Chapter 400 – Skirmish (1)

– If you go, you’re dead to me.
– Lee Se-Young. I won’t say it again. I’m serious.
– Hey!!!!

It had been quite some time since they had that conversation. No matter how long they had been friends, it only took a moment for everything to twist.

Hanbyeol counted the stars outside the window before bringing the teacup to her lips. Dark circles and accumulated fatigue weighed heavily on her due to her demanding work.

“Ah…”

A trembling sigh added despair to the solitude.

The cold tea was scentless, leaving no time to catch a breath. Hanbyeol couldn’t stop Lee Se-Young, who had been criticizing herself.

【Korean Hunter Association. Vice President. Hanbyeol.】

‘I never thought the position I was so proud of could look so pathetic… Who would’ve known.’

She had wanted to help others, which led her here.

Having lost her parents in an inexplicable accident, she was determined to prevent others from living that kind of life.

Who could have foreseen that achieving one’s lifelong dream would instead target one’s own happiness? The reflection of a star’s face in the mirror contorts.

She bears chilling information that no one else would ever know, and she is well aware of the gravity of her task. It’s something she cannot stop. At best, she could only protect those who were by Lee Si-heon’s side.

“Manipulating justifications… rationalizing actions.”

She had never reached for anything that wasn’t upright. Yet now, the number of illicit deeds committed to protect those around her has already reached the hundreds.

“I’ve done everything I could. What more… what more am I to do here?”

The star slumped into her chair, utterly spent. She has no idea how many sleepless nights she has endured. Her wrist, which covered her eyes, felt hot from the fever rising from her forehead.

‘If my actions are akin to pointing a blade at my lover, where must I search to find the worth of having reached this position?’

With her eyes closed, she ponders.

Even Se-Young, who always maintained a positive outlook, couldn’t help but be consumed by worry.

Rather than being lost in profound philosophy, she was captivated by the immediate concerns at hand.

But was there truly a solution to this predicament? The thought alone brought tears to her eyes, and she couldn’t hold them back.

‘Se-Young is calm for now, but… if she were to take action…’

In the worst-case scenario, she might have to personally kill the very companion who had walked through life by her side.

Would she lose her sanity first, or would this crisis come to an end? It was a pathetically miserable dilemma.

What was absurd was that, even in this desperate struggle, she couldn’t help but wish to see that person’s face just once more. It was almost laughable. To think that she was in love with the very target of the Association.

“… I, too, am truly wretched.”

Lost in self-deprecation, Se-Young sat alone in the darkness of the room.

“There are so many men in the world… Seeing this pain… There must be that destined person I used to cry out for when I was young.”

Back then, that’s how it was.
The first love leading to marriage. A romantic tale of lifelong love.

But the stories I heard around me were different.
You have to date many men to avoid the ticking time bombs…
It’s natural to go through a series of relationships, with breakups and makeups.
Being openly affectionate will quickly bore them, turning you into a pushover.

I despise the subtle, underlying calculations, but at times, I felt insecure.
If the love I give feels tepid to him.
If I fall short compared to other lovers, would I be discarded?

Perhaps…
If there’s an obsession stemming from the subculture, it must be referring to me.
Falling deeply in love in such a short time was indeed an affliction.

“…I don’t know.”

Byul stood up and lifted the teacup.

It seemed that stopping by the tearoom to fetch some refreshments might help calm the storm within her heart.

It was the moment she was about to open the door and leave.

In a flash, a burst of light appeared, and a man emerged.

The face of the man she had been constantly thinking about, trembling with fear that she might not see him again, entered her line of sight.

– Clank!

Star stumbled and fell onto her behind, dropping the teacup she was holding. It shattered on the floor, pieces scattering everywhere, but her eyes remained fixed on what was before her.

“…Uh. Um.”

Could this be a dream?

“Have you been well?”

His voice sounded real, too. Why had he grown so much taller and more muscular since the last time they met? His face appeared somewhat… worried.

As Lee Si-heon entered Star’s weary gaze, she gulped. There was something she needed to do first.

‘…Let’s tie him up.’

Bossam.

With that thought crossing her mind, Star produced an artifact shaped like a rope.

* * * * * * *

“Ugh, ah! No!”

The stifled moans were not without reason.

The rope binding my body like a mummy made it impossible to use space magic, as it wasn’t an ordinary artifact. The pain was so intense that I even wondered if the stars had betrayed me.

