Shun POV:

Warmth wrapped around my body. Care, affection, and love: positive emotions swallowed me whole, leaving no room for any form of negativity. It was dark, but I felt at peace.

Then my eyes opened.

Then I saw Chloe.

‘...Damn it.’

I avoided her soft gaze and observed Tembo. He stood beside an Ultimate Fishnin, splaying his hand over my body.

“Tembo, he’s in a stable condition, but he needs rest. Penny went overboard.”

“That will do. Good work, Moby.”

Moby’s deep blue eyes matched most of his attire. An orange sash hung from his waist, and red laces interlocked over black trainers. However, that was where the similarities ended. The suffocating pressure Moby emitted was impossible for an Ultimate Fishnin.

‘…’

A faint smile flickered across his lips before he turned around and dispersed into water. I backlogged the limited information I was able to obtain from that brief interaction in my mind.

“You passed the final test, Shun. Words are meaningless without actions, and even in your last moments, you cared for Lady Chloe.”

“...”

I was in too much pain and discomfort to care anymore. I felt exhausted but still forced my eyes to swivel toward the Choga. Through the open door, a baby slept inside a cot, unperturbed by the events that happened beyond the sanctuary she was in.

That was more than enough for me.

“Tembo, can we eat at that restaurant I told you about?~”

Penny’s eyes enlarged. She brought in her shoulders and batted her eyelashes at him several times. However, Tembo’s neutral expression remained unfazed.

“Go with Yoke.”

“I asked you, not Yoke!”

She spun around and walked off. Discontent grumbles about how he never wanted to spend time with her after work disappeared seconds later.

“I’ll see you at the wedding, Dungeon Maniac.”

‘!’

The corners of Tembo’s mouth rose before he vanished. It left me with a single question: was Yoke ordered to attack my daughter first instead of Chloe? If that was the case, then Tembo knew how I would react.

‘…Whatever.’

I had ignored Chloe’s hands caressing my cheeks, but with Tembo gone, I couldn’t do that anymore.

[The Mission Log has been updated.]

[Mission: Marriage or Escape

Difficulty: SSS+

Your marriage to Chloe Ravendawn has been accepted by The Creed. Thus, the Family Head has given his approval. But do you accept, Shun Kurosawa?

Reward 1: Chloe Ravendawn (Marriage) + Chloe’s Connections + ??? + ???

Reward 2: ??? + ??? + Change of Fate (Escape)

Reward 3: ??? + ??? + Change of Fate (Escape)]

‘That... giggling idiot...’

She enjoyed the suffering I had just went through. Now she was trying to manipulate me with a mission that made zero sense to anyone with a brain.

Change of Fate?

Why would that even matter when The Creed would catch me before I made it to the border of Sharir? Did Koli think I was stupid enough to rely on the Castillo Family after everything that had just happened?

I didn’t have the strength to do anything anymore, nor would I abandon my daughter. I closed my eyes, not wanting to look at Chloe’s face or see the damn system any longer.

The memory soon faded...

“...to live together in holy matrimony, to love him, to honour him, to comfort him, and to keep him in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?”

A scenery of white re-wrote my current reality. In its centre—a woman of unfathomable beauty. She wore a bodice that extended to a round neckline. It revealed her collarbone before joining with lace sleeves. White crows spread their wings in patterns that showed perfection underneath. Frills covered the skirt: uniformed and long in their gentle descent to the floor.

“I do.”

The Vidrian pastor smiled: an action that caused a light breeze to unveil the bride-to-be. Chloe didn’t need make-up, nor did she wear it. Natural beauty shone, and fuchsia eyes softened.

To her, this was a dream come true.

To me, this was a nightmare.

An inescapable one.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

That was why the mission didn’t have any failure options. It didn’t matter to Koli because either way, I would suffer, and she would get the amusement she craved for. The pastor turned his head, signalling for me to give an answer to the vows he had just read.

“...I do.”

I shut my mouth when her eyes watered. The tears magnified the weight of my own admission. Roses bloomed across her cheeks in an innocent way, reminding me of how it all began.

“You may now kiss the bride.”

Chloe closed her eyes and pressed her thin lips together.

‘...’

I shifted my gaze to the full wedding venue. Phoebe, Gerard, Aiden, Katherine, Minji, Jujil, Lavender, Mr Hwa, Kibo, Sanura, and several other people I knew well attended. However, they didn’t sit near the front; those rows were reserved for the prestigious Ravendawn Family.

The Family Head held an unreadable expression. He had pitch-black eyes and the same greyish-blond hair, but a single look in my direction made me tremble.

‘Dangerous.’

A beautiful woman sat by his side and followed the opposite format: pitch-black hair and greyish-blonde eyes. Death sat on her face—she was death.

I moved on to several other Ravendawns until a hand squeeze brought my attention back to the inevitable. Chloe’s cheeks rose, and her eyes arched to the ground.

Then... I made a mistake.

I glared at her.

‘!!!’

A pressure drenched my back in sweat before my lips pressed into hers. I moved away seconds later, still quaking from the aftershocks that assaulted my brain with warning signals.

‘That man... is a monster.’

The venue soon erupted with cheers and congratulations. I held Chloe close, forced to keep myself in check until this stupid ceremony was over.

***

Katherine POV:

After informing the party members of some private matters I needed to attend to, I excused myself from the venue and stepped outside the large cathedral.

The wedding ceremony took place in Asita, the capital of Sunya. It was a country owned by the Ravendawns and a place rumoured to be the abode of their personal residence.

