“Raise your head, Claym Bradley.”

“Yes, Your Majesty────!!”

In the throne room of the royal castle, I respectfully knelt before the king and slowly lifted my face.

The atmosphere was solemn, with a slight tension lingering in the air. Many nobles of the kingdom, generals, and, of course, the Seven Peerless Swords were present, engraving this historic moment into their memories. Among them were familiar faces—His Highness Chronos, Weiss, Freesia, and others. The knights and the Seven Peerless Swords bore medals on the right chest of their armor, recently bestowed upon them by King Lycas, who stood at the farthest point of the chamber.

And now, I too was about to be decorated by His Majesty in recognition of my achievements in the Dragon Slayer War. Yet, for some reason, I was the only one being honored alone—and at the very end.

────How did it come to this?

I had no idea.

Today marked exactly one week since I regained consciousness. Naturally, my body hadn’t fully recovered immediately after waking up, so all celebratory events for the victory and end of the Dragon Slayer War had been postponed. However, I never expected such a formal conferment ceremony to be held.

Even if there was one, I assumed it would be brief—perhaps just a word or two of congratulations from the king, and that would be it. If decorations were to be awarded, I expected us to receive them together. But this? This was completely unexpected.

────Why am I the only one? Wait, am I being left out? No, seriously, do they hate me? Am I being bullied???

These paranoid thoughts swirled in my mind, making me increasingly anxious. I just wanted to go home.

“I feel like throwing up…”

I whispered the honest truth under my breath, too quietly for anyone to hear.

Being surrounded by so many high-ranking officials and being treated like the star of the show was beyond unsettling. …No, in reality, they probably did see me as the main figure in this conferment ceremony. But I really wished they wouldn’t.

If it were the foolish Claym Bradley from before, perhaps he would have embraced the attention. However, for someone like me, who seeks a life of modesty and obscurity, this was nothing short of torture.

────Can this be over already???

Though my mind was flooded with complaints, I was in a public setting—a grand stage, depending on how one looked at it. My father and my beloved little sister, Alice, were also in attendance. I couldn't afford to let her see me as a pathetic older brother. So, with all my might, I put up a brave front, though in truth, I was reaching my limit. If I could, I’d end this public execution right now.

“No amount of gratitude can suffice. You defeated the Shadow Dragon, the root of all evil in this war, and saved countless lives. Truly, we are indebted to you.”

“No, Your Majesty────the honor is far too great. I merely fulfilled my duty.”

King Lycas approached me, accompanied by an attendant who held the medal in preparation. His words of gratitude nearly made me instinctively respond in my usual manner, but I held back and managed to maintain composure.

“Heh… Did you hear that, Zeke? Clay couldn’t hold it in and almost slipped up…!!”

“Please be quiet, Uncle… This is a sacred conferment ceremony.”

Though I couldn’t pinpoint their location, I could hear my granduncle struggling to contain his laughter, while my father scolded him. That damned old man—I would definitely get back at him later. Suppressing my rising anger, I tried to maintain a neutral expression as King Lycas continued speaking.

“Claym Bradley────in recognition of your achievements in the Dragon Slayer War, I bestow upon you the title of Dragon Slayer. I hope you will continue to wield your strength for the sake of the kingdom.”

As I quietly stood, a unique insignia was placed on my chest, different from those given to the other honorees. It was a special decoration reserved for the greatest contributors in this war—far too prestigious for a mere academy student like me. Yet, King Lycas and everyone around him looked at me as if it was only natural.

“I humbly accept…”

Somehow, I managed to force the words out and bowed deeply. At that moment, a thunderous applause erupted throughout the throne room.

“!!?”

The sheer intensity of the clapping made my body tremble in surprise. King Lycas, now free from the formal atmosphere, turned to me with a bright smile.

“Now, let’s set aside the stiff formalities. From here on, it’s time for celebration! The festivities in the capital have already begun. Let’s enjoy ourselves!”

With preparations for the banquet completed at a separate venue, everyone who had gathered in the throne room for the ceremony began to move.

