Chapter 144 – Three Peaches (4)

“…Socheonma bought these for you?”

Jin Musahyang couldn’t believe his ears. Countless adult magazines filled her hands.

It would have been truly astonishing if that sincere and handsome man had really given these magazines to Zodiac. These publications were brimming with niche tastes that only those with perverse hobbies could appreciate.

“Really?”

When he asked again, just to be sure, Zodiac nodded her head, looking at him as if he were some bizarre stranger.

“Is that so?”
“That man gave you SM and… Hwagan… magazines like these as gifts?”
“Yes.”

Such utterly base and debauched desires. To think he’d actually given something like this to a young girl.

Musahyang was shocked. Socheonma, a man reputed for his fairness and uprightness, had shown his dark side.

‘Could it be that the reason I suddenly became Heavenly Demon’s disciple was to bring about the master’s cultivation in Do-won?’

Shuddering, Musk stroked his goosebump-covered arm.

“It wasn’t simply given to me. I asked my brother to buy it for me, so he did.”
“You asked him to buy an erotic magazine and he did so without hesitation? That’s even stranger!”

Though Hwangdo belatedly came to Socheonma’s defense, it was already too late.

Hwangdo’s popularity in Do-won was unparalleled. A little celestial maiden who always smiled and listened well to requests; no one would suspect her of being Heavenly Demon’s child. A girl who would receive unanimous praise for her looks alone.

Her innocent appearance brought her advantages. Even when she assisted with tasks at the inns nearby, it was Hwangdo who managed to consume more than the guests themselves.

An outside drama’s child actor? They were no match for Hwangdo. Musk, who was infatuated with foreign culture, was confident in this assessment.

“There’s no way a man can be normal if he willingly buys me a risqué magazine just because I asked for it.”

Of course, Zodiac is a genuine deviant.
It’s true that she has an innate interest in matters of a sexual nature.
She isn’t normal for passing such lewd information on to Zodiac either, but there was a sense of responsibility involved.

“What should I do? I’m not in a position to say anything to him. I don’t have the strength to do that either.”

Even while contemplating this,
Zodiac was engrossed in the magazine, savoring each line as if burying her face within its pages.

Watching Zodiac like that, Musk couldn’t help but think:

“Did they meet each other rather well?”

Like attracts like when it comes to deviants.

“Did you say something about responsibility? What did you say?”
“No, no, never mind.”

Zodiac tilted her head with her signature innocent expression.
Her pale face, illuminated by the light, caught Musk’s eye.

Long eyelashes framing sunset-hued eyes.
As you get closer, the unique scent of peaches wafts through the air, mingling with the aroma of flesh.

“It’s unbearably adorable, really.”
“Pi, you always say that. You’re quite pretty too.”

If I were pretty, by now you would be participating in a mystery contest.

Careless modesty pierces people’s hearts.
Wiping away her tears, Saryang focused on the magazine, as if to let things be.

“Well… to live with someone like you, that guy must not be normal either.”

It’s unclear whether Socheonma is looking down on Zodiac or just hanging out in a sibling-like manner.
Still, even Socheonma is said to be good-looking, so although they’re both somewhat deviant, aren’t they a fine pair of handsome and beautiful in their own way?
The age gap wasn’t a big deal in Do-won.
The custom of a 40-something and a teenager marrying was still vaguely present not only here but also beyond.

“Just try your best in that situation.”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t you like that older brother? Husband material? Can’t you see it that way?”

Zodiac opened her eyes wide and giggled.

“Choose your marriage partner carefully!”
“……”
“It’s rare these days, even in the comics, for people to just glance at each other’s bodies and fall in love immediately. You need to date for years to truly know each other~!”

Zodiac spoke as if she were making a guarantee. Musk stared blankly at this little pervert, suppressing the words that tried to escape her throat with a bitter smile.

The nickname of a little fairy was given by those who only knew the surface of Zodiac. Musk was well aware of her dark intentions.

“You’re going to choose your marriage partner carefully?”
“Yep~ Of course!”

Ha.

It was utter nonsense.

