[Grates Kingdom, Capital Evergarden. Grand Banquet Hall – Crystal Hall.]
End of war.
Not a ceasefire, but the end of war.
The war is over.
The war between the Empire and the rest, which had lasted for nearly 12 years, ended in a ‘draw’ after the final battle.
The Empire’s conclusion was that continuing further battles would only increase casualties.
The Empire had already claimed the lands of several occupied kingdoms as their own, and the Allied Kingdoms, including the one I am in, were able to survive.
– Guarantee our independence!
During the negotiation process, the countries already occupied by the Empire raised their voices in protest, stating their grievances.
– If you just keep your mouths shut obediently, it will be peaceful for at least five years.
– Aren’t they already destroyed and all their royalty dead? Just disappear into history quietly.
– If you cause the Empire to abandon the end-of-war negotiations and enter total war, will you take responsibility?
The many who were already devastated by the war suppressed their voices under the guise of a yearning for peace.
It was not a complete peace.
Both sides feared mutual destruction, and it was as if the Empire had unilaterally pushed and then ultimately failed to break through the defenses of the Allied Kingdoms, abandoning the effort.
Who carried out those defenses?
“The Shield of the Alliance, <GRAND MASTER>!! Sir Hans Wilhelm!!”
It was me.
I am the hero receiving thunderous cheers from hundreds of people gathered in the Crystal Hall, the grand banquet hall of this kingdom.
“Kyaaaah!”
“Hero!”
“Look over here!”
Noble ladies standing on either side of the red carpet raised their voices, asking me to wave my hand.
Of course, I knew well that such cheers were not for someone on the level of a top idol, but rather for the hero who led the end-of-war negotiations, the GRAND SWORDMASTER and Count Wilhelm.
A man reflected in hundreds of eyes.
Me.
Black hair.
Red eyes.
A long scar on my cheek, and with an appearance that couldn’t really be called ‘handsome’ compared to the elegant men in the banquet hall.
‘It’s better than reincarnation.’
But I am satisfied with this face.
‘It’s enough that I’m taller and handsomer than in my past life.’
Compared to my face in my past life, the face of this reincarnated body can confidently be called Leonardo DiCaprio.
And it’s because the nobles gathered here are so handsome; this reincarnated body’s appearance and build are not that far behind.
After all, my ability, my swordsmanship, is the strongest on the continent, so what does it matter?
I can embrace more women as the continent’s greatest hero than I could with mere looks.
“Hmph.”
“Kyaaaaaah!!”
With just a slight wave of my hand, the ladies scream.
While it’s not common for ladies to go wild like this in front of hundreds of nobles, this situation is unavoidable.
For the noble ladies there, having drinks with a war hero on the terrace and being invited by that hero for a night would be the prologue to a perfect romance fantasy.
“Tsk, tsk. What vulgar women.”
As a result, murmurs arose from the ladies who blushed at me.
“Look at their ulterior motives, trying to become Countesses by bearing the GRAND MASTER’s seed. How despicably ugly.”
“Is that all? They’re practically using physical tactics to take the GRAND MASTER to their own kingdoms, even though they’re from other kingdoms.”
“Do you think they’re doing this out of genuine love for the GRAND MASTER? It’s all calculated for political gain.”
What they said is true.
It’s not strange for the nobles gathered in this banquet hall to speak with such political calculations.
“Master…”
Among them were quite a few beautiful women, the kind whom I would choose if I were given a wish to spend a night, or rather every night, with someone among the women present here.
Of course, such beauties greatly dislike it when I firmly reject the advances of various women.
Because they dislike a hero who is fond of women.
But they only know half the story.
‘What if they approach me like a political femme fatale?’
I have become the GRAND SWORDMASTER, and there is no one left on the continent who can defeat me, and I am the kind of person who wouldn’t be swayed by a single night with even most women who throw themselves at me.
‘Isn’t there a saying about heroes consorting with women for a reason?’
And in the first place.
‘I’m receiving the reward for toiling in the field as a hero until now. What if I embrace this woman and that woman, no, both hands full and enjoy myself?’
What if I get swayed.
As long as they aren’t spies from the Empire, it doesn’t matter much if I date and break up freely, and spending a night with me is treated like a medal of honor for the ladies there.
“His Majesty the King approaches—”
To award that symbol of honor, the white-haired old king has now taken his throne.
Following etiquette, everyone bowed their heads towards the king, and knights, like me, knelt on one knee and paid their respects.
