The Beast and the Witch’s Mock Wedding – Part 04
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Translator: Kell
I left the inn in a hurry and hid in the back alleys like a vermin driven away from a house, thinking about my future course of action.
What now?
Searching for Zero now would be difficult; I didn’t want to risk heading to the new district. On the other hand, I don’t think it would be wise to stay in the alleyway until morning.
After much thought, I covered myself with my cloak and headed for the outskirts of town, moving from back alley to back alley. Finding an abandoned house would be great, but as luck would have it, I happened upon an abandoned church that looked like it was on the verge of collapse.
It must have been abandoned after a new one was built in the new district. After making sure that no one else was inside, I snuck into the building. The inside was just as rundown as the outside would suggest.
The chapel was in a horrible state, the top half of the once majestic statue of the goddess crumbled, and the stained glasses faded and shattered. Rubble from the collapsed ceiling was scattered everywhere.
It looked like a strong breeze could bring the whole place down. As such, no homeless people made it their home, which was perfect for me.
“Damn it.”
What a complete disaster. No matter how hard I tried to avoid trouble, trouble seemed to find its way to me.
I tossed my bag on the rubble and settled down in a corner of the chapel bathed in the setting sun.
I ended up leaving Zero behind. She said she’d be back by evening, but what would she do if she saw the empty stables? Would she just wait? Or would she search for me?
Either way, I had a terrible situation in my hands. Should I go back to the stables once the sun goes down? I don’t see any other way to meet up with Zero. I kinda want to give the innkeeper a good thrashing as well.
“If I knew this would happen, I would’ve gone with her.”
I didn’t have to insist on staying at the stables. I could have stayed out of sight of the brides by moving from alleys to alleys. In fact, that would’ve been better; I would not have had to worry about being used as a tool to scare people like what happened just now.
Of course, there was also the possibility of accidentally bumping into a happy bride and end up ruining a young couple’s lives.
Either way, there was no place for me from the start. In which case, I should’ve just moved around freely.
I tried to expel the gloom in my chest with a sigh, but it felt like the more I exhaled, the more depressed I became. Times like this, I felt like cursing God. If only I wasn’t born a Beastfallen…
I should have learned the hard way a long time ago that there was nothing I could do about it.
I leaned back, pressing my head against a wall, and looked up at the stained glass windows in the setting sun.
“There you are, Mercenary.”
Suddenly, Zero’s head peeked out from between the stained glass and me.
For a moment, I was completely frozen, then I jumped back reflexively.
“H-How…”
“If you want to ask me how I found this place, my answer is I was looking for you. Going around the festival was boring, so I simply bought food and returned early.” She lowered the stuff that she was carrying in both arms to the floor. “I did not see you in the stables. I asked the innkeeper and he did not know, but when I asked the townspeople if they saw a suspicious big man in all black, with his face covered, I found you sooner than expected. You draw attention even when you are quiet.” She laughed.
“If you want to change camp, you should at least leave a note saying where you are going. Well, I imagined there was some sort of an emergency. What happened?” She sat down between my legs. She rummaged through her bag, grabbed an apple, and took a bite.
Seeing her calm demeanor, I felt my muscles loosen. It was only then that I realized I was tense.
Suddenly feeling hungry, I silently reached into the bag Zero was holding, grabbed an apple and took a bite, just like her. I told her what happened while eating.
She turned her head around and shot me a reproachful stare. “I do not know how to put this.”
“Wh-What is it?”
“I find your kindness a little appalling.”
“Who are you calling kind?! That’s an insult to a coldblooded mercenary!”
“What kind of coldblooded mercenary would run away from his room to protect the mind of a superstitious woman?”
For a second, I was at a loss for words. “I-I didn’t leave for her! Let’s say she sees me and falls into despair. She’ll whine to some guy she knows, or worse, she runs to the Church. I’ll be the bad guy and they’ll kill me. I just wanted to avoid that.”
“There is no need to desperately deny your virtue. I find your character appalling but at the same time charming.” Zero reached for my neck and stroked it gently as if to soothe me.
Feeling ticklish, I brushed her hand away, but she didn’t seem offended in any way.
“Do not be shy,” she said.
I wanted to change the subject, so I decided to ask about the town, even though I wasn’t particularly interested.
“It was bustling,” she said. “There were countless men and women pledging their eternal love. There were all sorts of bridal gowns. It was very beautiful.”
“Heh. So you had fun, after all.”
“Of course. Seeing and hearing new things is fun. But it is even more fun if you have someone beside you to share the moment with. It would have been more fun with you around.”
“You want me to say sorry for letting you go alone?”
“Oh, do you feel sorry for letting me go alone?” she asked in a teasing tone.
“Not at all,” I said curtly. “But I may have wished I went with you.”
“Stop being evasive and just admit it.” She pulled up her hood and regarded me with her violet eyes. “This is a church, yes?”
Took you a while to notice.
“As you can see, it’s an abandoned church.”
“Did you know, Mercenary? Wedding ceremonies are held in churches.”
“Sure I can’t go near weddings, but I know that much.”
Before I could ask what her point was, Zero suddenly stood up and pulled on my hand.
“Let us try it,” she said.
“…Try what?”
“A wedding ceremony.”
“…Whaaat?!”
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