Isekai Nonbiri Nouka - Chapter 886

Chapter 886: The Wedding Reception (I)

Evening.

「To celebrate the union of Guinel and Metora, cheers!」

The wedding banquet began.

The reception was held across my mansion’s first-floor hall and the courtyard.

Numerous tables were laden with food and alcohol, providing an impressive spread.

Seating arrangements were largely informal, with only the main seats for Guinel and Metora predetermined.

Guests could sit wherever they pleased—or even eat while standing.

It was, in essence, the usual banquet style of the village.

The attendees included not just those who made it to the wedding but also many residents from neighboring villages....which is a lot, but it’s Metora’s wedding banquet so there’s no problem with that.

The more people celebrating, the better.

Despite it being early spring, when fresh ingredients were still scarce, the oni maids’ efforts ensured the dishes were as splendid as ever.

The impure dragons, unfamiliar with the village’s cuisine, seemed completely enraptured by the food.

As for Guinel, though he appeared intrigued by the dishes, he had little chance to eat.

Being the groom meant receiving a constant stream of congratulations.

I made a mental note to ensure he could enjoy the meal later.

At the center of the venue stood a towering....ehto, seven layer.....no, eight-layer wedding cake. It was surrounded by an excited group of children and the Fairy Queen, their anticipation palpable.

Though they had tasted many prototypes during preparations, the final product clearly held a unique allure.

However, I had reminded them that the newlyweds should have the first slice but.....

The cake seemed in imminent danger of being attacked, so I asked the civil servant girl overseeing the reception to expedite the cake-cutting.

Meanwhile, the village’s chickens, who normally roamed freely in the courtyard, had been temporarily relocated to its edges.

They deserved a reward for their cooperation—perhaps some leafy greens would suffice.

Interestingly, while they obediently followed the oni maids and beastgirls, they were much less cooperative with me.

I couldn’t help but marvel at how effortlessly others managed them.

On another note, the cost of the wedding and reception was being covered by the dragons, with Dors taking the lead.

I had initially declined the offer, but they insisted, saying it was tradition to contribute generously to a celebratory occasion.

Since they were so adamant, I planned to bill them accordingly, albeit at a discounted “congratulatory” rate.

-0-

Now.

Amidst the lively atmosphere of the reception, a quieter discussion unfolded in one corner.

Youko and Niz were explaining something to Dors—about the ‘Voice of God’ heard during the wedding.

Apparently, when ancient dragons gather and roar in unison, it serves as an emergency alert to the gods, akin to an emergency alarm.

Over time, this signal came to symbolize apocalyptic warnings—the end of the world, or the start of a world-ending catastrophe.

To prevent such confusion, the ancient dragons had been strictly instructed over generations not to gather unnecessarily.....

Did each session turn into something resembling today’s wedding?

「Not exactly. It was on a much smaller scale. In human form, it felt more casual. When we were stuck on a discard, someone would mutter ‘Oh, divine one,’ and the gods would respond. At first, even I was surprised, but over time, it became more like chatting with an old acquaintance.」

The Ice Monster explained further.

I see.

I couldn’t help but wonder—if Dors and the others had been communing with gods during their mahjong games, why didn’t you inform them about your planned roaring?

You assumed that the gods would get it?

...Wait a second.

If the Ice Monster had grown accustomed to divine communication, wouldn’t Dors and the others have become familiar with it as well?

So why had you stayed still during the earlier ceremony?

Girar and Doraim, too—why hadn’t they moved despite being used to hearing the Voice of God?

According to Dors, they weren’t entirely sure why they could hear the voice this time, but once they realized something had likely gone awry, they decided it was safer to remain still.

I see.

Ah, so that’s just how the ancient dragons operate.

It really made me feel that you are Hakuren’s family.

「Wait! That’s not fair!」

Hakuren immediately protested, so I made a mental note to adjust my assessment.

Still, the ancient dragon bloodline is undeniably strong.

-0-

From a casual conversation with Dors, I learned something surprising. His habit of communing with the gods started with the shrine in Village Five.

Apparently, the gods, delighted by the surge of faith, found it easier to interact with the ancient dragons than with the holy maiden, whose increasing sanctity made her harder to reach.

While Dors’s openness to divine communication was startling, I couldn’t help but feel the gods were a little too eager to engage as well.

Once the reception ends, I’ll have an altar constructed to apologize properly.

A “Sorry for causing a commotion” offering should help smooth things over.

-0-

For now, I turned my attention back to the reception.

The time had come for the first joint task as husband and wife: cutting into the eight-layer wedding cake.

Of course, such a tradition doesn’t exist in this world—it was my idea.

Metora seemed particularly delighted by the symbolic act of working together.

After the ceremonial cut, the cake was divided and served by the oni maidens, ensuring everyone at the reception received a slice.

The Fairy Queen and the children surrounded the table in excitement, comparing portions and debating which slice had more fruit.

I was initially concerned that even an eight-layer cake might not be enough for the entire crowd. But to my surprise, four additional six-layer cakes were brought out.

It seems like this had been anticipated.

With the surplus, seconds were available for anyone who wanted them, much to the Fairy Queen and children’s delight.

I understand their excitement over the cakes, but I couldn’t help wishing they’d channel some of that enthusiasm into celebrating Guinel and Metora’s marriage.