Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: The Yandere Fairy's Gaze is Strange
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The Heavenly Palace.
The majestic Hall of Judgment where King Yama resided.
Towering pillars pierced the heavens, and a faint indigo mist hung in the air.
Mystical patterns glowed on the walls, while the heavy atmosphere exuded an oppressive aura, proving this was no ordinary palace.
"King Yunhwa requests an audience with King Yama."
"Let him enter."
At the center, King Yama lounged casually on his massive jade throne.
Leaning back against the throne draped in red silk, he radiated an intimidating presence.
His enormous cloak, cascading over pitch-black armor tinged with crimson like bloodstained cloth, fluttered ominously, and his glowing red eyes seemed to pierce the souls of all who beheld them.
"King Yunhwa comes to pay respects to King Yama!"
Before him stood King Yunhwa, his expression grave and resolute.
A cloud-like cape billowed mystically behind him, and his robes—blending white and pale purple—signified his noble status.
"It's been a while."
King Yunhwa bowed deeply before King Yama with utmost formality.
"The reason I sought you out today, King Yama, is—"
King Yama, reclining leisurely on his throne, cut him off with a bored expression.
"It's about the Gold Fairy, isn't it?"
"Y-yes, it is."
"You're here because she returned to the fairy realm after a few days on earth, and you think she deserves punishment for it?"
"...Yes, Great King. The Gold Fairy has clearly violated the laws of the fairy realm. Moreover, she abandoned her duties as a fairy and lingered in the human world. I believe punishment is necessary."
King Yama sighed and tapped the massive staff hanging beside his throne.
"Yunhwa, do we really need to be so strict about this?"
King Yunhwa's face hardened.
He straightened his posture and spoke firmly.
"King Yama, if even one fairy defies the laws of the realm, the others might follow suit and act recklessly."
"You have a point. But... didn't the Gold Fairy have unavoidable circumstances? Her Celestial Robe was torn—not to mention evidence of it regenerating. Can't we understand that much?"
"Understand? What do you mean?"
King Yunhwa's eyebrow twitched faintly.
"King Yama, if we handle this leniently, fairies might start tearing their Celestial Robes on purpose to stay in the human world. That's why we need even stricter punishment."
"However, the Gold Fairy has never broken the rules before. She's always been diligent. There's no way she'd fake tearing her robe, is there?"
King Yunhwa's eyes widened as he stared at King Yama, his head tilting sideways in disbelief.
'What the hell's gotten into that guy?'
The Gold Fairy had a history of subtly pushing boundaries while pretending to uphold the realm's laws.
She was even friends with Jua the fairy, who had been flagged as a person of interest after several incidents in the fairy realm.
Thus, King Yunhwa—one of the Ten Kings serving under King Yama, overseer of clouds and flowers, and manager of the fairies' movements and duties—had drawn his sword to make an example of her.
And besides...
He had witnessed the Gold Fairy treating King Yama—who even he found intimidating—with casual familiarity on multiple occasions, due to some childhood connection.
King Yama had clearly been irked by it more than once or twice.
That was why King Yunhwa had mustered the resolve to represent the loyal retainers and request punishment for the Gold Fairy himself.
"...Didn't you yourself have it in for the Gold Fairy, King Yama?"
"When did I ever? Our little Goldie?"
"What the— 'Our Goldie'?"
"What did you say...?"
"I-I'm sorry. That slipped out."
"Get out."
"...Understood."
King Yama slouched on his massive jade throne, slowly stroking his thick beard.
Just moments ago, King Yunhwa had stormed off, ranting about punishments and upholding the fairy realm's laws, but Yama had let it all go in one ear and out the other.
"Hmph. The fairy realm's laws are such a hassle."
King Yama rose slowly and unfurled a silk cloth beside him.
Inside was the Gold Fairy's sweat-absorbing garment, soaked with her perspiration from Han Haeseong's tribute, neatly folded.
He glanced around cautiously, composed his expression, confirmed no one was watching, then lifted the garment to his nose with half-lidded eyes.
"Sniff sniff!"
The intoxicating scent of the Gold Fairy's sweat filled his nostrils.
Intoxicated by the aroma, King Yama felt his manhood stirring to life.
'If we punish the Gold Fairy, I won't get any more of these sweat-scented clothes for a while, right?'
