Chapter 383: Lee Wanhee
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 383: Lee Wanhee
“It’s a miracle…”
“N-No way.”
“Is Kim Taesung right now…?”
“I think so.”
Everyone was quite flustered, but none more so than Lee Jihee, Wanhee’s mother. She let out a sigh of relief as Lee Wanyong calmly explained the situation, but she still looked anxious all the same.
If my own child were suddenly engulfed in such a light and transformed into a Green Skin, I would have undoubtedly reacted just like her.
The blinding light made it difficult for the others to see how Wanhee was changing, but I could clearly see her transformation taking place.
‘A demon.’
She was changing into a demon, just like me, Jang Ye Ri, and Ratga. Demons were already rare among Green Skins, but I never imagined their numbers would increase in this way. I couldn’t tell if I should be happy about the appearance of a new comrade or not.
Horns slowly sprouted from her forehead, and her tiny body grew to a size just a little smaller than Ratga’s. She was changing into a body appropriate for her age. Her mind would likely evolve to a similar level as well.
“Heh…”
Even Lee Wanyong looked a little surprised. Although he hadn't fully grasped the mechanism by which humans turned into Green Skins, the man who had become a Doppelganger knew better than anyone that the most important factor was one's own will. The idea that a one-year-old possessed the will to become a Green Skin was impossible to accept, no matter how you tried to explain it.
‘To think this was even possible…’
I’d seen it all on this continent, but this was the first time I’d witnessed such a dramatic change. Separately, the satisfied smile on Lee Wanyong’s lips was genuine; there isn’t a parent alive who wouldn’t rejoice at their daughter’s success, however unconventional.
He was surely thinking something along the lines of, As expected of my daughter.
[Target - Lee Wanhee]
[Status - Joy, Safety, Relief.]
[Special Species - Dream-Eating Demon.]
[A species commonly known as a succubus. These dream-eaters have negligible combat ability and are very frail, but they possess various wondrous abilities. They are fundamentally classified as demons, so they have a talent for magic and possess extremely quick minds.]
I grew curious about what those wondrous abilities might be.
‘Dammit…’
Just as I was worrying that a more dangerous being than I’d expected was being born, the light slowly faded, and her new form began to be revealed.
I hated to admit it, but she had an overtly cute face, likely an influence from Lee Wanyong’s wife, Lee Jihee. Unusually, she didn’t resemble Lee Wanyong in the slightest. If I had to pick one similarity, it would be her eyes.
They were so similar that even someone who didn’t know Wanhee was Lee Wanyong’s daughter would be reminded of him just by looking into her eyes.
Her slightly small, down-turned eyes made her look incredibly pitiful and evoked a sense of sympathy. They were slightly narrow like a cat’s, yet drooped like a puppy’s. Cunning and bewitching, those eyes were moist, stirring a strange feeling of pity.
“Ah… Lord Blood Dagger has wrought another miracle…”
“Father… As expected, you are magnificent! To think this was possible… I had heard rumors, but it was true.”
“Kim Taesung?”
One thing that set her apart from other demons was the small, bat-like wings on her head. But they didn’t look grotesque or evoke any other negative feelings.
Rather…
‘She’s cute.’
She was completely naked, so I tore a piece of cloth from nearby and covered Wanhee’s body. At that, she quietly opened her mouth, and an incredibly clear and bright voice rang out.
“Thank you, Father.”
“I am not your father.”
“I am aware… but you are the father of all Green Skins, so I believed it would not be so strange for me to call you Father. If it makes you uncomfortable…”
“No, that’s fine. Go and greet your father and mother.”
She was even polite. I was starting to like her more and more. I knew I shouldn’t be thinking this way, but as I glanced back and forth between her and Ratga, I started to feel like they really suited each other.
The tiny bat wings on her head fluttered, suggesting she couldn’t yet move her body freely.
Having successfully metamorphosed into a demon, Wanhee exchanged greetings with me before turning to Lee Wanyong and Lee Jihee. Naturally, Choi Seulgi and Choi Eunju stared at her with dumbfounded expressions.
“What happened? It’s really you, Wanhee, right?”
“Yes, of course. I remember everything. To be honest, I don’t know the details myself, Mother. The sensation of being able to speak and walk like this feels so new. The ability to think, as well.”
“It is all thanks to Lord Blood Dagger. You’ve been through a lot.”
“Yes. Thank you, Father.”
As the father and daughter exchanged glances, I felt a strange sense of danger. With the sudden appearance of a demon his age, Ratga grew a little shy and hid behind me. Unexpectedly, it seemed he had no immunity to this sort of thing, but he kept stealing glances at Wanhee, fascinated.
“Hello, Young Master.”
“Yeah…”
“Please, feel free to call me Wanhee.”
“R-Right… I will.”
