Chapter 92: To the Imperial Capital (5)

"Shadow Dragon."

Rex's face hardened when he heard my words.

"Noblesse…"

Noblesse referred to a transcendental species born with special powers. The Union was said to be the force that ruled over the universe, and the Noblesse were one of the two pillars sustaining them. Hence, whether as a group or as an individual, Noblesse were beings who absolutely shouldn't be looked down on. What more, among them, the dragon race were fearsome beings that were able to reach the realm of transcendence just by growing up.

"Who are you?"

Celestia also wondered who he was perhaps because it was her first time seeing him. However, he bowed his head at Celestia as she asked about his existence, and he had a formidable presence.

"Please speak comfortably, Queen-nim. I am your sword. You can treat me like how you usually do."

"What do you mean how I usually do? What do you mean…"

She asked back with an expression that seemed as if she didn't understand, but she stopped.

"My sword? No way, are you…?"

"That's right. I'm the Second Starlight Knight Order Commander, Dark Sunny. You can just call me Darkie like how you've done until now."

They seemed to know each other, but I looked back at Hyun-il because I didn't know the exact details.

"What's the Starlight Knight Order Commander?"

"What do you mean what? Of course it's the Commander of the Starlight Knight Order."

I frowned at the insincere answer.

"What kind of answer is that... Then what's the Starlight Knight Order?"

"It's the name of the fan club."

"..."

I thought it was a military force, so I was shocked and speechless. No, even so, a Shadow Dragon was the president of the fan club?

'No, wait, this literally sounds like the Secretary-General of the United Nations just came to some sort of idol fan-meeting!'

Whether for good or not, I wasn't the only one who was shocked.

"Wait, what are you even talking about? You were a Noblesse, Darkie? I made a Noblesse manage my fan site?"

"You don't have to feel uncomfortable because I did it out of joy."

"No, even so… Hahh, the fanclub members didn't come, and instead a Shadow Dragon came."

Seeing Celestia shaking her head, Rex who was pushed back looked at her anxiously. While being wary of Dark Sunny for some time, Rex looked at Celestia and said, "Imperial Princess-nim… Don't tell me you are thinking of involving foreign forces?"

Though he tried to pressure her by bringing up something that could put her in a considerable predicament, Celestia didn't even raise an eyebrow.

"It's just a fan club get-together, so what do you mean foreign forces? Dark Sunny."

"Yes, Imperial Princess-nim."

Darkie turned his head around again and responded respectfully. Though it was a little too much for a Noblesse to go around saying "Queen-nim, Queen-nim", Celestia was also abnormal as she spoke comfortably right after. She was only surprised for a brief moment after finding out that the president of her fan club turned out to be a Noblesse.

'But isn't it pretty dangerous to have a Noblesse near me right now?'

Hawa, who was currently protecting me was the Head of Legion and Legions were considered the archenemy of the Union. Furthermore, Noblesse was the central force of the Union.

Of course, just like the name Untouchable suggested, Hawa wasn't someone who could be recklessly provoked, so it wouldn't be wrong even if she was left to do as she pleased. She was an Untouchable, a God that ranked higher than the High-rank Gods. Considering her powers that could suppress her opponents, I didn't report it as that was something that was more than enough to be used as an excuse when shove comes to push. So I thought that there wouldn't be a big problem.

'But will it be alright to openly come in contact with the Noblesse like this?'

However, perhaps because she didn't know my concerns, Celestia was talking to Dark Sunny in a fairly familiar manner.

"Did you happen to hear that I am getting married?"

"Yes. I came flying because I heard that my Queen would be in danger and I was able to come across the information that was uploaded on the integrated network. The reason why so many people gathered here was obviously because of the danger that would befall you, Queen-nim… But at the same time, it was also because they heard the news of your marriage. Plus, one of the members of the Knight Order comes from the Tedine Galaxy."

"…From that far away place?"

"Yes, he left everything aside and came as soon as he heard the news of your wedding. In fact, not all of the members are here yet."

Celestia shrugged her shoulders at the calm explanation.

