Reincarnated in a Shounen Manga - Chapter 263

Chapter 263 - What is Love?

Aqua, a mermaid, had assumed leadership after her father's demise in a battle two thousand years ago. According to legends, he had fought against a wounded exorcist, prompting all demons to unite against one man. But they still suffered heavy casualties before the exorcist's death.

Of course, Aqua didn't believe those rumors. Even if there was a glimmer of truth in that tale, it was unlikely for a human to possess enough Ord to endure an encounter with a legion of demons and mount any substantial resistance before succumbing to their unique abilities.

But she wasn't concerned about ancient history, as her troubles were not in the past, but in the present. Her most recent problem had been a battle against Alabanga, the God of the Sleeping Whales, who had tried to encroach into her territory.

The battle was something she had been preparing her people for many decades. It would be the battle her kind would have engraved into their history and passed into legends. At least it would have been the case until a God descended...

Not a fake God like Alabanga, who only called himself a God because he was one of the ultimate-class demons around.

No, this was a true God. A dragon who crushed anyone on its way with nothing more than its thoughts.

That was why she wanted to stay close to the dragon, to wed him and prevent him from leaving her.

Despite his incredible power, her instincts had whispered that this was merely the start of the dragon's ascent to even greater strength.

After all, who wouldn't wish to be with a man destined to rule the world one day?

But said man died, and she was left with another man whom the dragon had used his own life to revive. The way Aqua saw it, this hadn't been a fair trade. It was clear that compared to the dragon, the man was a lot weaker.

Even as they flew away from the island that had now fallen below water, Aqua glanced at the man she was accompanying. He had a look of absolute confidence in his eyes and a grin on his face. Which was the reason why she had bothered even following him.

When he had told her that he would revive Carpy, she hadn't believed him. She still didn't. But maybe that was just her own uncertainties, and she had decided to follow him, for now; his confidence was quite endearing at times like this.

...

It took several days before they reached a bustling port, a place teeming with activity. The man turned toward her and said, "We've entered Sun Kingdom territory. Stay here and keep watch. I need to prepare some things before..."

She frowned. "What about reviving the dragon?"

"I'm working on it," the man replied, his smile widening. Aqua wanted to challenge his words, but then she noticed a hidden intensity in his eyes beneath that friendly smile. It sent a shiver down her spine.

There was no denying it; this guy was undeniably dangerous. It wasn't his Ord, or anything like that that made her feel in danger when staying next to him. But there was something in his eyes; it was like standing next to a lion who was licking the back of her neck.

He was one accident away from snapping and killing the closest thing to him.

"Sure, just make sure to keep an eye out for anything that could help revive him," Aqua forced down the discomfort she felt. Yet, no matter how hard she tried, her instincts screamed at her. So, she leaped off the water platform and into the sea below.

The last thing she heard was the man's chuckle, as though he'd heard an amusing joke.

What a creepy guy, Aqua thought.

***

Wisteria gazed at the papers on her desk, her body moving automatically as she managed her tasks. She moved with mechanical precision and felt like a machine herself. An unexplainable emptiness had settled in her heart, akin to an unfathomable void.

This feeling had been there ever since she had heard of Kon's death. Occasionally, she found herself staring at the balcony, haunted by certain thoughts. But she would shake her head and remind herself of all that lay ahead of her.

She ruled over a kingdom that seemed indifferent to her, with assassins lurking around every corner. Those who protected her did so out of loyalty to Kon, not genuine concern for her well-being. It was a startling realization.

Did even someone like Yara truly care about her? Yes, she was a Royal Guard, but it wasn't a role Yara had chosen willingly.

Wisteria grumbled and ran a hand through her disheveled hair. "Damn, why did that bastard have to just go and die like that?"

Her words were harsh, but the pain in her chest was real. Kon's death still felt surreal, as though he might appear at any moment, ready to crack a joke or tease her.

A lone tear traced a path down her cheek, falling onto the papers below. She couldn't help but wonder about the circumstances of his death, hoping it hadn't been too painful.

Once more, she stared at the balcony. This time, she saw an image of Kon standing there. His silver hair made him look more handsome, but his mischievous smile was unmistakable. It was the kind of smile that told her he was up to no good.

He even had the audacity to wave at her, as if nothing had happened and this was just another day. But she knew it was a mirage, not the real thing.

