Dealing with the Aftermath (3)
With no urgent matters left to attend to, I decided to spend a few days in the barbarian village, balancing rest with a bit of training.
Normally, putting in that kind of effort would have been completely out of the question for me. But manipulating the Shamanic Ritual Tattoos and exercising the divine authority proved to be far more thrilling than I could have imagined. After all, when given the chance to run wild as a genuine superhuman, who in their right mind could resist?
After testing it out several times, I realized the shamanic tattoos functioned essentially as an absurd physical buff.
"Gwahahaha!"
Boom! Crack!
My body was already absurdly robust, but stacking that enhancement on top of it was intoxicating. Unable to rein myself in, I rampaged through the wilderness like an unbroken stallion. Shattering house-sized boulders with bare fists and ripping uprooted ancient trees to splinters with my fingers was an absolute blast. The entire world felt as soft as fresh tofu beneath my palms, sending a shiver of exhilarating, godlike omnipotence through my spine.
For the first time, I could almost understand why Berick had been so obnoxiously arrogant.
"Are those... claws?"
"It is quite fascinating. It is neither mana nor aura... It looks as though space itself has adopted a distinct form and draped itself over your hands."
Yet the divine authority went several steps further.
It was so ridiculous that it bordered on terrifying, prompting a quiet philosophical crisis over whether any single mortal should ever be granted such power.
"What... on earth is this?"
The authority of the Beast God Kubel was the manifestation of a beast's symbols and abstract concepts into reality. To directly summon the primordial ideas embedded in the very word 'beast'—the subconscious dread, the primal reverence, the raw instinct—and materialize them into physical phenomena was vastly more devastating than I had dreamed.
"An Aura Blade just... scattered like that?!"
"It does not seem to rely on physical force, but rather a conceptual strike. It bears a striking resemblance to a Mind Sword."
"Hah..."
A beast is faster and stronger than a human could ever hope to be.
A beast possesses an unnervingly tenacious vitality.
A beast commands uncanny instincts and an inexplicable sixth sense.
A beast observes what cannot be seen and listens to what cannot be heard.
A beast can serve as a vessel for divinity.
Conversely, a beast is the living avatar of a demon.
A beast is terror incarnate, capable of catching the very scent of death.
The list went on and on.
So long as one understood and meditated upon the mythical significance handed down through millennia, the versatility and sheer destructive yield of this authority were limitless. Then again, an entity needed at least this much terrifying might to earn the title of a god.
"It is frightening."
After bringing our brief sparring match to an end, Wendy wiped away the fine beads of sweat trickling down her brow and offered her blunt assessment.
Clad in light leather armor, she straightened her posture. The motion accentuated the firm curve of her chest against her slender waist, while her cerulean hair and pale blue eyes caught the sunlight, gleaming brilliantly. She looked every bit the transcendent warrior deserving of the title Knight of the Dawn.
I stared absentmindedly at her, every one of my heightened senses firing at once. Ever since undergoing that complete physical rebirth, I had developed a curious little habit—or perhaps a game. I found myself instinctively catching, discerning, and committing to memory minute details about everyday things I used to overlook entirely. It was unexpectedly enjoyable, and I caught myself doing it constantly without realizing.
Just as a newborn beast slowly perceives, understands, and adapts to its environment, I was likely undergoing that exact same evolutionary process.
"Han-gil?"
"Hm? Ah... Yeah. It really is a terrifying power. You feel it too?"
"Indeed. It is excessively destructive, deeply menacing, and rife with too many unpredictable variables. To be completely candid, it is overwhelming to face."
She offered a faint, self-deprecating smile as she sheathed her sword.
"I believed that once I reached the realm of a Sword Master, few in this world could stand as my equal. Yet the world remains broad and profound. I never dreamed that a power so divorced from common sense could even exist."
"...Same here. Who could've guessed something like this was out there?"
An ability like Kubel's authority had never appeared in the original game, nor was it mentioned anywhere in the lore manuals. It was a completely foreign power, which made it all the more unsettling. The fact that I could acquire such an anomaly meant that other villains might also stumble into powers beyond my knowledge.
"Phew..."
"Are you fatigued?"
"Yeah. Pretty thoroughly wiped out. The authority feels great while using it, but it chews through physical stamina and mental focus like crazy."
"That is only natural for a power of such magnitude. If it carried no cost whatsoever, it would hardly be fair to the rest of the world."
"Suppose you have a point."
Letting out a small chuckle, I sank down onto the grass. Wendy quietly padded over and took a seat right beside me.
"Hmm..."
A crisp, cool floral fragrance intertwined with the fresh scent of perspiration teased my nostrils. My nose twitched instinctively as I turned to look straight at her.
"Why are you staring at me like that?"
"No reason. You just smell nice."
"...If you wish, you may do to me what you have done to the others."
Saying so, she tilted her head slightly, exposing the long, flawless line of her fair neck. There had been times when the intoxicating scent of the women around me proved too tempting, prompting me to bury my face against their skin. She had clearly taken notice.
"Coming from you, that's a bit unexpected."
"Is that so? I did not think it out of place."
A soft smile touched her lips as she leaned in closer, gazing intently into my eyes.
"...What?"
"Nothing. It is just... I found myself thinking, once again, that you are remarkably handsome."
"Uh, well..."
No matter how many times I heard it, blatant compliments on my appearance always managed to catch me off guard.