Everything ended so smoothly and abruptly that I struggled to grasp reality. Still in a daze, I followed the flow.

The venue was the largest hall within Chronostaria Castle, often used for royal receptions. It was known as the Hall of Time’s Blessing, and it was now packed with people—including knights and officials who had been honored but had not attended the earlier ceremony.

“A toast to the prosperous future of Chronostaria!”

“Cheers!!”

After a brief opening speech, the hall quickly descended into a lively, chaotic buzz.

Knights exchanged toasts in recognition of their efforts. Nobles eagerly listened to the Seven Peerless Swords recount the details of the battle. Young noblewomen took the opportunity to approach the knights or aristocrats they fancied, hoping to form or deepen connections. Meanwhile, some individuals were busy buttering up the influential figures to gain a political advantage.

This was, in essence, a social gathering, and such interactions were par for the course.

As people enjoyed themselves freely, I found myself constantly approached by various individuals under the guise of offering greetings.

“We have heard of your remarkable feats in this war! Please, consider favoring our Mailbell Trading Company in the future────”

“Ahaha, thank you…”

“It has been a while, Lord Claym. Do you remember me? We met once at a social gathering────”

“Uh… I think I might recall something like that…?”

“Lord Claym! If possible, could you visit the knight order and share the secret of your strength with us!?”

“If the opportunity arises, sure~”

“I am the eldest daughter of the ■■■■ family! Lord Claym, do you already have someone special in your heart? If not, then perhaps────”

“Uh, well, who knows~???”

From the chairman of a major trading company with branches in multiple countries to noblemen I had no recollection of, and even kingdom knights, they all swarmed around me. And to top it off, even noble ladies were making blatant advances.

────T-There’s no end to this…

One after another, people kept approaching me. While all their words were praises and commendations—something I should be grateful for—honestly, I just wanted a break.

I’ve been holed up training my whole life. I’m not cut out for this social scene.

“Is this what they call the baptism of high society…?”

As I struggled to escape the never-ending wave of people, a savior appeared, as if perfectly timed.

“I apologize for interrupting your pleasant conversations, but may I borrow my dear comrade for a moment?”

Stepping in to block the nobles swarming around me was none other than His Highness Chronos, who exuded an air of experience and ease, as if well-accustomed to parties. The sudden appearance of royalty caused the once unreserved crowd to hesitate for a moment.

“───His Highness Chronos!?”

“P-Please, by all means!”

“As comrades who fought on the battlefield, you must have much to discuss!”

“We shall take our leave so as not to be a nuisance!”

“I appreciate your consideration.”

With that, the overwhelming presence of His Highness effortlessly subdued the crowd.

────No way…

The same crowd that refused to let me escape just moments ago had dispersed so easily that I was left in stunned silence. Seeing my expression, His Highness let out a wry chuckle.

“You're quite the popular one, Clay. Well, as the main star of the event, I suppose it’s only natural.”

“Please spare me, Your Highness… You really saved me there. Those people don’t know how to take a hint and just keep pressing in────”

“Ahaha, that’s just how nobles and merchants are. For someone like you who isn’t used to parties, dealing with them all at once must have been quite a burden.”

“You’re absolutely right…”

Releasing the tension I had been holding, I exchanged lighthearted words with His Highness. To think that I, who had been so wary of him, would now be able to talk so casually… let alone feel at ease in his presence. In my first life, such a scene would have been unthinkable.

“Here, you must be hungry, right?”

“I’ll gratefully accept, Lady Schvia.”

“Mhm.”

As always, standing beside His Highness was Lady Schvia, who had thoughtfully prepared a plate with a few dishes for me.

At events like these, interactions with people often take precedence over eating, making it difficult to even touch the food when surrounded by others. I was a prime example of that tonight, so this small offering was truly a lifesaver. As I dug in without hesitation, His Highness laughed in amusement.

“You really were starving. Now I feel like bringing this was worth it, right, Schvia?”

“Yes, I’d say so.”

“I’m truly grateful.”

