: GRAND WEDDING

【 GRAND WEDDING 】

—

Following the direction from where the tune was coming from, Cáo Língxuān and Mao Mo arrived before a solemn and majestic temple.

Its design contrasted sharply with the architecture they had encountered earlier in Chosen City. Instead of familiar structures, the temple was lined with white stone pillars etched with elven runes and intricate reliefs. At its center rose a domed hall, encircled by blooming flowers and vibrant greenery, giving the entire scene a surreal, almost magical ambiance.

Before the temple lay a vast open plaza. At its center stood a statue of a radiant goddess, encircled by a fountain that radiated a sense of holiness. Surrounding the plaza, banquet tables were piled high with fruits and delicacies. The area buzzed with players of all kinds, creating the vibrant atmosphere of a festive celebration.

After arriving here, both of them finally saw the source of the sound.

A small group of players stood by the fountain, each holding a musical instrument. Some had visible usernames hovering atop their heads while others didn’t. Some strummed guitars, others played wooden flutes or curious instruments the two had never seen before.

Yet, it wasn’t the band nor the bustling banquet that caught their attention. Rather, it was the two players in elegant wedding attire standing on the raised platform set up in front of the venue.

Both the groom and the bride, who had hidden their usernames gazed at each other with deep affection, their eyes filled with warmth and tenderness.

Around them, the surrounding players erupted in cheers, tossing handfuls of flower petals into the air, which added to the festive and heartfelt atmosphere of the moment.

Standing to one side of the platform was a male player donning a white priest’s robe, with the username “Li Mu” displayed above his head.

While holding a stick-shaped fruit like a microphone, he smiled warmly and said, “Well then… Mr. Noah, do you take Ms. Constance as your wife? Will you care for her and stay by her side, in sickness and in health?”

The groom blushed and, a bit flustered, replied:

“I… I do.”

The presiding priest then turned to the bride and asked:

“Ms. Constance, do you take Mr. Noah as your husband? Through wealth or poverty, in joy or sorrow, offering your strength and heart to him?”

Blushing so deeply her cheeks nearly matched the tips of her pointed ears, the bride nodded gently and replied:

“I… I do…”

The priest’s smile grew even more tender as he proclaimed,

“How… wonderful! Now, let us welcome our honored guest! The one affectionately known by all as our Big Sister! the esteemed Lady Zero, who will now offer her blessings to the newlyweds!”

“Big Sister! Big Sis!”

“Little Sister Cat! Little Sister Cat!”

Amidst the cheering crowd, Cáo Língxuān saw two female players ascend the stage. The first wore a sleek black dress and had hidden her username, while beside her stood a petite girl holding a flower wreath, her username reading “Little Salty Cat.” ṙ𝐀ΝổΒЁ𝘴

“Ohhhh—! I can’t believe I get to see Big Sister on my very first day! The real Lady Zero in the flesh! She’s even cooler in person!”

Next to her, Mao Mo exclaimed excitedly. Her mentor stood starstruck for a moment before quickly running toward the crowd with the excitement of a fanboy meeting his idol.

Cáo Língxuān: “…”

She glanced in the direction where the manhua artist big shot Black Cat had disappeared, then looked back at the woman on stage in the black dress, with flowing black hair and exquisitely sharp features.

Arms crossed, she placed her thumb at the base of her chin.

“Is that woman some kind of famous player? Even Black Cat-laoshi is acting like a starstruck fan…Lady Zero? Was that this players hidden username?”

Meanwhile, the wedding ceremony continued on.

The woman whom the players keep calling as “Big Sister” gave a soft smile, took the flower wreaths from the petite girl, and gently placed it on the heads of the newlyweds.

“This wreath has been blessed by the Goddess. I wish you two everlasting happiness.”

“Thank you!”

“Thank you so much!”

The couple responded with heartfelt gratitude.

After giving her blessing, “Lady Zero” and “Little Salty Cat” stepped back, while the presiding priest “Li Mu” resumed with joyful energy:

“Then, in the name of the Goddess Evé, let us bless the newlyweds! May their love last a lifetime, their hearts united, and their future filled with happiness!”

A chorus of cheers erupted from the crowd.

