Chapter 62
Chapter 62
Chapter 62 Desire
All transcendents are watching Han Yeong-min.
It would have been stranger if the highest-grade gods and Demon Kings weren't interested in the one and only being who received Hell difficulty in the Tower entrant level assessment.
And even without such conditions, there was one god who would have definitely watched Han Yeong-min.
That was Estelle, a superior god and the Earth God.
Even now, she was naturally watching Han Yeong-min's climb, and seeing her avatar that imitated herself kiss his cheek made her absolutely furious.
"That... that...!"
As if there were no limiters, the avatar easily performed bold actions that she herself could never do normally.
It was the same afterward as well.
Estelle's avatar proceeded with skinship toward Han Yeong-min without hesitation, and despite having a similar personality to her, expressed affection even more actively.
'Is that... what Han Yeong-min wants...?'
The Tower's 8th floor trial materializes what the climber unconsciously desires.
Whether the climber desperately wishes for gold and silver treasures, power, mighty strength, or anything else, it materializes everything and gradually makes them forget their resistance to the trial.
The higher the difficulty, the more it dredges up desires hidden deep within, and the speed at which common sense changes accelerates.
"If it's Hell difficulty, it would be even more dangerous..."
If the trial is completed, everything would return to normal, but if it can't be finished, it becomes a prison that binds the climber.
This was especially true since what Han Yeong-min desired wasn't something tremendously special like others, but small daily moments with Estelle.
Han Yeong-min had always seemed strong, but in truth, he too had been an ordinary college student and human before coming to the tutorial.
Though it seemed like he had erased all traces of those days through 50 years of time, in reality, he hadn't.
In his heart too, there was a desire to live an ordinary life. There was a heart that didn't want to fight.
Rather than a life of struggle with no visible end to when he'd have to keep fighting, he dreamed of peaceful daily life with the person he wanted.
If he had leisure, there seemed to be so many things he wanted to do.
And this trial materialized everything he wished for.
And Han Yeong-min enjoying all of that looked truly happy.
The leisure he was enjoying for the first time after casting off heavy burdens looked sweeter than anything else.
'Maybe I've done something terrible...?'
Such a thought suddenly occurred to Estelle.
The thought that maybe she had placed too heavy a burden on the shoulders of someone who could live like that, someone who could be truly happy even with small daily moments.
At some point, she had thought Han Yeong-min was originally a great person, more reliable than anyone, but she hadn't considered that those expectations and trust could tire him out.
The avatar materialized in the trial placed no burden on him at all. She didn't ask him to fight either.
She simply stayed by his side and enjoyed daily life together.
"But do you think... I haven't thought about such things either?"
She too had dreamed of many things she could do by Han Yeong-min's side.
Such bold skinship, enjoying daily life—these had always existed as imagination in one corner of her heart.
But she hadn't done so because she feared Han Yeong-min might find it burdensome, that his heart might not be the same as hers, that she might become a new burden to him who already carried so much.
Estelle too had countless things she wanted to do after preventing that terrible disaster that would occur in 10 years and when he returned to daily life.
So she could only pray that Han Yeong-min wouldn't get too absorbed in the 8th floor trial, that he would return to her side.
Because she, the original, could do even more amazing and wonderful things for him.
Please don't fall for such a fake.
****
'I should go for now, right?'
Though everything about this trial was unfamiliar, he had to proceed somehow.
Currently, Estelle was the only clue to proceed with the trial, so he had no choice but to do as she instructed for now.
When he came out to the living room, a truly incredible feast was laid out on the dining table.
The food she had prepared during the tutorial days had all been excellent too, but it hadn't been this diverse.
"Please eat quickly. Before it gets cold."
"Got it. I'll eat well."
He took a big spoonful of rice and put the side dishes she had prepared in his mouth.
The taste was naturally there, and he could feel how much care she had put into making this, the heart behind it, making it food that lifted the eater's mood.
"Does it suit your taste?"
"Yeah. It's really delicious."
It had been so long since he'd eaten food containing someone's heart that his face couldn't stop smiling throughout the meal.
"Fufu. Is it that delicious? Try this too. Ah—."
After Estelle diligently peeled a shrimp's shell, she delivered it right to my mouth.
An extremely embarrassing action.
Having actually done it, she too seemed a bit shy, her face flushing red.
Seeing that, honestly not eating it would be sinful.
"Ah—."
He accepted the shrimp just like that.
The cooking was just right, and the care she put into peeling the shell and the fact that she fed it to him directly made it taste even better.
"It seems to taste better because Estelle fed it to me."
"...Of course. Who do you think fed it to you?"
Even while speaking calmly, her ears turned even redder, making him wonder if a person could be that cute.