King Yama yanked down his lower garments atop the empty throne hall.
From his loins sprang an enormous pillar, hideous and massive.
"King Yama! I have one more thing to—"
At that moment, the doors burst open as King Yunhwa reentered, but his voice cut off abruptly.
His eyes locked onto King Yama's grotesque, gigantic member in stark clarity.
Fortunately, he'd hidden the sweat-absorbing garment, but there was no time to pull up his pants.
"Ahem!"
"..."
King Yama cleared his throat, casually hiked up his pants, and settled back onto the throne with feigned nonchalance.
"Must be losing weight; these pants feel loose."
King Yunhwa pressed his fingers to his temple as if he'd seen something he shouldn't have, letting out a deep sigh.
"...I'll just be going now."
"Didn't you come back because you had more to say!?"
"Never mind. Sorry for interrupting your enjoyable time, King Yama."
With that, King Yunhwa vanished in a hurry.
Watching his retreating figure, King Yama leaned back against the throne with a soft sigh of relief, a satisfied smirk curling his lips.
'Good thing he didn't spot the Gold Fairy's sweat-absorbing garment...'
The next day, early in the morning, I finished preparations and stepped out the front door to find the neighborhood lady carrying armfuls of side dishes for Jiwon-i.
She pulled a white envelope from her pocket—contents unknown.
"Here, take this."
"W-what's this?"
"You gotta buy her a meal when you meet Jiwon-i. Can't have her footing the bill just for granting a favor."
For some reason, a lump formed in my throat.
Probably because she reminded me a bit of my own dad, who passed away after Mom left.
"Auntie, it's been ages since I last saw Jiwon-i. Let me treat her to something nice."
"No! I'd feel too bad. Just take it—"
"Really, it's fine. I want to treat her with my own money. If it bothers you that much, just send over extra side dishes later."
Jiwon-i's mom teared up, her eyes glistening.
"See? My eye for people never fails. You're perfect husband material for my Jiwon-i!"
"Haha... Anyway, we might hit traffic if we leave late, so I'll head out now."
"Drive safe."
We exchanged smiles and goodbyes as I got into the car headed for Seoul.
Gripping the wheel, I pondered when to use the power King Yama had given me.
'I want to test it right away, but there's no good opportunity.'
If it were unlimited, I'd use it without hesitation.
But I only had one shot.
Unless I got more Heavenly Reincarnation Pills, I needed to be cautious.
-Hello?
-Oppa, how much longer?
-About ten minutes.
-...You're not coming because Mom said something, are you?
My phone buzzed incessantly; it was Jiwon-i.
She was pretty perceptive.
I kept my cool and played it natural.
-What do you mean?
-Oh, nothing. I'm waiting with my unnies.
-Unnies? Got it—don't wait outside. Go to a nearby cafe and send me the exact address.
-Okay.
Still...
Last time I saw Jiwon-i was before I enlisted, right?
Has it been since she was in elementary school?
Last night, after confirming our plans via the number from her mom, I scrolled her Kakao profile to refresh my memory of her face, but there were no photos.
What if I embarrass myself at the cafe by not recognizing her?
Then again, with the Heavenly Peach effect, maybe she won't recognize me either.
Screech—thud!
I parked near the cafe and lifted the heavy containers of side dishes her mom had prepared at dawn.
'Ugh—how did Jiwon-i's mom carry all this?'
Musing that 'Moms are truly great,' I stepped into the cafe.
The moment I entered the cafe, my eyes were drawn to one table.
Despite it being a bustling college district cafe, something about those three women huddled together pulled my gaze.
They were all pretty, sure, but that wasn't it.
For some inexplicable reason, I was convinced one of them was Jiwon-i.
Call it intuition.
Thud, thud.
I walked straight over.
The woman in question tilted her head in growing confusion as I approached.
"You're Jiwon-i, right?"
I smiled brightly.
She blinked her big eyes and nodded without a word.
Before I could even greet her warmly, the two unnies she'd mentioned on the call shot up from their chairs, faces stunned.
-I-is that him? You said he was older!
-...His face is insane.
The gasps of admiration were familiar by now, so I started to exchange casual nods with Jiwon-i's friends—until I took a closer look and froze.
'What... what the hell are these girls?'