Chapter 243 – We were happy!

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One month after the meeting with Sophis and the Emperor.

In the end, there were clashes between humans and monsters over the southern cities. They had been fighting for centuries, and so it would not be easy to put a stop to it.

Still, it was at least not a large-scale war. This was because Sophis and the Emperor had kept their strongest fighting forces separate.

As for the palace that we built on the mountain, it turned out to be a useful place to keep the human royals and nobles. And after three months of fighting, the humans and monsters agreed to a non-aggression pact at the palace.

The result was that humans, who were more numerous, had a small advantage. And they were able to take back the southern cities.

Fendel did more than just watch… We made medicine and bandages and helped to treat both humans and monsters.

Thanks to this, there were now some humans and monsters who felt grateful towards demihumans. I hoped that Fendel’s good reputation would spread a little.

Furthermore, Sophis and the Emperor promised to meet again.

We would meet with Sophis regularly. We had made a promise that would allow us to visit the castle freely, and she could visit the village.

The Emperor said that he would like to visit the village once in secret. And I promised that Fendel would welcome him.

Yomotsu invited Kyuby to live with him, but Kyuby would rather stay with the Demon King.

And Sophis wanted to keep him close by as well. Though, I hoped they would visit Yomotsu eventually…

A week then passed after the withdrawal of the great human and monster armies.

I was to the east of Fendel village, in front of a large building with a domed roof that was near the bridge.

“Alright, it is complete!”
“The biggest house.”

Melk said as she looked up at the three-story house that was like a palace.

Asuha corrected her.

“It is not a house, Ms. Melk. It is a government building.”

Up until now, we had a gathering place in Fendel for chiefs and elders to talk.
But it was getting to be too small, since the alliance was expanding.

Iria said with a satisfied expression,

“It really is big. It will be able to house more than a thousand people.”
“Aye. It is like a national assembly hall.”

If we were just gathering together, it could be held outside. However, I wanted a place people could stay when it rained.

Mette also looked quite moved.

“We are starting to feel similar to a human country.”
“It wasn’t the intention, but… Well, if we are going to be a country, then we should be a republic.”
“Fendel Republic… That has a nice ring to it. Is it different from other countries?”

Asuha asked, and I nodded.

“Aye. There is no one ruler, and everyone will talk together and decide on matters. Well, you can say that things will be the same as they are now.”
“Then today is our Foundation Day! Ah, there are multiple things to celebrate today. …Bbb!?”

Suddenly, Iria covered Mette’s mouth.

“Hmm? What is it, Iria?”
“No, nothing. It’s just…a very wonderful day… And so we should have a festival.”
“Oh. That’s a good idea. While we celebrated a harvest day, we didn’t have any special day for the alliance.”

The whole alliance could celebrate every year. The demihumans loved festivals, so it would be great.

Iria nodded happily.

“In that case, let us hold a festival in the plaza at once! In fact, we had already planned to celebrate the completion of this building.”
“I see.”

Indeed. It was a big project, and so everyone was looking forward to it.

“Very well. Then let’s go back to the village.”

And so we all headed back to the village.

As we walked, Mette asked,

“By the way, Joshua. Did you eat that dish that the tigerfolk make?”
“Do you mean the Grank wheat noodles? I heard that it is popular in the village.”

It was a dish where you ate noodles inside of a soup made from boiling fish bones… It had earned quite the reputation already.

Melk muttered.

“Joshua should try it soon, or there may be no more.”
“Yes, everyone likes food made from Grank wheat.”

As Asuha said, it was currently the ingredient that everyone in the alliance wanted.

And though we expanded the fields, it could not keep up with demand. And so we were now growing it to the west, around the Nowa and foxfolk villages as well.

Mette said with a laugh,

“But we must keep some for Beyron, Neia and Rise. Or they will be angry.”

Beyron and the others were still working as mercenaries.

However, they avoided dangerous work, and their main priority was to find the other tigerfolk who had been scattered. Well, Beyron would not admit to this, and so I had heard it from Neia.

And if they encountered any other demihumans, they would tell them about Fendel and suggest that they move here. Already, about a hundred demihumans had arrived.

Iria answered.

“I hope that Beyron and the others can settle here too one day.”
“I’m sure they will live here once they finish their journey. This is their home now, after all.”

To the south of Fendel, there was already a tigerfolk village. Beyron had already promised that he would visit them if he was close by.

Just then, I noticed a group of foxfolk entering through the gate. It was Yomotsu and his children.

They were carrying baskets filled with wild grass. All of it was for medicine. As Yomotsu had knowledge about medicine, he often gathered them like this.

Melk sounded a little happy as she sadi,

“Yomotsu finally started working.”
“Mr. Yomotsu. He seems more lively than before..”

As Asuha said, Yomotsu had changed. He had seemed reclusive after the incident with the gate. But after some encouragement from Milina and the children, he started to work.

His knowledge of medicine had made a lot of people in Fendel rely on him. And at Milina’s suggestion, he even reluctantly started to teach magic at the school.

“That’s a relief… Also, I see that everyone is coming.”

When I looked, I saw that everyone was gathering towards the village. From the east was the Nowa tribe and other demihumans, and the Kappas came down the river by boat.

Iria nodded.

“Yes. Today is a special day, after all!”
“Is that building really that special… Well, since they are here, we should tell them that today is the foundation day.”
“Let us do that.”

Iria and the others agreed.

And then Mette said with a serious expression,

“Still…this village really has grown. I never would have thought that there would be so many houses here.”

A long time ago, this was just a grassy field with tents and houses with straw roofs. But now, there were great walls, streets, a fountain…even a hot spring.

And it wasn’t just this village. To the west and south, there were other places where the demihumans lived. Fendel really had grown big.

