Chapter 213
Chapter 213
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 213
Chapter Title: Episode 70. Breath-Touching Distance, Seeping In (4)
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“I don't know the principle.”
Thinking about it, the principle was simple. Yoo Ji-tae could communicate with his clone through his mind. And dragons received the memories and emotions of those they touched.
The principle was mana. Mana was the manifestation of will, and as a regressor, he could manipulate it more deftly than anyone else on this earth. Naturally, he could freely decide the boundary for exposing memories and emotions.
“What I do know is that, from very close up... I can help you, Ajusshi.”
“......”
“Is that what I saw correctly?”
He thought it over.
Very close up. In other words, like how Clone 2 was sitting on the witch's lap. He would have Bom sit on his lap the same way. And he would play the witch's role while Bom, with her skin touching his, took Clone 2's place. Since memories and emotions were transmitted in real time between them, he could treat Bom like an avatar for Clone 2.
“Is that the only situation you foresaw?”
Bom shook her head.
“There was also a providence where you disappear for about a month, Ajusshi. If that happens...”
“If that happens?”
“Something precious to you will be lost.”
Yoo Ji-tae understood immediately.
“And then... you...”
Bom hesitated.
“What about me.”
“......”
“Why. Tell me.”
“It seemed like... you'd do something bad...”
The regressor's eye twitched.
Her reaction was cautious. Worry filled her gaze. She had seen an unfavorable providence.
Yoo Ji-tae raised his hand. Startled, Bom flinched back slightly, and he scratched his forehead.
The sequence of those actions left the regressor feeling a bit irritated.
“......”
He would do something 'bad.'
Bom had seen it clearly.
If things went wrong, Yoo Ji-tae planned to use Clone 2's body as bait to lure out the witch.
It might look underhanded on the surface. But a clone was still Yoo Ji-tae. Better that than a snag in the plan.
The witch had no lingering attachments to life. Nothing precious. Suicide was as easy as pressing a button for her.
If he couldn't find another way, the regressor intended to make Clone 2's body more precious to her than life itself.
The method wasn't hard. He lacked skill with people, but he knew exactly how desire worked. The witch already harbored desire for Clone 2. If needed, he would give her new pleasures for her boring remaining days—even if it took months.
He would offer the body as she wished. Then stop with a 'command' at the right moment.
Clone 2, drained of its mana core, would break down. A shame, but it was just a clone, after all.
The loss of the clone and any mental toll would fall entirely on him. He could endure it.
In the end, when Clone 2 became more precious to her than life, Yoo Ji-tae would get what he wanted.
Tedious. Exhausting. He'd lose part of his mana core, too.
“Fine, got it. If you'll help, I'm grateful.”
His inner thoughts exposed, the regressor masked his discomfort as he spoke.
“......”
Bom stared straight into his eyes.
“Come here and sit on my lap. I'll explain the situation.”
Was she anxious?
They had shared good times as guardian and ward. But his plan and actions were inhuman. The foreseen outcome must have been shocking for a young hatchling.
She seemed shy earlier. Or was it unease?
“What are you waiting for?”
“Okay......”
Bom let out a deep sigh and brushed her hair behind her ears. He sat on the sofa, and she strode over, perching sideways on his lap.
Breath-touching distance. Just like between Clone 2 and the witch.
But before starting all this, he had one question.
“Bom. Does this burden you?”
Bom shook her head.
“Or in what you saw... was I scary?”
Bom shook her head again.
Then she opened her mouth carefully.
“What's the point of just having the body?”
“What?”
“If you don't have the heart, it will always fall apart in the end.”
He couldn't guess how far she had foreseen to say such things.
“So what happens?”
In any case, the strategy meeting continued.
And the operation began.
Clone 2 found the witch's thigh pressing against its own thigh burdensome. Her body against its arm. Her arms wrapped around its back.
Awkward. Uncomfortable. Stimulating.
Energy gathering somewhere...
Clone 2 tried to cross its legs.
