Epilogue: «Bad News» The Princess Looks Like She Wants to Marry Me…

Oiraan Empire, Karlün Grand Cathedral.

“Thanks to the noble sacrifices of Hero Noct Axis and his soldiers, we achieved victory. A moment of silence for the fallen!”

At the eulogy of Oiraan Empire Emperor Orkis III, rescued by Kain, everyone in the cathedral offered a moment of silence. Before the Elon statue, a portrait of the bangs-covered Noct was displayed, with a coffin representing the fallen.

After the state funeral, Nirvana came to where we were hiding in the shadows, cheeks puffed out in dissatisfaction.

“Why!? You defeated the Demon Lord, Nord!”

“I totally agree with Nirvana-san on this one.”

Nirvana and Elise corner me against the wall. I try to calm them with raised hands, but they bicker fiercely the moment they see each other. Yet, when I try to deflect credit or give it away to avoid death flags, they instantly team up to protest, which is unbearable.

I was trying to slip away by making it seem like Noct had taken down the Demon King in a mutual defeat, keeping myself out of the spotlight. The fame was unnecessary for the slow life I desired. With so many convenient corpses at the site of «Metrics»'s self-destruction, it was all too easy to fabricate the story.

Ironically, I defeated another Demon Lord… My fame keeps rising, unbalancing things with Kain, who’s practically a background character now. To give him some spotlight, I leaked the imprisoned emperor’s location to the commoner faction through the Kurchatov siblings.

Antonia and Siegfried had been deceiving the empire’s people, claiming the emperor was leading a campaign. Kain, with that intel, rescued the emperor and is now smugly showing off to me with a creepy grin.

Oiraan Empire Palace Dungeon.

“Eek!? Noct!!”

Seeing me, Antonia cried out.

“You were promoted, and I restored Nirvana to her princess status! Help me!”

“Huh? Nirvana reclaimed her title through her own popularity. Besides, I’m a dead man. What can I do?”

“You!? The Black Hero Nord!? No way—you orchestrated all of this!?”

After flipping my hair, I left Antonia behind.

“Eek, eek, EEEEK!! No, no, noooo—!!”

From the sound of Antonia’s screams, it seemed like a monstrous cockroach had been unleashed in the dungeon.

Hero Academy, Nord’s Room

Elise and I quietly watched Noct’s grand state funeral from the shadows before immediately returning to Ackersen.

Regarding our return…

“What are you doing? You two can ride Kruru too. A couple extra people won’t wear out my Kruru.”

“Thanks, Nord-kun. I appreciate the offer, but I want a private trip with my wife.”

While I talked with Elise’s dad, Elise’s mom whispered something to Elise.

“Elise, don’t be intimidated just because she’s a princess! Nord-kun’s a prime catch, so hold on tight and don’t let go.”

“Yes, Mother!”

In the end, the Magdalia couple took a carriage prepared by the Oiraan Empire and left. I was left alone with Elise, who, exhausted from «Heal», clung to me all the way to Ackersen’s airspace…

With Emperor Orkis III back on the throne, Antonia was imprisoned. It seems the emperor couldn’t bear to send her to the guillotine.

Everything went according to my plan!

With Siegfried gone, there’s talk of Nirvana being named female crown princess. Her engagement will likely be discussed again, but that’s no longer my problem. I’ve got plenty left to do, but keeping her body intact and her princess status secure is a big win.

Oh, about the real Noct. According to Nirvana, he showed up at the state funeral, shocked, and tried to claim his identity, but got beaten up by everyone for impersonating a tragic hero. If he’d lived honestly, he might’ve had a shot at being a hero…

I felt relief knowing the death flags for Nirvana’s route were nearly gone. Then, a knock came at my door, and it opened. Seems Elise arrived earlier than usual.

“You never learn, coming to service my… what!?”

I thought she was here for unsolicited “stress relief” and got up to refuse, but I was wrong.

“Nord, I missed you!”

“Why the hell are you here!?”

Standing before me was Nirvana, who hugged me the moment we locked eyes. That would’ve been fine, but she was clearly intent on “comforting” me.

A pastel blue bunny outfit with rabbit ears… made of clear material from her chest to below her navel, so risqué that vigorous movement would shift the fabric and expose her nipples.

“So, I’m studying abroad at the Hero Academy again. This time, maybe for a whole year.”

I put a hand to my forehead and stared at the ceiling. As I slowly lowered my gaze, it landed on Nirvana’s ample chest. She didn’t miss my male instincts, her lips curling into a wide grin.

