Pandora of Fantasy And Reality Chapter 122

Epilogue

「That bastard, he kept it quiet from me……」

Riku was feeling irritated. Kagami who was burying her face on his chest rubbed his stomach while asking.

「Is it about the polygamy? Well, before he said that it’ll be  implemented someday, so it might just be a problem of timing. But……if  only he notify you about it a bit earlier, that tragedy also wouldn’t  occur.」

Kagami chuckled. The tragedy that she referred to was the matter of the sightseeing area turning into sea of flame.

The management thought hard about the incident this time and decided to erase the sightseeing area from the Capital of Hope.

Many of the sightseeing area players were furious about it, but quest  to go from the Capital of Hope to the next world was prepared for them.

It was a cold treatment toward the players who only used sightseeing area without doing anything else.

However at this point there was no other game that could satisfy those players other than Pandora.

Development cost, development time, etc, etc. Games other than Pandora had already stopped developing.

Riku clicked his tongue on the bed.

「Because of that Ponsuke was just a wrong step away from death. Even though that guy is an important Selector」

Kagami was laughing.

「That was funny. Now that you mentioned it have you heard? It seems  that he’s going to hold a wedding ceremony that only invites guild  members.」

Riku couldn’t laugh.

「……That Akito is under the impression that it will be just something  like a marriage rehearsal though. I don’t know whether to be happy that  he can still think that there is nothing wrong with the situation or to  cry.」

There was a dense man.

That guy caused a bloodbath to occur inside a game, and then he also caused a bloodbath in the real world.

However, he wasn’t even aware that there was bloodbath going on in the real life.

But, when he heard that it was possible to marry multiple times  inside the game, he went around asking if everyone wanted to marry him.

The result, was a wedding ceremony in real world.

The man in question thought of it as a video recording for promoting the venue and photo shoot to create advertising pamphlet.

He was deceived by the lie that the venue’s decorations also served as rehearsal.

「……You know, I still don’t know how I’m going to apologize to that guy after summer vacation is over.」

Riku lamented how his important friend had charged straight into life’s graveyard without even knowing about it.

He also understood that the cause of that was himself……he was feeling sick of himself who was unable to help Akito.

「Oh? Even though harem is a man’s dream」

Riku snorted when Kagami said that.

「Real life is shit, so a harem that is formed in real world also  won’t be anything good. That kind of dream should be limited inside only  movie……or in virtual world.」

.

.

.

Jun’s company was managing a very luxurious hotel.

Jun was wearing expensive looking suits. Other than him there was  also Naoto wearing suits that looked more expensive than usual. His hair  had also been styled attentively.

Jun was giving instructions to the staffs.

「Alright, don’t forget to take individual photo of each bride with  the groom before taking the group photo. Drag away the rest by telling  them it’s for reapplying makeup. Remember, absolutely never tell any of  them the order of the photo shoot. Absolutely don’t!」

The staffs were bewildered.

「Y-yes. But, is that alright? Even if we don’t do photo shooting at this time……」

「It’s alright! Also, this will also double as training for the staffs.」

「No, but still, this event is just too irregular, or rather it’s impossible for this kind of wedding ceremony to happen.」

「Consider it as training to quickly adapt to deal with the  unexpected. Also no matter what the brides or groom say, just force the  whole thing continue like I arranged!」

Naoto was watching Jun giving detailed instructions to the staff while tightening his collar.

Marriage ceremony……yes, this was the marriage ceremony between Akito and the eight women he had married inside the game.

On the surface it was made to be a photo shooting, but all the guests who came here were guild members.

(Is this okay? Is it really okay for things to stay like this?  Ponsuke-kun――guild master is being treated like a sacrifice like this.)

While he was thinking hard, Jun who had finished giving instructions placed his hand on Naoto’s shoulder.

It seemed that he had seen through Naoto’s worry.

As expected from a successful businessman. But conversely he also felt irritated by Jun’s behavior when inside the game.

「Ichijou-kun, I think you understand already but sympathy is unnecessary.」

It was a marriage ceremony that could be called as unofficial that  invited only the guild members. It made one wanted to ask the question  whether an unofficial marriage really existed, but there was no doubt  that this was something that couldn’t be shown publicly.

