Chapter 99

“Why so late, and what’s with the fish stink?!”

As soon as I got home, Soo-oh clamped her nose shut.

Ah, do I really smell that bad?

“Met some ocean critters along the way… ended up like this.”

Daegon lives in the sea, but he’s not from THIS world’s ocean. Born in another dimension, he rose to become the ultimate monster there before invading other realms. During one invasion, his own world got wiped out.

So he came here – the world where his kind could thrive the most – and tried to make a comeback. But failed.

Now he hides underwater, waiting for a second chance… which is how we met.

He knows tons of crazy advanced tech. No idea where to start cutting it down, but he even has methods to summon me.

The problem is it’s all fragmented. If only there was someone who could decode and organize it…

It’s frustrating.

Imagine finding a lithium mine in the Bronze Age. Even if we implant the knowledge into people, they’d just age and die before mastering it.

We need a simplified version humans can handle. Insomwon might know something, but even he doesn’t have the full picture.

This tech wasn’t meant for human use anyway, and no single person can wield it alone.

So Daegon used his brain.

He had subordinates memorize different parts of the summoning technique, focusing on their specific section only.

Think of it like piano – assign one person per key, with simple instructions: play or don’t play. Just their assigned note.

Though some parts require insane skill, like hitting 25 distant keys simultaneously.

It took lots of trial and error.

Problem is, Daegon only knows the original version. He tasked underlings to break it down… and now only THEY know those parts.

Worst part? The guy who divided it isn’t even alive anymore – died of old age. And his organized notes vanished when the city was destroyed.

If only he’d still been alive, we could’ve extracted his memories…

But hey, we gained plenty, so it’s fine. Worst case, we drive a few people mad trying to piece it together.

Anyway, Soo-oh keeps backing away every time she tries getting close. Really that bad? I don’t smell it…

Maybe my nose adapted already. What should I do?

“Seriously this bad?”

“It smells like toilet mixed with fish! Horrible!”

Guess I need a shower.

Considering how rank it is, probably brought back some germs too.

Only problem – gotta hike north to the lake. There’s a cliff behind the house.

I can’t climb like Soo-oh, so it’s a walk.

Our house is pretty high up. To reach water, I need to descend quite far north until I hit the lake below the cliff.

Finally made it to the lake…

It’s dark now, but there’s a problem.

Hmm… oh crap.

The lakeshore is swarming with wild beasts. Must be because there are tons of floating dead aquatic creatures.

Sound travels faster underwater than air – must’ve killed them during the shockwave and washed them ashore.

Now it’s feast time. Weirdly, even large predators aren’t chasing off smaller ones – maybe because there’s so much food.

Some big ones are even sleeping with bloated bellies.

So while it’s not dangerous, issue is the water’s contaminated with rotting corpses. And the waterline’s receded way far out.

Looks like the water level dropped significantly.

Guess I’ll head back then.

Technically I could alter reality, but using that power feels risky right now.

Daegon’s battleground is already filled with gold. One wrong move and I might shatter another world.

Better safe than sorry unless absolutely necessary.

Started heading back home… or tried to.

Out of the corner of my eye, something moved in the forest. Turned to look – and saw a rotting meat blob moving at the edge of the woods.

Turns out it’s the same giant beast that bit my neck last time.

Its eyes – or whatever they are – seem scattered all over, giving a mosaic-like view. Nothing moves properly.

Plus, weapons embedded in its body make it twitch in pain whenever it moves.

This creature that frequently raided small villages or charged into animal dens while spreading warmth is now revealed.

Never seen a creature survive long after losing its warmth.

Seeing it up close rather than through others’ perspectives feels different.

It’s completely white.

Not just white – more like an aged, dull white fur.

Its body resembles an ancient tree – emaciated with grotesquely protruding bones and decaying muscles. Naturally, it’s infested with insects.

Decay and aging struck simultaneously.

With seventeen legs, it approaches me. Originally a four-legged feline-like beast, now resembling a crab. Its embedded eyes glare down at me.

Then it opens its mouth.

“Ke. He. He.”

Not to eat – more like mocking laughter.