“Nord, you love boobs, don’t you?”

“Huh?”

Nirvana mimicked bunny ears with her hands and leaned forward, her full breasts jiggling like water balloons. The turtle that had been hibernating in its shell, sensing spring, poked its head out, and vitality surged in my lower half.

“I knew you were staring the whole time~”

“What’re you misunderstanding!? I was just worried about your reckless behavior. I’ve got no interest in your pathetic breasts.”

I called Nirvana’s bust—probably a 90cm F-cup at least—pathetic.

“Check for yourself if they’re pathetic.”

She took my hand, blushing. Calling these pathetic would mean renaming all breasts “flat.” Touching Nirvana’s boobs felt like my brain was melting. Compared to her softness, even marshmallows seemed hard.

I can’t let the mood sweep me away to avoid death flags. The devil in me screamed, “Grope them!” but the angel said, “Follow your heart.”

Wait, even you, angel!?

Defying the useless devil and angel, I managed to pull my hand away. Nirvana looked at me with teary emerald eyes.

“Thank you, Nord… You were always watching me. Whenever I was in danger, you appeared to save me… You’re my knight.”

“Knight, my ass! You’ve got Barbara, don’t you? She’s your knight!”

“Barbara’s more like a big sister. I love her, but she’s not a romantic interest. She’s sworn loyalty to me, but I don’t think she sees me that way.”

Right… there was no yuri depiction for Nirvana in «Rising Hero».

“Nord… Barbara taught me the best way to convey feelings to the one you love.”

“What’s that—”

My body was pushed onto the bed.

Where did delicate Nirvana get that strength? Then she spilled the beans.

“A direct attack, straight from the grenadiers.”

I stayed in that position with Nirvana until she was satisfied.

“When I was in logistics, you might’ve thought I was a slut, but I knew. Even disguised as Noct, you were Nord, right? ♡”

“…”

“I only see you now, Nord. You don’t have to believe me. But I’m devoted…”

“Devoted? You were engaged to John!”

“Oh, that? I broke it off.”

Don’t cancel an engagement like it’s an online reservation…

“When I told King John my honest feelings, he said, ‘If it’s Nord, I get it.’ He’s younger than me but so mature.”

That guy probably didn’t even understand… Whatever.

“I feel bad for King John, but I broke off our engagement to marry you. Marry me, Nord.”

“What nonsense are you spouting!? If you break off with John, the Oiraan Empire’s fools will starve and suffer. Not that I care…”

“Yeah… I thought about it.”

“Thought about what?”

“If I marry you, a regent’s son, we can maintain the alliance with Ackersen. And if I inherit the throne, everything will work out. Not bad, right?”

“If” she inherits the throne, huh…

Well, Nirvana’s better off being that cunning.

“I get your hopes. But what about my wishes?”

My question seemed inconvenient, as she straddled me, sliding the fabric of her bunny suit’s crotch aside.

“Oh, Nord! I want you to make lots and lots of babies in my alchemical womb!”

Skipping the process to create a fait accompli, huh!?

Nirvana sleeps soundly beside me.

“That was close…”

I managed to satisfy her with foreplay, dodging the death flag… But my relief was short-lived as someone else entered my room. It was Barbara, drenched in sweat and panting, clearly in a rush. Good thing I hid Nirvana under the covers, or it would’ve been a total bloodbath.

“Nirvana-sama! It’s urgent—reports from the homeland say the real Siegfried was found at the abandoned orphanage…”

“What!?”

Seems the more I dodge death flags, the more absurd problems pile up. I avoided sleeping with Elise and Nirvana and kept them alive… but next, it’s probably her.

That damned female holy knight, Inersha!!

«Inersha’s Perspective» (Elon Theocracy)

“Haa…”

Eris, the revered female pope of the Elon Theocracy, lets out a sigh deeper than the earth’s core. A saint and holy knight, she was destined for the papacy from birth.

Luria, the Bishop of Kannenberk, was being grilled by Eris.

“Why did you fail to persuade Count Magdalia?”

“Please forgive me, Eris-sama! I never expected him to refuse!”

“Yes, the world is full of unexpected events… truly sad.”

“Then you’ll forgive me!?”

“No, impossible.”

“Huh?”

“Okay! Time for Luria-san to exit!”

Eris clapped her hands, and Luria was restrained from behind by holy knights.

“No! Anything but burning at the stake! Eris-sama, please reconsider!!”

Luria flailed, resisting, but was dragged out of the papal chamber in vain.

“Oh… what a mess. Why do Daria-types always fail?”