Chapter 63
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Do the Three Brothers Dream of Peach Blossom Paradise? (5)
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Often I felt this way.
Chloe had a slightly cat-like vibe to her.
"G-Gee, Kim Yul? How in the world did you get here?"
Her ears perked up straight as our eyes met—me catching her lounging crookedly in the parlor chair, nose buried in a novel.
From what I'd observed so far, that meant she was glad to see me.
"A pleasure to meet you informally, Miss."
"Saintess...?"
But then her ears shot up sharply, venomously.
I'd caught her gaze lingering, just for a split second, on Roselin's pouch of holy power.
Just like last time when she faced off with Historie.
Our poor elf seemed to have a hefty inferiority complex when it came to mages.
I jotted another note in my mental teasing ledger.
"Heard you were lovesick. Figured I'd bring the Saintess just in case."
"Mm, I appreciate the concern. But I doubt even that Saintess of yours believes it'll make a difference."
"Huh?"
I shot Roselin a puzzled look, wondering what she meant.
Before I knew it, Roselin had plopped down in a chair like she owned the place, sipping the tea the butler had brought, and launched into an explanation.
"I don't fully get it myself, honestly, but the elves don't acknowledge the Goddess's existence. They believe the World Tree is the true proxy of the Creator instead. Sadly, the Goddess's blessings don't take root in unbelievers like that."
Truth be told, I was an atheist myself.
But in a fantasy world, didn't we need at least one sleek, busty erotic goddess? Or even a goofy wind-water-flower-moon type? I'd entertained such thoughts.
To think even my impious fantasies could earn a blessing.
Truly, Goddess material.
At Roselin's explanation, Chloe coughed lightly, then chimed in.
"That's right. The World Tree, Svalbar himself, birthed us elves—how could we possibly believe in any goddess?"
Svalbar, Svalbar.
The name rang a bell, kinda like some bum named Balbari or something.
But that nagging familiarity wasn't the point right now.
"Hmmm."
Roselin's eyes narrowed.
Not a good sign.
"Well, what you believe is up to you. Still, uh, think of it as us coming to visit together? Better than groaning alone in bed—getting some fresh air at least."
I tried to lighten the chill creeping into the room by cracking a window for real ventilation.
Stained glass.
Eh, rich folks' decor, am I right?
I sighed and turned back.
"The holy power bestowed by the Goddess is the real deal. It'd be wonderful if you elves would just acknowledge that."
"Isn't holy power just another form of magic? Merely a matter of aptitude."
The Saintess and the elf mage had vanished somewhere, leaving two cats hissing and spitting at each other.
Religion was truly astonishing—and terrifying.
Watching my trusty personal physician square off against my trusty boss like this...
"These cookies are delicious."
Something inspirational was bubbling up, too.
Theology? Seeing Roselin practically popping veins in her neck arguing it, best to steer clear forever.
But didn't the East have a great figure to rival Nazareth's Monkey Spanner?
Nine feet six inches of towering physique.
The Fist Master of philosophy, who clubbed the monk Zaro single-handedly and hammered ethics into him with raw power—Teacher Gong Zhongni's life could make for fun material.
Hmm, but the novel might end up kinda dull...
As I spaced out, idly watching Chloe's ear tips flush redder by the second...
"Admit the World Tree is just a big hunk of lumber! The Goddess is merciful and compassionate—she'll forgive all your past delusions!"
"I could never utter such blasphemy with an elf's lips! You flat-chested fraud of a Saintessss!"
Oh crap.
Here came Roselin dropping a "Sign here!" bomb.
And Chloe, properly scratched, exploded.
Time to put a period on this endless holy war.
"You must respect the World Tree—its very existence has saved countless elves— hyaah?!"
I strode up to the chanting Chloe, grabbed one ear with one hand, pressed my palm to her forehead with the other.
"Not lovesick—feels more like a cold coming on. Rest up, and quit getting so worked up."
"Hah... ahh."
"Saintess, don't hassle the sick elf. Her fever's raging precisely because she can't receive healing."
"Mm, I got a bit carried away. Sorry, Chloe. Kim Yul."
Roselin blinked wide-eyed in surprise, then realized her own outburst, cheeks tinting pink as she bowed politely in apology.
Today's takeaway.
Don't put these two together.
Bad chemistry.
"Hyaaack!"
