novelraw Chapter 278 : Wedding Wine
Chapter 278 : Wedding Wine
Chapter 278: Wedding Wine
“Sequence number seventy-two, also known as the ‘Final Nightworld,’ was opened late last night.”
“And the point of entry for the Final Nightworld was located at the central seal of the Arcane Tower.”
“Because the seventy-one Nightworlds before this had already been conquered, and the Arcane Tower itself contains a symbolic object like the Epoch Stele, the opening of the Final Nightworld was not outside our expectations.”
“Both Starfall University and the nations of the Western Continent had long since prepared contingency plans for the opening of the ‘Final Nightworld.’”
Inside the meeting hall of Starfall University—spacious, empty, and enclosed on all sides by transparent glass walls.
Dean Silver, facing Last and Shiltina, spoke slowly in an unusually grave tone—a tone Last had never heard from him before.
“According to the experience accumulated over hundreds of years by Night Travelers, the seventy-two Nightworlds correspond to the six past eras of human history—”
“Every twelve Nightworlds form a single era… In other words, every twelfth Nightworld symbolizes the end of an era, and their difficulty is beyond imagination.”
“Unlike many Nightworlds restricted by tier, which could be cleared by third- or fourth-tier Night Travelers—for instance, the Historical Echo of Deep Blue Port that you two once experienced—clearing the twenty-fourth, thirty-sixth, and sixtieth Nightworlds came at the cost of severe Night Traveler casualties, each time accompanied by the fall of multiple Legendary figures.”
“But this seventy-second Nightworld not only represents the end of the Sixth Era, the one closest to our current time—it is also the final Nightworld… If this Nightworld is cleared, it may very well mean that the entire Nightworld system has been fully conquered.”
“That’s why we had long anticipated that the difficulty of conquering the ‘Final Nightworld’ would far surpass all previous ones, and had prepared to pay an unprecedented price.”
Dean Silver curled his tail around a cup, took a sip of water, but his tone remained low and grim:
“Under such expectations, the first reconnaissance into the Nightworld was conducted with utmost caution.”
“The ten-member reconnaissance team came from Starfall University and the four major human nations of the Western Continent. Their Nightblades and Sequences were all specialized in concealment, detection, and survival, and the weakest among them was Sixth Tier. They carried a multitude of escape-type Extraordinary Items—even Sacred Relics.”
“The squad’s captain and vice-captain were Legendary powerhouses from the Alliance of Lords and the Holy Court…”
“Though the nations of the Western Continent often clash, when it comes to a matter that could affect the survival of civilization—such as the ‘conquest of the Final Nightworld’—they can still set aside their differences and cooperate sincerely.”
“They were both from the ‘Hermit’ and ‘Shadow’—or more precisely, the ‘Mind Demon’ Sequence—Legendaries. You both should know, those two Higher Sequences are particularly skilled in stealth and self-preservation. With preparation, not even Angels can easily kill them.”
“But—”
Dean Silver did not finish the sentence aloud, but those dim crimson beast-eyes had already said everything to Shiltina and Last.
“The reconnaissance team was annihilated…”
Shiltina flipped through her smart terminal, and her light brown eyes trembled slightly.
“That’s not all. The Phantasm Crystals Ophelia developed earlier—capable of relaying information from inside the Nightworld to the Present World in real-time—had greatly aided our Night Travelers in their missions once formally equipped.”
“But this time, neither the Phantasm Crystals nor any other tools capable of transmitting across the world barrier between the Nightworld and the Present World, not even Sacred Relics designed to forcibly exit the Nightworld—none of them functioned.”
“From start to finish, we received no information from the reconnaissance team. Even the ‘prophecy’ performed by the High Priest—Quasi-Angel of the Holy Court—yielded nothing…”
“Even at the cost of two Legendary deaths, that ‘Final Nightworld’ remains, to us, an entirely unobservable ‘black box’—we know absolutely nothing about what lies within it.”
Having said all that, the snow ferret dean lowered his head. Even his fluffy white tail drooped lifelessly on the conference table.
“No communication, no prophecy, no detection…”
“And two Legendary powerhouses have already fallen… Under these circumstances, sending another reconnaissance team as we’ve done in the past would be nothing more than pointless sacrifice.”
“Still, that doesn’t mean we can give up on conquering it.”
Shiltina closed her eyes and spoke with a voice that sounded like a whisper, yet carried unwavering determination:
“In that case…”
Before she could finish, the boy’s voice took over.
“In that case, our only option is to gather all of our strongest forces—”
“Then, clear the Final Nightworld in one go… That’s the only choice left to us, isn’t it?”
Last looked at Dean Silver and chuckled lightly.
“The remnants of the Gravekeeper organization have yet to be completely eradicated, and those half-dead gods atop the Threshold of Seraphim must still be watching every move on the Western Continent…”
“So no matter what, the Western Continent must have a true Angel guarding it.”
