By the Grace of the Gods

“All right, with this…”

“It’s finished!”

‘Wooooooaaaaahhhhhhh!!!’

On the evening of the fifth day, the wedding venue was finally completed.

Although the plaza where the guests would gather to enjoy their meal and the foundation had already been built, today added two new structures.

A church, where the bride and groom would exchange their vows, and a bell tower to ring the celebratory bell.

The church was small, about the size of a park pavilion, with an elliptically shaped roof supported by pillars arranged diagonally. From certain angles, it might look like a seashell, but it was designed to be wide open on the guests’ side, making the interior easily visible.

Further inside, stained glass-like hardened plates were installed as windows, allowing natural daylight to illuminate the bride, groom, and the statue inside. Although currently the building was empty, with no people or statues, the beige walls reflected the sunset, casting shadows that made the improvised structure look quite impressive.

Starting tomorrow, the maids would move in all the necessary tools and decorations for the ceremony, as well as the statue they had been painstakingly crafting each night. By the day of the wedding, it would undoubtedly be even more splendid.

Now, was there anything else still to be done…?

“Ryoma! Thanks for the great venue!”

“Mr. Fuse!?”

While admiring the venue, I was suddenly grabbed and lifted into the air. Being a child’s body, I was light enough to be held effortlessly. Then others from the security team who had been helping joined in, and suddenly a baffling celebratory toss began.

“Um… why am I being tossed?”

“It’s gratitude and the mood!”

I’d never heard those two used together before.

Come to think of it, the others seemed unusually hyped up too?

“Anyway, today’s work is done, right?”

“Yes.”

“All right! Then let’s go drinking!”

‘Wooooooaaaaahhhhhhh!!!’

Drinking? Alcohol?

Reacting to Mr. Fuse’s call, I was tossed even higher… just at that moment—

“—That’s not allowed.”

“Ugh!?”

A chilling female voice sounded as the hands holding my falling body suddenly disappeared.

“Kyaa!?”

“Lord Ryoma!”

“Damn it!”

“Are you okay!?”

“Kid! Are you hurt!?”

“Somehow, I’m an adventurer after all.”

I was somewhat surprised but managed to land safely.

Looking up, I saw the startled faces of some men.

And behind them was Head Maid Alone. The voice just now had been hers.

Further behind stood Ms. Luluneze and Mr. Ribiola.

“Lord Ryoma, are you alright?”

“Yes, really, I’m fine.”

“Good… I mistimed my call. I apologize.”

“No, no.”

By the way, what were they talking about?

“That’s right. You all may be going drinking, but I wonder if it’s appropriate to take Lord Ryoma along.”

“N-no, Ms. Alone. Ryoma has the blessing of the god of liquor, so he can drink, right? Besides, he’s been working so hard for us; we owe him this.”

“Just drinking would be one thing, but tonight you’ll be letting loose, right? And you’ll probably disappear somewhere afterward. Do you intend to send Lord Ryoma home alone in the middle of the night? And even if you took him in, would the shops allow it?”

“Ugh, that’s…”

“I agree it’s not good.”

“Even Luluneze…”

Given the situation, Mr. Fuse was trying to bring me to the party.

But with Ms. Alone and Ms. Luluneze opposing, the odds weren’t in my favor.

Personally, I wouldn’t mind going along, but I guess it’s a problem appearance-wise.

Just then, Mr. Ribiola quietly bent down and tried to tell me something.

“Are they just going for drinks?”

“At first, yes. But I don’t think it will end there. After all, it’s ‘two days before the ceremony.’”

Two days before the ceremony seemed to matter, though I wasn’t quite getting it yet.

Apparently sensing this from my expression, he continued.

“The night before the ceremony, both bride and groom spend time with their families. So two days before is the last night the bride and groom can move freely as singles. On the women’s side, they gather around the bride, talking and drinking into the late hours, but for men…”