The city, built through everyone's combined efforts, was finally completed.
There were no distinctions of race or origin—goblins, orcs, lizardmen, dragonewts, dwarves—all had contributed. Every brick laid, every street paved, and every lamp installed carried the sweat and pride of each and every one of them.
With all preparations finalized, a grand festival was held to celebrate the city's completion.
Colorful banners fluttered through the streets. Ribbons decorated the lampposts. Lanterns tied to ornaments swayed in the wind, bathing the night in golden hues. Food stalls filled the central plaza, competing with one another through irresistible aromas. Musicians played a variety of instruments, energizing the atmosphere even further, while children ran between the crowds.
The sound of laughter echoed throughout Nova Uruk. Even invited visitors from other regions of the Forest of Jura looked around in admiration, unable to believe that this city had not existed just a few months ago.
Hakurou, with his elegant precision, wielded an abnormally long yanagiba and prepared multiple platters of sashimi using the freshest fish the lizardmen brought directly from the rivers.
[A/N: A yanagiba is a traditional Japanese knife—long and thin—essential for slicing raw fish (sashimi). It is single-beveled and usually measures between 21 and 30 cm; in Hakurou's case, it was about 70 cm.]
The platters of sashimi disappeared as quickly as they were served.
Not far from there, Souei was speaking with Souka.
Despite Souei's usually reserved demeanor, Souka's presence seemed to soften his expression.
Somehow, their relationship was progressing rapidly.
Souka smiled naturally, and Souei, though discreet, did not avert his gaze as he usually did.
Meanwhile, at the center of the plaza, another activity was drawing an increasingly large crowd.
A drinking competition.
A long table had been set up, covered with enormous mugs, each overflowing with a strong beverage specially prepared by Arthur for the occasion. The smell alone was intense enough to make some spectators stagger just from inhaling it.
Arthur, Geld, Benimaru, Shion, and Gabiru stood aligned on one side of the table.
On the other, citizens watched and placed discreet bets.
"Who's going down first?" someone muttered.
"Gabiru-sama would never lose!" shouted a lizardman subordinate, already far too emotional.
Angelica, her eyes shining with excitement, tried to approach the table.
"I want to participate too!"
Before she could reach a mug, Arthur grabbed her by the collar with a swift motion—like someone pulling back a mischievous cat about to knock something over.
"Absolutely not," he said.
"Eeeeh?!"
"You're not allowed to drink alcohol yet. You're only fourteen," he teased.
Angelica huffed, crossing her arms indignantly.
"That's unfair…"
"No negotiations. Now go to the kids' table," Arthur replied with a light laugh.
Grumbling, she joined Milim, who was also sitting with her arms crossed under Arthur's direct orders, equally barred from the competition.
In front of them were only two glasses of orange juice.
Milim stared at the liquid as if it were her greatest enemy.
"This isn't fair… I'm a Demon Lord…"
"A Demon Lord who's underage for drinking," Arthur replied without even looking at her.
"I'm older than you…" Milim puffed out her cheeks but took a sip anyway. "It's sweet…"
"That's what you get," Angelica said, drinking her own juice.
Meanwhile, the competition officially began.
"Three!"
"Two!"
"One!"
The mugs were raised.
Arthur downed the first in a single gulp.
Geld followed with impressive discipline. Benimaru maintained an elegant posture. Shion drank with fervent determination. Gabiru… exaggerated the dramatics.
"I, GABIRU— GLUG GLUG— SHALL DEMONSTRATE— GLUG— THE GREATNESS OF THE DRAGONEWTS!"
The first round ended.
The second began.
Then the third.
The fourth.
Voices grew louder. Laughter more uncontrolled.
Benimaru tried to maintain his composure, but his eyes began losing focus.
Gabiru climbed onto the table to deliver a speech… and fell sideways before finishing his sentence.
"GABIRU-SAMAAAA!" his subordinates cried dramatically as he fainted.
Benimaru endured a few seconds longer… then collapsed backward with elegance, unconscious.
"I… am… perfectly fine…" were his last words before falling.
Geld remained seated, but sweat dripped from his forehead, and he blinked slowly, trying to keep the world steady.
Shion, her face slightly flushed, still gripped her mug with determination.
"Master… I can continue…"
She tried to stand—only to brace herself against the table to avoid falling.
Geld finally gave in, slumping forward with a heavy thud.
Shion lasted a few more seconds… then began spinning in place before sitting down abruptly, dizzy.
Only Arthur remained.
Somehow—no one could explain how—he was now shirtless.
Standing atop the table with his mug raised.
"VIC TO RYYYYY!"
He let out a battle cry that echoed across the entire plaza.
"I AM THE CHAMPION!!"
The crowd erupted into applause and laughter.
Milim pointed, laughing so hard she nearly fell off her chair.
Angelica sighed, covering her face.
"He really is the leader of this city…"
Souei closed his eyes briefly, pretending not to know that man.
Hakurou simply murmured:
"Youth…"
---
The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting golden streaks across the quiet room.
Arthur slowly opened his eyes.
His head throbbed from how much he had drunk.
"…I won."
It was the first coherent thought he managed to form.
He blinked once.
Twice.
Then he realized something.
There was warmth beside him.
He slowly turned his head—and froze.
Shizu was lying beside him, completely naked.
Arthur blinked again.
"…What?"
His brain took a few seconds to reboot.
He looked at the ceiling.
Then at himself—he was also completely naked.
Then back at Shizu, whose face was slightly flushed.
"…Okay. Calm down…"
He shut his eyes tightly.
