Chapter 71

“Feels light on my feet.”

Jeonyang clenched and then stretched out his hands, moving around quite a bit in the rather spacious area.

Meanwhile, I sifted through Jeonyang’s memories. Jeonyang was a man who grew up in the Cheonma Sect, originally from an extremely low social rank.

Though he wasn’t a great reader, that didn’t make him a bad person. He had a bold and open personality; if he lived in a regular neighborhood, he’d have been called Big Brother by everyone.

But this was the Cheonma Sect.

When he was young, he hovered around the edges of the sect but later gained favor with Cheonma himself, eventually rising to manage the sect’s affairs. That’s when he became addicted to power.

In the world of the Cheonma Sect, where strength determined everything, he took immense pleasure in having others stronger than him follow his commands like puppets.

However, this also fed his insecurities.

The fact that he lacked strength. He believed he was being looked down upon because of it, so he began tormenting others to compensate for his own pain.

Eventually, he used Cheonma’s affection for him to obtain martial arts techniques. Specifically, the secret technique known only to the most important members of the Cheonma Sect: the Cheonma Divine Art.

But even after learning it, he couldn’t use it, so he sought another way. And that other way was me.

And thus, he obtained power.

In a world where might makes right, power really does matter.

I planned to give him the same method Eunjai once used.

At first, I didn’t intend to give him Eunjai’s memories.

To the person who craved power the most, I wouldn’t give power. That way, he’d be compared to other harvesters, and a life of constant comparison is miserable.

Can anyone stay sane in such an environment? In my opinion, no.

If he goes mad, he’ll explode and send me plenty of warmth.

But after reviewing his memories, I changed my mind.

Giving him power would be better.

It would twist him even further.

No, more precisely…

A twisted heart gaining power will inevitably explode.

In short, he’s already dangerous.

He executed people he saw as loyalists without hesitation, using Cheonma’s authority to do as he pleased. However, he still made sure to thoroughly understand the workings of the Cheonma Sect within his limits, not intending to destroy it.

Of course, he wasn’t particularly talented at either leadership or strategy.

From the perspective of the Cheonma Sect, he may have been harmful, but for me, extracting information from his memories was invaluable.

Especially useful were the methods of operating certain mechanical devices and the internal maps he provided.

“Humans are troublesome. This is the third body I’ve taken over—first there was food, then sleep… Here, take it.”

The faded man, the time inside Rolfe’s body, and now this one. Three times.

I don’t lie. And now’s the chance. To deliberately seem non-human while asking Jeonyang instead of Cheonma.

While he’s drunk on his newfound power.

“Yeah, okay? Then I’ll assign you a room and some attendants. Jeongha, prepare it.”

Power feels good.

Especially when you can feel its effects—it easily distracts you from truly important things.

For instance, the cross-dressing man staring in shock at Jeonyang. Though his expression barely shows it, I’m confident in reading human emotions.

As time goes on, I have more memories to reference, making me even more perceptive.

“Yeah, I’ll do that.”

Jeonyang immediately sat down in a strange posture after hearing Cheonma’s response.

Cross-legged. Eunjai tried it briefly at first but soon abandoned it.

I watched him, and Cheonma led me outside. After walking down a long, winding corridor, Cheonma suddenly turned around.

“What did you do to Jeonyang?”

Confusion and anger? His face was easy to read.

“General improvement in all physical functions.”

That’s true. Once someone becomes a harvester, they get stronger.

Crack.

A hand grabs and presses down on my shoulder. There’s nothing a girl’s shoulder can’t handle.

“If you try anything funny, I’ll turn your body into something that can neither live nor die.”

Oh dear.

Still doesn’t get it?

“You call yourself Cheonma, right? Did you not know lying about your name is wrong?”

At my words, Cheonma grabbed my neck. The hand was big, thick, and calloused—not really a man’s hand but more like a hardworking woman’s.

“Do you know who you’re talking to?”

Answering a question with a question, huh?

“Humanity. Have you forgotten what stands before you?”

So I gave him the mirror treatment. Then I tightened the grip on his neck. Blood flow to the brain cuts off, oxygen stops reaching the head.

So what?

The body is just a vessel. Sure, I could keep resisting, but if our relationship completely breaks down, the vessel might shatter.

There’s still much to do, so here I smile—a capitalist smile.

Meaning, I’m faking it because I want something.

“But I honor contracts. Unlike humanity, which constantly plans to break agreements, I intentionally don’t twist people.”

I’m not dangerous.

Of course, when sending memories, small mistakes can damage people. Other than that, I don’t inject any specific intent or will.

Advertising?

Who actually pays attention to ads anyway? Ads are just sent out hoping someone desperate will bite.

If I really wanted to influence people, I’d edit their memories to be filled with rage or share my coldness with them.

So I just give them power.

“Look, isn’t it human nature to pursue greater desires once you have power?”

