Chapter 128

Honestly, at first, I thought the king of Arcadia must have eaten something bad.

No matter how much he lacks the right to the throne, sending the prince as a son-in-law is quite surprising.

For someone in the position of a prince, there’s no need to explain how high their political value is, right?

Sending even the third prince to be the son-in-law of a hero? At this point, I was starting to wonder what the king of Arcadia was thinking.

Maybe… Could it be that he’s aiming to strengthen his kingship through a blood relation with the hero? Otherwise, why would he send a prince here?

Which led me to think…

“Um, nice to meet you. Not really… Though we’ve met before but never formally introduced, so… yeah, nice to meet you…”

In front of the hero’s daughter, the guy turned bright red, couldn’t make eye contact, and then disappeared.

“Ah! Could it be! That time when I visited Arcadia for fun!”

“Yes, yes. Even though we only met for a day, you remember me?”

“It left quite an impression!”

Back before Arcadia went to war with its neighboring country, the hero’s daughter once wanted to meet the beast god and went on an adventure.

We all traveled together in Arcadia for a few days… Hmm…

Could it be that during that time, while the adults were talking about various things, the kids got close?

This is… an unexpected connection.

“That time was fun! While the adults were chatting about stuff we didn’t understand, we played around happily!”

“Yes, it was enjoyable.”

Meeting such a connection from childhood again during a short trip.

Or could it be because of that connection that this young man decided to come as a son-in-law?

Though I don’t know well, the conditions are very good. There’s absolutely no reason for me to object.

The hero’s wife seemed pleased with the tall prince, her smile never fading.

But the hero kept frowning, muttering things like “pretentious,” “all show and no substance,” etc.

Until the wife slapped him.

Well, the hero is extremely overprotective of his daughter, so I expected some complaints regardless of who came.

Even if it had been the king himself, that guy would’ve complained.

“Why would a prince come as a son-in-law? Honestly, sister, don’t you find it strange too?”

“Hmm. People’s connections can be mysterious, sometimes they just happen naturally.”

“Mysterious my foot! It makes more sense to think the lazy king sent him to get his hands on the hero’s lineage!”

“You liked the king before, why change your story now?”

“That was then, this is now! Stances change depending on perspective, right?”

Perspective… perspective, huh.

Is it because of being a father to a cute daughter? Hmm.

I kind of get it, but still… For the sake of your daughter, you should let her go. If you cling on like this, she’ll end up hating you.

While watching such a stubborn hero, I could only sigh quietly.

And, after a while…

“Daddy, I hate you!!!”

My prediction hit the mark exactly.

“Why do you keep picking on him? Over trivial things!”

“Daughter…”

“No way! I’m done with you, Daddy! I’ll become Auntie’s daughter!!”

Thus saying, the hero’s daughter clung onto me.

Hmm… A girl nearing her twenties acting like a child.

Or is she doing this on purpose to rile up her dad?

“I’m not a kid anymore! I’m already past marriageable age! Why do you dislike him? Give me a reason I can accept!”

“Well, that…”

The hero couldn’t provide a reason. Of course not, since he was just being unreasonable.

Seeing him struggling like that, I sighed quietly and decided to step in. Watching any longer wouldn’t hurt, but…

I didn’t want to see their relationship fall apart due to pointless stubbornness.

So…

“That’s enough.”

“Auntie!”

“Sister!!”

Quietly observing, I stepped between the two and spoke.

“Can you forgive this idiot’s antics?”

“Sister!”

“Be quiet! Idiot. Did you really think you could get away with this nonsense? You should’ve at least considered the possibility of being hated.”

“But, but…”

“Be quiet! You haven’t done a single thing right, so shut up and behave yourself!!”

No matter how cute your daughter is, she won’t stay by your side forever! She has her own life!

Idiot! This idiot!!! Since your wife is busy, I’ll beat some sense into you!!!

“Ahhh! Sister!!”

“To the foolish one who doesn’t realize their mistakes, punishment is medicine!!!”

I mercilessly pummel his back, which used to be muscular but now soft.

“How did you turn into such a frustrating person? What happened?! Did I raise you this way?!”

“Ahhh! It hurts! Sister!! Stop!! Please stop hitting me!!”

“I can’t stand your aggravation! Take another hit!!”

After delivering a powerful slap that left clear handprints, I finally felt satisfied.

“With that beating, you’d better calm down now.”

Throwing the half-dead hero onto the bed, I turned to his daughter.

“This fool seems to care about you too much to let you go. Your life is yours, yet this fool forgot that. Please forgive him.”

Hearing my words, the hero’s daughter glanced at her fallen father and sighed deeply, nodding.

“Since Auntie says so, I guess I can’t help it. I won’t hate this stupid dad.”

“That’s good. And…”

Smiling, I told the now beautiful young woman standing before me:

“Congratulations on your marriage.”

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

The wedding of the hero’s daughter and the third prince of Arcadia was held quietly, with only those involved present.

Still, more than ten people attended, including the villagers where the hero lived and the direct family members of the royal house of Arcadia.

Despite various ups and downs, the married couple lived happily ever after.

They soon had children, and thanks to seeing his grandson before turning seventy, the hero’s hostility towards his son-in-law decreased significantly.

And fortunately—or perhaps understandably—the hero’s grandson, unlike his mother, was born quite ordinary.

Not ahead of schedule, no divine power mixed in his body. Just a regular human.

Of course, since I sealed his magic power, it was somewhat expected. When I checked, part of my power was sealed within his body…

Although compared to his mother, the amount of magical power was slightly reduced… How many generations it will take for it to completely disappear is… uncertain.

“Still, as long as he was born healthy, isn’t that enough?”

“That’s true.”

Watching the hero gleefully playing peek-a-boo with his grandson, I smiled softly.

He’s completely different from the sharp adventurer I traveled with. Now, he’s just a silly grandpa.

“Huh? Why are you looking at me like that, Sister?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Just amazed at how much people can change…

I silently gazed at the hero whose life force was dwindling.

The hero has only about ten years left. Living to eighty is quite long for this era, but it still feels far too short…

“Hero.”

“Yes?”

“Was your life… a worthwhile one?”

At my question, the hero chuckled and replied.

“Why such a sudden question?”

“Just curious.”

“You’re unpredictable today.”

Holding his grandson gently and slowly stroking his head, the hero continued.

“I’m not sure what constitutes a worthwhile life… But there’s one thing I can say for certain.”

“One thing?”

“Yes. I am satisfied with my life.”

The hero continued calmly.

“Because I was an orphan with nothing, and yet I managed to pull out the hero’s sword, became famous in the world through adventures…”

“And gained a fox-like wife, a rabbit-like child, and now this little rabbit grandson.” Adding this, the hero paused briefly before continuing.

“If I hadn’t pulled out that sword, my life probably wouldn’t have been as good as it is now. In the best-case scenario, I might’ve ended up as a pilgrim at the Temple of Life.”

A pilgrim’s life, traveling the world preaching about life.

It’s definitely not an easy life.

“Therefore, I am satisfied with my life. It was a very good one.”

A very good life…

If he feels that way, then maybe I can relax a little.

“Well, death doesn’t mean the end, anyway.”

“Huh?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

“Sounds awfully important! What is it, Sister?!”

That way, I quietly lived alongside the aging hero.

One day…

A man appeared in the village where I lived with the hero.