Chapter 300 – Heavenly Demon’s Magic (9)
I grabbed my cell phone.
Infinite cotton balls and mistletoe, ready.
Finally, after transforming the mistletoe into a bracelet, I shifted my gaze from the wardrobe towards the bed.
On the bed, two women were fast asleep, embracing one another.
A smirk escaped my lips.
“Is this my bed or yours?”
I stepped back a few paces and sat on Sansuyu’s bed.
The two of them had grown impatient, not having been able to feast for several days.
Although their exchanges hadn’t escalated into a full-blown argument, Marronnier had been exceedingly cautious around Sansuyu, perhaps sensing a vulnerability.
“But what brought about this change of heart, causing them to embrace and sleep like sisters?”
Yellow and blue hair entwined, casting a rather dreamy aura.
Marronnier, nestled against the large chest, slumbered cozily. Sansuyu cradled her like a child would a teddy bear. The difference was that both were clutching the blanket tightly and pulling it toward their faces, as if it belonged to them.
I fetched Sansuyu’s quilt and draped it over the arms of the two women, ensuring it sufficiently covered them.
*Thud!*
The quilt swiftly fell to the floor, slipping from their grasp.
“…”
I placed it back on them.
*Thud!*
Apparently, the quilt I provided didn’t meet their standards. I wished they would stop leaving their scent on my bed. For someone with a lustful temperament, it was no small feat to endure. I couldn’t even wash it. Whenever I showed intentions of laundering the quilt, Marronnier and Sansuyu vehemently opposed me.
I was on the verge of losing my mind.
“…Tsk.”
Yes, if you all were ordinary, being with me would have been impossible.
Accepting this brought me a sense of relief, and I even chuckled at my own predicament. I sat back down on the bed and gazed at Sansuyu.
– Treatment is impossible.
A sage’s words naturally surfaced in my thoughts.
– I can’t make it past this year. No matter how extraordinary the power. Unless it defies the natural order, it can never be changed.
Sansuyu cannot be healed.
Even though I’ve been administering healing powers each time, it has merely served as a temporary solution. Nonetheless, it seems my efforts have significantly extended her life expectancy.
‘… It’s a power capable of regenerating everything, even the heart and nerves.’
This implies that her condition is more severe than any other ailment I can imagine. Sansuyu, who is persevering through this, evokes a sense of both pride and melancholy.
‘Against all odds.’
If the experiment succeeds, Sansuyu can be saved.
Sansuyu herself wishes for that outcome.
It is said that every member of the Cornus family pursues the goal of eternal life.
Observing her now, one can see the outcome of her participation in experiments since childhood, leaving her in a near imbecilic state.
So, what must I do for Sansuyu?
Assist the Cornus family?
The very individuals who destroyed Sansuyu’s life for the sake of their experiments?
Naturally, this would also involve aiding the Flower.
‘…Flower.’
Yes, those bastards.
I must do some good for them, those who wouldn’t even notice if they were boiled alive in a pot right now. I have to.
Only if I wish to save Sansuyu by my own volition.
I ran both hands over my face.
“Damn it… Everything, from one to ten, is utterly messed up.”
In my mind, images of women with whom I’d been intimate pass by, not in a vulgar sense, but those with whom I genuinely shared affection and treasured moments.
It was thanks to such people that I could endure in the past.
“Master… Clinging to the World Tree and feeding off it.”
Nothing seemed to be going right.
“The Cornus family is bound to the Flower. Sansuyu is allied with the family.”
Sansuyu and her master were destined to suddenly vanish in the future. The truth was, as I gradually came to understand the situation, fear began to take hold of me.
“All as one.”
I couldn’t bring myself to scream. The two women before my eyes had long been out of sight as my field of vision narrowed. I remembered them in my mind, so I lowered my voice.
“…”
My fingernails scratched my cheek, causing blood to seep out. Naturally, my body, marked with the power of healing, quickly mended such minor injuries. I carelessly wiped the blood away with my sleeve.
– Startled –
I rose from my seat. In the past, whenever I found myself troubled, Heaven had always provided me with answers. She had guided me through my mistakes and misguided actions.
“Enter the Forest Keeper Tournament. Discover allies and talents there.”
I followed her words and acted accordingly. I gained much from the experience.
There is Marronnier, and there are Tae-yang and Aori, and Baobab, although not ideally entwined. Saku and Kim Soo-yeon are also adaptable and kind-hearted individuals.
“I want to ask.”
But now, even the words of the master whom I should trust the most can no longer be accepted with pure intentions. Naturally, I cannot trust White Peach or Zodiac either. Just the fact of cooperating with the World Tree itself. The realization that I have to bear it alone again aches deep within my heart.
The problem is, if I give in to my emotions like this, my current situation might become even more critical. As frustrating as it is, I must remain composed. At least for now.
– Knock, knock, knock.
[Lee Si-heon?]
“…Yes.”
I replied appropriately and stepped out of the room. Outside the door, the sage was wearing an inscrutable grin.
“Let’s proceed.”
Catching my breath, squaring my shoulders. With the face I once showed to Heaven, in a past that seems like a lifetime ago.
It was merely the process of breaking free.
Now is the time for me to forge ahead on my own.
“Does this mean I’ll be going alone from today?”
“Yes. Can you handle it?”
“…Whatever happens there, it’s my responsibility, right?”
At my meaningful remark, the sage responded as if it were a given.
“Of course. Still, please take care of our children’s meals.”
“Sure~ Oh. Is the teddy bear pink today?”
“……”
I sneak a glance at the sage’s stern face.
