Chapter 166: #Marriage is a Warrior’s Grave

“No. This is a proposal for you to be my lifelong companion. Great Warrior Il-Ho, I want you to marry me and become the king of the universe.”

Princess Esméralda’s sudden confession took Il-Ho by surprise, but he quickly composed himself and respectfully knelt before her.

“I’m grateful for your kindness, Your Highness. However, I already have the love of my life. Above all, I’m just a musclehead, unworthy of the title of king.”

“How humble! Enlighten me: if a warrior who single-handedly brought peace to the universe by defeating the God of Destruction's minions is unworthy to be king, then who is?"

Her tentacles caressed Il-Ho seductively.

"Isn't it only natural for women to follow heroes? Warrior Il-Ho, I won't stand in the way of your love, so please marry me. I don’t mind becoming a mere tool to preserve the royal lineage. Once you become king, all the wealth and honor in this vast universe shall be yours!" as she spoke honeyedly, her tentacles traveled down his waist.

Slap!

Il-Ho struck her tentacles.

“W-Warrior Il-Ho?”

“You’re sorely mistaken! I’m no hero! I’m just an ordinary man who loves and wants to protect one woman!”

“Aren’t you too harsh...?” Princess Esméralda bit her lips, rubbing her throbbing, red tentacles.

“Your Highness! I’ll pretend this never happened! Goodbye!” Il-Ho turned away coldly, about to leave the room.

“...I’m envious of the woman you love.” Her voice turned frosty cold. “I also despise her. Warrior Il-Ho, you’re the reason I’m like this.”

Whip whip!

“Y-Your Highness?”

Before he knew it, he was bound by her tentacles.

“

Ugh!

” Il-Ho tried to free himself, but he couldn't even move an inch. At the same time, he was astonished. Had this delicate-looking lady been concealing so much strength from him?

He could break free if he used Strong Body or Enlargement skills, but he didn’t want to harm the noble princess.

Il-Ho implored, “

Ugh!

Please calm down, Your Highness!”

“

Haa...! Haa...!

Look at me, Warrior Il-Ho...!”

Letting out hot, ragged breathing, Princess Esméralda drew closer to him.

“Didn’t you ask if there are any of God of Destroyer’s minions left? Yes, one. A foolish and hideous lady mad with jealousy!”

Tzzz!

Her glinting eyes pierced through Il-Ho's soul.

“

Aaaargh!

”

Then, Il-Ho lost all consciousness.

***

When Il-Ho woke up again, he found himself in a vast, empty, white space.

Where am I?

In truth, he was in Princess Esméralda’s mental space. Il-Ho hadn’t fully grasped the situation, but he recalled being attacked by her.

I must escape from here fast!

Instinctively, he knew that he was in a dangerous place.

“

Muuuuscles!

”

Unleashing every muscle in his body, Il-Ho struck his bulging fist on the ground like a mace.

Baaaam!

A loud explosion rang through the air, yet the white space didn’t even budge. To break out of a Psychic-type user’s illusion, one needed strong will and mentality. As such, Il-Ho’s attempt was nothing but meaningless struggle.

The time in the mind space flowed differently from reality, and it felt like half a year had passed.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

The entire time, Il-Ho never stopped punching, to the point where his fist was reduced to a bundle of bones and flesh. Still, it carried an indomitable will that refused to yield to his enemy, along with the hope of saving his kin and beloved woman.

Riiiip!

The seemingly inescapable white space finally began showing cracks.

“

Muuuuuscle

punch!”

Baaam!

Il-Ho strengthened his punch, focusing on the crack with even more enthusiasm.

Claaaang! Sss—

More cracks formed along the line, and someone surfaced in Il-Ho's mind.

Hm? What's this?

~

A beautiful and antique palace that resembled a dragon's palace.

Sniffle!

Lying in the huge clamshell bed was a beautiful lady wearing a star-shaped crown, carrying a wailing young girl in her arms.

The lady stroked the girl’s back gently, comforting her. “Don’t cry, my beloved Esméralda.”

The little girl wiped her tears with her tentacles, asking, “Why am I so ugly, unlike you, Royal Mother?”

“It proves that you're descended from the blood of our Cthulunian royalty, kin of the God of Destroyer. So don't think of it as ugly."

“But isn’t the God of Destroyer the notorious, world-devouring demon? To inherit the blood of such abomination, isn’t it considered a curse, Royal Mother?”

The lady shook her head.

“The God of Destroyer originally isn’t evil. He merely acted in accordance with the laws of the universe, just as life and death revolve around each other, creating harmony in all things.”

Her eyes showed deep sorrow.

“But after the Creation God ceased to exist, the harmony of creation itself shattered. Now, he’s but a pitiful man with no point of return. As descendants of the God of Destroyer, we must believe in him and earnestly hope for the best. May he someday find his lost partner and restore his original divinity.”

Then, the lady pulled the crying young Esméralda into a gentle hug.

“Don't think of yourself as ugly, Esméralda. Believe in your mother. Even if the traces of your ancestry remain, there’ll be someone in this world who will say that you’re beautiful. For you’re my charming, kind-hearted, precious little treasure...”

~

Sizzle—

Along with Il-Ho’s final strike on the ground, the memories faded away like mirages.

Ruuuumble! Bam!

