"That was quite the ordeal..."
After the bombshell announcement sent the venue into an uproar, the first half of the ceremony ended—somewhat—successfully. I stepped down from the stage alongside the newlyweds and the rest of the family representatives, transitioning straight into the reception. It was there that I was immediately swallowed by a surging tide of guests.
I had accidentally let my guard down. Before I knew it, I was being swept away from the bride and groom like prey snatched by a raptor. To make matters worse, the guests who couldn’t get close to the couple swarmed around me instead. Everyone was in incredibly high spirits, bolstered by the fact that the couple had received the blessings of the gods.
Their heads were filled with nothing but joy. They made a massive fuss over everything—from the couple's compatibility to the quality of the dress, the decorations, and even the flavor of the food—wondering which detail had pleased the gods so much. Since I had crafted the god statues and directed the construction of the stage, I was cornered and showered with praise for quite a while. By the time I managed to slip away, I was utterly exhausted.
...I certainly believe in the gods now, but having been born and raised in Japan, I couldn't help but feel a certain cultural divide regarding the intensity of their faith. But putting that aside...
"You really saved me back there."
"It’s not worth mentioning. I only stepped in because I happened to be passing by to get more food."
Judging by her tone, it really was "merely on the way."
The one who had rescued me from the crowd was Yui, the self-proclaimed matchmaker fairy.
Like a veteran waitress, she was carrying five plates at once—piled high with food—balanced on her hands, arms, and even on top of her head. She set them down on a table that had become strangely vacant, sat herself down, and began to eat with a voracious appetite. There were people all around us, but they didn't seem to notice our presence at all. It was undoubtedly her power at work; if I focused, I could sense a faint aura similar to a concealment barrier.
...The presence was so thin, however, that it would have been nearly impossible to detect if I hadn't already known she was there.
"Why don't you sit for a while until the commotion settles?"
"If you'll excuse me, then."
I took the seat directly across from her.
"Is it really that rare for a bride and groom to receive blessings from the gods like this?"
"It’s a rare and prestigious honor, but it does happen if one is lucky. I've seen it with a few of the couples I've supported in the past. The last time was about thirty years ago. Of course, the couples I deal with aren't the entire world, so I can't give you exact odds... but the real issue here is the sheer number of blessings."
"So it's definitely more than usual?"
"As far as I know, most weddings receive no blessings at all. Even when they do, it's typically from a single deity. But those two... when I slipped closer to listen earlier, I found they both have the divine protection of Lulutia. The groom has the blessings of Kufo and Tekun, while the bride has Willieris and Gain. Combined, they haven't just received favors from three gods—it’s five."
Knowing my status as an otherworlder, she didn't treat the situation as a given and explained it to me politely.
So the "three each" Mr. Alafrar mentioned wasn't just referring to the three gods depicted by the statues?
"...That look on your face tells me you had something to do with this."
"I didn't do anything directly, but I have a pretty good idea of why it happened. ...I'll tell you, Yui, since I trust you as the familiar of my predecessor.
I've had the chance to speak with the gods through my Oracle Skill, and I've learned that they keep an eye on otherworlders from time to time. They do it for various reasons—sometimes just to see if we've adjusted to life here, sometimes because they find something about us interesting, and sometimes to make sure we aren't abusing the powers they gave us."
"I see. Based on how you speak, I take it you are currently one of those objects of observation. And the gods watching you just happened to be watching the wedding as well."
"Most likely."
Besides, if Tekun was involved, he was almost certainly drinking in the divine realm. I had a feeling Kufo and Gain would grant blessings on a bit of a whim, too. To be honest, it seemed like while humans treated divine protection as a holy treasure, it wasn't nearly that heavy a matter for the gods themselves.
"You speak of them with such familiarity."
"I talk to them every time I visit the church."
"...You really shouldn't mention that to ordinary people, especially the clergy. To them, an oracle is something a priest might receive once in a lifetime after years of grueling training—and even then, it's usually just a few short words. If they think you're lying, you'll be reviled; if they believe you, you'll be more than just envied. It could get dangerous."
"I wouldn't dream of telling this to a normal person. I’d appreciate it if you kept it a secret as well, Yui."
To be strictly accurate, I didn't just talk to them—we hung out and drank together!
...Speaking of drinking, the self-proclaimed matchmaker fairy was currently inhaling the banquet food. Two large plates had already been emptied while we were talking. She was quite the glutton.
"...Did you want some?"