* * * * * * *

She had a dream for the first time in a while.

Since that day, every time she slept, she had nightmares, so she hadn’t slept for over a month. Her head ached, and she fell asleep with a sigh.

She naturally assumed she would have another familiar nightmare, but that wasn’t the case.

“Damn.”

A body dampened as if enduring a great ordeal.
Her face scrunched up in disgust at the discomfort in her lower body.

“[…It’s a physiological reaction. As King Mokryeong’s successor, it’s only natural for you to possess such vigor.]”

The World Tree of Time hastily explained with a somewhat flustered tone.

Indeed. The temperament of King Mokryeong, who has nothing to do with me, constantly disrupts my mood.

‘Not to mention that. The lustful demon must be the problem.’

[Lustful demon… Ah. You mean the temperament.]

She wiped her face with sweat-soaked hands.
It felt as if the tension that had persisted for over a month had been suddenly released.

-Thump, thump.

An ill-timed knock on the door.

-Do-won, I came here for work.

Hong-Yeon’s voice came from beyond the door.

“Shouldn’t today’s work be done already?”

– There was something that didn’t quite work out… I tried to handle it so it wouldn’t cause any trouble, but there’s a part you wouldn’t know about unless it’s you.
“At this hour?”
– You don’t sleep anyway, right?

Work has to be done.
I grabbed my clothes nearby and swung the door open.
Hong Yeon appeared to have just been reviewing documents, dressed as she was for work.

“Wait, let me wash up.”
“Now? It won’t take long, right?”

As Hong Yeon continued to speak, her voice trailed off, perhaps noticing the scent that filled the room.

“…What.”
“Why are you blushing? Move, let me wash up.”
“You, aren’t you embarrassed?”

That’s true; aside from the discomfort, there was nothing amiss.
Right now, all I want is to wash up somehow.

“I’ll always be waiting where we usually work. I’ll be back quickly.”
“Ah, alright.”

I entered the bathroom right behind the stammering Hong Yeon.

– Drip drop.

Undressing in the changing room, I washed my body before immersing myself in the bath. Initially, I couldn’t use the bath without heating it myself, but after deciding to actively utilize magical items from the outside, I was able to enjoy the bath even in the evening.

*Splish.*

As I raised my hand, droplets of water cascaded from my arm onto the water’s surface.

It felt as though I had the public bath all to myself. In the past, I might have been unable to resist singing a song or two, but for some reason, I wasn’t feeling particularly spirited. I gazed at the moon and raised my hand.

‘It’s still happening.’

My hand trembled slightly. The shaking ceased when I was beside Heaven, Zodiac, or White Peach, but as soon as I moved away from them, my hand began to tremble again.

It wasn’t bothersome enough to worry about it, but I wondered if I should visit a doctor at some point in the future.

For now, I decided not to stress over it. I submerged my hand back into the bath and addressed the World Tree.

‘World Tree.’

[Yes.]

‘You seemed to know about the lewd devil earlier. Do you know anything about the potential husband?’

[Potential husband…? If it’s the husband of the World Tree, I am aware.]

He appeared to know about dispositions, and above all, he was also part of the World Tree, so it was impossible for him not to know. I washed my face with hot water, gradually relieving my fatigue.

[Are you curious?]

‘Tell me everything you know. After all, I’m also a candidate for the husband of the World Tree.’

[The husband of the World Tree… Nominally, it is correct to call him a husband. Like a married couple, they are meant to support each other for a lifetime.]

It seems it will always be just a nominal title. In reality, there were even World Tree members like me, who wished for the death of their betrothed.

[That’s why the status window and its system were created. It can be said that it’s to make the husband of the World Tree equal to the World Tree itself. Of course, this is merely a figure of speech.]

‘What are you hiding?’

[That is… Yes, I should tell you. The husband of the World Tree is, technically speaking, a backup life for the World Tree.]

Backup life?

[It might be easier to understand if I say it plays a role similar to a battery in electronic devices.]

I understood exactly what was said.
The reason the world creates candidates for the husband of the World Tree and develops their abilities is entirely to extend the World Tree’s lifespan.

