Chapter 22
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Even in Dreams, Some Things Are Off Limits (3)
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"Hahaha! To give such a thrashing to incubi who are called invincible even in dreams... You've got some truly absurd disciples, Master."
"……."
"It was an entertaining experience, so I won't hold it against you. New stimuli are incredibly important to dream demons, after all."
Gabriel glanced back at my disciples with a grin, and at that smile, Biwol and Verdandi both flinched in surprise.
Right now, Gabriel, I, Biwol, and Verdandi had left the dream demon district behind and were trekking through the rugged northern mountains.
The Iron Claw Mountains, said to have once repelled the ferocity of a massive dragon in ancient times.
With every step, sheer cliffs greeted us, and the crunch of snow underfoot echoed around.
"Hoo! It's freezing! How are you and Master looking so fine, Senior Brother?"
Verdandi shivered, puffing out white breaths as she eyed Biwol and me, seemingly baffled by our nonchalant demeanor.
"My constitution handles it just fine."
Having been born with an even fiercer chill than my half-sister, this level of cold was still warmer than my own body temperature.
The North Sea Ice Palace would pay a fortune to recruit someone like me, so why was I abandoned with the Five Poisons Cult?
Thinking back now, it was a setting error from being abruptly added as a side character to explain the Extreme Yin Body.
I was fated to be killed instantly by the Heavenly Demon, Biwol, anyway.
'At least I didn't pull a Volcano Sect Ifrit or Shaolin Abbot mistake.'
I sighed inwardly.
I'd nearly described the Three Disasters Sword Technique as horizontal slash, vertical slash, thrust—only to realize there were other forms and almost called it a Wudang secret.
In wuxia, if you're going to mess up the lore, you have to do it in a ridiculously fun way. Otherwise, you won't even break even.
That was one lesson from writing my novel Diamond Fist King. Real skill in life doesn't curve smoothly upward—it's staircase jumps.
"I'm training in Cold and Heat Immunity to endure Master's chill."
Biwol whispered softly beside me amid my stray thoughts. Cold and Heat Immunity was a realm beyond mortal limits, fixing body temperature in any environment.
"...Why would you train in that? Isn't it just a legend?"
"Yes, but to be the only woman who truly understands Master later, this girl needs her own edge, doesn't she?"
Her resolute attitude left me speechless, sticking out my tongue in awe. A heaven-sent physique that mastered any martial art effortlessly.
'Heavenly Martial Body... Can it really handle something like that?'
With energies of extreme yin, yang, three disasters, five elements, and taiji in harmony, it could learn any art flawlessly and mimic forms after one glance.
Biwol might actually master Cold and Heat Immunity. A chill ran down my spine, and I shrugged my shoulders.
"Amazing! If there's a way for me to endure this cold too, I'd love to know!"
Verdandi clenched her fists, eyes sparkling with envy as she watched us.
"You'll probably manage it once you get your holy armor."
"You mean the sacred armor! It's exactly like the hero I always dreamed of!"
At those words, stars seemed to light up in Verdandi's eyes.
Equipment granting absolute defense to its wearer. I'd set it so no attack could harm her with it on.
"Yeah, though I don't know exactly how to get it."
Truth be told, I had a hunch.
In the original story, Verdandi gained it like a protagonist power-up after a near-fatal wound.
"Oh... Even Master doesn't know everything, huh."
Hearing the truth, Verdandi drooped her head glumly, so I patted it like I often did with my disciples.
"Master's touch is cold, but it feels warm!"
Verdandi then lifted onto her tiptoes like a massive golden retriever wagging its tail, leaning into the strokes.
"Cold yet warm? What does that even mean?"
"Your body temperature is ice-cold, but the heart inside is even warmer!"
Watching Verdandi spout lines like a yandere ripping out a heart to say, "See? This is pure, blazing love!"—a shiver was inevitable.
Come to think of it, she'd tried stabbing me at first sight. What if this kid developed the same twisted affection for me as Biwol later? Goosebumps.
'And last time, she even cheek-kissed me...?'
Eh, that was normal for master-disciple. Like a kid kissing a parent before work.
I scratched my chin and let the thought go.
"Master, one hand's free. This girl wants pets too."
"Like this?"
"Stroke my cheek softly. Gaze at me with greedy eyes that want to take everything... Ah, why stop?!"
I tickled Biwol's cheek and jaw with my palm, then yanked away at her creepy words.
Verdandi's affection felt pure; Biwol's had a sickly tinge.
"Mind your words with others watching."
"Oh? I'm fine with it. Isn't that the flavor of reverse grip genres?"
