Chapter 91

The white snow by the road has melted away, and yellow flowers have bloomed on the revealed yellow earth.

In other words, spring has arrived.

Just like the changing seasons, Cheonma Church is also changing bit by bit.

Byeongil entered a封闭 training to perfect the Cheonma Gunrimbo martial arts move, and Gapjae started showing his powers to others.

It means they’re preparing for change.

The civilians I empowered were dragged somewhere within Cheonma Church and dissected alive till they died. Same goes for the civilian with the Cheon Palace Hall Leader.

From their perspective, they were suddenly kidnapped one day and subjected to cruel experiments without knowing what was happening.

But I know.

I overheard the Cheon Palace Hall Leader and his enforcer talking. They said that those investigating how my empowered individuals changed had made contact. And not just anywhere, but with the mysterious place within Cheonma Church that has the least external interaction – the Moon Robe Hall.

It’s a place where beings who want to lick light gather.

And it’s not under Cheonma’s direct orders either.

It’s a strangely independent organization. The former church leader Gyeongyu visited frequently, but even he didn’t know much about them.

Ho ho, how interesting.

The power to make someone in Cheonma Church disappear so easily…

It’s discreet enough that it doesn’t reach Cheonma’s ears. Should such an independent agency even exist?

If so, this information might be useful.

I’ll probably need to visit the village often from now on. That would increase the chances of someone attacking, which would allow me to expand the Harvesting System, making me very happy.

Until now, I intentionally avoided going to the village.

Partly because I didn’t lack anything by not going, but also to avoid raising Cheonma’s suspicions.

But now, it seems fine.

At least Cheonma has developed some affection for Soo-oh.

There’s a good possibility she’s relaxed around me too, since I’m part of that relationship.

Heehee.

It seems it’s time for me to step out of my routine.

***

A few days later.

When Cheonma came, I immediately grabbed her and asked:

“Can I go to the village?”

She gave me a look like “Why are you asking me?”

Hmm? I thought Cheonma would forbid it, but apparently not?

If I was allowed to go all along, then this question is strange. In that case, I should push it further with more brazenness.

“Give me money. We exchange currency, right?”

Did my brazen attitude work? Cheonma crossed her arms. People cross their arms when they’re feeling defensive. She muttered,

“To get that currency, you need to do work first.”

It’s like she’s saying I can’t eat money out of thin air. My question instantly became a petty greed. Perfect.

Let me test the waters here. How does she view my creation of the Harvesting System?

“In that case, I’ll just use myself as payment when buying things.”

After saying that, I focused on Cheonma’s expression to see what she was thinking.

A bit of confusion and doubt, then an expression of understanding appeared before she waved her hand dismissively.

Waving her hand?

“Do as you please.”

It meant she approved of the Harvesting System. Despite her previous wariness, did she relax once she herself became part of it?

It’s hard to say she disregarded Eunjae’s records, considering Cheonma saw through my true nature.

Did she decide I wasn’t dangerous after seeing my humanity?

In that case…

“I’ll be back soon.”

At my words, Cheonma waved at me like “Do as you wish” and went over to Soo-oh.

They’re busy with training now. And during this time, I often leave home claiming I’m exercising, so Soo-oh won’t follow me when I go alone.

I head toward the village.

Things change when there are more people around. Of course, that’s not the only reason.

You don’t know what kind of place the village is yet, right? I should check it out before Soo-oh goes. Even if it turns out to be a bad place, I shouldn’t forbid it, but as an adult, I should at least give a warning, right?

Though this will all end within two years, until then, shouldn’t I take responsibility for raising them?

The unfortunate part is that Soo-oh doesn’t seem to think she’s being taken care of.

With only a 5-year age difference and inferior combat abilities, she treats me like an equal.

Well, that’s not strange. When raising someone, what matters is experience and ability, not age.

Like the wuxia world that man in my faded memories knew, strength is most important in this world. So technically speaking, I’m in the position to learn from Soo-oh.

Since I’m weaker.

Even though there’s a two-head height difference, losing in strength is unfair, but what can you do, the world is inherently unfair.

While thinking about these things, I walk through a place with low grass and scattered rocks.

Taking Cheonma Church Main Hall as the starting point, I’m to the north, while the village is to the west of the main hall. So to get to the village, I need to draw an arc counterclockwise around the main hall.

It’s not about climbing or descending hills, but walking straight sideways, so it doesn’t drain much stamina.

With light steps, I arrive at the village.

There are buildings that look like they could be from an old Chinese movie. Last time I came, there were lots of white cloths, but not anymore.

As soon as I enter, gazes fixate on me.

Is it because of the Harvesting System’s promotional effects? Or because I’m a stranger?

Ignoring the gazes pouring in from all over the village, I walk inside.

And head toward the market. If you’re going to buy things, it’s common sense to go to the market.

Though, of course, as the world develops, you can buy things from home.

This isn’t that kind of world.

