Chapter 84 – Last Chapter. Epilogue.

Last Chapter. Epilogue.

The once lush trees around the house had now left only bare branches,
and winter had come with snow gently falling.
It had been about half a year since the turmoil in the capital.

“It’s snow! Shaa─!”
“…It’s the same color as Saya’s hair. Beautiful.”
“Shaa? Pfel is pretty too.”

‘How cute.’
After the day Saya woke up, I stayed at the temple for a few days to recover and rest.
Afterwards, I wanted to quietly return home with the children, but… nobles came looking for me, having heard rumors from somewhere.

Saying they would cover my medical expenses, or that they would make me enormously wealthy.
They started making moves to draw me into political fights while spewing all sorts of nonsense, and unable to stand it anymore, I chose the last resort.
That was to tattle to the Goddess.

‘Kael. Can you hear me?’
[We-well, I’m still a goddess, couldn’t you at least add an honorific……]

‘Never mind that. Could you tell these people to stop bothering me? My body has healed, but I’m about to get sick from stress. Right now.’
[I’m sorry, but… interfering in human politics is a bit…]

‘Ow ow ow…. My body, injured while saving the world, is starting to ache….’
[Ah, I get it!]

Shortly after seeking cooperation from the Goddess, I gathered all the nobles who were trying to draw me into their factions at the temple, saying I had something important to tell them.
“Ariel-nim. We came because you said you had something important to say… but why are those Liandry Duke’s people here? Even the Zildren Count’s people are here.”

“Of course, we came because Ariel-nim called us too. Why are you glaring like that?”
“…My eyes are naturally sharp.”

“Well, you southerners do have slanted eyes. I understand.”
“What did you say?! You smelly northerner!”

“You southerners are the ones who smell!”
“Everyone, quiet.”

After silencing the nobles who were about to fight at the slightest eye contact, I spoke to the Goddess.
‘Now’s the time. Say something.’

[…Do I really have to do this?]
‘I’ll only ask this once.’

[Th-this is really the last time!]
“Li-light…! The statue of Goddess Kael is shining!”

“Oh… To witness this holy light with my own eyes in my lifetime…!”
And there was light.

“Dear everyone. I regret having to tell you this, but…”
The holy light that I had already experienced a few times filled the inside of the temple, and soon the Goddess’s voice began to resound.

“Sp-speak, Goddess!”
People’s reactions varied. Some burst into tears of joy, while others knelt down and prayed on the spot.
…The reactions were even more dramatic than I expected.

Well, maybe I’ve been taking the Goddess too lightly. I should reflect on that.
Even if she’s the Goddess who did a full bow in front of me, to someone else, she’s an object of faith.

“More…”
“More?”

The Goddess held her words for a moment, then spoke again in a loud voice that resonated throughout the temple.
“If you bother Ariel-nim… no, Ariel any more, I will bring divine punishment upon you!”

…After that day, the nobles’ attempts to bring me into their factions completely disappeared.
Instead, I ended up living with my face covered again as I was revered as some kind of divine apostle among the imperial citizens. What a tumultuous life I have.

‘I heard they’re making a statue of me this time.’
I sincerely hope they would stop. What will the children think when they see it, really.

“Saya. Using magic in a snowball fight is cheating.”
“I, I didn’t use it…”

“I saw you use it! Saya! What if you make the snowball as hard as a rock! Ouch!”
There were various twists and turns afterward, but they were all resolved well.

And now, having regained peace, I was watching the children having a snowball fight with a contented smile.
Crunch crunch.

Amidst this, the figure of someone appeared along with the sound of stepping on the snow-covered ground.
“Oh, someone’s coming.”

‘Who could it be? Marian and Riste said they were busy. Leon and Mona?’
It was an unexpected visitor.

“It’s been a while. Ariel.”
…It was Helion.

Helion had disappeared after bringing Saya to the temple that day. I thought he would be quietly holed up somewhere since the suggestion magic was still in effect.
“Wh-what are you! You!”

“Shaa─! It smells unpleasant!”
“…I do bathe quite often though. I’m hurt.”

I gently patted Saya and Cherni who were hiding behind me, then glared at Helion.
“Never mind that. Why did you come here? I’m not going to remove the magic on you, so wake up from that dream.”

Fortunately, my magic on him was still intact.
“…That’s not why I came.”

“Hm?”
Now that I look, he was holding something in his hand. What does it say? Tableware… gift set?

“What’s this? You.”
“I heard humans usually give things like this as gifts. I learned something.”

