Entah bagaimana, aku jadi menginap satu hari lebih lama dari rencana.
Sebagian karena bangun terlalu siang menyisakan waktu persiapan yang tidak cukup, dan juga karena aku mengunjungi panti asuhan itu lagi.
Itu untuk berfoto bersama Ha-yoon dan Tae-seok, seperti aku berfoto dengan Ash.
Tentu saja, bukan hanya mereka berdua, aku juga mengambil foto bersama sambil melakukan kerja sukarela.
Jika hari seperti hari ini bisa menjadi kenangan dan menjadi kekuatan serta nutrisi bagi anak-anak, aku bisa melakukan apa saja.
"Aku tidak tahu bagaimana membalas budi ini..."
"Ini bukan sesuatu yang pantas disebut budi. Pastikan saja anak-anak tumbuh dengan baik."
"Aku akan berusaha menjadi pengikut yang setia, ditopang oleh berkah Dewa Surgawi-nim."
"..."
Kau tidak perlu sebersemangat itu.
Aku terkejut dan nyaris menghentikannya, tetapi direkturnya tidak mendengarkan sama sekali.
Tidak, dia mendengarnya, tetapi terus terdistorsi karena keyakinannya yang mengakar dalam.
Lagipula, karena dia tinggal di Kultus Iblis Surgawi, keyakinannya pasti dalam dalam banyak hal.
Pada akhirnya, aku hanya menyuruhnya untuk menjaga anak-anak dengan baik agar mereka bisa berjalan di jalan yang benar.
Tidak tahu apa yang akan terjadi jika aku ikut campur lebih jauh, aku nyaris melarikan diri dari tempat itu.
'Tetapi, yah...'
Melihat anak-anak tersenyum bahagia membuatku bangga.
Saat Natal tiba di masa depan, aku ingin meminta Santa.
Karena Ha-yoon tidak bisa melihat cahaya karena kurangnya kemampuanku, tolong beri dia cahaya.
Dia bahkan menyembuhkan anak dengan kaki cacat dengan bersih, jadi mengapa tidak mata?
Tentu saja, menyembuhkan mata lebih sulit daripada kaki, dan terlebih lagi, Ha-yoon telah mengalami gangguan penglihatan sejak lahir.
Bukan tanpa alasan aku tidak menggunakan Empty Sky Stone Milk. Itu karena bahkan konsep pemulihan pun tidak berlaku.
'Setiap kali aku melihat hal seperti ini, aku merasa aku bukan dewa.'
Sambil tersenyum pahit, aku menuju Istana Heavenly Demon.
Karena kerja sukarela di panti asuhan sudah selesai, yang tersisa hanyalah bersiap untuk kembali.
Aku ingin tinggal lebih lama, tetapi Bbareumbo mungkin akan mengomel, jadi aku tidak bisa berlama-lama.
'Yang paling mendesak pertama adalah busur...'
Busur yang diberikan Elia kepadaku saat ini patah menjadi dua, dalam kondisi yang bahkan tidak bisa diperbaiki.
Seperti yang Lucas katakan sebelumnya, busur yang kugunakan memang awalnya sudah berada di akhir masa pakainya.
Dengan pertarungan melawan Ash, masa pakainya telah berakhir, dan kedua lengan serta talinya hancur total.
'Aku ingin tahu apakah ada busur sementara yang bisa kugunakan di Kultus Iblis Surgawi?'
Aku membutuhkan busur sungguhan untuk pertarungan nyata, bukan busur latihan.
Secara khusus, busur dengan tarikan yang sangat berat sehingga aku bisa menggunakan kekuatan fisikku secara efisien.
Tentu saja, akan kasar jika hanya mengambilnya, jadi aku berencana menawarkan kompensasi yang pantas. Aku bisa mendapatkan Inner Core dari Bbareumbo.
"Apakah ada yang bisa digunakan secara kebetulan?"
