Side Story Chapter 47   - Marriage (2)

After the meeting was finished, Yeon-woo laid back in his chair with a pale face. “…Haa!”

Yeon-woo normally had a cold-blooded personality and didn’t even blink at most things, but no one would've guessed it from how he was acting right now.

‘Neither of my Cold-blooded or Intense Light traits worked…’ Yeon-woo sighed, thinking of how he must’ve appeared during the meeting. He should’ve stepped up to help the awkward atmosphere flow naturally, but Edora had taken care of everything. He hoped she wouldn’t be disappointed in him after this…

Just then, a hand touched his shoulder, and Yeon-woo turned around. Edora was grinning at him, and she said, “Good job, oraboni.”

“…I didn’t do anything.”

“What do you mean? If you weren’t here, it really would’ve been awkward. Good job.” Yeon-woo almost teared up from the way Edora was trying to cheer him up. It continually occurred to him that he’d made a brilliant choice with this marriage.

“Oh, my!” Yeon-woo couldn’t stop himself from pulling Edora to him because of how beautiful she was. Edora slapped Yeon-woo in surprise, but she didn’t try to escape his embrace. Rather, she patted Yeon-woo’s back with his slender hand. “I wonder when our oraboni became such a softie? You turn into more of a baby every day.”

Pat, pat. At her soothing warm touch, Yeon-woo’s tense muscles began to relax.

‘He really does need me,’ Edora thought to herself. At the same time, she found it adorable that Yeon-woo only showed this side of him to her, and she smiled widely.

Just then, Edora discovered a wide smile like her own was looking at them. No, it was more of a devilish grin than a smile…!

Snicker!

Edora had no idea when he had appeared, but the Martial King was watching them with an amused gaze from where he was leaning on the doorframe with his arms crossed. Edora felt chills run down her spine from how mischievous he looked.

“What…is it?” Feeling Edora’s body stiffen, Yeon-woo raised his head from Edora’s chest. The Martial King was using his powers to the best of his ability to hide, and Yeon-woo hadn’t been able to feel him because of how taxed his nervousness.

The Martial King silently mouthed words at a flushed Edora. Oraboni.? Hee hee.? Somehow, he even managed to mouth a heart.

Edora’s face turned redder. ‘I-I’m going to kill hiiiiiiim!’ Now, her face was on the verge of exploding.

Tremble, tremble!

“Edora?” Yeon-woo began to turn his head at the strange feeling.

“You idiot, you’re at it again.”

“Hm? Hmmmmm? Wife? Why don’t we talk after you let go of this…?! Ahhhhh!”

The Psychic Medium suddenly appeared and pulled the Martial King into the hallway by his ear.

Yeon-woo realized his teacher had seen the position he and Edora were in, and his face slightly turned red. “…We’re gonna be teased anyway.” But then he changed his mind. “Let’s stay like this a while longer.”

“…Okay.”

Yeon-woo and Edora held each other tight again.

* * *

“Extra, extra, read all about it!”

“It’s a wedding! A wedding!”

“Cain and Princess Edora are getting married!”

“Kyahahahaha! You know, back in my days, I sparred against Cain…!”

The wedding date was set! As the news spread, the village turned into chaos… It was pandemonium…before becoming a shitshow. The tribe members began to run around busily at the good news. They spread the news to their acquaintances or clans they were close with. To the clans involved, they sent extravagantly decorated invitations.

The invitation was filled with flowery words and messages, but their contents could be reduced to two main points.

―Don’t come empty-handed.

―Bring good presents.

There was a subtle threat that the guests should congratulate the couple properly or else. It was understandable, however, because of the importance of this marriage. The groom, Cain, was the Martial King’s disciple and the current strongest being in the Tower. The bride, Edora, was the child of the Martial King and the Psychic Medium, and she was designated to become the next Psychic Medium.

In the village, the Psychic Medium’s status was equal to the Martial King’s. At times, she was even more important. This event was no simple event indeed.

But of course, there were many people who were not happy with their marriage, especially the groups that were on bad terms with Arthia.

* * *

“…It’s clear they’re mocking us.”

