Chapter 519: You Shouldn’t Have Trusted Me
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 519: You Shouldn’t Have Trusted Me
A little time passed.
Not much had changed, aside from the preparations for the ceremony. Following Lee Wanyong’s advice, I had been spending a lot of time with the Seraphim, but that was all.
While I personally hadn’t changed, my followers and the pigeons were moving with frantic energy. Neither side seemed particularly fond of the other, but both agreed that the ceremony had to be grand and magnificent.
“Move it!”
“For the Savior!”
I had thought no one could match the Green Skins in terms of work speed, but the pace of my followers was just as formidable. They weren't simply repurposing an existing structure; a new building, solely for the ceremony, was rising from an empty lot. Not only was it fast, but the quality was so exceptional that even I had to be impressed. The fact that they didn't forget to include a statue of me was quite amusing.
The building was rising so quickly it looked different from one day to the next.
In truth, things hadn't been entirely smooth. The main problem was that as the wedding date approached, Choi Seulgi, Jang Ye Ri, and Baek Ahyeon had begun to openly express their displeasure. I tried everything I could to appease them, but their dark expressions wouldn't fade.
I had spent hours talking with each of them individually, and just when I thought we had reached a satisfactory agreement…
“Honey.”
“Hm?”
“It’s about…”
“The tracking magic placed on Sir Michael.”
“Is there a problem?”
“No, not a problem, exactly… but there’s some interference with the spell… I’m not sure how to describe it…”
“It doesn’t really matter now, does it? He probably could have dispelled it himself. There was no need to…”
“But still. It felt like it wavered for a moment.”
Choi Eunju had brought me unwelcome news. I hadn't kept the tracking spell active because I didn't trust Michael. The reason was that he himself hadn't wanted it removed. From his perspective, it was an act meant to show his trust, but because I’d let it slide, I had completely forgotten the tracking magic was even on him.
Perhaps not before, but the Michael of today could certainly cancel a tracking spell cast by Choi Eunju. With his new wings, his magic resistance had increased dramatically, so it wouldn't be a difficult task for him.
“Can you confirm his last location?”
“No, it’s a little blurry. And it’s not just his last position; the locations captured before that… they feel a bit hazy, too.”
It had to be the effect of his wings. The inherent resistance of his body was interfering with the signal from Eunju’s spell.
I considered various possibilities, but the problem was that nothing was certain. I thought that perhaps he was entering a sacred place and had to temporarily disrupt the magic on him. Given the nature of Agape, there were likely places he couldn't show even to a friend.
“It’s not completely disconnected, is it?”
“No.”
“If you manage to get his location again, can you let me know?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Alright, I’m going to meet with the pigeon for a bit.”
“Okay.”
As I walked, a strange feeling crept over me. It wasn't a certainty, but his last words kept nagging at me.
“Shit…”
Words like ‘trust’ and ‘believe’ were things he always said, but thinking back on how he looked and what we talked about the last time I saw him, I couldn't help but feel uneasy. There was nothing I could do immediately, but I felt it was important to at least check privately to see if anything was wrong.
Lost in thought, I continued on my way until the Seraphim came into view. We hadn't arranged to meet, but she had clearly been preparing for my arrival after confirming I was on my way.
“You’ve arrived. May I ask what brings you here today…?”
“Nothing special. Do I need a reason to come see my wife’s face?”
“My apologies. That is not what I meant. I only asked out of happiness, as you seem to be visiting more frequently lately.”
In truth, it was because Michael had left and Lee Wanyong had strongly insisted I meet with her, but she seemed to think I was falling into her sphere of influence. But she was under my influence as well, as I could tell from the blush rising on her face.
“Let’s have some tea.”
“Yes. I will prepare it.”
A gazebo set up in the garden outside the building came into view. Every time I came here, we would spend our time there, and it seemed today would be no different. There was a reason we spent our time together outdoors—partly so my wives could see us, but also because I wanted others to witness us together.
As I quietly sat down, the Seraphim folded her wings slightly and approached me. The way she poured the pre-brewed tea into the fine teacup was the very picture of elegance.
“Beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
“Are the preparations for the ceremony going well?”
“Yes, of course. As this is an incredibly important event for both our sides, we are doing our utmost to prepare. The Eastern Grand Temple has also been a great help… so there is nothing to worry about.”
“I apologize for not being able to participate due to lack of time. It would have been right for me to help.”
