The Protagonists of Romance Fantasy Novels Have Escaped - Chapter 175



175 – 175. Beyond the New Era (2)

One arm, I suppose, can’t be helped,

I left it to the new era.

If someone were to ask about my right arm, I would have to answer like that.

The person in question brushed off the loss of his right arm as inconsequential.

“E- Ethan, my lord!”

“What on earth happened! You’ve lost your arm!!”

The servants of the Hoenberk family swarmed in like a cloud, creating a ruckus. I scratched my head with my left hand at the sight of the servants, who were shouting in shock.

Drooping sleeves.

A solitary left arm.

The servants, who had been staring at him in disbelief, burst into tears. Their reactions, as if they had lost a country, filled me with awkwardness.

“I lost it during a fight. So it’s no big deal.”

“How can it be no big deal! You’re supposed to have a wedding next spring!”

Ah.

The wedding.

We had decided to hold the wedding next spring.

It would be a bizarre situation for a one-armed groom to welcome beautiful brides. The numerous guests from the Empire and the Kingdom of the Holy Sun would surely whisper among themselves.

What kind of reaction would the Emperor and the Holy King show?

From noble mtl dot com

They might say they cannot hand over our daughter to a one-armed man and withdraw from the marriage.

Hmm.

Thinking it over again, it’s not something to take lightly.

“Let’s go attach it right away!”

“No! Find the elixir that grows back arms!”

Let’s retrieve the severed arm and reattach it.

No.

It would be faster to search for the legendary elixir.

The servants split into two, engaging in a heated argument.

I felt gratitude for the servants who genuinely worried for me as if it were their own problem. Yet, on the other hand, I hoped they would soon wrap up their arguments and focus on their duties.

“Second Saint!”

“Please help Lord Ethan! He’s a poor soul who hasn’t experienced love even once at his age!”

As a girl with beautiful pink hair approached, the servants who had gathered like clouds parted to make way.

Beatrice.

And the lovers of the Second Saint followed behind her.

I had heard the news that they had cared for the injured man who had returned in a coma for ten days. I let out a wry smile as I looked at Beatrice and her worried companions.

“Ethan! How, how are you feeling?! You need to get back to your bedroom! Stability is the most important thing for a patient!”

“I just came out of the bedroom, you know?”

My head spun from the Saint’s rough expression as she shook my shoulders vigorously.

The companions watching over us didn’t particularly intervene, saying, “Our Saint’s hands are healing hands.”

“Are you in any pain?”

“Of course. I’m fine now.”

Thanks to the hasty emergency treatment, my wounds hadn’t worsened. I had numerous injuries, including my severed right arm, but they were all neatly treated.

Railgun. Thermal pressure bomb. Hydrogen bomb.

It was miraculous that I had survived at all.

The city of Genesis, where the decisive battle had taken place, had perished along with the age of the One God. I swallowed hard as I recalled the last moments of Gael, who had fallen into ruin amidst the detonation of the hydrogen bomb.

“I’m really okay. They say the end of the world has perished, right?”

“But…!”

“We finally saved the world from that damned gray. Let’s just think about that for now.”

“Ugh!”

We saved the world.

And I saved you all.

It doesn’t matter.

No matter what I lost along the way.

Beatrice nodded repeatedly, tears streaming down her face.

“Thank you… and I’m really sorry. I keep taking help from Ethan…! I’m truly a woman with no worth.”

“That’s true. It’s good that you’ve finally realized your place, even now.”

It seemed she had just finished her self-reflection.

As I nodded in agreement, the Saint’s lovers shot me sharp glares.

“Ethan… Is there no way to treat this?”

“Hmm.”

Maximilian, who had been staring intently at the fluttering sleeves of his clothes, finally spoke. His expression was as usual, but his dark eyes were incredibly serious.

If there truly existed a legendary elixir that could grow back limbs, he would go fetch it right away, just like the family servants had been chattering about moments ago.

“What about creating a prosthetic? There’s a state-of-the-art prosthetic developed at the Mage Tower. If we ask the Mage Tower Master, I’m sure he would provide it willingly.”

“That’s not a bad idea. With the Mage Tower’s technology, it should be reliable.”

A prosthetic.

I had seen noble war veterans using prosthetics before.

Naturally, they boasted astronomical prices, especially the latest models equipped with magic stones, which even nobles would marvel at.

It was a story worth considering.

I had no desire to live my entire life as a one-armed man.

