Chapter 300
Chapter 300
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 300
Chapter Title: Heavenly Demon Uses Magic (9)
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I entered my room to change clothes before heading out for my morning routine.
-Swish.
The rough fabric clung to my skin.
I slipped on a short-sleeved shirt that smelled like the detergent the women used, then draped a ragged robe over it.
Phone, check.
Invisibility mask and mistletoe, ready.
Finally, I transformed the mistletoe into bracelet form and turned from the closet toward the bed.
Two women lay on the bed, embracing each other in sleep.
A smirk escaped my lips.
"This is my bed, not yours."
I stepped back a few paces and sat on Sansu-yu's bed.
They'd been desperate after not getting any action for days.
It hadn't escalated to a full-blown fight, but Marronier had been watching Sansu-yu closely, like she had some leverage.
'What change of heart made them sleep like sisters now?'
Yellow and blue hair tangled together, giving off a dreamy glow.
Marronier slept cozily buried in her ample bosom. Sansu-yu hugged her like a teddy bear, childlike.
The difference? Both clutched the blanket tight, pulling it toward their faces.
As if it were theirs alone.
I pulled out Sansu-yu's blanket and laid it generously over both of them.
-Plop!
It fell straight to the floor with a kick.
"......"
I put it back up.
-Plop!
Apparently, my blanket wasn't good enough.
I wished they'd stop rubbing their scent all over my bed.
As someone with a lecherous disposition, it was torture holding back.
But I couldn't wash it either. Whenever I even hinted at laundering the blankets, Marronier and Sansu-yu protested fiercely.
Driving me insane.
"...Heh."
Well, if they were normal, they couldn't even be with me.
Accepting that eased my mind, bringing a wry laugh at my own situation.
I sat on the bed again, gazing at Sansu-yu.
-Healing is impossible.
The Sage's words surfaced naturally.
-She won't last the year. No matter how powerful the authority, unless it defies the natural order, it can't be changed.
Sansu-yu couldn't be cured.
Even constant infusions of Healing Authority were just temporary measures.
Still, thanks to me, her lifespan had been extended considerably.
'...An authority that can regenerate hearts and nerves completely.'
Her condition was worse than any illness I could imagine.
Sansu-yu endured it admirably, leaving me proud yet bitter.
'Just maybe.'
If the experiment succeeded, Sansu-yu could live.
She hoped for it too.
The Cornerus Family lived for eternal life, every one of them.
Her current near-idiot state from lifelong experiments proved it.
So, what should I do for Sansu-yu?
Help the Cornerus Family?
Those who ruined her life for their experiments?
That would mean aiding Flower too.
'......Flower.'
Yeah, those bastards.
Boiling them alive wouldn't be enough, yet I'd have to do them a favor.
If I wanted to save Sansu-yu on my terms.
I ran my hands up my face.
"Fuck.... Everything from one to ten is a goddamn mess."
Dozens of women I'd been intimate with flashed through my mind.
Not in a lewd way—just those I'd truly cared for and cherished.
They'd kept me going in my past life.
"Master's... leeching off the World Tree."
Nothing was working out.
"Cornerus Family's with Flower. Sansu-yu's on the family's side."
Sansu-yu and my master would vanish in the future.
Now that I knew a bit more, the fear was real.
"All of them."
I couldn't shout.
The two women before me narrowed my vision. Though they'd long faded from view, I remembered them, so I lowered my voice.
"......"
My nails scratched my cheek, drawing blood.
Naturally, my body, inscribed with Healing Authority, healed the minor wound instantly.
I wiped the blood with my sleeve.
-Springing up.
I stood abruptly.
In the past, Heavenly Path always gave answers during such dilemmas.
She scolded my mistakes too.
Enter the Forest Keeper Selection Tournament.
Find allies and talent there.
I'd followed her advice.
The gains were plenty.
Marronier, Sun and Aori, even Bao—though our ties were messy.
Saku and Kim Suyeon were good-hearted and flexible too.
"I want to ask."
But now, I couldn't even take my most trusted master's words at face value.
Naturally, White Path and Imperial Path were out too.
Just because they collaborated with the World Tree.
Bearing that alone ached deep in my chest.
The problem? Getting emotional might worsen my situation.
Fuck, but I had to stay cold.
For now.
-Knock, knock, knock.
[Lee Siheon?]
"...Yes."
I answered casually and stepped out.
The Sage smiled brightly outside the door.
An inscrutable smile, as always.
"Let's go."
I steadied my breath, squared my shoulders.
With the face I'd once shown Heavenly Path in that fabricated past.
This was just the process of breaking free.
Now, I had to forge ahead myself.
