Beyond - 10
The big day has arrived.
"You're an adult now, you're an adult."
Bang, bang.
Son OhGong slapped the back of YuWon, who was dressed in a tuxedo and tie.
Seeing this, Hercules frowned.
"Be careful. You'll wrinkle the suit."
"It's not a suit that wrinkles easily. Don't worry, I made it myself."
Hephaestus, proudly, responded to Hercules' concern.
The material of the tuxedo YuWon wore was specially created by Hephaestus.
He was skilled in creating everything, not just weapons.
"Speaking of which, it has a self-repair function for wrinkles or tears, so it's always in the best condition..."
"Ahjussi."
"Hm?"
"This... is it a bit small?"
YuWon's eyebrows furrowed at the feeling of the tight-fitting clothes.
As he had felt before, this kind of suit was quite uncomfortable to move in.
It would be challenging even to wield a sword with this on.
"Is this idiot thinking it's a battle suit?"
Hephaestus clicked his tongue and shook his head.
"You don't have to worry about discomfort, as there's nothing to fight today. Today, you must look elegant. Even if it's just to see the bride."
Those were quite mature words.
Indeed, how many times has Hephaestus attended an event like this?
He, too, for today only, had taken off his usual work clothes and put on an elegant suit.
"Even if it's just to see the bride..."
YuWon adjusted the uncomfortable clothes. His appearance in the mirror felt strange to him.
When was the last time he dressed like this?
Upon reflection, the same applied to Pandora.
"Do well, man."
Pak.
Hephaestus slapped YuWon's back.
"And be happy. You deserve it. Enjoy it, I'm telling you."
It was the first time he heard such kind words from him.
In response to his words, a small smile escaped from YuWon's lips.
"You talk exactly like a dad."
"I'm older than you anyway. Brat."
"But you're not married, right?"
"That's true!"
When Hephaestus pretended to take out a hammer from his inventory, YuWon burst into laughter.
As they laughed and chatted,
"It's a gift from the father."
Hargan arrived in a horse-drawn carriage loaded with gifts.
Both YuWon and Hephaestus, one of the ten richest men in the Tower, were wide-eyed at the gifts Hargan brought.
"What... what is all this?"
"Crazy..."
Even Son OhGong, who wasn't greedy, felt impressed.
Fist-sized jewels, numerous accessories, equipment made of gold, a crown made from a potion that supposedly made the Player invincible...
YuWon, stunned by the carriage of gifts that Hargan brought, asked:
"What is all this?"
"Didn't I tell you? It's a gift from my father."
"Zeus?"
It was unexpected.
At first glance, many of the gifts in the carriage seemed to be more for Pandora than for YuWon.
Most of the clothing, such as dresses, was for women.
"He said he's sorry he couldn't come in person."
"Zeus?"
This was truly unexpected.
The inflexible Zeus sending an apology message.
Through those words, YuWon could understand why Zeus had sent those gifts.
'He knows he won't be welcome.'
The relationship between Zeus and Pandora is terrible.
To be precise, it is Pandora who unilaterally hates Zeus.
Probably, even if he tried to attend, he wouldn't be welcome.
Instead, Zeus has opted to send a huge gift as congratulations.
It's also a way of apologizing.
"It's incredible. With this, you could easily buy an entire city."
Hephaestus marveled, while Hercules doubted, saying there's no way Zeus would give something like this without an ulterior motive.
Then, Hargan smiled smugly and began to boast about what he had prepared.
"As soon as the ceremony begins, there will be fireworks throughout the Tower. Just for today, all the Great Guilds, like Olympus, Asgard, Veda, Demon Kings, and The Heaven, will offer free food and drinks."
"What's so special about that?"
"What's so special? Go out and see! I can't even imagine how many gifts have arrived before you. It took more than ten Sun Chariots to transport them. And..."
YuWon ignored Hargan's words, hearing them in one ear and letting them out the other.
Listening to them would only give him more of a headache.
He could do the calculations later.
While Hargan continued to boast, a signal sounded outside the waiting room.
"The groom is ready!"
The moment has arrived.
YuWon's body filled with strength.
----------------------
Son OhGong, riding on his Flying Nimbus, was kneeling before Pandora, who was wearing a dress.
Looking at her outfit, he asked perplexedly:
"Why are you wearing something like that?"
"Why?"
"Don't you feel uncomfortable? It seems uncomfortable."
Son OhGong didn't understand Pandora's dress. It was so long that her feet weren't even visible, and the jewels adorning it didn't seem to have more use than to shine.
Pandora looked at the "clones" of Son OhGong making a fuss in their waiting room. Even one would be noisy, why did he have to create clones and come here?
Looking at the nearest Son OhGong, Pandora asked:
"Are you a clone too?"
"Me?"
"Yes."
"No."
Son OhGong shook his head at Pandora's question.
Pandora looked at him with an expression of "Really?".
As if it were natural, Son OhGong pointed to YuWon's waiting room with a nod of his head.
"That guy has a lot of friends anyway."
Indeed, Pandora's waiting room was quite empty compared to YuWon's.
Partly because she felt uncomfortable with many people, but the main reason was that Pandora didn't participate in public activities.
That was why Son OhGong was there.
Of course, it was also at YuWon's request.
"Thank you."
Pandora gave a shy smile.
It was an expression that was not seen often.
