Chapter 64 – Unsettling Coexistence (2)

“Should I place this here?”
“Yes, so that Shiba can eat it straight away.”

While cleaning the filthy room, Cheondo picked up a water bottle from the floor and placed it on the table. After sweeping with a broom and wiping with a cloth, the room, which looked as though an earthquake had swept through it, was more or less tidied up.

A contented smile crossed her face as she surveyed the cleaned room. Shiba, perched on her shoulder, praised her effort and wiped the sweat from her forehead.

“Peep. Peep~”

Shiba mimicked the gentle stroking that Cheondo did for her every morning, letting out an adorable cry. Her fern-like hand pleasantly tousled Cheondo’s hair.

“Really, why is my daughter so incredibly cute?”

-Smooch.

“Paa~”

As Cheondo planted a tender kiss on Shiba’s soft cheek, she giggled heartily. By now, Cheondo couldn’t imagine life without Shiba.

After hastily finishing cleaning with Shiba and Cheondo, the clock’s hour hand was already pointing to 11 o’clock.

I asked Cheondo, who was tidying up while showcasing her tightly-clad buttocks in tights.

“Do you want to wash up first? I’m going to sleep now.”
“I’ll take care of it with magic, so it’s fine.”
“Is there really such magic?”
“Do you want to give it a try?”

If there were such incredible magic… But it wouldn’t be harmful to the body, right?

As I hesitantly extended my wrist, Cheondo lightly touched my hand and unexpectedly infused it with magical energy. My body felt at ease, and a refreshing sensation washed over me. My sweat-drenched skin instantly became soft and smooth.

“Oh…?”

This is quite nice. I looked at Cheondo with wide eyes, and she still gazed back at me, her expression inscrutable.

“Go ahead and sleep if you’re ready.”
“Yes.”

Our cohabitation happened unexpectedly. Yet, I didn’t feel particularly embarrassed about living together. After all, we used to sleep in the same space during training not too long ago. In fact, the real issue was deciding who would use the bed now.

“Are you going to use the bed?”

“I’ll sleep on the sofa.”

Heaven shrugged nonchalantly. It wasn’t that she hadn’t considered sleeping on the sofa, but upon admitting it so casually, she felt a pang of guilt. The bed was, after all, just the right size for two people.

“Let’s just sleep together.”
“Is that okay? Well, I appreciate it.”
“Yeah, I have to go to the academy tomorrow, so I’ll turn off the lights ahead of time.”

-Thunk.

After turning off the light, I tapped Shiba’s arm, who was still tightly embraced in my arms.

“Shiba. Should we go back to the flower pot?”
“Uh-huh!”
“Don’t want to?”
“Paah!”

She used to obediently follow along, but perhaps it was because we had an uninvited guest this time. I looked at Heaven with Shiba. Heaven stared at Shiba with an emotionless expression, causing Shiba to raise her voice in alarm.

“Screeeeaaaak…!!!”

With her nails standing on end and her back rigid, it seemed as though she would have killed if she didn’t like what she saw.

I patted Shiba on the back and said to Cheondo.

“She doesn’t usually act like this. It must be because there’s a stranger around.”
“It’s fine. The bed seems spacious enough.”
“But aren’t you going to change your clothes? I can provide some pajamas if you need them.”

I took out a tracksuit I’d bought as sleepwear from the closet and asked Cheondo. Receiving no response, I decided to change my clothes myself. Shiba removed her hanging shirt and changed into pajamas.

“Beep.”

When I lay down on the bed with Shiba squirming in my arms, Cheondo finally hung her bare Gonryongpo on the sofa and sat next to the bed.

-Swish.

The sound of tights brushing against the thin blanket fabric.

Shiba, who was snuggled up warmly, couldn’t even bear to hear that sound and began to breathe softly. If Cheondo is beside her, it’s obvious that she will freak out tomorrow morning. I placed Shiba on my left and moved to the middle of the bed.

“It’s a bit cramped,”

Cheondo slipped under the blanket and whispered softly,
“Should we get another bed?”
I thought that with Hwangdo’s fully-developed magic, she could easily transport a bed from elsewhere to our location.

