Chapter 359 – Clash of the Priests (1)

There are far too many innocent people to condemn the entire family.

…These tedious words have no use anymore.
The World Tree was the one to create and disseminate the general moral concepts, and it was the role of the gods to determine what constituted a sin.

Religion and morality are unknowingly intertwined.
The praise for altruistic actions must have been the intention of the World Trees in ancient times.

However, in my eyes, they still appear as monsters rather than gods.

“Miss.”

There is a man who is dull and absent-minded, but whose nature remains unchanging.

“Yes.”
“Are you okay?”

He is the most unsuitable person for this situation, yet the most indispensable one.

This place, where the scent of potent medicine pervades the air, is also destined to become the tomb of Sansuyu.

“…Is Miho alright?”

With her hair as limp and devoid of nourishment as strands of noodles, and her pupils empty of emotion.

Even on the brink of death, my concern lies with others.

“…….”

A deep ache emanated from the recesses of my heart.
Death was her choice. If only she would ask for help, I would be prepared to give my life.

She knew her predicament better than anyone.
No emotion was evident when confronted with her own sacrifice.

“Milady.”
“Yes.”
“It’s Jiho.”
“…Yes, Jiho.”

I am a servant, sworn to a lifetime of loyalty. Not to the vile man who is this woman’s father, but to her.
I cannot defy her wishes based on a mere emotion.

“If you’re uncomfortable or have any issues, please call for me. Anything at all. I’ll assist you.”

Sansuyu gazed at a single point on the ceiling with clouded eyes.
Her deadened eyes caught mine as she turned her head.
Before long, her cold voice emerged.

“Yes.”

Utterly numb, she was seemingly unaware of her own loneliness.
There were no more words to offer. Although a time of great deliberation had passed, in the end, only one answer emerged.

My thoughts about her remain unaltered.

I shouldn’t be the one to die here. There are countless people in this world who have been saved by this person.

How can I get the lady out of this family? I had entertained the thought and even prepared for it, but it seemed impossible.

It would be a presumptuous act, and I would simply follow the lady’s choice.
I was merely a person safeguarding her path.

* * * * * * * *

My head feels foggy.

‘Damn.’

As soon as I remembered what I had done yesterday, my body shuddered.
I must have been out of my mind. It’s been so long since I’ve done that.

I lay down to sleep, but the thoughts returned, and I tormented the sleeping White Peach dozens of times before I could finally fall asleep satisfied.

“…”

At the table, White Peach looks at me as if I’m some strange creature.

“What are you doing, third disciple? Aren’t you eating?”
“Uh, well…”
“Don’t make a face like an idiot and just eat. The table is already a mess, and with that expression, it ruins the taste of the food.”

Hmm.

“What the hell?”

“Did I say something wrong? Deungsin. A foolish disciple.”

You’re buying off my guilt at a cheap price.
To think that I risked revealing my identity for this person and provided them with plum blossoms.
The feeling of remorse has vanished. This person truly deserves an education.

*Sigh.*

Baekdo sighs while putting braised ribs in her mouth and moves her chin. The dolphin pants and T-shirt that were barely put on yesterday have stretched to their limit.

As a result, there were visible handprints on the inner flesh of her thighs.

‘…’

How could I not know this?

Is it dull in this part or not? One nipple protrudes from the left side of the T-shirt’s chest.
One side of the breast that I persistently bit and pulled on yesterday. Upon closer inspection, her face was slightly flushed.

Does she know?

“What, what are you staring at so intently?”
“Why is your nipple protruding this morning?”

If I were found out anyway, there would be no loss, and if she didn’t know, she would react differently, so I recklessly brought it up.

– *Kwaang!*

Baekdo’s rice bowl flew in the blink of an eye and struck my head.

“Ugh!”

Her head tilts back and collapses onto the ground.

“You, you, you. Is there nothing you can’t say?! Insane bastard, lowlife!!”
“…Please get dressed again. It hurts… Why are you acting like this in the morning?”
“Well, it happens sometimes!”

She must sense something is off. Does she really not know anything?
Though healed by magical powers, faint bite marks should still be visible.
White Peach’s skin is so fair and delicate, after all.

I thought to myself as I removed the grains of rice from my face and hair.
Somehow, it seems I haven’t been caught.

“…”

With an “I’m very angry” expression, White Peach snatches the rice bowl I was eating from and finishes the meal.

“Why are you mad when you’re the one who threw the rice bowl?”
“Shut up.”
“No.”
“Shut up.”
“…”

I reluctantly pick up White Peach’s rice bowl. The rice inside had spilled out, so I had to use magic to clean it up.
The rice wasn’t tasty anyway, and it’s easier to move on an empty stomach.

Instead, I sliced the unprocessed peaches, arranging them appetizingly on a plate.

“……”

As I chew on a peach, I can feel Baekdo’s gaze upon me.

Could she possibly know that this fruit came from Zodiac’s body? Truth be told, the lovemaking had been so intense that it was difficult to discern who was who. However, Baekdo had limited experience thus far, and she wasn’t a perverted sensation-seeker like Zodiac, so I thought she couldn’t have produced the fruit just yet.

I take a bite of the peach. It’s juicy and refreshing. The delectable Zodiac never grows tiresome to consume, and it replenishes my magical energy – truly the finest of sustenance.

As I continue to savor the peach, I sense Baekdo’s gaze once more.

“Third-class disciple.”
“Yes?”
“Did you find peaches in the hotel?”
“I brought them in at dawn. Lately, if I don’t eat a peach every morning, I struggle to open my eyes.”
“What nonsensical drivel.”

Does she continue to watch the peach while eating? Both Baekdo and Zodiac consider peaches one of their favorite foods.