As expected, she was quite bold. The atmosphere suddenly turned so fresh and innocent that I wondered if we should give them some space. Of course, making a friend his own age would be good for the boy. When I gently pushed Ratga forward, he reluctantly began to approach Wanhee.
But she was the one who moved first.
She suddenly grabbed Ratga’s hand, a move that was incredibly forward, unlike her earlier demeanor.
“I felt it when you touched me before, but your hands are very warm, Young Master.”
“Th-Thank you.”
“I still remember you saying it would be nice to play together, Young Master.”
“I-I’m glad.”
“Will you play with me?”
“O-Of course. We can run around the Children’s Battlefield together. Though, since we’re still young, it will have to be after we get Father’s permission.”
Wanhee’s bright smile was completely genuine. It would have been a beautiful sight, if not for Lee Wanyong’s smug grin. At the scene, Choi Seulgi whispered to me again.
“He’s so shy. He didn’t get that from you. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him like this. Are you really getting a daughter-in-law?”
“She’s only one year old, what are you talking about?”
“What do you mean? In two more years, they’ll be as big as teenagers, and then they’ll get girlfriends and boyfriends. Four years after that, won’t they be heading straight for marriage? They’re both demons… Ratga might not be, but that capable man’s daughter already seems to be carving out her own path in life…”
“…”
Green Skins grow up fast. For all I knew, what Choi Seulgi said wasn’t entirely impossible. If Wanhee had truly inherited her father’s blood, it was only natural that she would be exceptionally bright. No, I didn’t even need to test it; it was an undeniable fact that she was already smart.
It pained me to admit, but Laveua hadn’t been like this at one year old. Wanhee’s pronunciation was perfect, and she already had a grasp of etiquette. I could understand it with Lapura, who inherited a lot from her mother, but how Wanhee could be like this was a mystery. It might not be a bad idea to investigate whether my consciousness had truly triggered something.
“It’s probably best to just watch for now.”
All sorts of thoughts were running through my head, but the two of them together didn’t make a bad picture. The first task was for her to win Ratga’s heart. In truth, getting permission from his mother, Jang Ye Ri, would be far more difficult than getting it from me.
It felt strange to be having such thoughts about children who had just met, but seeing how proactive Wanhee was, I felt it was only natural.
“Father, may I look around the castle with Wanhee for a moment?”
This was what made me anxious. As I let out a small sigh, Choi Eunju spoke up. I nodded in response.
“I’ll watch them for a bit, dear. Go finish your business and come back.”
“I’ll allow it if you go with your Senior Mother. But you are not to go outside.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Thank you, Father.”
I couldn’t get used to her calling me ‘Father.’ But it wasn’t an entirely unpleasant feeling. If some thieving bastard came and held Laveua’s hand, I’d be furious, but with Ratga, it was a little different.
“Let’s go, Young Master.”
“Alright.”
Wanhee gently took Ratga’s arm, and they left with Choi Eunju.
Come to think of it, Lee Jihee was a formidable person in her own right. A new worry began to surface: perhaps the combination of Lee Wanyong, who would do anything to survive, and Lee Jihee, who had tried to use him, had resulted in the creation of an unprecedented hybrid.
“Hoo…”
After they left, a brief silence fell over the reception room. Everyone was likely dumbfounded by the sudden turn of events.
There was no need to sort out the situation. My task was already set, so I turned to Baek Ahyeon.
“First, I will tour the temple with Baek Ahyeon. After that, I will head to the underground city, so Lee Wanyong, be prepared.”
“I understand, O Savior!”
“Y-Yes!”
My purpose for coming here was to tour the temple in the East with Choi Seulgi and Baek Ahyeon, and then receive a report on the situation in the underground city. I had also intended to transfer Lee Wanyong to the West, but I decided it would be better to mention that after some time had passed. I turned my back on the bowing figures and started walking.
Just the three of us—Choi Seulgi, Baek Ahyeon, and I—would be touring the city-turned-temple. It was probably a little disappointing for Baek Ahyeon that Choi Seulgi was coming along, but I thought this would be a good opportunity for the two of them to become closer.
If my prediction was correct, that is.
“First, let us look at the exterior, O Savior. I shall guide you through everything, one by one.”
“I’ll leave it to you.”
“Y-Yes!”
“Let’s take our time and enjoy it.”
She looked incredibly nervous. But that expression would change completely in a moment when she began to introduce her collection.
“I’ve never been here either. I’m curious,” Choi Seulgi said.
“I am certain you will be very surprised, Lady Choi Seulgi. This is a temple city into which I have poured all my respect and affection for the Savior.”
“Ahem, ahem…”
After walking for some time, a massive gate came into view.
“Open the gate.”
At Baek Ahyeon’s command, the temple’s devotees opened the colossal doors. We were currently in the temple at the very top, so naturally, everything below began to come into sight.
‘Wow…’
It was a jaw-dropping sight. Choi Seulgi, her mouth hanging open just like mine, muttered,
“I want to live here…”
A comment just like her.