Chapter 387

“O-Okay.”

I struck a pose with an awkward smile.

I heard my family members whispering in surprise.

“W-Who is that?”

“An elf… No, I think she’s a high elf…”

“Oh my, I’ve never seen one before. How can she be so beautiful and graceful?”

“Y-Yes, indeed.”

It seemed like she had made a strong first impression.

Well, anyone would be impressed by Hiresia.

“B-But she seems quite close to Brother.”

“Haha, your brother must have had a good school life. He has such wonderful friends.”

“Hehe, yes, it’s nice to see.”

Yes, that’s me.

…But my social life was a bit too lopsided, which was giving me a headache.

“Congratulations on your graduation.”

“Thank you, Senior.”

Hiresia seemed to be greeting me casually.

But then she suddenly leaned in and whispered urgently in my ear, “A-Are those…?”

“Ah, they’re my parents and my sister.”

“Ugh.”

“?”

“W-Was I acting strange earlier? M-Me, I mean.”

She was so flustered that her true self slipped out.

Now I understood why she was acting like this.

It seemed like even high elves felt burdened when meeting their future in-laws for the first time.

Well, I had been flustered too when I first met my World Tree mother-in-law (?).

“No, you weren’t strange at all. Don’t worry.”

I tried to reassure her, but it didn’t seem to work.

“S-Should I greet them now?”

“Hmm, wouldn’t that be a bit strange too?”

“T-Then?”

“Let’s take the photo first. Then I’ll introduce you.”

“A-Alright.”

She nodded.

I was about to tell Dolph to take the photo when,

“I’ll take it.”

Wait, who was it this time?

…It was my fiancée, Regina.

“Cough, cough, cough.”

Hiresia suddenly started coughing like she had a cold.

W-Why was she so flustered?

Senior, you can be confident now.

“You two look great together.”

“Cough, cough, cough.”

But why was I coughing?

W-Was it guilt?

Was it because of guilt?

B-But I was just trying to save the world…

Ugh, my modern conscience was pricking me.

I-In times like this, I should reflect on myself.

Who was I?

The Duke, the noblest aristocrat in the empire.

So polygamy was natural.

Of course it was.

Y-Yes, I had to be confident.

“N-No, you don’t have to go to such trouble… We can just ask Dolph.”

“Y-Yes, that’s right. We can’t bother the Professor…”

We both tried to dissuade Regina.

But she shook her head.

“No, you look so good together. I really want to take the picture myself.”

“Cough, cough!”

“Cough, cough!”

“I’m serious. So just relax and strike a pose.”

She smiled faintly and practically snatched the magic camera from Dolph.

There was nothing we could do if she insisted.

“O-Okay.”

“A-Alright, Professor.”

We struck a pose, trying to look affectionate.

But it was obvious that we were both awkward.

My sister seemed to have noticed too.

“D-Don’t you think there’s something going on between my sister-in-law and that high elf?”

“Hey, don’t make baseless assumptions. They seem to be close enough for her to offer to take their picture.”

“No, really. I’m not just saying things. I can feel it. It’s something women can sense.”

…Sister, just keep it to yourself.

“It’s a bit disappointing. You look stiff. It would be better if you looked more natural and happy.”

Regina ordered, like a professional photographer.

I quickly whispered, “…Senior, think about meat. Tender, juicy beef tenderloin.”

“Y-Yes, meat. There’s meat in front of me. The most delicious meat in the world. Meat, meat, meat.”

Hiresia was also trying her best, knowing that this awkward moment would only end if she satisfied Regina’s request.

*Smile*

A natural smile appeared on her face.

The expression of someone who was about to eat delicious meat.

Good.

I also imagined a happy moment.

The moment when I saved the world and lived happily ever after with my beloved heroines.

Yes, it would happen someday, right?

*Smile*

A happy smile appeared on my face.

“Yes, that’s perfect.”

*Click!*

And so, our affectionate and heartwarming moment was captured in a photo.

My heart felt warm.

Hiresia seemed to have calmed down a bit too.

“T-Thank you, Professor. I’ll take your picture next time.”

“Oh my, will you?”

“Yes, yes.”

“Thank you.”

Hiresia and Regina exchanged smiles.

They switched places.

It felt strange to be the only one who remained in the same position.

“It’s a happy moment, isn’t it?”

Regina whispered, standing next to me.

“A-Ah, y-yes.”

“It’s the happiness that your life has brought you.”

“That’s…”

“I’ll work hard with you so that it can continue. Because I’m going to be your wife.”

Her words, spoken at an unexpected moment, moved my heart.

I carefully chose my words and replied sincerely, “…Thank you. I’ll also work hard for your happiness for the rest of my life.”

“Not just mine, but ours.”

“Ah, yes, ours.”

I quickly corrected myself.

Yes, that was right.

Not just one person’s happiness, but ours.

We were no longer strangers.

We were family.

We had to walk together for the rest of our lives.

“You look great. I’m taking the picture.”

