Ch.147147. Reunion

There’s plenty of time ahead.

Still, there were things I didn’t want to put off.

Lindvale’s temple was bustling with adventurers as usual. On a bright, sunny afternoon, a group of adventurers emerged from the temple with tired faces.

A man with an unkempt beard. A man with narrow, slanted eyes. An archer with a cold demeanor. A gentle-smiling woman following behind them. They were chatting amicably when they spotted Rex standing a short distance away and stopped in their tracks.

“It’s been a while.”

“…Rex?”

Rex grinned and waved his hand. Harald’s mouth fell open. Thud. His heavy backpack dropped to the ground, but no one paid it any mind. Connor rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand and blinked several times.

“Am I… seeing a ghost right now?”

“How can you call someone who’s clearly alive a ghost?”

“Gasp! R-Rex! Why are you here… no, that’s not it! Wait, those people next to you. Aren’t they Chloe and Lady Elin? How many years has it been!”

Connor rushed over with a bright smile. Chloe gave a wry smile and nodded.

“Surprised?”

“Of course I’m surprised. You left Lindvale… four years ago, was it? We hadn’t heard anything from you all this time, and now you suddenly show up. So, what brings you here? I remember you went with the Sword Apostle… is your training finished?”

“It’s a long story.”

Rex replied with a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. So much had happened. It was a tale too long to be summed up in just a few words. Many things had changed.

Just as Rex had changed, Harald’s party looked different in many ways from four years ago. New scars had formed, equipment had been replaced, and they carried themselves with more skill and confidence.

But the affection they held for each other remained unchanged.

“Haha! We were planning to head straight back to our lodgings to rest today, but now that you’re back, that won’t do. Let’s get thoroughly drunk!”

“You all seem to be doing well. I’m glad.”

Harald let out a hearty laugh, and Eira took Chloe’s hand and murmured.

“…We’ll deal with the loot tomorrow.”

Patrick spoke with an expressionless face. His tone was calm, but a faint smile played on his lips.

“We have a lot to catch up on. But… you two. No, including Lady Elin.”

“Yes?”

As Rex tilted his head with a puzzled expression, Patrick stroked his chin and bluntly asked:

“Are you married yet?”

***

“Are you married yet?”

“Kuhp!”

Berger asked. Rex choked on his wine and coughed violently. He wiped the dripping wine with his sleeve and grumbled.

“What kind of random question is that?”

“Don’t tell me you still haven’t expressed your feelings?”

Berger asked with an incredulous look. Rex was equally flustered. To greet a disciple he hadn’t seen in four years with such a question…! In normal circumstances, wouldn’t one ask if they’d been well, or say they’d been doing fine themselves? He had been looking forward to meeting his master, but that anticipation quickly deflated.

“…Why are you asking that?”

The reason Rex couldn’t maintain his composure was because he had heard the exact same question before. Marriage. He couldn’t understand why everyone asked about marriage whenever they saw Elin and Chloe.

“Are you seriously asking? Your affection for those two is dripping from your eyes, and the way they look at you is so obvious that anyone who isn’t blind would notice.”

“Ahem…”

Rex cleared his throat awkwardly and turned his head. Chloe and Elin were sitting modestly at the next table. He didn’t deny it… There was no reason to deny it, and above all, Berger’s words were true. They had confirmed their feelings for each other long ago.

Berger grinned and added:

“When hearts align, all that’s left is marriage. So, do you have any plans?”

“…Well, actually.”

Rex stammered as he explained the situation. He couldn’t tell the whole story of what happened in Albheim. The events there would have to remain buried for almost a lifetime. But he could talk about what happened after returning to Edenhar. That was why he had come to Lindvale in the first place.

“I do… have plans.”

Though they hadn’t decided on specifics, he had discussed the general outline with the two girls. Marriage—yes, they would marry. The conflict with the Chaos Cult had been resolved, and the ritual oppressing Elin had been stopped. Both Chloe and Elin had expressed their feelings for Rex. And Rex cared deeply for both of them.

Let’s get married.

While looking at the night sky from the terrace of the Edenhar mansion, he glanced at the girls by his side. There was no particular trigger. It just suddenly occurred to him that perhaps it was time to get married. Before he knew it, the thought had escaped his lips.

I haven’t gotten rings yet, but I’ll prepare everything as quickly as possible.

So… um. Will you stay by my side from now on?

That’s roughly what he had said. Even to himself, it sounded inadequate. He could have said something more impressive, but perhaps he had been too hasty. Still, he succeeded in surprising them both. Chloe suddenly burst into tears, which made him panic—but those were tears of joy.

[I was going to confess first!]