"I've only debuted for one year though."

"That one year was literally the happiest time for us."

Celestia shook her head in resignation at Dark Sunny's respectful voice. Then, she asked again as if something came to her mind.

"How's their reaction?"

"Are you talking about how they feel about this?"

"Yes, the fans' reaction after hearing that I'm getting married."

I grumbled inwardly at the sight of her asking with glistening eyes.

'Can you even call that a question?'

Ever since she walked up to my side, the fans' bloodlust was directed towards me. They most probably didn't want to harm a single hair on her.

However, I knew that a fire wouldn't only be scary when it spreads this way. Although the firewall known as Celestia was preventing the fire from creeping in, just seeing the bloodlust blazing in the distance was enough for me to turn pale.

Jokes aside, the air above the fans seemed to be distorting because of the boiling hot bloodlust.

"It's not good. They don't think that there is a companion who would dare to match up to our Queen."

"Well then, what about you? Did you feel disappointed because of the fact that I was getting married?"

"That's of course. I decided to kill him if this was something that happened because of some sort of external coercion."

He spoke in a calm voice without changing his expression, but his words truly sounded brutal. However, Celestia smiled without being fazed and said, "So what do you think after seeing him?"

"…I was arrogant. I have recklessly judged your eyes by my own standards, Queen-nim."

After saying so, Darkie stared at me with his jet-black eyes. The moment I made eye contact with his eyes which seemed to suck up even the darkness itself, I felt as if I had lost.

'Agh, he's handsome to a disgusting level.'

I wasn't very ugly either. I was somewhat handsomely tall and my facial features were well-defined. So as long as I dress well, it was enough for me to join the ranks of a handsome man.

However… This Shadow Dragon in front of me didn't need to dress well. He had an appearance that would shine even if he put on ragged clothes that he got from some random place. For someone like me who was only good-looking among ordinary people, I didn't dare to compare myself to him.

"Hmmm~ Is that so?"

Furthermore, Celestia, who looked at me as she said so possessed an appearance that stood out more than him. As I faced these two handsome beings who were dazzlingly beautiful, I felt that a squid like me should be hiding in a corner somewhere.

To be honest, these two obviously looked more like a couple. Who in the world would ever think of throwing me into the mix? Perhaps even if I walked together with Celestia, we wouldn't look like a couple. Instead, we would look like a celebrity and her manager who assisted her.

Ploof.

"What is it?"

However, just then, Celestia who was apart from me for a brief while hugged my arm again. I questioned her at her action that was out of the blue, but she didn't care about it and spoke to Dark Sunny.

"Bring us up."

"As you command."

As soon as he answered, the shadow under our feet rose and our bodies soared up by tens of meters. What was interesting was that there was no burden on my body even though we were moving abruptly.

"Ah ah."

Celestia, who was still hugging my arm lightly warmed up her throat. Then, her Aura began to resonate with the surroundings.

Long time no see. Why are all of you gathered here?

It sounded as if she was whispering in my ear. But I wasn't the only one hearing that sound as the fans who had been silent for a while began to stir up a ruckus.

"I came to protect you, my Queen-nim!"

"Queen-nim, I missed you!"

"Please don't act like a soldier!"

"You're not really getting married, are you?!"

It was a huge ruckus. Celestia responded to the almost deafening screams.

I appreciate your thoughts, but…

Right then, she briefly glanced at me and continued.

It's too late, you guys! I have already escaped danger! And I'm getting married in three days!

At the bombshell announcement, silence fell as if water was poured into a bucket. The gazes that stared blankly into the air for a brief moment turned towards me when Celestia pulled me into a hug.

Have you ever been hated?

Whooooosh----

Right now, I was...

I was receiving all the hate that I was supposed to get throughout my life.

"No, shit… Hukk!"

I couldn't even complain about the situation. Celestia was originally only hugging my arm but had now leaned towards my body.

When I came to my senses, her blue eyes were the only thing that entered my field of view before I knew it.

'Ah.'

