Wedding Crasher!

1 hour ago...

Immediately after arriving at the cliff overlooking the palace and the venue for Miss Lerish's wedding, the four of us hurriedly modified the carriage according to the plan.

"You know what? Even though we already knew how stupid and risky your 'plan' is, I still can't believe that you managed to convince us into doing this," Saku sighed as he removed the yoke from the horses that pulled the carriage, and tied them to a nearby tree.

"Nn. We're criminals now, thanks to Brother Ren," Saki added.

"...But it doesn't mean that what we're about to do is evil, right? I hate to admit it, but what we're doing tonight is an act of virtue," Aoi retorted.

While they're busy arguing with each other, I kept my eyes fixed towards the direction of the grand hall. Even at this distance I can still see the people, thousands of them, flocking at the front gate. There are also guards scattered around, forming a human barricade in which no uninvited people can get in the venue.

Is it even possible to penetrate that amount of hindrance with the help of our plan?

"...Are you worried your plan won't work, big brother?" Aoi asked as she clung onto my arm.

"H-Hm? Ah, I can't say for sure."

When I said that, all of a sudden--she furiously punched my arm with her little fists.

"W-W-What are you doing?!"

"...I'm killing all the doubts and hesitation remaining in your body!" she replied. "Our time is running out. Don't be a sissy boy!"

"S-Sissy boy? Where did you hear that?!"

"...W-What I mean is, if you want to save that woman then do it now. Nn, that's I want to say!" Aoi replied in panic.

She's right. Now that we're here it'll be pointless for us to back off. Time is money, and with the time remaining we can only afford one shot at success.

Surely we can't waste that one attempt we have.

"...If you're done contemplating then go out there and kick that man's face! I can't wait to see big brother beat him senseless!" Aoi coaxed me.

"Yeah. I'll do my best."

Afterwards I hopped into the carriage, made some last minute preparations and grabbed a string tied to a block stopping the wheels from moving. I glanced over to Aoi and the Rainens and said: "Everyone, it's been my pleasure working with you."

When I said that they all stood in a line and simultaneously raised their hands in salute. It's hilarious and felt so weird, but that gesture meant a lot to me.

"Okay, here I go."

After taking in a couple of deep breaths, I pulled the string and the wheels of the carriage were instantly set into motion. At first the carriage moved slow, but as the slope gets steeper and steeper the downward force became so strong it felt like I'm riding in a rollercoaster.

'Almost there...'

The precipice has two parts: a descending slope and an upward one at the end. With the help of gravity I made the carriage gather as much momentum as possible as it rolled down the cliff, then use the upward slope as a ramp.

Other than that--

Now!!!

Before reaching the inflection point, I immediately used my Arcana to ignite the fuse attached to the fireworks at the back of the carriage.

Yes, you heard it right. Fireworks.

This whole thing came up when I saw the man on the other side of the lake carrying fireworks. When I went after him, he said that a local trader was selling fireworks for a cheap price in anticipation with the upcoming celebrations happening around the city. Buying a couple of faulty fireworks for an even cheaper price, I immediately attached them to the back of our carriage that just got back from repairs.

And as the moment the fuses started to ignite, any hopes of retreating is burned as well.

Zoooooommmmm--

In a split second the carriage is about to reach the end of the cliff. Holding tight onto my seat, I closed my eyes--and silently prayed.

Whooossshhh--

Though my eyes were closed, I can still sense that the carriage had already started to fly upwards. I opened my eyes and to my surprise, the fuses still aren't finished burning.

'No way...are the fireworks really that faulty...?'

Moments before the carriage started to free fall, it felt like time has started to flow slowly. I glanced over my shoulder, and saw Aoi watching me. She drew a quick breath and shouted:

"...FLY HIGH, BIG BROOOTHEEERRRR!!!!!"

FOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM--!!!!

At that instant the fireworks finally lighted, and their combined explosive power propelled the carriage into an upward arc like a bright meteor in the sky. Feeling exhilarated and relieved , I raised both my arms and said:

"It worked! It worked!!!"

After a few seconds, the fireworks which are already fautly to begin with began snuffing out by themselves, and the carriage has finally set into free fall. By shifting my weight, I made it so that the carriage will nosedive into the roof of the grand hall.

And what happened next, is history.

