Standing beside Yuu, Asuna slightly parted her lips, her face filled with astonishment as she observed the surroundings where the white light was slowly fading.
The night in Aincrad, at some point, had become as bright as day. Beyond the window stretched a vibrant field of colorful flowers.
The cathedral was no longer so grand, now resembling a charming little countryside wedding chapel. A long red carpet stretched from beneath their feet to the door, with ten rows of pews lined up on either side, the wood gleaming with a warm glow.
The church was adorned with fresh flowers, heart-shaped wreaths neatly decorating the arches on both sides. The statue of the Goddess at the front even held a bouquet of white baby's breath, the fresh and elegant floral scent wafting gently with a faint breeze, refreshing the mind.
It was truly like transmigrating to another world. In gaming terms… was this another new dungeon?
Asuna stared blankly for a moment before snapping out of it, realizing that Sister Martha, who had been frail and sickly, now stood at the center of the altar, holding a red-covered prayer book, her face radiant with a kind smile as she looked at them.
Temporarily ignoring the strange transformation, Asuna exclaimed in surprise, "Grandma Martha, you've recovered?!"
Shifting his gaze, Yuu also looked at her.
"Yes, thanks to you both, the True Love Flower bloomed smoothly." Sister Martha bowed slightly in gratitude, her tone as gentle as a neighborly grandmother. "My matters and the mission completion rewards can be discussed later. For now…"
She glanced around with a mischievous smile and winked. "This room was specially prepared for you two, appearing only for ten minutes after the True Love Flower blooms—the most luxurious wedding venue in all of Aincrad. I don't need to remind you what to do, do I?"
"Eh?" As if in disbelief, Asuna's body stiffened, her face gradually warming.
Yuu looked at Sister Martha oddly. "…Are you really an NPC?"
"Of course, I'm a native resident, Adventurer." Sister Martha smiled politely, but for some reason, there was a profound air about her. "And besides, instead of focusing on an old lady like me, you should be paying more attention to the girl beside you."
Hearing her words, Yuu instinctively glanced to his side.
Asuna's fair, beautiful face was tinged with pink. She quietly raised her gaze, tugging at Yuu's sleeve, whispering with an innocent and sweet expression:
"Yuu-kun, this is a wedding hall!"
"…Indeed, it's a wedding hall."
"It seems like we can hold a wedding ceremony!"
"…Sister did say that."
"There might even be a blessing from the Goddess!"
"…That's how the game is set up."
"…"
The corner of Asuna's mouth twitched, and suddenly, she flashed a wide smile, her voice sweet and soft.
"Yuu-kun, if you keep playing dumb, I might actually get mad, okay?"
Yuu hugged his sulking girlfriend in front of him, ruffling her hair vigorously, laughing heartily with cheer.
"Hahahaha, just kidding!"
"—Asuna, let's get married!"
Asuna wriggled out of his embrace, pouting with dissatisfaction, tidying her hair.
"Ugh—why can't you just be honest at a moment like this? Wouldn't creating a warm, touching atmosphere be better?"
"That's for the official wedding later."
Yuu shrugged, shifting his gaze from the shyly smiling chestnut-haired girl to Sister Martha, who was chuckling amusedly.
"How do we do it?"
"Since we only have ten minutes and it's just the three of us, the procedure has been simplified as much as possible."
She opened the red-covered book in her hands, and a sudden glow of equipment-changing effects shimmered around Yuu and Asuna.
Moments later, when they looked down, their light armor and leather gear had transformed into a wedding dress and a suit, perfectly fitted to their bodies.
Though the modern style felt a bit out of place in Aincrad's otherworldly theme… no one minded anymore.
"Amazing…"
"There's even a mechanism like this…"
As they marveled, Grandma Martha gestured. "Stand in front of me."
Yuu glanced at Asuna, and Asuna happened to glance at him.
Her chestnut hair was covered by a pure white veil, and faintly, Yuu could see her gentle hazel eyes.
Her snow-white neck and shoulders were exposed, her collarbone elegant and alluring. Above the off-shoulder neckline was a deep I-shaped curve. His gaze moved downward, past the full valley to a suddenly narrowing plain, her perfect waist tightly cinched by the wedding dress, while her hips were hidden by the voluminous skirt, the sight subtly breathtaking.
As Yuu observed her, Asuna was observing him too.
The white suit with a sword-like collar accentuated his well-proportioned figure—not overly tall or muscular, but the masculine charm was undiminished, captivating and leaving one in a daze.
…He was already handsome, but now he's even more so.
Was this the magic called marriage?
