Unlimited Fafnir Vol EX Chapter 3 (Patreon)

Chapter 3 – Merry Christmas ─Newly Written Short Story─

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◆ Christmas Panic (First)

A large helicopter landed on the heliport with a loud sound and strong wind.

A transport ship docked at the port while splashing white sea spray.

I──Mononobe Yuu was standing at the edge of the wharf, staring at the visitors to Midgard.

Today was 22 December. The first day of Midgard Christmas party that was going to be held for four days.

Although, the students of Midgard including me still weren’t in the party mood at all.

The party by the students and for the students would be held in the latter two days.

The first two days would be “diplomatic event” that was opened for the invited outsiders.

Boarding the ships and helicopters were influential people and press from various countries, Midgard’s investors, relatives of “D”, and inspectors from Asgard and NIFL.

They were showed around to have a look of the academy in general, and then they got invited to the party venue in a decorated underground training ground.

There the headmaster Charlotte should be busy running around doing various political negotiations to maintain Midgard’s safety and self-autonomy.

But we the members of Brunhilde class also couldn’t treat it as other people’s problem. We also attended this party and received interview from various press members.

I wasn’t really confident whether I could speak well in front of television camera.

However I should be able to manage somehow.

It should be fine if I simply said what was in my mind. Even now my chest was filled with gratitude toward the people who lent us “light” in that battle.

The bigger problem was──.

「Captain!」

I heard a voice calling me from the heliport. It seemed that they had arrived.

I made a heavy sigh and resolved myself before heading there.

The girl wearing boy uniform, Jeanne Hortensia was waving her hand at me. She was my classmate who also belonged to Brunhilde class, but she was my subordinate when we were in NIFL. That was why Jeanne still called me captain even now.

「Yeah, I’m going there!」

I replied with a loud voice so that it wouldn’t be drowned by the sound of helicopter’s motor and hurried to the heliport that was located beside the port.

And then the large helicopter’s hatch opened at the same time when I reached Jeanne’s location.

Coming down from there was a tall man and seven boys.

All of them were wearing NIFL’s military uniform. They were radiating a dangerous atmosphere that didn’t suit this peaceful southern island.

「──Hello Second Lieutenant Mononobe. Thanks for coming this far to welcome us.」

The man smiled slightly when he saw me and talked to me.

「Long time no see Major Loki. This is because you acted as you pleased during the school festival and I met a horrible experience after that. This time I’ll watch over you closely from start to finish.」

I replied to my former superior──Loki Jotunheim with a sarcastic tone.

「Fuh……that means you are my escort. That’s great. With this my Sleipnir has regained its complete form.」

Major Loki glanced briefly toward Jeanne before smiling in delight.

Then the boys standing behind him all saluted simultaneously.

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「Captain Mononobe! Long time no see!!」

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I responded with a wry smile toward the straightforward gaze of my former subordinates.

「……I’m glad that you guys are also looking well.」

When I saw them the last time, they were swallowed by authority and lost their ego. However right now each of them was showing a human expression.

「But, let me make this clear──I’m not planning to return to Sleipnir. I’m Brunhilde class’s Mononobe Yuu till the end. Of course that includes Jeanne too.」

I grabbed the shoulder of Jeanne who was observing the situation from the side and pulled her closer. Her face turned red, even so she nodded her head.

「Y-yes, it’s just as captain say!」

Jeanne declared so, but Major Loki turned a meaningful gaze my way with his long slit eyes.

「That’s too bad. However Second Lieutenant Mononobe──I intentionally bring them here because I think that you will need them.」

「What do you mean……by that?」

I frowned and asked back. Major Loki shrugged and dodged the question.

「You will understand soon. First you can fulfill your current role.」

I reluctantly returned to my work by his urging.

「──Then please follow me. I’ll show everyone the currently peaceful Midgard.」

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Right now the visitors from outside were showed the figures of the students working hard in preparing the party.

The hall that would become the main venue for the third and fourth days, and the classrooms of each class where the after party would be held.

There the “D” girls living in Midgard were decorating the places with their utmost effort.

Jeanne and I brought Major Loki and the others to go around each classroom.

「This is Ortlinde classroom.」

「──I see.」

However Major Loki only gave such interested reply even though I was showing him around.

The members of Sleipnir who were walking behind us were also getting excited with a completely unrelated topic.

「However to think Jeanne is actually a woman.」

「But, thinking back now there was a lot of strange things from her.」

「……She absolutely wouldn’t change in front of other people.」

「I thought she was a strange fellow, but I paid it no mind because this squad is full of eccentrics.」

「Who are you calling eccentric!」

「I think it’s you yourself if you have self-awareness though.」

「I have absolute confidence that I’m not an eccentric so please don’t include mee~」

Jeanne who became the center of the topic was warning them with a slightly fed up look.

「You guys, it’s fine to make a racket like that but──don’t you dare ogling at Midgard’s female students. They don’t really have immunity toward male. It also became a big commotion when I transferred into here.」

They nodded at Jeanne’s instruction, but to be honest we already became the center of attention even without doing anything.

When we came in front of a classroom, the girls would keep working while observing us from the corner of their eyes and whispering to each other with low voices.

At first I thought they were looking at the members of Sleipnir who were males of similar age with them, but I noticed that wasn’t the case.

「──Look, that person.」

「Ah……as I thought, at the school festival, he and Yuu-sama──」

「Really? Then that rumor……」

「Yuu-sama who was dressed as woman went to the rooftop──」

It seemed that they were looking toward Major Loki and me.

Major Loki also came for inspection at the school festival, so perhaps there were students who remembered him.

「……Certainly those two are, for some reason──」

「Hurry and contact President Firill!」

「No, I’m in Jeanne-sama faction till the end……」

「But by any chance……the relationship map from here on will──」

My back got goosebumps from the fragments of conversation that I picked up.

I didn’t really get what they were talking about, but my instinct was pleading to me that it would be better to not stay here for long.

「Major Loki, I’ll show you the next classroom.」

When I prompted Major Loki, shrill cheers kyaa rose from inside the classroom for some reason.

I sped up my steps to run away from those voices.

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The party for outside visitors that was held in the decorated underground training ground ended without any particular problem.

I believed that the media coverage toward Brunhilde class was also done well.

When reading letter that was directed toward the people of the world, Iris bit her tongue many times, but that was also a warming scene.

However there was no way the first day of the party would end peacefully like that.

That was something that I knew since Loki Jotunheim landed on Midgard with Sleipnir in tow.

「──Now then, Second Lieutenant Mononobe. I wonder if you are able to determine your “enemy”?」

I took a break at the corner of the venue after the media coverage. Major Loki approached me there and threw me that question with a lowered voice.

「You mean the guys making suspicious movements during the party? It seems that Sleipnir dealt with them though……」

I also kept looking forward while replying back with a small voice.

「Yeah, they are spies that sneaked in by slipping among the invitees. We apprehended them when they sneaked out of the party venue to try something with the electricity generator. However this won’t be the end of it.」

「What’s their objective?」

「──Capture of “D” who belong to Brunhilde class.」

「I see.」

I replied shortly. Major Loki looked at me with a surprised face seeing my reaction.

「You are calmer than I expected.」

「Because I have thought that something like this might happen.」

And I had decided since a long time ago. That I would protect this ordinary days from any enemy.

「Atla has deciphered their communication cipher just now. It seems they are planning to assault your lodging house tonight.」

「──I’ll turn the table on them.」

「You’re mistaken, Second Lieutenant Mononobe. That won’t be insufficient. You should crush the crawling out insects thoroughly without leaving any behind. By yourself you will have no option other than focusing on defending your base, but right now you have eight powerful legs with you.」

Major Loki turned a sharp gaze at me. I sent back a bitter expression at him.

「……I’m not going to count of this as a debt you know?」

「Of course. After all we are also obtaining your cooperation. Now──Fafnir. Feel free to ride Sleipnir and go in a rampage.」

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The night was filled with radiant stars.

I was taking rein of Sleipnir at the empty lot behind the lodging house.

「──All hands, report the situation.」

I questioned through the small communicator on my ear. Then replies immediately came back.

『This is Lancelot. The defense of clock tower headquarters successful~. Three enemies secured.』

『Otr here. Their “upper” is secured.』

『……Nataku. Encountering enemies inside the forest. Securing one. The enemies are using high precision optical camouflage. Be cautious.』

『This is Sigurd. No abnormality at the southern coastline.』

『It’s Robin. The enemy’s electronic warfare personnel neutralized. I have poured in Atla-san’s special virus into their terminal, so there is no worry for Midgardsorm boss.』

『Kunato here. Enemy’s escape boat confirmed at the north coast. Two enemies on standby are neutralized.』

『This is Jeanne. Captain, one group confirmed advancing through the thick forest at the northeast.』

I immediately gave the next order after hearing Jeanne’s report.

「Roger. Regin, go around behind the enemies and cut off their path of retreat. Jeanne, cover him up with sniping when the enemies get into open space.」

『This is Regin. Roger.』

『Jeanne here, mission acknowledged.』

I finished the communication and turned my focus toward the thick forest surrounding the open space.

「It looks like things are going smoothly, Second Lieutenant Mononobe.」

Major Loki who was leaning on the lodging house’s wall while observing my command talked to me in enjoyment.

「──Yes. But, who are the enemies? Optical camouflage is still not applicable even in NIFL……and they have even prepared to turn off Midgardsomr……」

Major Loki responded with a smile of implication at my gaze of suspicion toward him.

「They are a group that got cocky after getting their hand on a legacy.」

「……A legacy?」

「Yeah──the legacy of an ancient civilization that possess a different technological system than Atlantis……they excavated a “ship” called Agarta from deep underground. Their cutting edge equipment is the benefit from that.」

「What……」

I held my breath. Major Loki shrugged slightly at me.

「Don’t worry. In the end Agarta is just the wreckage of “those who failed to arrive”. They weren’t at the level of Atlantis, our ancestor who travelled through the distant space. In fact, we have almost completely suppressed their base. The attack this time is their last chance to revive from their brink of death.」

「Then, this matter will be resolved if all of them are captured.」

I sighed in relieve while confirming.

「That’s how it is. But, it will be better if you at least keep this in mind. This world, the space is extremely vast. Many threats that surpassed our imagination are lurking out there.」

Major Loki narrowed his gaze and told me with a lowered voice.

「For example──there is this record within the database that Atla salvaged from Agarta. In this universe, there are seven existences of heinous demons who are called as “deadly sins” or perhaps “fallen creators”.」

「Fallen, creators……」

I knew about the words of creator. Major Loki watched my expression and turned his eyes toward the space and muttered.

「Yes, Angolmois that all of you defeated is one of those. The deadly sin “Gluttony”. Well, in this vast universe, the possibility of us encountering another deadly sins in our lifetime is extremely low. However, the unexpected can possibly occur anytime.」

「…………」

I responded wordlessly to his words.

「Second Lieutenant Mononobe. Peace is something that you win with effort. It’s something that cannot be protected unless you continue to fight. Even if you yourself aren’t fighting, there is someone somewhere fighting. Also you never know who will turn into your enemy.」

There his bottomless cold gaze pierced me.

「I will continue to fight in order to make mankind’s survival continue. When the peace that you are trying to protect become an obstacle to that, I will surely become your enemy once more.」

I accepted his gaze head on and nodded deeply.

「──Yes, I understand. But, at the very least that time isn’t now.」

When I warded off Major Loki’s chilling killing intent with a smile, he too sported a small smile.

「I guess. At the very least, right now is──」

And then both Major Loki and I pulled out a gun simultaneously.

Toward the “unseen enemies” that appeared inside the jungle.

The precision of the optical camouflage was really high and it was impossible to perceive the attacker’s form with naked eye. However all my senses other than my sight were alarming that the enemy was there.

Gunshots rang out over each other.

Like that──my peace was continuing.

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◆ Christmas Panic (End)

「Fuu……it’s finally over……」

The second day of the party.

Major Loki and Sleipnir took away the attackers that were captured last night to NIFL. We had also seen off the other visitors from the party venue just now.

The training ground that was decorated to be party venue was now completely deserted.

The noisy atmosphere filling this place until just now felt like a lie now.

I sat down on a seat near a table where empty glasses were left untouched and stared in a daze toward the tall ceiling. Then I heard light footsteps approaching.

「Thanks for your hard work Nii-san. However the real thing will only start after this for us.」

When I turned my gaze, Mitsuki was there standing in her uniform with a wry smile.

