Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Uncomfortable Cohabitation (2)
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"Should I put this here?"
"Yes. So Shiba can eat it right away."
While cleaning the dirty room, Cheondo picked up a water bottle from the floor and placed it on the desk.
After sweeping with the broom and mopping the floor, the room—which looked like it had been hit by an earthquake—was roughly tidied up.
She looked around the cleaned room with a satisfied smile. Shiba, perched on her shoulder, wiped the sweat from my forehead as if to say good job.
"Peep. Pii~"
Shiba mimicked the petting I did every morning and chirped cutely.
Her fern-like hand ruffled my hair pleasantly.
"Seriously, why is my little girl so cute?"
-Mwah.
"Paa~"
I planted a kiss on her soft cheek, and she giggled.
I couldn't imagine life without Shiba anymore.
After finishing the rough cleanup with Shiba and Cheondo, the clock's hour hand was already pointing at 11.
I asked Cheondo, who was bending over with her tights clinging tightly to her hips as she organized things.
"Do you want to wash up first? I'm about to sleep now."
"I'll handle it with magic, so it's fine."
"There's magic for that too?"
"Want to try it?"
If there's such sweet magic... but it won't be bad for the body, right?
I hesitantly extended my wrist, and Cheondo lightly touched my hand before suddenly infusing it with mana.
My body relaxed, and a refreshing sensation washed over me. My sweat-soaked skin became dry and fluffy in an instant.
"Oh...?"
This is pretty good.
I looked at Cheondo with wide eyes, but she stared back with her usual inscrutable expression.
"If you're done, go to sleep."
"Yes."
This cohabitation had somehow come to pass. But even though we were living together, there wasn't much embarrassment.
We had slept together during training not long ago, after all.
Actually, the bigger issue was who would use this bed.
"Will you use the bed?"
"I'll sleep on the sofa."
Cheondo shrugged as if it were obvious. I had considered offering her the sofa, but when she so straightforwardly accepted it, I felt a pang of guilt.
Well, the bed was just the right size for two anyway.
"Let's just share it."
"Is that okay? Then I'll gladly take you up on it."
"Sure, I have to go to the academy tomorrow anyway, so I'll turn off the lights early."
-Click.
I turned off the light and tapped Shiba's arm, who was still snugly nestled in my embrace.
"Shiba. Time to go back to your pot?"
"Uuung!"
"Don't wanna?"
"Paa!"
She used to follow obediently before, but maybe because of the uninvited guest.
I looked at Cheondo together with Shiba. Cheondo was staring piercingly at Shiba with a blank expression, and Shiba got startled and raised her voice.
"Piiiyaaaak...!!!"
Her nails extended, back arched—it was like she was ready to kill if she didn't like it.
I patted Shiba's back and said to Cheondo,
"She's not usually like this. Probably because you're a stranger."
"It's fine. The bed looks big enough anyway."
"Aren't you going to change clothes? I can give you some pajamas if you need."
I pulled out training clothes I'd bought for pajamas from the closet and asked Cheondo. When no answer came, I decided to change alone.
I took off my shirt with Shiba dangling from it and changed into pajamas.
"Pii."
Holding Shiba, who wriggled in my arms, I lay down on the bed. Only then did Cheondo hang her shed Gonryongpo on the sofa and sit on the edge of the bed.
-Rustle.
The sound of tights brushing against the thin blanket fabric.
Shiba, snug in my arms, must not have heard even that, as she started breathing softly in sleep.
She'll freak out tomorrow morning with Cheondo next to her.
I placed Shiba on the left and moved to the middle of the bed.
"A bit cramped."
Cheondo murmured lowly as she slipped under the blanket.
Maybe I should get another bed.
I figured with Cheondo's perfected magic, she could easily bring one from elsewhere.
"So, shall we sleep stuck together tonight?"
"Are you insane?"
Cheondo's face turned serious. Though quickly shot down, I grabbed her arm and pulled her close.
Since she'd already seen me naked, there was no reason to be distant.
"Sleeping uncomfortably will cramp your back."
"......"
Not quite hugging, but close enough for our breaths to mingle.
So close that even swallowing would mean inhaling the other's breath.
Cheondo's large breasts pressed firmly against me.
Through the padded leather texture, I felt the soft, peach-like yielding movement.
"Master's eyelashes are surprisingly long."
Cheondo, lips pressed shut, slowly closed her eyelids.
She still didn't see me as a man, same as before.
That's why I did it.
Like her, I closed my eyes, organized my thoughts, and waited for sleep. Tick-tock—the clock echoed in the room.
-Tick-tock.
One minute. Two minutes.
-Tick-tock.
"Are you asleep?"
Just as I was drifting off, Cheondo spoke.
I fluttered my sleepy eyes open to find her gaze right in front of my nose.
"...I was just about to fall asleep."
"Sorry. I had something to ask."
"What is it?"
Cheondo asked casually, as if it were nothing.
"Would you die for your dream?"
A profound, abstract question.
Cheondo sometimes gazed far away and asked me things like this.
It sometimes felt like she was testing me, which was startling, but no one probably knew the innermost thoughts of the woman called the strongest.
I didn't even know why she was raising me as a disciple, so how could I know her heart?
"Shouldn't you first ask if I have a dream?"
"...What is your dream?"
"Why are you asking so many questions today? Having a pretty wife and living a normal life."
