Chapter 494
The bride was kidnapped.
I know it sounds confusing, even to me, but the bride was taken right from the wedding venue.
‘Is this a hidden camera prank?’
I stared blankly at the group of elves disappearing in the distance. Trixy, who was being hauled away like some kind of baggage, looked back at me with a pitiful expression, but her body wasn’t budging.
What the heck is going on? Are we really diving into that cliché of “We can’t allow a human to marry one of our own!” after all this time? That would definitely be a hassle.
“Phew, surprised, aren’t you?”
“Uh, yeah, sort of…”
Clarice approached me, giggling, and patted my back.
“Understand this: for elves, weddings are a big deal. It’s been ages since they had one, and they just want to decorate everything beautifully.”
With that said, I turned my gaze back to the direction Trixy had disappeared.
Fortunately, it wasn’t a kidnapping but rather an overly enthusiastic transportation. I felt relieved.
‘A significant event, indeed.’
It’s clear that for the elves, weddings are a rare and important occasion.
With their minuscule population and extraordinarily long lifespans, marriage ceremonies happen as infrequently as a drought-dodging bean sprout. There aren’t many people getting married, and living for hundreds of years means if they have a wedding every few decades, that’s a big deal.
Plus, Trixy is the only descendant of the Elder and the daughter of a friend who passed away. Naturally, they want to make her wedding special, more so than anyone else. I understand that completely.
‘Will she be made even more beautiful?’
It’s a bit of a sappy thought, but I can’t help but be excited. An elf with centuries of experience putting together a bride? What kind of masterpiece will that be?
She could come out in a gown that shines so brilliantly it doesn’t belong to this world, or she might don traditional elven attire.
Either way, I’ll be satisfied. Trixy will look good no matter what she wears.
“Oh, are those Trixy’s in-laws? This way! The Elder is waiting!”
Clarice, still snickering, recognized my parents behind me and began leading them toward where my grandmother was.
“What lively folks!”
My mother whispered to me.
“They treat Trixy like family.”
With the slightly dazed tone of her voice, I simply returned a neutral response. I too had felt that same emotion about a year ago.
After all, it’s shocking for someone like Trixy, held in such high regard as the greatest magician on the continent, to be treated like a little kid when she comes here. If you weren’t shocked by that, you’d be a robot without human emotions. No wonder my father is silent, trying to keep it together.
Fortunately, only Erich and Sara, who experienced this dynamic scene during last year’s school trip, were keeping calm.
Humans are adaptable creatures; I trust they’ll get used to this.
As the wedding time approached, elves began to gather in front of my grandmother’s house one by one.
I even noticed other races attending, which meant that non-elven beings who have friendly relations with the elves came to celebrate and watch the festivities. It turned into a beautiful multi-racial wedding all of a sudden.
‘Diverse, indeed.’
While playing with the fairies hovering around me, I glanced over the mixed-race guests.
You’ve got the standard fantasy races like dwarves, various beastmen with different appearances, and mermaids that you rarely see even in interspecies protected zones.
‘Wow.’
I couldn’t help but marvel when I saw a mermaid. How does a fish-tailed mermaid even walk on land? But there they were, being transported in a massive fish tank pulled along by a Minotaur and a Centaur. What a remarkable method of transportation; it was astonishing.
This all made me think the interspecies protected zone was thriving as a paradise after all. I mean, other races helping and laughing together, isn’t that the definition of paradise?
“The owner of the paradise is a bit disappointing, though.”
I suppressed a sigh that was about to escape me and quietly turned my head. Just hearing the voice made it clear who it was; I didn’t want to see that face—
“Ah! Joka!”
Busted.
“Uryo Joka! Congratulations on your wedding!”
With that booming shout, the gaze of the other guests snapped to me.
Please, be quiet. It’s not just me here; there are other races too, so please don’t show that side of yourselves.
“By the way, where’s Joka’s bride?”
With that last, almost confirming question, I shut my eyes and sighed.
Right. Now Trixy officially becomes the wise duke’s nephew’s bride.
Is this… acceptable in the Empire…?
*
After enduring hours with my mother’s old friends, I was finally released.
However, it was worth it to be caught up in all of that. The mirror reflected a completely different atmosphere compared to when we had the wedding at the villa.
‘I’m also an elf, after all.’
I smiled absentmindedly. The somewhat ethereal garments and the little floral crown I wore on my head reminded me of the images you’d find in fairy tales depicting ancient elves. It truly felt like I had become part of elven society rather than just a presence from the human world.
I was happy. About a hundred years had passed since my parents passed away. While I never denied the elven blood flowing through me, I couldn’t escape the fact that it set me apart from others. Yet here I was, finally blooming in the company of my kinfolk.
