Chapter 124
Chapter 124
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 124
Chapter Title: Taming the Goddess
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"Because I was ordered to kill you."
"Ordered?"
"Yeah."
What the hell is this?
A goddess taking orders from someone?
Is that what Epe just said?
Even Bella looked shocked, her face turning serious.
"Bella. What the hell is going on? A goddess taking orders to kill a human? Does that even make sense?"
"It's not impossible.
But it shouldn't be. Why would a god hold that much grudge against a human?
If they wanted you dead, they could just summon your soul and incinerate it. And to command a 5th-rank god like that..."
Bella shuddered as if struck by a chill.
She was afraid.
I'd never seen Bella look this pale.
"It has to be at least a 2nd-rank god.
Right below the Creator God. Someone even I wouldn't dare stand before."
"......"
I couldn't stand the anxiety and pressed on.
"Who?
Who gave you those orders? Which god told you to kill me!"
"......Juk."
That's when it happened.
"Aaaagh!"
Goddess Epe suddenly started writhing in agony, like she was having a severe rejection reaction.
Some magical effect was kicking in.
There was nothing around her neck, but golden currents erupted spasmodically, rapidly draining her life force.
"Danger!"
Bella cast a protective spell, blocking the golden currents from bursting out.
But they didn't stop.
Probably because Epe was still under my hypnosis, trying to keep talking.
"That's...... Uugh."
"Master! Tell her she doesn't have to say it! Hurry!"
"You don't have to say it."
Epe snapped awake from the intense shock.
The trance state broke.
The hypnosis was still in effect, but the situation was too dangerous.
"Uh, ah......"
But Epe collapsed to the floor, vomiting blood.
She looked like that magic had stripped away all her vitality—no strength to resist, flee, or even speak.
Snap.
I snapped my fingers again, putting Epe back into a trance.
"What was that just now?"
"A powerful taboo.
Triggered by certain words. In this case, probably her master's identity. A prohibition that kills swiftly if spoken."
"Any way to lift it?"
"No. Not unless it's a god of equal or higher rank.
It looks like simple magic, but anything lower vanishes without a trace. That's how potent the authority is."
I almost vanished without a trace myself...
"If we leave it like this, she'll die?"
"She'll die."
"......"
Epe was bleeding from her eyes, nose, mouth, and ears, dying before our eyes.
Trance or not, hypnosis was pointless now.
She'd stop breathing soon.
"Can't the Starlight Shell save her?"
"Not by just applying it. It's a taboo that destroys a god's life force. We'd have to grind the whole thing up and use it..."
"......"
Even as she spoke, Bella's face looked sorrowful.
I pulled out the Starlight Shell.
This was Bella's treasure.
Using it like that meant it could never be restored.
But...
The goddess in front of me was the only lead to that higher god.
A god with that level of authority wouldn't leave other clues,
and if they learned their pawn goddess had died, they might come after us themselves.
That would be the end.
We had to keep going here.
I had a feeling Epe still held some crucial secret we hadn't heard.
Even if not, she was a piece we could use.
"Bella. Sorry."
"It's fine. It's already left my hands anyway.
I don't want you to die either, Master."
Using the Starlight Shell on the goddess who manipulated Seo-yeon.
Not the situation I'd hoped for, but no choice.
"I'll use it for my sake.
In the end, it'll save my life."
"I hope so. Here, hand it over."
I gave the Starlight Shell to Bella.
She crouched down to meet Epe's eye level and released the shell from her hand like unwrapping a gift.
The shell emitted a soft glow, breaking down on its own and seeping into Epe's skin.
Epe's wounds were healing.
Like rewinding time, as if nothing had happened from the start.
Once the miraculous healing finished, Epe began breathing peacefully.
"It's done. Now grill her however you like, Master, and get what you want."
Yeah.
I hope this choice was right.
"Epe, wake up."
Epe stood.
I'd triggered the taboo once and nearly killed her, so caution was key.
That meant choosing questions carefully.
"「If answering my question triggers the taboo and endangers your life, you won't answer.」"
"Got it."
I'd paid with one of Epe's lives for this vital info.
The higher god commanding her was using the taboo to blackmail her.
No one would accept such a vicious prohibition willingly.
"Are your actions being monitored?"
"Yeah."
"If you abandon making Seo-yeon withdraw from this world or killing me, your life is in danger?"
"It is."
What a headache.
"Any thought of joining my side?"
"No."
"Why does the one commanding you want me dead?"
"......"
"Why choose Seo-yeon?"
"Because she seemed the most suitable......"
"Sigh......"
Nothing else came to mind.
The most crucial part was hidden, leaving me with just a headache.
I knew too little about the enemy; passive questioning wouldn't uncover the truth easily.
It'd be far easier if she actively helped, cooperating in every way.
I had to make her that way.
But implanting such complex, varied responses via hypnosis alone was tough.
Simple commands like "Become my slave. Obey everything. Work for me. Think only of me."
Extreme hypnosis like that just shattered the mind and rarely yielded results.
It might get monotonous reactions at best.
Spelling out specifics in detail just made it drag like a poem.
Then I reached one conclusion.
I had to break her.
