ASDM 51

Chapter 51

Right after sending off the guests from the boisterous wedding banquet, Wolfgang dropped a bomb.

“The bridal chamber is ready.”

“Whoa, are you out of your mind?”

“…I hope you know it’s purely formal, and that we just need to go in and come out, so you can scold me if you want.”

As if unfairly scolded, he quickly added.

Ah, so that’s what it was? I had wondered if, even though we were married, he was planning something with the little ones.

I made an awkward expression and nudged Levi with my elbow.

“They say it’s ready. Should we go in, just prepared, and come back out?”

“Whatever you want.”

Hearing Levi’s answer, I let out a long yawn.

After running around all day in a wedding dress and attending the banquet since dawn, of course I was tired.

The bridal chamber—or whatever it was—I’d just change, wash up quickly, stop by, and go straight to sleep.

With that simple intention, the chamber I entered with Levi was surprisingly cozy and warm.

“Oh, this is nice.”

It wasn’t overly luxurious, but the interior was designed purely for the bedroom function, which I liked.

Just enough to feel like I could fall asleep easily.

In pajamas with only a shawl draped over me, I rubbed my sleepy eyes and crawled onto the bed.

“New blankets… so fluffy…”

“Asha?”

“Good night.”

Just as I was falling asleep under the covers.

Bang!

The door to the chamber was thrown open as if it might break.

“What are you doing in there?”

“Bro, get out quickly!”

Those troublemakers.

I glared at the loudly barging Wolfgang and Franz with narrowed eyes.

“…What kind of nonsense is this in someone else’s bridal chamber?”

“I clearly said it was just formal.”

“The choice is yours.”

“Not now.”

When I stared at him as if to demand an explanation, Wolfgang murmured, finger to his chin.

“When we’re older, should we formally prepare a proper marital bedroom… is that necessary?”

So why today is he asking all these rhetorical questions?

Wolfgang looked troubled. Franz was flapping around trying to rescue Levi. It was chaotic and sleepy. I thought we’d be up all night…

Half-closing my eyes, I spoke abruptly.

“Let’s just all sleep here together.”

“…What?”

The three men, who all looked alike, turned to me with similar expressions.

I let out a small laugh at the ridiculous sight and added,

“If you don’t like it, that’s fine.”

“I don’t mind.”

Levi was the first to scurry over.

Then either Wolfgang or Franz grabbed him—I couldn’t remember clearly because I was half-asleep.

In the end, after some bickering, the four of us tangled together on the large bed and fell asleep.

The first night… Bastion’s very special first night.

It didn’t take long after that for the chamber to be jokingly dubbed and used as the ‘family bedroom.’

The next morning.

“The only bride who would go to such a rough place for a honeymoon is you, little lady.”

With Betty and Angie’s sighing send-off, I stepped outside early.

The Bastion men who had spent the night with me were standing in front of the carriage, armored in white Rapidem coats.

All of them looked like exorcists under the morning sunlight.

‘They even resemble the way they have trouble waking up… and their warmth is similar too.’

Thanks to that, waking up was three times harder, but last night’s sleep was three times warmer.

No matter how much you heat the stove, nothing compares to the warmth of a person under the covers. It will get colder soon; I hope we sleep together often.

Thinking that, I got into the carriage Wolfgang had opened for me, with Levi and Franz trailing behind.

Call it a honeymoon, but it was more like a Bastion-style outing, a group inspection.

Once Wolfgang took his seat, the carriage slowly began to move.

They said it would take an hour to reach the wall. Well, we’d pass the time somehow.

Lying leisurely in the soft seat, I felt the villagers’ gazes on me as we passed their homes.

“…They keep peeking in from outside.”

“You just got married.”

Ah, right. From their perspective, there’s a new Lady of the fief. Naturally, they’d be curious.

Leaning forward to peek out the window made the outside crowd murmur even more.

Wolfgang said,

“Wave to them or something.”

Wave? Like this?

I waved lightly, and the people outside responded with “Waa!” and waved back. Feeling ticklish, I cleared my throat awkwardly.

Being welcomed like this just by existing was a first for me.

“They like you.”

“They’re jealous.”

After bickering with Franz, we left the village and entered the open fields.

Unused land. Or rather, land near the wall, so they had no choice but to let it remain unused.

Even I could see it was a waste.

Why do the monsters have to thrive only in Bastion?

Pouting at the thought, a voice called out:

“A small unit approaching ahead.”

Two knights from the escort spurred their horses forward, swiftly taking down a small monster with the tip of their swords without flinching.