「Sympathy? Something like this is just a deceit! You even wrecked Ichinose Maya――Alfie-san’s marriage interview for this!」

The marriage interview that was planned for Maya had gotten completely cancelled because of Jun and the hardcore M orcs.

Even the talk itself was crushed using every trick in the book.

Jun glared at Naoto.

「Then you are saying that man who doesn’t know anything should be  allowed to accept marriage interview――with that Maya-chan? I can’t……do  something so horrible!」

It was a remark that was more worried for the man who would be betrothed to Maya rather than Maya herself.

「The present Maya-chan will seriously do anything, and I’m not joking about it. You understand right? Maya-chan right now is――」

Outside the venue.

Maya came out from the waiting room while the two were talking.

The pure white wedding dress was dazzling.

Both Naoto and Jun were thinking that it wouldn’t be strange for that  pure white color to be dyed crimson anytime while they were putting on a  smile on their face nervously.

「Oji-sama, Ichijou-san, so you two are here.」

Jun straightened his back.

「Did you change dress? Is the dress before this not to your liking? But, this one also looks really good on you.」

Naoto tightened his loose necktie while agreeing.

「It bothers me a bit that it expose quite a bit of skin but, I guess  that’s the fashion right now? It suits you but, I’m ill-informed of this  kind of thing because I’m male.」

Maya was a high school student, and yet she was wearing makeup and dress.

Nobody was questioning her about that.

「There are a lot of dresses so I tried choosing some of them. I think  it’ll be easier to move in this dress if this part is shortened a  little. But, I guess I agree that this one expose a lot of skin.」

Maya looked happy, but this girl not long ago was walking around in  the city while carrying a knife to stab Akito before following him along  in death!

If Akito didn’t ask her to marry him……there wouldn’t be any wedding  ceremony right now. Instead they would be gathering in a funeral site.

Naoto couldn’t smile when he imagined that.

(I’m sorry Ponsuke-kun. ……There is nothing that we can do……)

The misunderstanding of Akito and Maya and the others. And then the escape from danger due to that.

But, Jun didn’t think that the problem would be resolved with just that.

That was why he thought to have them held this wedding ceremony.

Naoto glanced at the smiling face of fiend beside him. Then he averted his gaze and casted his eyes downward.

The words that Jun said to Naoto.

『Those girls can’t differentiate between the real world and virtual  world right now. However we also can’t send them to mental hospital.  Maya-chan’s parents would definitely protest that, and it’ll become a  disaster if blood flow during that time.』

『Even so……we’re treating Ponsuke-kun like sacrifice with this!』

『All of them are beautiful girls and women! There’s no problem at  all! He――Akito-kun, has grasped happiness in the real world……isn’t it  fine if you think of it like that?』

『But that happiness is just an illusion!』

『……Even if it’s an illusion, it’s no different than reality if the  person himself thinks it so and feel happy. If the problem can be solved  with just holding a wedding ceremony then it’s a cheap price to pay!』

……Yes, this was a fake wedding ceremony.

Not a single one of them was tied with marriage in real life. And only one of the participants was a married woman.

They had searched for the minotaurus Naia and sent her a letter that  asked whether she wanted to participate in the wedding ceremony or not.

The orcs had found out Naia’s address in just a night. Even Naoto was astonished by their capability.

The sight of Maya showing off her appearance happily, to be blunt it couldn’t called as a heartwarming sight.

It was madness.

This wedding ceremony, and the participants too understood.

There were even those who cried for real among the guild members who came here as guest.

That was because their conscience felt pained seeing Akito who didn’t  know anything was looking a bit embarrassed but also a bit happy.

Jun spoke with a smile.

「Hahaha! I wish we can also show this to Maya-chan’s parents. No,  perhaps we better save that for another occasion, like the real thing?」

Maya’s expression vanished when she heard that.

「Real thing? ……What are you saying, Oji-sama? This is the real thing. Because, today is my wedding with Ponsuke.」

Naoto instantly noticed that they had stepped on a landmine and panicked.

However Jun stayed composed.

「Maya-chan. I don’t want to say this but, a marriage that doesn’t get  blessed by parents and relatives will become unhappy. Well, at that  time, the wedding will be for Maya-chan and Naruse-kun alone, you get  me?」

This wasn’t the real thing. But, one day there would be the real one  with only the two of them. Maya’s expression returned when Jun hinted  that.