“So, what should we sleep attached to tonight?”
“Are you insane?”

Cheondo frowned, her face turning serious. Though she swiftly dismissed my suggestion, I grabbed her arm and pulled her closer. After all, there was no reason to be modest since we had already seen each other’s naked bodies.

“Sleeping uncomfortably will give you a backache.”
“…”

We didn’t embrace, but our breaths mingled at close proximity. We could inhale each other’s exhalations simply by swallowing with our mouths open. Cheondo’s ample breasts pressed against me, and I could feel their soft, peach-like movement through the layered leather.

“Your eyelashes are surprisingly long, Master.”

Cheondo closed her mouth tightly and gently lowered her eyelids. As expected, she didn’t view me as a man, just like the last time. But I had done it knowing that.

Like her, I closed my eyes, sorting my thoughts as I waited for sleep to come. The ticking of the clock resonated throughout the room.

– Tick.

1 minute. 2 minutes.

– Tick.

“Are you asleep?”

Just before drifting off, Cheondo spoke to me. I opened my drowsy eyes with a shudder, and there were Cheondo’s eyes, right in front of mine.

“…I was just about to fall asleep.”
“Sorry. There’s something I wanted to ask.”
“What is it?”

Cheondo inquired nonchalantly.

“Could you die for your dreams?”

A question both profound and abstract. Cheondo occasionally gazes off into the distance and poses questions to me.

At times, it feels as if she’s on the verge of committing some act, which can be startling. However, no one truly knows what lies within the heart of the woman hailed as the strongest. I don’t even know why she’s taken me on as a disciple—how could I possibly know what’s inside her?

“Shouldn’t you first ask if I have a dream?”
“…What is your dream?”
“Why are there so many questions today? To live an ordinary life with a beautiful wife.”

That’s how it was.

It’s in the past tense.

“So, if you ask whether one can die for a spouse…”

It seemed that my personality had changed quite a bit since coming here.
Being a team leader or a lascivious demon, it’s just too obvious.
Furthermore, the weight of life has become so light that, honestly, it doesn’t feel strange no matter how I die.

And I might be killed by an assassin’s blade tomorrow. Wouldn’t it be fortunate if I die while pursuing my dreams?

“It’s entirely possible.”

Lee Se-Young, Azalea, Cornus, Jung Si-woo, and of course, Heaven and Zodiac.
It wouldn’t be unjust for any of them to die while saving someone.

“Is that so?”
“Yes. I’m not sure what you intended to ask, but please explain your intentions thoroughly the next time you inquire.”
“I apologize for bringing up such topics.”

“Isn’t that the charm of our Heavenly Demon?”
“…Did I mention the Heavenly Demon?”

How could you not know?
There are whispers everywhere.

I smirked with my eyes closed. Then, the Heavenly Demon spoke in a somewhat sulky voice.

“Suddenly, I find you detestable.”
“What?”
“I am not the Heavenly Demon. It seems we need to adjust the training schedule.”

The translator in my head deemed those words to be true. I felt a shiver down my spine.

“Si-heon, what do you think the next main quest will be?”
“Perhaps it’s an academy exam this time.”

Midterm or final. Or a skill test that determines the ranking of the students.
Sub-quests were always chaotic, but the main quests had their own direction.
To become a suitable candidate as a husband for the World Tree.
Knowing that, I could guess that this time it might be about an individual’s power.

“Maybe it will be difficult this time.”

“I suppose so.”

If the directive was to achieve a certain level of prowess, the difficulty this time would be quite high. Until now, it had only been about modest things like admissions or making three friends.

“So, we must be diligent in preparation for when such a quest comes, so it won’t seem strange.”

With my eyes closed in the darkness, Cheondo spoke in a voice as warm and comforting as a soft light.

“Siheon, within a month, you must become stronger than anyone else in the academy.”
“Is that possible?”
“It’s alright. It’s possible. You’re worth more than that. Even if I turn my back on the world, I’ll protect you alone. If you’re still worried, don’t hesitate to ask.”