“Everyone, raise your heads.”
The King instructed them, holding the scepter in his hand.
Soon, his voice spread throughout this Crystal Hall, and I calmly rose and surveyed my surroundings.
Apart from the matter concerning me, a considerable number of people were happy simply that this banquet was being held.
It’s natural.
This banquet is a celebration of the end of war with the Empire, a celebration of the survival of numerous countries, including this Grates Kingdom, from the Empire.
“Before we begin the banquet, we cannot fail to call upon our hero. GRAND MASTER, Hans Wilhelm!!”
Clap, clap, clap, clap!!
The King of Grates himself stood up and applauded me.
Although I have an overwhelming desire to take a beautiful woman to my mansion’s bedroom and smack her behind, rather than receive applause, I calmly proceeded to the King and knelt once more.
“I, Hans Wilhelm, am able to stand here thanks to Your Majesty’s boundless grace.”
“Haha, humility. Because you became the shield of the Alliance, no, the continent, and stopped that wicked Empire, I am still the King of the Grates Kingdom, and we can all be nobles instead of common citizens of the Empire. You are…”
The King began a long speech in a relaxed tone.
The content was a detailed recounting of the battles I had won, listing them one by one for each of the many medals pinned to the front of my formal wear.
‘The past doesn’t matter, I want to spend time with the ladies quickly.’
I understand the King’s intention to wish for the kingdom’s well-being through a war hero, but if I could speed up the time, I would want to seduce one of the ladies there and enjoy the night immediately.
Three months have passed.
The last woman I was with happened to be a spy, a femme fatale from the Empire, and because of that, I was forbidden from even abstaining myself, and had to endure for nearly 99 days.
Today, if anyone tries to get me, they won’t get away with it.
I could make it flow like Niagara Falls in bed.
So—
“…We must reward such a war hero.”
Finally.
“You, do you have a wish?”
A wish?
To form a harem of beautiful women and enjoy a carefree, pleasure-seeking life.
Whirring.
However, I cannot say such things in a public setting, especially when it is being recorded by magical recording devices.
I am, after all, a social animal.
“Your Majesty, I have dedicated myself solely to the peace of the continent. If everyone can live in peace without shedding more blood with the Empire, that alone is sufficient.”
As I spoke, I felt goosebumps.
Some nobles in the banquet hall, especially those who knew my nature, secretly mimed gagging and chuckled.
“Oh, a true hero! He asks for nothing but peace! How can we not praise such a hero!”
The King exclaimed, rising from his throne with tears of emotion.
“I, Grates XVIII!! As the sovereign of this nation, I declare here and now! What we shall bestow upon War Hero Hans Wilhelm is… none other than!!”
Click, click.
“My daughter, Princess Knight Sylvia!”
“What.”
With the sound of white heels, someone dressed in a gown like a wedding dress entered the banquet hall.
She is indeed beautiful.
Her white hair styled up, green eyes, and fair skin were as beautiful as any of the women present.
The First Princess of the Grates Kingdom, Sylvia de Grates.
“Your, Your Majesty. Princess Sylvia…!”
“She is my daughter.”
I know.
I know it all too well.
“You’ve had your eye on Sir Wilhelm since his recruit days, haven’t you? Hahaha!”
When I voluntarily enlisted in the Grates Kingdom – written as conscripted – she was an officer training soldiers to be deployed in the war against the Empire, while hiding her identity.
She’s older.
I was 15 when I enlisted, and Princess Sylvia was 25 at the time.
I am now 27, and she is 37.
And the most important problem.
Unmarried.
“Please take good care of my daughter, Count.”
“……This.”
“Why the hesitation? Surely, you don’t dislike my daughter, do you?”
“I have one thing to ask.”
Avoiding Princess Sylvia’s gaze, I cautiously raised my hand.
“If I marry Princess Sylvia and become your son-in-law, might I—”
“That,”
Grates XVIII averted his gaze.
“Discuss it with Sylvia.”
“…….”
The moment my eyes met Princess Sylvia’s gaze.
‘I’m screwed.’
I sensed it.
That I would be a husband to only one woman for life, with no secondary wives, consorts, or harems.
No.
If there were ever a day I embraced another woman, it would only be with the daughter I had with Sylvia.
“The formal wedding ceremony will be held in 100 days…!”
And so.
“Here and now, I declare the marriage of these two!!”
Before I could even enjoy a casanova-style free love, I became a married man by the King’s declaration.