Last night, while I was taking on the attackers outside the lodging house, Mitsuki and others were also preparing inside the building in case the unthinkable happened. In the end that kind of situation didn’t occur, but the ill effects from spending our time like that affected our preparation today. We only barely finished our works.

「……Yeah, I know. It will be the party for the students starting tomorrow. That’s where the student council president and executive committee president need to work hard.」

I raised my arms high and stretched. I pulled myself together and stood up.

Fatigue was accumulating in me, but I still couldn’t rest.

Then the other members of Brunhilde class also gathered here.

「Mononobe! I’ll also help out!」

Running this way with her long silver hair bouncing around was Iris who looked like she still had excessive energy left.

Ariella who was following behind her was looking at Iris with a respectful gaze.

「Iris is amazing……I’m already worn out here. I never want to go through another interview anymore.」

Certainly Ariella’s face was showing deep color of exhaustion.

Midgard’s common students didn’t attend this party, but we were the exceptions. Our faces and names were exposed during the broadcast asking for help from people all over the world. All of us were going through the interview in our uniform.

「You can just deal with something like that half-heartedly. It will be just your loss if you respond to them seriously.」

The one who said that was Kili who looked like she still had some leeway.

However Lisa immediately interrupted from beside her.

「Wait a second Kili-san. Isn’t that rude toward everyone who lent us their strength in the final battle if you act like that?」

「What are you saying. We saved the world in exchange of them lending their strength. All our debts should be cleared with that. Our positions with each other are equal. There is no need for us to act servile to them.」

「I’m not telling you to act servile toward them. This is a matter of sincerity──」

Lisa and Kili started arguing.

But this was something usual so I didn’t really do anything to stop them and talked to the approaching Ren.

「Were you able to talk with Chief Miyazawa Ren?」

Miyazawa Kengo, the chief of Asgard’s far east branch’s first laboratory and also Ren’s father showed his face in this party too.

「……Nn. I didn’t. But, I punched his back hard.」

Ren said that and smiled in satisfaction.

「I see, you did great.」

I also laughed and patted Ren’s fluffy red hair. She narrowed her eyes pleasantly.

「Aah! Yuu! Tia too Tia too!」

Tia also pestered me after seeing that, so I put my other hand on Tia’s head and patted her.

Tia was wearing hat the whole time during the party. Her hair was slightly damp from sweat because of that. Her horns looked a bit too conspicuous, so they were hidden during the interview.

There I felt a light impact on my waist.

When I turned around, Shion was looking up at me as though she wanted to say something.

Jeanne and Vritra were also there behind her.

These three didn’t have their faces and names broadcasted during the final battle, so they didn’t participate in the party and waited somewhere else.

「Captain, thanks for all of your hard work. Shion couldn’t have captain pay attention to her yesterday and today, so it looks like she is feeling a bit lonely.」

Jeanne looked at Shion who was clinging on me wordlessly and said that. Vritra also nodded with a tired look.

「I have kept her company all this time. Thou better be grateful.」

「……Papa.」

Shion pleaded with her gaze.

But right now I had both my hands full even if I wanted to look after her. As I pondered about what to do, Tia grabbed my hand and lifted it up.

「Yuu, Tia is an Onee-san, so Tia will give her turn to Shion!」

Hearing that Ren also parted from me reluctantly.

「Nn……me too.」

「Thanks you two.」

I thanked the two of them before facing Shion and combed her purple hair with my fingers.

「I’m sorry that I made you felt lonely like that. Today we are going to decorate the hall after this……can you also help Shion?」

Unlike the administration work until now, Shion should also participate if it was a decorating work, so I made that suggestion.

Hearing that Shion’s face brightened joyfully and she nodded enthusiastically.

「Yes! I’lL heLp oUt With paPa’s woRk!」

Everyone around us smiled seeing Shion’s happiness.

Shinomiya-sensei and Headmaster Charlotte also came toward us while that happened.

「Mononobe Yuu. Us the staffs will tidy up this place. All of you can quickly return to your actual work. Shion──do your best in helping them okay?」

Shinomiya-sensei put her hand on Shion’s shoulder and encouraged her.

「My friend, and young ladies! Our public appeal can be said as successful thanks to all of you. With this there is no need for us to care about external attention for a while. Go relax and enjoy the party in the remaining two days.」

Charlotte was wearing a gorgeous dress that was fitting for the master of Midgard. She thanked our effort with a serious face.

But her expression immediately loosened up after that. She quickly approached me and whispered into my ear.

「──Fu fu fu, actually my friend. I have prepared extremely bold and beautiful dresses for the maidens. You can look forward to tomorrow. Also, don’t forget to take some commemorative photographs alright? I too wish to appreciate their figures leisurely later after all.」

「You never changed at all Char……well, I get it.」

I nodded with a wry smile and started walking toward the exit but──I suddenly noticed.

「Eh? Come to think of it, where is Firill?」

I looked around but for some reason I couldn’t find Firill anywhere.

Firill was also attending the party just now.

As a princess of Erlia Principality, she wasn’t only dealing with the press, she was also exchanging greeting with representatives of various countries, so she must be even more tired than us.

「……She isn’t fainted somewhere isn’t she?」

Lisa heard my mutter and looked around too with worry.

「I’ll go search Firill-chan!」

Iris said that and broke into a run, but then the area suddenly turned dark.

And then the stage at the back of the venue was illuminated with dazzling light.

「W-what in the world is going on?」

Ariella let out a bewildered voice while we turned our focus to the stage.

Then a man clad in a red mantel and a crown walked out from the corner of the stage.

「Ah! That’s Firill’s Otou-san!」

Tia raised her voice when she saw him.

「King Alfred……?」

Shinomiya-sensei looked like she also didn’t understand the situation. She stared at the king of Elria Principality with a puzzled expression.

He was also participating in the party just now, but he wasn’t dressed in such outfit that really screamed his status as “king” like that.

When the formally dressed King Alfred stopped walking at the center of the stage, he turned toward us.

There Charlotte asked him a question as our representative.

「What’s the matter King Alfred? Is there perhaps any problem with your private ship?」

There was some distance until the stage, but the venue was quiet so her voice traversed clearly.

He looked slightly awkward and shook his head toward that question.

「No, that’s not the case. Headmaster Charlotte……actually I was asked for a request by my daughter……and so I’m delaying my departure slightly.」

After he answered like that, a girl in white dress appeared from the corner of the stage.

「Yep, I asked father to be a witness.」

「Firill……?」

I gulped.

That girl was Firill who we had just been looking for. Furthermore looking closer, that dress…….

「Waa! That’s wedding dress-!!」

Tia cheered.

Yes, that was undoubtedly a bridal costume. Come to think of it I was so busy and forgot, but Firill once said that she was going to do something in this party…….

Firill looked this way and our gazes met.

「Fufu──Mononobe-kun, this time has finally arrived.」

Firill muttered that. When she arrived beside King Alfred, she twirled on the spot to display her dress before she took the mike that was still left on the stage.

「Everyoneee! Now the ancient Elria marriage ceremony──the complete hard mode version shall begiiinnn!!」

Firill raised her arm high and yelled.

However we could only watch with our jaw hanging down. Firill’s voice echoed inside the venue in vain.

「Geez……everyone, what’s with that cold reaction. Even though it’s finally our chance to marry with Mononobe-kun.」

Firill puffed her cheeks in dissatisfaction on the stage.

Lisa came back to her senses and stepped forward when she heard those words.

「F-Firill-san! Marriage you said……just what in the world do you mean by that!?」

「I mean exactly what I said, Lisa. What we are going to do after this is the ceremony for marriage that was once practiced in Elria Principality. The couple who finished this ceremony would be able to marry no matter what kind of status or age difference existed between them.」

Firill answered like that and looked toward King Alfred beside her.

He nodded with an expression that looked somewhat resigned. Most likely he had gotten into a lot of arguments with Firill until things reached this point.

「──Indeed, certainly Elria Principality has that kind of old custom. It hasn’t been abolished, so it’s still in effect even now. This ceremony is considered valid if a witness from the royal family is present. That’s why I changed into formal attire like this.」

King Alfred said that while showing his crown and mantel that looked like historical items.

Firill smiled in satisfaction from her father’s guarantee.

「Yep, that’s how it is. But don’t worry. I’m not selfishly trying to marry with Mononobe-kun. Everyone in this place all have a chance. Of course that also include the headmaster and Shinomiya-sensei too.」

「Wwha-!?」

Charlotte’s face reddened and she jerked back, while Shinomiya-sensei was also showing agitation.

「M-Mononobe Yuu and me? D-don’t say something stupid. He and I are student and teacher──」

And then Tia raised her hand without paying attention to the flustered two women.

「Tia is still not in the age that can marry though, is it alright?」

Firill nodded with a smile to that question.

「Of course. It’s also all okay for Tia, even Shion is fine.」

Firill gave a thumb up and her guarantee.

「Then Tia will do her best-!」

「MarRyIng wIth pApa……I doN’t reallY gEt It bUt, i aLso wanT To Do iT.」

The two got on board with Firill’s proposal and showed their willingness, but that wasn’t the case with everyone else.

「Firill-san! Please don’t arrange thing as you please! I won’t allow something like marriage with Nii-san!」

Mitsuki declared bluntly, but Firill smiled like a villain and took out a switch from her chest.

「Mitsuki, I don’t plan to argue with you here. Because the situation is already arranged. Your options are──participating in this ceremony or not, that’s all.」

Firill said that and pushed the switch.

*gogogogogogo──!*

A low pitched sound came from above.

Looking up, the hatch at the ceiling was opening up.

Originally this place was a training ground, so it also had several delivery entrances like that.

「W-what is starting……」

Iris was staring up to the ceiling anxiously.

Firill’s voice reverberated there.

「A looong time ago, in Elria Principality, when lovers who originally couldn’t marry because of their background wished to do so──the king imposed a tribulation on them to give them a chance so they could marry in a special circumstance.」

Firill spoke of the origin of the ceremony with a solemn tone.

「The trial’s tasks are to shoot down a bird that is released to the sky with a bow, and to answer the question in the letter that is tied to the bird’s leg. The lovers will be able to marry if their answer to that question is the same with each other, and if not they will be pushed into the great waterfall of Elria.」

Everyone’s face stiffened from that dangerous explanation.

Firill smiled and shook her head seeing our reaction.

「It’s fine, don’t worry. Because I have arranged the content of the trial to suit the modern era. It will be too pitiful for the birds if we have to kill it just for this, and there is also no waterfall or the like in Midgard.」

Right after Firill said that, small drones flew in from the ceiling’s hatch one after another.

The drones flew around freely with the four propellers attached to their frame. Each of them had a small envelope attached.

「Look, those drones are the substitute for birds. Aim at them with a paint gun. They will automatically land if their sensor gets dirtied. Ah, you can find the guns under the table.」

Ren lifted up the table cloth and peered below after she heard that.

「……Nn. It’s really there.」

Ren took out a plastic paint gun that looked like toy. Jeanne narrowed her eyes seeing that.

「No matter the gun, this condition is really advantageous for me……perhaps captain and me will──n-no, even without that, as long as I can be at captain’s side……」

Jeanne clutched her head and began to worry, but Firill added more to her explanation there.

「As for the waterfall’s replacement, there is a hard penalty game waiting for you okayyy. The important thing isn’t shooting down the drone, but matching your answer with Mononobe-kun. You will be able to keep taking the challenge as many as you want, but you might not be able to move for a while after getting the penalty you know?」

Firill smiled boldly and swept aside the skirt of her dress. She then pulled out two paint balls from the holsters on her thighs.

「Then the explanation is over-! Aaand, start!」

Firill declared the start of the ceremony and quickly lifted up her two guns. She aimed at a drone and fired.

「Wai──Firill-san! I still haven’t accepted this!」

Mitsuki tried to stop her in panic, but beside her Lisa took out a paint gun from under the table. She frowned seeing that.

「L-Lisa-san, you are going to do it?」

「The only way to stop Firill-san is by finishing this ceremony ahead of her. After all it’s the winner’s liberty whether they are really going to marry or not.」

Lisa said that and gallantly aimed her gun, but there she glanced briefly toward me.

「But, it’s not like there is really any reason to refuse if he doesn’t dislike it though……」

「Wait, as I thought you are just planning to participate normally! Enough──I understand. In that case I’ll protect Nii-san till the end!」

Mitsuki also got defiant and took out a paint gun.

That became the start for everyone to reach under the table too.

「Err, well……might as well. I don’t really want to hold a weapon but, if it’s just a toy gun like this……」

Ariella muttered something that sounded like excuse while gripping her paint gun. Ren too had already secured two guns.

