382. Leo Ep – Cosmetics

There were no words about when or where to meet.

After a chaotic day had passed, they sought each other out in the early dawn, having spent the long night in their own ways.

{Tracking Skill} revealed their locations. By the time Ray reached the northern gate, Lean and Reb had already arrived.

“Hello.” “Good morning.” ─ They didn’t even exchange such greetings.

The three waited for their turn among the carts carrying water to the lakeside. They stepped outside and whistled in a remote spot.

Then, like a moonlit apparition, Woody on the white horse appeared, galloping powerfully across the lakeshore, followed by Kus on the black horse.

Bante did not show up this time either.

The three of them shared a light laugh as they walked. Soon, they spotted him not far away and mounted their horses.

Ready!

The white horse, black horse, and brown horse galloped across the open summer plains.

Just as it seemed they might charge off to the north, they halted their horses atop a nearby hill.

The greenery swayed in the wind, and in the distance, the smoke from a small village cooking rice billowed gently upward.

The fresh smell of dew on the grasses was refreshing.

“Where did Minseo go?”

Ray asked.

In response, the prince answered.

“He said he’s going traveling. For the remaining time. He visited me yesterday.”

“Does he have anywhere to go?”

“I don’t think he can go anywhere.”

The last remark was made by Reb.

Ray thought for a moment and replied shortly, “True.”

A breeze blew against them as they gazed to the north.

It smelled like the sea. Lean, brushing his hair back as if to let it flow in the wind, turned to the others and asked.

“What are you guys going to do next?”

It was unclear whether he asked how they would ‘act’ or how they would ‘live.’ The wind was so strong that it was hard to hear. However, Ray and Reb answered simply.

“I’m going to marry Lera up there. The Maunin-Letii Tournament is next month.”

“I’ll do whatever Leah wants.”

“What about you?”

Lean muttered, “Well…” as he looked down from the hill. He seemed to contemplate for a moment before deciding and said.

“I’ll conquer the Orun Kingdom.”

“Why would you do that?”

When Ray asked, as if hating war, Lean grimaced slightly and replied.

“Because I’ll pass the throne to my younger brother.”

“And?”

“I want to nip the ambitions of those twin princes in the bud, and, as you know, my brother has two sons. I thought it’d be necessary to have a kingdom to share.”

Ray nodded as if he understood. But he said sharply.

“Don’t expect me to help.”

“I wouldn’t ask you.”

“Uh… Should I help you?”

“No. I might ask Lady Leah later, but you guys are fine. Really.”

“What kind of favor are you planning to ask?”

“Just… maybe declare the abolition of slavery. The people of the Orun Kingdom might flip out.”

“Huh? But I’m from the Orun Kingdom too! Leah is too.”

“That’s not funny.”

Lean ignored Reb’s joke.

Oh, noble prince. Whether he was upset or just playful, Reb leapt from his horse and tackled Lean.

“What?! Hey, you bastard!”

If anything, Lean was the weakest among them.

He had grown taller than Reb since he was no longer a beggar, but he was still lacking in substance.

In contrast, Reb, a Holy Knight who roamed the mountains and fields for food, easily gained the upper hand.

Ray just watched the two stubbornly compete, thinking to himself… Haha! Let out a laugh.

“Hey, Lean. What’s with your clothes?”

“Huh? Hahaha!”

At Ray’s remark, Lean’s face turned crimson. As he fell from his horse, the button of his outer clothing popped off.

But it wasn’t the popped button that was the issue; it was the clothes he wore underneath.

Lean was wearing a filthy, ragged garment fit for a beggar.

“Look at this kid. No wonder you were the only one not moving near the northern gate. Did you meet Ksenia?”

“…”

“Of course, you did. Talentless brat.”

Lean’s face turned red to his ears, refusing to confirm or deny. Reb, excited, ribbed him.

“Where’d you leave your drinking cup? I bet you spilled the water.”

“So, did you succeed? Did they offer to help?”

“…Stop it. Both of you.”

Hahaha!

The atmosphere lightened considerably as they turned their horses toward Oberg, continuing their chitchat. Mostly about the others or changes they had noticed.

They seemed to sense that days like these, when they could gather, wouldn’t come often.

The return journey was sluggish compared to their run there. They stopped halfway to buy food from a traveling merchant to have breakfast.

After breakfast, they got off their horses and walked unnecessarily.

Still, there was so much they wanted to say. They hadn’t been able to express things they had long wanted to say by the time they reached the northern gate. It was just past noon.

“Go on.”

