Chapter 291 – Heavenly Demon Casts Magic (1)

“Maehwa, today, despite my own inadequacies, I will train you.”

A tense-faced Hunter who had just entered the room called out. He was a prodigy from a reputable family in China.

Sprawled on the bed with his arm bent beneath him, Maehwa listlessly dropped the book he had been holding in one hand.

– Thud.

The book fell onto the heavily dust-laden floor, causing the dust to disperse acridly around.

“…You.”
“Yes.”

Maehwa’s eyes scanned the Hunter. Zhang Wei.

He was an unknown person to Maehwa.

“How strong are you?”
“Pardon?”
“I asked how strong you are.”

Maehwa was a man who reveled in the essence of bloody combat. A being intoxicated by the agonizing pain coursing through his body and the violent pleasure of overpowering his opponent.

Just by observing the smile that graces Plum’s face at the sight of bloodstains, one can infer his state of mind.

Having returned to China for a while due to the availability of external lessons, Plum watched the Hunter attentively. He slowly raised his body and removed his foot.

“Is he as strong as White Peach?” he asked.

“Yes, um… That person can surpass any hunter…”

“Really?”

The conversation drags on, and this moment is unbearably tedious.

*Crash!*

With a single swing of Plum’s hand, the Hunter’s head was embedded into the cabinet beside them.

“Then die,” Plum declared.

Witnessing Zhang Wei’s body convulse and spit blood, the head crushed and pierced by his iron-like hand, Plum’s eyes narrowed. Blood pooled and seeped from the shattered cabinet door, adorning the room.

Every one of them was pathetically weak— the nation’s representatives and even the Hunters assigned by the approaching government to deliver lessons. This was particularly true for China’s S-class individuals.

These individuals hadn’t earned their ranks through merit, but through bribery and corruption.

It was deeply unsettling. There was no one in this land capable of taking his life. However, she was a different story. Even Ginkgo Biloba, his fellow national tree, had long vanished from sight.

*Squeeze.*

Power surged into Plum’s fist. The blood on his hand seeped into his pale skin.

The more opponents he killed, the stronger he became by absorbing their magical energy and life force. This was Plum’s secret power, still unknown to others.

*Thud.*

He left the room, wandering outside. A woman who had been waiting beyond the door glanced inside, puzzled, before a piercing scream erupted from within. For him, it was all too familiar.

“…I’m dying of boredom.”

Not much time remained. After joining Flower, his life would consist solely of fights and fists—the daily existence he had always craved.

And at life’s end… he could surpass even White Peach, who had been his idol.

“If only time could pass more quickly.”

White Peach, he had never seen such a formidable woman among those he had encountered. Every time her face came to mind, a wave of emotion twisted through his entire body. He was exhilarated. Her unblemished, youthful skin and the world’s most beautiful visage, combined with the astonishing strength emanating from her delicate arms, were awe-inspiring. A mere glimpse of her in his youth had been enough to turn his life around by 180 degrees. This could be love.

May and June marked the stage when Plum’s blossoms withered, and fruits emerged. The plump, luscious plums would fall to the ground, becoming seeds once more in a cycle of transformation.

Once this period passed, he would be able to turn his back on the woman he had admired so fervently. The very thought sent shivers down his spine.

“Please, take me as your disciple!”
“Get lost.”

How prickly she had been when they first met. A sly smile played at the corners of his lips.

One day, I’ll claim that neck.
For now, I cannot meet them, but until then, I’ll merely savor dealing with the nation’s pillars.
The first trial is a structure where nobody can exhibit their true abilities.
Yet from the fourth trial, it becomes a matter of great significance.
I can even slay the national pillar with my own hands.

Of course, I cannot interfere with an ally like Prajna. That girl is too frail to even catch my eye.
Defiling an entire nation is exhilarating. I yearn to rend my garments and trample the emblem of the fallen flag before a broadcast.
Witnessing such a scene, and imagining the despair of those who look on, brings a smile to my face.

“Ah… I can hardly wait.”

Beneath the sun hovering in the heavens, Plum’s eyes shimmered mysteriously.
Cruel, yet beautiful.

* * * * * * * *

“Th-thank you… Brother.”