As I surreptitiously observe Baekdo’s face while enjoying the peach, a pair of iron chopsticks snatch away one of the fruits.

“No, eat your meal first.”

“Yes, it is my heart~”

-Crunch!

Crunch?

“It’s a firm peach. Ah, it seems you’ve come to know the allure of firm peaches.”

With a satisfied expression, Baek Ga Nom savored the peach, a broad smile on his face.

“Hehe.”

With a slightly uneasy countenance, I bit into a peach that shared a similar color with the one Baekdo had eaten.

-Crunch.

This… is Baekdo.

It’s firm, yet it doesn’t lose its sweetness.
Unlike the juicy peach that bursts with flavor as soon as it touches your tongue, its sweetness spreads through your mouth as you chew.

Wait, so Baekdo is eating the peach she herself had nurtured?

“Mmm~”

Baekdo hummed contentedly as she chewed on the peach. It was the happiest I had ever seen her face.

“Um…”
“What is it? You’re not going to sulk just because you ate one peach, right?”
“No, please eat plenty.”

I had nothing more to say.

* * * * * * * * *

Time is running out.

Should I reveal the location of the Cornus family and wait for the subsequent subjugation?

My desire to uncover the truth before it was too late burned like a roaring chimney fire.

As if sensing my inner turmoil, Tae-yang sent me a message this morning.

―Tae-yang: Rest easy for now. It’s more efficient and quicker for me to gather information than for you to roam around.
―Tae-yang: Besides, I heard you haven’t fully recovered from your injuries. Don’t wander about like a child at an amusement park. Stay put and rest.

I never knew you were such a devoted friend.

He possesses far more knowledge than I do, so he doesn’t want me to take unnecessary risks.
His words stir deep emotions within me.
Tae-yang has sources within the Flower faction, connections to the World Tree, and even a reputation in the shadows, so I understood his rationale.

“…Sigh.”

Though Tae-yang’s intentions were clear, following his advice was easier said than done.
My worry gnawed at me, making me feel like I needed to burst into action right away to ease my troubled mind.

‘I don’t know how long Cornus’ life will last….’

Logically, it would have been better for me to step forward after the Cornus family’s location had been revealed.

Breaking through the barriers of the Cornus family itself was too much of a gamble for me.

Not knowing the opponent’s strength,
It’d be a problem if I made a mistake and it reached Se-Young or Azalea’s ears.

If I were wrong… I would consider going to save Cornus even if I had to give up everything else.

“How about this?”

I wonder what this person would think of my choice.

“Isn’t that what you always wear?”
“It’s because it’s all worn out. Sometimes you need to buy new things.”

It was the second day of Do-won’s vacation.
Despite the burning feeling inside, we were forced to go out together due to Heaven’s request.

A shabby clothing store without even a sign, not even in Korea.
A place I don’t remember. However, it seemed to hold quite a long memory for Heaven.

Full-body stockings and a black dragon robe.

Did she wear latex clothes before?
I don’t know what she was thinking, but it was said to be a combat outfit.

Fortunately, Heaven didn’t seem to have any intention of making me wear those dreadful black stockings.

“…Hmm, how does this scarf look?”
“You look beautiful no matter what you wear, Master.”

I couldn’t help but smile as I tried on the black scarf, and laughter followed.

“Empty words… they’re amusing.”
“No, really, it’s true. But why wear a scarf in the summer?”
“I’m curious how much you, my disciple, will think of me.”
“What do you mean?”

As Cheondo removed the scarf, she draped it around my neck, which was clad in short sleeves. She looked at me and nodded in satisfaction.

“When the first snow blossoms. I wonder if you’ll forget my gift. Or perhaps you’ll take it out immediately and wear it around your neck. I’m very curious.”
“…….”

Forgetting about this would definitely result in a scolding. I giggled and reassured her not to worry. How could I forget? It’s our special bond, after all.

– Sparkle.

Unbeknownst to me, the everlasting flower ring had been carefully placed on Cheondo’s ring finger.
I wasn’t sure why it was on her ring finger, but it seemed that she truly cherished the gift I had given her. Perhaps it reminded Cheondo of days gone by.

When I was young, I often made them and gave them to my teacher… I wanted to give one to you as well.

These were the words spoken by the young Cheondo as she gave me that ring.

For Cheondo, who has no memory of me, perhaps it was special. The memory of giving the radiant flowers to her father, her teacher, might have felt significant in that now she receives those radiant flowers from me, her disciple.

“What is it?”

Cheondo tilted her head and made eye contact with me.

“No, it just seems like you’re wearing a ring. Are you using magic as well?”
“…It’s the first gift I received from a disciple.”
“Hehehe.”

I want to hug her.
Even though I think that, I cannot make close contact.

Ever since I found out about my romantic relationship with Hwangdo, I noticed Cheondo gradually distancing herself from me.
Wouldn’t Hwangdo, her lover, feel uneasy?
It’s the considerate nature of Cheondo that we all know.

Perhaps… the obsessive Hwangdo may have scolded Cheondo.

As we were having this conversation, the store owner held out a container filled with clothes.

“Here you are.”

Stitch by stitch, Cheondo took out the handcrafted Black Dragon Robe and put it on.

“How does it look?”

Fastening the waistband, Cheondo slightly raised his arms, showing me the robe.

“Hmm, Master, isn’t the robe too big?”

The menacing Black Dragon design majestically covered her entire body. Though the robe should have been impressive, it was much larger than her original size. Even though Cheondo was by no means short, the hem seemed to drag on the ground.

“I suppose some alterations are needed…”
“It’s fine.”

Cheondo glanced at my face and then back at her robe. She had a strangely satisfied expression.

“It fits just right.”