Finale, For Now

"Err, sorry about it, I've brought you twenty more variations than usual. I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me."

『....』

"No uh, I didn't forget, see? I just worked myself to exhaustion fighting Demon King, I got bedridden for about half a month, see?"

『....』

"Ah, right right, look at this steak here, I used the most delicious meat of Black Dragon for it. It's my best masterpiece ever, tastier than any meat dish I've ever made. Err, are you listening?"

『.......』

"...Huh? Sensei, aren't your Attributes rising? Eh, Unique Skill? You just got like ten times stronger. Eh, Why'd you further use True Beast Release there? You're pretty much stronger than Demon King in his True Demon Release form now."



『Guruggaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!』

"Hiiiyyiiii!? If I knew you were hiding that power, you could have come along with us to fight Demon King, nooooo!!!！ Hidebua!!?"





~~~~~~~





"Rasfi, where we heading to next?"

"Heard strong Lv80s magic beasts made a nest in a beast cave on Continent 2. Let's go subdue 'em... What's with that look, you don't wanna?"

"Nah, I'm fine with it, but y'know... Haven't you turned into a battle junkie ever since that war?"

"I might have. That exhilarating feeling when you're fighting strong opponents is dangerously addicting."

"Yeah, it's not like I don't get ya, but remember you don't go overboard. I'm seriously gonna stop you when things look real bad."

"You will protect me if it comes down to that, no? Baredo."

"...Yeah yeah. Geez, how did I fall for this gal..."



~~~~~~~~





"Radia-san, please come to Alma-san's birthday party tomorrow!"

"Eh, birthday? Uh, how old is that nee-chan again?"

"She's gonna be 17 tomorrow. Kajikawa-san is cooking up a storm for the party. It's an all you can eat buffet!"

"I see. I should go buy something for her present."

"Oh, I'm thinking of buying some liquor. Wanna go shop around together with me?"

"O, ou. Don't drink too much now, okay?"

"A gal gotta sit back and relax every once in a while specially in a special occasion like this. Let's drink lots together, Radia-san."

"Aren't you just eager to drink over celebrating the birthday...?"

"Fufufu, I'm a bad girl... Actually, rather than a birthday, it's actually---"



~~~~~~~



"Please give me, your daughter."

"...Long have I steeled myself for this very day. Neither has there been a single day I forgo ruminating over what I would do on that day." 

"...I can hazard a guess, may I hear your reply."

"See this thing here, still don't get it? I will never accept it unless you've proven yourself stronger than me. Come and demonstrate your mettle."

"I mean you've got sword at the ready and all. I figured... Haa, Alma might have stayed single all her life if it weren't me."



"Well then...... Defeat me in battle if you wish my daughter (Alma) you greenhooooorn!!!!!"

"Knewthiswasgonnahappeeeeeeeeeen!!!!"





~~~~~~~





"Hero-sama! Please be my brid---"

"Menu, send him to another continent with Fast Travel."

<<Hear hear... You've gotten pretty used to driving those suitors away, haven't you.>>

"I'm so done reacting to every one of them. Dangit, it's all because you fused me in front of so many people. They keep coming at me every single day now!"

<<And there's barely any female suitor too, which is kinda... Wonder if you're really gonna turn into a hot guy once you're all grown up. It kinda feels like you're actually growing up into a fine lady there.>>

"I will! I will make it happen! I'm so fed up of getting mistaken for a woman! Levia and Olivie would definitely like a hot guy face than this girlish one too, for sure!"

"Nope, I'm fine with your current looks."

"You're already very cool the way you are, Neora-san."

"...Thank you."

"In fact, I'd rather you stay a cutie-coughcough."

"Hm, come again?"


