HRB 149

Augustine, who liked alcohol, poured drinks fairly for everyone. Thanks to Ketron naturally snatching Eddie’s glass, Eddie didn’t get drunk, but as the night deepened, everyone was quite tipsy, and the atmosphere had loosened considerably.

“This is delicious!”

The humanized Holy Sword, even before drinking, had been clinging to Eddie, acting petulant and asking if I hadn’t wanted to see him. Once the alcohol kicked in, he claimed it was his first time drinking and downed high-proof wine like water, before promptly passing out and slumping onto the table.

Ketron, inwardly displeased that the Holy Sword had been clinging to Eddie and wouldn’t let go, unceremoniously tossed the passed-out Holy Sword aside like laundry. Then, with a satisfied expression, he settled into the seat next to Eddie.

“You’re going to run an inn again?”

“Yes.”

Gerold seemed surprised when Eddie expressed his intention to run an inn again.

The first time he opened an inn, he had simply chosen it without much thought as a cover for his activities in the capital, disguising it as a normal business. But now, there was no longer a need for such pretense.

However, Eddie was resolute.

“We need a place to live together.”

Seizing the moment, Eddie also explained that Sebastian would be the new owner of the inn.

“I’d love to have an inn. Believe it or not, I’m a regular at Eddie’s Inn.”

Augustine laughed cheerfully, pleased that the legacy of Eddie’s Inn would continue. Ebon wore a sullen expression at the mention of Sebastian being the owner, while Sebastian looked bashful. Gerold.

“…….”

Upon hearing the word “owner,” he stared intently at Sebastian, then, seeing Sebastian’s shy smile, his lips curved into a smile.

But when Sebastian turned to look at him and their eyes met, he returned to his usual cold expression as if nothing had happened.

However, Sebastian seemed to have witnessed Gerold’s expression, his eyes widening. Then, as if making a decision, he opened his mouth.

“Mr. Gerold.”

“……Why?”

“You haven’t forgotten the promise we made, have you?”

Gerold frowned, seemingly not understanding what he meant.

“What…?”

“The promise that you’d consider my confession after you returned.”

Gasp.

Eddie, who had never expected Sebastian to bring this up so openly, froze mid-action, a piece of fruit halfway to Ketron’s mouth.

Ketron, who had been waiting like a baby bird with his mouth open for Eddie to feed him, could only look confused before he moved on his own and casually accepted the fruit.

Ketron showed no surprise at all. In fact, he didn’t seem interested in whatever drama was unfolding.

Augustine stroked his chin with an “Ooh,” while Ebon looked disgusted.

Gerold, uncharacteristically flustered, found Sebastian’s burning gaze unbearable and immediately looked away.

“You said you’d think about it after you returned, not that you’d… why is it like this, Sebastian?”

Oh dear. Eddie sighed inwardly. Even a relationship novice like himself could see that was the wrong answer. Sebastian’s expression contorted.

“So, you’re going to discard me?”

“What?”

“How can you do that? Are you going to use me and then throw me away?”

“Use and throw…?”

Gerold’s eyes widened, as if hearing the expression for the first time. He looked genuinely bewildered.

“When did I ever use and throw you?”

Gerold, so flustered that he even dropped the polite speech he usually tried to maintain, even when it occasionally slipped out with Sebastian, threw it aside.

“Isn’t it true? You said you liked me back then. You said you liked me throughout the entire process. Was all of that a lie?”

“When did I ever say I liked…?”

As if realizing belatedly the “moment” he had spoken of liking Sebastian, Gerold’s face flushed a rare red.

He belatedly looked around. Eddie and Augustine watched with keen interest. Ketron, looking indifferent, was watching only Eddie. Seeing his old friend’s jaw-dropped expression, he desperately tried to cover Sebastian’s mouth.

“Sebastian, let’s talk about this later.”

“Are you trying to run away again?”

But Sebastian, having already started, was like a fire truck that wouldn’t stop even at a red light.

“Please, Mr. Gerold. Stop making me wait. You like me, don’t you?”

“I missed you.”

“Didn’t you miss me? Huh?”

“Mr. Gerold…”

There was nothing that could stop Sebastian, who had become a straightforward man under the influence of alcohol. Finally, Gerold closed his eyes tightly and forcibly pulled Sebastian up.

“Eddie-nim, I’ll be excusing myself first.”

“Mmm-hmm.”

At this moment, Gerold looked like he would leave, saying “Thank you,” even if Eddie told him not to.

“Are we doing it? Are we really doing it? Wow, wait, it’s been so long, my heart feels like it’s going to explode…”

“Please stop talking nonsense.”