Even without my interference, humanity will naturally destroy itself. Hearing this, Cheonma loosened his grip.

Thud.

My feet touched the ground.

This guy thinks the same way.

Right? People in high positions should understand this. Especially in a world where strength is revered.

“What do you plan to do with the Cheonma Sect?”

His gaze is sharp.

But it’s amusing. The Cheonma Sect? To Cheonma, it’s nothing. If anything, Cheonma lets Jeonyang ruin the sect, even actively helping him do so.

Therefore, I know what this question really means. What do you plan to do to Jeonyang?

Hehe.

Easy to understand.

“I need warmth. It’s too cold down there. Nothing exists, and the desire to seek light and warmth becomes unbearable because it’s so incredibly cold.”

Knowing how easily the word “warmth” could be misinterpreted, and hoping Cheonma would misunderstand, I said this.

“Prepare a warm room.”

Then Cheonma turned away again. A masculine tone. Despite lingering habits, has his heart leaned toward femininity?

If so, let me share another interesting fact.

“Cheonma, humans who receive blessings cannot receive them again, so be careful.”

There won’t be a second blessing.

At my words, Cheonma continued walking without flinching.

He still doesn’t understand the power of blessings. So far, he’s only seen normal people getting stronger. But the ability to heal wounds and gain special powers sounds promising.

Before that, though, if he seeks warmth… maybe he’ll end up thrown into a pit of fire!

I followed Cheonma.

***

Surprisingly,

I got a proper room.

Although it was far from where Jeonyang stayed, they practically gave me an entire house.

More generous than expected?

Even though it seemed like a cult, I didn’t anticipate them just tossing me somewhere to fend for myself, especially without any supervision.

One bedroom, one kitchen. By this world’s standards, it’s a decent place to live. Of course, the lack of insulation suggests they prepared it partly to test me.

Fortunately, they assumed my physical coldness was due to the weather. To reinforce this misunderstanding, I’ll have to frequently complain about the cold.

Of course, it’s not a lie.

I’m always cold.

Anyway, when I entered the house, there were lots of crawling creatures on the floor. Bugs and field mice—they’ll flee if I steal their warmth.

The unfortunate part is that mold requires manual removal. Without light, there’s no warmth.

After half a day of cleaning, there was a sudden thud.

Too quick to betray me, isn’t it?

Thinking this, I rushed outside to find what looked like food piled up. Two men were walking away in the distance—they must’ve delivered it.

“Goodbye!”

I waved at them.

To let them know I exist here.

Why?

Because harvesters stand out.

Vivid purple hair and immense strength. Especially in a world where such power is prized, opportunists will come looking. I’m letting them know I’m here.

Thus, while laying the groundwork for the future, I organized my belongings in the house.

And through the eyes of a harvester, I observed this world.

First, Gapjae.

He continues living as he did during his law enforcement days, secretly practicing martial arts at night.

The skills he practices, of course, belong to Eunjai. But doing it outdoors increases the chances of being discovered. I look forward to that day.

Next, Eunchun.

She became the leader of the third highest faction. Think of factions here as feudal lords.

If the leader of the Cheonma Sect is king, then each faction leader is like a noble with their own territory. Their main role is governing a specific region.

Of course, “governing” here means more like gangsters controlling their turf.

Having risen to a high position, she indulges in women and fine food, reveling in the taste of newfound power.

Finally, Byungil.

He’s super busy right now.

Because he recreated the Cheonma Overlord technique, old elders and believers in Cheonma as a god keep coming to visit.

Turns out, not everyone in the Cheonma Sect believes in Cheonma.

Strictly speaking, they don’t believe in *this* Cheonma.

Because he can’t use the Cheonma Divine Art. Known as Jeongha, he ascended to the position of Cheonma purely through force after the previous leader disappeared.

So they think he’s a fake.

And those telling stories to Byungil clearly have many complaints about the current reign of Cheonma.

At the same time, Jeonyang gets roasted. Cheonma’s lover is supposedly ruining the sect.

They say Cheonma is disgusting, and Jeonyang is disgusting too.

In short, the current Cheonma is in an extremely precarious position, with many openly criticizing him. Clearly, the balance of power has already tilted heavily against him.

Otherwise, why would so many people be complaining about Cheonma to Byungil?

Hehe.

Lastly, Jeonyang.

Even without me telling him, he already knew the Cheonma Divine Art. And I taught it to him.

But Jeonyang couldn’t use it. Most likely, Cheonma couldn’t either.

Probably because the most crucial part of the Cheonma Divine Art was missing.

It’s highly possible Cheonma summoned me because he knew this. Somewhere along the line, he found records about Eunjai and planned to make Jeonyang the next Cheonma.

And the plan succeeded.

The most important piece was filled in.

Jeonyang can now use the Cheonma Divine Art. Right now, he’s smiling brightly while practicing it in the training hall.

In other words,

The world starts turning now.

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