Chapter 291
Chapter 291
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 291
Chapter Title: Heavenly Demon Lady Uses Magic (1)
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"Lady Plum Blossom. Today, I will train you with my humble skills."
A hunter who had just entered the room shouted with clear tension on his face.
He was a promising talent from a fairly renowned family even in China.
Meihwa, sprawled on the bed with her arm dangling off the edge, let the book in her hand drop limply.
-Thud.
The book fell onto the dust-covered floor, sending a acrid cloud of dust billowing around.
"...You."
"Yes."
Meihwa's eyes scanned the hunter.
Zhang Wei.
A stranger to her.
"How strong are you?"
"Pardon?"
"I asked how strong you are."
Meihwa loved the essence of bloody combat.
A being driven mad by the violent pleasure of crushing opponents amid piercing pain throughout her body.
Just seeing the smile she wore at the sight of blood was enough to gauge her mental state.
She had returned to China temporarily, now that external training was possible.
Meihwa watched the hunter for a moment before slowly rising and stepping forward.
"As strong as the Sword Saint?"
"Y-Yes? That lord is someone no hunter can surpass..."
"Oh?"
Too wordy.
This moment was unbearably boring; no need to listen.
-Crash!
With a single swing of her hand, the hunter's head smashed into the side cabinet.
"Then die."
His head, pierced like iron, crumpled where her hand struck, and Meihwa frowned at Zhang Wei's body spewing blood.
Blood gushed from the shattered cabinet door, staining the room.
All of them were pathetically weak.
The nation's so-called elites, even the hunters assigned by the government under the pretext of training.
China's S-ranks were especially so.
These guys hadn't earned their ranks through skill but through bribes and corruption.
Deeply unpleasant.
There was no one in this country who could kill her.
...Except that one woman.
Even the ginkgo, another national tree like her, had vanished long ago.
-Grip.
Meihwa clenched her fist.
The blood on her hand soaked into her pale skin.
The more she killed, the more she absorbed the victim's mana and life force to grow stronger—this authority of hers remained unknown to anyone.
-Step.
She wandered out of the room in a daze.
A woman waiting outside peered inside curiously, and soon agonized screams erupted from within.
It was routine for her.
"...So damn boring."
Not much longer now.
Once she entered Flower, it would be nothing but fights and fists.
She could finally live the daily life she craved.
And at the end of her life... she would surpass even her idol, the Sword Saint.
"If only time would pass faster."
The Sword Saint—the strongest woman she had ever seen.
Thinking of that face twisted her entire body with emotion. Excitement surged.
Unpainted youthful skin, the world's most beautiful face, and the immense power from those slender arms.
Just one glimpse as a child had turned her life upside down.
This could be love.
May to June was when plum blossoms fell and fruit bloomed.
The green plums would bury into the earth, becoming seeds anew—a time of rebirth.
Once this period passed, she could turn her back on the woman she had so longed for.
That thought alone sent chills through her body.
-...Take me as your disciple!
-Get lost.
How prickly she had been at their first meeting.
A thick smile crept onto her lips.
Someday, she would claim that neck.
She couldn't meet her now, so until then, she would enjoy herself against the national trees.
The first trial was structured so no one could show their true strength.
But from the fourth onward, it was a grand undertaking.
She could kill national trees with her own hands.
Well, she wouldn't touch allies like Panya. That wench was too weak to catch her eye anyway.
Defiling a nation was thrilling. She wanted to rip their clothes, trample their fallen national emblems before the cameras.
Imagining the despair on people's faces as they watched brought a smile.
"Ah... I can't wait."
Meihwa's eyes gleamed mysteriously even under the midday sun.
Cruel, yet beautiful.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Th-Thank you... big brother."
I stroked the grubby little girl's head once.
Dirty, but I couldn't use magic.
Even being clean could make you a target in this district.
-Munch munch.
Watching her chew the soft bread—her first ever—with wide-eyed delight brought a smile to my face.
What sin did you kids commit?
My life sucks, but even on land ruled by Flower, innocent young seeds grow.
The girl cried floods of tears even as she ate her bread.
"Don't cry, there there. Drink some milk."
"...Y-Yes, sob."
Her ribs were protruding; she hadn't been here long.
A girl and a child.
In this lawless zone, she was the most vulnerable existence socially.
Tasting our rations for the first time, she laughed through her tears.
"What's your name?"
"...Tina."
"Alright, Tina. Just wait a bit."
I stroked her head while flashing my kindest smile.
I lowered my voice so the sage behind me couldn't hear.
"Hardship comes before fortune."
"R-Really? Sob."
"Know what Flower is?"
"...Not really."
As part of the sage's morning routine, I asked other kids about Flower.
Those bastards had brains; their reputation was surprisingly good.
Kids loved anything if it came with food.
I wasn't about to trash them for ignorance, but the poor and uneducated made great fodder for politicians' demagoguery.
"But I know one person."
"Who?"
"...Sob, my big sister. She was taken by Flower. No news since. Where did she go?"