Although Son OhGong had spent quite a long time seeing her with YuWon, it was the first time he saw her smile like that.
Son OhGong, sitting up straight, asked:
"Do you like Kim YuWon so much?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
He had been curious for a long time.
Why did Pandora love Kim YuWon so much?
Thinking about it, until they went back in time, Pandora and YuWon had no common ground.
"Well, I..."
While she murmured a hesitant answer...
"The bride is ready!"
Finally, the moment arrived.
---------------
Hundreds of Rankers were gathered, chatting animatedly.
"The union of the most beautiful man and woman in the Tower... It warms my heart," murmured Thor, dressed in a tight suit.
Lee Rangjin, with a smile on his face, nodded.
"They deserve happiness, both of them."
"However, I feel like Kim YuWon is a bit more unfortunate," said Aphrodite with a displeased expression.
Artemis, sitting beside her, responded rudely, "Are you saying you'd be a better match for him?"
"Is that what you're trying to say?"
"I'm not going to respond to that nonsense, so be quiet."
"What's nonsense?"
"Learn to speak like young people today, or you'll end up sounding like a grandma..."
"Hey, you two," someone kicked the back of their chairs.
Aphrodite and Artemis turned their heads and met a man with long red hair.
"Silence. You're bothering my ears," said Diablo, the Demon King, frowning impatiently.
"Yes, sir..."
"Yes, sir..."
Despite being two of the most prominent figures in Olympus, they couldn't defy Diablo.
The Demon Leader and an influential figure in the Tower. Besides, he was known for his lack of discrimination.
"Now, we will begin the marriage ceremony between the groom Kim YuWon and the bride Pandora. I am Tyche, the fortunate Ranker who will officiate the ceremony today," said Tyche, a figure known for symbolizing good luck.
The noise in the room gradually calmed as Tyche initiated the ceremony.
"First, let's welcome the groom, Kim YuWon. Please applaud enthusiastically when the groom enters."
With a gesture from Tyche, the doors opened.
"Groom's entrance!"
The doors of the waiting room opened, and YuWon stepped out, with a tense expression on his face.
Applause resonated as YuWon moved stiffly.
'Wow, he's nervous.'
'Yes, he is.'
People who knew YuWon started laughing.
The man who always remained calm even during Ragnarok was today more nervous than ever.
"Fuu-."
Exhaling the tension, YuWon awaited Pandora's entrance.
And soon...
"Now, we will welcome the bride, Pandora!"
The applause this time was much louder than when YuWon entered.
With her shiny red hair let loose and makeup done by Aphrodite herself, Pandora's beauty left YuWon wide-eyed.
Their eyes met, and she smiled at him with more joy than ever.
---------------------
Pandora's eyes met YuWon's.
The question from Son OhGong echoed in her mind:
"Do you like Kim YuWon that much?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
'Why?'
Walking slowly, Pandora recalled a distant past. Since she received Zeus's box and opened it, misfortune had relentlessly pursued her.
"What are you?!"
"Everyone around you becomes unhappy."
"Get away from me, you cursed witch!"
Many people had taken their own lives after looking into her eyes.
Without apparent reason.
She couldn't understand the reason.
Why did she have to endure such disdain, be pointed at?
What had she done wrong?
Zeus had locked her in a darkness as deep as the abyss.
'I want to get out...'
In that darkness, she always wondered.
How would it have been if she didn't have this cursed power?
To see the light like others, eat sweet things, sleep in a warm and soft bed.
How good would it be to live like that?
'I want to live...'
Several times a day, she cried and screamed. She tore at her forearms, bit her lips, and bled every day.
So, a thousand years passed, and she lost hope.
She could never be happy.
Then, one day.
"Are you Pandora?"
Athena found her.
"I have a job for you. Come with me."
She said.
That after finishing this job, she could leave.
It seemed like a friendly hand.
Leaving the prison where not a ray of light entered, and stepping into the outside world...
A breath of wind sprouted in her heart that had given up everything.
She didn't want to go back into that darkness.
"What should I do?"
She would do anything not to go back there.
However...
"Stay there. That's what will help."
"Just be here? Why?"
"You're a mess. You shouldn't go out."
Athena, whom she considered a friendly hand, still looked at her with the same eyes as the people from thousands of years ago.
Unpleasant and disdainful.
The look given to a cursed being.
Nothing had changed.
No matter how much time passed, she was just a wandering misfortune.
She definitely thought so.
"Where are you going with those slow steps?"
Who is that guy?
Why is he looking at me like that?
She knew it too late.
That YuWon had fought against misfortunes much greater than hers.
YuWon's eyes, fighting against her, showed neither disdain nor disgust.
YuWon didn't kill her after she lost the battle.
He didn't kill her; he just took away the power that was like a curse inhabiting her.
So when the fight ended, and she opened her eyes again. Finally, she could feel it. Finally, this long curse had ended...
The sword he wielded cut the curse inhabiting her, and his hand pulled her out of the darkness.
After thousands of years, she was saved by him.
Step, step~
Walking on the carpeted path, YuWon and Pandora met.
Her heart was beating strongly.
Thinking about the times she opened her eyes every day in that darkness, this moment was so happy that it seemed like she was going to cry.
Why does she like him so much?
I want to ask everyone who asks that.
If you were me, wouldn't you fall in love?
LWTG BEYOND - END
Tags:
LWTG (Novel)