Usually, they would let it slide.
However, this time the reaction was slightly different.
The sage, raising a hand, pinched the flesh of my forearm.
“Ouch!”
A tear escapes, stinging with pain.
I was caught off guard by the unexpected agony.
As I rub my pinched arm and retreat, the sage smiles warmly.
“Have a good journey.”
“….”
“They say enduring three times will eradicate murder. There are many intriguing Korean proverbs. Do you know which instance this was?”
“But, liking teddy bears… It’s not really that strange, is it?”
“Shut up.”
“Yes.”
Foolishly responding, I giggled and hoisted the large backpack given to me by the sage, activating the space movement spell. The view inverted, and the floor tiles beneath my feet transformed into a dusty earthen floor in an instant. Simultaneously, my face, which had been expressing mental anguish, settled into a calmer expression.
– Creeping, creeping.
As I continued walking down the path, I began to recognize the faces of the children I had grown familiar with. They appeared somewhat guarded, likely due to the absence of the sage. As I took out my backpack and opened the door, they began to approach one by one, fearing they might be late to receive something.
“Wood Spaniel. Woodpecker. Rise and shine.”
[…Master! Did you, did you call for me? I came right away. I’m the first one!]
The Wood Spaniel arrived with a dripping wet face, as if it had just come from a bath. Soon after, a magical circle appeared on the floor, and the Woodpecker joined in as well.
[Good morning, Master.]
“Alright.”
[What did you call us for? Master, Master!]
The arrival of two adorable chirping birds captures the attention of the nearby children.
… Surely they wouldn’t try to catch and eat these birds just because they’re hungry, right?
With concern seemingly dismissed, I issued commands to my spirits, my eyes filled with curiosity.
“[…Master, these children?]”
“Share some bread with them.”
There are more than just a couple of children to share with.
I unfastened my backpack and revealed its contents.
A magical pouch, an artifact that implements spatial magic.
It’s the only backpack in the world capable of holding anything that comes to mind for a blue cat doll.
“[It’s not difficult, but what is the relationship between these children and you, Master?]”
At the woodpecker’s words, I shrugged.
“There’s no relationship.”
“[…….]”
The woodpecker closed its beak in response to my straightforward answer.
The tree-climbing canine was suddenly at a loss for words as well.
Why are they acting like this all of a sudden?
As I stared at them, puzzled, they spoke in a slightly emotional voice.
“[…Master, you’re impressive.]”
[Surprisingly, you were quite a decent person.]
“Remember that working before speaking will increase the mana you receive, even if it’s only by a whisker.”
[Yes, yes!]
[Huh…]
“By the way, don’t avoid the children when they try to pet you. They don’t get to see anything like birds around here.”
[Master, are you asking us to be playthings… How could you say such a thing?]
There they go again, talking nonsense.
I fixed my gaze on the wooden spaniel.
[…I am your exclusive wooden spaniel. I only want to be touched by you, Master!]
“Annoying, isn’t it? Silence yourself.”
Each of them took a piece of bread in their mouths, and the woodpecker kicked the wooden spaniel at the nape of its neck.
[Yes.]
[Master!]
If they move diligently, it should be enough work for one person.
I said this and concentrated on distributing the bread once more.
“Th-thank you, brother.”
“Uh. But isn’t the newcomer arriving?”
“New…comer?”
Although there was a mix of dialects, conversation was possible thanks to English. Recently, I’ve also been learning French in my spare time.
The boy cocks his head in response to my question.
“So… kids who have just arrived here. About this size, or maybe a bit smaller? A girl.”
Was her name Tina? She looked as if she hadn’t eaten a thing, her bones visible beneath her gaunt frame. A sweet child who, severely malnourished, would shed tears like droplets of chicken dung as soon as she received even a morsel of food.
I had been waiting for her to show up, but she was nowhere to be seen.
“That child… she left yesterday.”
“What? Where did she go?”
“She was taken away by an older man…”
The boy mumbles timidly, making sure the other children around can’t hear him.
“…What?”
“Uh, nothing.”
Seeing my face harden, he takes a step back as if he’s done something terribly wrong. I quickly put on a smile and ask again.
“Speak softly. I’ll give you another piece of bread. Is there enough milk?”
“…Ah, that. I shouldn’t speak of this… Can you just pretend I didn’t say anything?”
“Of course.”
He handed the boy another piece of bread.
To prevent the other children from questioning, ‘Why only him?’ he also gave them additional bread.
Then, he listened to the boy once more.
“…It’s a man in tattered clothes.”
The boy had been looking at the sage who occasionally roamed this area, distributing food.
At the same time, I glanced at the spot that the boy had subtly eyed.
A double alleyway.
Beyond the lengthy stretch, about 100 meters away, a man loitered in the area.
I turned my head, pretending not to notice.
Simultaneously, I scattered a faint magical energy in that direction, so weak that the culprit would never detect it.
‘Eleanor.’
‘The spot where I just cast magic. Secretly follow the man there. The one in tattered rags. Report his actions in detail. Call me if something seems suspicious.’
<...Ah, understood. But, Master, when... will you do it with me?>
‘Once it’s over, I’ll do it until you’re tired of it, so just follow my orders.’
Originally, sending a woodpecker would have been the right choice.
However, to increase Eleanor’s experience, having never trailed anyone before, I chose her instead.
A spirit, even a decaying one, won’t make any major mistakes.
Only then was I able to relax and share the bread.
<...Um, Master?>
‘What?’
After some time had passed,
when it was nearly time for me to hand over all the bread and leave, she relayed her message.