[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
Chapter 351
The great angel who had been dragged away by Lispa Elde was nowhere to be seen.
Still, I couldn’t shake the strange feeling that he was watching us from sowhere.
Sensing my unease, Luna clasped my hand tightly, her expression on the verge of tears.
Even though the wedding was ant to be small and quiet, the idea of anything interrupting this mont clearly made her sad.
I forced myself to clear away all distractions, focusing entirely on her as I followed the vows Dibl prompted to recite.
Then ca the part I had practiced for, the wedding song.
I would handle the instrunt.
The lody and harmony layered over it would co from the succubi.
Luna looked at with eyes full of anticipation.
Of course, there wasn’t much I could truly show off.
Without the Hall of Music’s mory, my skill wasn’t anything impressive.
Performing in a setting like this was honestly a bit embarrassing.
Wasn’t there so kind of music hall function?
[There is.]
“Really?”
[Hall of Communion. A basic hall is available. Shall I initiate transfer?]
“Already? Sure, go ahead.”
The next mont, the familiar wave of nausea hit, then a flood of vast knowledge crashed into my mind, as it always did.
[You have acquired the Conductor’s Communion Ability.]
Without even staggering, my body began to move on its own.
Confidence welled up in .
It was as if countless years of training and experience had been burned into my muscles.
Maybe it was a waste to use the Hall’s mories for sothing like this, but it still felt important in its own way.
Around , spiritual energy particles began to gather,
the sa fundantal energy I usually only used to forge spirit blades.
As the particles rged with the rhythm I played, invisible waves spread across the entire wedding hall.
Dwoong… Doong.
With each pulse of sound, the energy vibrated in harmony, wrapping the guests in what felt like a soft magical blessing.
…But that wasn’t the main point here.
The succubi, surprised by my sudden improvent, quickly adjusted and joined in, filling the air with beautiful harmonies.
Their voices were truly srizing.
Luna stood quietly, eyes closed, listening intently with a serene smile.
Then,
—Ahaha, to think the great angel Raphael would wear such a face. I’ve seen everything now.
A voice echoed from nowhere, breaking my concentration.
I nearly missed a beat but forced myself to hold steady, turning my head toward the sound.
No angel in sight.
It was absurd, Lispa Elde’s power was already spreading quietly, and yet this intruder still found ti to watch.
I sent out thin strands of spiritual energy, tracing for any signs of his gaze.
The tempo of my music quickened with my focus, prompting the succubi to hurry and match it.
—Sorry, could you keep the beat steady?
I sent a ntal ssage to them while zeroing in on the hidden watcher.
Even if a great angel masked his presence well, the flow of pure energy would reveal any disruption.
…Found you, you bastard.
With a sharp, powerful chord, I sliced through the line of force where his gaze lingered.
Thud!
The faint trace vanished.
Relieved, I returned to the original tempo and finished the song.
The guests, lisa, and Luna all wore the sa surprised look,
as if wondering when I had gotten so good.
“Lord Leon, I didn’t know you were so skilled at instrunts.”
“No way! He used to be terrible!”
“He’s doing fine now, Isna.”
“Still weird though…”
I ignored their murmurs.
As I ended the piece, applause filled the hall.
Standing up, I approached Luna.
She t my steps with her own, one, two, until we stood face to face.
“As a seal of union, the couple shall now kiss.”
No one said the usual “if anyone objects, speak now,” because it honestly felt like soone would.
Gently lifting her veil, I saw her radiant face gazing up at .
“I’m nervous…”
Not that this was my first kiss, far from it, it was the third.
[Two previous tis isn’t enough to call you experienced.]
“Shut up, Librarian.”
[Acknowledged.]
Still, my heart pounded.
Luna’s ears and cheeks flushed crimson.
She was just as nervous.
I reached out, she took my hand, and slowly leaned in.
The third kiss ca softly, tenderly.
Our hearts beat together, a single, trembling rhythm.
As the applause swelled again, I lowered her veil.
Her warm hands clung gently to mine.
“Lastly, a few words from Duchess Cascadia.”
“Eh? ?”
This wasn’t in the plan.
Archbishop Dibl’s teasing smile said it all.
lisa inhaled deeply, then climbed the podium with an awkward cough.
“Today is a wonderful day. As part of the Cascadia family, I’m truly happy to see Luna and my brother find happiness together. We wanted to throw a grander celebration, but, well…”
She was clearly improvising, and Luna and I could barely hold back our laughter.
“You two have really been through a lot. I hope you’ll live a long and happy life together.”
Exhausted from her effort, she stepped down.
Frankly, given her usual sharp tongue, it was a miracle she didn’t blurt out sothing like ‘Can’t believe that thick-headed dino got married.’
Luna’s expression twitched, a vein pulsing on her forehead, but she stayed calm.
For angels, ceremonies like this didn’t an much.
They were just rituals, a way of saying we’re married in front of others.
No divine contract or binding force.
Luna respected it because it was a human custom.
Once, such things would have been aningless to her, but no longer.
And so, amid thunderous applause, the ceremony ca to an end.
* * *
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
In Lazarus Continent, weddings took many forms.
Nobles and royals in the central region often left for honeymoons, or didn’t, depending on their duties.
Those in political marriages usually didn’t have that luxury.
For us, there was no need to rush.