That was it.
Past tense.
"So... if you're asking if I'd die for one wife."
Coming here had really changed my personality a lot.
Anger Management Disorder or Lewd Demon were par for the course.
Moreover, life felt so cheap now that honestly, dying any way wouldn't be strange.
And I might get stabbed by an assassin tomorrow and die. Dying challenging a dream would be fortunate, right?
"Totally possible."
Lee Se-young, Azalea, Cornus, Jeong Si-woo—of course Cheondo and Hwango too.
I wouldn't feel wronged dying to save any of them.
"I see."
"Yes. I don't know what you're probing for, but next time, explain your intentions when you ask."
"Sorry for bringing up such talk."
"Isn't that part of our Heavenly Demon's charm?"
"...Did I ever mention Heavenly Demon?"
As if she wouldn't know.
Rumors were leaking everywhere.
I chuckled with my eyes closed. Then the Heavenly Demon spoke in a somewhat sulky voice.
"Suddenly, I hate you."
"What?"
"I'm not the Heavenly Demon. Looks like I need to adjust the training schedule."
My mental Wood Person translator judged those words as true. A chill ran down my spine.
"Si-heon, what do you think the next main quest is?"
"Probably the academy exam this time."
Midterms or finals. Or a practical test to rank cadets.
Sub quests were always chaotic, but main quests had their own direction.
To become a talent befitting a World Tree's husband candidate.
Knowing that, I guessed it would be about personal combat prowess this time.
"This one might be tough."
"Yeah."
If the order was to achieve above a certain score, this difficulty would be quite high.
So far, it had been modest things like enrollment or making three friends.
"So, I need to train diligently so I'm not caught off guard whenever it comes."
In my darkened vision with eyes closed, Cheondo's voice came like a warm light.
"Si-heon, within a month, you must become stronger than anyone at the academy."
"Is that possible?"
"It's fine. It's possible. You have more value than that. Even if the world turns against you, I'll protect you alone. If you're still anxious, ask."
I lifted my eyelids.
The Heavenly Demon wore an unfamiliar smile.
"Whose disciple are you?"
I smiled.
"The Heavenly Demon's disciple."
She frowned.
"I'll say it again: I'm not the Heavenly Demon. Today feels like a day I'll dislike my disciple."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A bubbling sound reached my hazy mind.
-Bubble bubble.
A smell tickling my nose. The scent of home-cooked food like my parents would make, evoking hometown.
I slowly opened my eyes, stroked the still-sleeping Shiba, and left the room.
"Oh, you're awake, frosty?"
"...Hwango sis?"
"Ehehe. Correct."
Hwango, holding a rice bowl without even wearing her outer Gonryongpo, had a simple breakfast set beside her.
"Where'd you get all the bowls and stuff?"
"Used magic?"
"In the world, you're probably the only one using magic to move bowls."
"Hey, no nagging. Come eat. And Shiba too, right?"
"Yeah, but let her sleep a bit. Kids need a lot of sleep."
Why prepare a meal when there's a breakfast buffet?
I decided to brush off the curiosity. No need to complain about a free meal.
"Thanks anyway. You even cooked. Confident in your cooking?"
"Me. Pretty good at cooking! Top wife material!"
I chuckled at Hwango thumping her chest proudly.
Hwango sat not across but next to me, clinging to my arm and whispering in my ear.
"Me. Seeking a man to take this wife material home."
I flinched.
...What a disaster tree.
"Not teasing your inexperienced little bro."
"Hehehe. Among the Peach Paradise kids, no one but frosty takes my jokes."
"Really? They're pretty funny."
"That's why I like frosty~"
Miso soup thick with soybean paste smell, steamed eggs, that famous brand ham grilled, and kimchi.
Honestly, it was a combo that couldn't taste bad.
"How is it, frosty? Good?"
"Haven't tried yet."
"Gimme your chopsticks."
Hwango snatched the chopsticks from my hand and shoved a rolled omelet into her mouth.
"Mmph-"
She chewed diligently and swallowed.
-Gulp.
That's when I realized why it smelled like home here.
My mom isn't good at cooking.
I sipped the miso soup. As expected, it tasted familiarly bad.
"How is it?"
"Reminds me of my mom."
"Means it's delicious, right? Hehe."
Hwango puffed her shoulders proudly and grinned.
The imbalance of her all-encompassing tights and cute expression was so Hwango.
Still, it had been ages since such a meal, so I wolfed it down.
While eating, Hwango, hands clasped, asked,
"Oh yeah. You gonna keep raising Shiba alone? Should send her to a proper nursery."
"Our Shiba? Yeah, someday nursery, but she's not even been born long."
Come to think of it, it's a concern.
I already don't have much time for Shiba. Maybe send her somewhere.
Chirping even after I become an adult would be weird.
As I pondered with chin on hand, Hwango brightly pointed at herself repeatedly with her index finger.
"Need a caregiver?"
"...You wanna do it, sis?"
"Me. Good with kids too!"
"But Shiba doesn't like strangers much."
"Me. Don't mind that stuff."
Pfft. Laughter burst out.
"Give it a try then."
"Yass!"
Hwango struck a victory pose with one hand up.
Oh right.
I declared to Hwango,
"Of course, no more cooking from you."
"Gasp!"
Ham aside, the other dishes were too bad to eat often.