Kael and Kazuha hadn't known each other long, but Kazuha had always regarded him as a kindred spirit.
Reuniting after so long filled them both with warmth.
Ayaka immediately instructed the servants to prepare a lavish meal and good sake to welcome Kazuha.
"I still have a few things to take care of. I'll leave you two to talk."
Ayato stepped out considerately, giving Kael and Kazuha space.
Kazuha looked over the feast set before him and let out a sincere sigh. "To marry a wise and gentle wife like the White Heron Princess… you're truly blessed."
Kael smiled and raised his cup. "It's been a long time. Come on, let's drink first."
At those words, a brief flicker of embarrassment crossed Kazuha's face, though he hid it almost instantly.
He calmly brought out his gourd-shaped flask.
"Here, allow me to toast you first."
…Huh?
There were perfectly good cups on the table. Why bring out his own flask?
Kael watched in puzzlement as Kazuha tapped his gourd against Kael's cup, then tipped his head back and took a long drink.
…So that wasn't sake in the flask, was it?
He was pretending to drink to hide that he couldn't handle alcohol?
Kael found it amusing, but he didn't call him out. He simply finished his own cup without a word.
"Kazuha, tell me—how's your journey been?"
Kazuha smiled easily. "As long as I have my sword at my side, I can travel anywhere. By chance, I met Captain Beidou in Liyue, and now I sail with the Alcor across the seas."
"My friend traveled with us for a while, but compared to wandering between mountains and rivers, he wanted to pursue the pinnacle of swordsmanship. Not long ago, he disembarked to look for worthy opponents."
"Oh, right!"
Kazuha brightened, suddenly excited. "Would it be possible for him to attend your wedding too?"
"He knows you saved him. He's also heard many stories about what you've done."
"Even back then, he used to say, 'Someday, someone on this earth will dare face the radiance of thunder.' Facing the Raiden Shogun's Musou no Hitotachi has always been his dream."
"And you fulfilled it. He regrets deeply that he never witnessed your courage with his own eyes."
"If he finds out you're alive, he'd be overjoyed!"
When Kazuha spoke of this friend, his eyes were clear as water, shining with honest admiration.
In that moment, his expression overlapped perfectly with the real-world Kazuha Kael had once seen aboard the Alcor—except now he wasn't weighed down by sorrow.
Kael remembered that morning on the Alcor, when Kazuha's face had been shadowed by loss and quiet anguish. The difference between the two versions was stark.
A pang of regret tugged at Kael's chest.
In reality, no one dared challenge the Raiden Shogun's lightning to save Kazuha's friend.
Kazuha had endured so much pain. He could never be as carefree as the one standing here in the simulation.
With a touch of melancholy, Kael nodded. "Of course. I'd like to meet him too."
He wanted to see what kind of young warrior had the courage to defy the Raiden Shogun.
"Great! I'll send him a message immediately!"
Kael and Kazuha talked late into the night.
Only after Kazuha emptied the last of the "sake" from his gourd and finally tasted the real wine Ayaka had prepared did their conversation end.
"Ugh."
Kazuha took one sip from the cup and instantly flushed red. A moment later, he collapsed onto the table, fast asleep.
Kael raised a brow at the sight of him snoring on the tabletop.
This wasn't one-cup drunk. This was one-sip drunk.
The next morning, Kazuha appeared before Kael, stiff with embarrassment.
"…Sorry. I lost control after drinking."
---
Kazuha would stay in Inazuma until after Kael and Ayaka's wedding.
But before setting out on his journey again, he had already sold his old home. For now, he had no place to stay.
Meanwhile, the wedding preparations moved forward smoothly. As the day drew near, Ayaka's corruption value continued to drop.
A few days before the ceremony, Kael heard the System's voice inside his mind.
[Host, Kamisato Ayaka's corruption value has now fallen to 5.]
Kael froze for a moment.
Only that much left.
In every life simulation, Ayaka's greatest dream was to marry him and stay by his side forever.
When the wedding was over, the remaining corruption would surely drop to zero.
Which meant that these last few days… were the final moments he'd have in this simulated life.
---
Next Target 1200 PS :)