Chapter 578: The Wedding Gift
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 578: The Wedding Gift
According to Duke Winchester, the White Tiger and the Black Tortoise were both magical beasts that actually existed.
The Black Tortoise appeared in the middle of the North Sea 150 years ago, while the White Tiger was said to have been discovered in the Manchurian region much earlier.
Needless to say, this was a Class-1 secret that had never been revealed to the public.
It was likely a measure taken in consideration of the ripple effect it would have on Korea, China, Russia, and their neighboring countries.
An S-rank Gate is a catastrophe whose danger cannot be accurately measured even with humanity's technology.
The mere appearance of an S-rank Gate sends stock prices plummeting, throws the economy into chaos, and even mobilizes the military.
Of course, it could end up being only slightly more dangerous than an A+-rank Gate.
But on the other hand, one couldn't rule out the possibility that it harbored a threat that all of humanity would have to unite to handle.
In fact, such Gates have appeared several times throughout human history, and each time, a great catastrophe occurred, reducing the population by anywhere from ten to thirty percent.
This is often mentioned in history textbooks, and they were given the name "Apocalypse-rank Gates" because they threatened the very survival of humanity.
Fortunately, despite their grandiose names as part of the Four Guardian Gods, the White Tiger and the Black Tortoise were apparently not from Apocalypse-rank Gates, even though they were S-rank Gate bosses.
The Vermilion Bird and the Blue Dragon were probably the same.
Anyway, getting back to the point, Duke Winchester added that both magical beasts had been subjugated long ago, and finding any traces or byproducts of them now would be extremely difficult.
But I didn't give up.
Because the one who had subjugated the Black Tortoise 150 years ago was none other than Valentina.
“The Black Tortoise?”
“Yes, have you heard of it?”
It was around late lunchtime.
After nearly fifteen hours of sex, the three of us were eating lunch we'd ordered from room service.
I chatted with Valentina while feeding scrambled eggs to Ana, who was dozing off, exhausted from our all-night session.
“The Black Tortoise... It's been a long time since I've heard that name. It was quite a tenacious beast.”
“...For an archmage to give that kind of assessment, doesn't that mean it was an unbelievable monster?”
“Hmm... If I had to compare, I'd say it was stronger than you were when you faced those Belmoras fellows.”
“...”
For reference, when I fought Flema and Dmitri, my overall physical abilities had been greatly enhanced thanks to the Devil Slayer's blessing.
Stronger than even that version of me?
“Hehe, no need to be so discouraged. At your current rate of growth, you'll soon be able to face it as an equal.”
“...As an equal?”
In that moment, Valentina's expression turned quite serious.
“If you wish to live a long life, do not underestimate magical beasts. Especially one that is the boss of an S-rank Gate. They are a different class of being entirely.”
Her tone was just like the head nun's when she'd scolded me for diving in the creek as a child.
I was so scared back then.
Thanks to that, I found myself nodding before I even realized it.
At that, Valentina continued, her usual gentle smile returning.
“So, how much time did you say you have before you leave the country?”
“Huh? Oh, I just postponed it until dawn tomorrow.”
“Oh? Is that alright? Didn't you say you had urgent business?”
“It'll be fine. ...Probably.”
“That's welcome news. Then you should have plenty of time. Perfect.”
“...?”
Clink—
With a faint smile, Valentina set down her teacup and rose from her seat.
“Shall we go see it for ourselves right now?”
“...??”
And so, after laying the half-asleep Ana down on the hotel bed, I headed with Valentina to an island at the northernmost tip of Siberia.
To be honest, until that point, I'd expected to see something like a byproduct of the Black Tortoise, kept under heavy guard.
After all, the Vermilion Bird's true blood was something I'd received from Duke Winchester, who had been keeping it for research.
But not long after following Valentina and arriving on an island battered by a blizzard of deadly poison, my expectations were shattered.
A dry laugh escaped me at the sight of a giant turtle crouched beneath the ice, its eyes closed as if it were merely asleep.
What was the Black Tortoise (玄武)?
It is one of the Four Guardian Gods (四神), the protector of the north and winter, which governs Water (水) among the Five Elements.
Furthermore, it is a being born under the energy of the Lunar Mansions (太陰星), a master that wields the power of Yin (太陰), including water, poison, and cold.
In a word, a god.
But that was only as a fictional being from Chinese mythology and Taoist thought.
If it possessed power comparable to a true god, the Knights of the Round Table would never have been able to subjugate the Vermilion Bird that appeared in Africa.
No, forget subjugation; several nations should have been destroyed.
But that didn't happen.
In other words, it was only given that name because of the similarities in its appearance and abilities.
Of course, if it were a real piece of shit, it wouldn't have been given a grandiose name like "Guardian God" in the first place.
...I didn't expect its corpse to be so perfectly preserved.
Kneeling on one knee and stroking the ice, I sensed a familiar magical power seeping out from beyond it.
And I soon realized.
Countless wounds were carved all over the Black Tortoise's body, but what had ultimately ended its life was none other than Valentina's magic.
It was probably the same magic she used to deal with Andras last time.
As they say, class is permanent. Though it may have been a false god (僞神), a god (神) is still a god.
To freeze such a monster to death with a single spell.
As a mage, it was simply awe-inspiring.
“150 years ago, the beast first appeared near the Novaya Zemlya archipelago. Thanks to that, Russia and the surrounding nations were in an uproar.”
