Chapter 200
Chapter 200
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 200
Chapter Title: The Divine Wedding
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As Biyon's words came to an end, people began ascending the stairs from another edge where Ramin and his companions weren't standing.
The ones climbing up on the right were mostly Lizardmen.
Biyon pointed toward them.
"That's the groom's side."
The ones coming up on the left were a motley assortment of races.
"And that's the bride's side."
Then, from behind where the gods were seated, a swarm of attendants poured out.
The attendants were various races in uniforms, and some were guardians of the All-Gods Temple that Ramin had heard of or seen somewhere before.
The attendants hauled up stacked chairs and large tables, laying them out on the floor. Once the first row was set, others followed, carrying platters in both hands, lining up to fill the tables.
Some attendants guided guests to their seats, others jotted down guest lists, and still others, in keeping with the temple's rituals, picked up brushes as tall as themselves to inscribe celebratory wedding messages.
Then, a group of attendants approached with quick steps and said,
"Bride, please follow us."
"What? ...Me?"
"Preparations will take time, so we must move first. Please follow."
Before Hwikyung could say anything, the attendants grabbed her arm and pushed her back, leading her away.
Another group of attendants approached and said,
"You all should follow as well."
Ramin was puzzled—Sairan aside, why him and Juran too?—and asked,
"Us too?"
"You're not planning to stay here looking like that, are you? Quietly follow."
Ramin looked down at his clothes.
It was still the sackcloth he'd worn while disguised as a laborer.
Surrounded by attendants, the group descended below the platform and entered through a door.
A wide hall opened up, and the attendants led Sairan and Juran off down some corridor.
The place the ogre attendant took Juran was a small bathhouse.
"...You're telling me to wash?"
"No. Just stay still. We'll do the washing."
"Pardon?"
Soon, more attendants appeared in the bathhouse.
They carried scrub brushes, towels, buckets, and soap.
Before Ramin could protest, the ogre attendant scooped water from a bucket and poured it over him.
"What are you doing?"
"It's holy water from the Flightless Golden Bird. It heals wounds."
"That's not water."
"This is soap made personally by Lady Dan-yeom. It smells like flowers."
Soap flew at Ramin's face. Though the attendant was washing him personally, that's how it looked to Ramin at least.
After a somewhat forceful bath, the attendants dried the exhausted Ramin, dressed him, and led him back up to the top of the tower where the wedding was taking place.
Juran, now neatly groomed, waited with a smile.
"Sister, you've arrived."
"...My nose itches."
"Ah, I think I snorted some soap bubbles too."
Music from instruments began playing nearby, petals scattered, and a feast table for the wedding was being set.
As Ramin looked around, Juran said,
"The two haven't arrived yet."
"I have no idea what's going on."
"I don't really know either. Shall we find seats in the meantime?"
"Sure."
Ramin and Juran first headed toward the groom's guest seats.
They'd seemed to be minding their manners earlier with the gods watching, but after downing some liquor from the tables, half were already standing, and a few had feet up on the tables, chugging straight from kegs.
Naturally avoiding that side, they moved to a quieter spot where people sat chatting amicably.
A Lizardman called out to them.
"Are you Ramin and Juran?"
Lizardmen were hard to sex by appearance alone, but thanks to clothing and patterns Ramin knew well from experience, he recognized this one.
"...Lady Jaol?"
"Yes... I'm Rakrak's foster mother."
"The first mathematician."
"There were probably many who knew how to count before me."
"Maybe, but they never thought to teach others."
Jaol laughed.
"Did you know Sairan was my attendant?"
"No."
"A diligent, clever child. But she went unrewarded for so long. Now it's finally set right. Thank you both for helping."
As Ramin paused at the unexpected words, Juran said,
"It's an honor."
Unable to find seats among the Lizardmen, Ramin and Juran headed toward the bride's guests.
Among humans in old Autonomous Province attire sat goblins in dark clothes occupying a section.
A goblin who looked like the leader stared fixedly at Ramin.
Ramin tried to pass by, but another goblin spoke up.
"Ramin, Juran. The boss wants to see you."
"...Boss?"
The goblin pointed to the leader.
The boss goblin stood and signed with his hands.
A subordinate interpreted.
"The boss has watched Lady Hwikyung from afar for a long time. But while helping her escape the Black Forest, he spent his life with us. The boss regrets failing to keep his lifelong vow to protect her."
"...And?"
"You carried on our will in his stead. We offer special thanks."
Ramin recognized the boss's final deep bow.
The goblin said,
"The boss specially asked the gods, and they've approved helping you when you need it."
"Pardon?"
"Go now. Someone looking for you is behind."
Sure enough, a human man stopped Juran.
"You must be Juran and Ramin."
Juran recognized him instantly.
"Hwiran Juran greets Lord Kyojung."