<<...I guess I should stay silent on the fact that his body not only has an abundance of female hormones but it's also been made to age slowly so the chance of him turning manly as he grows up is hopelessly low. What a shame~...>>



~~~~~~








Alma showed her brightest smile ever when I told her my feelings.
Heck, right after confessing, Alma ran and hugged me, stole my lips and then... Let's not go there. Yup.


Afterward, I overcame many trials and tribulations (chiefly from Oni-sensei and Alma Papa), and tied the knot for real.
That said, we're not letting ourselves drown in romantic feelings.

Heard lots of stories about couples who only see their partners' good points only to see the cracks after marriage.
You gotta put in the effort to know your partner better and let them know you better. Try to fix each other flaws and aim for a happy life for many years to come. 
Marriages are no child play. You gotta have the resolve to take it seriously, both as a human and as a couple.


...Well, I should drop all that formal stuff and focus on cooking.
I'm just gonna suffocate myself if I keep overthinking that. I'd rather enjoy my time with Alma.


"Hikaru, I'm done chopping onions."

"Alrighty, time to stir fry 'em."


I'm making ginger fried black dragon meat right now.
There's also steak, hamburger, teriyaki, smoked meat, cubed stew, cartilage dango, all of them made from black dragon.

I splurged out the black dragon meat I had been keeping in my storage for Alma's birthday. 
Most of the dishes were made by me, but the ginger fry is a joint effort with Alma.

Think the first meal I had together with Alma was ginger fried pork. Really takes me back.
....Feels like it's been two years and two months since then, but it hasn't even been a year yet... What terrifyingly dense days those were.


『Pipi!』

"Hey now, no food sampling today. You can have all you want when it's time to eat at the dinner party... Just please don't turn into a giant and guzzled down everything, you hear me."

『Pii...』

"Hiyoko looks like she can't wait anymore... Speaking of which, when is your birthday, Hikaru?"

"Who knows? I was already 26 when I came to... Must be one of the days while I was asleep. Well, birthdays are kinda a sore spot when you're my age."

"But it's still the special day you were born on, Hikaru. We have to celebrate it."

"...Do we now, thanks."

"That settles it. I'll cook everything for your next birthday. So please teach me how to cook."

"Ou, I'll be with you every step of the way."


...When was the last time I even look forward to my next birthday, I wonder.
I'm so glad I got thrown in this world and met Alma. Sniffle.


Alma's birthday party turned into a much grander thing than I anticipated.
Apparently Alma Mama also cooked meals for the party, we got several hundreds servings between the two of us.
Almost made it look like some high society noble party... I'll store away everything unconsumed in my Item Screen for later date.

They also made the preparation for the venue. Actually they booked the entire guild's tavern, fully ready for a full blown party.
Ah, the signboard on the Adventurer's Guild has been replaced with a sign that says 'Alma's Birthday Party'... Wonder if it was made hastily. It looks like it's gonna fall apart anytime.


Attending the party is Reina, Alma's parents naturally, Hero-kun's party, the rest of training members, Aina-san, orphanage kids and the director, Reina's mom, Gen-san, his disciple and Julian. The assorted guildmasters and even Spadia-san are here too.
I'm glad they could make the time in their busy days but are they sure they've got it covered.


"...I'm stuck in work work work every single day, not sure if I could go on if I don't blow off steam every once in a while. Ah, more booze please."

"Oy, you elderly. Why're you getting your arse drunk already."

"The party isn't on yet, no drinking. No demanding seconds either."


Daijel Guildmaster and Scarymast admonished the already drinking Lolimast... Dang you drunkard lil girl.
Gotta remind Reina not to get too wasted too. Nah, it's not happening... Dang you alcoholic lil girls.


I'm wearing quite a nice suit I bought in Japan for the occasion. Hope it doesn't look out of place.
Heck, where's the main star of the show, Alma anyway.

<<Putting on her dress takes time.>>

Is there even a dress code for birthday parties. People here sure get spirited when it comes to birthday parties.
...But Reina's birthday was quite somber. I feel kinda sorry...

As I was thinking that, Alma came out of the changing room.

.............


A beauty wearing a pure white dress you could mistake for an angel stood there.
...Isn't she getting TOO much into it? That looks like a wedding dress to me.

Alma asked me while blushing slightly.


"H, ho, how do I look...?"

"A, ah... You're so pretty I can't bear to look away."


Oh no, what's with this mood.
