Chapter 53: Isabel, Damme!

Has there ever been such a grand feast in this village?

A party for the villagers was held, the first since Dracos.

Happy moments of laughter, food, and drinks…

Lunari clung to me, feeding me food.

“Darling! Try this! It’s so sweet! The cherries are delicious…!”

Wow, it’s a party dress, but…

I can’t take my eyes off her.

Lunari’s beautiful appearance.

“Beautiful Divine Being Lunari Evergrace Becomes the Bride of the Male” Ver.

If such a heroine became my bride…

Gulp…

I imagine the nights would be very enjoyable…

Ah…ahem.

Anyway…

I chuckled softly and said to her,

“Haha, I’ll eat slowly.”

“Heh…? Then, should I feed you like this?”

Lunari held a cherry between her lips.

I almost had a nosebleed.

“Haha, n-no…! Anyway, Lunari, you should try this.”

“Hmm…?”

“…Why? Did you see something strange?”

Lunari suddenly looked at me with a serious expression.

“Darling! Don’t call me Lunari…! Call me honey!”

“Yes?”

“Why do you only call me darling!? Call me honey!”

“…”

Is it starting…?

Sigh…

Having a beautiful woman as a wife…

Is a charm no man can resist.

But I’m the Black Hound.

There are still heroines trapped in the abyss of evil.

To save them, I can’t stay in one place…

And I can’t be tied down by marriage.

Even if such a beautiful woman calls me “honey,” I won’t be swayed.

Well…

My heart is wavering a little…

“Hahahaha! You’re completely whipped!”

“Dad! You’re drinking too much!”

Han gulped down his beer.

Kaira tried to stop her father from drinking too much.

But, ignoring his daughter’s pleas, Han, his face flushed, said to us,

“Hey, hey, these are good times! Good times!”

He took another gulp, slammed his glass down, and approached me.

“Isabel! Let me tell you…! Hic!”

“Haha, you should rest now.”

“Dad! What are you doing!?”

Kaira rushed over and pulled Han away.

“…Just rest! Now!”

“…Never get tied down! Do you understand!? …Never get tied down…!”

He stumbled, hiccuping.

He kept grabbing my collar, mumbling drunkenly.

Haha…This man, who’s not even married, is giving me advice?

I’m not even married…

Ah…and this man’s breath reeks of alcohol.

“Even if she’s beautiful, you have to stay true! True! Do you understand!? A man has to have principles…”

“Get lost…octopus.”

Lunari glared at Han with a serious expression.

Han, looking at Lunari, murmured,

“…I’m not an octopus! And you! Now that you’ve become smart, listen carefully…! Don’t try to control men.”

“Heh, you should worry about yourself, octopus.”

“Look at this newlywed, huh?”

Han, dumbfounded, took another gulp of beer.

And started giving me more unsolicited advice.

“…This old man…”

“Shut up, takoyaki, octopus bread, octopus head, octopus monster, baldy, cueball, shiny head!”

Ah…

The baldy combo, it’s been a while…

I looked at Lunari and chuckled awkwardly.

“L-Lunari? You shouldn’t say things like that…?”

“Why, darling!? That old man is a real nuisance. That baldy…”

“What…?!”

Han yelled angrily.

“…Calling me baldy, baldy…I used to be a scary person.”

Han suddenly reached into his pocket.

I-Is that…a k-knife?!

I have to protect Lunari.

I grabbed Lunari’s wrist and pulled her into a protective embrace.

“Darling?!”

Han pointed at Lunari and shouted,

“Don’t do that! You nagging fox hag! I’m not baldy…! I just shaved my head for style!”

It seems he was just pointing at her.

I thought he might pull out a knife, being a former Thief Guild Leader…

It seems his once fiery personality has softened.

“You…ugly, fat, dog wife! Do you understand me!?”

Even with those words, Lunari didn’t seem fazed.

She stuck her tongue out and playfully lowered her eyelashes with her finger.

“Blegh! Baldy! Baldy!”
“Y-You fox…!”
“Dad! Stop it!”

—Kyahaha! Look, Han is fighting with someone!

—With who?!

—Oh, with that fox girl?!

—This looks fun! Let’s go watch!

As people started to gather…

I smiled and grabbed Lunari’s wrist.

“Lunari? Let’s get out of here. It’s getting noisy.”

“Seriously, because of that baldy…! Ugh!”

I chuckled and pulled her along.

“Let’s go, my fox lady.”

“…Call me honey. Sigh…”

“I’ll call you honey when I can take responsibility. I’m still inadequate.”

I said vaguely and walked with her.

“What’s inadequate about darling? I’m the inadequate one…”

No, I am inadequate…

Unlike you, I’m human.

It’s absurd for a human to marry a god.