Cáo Língxuān watched as some players in the crowd raised what appeared to be short-barreled guns and pointed them toward the sky. Shocked by their sudden action, she instinctively moved to cover her ears but instead of loud gunfire, brilliant bursts of blue elemental energy shot into the air in place of bullets.

Nearby, players dressed as mages in ornate, pointed hats laughed and waved their staffs, chanting spells that unleashed waves of magical fireworks. Brilliant blossoms of light exploded across the sky in a kaleidoscope of colors, each burst more dazzling than the last.

In an instant, the heavens were ablaze with spectacular brilliance, as if the stars themselves had descended to join the celebration.

Below, the banquet grew even more jubilant.

Surrounded by cheerful music, Cáo Língxuān found herself lost in the moment momentarily. The entire wedding venue overflowed with warmth and joy, vibrant laughter ringing through the air, and an infectious excitement radiating from the crowd.

Everywhere she looked, players were smiling, dancing, and celebrating without a care in the world.

The atmosphere was so immersive that for a brief second, she forgot she was in a game.

It felt like a real celebration, one that stirred something deep within her.

For a brief second, she even felt a twinge of envy toward the bride and groom at the center of it all, basking in everyone’s blessings.

She knew that in many online games, in-game weddings like these weren’t really that uncommon. But as someone who rarely played MMOs, she had always thought of such things as just shallow online romances.

Sure, some relationships transitioned to real life, but those were few and far between.

Yet now, in this moment, she suddenly understood why so many games included such marriage systems.

Because, this feeling was truly wonderful…

Watching these players offer sincere blessings to the couple and seeing the radiant joy upon the bride and groom’s faces, Cáo Língxuān couldn’t help but feel a spark of longing within her.

Someday, when I get married… could I have something like this too?

But quickly, she snapped herself out of it, pinching her cheek.

Stop dreaming…I’m already far too busy for a boyfriend as it is, let alone getting married!

Hmph…being single isn’t so bad anyway….At least I get to do whatever I want, whenever I want.

Long live singlehood!

Cáo Língxuān consoled herself with such thoughts.

Still, she couldn’t help but sigh in admiration.

“What a beautiful wedding…”

“—It really is,” came a soft, wistful voice beside her, laced with a mix of longing, emotion, and just a hint of envy.

Cáo Língxuān turned her head and saw that, at some point, a female player dressed like a rogue had quietly appeared next to her. With ashen hair and dark-grey eyes, the woman stared dreamily at the center of the celebration.

Out of habit, Cáo Língxuān glanced at the person’s head but saw that her username was hidden.

“Why are so many players in this city hiding their usernames?” she mumbled under her breath.

Noticing her gaze, the stranger gave a radiant smile.

“Are you perhaps a new Chosen One?”

“Ah…yeah, I just started today,” Cáo Língxuān replied, slightly bowing her head in greetings.

The woman looked her up and down, then nodded with a smile.

“I thought so. Welcome to the world of Seigües. Don’t be nervous, once you get used to it, your progress will come quickly.”

With that, she extended a hand.

“My name’s Nightingale Shadowshade.”

Nightingale Shadowshade?

Cáo Língxuān quietly committed the name to memory before grabbing the offered hand.

“Nice to meet you. My username is Velodis.”

“Velodis? That’s a lovely name,” Nightingale said with a raised brow and a playful smile.

Then, in one smooth motion, she snagged two drinks from a red-haired player with an afro carrying a tray as he walked by them before offering one to Cáo Língxuān.

“Here, give it a try. It’s Hundred Flower Tea, which is a specialty of Florence.”

That move was so slick!

Cáo Língxuān’s eyes sparkled with amusement.

But out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the player Nightingale had taken the drinks from—his username, “Demacia,” glowed in bright green above his head. He now sat at a banquet table, staring in bewilderment at his unexpectedly empty tray.

Cáo Língxuān: “…”

That guy wasn’t a waiter… right?

He couldn’t be…right?!

Noticing where she was looking, Nightingale chuckled.

“Don’t worry. There is no limit on drinks here, that guy can just go get himself some more.”

Cáo Língxuān: “…”

She gave an awkward smile but still took the drink. The wooden cup held a semi-transparent amber liquid that shimmered faintly under the light.