Jadi aku bertanya kepada Wi Seol-ak yang kebetulan lewat. Kami benar-benar bertemu secara kebetulan.
Dia menunjukkan ekspresi cemas yang jarang terlihat dan menjawab permintaanku.
"Sejujurnya, menemukan busur yang cocok dengan kekuatanmu, Dewa Utama-nim, itu sulit..."
"Tidak harus persis cocok dengan kekuatanku."
"Maka kemungkinan besar busurnya tidak akan bertahan. Bahkan, busur yang kau gunakan beberapa kali terakhir juga hampir di ambang patah."
"Separah itu?"
Aku tidak bisa tidak terkejut. Memikirkan busur yang nyaris tidak pernah kugunakan sudah di ambang patah.
Busur yang kuterima dari Elia adalah busur yang terus kugunakan sejak sebelum aku tumbuh.
Jadi memecahkannya tidak sulit, tetapi yang harus kugunakan di masa depan lain cerita.
'Mereka bilang pengrajin ulung tidak menyalahkan alatnya, tetapi apakah aku harus rewel?'
Wi Seol-ak meyakinkanku, mengatakan dia akan menyiapkan apa pun yang bisa dia lakukan.
Tetapi jika dia, otak dari Kultus Iblis, mengatakan itu, itu pasti benar-benar sulit didapat.
'Jika semua gagal, aku harus meminta bantuan Dwarf.'
Jika aku meminta Dwarf, dia mungkin akan mendapatkannya, sambil berkata 'ini dia'.
Mungkin karena itu. Aku tiba-tiba bertanya-tanya apa yang dia lakukan dan mengiriminya pesan.
Mungkin karena Festival Bela Diri Dewa Surgawi baru-baru ini, Alfheim sedang sepi, dan akibatnya, kabar dari Mountain juga semakin jarang.
[Wild Grylls: Hei. Kau masih hidup?]
[Passing Dwarf: Aku sedang minum bir, kenapa?]
[Wild Grylls: Sungguh konsisten. Bagaimana dengan patennya?]
[Passing Dwarf: Yang lain mulai melihat efeknya sekarang, jadi aku sudah dipesan untuk slot pertama, yeah]
Itu kabar baik. Karena itu resep Lucas, yang mencintai alkohol lebih dari siapa pun, kemungkinan gagalnya sangat rendah.
Dalam kasus ini, aman untuk mengatakan kemungkinan Dwarf direkrut telah hilang.
Meski begitu, kita tidak bisa lengah, karena ada bagian terpenting.
[Wild Grylls: Apakah kau sudah menemukan reruntuhan Lucas?]
[Passing Dwarf: Entahlah? Temanku bilang kemungkinan besar ada di wilayah Alfheim, jadi para petinggi sedang sibuk berlarian.]
[Wild Grylls: Kau tidak berencana ikut serta dalam itu, kan?]
[Passing Dwarf: Untuk apa aku pergi? Aku hanya akan minum bir dan bermain di rumah lol]
Itu memang reruntuhan Lucas.
Meskipun perhatian telah berkurang karena Festival Bela Diri Dewa Surgawi, sekarang festival sudah selesai, itu akan berangsur-angsur menjadi sorotan.
Sekarang, sementara Alfheim menderita karena konflik internal, inilah kesempatannya.
'Terlebih lagi, saat aku pergi ke luar, konflik internal Alfheim akan semakin memburuk.'
Situasi ini benar-benar membingungkan, tetapi ada lebih banyak keuntungan daripada kerugian.
Secara khusus, hal terbesar adalah selama kondisinya terpenuhi, aku bisa keluar menggunakan Rose of Sharon.
Tentu saja, sangat disayangkan aku harus pergi sendirian, tetapi yang terbaik adalah aku bisa menggunakannya dalam keadaan darurat.
'...Tunggu. Kalau dipikir-pikir, jika mereka menumbuhkan Rose of Sharon di sana, bisakah aku kembali secara terbalik?'
