Chapter 388

“Would you reconsider?”

Before leaving the Holy City for the last time, I stood before the Saint.

I had something to say.

“Hehe, and why is that?”

“You are the pillar that supports this Holy City, Saint. If you were to leave, Red Rain might plot something nefarious. Or perhaps, they might target you once you are outside.”

The reason I was saying this…

Was because the Saint had offered to officiate my wedding.

The wedding was to be held in the Odinel Duchy of the Empire, which was also my territory.

Naturally, this meant the Saint would have to be away for some time.

That couldn’t help but bother me.

“Do you think Red Rain, which has been quiet until now, would suddenly make a move then?”

“No one knows what the future holds.”

“Well, that’s true.”

The Saint nodded.

Had she agreed?

“But I don’t want to give up on this.”

No, she hadn’t.

“…Is officiating my wedding that important?”

I looked at the Saint with disbelief.

“Yes, I think it’s a very special occasion.”

“Pardon?”

“It seems you don’t quite realize it yourself. I saw it clearly this time. What your true strength, the one you’ve built up until now, is.”

“True strength? What do you mean…”

“People.”

“People?”

“Yes, at this graduation, the most people gathered around you, didn’t they? And you didn’t even call them; they came naturally.”

The Saint’s eyes sparkled.

“Elaine, the top student, right? A truly exemplary student. Riviera, a very unique student with astonishing magical talent. Regina, truly a legendary student council president, and now the best professor. Oscar, no explanation needed. She’s the new Empress of the Empire. Hiresia, a student as wonderful as her noble lineage. Isn’t it amazing and wonderful? That all these students have a special relationship with you, Max.”

“Cough.”

“Ah, I’m sorry. Was that a rash assumption?”

“N-No, it’s not that, I was just surprised…”

“Hehe, since it seems to bother you, I’ll move on.”

The Saint winked and continued.

“And that’s not all. So many students, too many to mention individually. All those students lined up, waiting to offer you a final word of congratulations. Why do you think that was? Because you’re particularly good at socializing? No, that’s not it. I’m certain of this. It’s because you became a desirable role model for those students.”

“A desirable role model?”

“Yes, a role model that makes them think, ‘I need to work harder too, I need to live more diligently.’ And that’s understandable, because you were originally a terrible troublemaker. Proudly at the bottom.”

“…Please leave out the ‘proudly’.”

“Hehe, but that’s how it was, wasn’t it? Anyway, many students were greatly stimulated by your changed appearance. In fact, the academic performance of your classmates improved significantly.”

I knew that too.

The very look in the eyes of my classmates, who had been ridiculed as the “failed generation,” had changed.

The strong motivation I provided had transformed them into different students.

“And that changed appearance calls for new stimulation. Because both seniors and juniors see it. It’s a positive virtuous cycle.”

It seemed the Saint had also been impressed by the changes in the academy.

Honestly, it wasn’t my intention from the beginning, but it was true that my actions had a lot of influence.

And it was definitely a positive phenomenon.

“Excellent students are rare. But there have always been excellent students every year. However.”

The Saint’s wise gaze met mine directly.

“Someone like you, Max, is truly special. Someone who has the power to move people’s hearts. That’s the true quality of a hero.”

“…Honestly, that’s quite embarrassing to hear.”

“Hehe, it doesn’t matter what you think, Max. I’m certain. You are the central axis that can save this world.”

“That’s you, Saint…”

“No, I am a legend of a bygone era who should have disappeared long ago. The world needs a new hero. I believe you can be that hero. Please, become that hero. Therefore.”

The Saint smiled gently.

“I really want to be there to bless the beginning of your new life, Max.”

* * *

*Clop, clop.*

Two people were in a carriage traveling down the main road.

A man and a woman, both dressed neatly and with effort.

It was Camian and Annette.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been to Odinel.”

Annette spoke.

“Indeed, the fierce battles we fought here feel like they happened just yesterday.”

Camian replied, his eyes reminiscent of the past.

“Ugh, w-we almost died back then.”

A groan escaped Annette’s lips.

The pincer movement from the rear, a strategy devised by Max.

To make it succeed, the anvil had to hold out desperately.

Only then could they buy time for the hammer to strike.

At that time, Camian and Annette had been in the role of the anvil, so it was natural that they had seriously felt their lives were in danger.

“We would have really died if Professor Regina hadn’t been there, right?”

Camian said.

At that time, they had been on the right flank with Regina.

“Y-Yes. She defeated fifty knights all by herself.”

The legendary battle of the civil war: one person against fifty Cavern Knights.

That’s when it happened.

“And Senior Max too.”

It was Max who had always devised the best strategies for the allied forces to win in the civil war.

If Max hadn’t been there, they might not have been alive today.

No, they definitely wouldn’t have been.

“Come to think of it, both of the people getting married today are our lifesavers.”

“Indeed.”

Camian continued.

“Honestly, at first, I didn’t think they’d even get married.”

“C-Camian, what are you saying on such a happy day…”

“No, everyone thought so back then. But now I understand. The Professor and Senior are a better match than anyone.”

“Of course. There’s no couple as well-matched as them.”

Annette nodded vigorously.

“So let’s send our Senior off beautifully now.”

“W-What are you talking about?”

“I think we’ve relied on Senior too much and acted like children. Senior can’t be with us forever, right? Honestly, my heart is sad, but I think it’s time for us to stand on our own two feet, without embarrassing Senior.”