“…It’s true.”

After 20 minutes of bickering.

Star, gripping the rope tightly, muttered in disbelief.

“So, is it real or fake?”
“I thought I was just imagining things…”
“Enough, just try to untie this.”

Star hurriedly reached out to loosen my rope, but stopped midway, struck by a thought.

“…If I untie you, will you leave again?”

I would.
But that’s something I could do without being untied.

As I silently gazed at him, Byul stifled his tears and laboriously untied the ropes.
In no time, I regained my freedom.

“Phew…”
“…”

I sighed and brushed off my clothes. The uneasy Byul glanced at me with a hidden grin.

Our first encounter since being deemed a heretic.
I’m unsure of how much this person knows about me.

Yet, he is the vice-president of the Association.
It’s implausible that he’s unaware of the situation.
I saved my fellow student, Sansuyu, during the downfall of the Cornus family lineage, and as a consequence, I became a heretic.

“Long time no see, huh?”

Now that I’ve waged a battle against the world, how will Byul react to me?
There was no urgency just now. I observed Byul’s complexion and awaited an imminent response.

‘Will he question why I did it… or perhaps curse me?’

No matter how much I berate myself, he knows the world well and can sometimes say a harsh word.

You can tell just by looking at him.

His cheeks are hollow, as if he’s missed quite a few meals, and his gaunt cheekbones, along with the dark circles under his eyes, reveal his emotional turmoil.

*Sob*.

The eyes of the star that had been staring at me slowly moisten.

“Uh… wait a moment.”
“Hic, hmph… *sob*.”

This was unexpected.

“…For now, don’t cry.”
“You idiot!”

-Wham!

Contrary to my expectations, the first tears begin to flow.

He was sitting there, looking at me in bewilderment, then suddenly rushed toward me.

“Whimper, sob… Se-Young and I were so worried because we couldn’t see you…”

He didn’t care that his face was becoming ugly as he let his tears and snot flow freely.
With his face buried in the nape of my neck, he wailed.

-Thump! Thump!

He even landed punches on my chest.

“Shouldn’t you say something, you naughty scoundrel?”
“Mmm… Byul.”
“Ahem, ahem, ahem….”

If someone’s truly heartbroken, they’d cast off all their cheerfulness and weep as the world slips away.
At this rate, it wouldn’t be strange if hunters came in after noticing something was amiss.
I embraced Byul and lifted myself up.

“I’m sorry. No, I apologize, sister. Stop.”
“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…”

Tears gushing like an elementary school student who lost a 200 won jelly!
It’s as embarrassing as a schoolboy who stole jelly for fun.

Byul is brave but tender-hearted, so it’s not that they can’t understand.
But I didn’t expect such an emotional outpouring.

‘Actually… this would be a normal response.’

I thought Se-young would do this too if she were in their place. My mind calmed down.
I soothed Byul, drawing their head towards me.

As our lips gently touched, Byul’s tears paused for a moment.

“Whimper. Huh!?”

The evocative scent of starfruits lingers in memory, even when apart for a short while.

“Uh? Ah…?”

A sweet yet tangy aroma emanates from the lips.

Her eyes, reddened and glistening with tears, widen as she gazes intently at me.

“Have you calmed down now?”

After allowing some time to pass, I still couldn’t do it. My words only brought her emotions surging back, and she hugs me tightly, sobbing.

“Huhhhhhh… I like you… I like you best, more than anyone else…”
“Alright, I understand.”

She curses at me and berates herself. This goes on for dozens of minutes.

It took a significant amount of time for her to find her composure. Her eyes, swollen to the size of chestnuts, finally listened to me as she sniffled.

“Why… didn’t you tell me?”
“You would have stopped me if I had.”

The tissues, heavy with her mucus, had already created a small mountain. She wiped her reddened eyes with a wet wipe, having vigorously rubbed them, and looked at me.

“To this extent… the situation might not have worsened…”

Star questioned the reasons behind my actions up until now. Star still doesn’t know that I am the successor to King Mokryeong. Even if I hadn’t secured Cornus, the World Tree would have targeted me for one reason or another.

If that were the case, I could have confided everything to Star and asked for help.

“You shouldn’t get involved needlessly.”

More than anything, this is the most significant reason. I hurriedly hugged Star, who seemed as though she might cry again while listening to me.

– Embraced.