Watching me polish off the food in an instant, His Highness continued speaking.

“It’s all over now.”

“────Yes. Your Highness Chronos, Lady Schvia, you both helped me so much. Thank you.”

As I tried to express my gratitude, both His Highness and Lady Schvia shook their heads.

“The feeling is mutual. You saved the kingdom… and besides, fulfilling a friend’s request is only natural.”

“Even so, please allow me to say it────thank you.”

They truly helped me. At first, I had kept my distance and even treated them rather rudely. If not for them, Claym Bradley as he is now might not exist. Even if they saw it as merely doing what was natural, I couldn’t consider it so. I wanted to express my sincerity properly.

Seeing me bow my head deeply once more, His Highness and Lady Schvia smiled gently.

“You really are earnest.”

“Not at all.”

“No, you are────That aside, I have a small question. Clay, what will you do from now on?”

“Huh?”

The sudden question made me tilt my head.

“Ah, sorry for bringing it up so suddenly… but I couldn’t help wondering. A hero who has accomplished slaying the Dragon—what kind of future do you envision for yourself?”

“A future, huh…”

He spoke with a hint of humor, but it was clear that he was genuinely curious. I found myself repeating his words as if to mull them over.

Originally────at the start of my second life, I had sworn to throw everything away and live a peaceful, slow life. I planned to keep my head down, gain just enough skill to get by, and eventually retire quietly. But everything changed because of the . Until just recently, my only goal had been to kill that damn lizard and lift the curse on Alice and the old man.

Now that my goal had been achieved, I had to ask myself────What kind of life does Claym Bradley envision?

“…Honestly, nothing comes to mind.”

“────I see.”

Those words came straight from my heart.

For now, it felt like I was in a period of rest, reflecting on the results of my reckless pursuit of a single goal. I couldn’t think of anything at all. Of course, I hadn’t completely given up on a peaceful, slow life, but the conditions were now too different, and even my ideal had changed. So for the time being, I just wanted to bask in the sense of accomplishment that had arrived so late.

“Sorry for asking something so sudden! But if you ever find yourself without a place to go, come to me anytime. I promise to give you a top-tier position as one of my royal guards.”

“Haha, that sounds very tempting.”

“Right?”

Hearing my lackluster response, His Highness responded with his usual playful tone. He really never changes.

“Well then, we should be going. Enjoy the party.”

“Yes, thank you.”

With that, His Highness Chronos and Lady Schvia left to greet another noble. Watching them go, my gaze drifted to the now-empty plate in my hands.

“Might as well eat a bit more.”

Perhaps due to the lingering effect of His Highness’s intervention, the nobles who had been waiting for their chance to approach me were still hesitating. It would be a waste not to take advantage of this moment.

────The royal castle’s banquet featured the finest cuisine. It would be a shame not to savor it.

With that thought in mind, I made my way toward the table where the dishes were laid out—only to find someone already engaging in what looked like an eating contest.

There, singlehandedly devouring food at an incredible pace, was none other than the Hero himself—Weiss.

“I was wondering where you disappeared to, and here you are, Weiss.”

“Ah, Clay!”

At the sound of my voice, he turned around enthusiastically, flashing me a beaming smile. His mouth was smeared with sauce and food crumbs, while empty plates were stacked high on the table. Just how much had he eaten on his own?

“Clay, did you come here to eat too?”

“Well, yeah, something like that.”

“My top recommendations? Everything is amazing, but the best ones are this meat dish and the soup!”

Even as he spoke, his steel-forged warrior’s stomach remained insatiable, allowing him to continue shoveling food into his mouth while passionately praising his favorite dishes. When in Rome, do as the Romans do────Well, maybe that wasn’t quite the right phrase, but if anyone had tasted all the food here, it was him. Trusting his judgment, I tried the two dishes he recommended.

“Oh, this is really good. The meat has the perfect balance of seasoning and doneness, and the soup is rich with the flavors of various ingredients.”

“Right?! I knew you’d get it, Clay!!”

Hearing my reaction, the Hero beamed even wider.