"From today, you're saying I go alone?"
"Yes. You can handle it, right?"
"...Whatever I do there is my business?"
At my loaded words, the Sage replied matter-of-factly.
"Of course. But don't forget to feed our kids."
"Sure~. Oh, is Teddy pink today?"
"......"
I glanced away from the Sage's stern face.
This usually worked.
But her reaction differed this time.
She pinched my arm hard.
"Ow!"
Pain brought tears to my eyes.
Surprised by the rare sting, I rubbed my arm and backed away as the Sage beamed.
"Have a safe trip."
"...."
"They say enduring three times averts murder. Korean proverbs have some fun ones. Know how many that's been?"
"But... liking teddy bears isn't weird, right?"
"Shut it."
"Yes, ma'am."
I answered foolishly, chuckling as I shouldered the large backpack she handed me and activated spatial transfer.
My vision flipped; the tiled floor instantly became dusty earth.
My mentally strained face calmed too.
-Peek, peek.
A bit further down the path, kids whose faces I now recognized appeared.
A little wary without the Sage, but when I opened the backpack, they rushed over, fearing to be last.
"Tree Footrest. Woodpecker. Rise and shine."
[...Master! Y-you called? I'm here right away. I'm first!] Tree Footrest arrived drenched, fresh from a bath.
Soon, a magic circle formed on the ground, and Woodpecker joined.
[Good morning, Master.] "Morning."
[What do you need? Master, Master!] The two chirping cute birds drew the kids' gazes.
...They wouldn't try eating them out of hunger, right?
Relieved by their intrigued eyes, I ordered my spirits.
[...Master. These kids?] "Share some bread."
There were more than one or two to feed.
I unpacked the backpack, revealing its contents.
A magic pouch artifact implementing spatial magic.
A one-of-a-kind backpack that could hold anything, like the blue cat doll that came to mind.
[Not difficult. But what's your relation to these kids, Master?] At Woodpecker's question, I shrugged.
"No relation."
[......] Woodpecker shut up at my blunt reply.
Tree Footrest fell silent too.
What was with them?
As I stared puzzled, they spoke in moved tones.
[...Master's so cool.] [More benevolent than expected.] "Remember, doing the job before flattery means more mana for you—even if just a tad."
[Y-yes!] [Gasp...] "P.S., don't dodge if the kids want to pet you. They never see birds like you."
[Master. Asking us to be playthings... How could you say that?] Another weird remark.
I glared at Tree Footrest.
[......I'm Master's Tree Footrest alone. I only want Master touching me!] "Keep talking and I'll shut that mouth for you."
Woodpecker grabbed Tree Footrest's scruff with her foot, each holding a bread in their mouths.
[Yes.] [Masteeer!] They'd cover a full serving if they hustled.
I refocused on distributing bread.
"Th-thank you, bro."
"Yeah. No newbies today?"
"Shin...ping?"
His dialect mixed in, but English made it workable.
He was picking up French lately too.
The boy tilted his head at my question.
"Y'know... the new ones who just arrived. About this small? Girl."
Tina, was it?
Her body was skeletal from malnutrition.
The cute kid had teared up like a chick when handed food.
I'd been waiting for her, but no sign.
"That girl... left yesterday."
"What? Left? Where?"
"Some uncle dragged her off..."
The boy muttered softly, inaudible to others.
"......What?"
"N-nothing."
My face hardened; he backed away like he'd done something grave.
I forced a smile and asked again.
"Tell me quietly. Extra bread from big bro. Milk okay?"
"...Uh, well. Snitching ain't good. Promise you won't say I told you?"
"Obviously."
I gave him another bread.
To silence the "Why only him?" grumbles, I tossed extras to the others.
Leaning in to the boy again.
"...A guy in rags."
The guy who sometimes lurked, eyeing the Sage handing out food.
I followed his quick glance.
Two alleys away.
About 100m down the long street, that guy was peeking this way.
I pretended not to notice, turning away.
Simultaneously, I scattered faint mana his way—undetectable to any culprit.
'Eleonore.'
<Yes, Master?> 'The spot I just marked with mana. Tail that guy secretly. Rags dude. Report every move in detail. Call out if it seems fishy.'
<...O-okay. But Master. When... will you do it with me?> 'After, I'll give you so much you'll beg off. Just do as told.'
<Y-yes! I'll clean my feathers and wait...> Normally, Woodpecker would be ideal for tailing.
But to build Eleonore's experience, I chose her.
A spirit wouldn't screw up big-time.
Now relaxed, I distributed the bread.
<...Um. Master?> 'What.'
A while later.
As I finished handing out bread to leave, she reported.
<The vibe here's kinda weird.>