Chapter 186: The Bride of May (4) "All right, everyone—kimchi~."
Whirr.
Click.
"Ah! I blinked!"
"Damn it! The guy in front blocked my entire face! Tie your hair back!"
"Why are you picking on my hair? Who knew the wind would blow this hard?!"
The dwarves gathered beside the bride and groom grumbled while blaming one another.
A strong gust of wind had blown in just before the smartphone's flash went off, ruining the photo.
"Aston, how is it? Is it all right now?"
"Let me see… Yes, no problem."
"Wait a moment. I need to fix your hair, too. A strand is sticking up on top. Tilt your head slightly to the left… Yes, that's perfect."
Amid the chaos, Aston and Stella gently adjusted each other's wind-tousled hair, looking every bit the affectionate newlyweds.
"Everyone, calm down. We can just take it again. Let's hurry before the wind blows once more."
Jinseo gestured for the finger-pointing dwarves to return to their places.
They quickly smoothed their hair and clothes, then faced forward with bright smiles.
Click, click.
"One more. Please stay still."
Click.
"Thank you. Next, the centaurs, please gather."
After checking the photo, Jinseo beckoned to the centaurs waiting nearby.
"All right, here we go!"
Click, click.
"Next, it's the elves' turn. Please come forward."
While the elves arranged themselves by height, Jinseo looked down at the smartphone screen and let out a long sigh.
I really wanted to use a proper camera… what a pity.
For guests attending a wedding, two things mattered most: the banquet and photographs with the bride and groom.
Jinseo had ordered a top-tier camera at great expense for this occasion.
However, delivery issues prevented it from arriving in time, leaving him no choice but to rely on his smartphone.
The photos stored on it would be printed as soon as he returned to Korea and distributed the following day. Having never taken group photos before, every single guest requested printed copies.
"This time, friends of the bride and groom and related parties, please gather."
"Oh? Our turn? Let's go!"
"Hey! Focus! Leave your swords behind!"
The knights leapt from their seats and lined up with precise spacing.
Meanwhile, the women from Stella's workshop carefully positioned themselves according to the colors of their outfits.
"How fascinating. When you want to record everyone gathered like this, you could use magic to draw on a scroll—but photography seems far simpler and faster. And since it isn't magic, even non-mages can do it."
Standing beside him, Charlotte admired the photos on the smartphone.
"Lady Charlotte, you should take a photo as well."
"No. I won't. As time passes… I'll only end up confirming that I'm the only one left."
"Ah… I see. I was thoughtless."
"Don't make that face. You suggested it for my sake, didn't you? I'm fine. I'll just watch."
Gulp, gulp.
After finishing her cola, Charlotte casually opened a bag of potato chips.
"You look exhausted."
"At first, I thought it was just pressing a button. But once I started, there's so much to manage."
Taking the photos itself was easy. Directing everyone to fit into a single frame was another matter. Sweat beaded on his forehead.
"Is there anything I can help with?"
"No, it's fine. Everyone, ready."
Click, click, click.
"Lastly, food truck staff, please gather."
"Hyung-nim! Make it a good one!"
Jason, the food truck's first regular customer and now an invaluable supporter, stood beside Aston.
People of various ages and races gathered around the couple. Nero the cat and Owl joined in as well.
Click, click.
After taking two photos, Jinseo pulled out a bulky camera unlike the smartphone.
It was a Polaroid camera—just like the one his father used on his elementary, middle, and high school graduation days.
"One moment. This time, I'll use this."
Click.
Whirr.
Ah… I forgot you're not supposed to shake it…
He absentmindedly shook the developing photo before realizing his mistake and smiling wryly.
"Lady Charlotte, could you hold this for a moment? Don't shake it—just hold the edge."
"Got it. You can take photos with this too? It looks unusual."
"It's a Polaroid—synonymous with instant cameras."
As he spoke with Charlotte, Jinseo continued pressing the shutter.