However, there’s a problem. I don’t know where the market is. So I tried stopping a random person passing by to ask.

But I failed.

Not because I couldn’t start a conversation, but because somehow, people had surrounded me.

They looked at me like I was something extremely alien. But there was something strange about their emotions.

Where have I seen this before? I’ve seen it often, haven’t I?

“What is it?”

But no words came in reply.

Gradually tightening the encirclement, they approached me.

For a moment, I thought about running, but quickly abandoned the idea.

I don’t have the strength to escape from such a large group. Plus, I’d like to know how they’ll react if possible.

Collective violence would be better.

Because I can devour those who attack me with intent.

So I waited quietly.

The people came close and grabbed me. But strangely, their movements were unusually gentle.

What is this?

Some of them took off their clothes to cover me up and carried me away, as if trying to hide my appearance.

Surrounded by these people, I walked while memorizing the path.

After walking for quite a while and entering an alleyway, passing several buildings, and moving from alley to alley…

Around the time I started thinking we were moving to lose someone tracking us…

I arrived at the western edge.

Here, the buildings are old and worn.

Closer to the main church, higher-status people live, so the further east you go, the more refined and stylish the buildings become.

This place is almost like a shantytown.

Then the man who led me here bowed deeply in front of me. Not just lowering his head, but performing a full bow.

“Heavenly Maiden, you must flee from here.”

Ah.

That’s right. That expression.

It was well-meaning. This.

“What’s going on?”

In response to my question, the people bowing began to stammeringly explain the situation.

About how the Harvesting System talked about me and then disappeared one day.

And those who spoke about me were picked on and beaten almost to death, or beaten to death.

Those who tried to find me disappeared.

“Here is a scary place. You must leave and never come back. It’s truly, truly dangerous.”

That way.

They warned me.

Yes. Unfortunately, they risked danger to protect me.

Or maybe they’re guiding me to escape in this direction.

I have something I need to ask them.

“If something happens, you might be in danger. Why are you doing this?”

I asked to see if they were hiding anything from their expressions. But all I saw on their faces was simple smiles.

“Well, shouldn’t we treat someone who came from heaven well?”

They simply say that.

Unfortunately, I didn’t come from heaven but from the depths underground, and they will inevitably be punished.

Good intentions don’t always lead to good outcomes. Ignorance is a sin. The reason stories exist where good things happen to good people is because the real world isn’t like that.

See?

That’s why you met me, right?

I highly evaluate their execution capabilities. If they have the heart to resist injustice, I believe there’s hidden cruelty that allows them to do anything for that cause.

Good intentions can sometimes be more cruel than evil ones.

“I live in a house isolated near the cliffs to the north of Cheonma Church Main Hall. If anything bad happens, please come find me. I know Cheonma.”

Yes.

If events in the village are disconnected from Cheonma, I’ll connect them.

If unreasonable violence oppresses you, I’ll provide strength.

Just one thing.

I only need warmth.

So ideally, I’d like to encounter the Moon Robe Hall as enemies, fight, kill each other, and finally obtain their memories.

After expressing deep gratitude for the villagers’ goodwill, I returned home by circling around the forest boundary.

Because I stuck too close to the forest, halfway back, a leopard-like creature leaped down from a tree and attacked me. My neck got torn, but it wasn’t a big issue.

Since I was attacked, I’ll steal its warmth.

Then tentacles grew on the beast’s left side, shell on the right, and metal pieces on its tail, transforming it into a grotesque monster.

The monster screamed and fled into the forest.

Checking the creature’s memories, since it attacked unintentionally, there’s really nothing to worry about.

But if such dangerous creatures exist in the forest…

I should tell Soo-oh to be careful about going into the forest.

“Choseol, where did you go alone and come back at this hour?”

When I got home, Cheonma was already gone, and Soo-oh was sitting on the eaves with her arms crossed, glaring at me and speaking.

The sky is nearing black from deep blue. Spring days are still short. Looking at Soo-oh, I answered honestly.

“I went to the village but came back because it was dangerous.”

“Dangerous?”

At my answer, Soo-oh’s eyes widened in surprise, and she rushed forward, checking me all over.

“You’re fine, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Did something happen?”

At Soo-oh’s question, I hesitated to explain everything I experienced and instead said:

“This isn’t something Soo-oh needs to know yet. At least not until you grow as tall as me.”

“I don’t think I’ll ever grow as tall as Choseol, even if I fully grow!”

Choseol is quite tall for a girl.

“Then you’ll never know.”

“Don’t change the subject! Tell me!”

I pushed away Soo-oh, who was clinging to me and throwing a tantrum, and headed straight to the kitchen.

“Let’s eat.”

Soo-oh resisted, but ultimately couldn’t resist food. She grumbled and approached the table, picking up her spoon.

It’s tough to starve someone during their growth period.

While wiping the rice grains stuck on Soo-oh’s mouth as she stuffed rice into her mouth, I glanced toward the direction of the village.

Something should happen soon.

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