Epilogue | The Assassin Gives a Kiss
Our carriage wasn’t bound for Tuatha Dé, but the royal capital. I needed to explain what happened with the demon in person.
I’d sent a letter ahead with a carrier pigeon. In it was a recounting of the demon and how I’d defeated it. I had little to hide, so I explained Demonkiller as well, and I wrote about Railgun in vague terms.
I decided to tell them I’d received Demonkiller from a goddess that appeared in my dreams. I outlined the characteristics and appearance of that deity in minute detail, basing her off of the one that sent me to this world. If she was indeed a goddess, there was a high chance legends of her had been passed down through the ages, which would increase the believability of my story.
My hope was that Demonkiller would spread throughout the land, and the notion that it was magic from the gods suited that purpose well. It would entice more people into using it.
That claim also functioned as a kind of bait. If all went to plan, it’d draw out a certain someone.
We stopped in a big town on the way to the capital. While we could have slept in the carriage, the government afforded us the VIP treatment and took care to ensure we were as comfortable as possible.
Dia, Tarte, and I were each given a special room at the best hotel in the town. We ate a delicious meal and then enjoyed a very satisfying bath.
The staff collected the clothes we were wearing so they could be washed, and we borrowed some comfortable loungewear. This establishment’s service truly was top-notch.
After eating, we retired to our rooms. The treatment was so lavish that even Tarte, a servant, was given her own chamber.
I heard a knock, and when I said to enter, Tarte walked in. Her comfortable, thin attire reminded me how attractive her body was.
“Lord Lugh, um, good evening.”
“Have you decided what reward you’re going to ask for?”
“Yes, I came here to tell you.”
The sweet fragrance coming off Tarte was making me dizzy.
It was a side effect of Beastification. Tarte remained slightly off for a day after using the skill. Any swelling of sexual excitement caused her control over herself to loosen. She also released a sweet fragrance and something like pheromones that attracted men and sent them into a tizzy.
Simply put, after Tarte used Beastification, she became irresistible to every man around her, which was dangerous.
However, I was the only person she was interested in. That was a source of comfort. I would have had to forbid her from using Beastification if she’d started indiscriminately assaulting men. Tarte was capable enough to drive off an attacker, but things could get dicey if she were the instigator.
The two of us were alone in my room. Dia was over in hers, working on a new spell. Tarte had stated earlier that she wanted to be alone with me when she asked for the reward, so Dia was doing the tactful thing and giving us some space.
Tarte shyly prodded the tips of her index fingers together in front of her chest. Looking at her was making my throat go dry and my heart beat fast. This was bad. At this rate, her fragrance and pheromones were going to do me in.
“Nothing you ask for is going to make me angry, so you don’t have to worry. Whenever you’re ready,” I said.
“O-okay.”
What in the world could it be if she’s this timid about saying it?
My thoughts were growing hazy. Still, I did my best to wait patiently. I didn’t want to scare her. After two or three minutes, Tarte found her courage and spoke up.
“Please kiss me, Lord Lugh! I want to kiss you for real, not just to replenish my mana!” she declared with conviction, her face turning pitifully red as tears welled up in her eyes.
I stared at her blankly. It was quite the letdown. I thought she was going to ask for something bigger.
No, that’s wrong, I thought. It took all the courage she had to request this. Tarte wanted a real kiss.
There were times when I’d pressed my lips on hers to restore her magical power, but a proper kiss clearly meant something different to her. Her appeal was a statement of love, and she wanted me to return those feelings.
Tarte was family. That’s what I’d always told her. Yet she had always admired me so much, and somewhere along the way, I came to treasure her. Realizing that cleared my mind of the haze brought about by the Beastification side effects.
“Sure, I don’t mind,” I replied.
I stood up, pulled Tarte into an embrace, and pressed my lips to hers.
Granting Tarte’s request went beyond touching our lips together—it also meant I requited Tarte’s feelings. That was too embarrassing to say aloud, though.
“Mmm, mmm.”
Tarte kissed me back. She was lovely beyond words and looked cuter than usual. It wasn’t from the Beastification pheromones. This was a warm feeling bursting from my heart that I knew was genuine.
Affection welled in my chest, and I was starting to think that we’d go further. However…
“Let’s stop there,” I decided.
“Thank you bery much,” Tarte replied, slurring her speech a little.
She gazed at me with moist eyes. I knew she’d be fine with continuing, and I didn’t think Dia would be upset, either.
But for now, stopping where we did was best. Going any further would’ve been too much for Tarte. She had her own pace, and I wanted to respect that.
“A real kiss… I’m so happy that I could die. Lord Lugh, thank you very much.”
“No gratitude is needed. It was a reward, and I was happy to indulge. Still, I’d feel bad if this was all you got. Before we leave tomorrow, let’s go to the market. I’ll buy you a present.”
“B-but the kiss was plenty. You don’t need to go that far.”
“It’s what I want to do. Try to dress up a little for it. You’re so cute. Don’t let that go to waste.”
“…Y-you called me cute…”
Tarte was practically overheating. She gave the funniest reactions.
Tomorrow, we could search for an accessory that’d bring out her beauty even more. For now, though, she needed to rest.
