Sunlight filtered through the woven curtains of Minatozu's city hall.
Birds sang. Sea breezes blew. A parade was being set up. A full brass band played a triumphant, off-key version of "Victory March for Glorious Lords."
Kazuki was hiding behind a pot of ornamental bamboo.
"Smile," he whispered. "I think they're going to make me mayor."
Smile jiggled in response and produced a little flag that read: "Already are."
✦
A Hero's Burden (Is a Bureaucratic One)
Kazuki had spent the entire morning being thanked.
By merchants.
By elders.
By children who thought he was a mythical water god.
One small girl gave him a drawing of himself riding Getsuryu with Smile like a crown on his head.
"Okay, that's adorable," Kazuki admitted.
Still, the pressure was getting to him.
"They want me to speak in front of a crowd," he muttered to Tala.
"You defeated pirate dragons," she said flatly. "I think you can handle a microphone."
"But microphones don't bleed when you hit them."
"…Why would you—never mind."
✦
The Ceremony
At the city square, a crowd gathered.
Kazuki stepped up to the podium with all the confidence of someone trying to sneak past a sleeping dragon with jingle bells on.
Behind him stood the city's council, and beside them—
A noble-looking woman with silver hair, pale robes, and an extremely formal entourage.
Kazuki blinked. "Wait… who's that?"
Tala squinted. "Lady Mitsuhana. She's the governor of Seikai District."
Kazuki froze. "Is that a good thing or a 'please don't start a war' thing?"
"Little of Column A, terrifying Column B."
✦
The Mistake That Would Become Legend
After a somewhat shaky speech filled with phrases like, "I didn't mean to blow up the juice bar," and "Smile, stop eating the microphone," Kazuki was presented with a medal.
A shiny, ornate gold-and-blue badge shaped like a lotus flower.
He grinned.
"Ooh. This would look great on my pajama hoodie."
Then a scroll was handed to him.
"For you to sign," the councilman said. "A formal seal of gratitude."
Kazuki, distracted by Smile trying to climb the podium, signed it.
He didn't read it.
He really, really should have read it.
✦
Thirty Minutes Later
"KAZUKI!" Tala screamed.
He was trying to enjoy some grilled mochi on a stick.
"What?" he asked, mouth full.
"Do you know what you just signed?!"
"A… festival permit?"
"It was a betrothal contract!"
Kazuki choked. "A WHAT?!"
Lady Mitsuhana approached gracefully. "I'm honored you accepted my proposal, Lord Kazuki."
"Waitwaitwait, this was a marriage proposal?!"
She smiled. "You did rescue my city's coastal trade. It is tradition to honor such a hero."
Kazuki turned to Tala. "Can I void this if I didn't know?"
"Nope," she said sweetly. "It's legally binding if you sign with a city official present, which you did."
Smile gave him a party popper.
POP!
✦
Panic Mode: Engaged
Kazuki ran down the street.
"I just wanted a nap! Not a noble wife!"
Tala kept pace beside him. "To be fair, she is beautiful, powerful, and politically connected."
"Yeah, but so is a tyrant queen in a dating sim, and we all know how those go!"
✦
Back at the Mansion
Getsuryu lounged in a tidepool outside the manor like an enormous sea dog.
The noble guests had taken over the courtyard.
Servants were preparing an engagement feast.
A bard was rehearsing a song titled "The Clumsy Hero's Heart Belongs to Lady Grace."
Kazuki sat on the roof in despair, eating rice crackers with Smile.
"I don't wanna get married…" he mumbled.
Smile held up a sign: "Then tell her."
"I can't just… say no to a governor, can I?"
Another sign: "You blew up pirate dragons. You can say no to anything."
Kazuki blinked.
"Wow. That's… strangely inspiring."
Smile puffed up proudly.
✦
A Gentle Refusal (That Starts a Political Scandal)
That night, Kazuki approached Lady Mitsuhana in the garden.
The stars sparkled.
Fireflies lit the hedges.
Soft music played.
"…Look," he began. "You're amazing. But this was a huge misunderstanding. I'm not ready for engagement. I'm not even ready to do my own laundry."
Mitsuhana raised a brow. "So… you are declining?"
Kazuki nodded.
"I see."
She sipped her tea.
Then calmly said, "Very well. I rescind the proposal. But do know this—others will come. You've become… a rather valuable piece on the board."
"…The board of what?"
"Of kingdoms, Kazuki. You're more than a clumsy lord now."
And then she vanished into the night, like an elegant ninja with paperwork.
✦
The Next Day
Kazuki woke up with a newspaper smacking his face.
HEADLINE: "Lord Kazuki Rejects Noble Engagement! Is He Already Secretly Married to a Slime?!"
He turned to Smile.
"…I feel like this is your fault."
Smile bounced innocently.
Tala opened the door.
"New problem. A group of love-struck nobles is now forming a fan club for you."
Kazuki screamed into his pillow.
✦
Meanwhile… in the North
Aurelis stood in a frozen ruin, battling ice golems with expert swordsmanship.
He received a magical missive:
"Kazuki accidentally got engaged, then turned it into a political incident."
Aurelis crumpled it.
"HOW IS THIS BUFFOON FAMOUSER THAN ME?!"