「I-I’ll do my best too. I want to try, doing something like this. Onee-chan, teach me how.」

Ren asked Ariella the way to shoot the paint gun. Tia also came running seeing that.

「Tia also want to be taught!」

「Ariella-chan, me too!」

Even Iris approached her. Ariella sighed seeing that.

「No, we are more or less rivals here though……well, it’s fine I guess. Perhaps it’s better to see this as a surprise event from Firill and just enjoy it. After all in the end it depends on Mononobe-kun how it will turn out.」

Ariella relaxed her shoulders and glanced at me for an instant. Then she began lecturing everyone.

Shion also ran toward Jeanne with a paint gun in hand.

「mAma, tEach Me.」

「……Y-yeah, got it. Yosh, let’s us protect captain!」

The worrying Jeanne also resolved herself and clenched her fist.

「I don’t really care about thing like marriage but……it’s boring to just watch, so I’ll join in. You are going to do it too right, Okaa-sama?」

Kili said that and gave one of the guns she took out to Vritra.

「Fumu……I’m also not interested with the law that human created but, this event looks like fun. It also doesn’t look dangerous, so I shall participate.」

Vritra stared in interest at the paint gun while nodding.

And then Charlotte and Shinomiya-sensei also took a gun after hesitating.

「Haruka, in the end I’m only participating in order to help my friend you know? By no means I’m seriously trying to marry him you know? It’s true you know?」

Charlotte made sure of that many times with Shinomiya-sensei.

「Y-yes, I understand. I too am only participating in order to settle down this commotion quickly. With King Alfred’s involvement, putting a halt to the ceremony will make him lose face. Besides……t-teacher marrying a student is just……n-not good for the public moral.」

Shinomiya-sensei nodded, but she was strangely minding my presence.

「…………What should I do here?」

While everyone started aiming at the drones, I who was left alone was at a loss.

I was undoubtedly someone concerned in this situation, but I didn’t know what should I do.

There Firill in her wedding dress and two guns in hands approached me.

「Mononobe-kun, when someone shot down a drone, go with her to father. And then father will read up the question. Answer it together with the girl at the count of three.」

I sent a protesting gaze at Firill who explained that in a rapid talk.

「I’m really going to get married if our answer match?」

「Yep, a legal one based on Elria Principality’s law. If possible I want to marry with Mononobe-kun. I’m wearing this dress with that intention but……I won’t complain even if someone else win.」

It was a dignified line that was filled with resolve, but I noticed the scheming light flickering inside her eyes.

「And, your true aim is?」

Firill smiled mischievously when I prompted her.

「Fufu──surely the other girls won’t be able to accept it no matter who end up the winner. But if the marriage cannot be annulled, their only choice is to get into the same position right? In that case they won’t have any choice but to get on the harem plan that I proposed before.」

Firill clenched her fist and spoke of her ambition.

「You are really unwavering Firill……」

Firill nodded with a smile seeing me sighing.

「Of course, a maiden’s determination can’t be shaken that easily. But……it’s another story if Mononobe-kun doesn’t want to you know?」

There Firill showed a slightly timid face and continued speaking hesitantly.

「You see, in the original ceremony, people who lost to their fear of getting pushed to the waterfall would shoot their partner. With that the ceremony would be called off.」

「……That’s brutal.」

「Well, it’s an ancient rite after all. But this time it’s also possible to retire. If Mononobe-kun shot us with paint gun……this ceremony will finish. What will you do?」

Firill spread her hands wide open as though to say that I could shoot her anytime.

I had decided that I would absolutely “make everyone happy”.

To be honest, I couldn’t say with certainty that Firill’s plan would be best for that. However──.

I sighed deeply after looking the way Firill stared fixedly at me.

「……I won’t shoot.」

Firill looked relieved when I said that, but then she immediately showed a puzzled expression.

「Thank god──but, why?」

She asked me. I pointed at the pure white wedding dress that Firill was wearing.

「There is no way I can dirty that dress. Right……putting aside whether we are going to marry here or not, there is something that I gotta say.」

I scratched my head and told her while holding back my embarrassment.

「Firill, that dress look really good on you. You are pretty.」

「Fueh……!?」

Firill let out a strange voice and her face instantly turned bright red. She flapped both her hands up and down.

「Wait a second Mononobe-kun! That’s no good! Foul!」

Firill turned her back on me to hide her red face and raised her gun.

「…………Geez, because of Mononobe-kun’s fault my motivation is welling up more than necessary. Now I don’t think that it’s fine whoever win. I’ll absolutely win this.」

Firill declared with a strong tone and rushed toward the swarm of drones flying around inside the party venue.

「──I didn’t shoot by my own will, so I can’t complain anymore now.」

No matter the result, I had decided to go along with this ceremony and walked toward King Alfred.

However before I arrived at the stage, a joyful voice reverberated.

「Captain! I did it!」

Looking there, a drone that was dirtied by paint ball landed in front of Jeanne.

As expected, Jeanne was the first one with her shooting skill that was far above the rest.

Jeanne took off the white envelope attached on the drone and ran toward me.

「U-umm, captain. I’m, err, not really wishing for something outrageous like marriage but……if a winner is needed in order to end this ceremony, I, I’ll──」

I smiled at Jeanne who was talking with a flustered tone. I grabbed her arm and dragged her to the stage.

「Got it, that’s a big help. Then let’s go to Alfred-san’s place.」

I said that and got up on the stage together with Jeanne. I hesitantly handed the envelope to King Alfred who was staring at the venue with a distant look.

I didn’t know what he thought about a historical ceremony of his country getting arranged like this and how his daughter’s marriage was hanging on it, but he looked at me and smiled softly.

「Sorry that my daughter’s selfishness dragged you in like this. As expected I couldn’t refuse when she said that she is asking for a reward for saving the world. But──even though we are calling it marriage, it’s more like a special measure that only apply inside Elria Principality. So just do it leisurely.」

「──Yes, I understand.」

I was relieved by those words, but there his expression turned grave.

「However, it will be a different story in case it’s a marriage with my daughter. Mononobe-kun, you should resolve yourself.」

「R-roger that.」

I was overwhelmed by a father’s pressure and nodded.

「Very good. Then let’s begin the ceremony. Now I shall ask thee.」

He took out a letter from the envelope and read the content solemnly.

Jeanne and I gulped.

「When taking a bath, which part of thy body thou start washing from?」

「Heh……?」

We were dumbfounded because the question was more ordinary than we expected, but King Alfred paid us no mind and proceeded ahead.

「Then answer the question with the same breath.」

Prompted by him, Jeanne and I looked at each other and told him our answer at the count of three.

「Left arm.」

「Around the chest. B-because it’s stuffy……」

I pointed at my left arm while Jeanne touched her chest.

「Fumu, different answer huh. Then it’s penalty game.」

King Alfred raised his hand. Then a woman appeared from the corner of the stage pushing a trolley. I believed that person was Firill’s former wet nurse, Helen-san. She was also present in the party as King Alfred’s attendant.

Something that looked like long boots made from metal was placed on the trolley.

「Wear them on your feet.」

It seemed that they were really boots just as their appearance suggested.

I felt a bad premonition while we did as we were told. The inside felt unexpectedly soft because there was a cushion.

「That is a health instrument that my daughter gifted me for my birthday present some time ago. It’s a powerful foot acupuncture point massaging device, “Agony Artisan”.」

King Alfred spoke with an expression that looked somewhat dark. He took out something that looked like a remote control.

「When I first used it, a scream echoed through the palace and the royal guards rushed in. And then just as the name of this tool hinted, I fainted in agony for an hour……」

「O-one hour……」

My expression convulsed from King Alfred’s speech that came from real experience, but beside me Jeanne only smiled confidently.

「It will be fine captain. I once heard that something like this won’t feel that painful to human whose body condition is good. That’s why──」

But the moment King Alfred turned on the switch, our screams reverberated through the venue.

And then one minute later, King Alfred told Jeanne and me who collapsed on the floor in agony with a pitying tone.

「It’s too bad but, this tool is effective even for small fatigue.」

The pain still remained on the backs of my feet even after Helen-san took off the massaging devices.

Jeanne was completely unmoving──everyone else looked somewhat creeped out by what happened to us, but next Ariella boldly stepped forward.

I mustered out my strength and somehow got back on feet, but there I suddenly noticed.

「C-could it be……I’ll keep receiving the penalty for each failure……?」

「Looks like it. That’s why Mononobe-kun, let’s finish it with this. Our breathing completely matched each other even when we fought together, so surely we can do this.」

Ariella encouraged me with a bright voice. With that I too somehow could fire up my heart that almost yielded.

「I ask thee. What is the most important thing needed in order to realize world peace?」

The question’s scale was really big in a complete opposite of the previous question.

The answers that Ariella and I produced were──.

「Deterrence.」

「Love……or something?」

King Alfred narrowed his eyes sadly.

「Penalty game──Agony Artisan.」

Our shrieks echoed through the venue once more.

But Mitsuki came next without any time for me to rest. As expected from someone who had bow as her fictitious armament, she secured a drone quickly.

「Nii-san, you can be relieved now that I’m here. I know everything about Nii-san, so I’ll definitely match your answer perfectly.」

Mitsuki challenged this trial without any fear even after seeing the fainting Jeanne and Ariella.

「Y-you’re right……let’s do our best, Mitsuki.」

I was already unsteady on my feet from the second penalty game, but I somehow stood up by borrowing Mitsuki’s hand.

And the question for the two of us was──.

「I ask thee. How many children does thou wish for after marriage?」

「Wha──」

Both of us reflexively looked at each other. Mitsuki was going bright red until her ears.

I also felt my face heating up while I answered together with Mitsuki.

「A-around two……?」

「Te-……ah, I mean, t-t-tw-, two children.」

Our answer matched after a fashion, but it was clear that Mitsuki changed her answer to match me.

「It’s too bad but, it’s disqualification if the answer isn’t at the same time.」

Alfred-san said that and carried out the penalty game.

「────!!」

Perhaps because of all her fatigue that had accumulated until now, Mitsuki writhed in a noticeable way before she went limp and didn’t move at all.

I had gotten a bit used to it, but I still couldn’t hold back my scream.

However I had no time to rest. Those who shot down the drone came one after another.

「Mononobe Yuu. I’m next. Even like this……I believe that I have a good understanding about you, so there should be a chance of success for us.」

Lisa wasn’t letting her guard down at all despite the confidence that she exuded.

But the ceremony’s question surpassed our expectation again.

「I ask thee. When your child start going to school, how much allowance thou are going to give them each month?」

Lisa looked my way after hearing that. She nodded briefly. It seemed that she was planning to match my sense of value.

And so I answered with the amount of allowance that I received when I was in the first grade of elementary school. Surely there would be no problem if I also used yen as the monetary unit.

「One hundred yen.」

「A thousand yen.」

Right after that, Lisa looked at me in disbelief.

「W-what can you possibly buy with one hundred yen!? You shouldn’t be able to even buy a canned juice with that in Japan!」

「……Lisa, there is snack that you can buy even with just ten yen in Japan.」

I knew that she would meet me halfway, even so it seemed that we still couldn’t bury the difference in sense of value between us completely.

And then both of us writhed in agony.

「Then next is me. Yuu, if you don’t want to get any more penalty game than this, you better match your answer with me.」

The next challenger was Kili.

She challenged the ceremony with a completely opposite stance than Lisa.

「I ask thee. What are thou going to do if thou happen to see an abandoned cat in a cardboard box at roadside?」

──I just need to match my answer with Kili huh.

I recalled her instruction just now and answered.

「I’ll pick and keep it.」

「I’ll ignore it──wait a second Yuu! I told you to match my answer right?」

「That’s why I matched it with what Kili will do. In the past, you once jumped into a river to save a kitten didn’t you?」

「T-that was, it was that kid that followed me on its own, because of that──」

Helen-san quickly put the massaging devices on our feet while we argued. Our conversation changed into a shriek midway.

「It’s more, that I imagined……」

Kili became one of the unconscious victims.

「……Mononobe Yuu. Next, can I, ask you to do it with me. No, this is just in order to quickly settle this matter, that’s all, it’s my responsibility as an educator──」

Then Shinomiya-sensei came while saying a similar line like Jeanne before.

「Yes, let’s do it.」

I who had my thinking capability being reduced from the repeated penalty game nodded in agreement without feeling particularly doubtful.

「I ask thee. Where do thou want to do greeting kiss in the morning?」

「Wha──what a shameless question……i-in the first place I’m still──」

Shinomiya-sensei looked shaken, but she gasped and looked at me before clearing her throat. She pulled herself together.

