Chapter 394: Heaven and Hell
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 394: Heaven and Hell
“Hayuri.”
“What is it?”
“Do you… truly trust them?”
“Whether I trust them or not is irrelevant. I just decided this was the best course of action.”
“I wish you wouldn’t go.”
“Why?”
“Because…”
“It’s no big deal. Like that bastard said, if I think of it as atonement, it’ll be easier to endure.”
“But…”
Hayuri shook her head at Jeong Ji-young’s words. It was a decision she had mulled over for a long time. Life here was certainly happy. Her heart soared whenever she looked at Jeong Ji-young, whose health had finally recovered. Even so, the dangers of this place had not vanished entirely.
As Hayuri stared intently at Jeong Ji-young, he slowly began to speak again.
“I am content with our life here. You have no idea what he meant by asking you to come up. You could be used, or you could be killed. No, you might even die on the way up. I would rather die myself, but when I think about you dying…”
“I won’t die. As long as you don’t die, I will never die.”
“We don’t know how long it will take.”
“That doesn’t matter. I’ll get there quickly. It’s better than staying here.”
“Then… let me go with you…”
“You wouldn’t last, weakling.”
“I’m not as weak as I…”
“Pfft, hahaha.”
“If you truly insist on going, then I… I will never see you again. Above all, if you say you’re going for my sake… I… I will…”
Hayuri gently pulled Jeong Ji-young into an embrace. There was no other meaning behind it.
“I’m always grateful to you. My life here has been more than satisfying and happy. Wanting to go up doesn’t mean I’m not happy here. But I want things to be a little better for us. I know I don’t deserve it… but I want you to be a little happier.”
“I am happy enough.”
“You deserve to be happier. I won’t hear another word. Just stay put quietly, and when I call for you, come running. You’ve always done that.”
Hayuri gave Jeong Ji-young a light kiss. He would probably obey. This man had always followed her. He would silently watch over what she was about to do, without a word.
‘I’m glad I was born.’
For the first time, the very first time, she had such a thought. As she slowly pressed her body against his, feeling the confirmation that she was loved, Hayuri thought to herself.
“I love you…”
No answer came from his sleeping form. Perhaps he was awake. But still, no answer came. Hayuri slowly began to pack her things.
She couldn’t understand why the tears were flowing. She told herself they would only be apart for a short while, but strangely, the tears kept coming.
“Fucking cruel bastard.”
She was grateful to the demon, but also infuriated. It would have been easier on her heart if she’d never been given a choice. She never knew that seeing a glimmer of light could be so agonizing.
“Sob… ugh… sniff…”
Tears streamed down her face as she prepared to leave the house.
She wasn’t crying because she feared she would die from the hardship, or because she was scared of what lay ahead, or because the climb would be agonizing. She was purely sad to be leaving him. That was, without a doubt, the emotion Hayuri was feeling.
Hayuri took a step forward.
“Hell, my ass.”
The scenery flashed by, one scene after another.
Crying people, humans begging from early morning, those catching food falling from the sky, and ghouls fighting amongst themselves all came into view.
She saw houses on the verge of collapse and the faces of elves sneering at those below.
There was no special reason she had decided to ascend.
However.
“I have to show my kid a better world.”
Hayuri took another step forward.
The tears that had started to flow had already stopped.
She left the city and entered the forest. She slowly made her way toward the area they called the Inquisitors’ domain.
“Shhhhiiiik.”
“Shhhhiiiiiiiik.”
Before long, figures wearing strange helmets slowly revealed themselves. There was, of course, no hostility. That man must have told them in advance.
“We. Have. Waited.”
“I’m honored. By the way, you’re a woman?”
“That. Is. None. Of. Your. Concern. Shhhhiiiik.”
Smiling slightly, she followed the Inquisitors until she saw a staircase. It would be a lie to say she wasn’t nervous.
But Hayuri took the first step.
“Welcome. To. Hell.”
“I’ll be in your care, friend.”
The corners of Hayuri’s mouth lifted. At the same time, her consciousness slowly began to fade.
*
“Kim Taesung, do you really think she’ll come up?”
“I’m not getting my hopes up. I don’t know what she’ll choose… she could die on the way up… and even if she does make it, it would probably take years… I’ve decided not to worry about it.”
“Hmm…”
“Honestly, after creating the Eastern Continent, I pretty much left it to its own devices. You know that, right?”
“Of course.”
“It gives me a lot to think about, but this place is undeniably efficient. The priests we’re short on are being mass-produced, and the underground city constantly supplies me with energy. Who would have thought something I just threw together would be this helpful?”
“So you’re expecting the same from Hayuri?”
“Not exactly… it’s more accurate to think of it as an insurance policy, just in case.”
At my words, Choi Seulgi closed her mouth and nodded.
Hearing the screams from outside the elevator, I felt a pang of regret for saying anything to Hayuri. As she made her ascent, feelings of sorrow continuously flew in and struck me. It felt like she was getting close, but the emotions were definitely filling up more slowly now that she had left the city.
“Aaaaaaaahk!”
“S-save me!”
“Ugh… I hate that sound.”
I smirked as Choi Seulgi grimaced and muttered. Going down was fast, but going up was a little slower. Realizing we’d have to listen to screams the whole way up, I figured Seulgi would be making that complaint a few more times.
I leaned quietly against one side of the elevator, pondering what I should get for my next customization. After some time had passed, the elevator slowly came to a stop. We had arrived on the surface.