“Come to think of it, Weiss, I caused you a lot of trouble and you helped me a lot… Thank you.”

In the Dragon Slayer War, Weiss was undoubtedly the unsung hero. While the attention was on me for slaying the , everything that came after would have been impossible without him.

Somehow, even though I had braced myself and asked Weiss in advance, as soon as I defeated the Shadow Dragon, I couldn’t withstand the dragon’s blood, transformed into a dragonkin, and lost myself to the abyss, going berserk. If he hadn’t stopped me back then, I don’t even want to imagine what would have happened to me. That’s why, no matter how much I thank him for restraining my blunder, it will never be enough.

Hearing my words, the hero responded cheerfully.

“What are you talking about, Clay! I should be the one thanking you!”

“Huh?”

“Because without you, I wouldn’t even be here right now. Back then, in the dorms, you treated me kindly, saved me from being bullied in class, and even trained me so I could grow stronger... Without that, I wouldn’t exist as I am today! I should be the one thanking you! If you think you were a burden, let me tell you, not even a little bit! If anything, I’m happy I could repay you, and I’m glad you relied on me!”

Faced with his unreserved words, I didn’t know how to react.

I never expected him to feel so indebted for what happened back then. Because, for me, it was something I did simply because I wanted to. I couldn’t hold back, so I acted. If anything, it was self-satisfaction, and I remember doing some pretty reckless things. That’s why I never thought it was something worthy of such gratitude—

“So, I should be the one saying thank you! Seriously, thank you!!”

“I see...”

“Yeah!!”

Having said what he wanted, the hero nodded energetically and resumed eating. It seemed his personal eating contest was far from over. I could only hope he wouldn’t devour every single dish in the venue.

Somehow, I lost my appetite and decided to leave Weiss behind, heading to a quiet terrace with fewer people.

“Haa...”

The sun had completely set, and the dim terrace was illuminated by the moon floating in the night sky. At this hour, the cold outside was sharp, making the absence of people understandable. However, at this moment, the chill felt pleasant, and as I absentmindedly gazed at the night sky, I reflected on my exchanges with His Highness and Weiss from earlier.

“Being thanked... huh—”

Not just from them. Today, I had been told similar things by many people.

To me, such words felt awkward, as if they were unbefitting to be directed at me. After all, in my first life, I lived doing the exact opposite of things that would make people grateful. In the end, even this time, everything I did was for my own sake—there was no noble reason worthy of praise. It was all just me running around to clean up my own mess.

“I can't get used to this...”

So, being thanked like this felt wrong. For someone like me—Claym Bradley, who was lazy and arrogant—such words seemed far too much.

“What can’t you get used to?”

“—Huh?”

As I was lost in thought, a familiar voice suddenly called out from behind me. Instinctively, I turned toward the voice, and there—

“I finally managed to escape those persistent nobles.”

A silver-haired girl stood there, looking somewhat displeased and exhausted.

“Freesia...”

Unlike her usual school uniform, she was now wrapped in a blue dress. Her signature long silver hair had been cut short to her shoulders, and perhaps because I wasn’t used to it yet, it felt a little strange. But only for a moment. No matter the hairstyle, she was beautiful, and to be honest, her different appearance and attire left me momentarily captivated.

“What are you doing here, hero?”

“Give me a break... I’ve been called that so many times today, I’m starting to get tired of it.”

“Oh really? But earlier, you didn’t seem to mind when all those cute girls surrounded you, calling you ‘Hero-sama!’”

There was a hint of sharpness in her words, but I shook my head.

“—Of course not. If anything, being suddenly surrounded by unknown women almost triggered my past trauma...”

What flashed through my mind was the academy’s lurking horror—or rather, the succubus group known as the Erolves. That experience was such a deep trauma that even now, being surrounded by women brought back an instinctive fear. The scars they left on me ran too deep. Damn those Erolves... I’ll never forgive them.

“Trauma...? Well, as long as you weren’t ogling other women, I suppose that’s fine.”

“Huh?”