Probably not a good end.
Experiment subject, or groomed into a criminal or terrorist operative.
The sage had tipped me off when I arrived today.
I kept stroking Tina's head.
Just from wandering today, I'd already memorized five names.
"She'll be fine."
"Yes, sob."
This included the World Trees.
I'd heard they used humans as test subjects or for immoral purposes, then disposed of them.
To gather power by any means, Flower fought back, so the World Trees had no choice?
That's a laughable take.
Both were the worst.
I wondered if the sage assigned me these tasks to change my values, but it only solidified my thoughts.
If even amplifying my disgust for Flower and the World Trees was part of his scheme, I had nothing to say.
"Let's head back for today."
"Yes."
"Memorized the coordinates?"
"...No."
At the sage's words, I patted Tina's shoulder one last time.
Then pulled out an extra bread and milk from my pocket, handing them over.
I slipped her a candy too, hidden from the sage.
"Eat it quick. If anyone threatens you, hand it over without hesitation. Got it? I'll come tomorrow."
"Yes."
"Good girl."
"Who are you, big brother?"
"...Yi Do-won."
I stood after giving my name.
Memorizing more coordinates was a hassle.
Intelligence over mana. Memory was key.
Like memorizing history dates by event, steady effort over time worked.
I could cram them all short-term if I pushed, but headaches followed.
In the end, I erased a few locations from my mind.
Unused Do-won spots, and places in Seoul near a barbecue joint I'd gone to with Baek Do, Hwang Do, and Cheon Do.
After gathering everything:
Four memorized. The remaining five soon.
Finishing my morning routine, I returned to the sage and Eden.
"Si-heon’s back?"
Cornus, moving books, met my eyes as I entered.
"Yeah, what're you up to?"
"...Reading."
Cornus shook a few books.
Strange characters covered them. Unrelated to swordsmanship... yellowed with age.
Preservation magic ensured they wouldn't tear.
"Books on the Cornerus Family."
The sage identified them instantly.
Cornus, surprised he knew, hid them aside and glanced at me.
Probably from my constant family-bashing; she habitually avoided mentioning Cornerus.
"Oh? Anything about the family?"
"Yes."
"...I see."
If I found time later, families like Lee Se-young's or Cornus's.
Then Do-won info.
Might uncover unknowns.
The more I saw, the more Eden seemed a land of milk and honey.
"Cornus, where's Maronie?"
"...Her room."
"Lee Si-heon. I'll prepare the lesson, so fetch Maronie."
"Yes."
At the sage's request, I headed to her room.
Maronie had gotten prickly this morning out of nowhere.
I didn't know what she'd heard, but as fellow students, with an excuse, I could talk.
Ask why she snapped too.
-Creak.
No one inside.
Cornus said she was in her room.
I checked around the bed.
One outfit hung by the bed was missing.
The one from yesterday; maybe someone laundered it.
Not in the kitchen. Thought she might be showering early, so checked the changing room—no silhouette.
Bathroom then.
I pressed the button by the doorknob.
Soundproofing was too good.
-Ding-dong.
A surprisingly cheery bell for a bathroom.
Door locked, of course.
After 2-3 minutes, it unlatched.
"Ah, Maronie."
I spoke to identify myself.
"...What."
"Lesson time. Sage says come. Let's go."
"W-Wait a sec."
Slightly heated voice.
Soon, Maronie opened the door.
A faint bodily scent wafted from inside.
Hands over her chest, she shuffled out shyly. Her tank top's belly puffed round.
Something stuffed inside.
But that scent was familiar.
With the King Spirit King's power, my body was sensitive to such things.
I looked at Maronie, then her protruding belly and peeking hem below, averting my gaze.
"... ."
"Hey."
"Uh, y-yeah? W-What?"
"Nothing."
Flushed face. Voice pitched higher, like aroused.
Even in the dry toilet, tiles glistened wet.
Girls do it too. Sometimes as long as guys.
Some as much as guys.
I understood.
"You looked down this morning. Something happen?"
To change the subject and escape her scent, I moved to my bed.
Maronie shuffled to the changing room, cracking the door.
"...Nothing. Just me overthinking."
"Overthinking what?"
"Don't pry."
Sharp retort.
She emerged from the changing room into the bedroom.
Her slightly bloated belly now flat.
My clothes thief was there.
Arms behind her back, sweat-soaked.
Her stockings under the skirt visibly damp.
I stared long, then sighed.
"Tough, huh?"
"... ."
Silence meant yes.
But I couldn't help. Might deepen the enslavement.
"Still... manageable."
Still.
No voice I'd heard lately sounded so unstable.
"...Let's go."
"Yeah."
Maronie nodded, head down, and dressed haphazardly.
We entered the sage's lesson awkwardly.
Wonder how long this dynamic would last.
-Tug.
Maronie pinched my sleeve lightly.
"Blanche?"
No answer to my surprised question.
Walking the hall, she kept her head down.
Like a sulking kid, nails scratching my arm teasingly.