「V-very well then. Mononobe Yuu, this must be a slightly stimulating question for you but──please match your answer with my adult self.」

I heard her demand and answered after thinking for a bit.

「Lips.」

「Cheek…………wait, Mononobe Yuu. Just now, did you answer lips?」

Helen-san put the massaging device on the flinching Shinomiya-sensei.

「I’m sorry, I thought that an adult like Shinomiya-sensei might do it on the lips……」

I apologized while putting the massaging device myself.

「N-no way, to be so bold right from the morning──hauh!?」

The foot acupuncture point activated while she was in the middle of talking. Shinomiya-sensei showed the most reaction among everyone until now. As expected, it seemed an adult naturally had the most fatigue piling up.

I endured the pain while taking off the massaging device from Shinomiya-sensei who was in the verge of fainting.

「Ah! I did ittt! I finally hit one Mononobe!」

There I heard Iris’s happy voice.

「Wrong! It was Tia who hit it just now!」

But Tia was making some kind of objection.

「Nn, I think it was also my bullet that hit.」

「mIne Too, hIt aT thE sAme tIme.」

「No, that was mine prey!」

「My bad for the maidens, but it was me who caught the falling drone.」

In addition Ren, Shion, Vritra, and Charlotte also joined the argument.

Because the drones’ number had been reduced, it created a situation where the participants were fighting for one drone.

Seeing that situation, Alfred-san gestured with his hand for all of them to get up on stage.

「Then, let’s carry out the ceremony with everyone. After all in the ancient history, there is also a record that mentioned how people who wished for polygamy challenged the ceremony too.」

Like that I, Iris, Tia, Ren, Shion, Vritra, and Charlotte ended up answering the question together.

「Mononobe, if we really end up married……w-what will happen? C-could it be my name will become Iris Mononobe? I’ll be Mononobe too?」

Iris was looking excessively restless before the ceremony.

「No! Tia will be the one who become Mononobe!」

Shion tilted her head in puzzlement when she heard Tia’s protest.

「aFter gEtting married……I’Ll become papa? Two papa? I’m Also pApa?」

「Nn, wrong. Onii-chan won’t increase. Eh……but, if we marry, Onii-chan won’t be Onii-chan anymore……?」

Ren also started to get confused about something and clutched her head.

「C-could it be, marriage is a ceremony that change one’s existence itself? In that case perhaps I have underestimated human all this time……」

Vritra made a strange misunderstanding and shuddered with a tense expression.

「O-oi, calm down. Char, calm everyone somehow──」

I asked for help from Charlotte who was the only adult among us here, but she was standing stock still in an absurdly tense state.

「D-did you say something, my friend. C-could it be that you are thinking that I’m seriously wishing to marry you? Don’t worry, I only love beautiful maidens……that’s, how it should be, but……for some reason my heart won’t stop pounding since some time ago. M-my face is also feeling hot, perhaps I caught a cold……n-no, as the Vampire something like that is──」

Charlotte was talking rapidly with a shrill voice.

She talked too fast that I couldn’t really hear what she said, but it looked like she didn’t have the composure to calm down everyone.

Alfred-san dispassionately asked the question in the middle of such chaotic situation.

「I ask thee. What do thou wish to do with thy beloved at holiday?」

──The thing we can do in Midgard is limited. The outside is also hot…….

I thought for a bit before answering at the same timing with everyone.

「I want to leisurely watch movie inside my room.」

Iris and Tia energetically answered.

「I want to swim together at sea!」

「Tia will make a large castle at beach!」

Ren and Shion answered a bit shyly.

「……Napping together.」

「I want tO Get lAp piLlow……fRom pApa.」

Vritra and Charlotte answered confidently.

「Wasting time playing game is the advanced and safe amusement of human. I know this without a doubt.」

「Of course it’s girls’ watching! Observing beautiful maidens together and discussing them……that will be the supreme holiday!」

Even though it was a common question where it shouldn’t be strange if some of us had the same answer, everyone’s answer was splendidly all over the place.

And then the Agony Artisans were put on us and we went through the penalty game simultaneously.

「──Guuh!?」

「Hauh!? I-it hurts, help me Mononobee~!」

However everyone else was looking puzzled while Iris and I were screaming.

「Eh? Tia is completely alright.」

「Nn, it just feels a bit ticklish.」

「i’M alSo fIne. Papa aNd otHers, arE fuNny.」

「To be in agony from just this much……isn’t it a bit pathetic of you as my comrade?」

「Fumu, it seems our feet are too small for this massaging device to work on us. No, it doesn’t mean that I have kiddy body figure okay? My friend, be careful to not make that misunderstanding.」

Tia, Ren, Shion, Vritra, and Charlotte were looking at our agony with a letdown feeling.

*Stomp, stomp, stomp──.*

Footsteps resounded at that timing.

I raised my face while enduring the intense pain. There I saw Firill calmly walking this way with an envelope in hand.

「Fufu, with this everyone has gotten a turn right? This is a ceremony that I started by my own initiative, so I have been waiting until after everyone has finished. Now──it’s finally my turn, Mononobe-kun.」

Firill came up on the stage with a bold smile. She was about to hand the envelope to King Alfred but……her movement suddenly stopped.

Firill looked around at the previous challengers who had received the penalty game and sighed.

「Haa……but, even if I win with this, somehow it will look like I have fixed the game. Then──yep, I have decided. Let’s make this question the last and answer it with everyone here like just now. But I’ll still definitely make Mononobe-kun into my prince even with that.」

Because of that proposal, all of us stood in front of King Alfred.

「……Firill, are you alright with this?」

I asked the girl who stood beside me. She nodded with a smile.

「Of course. I want to fight fair and square with everyone. I don’t want to be thought as cheating.」

Certainly this ceremony was something that Firill schemed, so it was also possible for her to set so that she got the easy question. Firill chose this method so that she wouldn’t be suspected with that.

「Got it. Then no matter what kind of question come, I’ll answer with what is in my mind without trying to match it with anyone else.」

「Yep, me too.」

Firill nodded.

Everyone heard our talk and also nodded in agreement.

Seeing that our preparation was finished, King Alfred asked the last question solemnly.

「I ask thee. What is it that thou wish to protect the most in this moment?」

The moment I heard that question, a lot of things came to mind.

I hesitated of what to choose from there, but I immediately realized that all those things could only be described with one word.

That was why I honestly said that word.

.

「──Now.」

.

Then our voices overlapped.

I didn’t hear any other word.

I looked around in surprise. There I saw everyone was also standing open mouthed.

And then, the one who was the most dumbfounded was King Alfred who asked the question.

──Could it be, everyone spoke the same answer?

What was the result of the ceremony in this case? Don’t tell me, it would be a marriage with everyone…….

Our gazes gathered on the witness King Alfred.

「…………」

He wordlessly glanced at his daughter Firill. While we were bewildered, it was only Firill who was staring at her father with sparkling eyes.

Sweat trickled down from King Alfred’s forehead when faced with his daughter’s gaze that was filled with expectation.

「……I planned to concede very, very reluctantly and recognized Firill’s marriage with Mononobe-kun but, a marriage with this number of people at the same time is……there is just no precedent of it……when we proclaim it, if it’s not in the way that the people can accept……Firill’s standing will also……in the worst case the trust toward the royal family will……」

He was murmuring while clutching his head.

It seemed that this was outside his expectation. Then Helen-san approached King Alfred and whispered something into his ear.

The moment he heard it, King Alfred made a taken aback look and straightened his posture.

And then he suddenly swished his mantel and turned his back on us. He solemnly declared.

「With this, the ancient Elria style marriage ceremony, the complete hard mode version is concluded.」

We held our breath waiting what kind of verdict would be handed down, but King Alfred slowly walked away without saying anything else.

He was walking straight toward the venue’s exit──.

「F-father! Where are you going!?」

When Firill yelled in panic, he stopped walking in front of the exit and turned his face this way.

「……Listen well Firill. In order to validate the ceremony that we held this time, there is one thing that has to be done no matter what.」

「Eeeh!? Lies! I never heard about anything like that! Father said that this is the complete version!」

「I-I’m not lying! I just remembered after Helen told me! If from the result of the ceremony a commoner is going to be added into the royal family, that person will also have to receive the trial to be a royalty!」

There his sharp gaze pierced me.

「Mononobe-kun──if you wish to validate the marriage based on this ceremony, I shall have you overcome the king’s trial at Elria Kingdom! I shall wait for your arrival anytime! Then, farewell!」

King Alfred said that and walked outside. Helen-san also bowed to us and followed behind him.

Firill saw off the back of the two and clenched her fists in frustration.

「Gununu……father really doesn’t know when to give up. Even though going out of Midgard is also not something easy……」

However Firill shook her head as though to switch her mood and turned her gaze at us.

「Everyone, our fight has only just begun! Let’s combine our strength and work hard together-!!」

Firill raised her clenched fist and yelled.

「I-I don’t really get it but I’ll do my besttt!!」

「Tia will do her besttt!」

「dO Our bEst!」

Iris, Tia, and Shion answered Firill’s order, but everyone else dropped their shoulders in exasperation.

「……This result is just as I thought but, this commotion is still not over with this huh.」

Mitsuki sighed. Lisa placed her hand on her shoulder consolingly.

「Your schedule get messed up again with this. I’ll help with decorating the hall.」

「I’ll also help. My body feels really light. Perhaps it’s thanks to that feet acupuncture massage.」

Ariella jumped up and down on the spot. Shinomiya-sensei also turned her gaze to her own feet seeing that.

「Certainly……the swelling in my feet is removed.」

「It was really agonizing that it made you fainted, but it looks like the result is also worth the pain.」

Jeanne also rubbed her feet in surprise.

「……Even so, the king’s trial huh. It has a really nice ring to it for some reason. I’m getting a bit excited.」

While that was going on, Charlotte seemed curious with King Alfred’s words.

「Nn. It has romance in it.」

Ren agreed. Vritra also nodded deeply.

「I’m also interested. The ceremony that human created is unexpectedly interesting. I shall participate too if there is no danger.」

Kili smiled wryly while murmuring.

「Setting aside the trial, I want to get outside Midgard too……perhaps I’ll help out with that.」

Seeing everyone like that made me thought.

That this was none other than the “now” that we wished to protect──.

.

◆ Christmas Epilogue

At 25 December, the last day of Christmas party.

The festivities in the hall ended at evening. As the executive committee member, I got busy with cleaning up the aftermath.

However after I got to a point where I could rest and looked around, I didn’t find my classmates who should be helping me anywhere.

When I asked the school staffs who were carrying out the baggage, they told me that they returned to the classroom not long ago.

They must have decided to leave after seeing that the number of workers here was sufficient, but it felt a bit lonely that they didn’t say anything to me.

──Perhaps I have done something that angered them.

I tried looking back, but nothing really came to mind.

I was too busy that I came late to the dance party where I promised to dance with everyone of Brunhilde class. The time I had to fulfill my individual promise with each of them also got shortened.

──I better apologize properly one more time to them.

The staffs said that I could leave the rest to them, so I exited the hall and headed to my classroom.

Right now each class was holding a modest party of their own in their own classroom.

Our homeroom teacher Shinomiya-sensei was eagerly making her special yakisoba for Christmas.

I hoped that there was a portion left behind for me while I walked through the corridor in a fast walk. I came until near the classroom.

「Eh……?」

But for some reason the classroom’s light was turned off. I also couldn’t hear any sound or voice.

「Could it be, they are having the party at the lodging house……?」

Even though I was wondering whether I was mistaking the place, I decided to check inside the classroom just in case.

*Gararararara──!*

The sound of door opening echoed inside the quiet building. Right after that, the room in front of me turned bright.

.

*Pan pan pan-!*

.

Explosive sound resounded at the same time.

I almost reflexively crouched because I thought it was gunshot sound, but I immediately realized that it wasn’t that kind of situation.

Everyone was there inside the bright classroom with a smile.

They were wearing cone hats in Christmas color and crackers in their hands.

And then everyone yelled together.

.

「Happy birthday!!」

.

Aa, come to think of it that was today.

Even though I remembered that until the party started, that fact had slipped off my head before I realized it throughout all the busy schedules.

A large serving of yakisoba and a big birthday cake were placed on the table.

The inside of my eyes suddenly turned hot for some reason when I saw that.

I held down the emotion that immediately welled up inside me. Even so something still leaked out slightly. I wiped it with the back of my hand──and faced toward everyone.

And then I replied to them with a smile.