"No, I was just impressed by your appetite. I didn't mean anything bad by it—I just didn't have the image of fairies eating that much."
"Well, normal fairies are quite small, after all."
"That reminds me, you look like a perfectly normal human. Is it a transformation of some kind?"
"Otherworlders are certainly quick on the uptake. I've only known Shiho and you, but... normally I'm a bit smaller. I can mask any oddities with my power, and this form is far more convenient for mingling with humans. The fuel efficiency is terrible, though."
"I see. By the way, what kind of food do you prefer?"
"I've lived here so long that I rarely eat anything that hasn't been cooked. When you're out in nature, your options are limited to things like nuts, fruit, flower nectar, and honey. Some fairies have eccentric tastes, but like humans, it's mostly personal preference. In truth, fairies can survive on the mana that fills the natural world, so everything besides mana is essentially a luxury item. We can convert it into energy, of course."
"So that's how it works for your kind."
"Indeed. ...Anyway, did you finish that gift we discussed yesterday?"
"Yes. It was a bit of a struggle, but thanks to your advice, I managed to make something I'm satisfied with."
"I'm glad to hear it. An idea is worthless if there's no finished product to show for it."
As we were chatting, I heard familiar voices from behind me.
"Ryoma-kun?"
"I wonder where he could have gone..."
It was Reinhardt and Madam. They were weaving through the guests, clearly searching for me.
"Yui, it looks like they've found me. I should go."
"Yes. If you stay with those two, you should be safe from the rest of the mob."
"Thank you for everything."
"I look forward to seeing if the gift is well-received."
I parted ways with Yui and joined the ducal couple. Since they hadn't presented their gifts yet either, I pulled mine from my Item Box and lined up with them.
The servants already in the queue insisted on letting us go first, so there was virtually no wait. As we reached the front, we saw Batz, the Head Chef, handing a box and a small plate with a slice of cake to Lulunese.
"This brings back memories..."
"It’s the Ramon Cake I used to make when I was still an apprentice. You always told me how much you loved it."
"I did. It was my favorite. But this... this is even more delicious than it used to be."
"Of course it is! If my skills as Head Chef were the same as when I was a novice, I'd be in the wrong profession. The old version had its charm, but as a cook, I strive for constant improvement."
"It’s so like you, Batz-san. I love this one too—the sponge is so incredibly fluffy."
"Ah, that's thanks to some new ingredients and advice I got from Ryoma-kun the other day. I did quite a bit of experimenting."
Hearing that, Madam leaned in and whispered to me.
"Ryoma-kun, did you give him cooking advice?"
"It was just some idle talk, really. You remember the bath bombs I made for you? All the ingredients are food-safe, so I mentioned to him that they could also be used to make cake batter rise more effectively."
I had given him the leftover ingredients, but I hadn't expected him to put them to use so quickly.
The couple noticed us then, and Batz gave them a final nod.
"I'll see you both later. There's plenty more in the box, so make sure you share. Hughes... I'm trusting you."
"Thank you so much."
"Leave it to me, Chef!"
With a short greeting, the gift was handed off to a maid for safekeeping, and Batz disappeared back into the crowd of servants.
Now, it was our turn.
"You two should go first," I said, stepping back for the ducal couple.
"Hughes, Lulunese, congratulations on your marriage."
"Thank you, Master," they replied in unison.
"What's wrong, Hughes? You're not your usual boisterous self."
"Heh, well, even I have to be serious on a day like today."
"I suppose that's true, though it does feel a bit strange coming from you. Anyway, please accept this. It’s a gift from us."
Reinhardt handed over a high-quality wooden box. Hughes opened it immediately.
"Oh my!" Lulunese gasped.
"This is... armor? And wait, are these dragon scales!?"
"My father's familiar happened to be shedding its scales recently, so I had them processed for you. Hughes, you'll be working for this house for a long time yet, and now you have Lulunese to think about. I need you to make it back alive from any dangerous assignments. Besides, once you're promoted, you'll need gear that looks the part."
"I... I don't know what to say. Thank you, Master. I'll repay this debt with my work."
"I'm counting on it. And Lulunese, please keep an eye on him. He talks a big game, but he's been an airhead since we were children."
"Understood, Master. I will do everything in my power to support my husband while maintaining my duties as a maid."
"Fufu, you'll be fine, Lulunese," Elise added warmly. "I can guarantee that, since you've been helping me ever since you arrived at the estate. We're looking forward to having you with us for a long time."
