Chapter 473

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Chapter 473: The Meeting of Families (7)

『Me...? Wait, I’ve never said I was waiting for you...』

Proxima couldn’t hide the expression of bewilderment after hearing Yeongwoo’s words.

Of course, considering Parina’s temperament and life goals, the fact that anyone was volunteering to become her spouse was nothing short of a miracle.

But still, this one was a star, while he...

『Don’t tell me, are you... an Earthling?』

As Proxima finally took a closer look at his opponent, his eyes widened.

Yeongwoo responded with a nod.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

『Earthlings are known to be unable to withstand even the full light of a star.』

“In terms of might or mass, wouldn't even you be crushed flat under the Sun, Father-in-law?”

Yeongwoo suddenly slapped him with words.

Proxima’s brows furrowed deeply for a moment, then returned to their original state.

『Indeed. You're probably not an ordinary Earthling.』

Surprisingly, Proxima brushed off Yeongwoo’s provocation calmly.

This unexpected reaction caught Yeongwoo off guard, who had been bracing for a possible sword strike from his future father-in-law.

“…!”

Can you even use the term ‘personality’ when talking about a star?

He hadn’t met many stars, but it was certain that Proxima’s personality ranked in the top tier among them.

『You may already know this… but my daughter also possesses the properties of a star.』

Swoosh.

Proxima raised one hand to chest level and formed a dense ball of energy on his palm.

Chuaaah!

『Stars are, by nature, explosive beings—but our Parina is even more... exceptional. It will be difficult for a human to handle.』

“…Ah.”

Only after hearing that did Yeongwoo realize.

Proxima wasn’t trying to belittle human inferiority with his talk about the light of stars.

He was genuinely concerned for the wellbeing of his future son-in-law.

Of course—how could a human being, no matter how exceptional, ever hope to contain a star?

‘But I’m not just a human—I’m the head of my house, and soon to be captain of Earthship. That changes everything.’

Yeongwoo hadn’t proposed to a star without serious consideration.

Once the marriage was sealed, Earth would be transformed into a full-fledged planetary ship, elevating its might to rival even the Sun.

And Yeongwoo himself would become the captain—not just of Earth, but of the Earthship.

“Father-in-law. I may not be able to defeat your daughter in a physical brawl, but I’ve already become far too important to the solar system. This marriage is destined. It’s the fate of our solar system.”

Proxima’s eyes widened, and he turned to look at his spouse, Moro.

『Destiny of the solar system… what do you mean by that?』

Moro straightened up and finally spoke.

『Ah, I forgot to mention something.』

『What is it...?』

『We’ll soon be leaving our orbit.』

『…What?』

Proxima, who had until now managed to keep his composure, finally lost it.

For a celestial body to abandon its orbit—

Even without saying it out loud, everyone knew it meant defying the very laws of the universe.

But more than being an act of defiance, there was something else.

Moro was Proxima’s spouse.

『Wait—leaving your orbit means…』

If the Sun left its orbit, it would also mean leaving Proxima behind.

That’s what had truly shaken Proxima.

『I’ll make sure to visit from time to time.』

Moro gave a farewell that wasn’t quite a farewell.

And only then did Yeongwoo realize the dilemma facing these two stars.

‘Ah… if Moro leaves orbit, then it’s basically a goodbye to Proxima.’

Unlike the solar system, Centauri had neither the will nor the capacity to leave its orbit.

In other words, once the Earthship launched, Moro and Proxima would be physically separated.

‘But wait—Proxima came all the way here from Centauri, right? Couldn’t he just visit Earthship later?’

As Yeongwoo entertained this natural question, Earth’s presence stirred in his consciousness.

○ It’s not that simple.

‘Why not? Can’t we just send Proxima the new coordinates and ask him to wait nearby?’

○ That would only work if we stayed in the lower part of the galaxy.

‘Ah.’

With Earth’s reply, Yeongwoo immediately understood.

‘Stars... can’t travel beyond the galaxy they're part of?’

○ You could say that only about half the galaxy is accessible. Stars in the lower regions can’t ascend to the upper half—and vice versa.

‘So stars live in a much more confined world than I expected.’

○ Calling a galaxy “confined” is an incredibly ignorant thing to say.

‘But Moro seems to be planning to go beyond the galaxy. Isn’t that why she’s saying goodbye?’

○ That’s... because Moro is no ordinary star.

Then Earth added a final remark.

○ You—and we—are about to venture into an unimaginably vast world.

And at that moment, the last guest split the skies over Gwangjin District.

KWAAJIK!

Through the clouds, a blaze of colorful energy burst forth—

『Hyaaaaah!』

It was none other than Parina, the Princess of the Sun.