Pikiran seperti itu tiba-tiba muncul di benakku.
Perubahan perspektif: jika mereka menumbuhkan Rose of Sharon di sana, bukankah aku bisa kembali dengan mudah?
[Wild Grylls: Bbareumbo. Apakah secara kebetulan kau menanam Rose of Sharon di sana?]
[Wild Bbareumbo: Aku menanamnya segera setelah kau pergi. Ia mekar dengan cepat dan layu.]
Jadi bukan itu. Itu benar-benar bunga dengan kondisi yang ketat.
Kecuali ditanam dengan perawatan yang tulus dalam arti sebenarnya, tampaknya tidak bereaksi sama sekali.
Atau mungkin karena itu Forest of the Four Seasons. Apa pun itu, tampaknya aku harus berjalan kembali dengan kakiku sendiri.
"Suamiku."
Saat aku sedang membuat persiapan lain sampai Wi Seol-ak menemukan busur yang bisa digunakan.
Heavenly Demon, Yoo So-wol, mendekatiku dengan hati-hati dan memanggilku dengan panggilan sayang.
Panggilan 'suami' itu masih terasa canggung, tetapi aku akan terbiasa secara bertahap.
"Ya. Heavenly Demon... tidak, Nyonya Yoo."
"Apakah kau benar-benar pergi?"
"Aku harus pergi."
Itu adalah sesuatu yang tidak bisa ditunda lagi. Aku sudah terlalu lama pergi.
Anak-anak akan sangat khawatir, dan yang terpenting, dipertanyakan apakah rumahku aman.
Juga, meskipun agak berlebihan untuk dikatakan, proporsi kekuatan yang aku miliki sangatlah besar.
Jika penguasa lain menyerang secara kebetulan, tidak ada yang tahu apa yang akan terjadi.
'Yah... Dolsoe saja mungkin sudah cukup, sih.'
Aku menatap Yoo So-wol.
Dia memiliki ekspresi seperti ingin mengatakan banyak hal, dan aku bisa menebak kira-kira apa yang dia pikirkan.
"Apakah kau ingin menghentikanku pergi?"
"...Sejujurnya, ya."
Yoo So-wol selalu menjadi jujur di depanku, bahkan jika dia tidak begitu dengan orang lain.
Di depan orang lain, dia adalah Heavenly Demon yang angkuh, jadi perbedaannya luar biasa.
Mungkin karena itu dia terasa lebih manis. Aku terkekeh pelan.
"Selalu ada perpisahan setelah pertemuan. Jika aku tinggal di sini, itu akan menjadi gangguan dengan caranya sendiri."
"Itu tidak benar. Bagaimana mungkin suamiku berada di sini menjadi gangguan?"
"Ada saja."
Pertama-tama, aku tidak akan bebas, dan selanjutnya, ada kemungkinan besar aku akan berkeliaran ke tempat lain.
Karena tidak perlu menyebutkan ini, aku hanya tersenyum.
Yoo So-wol juga tampaknya menyadari sesuatu dari reaksiku dan tersenyum pahit.
"Karena kau sudah bulat tekad, aku tidak akan berkata apa-apa lagi. Aku juga tidak ingin menggenggammu dengan buruk."
"Terima kasih."
"...Tidak. Sejujurnya, aku ingin menggenggammu dengan buruk. Bagaimana aku bisa menahan hati yang gelisah ini?"
Yoo So-wol mencurahkan isi hatinya dengan suara yang jujur.
Baginya, itu adalah hal yang benar-benar berani. Di satu sisi, itu bisa dilihat sebagai pertumbuhan.
"Penantian... tidak akan lama. Selama kita punya Rose of Sharon."
"Bunga... jika suamiku pergi, aku juga akan menyiapkan bunga."
"Melihatmu berkata begitu, sepertinya kau punya sesuatu dalam pikiran?"
"Tentu saja."
Aku bertanya bunga apa itu.
