Chapter 131
Chapter 131
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 131
Chapter Title: Granting the Observer a Break
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I stared at the comic in a daze for a moment, then slowly pieced together what had happened.
The alarm for this round had gone off.
Having read the early parts, I figured it was naturally Eirene's turn this time.
To be honest, I was really looking forward to chatting with Eirene.
No matter what, she and I had built a sandcastle as Adam and Eve in a world no one else could reach.
Even so, I hesitated.
The writer had been struggling so much they were even late, and I didn't want to burden them with more heavy work.
Of course, I knew the writer wasn't drawing for free. As they had said, unlike with Erin, it would probably cost way more than a thousand won.
But.
Does paying money forgive everything?
Does handing over cash mean you can ignore consideration and own someone's labor rights completely?
Different people might say different things—
But at least, I didn't think that way.
The writer was drawing comics for me, and I was their reader. At this point, it wouldn't be strange to call me their biggest fan.
Of course, with me as their only reader, I must be special to the writer too.
That's why I wanted to show some consideration for the writer.
After all, more than being a comic artist...
'The writer is my friend.'
Friend.
We drew pictures for each other every day, reacted to them, and sometimes exchanged money while role-playing together—
If this wasn't friendship, what could be called friendship?
'Hmm...'
I scanned the entire comic from start to finish once more.
Once the surprise settled and I thought calmly—
Even if it was Eirene speaking, it was really the writer talking to me.
After all, the writer was the one typing the dialogue.
Not long ago, I had asked the writer, 'Is it okay to talk to both Erin and Eirene?' and they had readily agreed.
They always tried to accommodate me, so I couldn't easily imagine them refusing my request.
But while progressing with Erin's story, I realized it wasn't as easy as I thought.
So, maybe they indirectly said something like, 'I'm too tired today, can we do it next time?'... That's what crossed my mind.
Of course, if that was truly the goal, it would have been far more natural to just brush it off with something like, 'There's an issue in our dimension today, so space-time adjustment is impossible,' rather than painstakingly drawing Eirene's pretty face in the comic to convey it indirectly—
'...Sigh.'
Without realizing it, I stopped myself from lighting a cigarette and popped a candy into my mouth instead.
I didn't want to ruin the smoking cessation I'd started not long ago to become a better god over something like this.
—Even with lingering doubts, what could I do?
The comic characters are real, that world truly exists, and Eirene there is so deeply connected to me that she reads my thoughts?
How many people could seriously claim that?
'No way.'
I'll admit it. While the writer surprises me every time, to a third party, I'm just a massively immersed otaku.
One of my few proud traits was my meta-awareness. I knew there weren't many in this scene who obsessed over female comic characters to this extent, treating them as real brides.
Even I—don't believe in the existence of another world.
How old am I?
I've even done my military service properly—how could I believe in something like that?
[Give Me Some Money: 1:1 chat with Lady Eirene is now ready.]
[Give Me Some Money: Feel free to say anything.]
[Give Me Some Money: Ah, but before that, I have something to tell you...]
Right on cue, the writer's message arrived, and I replied lightly.
[Igugwoden: What is it?]
[Give Me Some Money: Do you remember?]
[Give Me Some Money: Unlike Saintess Erin, conversing with Lady Eirene requires much more Divine Power, as I mentioned.]
[Igugwoden: Yeah.]
Yeah.
This should reveal the writer's intentions.
If they were really beating around the bush, they'd probably quote an outrageous price right then, or so I thought.
[Give Me Some Money: Well... it doesn't seem like it'll take that much after all.]
[Give Me Some Money: It looks like 2,000 won worth of Divine Power per divine word should be sufficient.]
'...Huh?'
[Igugwoden: That's all it costs?]
[Give Me Some Money: To sense a god with just this much power, without even implanting divine providence...]
[Give Me Some Money: It means Lady Eirene's feelings for Lord Igugwoden are that deep.]
...What?
That's too cheap?
I thought they'd jack up the price, thinking, 'If you're gonna force me despite being tired, at least pay a lot'...
'Then making Eirene say that line was pointless, wasn't it?'
For some reason, amid the writer's baffling actions, another possibility I'd buried in my mind—the hypothesis that the world really exists—began to creep up.
'Get real.'
I shook my head vigorously and checked the last scene with Eirene again.
Eirene looking beyond the screen, speaking to me.
Her blue eyes seemed ready to suck me in.
—What if.
This world really exists.
The writer isn't doing WWE role-play but actually UFC as an observer for their dimension.
Erin, Eirene, everyone else—all real.
And they're always looking at me, saying thanks...
'...!!'
Smack!
I slapped both my cheeks with my hands.
Dangerous.
I felt like I was about to cross a line no human should.
But why?
Why does it feel so 'real'?
Why do I gaze into Eirene's eyes, full of sincerity, and think this foolish thought that the world might actually exist?
'...Alright.'
Yeah.
No hesitation here—let's test it.
There was definitely a setup implying she was aware of my thoughts.
So, without telling the writer, I think something else, then have her say, 'Eirene, do you know what I'm thinking right now?'
The context might not flow perfectly—but first, I wanted to settle my mind.
[Igugwoden: (Sponsorship / 2,000 won / Prepaid yoink)]
[Igugwoden: Writer.]
[Igugwoden: Kinda out of the blue, but]
[Igugwoden: Can you pass on, "Eirene, do you have any idea what I'm thinking right now?"]
[Give Me Some Money: Divine Power received successfully.]
[Give Me Some Money: Please wait a moment.]
...No way.
Nah.
No, it can't be.
After paying the writer, I calmed my strangely pounding heart and... got serious about 'thinking.'