It was only natural.
The appearance of an S-rank Gate's boss was synonymous with an S-rank Gate having a Dungeon Break.
“Massive casualties caused by the magical beast occurred along the coast, and to resolve the issue, the Hunter Association and the Magic Inspectorate General formed a subjugation force with support from neighboring countries.”
They say thousands, even tens of thousands, died.
But it couldn't be helped.
Gates that open in the deep sea cannot be picked up by detection equipment.
Even if a top-tier Gate were to break in the middle of the ocean, people would have no way of knowing.
“But they were no match for the Black Tortoise, and the subjugation force was annihilated.”
“...Even though you were there, Valentina?”
“I wasn't part of the subjugation force. At the time, I had cut off all contact with the outside world for fourteen years to complete my research, holed up in my workshop.”
However, the annihilation of the force created enormous repercussions, and in the end, the Hunter Association and the Magic Inspectorate General had no choice but to break their principle of not disturbing a mage's research.
The only saving grace was that Valentina, having been summoned like that, contained her rage to merely breaking the arms and legs of the Hunter Association's president and the Inspectorate General's elders.
And ultimately, she succeeded in subjugating the Black Tortoise.
“But in a final act of desperation, the beast burned its own life as fuel to use its Authority. The venomous snow and abnormal cold that cover this area are the aftereffects. The beast's byproducts are lumps of deadly poison that even I cannot touch carelessly. Thanks to that, despite doing the dirty work, I couldn't get any proper reward and had no choice but to leave it frozen here.”
“...Then the true blood, too?”
Valentina quietly nodded.
In that moment, regret and disappointment washed over me like a wave.
I'd worked so hard to gather the Vermilion Bird's true blood, all for the sake of summoning the Yellow Dragon. At this rate, I'd have to give up on my dream of becoming a dragon rider.
Just as a sigh was about to escape my lips—
“Here, take this.”
“...?”
Before I knew it, a small glass vial was in my hand.
Inside was a dark, murky liquid reminiscent of tar.
T-ring—
[Acquiring information on a new item.]
[True Blood of the Black Tortoise (眞血)
Grade: Unique+
The true blood of the Black Tortoise, the guardian god of the north.
Upon consumption, you will acquire the 'Lunar Yin Body (月陰肢體)'.
※Failure to accept the true blood will result in your entire body freezing over.
※When consumed with the true blood of the Blue Dragon, Vermilion Bird, and White Tiger, you will acquire the 'Blessing of the Four Guardian Gods'.]
“...This is.”
The moment I lifted my head, stammering at the screen that had appeared before my eyes.
Chu—
Valentina kissed me without any warning.
I was momentarily flustered, but then Valentina, blushing shyly like a maiden, took my hand.
“It's a wedding gift.”
“...Huh?”
“Don't you like it?”
Whoosh, whoosh!
I shook my head vehemently.
At that, the corners of Valentina's lips curved into a beautiful smile.
“Then I can look forward to the wedding ring, I suppose.”
“...I'll do my best.”
Valentina caressed my face with her snow-white fingertips, then quietly snuggled into my arms.
If it weren't for the poisonous blizzard raging around us, it would have been quite romantic.
*
I had obtained the Black Tortoise's true blood.
Now, only the White Tiger remained.
Just you wait, Dragon Master...!!
Although the only information I had was that the White Tiger had appeared in the Manchurian region, a groundless hope that I could find it somehow welled up inside me.
But even in this situation, there was one fact I couldn't afford to overlook.
I may have postponed my departure by a day, but that didn't mean I had time to spare.
My flight was at 1 a.m., so I only had a little over ten hours left.
No, I stand corrected.
After returning to the hotel, the three of us went on a date around the city, and before I knew it, the sun was setting.
Now I only had half a day left.
“Hic... Sir Hyun-woo...”
As the moment of our parting slowly approached, Ana's eyes reddened in my arms.
I tried to soothe her by stroking her hair as usual, but it only seemed to make her emotions swell, and she finally couldn't hold back her tears, which trickled down her cheeks.
I had suddenly become a sinner who'd made Ana—my wife and also my daughter—cry right in front of Valentina, who was my wife, my master, and my mother-in-law.
A pang of guilt made me glance over at Valentina.
“Hold me too.”
“...?”
Valentina wriggled her way into my arms.
It must have been quite cramped, yet neither of them complained, focusing only on rubbing their faces against my chest or sniffing my scent.
Thanks to them, my pride swelled, but at the same time, it was bittersweet.
Even though I knew meetings and partings came as a set, a corner of my heart felt unsettled.
After all, in the end, they had to part with me because of me.
“...Get over here!!”
““Eek?!””
Thump—
In an instant, I had them both on the bed and threw off my shirt.
I may be a piece of trash with ridiculously messy relationships, but I've sworn to love all my women equally.
“Both of you, get ready. I'm going to make you see stars for the rest of our time together.”
““...♡””
At my declaration, Ana and Valentina gave me alluring smiles as they undid their clothes.
Now that I saw them, they weren't ice fairies; they were definitely succubi.
And so, without a shred of hesitation, I threw myself into the bacchanal spread out before me.
Soon, the hotel room was filled with nothing but lewd moans and the vulgar sounds of wetness.
...
T-ring—
[Would you like to rematch with Cheon Yeo-hwa?]
[Y/N]
[Y]