Chapter 254: Finest Appearance

――――Fidget, fidget.

Is it my imagination that I heard such a sound every time I walk? Even though today is the wedding of me and Nell, I don’t think I’m that restless.

「Fidget.」

Uwah, I heard it again. I swear I heard it again. Does it mean that I can’t hide my nervousness even though I act calm? Nah, no way. My pulse is normal, and I don’t have a fever. I’m fine, yeah.

「Fidge――」

「Oi, Alezel. What the hell are you whispering that behind me for? You are doing this on purpose, aren’t you?」

When I pretended to walk, I turned back and saw someone with brown hair crouched down. My old traveling companion, Alezel, stands up with an oddly charming smile.

「Nyahaha, you caught me.」

「What’s with that laugh that’s as if you’re trying to create a new character?」

「What are you talking about? Character is important for a merchant, y’know? People will feel affection and they will spend a lot of money after all.」

「It’s about that in the end, huh. You used to speak normally before you became the Great Eight Demons, you know?」

Yeah, when Alezel was adventuring with me and Nell, her habits and mouth were bad, but her way of speaking wasn’t the fake Kansai dialect as it is now. She also had an appearance that if she kept silent, she would look like a young lady from a good family…. No, her appearance is the same even now, huh. Damn, elves are unfair.

「I’m a woman who doesn’t dwell on the past~」

「Yeah, sure. So, what does the wonderful woman Alezel want from me? You didn’t come here to play a prank, right?」

「Ah, that’s right. Nell’s dressing is over. We Quitet gave our everything to dress Nell up, so I thought to let the groom see her finest appearance first.」

「I-I see….」

Tell me that first. Just how many round trips do you think I made in this corridor!? Still, it sure took a lot of time, huh. It seems that it takes more time for women than men for this kind of thing, but does it usually take so much? Nell usually finishes her makeup in a flash. Hmm….

「Fidget.」

「Oi.」

Now that it’s decided, move with haste! With Alezel’s guidance, I go to the room where Nell was getting dressed. We stopped in front of the door, and Alezel, with her hands on her hips, looked back at me with a grin on her face.

「Well, be careful when you enter. It ain’t my fault if your heart stops.」

「….. Is it that amazing?」

「Of course! Do you really understand how good your wife is? Let alone equal with us elves, who are praised for our beauty, she far surpassed us, y’know?」

E-Eh, is that so? I’ve been seeing her every day for a long time and I know how she’s grown, so maybe I’m not aware of it because I’m used to seeing her around. I know that Nell is beautiful, but is it that much?

「Ah~, that face is when you don’t understand at all~. This guy is no good.」

「You don’t have to say it that far….」

「Well, I’m sure the fact that you’re surrounded by beautiful people is also a problem. What’s the name again, Haruna-chan and Chinatsu-chan? You sure got yourself pretty girls, eh? You are passionate about Nell, but you also picked up young girls. Also, you have Lily-han as a mistress. My~, Deris is frightening~」

As if to say thanks for the treat, the corner of Alezel’s grinning mouth became even sharper. What kind of imagination does she have in her head?

「I don’t know what stupid things you are thinking about, but Haru is my disciple and Chinatsu is Nell’s disciple. No more, no less.」

「I wonder about that~」

「But hey, that’s not something you talk about at this moment, you know? Alright, I will open the door!」

「Ah, wait――」

If I keep up with Alezel’s talk, it’s not going to end anytime soon. I put my hand on the doorknob and swung the door open with great force.

「Ara, if it isn’t Deris. How do I look? I haven’t looked in the mirror yet, so I――」

――――*Close*. I quietly closed the door.

「Oh my~, Deris, what’s wrong~? Why did you close the door? Hmm~?」

「…… Seriously?」

It was a question to Alezel and myself. Is that really Nell? I know that women will be prettier than usual if they wear a wedding dress. But, isn’t that overkill? I lost my consciousness for a moment, you know!?

「Just honestly admit defeat. Admit how terrifying the support of our Quitet is and how beautiful Nell is!」

Why is she talking as if she’s the winner? Just because she’s, ah, forget it… I don’t have the energy for that now. I can’t resist my age. Okay, I’ll admit it. I’ve lost. It’s a perfect match. There’s no flaw at all…! The current Nell is certainly beautiful. That’s what I thought.

―――― Click!

After dressing up, Nell broke open the door that I sealed. Then, her finest appearance once again came into my view.

At that moment, I definitely heard the scream of my soul. Guwaaah! I’m being purified! Something dirty inside me is being purified! …. This is bad. At this rate, I will become a good-natured Deris.

「Hey, what’s wrong with you? You did you suddenly close the door…. Hey, why is Deris crouching while holding his head?」

「Well, he’s just depressed that he’s completely defeated. Then, he fell into a state of extreme confusion. We did it, Nell. It’s our victory.」

「Ha? What are you talking about? More importantly, Deris, look at me properly! I haven’t heard what you think yet!」

「Uwaah, Nell is merciless that she adds another attack on a dying man….」

Nell lifted my head, which was gazing on the ground, with both hands and forcibly turned my face to hers. My neck hurts a lot. And at the same time, I returned to my sanity.

「H-How is it?」

「Eh? A-Ahh, let’s see….」

Nell then silently pressured me to tell her what I think. Are you telling me to say it here? Are you telling me to say it in front of Alezel, the root of all evil that leaked the wedding information!?

Ah, okay, I will say it! That’s why don’t push both sides of my head ow ow ouch!

「I-I was surprised that you are so beautiful! I ran away from the room because I thought that you are so beautiful! To be honest, I’m really glad that you are my wife!」

「…… I-Is that so? Hmm, I see. Hmm.」

「「………」」

Silence fell upon us. It’s really embarrassing.

「Hey, don’t just stay silent while blushing. You are not at that age already…. Even though you are usually that vulgar…. Just how pure are you…?」

Alezel seemed to be muttering something, but it didn’t come into my ears.