We decided not to leave right away.
If I disappeared, all the high-ranking guests would fall on poor lisa instead.
“Congratulations, Lord Leon.”
Saint Nadia Ten Lilibel smiled radiantly.
Knowing who Luna truly was, she seed both nervous and fascinated.
“Congratulations, Raph—”
“Call Luna.”
“Luna, ma’am.”
Nadia stiffened like a rookie before a general.
“I shouldn’t intrude any longer. Farewell.”
More guests followed, Triana from the Great Forest, and others offering their blessings.
But my attention soon turned elsewhere.
“...You’ve got to be kidding .”
Before stood a man bound to a great tree by chains of light.
Lispa Elde stood beside him, glaring daggers.
She was only holding back for my sake.
Once I was done, she’d exact her revenge.
“Gabriel.”
Even Luna’s expression hardened.
“No need for anger. I ca to congratulate you, Raphael.”
“Shut your mouth.”
“Tell , did you glare at through your whole wedding just to pick a fight?”
“Of course not. I was simply... fascinated. The great Raphael, in love with, well, not exactly a human, but a creation nonetheless. Taking part in their mortal ritual.”
He smiled faintly.
“I don’t recall inviting you.”
“I know. I ca uninvited. But there’s sothing you should know.”
“A union between a great angel and a mortal is... not ordinary.”
“I don’t care.”
He chuckled softly.
Then, with a snap of his fingers, ti froze.
“Don’t worry. I’ve only linked our consciousness. I can’t do anything else here.”
“I didn’t co to stop your marriage,”
He continued calmly.
“But truthfully, I ca to take her back.”
Crack!
My sword appeared in hand, splitting the air, warping space itself.
He quickly raised both hands.
“Calm down. I didn’t an it literally. But know this, the balance between the great angels and outer beings is faltering. The current generation of angels... have weaknesses. The tides are shifting.”
“So what?”
“The others, the ones who once cast her out, now wish to reclaim her. They need the left hand of God once more.”
“Nonsense. She’s not your property.”
“Her power is essential. That’s all. I’m rely a watcher. Fortunately, the right hand of God remains silent, for now.”
I understood his ssage clearly.
He was warning .
The heavenly factions were moving again.
All of this chaos, all of it, traced back to one source, the damned Red Moon.
“One more thing, an angel’s purity holds great significance.”
“aning?”
“When it’s lost... unpredictable things can happen. She may lose her seat as an archangel, or her very being may change. Even if nothing happens, she might never bear children. None of it is certain, but... be cautious.”
With a wave, the frozen space began to restore itself.
“If you love her, tread carefully.”
“...”
“Personally, I think her new life isn’t so bad. Breaking away from fate to carve a new path, that’s beautiful in itself.”
Behind him, four pairs of wings unfurled,
a mark granted only to the three highest archangels.
“The right hand may be silent, but the Archangel of Retribution seeks her even now. Take care of her.”
And then, he vanished.
Lispa ground her teeth.
“That filthy rat ran away again?!”
“Let it go. He’s gone.”
Luna looked at anxiously.
“Did he say anything strange?”
“He did… though I’m not sure what to make of it.”
When I explained Gabriel’s warning, Luna clenched her fist, eyes flashing.
“The Archangel of Retribution… that bastard.”
“You knew he hated you. Not exactly a surprise. But Leon, are you sure Gabriel said that about purity?”
“Yes.”
“Then it might be true. He doesn’t lie about such things. Sothing really could happen…”
“I don’t want to hear it,”
Luna muttered bitterly.
“I hate this. What did I do to deserve this kind of punishnt?”
“Then give it up entirely,”
Lispa suggested.
“Renounce your title. Break free from being an archangel.”
Her power would weaken, but at least she’d be free.
Luna’s eyes widened, then she clasped her hands like in prayer.
“Lord God, you son of a—die.”
Watching an archangel curse God Himself was… sothing.
Ordinarily, divine punishnt would strike imdiately.
But,
“Nothing happened.”
“You’re tied to Him tighter than you think. Pfft. Leon, forget her. How about a quiet life with —”
Smack!
Luna’s retaliation was instant.
“Don’t worry,”
I said.
“Not knowing what might happen doesn’t an sothing will.”
Unrecorded ans uncertain, not dood.
“True. Gabriel always loved word gas.”
“So let’s not worry.”
“Mm.”
Luna squeezed my hand.
Her body trembled faintly, like a small frightened animal.
Ti passed, and soon night fell.
We sat facing each other on the large bed, hearts pounding.
We’d slept close before, but this was different.
Like two duelists in a standoff, we sat at opposite edges, frozen, drenched in nervous sweat.
Luna spoke first.
“L-Leon, my heart’s going to burst.”
“Sa here. Sorry.”
Maybe I should’ve taken that wine lisa recomnded.
Being sober made everything ten tis more awkward.
[May I suggest beginning with a calming performance? Also, considering Archangel Gabriel’s warning, delaying consummation might be wise.]
The Librarian had a point.
If Gabriel’s warning was real, rushing could be disastrous.
I stood up.
Luna flinched.
“L-Leon?”
“I practiced a lot.”
She blinked in confusion.
“So… will you listen? At this rate, we’re both too tense to do anything.”
“Okay…”
She nodded shyly, face crimson.
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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