It's as if we're gonna have a wedding ceremony or something.
Everybody present is looking at the two us with a grin on their faces, sheesh.
...We should grab our seats.


The party began, Alma opened with a casual greeting and then Alma Mama entered the venue while carrying some sort of huge box.


"...? What's that?"

"Ufufu. Oh I've made the bestest of cake just for today."

"Oh, a birthday cake I see. You must have been really fired up."

"Ufufu, oh I was blazing up for my cute and lovely daughter. And there we go!"


The box revealed... An incredibly huge super sized cake.
Hold up. That thing is no birthday cake.


It's a wedding cake no matter how you slice it.


"Here you go, hold on to this together Hikaru-san, Alma-chan."

"...Eh?"
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >

Alma Mama handed us a sword, no, a cake cutter?
What's going on. What's starting here?


"Hmph!"


While my mind was trying to catch up, Alma Papa shot a farslash at the guild's signboard with his sword.
The 'Alma Birthday Party' signboard got cut in two and fell apart to show another signboard behind it.


The words 'Kajikawa Hikaru & Almatina Wedding Party' is written theretheretherethere.


.............


THEY GOT ME


Alma Mama was the one who brought up this whole birthday party to me. Who could've imagined they were scheming this.
Actually, this kind of surprise isn't right! It's gotta be more proper and--


"Hikaru, your hand."

"Eh, ah, yes."


I got swept in the flow and cut the cake together.
Is this really gonna be our first joint effort.


"...I wanted to have a proper planning for this if I could."

"Nope. Hikaru-san would definitely bring up stuff like rebuilding effort or adventures to keep dilly dallying the marriage forever. Duke was exactly like that."

"Ugu..."


...She saw right through me.
It's true. Wedding ceremony sounds so intimidating and a hard work I only had a hazy planning of it in my mind.


"Now that's out of the way, you may proceed with the kiss of vow."

"?!!!"


For real.
I mean, we got our first long ago, but in front of so many people?


I look at Alma. She's already standing by with the 'Kiss OK' face.
Everybody present is wordlessly staring at us without making a sound.

....


I'll do it. I'mma show you how to do it. Yeah.



I gently put my palm on Alma's face


...Press her lips, with mine.

A loud cheering started booming in the venue just as we did. This is super embarrassing.


"Each one of you needs to prepare your ring in the next month for the ring exchange. Don't forget to head for the nearest church once you're done okay."


...Man, I still don't get how weddings work in this world.


"Alma-chan, make sure you grab him tight."

"...Un."

"Hikaru-kun... Our girl is in your hands now."

"...Yes."


The birthday party, or rather the surprise wedding ceremony is done. And now it's feasting time.
My mental state is a chaotic mix of embarrassment, frustration from being set up and bliss.


As I devoured the food half from venting up, Alma spoke.


"Hikaru."

"Yes?"



"I love, you."


"....!! ...Me, too."



And yet, I can assert that.

I'm the happiest man alive right now.


For the sake of many more happy days for both me, and for her. We'll walk this road called life together hand in hand.









"Hiyokocha~~n, let's drink and drink and drink~ Uhehe~."

『C, cluck!! Clucleeeeuck!!』

"Reina, don't bottle down a chicken! You're gonna kill it!"

"Oy, fuse now and turn into a beauty. Marry me after."

<<Youbetcha!>>

"Who the hell gonna. Oy, hold it, why'd you fuse me on your own agaiiiin!!!?"

"Ah to be young again. Haa. I'd love to have a wedding myself, preferably soon. What about you Raiza?"

"...Sadly. All my marriage interviews ended with my potential partners fleeing the scene."

"Raiza-chan's got this incredible pressure to her after all. Why put that terrifying face as your default anyway? At this rate, you might stay single fore--buberaa!"

"Waai! Elf-oneechan flew away!"

"Now now, mind your manners children. It's a wedding ceremony, you must remain composed and---"

"Uh Director, you're saying that with that heap of meat on your plate. How about you take your own advice."

"Fuhahahaha!! Congratulations on your wedding, My Customer and your partner! I shall peruse this occasion to demonstrate my newest invention, the magic mine fireworks--"

"Higuro, stop him!!"

"That ain't no fireworks, it's a bomb! Don't you dare set that off dangit!"



...Looks like there's gonna be quite a lively future ahead of us, yep.


Ah, oy, Julian, don't do it you! I said, wait-----

Author's note:
Thank you very much for reading.
The only reason I managed to finish this (for now) is all thanks to all supports from my readers, truly.
I'm grateful for all of you. Thank you ever so much.
I will be writing after story so this is not yet the end. Thank you for your understanding.

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