*Click!*

And so, my last and special graduation ceremony ended, forever captured in a photo.

* * *

If you want to hide something, hide it underground.

I faithfully followed that adage.

– Private Property. Under Reconstruction. Go Back.

A path blocked by layers of yellow warning signs.

I ignored the signs and entered.

Construction materials were scattered everywhere, and buildings were just ugly skeletons.

My gaze swept over the buildings.

And then I entered one of them.

No, it was more like a skeleton that was supposed to be a building.

But at least it had walls.

I entered and stared at the floor.

It was a dull floor that looked no different from any other.

But I could see it.

I approached one side of the floor and placed my hand on it.

*Creak*

The sound of the floor moving and a space opening up.

My figure soon disappeared into the space below.

*Thud*

I closed the opening and went down.

I had light magic, so visibility wasn’t a problem.

A winding path.

I knew where it led.

After walking for a while,

I saw an iron door.

*Click*

The door was locked.

Of course it was.

It had to be.

“Cute turtle.”

I said the password.

“Confirmed.”

*Clank*

The locked iron door opened.

“What, it’s you, Brother Max?”

“What, it’s you?”

We both said the same thing.

*Thud!*

I closed the door and said to Ran, “Can’t we change this cheesy password?”

“It was decided by a majority vote. Why?”

“…Ah, right.”

I still couldn’t believe it.

That this ridiculous password, proposed by Ran, had won by a majority vote.

“Ahem, any problems?”

“No, the construction and preparations are going smoothly.”

“Good.”

We talked as we walked.

“Ah, by the way, yesterday was your graduation, right? Congratulations.”

“Thanks.”

“I’ve never been to school, so I really wanted to go, but I held back. You said it’s a secret that I’m here.”

The 300 turtles (?) who had secretly come to the Holy City with the Saint’s help…

Their presence in the Holy City was, of course, top secret.

They were the core of the force I was secretly building in the Holy City.

“Yes, I’m sorry. You’re going through a lot.”

“No, it’s fine. You said it’s for saving the world. I have to endure this for that.”

Ran’s expression was bright.

Her strong, steel-like spirit…

That was her strength.

“We’re continuing the construction of the new entrance.”

“Any difficulties?”

“We have enough manpower and resources.”

Ran smiled.

300 of the best personnel who had survived hell and the civil war…

Their labor power was no match for ordinary workers.

And the resources…

“Rich turtle.”

The second password.

“Confirmed.”

The door opened.

“Oh my, you’re here, Your Grace!”

A middle-aged man greeted me enthusiastically.

It was Carson, the black market merchant.

And he was the one who was supplying the resources.

No matter how rich I was or how powerful a duke I was, the Holy City wasn’t my territory.

It meant that I didn’t have the ability to secretly and easily procure resources in the Holy City.

Carson, on the other hand, was different.

A seasoned black market merchant who had been operating in the Holy City for decades…

He had more than enough connections.

And since he was a black market merchant, no one would suspect anything if he bought resources.

It would just look like he was doing business to make a living.

That’s why I had chosen him as my ally.

He was happy because he was making a lot of money thanks to me, and I was happy because I was getting the resources I needed to build my force.

It was a perfect symbiotic relationship.

“You look better every day.”

“Hehe, it’s all thanks to you, Your Grace.”

He looked like he had made a good judgment.

He wasn’t wrong. His life had blossomed thanks to one good regular customer.

“Well, well, please sit down.”

He led me to a luxurious sofa in the inner room.

“Oh, Savior, you’re here?”

“Congratulations on your graduation, Savior.”

The turtle unit members who were resting on their shift greeted me.

I gestured for them to relax and then turned my attention back to Carson.

“There should be no negligence, even when I’m not here.”

“Oh my, of course. I’ll take care of everything, day and night.”

“I trust you.”

“Yes, trust me. I’ve staked my life on this!”

I had to believe him when I saw his eyes.

Money, lots of money, more money, even more money… That’s all I could see in his eyes.

“Ah, by the way, what kind of wedding gift would you like, Your Grace…?”

“It’s fine. I appreciate the thought. I don’t like burdensome things.”

“Ah, I see, I see. Understood.”

He was quick-witted, which was good.

Clueless people would have been desperate to shower me with gifts.

It was then that,

“You’re here, Savior.”

A familiar face approached.

Knight Milia.

No, I should call her my believer now.

My most trustworthy believer.

“It’s been a while. You must be working hard.”

“No, Your Grace. It’s rewarding to work for you.”

…She was a hardcore believer.

“W-Well, anyway, I came here for a final check before I leave.”

“I see.”

“Fortunately, everything seems to be going smoothly.”

“Yes, it’s all thanks to you, Savior.”

P-Please don’t.

I can’t stand it.

“…Ahem, I think I can return to my territory with peace of mind.”

“Yes, please have a wonderful wedding, blessed by everyone, and return safely.”

Return.

Yes.

I would return.

Here.

“Thank you.”

I stood up.