Then it starts doing something strange.

Using its legs, it begins tearing itself apart right in front of me. Blood and flesh splatter everywhere as decayed innards and corpses inside burst out.

After self-dismembering, it dies. Dark light particles scatter and disappear like dust.

Ah, figured it.

Came here just to mock me.

What a dramatic taunt. Somewhere along the line, it realized I’m immortal. Right?

Harvesters gain intelligence. So it makes sense monsters can too.

Understanding I’ll forever feel cold, it mocked me then chose to end its own life.

I just knew without it saying anything.

No way I could understand such a monster’s emotions… yet somehow grasped it came here to insult me then die.

Swallowed the thought – “You were the first to attack me…”

Pointless since it can’t hear anyway.

Learned something today.

What happens to creatures deprived of warmth.

If possible, I won’t create any more.

Bad mood.

Dragged my sticky-with-blood-and-meat body back home.

“Kyaaaah!”

Soo-oh screamed, but I was in such a terrible mood today that I almost snapped…

Failed.

No, what I needed wasn’t anger.

“Got harassed on the way back. We’re sleeping separately tonight. Don’t forget to cover yourself with blanket on the porch.”

First time sleeping apart in a while. FYI, the room gets too hot in summer. Went to the kitchen and sat by the fire instead.

Had quite an eventful day. Gained a lot. Only gains actually.

So why am I feeling so down?

Curled up in the middle of the kitchen, waiting for time to pass.

Fire crackling in front.

Just sitting here staring blankly at the flames – they call it “fire gazing”, right?

Come to think of it, something’s odd here.

No bugs. Earlier when I came home, tons of them swarmed me, but none here. This space with a missing wall should be crawling with insects.

Must be because of this fire.

A fire burning endlessly without fuel.

Until yesterday I thought nothing of it, but considering everything that’s happened today, this is weird too.

Basically, I force my will onto the world.

Desire is key.

Meaning, anything I didn’t think of shouldn’t exist.

Then what’s this stove fire? Nothing inside. Physically produces heat, but no light or warmth – just fire.

Should I start a fake religious order called “Fire Embracing Sect” instead of “Heavenly Horse Sect”?

Heavenly Horse is on my side anyway. Gradually gathering followers to replace Heavenly Horse Sect with Fire Embracing Sect sounds fun.

Hmm…

Expected faded memories to pop up uninvited, but strangely quiet. Almost feels like they have personality.

But they don’t. Memories are just memories.

Watched the fire burn on the sand as the moon set and the sky turned blue again.

Summer solstice makes dawn come early.

Body sufficiently rested, so I got up and shook off the residue covering me.

Stepped outside the kitchen and looked toward the distant forest.

Just now, Gumi Milmil suggested to Om Yeongseong they head toward Heavenly Horse Sect, and he agreed.

Checked my memory for a map, calculating approximate distance from their location to Heavenly Horse Sect.

They’ll arrive by tonight.

Would take me three days nonstop walking, but both Om Yeongseong and Gumi Milmil are capable martial artists.

With leaping techniques, they can traverse great distances instantly. When you have a clear destination, it’s fast.

They’re coming to investigate Heavenly Horse Sect about Heavenly Horse Skill.

And ask if there’s a way to reverse their changed appearances.

But there isn’t.

Out of nowhere branded as a demon master, and fell into that role due to public opinion. Realizing there’s no going back…

Still, Om Yeongseong comes here with Gumi Milmil.

Their arrival will surely bring big changes to Heavenly Horse Sect.

Meanwhile, I keep pondering ways to perfect the automatic warmth harvesting system.

Coldness is crueler than loneliness. To escape it requires ceaseless effort.

“Choseol?”

Soo-oh groggily opened her eyes and called my name from the entrance.

“Wake up? Then let’s clean up and prepare breakfast. Soo-oh, remember we might have plans tonight.”

“Uh? Okay…”

Left the stretching Soo-oh behind and went into the kitchen. As usual, tidied myself and prepared breakfast.

Whether this is our last normal day or a return to routine…

We’ll find out when those two arrive.

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