It was Hwikyung's second husband, Kyojung.
A merchant of the Kyoga family, and a longtime friend of Hwikyung's.
"No need for formalities. I'm glad my descendant survived those rough waves."
"We've been through hard times."
"Surviving is thanks enough, but..."
Kyojung turned to Ramin.
"Thank you for finding Hwikyung. Sorry to say it, but I thought my chances of success were lower. I'd prepared myself not to see her again."
Ramin said,
"Um, Lord Kyojung."
"Something on your mind?"
"Are you... okay with this?"
"With what?"
"The wedding."
Kyojung laughed.
"Even if she didn't want it, the wedding happened. Even if she didn't smile, it was proper. Even if she didn't love him, they shared a bed. She comforted me when I should have comforted her."
"Really?"
"I liked her, but knew even if we married, I wouldn't win her heart. She apologized for not giving it, despite the pressure from my family forcing the marriage."
"..."
"That's how she is. I've owed her so much, so I can celebrate this union and feel relieved."
As they walked on without seats, Ramin said to Juran,
"It feels weird."
"Pardon?"
"The whole trip, I thought I was being punished for my sins."
"And now?"
"But everyone's just thanking me."
Juran summed it up neatly.
"Sins are sins, good deeds are good deeds. What we did might be presumptuous, but it deserves thanks."
"...Is that so?"
"Of course."
"...Maybe."
A sudden cheer made Ramin turn.
"The groom enters!"
It was because Sairan Muel had appeared.
Sairan wore not the simplified imperial ceremonial garb mixing various styles, but the traditional navy groom's attire from the Black Forest Kingdom era.
A louder cheer followed.
"The bride enters!"
Hwikyung too wore a traditional bride's gown layered with colorful silks.
Following old standards where wider hems meant higher beauty, several attendants held her trailing skirts off the floor as they followed.
A few attendants were still applying her bridal makeup, dabbing her face.
Hwikyung scanned the guests, her gaze stopping when it met Sairan's.
Whether from the rouge and powder or the festive mood, her face was flushed.
The ceremony began.
Though they'd already seen each other's faces clearly, they followed tradition with a screen between, bowing and sharing sake.
Biyon oversaw much of the wedding.
Ramin saw the gods in the distance watching, conversing among themselves in ways mortals couldn't hear.
Not just guests, but gods too—all were excited.
Amid the guests' lively chatter, latecomers arrived.
Rakrak and his warriors.
One warrior said to Rakrak,
"Lord Rakrak, you're late! What of that lop-eared one?"
"Drew again."
"Huh."
"But this time I can blame Sairan."
At that, a smile crept onto Sairan's lips, tense as she'd been about messing up.
For some reason, more guests arrived.
Ramin had thought them various races at first, but sensed their kinship through a subtle aura others lacked.
'Vampires.'
They didn't blend perfectly into the mood but murmured toward Hwikyung.
Cheers and laughter rose several times.
Ramin felt the layered congratulations swelling full.
Finally, the two faced Yacheon again.
Seongun said,
-For longer than anyone, unbearable trials crossed their path. Yet here they stand together again. No further proof of eternal union is needed. I bless them.
The once vast empty space brimmed with guests.
All shouted for their happiness and long life.
-Even after we leave, continue the afterparty. Let it go until all wish it to end.
Biyon replied to Yacheon's words.
"Yes."
-Ah, and send those two back.
"Yes."
Ramin reacted to "those two."
"Pardon?"
Ramin felt sure Yacheon's eyes met his.
Biyon lightly stomped.
Suddenly, the whole scene felt distant to Ramin.
"Open your eyes, vampire."
Ramin awoke to his head being shaken quite irritably.
What he saw was Garuda's head.
More precisely, Mazdari's.
"...Huh?"
Ramin saw the ivory expanse of leather behind Mazdari's head.
It was the airship's interior.
Ramin bolted up.
"...A dream?"
"Don't be ridiculous."
Mazdari chided.
"You and Juran went to the All-Gods Temple. You passed out atop the labor camp from the shock. Meanwhile, I loaded you onto Thunder Breath."
Ramin clutched his head from mild vertigo.
Looking at his clothes, he knew it wasn't a dream.
He wore the formal wedding attire.
"Wait, then what about Hwikyung?"
Mazdari said,
"Surely Yacheon wouldn't pair Sairan and cast out the living and dead together."
"Then why us...?"
"No idea for now. I just followed Yacheon's orders to pick you up here. Probably because you're useful."
Ramin shook his head lightly.
"But this is the heart of the Alliance Kingdom. Isn't riding Thunder Breath here dangerous? Ah, there are defected laborers too... We should protect them."
"It's fine. The big battle just ended, and they can't focus only here right now."
"Why?"
To Ramin's question, Mazdari answered,
"The revolution has begun."