since Ria and I don't want to get involved in big matters, perhaps such honors are unnecessary.
After receiving thanks from the royal family.
We exited while stepping on the red carpet laid on the floor and receiving cheers from the crowd.
"Hero-niiiiim...!!"
"Thank you!"
"Um, umm congratulations on your marriage!"
"Saintess-nim is so pretttyyyy!!!"
"Kyaaaaaah."
"Ugh...don't go."
"Bina is so cuuuute!!!!"
"Uncle Hart! You're so cool! Marry me!"
The cheers were slightly burdensome, but.
"Uwahahaha! Hero! Incredible!"
"Huh...! Hello!"
Bina and Hart seemed to simply be enjoying it.
They seemed to be enjoying becoming heroes.
I didn't particularly object.
Because the two of them deserved to be like that.
Ria was also smiling softly and waving to the people.
'Feels like we became actors in some great drama troupe.'
Feeling embarrassed, I also raised my hand and greeted the citizens.
After the retirement ceremony ended.
A funeral ceremony was immediately held afterwards.
A funeral to console the heroes who fought against the Demon King's army with us until now and all combatants who fell namelessly.
In front of the giant ancient tree, blessed by the Goddess and located in the center of the kingdom, countless graves were placed.
Looking at them, I made a slightly blank expression.
'Those taken by the Demon King.'
They were the ones we must absolutely remember.
Thinking so, I consoled the fallen warriors.
And Ria recited a text paying respects to the martyrs.
"For Hero Leon to have reached this point, there were numerous sacrifices. To not forget those who gave their lives for humanity, I stand here today."
It was a day to celebrate and simultaneously a day to mourn.
There are words saying not to grieve for those who have left.
But that is ultimately just words to console those who are grieving.
The emotion itself cannot be ignored.
And since mourning the death of those who died protecting themselves, or those who saved many by sacrificing themselves, is a natural instinct.
I decided to show tears to my comrades just for today.
The heavy duty that had been pressing on my shoulders until now prevented me from shedding tears recklessly, so I shed them in an official setting.
By this point, I've endured well.
Behind us, some of the citizens were wailing.
Because the war had lasted so long, there were too many casualties.
Everyone present understood that these were likely the tears of their family members.
As the church's consoling song for the deceased resonated, Ria, who tightly grabbed my hand, began offering consolation for the martyrs.
"...As a saintess, I have seen truly many people until now. Among them, without a doubt, all those sleeping here today were the bravest. Their sublime spirit and sacrifice surely reached the Goddess-nim."
Saying that, Ria shed a single line of tears.
"Although...they could not remain by our side to see the peaceful world with us. Nevertheless, since they have found eternal rest, with this single line of tears as the last, I intend to shed no more tears."
Paying respects to all heroes.
The kingdom's knight order and the Holy Kingdom's paladin order behind us saluted.
"Ugh...Daddyyy......."
"Honey."
"Oppa......."
"Hyung...!!!"
"Unni...I miss you."
From behind, voices calling their family members could be heard.
They must all be those who made sublime sacrifices.
Before being a single soldier or believer, they were someone's hyung, nuna, unni, oppa, younger sibling, father, mother.
Everyone mourned them and had a moment of silent tribute.
'...Please, may all these souls be watching over us from a place without pain anymore.'
Thinking so, when I raised my head, the first inscription that entered my sight was.
[The greatest archmage Smia, here lies in this place.]
[Paying respects to her, may she find rest.]
"......."
It was the writing inscribed on the tombstone of my comrade, the archmage.
"...Please, find rest."
"She surely will."
Ria, clinging to me, said that.
To which I could only slowly stroke her head.
"She must."
I earnestly wished that everyone in this world would become as happy as possible from now on.
And that only hardships and adversities that can be overcome would come.