Chapter 338
(Kyle Calendar Year 515: Age 22)
The Banquet and the Brides
Translator : PolterGlast
At the beginning of the Kyle Year 515, the New Year's
banquet held was grander than ever before. And rightfully so, because this
banquet not only expressed gratitude for the contributions of the past year and
celebrated the new year, but also incorporated another celebratory matter.
The beginning started with Takuhir's greeting as
usual, and the usual free-and-easy banquet commenced, but after a while, some
participants were quick to notice that things were different than usual.
「Hey Alan, what happened to
the Boss? Normally he'd be taking the lead in enjoying himself at an informal
party like this... but he disappeared right after the opening ceremony.」
「More importantly, Geese, the
goddesses have also vanished! I participate in this banquet only looking
forward to greeting the goddesses...」
「Indeed... Now that you mention it,
somehow it feels like there are also some envoys from the Kingdom's side
who haven't shown themselves, and Lady Aura too... It's strange! Before
I knew it, Glen is gone too.」
「Yeah... What on earth is going on
with this banquet?」
While such topics were being exchanged, grand music suddenly
flowed, and the atmosphere of the venue completely changed in an instant. And Shannon,
from behind Takuhir so as not to stand out, began to amplify her voice
to an appropriate volume.
The real performance of the New Year's banquet started from
here.
※
「Everyone, I'm sorry to interrupt
while you're enjoying yourselves. I would like to take a moment here to report
an auspicious event for the Westlights Demon Territory Dukedom.」
Saying so, I invited Anne and Claire onto the
dais and took both of their hands.
「This year, we will be having a new
family member. I interrupted the banquet for just a moment because I wanted to
report that.」
「「「「Ooooh!」」」」
「Congratulations!」
「Long live His Majesty the Archduke!」
「Long live Her Highness the Archduchess!」
「Long live the Westlights Demon
Territory Dukedom!」
The venue was enveloped in loud cheers, and celebratory cups
were raised everywhere.
「And I want everyone to share in
another celebratory matter on this auspicious day.」
When I said that, the commander class of the Demon
Territory Dukedom's military, starting with the Demon Territory Knights,
stepped forward all at once, lined up facing the center from the stage left
entrance, drew their swords, and created a sword arch.
「I want to introduce to everyone
anew. The ones who will newly become husband and wife here! Supreme Commander
of the Demon Territory Knights, Viscount Weiss von Schwarzfalke,
and his wife, Baronet Soldia von Lilia!」
「「「「Ooooh!」」」」
Enveloped in cheers, the Commander appeared from stage right
with a smile, passing through the sword arch, and from stage left, Lilia,
clad in a pure white dress and smiling very happily, appeared led by the hand
of Gord, who was acting as her father substitute.
「Commander, congratulations!」
「Supreme Commander, congratulations!」
「Lilia! Be happy!」
Actually, according to what I heard from Anne, it was
Lilia who proposed. Pushed forward
by Anne's words and kicked in the rear by her best friend Claire,
she proposed with a hit-or-miss attitude and apparently splendidly shot down
the Commander. Shot down, an expression perfectly suited for Lilia...
「Next, Commander of the Special Fire
Corps, Baron Solidia von Christoph, and his wife, Knight Soldia von
Aura.」
Similarly enveloped in cheers of blessing, Christoph
appeared from stage left with a somewhat sullen face, and from stage right, Aura
similarly shed tears of joy and appeared led by the hand of a former Imperial
Kingdom Wind Mage acting as her father substitute.
「Commander, congratulations!」
「We know you're embarrassed, but lose that sour look!」
「Aura-chan! I'm so glad for you!」
It seems Christoph
had been the object of Aura's
affections for a long time, but whether he was simply dense to such things or
too earnest and deliberately holding back, they apparently remained like
parallel lines that never met. After being "stung" once by Miseri, it seems he finally got moving. A
sting from the queen bee... that might be effective.
「Next, Commander of the Engineering
Unit, Baron Solidia von Elan, and his wife, Baronet Soldia von Sasha.」
Amidst unceasing cheers, Elan appeared from stage
left with a tense expression, and from stage right, Sasha similarly
waved her hand and appeared led by her own father's hand.
「Commander, I wish you happiness!」
「I know you're tense, but follow your
wife's example!」
「Sasha! I'm so glad for you. We'll be best friends forever!」
It turns out Elan and Sasha had been lovers all along. That's why when
they fell into a predicament in the battle of Kleirat, Elan
apparently desperately protected Sasha. Of course, it was natural that
he also had a sense of responsibility to fulfill his mission. I mean, it seems
their relationship was an open secret... but was I the only one who didn't
know? Somehow that was complicated too Because
the grueling work is expected to continue for the time being, the two of them
had apparently been holding back, but it seems they finally made the decision
after being reasoned with by Anne.