“…Yeah. If I get any later, Lera will scold me. Take care.”

The three scattered from the northern gate, each finding their own path.

In fact, they shouldn’t have had any connection at all. One was a knight from the far north, another was a commoner, and the last was a prince from the Conrad Kingdom.

A strange story.

A rare mystery in this world brought them together. The prince suddenly turned and shouted.

“See you again, bastards!”

Reb halted his steps, almost as if wiping away tears.

Ray waved his hand affirmatively as he walked away. He felt a slight sting at the tip of his nose.

Thus, our story came to an end. However, when he arrived at the inn, Ray realized that his own story was far from over.

Lera’s door was locked.

It wasn’t sturdy at all, and when he pushed it open, there she was…

“Ah!”

Caught in surprise, Lera Ainar was found as if caught in the act of eating something by herself. The sight was so amusing that Ray burst out laughing.

Lera was putting on makeup. The makeup she had never done, secretly on her own.

“D-Don’t laugh! I… I’m going to look pretty too! Geez. Take a look at the women on the street. Honestly, if I cared, I could look like that… Oh?”

– Crack

The eyelash curler shattered in her grip.

It clearly wasn’t broken due to her grip but was due to the wretched quality of the makeup set Lera had gotten her hands on somewhere.

Now that he thought about it, he recalled hearing something.

When they were in the Conrad Kingdom, a merchant group had imported a large quantity of virtually defective beauty products from the Belita Kingdom. He had also heard that Reriana had gotten angry after buying it.

This was the first time he had seen it for himself… and true to form, the cosmetic quality was abysmal.

The powder was not finely ground, and the compact was stuck due to grease, making it unusable on the face.

Yet Lera Ainar was diligently applying it, looking less like an adult and more like a child who had smeared her mother’s makeup all over her face.

She had been duped. It seemed like Lera realized she was doing something wrong too. Drooping her head, Ray scooped her up.

“Why?”

“Come here.”

“Let go… I’m not pretty…”

“Who said that?”

Ray gently set her down, speaking firmly.

“You’re the prettiest in the world. Even without cosmetics.”

Ray dampened a towel and wiped her face. He kissed her on the moist cheek and drew her closer. Lera didn’t resist.

Yes. Lera was the prettiest in the world. Even Reriana looked like nothing more than a sister in Ray’s eyes.

Ray lifted her up again. Before undressing her, he closed the window.

Now, it shouldn’t matter, but having drawn the curtains, he couldn’t allow anyone to witness their affection anymore.

A soft moan slipped out from the window. And the next day, they left Oberg.

*

My name is Lera Ainar!

Like Queen Letii, the name Lera is longer because it has more vowels, and I feel blessed that time has turned back for some reason!

Why?

Because I have never failed to qualify in the Maunin-Letii Tournament! Haha! What a great wash-up!

I’ve learned a lot, but the humiliation I felt back then was so intense. Lera turned her head to look at the audience.

There sat Arpen Albasete, the long-time icon of misfortune from Barnau, with a sullen expression.

“Dad! Making it to the quarterfinals is amazing! I lost to that older sister, but… Hey, do you know? Losing to her means I lost to the champion! It’s not shameful at all!”

“…Sigh. Fine, son, eat this.”

He muttered while sealing his son’s mouth, thinking he might have to come back next year. Lera felt a tad sorry and smiled.

At that moment, a voice cheering for her came from the other side.

“Lera! Hang in there!”

“Good luck to you too, young lady!”

It was Ray’s uncle and his family.

Last time she saw them, they hadn’t been married, but upon returning, they were in a happy state with a fine lady.

Her name was “Maryel.”

Apparently, Uncle Elson had met her while wandering the country as a mercenary in his youth.

Standing beside her was Marsha Baileigh, aunt Maryel’s sister, cheering with her husband.

Good, good.

Something unknown but good had changed. Lera thought simplistically and turned her head.

The stage she had dreamed of, the final stage, came into view.

And her opponent was… inevitably, Ray.

They hadn’t met midway this time. But Lera felt a tinge of regret.

[ Engagement – Lena awakens as a Swordmaster! Uses aura without mana consumption. ]

She had become too strong.

Ray must have seen it too, but she had captured that monster, becoming a Swordmaster. She had confirmed she could use her aura freely and infinitely.

She felt sorry for Ray.

They had decided to become knights together, but it was just her who had developed this way… Lera filled with guilt, tried to let him know, as best as she could, without misunderstanding.

“Ray. I promise I won’t use my aura unfairly. Let’s fight fairly.”