Things promised to get troublesome once we reached the royal capital. All three of us needed to relax while we could so that we were ready.
As I’d promised Tarte, we all went to the market the next day.
Dia wasted no time, getting to work teasing Tarte right away. Still, she was capable of reading the room and knew not to say anything that’d seriously upset her. The two girls had grown very close.
“So what did you ask of Lugh?”
“Th-that’s a secret!”
Tarte began to flush and grin as she remembered what happened yesterday. She looked happy and was likely glad that Dia had asked. After a moment, she whispered that she’d requested a kiss, and Dia smiled and congratulated her.
It was fun seeing them like this.
The shopping forum was bustling with activity. Stalls flanked both sides of the street, and we stopped to look at one that sold accessories. Judging from his wares, the craftsman was skilled and had good taste. Any of these would really accentuate Tarte’s charm, and they looked durable to boot.
I talked with the shopkeeper, and he said he was employed at a famous workshop. He wasn’t allowed to put his own crafts up for sale in the store yet, so he used his days off to hone his work and practice vending with a stall. That way, he could learn from his customers’ reactions, save money, and buy materials to help improve. Considering how passionate he was for his labor, the day when his creations were displayed prominently in the workshop probably wasn’t far off.
“Tarte, which of these do you like the best?” I inquired.
“Hmm. I like this hair ornament shaped like a white flower,” she replied, pointing to the object she’d set her sights on.
“That’s so like you. There are so many fancier items here,” Dia remarked.
She was right. There were many baubles with brighter colors, more expensive decorations, and more unique designs. However, Tarte had made up her mind.
“I thought this was pretty and elegant, and I really like it.”
I looked again at the hair ornament she’d chosen. It was a lovely thing, made from a white crystal that had been shaped into a blossom. While understated, its craft was undeniably tasteful.
It seemed quite like Tarte herself. She wasn’t the sort that liked to dress up, but she had her own brand of cuteness.
“Sir, we’re going to get this one,” I said.
“Is this a present? Would you like a ribbon on the packaging?”
“No, it’s good as is. We’re going to use it here.”
After paying, I fastened the trinket to Tarte’s hair. There was an effortless charm to it that suited her very well.
“Thank you very much. I’ll treasure it.”
Tarte patted the hair ornament as if showing her affection for it.
“Please do. And Dia, don’t sulk.”
“I’m not. Tarte worked really hard, so I understand why she got two presents and I’m empty-handed. It doesn’t bother me at all that you haven’t praised my efforts.”
Her body language betrayed her words. She was clearly upset.
“I have a gift for you, too, Dia. I just need some time to prepare it,” I assured her.
“Oh, really? That’s great! You’d better not forget about it. I’ll be angry if you do.”
“There’s no way it’ll slip my mind. I love you, Dia.”
I nodded to myself. Dia was going to love what I was preparing. It had taken a little time to gather all the necessary components, however. Before we’d left to deal with the demon, I’d received a message from Maha saying she’d obtained what I needed. Hopefully, Dia’s gift would be in Tuatha Dé by the time we returned.
When it was time to depart, the three of us returned to our carriage only to find another one parked next to it. It was larger than ours and sported exquisite craftsmanship by an elite blacksmith. A monster with hardened rhinoceros-like skin and bulging muscles was hitched to it.
Through the Balor Company information network, I’d learned of domains that had successfully domesticated certain monsters, but this was the first I’d seen in person. A single glance was all I required to understand why such a burly creature was necessary. This rhinoceros creature was leagues above a horse in stamina and strength. It’d get you to your destination far sooner.
The door to the ostentatious buggy opened, and a man dressed very much like a noble emerged.
“Sir Holy Knight, well done taking down your first demon. Preparations are already being made in the royal capital to celebrate your accomplishment. A grand feast is going to be held. Please enter Sleipnir, my carriage,” the aristocratic man invited with a polite bow.
I recognized him as Marquis Granvallen. He ranked far higher than I did.
He was a rather impressive figure. The man’s demeanor alone betrayed how strong he was. His reputation as one of the most skilled fighters in the kingdom was well deserved. Why was a person of such high standing coming all this way for me? And with such a fancy carriage, no less.
Most confusing of all, however, was why the government was celebrating my victory so soon. No one in the royal castle should have accepted my letter at face value. Something unusual was going on.
“Marquis Granvallen, I am deeply grateful. Dia, Tarte, let’s go,” I stated.
“Yes, my lord.”
“This carriage scares me a little.”
All right, what exactly am I stepping into here?
If those in charge did believe my missive, was it because they had indeed managed to dispatch an unseen spectator, or was it that they possessed some kind of system that could inform them when demons died?
The mysteries only continued to pile up as I pondered this odd situation. What was gained by sending a special carriage and conveying us to the capital as quickly as possible? Undoubtedly, the mighty Marquis Granvallen was sent to ensure we complied, but we had no reason to refuse.
Things were growing murkier by the second, but my only choice was to push onward through the fog.
There must be something in store for me at the palace. As I considered what it might be, I climbed into the carriage.
“This is getting fun.”
From here on, one mistake could mean death. On the other hand, I was inching ever closer to completing the task the goddess had bequeathed to me.
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