Ch.119Persuasion (3)

Among the many novels I read to pass time in my childhood, there was a touching love story between a male and female protagonist.

Back then, when I had no experience with romance or even life itself, whenever I read about the small hill where the two protagonists whispered their love to each other, I would imagine that hill overlooking the golden fields of the Goldfield estate.

That small hill in the Goldfield estate with its breathtakingly beautiful scenery.

I once had the childish fantasy that if I ever found someone to love, I would hold a small wedding ceremony on that hill, inviting only family and close friends.

And now, as time has passed, I have found someone to love.

A hero worthy of praise and a lover impossible not to love.

I wanted Sylvia to leave the forest.

“…Ash, are you right now…”

Sylvia opened her eyes wide and repeatedly opened and closed her lips like a carp out of water.

Even that was so adorable that I couldn’t hold back my smile.

I nodded and continued speaking.

“In my hometown… there’s a small two-story mansion my father was building, Sylvia. He built it saying he would give it to his son when he brought home a bride. Though he never got to finish it…”

“…Ash,”

“I want to take Sylvia to that house. Living in this forest with Sylvia wouldn’t be bad, but if I’m being greedy, I want to show off such a wonderful bride in front of others, and I want to live there with Sylvia.”

The green lady told me I could run away anytime.

Perhaps those words the Queen of Spirits left me were just lies to create an escape route for me, or perhaps they were empty rhetoric spoken with confidence that I wouldn’t run away.

In the worst case scenario, they might just be a small comfort to ease the regret and pain I might feel when I die at the hands of the Demon Lord after failing in this journey.

But I decided not to run away in the end.

I resolved to kill the Demon Lord and break this damn curse.

In truth, the courage I’m showing right now might just be a meager illusion and mistake.

Even I never thought I would suggest walking straight into the Demon Lord’s grasp, and even now, I constantly wonder if I’m in my right mind.

Of course, this bold resolution was partly due to the judgment that two heroic warriors, Alice and Sylvia, would be with me.

But that wasn’t the decisive reason for my audacious decision.

My greatest motivation was only Sylvia.

I didn’t want Sylvia to live imprisoned in this forest for the rest of her life.

I didn’t want to see her die lonely after sacrifices that went unrewarded.

I wanted to show her off to others.

I wanted to boast to the world that this beautiful, wonderful, and strong warrior Sylvia was my lover.

I wanted her to love my hometown that I loved.

I really wanted to show her the beautiful golden fields that I had boasted about to my precious people.

“Sylvia.”

Filled with all those wishes and desires,

I slowly knelt on one knee while firmly holding her hand.

“Will you marry me?”

*

Sylvia froze.

She looked as if she had stopped breathing, or as if she had turned to stone.

Not even the faintest sound of breathing could be heard, as if she had forgotten to breathe.

Her hands—one on her chest and one at her mouth—didn’t tremble or move at all, and those fiery eyes that had been shaking violently also came to a standstill.

Though the flames in the cabin flickered and danced, casting shifting light on her skin, she remained completely still without any movement.

I was the same.

This confession was partly to persuade Sylvia, but it was also my true wish and desire.

I want to be with you.

I want to leave this forest with you and receive the goddess’s blessing amid the congratulations and gazes of others.

Even without explaining further, she probably realized it.

Why I was willing to walk into the fearsome Demon Lord’s presence, why I was willing to take that risk,

She would have understood everything.

That’s why she stood frozen.

Therefore, I too remained rigid like her.

Frozen, not even blinking once.

Not rushing her, hiding my fear, waiting slowly for her to answer.

And finally, she began to move, inhaling as if her held breath was exploding.

“…uh,”

“…”

The hand covering her mouth now completely covered her mouth and chin.

Her eyes, her pupils moved slowly.

No, her entire face moved.

Sylvia was shaking her head up and down.

“Ha…”

I closed my eyes with a sigh of relief.

At that moment, she grabbed my hands with both of hers.

“No… wait…”

“…Sylvia?”

“But… it’s dangerous, I’m too happy… wait…”

She muttered incomplete sentences frantically.

“I can’t allow it… it’s dangerous… the Demon Lord… Ash mustn’t die… I couldn’t bear it…”

“…”

“But, I’m so… so happy… if I could live with Ash… get married… it would be so wonderful…”

“…”

“Ah…”

She sighed deeply and squeezed her eyes shut.

She seemed dizzy.

A journey that would surely be dangerous.

And the traces of her failures standing at every turn of the path.

The desire to avoid all of that was still very strong, but the future I proposed must have seemed incredibly attractive to Sylvia as well.

Perhaps she was going to unconditionally refuse my proposal to go after the Demon Lord, but now her mind wasn’t working because she was too surprised and happy.

I thought I needed to drive the point home.

Slowly, in the gentlest voice possible, I called her name.

“Sylvia.”

“…No… I can’t…”

“Do you dislike the idea of marrying me?”

“Huh,”

She took a deep breath.

Then she shook her head vigorously and said.

“How could I dislike it!”