"What? You want me to jump off the balcony or something?" She raised a questioning brow at the imaginary Kon her mind had conjured. The illusion appeared surprised by her words, and since she had already started speaking her mind, she decided to let out all her craziness. "At least not before I finish watching this new anime. There are only twenty episodes left. Then I will commit suicide after that."

"What the fuck?" The fake Kon looked as though he had just heard the craziest thing.

"Heh? What's with that look? Even a shitty illusion is judging me? Shut up, you jerk!" She grabbed her pen and hurled it at the mirage. "Even my own mind is ridiculing me! Probably just like all these fake people that come with fake smiles!"

The illusion swiftly caught the pen mid-air, twirling it between his fingers. He seemed to be showing off, or was it just a product of her deteriorating sanity?

Was this illusion trying to taunt her? Wisteria wondered, realizing that she might be teetering on the brink of madness.

The man stepped closer and handed her the pen. "So, about this whole thing," he gestured around and then pointed at her, "I am now haunting you."

For a brief moment, she almost believed him. However, Wisteria realized that even the most imaginative scenarios her mind could conjure wouldn't be this insensitive.

There was only one man insensitive enough, someone who would use his presumed death to tease and get a laugh out of it.

Wisteria stood up, reaching across the table and engulfing Kon in a tight hug.

"Sup there, did you miss me?" He had the audacity to keep joking.

"I thought you were dead!" She sobbed into his shoulder, finally releasing all the pent-up sadness. Regardless of whether this was a figment of her imagination, she wanted to savor this moment a bit longer.

"Wow, you have so little faith in me," he sighed, sounding almost disappointed. "I mean, you're supposed to be my future wife, and here you are, thinking I'd go and meet a second-rate, side-character fate."

"Are you all right?" Wisteria asked, noticing something peculiar about his speech, though she couldn't quite put her finger on it. This was real...

Then, before Wisteria could discern anything more unusual, she felt a hand on her head, and this time, Kon gazed at her with apologetic eyes.  "Sorry for the trouble I put you through. I promised that you wouldn't have to handle the heavy stuff anymore after becoming queen, but it seems like I broke my promise."

Kon sincerely apologizing to someone? Had the sun risen in the west and set in the east? Had pigs taken to the skies?

Since they'd met, Kon had always been the one cracking jokes and reveling in humor.

Wisteria cleared her throat, concealing the heat rising to her cheeks, and gently pushed his hand away. "Sorry Kon, but no matter how hard you try to seduce me now, it is already too late. My type of man is the 2D kind that doesn't exist."

"I don't mind, my type of woman is also different from what you are. I like blondes with blue eyes and tan skin that shows that she has at least seen the sun in the last decade. But you know, no one can get what they like," he teased... probably. "By the way, when was the last time the sun touched your skin? You look so pale."

Wisteria briefly considered elbowing him in the face but realized it would only leave her nursing a broken elbow without the bastard even feeling anything. Instead, she leaned forward and rested her forehead on his chest. "Thanks for being alive."

In that somber moment, their playful banter took a backseat as they shared a genuine connection. "Thanks for waiting for me too."

"You're welcome," she quipped. "Honestly, when it comes to looks, I'm way out of your league, and it's not even up for debate."

"Well... you're right, you are pretty," he said, causing Wisteria's heart to flutter as the blush intensified across her cheeks. Then Kon added, "Because your personality, my dear chuuni weeb princess, wouldn't win over any man."

“Hey! Your personality is even worse than mine! You asshole!”

“What're you angry? I called you pretty, that’s a compliment, and you have to be very pretty to make up for that horrendous personality,” he stated calmly. "Also, cussing is very coth for a queen. Think of the outrage, of a country's leader being so uncivalized."

“Okay, you’re actually starting to hurt my feelings.”

“Sorry," he apologized.

She looked up and narrowed her eyes as Kon bit his lip, trying to hold back his laughter. It was clear that he wanted to say something, likely an insult.

"It's strange how you struggle to hold back insults for your fiancé. That's super unromantic," she remarked, playfully pinching him with her Ord-infused fingers. Surprisingly, it felt like she was grasping at a rubbery metal, and Kon didn't even flinch.

He put a hand on her chin, pulling up her face to meet his eyes, and smiled, “Don’t worry, I actually like your bad qualities too.”

With that statement, it felt as though an arrow had pierced her heart. If love were a game, with the loser being the one who fell first, she had already lost...