「Thank you. Merry Christmas.」

Prev Table of Content Next

Chapter 3 – Merry Christmas ─Newly Written Short Story─

.

◆ Christmas Panic (First)

A large helicopter landed on the heliport with a loud sound and strong wind.

A transport ship docked at the port while splashing white sea spray.

I──Mononobe Yuu was standing at the edge of the wharf, staring at the visitors to Midgard.

Today was 22 December. The first day of Midgard Christmas party that was going to be held for four days.

Although, the students of Midgard including me still weren’t in the party mood at all.

The party by the students and for the students would be held in the latter two days.

The first two days would be “diplomatic event” that was opened for the invited outsiders.

Boarding the ships and helicopters were influential people and press from various countries, Midgard’s investors, relatives of “D”, and inspectors from Asgard and NIFL.

They were showed around to have a look of the academy in general, and then they got invited to the party venue in a decorated underground training ground.

There the headmaster Charlotte should be busy running around doing various political negotiations to maintain Midgard’s safety and self-autonomy.

But we the members of Brunhilde class also couldn’t treat it as other people’s problem. We also attended this party and received interview from various press members.

I wasn’t really confident whether I could speak well in front of television camera.

However I should be able to manage somehow.

It should be fine if I simply said what was in my mind. Even now my chest was filled with gratitude toward the people who lent us “light” in that battle.

The bigger problem was──.

「Captain!」

I heard a voice calling me from the heliport. It seemed that they had arrived.

I made a heavy sigh and resolved myself before heading there.

The girl wearing boy uniform, Jeanne Hortensia was waving her hand at me. She was my classmate who also belonged to Brunhilde class, but she was my subordinate when we were in NIFL. That was why Jeanne still called me captain even now.

「Yeah, I’m going there!」

I replied with a loud voice so that it wouldn’t be drowned by the sound of helicopter’s motor and hurried to the heliport that was located beside the port.

And then the large helicopter’s hatch opened at the same time when I reached Jeanne’s location.

Coming down from there was a tall man and seven boys.

All of them were wearing NIFL’s military uniform. They were radiating a dangerous atmosphere that didn’t suit this peaceful southern island.

「──Hello Second Lieutenant Mononobe. Thanks for coming this far to welcome us.」

The man smiled slightly when he saw me and talked to me.

「Long time no see Major Loki. This is because you acted as you pleased during the school festival and I met a horrible experience after that. This time I’ll watch over you closely from start to finish.」

I replied to my former superior──Loki Jotunheim with a sarcastic tone.

「Fuh……that means you are my escort. That’s great. With this my Sleipnir has regained its complete form.」

Major Loki glanced briefly toward Jeanne before smiling in delight.

Then the boys standing behind him all saluted simultaneously.

.

「Captain Mononobe! Long time no see!!」

.

I responded with a wry smile toward the straightforward gaze of my former subordinates.

「……I’m glad that you guys are also looking well.」

When I saw them the last time, they were swallowed by authority and lost their ego. However right now each of them was showing a human expression.

「But, let me make this clear──I’m not planning to return to Sleipnir. I’m Brunhilde class’s Mononobe Yuu till the end. Of course that includes Jeanne too.」

I grabbed the shoulder of Jeanne who was observing the situation from the side and pulled her closer. Her face turned red, even so she nodded her head.

「Y-yes, it’s just as captain say!」

Jeanne declared so, but Major Loki turned a meaningful gaze my way with his long slit eyes.

「That’s too bad. However Second Lieutenant Mononobe──I intentionally bring them here because I think that you will need them.」

「What do you mean……by that?」

I frowned and asked back. Major Loki shrugged and dodged the question.

「You will understand soon. First you can fulfill your current role.」

I reluctantly returned to my work by his urging.

「──Then please follow me. I’ll show everyone the currently peaceful Midgard.」

.

Right now the visitors from outside were showed the figures of the students working hard in preparing the party.

The hall that would become the main venue for the third and fourth days, and the classrooms of each class where the after party would be held.

There the “D” girls living in Midgard were decorating the places with their utmost effort.

Jeanne and I brought Major Loki and the others to go around each classroom.

「This is Ortlinde classroom.」

「──I see.」

However Major Loki only gave such interested reply even though I was showing him around.

The members of Sleipnir who were walking behind us were also getting excited with a completely unrelated topic.

「However to think Jeanne is actually a woman.」

「But, thinking back now there was a lot of strange things from her.」

「……She absolutely wouldn’t change in front of other people.」

「I thought she was a strange fellow, but I paid it no mind because this squad is full of eccentrics.」

「Who are you calling eccentric!」

「I think it’s you yourself if you have self-awareness though.」

「I have absolute confidence that I’m not an eccentric so please don’t include mee~」

Jeanne who became the center of the topic was warning them with a slightly fed up look.

「You guys, it’s fine to make a racket like that but──don’t you dare ogling at Midgard’s female students. They don’t really have immunity toward male. It also became a big commotion when I transferred into here.」

They nodded at Jeanne’s instruction, but to be honest we already became the center of attention even without doing anything.

When we came in front of a classroom, the girls would keep working while observing us from the corner of their eyes and whispering to each other with low voices.

At first I thought they were looking at the members of Sleipnir who were males of similar age with them, but I noticed that wasn’t the case.

「──Look, that person.」

「Ah……as I thought, at the school festival, he and Yuu-sama──」

「Really? Then that rumor……」

「Yuu-sama who was dressed as woman went to the rooftop──」

It seemed that they were looking toward Major Loki and me.

Major Loki also came for inspection at the school festival, so perhaps there were students who remembered him.

「……Certainly those two are, for some reason──」

「Hurry and contact President Firill!」

「No, I’m in Jeanne-sama faction till the end……」

「But by any chance……the relationship map from here on will──」

My back got goosebumps from the fragments of conversation that I picked up.

I didn’t really get what they were talking about, but my instinct was pleading to me that it would be better to not stay here for long.

「Major Loki, I’ll show you the next classroom.」

When I prompted Major Loki, shrill cheers kyaa rose from inside the classroom for some reason.

I sped up my steps to run away from those voices.

.

The party for outside visitors that was held in the decorated underground training ground ended without any particular problem.

I believed that the media coverage toward Brunhilde class was also done well.

When reading letter that was directed toward the people of the world, Iris bit her tongue many times, but that was also a warming scene.

However there was no way the first day of the party would end peacefully like that.

That was something that I knew since Loki Jotunheim landed on Midgard with Sleipnir in tow.

「──Now then, Second Lieutenant Mononobe. I wonder if you are able to determine your “enemy”?」

I took a break at the corner of the venue after the media coverage. Major Loki approached me there and threw me that question with a lowered voice.

「You mean the guys making suspicious movements during the party? It seems that Sleipnir dealt with them though……」

I also kept looking forward while replying back with a small voice.

「Yeah, they are spies that sneaked in by slipping among the invitees. We apprehended them when they sneaked out of the party venue to try something with the electricity generator. However this won’t be the end of it.」

「What’s their objective?」

「──Capture of “D” who belong to Brunhilde class.」

「I see.」

I replied shortly. Major Loki looked at me with a surprised face seeing my reaction.

「You are calmer than I expected.」

「Because I have thought that something like this might happen.」

And I had decided since a long time ago. That I would protect this ordinary days from any enemy.

「Atla has deciphered their communication cipher just now. It seems they are planning to assault your lodging house tonight.」

「──I’ll turn the table on them.」

「You’re mistaken, Second Lieutenant Mononobe. That won’t be insufficient. You should crush the crawling out insects thoroughly without leaving any behind. By yourself you will have no option other than focusing on defending your base, but right now you have eight powerful legs with you.」

Major Loki turned a sharp gaze at me. I sent back a bitter expression at him.

「……I’m not going to count of this as a debt you know?」

「Of course. After all we are also obtaining your cooperation. Now──Fafnir. Feel free to ride Sleipnir and go in a rampage.」

.

The night was filled with radiant stars.

I was taking rein of Sleipnir at the empty lot behind the lodging house.

「──All hands, report the situation.」

I questioned through the small communicator on my ear. Then replies immediately came back.

『This is Lancelot. The defense of clock tower headquarters successful~. Three enemies secured.』

『Otr here. Their “upper” is secured.』

『……Nataku. Encountering enemies inside the forest. Securing one. The enemies are using high precision optical camouflage. Be cautious.』

『This is Sigurd. No abnormality at the southern coastline.』

『It’s Robin. The enemy’s electronic warfare personnel neutralized. I have poured in Atla-san’s special virus into their terminal, so there is no worry for Midgardsorm boss.』

『Kunato here. Enemy’s escape boat confirmed at the north coast. Two enemies on standby are neutralized.』

『This is Jeanne. Captain, one group confirmed advancing through the thick forest at the northeast.』

I immediately gave the next order after hearing Jeanne’s report.

「Roger. Regin, go around behind the enemies and cut off their path of retreat. Jeanne, cover him up with sniping when the enemies get into open space.」

『This is Regin. Roger.』

『Jeanne here, mission acknowledged.』

I finished the communication and turned my focus toward the thick forest surrounding the open space.

「It looks like things are going smoothly, Second Lieutenant Mononobe.」

Major Loki who was leaning on the lodging house’s wall while observing my command talked to me in enjoyment.

「──Yes. But, who are the enemies? Optical camouflage is still not applicable even in NIFL……and they have even prepared to turn off Midgardsomr……」

Major Loki responded with a smile of implication at my gaze of suspicion toward him.

「They are a group that got cocky after getting their hand on a legacy.」

「……A legacy?」

「Yeah──the legacy of an ancient civilization that possess a different technological system than Atlantis……they excavated a “ship” called Agarta from deep underground. Their cutting edge equipment is the benefit from that.」

「What……」

I held my breath. Major Loki shrugged slightly at me.

「Don’t worry. In the end Agarta is just the wreckage of “those who failed to arrive”. They weren’t at the level of Atlantis, our ancestor who travelled through the distant space. In fact, we have almost completely suppressed their base. The attack this time is their last chance to revive from their brink of death.」

「Then, this matter will be resolved if all of them are captured.」

I sighed in relieve while confirming.

「That’s how it is. But, it will be better if you at least keep this in mind. This world, the space is extremely vast. Many threats that surpassed our imagination are lurking out there.」

Major Loki narrowed his gaze and told me with a lowered voice.

「For example──there is this record within the database that Atla salvaged from Agarta. In this universe, there are seven existences of heinous demons who are called as “deadly sins” or perhaps “fallen creators”.」

「Fallen, creators……」

I knew about the words of creator. Major Loki watched my expression and turned his eyes toward the space and muttered.

「Yes, Angolmois that all of you defeated is one of those. The deadly sin “Gluttony”. Well, in this vast universe, the possibility of us encountering another deadly sins in our lifetime is extremely low. However, the unexpected can possibly occur anytime.」

「…………」

I responded wordlessly to his words.

「Second Lieutenant Mononobe. Peace is something that you win with effort. It’s something that cannot be protected unless you continue to fight. Even if you yourself aren’t fighting, there is someone somewhere fighting. Also you never know who will turn into your enemy.」

There his bottomless cold gaze pierced me.

「I will continue to fight in order to make mankind’s survival continue. When the peace that you are trying to protect become an obstacle to that, I will surely become your enemy once more.」

I accepted his gaze head on and nodded deeply.

「──Yes, I understand. But, at the very least that time isn’t now.」

When I warded off Major Loki’s chilling killing intent with a smile, he too sported a small smile.

「I guess. At the very least, right now is──」

And then both Major Loki and I pulled out a gun simultaneously.

Toward the “unseen enemies” that appeared inside the jungle.

The precision of the optical camouflage was really high and it was impossible to perceive the attacker’s form with naked eye. However all my senses other than my sight were alarming that the enemy was there.

Gunshots rang out over each other.

Like that──my peace was continuing.

.

◆ Christmas Panic (End)

「Fuu……it’s finally over……」

The second day of the party.

Major Loki and Sleipnir took away the attackers that were captured last night to NIFL. We had also seen off the other visitors from the party venue just now.

The training ground that was decorated to be party venue was now completely deserted.

The noisy atmosphere filling this place until just now felt like a lie now.

I sat down on a seat near a table where empty glasses were left untouched and stared in a daze toward the tall ceiling. Then I heard light footsteps approaching.

「Thanks for your hard work Nii-san. However the real thing will only start after this for us.」

When I turned my gaze, Mitsuki was there standing in her uniform with a wry smile.

