Nineteen

Chapter 19

"Besides, how did we end up becoming one? There's not even a presiding officer or ceremonial rights; how can you expect me to believe you?" She bombarded him with questions, baffled by how he stated it so naturally as if it were true.

All she knew was that previously, she had a bastard of a fiancé but never a husband! She just turned eighteen not long ago, and that was when she was tragically transported to another world by some damnable fraudulent system. There's no way she got married that quick and to this, admittedly, handsome snake man.

'Who cares if he's handsome? He suddenly calls himself my husband and that's one of the most ridiculous things I've heard. Even a comedian won't joke about us being a couple after seeing the disparity in our faces!'

Atasha thought that she was just being realistic. However, the present situation doesn't appear to be as such. She was again reminded of the strange behavior of the snake men she encountered.

One coiled at her, treating her nicely and then groping her boobies, while the other one asked her to make babies, and now this man claims to be her husband!

Was she supposed to be happy that they didn't devour her? Although they did not hurt or discriminate against her, those wanton beings treating her casually made her feel perplexed.

Her inner consciousness would call her out, 'What's wrong with this world, or rather was there something wrong with this kind of world? It didn't sound like a bad thing.'

No. That's not it!

'Atasha, snap out of it! Don't you lose your rationality over such things!'

Thinking about it, there was only one idea that came to her mind. She looked at the man with a knowing look.

'Do they perhaps like exotic beauties?'

But then again, when she saw the man's well-proportioned face, prominent nose, and alluring red orbs buried in his long eyelashes, the girl felt that the idea was stupid.

Just his face alone could topple the nations. This made Atasha give up whatever nonsense was brewing in her head.

'Ugh, nevermind. I'm the fool.'

On the other hand, even though he was not surprised, Zethus still felt a pang in his heart when she questioned his connection to her. But he immediately dismissed his unnecessary emotion.

It was too sudden, after all.

"I'm telling the truth. If you're looking for a priest, there's none. As for the ceremony, I think we can consider being in the sacred mist as one." He mumbles and hints at her to look around.

Atasha followed her line of sight and realized that they were in an unfamiliar place. Perhaps she felt too preoccupied and was quite comfortable with the warm and bright space far from the cold and gloomy cave.

"This," she didn't know what to say.

She blinked her eyes, clueless as to what he meant.

Not long after, she frowned and looked at him impatiently almost with a scowl. She sighed, a clear sign of her irritation and helplessness on this foolish handsome beastman.

"It's a mist, so? You already know that I'm from another world. Even if you stare at me all day, I will still not get the gist of it if you don't explain."

Atasha was ignorant of the ways of this world. How does he expect her to react and say, just because they were inside a bright and foggy area?

Zethus felt a little embarrassed after he listened to her words. Right, what does he expect her to say?

'There's a dense fog with zero visibility from the outside… that's about it.'

At some point, he wanted to smack himself for thinking weird things and being a little inflexible. He cleared his throat to regain composure, this time, his tone became serious as he diligently explained.

"The Sacred Unity Mist is considered a myth among beastmen. It's the first time I've seen and encountered one, but it is said that it is a sanctum place to enact a blood ritual to bond two people for a lifetime..."

"In a sense, it is comparable to a holy shrine or church where wedding ceremonies in your world are held. I'm not sure how, but you triggered it when you bit me and tasted my blood."

Zethus carefully observed the changes in her expression while his words were told. As expected she was mortified and surprised.

"L-lifetime bond? Like those werewolves with fated mates in the movies? Does that mean we will be together forever? Wait, if you haven't seen it, how can you be so sure? And… did… did I really drink your blood?"

Atasha found it odd that her hunger subsided like it never happened.

Was it because she consumed his blood?

Is it some kind of energy drink or something?

Zethus immediately understood what she was referring to. A mythical creature that frequently appears in what they call a 'film' that resembles a wolf beastman.

Only that they revere a Goddess and were given a fateful partner for life. He thought that those men had it easily but found it displeasing to even have the audacity to 'reject' their mates. How foolish!

"Yes, you did but it was not even drop so it won't affect your health." He was referring to the 'toxicity' and other effects of his blood.

