Chapter 58
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Acting Divine Proxy
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After parting ways with Master Moon Seon-woo, I rented a room at a guesthouse on the outskirts of Mujin City.
I tried accessing the World of Doom Gallery, but there wasn't even a whiff of Wi-Fi, and even LTE had no signal.
True to its isolation from the internet, connection was impossible.
The TV was playing some ancient broadcasts from who-knows-when, and there were only a few channels available.
Mujin City was under near-perfect control. This must be the only way to keep modern anomalies out.
Eventually, I gave up on my phone and headed out for dinner.
Mujin City was a truly peculiar place. The goods for sale felt stuck in the past, and prices were stable.
The locals' styles and behaviors reeked of the 1980s or early 1990s, making a walk through the city oddly soothing.
It felt like escaping the complicated mess of modern society.
"Thank goodness they have crab sticks here too."
On my way back from dinner and a stroll around Mujin City, I stocked up on a ton of crab sticks.
I bought out everything the supermarket had. If I didn't feed her this, Hayul might try to eat me out of hunger.
"These crab sticks have such a deep, rich flavor. Delicious..."
"They say it's locally developed crab sticks. Glad they suit your taste. Let's buy more on the way out."
Hayul said Mujin City's crab sticks tasted better than the ones sold outside.
Curious, I peeled one and tried it—definitely felt tastier. The food here is good.
Maybe because it's so backward-looking, they don't mess around with food. Ice cream portions were way bigger than in the outside world, and they gave generous servings of everything. Nice, old-school hospitality.
"I've peeled all the crab sticks, so eat up."
"Yeah, yeah, got it. And you don't have to peel them—I won't eat the wrapper, so don't worry..."
"Still, it's an offering. Gotta unwrap it properly."
I peeled the rest of the crab sticks, put them in a bowl, offered it to Hayul, and laid out the bedding earlier than usual.
As expected from an 80s-style guesthouse, there were no beds. Sleeping on the floor was rare for me these days, but my body didn't care where I slept, so I spread out the blankets and lay down.
I'd packed clothes expecting to stay a few days—good thing I brought pajamas.
The blankets were cozy. Perfect for drifting off...
"Hey, Sowol. Aren't you a bit too close?"
"Huh? What do you mean... We always sleep like this..."
"That's true, but... hmm. The space is bigger today, so we could put some distance between us."
"Huh...? You want me to move away...? Hubby... You must be tired of me after all...?"
"No! That's not it! You're just too close!"
We usually slept stuck together, of course.
The Fixer Office only had the sofa for sleeping, so we'd cram onto it.
No, that's distorted memory. I never intended to sleep with Sowol, but I'd open my eyes to find her snuggled into my arms on her own.
"You sleep fine usually... but now you're suddenly..."
"That was unavoidable."
The only space was the sofa, so no choice. But do we need to stick together now? She could just go into the ring anyway.
Sharing a blanket felt weird.
"Don't tell me... you don't want to sleep with me...? We just hold hands, but even that's too much...? Was that more than I deserved...? Okay... I'll move away..."
"Ah, no, that's not... Sigh. Fine. Come here. Let's just sleep. I'm tired."
"Yes, Hubby. Hehe..."
Sowol slipped under the blanket, wriggling closer until she was pressed right up against me.
Wasn't this too close? Her breath tickled my neck, but pushing her away would trigger one of her clingy episodes, so I endured it.
Realizing I wasn't reacting, Sowol grabbed my hand, interlocking fingers and fiddling with it nonstop.
"What're you doing?"
"They say holding hands while sleeping makes babies? Hehe."
"...No, it doesn't."
"I know, Hubby."
"...."
"Your hands are so big, Hubby. Very manly. I like it."
"....."
"Why'd you go quiet? Embarrassed?"
"Hey. Be quiet and sleep. We gotta wake up early tomorrow."
"Okay. Goodnight. But Hubby."
"Why do you keep calling me?"
"Hubby, if we could have a baby... would you want to?"
A child between Sowol and me?
Fixer generation two?
Mom's a disaster-class anomaly, dad's some barely-human freak...
Setting aside whether offspring between anomaly and human was possible, right now, Sowol needed reassurance.
Possibility didn't matter. She wanted a specific answer.
"Two kids would be perfect. One's too lonely. Three or more, and one gets left out. Two's ideal to raise. Boy and girl would be best. Two boys are too rowdy, two girls means sending both off later, leaving us lonely."
"H-Hubby... That's so... specific... I'm touched..."
"What're you getting touched for? Just how I'd like it."
I didn't stop at vague well-wishes.
I detailed the number and genders.
Vague platitudes wouldn't cut it—she wanted my firm thoughts.
Perfect answer, right?
"I'm so happy... tears are coming..."
"Hey. Don't cry. Crying before bed gives headaches."
"Hehe... I don't get headaches... 'cause... I'm an anomaly..."
-7 Vitality
[Knuckles twist.]
Sowol's eyes held a tinge of self-mocking sadness as she laughed.
No words could comfort her, so I just held her hand.
"Hubby... even if we can't have kids... can I stay by your side forever...?"
"Yeah. You do that. And if I die first, don't mope alone. Find someone else. Widows are the saddest. Got it?"
"No... don't say that..."
Telling her not to live as a widow, she squeezed my hand hard.
Crack. A weird sound from my hand.
"Hey! My vitality dropped!"
"Ahh...! Sorry... I got sad..."
Disaster-class like me, she could rip human flesh if she didn't control her strength.
Sheesh. Sleepiness gone. No pain, but seeing vitality drop startled me.