“The old principal’s Higher Sequence and Nightblade aren’t combat-specialized types… and given his unmatched reputation and seniority, having the old principal stay behind to oversee the Western Continent is undoubtedly the optimal decision.”
“As for the Final Nightworld—”
Last paused briefly: “Leave it to me, Shiltina, and Xiao Ai.”
Dean Silver’s ruby-like beast-eyes stared at Last for a long time.
Though the black-haired, black-eyed boy had spoken with such ease, everyone knew full well that conquering the Final Nightworld would be anything but simple.
Dean Silver had once personally accompanied Last into the Historical Echo of the Sixth Era… Back then, they had stood at the end of the River of Time and witnessed with their own eyes the battle between Grey and the Gravekeeper Angel.
And even that had been merely an ordinary Nightworld.
In this final—and most dangerous—Nightworld, no one could predict what Last and the others would face.
But without question, those fated to die in the Final Nightworld would be far more than just Legendary.
Even though Last, Shiltina, and Emis had already ascended as Angels, it was still entirely possible they would fall completely—never to return.
Even so, Dean Silver knew all too well: with the kind of personalities Last and Shiltina had, once they made up their minds, there would be no talking them out of it.
If it had been back when they first met, Dean Silver might have still been able to suppress them by force… but now that both had achieved Angelhood, he no longer had the power to stop them.
After a long while, the snow ferret dean’s fluffy tail gave a small twitch:
“Then, I’ll go with you—”
“Dean Silver, forget it.”
Last pressed a hand atop the snow ferret’s little head:
“Even though I can tell Dean Silver has grown a lot during this time, you still haven’t truly ascended to Angelhood, right?”
“In this case, you’d best stay here and stand guard over the Western Continent with the old principal…”
“If we do fail to conquer the Nightworld, and the Final Twilight Calamity descends upon the Present World, then with your ability to manipulate subspace, maybe—just maybe—you can still open a sub-dimensional refuge and preserve a spark of civilization’s flame.”
“In short, Dean Silver, as the mascot, you just stay put and fulfill your mascot duties. Leave clearing the Nightworld to us professionals.”
“That’s all. Dismissed.”
After saying this, Shiltina and Last left the conference room together.
Only a large snow ferret remained squatting on the long table, gazing in the direction the boy and girl had departed, unmoving for a long time.
Night had fallen.
In a quiet yet scenic court of the Inner District of the Imperial Capital.
A small night lamp emitted a soft glow, illuminating the array of exquisite dishes on the dining table—and also the deep black of the boy’s eyes.
Last looked at the girl seated across from him. Her chestnut hair, woven into an elegant princess braid, cascaded down over the back of her chair. Her fair, delicate features were cloaked in dim candlelight, their contours pronounced and profound.
“I really didn’t expect… that in this final stretch of time, you’d invite me here, Shiltina.”
“For a candlelit dinner.”
Last cut off a small piece of steak with his knife and brought it to his mouth with a fork: “I always thought, knowing your personality, Shiltina, you’d despise this kind of needless ritualism.”
“In the past, I certainly would’ve thought that.”
Shiltina nodded slightly. A soft strand of chestnut hair fell across her forehead, spreading gently over the pristine tablecloth.
“But thinking it over… you and I are already lovers, and engaged to be married—”
“And yet, we’ve never had the chance to do even one of the things lovers typically do.”
Shiltina looked at Last. In her light brown eyes shimmered something obscure—something profoundly deep.
“If we successfully clear the Nightworld this time, then the crisis that has long loomed over the Western Continent will finally vanish.”
“But if we fail… and fall in the Nightworld—”
“Then there will be no tomorrow, and no future.”
She gently placed her hand over her chest.
“This… is already the end of the end.”
“So, I don’t want to leave behind any more regrets.”
As though she had come to a decision, the female knight with chestnut hair cascading down her back slowly stood up.
Then, she took two wine glasses from the serving cart behind her and placed them in front of herself and Last respectively.
The glass goblets shimmered crystal-clear, and the crimson liquid within swirled along the inner walls like vermillion blood.
Shiltina lifted one of the glasses, then gently reached out, clasping Last’s wrist with her own, guiding him to hold the other glass.
“This is a tradition from my homeland, the Autumnleaf Domain…”
“When a couple marries, they must intertwine their wrists and drink a cup of wine together.”
“This is what’s known as the ‘Wedding Wine.’”
“Right now, the Final Nightworld has already opened. If we leave it unchecked, no one knows when the Twilight Calamity might fully descend upon reality.”
“To still hope for a formal, grand wedding that can be announced to the entire Western Continent… there’s clearly no time left for that.”
The candlelight reflected brilliantly in Shiltina’s pupils.
“I love you, Last.”
“I want to spend my entire life by your side, to truly be with you, to marry you… to grow old together, and reach the end with white hair.”
“So even if we can’t hold a formal wedding… I want at least to complete a simplified ritual like this Wedding Wine.”
She gently brought the glass to her cherry-hued lips:
“As proof that we are alive.”
“Last, let’s get married.”