"Although it was a myth, it's recorded as a legend and passed by word of mouth. You can say that it's general knowledge but it was not a common practice among beasts. Females wouldn't want to die just for one man."

His words left a sour aftertaste in his mouth. He smiled weakly when he saw Atasha taken aback.

"That's right. This world practices polyandry. Unfortunately, you were bound with me."

"I…"

Atasha wasn't sure what to say. She was aware of people cheating with their mistress or paramours and that's already hard to stomach.

But in this world, let's women have a handful of men and it's even legal!

"As for your other questions, yes and no."

His stifling low voice continued, "We are mates but not merely by fate as bestowed by what you call 'Moon Goddess'. We're bound by blood and share the same fate more than lovers. Be it life or death, we will be together forever."

Zethus reiterated, "You can't reject me if that's what you're trying to point out."

"That's not what I meant, okay?" the girl quickly denied when she saw his frigid expression.

"Hmm, I hope so."

Atasha let out a sigh of relief and pondered for a moment. Thereafter, her face paled in disbelief.

"S-so, are you saying that you will die if… if I die or the other way around?"

"That's right," he answered without hesitation.

"I-Is there no way to undo our bond? No matter how I think about it, it doesn't seem right."

Atasha knows how feeble her life is. Even if he doesn't seem to care, she does! She could die at any moment but she's not too heartless as to drag other people with her to the afterlife.

Despite her reasons, her words unknowingly cut deep and bruised the other. Zethus' mood turned icy and down.

He never expected a female would accept him. But upon reaching this point, he hoped that she would never mention a word of separation in front of him.

The corner of his mouth curved wryly with a self-deprecating smile. He clenched his jaws and looked away.

"You even tried to end your life for a worthless man but you're saying that being bound with me doesn't seem right. Do you hate being with me that much?"

H-huh?

Atasha absentmindedly touched her cheeks and felt the warm liquid running down like a downpour.

"Why are you crying when I'm not worth your tears?"

What's going on with her?

It was like she was being influenced by his emotions and drawn to his feelings. She clenched her chest tightly. She didn't like the sound of him making himself unworthy.

"I don't hate you. I never said I hate you!"

"I just don't want to drag other people with my downfall. I don't want you to die because of me. If this bond means dying together, then let's cancel it. I don't want to be a burden."

"You're not a burden and you will never be. I will strive harder to be strong enough to protect you. And if that's not enough, that would only mean I fail as a man and a husband. Even at the cost of my life, I will…"

Atasha couldn't take it anymore and smacked him. "I just told you that I don't want you to die. What are you saying now?"

She frowned, "How can you… be so indifferent about your own life?"

While looking at him, she could sense that he was answering her as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Because you are my wife."

Zethus closed his eyes and pressed their foreheads together.

"It's because you're my wife that I would be willing to do anything and everything just to make you safe."

'If you only knew how much you mean to me.'

"Even if I have to dye the ground red. If that's what it takes to keep you. I won't hesitate to drag every single soul into the depths of the abyss with me."

Those murderous words, he spoke so gently, as though he was professing a heartwarming vow towards the girl.

"If anyone tries to harm you, I will make sure that they bleed to death and regret having the intention of hurting my wife."

At this point, Atasha didn't know if her ears were just playing tricks on her. It made her unbearably speechless and unsettled.

'Killing someone… He's saying it so lightly.'

Atasha swallowed hard and turned silent when she remembered what type of person the man before her was. Without knowing that her silence, birthed from an obvious apprehension, felt like torture to him.

Zethus could feel the fear and negative emotions she had for him at the moment. 

He broke away from their contact and looked at her solemnly, his eyes held so many things that he could not properly say.

Just imagining his wife looking at him contemptuously is enough to make him crazy.

"I… I can only kill in order to protect," he gritted his teeth, feeling antagonized by the differences between their worlds.

"We live by the laws of the jungle filled with savagery, Atasha. I hate to disappoint you but I'm a beast, I can never live based on the morality of your world." 

"I guess I can't be a good person," his words sting cramped with acrimony.

 "Being merciful to others is cruelty to oneself." Zethus bravely met her gaze and firmly added, "I'd be the devil himself if that means I can be with you."