ALL NOVEL Chapter 471
Chapter 472
Humans are creatures that head toward the light. The starting point doesn’t matter much. It’s not one’s birth that decides the outcome.
If it were, then one should have tumbled into the abyss long ago. But here I am, not in the abyss, but in paradise…
“Is this really paradise?”
Yeon-woo sat alone in a spacious, white room, dressed in a very neat suit—something he rarely wore due to his preference for comfortable clothing.
“Ugh, my hands are sweaty.”
“I think this is the first time I’ve seen Dad so tense before a fight.”
[How amazing! Dad is super handsome!]
“What do you mean? Are you saying he’s not usually handsome?”
[He’s a bit less handsome compared to now, I think.]
“Looks like the makeup worked wonders.”
Yeon-woo nodded at Tae-oh’s cold assessment.
Of course, he had to look more handsome than usual today. A positive remark from Tae-oh was more than enough for him.
“Shall we see how beautiful my kids have become?”
Yeon-woo pulled Tae-oh and Shar to stand up. The two kids giggled as if tickled, standing side by side.
Shar wore a dress reminiscent of a yellow chick, like an angel, while Tae-oh looked dapper in a child-sized tuxedo.
“Shar, why aren’t you wearing white today?”
“Ahem! The main characters today are Sister In-hwa and Mom! If I wear a white dress, everyone will just look at me instead of Mom and Sister!”
“Oh, really? How considerate! The two main characters for today will surely be pleased.”
[I want to be seen too!]
“Well, being seen is good, but where’s Dawn?”
[Dawn should be coming soon! She probably hit the physical limit!]
That sounded a bit spooky. The physical limit? Since the two are contracted, that shouldn’t really matter…
“Ugh, what if I’m left alone!?”
As the saying goes, when you mention a tiger, it comes; the door to the groom’s waiting room swung open dramatically. Dawn entered, her voice tinged with a hint of tears, as if she might have almost lost her way.
“Ah, you made it, Dawn! Ah-ha!”
As Yeon-woo glanced at Dawn and compared her outfit to Tae-oh’s, she gasped in recognition.
It was a dress close to white, though not pure white. The black belt accentuated her waist just right.
In contrast, Tae-oh was in a black tuxedo. The white handkerchief tucked in his pocket gave a peculiar impression.
‘Who coordinated the kids’ outfits? Was it the company or Riley?’
They probably took in plenty of Dawn’s wishes. Without the main trio, it wouldn’t seem strange for Tae-oh and Dawn to take the stage, as the two kids were perfectly matched.
“Such a mischievous little girl you are.”
“W-what do you mean all of a sudden? I didn’t do anything!”
“Strange, I didn’t even mention Dawn.”
“Ugh…!!”
Dawn, typically very straightforward, bit down hard at the typical baiting. Oh no, this is going to hurt.
Well, at a glance, it may seem like Dawn is obsessed with Tae-oh, but that’s really a bit of a misunderstanding. Tae-oh was just pretending not to notice.
Common sense would tell you that. After all, Tae-oh once gained the powers of the Demon King and had grown enough to be called a young man.
Dawn’s affection was so obvious that even the dullest person could notice. Yeon-woo thought that Tae-oh wasn’t that clueless.
There’s no way the grown-up Tae-oh wouldn’t realize it, but the reason he seems unchanged from before is likely because of his mischievous nature.
However, he isn’t toying with Dawn’s feelings knowing them; he’s just having fun.
When they were alone, it was reported that he was completely different from his normal self.
“That charming guy, huh. He knows he’s good-looking.”
[? What are you saying?]
As Yeon-woo patted Tae-oh’s head, he expressed confusion with a naive face.
It was a bit hard to believe that someone who seemed so kind would act like that…
“Dawn will have it hard.”
“I don’t really get it, but it doesn’t seem like something I should discuss with you, big brother.”
…Did I put Nea through that much trouble? I’m not so sure.
“Not knowing at this point is a serious offense.”
It felt a bit unjust, but I also couldn’t deny the truth.
*
Humans tend to move toward the light. The old man had his time for that. He believed without doubt that he was someone destined to live surrounded by overwhelming brilliance.
However, now he realized that it wasn’t necessarily true. Where someone lives and where they are headed isn’t predetermined.
Just looking at the little kid nearby makes that clear. A boy with healthily tanned skin and black hair shaded with green stood out.
He looked so full of life that it was easy to predict the child’s personality.
“Wow!! So weddings are held in places like this these days, Master!?”
