Chapter 1

"Hey, Ada's wedding is tomorrow, right?"

Said Meg, her childhood friend, with a faint smile.

Everyone in the village heard about it this morning. There was no way to forget.

She must have asked just to confirm that Rane was shocked by the news.

So Rane smiled and nodded.

"Yes, that's right. It's been about five years since he left the village, hasn't it? For that Ada to marry the Holy Maiden, it's quite a promotion, isn't it?"

Meg wasn't the only one. Everyone of the same age who lived in the village were childhood friends.

This was a small, rural village far from the capital.

No one ever thought that a member of the party to defeat the Demon King would be chosen from such a place.

"Thinking of that crybaby Ada. No, I shouldn't call him that anymore. After all, he's a member of the Hero's party and has been granted the title of Sword Saint."

As she said this, she hung up the last of the laundry.

Meg, who had a mischievous look on her face, left with an obvious look of boredom.

After her figure disappeared, Rane let out a big sigh.

Indeed, among the village children, Ada and Rane were particularly close.

Rane always protected Ada, who used to be small and often bullied.

He was like a little brother she couldn't leave alone, but before she knew it, he had grown taller, honed his sword skills, and left the village as an adventurer in no time.

That was five years ago.

Both Ada and Rane were fifteen.

The night before he left, Ada called Rane and said,

"I'll definitely make it big and come back. When I do, will you marry me?"

It was true that they had been somewhat aware of each other.

Rane had started to see Ada, who was gradually becoming stronger, as a potential romantic interest. It was sad that he was leaving the village.

So she nodded with a smile.

"Yes. I'll wait. Please make me your wife, Ada."

And so, they went together to greet the village chief and their parents, and became engaged.

(Who would have thought I'd be hearing about Ada's wedding five years later?)

Rane smiled bitterly and looked up at the sky.

Ada's marriage to the Holy Maiden Aki had been announced a little while ago. But the news only reached the rural village this morning.

It was already the day before the wedding.