As I shivered from the unpleasant memory, Freesia cleared her throat, shifting the conversation back.

“So, what are you doing out here?”

“Nothing much... I was just a bit tired and wanted some quiet. And also, I was thinking.”

“...Thinking?”

“Yeah.”

Tilting her head cutely, she prompted me to continue.

“I was just reflecting on how today has been a day full of gratitude from so many people, and also thinking about the future.”

“The future...”

Looking back, my connection with her in this life had been unexpectedly long and deep, something unimaginable in my first life. At first, she had obviously despised me, but as time went on, I found myself constantly caught up in her whirlwind. It’s no exaggeration to say that she was the reason I could never maintain a low-key, average life.

—And yet, looking back now, I don’t think it was all that bad.

As the saying goes, "All's well that ends well," and now, I even felt grateful to her. She had helped me countless times.

“Freesia, you’ve really helped me out a lot. Thank you.”

“It’s nothing...”

“No, really. You've helped me more than words can express. So if you ever need anything, if you ever need help, just say the word. If it’s something I can do—no, even if it’s something I can’t do, I’ll still do everything in my power for you.”

“Wha—!?”

Hearing my words, she suddenly let out a strange noise and stepped toward me.

“J-Just now! You said you’d do anything!!?”

Her pale cheeks were now flushed red as she sought confirmation. Seeing her so tense, I was confused but nodded firmly.

“Huh? Oh, yeah. I did say that... What’s wrong, Freesia? Your face is red. Did the night wind get to you? If so, let’s head back ins—”

“We’re not done talking! So! You really mean it!? You’ll do anything!!?”

“Yeah, that’s what I said... Wait, why are you confirming it so many times? What ridiculous demand are you planning to make?”

Getting this much insistence made me a little uneasy. However, as a man, Claym Bradley, I don’t go back on my words. No matter how unreasonable her request, I would face it sincerely.

With that determination, I waited for her next words. The young lady took several deep breaths, her face growing even redder, and after taking ample time to prepare herself, she finally spoke.

“—S-Stay by my side forever!!”

“Oh, sure—wait, what?”

Her words were short, considering all the buildup. I had braced myself to grant any outrageous request without hesitation, but... Wait, what did this duke’s daughter just say?

“That’s why! I said I want you to stay by my side for the rest of my life! What!? Don’t tell me you can’t grant that!!?”

Hearing such an unexpected request, I instinctively asked again, only for her to launch into a frenzied outburst, her face turning even redder.

“No, it’s not like I can’t grant it, but... are you really okay with something like that?”

“What!? How dare you call my heartfelt request ‘something like that’!?”

“Well, we’re engaged, and as long as you don’t refuse to marry me, we’re going to be together forever anyway...”

“────”

As Freesia, in her fit of rage, seemed ready to punch me, I quickly stopped her and presented a perfectly logical argument. However, upon hearing my words, she suddenly fell silent, her mouth hanging open like a broken doll.

────A blushing maiden exposing such a dumbfounded expression... that’s really something.

As that absurd thought crossed my mind, her shoulders suddenly started trembling, and with an incredibly furious expression, she screamed at me.

“But you always seemed like you didn’t want to marry me!!?”

“Wha—!?”

Her voice, almost a shriek, pierced my ears as she continued her tirade.

“Whenever people recognized us as ‘fiancés,’ you always tried to subtly deny it! I just wanted to spend as much time as possible with you, Clay, but you kept trying to put distance between us! I worked so hard to figure out your preferences and dressed up for you, but you never noticed! You never told me I was cute! You never even held my hand! You never did anything indecent at all!!”

“F-Freesia?”

“I know you’ve been desperately working to save Alice and Lord Feid, and I understand that you’ve been too busy for anything else... but still, couldn’t you at least notice me a little? Am I really that unattractive to you?”

Her jewel-like blue eyes welled up with tears, ready to overflow at any moment. More than that, there was an undeniable gap in our understanding of each other.

“That’s not it... I just assumed you wouldn’t want to marry someone like me. I mean, I remember you clearly saying that when we were kids...”

