第９１７堀：周りが何といおうとも…… (Part1)
Chapter 917: No Matter What Others Say...
Side: Agil
"..."
Reflected before me is a petite girl, standing on her tiptoes, sitting primly while draped in an excessively luxurious dress.
No, wait—since it’s a large full-length mirror, that figure is me.
Agil Thomson, one of the Magic Sword Users of the Holy Kingdom of Enaria.
Why am I wearing such a lavish dress, you ask? Well...
"...Jil? Agil. Agil!!"
The sound of my name reaching my ears causes me to turn around, where I find my colleague, Prism, standing there looking rather irritated.
"Er, yes? What is it?"
"What do you mean 'what'? We’re in the middle of a dress fitting, aren't we? What are you spacing out for? This is the final adjustment; you need to answer me properly if it’s too tight or not. If you trip during the ceremony, you’ll be exposing yourself to the shame of the entire world."
"Ah, right. Sorry. I was just looking at my own reflection in this dress—it looks so out of place that it didn't feel real."
That’s right. I, Agil Thomson, am getting married today.
"Why bring that up now? Ever since we came to Weed, any sense of reality has been blown to smithereens, hasn't it? Though, I don't mean it in that sense. Well, I suppose I understand. I, too, always thought you would spend your entire life wedded to your research."
"I appreciate you understanding. I never dreamed in my wildest fantasies that a day would come where I could actually get married. And to top it off, the partner is a man everyone envies: the Prince Consort of Weed, Yuki."
I never thought there would be anyone eccentric enough to say they wanted someone like me.
"You’re completely gushing now, aren't you?"
"Ah, no, I didn't mean it like that. Really."
"I know, I know. Even I find this situation hard to believe. To be honest, I naturally assumed I would be the one to get married first."
"Ah, I agree. And even if that had happened, I was planning on relying on you, Prism."
"Oh my, were you planning on getting in the way of my newlywed life?"
"That wasn't the intention. It’s just that you were the only one who would keep company with someone like me. I just assumed you’d accept me."
Yes, only Prism.
She was the only one who would stay by my side.
"Honestly, you have a way with words. But, yes. That was true. Though, things have changed recently, haven't they?"
"Yeah. Before I knew it, the time I spend with you has decreased quite a bit."
People change, I think to myself, perhaps a bit late.
I never imagined there would be so many people in this world who would understand and accept me.
And they have always brought me various unknowns that I had never encountered before.
I think this is something to be truly happy about.
Above all, I now have someone to show my feminine side to. I have friends, and my curiosity is being satisfied.
Yes, this is truly something to celebrate.
"...It’s a happy thing, but it’s also a little lonely."
"...I suppose so. But it’s not like we’ll never see each other again. Besides, traveling via Gate is instantaneous, and it’s impossible for Yuki to restrict my movements. I can go see you every day."
"That’s good. Though, don't go showing your face in Enaria too often. People might start wondering if you’ve been sent back to your parents' house."
"Ah, I see. My, that would be a shame."
Either way, things are destined to change. For better or for worse.
"So, how is it? Are you nervous?"
"Hmm, I wonder. I’ve gone through enough rehearsals, and I have the experience I’ve cultivated up until now, so I don't think I’ll fail easily, but..."
"But?"
"Well, it is my first wedding ceremony, after all. I think I’m naturally quite nervous. Look, I even froze up earlier just looking at myself in this dress."
"Ah."
"Besides, you were the one putting pressure on me, saying it would be a disgrace to Enaria if I messed up."
"Don't make it sound like it’s my fault."
"Haha, sorry, sorry. Well, regardless of what we say, it just means I’m that nervous."
"Well, that’s obvious. Even for me, standing in front of those dignitaries is far more nerve-wracking than any war."
That’s right. It’s not that I’m just prone to stage fright.
The members gathering for this wedding are just absurd.
It’s not normal for the majority of the attendees to be kings and queens.
The proposal itself was so quiet and modest, too...
*Shiver...*
"What was that? A battle tremor? You aren't heading off to war, you know?"
"...No. It seems I’ve suddenly become properly nervous."
This trembling isn't from a battle-ready spirit.
It’s from extreme tension.
Because I don't feel any excitement at all...
"...Are you okay? Can you stand?"
"Ah, ha, I’m not... that much of a child..."
Wait? My legs... they have no strength...
"Hey!?"
Before I could collapse, Prism smoothly caught me.
Oh, thank goodness. The dress was about to be ruined.
"You saved me."
"...You really are nervous, aren't you?"
"It seems so. Yeah, somehow... what do I do? Oh no, Yuki is going to hate meeee!"
For some reason, I can't help but imagine that.
My head knows that Yuki would never say such a thing, but if he sees me looking this pathetic and childish, he might be disillusioned...
"Yes, yes. Calm down. The man Agil chose isn't the type to mock you or hate you over something like that."
"That's right!"
Hm? Did I just hear a voice other than Prism's?
"I thought something seemed off."
Ah, this voice is...
"Deacon Hylen."
"Ugh!?"
Oh no, the dangerous one is here!?
It’s the flower-field Goddess!
"Hey, that’s rude to someone helping with the ceremony."
"Ah, yeah."
However, Prism doesn't know Hylen's true identity or nature.
She only knows the facade of a deacon of the Ritea Church.
This flower-field Hylen is the very Goddess worshipped by the Hylen religion, the largest faith on the new continent.
But if I said that, she’d never believe me, so I have no choice but to listen quietly.
"So, why is Hylen... Deacon, here? Do you have business with me?"
"I felt the presence of a lamb trembling in fear before her wedding, so I came to help!"
How incredibly troublesome.
I know, to an extent, that Hylen isn't a bad person, but her ability to stir up everyone around her with her "good intentions"—only to somehow produce a positive result in the end—is the type of threat I, a mere researcher, want to avoid most.
Yes, the terror of seeing everyone's hard work vanish in an instant is beyond imagination.
The best move here is to say something appropriate and send her away, but...
"Oh, isn't that nice? Deacon Hylen is an acquaintance of yours, right? In that case, she might be able to give you advice different from mine."
Prism, unaware of the behind-the-scenes circumstances, gave an honest reaction, and it’s painful...
While I was lost in thought, wondering what to do:
"The other day, Kagura and the others were worried too, and I solved it for them without a hitch, so don't worry! Consult me and consider yourself on a sturdy ship!"
"Is that so? Then I feel relieved."
No, no, no. I don't feel relieved at all.