"I ate well. Mom's cooking is the best after all."
"That again... You're really consistent."
She laughed as if exasperated. It definitely wasn't an unpleasant reaction.
"Ah, leave the dishes. I'll do the washing."
Having received a meal, making Estelle do the dishes too would be like a thief's mentality, wouldn't it? He took even the plate she was holding and carried it to the sink.
As he rolled up his sleeves and put on rubber gloves to wash dishes for the first time in ages, she patted his head with a pleased expression from beside him.
"Our son has grown up. Even doing dishes instead of mom."
Now she too had entered enjoying mode.
"Of course I've grown up."
After finishing the dishes and throwing off the gloves, she naturally hugged me and opened her mouth.
"You said we'd go on a date today, right? I already washed earlier, so Han Yeong-min, you should quickly wash up and come out too. I'll get changed first."
A date appointment I didn't know about was scheduled.
"Got it. I'll wash up and come out quickly."
But I didn't dislike it, and immediately began showering in the bathroom. Receiving the pouring streams of water, I thought many thoughts.
'Is this just a trial to take a break?'
At first, I thought it was some strange trial, but as time passed, such thoughts disappeared.
Since I could stop anytime if I wanted to anyway, now I only had the thought that I should just enjoy this time.
After washing my body clean, I dried my hair and chose clothes that would best suit a date.
Due to my height and body having grown completely since before entering the tutorial, clothes that were originally oversized had become almost perfectly fitted, but it was actually better.
'My body definitely looks good.'
And when I came out of the room and saw Estelle who had changed clothes, my heart almost stopped for a moment.
Usually she always wore angel robes, and earlier too she had been in ordinary clothes with an apron, so I hadn't realized, but Estelle properly dressed up was on a different level.
With modest makeup adding radiance, the word goddess truly wasn't wasted on her.
She was so pretty that my face turned red beyond measure and my heart was pounding.
"Does it... suit me...? This kind of clothing is a first for me."
"...Yeah. It suits you well. You're incredibly pretty right now."
It wasn't empty words but the truth. Even if any celebrity were brought here, they would probably become a squid in front of her.
"It's embarrassing when you say it so directly..."
Because she's embarrassed, it makes me want to tease her more.
"Then you should have been a little less pretty."
"...This person really...!"
She clenched her fist and lightly tapped my back, but it didn't hurt at all. Even though she said that, she seemed to be in a good mood.
"Shall we go then?"
Though it was my first date, if I were to become someone's lover, there were really many things I wanted to do.
'Actually, I'm not sure if we're lovers.'
Since she used the expression ‘date,’ I believed we were at least in a relationship where we were getting to know each other.
"...Yes."
And she carefully reached out to hold my hand. I was momentarily flustered by the sudden warmth, but I too gently held her hand in return.
Though it was just hands meeting, it felt as if an unbreakable red thread had been connected.
We opened the front door and went outside like that.
The modern scenery I was seeing after so long. But since I had never forgotten memories of this place, I naturally moved my steps and headed to the subway together with her.
Taking the subway while holding hands with her, I could really feel countless people's gazes.
'I would have stared too. If there was such a pretty woman.'
It was an unrealistic appearance that both men and women couldn't help but look at once.
There was even a large man covered in tattoos who tried to hit on Estelle despite me being right next to her.
"How about dating me instead of that gigolo-like guy next to you? You two don't seem to match in class."
I partly agreed with those words. Honestly, if we walked together, Estelle would look much more precious.
'But that doesn't mean you'd suit her better, you bastard.'
There wasn't a man on Earth who wouldn't feel inadequate standing next to Estelle. And I was definitely better than that guy.
"Do you think you match in class? Looking like some wild boar..."
"Pfft..."
When Estelle's sharp retort burst out, I momentarily couldn't hold back my laughter. The exact same thought I was having flowed out without filtering.
"This bitch... thinking you can act up just because of your face... AHHH...!"
As the guy immediately crossed the line and tried to get physical, I immediately twisted his arm to make it impossible for him to do so.
"Hey. Just don't make noise and get lost. If you don't want to die."
The guy's face was filled not with anger but with fear.
As expected, guys like this only understand when you act.
As soon as the subway doors opened, he ran away with his tail between his legs.
Seeing that, Estelle smiled slightly.
"...As expected, you're dependable like my man. I'm really glad you're by my side."
With those words, this time she stood on her tiptoes, grabbed my nape, and briefly kissed me on the lips.
A bit of softness and fragrance lightly brushed over my lips.
'Huh...?'
Even the unshakeable mind I had earnestly built up was useless in this situation.
Honestly, wouldn't even Shakyamuni be shaken by this?