“Yes, there are a lot of buildings, not just houses. It is hard to believe it all.”

Asuha said, and then Melk joined in.

“And many friends. Very lively.”
“It is because of Sir Joshua. It is because of him that we have gained so many new friends.”

Said Iria, but I shook my head.

“As I said before, it is because of all of you. Besides…after coming here, I gained something irreplaceable. I really am glad that I met all of you.”

Here, I was able to have a place where I belonged. I was different from the person from the Knights Order.

Wiz also looked a little emotional as it bent its body on my shoulder. As if it was agreeing.

“You think so too, don’t you, Wiz? We really have made a lot of friends… It’s a little embarrassing to say, but I am truly happy right now.”

I thought that from the bottom of my heart.

Iria and the others nodded in agreement.

And then Iria answered with a smile.

“Let us continue to live happily together then.”
“Aye.”

I said without hesitation.

Like that, we entered the village from the east gate, and I saw that the village was decorated strangely.

The walls of the houses, and the trees on the streets were decorated with colorful flowers and cloth. And on the ground, there were also vibrant flower petals.

On the streets, dressed up demihumans looked at us and smiled.

“Oh, there is already a festive spirit… Hmm?”

I looked up ahead and saw that Ecleshia and Monica were headed towards us.

Ecleshia said to Iria,

“All of you came. In that case, first…”
“Ms. Ecleshia. I thought about it, and we thought that we would go in these clothes.”

Mette nodded at Iria’s words.

“Yes. These clothes that Joshua made are the best.”
“We can wear the other thing later.”
“Indeed. Those clothes are so nice that it’s embarrassing…”

Said Melk and Asuha.

I wondered what they were talking about, but Ecleshia and Monica nodded in agreement.

The demihumans were certainly well dressed today. I suppose it was because it was a special day.

As for liking the clothes I made… That certainly made me feel happy.

And so we then made our way over to the village plaza.

As we walked, Melk said,

“Still, poor Fletta, Moo and the others. They practiced…”
“It’s fine. Besides the others are…”

Monica suddenly stopped frantically.

Mette looked exasperated.

“Really, Monica… You are too excited just because it is a special day. Save that for the kiss.”

Mette suddenly covered her mouth and Iria sighed.

“You are even worse, Mette…”
“I-I’m sorry!”

What were they…

As I wondered about such things, we arrived in the plaza.

The plaza was crowded with the residents of Fendel.

Tables were lined up, and they were covered with extravagant meals that had been prepared.

Some of the people were playing instruments, and many were dancing. It really did seem like a festival.

“Amazing…”
“All the tribes in the alliance have gathered together.”

Iria said as she looked towards Ena the Kappa, Rona the Nowa, and Fonia the turtle. They were all participating in the festival.

I also saw Berdos and Yomotsu and the others.

Just then, Celes and Ymir noticed us.

“Baaah! We’re here! Ymir, let us begin!”
“Understood! Ronea, now!”

Ymir waved a small flag in one direction. I turned my head and saw that Ronea the demon was there. And around her, there were numerous cylinders.

Ronea bowed her head, and then a sphere of fire appeared in her hand. She then unleashed the fire to the cylinders one after another.

Then there was a loud boom and…

A giant flower appeared in the sky… Firecrackers of every color.

The surrounding demihumans raised their voices in awe. Even I was impressed.

“I’ve never seen firecrackers this beautiful. Did the dwarves make them, Ymir?”
“We did! For this very day! After all, it’s the day we will marry you, Joshua!”
“Eh?”

Iria and the others looked disappointed by this.

Marry… I had thought that this seemed a little excessive for the celebration of one building…

As if there was nothing to hide now, Iria turned to me.

“I-I’m sorry, Sir Joshua. But we were told this was the best way. We received advice from Sir Solm and Queen Ylis!”
“Those two…”

Solm averted his eyes.

So that’s why Solm was here. He was here to see my wedding.

Still, they were not wrong.

I had been putting this off for a long time.

I suppose I did not see myself as being worthy.

But none of that mattered now.

I liked them.

We had overcome many hardships together. And I felt comfortable around them. As I said before, I wanted to continue to be with them.

“Are you…against it?”

Iria asked with a sad expression. The others also looked anxious.

But I shook my head.

“Of course, not… I like you too. And I hope you will continue to be with me…”

I said, and then realized that I was just repeating myself.

But Iria and the others nodded happily.

I had never seen them look so relieved. And it made me feel calm.

“Of course, Sir Joshua… Then, let us start the wedding ceremony!”
“Huh? Uh? So that was a proposal?”

Iria jumped on me and our lips met.

“Sir Joshua! I love you!”

I thought she was misunderstanding what a wedding even was, but Iria didn’t care and continued to kiss me.

“Ah! Princess! We are supposed to do it together!”
“Melk said this would happen. The early bird catches the worm!”

And then Mette and Melk jumped onto me.

“All of you…! Fine, I am next!”

Asuha said. And then Ecleshia and Monica grabbed onto me as well.

“Again…”

I thought, but felt a sense of satisfaction.

While I didn’t say it, I felt grateful towards them.

And like that, the wedding took place. And we lived together and helped each other.
Even though, just like the wedding, there was some fighting…

But there were no more big problems that befell Fendel. Thanks to Sophis and the Emperor’s efforts, Fendel was not attacked.
Furthermore, the situation between humans, monsters and demihumans relaxed, and there were fewer fights between them.

Fendel continued to develop, and we eventually used the airshop to discover a different continent.
And we traded with the people there, and Fendel continued to prosper.

I watched this while focusing on crafting… And lived long and happily with Iria and the others.

Next Chapter

Seisan Mahoushi no Rakuraku Henkyou Kaitaku - Saikyou no Ajintachi to Howaito Kokka wo Kizukimasu!