Chapter 116

“What are you going to do for me?”

“Is this… a deal?”

“Wasn’t it supposed to be a hammer strike against players abusing the rules?”

—

It seemed my expression gave me away, as Edell shrugged and spoke to me.

“Of course, it’s a deal. Honestly, a two-power balance is fun, but a three-power system has its own charm too. Besides, I’m curious to see how you, Vesprede, who lost a cherished subordinate, might go berserk.”

“You…?”

Edell looked at me and smirked.

“You’re the only one who dares to call me ‘you,’ Vesprede. A mere Dark Realm godling like you.”

“Huh?”

“Don’t get too familiar. Don’t forget, you’re not the Vesprede of the past.”

At this point, it felt like she was asking for a fight. Stunned by her sudden change in attitude, I just stared blankly. Edell’s smile slowly faded, replaced by a cold, stern expression.

“You and Miracle Princess Eve. Did you think I wouldn’t notice you two colluding? Me, the one who enforces the rules of the game and acts as its ruler. Did you think I wouldn’t know you two were scheming together?”

“What are you…?”

So, she knew all along and let it slide?

“Vesprede, you. Even before you regained your memories and self-awareness, I saw how fiercely you fought. That’s why I let it slide. If you had half-heartedly fought until now, I would’ve stepped in and overturned everything myself. Understand?”

Edell stood up from the sofa and approached me. She tapped my frozen cheek and whispered chillingly into my ear.

“Your little scheme with Eve? Fine, I’ll let it slide. But sharing the same residence? That’s a bit much. After dealing with Escario… yes, you’ll have separate residences. And as for fighting… I’ll let you fight moderately. But you’ll have to fight seriously. I’m only letting it slide because it’s entertaining. If it stops being fun…”

Her cold fingers brushed down my cheek, reaching my chin.

“I’ll just reset everything and start over. Got it?”

I was frozen, unable to respond. Edell’s gaze shifted to Eve.

“Miracle Princess Eve. Don’t push it. Understood?”

“…”

Eve also remained silent, only nodding slightly.

“Whether you kill Escario or not, do as you please. Kill him, seal him, whatever. I won’t hold you accountable.”

“Can I… kill him?”

Gods don’t die. Vesprede was said to have died, but in reality, she was sealed. Escario also said gods don’t die.

“Oh?”

Edell’s eyes widened as if she’d heard something unbelievable.

“You’re already wielding the ultimate weapon, and you’re asking if you can kill him?”

She burst into laughter.

“I can’t tell if you’re naive, stupid, or both.”

—

There seemed to be a few more procedures left.

Something about a guidebook of 50 dignities a god must uphold, but that wasn’t the goal right now.

– Fine, good. Honestly, just letting such a fool roam around damages the dignity of a god. I’ll give you a hint.

– But in return…

“What’s the condition?”

“I don’t have any demands, why are you making a fuss?”

I was just saying. But Eve seemed to think otherwise.

“Wait, I know the God of the Divine Realm is the highest god, but you’re now the God of the Dark Realm too, Mother-Body. How can you accept such conditions? Aren’t you angry?”

“Hey, coming up to the Divine Realm once or twice a week to have tea isn’t that hard, is it?”

The hint Edell gave was indeed significant. In exchange for that, if the condition was just me coming up to the Divine Realm once or twice a week to have tea, it seemed like a bargain.

Considering the value of my time, it didn’t seem like a big deal.

“Mother-Body, you’re really something… It’s amazing how unfazed you are.”

“It’s fine.”

If tearing Escario apart and saving Sohee is possible, I’m more than fine with it. Especially if a little investment of my time makes it happen, there’s no need for further discussion.

Returning home and sitting on the bed, I finally felt a sense of calm. In just a couple of hours, I went from the human realm to the Divine Realm, met the God of the Divine Realm, and returned.

It all passed by in such a dizzying blur.

“Get a grip. I need to get a grip…”

Eve just stared at me silently.

—

“Enough nonsense. Hehe…”

“You still haven’t come to your senses. Because of you, I’ve lost the dream of my life, and yet you still can’t even apologize?!”

Escario’s face turned red with rage as he raised the whip in his hand.

Sohee’s hanbok was already torn to shreds, her wrists chained to the stone wall, and her ankles bound tightly, unable to move.

Her body was covered in large and small wounds, blood crusting over, with fresh cuts oozing blood.

Her pale lips trembled, and the tear-stained corners of her eyes were already swollen.

The whip struck again, carving fresh marks.

“…!”

“Not even a whimper. You’re quite the tough one.”

Escario swung his arm, loosening his shoulders. Since yesterday, he had been whipping this captured guard to vent his anger.

But this stubborn girl, far from begging for mercy, taunted him, saying her older sister would come and kill him if he didn’t finish her off.

“Stubborn girl.”

– Crack!

“A mere guard!”

– Crack!

“How dare you steal my woman!”

In Escario’s mind, Vesprede was already his woman. But this insignificant guard interfered, ruining everything.

His rage, bordering on madness, poured into the whip as he swung it with all his might.

“…!!!”

Blood trickled from Sohee’s mouth. She had bitten down so hard to suppress her screams that her gums were bleeding.

“Even a god… can’t kill…”

Muttering. A voice so faint you wouldn’t hear it unless you strained your ears. Escario paused mid-swing, listening to Sohee’s words.

“Your weak… self, do you think… you can have… my sister…?!”

“You wench!”

Escario roared and swung the whip again. The sharp crack left a red mark on Sohee’s cheek.

“Just say you’re sorry, and I’ll forgive you! Just one word!”

Escario’s roar echoed through the prison. But Sohee, with her barely open eyes, continued.

“Three words… you idiot…!”

“Ahhh!”

Escario’s anger finally reached its peak.

He had thought Vesprede would come to rescue her subordinate. Vesprede, who cherished humans so much, wouldn’t abandon her subordinate and flee alone.

But she hadn’t come. She probably couldn’t.

After Vesprede fled, Escario had closed off the Light Realm as soon as he captured Sohee.

He had planned to intimidate her into submission, maybe even use her as a spy. But this guard, much like her master, refused to yield, retorting with every word.

It was a situation that infuriated Escario to no end.

“My sister… will never be yours…”

“Stupid girl, I’ve never failed to get what I wanted!”

Sohee smiled faintly. To Escario, it felt like a mocking smile.

“Then… my sister will be your first failure…”

“You damned wench!”

Escario raised the whip.

His anger had reached its limit, and he was on the verge of a breakdown. Just as he was about to claim Vesprede, this unknown guard had ruined everything with her tricks.

He had thought she wouldn’t know about the Full Moon Night and had meticulously planned around it. After waiting so long, so very long, he had finally been on the verge of claiming Vesprede, only to lose her. And now, he was being mocked by this girl.

It was a blow to his pride.

“Enough… It’s time to settle this in the human realm. I’m tired of playing with you. Time to die.”

“Indeed… I’m also… tired of playing along… Finally… I can… die…”

“Good, no more nonsense from you.”

Finally, Escario made up his mind. There was no more time to waste on this girl. The Full Moon Night was over, and securing victory was becoming harder. The Light Realm was sealed, and preparations were nearly complete. It was time to conquer the human realm.

The Divine Realm might fuss about an invasion, but who cared? They were just spectators. As long as they got an entertaining fight, it would be fine.

He raised the whip high. This would be the final blow to end Sohee’s life.

And just as he was about to bring it down—

– Awooooooo…………!

From somewhere, a long, drawn-out wolf howl echoed.

—