Chapter 89

The next day, Cheonma showed up as if nothing was wrong.

From Cheonma’s perspective, they don’t seem to care much about me, which means I guess they’re thinking what I wanted them to think.

I kind of expected it.

Like dragons weaving through clouds, raining down and vanishing, tigers in deep forests devouring all living things, mamahs leaving scars even after killing children, or monsters shivering from an inexplicable cold in a strange world—it’s all the same kinda stuff.

If you were asked to pick something dangerous, people without knowledge would go for nukes, while those with physics smarts might choose an eternal flame burning without fuel.

Actually, we’ve got one of those eternal flames going in our home hearth.

Since Cheonma and Soo-oh don’t seem too weirded out by it, maybe it doesn’t consume that mystical Qi energy after all.

Anyway, Cheonma doesn’t seem to take me too seriously.

So, today’s just another day like yesterday.

It’d be nice if Soo-oh gets stronger this way, but just wasting time feels so regrettable.

Maybe because Cheonma controls the Cheonma Church, even though Jeonyang left behind this image of healing during his funeral, no one’s showing up.

Choseol’s still around 14 years old.

We’ve got time, but…

Rather than staying stuck here, maybe forming some sort of alliance with Cheonma and using her as a backup could work better.

Problem is, the Cheonma Church is a religion.

Religions can’t just let other gods exist easily. Even polytheistic ones keep their main deity on top, demoting new gods and assimilating them into their own lore.

Kinda like how Buddhism spread to Hinduism and Buddha became an avatar of Vishnu in faded memories.

I wouldn’t mind being under someone else, but the reason I hesitate is that I’d lose control—like last time when I didn’t regulate it at all, and it spiraled out of control, breaking everything.

Who could’ve guessed more harvesters would mean glass bottles couldn’t handle the pressure?

To limit that, I think a secretive organization, like the Freemasons, would be ideal—something discreet where only insiders benefit.

Luring politicians, high-ranking officials, or rich folks with promises of healing, turning them into harvesters so their warmth comes to me.

That’s the puzzle I need to solve: creating a system where people automatically cycle back.

Wait… isn’t this like some pagan simulator thing?

Sounds about right.

How do I create an automatic warmth-harvesting system in this second world?

While pondering that, I watched Cheonma and Soo-oh doing some repetitive movements in the yard.

From lunch until dinner.

Of course, they’re not the only ones training—I exercise too, though not like Soo-oh who uses inner energy to move gracefully. Mine’s just regular body movement.

I run a lot, circling around here like Rebecca used to do in the rocky desert.

Unlike Rebecca’s days, Choseol’s taller now, making running faster and less boring.

She’s also genetically different—super fast and doesn’t tire easily.

Still, compared to Soo-oh’s Qi-powered flying leaps, she’s super slow.

Can’t help that.

After finishing exercises, Cheonma leaves, and Soo-oh and I prepare dinner together. The food supply from the Cheonma Church keeps us fed, but we still need to cook it.

After cooking, eating, cleaning up, it’s midnight.

With nothing to do here, we go to bed early once the sun sets.

Days pass, then two…

Before long, it got chilly, and eventually, white flakes started falling from the sky.

Snow.

Winter has arrived.

The water’s edge below the cliff is frozen white, and the trees to the north are covered in snow. Every breath makes visible vapor, and we have to bundle up.

At least the house stays warm since the fire in the hearth never dies. Though it only warms the walls near the hearth since we don’t have underfloor heating.

Still, it should be enough to survive winter.

Funny thing is, I’m the only one who seems concerned about this eternal flame. Cheonma’s always coming and going, so they probably don’t notice, but Soo-oh hasn’t really paid attention either.

Soo-oh’s a bit uneasy.

What if someone asks something like, “Isn’t fire supposed to stay lit forever once it starts?”

Technically, to maintain this fire all winter, we’d need tons of firewood stacked somewhere. Soo-oh doesn’t know that yet.

Maybe I should teach her how to make a bonfire elsewhere sometime.

While keeping that in mind, I watch our daily routine continue.

“Move the Qi faster here. If you slack off, it might reverse and rupture your meridians.”

“Yes, Master!”

Soo-oh and Cheonma are getting along well again.