Especially a goddess who controls nature, beastkin, and brings good fortune to humans.

Such a great Divine Being is right here.

I waved my hand dismissively and replied,

“Haha, I’m still inadequate to be the Divine Being’s husband, aren’t I? I still need training…”

“No…! Darling is more handsome than any other male! And smarter than any other male…! So…!”

“…?”

She suddenly stopped mid-sentence.

What was she about to say?

I looked down at Lunari.

Lunari blushed and suddenly blurted out,

“L-Let’s…do indecent things…! And! Have lots of darling’s babies…! And…live happily ever after!”

“…”

Haha…

That’s so like Lunari.

Has there ever been a heroine who’s so straightforward?

I wondered what to say.

Then I decided on an answer.

“I’d like that too, but…let’s think about that later. Haha, let’s talk again tomorrow. I’m still inadequate, after all.”

“…”

Her fox ears drooped, seemingly disappointed by my answer.

Lunari murmured with a dejected expression,

“…Did you…reject me?”

“Ah, n-no, it’s not a rejection…”

“But…”

Lunari looked up at me, smiled, and said seriously,

“I like darling…so I’ll wait!”

“…”

Her single-minded devotion…

She loves me like a puppy.

I don’t know what to say to her.

I’m leaving tomorrow…

Seeing Lunari’s cute expression made me feel a bit melancholic.

From the moment we met until now…

I’ve cherished her…

Haha, I hope she’ll be alright…

Our Lunari…

♥

Early morning.

Lunari was sleeping soundly.

Even though she’s a Divine Being, she still needs sleep.

I left a letter on Kaira’s desk, since Lunari probably can’t read.

So Kaira can read it to her.

After finishing my preparations, I left Han’s tavern.

“Haha, it seems everyone had fun…”

People were passed out all over the streets.

Traces of the feast were everywhere…

And empty bottles were scattered around.

Since everyone in the village is sleeping soundly…

I can easily leave the village.

Without even needing the Invisibility Robe.

I cheerfully walked towards the village gate.

Just then…

“…Are you leaving, Fox Mask?”

A voice called out from behind.

Startled, I turned around.

Lord Aias, the new lord of Mysticgrove, was smiling.

“Oh my, Lord, why…?”

“I was just taking a walk because I love this village.”

She’s certainly different from Dracos…

She seems to have a genuine love for the village.

“Haha, is that so?”

“More importantly, why are you leaving? I’d appreciate it if you stayed and…helped me.”

“Have you forgotten? I’m the Black Hound. My presence here would damage your reputation. And…isn’t there someone more capable in this village?”

“…”

Aias smiled faintly and murmured,

“The Divine Being Lunari…? Certainly, with the Divine Being protecting our village, there’s no problem. But…”

Aias looked at me seriously and then knelt.

She bowed deeply, her forehead touching the ground.

“Haha, Miss Aias? What are you doing? Please get up.”

Aias remained prostrate and murmured,

“…I haven’t properly thanked you. Thank you so much…No matter what your reputation is…you saved our village. And…me too…”

I chuckled softly at her words.

“Well, I didn’t really do anything. Please get up.”

“…”

Aias stood up at my words.

She smiled faintly and said,

“…When you come back next time, I’ll have developed the village even further and build a statue in your honor, Black Hound.”

…A statue?

What statue?

I chuckled, dumbfounded.

“I’ll have to decline. I don’t want a statue of myself.”

“…Fox Mask.”

Elysion Aias.

Even without words, I could tell…

She’s deeply grateful to me.

She will be the one to make this village even more prosperous.

And a symbol of equality, living together with beastkin.

With her protecting this place…

Both Lunari and everyone else will be happy.

My role here is over.

There’s no need to stay any longer.

I tipped my hat to her and said,

“Anyway, I think I should be going. Please give my regards to the Divine Being.”

“…Yes. Please be safe…Fox Mask.”

With her farewell, I walked into the forest.

[Quest Complete!]

---

“Holy Yoho Divine Being Lunari Evergrace.”

Lunari Evergrace.

She will rule Mysticgrove as a land of equality.

She will no longer devour humans…

Nor curse beastkin…

And she will become a divine being who governs nature.

A once ignorant beast…

Who lunged at humans to devour them…

A lump of hatred who hunted beastkin and expressed her resentment…

Thank you for raising the cute, but lacking, Lunari.

Black Hound, who became Lunari’s Master and guided the inadequate woman…

We thank you for your dedication in caring for Lunari Evergrace.

Thank you for raising “Yoho Lunari Evergrace” so wonderfully.

We appreciate your hard work.

[Reward: 10,000pt]

[Skill: Yoho’s Mischief]

---

With this, everything is complete.

Now, shall I move on to the next villainess…?