"Urp... so full... What're you two doing...? At it again..."
While bickering with Sowol, Hayul finished the crab sticks, rubbed her bulging belly, and approached.
"I wanna sleep under the blanket tonight too."
Without hesitation, she lifted the blanket and slid right in.
"Wha—why are you doing this, Hayul?!"
"Huh...? Why not. Even I wanna sleep manifested sometimes. Don't need your permission. Hey, kiddo. Mind if I lie next to your hubby?"
"...Y-Yeah... s-sure..."
Hayul asked Sowol, not me, and just lay down.
Normally she'd revert to her talisman breath—why next to me today?
"No space to lie together usually. That kid hogs you."
Since she couldn't before, she'd stick extra close today—Hayul arbitrarily used my arm as a pillow, nuzzling and sniffing.
"Mmm. As expected. Humans smell so fresh and crisp..."
Hayul loves sniffing smells.
Especially human flesh.
Maybe that's why—she buried her nose deep, inhaling like a pet's scent.
"Uh, should I turn off the light then?"
"Yeah. Do that..."
What the hell was this?
Sowol turned off the room light, then buried half her face in my neck like she wouldn't lose. Hayul, seemingly asleep, savored my scent and nibbled my arm in her sleep.
Stuck on both sides, I couldn't move—troublesome. I sleep best curled up; lying straight was uncomfortable.
'Whatever. Just sleep.'
They're not the type to move if told. Better to pass out quick.
They'll go into the ring or necklace if uncomfortable.
'Gotta rest while I can tomorrow...'
Sleep when possible.
Fixer life flips day-night often, with many sleepless nights.
High stats handle stamina fine, but sleep deprivation hurts mental health.
"Ugh..."
Woken by my phone alarm, Hayul's leg was somehow on my face.
No wonder I dreamed of drowning—her fault.
'This one's got bad sleeping habits.'
Sowol slept unmoving as when she dozed off, but Hayul had spun a full turn-and-a-half.
Not a kid, yet sprawled belly-up—amazing.
This little one unseals and wipes out Lunar Blossom Sect elders solo, even threatens calamities.
"Everyone up. Time to head back to the shrine. Meeting Master soon."
"Mmm..."
Sowol, who'd usually wake me, struggled today.
Probably the fog blanketing Mujin City. From Mujin Mountain, it's deadly to anomalies—sub-cataclysm ones can't endure.
Even calamity-class feel heavier, it seems.
Seeing Sowol and Hayul, this fog helps human life a lot. No wonder they cling to it.
"Fixer, you're up?"
"Ah, one sec!"
Master Moon Seon-woo arrived at the guesthouse.
I can't climb Mujin Mountain alone yet, so he guides me to Lunar Blossom Shrine until resolved.
"Let's go. Sorry to keep you waiting."
"No need. Two minutes late? Korea time allows ten."
Master laughed it off.
We skipped breakfast and headed up the mountain.
Elders likely recovered from yesterday's shock, briefed by Elder Jeong Mi-dam.
No more attacks. If they try, no mercy like before.
One chance left for elders.
"Oh, you're here..."
"Ahem... Y-Yes, come in..."
"Ugh..."
Entering Lunar Blossom Shrine, the waiting elders paled.
Properly beaten yesterday, they looked scared—the rowdiest, Ok-won, avoided my eyes.
Before disciplining, wait for the shrine maiden.
'Youth group isn't here today.'
Makes sense—they can't do much. Better handling city management.
"Good morning, elders? You all look awful."
"Uh, well... G-Good morning."
"Ugh... S-Sorry about yesterday..."
"We'll talk yesterday later. First, shouldn't the shrine maiden come out?"
"Ah, right."
"Ahem..."
Elders seemed disciplined.
Just need the shrine maiden. Why hasn't she come?
Only two guardians out. No Jeong Mi-dam.
Don't tell me...
"Ah... You're all gathered already. Oh dear... What now..."
"Elder Jeong Mi-dam. What's wrong? The shrine maiden?"
"Well... She's seizing. Can't open her eyes."
"What?"
Elder Jeong Mi-dam emerged from the shrine maiden's room, wiping sweat, announcing the worst.
She has periodic seizures.
Today's the day.
"This'll last at least ten hours of agony from fits and convulsions... Can't meet her today, Fixer."
Elder bowed apologetically.
This disrupts my plans.
"Th-Then, let's call it for today..."
"Hold on."
Great Elder Ok-won tried dissolving, but no.
Time's short. This seizure might be her last.
"Everyone stay. Even without her. Plans proceed."
"What...? What plans?"
"W-Wait. Sorry, overstepping, but Fixer, you can't hold us..."
I eyed the guardians blocking the shrine maiden's room.
One of the two walked to the shrine entrance and sat.
"The shrine maiden temporarily granted Fixer 'Acting Divine Proxy' authority yesterday."
"What? Acting Divine Proxy!? To an outsider?!"
"Yes. Thus, no one leaves Lunar Blossom Shrine without Fixer's permission."
Guardian Black, Jo Un-gyeol, blocked the entrance.
Defensive master's blockade filled elders with despair.
No escaping me, even without shrine maiden.
No slacking off.
Ship sinking, crew idle?
As acting captain, time to re-educate.
"Heard the guardian? I'm Lee Do-hyun, Acting Divine Proxy and Fixer. No funny ideas—sit. Meeting continues without her."
Can't halt plans sans shrine maiden.
I sat the stunned elders.
Shrine maiden tiptoed around them; I'll be different.
Work 'em like dogs.
Lunar Blossom Sect normalization project starts now.