"Instant? The photo… comes out like this? I thought photos only existed inside screens."
"Originally, photos came out as physical prints like this. These are instant, so they develop quickly. If you go to a photo studio, proper printing takes time."
"It feels different, having something tangible right away. You can take it out and look at it anytime. It's not as sharp as smartphone photos, but it has its own charm."
Charlotte examined each developing image curiously.
Jinseo took three Polaroids in total—one each for the bride and groom, and one to decorate the food truck.
Afterward, he recreated the same composition with the smartphone and concluded the session.
"That concludes the long photo session. Next is the bouquet toss, which will determine which lady will be the next to enjoy a wedding as happy as today's bride."
Stella, clad in a pure white gown, stepped forward holding her bouquet and turned her back.
Female guests, having already received an explanation from Jinseo, gathered behind her regardless of race.
There was a superstition that failing to marry within a certain period after catching the bouquet meant a much longer single life—but Jinseo had not mentioned that. Instead, he said catching it meant divine assurance of a happy marriage.
"Now, throw it!"
At Hayward's cue, Stella flung the bouquet over her shoulder.
As it arced downward, the women reached up.
"Yahoo! I got it!"
Mary, a mage from the Doren Mage Tower, cheered while holding the bouquet.
Her gaze shifted toward Julien, tuning his instrument at the food truck counter.
The other women returned to their seats with regret. Only one remained standing.
"…."
Fedora slowly lowered her outstretched hands.
She had been designated the next Pope by the current one.
Marriage was an unattainable dream for her.
Yet she did not know why she had reached out.
"Your order still forbids clergy from marrying?"
"Pardon?"
Charlotte, having approached silently, opened another bag of chips.
"N-not exactly. Our policies are more lenient now."
"But the Pope still cannot marry."
"Yes."
"And you're the designated successor."
"Yes…"
"Tch. After thousands of years, they still haven't changed such outdated rules."
Charlotte chewed irritably.
"Lady Charlotte, I have already devoted everything to God."
"I know. I've seen enough Popes agonize over love. I understand how you feel. But what's wrong is wrong. Sigh…"
Charlotte sighed deeply and stood.
"Jinseo! Take one for us too!"
"Yes, stay like that. Don't blink."
Click. Whirr.
Guests now crowded around Jinseo, requesting Polaroids.
Learning they could receive physical photos instantly, they lingered eagerly. In the rush, only one sheet of film remained.
"I'm sorry, everyone. I must prepare the banquet now."
He slipped away and approached Fedora.
"Cardinal, thank you for your hard work."
"Not at all. You worked far harder."
"This is nothing. You haven't taken a photo with this, have you? There's one sheet left…"
"Hyung-nim! What color was the bag with the boiled pork?"
"Yes! One moment! Cardinal, could you hold this? It's something my father gave me."
"I will never forget."
"Haha, no need to look so solemn. I'll be right back."
He hurried off.
Left alone, Fedora slowly traced the Polaroid's rough design.
"He pressed this button earlier, didn't he?"
She examined it carefully, found the shutter, and stood.
As the ceremony ended, the Raven Mercenary Group and knights cleared chairs and set up banquet tables.
Guests eagerly anticipated the food.
Among them, Jinseo moved briskly, carrying dishes.
Click. Whirr.
"Ah… done."
Fedora took a Polaroid of Jinseo's profile as he gave instructions beside the Additional Trailer.
She quietly tucked the film into her robes.
"The moment you've all been waiting for has arrived. In both Korea and here, no wedding is complete without delicious food! Please enjoy the dishes prepared with care since yesterday by Lee Jinseo and the bunsik street chefs! I'm going to eat as well! This tie is so suffocating—ah, the mic's still on!"
Hayward yanked off his tie.
"Ah! Before that—everyone, wait!"
Realizing one more event remained, he turned the mic back on.
"In Korean weddings, the wedding cake is essential. We will now proceed with the cake-cutting ceremony. After that, let's eat!"
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