Chapter 172
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 176
Chapter Title: A Hardly-Known Blood Relative and Big Brother
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Even amid all that chaos, I managed to clamber into the miraculously intact carriage like I was fleeing, hoping for some rest. But I couldn't catch a break, overwhelmed by the jealous, furious onslaught of the women who had followed me in silence.
"H-Hey...! Stop it! There are kids here! And I'm a patient! I'm injured, I tell you!"
There weren't actually any wounds left on my body, but I desperately shouted anyway, figuring that was the only way to make them stop.
But my pleas fell on deaf ears; they showed no sign of letting up.
"Han-gil... Did that demon bitch's lips feel good?"
I scowled at Murel's words.
"Good? Who said it felt good!? Nothing like that happened, so calm down!"
"No. I don't think we can."
I turned at the voice from the side, where Rebecca—already worked up into a frenzy—was glaring with beast-like narrowed pupils, her hot breath heaving.
"We need to cover up that damned woman's scent and traces on your body with ours as quickly as possible."
"What? No, that's not...!"
I tried to push away her approaching form with a baffled expression, but my exhausted body only trembled weakly; I couldn't muster any real strength.
"You're so worn out. To toy with and defile Han-gil in this weakened state... I'm jealous—no, I can't forgive it."
Surprisingly, those words came from Wendy.
Her face was expressionless, but her grip on my leg was iron-tight.
Wendy was hiding a slightly sadistic streak...?
"I'll purify you. Right now."
"The Church says some pretty wild—mmph!?"
At that moment, Latifi swooped in and stole my lips in a surprise attack.
A fresh, invigorating grassy scent—like pheromones—filled my nostrils, making my already fatigued mind go blissfully hazy.
"Mmmph, smooch! Hah, mmm...!"
"Wha—what..."
"Huh...?"
"What the..."
The women, who had been swarming like predators ready to devour me, froze with dumbfounded open mouths at her sudden move.
"Smooch, slurp... Pwah!"
Under everyone's stares, Latifi finally pulled back slowly from our clumsy kiss and looked down at me.
Her face was etched with sadness, longing, anger, and resolve.
"Incarnation..."
"...I told you not to call me that."
"S-Sorry... Han-gil."
"And I never pegged you for the type to pull something like this... What's gotten into you?"
"W-Well..."
She blushed and bowed her head, but soon steeled herself with a determined gaze.
"I... I want to be your lover too, Han-gil."
"...Out of nowhere, why?"
"Why...? B-Because... I love you...?"
The blunt, innocent confession made the atmosphere awkwardly shift.
Especially Nemes, Charhela, and Kachiolla, who flushed red and looked embarrassed—it was pretty amusing.
"Love...? Isn't that just because the World Tree planted it in you?"
"...? What's the problem with that?"
"Well, it's... Your mind or feelings could be manipulated, right? Doesn't that bother you even a little?"
"Not at all."
"Why not?"
"Because you're the one the World Tree chose. Even if it's manipulation by her will, I'd follow it."
"...Sigh, this world has way too many fanatics..."
The Church, the elves... and thinking about it, even the barbarian warriors qualified.
In a world where gods actually exist, it seemed the intelligent beings living on the surface got swept up all too easily.
"...Fine, whatever. If you're happy with that, who am I to argue."
It was a worldview I couldn't comprehend, but if she was okay with it, I had no intention of refusing.
What fool turns down a beauty throwing herself at him?
"Then...!"
I stroked the beaming, joyful girl's head and let out a sigh.
"But hold off for now. Wrong place, and too many eyes."
"Ugh, yeah...!"
Latifi glanced around nervously, at a loss for words.
"......"
"......"
As the crowded women shot her piercing glares, Latifi shrank back, intimidated.
"You all too. Later. Later. Okay?"
"Not okay, but... sigh, fine."
"Tch. You killed the mood... We could've gone with the flow."
"Master. When's 'later'? Be specific."
