Chapter 241
Chapter 241
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Resolve
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After he collapsed into sleep with Yeo Sochen's help,
Yeo Sochen laid him on the bed and returned to the living room to begin their strategy meeting.
"...Where could we even start looking?"
"...Are you really going to try finding her?"
"We have to at least try... If that woman truly gets corrupted like this, it'll be a massive disaster in its own right."
"...A disaster?"
"..."
She hadn't said it outright, but she figured he had some inkling of it already.
What it meant for a millennium-old gumiho to be tainted by demonic energy.
If she simply died like that, it would be the milder outcome—in reality, she was far more likely to be reborn as a horrific yokai.
This was a fox who should have ascended to the heavens and gained divine status after completing her endless trials, only to be consumed by evil instead. The power she'd wield would be immense, and unlike most yokai, she'd face no restrictions binding her to the mortal realm.
Leaving her be would lead to unimaginable loss of life.
...As sorry as she felt for him and that yokai,
if they couldn't cure her in the end, Yeo Sochen already knew the judgment she'd have to make.
No matter how much the woman meant to him.
"...Whew. For now, I'll dig through the heavenly records. Here's hoping the Gongdong Sect... is still hanging on by a thread. Visiting a sect that's sealed its gates is a grave discourtesy, but we can't just sit on our hands either."
"Mm... I'll go see an old acquaintance of mine. I know it's rude, but given the circumstances, I'll convince them somehow..."
[Um, excuse me... everyone...]
A tentative voice piped up from somewhere while they scrambled into action.
Yeo Sochen glanced toward the familiar sound,
[I, I know I've committed an unforgivable sin... but could you pass a few words on to the hero for me...?]
The devilish woman who'd ruined their meal just moments ago had the gall to show her face again...
"...Why the long face?"
[Th-the hero won't even look at me... He said he'll drop dead if I talk to him first... Sob... Waaah...]
Unlike her usual bold demeanor, her face was a mess now—streaked with tear stains that wouldn't wipe away, eyes puffy and swollen. She looked utterly wrecked.
[H-how we met again after all that... I searched through countless galaxies to find him, and now he doesn't even remember me. Everything I say gets treated like lies... After all I've done for him... Sob... Hic...]
Fresh tears spilled as emotions surged again mid-sentence.
She must've caught an earful after seeing his rare murderous glare earlier. Seemed like she'd taken quite the hit.
"...But this is all your fault, isn't it? You caused that woman to end up like this. If you'd kept watching him, you'd know exactly what she means to him."
[I-I know... I know I've sinned gravely, and I don't expect easy forgiveness... But I feel like I haven't even done what I was supposed to for him... At the very least, I should've told you the cure, but it looks like you've already found it...]
"Wait a second. He's asleep right now—how are you even out here?"
She hadn't said a peep when the woman collapsed.
Was this on purpose...?
[It was just a weak channel linked to the hero's master's side, so it was blocked...! I would've come out if I could...! Ah, no, sorry! How dare I raise my voice...]
"..."
This woman grated on her nerves, but seeing her so broken down muddled Yeo Sochen's thoughts a bit.
Her reasons for clinging to him were impure beyond belief, and dragging others into her hellish world was downright immoral. Still, her devotion to him was on another level.
Devotion, if you put it kindly—obsession, if you didn't...
"...So, what do you want to say?"
Truth be told, she wanted to tell her to scram, but provoking this mentally unstable woman might lead to more headaches. Better to hear her out first.
If it was nonsense, she'd wash her ears out and forget it.
If it seemed decent, she'd think it over and maybe relay it.
[J-just tell him... I'll always be waiting for him, so call me anytime...]
"...Pardon?"
[I-It's fine if he treats me like a tool. Use me whenever he needs, treat me like an easy mark... As long as he's by my side... Call me when you need me... When you're bored... Or even when you're mad and want to vent on me like a trash bin... J-just please, not the part about dying... Ah, forget the last bit!]
"..."
What the hell did this guy have that made her like this?
An outsider would think he was the one blackmailing her.
When really, she was the one obsessed with him to a terrifying degree.
'Something must've happened between them in the past.'
Whatever went down wasn't her business.
Her world had ended up in this horrific state as a result,
and snatching him away from it in his bewilderment had been her master's call.
He claimed prior agreement, but her master judged the process anything but fair.
No sane person would crawl into a world like that willingly.
[S-so, will you tell the hero...?]
"...I'll think about it."
[Pl-please, I beg you. Without him... I have no reason to live anymore...]
-Bang!
-Eek!
The door to his room flew open mid-conversation. Out stepped the man she'd just tucked in.