Last night, while I was taking on the attackers outside the lodging house, Mitsuki and others were also preparing inside the building in case the unthinkable happened. In the end that kind of situation didn’t occur, but the ill effects from spending our time like that affected our preparation today. We only barely finished our works.

「……Yeah, I know. It will be the party for the students starting tomorrow. That’s where the student council president and executive committee president need to work hard.」

I raised my arms high and stretched. I pulled myself together and stood up.

Fatigue was accumulating in me, but I still couldn’t rest.

Then the other members of Brunhilde class also gathered here.

「Mononobe! I’ll also help out!」

Running this way with her long silver hair bouncing around was Iris who looked like she still had excessive energy left.

Ariella who was following behind her was looking at Iris with a respectful gaze.

「Iris is amazing……I’m already worn out here. I never want to go through another interview anymore.」

Certainly Ariella’s face was showing deep color of exhaustion.

Midgard’s common students didn’t attend this party, but we were the exceptions. Our faces and names were exposed during the broadcast asking for help from people all over the world. All of us were going through the interview in our uniform.

「You can just deal with something like that half-heartedly. It will be just your loss if you respond to them seriously.」

The one who said that was Kili who looked like she still had some leeway.

However Lisa immediately interrupted from beside her.

「Wait a second Kili-san. Isn’t that rude toward everyone who lent us their strength in the final battle if you act like that?」

「What are you saying. We saved the world in exchange of them lending their strength. All our debts should be cleared with that. Our positions with each other are equal. There is no need for us to act servile to them.」

「I’m not telling you to act servile toward them. This is a matter of sincerity──」

Lisa and Kili started arguing.

But this was something usual so I didn’t really do anything to stop them and talked to the approaching Ren.

「Were you able to talk with Chief Miyazawa Ren?」

Miyazawa Kengo, the chief of Asgard’s far east branch’s first laboratory and also Ren’s father showed his face in this party too.

「……Nn. I didn’t. But, I punched his back hard.」

Ren said that and smiled in satisfaction.

「I see, you did great.」

I also laughed and patted Ren’s fluffy red hair. She narrowed her eyes pleasantly.

「Aah! Yuu! Tia too Tia too!」

Tia also pestered me after seeing that, so I put my other hand on Tia’s head and patted her.

Tia was wearing hat the whole time during the party. Her hair was slightly damp from sweat because of that. Her horns looked a bit too conspicuous, so they were hidden during the interview.

There I felt a light impact on my waist.

When I turned around, Shion was looking up at me as though she wanted to say something.

Jeanne and Vritra were also there behind her.

These three didn’t have their faces and names broadcasted during the final battle, so they didn’t participate in the party and waited somewhere else.

「Captain, thanks for all of your hard work. Shion couldn’t have captain pay attention to her yesterday and today, so it looks like she is feeling a bit lonely.」

Jeanne looked at Shion who was clinging on me wordlessly and said that. Vritra also nodded with a tired look.

「I have kept her company all this time. Thou better be grateful.」

「……Papa.」

Shion pleaded with her gaze.

But right now I had both my hands full even if I wanted to look after her. As I pondered about what to do, Tia grabbed my hand and lifted it up.

「Yuu, Tia is an Onee-san, so Tia will give her turn to Shion!」

Hearing that Ren also parted from me reluctantly.

「Nn……me too.」

「Thanks you two.」

I thanked the two of them before facing Shion and combed her purple hair with my fingers.

「I’m sorry that I made you felt lonely like that. Today we are going to decorate the hall after this……can you also help Shion?」

Unlike the administration work until now, Shion should also participate if it was a decorating work, so I made that suggestion.

Hearing that Shion’s face brightened joyfully and she nodded enthusiastically.

「Yes! I’lL heLp oUt With paPa’s woRk!」

Everyone around us smiled seeing Shion’s happiness.

Shinomiya-sensei and Headmaster Charlotte also came toward us while that happened.

「Mononobe Yuu. Us the staffs will tidy up this place. All of you can quickly return to your actual work. Shion──do your best in helping them okay?」

Shinomiya-sensei put her hand on Shion’s shoulder and encouraged her.

「My friend, and young ladies! Our public appeal can be said as successful thanks to all of you. With this there is no need for us to care about external attention for a while. Go relax and enjoy the party in the remaining two days.」

Charlotte was wearing a gorgeous dress that was fitting for the master of Midgard. She thanked our effort with a serious face.

But her expression immediately loosened up after that. She quickly approached me and whispered into my ear.

「──Fu fu fu, actually my friend. I have prepared extremely bold and beautiful dresses for the maidens. You can look forward to tomorrow. Also, don’t forget to take some commemorative photographs alright? I too wish to appreciate their figures leisurely later after all.」

「You never changed at all Char……well, I get it.」

I nodded with a wry smile and started walking toward the exit but──I suddenly noticed.

「Eh? Come to think of it, where is Firill?」

I looked around but for some reason I couldn’t find Firill anywhere.

Firill was also attending the party just now.

As a princess of Erlia Principality, she wasn’t only dealing with the press, she was also exchanging greeting with representatives of various countries, so she must be even more tired than us.

「……She isn’t fainted somewhere isn’t she?」

Lisa heard my mutter and looked around too with worry.

「I’ll go search Firill-chan!」

Iris said that and broke into a run, but then the area suddenly turned dark.

And then the stage at the back of the venue was illuminated with dazzling light.

「W-what in the world is going on?」

Ariella let out a bewildered voice while we turned our focus to the stage.

Then a man clad in a red mantel and a crown walked out from the corner of the stage.

「Ah! That’s Firill’s Otou-san!」

Tia raised her voice when she saw him.

「King Alfred……?」

Shinomiya-sensei looked like she also didn’t understand the situation. She stared at the king of Elria Principality with a puzzled expression.

He was also participating in the party just now, but he wasn’t dressed in such outfit that really screamed his status as “king” like that.

When the formally dressed King Alfred stopped walking at the center of the stage, he turned toward us.

There Charlotte asked him a question as our representative.

「What’s the matter King Alfred? Is there perhaps any problem with your private ship?」

There was some distance until the stage, but the venue was quiet so her voice traversed clearly.

He looked slightly awkward and shook his head toward that question.

「No, that’s not the case. Headmaster Charlotte……actually I was asked for a request by my daughter……and so I’m delaying my departure slightly.」

After he answered like that, a girl in white dress appeared from the corner of the stage.

「Yep, I asked father to be a witness.」

「Firill……?」

I gulped.

That girl was Firill who we had just been looking for. Furthermore looking closer, that dress…….

「Waa! That’s wedding dress-!!」

Tia cheered.

Yes, that was undoubtedly a bridal costume. Come to think of it I was so busy and forgot, but Firill once said that she was going to do something in this party…….

Firill looked this way and our gazes met.

「Fufu──Mononobe-kun, this time has finally arrived.」

Firill muttered that. When she arrived beside King Alfred, she twirled on the spot to display her dress before she took the mike that was still left on the stage.

「Everyoneee! Now the ancient Elria marriage ceremony──the complete hard mode version shall begiiinnn!!」

Firill raised her arm high and yelled.

However we could only watch with our jaw hanging down. Firill’s voice echoed inside the venue in vain.

「Geez……everyone, what’s with that cold reaction. Even though it’s finally our chance to marry with Mononobe-kun.」

Firill puffed her cheeks in dissatisfaction on the stage.

Lisa came back to her senses and stepped forward when she heard those words.

「F-Firill-san! Marriage you said……just what in the world do you mean by that!?」

「I mean exactly what I said, Lisa. What we are going to do after this is the ceremony for marriage that was once practiced in Elria Principality. The couple who finished this ceremony would be able to marry no matter what kind of status or age difference existed between them.」

Firill answered like that and looked toward King Alfred beside her.

He nodded with an expression that looked somewhat resigned. Most likely he had gotten into a lot of arguments with Firill until things reached this point.

「──Indeed, certainly Elria Principality has that kind of old custom. It hasn’t been abolished, so it’s still in effect even now. This ceremony is considered valid if a witness from the royal family is present. That’s why I changed into formal attire like this.」

King Alfred said that while showing his crown and mantel that looked like historical items.

Firill smiled in satisfaction from her father’s guarantee.

「Yep, that’s how it is. But don’t worry. I’m not selfishly trying to marry with Mononobe-kun. Everyone in this place all have a chance. Of course that also include the headmaster and Shinomiya-sensei too.」

「Wwha-!?」

Charlotte’s face reddened and she jerked back, while Shinomiya-sensei was also showing agitation.

「M-Mononobe Yuu and me? D-don’t say something stupid. He and I are student and teacher──」

And then Tia raised her hand without paying attention to the flustered two women.

「Tia is still not in the age that can marry though, is it alright?」

Firill nodded with a smile to that question.

「Of course. It’s also all okay for Tia, even Shion is fine.」

Firill gave a thumb up and her guarantee.

「Then Tia will do her best-!」

「MarRyIng wIth pApa……I doN’t reallY gEt It bUt, i aLso wanT To Do iT.」

The two got on board with Firill’s proposal and showed their willingness, but that wasn’t the case with everyone else.

「Firill-san! Please don’t arrange thing as you please! I won’t allow something like marriage with Nii-san!」

Mitsuki declared bluntly, but Firill smiled like a villain and took out a switch from her chest.

「Mitsuki, I don’t plan to argue with you here. Because the situation is already arranged. Your options are──participating in this ceremony or not, that’s all.」

Firill said that and pushed the switch.

*gogogogogogo──!*

A low pitched sound came from above.

Looking up, the hatch at the ceiling was opening up.

Originally this place was a training ground, so it also had several delivery entrances like that.

「W-what is starting……」

Iris was staring up to the ceiling anxiously.

Firill’s voice reverberated there.

「A looong time ago, in Elria Principality, when lovers who originally couldn’t marry because of their background wished to do so──the king imposed a tribulation on them to give them a chance so they could marry in a special circumstance.」

Firill spoke of the origin of the ceremony with a solemn tone.

「The trial’s tasks are to shoot down a bird that is released to the sky with a bow, and to answer the question in the letter that is tied to the bird’s leg. The lovers will be able to marry if their answer to that question is the same with each other, and if not they will be pushed into the great waterfall of Elria.」

Everyone’s face stiffened from that dangerous explanation.

Firill smiled and shook her head seeing our reaction.

「It’s fine, don’t worry. Because I have arranged the content of the trial to suit the modern era. It will be too pitiful for the birds if we have to kill it just for this, and there is also no waterfall or the like in Midgard.」

Right after Firill said that, small drones flew in from the ceiling’s hatch one after another.

The drones flew around freely with the four propellers attached to their frame. Each of them had a small envelope attached.

「Look, those drones are the substitute for birds. Aim at them with a paint gun. They will automatically land if their sensor gets dirtied. Ah, you can find the guns under the table.」

Ren lifted up the table cloth and peered below after she heard that.

「……Nn. It’s really there.」

Ren took out a plastic paint gun that looked like toy. Jeanne narrowed her eyes seeing that.

「No matter the gun, this condition is really advantageous for me……perhaps captain and me will──n-no, even without that, as long as I can be at captain’s side……」

Jeanne clutched her head and began to worry, but Firill added more to her explanation there.

「As for the waterfall’s replacement, there is a hard penalty game waiting for you okayyy. The important thing isn’t shooting down the drone, but matching your answer with Mononobe-kun. You will be able to keep taking the challenge as many as you want, but you might not be able to move for a while after getting the penalty you know?」

Firill smiled boldly and swept aside the skirt of her dress. She then pulled out two paint balls from the holsters on her thighs.

「Then the explanation is over-! Aaand, start!」

Firill declared the start of the ceremony and quickly lifted up her two guns. She aimed at a drone and fired.

「Wai──Firill-san! I still haven’t accepted this!」

Mitsuki tried to stop her in panic, but beside her Lisa took out a paint gun from under the table. She frowned seeing that.

「L-Lisa-san, you are going to do it?」

「The only way to stop Firill-san is by finishing this ceremony ahead of her. After all it’s the winner’s liberty whether they are really going to marry or not.」

Lisa said that and gallantly aimed her gun, but there she glanced briefly toward me.

「But, it’s not like there is really any reason to refuse if he doesn’t dislike it though……」

「Wait, as I thought you are just planning to participate normally! Enough──I understand. In that case I’ll protect Nii-san till the end!」

Mitsuki also got defiant and took out a paint gun.

That became the start for everyone to reach under the table too.

「Err, well……might as well. I don’t really want to hold a weapon but, if it’s just a toy gun like this……」

Ariella muttered something that sounded like excuse while gripping her paint gun. Ren too had already secured two guns.