As the memories of my mother shone through me, I could finally marry the one I loved.
“I’ve brought the groom!”
“Can we check him out before the wedding? What if the groom faints when he sees her at the ceremony?”
In the midst of all that, some of my old friends rushed in holding swords. With my arms suddenly restrained, Carl looked utterly confused, but when he laid eyes on me—
“Oh.”
He let out a short, impressed gasp.
“If we had just settled for the villa wedding, I would’ve regretted it.”
His compliment, casual yet sincere, resonated with me more than any grandiose praise could.
It felt like Carl’s genuine feelings were spilling out immediately.
*
The second wedding began. Since it was only five days apart, I wasn’t feeling nervous.
So it was joyous. I could fully appreciate the emotions I hadn’t felt while being tense just five days ago. I cherished Carl’s smile, the applause from the guests, and the flow of the master of ceremonies’ words.
“It’s a surprise to celebrate a couple’s birth while serving as the bishop here. And to preside over the wedding of someone blessed, there can be no greater honor for this servant of the Lord.”
A small laugh rippled through the audience at the bishop of the mixed-race diocese’s comment.
As the bishop mentioned, interspecies marriages are quite rare, and even when they do occur, they follow their own traditions. A bishop, who is usually swapped out every few years, presiding over a wedding would be practically impossible. Yet here he was, breaking that extremely low chance by running the ceremony for blessed Carl’s wedding, so perhaps the bishop’s getting some attention from Enen too.
“Yes, as I mentioned, I serve the heavenly Lord and follow his teachings. And knowing my Lord, I’m sure he wouldn’t want faith imposed upon a couple professing their love in such a beautiful place.”
After saying this, the bishop took off his bishop’s miter.
“So for now, I will remain here not as a cleric of the Dawn Sect, but as a friendly citizen in the interspecies protected zone.”
His surprisingly bold declaration led to louder laughter and cheers.
“Is it really alright for a bishop to do that?”
“Well, with the Blessed here, it should be fine, right? If I end up getting scolded later, you’ll defend me, won’t you?”
“Haha, of course I will!”
Carl chuckled and nodded at that.
It’s fascinating; in my life, I never thought I’d see a priest like this. I can’t tell if this one is just particularly unusual or if he has softened up by spending time among the tradition-loving mixed races.
Regardless of his innate personality or change over time, it’s still impressive. How many priests are willing to put their faith aside for others? That’s perhaps why the World Tree glimmered, showing its gratitude—
…
‘Huh?’
It’s glowing?
*
Not long after the bishop, who was running the ceremony, took off his miter, the World Tree (which is set to be promoted) began shimmering beautifully and started evolving.
‘That light feels familiar.’
I couldn’t help but chuckle. It was the same brilliant light I had seen when marrying Mar, sparkling like a cross, and now a more massive, leafy World Tree stood before me.
That’s something even I, not an elf, could recognize. No matter how carefully I tried to conclude, this was definitely the sign of the World Tree aiming to resurrect.
“Mom! Mom!”
“Our mom! We missed you!”
When the wedding began, the fairies who had been hiding quietly erupted out, swirling around the World Tree.
Making childlike, joyous noises while simultaneously shedding tears like rain.
“What… is going on?”
As I gazed at the World Tree, I caught the bishop mumbling to himself.
He alternated between observing the glowing World Tree and his miter with a complex expression, sort of like a public servant worried that a major mishap was caused because of him.
‘What timing, though.’
Thinking it over, it really was impeccable timing. As soon as the Holy Lord’s priest temporarily laid down his faith, Konstantina’s legacy comes back to life? If that was a deliberate move, it was masterful oversight. If it was merely coincidence, then the divine resurrection was aided by the entire world.
– …It’s been hundreds of years.
That fresh voice resonated through the wedding venue. It was so fresh that I wondered if the term applied or if there was simply no better word to choose.
– Meeting those poor children I missed out on.
The wedding venue erupted in chaos. Guests were flustered, fairies were overjoyed, and the elves approached the World Tree as if entranced.
– Feeling the flora of the continent once again.
The World Tree, which had been growing endlessly, now halted.
– Being able to see my friends, the flora of the continent.
As if on cue, something began to reveal itself amongst the branches and leaves of the World Tree.
Red birds, blue turtles, green tigers, yellow snakes, and a myriad of colorful shapes floated in the air.
– Therefore, today is indeed a joyous day.
And with those final words, the World Tree’s glow faded completely.
– That one is not a god of flora, but a god of brigands.
A bitter voice about the everlasting blue sky echoed in my mind.
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