With what I did best.
"Bella. Once the castle's restored, prepare a room to lock Epe in."
"Yes, Master."
Bella replied with perfect deference.
I'd fuck her all day if needed to bend her to my will.
That's my way.
Sweet-talking or earning admiration to win her over? Not my style. But something I'd done to exhaustion? That I had.
I gripped Epe's horn tightly and said.
"Epe. 「When you suffer because of me. When you're in pain. In agonizing moments, you feel happy and joyful.」"
"When in pain......"
"「In moments of suffering, you can't forget them.」"
"Can't forget......"
"「Every time you recall the pain, you think of me.」"
"You, I think of you......"
To the busty horned goddess, I implanted suggestions that could turn any human into a depraved masochistic pervert.
All maximized her masochistic desires, with synergistic effects.
I'd once used a similar "submission" hypnosis on Bella, but this was far stronger.
Pain was a universal human sensation and perception—intensely so.
I repeated words like "pain, agony, suffering" and variations, or for other situations,
turning both mental and physical torment into joy.
The moment her body accepted this mental shift, no torment would register as anything but pleasure.
I'd tested it before.
In high school, on that early-thirties teacher who dished out insults and abuse.
She grew so numb to pain she craved stronger stimuli, beyond saving.
The effect was unintentionally too strong, so I dialed it back and fixed her...
But even after, her pain preference lingered; she ended up begging to be broken.
The final suggestion included that reflection—a fine adjustment.
She'd think of "me."
Not just endless pain and pleasure.
I had to etch my existence deep into Epe's heart soon.
That way, I'd get helpful clues.
Of course, I'd approach it all with enjoyment.
Epe had such a tantalizing body; I was genuinely glad she was a goddess.
When I felt like this, I could do anything.
I followed my heart.
"「You absolutely will not harm me or those around me.」"
I didn't stop, adding safeguards.
"「You cannot act against my intentions.」"
Her body wrapped in invisible strings.
Strings that would never break or loosen.
Until I decided otherwise.
"「You cannot leave my side without permission.」"
Eight suggestions total.
This was top priority for me.
Clap.
I clapped my hands.
"Ah......"
Epe came to.
Her face twisted into unexpected disgust and deep wariness the moment she registered me.
She backed away like she wanted to flee, so I said.
"You have to stay by my side, right?"
"...Huh?!"
Epe's face filled with confusion, like she'd hit a gravity field.
She must've realized she couldn't fly as she pleased.
"Seeing that look on your face, you knew.
That I can control people."
"Yeah. I knew...!"
"How's it feel getting caught trying to run?"
I grabbed Epe's horn and shook it.
"Ugh! Let go!"
Epe couldn't resist properly; she got dragged around by her horn.
"I'll kill you. Something like you. Right here, right now...!"
I slapped Epe's cheek.
"Ow!?"
"First, I'll fix that foul mouth of yours."
Epe, helpless with her horn gripped and now slapped, floundered in confusion.
The unfamiliar sensation from the slap must've been too alien.
She should feel rage from being hit, but she just touched her cheek, dazed.
Right on cue, the Eight-Colored Shell Castle's restoration began.
Collapsed building materials floated and slotted into place like they knew where to go; the castle rapidly regained its original form.
"Bella. Lock her up, and keep Elin safe."
"Yes, Master."
I dragged Epe by the horn and handed her to Bella.
"What are you gonna do to me?!"
"You'll find out soon."
"Let go! Why won't my authority work?!"
She couldn't flee or harm Bella.
All Epe could do was whine uncooperatively.
Bella took the neutralized Epe away.
Meanwhile, I returned to the inn in Kepa Village.
I wanted to leave a message with anyone around.
Conveniently, Karen and Stia were in the hallway.
I was about to speak first, but they startled upon seeing me.
"Oppa?"
"What happened? Decal."
What was with this reaction?
"...Is my face that bad?"
"Yeah. ...You look really angry."
"......"
Karen's timid fidgeting confirmed it.
Sorry for worrying them.
"I've got urgent business. I'll be gone just one day. Keep doing what you're doing.
If it runs late, go ahead without me."
"Oppa. I'll wait."
"Same here. I can't leave you behind, Decal."
"Thanks.
Don't overdo it while I'm gone. Say hi to Diana and Aba for me too."
They nodded in agreement.
No wonder my face was grim.
I'd met the damn goddess who forcibly reunited me with Seo-yeon, someone I was supposed to part with back in that world.
Dark excitement boiled in my chest.
After setting aside worldly affairs briefly and returning to the Eight-Colored Shell Castle, I headed straight to the room Bella prepared.
A room I'd never seen.
Same style as other guest rooms, but stark and empty.
Like a blank space without assigned purpose.
Maybe incomplete restoration.
Anyway, Epe and Bella were in the room's center.
Epe, realizing no amount of snarling changed things,
now glared at me with red eyes, protesting silently.
"Bella. Let me know at dawn tomorrow."
Bella approached, kissed me, and left the room.
Now alone with Epe indoors.
Just that sent an unbearable thrill through me.
I drew the curtains over the window to dim the light and approached Epe.
"N-No, stay back!"