Chloe had exclaimed that, pouting her lips as she rushed into his arms. Beside her, Elin, who had been standing frozen with a blank expression, slowly, very slowly approached with a clear smile. She embraced his empty side alongside Chloe, shedding fewer tears than Chloe but ones filled with emotional intensity.

[…Thank you.]

She didn’t specify what she was thankful for. She just nodded firmly, making sure he could see it clearly, while exhaling a fragile breath. That was enough. Feelings, after all, can be conveyed without words.

After crying, laughing, and crying again for quite some time, Charlotte appeared behind the three who were hugging each other. She wore a sulky expression, clearly displeased about something, and sneered.

[Do you think marriage is that simple?]

It’s not like you’ve ever been married either, Lady Charlotte.

[T-That’s… eek! Anyway, the marriage process is extremely difficult. You need to decide where to hold the wedding ceremony and invite guests. Do you have any specific plans?]

Though she had lived her entire life unmarried and without a lover, Charlotte was the head of a marquis family. As the head of Edenhar, Charlotte had attended numerous weddings. At least when it came to theoretical knowledge, she was well-versed. Thanks to her, Rex learned that weddings were more troublesome than he had imagined. But that wasn’t reason enough to give up.

“We’re going to hold the wedding… in my hometown.”

Chloe and Elin had agreed to this. Oakbrook. After considering various possible venues, they concluded that Oakbrook would be the most suitable. Elin had severed ties with Albheim and didn’t have any close acquaintances there. Chloe did have some friends in Lindvale, including Harald’s party, but even taking that into account, Oakbrook seemed better.

Oakbrook village was close to Lindvale. It was a distance that acquaintances from Lindvale could travel without much inconvenience. Moreover, Chloe and Elin had supported this decision even more enthusiastically than Rex.

[I want to see Rex’s hometown.]

[Me too! I need to greet Rex’s mother. What should I wear? Something not too flashy, but not shabby either.]

After reuniting with Harald’s party, Elin and Chloe amicably held hands and headed off to a clothing store. Left alone, Rex, who needed to meet Berger anyway, headed to the lord’s castle.

“That’s wonderful.”

Berger looked at Rex with a hearty laugh. When they first met, Rex had been just a young boy, but now he had grown into a young man about to be married. How swiftly time flows. While pleased to see his disciple grown so admirably, he also felt a strange emotion.

“Well… I’ve decided on the wedding venue, but there are still things to prepare. I need to invite guests, and while I don’t want to be too extravagant, we should at least provide some basic food, right?”

He hadn’t even visited his hometown yet. That could be done at a leisurely pace. As for the food, Vivien had promised to send people from her merchant company to help, so that wasn’t really a concern. Nevertheless, he dragged out his words because he felt somewhat embarrassed about the request that would follow.

“As you know, I… don’t have a father. He passed away long ago. But you, Master, are like a second father to me.”

Rex fidgeted awkwardly. Berger raised his eyebrows in surprise. Taking a deep breath and biting his lip slightly, Rex continued:

“Even if you’re not my real father, you’re as good as family to me. So, would you please attend my wedding in the place of my father?”

“…”

Berger couldn’t say a word. He couldn’t define the name of the emotion that suddenly welled up inside him. Something hot and fierce surged up like a torrent. For a long time, he remained silent with his mouth shut. His throat tightened, and he downed the wine on the table in one gulp. His trembling lips slowly opened.

“…Alright.”

His vision was blurry. It must be because I’m getting old. My body isn’t what it used to be. That must be it. Berger repeated to himself inwardly and answered again.

“Thank you.”

“I’m the one who should be grateful.”

Rex smiled brightly.

***

“Rex, what kind of place is Oakbrook village?”

“…Well.”

Rex trailed off at Chloe’s question. Elin, who was equally curious, stared intently at him.

‘My hometown.’

Five years ago.

When he left his hometown. Back then, he hadn’t looked back. He feared that if he met the eyes of his family watching him from a distance, his resolve would weaken. Suppressing the desire to say one last goodbye, he fixed his gaze straight ahead and kept walking.

As he walked, many thoughts crossed his mind.

I want to become stronger. He recalled his father’s grave. Would his father, buried under the blue sky, watch over the path he was taking? He would. Would he cheer me on? That was a thought that didn’t even need consideration.

He left his hometown to become stronger. He had resolved not to return until he gained the power to protect his loved ones.

Had he achieved that goal now?

He looked back at the path he had traveled. The harsh winter had now turned into a warm spring. He hadn’t been certain he would be able to return. But one thing was clear: his family would always be waiting for him in his hometown. And he believed they would welcome him joyfully when he finally returned.

That belief remained unchanged.

The village, which had once appeared as small as a dot, gradually drew closer.

Rex smiled.