"Did you not say that half of that face belongs to your previous life?"
"Yeah, that's right."
"Then you must have been quite handsome in your previous life as well."
"Pretty sure I never heard that back then..."
"It feels strangely wondrous. As though I am truly looking upon you for who you are."
"Hearing that... actually makes me pretty happy."
A quiet smile spread across my face at her words. The realization that she saw me not as 'Stanasila Alzen,' but as 'Kang Han-gil,' warmed something deep within my chest.
"...To tell the truth, Lady Cecilia has been rather bothersome as of late."
"Cecilia's being a nuisance? Did something happen?"
Puzzled by her sudden confession, I tilted my head with genuine curiosity, causing a faint blush to dust her cheeks.
"No. Nothing of great consequence. It is merely... a minor misunderstanding on her part."
"A misunderstanding? About what?"
"She insisted that I should act more proactively to capture your heart, Han-gil."
"Uh..."
As I sat there completely lost for words, an amused glint entered her eyes. Slipping her hands forward, she casually wrapped her arms around mine.
"In Lady Cecilia's eyes, it appears that I am in love with you. What are your thoughts on the matter?"
"Asking me that isn't really going to help..."
When I offered an awkward, strained smile, her expression shifted into a teasing, sly look. It was the very first time I had ever seen Wendy make a face like that.
"In truth, I know very little about things such as love."
"...Yeah. You definitely look the type."
"Fufu, as expected, yes? Yet because I constantly gaze at you or speak of you, Lady Cecilia could not help but offer all manner of advice. It is somewhat... endearing, yet quite troublesome. Though I am grateful she cares for me, of course."
"......"
"What do you think, Han-gil?"
"Well, hearing all that, I'd probably have misunderstood the exact same way if I were in Cecilia's shoes."
"Is that so? Hmm... In fact, just before coming out here, Lady Cecilia gave me one more piece of advice."
"Advice?... Wait, was that why she was acting like that?"
No wonder Cecilia had been scurrying about so nervously earlier. She had deliberately engineered this situation to leave the two of us completely alone.
"So, what did she tell you?"
"She told me that if I am uncertain of my own heart, I should simply choose a direction and take action first. If doing so brings an awakening, then true feelings reside within me. If it leaves me utterly unmoved, then there is no love to be found."
"...That's, uh, surprisingly sound advice."
"Indeed, is it not? And so, I have decided to follow it."
Gently tugging on the arm she held, she drew her face closer to mine.
"Um, hey, Wendy? Isn't this a little sudden...?"
"Do you dislike it?"
Her luminous blue eyes shimmered with quiet resolve. Her sculpted, doll-like features were breathtaking, and her pale skin seemed to radiate an ethereal glow, steeped in that fresh floral scent.
"No, honestly... when a stunning beauty like you comes onto me, I'm thrilled."
"You truly are honest with your desires. I find that quality rather charming. Although the sheer number of women surrounding you is... somewhat concerning."
"Are you jealous?"
"No. According to church doctrine, harboring a heart filled with such possessive desires is something to be avoided."
"...You absolute fanatic."
"That is correct. I am a fanatic, am I not? Yet precisely because of that, I cannot imagine any man other than you, Han-gil. For you are the one chosen by Her."
Before I knew it, the gap between us vanished entirely, the tip of her nose brushing against mine.
A sweet, intoxicating fragrance filled my senses. At the same time, the frantic, thundering rhythm of her heartbeat echoed plainly against my ears.
"Mmh...?! Chup...!"
Unable to hold back any longer, I closed the distance and pressed my lips firmly against hers, placing a hand behind her head to hold her steady.
I savored the soft, plush texture of her lips before gently parting them to slide my tongue inside. She flinched in brief surprise, but swiftly yielded, melting into my embrace and pressing her entire body against mine.
"Haah... mmph, chup...!"
As the kiss deepened and dragged on, a pristine, almost crystalline sweetness coated the tip of my tongue. Her floral aroma grew richer, and the wild drumming of her heart resonated through our touching chests.
Only after losing ourselves in that feverish trance for what felt like an eternity did we part, leaning back slightly to look at each other.
"Haa... haa..."
"Phew... hah..."
Catching my breath, I kept an arm securely wrapped around her waist and asked,
"So, how did it feel following Cecilia's advice?"
"Well, um... My heart is pounding fiercely. To the point where I can barely contain it."
"And?"
"I feel light, as though I am floating on air, and my entire body is burning hot. Furthermore... my lower abdomen feels heavy and restless."
"...That sounds a whole lot closer to lust than love."
"Is that so? Perhaps it is."
Letting out a soft giggle, she leaned her head against my chest, settling comfortably into my arms.
"Even that is entirely new to me, so I do not believe it is a bad thing."
"...Good grief."
The higher-ups in that church really were out of their minds. Just what kind of ascetic upbringing did someone have to go through to call sexual desire 'unfamiliar'?
"...May I do this often from now on?"
"Well, uh... I certainly won't complain, but I don't know how the other girls will take it."
"......"
She stared at me with a slightly pouting glare before releasing a quiet sigh.
"Then I suppose I must have a discussion with the others."
"Wait, a discussion...? You're going that far?"
"It seems only proper as a matter of courtesy."
"...Do whatever you want."
I had no idea whether holding a formal summit over something like this qualified as courtesy, but in the end, I simply nodded in surrender.
After stubbornly clinging to life for several agonizing days, Berick finally met his end.