I lifted my eyelids. The Heavenly Demon was wearing an unfamiliar smile.

“Whose disciple are you?”

I laughed.

“I am the disciple of the Heavenly Demon.”

She frowned.

“Again, I am not the Heavenly Demon. Today feels like a day when I might grow to dislike my disciple.”

* * * * *

In my groggy state of mind, I could hear the sound of a pot bubbling.

– Bubble, bubble.

A scent teased my nostrils – the aroma of home-cooked meals, reminiscent of the ones my parents used to make.

Slowly, I lifted my eyelids, stroked the still-slumbering Shiba, and left the room.

“Oh, did you wake up?”
“…Hwangdo, is that you?”
“Hehe, correct.”

Beside Hwangdo, who held a bowl of rice without even wearing her outer robe, a humble breakfast was laid out.

“Where did you get all these dishes?”
“Did you use magic?”
“I think you’re the only one in the world who would use magic to move dishes.”
“Why are you teasing me? Come and eat. And, should Shiba eat too?”
“Yeah, but let her sleep a bit more. You know how kids need a lot of sleep.”

There’s a breakfast buffet, so why did she prepare this meal? I decided to stifle my curiosity. Since it was prepared, there was no need to say anything that might sound ungrateful.

“Thank you, anyway. You’ve even prepared a meal. Are you confident in your cooking skills?”
“Of course, I’m quite skilled at cooking! Top-notch, in fact!”

Hwangdo confidently declared, patting her chest, and a smirk crossed Do-won’s face. Instead of sitting across from him, Hwangdo chose to sit beside him, clinging to his arm and whispering in his ear.

“I’m looking for a man who can appreciate my talents.”

Do-won flinched. This was quite an audacious statement.

“I’m not making fun of a younger brother who has little experience.”
“Hehe, among the people in Do-won’s circle, no one takes my jokes seriously except you.”
“Really? I find them quite amusing.”
“That’s why I like you.”

The meal consisted of soybean paste stew with a homemade aroma, steamed eggs, the well-known brand of grilled ham, and kimchi. Frankly, it was a combination that couldn’t possibly be tasteless.

“What do you think? Is it good?”
“I haven’t even tried it yet.”
“Give me your chopsticks.”

Hwangdo quickly took the chopsticks from Do-won’s hand and popped a rolled egg into her mouth.

“Mmm!”

I diligently chew and swallow the egg rolls.

-Gulp.

It’s then that I realize why the scent of home fills the air here. My mother isn’t talented in the kitchen. I try the soybean paste stew, and predictably, it lacks flavor.

“How is it?” Hwangdo asks.

“It reminds me of my mother.”

“So, it’s delicious, right?” She grins, smirking.

Hwangdo stands confidently, her cute expression contrasting with the tights that cover her entire body. It’s so very like her.

Despite its mediocrity, I haven’t had a meal like this in a while, so I finish it quickly.

As we eat, Hwangdo clasps her hands together and inquires, “Oh, right. Are you planning to keep raising Shiba on your own? You should really send her to a proper kindergarten.”

“Our Shiba? Well, yeah, I’ll eventually send her to kindergarten. It hasn’t been long since she was born.”

Now that I think about it, I am concerned. I already have limited time to take care of Shiba. Perhaps I really should send her somewhere.

Even as an adult, it still felt odd to be squeaky.

While pondering and resting her chin on her hand, Zodiac cheerfully pointed at herself with her index finger.

“Don’t you need a caregiver?”
“…You’re going to do it?”
“Yup, myself. I’m actually quite good at looking after kids!”
“But Shiba doesn’t really like other people.”
“I don’t mind that sort of thing.”

A snicker escaped.

“Give it a try.”
“Alright!”

Zodiac stretched one hand upward, striking a victorious pose.

That’s right.
I decided on Zodiac.

“Of course, I won’t ask you to cook from now on.”
“Ah!”

Although I wasn’t sure about ham, the other dishes were too tasteless to have frequently.