The audience probably couldn’t hear her.

Ray smiled broadly as he stepped forward, lit with the summer sunlight, casting a shadow over him.

“Really? You won’t use it at all?”

Previously, she had found that demeanor quite scary… Lera, feeling somewhat dispirited, confirmed, “Yep.”

Then,

“It’d be better if you did.”

[ Achievement: Monster Hunt – ‘1106’, your body is faintly infused with mana. ]

Ray’s sword burst into flames. He soared, covered in radiant light, more than 7 meters tall.

Huh, what?

In that moment, Lera understood.

She realized why that monster had seemed so wary of Ray. And why he hadn’t used that power at the time.

Lera Ainar burst into a raucous laugh.

“You bastard! You’ve been fooling me all this time!”

“Haha! Bring it on!”

– Waaaaah!!!

Lera’s sword ignited too. Ignoring the audience’s screams, she charged forward.

Toward the person she loved. Toward her fiancé, who always led her a step ahead, she swung down the God-given Oblivion Blade.

The swords of the two final Swordmasters crashed against each other, and that day Lera laughed until her throat went dry.

*

Immediately after the match, Ray Dexter and Lera Ainar were confirmed as knights.

Not only had they been confirmed, but King Arista de Klaus, on the mainland’s return of two Swordmasters after a long time, granted Ray a surname and promised Lera she could have her wedding as she wished.

It was no ordinary wedding.

Lera wanted her wedding ceremony to coincide with her knightly ordination and expressed her hope that all the people from the Ainar Tribe would attend.

The king couldn’t agree to that either… Instead, he decided to go to Abrival Castle himself.

It was much more economical to go himself than to bring over a thousand Ainar Tribe members to Barnau.

Thus, the king traveled to Abrival Castle with a cardinal. The cardinal was to officiate, and the knightly ordination would take place before the ceremony.

“Therefore, I declare that these two have become the sturdy swords of the Aslán United Kingdom.”

As members of the Ainar Tribe gathered like clouds, soldiers of Abrival Castle, and even the Kazak Baron’s family, attended to celebrate, Lera Ainar became a knight.

As she had wished, she wore a uniform with thin iron layering instead of a flowy dress.

Though Minseo was absent, and the message couldn’t be seen, if it had, it probably would have appeared like this.

[ Congratulations! ]

[ Lena’s dream has come true. ]

[ True Ending 1/2: Marry Lena! ]

If she could have seen it, she would have been happy.

But the last time she saw that message, it had been right before facing a horrid future, so Ray thought it better that it remained unseen.

Would this be the end?

Though it was a happy moment, Ray felt a bit uneasy.

Wedding ceremonies always signified farewell for them.

Ray turned around out of habit. As the officiant rushed toward the finale, it was to capture the last of the people’s faces in his sight.

Mother and father.

Uncle Elson and Holy Maiden Maryel.

Lera’s father Dehorman and mother.

And behind them, the gathered Ainar Tribe… There was even old Boris, who had long since vanished. He was busy boasting, even at such an event.

“Hey—You won’t believe it, but I’ve been wandering around opening temples, you know? It’s not a hoax; it’s quite an achievement. Of course, I died in the end. Someone has to sacrifice to open the Shrine of the Goddess of Sacrifice, you see. Ah, why? You don’t believe me, do you? I’m serious. I fell into the swamp instead of the Hero! Right? Please tell the Hero to back me up.”

“Come on, put a lid on it! There’s no one standing next to you!”

But Ray could see it. Next to old man Boris Ainar, Leo… No, Minseo was sitting.

He was quietly applauding and blessing their wedding. At that moment, Lera turned Ray around and whispered.

“What are you looking at! The officiant is speaking!”

“…I announce the birth of a couple to God.”

The cardinal recited the end of his officiant speech. When Ray hurriedly turned around, Minseo had vanished.

Ray contemplated deeply.

The hero, he thought, must also be Minseo, not him or Lera. It must have been a normalization of all the world’s twists… a fierce kiss suddenly descended upon him.

[ Lena’s dream has come true. ]

[ True Ending 2/2: Completed ]

[ Thank you for playing Lena’s upbringing. You’ve perfectly cleared all scenarios. The player may now exit the game. ]

‘Be happy.’

Meanwhile, beneath the blessed wedding hall, Minseo soared into the sky, and the ending credits began to roll before him.

Within them lay the final lives he had woven together:

Leah and Reb, Lera Ainar and Ray Dexter, Reriana de Yeriel and Lean de Yeriel.