"No teeth-grinding while eyeing the apologizer's chest."
I shoved two Tylenol I'd brought just in case into Chloe's mouth.
Hey, she acted like a cat.
No way she'd drop dead from Tylenol.
The next day.
"Oh ho ho hot! This lady's fully recovered!"
Chloe, reaping the full benefits of acetaminophen, made a flashy comeback.
And she'd meticulously reviewed the latest Novelpia installments she'd missed due to illness.
"Now for the gear—"
Disaster struck again, clutching her nape.
As Chloe wailed at Kim Yul's crime of sickness, medicine, then sickness anew...
The capital's grandest salon, Jean Renoir Salon, buzzed with talk of the "Two Heroes."
Today's debate topic.
How would Liu Bei handle the deaths of his two sworn brothers?
Opinions clashed sharply.
First off.
"Liu Bei has never abandoned his ultimate goal through any hardship so far. Avenging his brothers is crucial, of course, but he'll focus on crushing Cao Pi—the very embodiment of Han traitors. Even Zhuge Liang judged that was the right call."
The Hold-Out King Liu Bei theory.
Already locked in fierce standoff with Wei in Hanzhong, he wouldn't stretch to a two-front war against Wu just because Jingzhou was shaky.
That was the way of a sovereign.
Especially popular among politics buffs.
But.
"I disagree."
The heroic saga genius. The wasteland master.
Saintess-certified dog in heat.
Baselaine laid out his view with a grave expression.
"After such a tragic buildup, Liu Bei has to burn with vengeance—that's only natural. So, he's more likely to sue for truce with Cao Pi's side and march on Wu for punishment."
The Vengeance King Liu Bei theory.
His two brothers, sworn to die on the same day, cut down by their ally's cowardly betrayal—Liu Bei couldn't stomach that.
That was the way of brotherhood.
Folks viewing the "Two Heroes" as personal saga over national epic leaned this way.
Both sides rang true.
Both had glaring strengths—and flaws.
"Return to Jingzhou now? Nation's doomed!"
"Skip avenging your brother here? Romance is dead?"
"Politics isn't about romance!"
"Abandoning basic human conscience—fit to rule?"
"Conscience gonna save the country?!"
Chaos erupted in free-for-all debate.
"Fine! Duel it out!"
Deks shuffled everywhere as folks fought to prove their point—a spectacular sight.
"Let's see if you've got it. To resolve this, we need to revisit Liu Bei's actions as protagonist in Two Heroes Part 1."
True readers huddled, dissecting Liu Bei's deeds to bolster arguments and sharpen deductions.
The night deepened, but the fire didn't die.
"You too?"
"As expected of you, sir."
Some left.
But sipping Jean Renoir Salon's miracle cocktail—Jaegbomb, which somehow sharpened the mind and amped the buzz despite being booze...
They pulled an all-nighter.
Of course.
Dawn brings the paper.
Paper brings the new chapter.
Then all mysteries unravel!
Thus, through dead of night, wee hours, and breaking dawn.
A salon of Jean Renoir's caliber had papers delivered automatically—no need for members to fetch them.
And groups often huddled over copies, passing them around.
If Kim Yul saw, he'd spew blood yelling "My views!"
"Paper's here!"
But Kim Yul was crashed out after writing till dawn.
A horrific scene unfolded: three per Novelpia copy, savoring the day's content.
And.
Between cool reason and burning passion.
Liu Bei steeled his heart.
Defying retainers—even Zhao Yun—he mustered near-max forces for a deathmatch with Wu. That razor-sharp cry...
"Kya! Loyalty's Liu Bei!"
"Foolish... so foolish..."
Cheers and jeers crossed.
Coins clinked wildly for a while.
But.
Just half.
That was only half.
Today's heaping feast of text had folks quietly turning pages post-midpoint.
Liu Bei's advance.
- If it's an enemy general, why not strike the greater foe, Cao Pi?
Wu's belated apology? Liu Bei, having lost both berries, ignored it and pressed on.
And taking center stage.
With Yu Meng—Guan Yu's arch-nemesis and next-gen brain.
Lu Xun.
"Uh... uhh..."
"This turn feels ominous."
The breakneck pacing that followed was plenty to unnerve readers, especially strategy buffs.
Anyone could see Liu Bei, rage-blinded, force-marching.
And.
Yiling began to burn.