We Are Getting Married (2)
We Are Getting Married (2)
Amidst the cheers of the people, Bina is bouncing up and down on top of the carriage.
"Hey! I worked hard! I did it!"
"Well now, be careful not to jump around so dangerously."
Hart fussing at her, saying it's dangerous to fall off a mere carriage, to the girl who even took down the Demon King.
Bina does look quite young, though.
But she has properly become an adult this year, hasn't she.
"Old man, Bina's not a kid, stop fussing so much."
"Tsk tsk, that's how you spoil someone."
He said he'd take charge of education, and seeing him already practicing like this, I could only let out a laugh.
Even if Bina's jumping looked dangerous, I understood.
Because right now, in my heart, I also wanted to bounce up and down like Bina and boast about my achievements.
But right now, I'm just sitting on the Flower Carriage, holding the Holy Sword and striking a dignified pose.
For no other reason than that I'm the strongest hero, Leon. If a description of the hero bouncing up and down at the end of a fairytale book got included, it'd be a bit... you know.
Feeling like I have the whole world, I looked down.
"Kyaaaaaah! Hero-nim!"
"So cool!"
"Gasp! He looks good!"
"Handsoooooome...!"
"Thank you!"
It was funny that there were more comments about being handsome than thanks.
People not speaking out, but closing their eyes and offering prayers.
A young girl bouncing happily with a bright smile.
Looking at such people, I gave a faint smile and carefully waved my hand.
"Kyaaaaaaaaaah!"
"The hero-nim waved!"
"Hooray! Hooray! Hooray for the hero-nim!"
"Thank you!"
A few people almost fainted, and the screaming sounds of 'Kyaaaah' grew even louder.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, I withdrew my hand.
-Pinch
Someone pinched my arm very lightly.
No pain was felt.
It felt like they were somewhat dissatisfied but didn't want to hurt me.
It was a bit strange, but it was a gentle pinch.
Turning my head at this.
"...You can't, Hero-nim."
Ria had her head bowed deeply, her face flushed, and she was pouting her lips.
Wondering what I couldn't do, I tilted my head.
"Um, yes?"
"Hero-nim belongs to me now... You can't go wagging your tail at other people like that."
"Ah ha......."
So this also counts as wagging my tail.
"I see, sorry Ria. I just wanted the people to be happy."
"Urk... I'm sorry. I must have been greedy."
Ria had a face full of guilt.
She seemed jealous but didn't know how to express it, which was utterly adorable.
With a faint smile, I tucked Ria's hair behind her ear and met her gaze.
"It's okay."
"Ah, yes."
Ria nodded her head vigorously.
On the contrary, if she didn't get jealous, I wouldn't know if she loved me or not.
I want her to be jealous in moderation.
Though I can't say it out loud.
Thinking that, I placed my hand over Ria's.
'Once the ball begins, I should announce our marriage first.'
The ball is this evening.
Since it's still morning, after paying respects to the royal family, there should be a bit of time left.
Ria also said she had things to discuss with the clergy.
'Then I should choose wedding rings or something.'
I thought to myself that I should slip out alone then to look for a proposal ring.
One might say we're getting married without even dating.
But I am 16.
And Ria is 15, and it's already been 10 years since we set off on our adventure together.
Having worked in sync for 10 years and knowing each other well—not that I'm entirely sure, but I can say it—so getting married shouldn't be a problem.
"Ria."
"Yes?"
"...Let's be happy."
"...!!"
"I'll only look at Ria for the rest of my life."
I want Ria to do the same.
Before those words finished.
-Smooch!
"...!!"
A smooching sound came from my lips.
A lip bump... no, a kiss?
My head went blank for a moment simultaneously.
"...Hehe, the people probably didn't see it."
Ria said that and stood up from her seat.
"Kyaaah! It's the Saint-nim!"
"Saint-nim!!!"
"So pretty!!"
"Please, pleaaaaase marry me!!!"
"Hey, are you crazy! The Saint-nim already likes the Hero-nim!"
Someone exposed Ria's secret.
At this, Ria's face turned as red as a tomato.
Letting out a 'Pfft' of laughter, I looked at Ria who was hurriedly looking back at me and asked.
"Are you going to marry that person?"
"Ah, nooo... I belong to Hero-nim..."
Ria is truly a cute creature.
For a moment, I wondered if she wasn't human but an elf.
'But elves have flawed personalities.'
I let out a soft chuckle.
The Flower Carriage circled the capital once and returned to the royal palace, and to the citizens who had waited for us.
"I, the Hero Leon, have cut off the Demon King's head!"
I declared my victory.