「I-I’ll do my best too. I want to try, doing something like this. Onee-chan, teach me how.」

Ren asked Ariella the way to shoot the paint gun. Tia also came running seeing that.

「Tia also want to be taught!」

「Ariella-chan, me too!」

Even Iris approached her. Ariella sighed seeing that.

「No, we are more or less rivals here though……well, it’s fine I guess. Perhaps it’s better to see this as a surprise event from Firill and just enjoy it. After all in the end it depends on Mononobe-kun how it will turn out.」

Ariella relaxed her shoulders and glanced at me for an instant. Then she began lecturing everyone.

Shion also ran toward Jeanne with a paint gun in hand.

「mAma, tEach Me.」

「……Y-yeah, got it. Yosh, let’s us protect captain!」

The worrying Jeanne also resolved herself and clenched her fist.

「I don’t really care about thing like marriage but……it’s boring to just watch, so I’ll join in. You are going to do it too right, Okaa-sama?」

Kili said that and gave one of the guns she took out to Vritra.

「Fumu……I’m also not interested with the law that human created but, this event looks like fun. It also doesn’t look dangerous, so I shall participate.」

Vritra stared in interest at the paint gun while nodding.

And then Charlotte and Shinomiya-sensei also took a gun after hesitating.

「Haruka, in the end I’m only participating in order to help my friend you know? By no means I’m seriously trying to marry him you know? It’s true you know?」

Charlotte made sure of that many times with Shinomiya-sensei.

「Y-yes, I understand. I too am only participating in order to settle down this commotion quickly. With King Alfred’s involvement, putting a halt to the ceremony will make him lose face. Besides……t-teacher marrying a student is just……n-not good for the public moral.」

Shinomiya-sensei nodded, but she was strangely minding my presence.

「…………What should I do here?」

While everyone started aiming at the drones, I who was left alone was at a loss.

I was undoubtedly someone concerned in this situation, but I didn’t know what should I do.

There Firill in her wedding dress and two guns in hands approached me.

「Mononobe-kun, when someone shot down a drone, go with her to father. And then father will read up the question. Answer it together with the girl at the count of three.」

I sent a protesting gaze at Firill who explained that in a rapid talk.

「I’m really going to get married if our answer match?」

「Yep, a legal one based on Elria Principality’s law. If possible I want to marry with Mononobe-kun. I’m wearing this dress with that intention but……I won’t complain even if someone else win.」

It was a dignified line that was filled with resolve, but I noticed the scheming light flickering inside her eyes.

「And, your true aim is?」

Firill smiled mischievously when I prompted her.

「Fufu──surely the other girls won’t be able to accept it no matter who end up the winner. But if the marriage cannot be annulled, their only choice is to get into the same position right? In that case they won’t have any choice but to get on the harem plan that I proposed before.」

Firill clenched her fist and spoke of her ambition.

「You are really unwavering Firill……」

Firill nodded with a smile seeing me sighing.

「Of course, a maiden’s determination can’t be shaken that easily. But……it’s another story if Mononobe-kun doesn’t want to you know?」

There Firill showed a slightly timid face and continued speaking hesitantly.

「You see, in the original ceremony, people who lost to their fear of getting pushed to the waterfall would shoot their partner. With that the ceremony would be called off.」

「……That’s brutal.」

「Well, it’s an ancient rite after all. But this time it’s also possible to retire. If Mononobe-kun shot us with paint gun……this ceremony will finish. What will you do?」

Firill spread her hands wide open as though to say that I could shoot her anytime.

I had decided that I would absolutely “make everyone happy”.

To be honest, I couldn’t say with certainty that Firill’s plan would be best for that. However──.

I sighed deeply after looking the way Firill stared fixedly at me.

「……I won’t shoot.」

Firill looked relieved when I said that, but then she immediately showed a puzzled expression.

「Thank god──but, why?」

She asked me. I pointed at the pure white wedding dress that Firill was wearing.

「There is no way I can dirty that dress. Right……putting aside whether we are going to marry here or not, there is something that I gotta say.」

I scratched my head and told her while holding back my embarrassment.

「Firill, that dress look really good on you. You are pretty.」

「Fueh……!?」

Firill let out a strange voice and her face instantly turned bright red. She flapped both her hands up and down.

「Wait a second Mononobe-kun! That’s no good! Foul!」

Firill turned her back on me to hide her red face and raised her gun.

「…………Geez, because of Mononobe-kun’s fault my motivation is welling up more than necessary. Now I don’t think that it’s fine whoever win. I’ll absolutely win this.」

Firill declared with a strong tone and rushed toward the swarm of drones flying around inside the party venue.

「──I didn’t shoot by my own will, so I can’t complain anymore now.」

No matter the result, I had decided to go along with this ceremony and walked toward King Alfred.

However before I arrived at the stage, a joyful voice reverberated.

「Captain! I did it!」

Looking there, a drone that was dirtied by paint ball landed in front of Jeanne.

As expected, Jeanne was the first one with her shooting skill that was far above the rest.

Jeanne took off the white envelope attached on the drone and ran toward me.

「U-umm, captain. I’m, err, not really wishing for something outrageous like marriage but……if a winner is needed in order to end this ceremony, I, I’ll──」

I smiled at Jeanne who was talking with a flustered tone. I grabbed her arm and dragged her to the stage.

「Got it, that’s a big help. Then let’s go to Alfred-san’s place.」

I said that and got up on the stage together with Jeanne. I hesitantly handed the envelope to King Alfred who was staring at the venue with a distant look.

I didn’t know what he thought about a historical ceremony of his country getting arranged like this and how his daughter’s marriage was hanging on it, but he looked at me and smiled softly.

「Sorry that my daughter’s selfishness dragged you in like this. As expected I couldn’t refuse when she said that she is asking for a reward for saving the world. But──even though we are calling it marriage, it’s more like a special measure that only apply inside Elria Principality. So just do it leisurely.」

「──Yes, I understand.」

I was relieved by those words, but there his expression turned grave.

「However, it will be a different story in case it’s a marriage with my daughter. Mononobe-kun, you should resolve yourself.」

「R-roger that.」

I was overwhelmed by a father’s pressure and nodded.

「Very good. Then let’s begin the ceremony. Now I shall ask thee.」

He took out a letter from the envelope and read the content solemnly.

Jeanne and I gulped.

「When taking a bath, which part of thy body thou start washing from?」

「Heh……?」

We were dumbfounded because the question was more ordinary than we expected, but King Alfred paid us no mind and proceeded ahead.

「Then answer the question with the same breath.」

Prompted by him, Jeanne and I looked at each other and told him our answer at the count of three.

「Left arm.」

「Around the chest. B-because it’s stuffy……」

I pointed at my left arm while Jeanne touched her chest.

「Fumu, different answer huh. Then it’s penalty game.」

King Alfred raised his hand. Then a woman appeared from the corner of the stage pushing a trolley. I believed that person was Firill’s former wet nurse, Helen-san. She was also present in the party as King Alfred’s attendant.

Something that looked like long boots made from metal was placed on the trolley.

「Wear them on your feet.」

It seemed that they were really boots just as their appearance suggested.

I felt a bad premonition while we did as we were told. The inside felt unexpectedly soft because there was a cushion.

「That is a health instrument that my daughter gifted me for my birthday present some time ago. It’s a powerful foot acupuncture point massaging device, “Agony Artisan”.」

King Alfred spoke with an expression that looked somewhat dark. He took out something that looked like a remote control.

「When I first used it, a scream echoed through the palace and the royal guards rushed in. And then just as the name of this tool hinted, I fainted in agony for an hour……」

「O-one hour……」

My expression convulsed from King Alfred’s speech that came from real experience, but beside me Jeanne only smiled confidently.

「It will be fine captain. I once heard that something like this won’t feel that painful to human whose body condition is good. That’s why──」

But the moment King Alfred turned on the switch, our screams reverberated through the venue.

And then one minute later, King Alfred told Jeanne and me who collapsed on the floor in agony with a pitying tone.

「It’s too bad but, this tool is effective even for small fatigue.」

The pain still remained on the backs of my feet even after Helen-san took off the massaging devices.

Jeanne was completely unmoving──everyone else looked somewhat creeped out by what happened to us, but next Ariella boldly stepped forward.

I mustered out my strength and somehow got back on feet, but there I suddenly noticed.

「C-could it be……I’ll keep receiving the penalty for each failure……?」

「Looks like it. That’s why Mononobe-kun, let’s finish it with this. Our breathing completely matched each other even when we fought together, so surely we can do this.」

Ariella encouraged me with a bright voice. With that I too somehow could fire up my heart that almost yielded.

「I ask thee. What is the most important thing needed in order to realize world peace?」

The question’s scale was really big in a complete opposite of the previous question.

The answers that Ariella and I produced were──.

「Deterrence.」

「Love……or something?」

King Alfred narrowed his eyes sadly.

「Penalty game──Agony Artisan.」

Our shrieks echoed through the venue once more.

But Mitsuki came next without any time for me to rest. As expected from someone who had bow as her fictitious armament, she secured a drone quickly.

「Nii-san, you can be relieved now that I’m here. I know everything about Nii-san, so I’ll definitely match your answer perfectly.」

Mitsuki challenged this trial without any fear even after seeing the fainting Jeanne and Ariella.

「Y-you’re right……let’s do our best, Mitsuki.」

I was already unsteady on my feet from the second penalty game, but I somehow stood up by borrowing Mitsuki’s hand.

And the question for the two of us was──.

「I ask thee. How many children does thou wish for after marriage?」

「Wha──」

Both of us reflexively looked at each other. Mitsuki was going bright red until her ears.

I also felt my face heating up while I answered together with Mitsuki.

「A-around two……?」

「Te-……ah, I mean, t-t-tw-, two children.」

Our answer matched after a fashion, but it was clear that Mitsuki changed her answer to match me.

「It’s too bad but, it’s disqualification if the answer isn’t at the same time.」

Alfred-san said that and carried out the penalty game.

「────!!」

Perhaps because of all her fatigue that had accumulated until now, Mitsuki writhed in a noticeable way before she went limp and didn’t move at all.

I had gotten a bit used to it, but I still couldn’t hold back my scream.

However I had no time to rest. Those who shot down the drone came one after another.

「Mononobe Yuu. I’m next. Even like this……I believe that I have a good understanding about you, so there should be a chance of success for us.」

Lisa wasn’t letting her guard down at all despite the confidence that she exuded.

But the ceremony’s question surpassed our expectation again.

「I ask thee. When your child start going to school, how much allowance thou are going to give them each month?」

Lisa looked my way after hearing that. She nodded briefly. It seemed that she was planning to match my sense of value.

And so I answered with the amount of allowance that I received when I was in the first grade of elementary school. Surely there would be no problem if I also used yen as the monetary unit.

「One hundred yen.」

「A thousand yen.」

Right after that, Lisa looked at me in disbelief.

「W-what can you possibly buy with one hundred yen!? You shouldn’t be able to even buy a canned juice with that in Japan!」

「……Lisa, there is snack that you can buy even with just ten yen in Japan.」

I knew that she would meet me halfway, even so it seemed that we still couldn’t bury the difference in sense of value between us completely.

And then both of us writhed in agony.

「Then next is me. Yuu, if you don’t want to get any more penalty game than this, you better match your answer with me.」

The next challenger was Kili.

She challenged the ceremony with a completely opposite stance than Lisa.

「I ask thee. What are thou going to do if thou happen to see an abandoned cat in a cardboard box at roadside?」

──I just need to match my answer with Kili huh.

I recalled her instruction just now and answered.

「I’ll pick and keep it.」

「I’ll ignore it──wait a second Yuu! I told you to match my answer right?」

「That’s why I matched it with what Kili will do. In the past, you once jumped into a river to save a kitten didn’t you?」

「T-that was, it was that kid that followed me on its own, because of that──」

Helen-san quickly put the massaging devices on our feet while we argued. Our conversation changed into a shriek midway.

「It’s more, that I imagined……」

Kili became one of the unconscious victims.

「……Mononobe Yuu. Next, can I, ask you to do it with me. No, this is just in order to quickly settle this matter, that’s all, it’s my responsibility as an educator──」

Then Shinomiya-sensei came while saying a similar line like Jeanne before.

「Yes, let’s do it.」

I who had my thinking capability being reduced from the repeated penalty game nodded in agreement without feeling particularly doubtful.

「I ask thee. Where do thou want to do greeting kiss in the morning?」

「Wha──what a shameless question……i-in the first place I’m still──」

Shinomiya-sensei looked shaken, but she gasped and looked at me before clearing her throat. She pulled herself together.