Small in stature, but with large breasts. Star, whom I hugged, wriggled in my arms and our lips met in a kiss.

“…You’re so selfish.”

“That’s why I didn’t tell you.”

Because there is a high likelihood that they would try to help even at the risk of their own life. Just by Star’s words alone, wasn’t it clear that she considered my handling things alone, without asking for help, selfish?

“Then… why did you come?”

Star is exceptional.

I know how to get straight to the point and approach it.

The reason I’ve avoided contact with these people thus far and the reason I’ve come to the star are not connected. I plan to beg this person for help just once.

“I have a favor to ask of you.”
“What about the others?”

I laughed bitterly. I hadn’t met Se-Young or Dal-Rae, let alone my daughter.

I came to see the star before anyone else. For some reason, a subtle excitement seemed to rise between the dark star’s expressions.

It’s certainly not something to be fond of, but seeing her smile, a part of my heart feels bittersweet. Because I have many women… her happiness, even in such circumstances, appeared needlessly pitiful.

No matter how polygamous one is, the more lovers there are, the less attention one can give to each individual. Anxiety is inevitable. I stroked the star’s head earnestly with my hand.

“It’s something only you can do.”
“…Is it because of my position?”

“There’s that, too. You were the only one who could act rationally even in the situation I was in.”

I trusted and confided in them honestly. The tearful star nodded, seemingly understanding my words.

“What can I do?”

The answer came. I took a deep breath and spoke slowly.

I didn’t touch on sensitive matters. I didn’t ask for classified information from the Hunter Association. It wasn’t something that could put the star in danger. Just a very small favor.

It wasn’t difficult to elicit a response from the star.

“…Yes. If that’s all, I’ll manage somehow.”
“Thank you.”
“…My mouth is empty.”

I smiled at the unexpected pout and kissed them.

A very long, sticky kiss. As we shared each other’s bodily fluids, the star breathed heavily, laughing through their tears.

Blocking the star’s mouth as they tried to say something, I was the first to speak.

I have many lovers, but I have no intention of letting them go.
After all, none of the connections I’ve made since coming to this world should be taken lightly.

Those awkward words of love.

At the utterance from my lips, the star’s pupils trembled.

This is all I have to convey.
I could no longer meet these people.

* * * * * * * *

When the door opened with a creak, Sansuyu, who had been waiting by the entrance, was pushed out.

There’s nothing more disconcerting than suddenly losing your balance while leaning against a door that unexpectedly swings open.

I caught Sansuyu, who nearly fell. Her eyes widened in surprise.

“Running a bit late today, huh?”
“I’ve been waiting for ages.”

4 a.m.
Lately, Sansuyu hasn’t been sleeping well either.

Now, I’m proficient at walking, and I can do the chores you ask of me quite well. I believe I can manage to eat and live without you.

“Instead, I’ll make you something delicious… You’ve prepared the meal.”

Entering the combined living room and bedroom, I wash my hands and see the set table. It’s not exactly delicious, but now the food is at least edible.

Glancing at Sansuyu, her ample breasts sway, her hands rest on her hips, and she snorts, “Ahem.”

“…Praise me?”

She rushes over at my words, hugging me tightly. She’s like a lovable puppy.

“I like Siheon… I love you.”

These days, Sansuyu’s affection has noticeably increased. We still engage in intimate relations from time to time, but lately, she finds happiness in simply holding hands and sleeping peacefully.

It’s hard to believe she’s someone with a limited time to live.

‘If Sansuyu is to live longer… is the experiment a success?’

While leading the white ants, I’ve had many opportunities to gain other knowledge.

Among the information, there were details about King Mokryeong and the Cornus family.

These were not irrelevant facts, but rather essential aspects of my plan. I felt the need to meet Tae-yang at least once.

With that thought in mind, I took a spoonful of rice and put it in my mouth. Cornus, her large breasts enveloping my body like a sandwich, clung to my side, wrapped her arms around my neck, and eagerly awaited my praise.

“Is it tasty? Tasty?”
“Let’s chew and talk, you know.”
“…Mm.”

Although the food wasn’t particularly delicious, there’s a saying that even spoiled food tastes good when you look at your young wife’s face. This was especially true when it came to her large breasts, which were an excellent means of soothing one’s anger.

“Si-heon, I love you…”
“How long are you going to keep saying that?”

One day, I would have to encourage her to become independent. That was the only thought occupying my mind.