-----

When the carriage fell straight towards that man I thought for a moment that he's dead already, but--

"Gahh!!! You--how dare you interlope on my wedding?!"

Bursting out of the pile of debris, the groom appeared distraught as he looked at me with rage. His wedding attire is messed up, and his silvery-white hair appeared windblown.

"Oh, sorry about that. It was never my intention to crash land right into your face," I said to him jokingly.

"You bastard!!!" he roared.

"Also, everyone must be so confused right now, but I came here just to save the princess."

Sheesh, what a cliché line coming from me. Well, it's the thought that counts especially when you're in a pinch.

"Y-You again?!" another man exclaimed.

Tch, another bastard suddenly appeared. What's his name again? Franz? Grand? Eh, whatever.

"You...I won't let you come near to Her Highness," he said as he stood right in front of Miss Lerish.

"G-Granz?! What are you--"

"Your Highness, please fall back. This man is a dangerous person, I can feel it," he said firmly to her.

A bastard, then a dangerous person? Okay then. I'll take that as a compliment.

"Leave this place, and you will still have your dignity intact. Otherwise, not only your dignity but also your life will be cut by me."

The groom, finding an ally in him, has his ego reinvigorated and said: "Hah, that's right! Isn't it obvious to you that you have no place here? Look at you, you made yourself into a laughingstock!"

Hearing that, I glanced to my side and saw the guests staring at me. Almost all of them showed faces of confusion, intrigue, and perhaps fear, but none of them are grinning or laughing at this moment.

"Ren..."

These two tried to shame me in front of these people, especially in front of Miss Lerish, yet for some reason I don't feel any sense of guilt or embarrassment in myself, which is totally different from the usual me.

"Leave, Ren Mortel. Tuck your tail between your legs and leave. We still have a wedding to finish."

Raising my arms up, I said: "Fine, I give up. I shall leave this place now."

"Is that so? Then go--"

"But first--[Soul Burn]!"

"Heh...--KKKHHAAAAAAAAAAA--?!"

Seeing a perfect timing when everyone's defenses are completely off guard, I used the [Death] Arcana to immolate the groom in black flames. Panic instantly aroused among the onlookers, and all guards came rushing towards me and the groom.

"GHAAAAAA!!! HAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH?!!!"

'Black flames...dark magic?!'

With his clothes covered in a pitch black flame the groom desperately tried to put it out by flailing and rolling on the floor, but I made it so that the flames will continue to burn for as long as I wanted.

At the same time, the guests are completely mortified seeing 'dark magic' in their midst. Since they don't know what an Arcana is, it's understandable that they'll think of it as such.

"Ren! Stop this, what are you--"

"GUUUUOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!"

A loud, inhuman roar came out of the groom, startling everyone. The black flames licking him turned into purple, as black-colored veins soon start to appear on his face and arms. After a few seconds, the flames disappeared, and left behind a young man without any damage, his clothes intact.

To me, Miss Lerish asked: "Ren...what did you..."

"Surprised, right? I just showed to everyone that this person is, indeed, not a human being like all of us."

A perceptible gasp immediately resounded around the hall, everyone shocked with my revelation. Even Granz fell silent, his eyes staring fixedly at the groom.

"Also, it might sound impudent of me but I think the king himself already knew that fact right from the start as he ordered to keep it hidden from everyone. Am I right, Your Majesty?"

"How dare you to--"

Staring directly into the king's eyes, his sharp gaze pierced right through me, yet I don't sense any anger coming from him. As Granz was about to apprehend me, the king silently raised his arm, implying that there's no need for him to do that.

"Your Majesty, why..."

"I only did it to protect our daughter," the king said to his wife. He tightly gripped his exquisite armrest, trying to suppress his emotions while in front of his subjects.

Meanwhile, the groom finally stood up straight, and laughed maniacally. His amber eyes flashed bright, as his rage overflowed. "You, Ren Mortel! I won't forgive you for ruining my wedding!!!"

Whoooosh! All of a sudden a very strong aura surged forth from him like a strong gale. Sensing extreme danger the guests, the attendants, and even the monk soon started to scramble their way out of the hall, leaving us behind.

"All I just wanted is to make that woman mine and make her into my servant forever! Why is it hard for everyone to accept that?!" The groom asked furiously.

'Why? Why?' He kept on repeating. Miss Lerish, on the other hand--

"No. I will never, ever, be yours."

