"…"
Silence settled over the plain. No one could find their voice.
The White Whale's colossal body lay where it had crashed, blood soaking into the earth, turning it a deep red. But no one was looking at it.
Every head tilted upward, wordless, as Shichen drifted down, cradling Emilia in a princess carry. The sight was like a god descending.
Truth be told, that was exactly what most people were thinking.
What Shichen had done moments ago had been too staggering: the emerald leviathan that plainly moved at his command, and the scene of him felling the White Whale in the blink of an eye—both felt like miracles. Was this truly something mortal eyes were meant to see? They wouldn't have dared to dream it—not even daydream. And yet it had unfolded clearly before them, seared into eyes and memory alike.
They'd barely taken his strength seriously before this. He'd had no reputation, and beyond a certain extraordinary bearing, there had been no obvious sign of fighting prowess. Protecting them from harm had already seemed astonishing. Who could have guessed that once he acted, he would simply erase the Whale that had left them helpless?
What was this man?
"Everyone—why are you staring at me like that?" Shichen asked with a smile.
"…" Naturally, no one answered.
"Shichen, you can put me down now," Emilia whispered.
"Okay." He lowered her gently and let her stand.
He hadn't been showing off or trying to flaunt affection—he'd simply been preventing any chance someone might see beneath her robes after descending from the sky.
Emilia pressed her lips together, cheeks pink, then stood quietly at his side, smiling with pride. She hadn't lifted a finger; it had been all Shichen. But she was still proud—proud of him.
"Shichen…" Crusch, composed at last, rode her ground-dragon over, then dismounted.
"Do you believe me now?" Shichen asked.
"I never doubted you," Crusch replied, shaking her head. Her blessing told her truth from falsehood.
"Is that so?"
"Please trust me, too," she said, meeting his eyes.
"I know your ability," Shichen nodded. "But sometimes, rely on your own judgment."
"My own judgment… Understood. I don't think I'll have reason to doubt you from now on." Crusch smiled.
"Oh?" Shichen arched a brow. There was a hint in her words.
"Emilia," Crusch said, turning to her.
"Yes, Crusch?" Emilia answered softly.
"I think from here on, we're enemies."
"I understand." Emilia's face turned solemn.
"Of course," Crusch added with a small laugh, "we might also become sisters."
"…Sisters?" Emilia blinked at her.
"Looks like Shichen hasn't told you anything. All the better that I say it myself."
She paused, then looked straight at Emilia, eyes unwavering. "I'm going to compete with you for Shichen."
"Compete… for Shichen—huh?" Emilia froze, then her eyes widened. "Crusch, do you mean—?"
"Yes. I admire him—and now I'm utterly convinced of him. I intend to marry him."
"H-how…" Emilia was stunned. She'd thought "enemies" meant the royal selection. She hadn't expected this. Crusch would be her rival in love.
Thinking about it, though—Shichen was exceptional. It was only natural others would set their sights on him.
But—
"I'm sorry, Crusch."
Emilia straightened, her small face equally resolute. She slid her arm through Shichen's and hugged it. "Shichen and I are already a couple."
"Are you? I figured as much," Crusch said, unfazed. "Even so, I won't give up."
"What?" Emilia frowned.
"As I said: we might become sisters." Crusch smiled. "If it comes to it, the answer is simple—we both become his lovers."
"That's not—"
"Isn't that more or less the arrangement with Miss Rem?" Crusch countered.
"But Rem, she—"
"I've seen how he treats you and Miss Rem—there's no difference. And in this world, isn't it normal for outstanding men to have more than one woman?"
"It may be," Emilia faltered, "but you… I…" She trailed off, unprepared for a declaration like that. Yet she also found herself facing a new truth: others would vie for Shichen. There was Priscilla, too…
"You can't accept me?" Crusch asked, still smiling, unbothered. "I won't give up. I'll win him—or rather, I'll become his woman. It's fate."
"Fate?"
"Beatrice-sama said I would become Shichen's woman," Crusch added, impishly. A never-before-seen expression on her.
"…" Emilia fell silent. She remembered that. She hadn't taken it seriously then, but now… Beatrice wasn't one to speak idly.
"So no—I won't be giving up," Crusch repeated.
"…All right," Emilia breathed, nodding at last.
"That's all?"
"I won't presume to decide for him," Emilia said. "It's Shichen's choice, not mine."
"I see."
"But…" Emilia smiled, full of confidence. "Shichen loves me most."
Crusch sighed. "That… is hard to refute."
"And I'll make sure he loves me even more." Emilia's smile brightened.
"That truly does make things difficult," Crusch conceded with a wry smile.
"If you want to be his woman—be my sister—be ready for him to spoil me more. Try not to get jealous," Emilia added, beaming.
"I'll do my best…"
"Are you two sure now is the time for this?" Shichen finally cut in.
"?" They both looked at him.
"Aren't you forgetting everyone else?" He gestured around.
All eyes were still on the three of them. Not because they'd heard the exchange—only Wilhelm had, and he wouldn't care—but because everyone was still stunned by Shichen's power, floating between triumph and the aimless lull that follows a mission's end.
"I nearly forgot my job," Crusch admitted.
"Leader, don't forget your people," Shichen teased.
"You're right… We'll continue this later," Crusch said. "And not too much later."
"I'll see to it it ends quickly," she added with a smile, swinging back onto her mount. Then she raised her sword to the sky.
"Everyone—mission accomplished! We have slain—the White Whale!"
"Whooooo!"
The shout rolled across the plain. Hunters embraced, the logistics crew clapped and cheered, those who'd sought revenge smiled through tears. Many found it unreal that the terror of the age had fallen—and so easily. They'd come prepared to suffer heavy losses, perhaps even fail.
They'd succeeded because of one man.
Faces turned to Shichen, hearts full of reverence. With someone like that at their side—what couldn't be done? Wasn't a man like that no less than a dragon god?
Crusch's men thought: if only their lady could be with Shichen.
Anastasia's people thought: if only Shichen could be with their mistress.
And some looked at Emilia with a touch of envy, backed as she was by Shichen. They dimly grasped how formidable she would be with him beside her.
But such thoughts were for another time. Now there was only the thrill of victory—the joy of felling the Whale. There was only one thing to do:
Celebrate—on the spot.
After all, they hadn't spent a single ration.