Lalu Yoo So-wol, terlihat malu-malu, menatapku dan menjawab dengan hati-hati.
"...Itu peony."
"Peony?"
"Ya. Peony, yang disebut Raja Bunga. Bagaimana menurutmu?"
"Itu sangat cocok dengan Nyonya Yoo."
Itu bukan kata-kata kosong; itu benar-benar cocok dengannya.
Raja Bunga, bagaimana bisa itu begitu cocok dengan Heavenly Demon?
Dia juga tersenyum cerah, mungkin menyadari ketulusanku.
Wajahnya yang memerah seperti peony adalah nilai tambah. Dia diam-diam buruk dalam mengendalikan ekspresi wajahnya.
"Apakah ada yang bisa
Chapter 744: Return (1)
Somehow, I ended up staying one day longer than planned.
Partly because waking up too late left me with insufficient time to prepare, and also because I visited the orphanage again.
It was to take photos with Ha-yoon and Tae-seok, just like I had taken photos with Ash.
Of course, not just the two of them, but I also took a group photo while doing volunteer work.
If a day like today could become a memory and serve as strength and nourishment for the children, I could do anything.
"I do not know how to repay this grace..."
"It’s nothing to call grace. Just make sure the children grow up well."
"I will strive to become a faithful believer, bolstered by the grace of the Heavenly God-nim."
"..."
You don’t need to be that passionate, though.
I was taken aback and barely managed to stop her, but the director didn’t listen at all.
No, she heard, but it was constantly distorted because of her deeply rooted faith.
Then again, since she was someone living in the Heavenly Demon Cult, her faith was bound to be deep in many ways.
In the end, I just told her to take good care of the children so they could walk the right path.
Not knowing what would happen if I intervened further, I practically fled the place.
’Still, well...’
Seeing the kids smiling happily made me feel proud.
When Christmas comes in the future, I want to ask Santa.
Since Ha-yoon cannot see the light due to my lack of ability, please give her light.
He cleanly healed even a child with a bad leg, so why not eyes?
Of course, curing eyes is harder than legs, and moreover, Ha-yoon had been visually impaired since birth.
It wasn’t for nothing that I didn’t use Empty Sky Stone Milk. It was because even the concept of restoration didn’t apply.
’Every time I see things like this, I feel like I’m not a god.’
Smiling bitterly, I headed to the Heavenly Demon Palace.
Since the volunteering at the orphanage was over, all that was left was preparing to return.
I wanted to stay longer, but Bbareumbo might nag me, so I couldn’t dawdle.
’The most urgent thing first is a bow...’
The bow Elia had gifted me was currently broken in half, in a state where it couldn’t even be repaired.
As Lucas had said before, the bow I used was originally right at the end of its lifespan.
With the battle against Ash, its lifespan had ended, and both the limbs and string were completely ruined.
’I wonder if there is a temporary bow I can use in the Heavenly Demon Cult?’
I needed a real bow for actual combat, not a practice bow.
Specifically, a bow with immense draw weight so I could use my physical strength efficiently.
Of course, it would be rude to just take it, so I planned to offer appropriate compensation. I could just get an Inner Core from Bbareumbo.
"Is there anything usable by any chance?"
So I asked Wi Seol-ak, who was passing by. We really just ran into each other by chance.
He wore a rare, troubled expression and replied to my request.
"To be honest, finding a bow that matches your strength, Chief God-nim, is difficult..."
"It doesn’t have to perfectly match my strength."
"Then there is a high probability the bow won’t hold up. In fact, the bow you used a few times last time is also almost on the verge of breaking."
"Is it that bad?"
I couldn’t help but be surprised. To think a bow I barely used was on the verge of breaking.
The bow I received from Elia was one I had steadily used since before I grew.
So breaking it in wasn’t hard, but the one I have to use in the future is a different story.
’They say a master craftsman doesn’t blame his tools, but do I have to be picky?’
Wi Seol-ak reassured me, saying he would prepare whatever was within his reach.
