Proposal (3)

Needless to say, I got scolded by Línea. I was scolded before she heard my explanation and scolded even more afterward.

Well, that makes sense. She had to hear that I was fooling around with another woman in a place where she wasn’t present.

I’d be angry too if I were in her shoes.

But I got off rather lightly.

“Patriarch.”

“Please call me father……”

“Patriarch, maintain your dignity.”

“Sniff……”

Gallea Spirin, who had forced this situation on us, was practically disowned by his daughter.

Well, anyway, the matter was settled for now. It feels like it’s been a while since I’ve seen Línea angry, but…

Right, people can’t always be smiling and wearing happy expressions.

This might happen again in the future, so let’s consider this a rehearsal.

“Now it’s our granddaughter’s turn.”

“……”

Are you really going to continue this madness even after witnessing what just happened?

I shuddered at Castian Crowley’s quiet madness.

“It’s better for me to be hated than for her to be the only one not receiving a proposal.”

“…Would you mind stopping your spying if I promise to handle the proposal myself?”

“It’s still too early for us to trust each other.”

“That’s true……”

I could count on one hand the number of times I’ve spoken with the Mystic King. It’s my fault for keeping my distance because I found him uncomfortable.

No, even if I hadn’t kept my distance, this man would probably have behaved the same way.

“Let’s go then. Today’s a short day.”

“Yes……”

I set off, leaving Línea, who was still glaring at Gallea Spirin with cold eyes.

Next up was Ilina Crowley.

*     *      *

“Yes, I’ve heard the story.”

“……”

It took longer than expected to find Ilina Crowley.

But when I finally came face to face with her, I understood why.

“That’s quite thorough.”

“How is it? Isn’t it pretty?”

“It is pretty, but……”

Isn’t this a bit cowardly?

With such thoughts, I glanced at Castian Crowley standing beside me.

Ilina Crowley was wearing a dress she had procured from somewhere.

That’s right. A wedding dress.

She had apparently heard about my proposal in advance and was waiting for me all dressed up.

Well, it was almost certainly Castian Crowley who had informed her. When I found Línea first, he didn’t say anything, which made me think he was broad-minded, but now I see he couldn’t be more devious.

“Go ahead, give it a try!”

“…That unwavering attitude. I truly find it astonishing.”

“Right?”

Her boldness is what’s truly astonishing.

Does she not care if others see her like this?

Or does she think there’s no need to be embarrassed since she’s already dressed in a wedding gown?

Anyway, she doesn’t seem likely to be wary or resistant like Línea was, so this should be resolved smoothly.

“Ilina.”

“……”

But when I knelt down and called her name, she suddenly fell silent.

Could it be that she’s embarrassed because I, who had always called her “Princess,” suddenly used her name?

Honestly, isn’t “Princess” more embarrassing? I’m not sure.

But…

“Will you continue this journey of life with me?”

“Ahem, hem! Hmm….. Ahem…… Yes, I will.”

Even if you’re pretending to be demure now…..

I kissed the back of her hand, which she shyly extended, then stood up.

Now only the final step remained.

Though it was called a wedding dress, it was relatively simple, as if she had difficulties putting it on by herself.

Without a veil, I found myself looking directly into her eyes.

“Um, well….. We’re doing it, right? I, I knew about it, but now that we’re actually doing it, um….. it’s embarrassing.”

“Seeing you react like this makes me feel embarrassed instead.”

I almost preferred her previous boldness. This sudden shyness is making things awkward.

“Then……”

I complete the final ritual.

A pledge signifying that we will stay together and remain faithful.

And thus, in a single day, I became a man who had proposed to three women.

*     *      *

Several days have passed since then.

Eve and Línea have been whispering to each other more frequently.

Yes, I may have become trash, but at least the two of them have become friendly, so that’s something.

Castian Crowley, who had been acting inappropriately, seems to have been scolded by Ilina Crowley and has now returned to his original post at the front line.

Now if only Gallea Spirin would return to the rear as well, everything would be perfect…

“Son-in-law.”

“Yes, father.”

“What should I do?”

“…I think we all need time to forgive each other first.”

“I’ve already been separated from my daughter for nearly ten years. I know that time doesn’t solve problems.”

“I see.”

If you know that so well, why didn’t you know you’d be hated by your daughter?

I can’t bring myself to send him away because of this.

But as if there’s always a ray of hope even in despair…

“Puhehe, I’m sorry, kids~.”

Someone appeared to forcibly drag Gallea Spirin away.

It was Celia Spirin, the eldest daughter of the Spirin county.

I had met her once before, but she was always a person who seemed worn out by fatigue. I’ve rarely seen someone more likely to die from overwork than myself, but she definitely fits the bill.

She was swaying as if she might collapse at any moment.

“Dad, we need to start preparing for the next battle soon.”

“…Has it already come to that time?”

“Yes, yes. You know that the more thoroughly we prepare, the fewer people will die, right?”

“That’s true……”

And so Gallea Spirin left with Celia Spirin.

Finally, only our companions remained. I was still enduring uncomfortable days as the target of everyone’s glares.

And then, breaking this peace, another communication was delivered…

“What?”

It was news that the Malachite Kingdom was joining the war.

*     *      *

“How did this happen?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

We retreated from Coinur and reached the rear area.

Having Ilina with us makes such movements unconstrained, which is convenient.

And as soon as we headed to the location where the Malachite Kingdom’s forces were stationed, we encountered this situation.

“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t participate in the war?”