"Let's reconstruct the events. Step by step. What exactly led to this situation?"
And then—
---
[Flashback no jutsu]
---
The drinking competition had ended with Arthur standing shirtless atop the table, shouting victory like a barbarian in his moment of glory.
Benimaru, Gabiru, and Shion were unconscious while Geld staggered.
But with the help of the adorable Shuna—who smiled gently while discreetly distributing healing potions and antidotes prepared specifically for the situation—Benimaru, Geld, and Shion were treated for the alcohol's effects and were able to continue enjoying the festival.
"Please drink this slowly," Shuna said sweetly.
Benimaru nodded with forced dignity.
Geld thanked her sincerely.
Shion… held Arthur's hand with sparkling eyes.
Meanwhile—
Thanks to the alcohol, Arthur's rogue side surfaced completely.
He was excessively charismatic and dangerously uninhibited.
"Shunaaa," he said, resting an arm over her shoulder with a crooked smile. "Did you know you're the true heroine of this festival?"
Shuna blinked in surprise.
"Master Arthur, I merely did what—"
He leaned in and stole a quick kiss from her.
Shuna froze.
Her entire face turned red.
"M-Master Arthur!"
He laughed.
"It was just a small thank-you for my adorable and beloved Oni."
Across the plaza, Angelica watched with a deadpan expression.
"…I should've seen this coming."
Milim, on the other hand, widened her eyes.
"Why did she turn red? Is it good? I want to try!"
"You're not trying anything," Angelica replied immediately, grabbing Milim by the collar before she could take off flying.
Meanwhile, Shion approached, radiating happiness.
"Master… if rewards are being distributed…"
Arthur didn't hesitate and kissed her as well.
Long enough to make Shion practically glow.
"I WOULD DIE FOR YOU!" she declared dramatically.
"I'd rather you didn't," he replied with a laugh.
Treyni appeared shortly after, elegant as always.
"It seems the festival is lively."
Arthur looked at her.
"Treyni… you also worked hard protecting this forest. Thanks to you, I met all these people."
She raised an amused eyebrow.
"Oh?"
He stepped closer and stole a kiss from her too.
Treyni laughed softly against his lips.
"How bold."
Angelica covered her face.
"I give up."
Milim squirmed, trying to break free.
"I WANT TO PARTICIPATE TOO!"
"You're participating in absolutely nothing," Angelica declared, dragging the Demon Lord away like someone removing an overexcited puppy from the scene.
At some point, between laughter and music, Arthur found Shizu.
She was leaning against one of the plaza's columns, watching the chaos with a smile.
"You won the competition," she commented with a laugh.
"It would've been a disgrace if I'd lost," he replied, handing her a mug.
Shizu looked at him for a moment.
"Don't worry, this one is much lighter than what I used in the competition," Arthur said with a small laugh.
"Thank you…" she replied softly, taking it.
She brought the mug to her lips and took a small sip.
"It's good."
"This is a specialty from my homeland. It's called sake," Arthur explained.
She let out a gentle laugh.
For a few seconds, they simply watched the plaza. Gobta danced completely out of rhythm. Dragonewts competed to see who could shout Gabiru's name the loudest. In the distance, Shion, Shuna, Felicia, and Q-bee could be heard arguing over who was his favorite.
"It's beautiful," Shizu murmured.
"The city?"
"Yes. The way everyone is… together."
Arthur leaned against the column beside her.
"It's a masterpiece," he said with a smile.
She fell silent again.
"Arthur…" Shizu broke the silence.
He turned to her.
"May I say something?"
"Of course."
She took a slow breath.
"I never told you many details about my past."
He didn't interrupt—he simply listened.
"I lived in Demon Lord Leon's castle for a long time." Her voice was calm, but something heavy lingered beneath it. "I was just a child when I was summoned to this world. I didn't understand anything about it. I didn't understand what was happening."
The sounds of the festival seemed distant now.
"Leon kept me there… perhaps as a useful piece. And he made Ifrit reside within me."
Arthur remained silent, listening.
"Then… she appeared. She fought Leon and took me away from there."
"After that, I lived for a long time. Much longer than I should have. But I always knew my time was running out."
She lightly tightened her grip on the mug.
"I never imagined someone could save me again. That someone could give me more time to live."
She turned to him.
Her eyes were sincere.
"I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for you."
Arthur looked at her for a moment.
Then he chuckled softly, scratching the back of his neck.
"It was nothing special."
She frowned slightly.
"Don't say that."
"I only did what needed to be done." He shrugged. "Besides, I should at least live up to my title as a Chosen Hero once in a while."
Shizu blinked.
"…What?"
She stared at him, surprised.
"You're a Chosen Hero?"
Arthur laughed.
"That reaction is a bit offensive, Shizu."
"I didn't expect you to be a Chosen Hero too," she said, still processing.
"There's a lot more about me you don't know," he said casually, though there was a playful glint in his eyes.
She studied him for a few seconds. "I'd love to know more about you."
Arthur blinked.
He hadn't expected that answer.
Shizu seemed to realize her tone and blushed slightly, looking away.
"I-I mean… if you want to tell me."
He smiled gently, stepping a little closer, and delicately touched her cheek.
"Look at me."
She hesitated for a moment, but obeyed.
Their eyes met.
"I'd love to tell you more about myself," he said softly.
Shizu smiled at him.
Arthur leaned in slightly.
"If you don't want to… just push me away."
He gave her time.
She didn't push him away.
So he kissed her softly.
Before they realized it, they were already walking toward the mansion.
(End of Chapter)