At last, the barrier that held him captive cracked open, revealing reality.

***

It took a while for Il-Ho to process everything. Countless statues of tentacles were scattered around him, seemingly about to spring to life at any moment. The floor and walls were filled with skeletons that shone a bright, blood-red color.

It was an eerie place that resembled a cursed temple.

Tadan tadan tadan~♬

Cheerful wedding march echoed all around.

“You're awake.”

Princess Esméralda, clad in a pure white dress, stood beside Il-Ho. Meanwhile, he wore a matching tuxedo.

“For you to break through my barrier through sheer will... It’s impressive, indeed.” Princess Esmeralda spoke in a rather gloomy tone. “However, our wedding has been completed, Warrior Il-Ho.”

“W-wedding?” Il-Ho was dumbfounded.

While he was out cold, he went through an entire wedding procession and was now legally married?! Still, this wedding felt strange.

There was no one else as far as the eyes could see, not even a single guest to congratulate their marriage—a lonely, forced wedding with an unwilling groom.

Il-Ho tore his tuxedo with one hand, roaring, “Your Highness, why are you doing this?! This wedding doesn’t stand!”

Princess Esméralda shook her head. “No, Warrior Il-Ho. Our wedding has been made public to the entire universe. You are now officially my husband, and have the rights to ascend the royal title of the Great Cosmic Alliance. You can take the throne to lead the alliance in my absence.”

“Shut up! Your Highness! I said I’m not interested in the title of a royal...!” Il-Ho roared once more, but stiffened upon hearing Princess Esméralda’s next words.

“W-what did you just say...?”

“I asked you to kill me. Previously, you asked about the remnants of the God of Destroyer’s minions. Yes, there is.”

Pointing to herself, Princess Esméralda continued, “It's me. I am the last minion related to the God of Destroyer in this universe. Warrior Il-Ho, please perform your duties.”

“W-what did you mean by that? Your Highness! How could you be the God of Destroyer's minion...?” Il-Ho was flustered.

“Didn’t you know already? You saw my memory earlier. His blood flows in our royal lineage.”

A voice full of self-mockery came from behind her veil.

Princes Esméralda raised her tentacle in the air, and darkness covered the ceiling, showing a playback of the minions Il-Ho had killed. They all had hideous tentacles and huge eyeballs.

“Their attack was no coincidence—they were targeting our fleet. All because of the blood flowing in my veins! They long for a queen who’d lead them and destroy the universe!”

Swoosh swoosh!

𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Princess Esméralda absorbed the video playback. “Defeating them all only fused the God of Destroyer's resentment with me.”

Ruuuumble!

The temple they were in—no, the asteroid-sized battleship shuddered at the energy Princess Esméralda emitted.

“I'm desperately trying to rein it in, but the desire for more destruction will soon consume me. When it does, no one will be able to stop me. So, Warrior Il-Ho, please finish your task before that happens.”

Begging Il-Ho to end her life, Princess Esméralda gathered her tentacles before her chest, like a bride waiting for the groom’s kiss.

“

Ugh!

” Il-Ho bit his lips, raising his fist.

The evil aura emanating from Princess Esméralda was definitely the same as the God of Destroyer’s—his sworn enemy. As a warrior, he must exterminate her for the sake of the world! However, Il-Ho couldn’t bear to swing his fist at her.

“I can’t...” Il-Ho dropped his bloodied fist.

How could a man kill a woman who loved him?

“You’re too cruel, Warrior Il-Ho. You can’t me, yet you refused to grant me death...” Princess Esméralda sniffled and her shoulders shook. “If you really wouldn’t kill me...”

An ugly and ominous glow flashed from behind her veil.

“I, the descendant of God of Destroyer, will kill you instead!”

Princess Esméralda’s dress ripped apart, and hundreds of tentacles enveloped Il-Ho.

Tadan tadan tadan~♬

The wedding march tune instantly turned into funeral music.

-Die! Die, Il-Ho!

Letting out ferocious screams, Princess Esméralda transformed into something unrecognizable. Now, a giant tentacled monster over 100 meters tall filled the temple.

“

Aaaargh!

”

The sound of bones breaking echoed from Il-Ho.

Yet, despite being in danger, it never occurred to Il-Ho to attack her. Instead, it made him want to save her all the more. He wanted to save this woman, who was willing to sacrifice herself for the good of the universe!

However, he couldn’t do this alone. His muscles would only crush and destroy his opponent.

“God Yu Il-Shin! Please help me!” Il-Ho cried out amid the pain of his shattering body. “Please grant salvation to this poor lady!”

His fervent prayers reached Yu Il-Shin.

Riiip!

The space was torn asunder, revealing a holy yet fierce god, wreathed in black flames and surrounded by a blinding light that starkly contrasted them.

Such an overwhelming divinity!

Princess Esméralda looked up at the giant god with a mix of horror and reverence. Despite having absorbed the resentment of hundreds of monsters, she felt that she could wither and die at the mere sight of him alone! Her tentacles flinched, yet didn’t loosen their grip on Il-Ho.

-

Ah,

so this is the god that Warrior Il-Ho serves. What a god among gods...

Ruuumble!

Then, God Yu Il-Shin pointed his hand at Princess Esméralda, who was beside herself with fear.

-Crushing Forefinger of God.

Crush!