Chapter 242
Chapter 242
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Farewell
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After leaving Yeo So-cheon behind, I explained the situation to Dang Ayoung and the Sword Empress as well, then exchanged farewells.
"...Since it's the choice you've made, I won't say anything more. I know full well how precious that person is to you."
The Sword Empress respected my decision, putting it first as she always did.
"L-Like I said before... Just do whatever you're told without thinking about us... Don't rebel for no reason and get yourself hurt... Even if you get defiled, it's okay—just please stay alive..."
"What the hell kind of fantasies are going on in your head?"
Dang Ayoung reacted much the same as before.
Even if they asked me to do something weird, I shouldn't worry about them—just prioritize my own safety.
"Look, I keep telling you, I'm a guy. Anyone would think I was some poor girl being dragged off as a prisoner."
"Gender aside, the situation's basically the same! Back then it was just a worry, but now I'm almost certain! You might not even come back!"
"..."
She had a point, even if she put it that way.
Given what I'd glimpsed in the heavenly secrets, getting raped was pretty much a given.
'Will she... want to marry me?'
We hadn't even known each other that long, so jumping straight to marriage seemed unlikely—but considering the vision from her imagination-born heavenly secrets, the possibility was hard to dismiss outright.
She'd subtly kept asking if I had any kids, too.
"Well, that woman won't harm me, so if I endure, we'll meet again someday. At least I won't die. I was just confined—no real injuries."
"...Hmph. Fine. I won't worry, so handle it yourself. If you die, I'll kill you."
"How do you kill someone who's already dead?"
"That's why you can't die!"
In the end, after getting an earful from Dang Ayoung, I rubbed my slightly ringing ears and hugged her silently for about five minutes.
I'd hugged Yeo So-cheon earlier and the Sword Empress just before, but Dang Ayoung's embrace felt the most comfortable.
With by far the most time spent entwined with her body, it was only natural.
"...Well, with farewells done, time to prepare to head to the Demonic Cult..."
After parting from Dang Ayoung, truly finishing the goodbyes, I pondered how to bring my master along to the Demonic Cult when someone caught my eye.
"..."
"..."
The Sword Empress's disciple, still bound, met my gaze in silence.
I started wondering what to do about her.
'Should I say goodbye to her too?'
We'd only just met, so it felt odd to give her a farewell too—but since I'd done it with everyone else, skipping her might hurt her feelings. I decided to go for it.
As I approached with that resolve, she seemed to notice and spoke first.
"Um... I-I'm not totally clear on the situation... Are you heading somewhere dangerous...? To treat Master...?"
"...Yeah, something like that."
"I-I'll cheer for you. W-We haven't known each other long... a-and my situation isn't exactly dignified... but I really hope you succeed."
How did such an innocent girl end up exuding that murderous aura back then? What on earth had she eaten?
For her to suddenly snap years later and shatter the dantian of someone a decade younger...
I wondered what kind of event could twist a person that badly.
Feeling fond, I raised my hand to pat her head—
"P-Please come back safely. I'll take good care of Master for you, husband of my master."
"Pfft?!"
A completely unexpected title hit me.
"W-Why are you like that? D-Did I say something rude...?"
"Why... why call me 'husband of your master'...?"
"I-Isn't that right? If you're Master's husband, then to me you're her husband... U-Unless you're not in that kind of relationship yet? Did I misunderstand...!"
"...Ah."
That kind of "husband."
It used different characters from the common "master's husband."
'Master's husband makes her my master's husband... Fair enough.'
We hadn't formally married yet, but we were close enough that nitpicking felt pointless.
'But still...'
In this world, a master was practically a parent. So her master's husband made me... like a stepfather to the Sword Empress's disciple?
That thought suddenly complicated my head again.
Who'd have thought I'd gain a daughter this age?
Her body was fully adult, older than mine, yet her mind was that of a 13-year-old kid...
'...'
The more I sorted it out, the messier it got.
For my mental health, I gave up organizing it.
Some things in the world were more beautiful left as is, without tidying up.
"No, it's fine. We are in that kind of relationship with the Sword Empress, but we haven't had a formal wedding yet... The title just feels too heavy personally. Just call me by name."
"B-But calling Master's husband by name would mess up the hierarchy..."
"...No, really, 'husband of my master' is too much for me. Please, just don't."
"O-Okay..."
I knew the characters differed, but the same pronunciation with a different meaning was too ingrained, making me flinch every time.
...Though, come to think of it, I wouldn't hear it anymore anyway.
"Anyway... I'm off. Take good care of the Sword Empress while I'm gone... Dang Ayoung might get lonely without me, so get along. No idea when I'll return."
"M-Master aside, that woman... After what I did..."
"Dang Ayoung's the type to have forgotten already. It'll only be an issue if you regain your memories..."
"Eek!"
"...Well, if you do remember, we'll deal with it then."
Truth be told, the one who'd nearly died at her hands wasn't me—it was Dang Ayoung.
My dantian got wrecked too, but that was before possession, not her fault.
She was begging forgiveness so sincerely; it felt wrong to hold it against someone with amnesia.
'Honestly, I'd prefer she never remembers.'
Treating her like a slightly mature little sister didn't sound bad.
The murderous vibe she'd emitted before losing her memories was so thick with madness, it was unrecognizable as the same person compared to now.
For both our sakes, maybe it was best if those memories stayed buried.
That personality resurfacing would make her hard to handle again.
'The Sword Empress and Dang Ayoung will figure it out.'
Of course, worrying about it meant nothing to me now.
No guarantee I'd return after going to the Heavenly Demon.
I could be trapped there forever, dying of old age.
*pat pat*
"Anyway, take care. We haven't known each other long, but I'd like to see you again."
The first impression was rocky, but parting from someone who'd grown on me like a pet—no, a little sister—stung a bit.
I distrusted women as beasts, so I couldn't do more, but the world didn't require every woman to be a bedmate.
As I turned to leave after our farewell—
"...C-Can I not get a hug?"
"Huh?"
"N-No, I mean... Y-You hugged everyone else... I thought it was part of the goodbye..."
"..."
Since I'd hugged the other three, she assumed it was a farewell ritual?
'Not exactly, but...'
It was a reasonable misunderstanding.
A hug wasn't that intimate, and for a little-sister dynamic, it was fine.
"My bad, I forgot. Come here."
No need to discriminate against a kid her age; a simple hug was okay.
She was bound and kneeling, so I approached first.
*squish*
*pat pat*
"Listen to the Sword Empress. Remember what I said?"
"Y-Yes..."
Unlike the others, I pulled her into my embrace.
If she'd been standing, I'd have leaned in—but even short as I was, hugging someone seated was doable.
'She smells like the Sword Empress.'
Master-disciple bonds here were parent-child-like, but blood aside, it was uncanny how similar their auras were.
They even looked alike.
To a stranger, they'd seem more like sisters than mentor and student.
The Sword Empress looked too young for "mother."
Generous estimate: young aunt?
"Hah... hah..."
...Why's there weird heavy breathing?
Dread rising, I glanced down. The Sword Empress's disciple, face buried in my chest, was flushed and panting roughly.
*shiver*
A chill crawled up my spine on instinct. I released her and stepped back; she snapped out of her daze, her hazy expression returning to normal.
"Y-Your... b-body smells so good... W-What lotion do you use...?"
"...I don't use any."
"Ah... haha... R-Right..."
...Then I remembered something I'd forgotten.
Women really liked my natural scent.