Once upon a time, the Devil Army sought the Heavenly Demon’s attention and love, but they had grown frustrated with him and changed the god they served.

The Head Bishop, who was catching his breath in the magic region, smiled wryly at the invitation his subordinate brought him. The court dress he used to wear was gone, and he was wearing frayed clothes that a farmer might wear. It was hard to think he was the Head Bishop of the Devil Army. Moreover, the aura and fierceness he used to exude were missing as well. His pupils that were dark with demonic energy and chaotic energy had turned clear like glass.

A magic region was a world that was darker than an abyss and nastier than hell. However, the magic region Hughl and the followers of the Devil Army arrived at was nothing like any other magic region.

The sun rose in the morning, and it set at night. The soil was very arable, crops grew as they were planted, and the flowing river was so clear that fish swam in them. There weren’t any societies or civilizations, so there was no need for them to fight or compete with others. Even if one wanted to do something evil, their resolve would be weakened after feeling the warm sun and breezy wind.

The Devil Army repeatedly lived through battles and chaos, but everything they could ever wish for was here. A few of the bishops said this place shouldn’t be called a magic region, but “heaven” or “paradise.”

However, the owner of this region, the Bull Demon King, denied it. He always said the same thing. This land, this world. It’s a place where those abandoned by the world have come to with their last hopes. What better word to describe this place than magic region?

It was a magic region because those abandoned by the world had come here. Those living in this magic region called where they currently lived the Northern Magic Temple.

Hughl appreciated these words very much. He felt what the Bull Demon King said aptly described him and the followers. Perhaps they were the most suited for this magic region, since magic and devil could mean the same thing. They were able to find the peace they had wanted in this place.

Of course, they had found peace, but that didn’t mean they were cut off from news from the outside. Peace was also a pause between war and chaos. To continue to have peace, one needed to be stronger than all others, and they had to be sensitive to everything that was happening in the world… Hughl was aware of this. He didn’t have to look far to find an example.

The One-horned tribe declared themselves separated from the world, but they were able to keep their high status due to their strength. So most of the bishops acted as spies outside of the magic region, and they delivered necessary news. The problem was that this time, the One-horned tribe had delivered the news themselves.

“…They personally gave the invitation to our best-hidden spy.” Hughl flipped the invitation in his hand and smiled bitterly. The Devil Army had evaded persecution and hid in the deepest crevices of the world, but the One-horned tribe approached them easily. He knew they had the Psychic Medium, but he wondered just how far their eyes did reach.

“Second bishop. What do you think of this?” Hughl wanted to know what Kindred thought. Considering how much the Devil Army had suffered because of Yeon-woo, this invitation should never have come here. However, there was no one in the Devil Army who had the worst relationship with Yeon-woo than Kindred.

Hughl guessed that Kindred probably was displeased. Or he might postpone his response and tell him to ask the Bull Demon King or any of the other Demon Kings.

“…I think we should go.”

Kindred’s answer was unexpected. Hughl raised an eyebrow, asking, “Why?”

“I believe we should separate work and personal matters.”

“What’s work, and what’s personal?”

“Work is how strong the One-horned tribe is, and the personal matter is our bad relationship with Yeon-woo.

“You’re saying there’s no need to distance ourselves from strong people?”

“I am aware there are many rumors and assumptions about our clan in the Tower. But if we appear at the event…”

“We can show them the Devil Army is still powerful. No, we can show them we’re even better off. Good thinking.”

“It was nothing.”

“No. I was having very mixed feelings, but you helped me to organize my thoughts.” Hughl folded his hands behind his back and lifted his head. After he arrived at the magic region, he had more opportunities to look up at the sky like this. When he watched the moving white clouds, he thought of many things. This was also a blessing of such a lax lifestyle.

“…We still have a long way to go to speak about returning to our glory days. But taking a break isn’t bad.” Hughl muttered to himself and turned around. “I must meet with the Bull Demon King. Tell him I wish to make an appointment.”

“Yes, sir!”

Hughl’s eyes flashed as he watched Kindred disappear with a swish.

“The clouds above continue to move like any other day…”