「Next, Commander of the Transport
Unit, Baron Solidia von Bart, and his wife, Knight Soldia von Mia.」
Amidst unceasing cheers, from stage left, Bart gazed straight at Mia with a gentle smile, and from
stage right, Mia similarly gazed straight at Bart, appearing led by
the hand of a man from the orphanage.
「Big bro, I wish you happiness~」
「Are you already in a world of your
own? Thanks for the meal~」
「Mia! From now on, you'll be Elan's clingy bug forever.」
Bart was
adored as an older brother figure by his fellow orphans. Mia was one of
them. At first, it seems Mia's affection was one-sided, but Bart
wasn't entirely against it either. It seems the two were considerate of the
fact that Rosa, whom Mia worships, was still single, and as a
result, had secretly nurtured their feelings. I didn't know about these two
until just the other day either. As expected, am I... the type who can't see
his surroundings? These two, too, made the decision after being admonished by Rosa.
「Next, Commander of the Intelligence
Division, Baron Solidia von Raphael, and his wives, Baronet Soldia
von Marianne... and Knight Lanatoria.」
「「「「Whaaaaaaat!」」」」
For this moment alone, rather than cheers, screams of
astonishment erupted from various places and echoed throughout the venue.
And... receiving cheers close to half-joking boos from the men, in contrast to Raphael
with a slightly cramped face, Marianne and Lanatoria, wearing
smiles, were led by the hand of Baronet Glen from the former Imperial
Kingdom, who worships her.
「Hahaha, this is truly a case of 'clothes
make the man'. Yo! Bandit Baron, having a flower on each arm is enviable!」
「Boss, that's not fair. To snatch
away our goddess...」
「I mean, Glen! W-When did
you... you traitor!」
「Why am I the only one being
criticized!」
「I... my duty is to at least attend
the flowery path of the goddess I worship.」
Only Raphael received blessings (jeers) typical of
him, making for a very noisy entrance. Could it be... in my previous life
towards the end, in a desperate situation when we intercepted General Weiss
at Teigoon, the reason Marianne participated as a medic... was
because she loved Raphael then too? If so, does this mean her feelings
have finally been fulfilled this time? Remembering a past memory that flashed
across my mind for an instant, I was filled with deep emotion. Well, it was a
surprise that he ended up marrying Lanatoria as a set?, though.
『For a man like you who loves alcohol
and women, having the two of us to keep you in check is just about right.』
It seems Marianne said so and laid down that
condition for accepting the proposal. Of course, towards Raphael, who if
left alone was trying to maintain a free and easy bachelorhood, it seems Anne
and Yoltia pushed his back somewhat forcefully? But... this combination
here is the most unexpected, right. When I thought so, I suddenly remembered
the words the Old Raccoon had once said: 『The holy are drawn to the dark.』
「Finally, Commander of the Izumo
Garrison Corps, Viscount Bouner von Alexis, and his wife, Baron Solis
von Chrisia.」
「「「「Ooooh!」」」」
At the very end, an exceptionally loud cheer rose, and from
stage left Alexis, and from stage right my sister (Chrisia),
laughing happily, appeared led by our father, Marquis Solis.
「Commander, I wish you happiness~」
「Long live the Marquis Solis
house and the Viscount Bouner house!」
「Chrisia-san! I wish you happiness~」
This one was already an established route. For this
marriage, I spoke with the two parties involved and agreed upon the following
matters with complete consensus. First: After
their marriage, Alexis will enter the Marquis Solis house as an
adopted son-in-law. Second: In exchange for succeeding the
lineage of the Marquis Solis house, the territory granted to him in the
new territory will become the Archduke's Direct Territory. Third: Until Father retires, his salary will be paid with
Viscount treatment as it currently is. Incidentally, Viscount Bouner (Alexis's
father, promoted from Baron in the previous campaign), who yielded his family
crest and territory to his eldest son and now works directly under Frontier
Count Hamish, and his wife are also participating in this banquet.
And with six couples, a total of 13 people assembled, a
wedding ceremony before God officiated by Specially Appointed Honorary Bishop Rosa
and Frontier Cardinal Grace was held at a specially set up altar, and
after that, the banquet doubling as a free-and-easy wedding reception resumed.
And everyone celebrated the new year, the future of their
companions, and the birth of new bonds, enjoying the banquet to their heart's
content.
『You traitor.』
『Bandit, bride thief.』
『An outrageous guy to marry two of
them.』
『Give us back our divine
messengers.』
Amidst the cheers—and the occasional grumbles of
envy—everyone celebrated, except for one unfortunate soul who was continuously
plied with alcohol until they finally collapsed in a drunken stupor...
Having been able to openly deliver a new future to my ccomrades and take a new step forward, I too continued to down cups
of alcohol to my heart's content.
Ah, but there are still a few... what will those girls do? Including that area, I've been told by my wives since before the banquet to leave it to them... With this, perhaps I have begun to walk towards a 『new future』 in the truest sense alongside my comrades.
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