“Baby, don't move your legs.”
“It's my leg.”
The witch chuckled endearingly, and Clone 2 finally lifted its leg onto her lap. The weight made its still-healing joints scream.
“@#$%—!”
A silent scream burst out. Its back arched involuntarily.
“Aigoo. What did sis say?”
“Hng, ugh. Sniff......”
“Stay still. Stay still.”
As she did, the witch pressed closer, restricting Clone 2's movements.
“Good.”
A gasp nearly escaped from the weight. Clone 2 tried to compose itself and opened its mouth.
“No. No, wait. Hold on. So what conversation are we supposed to have?”
“You'll accept my apology?”
“No? I still hurt a lot.”
She was healing it too. And it had smashed a death knight. But wasn't it her fault to begin with?
“That much?”
“Feels like I'm dying. For real.”
“Then I'll make it not hurt. But change my request instead.”
“How?”
“Let me touch you for the healing.”
Clone 2 panicked.
“Uh, uh......”
About then, the lord's voice echoed in its head.
—I command you. From now on, mirror everything Bom does.
'Exactly the same words?'
—Yes. Words and gestures exactly.
Then visuals from Yoo Ji-tae's perspective flooded its mind. Yoo Bom was sitting on the lord's lap in the same position.
The witch lowered her hand. Yoo Ji-tae lowered his.
The witch placed that hand on Clone 2's hip. Yoo Ji-tae placed his on Bom's hip.
Bom stayed silent. So Clone 2 had to stay silent too.
Soon the witch's fingertips touched the hip. A massage to ease the pain began. Gentle, delicate motions brushing the hip.
“Stay still, baby......”
By now, the clone felt like it might really faint. But Bom, having her hip touched the same way by Yoo Ji-tae, stayed still. No change in expression.
Once she understood mana's effect, Bom subtly pushed Yoo Ji-tae's wrist away. And said,
“Uh, now, I think you can stop.”
“Hm? Why?”
“I, I can do something similar.”
The trembling voice was a mistake. Clone 2 couldn't perfectly mimic Bom's expression or gestures.
The composed Bom massaged her own hip while circulating mana. Then she looked up at Yoo Ji-tae.
“Uh...... Anyway, this is time to request what we each need, right?”
“That's right.”
“Th-then, let's start over from the beginning. Okay?”
The witch tilted her head briefly.
Clone 2 couldn't understand what Bom was saying. Soon a faint smile curved her lips.
“Since we both want something. Let's match them one by one.”
“Heh. So sudden?”
Exposed? Well, it didn't sound like my usual speech. As Clone 2 panicked inwardly,
“Fun...... Fun. Baby, you're full of surprises?”
Eung, euheung...... As the witch laughed, the sullen-faced Clone 2 said firmly,
“Who wants to request first?”
From their touching thighs. From that intimate distance. All the five senses Yoo Ji-tae permitted were transmitting to Bom.
So Yoo Ji-tae had no need to recite lines separately.
“Who wants to request first?”
“Then I'll go first.”
“This is floor 280. And I want to take you out of here. So my request is to raise you up 20 floors.”
Yoo Ji-tae said nothing, nor smiled.
But the witch agreed. Laughed. And requested to get even closer.
So Bom lifted her legs to face Yoo Ji-tae directly. The witch had extended a hand to make a backrest behind Clone 2. Yoo Ji-tae did the same, letting Bom lean back.
Thinking about it, their distance was too close, so he subtly leaned back. Bom frowned and shook her head.
It was just work. Work.
For the first time in ages, he realized embarrassment welling up.
Bom's pink lips twitched. Then she whispered,
“Focus.”
Clone 2 muttered softly then shut its mouth.
“We're working...... Ah.”
Apparently, that line wasn't for the witch.
“What did you say?”
“N-nothing.”
Clone 2 cleared its throat awkwardly.
There was one problem. Bom and Clone 2 were sitting midway on thighs, but Yoo Ji-tae and the witch had different builds.