“Ethan!”

While I was talking with the Saintess party,

Ludmila and Javelin approached with a wary demeanor.

Could it be because of Beatrice?

Letting out a heavy sigh, I sought Beatrice’s understanding and turned to Ludmila and Javelin.

* * *

I couldn’t shake off the embarrassment at the sight of the princess and the saintess treating Beatrice like an ex-girlfriend.

I had liked her.

It was a very brief crush, though.

It was akin to secretly having a crush on the prettiest girl in class during school days. Just a fleeting moment of eye contact would make my face flush and my heart race.

The Beatrice of now was merely a ‘female friend’ I had briefly liked in the past. If Beatrice were to confess while blushing, I would have enough confidence to politely decline.

“A prosthetic, you say? Of course! I will make sure to prepare a prosthetic that suits Ethan.”

“Absolutely! I’ll also commission the Holy Kingdom to procure the most expensive and splendid prosthetic! You can trust me with this!”

As soon as I brought up the ‘prosthetic’ that we had briefly discussed with the Saintess party, a fervent response came flying in.

Ludmila and Javelin expressed their confidence, competing to provide a magnificent prosthetic out of loyalty.

“If there’s something I’m worried about…”

“What is it?”

“I’m concerned that His Majesty the Emperor might be disappointed. Even if I wear a prosthetic, rolling up my sleeves will reveal the loss of my right arm. Especially since the royal family prioritizes physical perfection above all else.”

“…….”

The Red Dragon and the Platinum Princess.

It is a wedding with the princesses hailed as the jewels of the Baltaria Imperial Family.

Is it really alright?

Even if the Emperor grants permission for the marriage, the nobles will surely whisper behind our backs.

It was all the more nerve-wracking because it wasn’t a burden I bore alone. I couldn’t help but worry that my shortcomings might cause trouble for Ludmila and Elizabeta.

“Ethan is already my husband! And he is also Liza’s partner! Did not my father already declare that he would accept Ethan as a son-in-law? Who would dare to speak ill of the son-in-law of the Baltaria Imperial Family! If there is such a rude person, I will never let it slide!!”

Ludmila shouted with a voice so fierce it seemed she would breathe fire. And perhaps it was the same for Jeblin, who nodded in agreement.

I am certainly a lucky man.

I am marrying beautiful women who love me unconditionally, despite my physical shortcomings.

I am truly grateful to have come to love you both.

To express my gratitude, I alternated kisses on the cheeks of Ludmila and Jeblin. They both reacted with bashfulness, bursting into bright smiles.

“Hehe, so you’ve been worrying all this time? How cute. There’s no way I would betray Ethan. I will love him forever. Well… there are times when I genuinely get annoyed, though.”

“Thank you. For saying that.”

No matter what difficulties arise, let’s overcome them steadfastly.

For the sake of the ones who love me.

It will be quite tight to get a prosthetic arm fitted by next spring. I suppose I should ask Madveigh for help.

“E-Ethan!!”

A girl with light green hair burst in, kicking off the ground. I reached out my left arm and suddenly embraced the cute fairy who had rushed in.

Rue.

She cried out, tears flowing like a fountain in the garden.

My partner.

The mascot of the Saintess Party.

I held her close, smiling wryly at Rue, who was sobbing uncontrollably, snot dripping down her face. Rue then hiccupped and trembled in my arms.

“My arm…! I don’t have an arm…! Waaah!!”

“It’s okay. Madveigh will attach it again.”

“Liar! I’m not a fool! How can you attach an arm that disappeared without a trace!”

“…….”

Her intelligence is certainly increasing day by day.

It must be thanks to my father inviting a teacher to educate the Ruinons.

“It must have hurt a lot…! Ethan took on all the dangers, yet the partner did nothing to help! Hic, waaah!! I’m just a freeloader!”

“…….”

A bug.

More precisely, a candy bug.

As Rue sobbed uncontrollably and blamed herself, Ludmila and Jeblinne wore solemn expressions, their eyes glistening with tears. It seemed the pure heart of a child had stirred their emotions.

“That can’t be! You’ve always cheered me on and supported me.”

“Is it true?”

“Of course! I’ll give you some candy, so let’s stop the crying for now. Your cute face is a mess with tears and snot.”

“Ugh… okay. I’ll stop!”

Grrr!!

With a grimace, she sniffed back her runny nose.

Then, wiping the tears from her face with her sleeve, she forced a smile.