We finished the lap around the castle town and returned to the venue. Noie’s final costume change was done too.
This is it. The last dress is incredibly simple in shape. But the jewels decorating it here and there… every single one is huge and looks ridiculously expensive.
Are you sure? Is this really the off-the-rack price?
I’m breaking out in a cold sweat, but first things first, I have to welcome my bride.
「Noie」
「Yes」
「Are you a little tired?」
「I’m fine」
「Tonight… let’s go to bed early, okay?」
「……」
「I’ll pet you lots first, of course?」
「Lap pillow」
「Yeah. I’m looking forward to it」
I have to hold back a little so I don’t spoil her too much.
Noie has work starting tomorrow, after all… Give her some rest, muscle prince.
While the staff made final adjustments to Noie’s dress at the designated spot, an adorable little girl came running up with flowers in both hands.
Is that a bouquet she’s holding?
The girl approaching us was so cute and full of promise for the future.
「Argusta-sama～! Noie-sama～! Here are flowers～」
「Thank you so much」
「Yes～!」
The little girl, having completed her important mission, flashed a smile bright enough to light up the whole venue.
It’s dazzling. Is this the power of youth…?
「Kyaa～! Noie-sama is so pretty～」
「……」
Noie looks completely flustered facing a child. This might be a rare and precious sight.
「Sorry about that, Argusta」
「Huh?」
「Camille absolutely insisted on handing over the bouquet herself and threw a huge tantrum」
The one who showed up with a slightly exasperated face was my ikemen oniichan.
Camille? That’s this girl, right?
「…little sister?」
If it’s that womanizing king, it wouldn’t be strange for us to have unknown brothers or sisters I’ve never heard of.
「No. She’s my legal wife」
「……」
Yeah, that’s way out.
If I remember right, she’s twelve? But she looks younger than ten.
This is already beyond lolicon territory back in Japan, it’d be straight-up criminal.
「She’s growing up lively, but everyone spoils her too much, so she’s a bit too free-spirited」
「Ahahaha」
Even now, if Noie’s dress weren’t so fancy, the girl looks ready to pounce and hug her.
Wait a second. Thinking calmly… this loli is technically my sister-in-law?
All sorts of concepts in my head are shattering.
「Camille. You delivered the bouquet, right? Time to go back to your seat」
「Okay～! See you later～」
She waved her little hand vigorously and walked away holding brother’s hand. The sight looked almost exactly like a parent and child.
A Hikaru Genji plan would probably be way too easy in this world.
「Arg-sama」
「Hm?」
「That girl… was smiling.」
「Yeah, she was.」
「……」
Is she wondering if she could smile like that someday too?
「Noie, you’ll be able to smile like that one day.」
She glanced over at me for just a second.
「I’ll make you smile, so just wait for me, okay?」
「……Yes.」
The faintest softness touched her expression. And then…
Grrraaaaoooorrr!
A roar unlike anything I’d ever heard echoed through the air.
The quickest to react was, of course, Noie.
「Dragon… medium-sized.」
-0-
「This is bad～! Some kingdom’s army totally screwed up and let a medium one slip through, right? Hey? Does this mean we’re all getting called in later for the captain’s so-called punishment that’s really just torture? Ahh～, just imagining it makes me feel like I’m gonna wet myself!」
「Go ahead and pass out alone over there! Lutte… what’s the situation?」
「There’s a medium one near the ceremony site. But… it hasn’t broken through anywhere, including here!」
「「Huh?」」
The two senpais who’d been about to start throwing punches froze mid-motion.
「It really feels like it just appeared out of nowhere!」
What does it mean when a girl with the blessing 『Heavenly Eye』 says something like that?
-0-
Very few people managed to react to the sudden event.
Even those confident in their skills could only stand and watch.
The opponent is a dragon. A being that tries to expand its territory without limit, the ruler of this continent.
Hovering slowly in the sky above with gentle flaps of its wings, it’s one of the medium-sized types.
To me, it looks like the most classic dragon shape imaginable. The kind that could only ever be a real dragon.
Murmurs of unease spread through the crowd. If this keeps up, the whole venue will fall into chaos.
「Be calm, everyone!」
A powerful voice rang out from the altar. Not the womanizing king… but my father-in-law.
「Have you forgotten that our kingdom is home to one of the continent’s strongest dragon slayer?」
His resonant words brought sighs of relief all around.
That’s right. Noie is here.
There’s someone trembling with both hands, barely holding back the urge to dash out and fight right this instant.
That expression is one I’ve never seen on her before.
Her brows furrow just a little, as if silently pleading, “What should I do?”
If she leaps out now, she can slay the dragon. But that would mean…
『You’re such an idiot. What’s a little dirt on a dress compared to people here dying? That would be far worse, wouldn’t it?』
Shut up already.
『…What are you going to do? Can your precious beloved defeat a dragon without staining her dress? That’s impossible. Her weapons are her own fists and feet. One swing, and the dress will be drenched in blood.』
I told you to be quiet.
『You could save her. All you have to do is use your power to get rid of that dragon.』
……
『Do you hate using your power that much? …Are you afraid she’ll be used for anything other than slaying dragons?』
Of course I’m afraid. Noie is… such a gentle girl.
『Exactly. Then let me tell the gentle you something. That dragon was summoned by someone here at the venue. You understand what that means, don’t you?』
…This is the worst.
『It really is. But right now, you have to choose. Will you use that power yourself… or force her to ruin her dress?
Which will it be?』
…I’m choosing neither.
『…I see.』
I’m just the husband of a dragon slayer. I can do this much, right?
『It’s possible. Though it’ll put a heavy strain on your body.』
I don’t care. Just tell me how.
『All you have to do is focus your will. From now on, you’ll be able to use it that way. But… this is a perfect chance to free her from her fate of slaying dragons forever. And you still won’t?』
It’s obvious.
Slaying dragons is her job. Supporting her and protecting her is mine. That’s all.
『…They really gave it to the wrong person. But maybe you’re the one most suited for her after all. Struggle desperately for her sake. I’ll be watching from now on too.』
「Now then, Knight Noie! Go slay that dragon!」
The old guy getting all pumped up on the altar is annoying. But right now, it doesn’t matter.
「Arg-sama?」
「Noie. That bouquet.」
「Eh?」
「Just trust me.」
I reach out and touch the bouquet she’s holding.
Blessing activated. Target… this bouquet.
It’s my first time, so I don’t know how to control it. I’m scared of failing, so I pour everything I have into it.
It feels like something deep inside my body is being torn away.
「Kuh… ha… Noie. Here.」
「……」
「Just… make sure you hit it, okay?」
「Yes.」
She smoothly shifts into battle stance, swings the bouquet back with a big wind-up… and throws it.
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