Chapter 521: You Shouldn’t Have Trusted Me
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 521: You Shouldn’t Have Trusted Me
“Honey… are you… okay?”
“Of course.”
“I left the child in the Brother’s Land. I gave them a rough explanation of the situation, too. I managed to calm them down for now, but…”
“Thank you.”
*
“Kim Taesung. You… you’re really okay, right?”
“Same as always. We’ll proceed as planned.”
“If that’s the case… then I’m relieved. But will you be alright?”
*
“Savior. It seems the preparations for the ceremony are nearly complete.”
“Good work.”
“The guests from Agape have been given the finest rooms, just as you instructed…”
“What about the Seraphs?”
“It seems about four have arrived.”
“Thank you.”
“Y-Yes, sir!”
*
“Are you sad, my mate?”
“Not particularly.”
“Come, let me hold you.”
“Phuhat…”
*
“Taesung, it’s almost time for you to go.”
“Yeah. I know. Thanks, Hayeon.”
“N-No. It’s, it’s only natural.”
*
“Captain… stay strong!”
“……”
*
I acted as if nothing was wrong.
I quietly mulled over my inner thoughts and swallowed them down, even meeting with Seraphim. The wedding preparations were proceeding smoothly, and many had come to the Grand Temple of the East to offer their congratulations.
Most of them were guests from Agape.
Greeting the doves whose names I couldn't even remember was quite an ordeal; they all looked the same to me, so I paid them little mind. Still, they seemed quite satisfied with the lavish reception. They must have been convinced that I had fallen completely for Seraphim. They weren't entirely wrong. In the time I spent with her, I was able to understand her, just a little.
She was a typical young woman. Someone who had never experienced the hardships of the world, and in some ways, a woman full of dreams. It was a relief, in a way, that she wasn't as cunning as I had thought.
Perhaps that was why, despite having twelve wings, she didn't possess great power.
I did not invite the Green Skins.
It wasn't something I particularly wanted to show off, nor was it something to be proud of. If I had to choose, it was something I’d rather hide.
“……”
An angel’s wedding ceremony wasn't all that different from a human’s.
There were, however, differences in the ceremonial attire and procedures. Many angels sang with clear voices, and not to be outdone, the disciples of the Grand Temple began to sing as well.
A giant music box was already in place at the venue, and countless other instruments filled the Grand Temple. A continuous stream of congratulatory gifts from Agape piled up in the temple’s storehouses. They were all things I had never seen or heard of before. Everything was unfamiliar, but it seemed they didn't have superstitions like in Western weddings where you couldn't see the bride's face, so I was able to spend time with Seraphim even on the day of the ceremony.
Dressed in angelic ceremonial robes, her twelve wings spread wide as she waited for me, she looked no different from a goddess of myth. Her face had changed slightly, too. It seems bridal makeup exists everywhere. We Green Skins also tattoo our entire bodies when we spend our first night together, so I figured it was something similar. They, too, wanted to look special on a special day.
“Congratulations, Lady Seraphim.”
“Not at all. Thank you for coming, Gabriel.”
“Lord Blood Dagger, please take good care of Lady Seraphim.”
“Of course.”
“You look so beautiful today.”
“Thank you, Auriel.”
“Oh my… look who it is.”
“Ah, Minael!”
“You must be happy.”
“Thank you.”
Greeting the guests was also part of the job. Of course, I kept my mouth shut most of the time.
The clothes I wore were not their garments, but the ceremonial robes of a Green Skin. Most of my body was exposed and covered in tattoos, yet no one seemed to find my attire strange. It felt less like they were acknowledging cultural diversity and more like they weren't thinking about it at all.
Their purpose was the ceremony itself, so they paid no mind to anything else.
“I never thought this day would actually come… To think I would be getting married. Thank you for yielding so much to me, Lord Blood Dagger.”
“We don’t have a wedding culture. I just thought it would be easier to follow your standards.”
“Still, I am grateful.”
“There’s no need for thanks. You seem to consider this a special occasion.”
“Yes. It is the day we choose our lifelong mate. It is a day of great significance for us as well. As you know, our lifespans are quite long, so choosing a partner to spend it with is incredibly important. I wasn't without my anxieties, but… you seem to be a warmer person than I thought, Lord Blood Dagger.”
“Not really. Perhaps, after some time has passed, you might come to regret this.”
“I trust you, Lord Blood Dagger.”
“……”
Seraphim wasn't wrong. At least, I could see the smiles on the angels' faces. Most of them seemed to be lower-ranking angels or of the same class as Nazaret, but they appeared to be genuinely happy about my marriage to Seraphim. It was starting to sink in that choosing a mate was truly a cause for celebration. Some of them were undoubtedly already thinking about what would happen after the ceremony.