‘She really does whatever she wants. Her parents and uncles arrived first, and she’s the one who shows up late?’

What’s more, she was the only celestial being so far to fly straight to the ceremonial hall.

Even in the midst of all this, Parina clearly remembered where Yeongwoo had scheduled the formal meeting.

Then—

『Huh?』

She belatedly noticed the other stars present and veered off course.

Chuaaah!

At this point, Parina still bore the shape of a dragon.

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

But upon seeing the Centauri brothers, her silhouette began to change.

『Uncles?』

● Parina……!

At the Centauri brother’s call, Parina’s comet-like form rapidly began to shrink.

Swaaaah!

‘What is this, a transformation?’

As Yeongwoo muttered to himself while keeping his eyes on Parina, Earth responded.

○ That’s Parina’s courtesy.

‘Courtesy?’

○ She thinks it’s disrespectful to show a body larger than your uncle’s.

‘Wait, didn’t she show her full physique in front of mother-in-law?’

○ That’s because... Moro’s presence doesn’t outweigh your uncle’s.

‘Seriously? That makes no sense.’

Meanwhile, Parina broke through the sky and landed on the ground in Gwangjin-gu.

BOOOOM!

Like the Princess of the Sun she was, she landed with immense force and presence.

Yet, her appearance was completely different from how she looked in Earth’s office.

『What is this? Why is everyone gathered here?』

This time, she appeared in a human form.

‘…Parina? Is that her true form?’

Parina, now resembling a human like Moro, was a female figure with flowing red hair. However, she wore rugged, black-red armor over her entire body, giving her a fierce and contrasting impression compared to the elegant Moro.

○ True form? Stars don’t have such a thing. They simply manifest in a form that matches their abilities and desires.

With that, Earth also made an appearance at the scene.

Fshhhh...!

Right behind Yeongwoo.

“What? You’ve been behind me this whole time?”

『What are you saying? I can be anywhere. This is Earth, remember?』

Earth’s ‘real’ voice, now manifested, sounded quite different from before.

Earth then scanned the room and bowed respectfully.

『Allow me to introduce myself. I am Earth, the planet acting as the bridge for this covenant.』

Then, unsure whom to address first, Earth hesitated and finally turned toward Chairman Dogo.

『Originally, the designated venue for this formal meeting was the grand assembly hall over there. Shall we move?』

The chairman looked around at the stars gathered.

—We’re not holding a full ceremony anyway. As long as we vote to approve the covenant, that should suffice, no?

『…That is correct.』

—And I believe introductions have been made sufficiently. Moving places now would only be a hassle.

He was suggesting that since all key parties were present, they might as well proceed with the procedures here.

No one among the stars voiced an objection.

Only Parina, the sole stellar candidate, mumbled quietly to herself.

『Introductions… have been made sufficiently?』

It was a confused remark, unaware of what had happened between Yeongwoo and the Centauri brothers.

『…….』

『Hmm.』

● …….

● …….

A subtle tension filled the space.

Finally, Moro was the first to speak.

『Um… shall we proceed with the vote for now?』

For the marriage covenant to be valid, approval from the immediate families was necessary.

Simply put, if Parina’s parents—Moro and Proxima—and Yeongwoo’s parents—Jeonggu and Jiseon—gave their approval, then the covenant could be formalized without a ceremony.

Of course, the consent of the couple themselves was also required.

Put even more simply:

‘A vote… meaning it has to be unanimous for it to pass.’

Then, from the east side of Gwangjin-gu, a large energy signature flared up.

—S-Sorry I’m late! My apologies!

It was Yeongwoo’s biological mother, Song Jiseon, flying in with her husband on her back.

Proxima looked toward Yeongwoo with a concerned expression.

『Is that… your parent?』

She was worried because the in-law was boldly flaunting her large physique in front of the elders.

But Yeongwoo didn’t care in the slightest.

He simply pointed eastward.

“Yes. The big blue one over there is my mother, and the creature riding on her back is my father.”

At that, the usually silent Centauri brothers finally spoke in a heavy tone.

● …Incredible.

Their beloved niece and their own sibling were about to form a marriage covenant with such an uncultured, chaotic family.

Normally, they would have crushed every insignificant being in this place on the spot.

But surprisingly, Chairman Dogo was present.

How had such a lowly family managed to get Dogo’s support?

● …….

As Centaurus crossed his arms and ruminated over this unbelievable sight, Earth quickly resumed the proceedings.

『A-Alright then… Let us begin the voting immediately! If anyone opposes this marriage, they may exercise their legal right to veto!』

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]