I gently stroked the disheveled girl’s head.

It’s filthy, but magic can’t be used.
Merely being clean arouses suspicion in this area.

-Munch, munch.

I can’t help but smile when I see a child tasting soft bread for the first time, marveling at its deliciousness.

Why should they suffer? My wretched life is just that—wretched. On the land ruled by Flower, innocent young seeds still manage to grow.

The girl chews on the bread, tears streaming down her face.

“Don’t cry now, it’s okay, it’s okay. Have some milk.”
“…Yes, s-sob.”

Her protruding ribs suggest she hasn’t been here long.
A girl and a child.
In this lawless place, she is among the most vulnerable in society.

Tears of joy and sorrow mix as she tastes the food we distribute for the first time.

“What’s your name?”
“…Tina.”
“Alright, our sweet Tina. Just hang in there for a bit.”

I stroke her hair and offer the warmest smile I can muster.

I lowered my voice so the sage behind me wouldn’t hear.

“After hardship comes happiness.”
“Is that so? Hmph.”
“Do you know about Flower?”
“…I don’t know well.”

While completing the sage’s morning tasks, I asked the other children about what kind of group Flower was. As expected, those rascals seemed to have good heads on their shoulders, since their reputation was quite favorable. They’re children who enjoy anything if you give them food. I don’t mean to belittle their lack of knowledge, but the poor and uneducated are prime targets for politicians to manipulate.

“But I know one person.”
“Who?”
“…My sister. She was drawn to Flower. I haven’t heard any news about her. Where did my sister go?”

Most likely, it’s not a happy ending.

It’s said they’re used for experiments, or as members of an organization for crime or terrorism. The sage subtly hinted at this when I arrived today. I continued to gently stroke Tina’s hair.

I’ve only spent a day exploring the area, but I’ve already committed the names of five people to memory.

“You’ll be alright.”
“Yes, dark.”

This includes the world capital. I’ve heard tales of humans being used as test subjects or for immoral purposes, only to be slaughtered afterward.

Did the World Tree have no choice but to act against Flower, who indiscriminately amasses power? It’s almost laughable to think so. They are both just terrible. The sage may have intended for me to face these ordeals to change my values, but in the end, all it did was strengthen my convictions. If even increasing my disdain for Flower and the World Tree is the sage’s ploy, then there’s not much left to say.

“I’ll be leaving for today.”
“Yes.”
“Did you memorize all the coordinates?”
“…No.”

Upon hearing the sage’s words, I patted Tina on the shoulder one last time. Then, I retrieved another loaf of bread and a bottle of milk from my possession and handed them to her. I also gave her a piece of candy that I had secretly brought along.

“Eat as quickly as you can. If someone threatens you, hand it over without hesitation. Understand? I’ll come again tomorrow.”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
“Who are you?”
“…Lee Do-won.”

After stating his name, he stood up.

Memorizing an increasing number of coordinates can be quite the hassle.
Intelligence, rather than magic, is crucial—especially memory.
Just as one would memorize events in history by year, dedicating a considerable amount of time to memorizing consistently will eventually lead to success.

While it is possible to store everything in one’s mind over a short period, doing so can cause headaches.
As a result, he had deleted several locations from his memory.
Gone were the coordinates of the now-unused Do-won spot, as well as the area near the barbecue restaurant in Seoul where he once enjoyed leisure time with White Peach, Zodiac, and Heaven.
This was the result of gathering everything, both present and absent.
Four places remained memorized, with the other five soon to be committed to memory.

Having completed his morning routine, he returned to Eden with the sage.

“Is Si-eon here?”

As soon as he entered, his eyes met those of Cornus, who was moving a book.

“Oh, what were you doing?”
“…Reading.”

Sansuyu gave a few tomes a shake.
Upon glancing at the pages, they were filled with unfamiliar script. Unrelated to swordsmanship and yellowed with age, the books were well-worn. They had been preserved by magic, so even if they were torn, it wouldn’t be an issue.

“It’s a book about the Cornus family.”

The sage who saw the book responded immediately.
Sansuyu, not expecting the sage to reveal the book’s identity, covertly hid it to the side and glanced at me.