But if he, the brain of the Demonic Cult, said that, it must be truly hard to obtain.
’If all else fails, I’ll have to ask the Dwarf.’
If I ask the Dwarf, he’d probably get one, saying ’here you go’.
Perhaps because of that. I suddenly wondered what he was up to and sent him a message.
Maybe because of the recent Heavenly God Martial Festival, Alfheim was quiet, and consequently, news from Mountain had also grown sparse.
[Wild Grylls: Hey. You alive?]
[Passing Dwarf: I’m drinking beer, why?]
[Wild Grylls: Truly consistent. What happened to the patent?]
[Passing Dwarf: Other guys are starting to see the effects now, so I’m booked for the very first slot yeah]
That’s good news. Since it’s the recipe of Lucas, who loves alcohol more than anyone else, the probability of failure is extremely low.
In this case, it was safe to say the possibility of the Dwarf being conscripted had vanished.
Even so, we couldn’t let our guard down, as there was a most important part.
[Wild Grylls: Did you even find Lucas’s ruins?]
[Passing Dwarf: Idk? My friend says it’s highly likely in Alfheim territory, so the higher-ups are running their asses off.]
[Wild Grylls: You’re not planning to participate in that, are you?]
[Passing Dwarf: Why would I go? I’m just gonna drink beer and play at home lol]
It was indeed Lucas’s ruins.
Although attention had decreased because of the Heavenly God Martial Festival, now that the festival was over, it would gradually come to the fore.
Now, while Alfheim was suffering from internal strife, was the opportunity.
’Moreover, as I head outside, Alfheim’s internal strife will only worsen.’
This situation was truly baffling, but there were far more gains than losses.
In particular, the biggest thing was that as long as the conditions were met, I could come outside using the Rose of Sharon.
Of course, it was a pity that I had to go alone, but it was best that I could use it in times of emergency.
’...Wait. Come to think of it, if they bloom the Rose of Sharon over there, can’t I return in reverse?’
Such a thought suddenly occurred to me.
A shift in perspective: if they bloomed the Rose of Sharon over there, wouldn’t I be able to return easily?
[Wild Grylls: Bbareumbo. Did you by any chance plant the Rose of Sharon over there?]
[Wild Bbareumbo: I planted it as soon as you left. It bloomed quickly and withered.]
So it wasn’t that. It really was a flower with strict conditions.
Unless it was grown with sincere care in a true sense, it didn’t seem to react at all.
Or maybe it was because it was the Forest of the Four Seasons. Whatever the case, it seemed I would have to walk back on my own feet.
"Husband."
At the time I was making other preparations until Wi Seol-ak found a usable bow.
The Heavenly Demon, Yoo So-wol, cautiously approached me and called me by an affectionate title.
That title of ’husband’ was still awkward, but I would get used to it gradually.
"Yes. Heavenly Demon... no, Lady Yoo."
"Are you really leaving?"
"I must go."
It was something that could no longer be delayed. I had been away for too long.
The children would be deeply worried, and above all, it was questionable whether my home was safe.
Also, though it’s a bit much to say, the proportion of power I account for is truly massive.
If another ruler were to invade by any chance, there was no telling what would happen.
’Well... Dolsoe alone would probably be enough, though.’
I faced Yoo So-wol.
She had an expression of having a lot to say, and I could roughly guess what she was thinking.
"Do you want to stop me from leaving?"
"...To be honest, yes."
Yoo So-wol always became honest in front of me, even if she wasn’t with others.
In front of others, she was the lofty Heavenly Demon herself, so the gap was incredible.
Maybe that’s why she felt even cuter. I chuckled softly.
"There is always a parting after a meeting. If I stay here, it will be a nuisance in its own way."
"That is not true. How could my husband being here be a nuisance?"
"There’s just something."
First of all, I wouldn’t be free, and furthermore, there was a high probability I would wander around to other places.