As her words fell, Shiltina tilted her head back, and the crimson wine flowed down the walls of the glass.
In the flickering candlelight, the girl’s eyes glowed with an unprecedented brilliance just inches away.
Even though Angelic tier beings had long been immune to alcohol, it seemed Shiltina had deliberately lowered her guard. After drinking the wine, a flush rapidly bloomed across her fair cheeks.
Her profile was bathed in a hazy aura, stunningly beautiful, luminous beyond description.
After doing all this, Shiltina did not release her grip. She silently waited for the boy whose wrist was intertwined with hers.
At this moment, as long as Last drank the wine in his glass, their Wedding Wine ritual would be complete.
Even without the witness of ten thousand people, they would truly be husband and wife.
Last gently raised his hand, lifting the glass little by little.
But just as the wine was about to touch his lips, he suddenly halted his motion.
“There’s a secret drug in the wine—a kind of sedative laced with a Sovereign Domain authority shard from the Sequence. Even a true Angel who drinks it would temporarily lose all mobility.”
He stared at the vermilion wine in the glass, speaking calmly.
“Shiltina, you don’t want me to enter the Final Nightworld with you—to fight in the final battle.”
“You want… to go and clear it alone.”
Hearing Last’s words, Shiltina did not seem surprised. She simply lowered her gaze slightly.
“How did you find out?”
“With the Sovereign Domain’s residual authority boosted by the Imperial Capital’s core field, even Angels should be completely unable to detect it.”
“I didn’t actually discover anything strange in the wine.”
Last shook his head calmly: “I guessed.”
He looked into Shiltina’s light brown eyes:
“Shiltina, you’re bad at lying.”
“Four years ago, when we first met in the Nightworld—at that host club in Deep Blue Port—you were bad at it then…”
“And even now, you still are.”
Listening to Last’s explanation, Shiltina was momentarily dazed.
The night sky sparkled. The candlelight flickered.
For a moment, it really felt as if everything had returned to four years ago, back to their first encounter at that bar, back to that midnight in Deep Blue Port.
Back then, they had also been in a private room lit by dim candlelight. Last had made her a glass of the most expensive 「Infernal Flowing Sand」… The city shrouded in night had reflected in his eyes like a golden-yellow starry sea.
“You’re right.”
Shiltina suddenly smiled. “Sitting across from me is someone who long ago turned disguise and role-playing into his survival instinct.”
“To try and deceive or hide anything from you is nothing short of a fool’s dream.”
“Can I ask? The reason you want to leave me in the Present World, and not have me fight alongside you.”
Last asked softly.
“A reason… Rather than a logically built argument, I think it’s more like an impulse from my heart—or perhaps the intuition of someone in the ‘War Chariot’ Sequence.”
Shiltina answered in a gentle voice:
“Two years ago, in order to keep me from being coerced by my father, and to protect you, you were forced to inherit the throne… You fired that shot at the Gravekeeper Quasi-Angel alone, and became a vegetable, falling into a long sleep.”
“Since then, I’ve always felt I owed you too much…”
She placed her hand lightly on her chest:
“I am the heir of a Forester family, and the Empress of the Granwell Empire.”
“To me, wagering my life to conquer the Nightworld and prevent the Twilight Calamity from descending upon the Present World and devastating the Empire… has always been my duty and honor, as a Forester and as the Empress, to protect all people.”
“But after I went with you to Canaan and saw that home in your and Xiao Ai’s hearts, I began to think differently.”
“Last, you are not a resident of this era—or even of this world. The homeland that belongs to you was erased from the Western Continent more than two hundred years ago.”
“Even if the Nightworld conquest fails, even if a Twilight Calamity greater than any before descends and annihilates human civilization in the Present World…”
“Even so, you still have Xiao Ai, and everyone in that mental landscape—in the Town of Canaan.”
“So, Last, there is no need for you to wager your life… to die with me.”
“At least, that’s what I believed at first.”
Her voice paused as she looked at the boy just inches away.
After a long while, it seemed she finally found the answer in Last’s eyes.
Shiltina’s eyes flickered, and she gently shook her head.
“But now that I think about it—”
“The way I was before… I really was a little too weak.”
“Because of the danger and difficulty of the Final Nightworld, I instinctively treated this conquest as a Trolley Problem—one that required sacrifice.”
“To the point that I completely overlooked… that from the very beginning, there was always an option to conquer the Nightworld together using everyone’s strength—without losing a single person.”
“Truth be told, those who obsess over the Trolley Problem are merely lacking the resolve and courage to step onto the track and overturn the entire trolley.”
She took the glass from Last’s hand, poured out the wine within, and then turned slightly to refill both of their glasses with new red wine.
“So, let’s do it again.”
Shiltina drank her wine and looked firmly at the boy before her.
“Last.”
“Will you marry me…”
“And then, together with me, clear this final, ultimate Nightworld?”
In response to Shiltina, Last offered a calm smile.
“It would be my honor.”
He shrugged, tilted his head back, and drained the wine in one go.