Perhaps due to my habit of disparaging their family, Sansuyu seemed to be holding back when discussing the Cornus family.

“Really? Are there details about the family in there?”
“Yes.”
“…I see.”

Later, if time permits, I could learn about families like Lee Se-young’s and Sansuyu’s.
After that, I might be able to gather information about Do-won as well.
There’s a possibility I could discover something new.

The more I looked into it, the more Eden appeared to be a land flowing with milk and honey.

“Sansuyu, where is Marronnier?”
“…In the room.”
“Lee Si-heon. I’ll prepare for the class, so please fetch Marronnier.”
“Yes.”

I headed towards the room at the request of the sage.

Marronnier had suddenly become cranky this morning. I didn’t know what I’d hear, but since we were taking classes together, I thought I could approach her as long as I had a valid reason. At the very least, I wanted to ask her why she was acting that way this morning.

– Squeak.

There was no one inside the room.

Sansuyu had said Marronnier was definitely in the room. I took a look around the bed.

I couldn’t see a single piece of outdoor clothing hanging on the bed. Perhaps someone else had put it in the laundry since Marronnier wore it yesterday.

I checked the kitchen, but she wasn’t there. Wondering if she might be taking a shower to shake off the morning chill, I opened the dressing room door, but there was no silhouette to be seen. So, it must be the bathroom then. I pressed the button next to the door handle in front of the bathroom.

This was necessary because the soundproofing was so effective.

– Ding-dong.

For a restroom, I heard a surprisingly refreshing ringtone.
Naturally, the doorknob was locked.

After waiting for around two to three minutes, the doorknob abruptly opened.

“Ah, Marronnier.”

I spoke up so that the person could be immediately identified.

“…Why?”
“There’s a class, and the sage wants us to come. Let’s go.”
“Just, wait a moment.”

A slightly flustered voice.
Soon after, Marronnier opened the door.

A faint scent of flesh wafted from within the restroom.
Marronnier, with her hands on her chest, emerged hesitantly. The lower part of the short-sleeved shirt she was wearing was rounded.
It looked as if something had been rolled up and tucked inside.

More than that, this scent was very familiar.
Due to King Mokryeong’s power, my body was sensitive in this regard.
I glanced at Marronnier, and upon seeing the edge of her garment sticking out slightly from beneath her protruding belly, I averted my gaze slightly.

“……”
“Hey.”
“…Uh, huh? Why, why?”
“Nothing.”

A flushed face. A voice tinged with excitement.
Despite being a dry bathroom, the tiles are slightly damp and glistening.

Women experience it too. There are times when they have a similar intensity as men.
It’s said that some people indulge as much as men do.
It’s not as if I don’t understand those feelings.

“You seemed upset this morning, what happened?”

To change the subject, I moved to my bed, trying to distance myself from the scent of Marronnier’s flesh as much as possible.
Marronnier shuffled toward the dressing room, discreetly opening the door.

“…It’s nothing. Just, a misunderstanding on my part.”
“What kind of misunderstanding?”
“Don’t try to find out.”

A rather sharp response came back.

Marronnier exited the dressing room in an instant and entered the room.
Her slightly swollen belly now appeared slender.
My clothes thief was right there.

Her arms were folded behind her back, and her entire body was drenched in sweat.
The stockings beneath her skirt were somewhat damp, clearly visible even to my eyes.

I gazed for a while before letting out a sigh.

“Is it really difficult?”
“…”

Silence is an affirmation.
But it’s not like I can help.
If I make a mistake, the subservience could worsen.

“I can still bear it.”

Still.
I’ve never heard a voice as unstable as that among the words I’ve heard recently.

“…Let’s go.”
“Alright.”

Marronnier, who hung her head and nodded, timidly started getting dressed.
We entered the sage’s class with somewhat awkward expressions.
I’m not sure how long this relationship will continue like this.

– Tuk.

Marronnier, who lightly pinched my arm as if to grab my clothes.

“Blanche?”

Surprised, I asked, but no response came back.
Marronnier kept her head down while continuing to walk down the hallway.

As if in agony, she raised her fingernails and oddly scratched my arm.