「V-very well then. Mononobe Yuu, this must be a slightly stimulating question for you but──please match your answer with my adult self.」

I heard her demand and answered after thinking for a bit.

「Lips.」

「Cheek…………wait, Mononobe Yuu. Just now, did you answer lips?」

Helen-san put the massaging device on the flinching Shinomiya-sensei.

「I’m sorry, I thought that an adult like Shinomiya-sensei might do it on the lips……」

I apologized while putting the massaging device myself.

「N-no way, to be so bold right from the morning──hauh!?」

The foot acupuncture point activated while she was in the middle of talking. Shinomiya-sensei showed the most reaction among everyone until now. As expected, it seemed an adult naturally had the most fatigue piling up.

I endured the pain while taking off the massaging device from Shinomiya-sensei who was in the verge of fainting.

「Ah! I did ittt! I finally hit one Mononobe!」

There I heard Iris’s happy voice.

「Wrong! It was Tia who hit it just now!」

But Tia was making some kind of objection.

「Nn, I think it was also my bullet that hit.」

「mIne Too, hIt aT thE sAme tIme.」

「No, that was mine prey!」

「My bad for the maidens, but it was me who caught the falling drone.」

In addition Ren, Shion, Vritra, and Charlotte also joined the argument.

Because the drones’ number had been reduced, it created a situation where the participants were fighting for one drone.

Seeing that situation, Alfred-san gestured with his hand for all of them to get up on stage.

「Then, let’s carry out the ceremony with everyone. After all in the ancient history, there is also a record that mentioned how people who wished for polygamy challenged the ceremony too.」

Like that I, Iris, Tia, Ren, Shion, Vritra, and Charlotte ended up answering the question together.

「Mononobe, if we really end up married……w-what will happen? C-could it be my name will become Iris Mononobe? I’ll be Mononobe too?」

Iris was looking excessively restless before the ceremony.

「No! Tia will be the one who become Mononobe!」

Shion tilted her head in puzzlement when she heard Tia’s protest.

「aFter gEtting married……I’Ll become papa? Two papa? I’m Also pApa?」

「Nn, wrong. Onii-chan won’t increase. Eh……but, if we marry, Onii-chan won’t be Onii-chan anymore……?」

Ren also started to get confused about something and clutched her head.

「C-could it be, marriage is a ceremony that change one’s existence itself? In that case perhaps I have underestimated human all this time……」

Vritra made a strange misunderstanding and shuddered with a tense expression.

「O-oi, calm down. Char, calm everyone somehow──」

I asked for help from Charlotte who was the only adult among us here, but she was standing stock still in an absurdly tense state.

「D-did you say something, my friend. C-could it be that you are thinking that I’m seriously wishing to marry you? Don’t worry, I only love beautiful maidens……that’s, how it should be, but……for some reason my heart won’t stop pounding since some time ago. M-my face is also feeling hot, perhaps I caught a cold……n-no, as the Vampire something like that is──」

Charlotte was talking rapidly with a shrill voice.

She talked too fast that I couldn’t really hear what she said, but it looked like she didn’t have the composure to calm down everyone.

Alfred-san dispassionately asked the question in the middle of such chaotic situation.

「I ask thee. What do thou wish to do with thy beloved at holiday?」

──The thing we can do in Midgard is limited. The outside is also hot…….

I thought for a bit before answering at the same timing with everyone.

「I want to leisurely watch movie inside my room.」

Iris and Tia energetically answered.

「I want to swim together at sea!」

「Tia will make a large castle at beach!」

Ren and Shion answered a bit shyly.

「……Napping together.」

「I want tO Get lAp piLlow……fRom pApa.」

Vritra and Charlotte answered confidently.

「Wasting time playing game is the advanced and safe amusement of human. I know this without a doubt.」

「Of course it’s girls’ watching! Observing beautiful maidens together and discussing them……that will be the supreme holiday!」

Even though it was a common question where it shouldn’t be strange if some of us had the same answer, everyone’s answer was splendidly all over the place.

And then the Agony Artisans were put on us and we went through the penalty game simultaneously.

「──Guuh!?」

「Hauh!? I-it hurts, help me Mononobee~!」

However everyone else was looking puzzled while Iris and I were screaming.

「Eh? Tia is completely alright.」

「Nn, it just feels a bit ticklish.」

「i’M alSo fIne. Papa aNd otHers, arE fuNny.」

「To be in agony from just this much……isn’t it a bit pathetic of you as my comrade?」

「Fumu, it seems our feet are too small for this massaging device to work on us. No, it doesn’t mean that I have kiddy body figure okay? My friend, be careful to not make that misunderstanding.」

Tia, Ren, Shion, Vritra, and Charlotte were looking at our agony with a letdown feeling.

*Stomp, stomp, stomp──.*

Footsteps resounded at that timing.

I raised my face while enduring the intense pain. There I saw Firill calmly walking this way with an envelope in hand.

「Fufu, with this everyone has gotten a turn right? This is a ceremony that I started by my own initiative, so I have been waiting until after everyone has finished. Now──it’s finally my turn, Mononobe-kun.」

Firill came up on the stage with a bold smile. She was about to hand the envelope to King Alfred but……her movement suddenly stopped.

Firill looked around at the previous challengers who had received the penalty game and sighed.

「Haa……but, even if I win with this, somehow it will look like I have fixed the game. Then──yep, I have decided. Let’s make this question the last and answer it with everyone here like just now. But I’ll still definitely make Mononobe-kun into my prince even with that.」

Because of that proposal, all of us stood in front of King Alfred.

「……Firill, are you alright with this?」

I asked the girl who stood beside me. She nodded with a smile.

「Of course. I want to fight fair and square with everyone. I don’t want to be thought as cheating.」

Certainly this ceremony was something that Firill schemed, so it was also possible for her to set so that she got the easy question. Firill chose this method so that she wouldn’t be suspected with that.

「Got it. Then no matter what kind of question come, I’ll answer with what is in my mind without trying to match it with anyone else.」

「Yep, me too.」

Firill nodded.

Everyone heard our talk and also nodded in agreement.

Seeing that our preparation was finished, King Alfred asked the last question solemnly.

「I ask thee. What is it that thou wish to protect the most in this moment?」

The moment I heard that question, a lot of things came to mind.

I hesitated of what to choose from there, but I immediately realized that all those things could only be described with one word.

That was why I honestly said that word.

.

「──Now.」

.

Then our voices overlapped.

I didn’t hear any other word.

I looked around in surprise. There I saw everyone was also standing open mouthed.

And then, the one who was the most dumbfounded was King Alfred who asked the question.

──Could it be, everyone spoke the same answer?

What was the result of the ceremony in this case? Don’t tell me, it would be a marriage with everyone…….

Our gazes gathered on the witness King Alfred.

「…………」

He wordlessly glanced at his daughter Firill. While we were bewildered, it was only Firill who was staring at her father with sparkling eyes.

Sweat trickled down from King Alfred’s forehead when faced with his daughter’s gaze that was filled with expectation.

「……I planned to concede very, very reluctantly and recognized Firill’s marriage with Mononobe-kun but, a marriage with this number of people at the same time is……there is just no precedent of it……when we proclaim it, if it’s not in the way that the people can accept……Firill’s standing will also……in the worst case the trust toward the royal family will……」

He was murmuring while clutching his head.

It seemed that this was outside his expectation. Then Helen-san approached King Alfred and whispered something into his ear.

The moment he heard it, King Alfred made a taken aback look and straightened his posture.

And then he suddenly swished his mantel and turned his back on us. He solemnly declared.

「With this, the ancient Elria style marriage ceremony, the complete hard mode version is concluded.」

We held our breath waiting what kind of verdict would be handed down, but King Alfred slowly walked away without saying anything else.

He was walking straight toward the venue’s exit──.

「F-father! Where are you going!?」

When Firill yelled in panic, he stopped walking in front of the exit and turned his face this way.

「……Listen well Firill. In order to validate the ceremony that we held this time, there is one thing that has to be done no matter what.」

「Eeeh!? Lies! I never heard about anything like that! Father said that this is the complete version!」

「I-I’m not lying! I just remembered after Helen told me! If from the result of the ceremony a commoner is going to be added into the royal family, that person will also have to receive the trial to be a royalty!」

There his sharp gaze pierced me.

「Mononobe-kun──if you wish to validate the marriage based on this ceremony, I shall have you overcome the king’s trial at Elria Kingdom! I shall wait for your arrival anytime! Then, farewell!」

King Alfred said that and walked outside. Helen-san also bowed to us and followed behind him.

Firill saw off the back of the two and clenched her fists in frustration.

「Gununu……father really doesn’t know when to give up. Even though going out of Midgard is also not something easy……」

However Firill shook her head as though to switch her mood and turned her gaze at us.

「Everyone, our fight has only just begun! Let’s combine our strength and work hard together-!!」

Firill raised her clenched fist and yelled.

「I-I don’t really get it but I’ll do my besttt!!」

「Tia will do her besttt!」

「dO Our bEst!」

Iris, Tia, and Shion answered Firill’s order, but everyone else dropped their shoulders in exasperation.

「……This result is just as I thought but, this commotion is still not over with this huh.」

Mitsuki sighed. Lisa placed her hand on her shoulder consolingly.

「Your schedule get messed up again with this. I’ll help with decorating the hall.」

「I’ll also help. My body feels really light. Perhaps it’s thanks to that feet acupuncture massage.」

Ariella jumped up and down on the spot. Shinomiya-sensei also turned her gaze to her own feet seeing that.

「Certainly……the swelling in my feet is removed.」

「It was really agonizing that it made you fainted, but it looks like the result is also worth the pain.」

Jeanne also rubbed her feet in surprise.

「……Even so, the king’s trial huh. It has a really nice ring to it for some reason. I’m getting a bit excited.」

While that was going on, Charlotte seemed curious with King Alfred’s words.

「Nn. It has romance in it.」

Ren agreed. Vritra also nodded deeply.

「I’m also interested. The ceremony that human created is unexpectedly interesting. I shall participate too if there is no danger.」

Kili smiled wryly while murmuring.

「Setting aside the trial, I want to get outside Midgard too……perhaps I’ll help out with that.」

Seeing everyone like that made me thought.

That this was none other than the “now” that we wished to protect──.

.

◆ Christmas Epilogue

At 25 December, the last day of Christmas party.

The festivities in the hall ended at evening. As the executive committee member, I got busy with cleaning up the aftermath.

However after I got to a point where I could rest and looked around, I didn’t find my classmates who should be helping me anywhere.

When I asked the school staffs who were carrying out the baggage, they told me that they returned to the classroom not long ago.

They must have decided to leave after seeing that the number of workers here was sufficient, but it felt a bit lonely that they didn’t say anything to me.

──Perhaps I have done something that angered them.

I tried looking back, but nothing really came to mind.

I was too busy that I came late to the dance party where I promised to dance with everyone of Brunhilde class. The time I had to fulfill my individual promise with each of them also got shortened.

──I better apologize properly one more time to them.

The staffs said that I could leave the rest to them, so I exited the hall and headed to my classroom.

Right now each class was holding a modest party of their own in their own classroom.

Our homeroom teacher Shinomiya-sensei was eagerly making her special yakisoba for Christmas.

I hoped that there was a portion left behind for me while I walked through the corridor in a fast walk. I came until near the classroom.

「Eh……?」

But for some reason the classroom’s light was turned off. I also couldn’t hear any sound or voice.

「Could it be, they are having the party at the lodging house……?」

Even though I was wondering whether I was mistaking the place, I decided to check inside the classroom just in case.

*Gararararara──!*

The sound of door opening echoed inside the quiet building. Right after that, the room in front of me turned bright.

.

*Pan pan pan-!*

.

Explosive sound resounded at the same time.

I almost reflexively crouched because I thought it was gunshot sound, but I immediately realized that it wasn’t that kind of situation.

Everyone was there inside the bright classroom with a smile.

They were wearing cone hats in Christmas color and crackers in their hands.

And then everyone yelled together.

.

「Happy birthday!!」

.

Aa, come to think of it that was today.

Even though I remembered that until the party started, that fact had slipped off my head before I realized it throughout all the busy schedules.

A large serving of yakisoba and a big birthday cake were placed on the table.

The inside of my eyes suddenly turned hot for some reason when I saw that.

I held down the emotion that immediately welled up inside me. Even so something still leaked out slightly. I wiped it with the back of my hand──and faced toward everyone.

And then I replied to them with a smile.

「Thank you. Merry Christmas.」

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