“Never mind that. Why are you giving this?”
I closely examined the gift set he held out. It doesn’t seem to have any traps… a real gift? Why would he?

“Just a token of gratitude for fulfilling my request. Well then, I’ll be going.”
‘Request? …Ah.’

“Please burn everything in the basement. Whether it’s Erdas… or the Demon Lord. It’s something you’re good at, isn’t it? Burning things.”
I didn’t particularly do it with his request in mind though.

…He had an expression that was hard to describe in one word. He looked sad, happy, and detached all at once.
“…”

I accepted the gift he held out with a slightly softened expression. It looks quite expensive.
“Well then, I’ll be going.”

As soon as I accepted the gift, he turned to leave as if he had completed his task.
Seeing his somewhat lonely back, I inadvertently called out to him.

“Wait a moment. Where are you going now? You’re not planning to do something strange again, are you? I’ll really burst your heart next time?”
“…How scary. I have no such intentions to begin with. I’m just thinking of wandering around for a while.”

He left those words and disappeared from my sight.
“What a strange demon he was.”

“Shaa.”
“Indeed. Kids, what should we eat for dinner today? Want to eat out?”

“…Sister. We ate out yesterday too. We need to save money.”
“Sniff.”

And so, another day passed.

“Oh, Leon. What’s that bouquet?”
One day, Leon and Mona came to visit our house.

The two often come to play at our house, but today they came with something special.
They came with a bouquet beautifully decorated with white flowers.

“Hehe. It’s a gift.”
“…Thank you.”

I thought, Oh, it’s just a simple gift─ but then I doubted my ears at Mona and Leon’s next words.
“I heard you’re getting married? Ariel? We heard from Marian and Riste! We were so surprised.”

“Congratulations. Ariel.”
“Eh?”

It wasn’t Leon and Mona getting married. It was me?
“What do you mean… Ah.”

“Sigh. It’s okay. By the way, Ariel. Do you remember what you said to Marian and me?”
“…Surely, you haven’t forgotten. Ariel.”

I recalled the conversation I had with Marian and Riste before.
…I thought Marian and Riste’s attitudes had been a bit strange lately. I never imagined they were planning something like this.

“Shaa? What’s marriage?”
“…What do you mean? Sister.”

“Ariel-nim?! Since when did you have fiancées?”
The children who were listening beside me each threw in a comment.

‘How should I explain this….’
“Ha, haha. Did I make a slip of the tongue?”

“…No, you didn’t.”
It became a bit troublesome, but.

And again, on another day some time later.
“Are, are you really doing this?”

“Of course. Although we can’t invite people due to circumstances…”
“Huhu. They call this ‘flowers in both hands,’ Ariel.”

Three brides and no groom. A somewhat unusual wedding ceremony was held in the temple.
A modest, secret wedding with only the hero party companions, Saya, Pfel, and Cherni as guests.

“Be happy! All of you!”
“Pfel. Why are you crying? Ariel is beautiful. Shaa…”

“…It’s because they’re all too beautiful.”
I, Marian, and Riste each wore pure white wedding dresses.

It’s a strange sensation. It feels like I’m wrapped in soft feathers.
“Huhu. We’re really getting married.”

“…It’s a strange feeling. Not bad though.”
Their appearances are so beautiful that it makes my heart race just looking at them. It reminds me of a single lily.

To think that I would be marrying such women. It’s a story too unrealistic.
“…”

Marian and Riste, standing on either side of me, gently held my hands.
Feeling their trembling transmitted, I unconsciously tightened my grip on their hands.

“…You all look good together.”
“Thank you. Mr. Henri.”

Mr. Henri officiated the ceremony. According to Marian, he said he really wanted to do it. I’m grateful.
Formal officiating words and Leon’s words of blessing followed.

There was an incident where Pfel burst into tears in the middle, but anyway, the wedding proceeded smoothly.
“Now, would the brides Ariel, Marian, and Riste please perform the kiss of love.”

“Wait a moment, Mr. Henri?”
“Please, go ahead.”

Is this what officiants usually say? The children are watching too…!
The two of them are already blushing as if they’ve made up their minds. My heart started beating violently, feeling like it might burst.

“”Ariel.””
Marian and Riste’s faces slowly approached mine.

The sweet scent of lilac penetrated my nose, making me feel dizzy.
I wonder if it’s okay for me to be this happy. I’m not sure.

I quietly closed my eyes and said,
“I love you.”

“Me too.” “…I love you too.”
Two pairs of lips gently overlapped with mine.

It was winter.
Fin.