I doubted my ears at Gabriel's term. Even for a game-possessed character, was that okay to say?
"A girl raised like a daughter grows into a woman, budding feelings reach their limit and burst—the catharsis."
"……."
"Isn't that true love? A man raises a spotless woman, only to be devoured by his 'daughter'... Ah, just imagining it makes my mouth water."
"Is that why you're leading me to Azazel? Hoping she'll get bad ideas about me?"
I finally grasped Gabriel's intent and scowled. Love was deadly poison to succubi, and one more disciple crushing on me was a hard pass.
"No. I'm curious how your relationships will twist when she sees you! Maybe bound tight in some basement, becoming a superior ○○-only ○○ ○○?"
"Master! What does ○○ mean?!"
"You don't need to know yet."
I couldn't answer innocent Verdandi. Explaining would require a full sex ed crash course first.
"Senior Brother! You seem to know something!"
"Uh, well... I-I'm not sure... Ahaha, what could it mean?"
Biwol flushed beet-red, avoiding my eyes. Verdandi, sensing weirdness, finally dropped it.
"Aha, I get it! You two are holding back, so it must be a demon king curse!"
Verdandi smacked fist into palm, beaming proudly.
To preserve her innocence, I just quickened my pace silently.
"Here it is. Thick blizzards guard it usually, so even I only come every few days."
Against a clear sky, a small, shabby monastery came into view.
"I'll head down from here."
Gabriel's smile vanished, her steps turning back.
"Not coming with? She's still your sister."
I tried holding her casually. I'd hoped escorting Azazel would mend their rift.
"I've been posing as an anonymous donor sneaking food. If she knew it was me, she'd starve herself to death."
But Gabriel shook her head with a bitter smile, ignoring me.
Azazel surviving alone in these harsh snows healthily—was thanks to her arrangements, surely.
"Then, cute disciples. Hope you laugh together with my sister someday!"
Her bright wave hid an unspeakable sadness.
Sunlight filtered through stained glass, casting iridescent hues in the monastery where a girl knelt in prayer.
"Today too, I pray in the name of the most holy ■■■■■. Please dye this world in ■■, and bring divine retribution upon those who love falsely…."
The girl in black nun's habit was Azazel Blackheart—Gabriel's sister, who'd just descended the mountain.
"...Oh my, lost lambs have arrived."
Sensing visitors instantly, Azazel paused her prayer and turned to the door.
"Oh, ■■■■■, I'm fine. I have eyes that see the future, after all?"
Behind her writhed black tentacles like living things; she stroked them gently, murmuring to herself.
"That junior sister…."
"What business brings villains here! They look so devout!"
The monastery door burst open, revealing figures with varied hair colors.
"...Azazel Blackheart. The Saintess of Mercy, right?"
Bing Yeon uttered the long-unheard title upon seeing her. "Saintess of Mercy" was coined by Kang Si-woo, the man she'd once seen as her pair.
Why mention it now?
Did that man fall captive to her sister's seduction? Now targeting the sister too?
Azazel's thoughts veered extreme. Scarred by deep betrayal, she trusted no newcomers.
"I thought years had passed since I cut ties with the world and came here…."
Her rainbow eyes widened, peering into the future.
"...Verdandi, Biwol. Battle ready."
Bing Yeon ordered his disciples to prepare, drawing up his whole body's chill.
"Eh, ah...? Hehe? Hngh…?"
That instant,
blood trickled from Azazel's nose.
Having seen some bizarre future, she flushed red, moaning oddly.
Denying the vision, she pinched her nose, but the hot blood felt all too real.
"...T-This can't be my future. Deciding bedroom turns with some sleazy man while abandoning Si-woo? Absurd!"
She jabbed a finger at Bing Yeon, yelling,
"……? Wait, what?"
Bing Yeon, stunned by the ridiculous future, felt prickling stares and turned to see his two disciples eyeing him suspiciously.
— Azazel, our promise not to touch Master until we're all of age. You kept it, right?
— Of course. For my sisters and brothers, how could I not?
A man blindfolded and gagged, bound to a bed. Before him, rock-paper-scissors decided who went first.
— Took long enough. Didn't expect you'd make us wait five years too.
— As expected of Junior Azazel! Solving it with a blindfold—genius!
— Easy for me. I'm a saintess, after all. Our brother's the fool for falling for it.
More mature Biwol, Verdandi, and Azazel eyed him like predators.
— Haa, Master…♡ You haven't forgotten our pact, have you?
Biwol, clothes half-undone, draped herself over Bing Yeon's waist.
— You... saw it, huh?
Adult future Biwol rose slowly, grinning at the present Azazel witnessing it all.