Since there was no need to bring this up, I just smiled.
Yoo So-wol also seemed to realize something from my reaction and smiled bitterly.
"Since you have made up your mind, I will say no more. I do not wish to cling to you uglily either."
"Thank you."
"...No. To be honest, I want to cling to you uglily. How can I endure this ticklish heart?"
Yoo So-wol poured out her inner thoughts in a candid voice.
For her, it was a truly courageous thing. In a way, it could be seen as growth.
"The wait... won’t take long. As long as we have the Rose of Sharon."
"A flower... if my husband leaves, I shall also prepare a flower."
"Seeing you say that, it seems you have something in mind?"
"Of course."
I asked what flower it was.
Then Yoo So-wol, looking shy, glanced at me and answered cautiously.
"...It is a peony."
"A peony?"
"Yes. The peony, which is called the King of Flowers. What do you think?"
"It really suits Lady Yoo well."
It wasn’t empty words; it really suited her well.
The King of Flowers, how could it suit the Heavenly Demon so perfectly?
She also smiled brightly, perhaps realizing I was sincere.
Her face turning as red as a peony was a bonus. She was secretly bad at controlling her facial expressions.
"Is there anything I can help with?"
"Not particularly. Seol-ak-ssi is preparing most of it."
"Then if you need anything more, speak. I will tell the Demonic Brain everything."
"..."
So this was why Wi Seol-ak grumbled. She certainly exuded the vibe of a stubborn maverick.
Anyway, as time passed, I packed various supplies with Wi Seol-ak’s help.
Among those supplies was a carefully selected bow. Apparently, it was an item from the warehouse.
"It is a bow made from a pine tree grown for hundreds of years. It should be able to withstand your strength to some extent, Heavenly God-nim."
"Thank you. Here is the Inner Core."
"...Thank you."
Wi Seol-ak’s hands trembled as he received the Inner Core.
Considering that a single Inner Core boasted immense value, it must be truly reassuring.
After finally receiving the backpack, I waited until the next morning dawned.
"Let us go together."
"Seol-ak-ssi will have a hard time..."
"Do I need to care?"
"Um..."
I feel like I should gift Wi Seol-ak some medicine good for the stomach later.
Well, I could just think of it as her seeing me off.
Thus, the next morning dawned, and we walked to the entrance of the Forest of the Four Seasons.
The Heavenly Demon Cult also had an area bordering the Forest of the Four Seasons, and it wasn’t very far.
According to Yoo So-wol, they were steadily cultivating Hair Growth Herb using the soil here.
"You are truly leaving."
It was when we reached the entrance of the Forest of the Four Seasons. Yoo So-wol called out from behind in a regretful voice.
Turning around, she was looking at me with a melancholy expression.
Hwiing— A cool wind blew, fluttering Yoo So-wol’s long hair and martial robes.
Because of that, a sense of sorrow was even more apparent, but we had already reached the entrance.
I smiled gently and spoke.
"I must go. There are people waiting, and there are things I want to find."
"...Husband."
"Yes, Lady Yoo."
"In my heart, I also wish to leave together with my husband."
She quietly confessed her inner feelings.
Seeing her clench her fists tightly, I could tell she had summoned her courage.
Courage not as the Heavenly Demon, but as a single person.
"But I also have many things to do, just like my husband. Therefore..."
Yoo So-wol hesitated for a moment, then shyly confessed her heart.
"Once all my work is finished, I shall go to my husband."
"..."
I widened my eyes at that confession, then soon smiled.
"Or I might finish all my work inside and return here."
"Ah..."
"Whatever it may be..."
I stepped into the entrance of the Forest of the Four Seasons, where a vast wilderness stretched out.
"See you later."
I promised our next meeting.
Not long after taking just a few steps into the Forest of the Four Seasons.
"Kuwahahaha!!!"
"Husband!"
"Ah. Goddammit."
I was swallowed by a giant centipede that surged from the ground, suffering like hell right from the start.
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