Truly, an ordinary day—nothing more, nothing less.

“…Don’t you feel wronged?”

Muttering, all three pairs of eyes focused on me.

It might sound childish and selfish, but

“Honestly, I’d feel a bit wronged.”

“In what way?”

Why is it only our land that suffers? Even after sacrificing, the world doesn’t acknowledge it. That’s what I meant.

I shut my mouth, barely mumbling.

“Just… everything.”

Wolfgang chuckled at my grumbling and replied,

“This is Bastion, and as long as we are Bastion, it can’t be helped.”

Fate. Facing the consequences.

The world summed up Bastion’s position with such words.

‘But technically, it was the demon from centuries ago that made the mess.’

That our descendants have to clean it up feels unfair to me.

Above all, the key is that I don’t know how many times this has to be repeated.

‘Isn’t there a way to exterminate the monsters completely?’

I didn’t ask that aloud. If there were, it would have been done long ago instead of suffering for ages.

Pouting for a while, I suddenly felt embarrassed.

If I weren’t Bastion, I’d probably never have thought about these things. I might have dismissed them like everyone else and ignored them.

It was then that I saw, in my busy flustered vision, underground bunker-like huts stretching endlessly.

‘Whoa, looks like a scene from a war movie.’

A massive permanent fort.

And in front of it, a young group in armor stood proudly in formation.

‘An axe unit…?’

Excuse me, but each of them carried weapons that could be described as downright “reckless.”

Far more threatening than swords or bows, resembling tools for slaughter.

Feeling slightly intimidated, the carriage stopped, and as a knight opened the door, Wolfgang gestured at me.

I, I should go down first?

Rolling my eyes, I nervously stepped onto the carriage stairs.

“All of Casador, greet your new master!”

A booming voice rang out.

Thud!

The brave axe unit knelt on one knee.

Ahh.

I panicked and waved my hands.

“U-uh, should I stand?”

“……”

“Stand up?”

“……”

“Please stand up, brave warriors. I beg you.”

Finally, Casador rose cautiously.

Among them, a woman wielding a long warblade and a man with a curled smile stepped forward.

“Um, pleased to meet you. I’m Dalia, captain of Casador.”

“I’m Peter, vice-captain of Casador!”

“N-nice to meet you. I’m Asha…”

No.

Clenching my fists, I shouted loudly,

“I’m Asha Bastion!”

“Cute.”

Huh?

I looked around, scratching my head. Did I hear that right? Everyone in Casador looked stern, far from “cute.”

Then Wolfgang, giggling behind me, said,

“Looks too relaxed for having missed a small fry.”

“Excuse me? Did a unit escape?”

“One small one.”

“Apologies. The little lady’s arrival must have excited them.”

Dalia, who seemed serious, bowed deeply.

Peter, cheerful and carefree, interrupted:

“Your Grace, I’ll guide the little lady!”

“Ah! That’s unfair!”

“Vice-captain, what’s that about?”

“Quiet, the little lady will like me best.”

To the teasing subordinates, Peter said boldly,

“Because I look the least scary.”

True enough.

Nodding without realizing, Peter smiled victoriously, and the rest of Casador looked gloomy.

Feeling apologetic, I flailed my arms and shouted,

“I-I won’t be scared next time!”

“Cute!”

Where do all these heart-melting reactions keep coming from?

Finally feeling unafraid, Peter gestured:

“Then, let’s safely tour just to the castle ruins and return.”

Castle ruins?

I tilted my head and followed Peter.

Franz stayed by Wolfgang talking with other Casador members, and of course Levi followed closely behind me.

‘But maybe it’s just me… it feels really eerie.’

No, it wasn’t just me. The further we walked, the colder and more ominous it felt.

Climbing up the half-ruined, uneven structure of the ruins made my legs stiff.

Just as I thought walking was getting hard, Levi grabbed my hand.

Really. His body warmth was unexpectedly comforting.

Just as I was about to smile,

“…Ah.”

Pitch-black, the wall.

There it was, a scene impossible to misdescribe.

A black dome lay in the distance; up close, it would certainly look like a wall.

The immense, overwhelming misfortune was intermittently contained by Casador’s trenches.

Just like the circle I saw in the mansion not long ago.

“Doesn’t it scare you?”

How could anyone withstand this? I would have fled long ago.

Peter answered with a smile,

“These days… the base… the last stronghold.”

“……”

“That’s Bastion.”

He didn’t say it wasn’t scary.

And that made the weight of the name feel even heavier.