The four of them shared a tearful, emotional moment, and a natural round of applause broke out among the onlookers. The ducal couple kept the exchange brief and stepped aside to give me my turn.
"Hughes-san, Lulunese-san. Congratulations on your wedding."
"Thank you, Ryoma-sama."
"Ryoma, you've done so much for us already. That would have been more than enough, but..."
"This is just a token of my appreciation."
I handed a wooden box to Hughes. He opened it, revealing the contents to the guests.
"Beautiful!"
"Whoa, it's gorgeous. Is it glass?"
Hughes pulled out a pair of "Edo Kiriko-style" glasses. They had vibrant red and blue bodies with intricate white-line patterns engraved into the surface. The crowd went quiet as they saw them, and the reaction was split down the middle.
One group—mostly Serge, Pioro, and a few others who didn't care for superstitions—was purely captivated by the craftsmanship. The other group, however, consisted of the majority of the guests, especially the older ones. Their faces said it all: They're beautiful, but...
The reaction was expected. In this world, just like on Earth, glass is a "breakable" item. Things that can be cut or broken are often avoided at weddings because they symbolize a "severed" or "broken" relationship.
But I had prepared for this. I reached back into my Item Box and pulled out another glass.
"Hughes-san, Lulunese-san. Please, look at this."
"Is that the same kind of glass?"
"Looks a bit lopsided compared to the others."
"Exactly. This was a failure I made while practicing. Now, if you'll excuse me... I'll do this!"
I raised my voice and slammed the failed glass onto the hard, paved ground with all my might.
The glass made a light sound, bounced a few times, and rolled over to the feet of a nearby maid.
"Pardon me. Could you pick that up for me?"
"Ah, yes!"
I thanked her and took the glass back. Despite the impact, it was perfectly intact, save for a few minor scratches.
"Actually, while these look like glass, they aren't."
They were made from the concentrated hardening fluid of sticky slimes, molded into the shape of cups. Essentially, they were high-grade reinforced plastic.
The secret plan Yui had suggested last night was simple: if "breakable" things were a bad omen, then I should give them something "unbreakable." She had come up with the idea after seeing the imitation stained glass I’d been working on.
Following her instructions, I continued my speech.
"The material used for this and for your two glasses is the same. They are incredibly difficult to break. However, nothing made by human hands is truly eternal. If you treat them with malice or neglect them, they will eventually lose their shape. But if you continue to treat them with care, I believe their radiance will last a lifetime. Just as with your relationship—cherish one another, and never let that spark fade. It is with that wish that I present these glasses to you."
The crowd let out a collective "Ohhh..."
"Ryoma... thank you for such a thoughtful gift!"
"We vow to protect this brilliance forever," Lulunese added, her eyes shimmering with tears.
A massive round of applause erupted, this time with everyone looking satisfied. Most of the speech had been Yui's idea, but the sentiment behind the gift was genuine. Seeing how happy they were, I felt a deep sense of relief.
Naturally, the business sharks descended immediately afterward.
"Ryoma-sama, regarding those glasses... do you have any intention of commercializing them?"
"Now hold on, Serge! Tableware is right up my alley too. Rich folk care as much about the plate as they do the food, ya know?"
"I'm sorry, everyone, but those are incredibly labor-intensive. Mass production is out of the question."
Edo Kiriko was a traditional craft from Earth, and replicating it was no small feat. I had to coat a transparent hardening fluid glass with a thin layer of colored fluid, then use a new magic I'd developed—"Disc Grinder," a variation of my "Polish Wheel" magic—to precisely carve through the outer layer to expose the clear base.
The process required immense focus, and I’d barely managed to finish those two in a single night. There was no way I could produce them for the general market.
"Ryoma-kun, did you not sleep at all last night?"
"I knew it. When you were swept away earlier, I suspected you'd been overworking yourself again..."
"...No, it’s not like that, Reinhardt-san, Madam. Really. That aside, Serge-san, Pioro-san, I can teach the process to someone else. If you hire a professional glassmaker, we might be able to work something out via commission."
"I'll take those terms!" Pioro chirped in his thick accent.
"I was hoping to sell them as wedding gifts using your speech as a marketing point... but if they're made of real glass, that angle won't work," Serge mused.
I spent the rest of the evening chatting with the four of them, enjoying the banquet to my heart's content, and celebrating the new chapter in Hughes and Lulunese's lives.