It seemed Annette had done a lot of thinking.

Camian’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Annette…”

“Even if Senior isn’t here, we have amazing friends by our side, right? Like Leon and Lucia. I believe we can overcome any crisis if we work well with friends like them.”

“Hmm, I understand what you mean. I agree that it’s a desirable way of thinking. But.”

Camian continued, his expression filled with complex emotions.

“Senior is special. No one can replace him. I need him, no, the academy needs him.”

“Even so, we can’t keep acting like children around Senior, Camian. He must have his own path that he has decided on.”

“I suppose so. Still, I’m looking forward to what Senior has to say to us at this wedding.”

“Don’t get your hopes up too much…”

“I know. In a way, I’ve already let go.”

As they talked, the carriage finally arrived in Odinel.

Annette looked out the window and exclaimed in admiration.

“Wow, it’s completely different from when I saw it before.”

“That was when it was devastated by war. This must be the original appearance of Odinel.”

“The peaceful atmosphere is so nice. People’s expressions have really brightened up.”

“That means good governance has been implemented.”

“Ah, come to think of it, I heard Senior’s younger sibling is temporarily in charge of Odinel’s administration.”

“His younger sibling is capable too.”

They reminisced about the changed peacefulness of Odinel.

It was understandable, as both of them had proudly participated in the Battle of Odinel.

In the meantime, the carriage arrived at the center of Odinel.

It was the lord’s castle, newly restored after being destroyed by catapult attacks during the war.

“Halt! We need to check your identification.”

The carriage stopped in front of the castle gate.

“Check? Should we show them the invitation?”

“Probably?”

Camian opened the window and handed the invitation to the guard.

“For today’s wedding…”

“Huh, excuse me!”

The guard’s attitude changed 180 degrees upon seeing the invitation.

He knew the status of those who could receive such an invitation.

“Please enjoy your time!”

The castle gate swung wide open.

* * *

“Oh, our juniors.”

The first person they encountered was one of Max’s best friends.

Allen Benesse.

Camian and Annette, of course, knew Allen.

He seemed somewhat unreliable, but he always did his part.

He was a strange senior, if one had to describe him.

“Hello.”

“Hello, Senior Allen.”

“Yes, you’ve come a long way to congratulate our team leader.”

Allen still called Max “team leader.”

They didn’t know the details, but they remembered hearing some strange reason like, “Once a team leader, always a team leader.”

“You seem to have come a long way from the kingdom yourself, Senior…”

“Haha, of course. We’re best friends. Even if it were the ends of the earth, wouldn’t I have to come and congratulate him in person?”

“Yes.”

“But… on the other hand, I’m sad.”

“Yes?”

A word completely out of place for a wedding ceremony made Camian and Annette look at each other with questioning expressions.

This senior, what was he talking about now?

“I-I want to do it too.”

“Do what?”

“G-Get married.”

“…”

“Sob, sob, Mother, I’m sorry. Your son… Mmph!”

*Thump!*

Someone forcibly covered Allen’s mouth.

A handsome man who bore no resemblance to Allen.

It was Leon Benesse.

“Sorry, please understand. He’s not usually like this, but he’s fixated on this one thing.”

“Mmph, mmph!”

J-Just one thing?

Could it be… a woman?

Leon seemed to have already understood from his friends’ expressions.

“It’s exactly what you’re thinking. For my sake, just forget about it and move on.”

“Uh, o-okay.”

“A-Alright.”

Camian and Annette broke out in a cold sweat.

Their eyes met, and they silently agreed that they needed to get out of here quickly.

“W-Well, then, later.”

“Yes, thank you.”

“Mmph!”

Camian and Annette hurriedly walked away.

It was then.

“Hmph, did you come all the way here to reek of cringey couple vibes?”

This familiar insult?

Camian’s gaze turned.

And he saw.

It was indeed Slain, the Fangs of Slaughter.

“What, you came too?”

Camian said, sounding incredulous.

He knew that Max and Slain were by no means on good terms.

“Hmph, only amateurs need an invitation to come. A master, like me, can shamelessly come even without an invitation… Mmph?”

*Thump!*

Slain’s mouth, which had been speaking confidently, was covered.

It was Lucia, Slain’s only close friend.

“Ah, seriously, have you no shame? If you tagged along on my invitation, just shut up and eat quietly.”

“…”

“Sorry, you know, right? He’s always like this.”

“Uh, y-yeah.”

“U-Uh-huh.”

Sweat trickled down Camian and Annette’s foreheads again.

What was this?

Was this a dream?

Why did it feel like the same situation was repeating itself?

“He’s loud and annoying, so it’s best to stay away from him.”

“Mmph, mmph?”

Still, Lucia kindly offered advice.

“A-Alright.”

Camian and Annette moved again.

To find a space where they could find peace of mind.

“O-Over there!”

Camian said urgently, having spotted someone.

There was former student council president Elaine.

A-A normal person!

They quickly moved towards her.

And…

“Congratulations. Truly, congratulations.”

Huh?

“Hehe, I’m doing well.”

Huh?

“Ah, this isn’t quite right.”

…

*Slink, slink.*

Camian and Annette retreated.

It was an instinct honed on the battlefield to avoid dangerous situations.

Just as they were wandering like lost sheep, a voice announcing the start of the wedding ceremony saved them.

“The ceremony will begin shortly! We kindly ask all guests to take their seats!”