The World Tree of Time silently agreed with my question.

[It is more efficient to absorb someone who has reached a certain level than to absorb magical power from the earth through roots. Of course, there were also World Trees that truly loved, independent of this role.]

‘Cutting to the chase, they’re just bastards, aren’t they?’

[No, it’s a system for the symbiosis of the World Tree and humans.]

‘Without informing the husbands that they’ll be sacrificed for the World Tree’s life?’

[Informing them is the principle. But now… it seems that’s not the case, right?]

I wasn’t informed.
It could just be me, though.

“Assuming the World Tree’s husband is a given, what about the husband candidates?”

[I don’t know about the candidates. There might have been changes to the system while I was away.]

“Really?”

I know about the World Tree’s husband, as well as the status window and the system. But I don’t know about the husband candidates.
I understand, given how ancient it is.

Having been treated as a spare life, I no longer had any thoughts on the matter, as the resentment was so strong.
There were those who wanted to kill me, but being a spare life didn’t make much of a difference.

“Then, the World Tree created the status window, right?”

[Yes. The power to directly check one’s abilities. And it is used as a means to bestow strength.]

“Bestowing strength… What if the status window breaks?”

[Of course, that power is lost as well.]

That’s very peculiar.

When I severed the connection to the status window, I found myself able to draw upon my power more freely instead of losing it. Could it be that the system changed during that period of absence?

[No, in your case… it could be seen as a matter of your constitution.]

‘Constitution?’

[I believe it would be accurate to say that the power of the status window was fully absorbed into you due to a certain event.]

The World Tree of Time saw through my thoughts and immediately refuted them. I hadn’t expected a definitive answer, even though I knew of this through my bodily experiences.

The catalyst was likely during my time in Purgatory. It must have been because of that. The one who knew nothing had learned so much.

“Thank you.”

[…Thank you.]

I rose from the bath, dried myself off, and changed into fresh clothes.

‘It seems I’m still lacking, after all.’

Even though I possess the capacity of King Mokryeong, my source is founded on the talents bestowed by the World Tree.

And if it was the World Tree that laid the foundation, the power it actually possessed must be even greater.

Not all World Trees are like that, but at least one of them must have the ability to be regarded as a god in this world.

What should I do to become a little stronger?

Naturally, it was determined by the power of the king.

* * * * * *

“The workload keeps increasing.”

Hong-Yeon combed her red hair, held up by a hairpin, as she looked through the documents related to personnel appointments.

Dark circles reached down to her cheeks.
The paperwork kept piling up over time.

Thanks to the reforms led by the power of the Heavenly Demon, Do-won’s way of life was gradually modernizing. The change could be felt just by looking at the magical tools available on the top floor.

Of course, due to such a radical change, it was inevitable that Hong-Yeon would have more work to do. From her perspective, it was more than welcome. After all, she wouldn’t hesitate to give her all for Do-won’s sake.

“This is more or less done.”

She organized the documents and shifted her gaze to another set of papers.

*Swish.*

At that moment, the door opened. Startled, Hong-Yeon dropped the documents she was holding. A single sheet of paper fluttered helplessly onto the desk.

“…Have you finished washing up?”

The events of the night had been somewhat shocking for her as well. Do-won, the Heavenly Demon, had a rather detestable personality but was always thorough in his work. This made the situation even more surprising for her.

The Heavenly Demon, still scratching his not-yet-dry hair, glanced at Hong-Yeon and responded gruffly.

“Yeah.”

He really had a repulsive character. Even as Hong-Yeon frowned, she couldn’t help but feel grateful towards the man who had come all this way to see her.

If the man had a truly fractured personality, he would have raised his fist on the spot when called upon at dawn, without even responding.

“First of all, I have a question about this document. Isn’t this your responsibility?”

Hong-Yeon extended the document to the man.
A chart listing the new workers who had joined that month.

At the very bottom of the chart, there was an unfamiliar name that Hong-Yeon did not know, written as ‘Heaven,’ among the names of the new workers.