“No, it’s not my heart that feels like it’s going to explode, it’s down there… I’ll be gentle…”

“Shut up!”

Sebastian, who finally managed to elicit a “shut up” from Gerold, continued to whine incessantly as he moved further away.

“…Next time, I should prepare the popcorn in advance.”

Watching him go, Eddie made a firm decision.

The world quickly regained its stability. Although some people were anxious, fearing another Demon King’s resurrection due to past precedents, time would resolve this issue.

As the inn neared completion, Eddie informed the Emperor that he intended to move from the Imperial Palace to the inn.

“You plan to live with them?”

“Yes.”

The Emperor seemed reluctant, but Eddie’s stance was so firm that he couldn’t dissuade him further.

“Alright, are you leaving tomorrow?”

“Yes, I’ll visit often.”

Eddie looked somehow relieved. The Emperor, after gazing at his face for a moment, asked,

“Paki, do you like him that much?”

“Yes, you find a good person too, brother.”

Eddie was equally resolute on that matter. He who had long since sorted out his own feelings was unhesitating.

Adding to that, at Eddie’s words for him to find a good person too, the Emperor laughed, shaking his head as if he couldn’t possibly win.

On the morning of their departure for the inn, Eddie readily agreed to Ketron’s rare request for a stroll in the garden before leaving the Imperial Palace. They walked through the garden, which was open only to the Imperial family.

Thanks to the spring that arrived with the victory news, the garden was beautiful with colorful flowers blooming. As it was a garden permitted only to royalty, and Eddie had dismissed his attendants, Eddie felt a sense of liberation he hadn’t felt in a long time, walking alone with Ketron, without even Danny.

Walking amidst the strong floral scent, admiring unknown flowers, Eddie suddenly looked back and approached Ketron, who was standing under a cherry blossom tree, quietly watching him.

“What’s wrong? You said you wanted to walk together, so why are you just standing there?”

Ketron, looking at Eddie with a playful tone, seemed a little tense.

“Eddie, would you give me your hand?”

Surprised by the sudden request, Eddie extended his hand without much thought. Then, Ketron slipped a ring onto Eddie’s finger, which he had been holding for some time.

Eddie blinked for a while, unable to comprehend the situation.

What is this?

The ring wasn’t particularly stylish, but it was evident that a lot of effort had gone into its craftsmanship.

Moreover, even to Eddie, who possessed no Magical power, it exuded an unusual aura, suggesting it was no ordinary object.

“It’s an Artifact that will allow me to come to you whenever you wish.”

“I thought there should be at least a minimal safety measure,” Ketron said, then kissed the fingertips of Eddie’s hand, on which the ring was now worn.

For a moment, Eddie thought he was being proposed to. Under a cherry blossom tree, with a handsome man giving him a ring, anyone would think that.

“When did you make this?”

“I worked on it. All the way here.”

It was obvious who he had “worked on.” While Eddie offered a moment of silent prayer for Gerold and Ebon, who had likely been badgered by Ketron during their return journey, Ketron took a deep breath and slowly began to speak.

“Eddie, I haven’t lived my life expecting much.”

For a child who ran away from an orphanage at a young age, it would have been laughable to have high expectations of the world.

The moment Ketron’s past, which he rarely spoke of, surfaced, Eddie had a premonition. This is a real proposal.*

“Simply put, I’ve never once envisioned even tomorrow, the day after, years from now, or the future when the twilight of my life arrives. I didn’t have the leisure for it during the times I was struggling to survive, and once I grew up, I couldn’t find a reason to.”

Augustine had sometimes told Ketron to find something he wanted to do besides wielding a sword, but Ketron had never felt interested in anything else, so he didn’t know what to look for.

More precisely, nothing seemed appealing. The Holy Sword was his destiny, and he moved to save the world following that destiny, but nothing came to mind for what he should do for himself.

“But when I thought about proposing to you and giving you this ring, I looked forward to your expression.”

“…….”

“You are overflowing with my ‘firsts.’ And there will probably be many more. I look forward to that future too.”

Having said that much, Ketron coughed, as if speaking so much after a long time was difficult.

Eddie looked dazed.

Of course, Ketron had made a proposal-like statement to Eddie just before their departure, and Eddie had already agreed to it. But he never imagined Ketron would actually prepare a proper proposal, building upon that impulsive one.

“I probably won’t ever become good with words. I won’t be able to say fancy things, and it’s the same now.”

Even now, Ketron was doing his best.

“So… I can only be honest.”

“…….”

“Even with someone like me, Eddie. Will you spend the rest of your life with me?”