The Hero’s Conclusion (5)

On a slightly late morning, Freugne awoke to the sound of a passing car’s horn outside.

Briefly contemplating whether she should ask Edan to make quieter horns when manufacturing cars from now on, she turned her head slightly to find his face in her field of view.

‘What’s on the agenda today……’

There were no particular plans.

‘Then what about Edan?’

It was his day off, so he could sleep in without issue.

Judging by his appearance alone, he seemed utterly drained, less asleep than unconscious.

For a moment, she wondered if she had been too forceful, but truthfully, Edan had also erred in attempting to regain control from a certain point onward.

She had let him have his way once or twice before retaliating, and at some point during that repetition, she had dozed off.

Freugne gently placed her hand on her still slightly warm lower abdomen.

While peering into the future could have revealed last night’s results, for now… she decided to leave it be.

“…You’re awake?”

“Yes. Did you oversleep for once?”

“Nghh… You bear some responsibility for that, don’t you……”

Edan sluggishly roused himself. Freugne, who had briefly lost herself reminiscing about the previous night’s traces, also rose and changed into fresh clothes.

Having roughly tidied up the room, though not entirely, Freugne sat on the edge of the bed and asked Edan, who was sipping a freshly brewed cup of tea:

“So.”

“Hm.”

“When shall we do it?”

Freugne wiggled her fingers in front of his face.

The ring Edan had given her the previous night glinted softly in the light.

While she could have acquired the most expensive ring made by a renowned artisan using the finest gems at any time, Edan had instead personally chosen one that suited her best.

“Ah, the wedding……”

“Just let me know which days you won’t be working?”

“It’s not like that. I still have vacation days remaining, so I can simply not go in.”

“Then shall we tentatively aim for a nice weather day……”

Basking in the warm sunlight, Freugne happily made her plans.

Typically, her concerns revolved around how to neutralize Demon leaders or win the war.

The previous Hero had perished at the Demon Sovereign’s hands. The one before that had also failed to return. The world did not progress as purely as a children’s fairy tale.

It was also why the glorified, romanticized position of “Hero” had acquired a tragically tainted image, unbeknownst to most. That shift had occurred quite some time ago.

But just once.

Even if she was the only person in this world aware of the fact.

‘That’s right, now that it’s all safely concluded, a day like this should be allowed.’

Perhaps it was acceptable to have a happy ending, just like those fairy tales.

---

“I’m back……”

“Did you eat?”

“I took care of it outside, so don’t worry.”

Having activated her intrinsic senses and instinctively spent the night out, Sif returned well past noon.

Edan and Freugne had already changed into fresh clothes and showered. The house was neatly tidied, just as it had been the previous day.

However, there was no concealing that distinctly awkward yet tantalizing atmosphere.

‘They did it, they did.’

While aware of it, Sif refrained from pointing it out.

To avoid appearing suspicious, Sif averted her gaze before inquiring of Freugne:

“So what shall we do now?”

“Ah, right. Could you compile a list of Londinium’s famous sights for me?”

“Hm?”

“I’ll need it soon.”

As someone who had assisted Freugne’s lineage erasure project, Sif naturally understood the implication behind her request.

Deploying her exceptional information-gathering capabilities, it became apparent that Londinium’s natural environment, inseparable from its soot and smog, was hopeless, leading them to settle on a secluded suburban location.

Until now, Edan had received a few marriage proposals.

While Freugne had also endured the occasional romantic advance from boys, who could have been particularly impressive among those approaching a girl who outwardly appeared to be an adorable young maiden? At best, they were likely her classmates.

She had never been particularly socially active, instead dedicating her spare time to planning and scheming.

Excluding the few pedestrians she had confessed to in a last-ditch effort before being conscripted, her life had been utterly unremarkable.

But Edan was different.

At this point, factors like appearance or age were rendered irrelevant.

His greatest initial asset had been his wealth, followed by the prestige and authority he commanded at the manufactory after being employed, and finally, the newfound power he had acquired towards the end of the war.

While the first two were fairly commonplace in Londinium, the last was the most significant.

Merely demanding power as if it were owed to him, the Council had seemingly been entranced, promptly bestowing the position of Minister of Defense along with copious authority.

Unless one was a naive child still believing in Santa Claus, it was only natural to conclude that there was far more to Edan than met the eye.

Though he was gradually relinquishing the powers he no longer required, such as military command or procurement authority, it would be laughable for him to claim, “I’m just a powerless commoner now.”

“Did you hear the news?”

“What news?”

“About Edan from the Keres Manufactory? He’s also a member of the Royal Society, you know.”

“Ah, yes, I’m aware. But why mention it?”

Although there had been Edan’s iron-clad blocking and some subtle pressure from Freugne.

It was also true that among Londinium’s current eligible bachelors, there were none quite like Edan, so his impending marriage drew attention from those in the know.

“Apparently, he’s getting married soon. I thought he’d remain a bachelor for life, but what a turn of events.”

“Really?”

“Yes. His partner, I believe her name was Freugne or something along those lines.”

“That name sounds familiar, wasn’t she his foster daughter? Good heavens, you mean he’s marrying his own daughter…?!”

“No, from what I heard, she’s no longer his daughter.”

“Ah, in that case.”

Surprisingly, this was a rather conventional marriage by Londinium’s standards.

With that prerequisite condition, of course, but it was still better than most had anticipated.