Naturally, the air felt worlds apart from the air below. A breeze blew, and it felt like fresh air was filling my lungs.
“Hah. Even the air is different. Totally different.”
“The surface really is nice.”
Lee Wanyong seemed to be gauging my reaction after we arrived. It felt like a silent protest, demanding I share my thoughts, so I spoke before he could ask.
“It’s more magnificent than I expected. Good work.”
“Th-thank you. Hehe…”
He seemed quite pleased. I had never said when I would be back, but as expected, everyone was waiting for me. Not only Lee Wanyong’s wife and Baek Ahyeon, but also Choi Eunju, and even the dark elf Alisha and her sister Elia seemed to have come to see me.
“Did… did you have a safe trip, O Savior?”
“It has been a while, Great… Great Tribe Leader Blood Dagger.”
Baek Ahyeon and Alisha greeted me. I gave a slight nod and answered Alisha’s question first.
“It has been a while. Let’s have a meal together later.”
“Y-Yes!”
Her visible delight caught my eye. At the same time, I stroked Baek Ahyeon’s head. Baek Ahyeon began to smile gently, looking pleased.
“What have you been doing?”
“I have spent my days in constant prayer, O Savior… worrying that some wicked group might cause you trouble…”
“Nothing of the sort happened, so you may rest easy, my devotee.”
“Th-thank you.”
Baek Ahyeon really was cute. If no one was watching, I probably would have given her a little hug. Lee Wanyong was greeting his wife, but Park Jihye was nowhere to be seen. She was probably underground, waiting for Hayuri. The strange thing was that, for some reason, both of their expressions looked joyful. In contrast to their faces, Choi Eunju’s expression looked somewhat grim.
Seeing her maintain a composed demeanor, I knew nothing major had happened to the city or the tribe, but her face was filled with worry.
Choi Seulgi must have also noticed Choi Eunju’s expression, as she spoke to her directly.
“Eunju… did something happen?”
“I’m not sure if I should say something happened… or if nothing happened… I’m… I’m sorry.”
“Huh?”
I couldn’t understand why she was apologizing to me, but her expression was truly grave.
“What is it?”
“Ratga said he would tell you himself… so you’ll probably hear about it in a little while…”
An inexplicable anxiety began to creep in. Just as an ominous thought crossed my mind, the figure of Ratga slowly walking with Lee Wanyong’s daughter, Wanhee, came into view. His expression itself wasn’t bad. It wasn’t the face of someone who had done something wrong; rather, he looked like a man who had seized the opportunity of a lifetime. It was like the face of a gladiator awaiting his final duel, or a hero about to face the demon king.
I had seen that look on Ratga’s face before.
It was the same expression he’d had when I told him, ‘I’m entrusting the tribe to you.’ Mev had told me how much she’d struggled after that, so I couldn’t help but think Ratga was now acting with some kind of new resolve. In comparison, Wanhee’s expression looked quite anxious. She seemed conflicted and frightened. Yet, she was sending Ratga a look of trust.
[Target - Wanhee]
[Status - Fear, Fright, Anxiety, Joy, Happiness, Trust, Relief, We did it.]
Somehow, it felt like my anxiety was becoming a reality. I swallowed hard. When I glanced over at Lee Wanyong, the corners of his mouth were stretched so wide they were about to fly off into the sky.
“F-Father. I… I have something to tell you…”
The first to speak to me was Lee Wanyong’s daughter, Wanhee. As she opened her mouth slightly, her cute face welling up with tears, it was Ratga who stepped in front of her.
“I… I will be the one to speak.”
“What… is it.”
Everyone around us swallowed nervously, waiting for Ratga’s words. I was no different. I had no idea what had transpired between the two of them while I was away, but one thing was certain: they trusted each other now. It felt like they trusted each other even more than Jeong Ji-young and Hayuri did. The situation was so absurd I was at a loss for words. As I swallowed hard, Ratga opened his mouth and boomed.
“Father!”
“Yes. It’s been a while, Ratga. Have you been well?”
“Yes, Father. Congratulations on your safe return. But… this may be sudden, but this unworthy son has something to tell you.”
Wanhee’s expression became clouded with anxiety. Of course, my expression grew anxious as well. Just then, Ratga, who had been looking at me with a trembling expression, took another step forward and spoke. What came out of his mouth was far more ridiculous than I could have ever imagined.
“I believe I have found my lifelong partner, Father. I ask for your permission to become engaged to Wanhee.”
‘Huh…’
It was as if I could hear Goff’s voice saying that raising a son is a waste of effort. The situation was so dumbfounding that I found myself looking around.
I saw Choi Eunju’s face with her eyes closed, the shocked expressions of Choi Seulgi and Baek Ahyeon, and even Alisha and Elia, whom I hadn’t seen in a while, looking bewildered by the situation.
What stood out most was Lee Wanyong and his wife, Lee Jihee, who were clenching their fists for some reason. Even Wanhee had a strange smile on her face.
“I ask for your permission, Father!”
At the same time, a familiar voice pierced my ears. I had expected it to sound off eventually, but I never thought I’d be the one to trigger it.
[The Seat of Sorrow and Despair rejoices.]
I didn’t know if it was because that boy had inherited my blood so strongly, or if Wanhee had inherited her father’s blood so strongly… but it was probably both. This place was a crucible of chaos.