The sunlight shining behind me and the crowd looking at it.
The thrilling sensation of boldly declaring victory before them was indescribable.
"I give thanks to the numerous sacrifices and devotion that made it possible to come to this place and declare victory, and once again give thanks to His Majesty the King and the Goddess who heard your wishes. Here, I place a period on the adventure of the Hero Leon."
There were sacrifices, and I haven't forgotten the grace I received either.
I am endlessly grateful to them.
As my speech ended, exclamations of admiration and cries of "Hooray!" erupted from the assembly.
"Hooray!! Hooray!!! Long live His Majesty the King! Long live the Goddess-nim! Long live the Hero Leon!!"
The one who shouted was a scruffy child, shedding tears.
Probably a pitiful child who lost their parents in the war against the Demon Race.
Seeing the child, I smiled faintly and asked for his name.
"What's your name?"
"Gasp...! M-me, I'm called Jack."
"Right, Jack. Thank you. It's the combined strength of people like you who supported me that made such a miracle happen."
Maybe I saw my own reflection in him.
"Someday, you too can become someone's hero."
"Ah......."
Smiling faintly at the tearful Jack, I handed him a dagger.
"It's the dagger I had when I started my adventure."
"...!!"
"...I entrust it to you. Live righteously."
"Yes, yess...!"
I tousled the brightly smiling boy's hair and saw him being hugged by a woman who also looked somewhat like a mother.
Of course, probably not his real mother.
There were many more poor-looking children around her.
Her own clothes were a bit worn too.
'She's probably the orphanage director.'
Living quietly is fine, but.
"Ria."
"Yes, Hero-nim."
"...Shall we support the orphanage?"
"That's good. Helping the unfortunate is our destiny."
Thinking that helping people like them was a better way to live, I gave a faint smile.
The people began shouting hooray.
"Hooray!! Hooray!!! Long live His Majesty the King! Long live the Goddess-nim! Long live the Hero Leon!!"
"Hooray!! Hooray!!! Long live His Majesty the King! Long live the Goddess-nim! Long live the Hero Leon!!"
The "Hooray!" slogan Jack started gradually spread, and people began praising the King, the Goddess, and me.
I wished they would congratulate all our party members, but.
"Th-the main character is Hero-nim!"
"Leon, this is the path you walked. We merely joined you along the way."
"I am one with Hero-nim, after all."
Bina, Hart, and Ria said that and smiled casually.
I felt a bit sorry, but since the parties involved said it was okay, I nodded for now.
Slowly climbing the stairs, the two palace gatekeepers saluted me in respect.
As I bowed my head, the massive and majestic gate opened.
As the gate, like one leading to heaven, opened, I was filled with anticipation.
'It's been a long time.'
My close friend, Crown Prince Luan Harencia.
It had been so long since I saw him, there were so many stories to tell.
It had been 4 years since I left for the final battle.
The last time we met was when we drank together at a tavern during that period.
"Let's go."
Saying that, I moved my steps toward the palace.
Leon's eyes sparkled with anticipation at the thought of meeting his old friend after so long, but.
'...I know the Princess-nim likes Hero-nim quite a bit... Since the Princess-nim is also a wonderful person, she'd surely aim for Hero-nim.'
Ria couldn't take her eyes off my man Leon, who was popular with everyone.
Of course, after 10 years of push and pull, we did promise a future, but.
As they often say, heroes are womanizers, aren't they?
[So, you doubt the hero?]
"...!!"
The voice of the Goddess-nim suddenly reached her ears.
At this, Ria's face turned bright red.
It couldn't be helped.
She had just witnessed with her own eyes how women fainted just from Hero-nim's smile and wave.
'...I won't be... stolen away, will I?'
[My child.......]
With the Goddess's voice, which seemed unfathomable—no, which seemed to look at her with a bit of pity—in the background, Ria looked up at her own Hero-nim.
They were holding hands, but.
'Not enough.'
It wasn't enough.
With a heart feeling severely lacking, she glared at the hero.
"What, what's wrong?"
"...!!"
She met the gaze of the hero who was looking down at her, breaking out in a cold sweat.
"Sorry, I'm sorry."
"......."
As she avoided his gaze, this time the hero stared intently at her.
'Urk, if you stare like that.'
Ria's little heart began thumping as if it would burst.
Suddenly, whether it was the princess or anything else, it all became unimportant to Ria.
'I should believe Hero-nim...! Since he said so himself! That he'd only look at me!'
Gathering her courage to attempt intertwining their fingers, she fidgeted her hands.
"Ah... you wanted to do this?"
"...Hic!"
Leon smiled nonchalantly and clasped their fingers together.