“Be quiet. It’s ear-piercing.”
“My apologies!!”
Achilles, the boy known as a rising star in the European Hunter community.
He had made remarkable achievements during the war with the two Demon Kings, so the title of a rising star didn’t feel out of place at all.
“I can’t believe he actually sent an invitation…”
Edward chuckled lightly at the sight of Achilles covering his mouth with both hands. It wasn’t that Achilles was funny, but rather the situation itself was amusing.
In many ways, Edward was almost a rival to Yeon-woo.
Looking back, he was just a mere rival to that fellow, but living in seclusion now, he probably didn’t pay much attention to him.
People often mistakenly think that the higher they rise, the more arrogant they become, and the lower they fall, the more humble they are, but that’s not always the case. Yeon-woo wasn’t becoming arrogant.
“Is he someone you know well, Master?”
“If I know him, I do. If I don’t, then I don’t. It seems he’s stronger than I am now, but I fought him once.”
“Wow! Who won!?”
“Can’t you see the difference between a master and a rookie?”
Some people are having grand weddings, while others are holed up in the mountains, teaching snotty kids.
It was clear who the winner and loser were.
While not everything in the world revolves around money, most things can be quantified through it.
Yet Achilles rolled his eyes and spoke with a blank face. His expression was truly that of a fool.
“I’m not sure about that.”
“Is that so? Then keep living like that.”
After pressing down on Achilles’s head with a hook, Edward looked around subtly.
What to say, the atmosphere inside the venue felt somewhat unique. At a glance, it seemed filled with celebrities enjoying the event, but the people Edward noticed didn’t give off that vibe.
‘So family-like.’
There was a group of kids following an elf radiating a terrifying aura, or a small girl sipping drinks next to Namgung’s heir.
Of course, there were indeed plenty of recognizable figures to be called celebrities, but they all seemed connected to Yeon-woo.
“…Ugh, I should eat.”
No matter how much he thought about it, it just made him feel worse. He couldn’t help but regret why he had acted as he did in the past.
As they say, what remains is food. Since this was the wedding of the world’s greatest celebrity, the food had to be exquisite.
Gathering various delicious-looking dishes onto his plate, Edward patiently awaited.
At first, he resented it, but looking back now, his downfall wasn’t all bad.
He was at least able to wish them well for their marriage. The resentment between Edward and Yeon-woo didn’t linger much anymore.
“Master!! This is incredibly tasty!!”
“…Indeed. I’ve never eaten anything like this before.”
He didn’t know who the chef was, but he wanted to see their face just once.
*
Many people wandered freely around the wedding venue.
Namgung Seong chatted lightly with Kim Yoo-min. Je Gal Seong-ryong hung out with those he was familiar with but didn’t have deep ties to.
Dang Sa-ryeon stole glances at the podium while discussing important matters with Yang Mi-ryeo—whether a third goal would go in, after already having two.
Leviathan and Behemoth, along with Jiz, were leisurely dining.
Although Jiz was now in a wheelchair due to injuries from the fight with Hwayo, they were satisfied that none of them had died.
Jiz was content, believing that her appearance and wheelchair suited her quite well.
Albert, Richard, and Noel were surrounded by people from Alkeion. Since Yeon-woo had fewer connections with people from Alkeion, it seemed natural for them to gravitate toward the two most famous individuals.
Bald, Red, and the Hunter duo from the Transylvanian fortress were seen hanging out with Delain.
The sight of hunters from a fortress that hunts vampires being friendly with the current vampire leader felt somewhat dissonant.
And many others graced the occasion. Perhaps most of those present today had died before the reset.
They might have lost their lives in the battle against the Demon King and turned into unknown corpses buried in the ground.
Yet now, they were living, in this moment.
No matter what anyone says, even if no one knows, it was undoubtedly true that Yeon-woo saved their lives.
– Dear guests, the wedding ceremony will begin shortly…
In a white church built inside the gate once used by Yuri, the voice of the officiant echoed. After a round of applause, the ceremony commenced with the music of the invited band.
Yeon-woo was moving toward the light. Perhaps, this moment could be considered the highlight of his life.
As Yeon-woo climbed onto the podium, jeers erupted from all around.
The sound was indeed akin to that of soccer hooligans, and Yeon-woo couldn’t help but chuckle.
This is just how my life goes.
Though there were adults around, he couldn’t just shout nonsense, but with a smirk as if to say “You’re all watching,” Yeon-woo stepped forward.
Toward the awaiting future, slowly.
One step at a time.
<The End>