Sure, Soo-oh liking Cheonma is fine, but Cheonma’s attitude has softened quite a bit.

In other words, Cheonma cares about Soo-oh.

Hehe.

Perfect.

Once you bond, it’s hard to break. And I get benefits just by being nearby.

It’s been barely half a year, and they’re already this close. Honestly, I’m worried if Cheonma can properly lead the Cheonma Church.

Yeah.

Being alone versus losing someone and becoming alone are different things, right?

People ultimately fill loneliness with others, don’t they?

Cheonma doesn’t meet anyone privately inside the main hall unless it’s business-related, so this must count as private time.

Such a fool.

Anyway, point one:

When Cheonma’s at the Cheonma Church main hall, they’re so focused on work that surprisingly, their internal evaluations aren’t bad.

Surprisingly good, actually.

Surprisingly.

Seriously.

From Bing-il and the Heaven Palace Chief Enforcer’s perspectives, among the current Chiefs, there’s no one actively hostile toward Cheonma.

Instead, they’re pleased Cheonma is acting properly and sometimes say things like Jeonyang should’ve died sooner.

Looking at it, at least more than half of the ten divisions had rebellions against Cheonma, yet it’s surprising the Chiefs are still alive.

I thought at least one would’ve been executed as an example, but since it was treated as a non-event, there’s been no backlash. The Cheonma Church quickly returned to normal and flows peacefully.

Meaning there haven’t been any major incidents.

And what about the lower ranks?

Surprisingly, they’ve accepted Cheonma pretty smoothly.

From the perspectives of commoner-originated harvesters from the Gapjae and Heaven Palace sides, and even the harvester who gave us fruit during Jeonyang’s funeral, it’s clear.

Some think Cheonma has completely changed into someone else, others believe heaven helped, opinions vary, but overall, the conclusion is the same.

They say things are much better now compared to Jeonyang’s era.

Some even claim Jeonyang was the only problem and everything returned to normal after their death, like saying a seductress influencing the king is gone. It’s hilarious how they only criticize Jeonyang.

Yeah.

No mention of Cheonma.

It’s like talking about them is taboo. Currently, life in the Cheonma Church is described as pleasant.

Even in taverns or private gatherings at home, conversations about Cheonma are limited to praising their governance. No other talk.

I wonder how they perceive someone whose gender and appearance have drastically changed. It’s disappointing I can’t observe their reactions.

I sense reverence and fear toward their worship target.

So, they only praise or commend Cheonma.

Honestly, I’m disappointed.

In a world of strength hierarchy, I expected chaos leading to becoming strong. But here, it’s just livestock content with their rank.

Anyone can become Cheonma, but no one’s trying.

The Cheonma Church is a very static place.

I tried shaking things up once, but failed… Should I really head out instead of wasting time?

Soo-oh follows Cheonma, and Cheonma cherishes Soo-oh.

Guess I can go alone.

I looked down at my body, then gazed at the distant forest.

Outside the Cheonma Church.

Far away.

Very far.

Crossing forests to reach cities, passing through several cities leads to a certain place.

Where O Myeong-seong resides.

He often hangs out with monks, taking elixirs or sitting cross-legged.

Every time he does that, my containment rate increases then stops. Since harvesters only lose warmth upon death, I wish he’d hurry up and become one.

Maybe because he’s not fully mine yet, when he kills, I don’t get the warmth.

Sometimes his vision flickers, sounds disappear or only voices remain, or I see inside his body. Like a bad connection.

But I learned something.

There’s such a thing as an intermediate state.

Meaning, if this persists, there’s a possibility of developing ways to counter me.

Something I never considered.

Somewhere, I was overconfident.

Thinking injecting myself into light was unstoppable.

But if it can be stopped, maybe I can be expelled someday. Meaning I need to be more careful creating harvesters.

Be cautious. I’m still at the bottom, relying on scraps.

Still, I need to venture out despite the risks. Where O Myeong-seong lives, there are good people, ordinary people, and bad people.

A chaotic place like that is where I can easily gather followers.

Just rushing in blindly would be stupid.

I need to grow stronger until I can handle certain dangers.

At least until this body matures…

Then I’ll head out.

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