「Y-you are right Oji-sama! This is just a rehearsal for the real  thing! Besides there’s also no rule that you can’t hold the wedding  ceremony twice!」

「But of course!」

Seeing the two smiling made Naoto thought.

(How can such tragic wedding ceremony is going to start?)

.

.

.

In the waiting room.

Naia――[Setozaki Risa] was wrapped in a wedding dress in front of her daughter.

She participated in this wedding ceremony because she heard it was training for the hotel staffs.

She was told that it wasn’t a real wedding ceremony.

She thought that she would only participate as a guest, but surprisingly she was assigned to be a bride.

In addition there were eight brides even though there was only one groom.

It was also strange that there were this many people prepared even though there would photo shooting.

But――.

「Mama, you look really pretty.」

Her young daughter was looking at her with sparkling eyes, so she didn’t feel bad about it.

「Thank you.」

Risa’s daughter walked around her to observe her from all directions.

「Hey, mama. Did you also wear western dress like this when you married papa?」

Risa recalled that time.

「……Hmm~, I think I wore something more subdued.」

It was a wedding ceremony with only the bare minimum.

Her opinions were completely ignored.

It was simply something to show to their relatives and friends that they invited that they were married.

Risa rubbed the area around her stomach.

(Even so, it’s great that my stomach was getting slimmer recently.  Even though I only planned to join for the food and enjoy the  atmosphere)

Her transportation cost would be compensated if she came. She would also be given some money as part-time salary.

There would also be hotel staff who looked after her daughter. So she  decided to participate because she didn’t want to stay at home.

「……Is that so.」

Her daughter was acting oddly.

「Is something the matter?」

Her daughter recently was sensing that the atmosphere in their family was strange.

「Papa said before, that he might marry again. Papa told me to listen to the new mama later.」

Risa was speechless when she heard that.

But her daughter was looking at her so she acted tough.

「I see. So you heard. Mama doesn’t know what will happen but, mama will be your mama forever so don’t worry.」

「……Yes.」

「That’s right. Let’s have dinner in this hotel today before going home. Papa will work late today anyway.」

His reason for not coming home was cheating.

Risa knew. But, there would be no point even if she made a ruckus about it.

Her husband’s family was just that influential.

「Then, I want to eat omurice!」

「Ee~? Not kid’s meal?」

「I’m already big so no!」

Risa watched her daughter puffing her cheeks while smiling powerlessly.

.

.

.

In another waiting room.

Yakumo had finished wearing her wedding dress and recalled several days ago.

「……I really messed up.」

That day.

She was thinking of something like stabbing Akito before doing the  same to herself……but her eyes opened when Akito asked her to marry him.

However.

Even though she received a confession, she hadn’t prepared anything and her appearance was also slovenly even since the morning.

She was also sweaty from the part-time work.

In addition she also wasn’t wearing her victory panty, and Maya was also there, so she couldn’t make the fait accompli.

Maya was also in the same state with her that time.

They were dressed more sloppily than usual, so they couldn’t take any option like dragging Akito to hotel after the confession.

After all, in game term their equipment set at that time was just [Kitchen Knife] [Plain Cloth].

They couldn’t possibly win the challenge like that.

The two of them ended up getting escorted back to their home by Akito.

When Yakumo returned home, it seemed that the other girls in the  dormitory were extremely worried and they almost cried for real when  seeing her.

「There was a lot of time then, if only I prepared thoroughly at the  morning……no, it’s fine. There will be a lot of chance to make a comeback  from now on.」

However there were also problems.

It was great that this wedding ceremony was held.

It was held using Maya’s connection, so it was alright even if Maya was present this time.

However, she couldn’t accept that the women they ran into at that resort area were also here.

Why were there eight brides while there was only one groom?

That kind of doubt or common sense didn’t exist inside Yakumo right now.

She was simply fine as long as she could marry with Akito.

After that she would create fait accompli and become number one.

……She was thinking like that.

「Damn it……but, my chance to meet Ponsuke after this wedding ceremony  will only be at the part-time work won’t it? Or at summer festival I  guess.」

The summer vacation would end soon.

The very eventful summer vacation for Akito and co would be over soon.

Prev Table of Content Next