If it's to become my favorite stepmother, I'll gladly do a fake marriage! [Main story complete] - Chapter 21

Beyond the slain Water Leon, Diarmid stood with a sword dripping blue blood.

He remained expressionless, gazing at Water Leon’s lifeless body.

As the creature’s previously twitching front legs stilled, Diarmid raised his head and looked at Brigid.

He appeared like a majestic war god, causing Brigid’s heart to skip a beat. Nisha stared at Diarmid in amazement.

“Are you okay?”

“…Yes.”

After ensuring Brigid’s safety, Diarmid, with a bloodstained sword in one hand, confronted the slave who held a whip.

“Where is the person in charge?”

He inquired with a single word. The trembling slave pointed silently towards the opposite side of the stage.

There, they saw the clown who had given Brigid’s group flyers earlier, attempting to flee.

Diarmid released the trembling slave and blocked the clown’s path.

“Where are you going?”

The clown laughed nervously and shook his head in silence.

Diarmid raised an eyebrow, then shoved the bloodied sword into the clown’s red nose and snatched the clown’s bicorne hat. He used it to roughly wipe the white makeup from the clown’s face.

“Ah! It’s Kat!?”

Brigid exclaimed unintentionally.

“Kat… Is that the man who harassed Brigid?” Diarmid said contemptuously and kicked Kat in the stomach.

“Kah!”

Kat vomited but still grinned up at Diarmid.

“No, no, it’s a misunderstanding! We’re in love!”

Upon hearing Kat’s words, Diarmid turned to look at Brigid.

Nisha also turned her gaze toward Brigid.

Brigid vehemently denied, “It’s a lie! There’s no way I’d be interested in anyone but Nisha Kyun!!”

Diarmid nodded in agreement with Brigid’s explanation. Nisha blushed with embarrassment.

“Intentionally inciting a monster to attack Brigid, were you?” Diarmid glared at Kat.

In response, Kat continued to smile nervously. “N-no, I couldn’t do such a thing. Yeah! So, do you have any evidence that I provoked the monster?”

“We do,” Brigid answered. She picked up the artificial flower she received from the clown and handed it to Diarmid.

“Examine this artificial flower, please. It seems to have the scent that attracts cat-type monsters. I have a good sense of smell.”

“I, a monster with a cat-like nature, can’t even detect that scent, so there’s no way,” Kat said.

“You’re caught now,” Diarmid said before twisting Kat’s arm.

“Ngh!”

“Why did you attack Brigid?” Diarmid inquired.

Kat glared at Brigid and barked, “Because of this woman, my family’s life is a mess! Due to the rumors of sexual harassment, no one wants to become our governess. On top of that, there are breach of contract penalties! My wife took our daughter and left!!”

“Sexual harassment is not a rumor but a fact. It’s your own fault, and Brigid has nothing to do with it. Cool your head,” Diarmid said, dismissing Kat’s claims.

Ignoring Diarmid’s cold words, Kat pointed a finger at Brigid and shouted, “I won’t forgive you! I won’t let you be the only one to have a happy life with a husband and son!”

Kat’s rant was cut short as Diarmid unsheathed his sword. Kat fell to his knees.

Suddenly, the clown’s costume fell to the ground with a rustling sound. It was only the clothing that had been cut.

The surrounding area fell into fearful silence.

“…Monster…”

Kat muttered as Diarmid’s body tensed.

(Praised and hailed as a conqueror of monsters one moment, and feared as a monster the next.)

Envy, jealousy, and behind-the-scenes slander were hidden behind those adoring glances. Diarmid had been exposed to this repeatedly, but he couldn’t get used to it.

The awe and fear of a monster-slaying god, as a conquering hero, held an inherent duality with fear, especially when imagining turning a sword on people or oneself.

(Brigid must have been frightened as well…)

With this thought, Diarmid cautiously looked at Brigid. However, Brigid was gazing at him with sparkling eyes.

“Amazing…! To be able to cut clothes like that! Truly, you’re a Sword Master!! I remember when we met at the orphanage, you went easy on me, didn’t you? What a gentleman!”

Nisha, too, looked at Diarmid with sparkling eyes, nodding enthusiastically.

She had hidden behind Brigid’s chest, but now she approached Diarmid and grasped his long legs.

“Um… thank you… very much… Papa… you were cool. Do you think I can become a Sword Master too?”

Nervously, Nisha spoke.

“Of course, you can.”

Diarmid replied, patting Nisha’s head.

In this heartwarming family scene, Brigid clutched her chest.

(They’re so precious that it’s almost overwhelming! Nisha said he’s Papa! Nisha said he’s Papa! That’s right, because Nisha said

he’s Papa, today is a commemorative day!)

“Let’s build a monument here!!”

Suddenly, Brigid declared, leaving Diarmid and Nisha stunned.

“Brigid?”

“Mama?”

Both of them stared at her, and Brigid was startled.

“Oh, I let out what I was thinking in my heart!”

In response to Brigid’s words, the two of them laughed.

Amid the laughter of the family, security personnel captured Kat and directed the people.

When clearing away the monster’s corpses, a security officer approached Diarmid and asked, “Is this flower madam’s property? It’s dirty, but should we clean it up and return it to you?”

Upon seeing the bloodstained artificial flower, Diarmid bit his lip.

“No, it’s important evidence. Keep it in storage.”

The security officer saluted and took the flower away.

(But could an ordinary citizen obtain something like the monster-attracting incense…?)

Diarmid had a bad feeling. The monster-attracting incense fell under the jurisdiction of the cathedral. It was only allowed for use in monster hunting.

Even if someone was wealthy, it was not easy for a non-noble merchant to obtain it.

Diarmid’s mind briefly showed a glimpse of Kean’s image.

(Impossible. The person who even arranged a tea party for Nisha. He wouldn’t think of such a thing.)

The doubt that briefly arose in his mind, Diarmid promptly dispelled.

(However, I need to discreetly investigate the source of this.) Diarmid thought.