Book 3: Chapter 22

Birth of a Hero

“Halt-sama!”

When I teleported back to the Royal Castle of Alheim, Tina was waiting for my return, and she hugged me. Something familiarly huge and soft pressed against me.

Ah, bliss.

“Tina, I’m back.”

“Welcome back, Halt-sama.”

“Halt, welcome back. I’m grateful for your safe return.”

Leaffa also hugged me.

“I’m back, Leaffa.”

Reality of my return sank in after being hugged by my two wives.

“Welcome back, Master.”

“Welcome back, Halt-sama.”

“I’m back!”

Youko, Mai, and Mei also came toward me. I had assigned them to help the citizens escape since there was a possibility that they would be summoned if the former general knew that they had formed a contract with me.

“You’re back, Halt.”

“Yeah, I’m here. Oy, wait, Luke, you almost hit me with your ultimate magic!”

“Eh, did I? Sorry, sorry. Ah, but if it’s Halt, even if I did hit yah, you could resist it, right?”

Nope, didn’t we agree that you wouldn’t hit me!? That’s why I didn’t even use defensive magic. If it did hit me, wouldn’t I turn into charcoal!?

The Elf King arrived while I was talking with my friends.

“Halt, well done. You have my utmost gratitude.”

The Elf King bowed before me.

“No, I just protected my wives’ home country. Please raise your head, Your Majesty.”

“Won’t you call me ‘Dad’? The marriage between you and Leaffa has been officially recognized in our beloved kingdom. In other words, I will become your father-in-law.”

“!!!”

“P, Papa…”

Leaffa turned red in embarrassment.

“A, alright, then please allow me to call you ‘Dad’ except in official places.”

“Yes, sounds good. I will also greet Halt’s parents as early as possible. So, should I write them a letter?”

“No, there is no need for that. I am the third son, so my parents will not oppose my marriage.”

“Is that so, then it’s good. I am looking forward to conferring you the honor of being the Hero who saved this Kingdom, as well as my son-in-law.”

Conferring honor…

Well, I’ll be marrying Leaffa, who is beloved by many citizens, so I must be at the level of a Hero at least, I guess?

To obtain the citizens’ approval, I decided to go along with the Elf King’s proposal.

Do I have to deliver a speech?

I’m nervous about talking in front of a crowd, though.

Eh, that time when I addressed the soldiers of Apristos?

I was tense, so somehow, I managed it.

In the end, the Elf King told me that I’d be conferred the title of Hero of the Kingdom tomorrow, and my wedding with Tina and Leaffa will be announced at that time, as well.

Tomorrow!?

Isn’t that too soon?

The people who evacuated from the royal capital will return tomorrow. The war was won, and the kingdom was protected, so the minsters clamored that the country’s celebration and honoring the heroes be done today. However, only a few citizens would be able to join in, and the Elf King thought it was too lonesome.

──＊＊＊──

With that, I teleported Tina and Leaffa back with me to my own family home.

“I’m home. Is Father around?”

“Welcome home, Master Halt. The Count should be in the study.”

I called out the maid cleaning the garden and asked her regarding Father’s whereabouts.

“Welcome home too, Tina. Ahm, excuse me… who might this person be?”

“Ah, my fiancée.”

“Nice to meet you. My name is Leaffa Alheim.”

“Eh!?”

“Ah, I’ll be marrying Halt-sama, too.”

“…Yes?”

The maid stood frozen while clutching the broom. We left her there and headed toward Father’s study.

“Father, it’s me, Halt.”

“Oh, so you’re home. Come in.”

We entered Father’s study. 

“Oh, so you’re with Tina. And who might this little lady be?”

Father noticed Tina and Leaffa.

“I am delighted to make your acquaintance. I am the Second Princess of the Kingdom of Alheim, Leaffa Alheim.”

“Alheim… the Country of the Elves, right. So, for what reason did the Princess come here with this son of mine?”

I glanced at Leaffa and Tina. They nodded a little.

“Father, I am going to marry these two.”

“Huh?”

Father was stunned.

“No, no, no, no, no, wait a minute. Even if that was true, I understand regarding Tina, since she already expressed long ago that she wanted to marry you in the future.”

It seems that when I was born, Tina thought I was the reincarnation of the Hero that was with her during their adventure, so she requested the Count to make her my exclusive maid, relying on her status as the Heroine. 

Father didn’t make things hard for her, and he readily agreed with her request.

“However, the problem lies with Her Highness Leaffa. Not only is she the Elf Princess, but you’re also marrying such a beautiful girl, I’m so jealou— Ouchhh!!!”

“What are you talking about, dear?”

“Mother!”

My mother had entered the room without anyone noticing, and now she was pulling Father’s ear.

“Halt, Tina, and that girl, Leaffa, over there, I heard from the maid about your wedding. Congratulations, I support you.”

Mother acknowledged our marriage.

“Mother, thank you very much.”

“Yes, I’m so glad that this son of mine will be able to have such cute girls as brides. I entrust my son in your care, both of you.”

“Y, yes!”

“Madam, thank you very much.”

“Tina, if you are going to marry Halt, then call me Mother, alright?”

“Y, yes, Mother.”

Tina called her Mother with a tomato-red face.

“Yes, sounds good.”

Mother looked as if she was over the moon.

“Ahm… May I also call you as such?”

“Why, of course! Leaffa, treat this home as your own, and feel free to come and play whenever.”

“Thank you so much, Mother.”

“T, then call me Father— Hiii!!!”

Mother stared at Father with ogre eyes.

He’s a bit pitiful, but he’s in the wrong for ogling at my wife.

After various things, my wedding news-breaking finally ended safely (?). My parents acknowledge my marriages.

I told them briefly about the happenings in Alheim, and I also told them that we need to return as soon as possible.

Father’s a Count, and Mother has some work to do, so they won’t be able to attend the wedding reception in Alheim tomorrow.

We will set another wedding reception at a later date, to be thrown by the Count of Glendale. 

As we were doing the preparations for returning to Alheim, Mother came by and handed something to Tina and Leaffa. 

“You know, I wanted to give these to Halt’s future bride.”

Leaffa got a necklace. Tina received a bracelet.

“Mother, thank you so much.”

“Thank you very much. I will treasure it.”

“Take care on your way back. I’m looking forward to your wedding.”

Mother waved us off, and as we waved back at her, we teleported to Alheim.

——

T/N: The Japanese have separate terms for Father-in-law (お義父さん)and Mother-in-Law (お義母様). Unfortunately, I don’t think people keep calling the parents of their spouses with the suffix –in- law, so I decided to drop it. I’ll be reducing the Elf King’s Father- in – Law name to Dad, too, since Elf King wanted Halt to use a more informal tone compared to Halt’s mother. ????