“Then marry me. Just answer that sentence. Just think about that sentence.”

“No… I won’t… be tricked like that.”

“Sylvia…”

Her pupils, perhaps in reaction to having been still, were now shaking violently.

Now was the time.

If I was going to attack, to break her will, it had to be now.

I slowly rose to my feet.

Then I gently pulled my hand that she was holding toward me.

She could have let go, or resisted,

She certainly could have, but she flew toward me like a powerless girl.

I rested my face on Sylvia’s shoulder.

“Sylvia…”

“Ah, no… no, no, no,”

I slowly moved my chin up her shoulder, bringing my mouth near her ear.

“Let’s get married.”

“Uaah,”

I could feel her body trembling slightly.

I moved my head as if burrowing into her nape.

“Then you won’t need to keep me confined. Right? Our home… the house where Sylvia and I will live… think about it…”

“…ugh, huh,”

Sylvia’s body gradually leaned into mine.

I gently supported her body, withdrew my hand, and embraced her back.

Her firm body melted into my arms.

“I’m still waiting for your answer.”

“…”

“Are you really not going to answer me?”

Sylvia slowly raised her head.

Then she lifted her arms and embraced my neck.

*

Alice was blowing her breath toward the pitch-black sky.

Being in a state of mere flesh, it was difficult to know what time it was or how many more hours would pass before the sun rose.

She hadn’t expected Ash to be able to persuade Sylvia.

That woman was several times crazier than herself, and seemed to care for Ash several times more.

The anger at having her fiancé taken away wasn’t that great from the beginning.

Alice didn’t particularly have romantic feelings for Ash.

She already thought of him as family, so she didn’t particularly mind the future of marrying Ash and having children with him, but honestly, she didn’t expect Ash, whom she hadn’t seen for several years, to still love her.

She would have been satisfied enough just knowing that he, Maria’s only remaining family, was happy.

“Sylvia…”

At first, she thought it might be brainwashing or simply attachment, but it seemed Ash truly loved Sylvia.

To think there was someone in the world who loved that Sylvia,

Honestly, she was worried Sylvia might hurt Ash, but there was no fear or discomfort in Ash’s attitude toward Sylvia, and he even seemed to take the lead with her, so there probably wouldn’t be a big problem.

Alice watched her breath disperse and quietly muttered to herself.

“…how did he manage to win over that Sylvia.”

It was surprising that he loved Sylvia, but it was equally surprising to see that Sylvia floundering so deeply in love with a man.

Sylvia wasn’t just a person with strong physical power.

She was very cold and sharp, someone who was very difficult to get close to even within the academy.

Probably only someone like Maria, who would approach anyone without barriers while smiling foolishly, could barely become friends with Sylvia.

“Ha, really… what kind of siblings are they.”

Alice muttered and nodded.

Since he’s Maria’s brother, maybe it’s possible.

But wasn’t Ash not as sociable as Maria?

When he was young, Ash was as much of a prankster as Maria, but as he grew older, he became more timid and kind.

It was probably triggered by gradually becoming discouraged after feeling the enormous wall of Maria’s talent.

But still, to captivate Sylvia like that,

Do those siblings emit some special pheromone?

Or,

“Is he… that good…?”

Alice briefly had an impertinent thought but quickly shook her head with a reddened face.

You crazy woman, what are you thinking?

It’s Ash.

The Ash she’s known since childhood.

The little kid who used to follow her around.

The wicked little boy who would put lizards on her back and run away, then blame Eric when caught.

The little boy who would blow warm breath on her cold cheeks in winter.

The kind-hearted little boy who would run to Maria and her with tasty treats before eating them himself.

“…”

Alice closed her eyes.

And for a moment, she imagined a future that could never be.

A happy family in the Goldfield estate flashed through her mind.

The faces of herself and Ash were hazily superimposed on the parents in that happy family.

Ash’s words echoed in Alice’s ears.

‘I also thought I would marry you, of course.’

‘Yes, that would have been nice.’

Alice muttered quietly, in a voice so small it was almost inaudible.

“Actually… I… had expected it a little too.”

But that was now a closed future.

Partly because Ash already had Sylvia, but Alice had an even bigger problem.

Alice touched her chest, then inserted her finger into the slightly open hole.

The flesh that was healing tightly gripped her finger, and the finger began to cook as it was burned.

Alice pulled out her finger with a hollow laugh and muttered.

“Now… how much time does this body have left,”

“Sis!”

Startled by Ash’s sudden voice, Alice turned around.

Ash was holding Sylvia’s hand and opening the cabin door as he shouted.

“I persuaded her!”

“…What?”

“I said I persuaded her!”

…She agreed?

To go to the Demon Lord?

That crazy woman, really!

Alice glared at Sylvia.

Sylvia was avoiding Alice’s gaze with a completely reddened face.

Looking closely, Ash’s face was also flushed red.

Alice narrowed her eyes and asked.

“…How?”

“We’re getting married!”

Crash,

The hazy image remaining in Alice’s mind shattered into pieces and disappeared into dust.

“…Huh?”