Even before bringing it to her lips, a fragrant, almost magical aroma filled her senses. It was refreshing, calming, and so pleasant that Cáo Língxuān immediately felt a strong urge to drink it.

She swallowed and took a sip.

Cool and slightly sweet with a hint of tartness, the tea spread across her tongue, the floral notes bursting in her mouth like a chilled summer breeze. It was both refreshing and addictive, leaving her craving for some more.

Cáo Língxuān’s eyes lit up in delight.

“This is so tasty!”

“Right? I knew you’d like it.”

Nightingale smiled, eyes narrowing as she sipped her own tea in contentment.

Cáo Língxuān nodded enthusiastically, her eyes drifting around the venue once more.

“Do weddings like this happen a lot in this game?”

“This game…” Nightingale paused, then shook her head slowly, as if suddenly reminded of something.

“No. This is the first.”

She glanced back toward the couple on stage, who were still basking in the crowd’s blessings, her expression softening.

“This wedding was organized by the Church of Life and hosted jointly by both guilds, Heart of Nature and Moe Moe Committee. It was specially arranged for Noah and Constance.”

Heart of Nature…

Cáo Língxuān remembered it was something her mentor had mentioned. How it was the biggest guild here in Elven Kingdom.

No wonder this event was so elaborate…

Cáo Língxuān internally nodded.

Nightingale continued speaking, her tone still calm and friendly.

“Noah and Constance are both members of the Elven Legion. During the recent Holy War, they joined the Chosen Ones’ army formed by Heart of Nature and Moe Moe Committee as support troops. In fact, most of the guests attending today’s wedding are senior members of those two guilds, as well as some Chosen One friends the couple made along the way.”

So that’s the story.

Cáo Língxuān nodded thoughtfully.

Earlier, on their way to the venue, her mentor had given her a quick rundown on the latest happenings in the game. Apparently, the most recent server-wide event had been a massive holy war, which involved over a hundred thousand players, and the section that showed an epic war in the opening cutscene she had seen at the start of the game was actually taken straight from it.

However, while she was listening to Nightingale narrate all this, she noticed something peculiar in her manner of speech. She couldn’t quite put a finger on it, but something felt… off about it.

“So… they got together while working on a quests?” Cáo Língxuān asked curiously.

Nightingale paused, then smiled.

“You could say that. But really, it was Noah who pursued Constance first. The thing is, he wasn’t very good at it…and Constance had a deep trauma involving men due to some unfortunate experiences in her past.”

“But with the aid of some Chosen Ones, Noah eventually managed to help Constance overcome her trauma during a battle in the Desert. He moved her heart with his actions, and eventually, she finally accepted his feelings.”

Trauma of men…

Cáo Língxuān silently guessed that female player might have had some bad experiences in real life.

But still…

—With the help of Chosen Ones?

That phrasing felt really… odd.

She murmured to herself, puzzled.

Meanwhile, Nightingale looked back toward the stage and sighed softly:

“I must say, some of you Chosen Ones truly are experts when it comes to winning a maiden’s heart.”

Cáo Língxuān rolled her eyes a little.

“Hah, yeah sure, and there are plenty of pervs too, especially online.”

“…Pervs?” Nightingale blinked in confusion, as if unfamiliar with the term.

Seeing her blank expression, Cáo Língxuān sighed.

“Anyone can just say nice sweet things, but talk is cheap. You never really know what someone’s like deep down…”

Nightingale let out a small laugh at that, then said gently:

“Don’t worry, we Elves are always faithful. We’ll never be like that.”

She turned once more to watch the happy couple, now being offered a drink by a crowd of players, nostalgia filling her eyes.

“Noah fled from the Holy Maniya Empire, while Constance crossed the Dark Mountains to return here to the Elven Forest. So for them to end up together like this is nothing short of a miracle. None of us ever thought we’d live to see this kind of peace, so… everyone treasures every single day we have now.”

….Wait a second.

What does this all have to do with us players?

And what’s that about Holy Maniya Empire?

The Dark Mountains?

Aren’t those just places in the game’s lore?

Was she talking about some storyline from a quest?

Fled? Returned? What’s that supposed to mean?