So while Yoo Ji-tae & Bom had a handspan of space, Clone 2 & witch were pressed almost together.
“Baby. You're a mysterious one. Small and cute. But sometimes you give off a male scent. Bold too. Right?”
“......”
Still bearable.
The image in its mind was Bom. And Bom was someone the lord protected fiercely. Seeing Bom kept the vile thoughts at bay.
“My request. Let me stroke your head. Can't stand how cute you are.”
Ugh...! Straight to skinship!
This isn't right, is it, Yoo Bom?
“Sure.”
Dear god.
“In exchange, I'll raise your status 20 floors again.”
“The math's off. 20 floors for a head pat? Too much, isn't it?”
“Is it?”
“Yes. Just a head pat for 20 floors?”
“Anytime, as much as you want.”
Bom smiled, so the clone smiled awkwardly too.
A sly smile spread on the witch's lips.
“You know how to deal. Good.”
Then the witch reached out with her large hand to stroke Clone 2's head. Careful, cherished motions.
Swish. Swish. Fingers brushed between short hairs. Once more, sweet floral scent, pheromones spread.
Dizzying. Dangerous. Sensing perilous change again, Clone 2 primly closed its legs and pulled its hips back as far as possible.
Bom frowned like a cat touching water. Wondering why it moved on its own.
Please overlook this. Please...
“Then remaining floors are 240.”
“Right.”
Dangerous distance. Dangerous posture. Dangerous gestures.
Bom opened her mouth to speak, and Clone 2 mirrored her exactly.
“By the way.”
“Yes.”
“Have you been here long?”
“Yeah... pretty much.”
“Alone?”
The witch didn't answer, just kept stroking the clone's head.
Swish. Swish. The sound continued.
“This place is so vast.”
“It is.”
“It took me forever to get here. Being alone in a place this big must be so boring.”
The witch shook her head.
“It's fine.”
“Really fine?”
“Yeah.”
“Valentine. Why do you live here?”
“Sis hates being tired.”
“Tired?”
“Yes. If you came all this way, you know who I am, right? I've lived seeing much blood. Half was human blood.”
“Ah......”
“Oh dear. Scary story for baby?”
“No. It's okay. Curious.”
The witch looked at Clone 2's face and chuckled lightly.
“Of the human blood, half was mine. Red is dizzying. Tiring. As a kid, it was scary and fearful. Once used to it, I got sick of it. Thought it'd be fine after the war.”
“......”
Clone 2 nodded, mimicking Bom's expression.
“No. When enemies vanished, humans turned on each other. I was ruler. Seeing those fools... felt as uncomfortable as dead humans. Had to leave.”
Bom nodded sadly.
“But how about here? This southern forest is all nature. No excess greed. No filthy humans. Flowers bloom on the ground. Birds fly in the sky.”
“Ah.”
“Baby hasn't seen the 291st floor night sky? A bit dangerous, but beautiful. Countless stars twinkle.”
What am I supposed to do? That was Clone 2's sentiment.
But Yoo Bom said,
“Wow, sounds pretty just thinking about it......”
The witch smiled warmly.
“Right?”
She stroked from forehead to sideburns again.
Bom spoke.
“Would be nicer with someone to watch it together......”
Her eyes curved.
Words the witch had avoided saying.
Yoo Ji-tae was stroking Bom's head.
“Would be nicer with someone to watch it together......”
At Bom's words, the witch's hand stopped. So Yoo Ji-tae's did too. Then Bom stretched both arms to hug his chest fully. He found the gesture awkward and leaned back. But Bom pressed deeper, hugging him tight.
Her grass-green hair brushed his chin below the neck. Faint natural scent wafted.
He raised both hands, mimicking the surprised witch. Yet with Bom hugging so tightly, her heartbeat reaching his skin... embarrassment surged uncontrollably. Even knowing it was just work.
What are you doing, baby?
The witch asked.
“Because it must feel lonely, Sis......”