“I did say that! I definitely said that! But seriously, how long ago do you think that was!? People’s feelings can easily change in six and a half years!!”

“Yeah, but unless I heard it directly from you, I couldn’t just assume...”

“On the contrary! I’ve been clinging to you all this time! I even snuck into your bedroom! After everything I’ve done, how could I possibly hate you!? Of course, I want to marry you! I want to be with you for the rest of my life! And besides, at the swordsmanship tournament, you told me you loved me!! You told me you liked me in your room!!”

“That was... meant to encourage me...”

“As if!! I meant every word!! What kind of twisted interpretation is that!? Are you an idiot!? A complete moron!?”

Finally reaching her limit, Freesia grabbed me by the collar and swung her right fist high.

────She’s seriously pissed...!?

Fighting with my fiancée at a celebratory event and getting punched in front of everyone would be a disaster. I had to calm her down immediately, but no brilliant ideas conveniently came to mind.

────What do I do!!?

My mind spun at full speed, searching for a way out, but nothing solid formed. Meanwhile, her raised fist was now about to drive straight into my face.

────Is this the end...!?

Instinctively, I shut my eyes, bracing for the inevitable impact. But—

“...Huh?”

The expected punch never came. Instead, her fist merely tapped weakly against my chest. Bewildered, I let out a confused sound, and before I knew it, my fiancée had buried her face into my chest and muttered softly.

“────Say it...”

“Huh? Sorry, what?”

Unfortunately, I couldn’t hear her clearly. Bracing myself for another outburst, I asked again, and this time, she looked up at me and shouted.

“If you’re willing to marry me, then propose to me! Swear that you’ll stay by my side forever!!”

“────What?”

“At first, it was just an arranged marriage our parents decided on, but I don’t see it that way anymore! I truly love you, Clay! I love you, and that’s why I want to marry you! So prove it to me by properly proposing! Also, I’ve never even heard you say you love me!! That’s so unfair!!”

“Uh... seriously?”

Once again, Freesia’s unexpected demand left me flustered. It seemed she was taking this matter far more seriously than I had realized.

She had tears streaming down her face as she stared straight at me, unwavering. At this point, if I didn’t give her the “proposal” she wanted, she really might kill me. Even without that threat, I knew this was something a girl would want to hear from the guy.

────Besides, I did promise to grant her wish.

Thinking back, I never imagined this day would come after returning to my second life. I never thought I’d form such a deep bond with her. My only goal had been to avoid the ruin of my first life and live peacefully, and yet, if this was the result, it seemed almost too good to be true.

────Life really is full of surprises.

It never ceases to remind me of that.

“...I’m only going to say this once, so don’t miss a word.”

Taking a deep breath, I looked directly at Freesia. The moment I resolved myself, my heartbeat accelerated, pounding loudly in my chest.

I still didn’t know what the future held. I had no concrete plans, and even if I found an ideal path to follow, I couldn’t be certain I’d achieve it. Everything was uncertain and daunting. But at this moment, in this very instant, I—Claym Bradley—had gained one piece of my envisioned future.

“I, Claym Bradley, love you, Freesia Greyfrost. Please stay by my side forever... Marry me.”

“────Yes!!”

That was the moment I decided to spend my life with the girl who had cared for me so deeply.

As she nodded with the brightest smile, I realized just how beautiful she was. And as soon as I voiced my feelings, the emotions I had been suppressing overflowed.

Then, acknowledging the spectators who had been secretly watching from the terrace entrance for quite some time (Freesia hadn’t noticed them yet), I said,

“I did leave you hanging last time, didn’t I?”

“Huh?—!!”

And so, to prove that my confession wasn’t a lie, I sealed it with a kiss.

Completely caught off guard, Freesia’s eyes widened in shock. Behind her, a mixture of cheers and teasing shouts erupted from the onlookers, celebrating our pledge.

That day, we officially became engaged—this time, by our own choice.

That was the first step Claym Bradley took toward his future after bringing everything to an end.