She whipped around in shock—the woman had vanished ages ago.
Now it was just her, frozen like she'd been plotting something shady.
"I-it's not what you think! I wasn't doing anything weird..."
She waved her hands frantically to dispel any misunderstandings, but...
"...Let's go."
"...Huh?"
"...We're going. To the Demonic Cult."
"Whaaaaat?????"
I'd already made up my mind.
Yeo Sochen and the Sword Empress might find a way, but I knew the odds were slim to none.
The Central Plains were vast, sure—but tracking someone with that level of demonic energy outside the Demonic Cult? Good luck.
They say it's vast, so there must be at least one like her,
but flip that around: we might have to scour the entire Central Plains for that one person.
Or she might not even exist.
"Dragging our feet wastes time. We might not find her, and Master's condition could worsen to where we can't do anything else. Better to head there now."
"W-wait, you sure? Last time you met the Heavenly Demon, you were wrecked..."
"...Being tormented by that woman hurts less than seeing Master like this."
"..."
A rare serious exchange.
Yeo Sochen studied my face, opened her mouth to argue, then shut it.
I had no idea what my expression looked like.
Didn't much care, either.
"...Don't worry too much. It's not all bad. At least I'll be absolutely safe by the Heavenly Demon's side, right? Even let a vampire lord slip away. Gotta recapture that thing anyway."
"Urk..."
"Unless that bastard loses it and storms the Demonic Cult, I won't be in danger. And even if it does, she won't let it near me. She's a bit off, but she wouldn't expose her lover to risk."
The Heavenly Demon was still terrifying, and the memory of being raped inside the heavenly records—a nightmare I never saw coming—lingered vividly. But I had faith in one thing.
She hadn't harmed me.
Imprisoned without sunlight or movement, my body wasn't in peak shape, but wounds were minimal.
Not entirely absent—just faint scratches.
The future me unscathed reassured me of my safety, but the real clincher was this:
'Her love was genuine, even if twisted.'
Not your typical affection, but the emotion was real.
Future Heavenly Demon or not, she stemmed from the current one's imagination, right?
As long as I didn't do anything stupid, she wouldn't strike first.
"...You're going right now?"
"...Gotta at least say goodbye properly. It's temporary, but still."
"Temporary could mean forever, you know."
"Then since we don't know when we'll meet again, how about one last round?"
"...Huh?"
"No need for a full round, but with three of you, it'll take effort. Stamina's improved lately, but over twenty's a death sentence... Seven each should be manageable."
"..."
"Do whatever you want. If you can't hold back and go overboard, don't sweat it. Who knows when we'll meet again—might as well go all out."
I grabbed my sleeves and spread my arms wide.
Service for a potentially final farewell.
It might really be the last time.
"Why're you just standing there? It's my special last-day service."
"...Forget it."
"Huh?"
-Squeeze
As I tempted her with open arms, Yeo Sochen pulled me into a hug.
Not a predatory pounce,
just a wholesome embrace between lovers.
"No need for that service. Just come back safe."
"...Then can I split your share between the other two?"
"Ha. What do you take us for? Think we only hang out to sleep with you?"
...Wasn't that it?
"...Why no answer? Your face..."
"N-no! Of course not! You wouldn't just be after my body!"
"...I won't deny it started that way, but don't think that's all it is now."
Yeo Sochen broke the hug, puffed her cheeks, and poked my forehead.
"Do I look like some wife who'd let her man go to another woman's side for who-knows-how-long and spend the last day just fooling around? Anyone'd think that's all I care about."
"..."
"The other two'll react the same. And don't say stuff like 'it's the last day, do whatever.' I'd let it slide, but as a woman, that kinda hurts."
"...Uh..."
"Don't get it twisted. Sure, you're cute and sexy, and the sex is great—but that's not all your charm as a person."
Words so uncharacteristic of Yeo Sochen kept coming.
Blunt yet brimming with affection,
the kind she rarely voiced.
"So don't mope around the Heavenly Demon. My appeal's just my body, so if she tries to rape you, don't resign yourself—make her lose interest, or better yet, make her fall so hard you take control. Love's a game the one who falls first loses. Who knows? She might get so smitten she'll grant your every wish."
Unrealistic, but helpful.
...Sincere, too.
"Now that you're thinking straight, go explain to the other two and say goodbye. Pretty sure all hell's breaking loose with me in about ten seconds."
"Why'd you push yourself?"
"If I don't say it like this, you'll... Urgh...!"
Ah. Here it comes.
I left a belatedly embarrassed Yeo Sochen behind and headed to the Sword Empress and Dang Ayoung, who were off plotting their approaches.
The near-screech from behind? Just my imagination.