"Huh?!" The groom was taken aback from her words.

"I never wanted to marry you, and I never once tried to like you. I despise you, I loathe you, I reject you, I repudiate you!"

A flurry of hurtful words bursted out of her mouth. The groom looked down for a moment, then sighed deeply.

"I see. So you hate me that much, huh."

"You merely took advantage of the situation to win my hand, how can I not hate you for that?"

Raising his head up, he showed a vile grin on his face and said:

"If you won't be mine, then no one will!"

"Your Highness--! Look out!"

WHOOOSSSHHHH!!! The groom released a large column of wind from his palm aimed at the princess but Granz managed to push her out of the way.

"Granz!!!"

The force was strong enough to tear a large portion of the wall behind him, and he got blown away along with it. Catching Miss Lerish from falling, I asked: "Are you okay?"

"Nn," she nodded.

"Lerish!" The king and the queen rushed to her side, looking extremely worried and scared. His Majesty tightly embraced her and said, "I'm sorry, Lerish. If only I was wiser that time, you..."

"You don't need to apologize, Your Majesty," she said to lift up his spirits.

"Uh...I don't want to sound rude, but I suggest that you leave things like that for later, Miss Lerish," I muttered softly to her.

"Y-You're right. Pardon us for that, Ren."

"What are you going to do now? The only ones remaining here are me, and all of you," the groom spoke.

"What do you mean by that? Where are the guards?!" the king asked him.

"About that..."

WAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH?!!!!

Outside the venue, countless screams of people in pain resounded in our ears. The royal family huddled close to each other in fear, trembling at the horror happening beyond the walls of the hall.

"Now--as payment for your ingratitude I'll kill all your servants; followed by your soldiers; then after that I'll destroy the capital, and kill all of its residents; and lastly I'll kill you all one by one, while taking your eyes out! Yes, only then I'll be satisfied!" he started blabbering words in front of us.

"You dare!" I said to him.

"Hah! I'll start first with yo--"

BOOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!

Suddenly another section of a wall got blown up, and another carriage entered through it and rammed against the groom, causing him to fly many meters away.

"...Big brother!"

"You guys!"

Stopping right in front us, Saku said: "No good, hundreds of bandits attacked the place."

"B-Bandits?!" The king exclaimed.

"We have no time. Quick, evacuate the royal family out of here!" I said to him.

"Ren?! What are you..."

"Miss Lerish," grabbing her hand, I said: "Your family's safety is our priority here. Please, get in the carriage."

"Your companions are all very young. How can we be ensured you'll keep us safe?" the queen asked.

"...How rude. I'll show you what a death goddess can do!" Aoi frowned at her.

"What?"

"Never mind about my sister, Your Majesty. Please, get out of here quick."

Though hesitant, the royal family obediently went aboard the carriage.

"Aoi, take care of them."

"...Leave it to me, big brother! I'll kill anyone who gets in our wa--!"

"T-This girl--?!"

I hurriedly covered her mouth. How can she say that so easily in front of those people?

"Ren, he's recovering now!" Miss Lerish warned.

"Saku!"

"Alrighty! Saki--"

"On it, Big Bro!"

"Eh? What are you doing? EEEEEHHHHHHHHHH--?!"

With a torch in her hand she lighted up the fireworks at the back of their carriage, and after a few seconds the vehicle zoomed its way out of the partly destroyed hall. The only ones left now are me, and the groom.

"How impressive. You managed to get those people out of here. You thought of all of this for a long time?"

"Not really, but I'm glad that it worked out just fine."

A brief moment of silence. Standing in the middle of a once splendid place, the two of us watched each other's movements, waiting for a perfect opportunity to attack.

"I remembered just now, you asked for my name yet you haven't said yours. Just how rude are you, huh?"

"Rude? Hah, how can I be rude if the people around me aren't even deserving of my attention in the first place?"

The madman laughed at his own words. I, on the other hand, remained silent, too tired to keep up with his arrogance.

"Well, since you're about to die anyway I'll tell you now my name. Argus Plume, keep that in mind," he said with a grin on his face.

Argus Plume.

This man--no, this monster--tried to take Miss Lerish for himself, and threatened to kill everyone after his plans failed. Now that the princess is away from him, I can finally proceed into fulfilling Aoi's request.

Argus Plume--I will definitely crush you.