"You look beautiful. It suits you perfectly," Yuu praised sincerely.
Snapping out of it, Asuna's face flushed, but she generously lifted her head, smiling and saying, "Yuu-kun, you're really handsome too! I accidentally ended up liking you even more."
"Is that so? I won't waver just because of a simple change of clothes." Yuu laughed too, though a bit mischievously. "Whatever you wear, I like it. I like it best when you wear nothing…"
Before finishing, he casually turned his face away, as if he hadn't said anything.
"Alright, let's go to Sister Martha."
Unfortunately, Asuna had heard the first half and could guess the rest.
"Yuu-kun, you…"
She glared at him, embarrassed and angry, then sighed with a mix of resignation and amusement, complaining in a tone of "What am I going to do with you~".
"He says that, but in a moment like this, he can still hold back. I really don't know what to say…"
"Then just say I'm a gentleman."
"Tch, shameless!"
After a bit of quiet bickering, they reached Sister Martha—Yuu standing on her right, Asuna on her left, both pairs of eyes looking straight ahead.
"Are you ready? Then let's begin."
Sister Martha gave a faint smile, her hands holding the red-covered prayer book, her eyes slightly closed, her tone suddenly solemn and sacred:
"O Goddess of Creation, we come before You to bless this couple entering the sacred bond of marriage…"
The long prayer echoed in the pristine white cathedral. About three minutes later, Sister Martha opened her eyes, looking at the perfectly matched young man and woman before her.
"Please, in the presence of the Goddess of Creation, state any reasons that prevent you from uniting."
First was Yuu.
"Yuu, do you take this woman as your wife and enter into the bond of marriage with her? In sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth, for no other reason, to love her, cherish her, respect her, accept her, until the end of your days?"
Yuu answered firmly, "I do."
Then it was Asuna's turn.
"Asuna, do you take this man as your husband and enter into the bond of marriage with him… until the end of your days?"
Asuna smiled happily, "I do!"
"Then, both of you, exchange the rings on your fingers."
Yuu removed the silver ring from his left ring finger. The simple ring suddenly glowed, transforming into a beautiful diamond ring adorned with blooming crystal flowers.
Asuna experienced the same, the crystal flowers sparkling brightly, as if chanting blessings for them both.
"Asuna…"
Yuu took her left hand, looking into her slightly reddened eyes.
In those teary, radiant eyes, an overflowing love enveloped his figure.
—To be surrounded by such immense love was truly boundless happiness.
He smiled, slowly slipping the ring onto her slender, fair ring finger, saying:
"Are you satisfied now?"
"Hm?"
Snapping out of her overwhelming happiness, Asuna blinked in surprise, as if not understanding why Yuu asked.
But after thinking for a moment with a furrowed brow, she answered, "Saying satisfied or not feels a bit strange… Even if it's not official, marrying the person you love—isn't that every girl's dream?"
"Especially when that person saved you from a prison-like life, always standing by you through joy and sorrow. Isn't that beyond mere satisfaction?"
Asuna smiled again, looking into his eyes, her voice clear and firm.
"Yuu-kun, since meeting you, I've never regretted my choices… And loving you is the proudest and most memorable thing in my life!"
From the depths of her heart, she expressed her truest feelings.
Yuu's confident demeanor was truly cooler than anyone else in the world.
"So, I'm happier than ever before."
"And in the future, I want to be happy—much, much, much happier!"
"Yuu-kun… Can you grant my wish?"
Her words fell.
Asuna smiled, looking at him, who had stopped moving after sliding the ring to the base of her finger.
As time passed, the expression on his face slowly turned to confusion.
"Yuu-kun?"
The silence lingered for a moment.
"…Asuna."
"I love the smile on your face, and I love the way you say you love me."
Yuu released her hand, not extending his left hand to exchange rings, but gently caressing the side of her face.
Though the touch was so gentle and affectionate, at that moment, Asuna felt a piercing pain in her heart, as if it were torn apart.
"Yuu—"
Before she could speak, Yuu lowered his head, his lips curving into a faint smile, whispering.
"This is my answer."
Because the important thing was here, now.
[Ding!]
[Yuuki Asuna's wish has been fulfilled.]
[Congratulations, Host, for completing the mission.]
[You may proceed with mission reward settlement immediately. If settlement is not initiated by 6 a.m. on September 22, the system will automatically enter settlement time.]
[Note: The settlement process is irreversible. Once you choose to enter settlement, you cannot leave the settlement space until the world correction is complete.]
"No need for confirmation. Settle the mission."
Yuu didn't listen closely to the system's response.
The next second, his world sank back into darkness.