Of course, saying I had no time was a lie. The truth was I had no interest in this ceremony, so I wasn't getting involved.
“Not at all. I am grateful enough that you made such a difficult decision.”
“Weren’t you the one who made the difficult decision? The Seraphim of Agape, no less. In a way, isn’t this a case of the most noble being sold off to a monster?”
I stroked my horn. I considered it the part of me that best expressed my identity.
“Puhahaha. You’re not going to deny it?”
“Of course, I would be lying if I said such thoughts never crossed my mind at first, but…”
“……”
“Now, I find myself thinking that it’s not so bad.”
“And what led you to that conclusion?”
“The time we have spent together.”
“It hasn’t been that long…”
“No, it certainly has not been a long time. However, I believe who you spend that time with is what’s important. You may feel it is still not enough, but I feel that I am slowly beginning to understand you, Lord Blood Dagger.”
“What is it you’ve come to understand?”
“That you are someone who knows how to keep faith.”
“……”
Conversations with this woman were boring. It was probably because we were both thinking different things.
“At the very least, I’m not one to break a promise.”
“Indeed.”
“Did you hear much about me from Michael?”
“I have not spoken much with Archangel Michael. He is a rather peculiar individual.”
“Meaning he’s treated as something of an outcast?”
“That is not the case. In fact, Sir Michael was once an idol to many angels. Although he began to act strangely at some point, there are still those who follow him even now. I heard he recently received his wings again. He must have many things to sort out.”
“Hmm… Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“It seems the news of Michael getting new wings spread rather quickly.”
“That is because it is an important matter for us. It was Sir Michael who pushed for our union, so I have nothing but gratitude for him.”
Her expression didn't change. Even I couldn't see through it.
“I find angels rather interesting. I may run this Grand Temple, but there is still much about your way of thinking that I cannot comprehend.”
“It is embarrassing to admit, but I feel the same. Since our species are different, it is an unavoidable issue. However, if we take the time to understand one another, I am certain we can achieve a good outcome. To be honest, I was a little worried. I feared a meaningless conflict might arise because of our mistake. But in the end, are we not heading toward such a fine result?”
“Is avoiding conflict a racial instinct? I don’t understand.”
“Avoiding conflict is not an instinct. We simply believe there are more important things.”
“In the case of the Fallen Prince, it seems there was something more important than those ‘more important things’.”
“……”
No answer came. There was no sign of anger, either. For them, the Fallen Prince was likely not a shame to be hidden, but a source of pride. This woman was different from Michael. And so were the others watching me right now.
I thought I had a rough understanding of this pigeon, but it didn't take long to realize that was my own delusion.
I hadn’t understood angels.
I had only understood Michael.
“Did he give you any word on when he would return?”
“I was told he would be here before the ceremony, but it seems he may be a little late.”
“Is he busy?”
“He must have much to do now that he has new wings. He has to readjust to his former position, after all. He will also surely need time to control his suddenly increased divine power.”
“He never mentioned anything like that to me.”
“He probably didn't say anything because he didn't want to worry you.”
“I see.”
“Yes, that is right.”
“A Seraphim must truly be in a high position.”
“It is embarrassing, but there are not many of us. In truth, it is not a high position. It is merely a position of responsibility. In return for the power and love we have received, there are things we must do, even if we do not wish to. This task given to me is one of them. Of course, that is not to say I dislike my marriage to you, Lord Blood Dagger. Hehe.”
Her slight smile was enough to make one’s heart pound. Regardless of whether I was interested in her, it was an unavoidable physiological reaction. But I couldn't read her emotions. Her smiling lips, her beautifully curved eyes—they revealed nothing. Before I could even process it as a calculated act, a wave of irritation washed over me.
“Was it that you had no choice? I feel a little sorry for you.”
“That is not the case. I chose you, Lord Blood Dagger, of my own will. If I hadn’t chosen to marry you, I could have been embraced by God.”
“Salvation…”
“Yes. That’s right. Salvation. However, I chose to be with you, Lord Blood Dagger. It was less out of a sense of responsibility to my species and more because I was curious about the future that would unfold.”
“I see.”
“That is how precious you are to me, Lord Blood Dagger.”
“……”
The Seraphim gently extended her hand. Her expression was so empty that I nearly gagged, but I took her hand anyway.
A blush colored her face. It seemed she was affected by the Seat of Lust. The fact that these pigeons even had a libido was just laughable.