This was a somewhat outdated topic, but there had been a time when the wealthy elderly widowers would audaciously propose their “adorable ten-year-old daughters” as potential brides.

For them, marriage was not simply a matter between two individuals, but rather an affair between families or the manufactory houses they owned.

And while slight improvements had been made due to pressure from some unidentifiable organization, this was the very city that had once sent five-year-olds down chimneys ten meters high for cleaning, merely a few years prior.

If the children had exhibited any sexual urges, it would have been condemnable, but Freugne had been an adult for quite some time now. And what of it? Offending the powerful was the height of foolishness.

Of course, there were still some who found it difficult to accept.

“You, you. Wasn’t that girl Edan’s daughter……”

“No, she wasn’t.”

“……?”

“Ah, come to think of it, there was a time like that.”

Whenever Freugne encountered acquaintances, she would nonchalantly brush it off in such a manner.

Listening to her, one might think she had truly forgotten, so casual was her demeanor regarding a matter that should not have been so trivial.

But Freugne was sincere. Honestly, was not familial relation something that could be easily refreshed with a mere gesture? And she had intended for this from the outset. Probably.

Just as the past naturally becomes embellished, Freugne had somehow succeeded in convincing herself.

That’s right. She had… approached Edan with the intention of marrying him from the beginning!

The notion that her initial purpose had been to observe him in case she needed to preemptively eliminate a potential threat – such a dreary, unromantic scenario could not possibly exist.

“But you were still his foster daughter at one point… right?”

“That was merely a smokescreen to prevent other vixens from approaching Edan!”

“…Right, if you say so, then that must be it.”

In the end, even Erinne accepted Freugne’s assertion.

Come to think of it, among herself, Urra, and Sif, she seemed to be the only one slightly taken aback. Like the two-eyed individual in the village of the blind, was this simply common sense?

“Hieehh……”

“Auntie?”

Judging by Freyja’s exclamation, it did not appear to be the case, but regardless.

And what could one do, even if aware of the facts?

There were no legal issues, and morally… well, if the parties themselves were content, did it truly matter?

The perceptive organization members seemed conflicted, wondering if they should attend their boss’s wedding out of obligation as subordinates.

However, Edan, who had already experienced enough of the Umbra’s proclivities, had no intention of turning his wedding into a Mafia: The Beginning scenario.

“Professor.”

“Oh?”

“Would you like to attend the wedding? If not, feel free to decline.”

“What a way to extend an invitation… No, I suppose it’s just like you. In any case, I’ll be there.”

After inviting a few personal friends, Edan then visited the professor who had played a parental role in his childhood, whom he had not seen in a long while.

The professor, who had diligently lectured during the war, seemed somewhat cheered upon receiving a box of chocolate chip cookies.

“Come to think of it, Professor, have you attended such occasions before?”

“Other weddings? Of course.”

“That’s good. Then would you be able to officiate ours?”

“That’s not too difficult, but… shouldn’t I at least know the bride’s name first?”

“It’s Freugne.”

“Hold on. Surely that girl isn’t the one you adopted befo-“

“She isn’t anymore, so it’s fine. I’ll take your silence as acceptance, and contact you again later!”

Time swiftly passed as Edan invited his close acquaintances and conducted the final location check.

And a few days later, the wedding took place on a cool, clear day.

While modest for the ruler of an organization that had encompassed all of Londinium, their happiness was more than enough.

---

Professor Magni ultimately accepted the role despite denouncing me as an incorrigible Freugne-lover.

And true to his serious demeanor when working, he solemnly made the declaration without any jest.

“The groom, please step forward.”

As I approached, he continued:

“Now the bride may enter.”

Freugne walked towards the altar and glanced at me with a slight smile.

She often said, “The future can change at any time.”

Yet she would add that only she could truly understand its meaning, but in fact, I was the one who had experienced the full implications of that statement.

The past that was now meaningless to recall.

The future I had envisioned back then, one that would never manifest even if I were to die and be reborn.

‘So this child will eventually betray humanity, huh.’

If shown this scene, I, who had once thought that, would have deemed myself insane and promptly sought a psych ward to drill a hole in my head.

But look how she had grown, this child who would have become that, had I done nothing.

“Why are you making that face?”

“No, it’s just… a bit awkward.”

“What do you mean? You’ll have to get used to it from now on.”

And had she not also acquired the title of “Hero” in the opposite direction?

For Freugne, whose predetermined path had been the farthest from that of a hero, to arrive at this destination – was it not ironically fitting?

The sole person in this world who would call her that, a secret I alone would keep for life, yet she was undoubtedly a hero.

As she softly murmured, Freugne soon straightened her posture at Magni’s slight cough.

With him reading the marriage vows, Freugne gently closed her eyes in preparation.

“-Then, with this promise and declaration of love, the groom and bride may seal it with a kiss.”

No, come to think of it, this was not the destination.

Rather, one could say it was the beginning.

“Now, look into my eyes. Uncl-, no.”

“……”

“…You?”

“What’s wrong?”

“No. It’s just… I’m still a bit awkward with the new name, it seems. It’s me who needs to get used to it.”

Who could possibly associate that gentle visage with the fearsome Umbra, let alone a hero?

Letting out a soft chuckle, I quietly pressed our lips together.

It was a clichéd yet miraculous conclusion – the hero returning to marry his beloved and live happily ever after.