Something provocative enough to elicit a clear reaction from Eirene.
If the comic's Eirene really exists and reads my thoughts—she couldn't ignore this cheeky one.
About 30 minutes after starting to think that.
[Give Me Some Money: axew.wo.to <<< Reply from Lady Eirene has arrived.]
'Looks like it's done.'
I immediately followed the link the writer sent.
The image showed... Eirene on her knees, gazing at me with a deeply moved expression—
'Hesitantly, it seems you're thinking about... our future... right?'
...Phew.
I let out a sigh of relief without realizing it.
Of course. No isekai exists. It was obvious.
Eirene's reaction confirmed it.
Her reading my thoughts in real-time was my delusion.
What was I thinking?
I'll say it straight, no lies.
I imagined Eirene lying naked on a bed, arms spread wide, saying 'Lord Igugwoden...♡' seductively.
If she could read thoughts, she wouldn't say something god-like like 'our humans' future'—she'd be blushing and freaking out.
I expected that, but now that it's confirmed, it feels a bit disappointing that the isekai doesn't exist.
Anyway.
That means the writer used Eirene to appeal for a break...
I don't know the reason, but excluding the impossible, that's the truth—no need for me to deduce why.
I'm not in a position to explain this in detail to anyone.
With my mind at ease, I finally noticed the artwork.
As expected, Eirene in a sheer negligee was a feast for the eyes. I never thought I'd have a milf fetish...
Strictly speaking, she's a virgin, so not quite milf. A 36-year-old virgin busty empress— the writer's otaku-piercing skills were no joke.
I wanted to keep chatting like this—
But if the writer wants a break, next time is fine.
I sent a message to wrap up the conversation politely and ended the chat with Eirene.
Instead, the writer seemed flustered and messaged back.
[Give Me Some Money: As you said, I've ended the chat with Lady Eirene... Are you sure that's okay?]
[Give Me Some Money: I know how much you were looking forward to talking with your cherished girlfriend, Lady Eirene.]
[Igugwoden: We can chat next time lol Didn't Eirene-chan say it's fine too?]
[Igugwoden: As a god, you gotta know when to accept consideration from your creations to reach higher realms, right?]
[Give Me Some Money: Is that so?]
[Give Me Some Money: As expected of Lord Igugwoden... Always pioneering new paths with thinking that surpasses my expectations.]
[Give Me Some Money: I can't help but think meeting you was fortunate again.]
Seeing them smoothly play along with my random words, it felt like the writer was glad to get the break.
Yeah.
Since it's come to this, why not guarantee a solid rest?
[Igugwoden: Writer.]
[Igugwoden: From now on, feel free to skip daily observation and come back the next day.]
[Give Me Some Money: Pardon...?]
[Give Me Some Money: Skip observation? What do you...]
[Igugwoden: Literally lol For about 24 hours? Take a break.]
[Igugwoden: You've been pouring everything into observation and must be exhausted.]
[Igugwoden: To provide even better observation results going forward, you need a proper comma break.]
[Igugwoden: This is an order as your god, so I'd appreciate it if you followed.]
About five minutes later.
[Give Me Some Money: Understood.]
[Give Me Some Money: If that's the divine will, I shall do so.]
[Give Me Some Money: The word of the god must be fulfilled.]
[Igugwoden: OK OK]
[Igugwoden: Rest well then see you.]
Ending the chat, I carefully flopped onto my bed and admired Eirene's image from moments ago.
Ha... My wife is seriously so pretty...
It was a bit regrettable that such a woman didn't really exist, but being able to meet her even as a character was something.
'....'
...Big trouble.
Because of that lewd thought earlier... I'm feeling all kinds of something.
I cautiously opened my gallery.
Finding the 'no-steam bath scene' the writer had drawn of Eirene not long ago—
'...Come here!'
—Surrendering her body to the raging waves.
* * *
After the conversation with the god ended.
Eirene instinctively sensed the god's departure from her side and bowed her head deeply.
It was disappointing.
Of course it was.
Just like Erin, she wanted to share all sorts of stories with the god.
From what happened at Aegerdeng Monastery, to how much she loved Lord Igugwoden, whether her prayers reached him properly... She wanted to share all those feelings sincerely.
But she wouldn't.
If the god hesitated, Eirene wanted to smooth over even that hesitation.
Lord Igugwoden was her master, her husband-to-be—her destined lord.
"Hehe..."
Eirene's half-lidded eyes bore clear heart marks as she let out a bewitching laugh.
Beyond her flushed face lingered the god's recent question.
[Eirene, do you have any idea what I'm thinking right now?]
In that instant, etched into Eirene's heart was their—
Her and Lord Igugwoden's—
Future.
A vision of immensely happy times, a moment destined to arrive—
'Lord Igugwoden... As expected, you're thinking the same as me... Ahh... Lord Igugwoden...!'
Eirene stroked her lower belly as if to soothe its endless throbbing.
From the moment she said 'Let's meet again someday,' their sweet future with the god was confirmed to come—
Eirene vowed.
The moment they meet.
That inevitable moment—
'I'll make you... far happier...
than you imagined...♥'
With the observer halting observation per the god's will and taking a break, in this moment unseen by the god—
—The faith-corrupted female emperor was steadily evolving into a female predator eyeing her male.
* * *
The empire's capital, Igugwoden Citadel.
The empress and saintess were absent—but that didn't mean time on the continent had stopped.
Just as time flowed in the New Continent, time flowed here identically—
—And likewise, in the now symbolically superior Wood Magic Tower—
Where the Tower Master who could directly process 'Plain Fact' resided—time flowed the same.
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