Did they go through a really difficult quest? Or did those two players just quit the game and come back later?

Cáo Língxuān was utterly lost.

Only now did she realize how unfamiliar she was with this game’s lingo and lore.

She understood every word Nightingale said, but once they were strung together, her brain just… froze.

Nightingale continued with a reverent expression, her eyes drifting back to the temple.

“For the Elvenkind, this is also a beautiful beginning.”

“Noah and Constance are the first couple to marry since the resurgence of the Elves. Thus, both the Church of Life and the Clans see this wedding as a deeply meaningful moment. That’s also why Lady Zero had personally came to bless the couple with the Goddess’s flower wreath.”

Cáo Língxuān: “…”

And finally, it dawned on her.

She realized now what had been bugging her all along.

This player…this woman who had hidden her username had been speaking the entire time, as if she were role-playing all along.

W-Wait a minute… is she an NPC?!

No… that’s impossible.

Surely, she had to be just one of those players obsessed with role-playing, right?

You know, the kind you often see back in middle school…those weird classmates of yours that have Chuunibyou syndrome. ¹

Hmm…but if that was the case, then Miss Nightingale, this person she was talking to right now probably wasn’t an older sister at all, but more likely a much younger girl in real life.

After all, despite her mature appearance, it was still just a game and players could customize their avatars however they liked.

For instance, didn’t her mentor customized his avatar with a baby-faced, youthful look and proudly boast to her that it was like he “returned to his youthful days”…?

So by that logic, even a woman in her late thirties could tweak her avatar to look like a young, teenage girl.

Cáo Língxuān sighed, convinced she had figured it all out.

Just then, she noticed Nightingale’s eyes light up in joy as she glanced toward a group of players in the crowd.

Cáo Língxuān followed her line of sight and spotted a team making their way over. Their equipment was clearly a cut above the rest, and at the front walked a man with a steady, composed air whose username read “Boxlunch.”

“I’ve got something to do, see you around! Miss Velodis, enjoy the game!”

With that, Nightingale called out cheerfully, then happily ran off toward that group of players.

Cáo Língxuān watched her go, a faint smile on her face, and couldn’t help but sigh:

“Ah, springtime of youth…”

“Youth? What youth?”

A clear, refreshing teenage male voice spoke up from behind her.

Startled, Cáo Língxuān quickly turned around and sighed when she realized it was only her mentor.

“Black Cat-Laoshi, I still can’t get used to your voice sounding so young in this game.”

“Is that so? I actually like it! it makes me feel so young again!”

Mao Mo, aka Mr. Black Cat, had finally come back from his fanboying excursion, wearing a wide, satisfied grin.

He then glanced at Nightingale who had joined Boxlunch’s group in the distance, before turning back to Cáo Língxuān with a thoughtful expression.

“When did you start talking to Nightingale?”

“Huh? Laoshi, you know Miss Nightingale as well?”

Cáo Língxuān was surprised.

“Why, of course, I do! After all, she’s one of the most well-known NPCs here in ElvKing because she’s been around since the first beta. She’s an expert thief and the primary NPC the players turn to for learning stealth and thief-related skills—many of which are crucial for exploring dungeons.”

Cáo Língxuān’s eyes went wide in shock.

…Wait, what?!

“N-NPC?!”

She’d just had such a natural conversation with her…

That was an NPC?!

Hold on—

She suddenly looked around and scanned the crowd in their surroundings. Nearly half of the “players” had no visible username in their heads…

Cáo Língxuān: “…”

A ridiculous thought crept into her mind:

Don’t tell me those people, who looked just like players except for the lack of usernames…

Could they all be NPCs?!

Even the bride and groom…?

No, no, that can’t be!

If they were all NPCs, then what about Nightingale’s look just now…?

Clearly, she was blushing like a girl in love while looking at a certain person with a username above their head!

D-Don’t tell me…an NPC can have feelings of love towards a player?!

…What kind of game is this?

Cáo Língxuān’s thoughts spiraled into chaos.

¹ Chuunibyou (中二病) or “middle second-year syndrome,” is a Japanese slang term referring to the behavior of early teens (often around 8th grade, or second year of middle school in Japan) who have delusions of grandeur and act as if they possess special powers or secret knowledge.

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