I chuckled at the scowling Murel, Rebecca, and Kachiolla, then lifted my liquor bottle.
"Who knows... Probably once we're back at the ducal castle? No promises, though."
"...Fine. But one condition."
"Condition?"
In response to my question, Kachiolla shoved Latifi aside.
"Kyaa!?"
Latifi flew off my lap with a shrill scream, but no one paid it any mind.
"At the very least, wipe away that demon king's bitch's traces right now. That okay?"
Kachiolla irritably caressed the numerous kiss marks on my neck and shoulders.
"...Sure, as long as you don't cross the line..."
"Good."
"Mmph...!"
No sooner had I spoken than Kachiolla pounced, mashing her lips fiercely against mine.
"Smooch, smooch...!"
I wrapped my arms gently around her waist, entwining my tongue with hers as she pushed in.
"Slurp, smooch...!"
She stared at me intently with her green eyes, working her tongue diligently. Finding her adorable, I patted her butt, and her eyes curved into a seductive smile.
"Haa... Looks like I lost my turn by accident again."
"Can't be helped. Well then..."
"Mm. Guess I'll overwrite some other marks."
Meanwhile, the other women watched our kiss with resignation before clinging on, showering my neck, shoulders, and chest with a barrage of kisses.
Mwah! Smack! Smooch!
The lewd, explicit sounds echoed clearly.
Murel suckling obsessively at my nape, Rebecca burying her face in my chest with ragged breaths, Nemes shyly pecking my shoulder, Wendy nibbling my cheek, Charhela flustered and at a loss with her flushed face, Latifi burrowing under my clothes, and finally Pashutra slyly claiming my back, pressing her breasts against me.
"Mmph, smooch, slurp..."
The soft skin and lip sensations from all over my body, combined with the dizzyingly thick fragrances, made it impossible to stay clear-headed.
"Whoa, whoaaa..."
"Eek, Kang Han-gil is mine...!"
"J-Just hold back! Arpe!"
A quick glance showed Sisilia, Arpe, and Starnassila Vivian blushing furiously in embarrassment.
"Tch, what a bunch of sluts..."
Starnassila Weller scowled and spat curses.
"Mmph..."
"That's enough. It's my turn."
"Pwah!? Hey! I'm not done...!"
Then Murel grabbed Kachiolla by the scruff and yanked her away, claiming my lips with a smack.
Kachiolla protested vehemently, but Murel ignored her, holding my head firmly in place.
"Mmmph..."
This didn't look like it'd end anytime soon, so I sighed through my nose and went limp.
After the storm finally subsided, the carriage interior fell quiet.
No one admitted it, but after the fierce battle, the exhausted group had a simple meal and retired to their spots for sleep.
"Phew..."
I sat alone among the women, drinking by myself.
"...Hey."
Across from me, Starnassila Weller stared uncomfortably.
"What."
"You really heading to the ducal castle?"
"...At this point? Weren't you prepared?"
"Sigh, no... The more I think, the worse it seems."
She pinched her forehead, gazed at the carriage ceiling for a moment, then spoke slowly.
"Mother's not the only issue. The servants, knights there, and even the citizens of Terabaon will all be out for your blood."
"...That bad?"
"Maybe I'm being too negative. If you say it's the goddess's plan for you to inhabit that body, they'll back off some. The saintess and Third Imperial Princess by your side will defend you too... But, but... Sigh, damn it..."
I chuckled at her trailing off into curses, swirling my bottle.
"Wanna drink?"
"...Why aren't you worried? Only I seem serious."
"Of course I'm worried. That's why I'm pounding this."
"You pound it every day anyway..."
I shrugged at her retort and took a swig.
"...Hey. Gimme a glass."
"Heh, knew it."
I filled a glass and slid it over; she downed it in one go.
"Kaaah! Whoa... That's strong."
"You handle it well. Here, some snacks."
She swallowed the fruit slice whole and crunched away.