“Did I? I don’t remember that.”

“……”

Craig smiled mischievously in response to Titan’s angry voice.

Whether he truly doesn’t remember or is just pretending not to, I can only blame our lack of foresight.

Titan had mentioned convincing Craig, but we should have gotten clear confirmation that he really wouldn’t step forward. This is my mistake.

If we had informed those around him about this in advance, even Craig wouldn’t have easily broken his promise.

I never expected that our decision to reject troop support in order to preserve his honor would come back to us in this way.

“They say there’s a crisis on the continent. How could we just stand by? We are warriors. A race of warriors. We take pride in fighting for the weak and dying in battle against the strong. Am I wrong, Titan?”

“……”

“Then there’s nothing more to discuss.”

Craig’s dismissal.

Only then could I confirm with certainty.

Craig hadn’t forgotten his promise to Titan.

He remembered everything and still chose to break that promise.

“……”

I debated whether I should mention this fact or keep it to myself.

Honestly, I couldn’t tell.

Why he had come here.

What Titan had so desperately argued, Craig must have surely understood at the time.

So what happened that made him go back on his word?

Did he break his decision to live out the rest of his life with his family?

Because he’s a warrior?

Because his relationship with Titan isn’t good?

Or simply out of whim?

I know none of these things.

“Titan.”

“…Let’s go back.”

That’s why I couldn’t offer Titan any certainty.

Now that Craig had appeared declaring his intention to join the war, there was no turning back.

All we could do was speculate about his reasons.

*     *      *

“You people are so frustrating.”

Claire looks at us with drowsy eyes, criticizing us.

Though even she, who’s calling us frustrating, isn’t explaining what exactly is frustrating, but that’s beside the point.

There must be some kind of reason that can’t be expressed in words.

“No! There! No! Why! No! It’s so frustrating!”

Claire was beating her chest in frustration. She seemed to want to say something to us, but didn’t know what to say, looking quite frustrated.

“This time, it was Titan’s fault. Isn’t it natural that Craig would worry about Titan just as much as Titan worries about Craig? This was never about who’s stronger.”

“I see……”

“Your approach to persuasion was wrong. If that was the case, Titan shouldn’t have stood on the battlefield either. Did you really think such persuasion would genuinely work?”

Once Claire started speaking, she shouted at Titan and me as if pouring out all the complaints she had been holding inside.

By the way, why am I being lectured alongside Titan?

These scoldings don’t seem directed at me.

“Lost, you too. Are you stupid?”

“…Well, I don’t have anyone to call parents, so I might not understand.”

“If you’re going to say that, then my parents were the worst trash ever!”

“……”

This isn’t working.

Come to think of it, Claire has a point. I seem to have drawn conclusions based only on the fact that Titan was a complete warrior and that Craig’s mental state was unstable.

Strength wasn’t the important factor.

It’s only natural for parents to worry about their children, no matter how strong they might be.

“Anyway! Even now…”

Just as Claire was about to forcibly drag Titan away.

“C-Cielo-nim!”

A messenger with an urgent expression came running.

From the messenger’s expression, there was no need to hear what he was about to say.

“All, all the demon forces have started moving!”

“I understand. Let’s go right away.”

“Yes!”

“……”

The messenger ran off immediately after hearing my answer.

The timing is quite unfortunate.

Launching another invasion when we haven’t resolved anything?

No, that’s not it. They chose to launch the invasion precisely because of this timing.

That damn bastard.

He targeted our most troubled moment. I thought he might have planted spies among us, but the information seems to be flowing faster than I expected.

“Titan.”

“……”

“Let’s survive first, then think.”

Titan and I have different battlefields.

After all, Titan was looking forward to a rematch with the <One Who Holds the Sky>.

“Fortunately, there shouldn’t be any major threats on the battlefield where Craig Khan will be stationed.”

“You know better than anyone that’s not what matters.”

“……”

The reason we tried to keep Craig off the battlefield wasn’t out of concern that he might die.

The issue was that he might lose his sanity in the blood and madness, rampaging without distinguishing between friend and foe.

The battlefield erodes a person’s mind.

There couldn’t be a more unstable place for the current Craig Khan.

I should have realized this earlier, but I didn’t, and Titan should have explained this to me and sought my cooperation, but he didn’t.

This is the result of two fools.

Claire had every right to be frustrated with us.

“…Whatever the case, let’s focus on what we need to do now.”

We headed to our respective battlefields through Ilina’s teleportation magic.

*     *      *

Tchk!

I light a match and touch it to the tip of my rolled tobacco. A small light rises in the darkness.

“Phew……”

When I finally returned to Coinur, what I saw was a sky stained black.

Fortunately, it doesn’t seem like they’ve done anything mischievous by the time we arrived, but they’ve definitely made the first move.

Everyone except Titan.

The elite forces I had gathered to face the devil.

Unfortunately, Nina hadn’t fully recovered from her injuries, and Ratatoskr could no longer stand on the battlefield, but.

“It’s really hard to see your face. Isn’t it?”

“Kukukuku….. You’ve brought quite a crowd. What an impolite guest.”

Myself and Eve, along with Línea, Ilina, Claire, and Lilia.

This was the force I had prepared to defeat Belial.

“You should have considered this power difference since the last battlefield. If you failed, you should accept the consequences.”

“Kuku, you’re not wrong. I should have torn you to pieces and killed you then. It’s my fault that I didn’t.”

Yes, now is the time to finally sever the long, lingering evil connection between us.