I stared at her blue eyes as if I was bewitched. I had heard many metaphors of eyes that look like the sea, but I had never seen such eyes that fit the metaphor as well as her eyes did.

I couldn't push her away. It wasn't because of the crisis that would make things worse if I pushed her away in a situation where her fans were everywhere. The touch of her lips, her arms that were wrapped around my neck, her breath, the sound of her heartbeat… All that kept me from moving.

'This is pathetic. Even though I know she doesn't have any feelings for me…'

Even though we would temporarily become a married couple, we knew each other very well. There weren't any romantic feelings between us.

Of course, I admit that I wavered after seeing her. That was the truth. However, even so, that wasn't because there was an exchange of emotions between us, nor was it because my heart fluttered. It was simply nothing but a spur of the moment.

'Besides, she's someone who has all the elements I need to avoid.'

Most of all, she wasn't a normal woman. This young girl was beautiful and dazzling, but above all, she had ambitions in her heart, so she wouldn't live a simple life. She also had a passion that someone like me who wanted to live a simple life didn't have.

She had never confessed to me specifically, but I could clearly feel it. She had a way of life that I could never live it out with her.

'It's a contract. Let's keep that in mind. The moment I cross the line, I'm doomed.'

I resolved myself over and over again, and I carefully separated from her. Perhaps because this situation wasn't common to her either, I could see her cheeks slightly flushed.

I whispered to her from a distance close enough that I could feel her breath.

"You idiot, are you trying to kill me?"

"Hmm? Why would you think like that?"

"What do you mean why? Right now, your fans…"

However, just then, the crowd burst into cheers.

"You're so cool, Queen!"

"I fell in love with you all over again!"

"Queen-nim---!!"

My ears were deafened by the tremendous cheers. I looked around because I was dumbfounded.

'What the hell is going on?'

I couldn't understand their flow of thoughts for them to be cheering here. Don't tell me Celestia kissed me because she predicted this reaction?

Don't go anywhere! Just wait and attend the wedding!

Her words were followed by a series of

'Yes, Queen-nim!'

. They were all acting like that, so I didn't know if they were weird, or if it was me who was the weird one.

"This, wow."

In any case, I laughed in vain at the situation that had changed in a single moment. Before I knew it, the shadow that was supporting us suddenly reduced its size and put us back on the ground.

- Are you having fun?

Just then…

- Are you happy?

There was someone talking

to me.

Kriekkkkk---------!

For a moment, an annoying sound that sounded as if someone was scratching a blackboard with their fingernails resonated throughout the world. Celestia's fans who were cheering began to look around in bewilderment. Even the Shadow Dragon, Dark Sunny, who had an ever-so-calm vibe looked surprised.

- Are you having fun? Are you happy? Are you being in the midst of the humans' cheers even though his blood is flowing in you?

The blue sky was torn apart and two enormous eyes appeared between the cracks. However, it didn't imply that the opponent was made up of only eyes. The existence that appeared between the cracks was so huge that all we could see was his eyes that filled up the whole sky.

"This, what is this!?"

"Block-... Kuwaackkkk?!"

"Save me!"

The ground shook once, and a huge arm made up of all kinds of metals were formed and it began to sweep past everything in all directions. Most of those that gathered in the plaza came from all over the universe, and they were either powerful ability users or they had formidable personal firearms. However, none of them were able to block that huge arm and they were all massacred. The plaza that was filled with cheers instantly turned into a place of death filled with blood and dead bodies.

Booooom!

Then,

something

fell down on the empty space that was made just like that.

That's right. That was something that could only be described as

something

.

As if a child had used a gray crayon to draw something in the air, the indescribable

something

looked at us. No, to be exact, it looked directly at me who was in the midst of all of the other people.

"Ahhh…"

𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

He groaned in a tremendous shock. It shook my mind up and I felt dizzy just by facing him. I was undoubtedly immune to all mental-type interferences, but the moment I saw him, it felt like all kinds of fear came to mind and crashed down at me.

Have you ever been hated?

- We finally meet.

The hatred and resentment of the whole world was right there.