"Haa... Anyway, since you saved Lira and I vouched for you, she'll help as much as she can."
"Thanks."
"But there's a limit. Get it?"
"Yeah... If it goes south, no choice. Got an escape plan."
"Escape... Where to?"
"Plenty of options. Elf village... or the shepherd village..."
"Shepherd village... That one with the vampire half-demon? Della or something?"
"Yeah."
"Hmm..."
I poured as she held out her glass.
"O-Oppa... Are you leaving?"
Then Starnassila Vivian—whom I'd thought asleep—sat up and looked at me.
"Awake? Vivian."
"Yes... I heard you and Sis talking... B-But, you're leaving the castle?"
"If things go bad, yeah."
"No way..."
She scowled deeply, conflicted, then sat beside Starnassila Weller.
"...Oppa. I've thought and agonized a lot."
"...Yeah?"
Realizing she'd made her decision, I set aside the bottle and faced her seriously.
"At first... Sigh, Han-gil... Oppa was hard to accept."
She called my name awkwardly in a small voice, shaking her head sadly.
"I got mad, suspicious. Taking over someone's body sounds like something evil demons do, right?"
"...Fair point."
"But... Sisili told me. Han-gil Oppa isn't a demon at all—he's a good person chosen by the goddess."
"...Not sure about that. Do I look like a good guy to you?"
"Yes. Han-gil Oppa is a good person."
"......"
She must have issues with her eyesight or sanity.
"Pfft! Your face is priceless! Embarrassed, Kang Han-gil?"
"...Shut it."
I waved off my sister and nodded at Vivian.
"So? What's the verdict?"
"Hear me out first. Anyway, after Sisili's words... I thought calmly, deeply."
She blushed, bowing her head shyly.
"Realizing I was arrogant even thinking about 'accepting' Han-gil Oppa."
"What do you mean?"
Anyone else, maybe not—but as family of 'Starnassila Alzen,' she had every right.
Vivian smiled bitterly under my gaze, shaking her head.
"Truth is... I've barely met 'Starnassila Alzen' Oppa. Conversations? Maybe countable on one hand. I really knew nothing about him."
"...Really?"
From peeking Alzen's memories, I knew their contact was minimal—which is why I planned to build rapport with her for hero connections.
But even for a wastrel like Alzen, barely seeing family or talking that little...? I thought Murel's persuasion meant memories were incomplete, but apparently not.
Unbelievable—I glanced at Weller.
She shrugged indifferently.
"Not like I hated Alzen for no reason. He was trash."
"Damn..."
As I sighed, Vivian scrunched her face like she might cry and continued.
"So the only 'Oppa' I truly know is Han-gil Oppa. No other choice."
"......"
"Um, so what I mean is..."
Fidgeting, she peeked at me, then squeezed her eyes shut resolutely.
"C-Can I... treat you like before!? I don't want to drift apart from Oppa like this!"
"Hmm."
I pondered her outburst.
"...Still, fact is, I'm a stranger in 'Starnassila Alzen's body.' That okay?"
"Yes! Totally! Sisili vouches... and I don't think you're bad. Plus, losing 'Oppa' to some 'unknown person' is stupid. Even blood kin—if we've barely talked—is basically a stranger."
"Damn..."
More resolute than expected.
Weller looked shocked too.
"C-Can't I...? I avoided you before... Forgive me... Sorry, Oppa..."
I met her pleading eyes and chuckled.
"How could I refuse such a cute little sister? Thanks for accepting me, Vivian."
"...!! Oppa!"
Her face bloomed into a smile; she sprang up and dove into my arms.
"...Careful."
Still recovering, I caught her with effort.
"Thank you, Oppa. Sniff, and sorry...!"
Relief loosened her tension, emotions surging; I patted her back as she sobbed.
"...Thank you."
"Hic, sob...!"
Weller and I silently passed the bottle back and forth, listening to her prolonged sniffles.