A crow cawed toward the sky but chastised its association with death. Life flowed out of its frozen mouth and overflowed the concave tiers one at a time. Though it was inanimate, the depth of its loneliness and pain made my heart ache for the one who had been taken advantage of.

I bundled the sides of a long blue skirt into the palm of my hands before rushing down the polished pavement. The sound of high heels striking the surface below dimmed until they came to a stop.

A golden panther roared on a black cloak lined with the same colour. Hair, still shaved around the sides, compressed into tight curls that formed soft spikes. Toned arms poked through the sides of a reliable silhouette, brimming with an even stronger power than in the past.

“M-Master?”

I lowered my head to show the appropriate respect. It was a wonderful surprise but reuniting with Zane again after all these years made my eyes water.

“F-forgive me for asking, but w-why are you here?”

His feet remained in place, and he spoke without looking back at his disciple.

“I came to make sure that you were safe. That Arcane Dungeon you entered—if I didn’t hear any news within a suitable time, I would have saved you.”

I felt his presence expand. It multiplied and reassured me of the extent he would go through on my behalf. However, as far as I was aware, it was impossible to destroy a Dungeon from the outside or step foot into one if a party had already entered.

“Y-you... can do that, Master?”

“It comes with a heavy price to pay.”

I bit my lip and stared at the glistening pavement, etched with darkness.

“I... broke through to Boukyaku and even gained complete access to the Mark of a Pantheon before discovering that I possess a King Trait. It was… and still is so overwhelming… Therefore, I refrained from reporting this matter to Central Guild…”

“I know. I’m proud of you, Katherine.”

Zane turned around, and his rich brown eyes rested on me. His lips rose to form a content smile, pleased with the decision I had made. Though my heart raced and my cheeks burned, I felt relief beyond words at his reaction.

“Master, you did all of this for me... You even came all this way and entered... this country... Why are you so good to me, Master?”

This reunion was the same as a wish being fulfilled, yet my own actions had once again caused Zane difficulties. It was unclear how the Ravendawn Family viewed the Pantheons. Thus, Zane’s choice to disregard this matter in order to ascertain my safety was dangerous but in line with his caring nature.

“You are my disciple. Take your time and think it over slowly. If you wish to be a monarch, a path will form for you to walk on, leading you to the throne.”

His eyes softened, and I took a deep breath, summoning all the courage I could now that this moment had arrived.

“I do not wish to sit on a throne. I have no interest in such things. Rather, I want to be the reason for your smile! I want you to be happy, Master!”

“Kathy, what are you trying to say?”

“I know this is unbecoming of me...”

I stepped forward.

“But I can no longer keep these burning feelings a secret anymore. I... I love you, Master!”

Zane didn’t reply. His gaze swept over my face before his body turned away from it. It was an action that almost made me collapse from the pain of his rejection.

“How could a master not love their disciple?”

‘...’

I ignored the heat, blinding my vision. The lack of clarity in my announcement caused this disjointed understanding.

“N-no, Master. I meant that I... love you... as a woman loves a man...”

“I’m married, Katherine.”

Trembling hands covered a weeping face. Shoulders raised up and down but so did the head that acknowledged his words.

‘Yes. I know, Master. That is why I am confessing... That is why I must let these sinful feelings go.’

The day I remembered the Pantheon Style was the same day I began to understand my feelings... were not innocent.

“I simply wish... to be a reason for you to smile...”

Zane’s cheeks rose as my tears fell. The dark clouds appeared below when my head rested against a firm chest.

‘!’

The setting sun came into view, spreading bursts of vibrant light across the sky. They encouraged me to look up and see Zane again.

“M-Master?”

“You remind me of her.”

My heart sank to the pits of my stomach. I did not want to take the place of another person. Instead, I wanted to accomplish results and stand out in the same manner Lyon had done.

“But you’re not her. You are you. Fate allowed our paths to cross, but it was time that made us bond. The moment I saw you, I knew you were the one: my final disciple.”

I covered my mouth with a hand; tears overflowed from such a touching confession. The moment I held dear to me was the same moment that Zane valued. We were connected through the bond of Master and Disciple.

“Your request to travel alone was difficult for me to accept. I knew it was time for you to leave, but I had trained and watched you grow for over a decade. Do you understand, Katherine? You are special to me.”

All I could offer Zane was a silent nod. Quiet sobs embraced the tranquillity of the setting sun, bringing the memories of not just Zane, but Lyon, Terra, Kana, Lady Nefia, Keo Yeboah, Nia, and all those I had met through him.

I was touched by his words and inner thoughts that he only revealed once the time... was right.

“You know I can’t return your love in that way, but you also need to know that you have always been a reason for me to smile. How could I not be happy with such a wonderful disciple?”

His rare grin complimented brown eyes full of depth and compassion. It contained a warmth, represented by those who stood beside him, and that included me.

My lips pressed against his smooth skin before moving back in a panic. The only intention I had was to show my gratitude and part ways with the remnants of the feelings I have, but this action would appear to be the opposite instead!

“I-I apologise, Master! I... I was just so happy...”

“It’s alright. I’ll allow it just this once.”

The last few bursts of sunlight rippled over the horizon. We watched it in comfort, understanding, and an appropriate form of love.

“...May I kiss you again?”

“Don’t push it, Kathy.”

I laughed into his chest, successful in my attempt to elicit an even rarer chuckle from him as we enjoyed what remained of the sunset together.