Once the wedding was over and Seraphim officially became mine, the disciples would also revere her as divine. It would take time, but the other angels would also begin to receive favorable looks.
“Aaaah—!”
“Aaaaaah—!”
As time passed, the sound of a great bell and the angels’ singing grew louder and louder. The guests took their seats in the grand chapel, and the disciples, along with those who had come with me, quietly waited for the ceremony to begin.
“See you in a moment.”
“See you in a moment.”
Seraphim moved to her position before me. It seemed that here, too, the bride and groom entered separately. For a people who despised humans, their culture was surprisingly permeated with human customs. Perhaps the humans had learned from the angels, but at this point, it didn't matter either way.
It was a clear day, a beautiful day. The weather was sunny, perfect for a wedding.
Along with the grand sound from the music box, quiet, reverent cheers and applause erupted. Seraphim must have been entering the hall. I could hear the officiant muttering something, but I didn't want to listen closely, so I blocked the magic flowing into my ears. I felt someone touch me and turned my head slightly to see Saintess Jane of the temple with an apologetic look on her face.
“Savior. It is t-time for you to enter.”
“Thank you.”
Hearing Jane, who had been waiting in the anteroom, speak cautiously, I nodded and slowly began to walk. The path from the anteroom to the hall was by no means long. But as I walked, a thousand different thoughts flooded my mind.
Most of them were about Michael.
“The Master of the Grand Temple of the East, Lord Blood Dagger, is now entering.”
“Aaaaaaaaaah—!”
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah—!”
The music rang in my ears. The women watching me with worried eyes, the Seraphs observing me with satisfied expressions—I saw them all at a glance. The Seraph on the dais applauding, the officiant, and Seraphim looking at me also came into view.
As I walked between decorations of unknown meaning, many things caught my eye. I never thought I would receive the blessings of so many. I never expected so many people to come.
From their perspective, this was an important event, so in a way, it was to be expected. I walked slowly and muttered.
“It’s a joyous day.”
Everyone who heard my voice quieted down to listen.
A few puzzled expressions appeared here and there, but the general atmosphere was one of indifference. It was, after all, a wedding unbound by strict formalities. The clothes I wore proved it, as did the slightly modified form of the ceremony. They wouldn't mind me saying a few words upon entering. In fact, seeing them all hanging on my every word was quite amusing.
“To be honest, I never thought I would be standing here. I am grateful to the dignitaries from Agape who came for this small event, and to my wives who made a difficult decision. I also thank my disciples who prepared this grand sanctuary, and everyone who has endured hard times.”
“……”
“Huu… I once read a book back in my homeland. It was, of course, a story about people in a situation similar to mine now. No, it might have been a little different. To be precise, it was a story written from the perspective of my beautiful bride, Seraphim.”
“Hahahahahahaha.”
Laughter rippled through the hall, as they thought I was making a joke.
“I didn't actually like the story that much. In fact, it was so irritating I wanted to resent the author who wrote it. But now that I’m here, in this position, it certainly doesn't feel so bad. I feel like I can finally understand.”
Their expressions were a bit bewildered. But they seemed to have grasped the positive sentiment in my words, and many were smiling.
“I also thank my dear friend, who couldn't be here today, for creating this opportunity for me to be with the beautiful Seraphim.”
“Hahahahaha.”
“It seems I’ve gotten carried away with sentiment and talked too much. My apologies.”
“Not at all. In fact, we are only grateful that you would speak in a place where so many could hear.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, it is. You must have been very moved by it. I feel I must ask for the title of the book.”
“I don’t remember the name, but I do remember a passage. Huu…”
“……”
The hall grew quiet. I took a short breath and then slowly opened my mouth again.
“The Bloody Wedding.”
“Pardon?”
“I said, The Bloody Wedding.”
[Weapon Integration - Dainsleif]
—Kyahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!
The moment I reached out my hand, a familiar weapon materialized in my grasp. The sword entered and merged with my body in an instant. There was no pain. Feeling as if we had become one, I curled my lips into a smile. An alien sensation quickly took over my body, and soon, massive wings of blood sprouted from my back.
With a violent shhwwwik, wings of blood burst forth, and everyone stared blankly. Their white clothes and wings were stained red. I hadn't integrated with Gram. And yet, I felt as if my vision was being continuously filled with red.
“Wha—”
Before he could even finish his sentence, the officiant’s head was separated from his body.
“Bl…ood…”
Seraphim’s shocked face, some angels in the guest seats rising to escape, the doves who sensed something was wrong preparing to respond.
“Run!!!”
“Kyaaaaaaaaaak!”
“Seraphim! Seraphim!!!”
“Get Lady Seraphim!!”
“Save Lady Seraphim!!!!”
—Kyahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!
It was chaos, but the situation around me was crystal clear.
“You shouldn’t have trusted me, Michael.”
At the same time,
Screams erupted from all directions.