It’s been over a year since I came to this world.
And now the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult is buzzing with excitement over the promotion battle that’s returning after a year.
Yes, it’s the same promotion battle from last year where Byeongil rose from Protector to Hall Master in one go.
But right now, the center of attention is none other than Gu Milmil.
The talk about the daughter of the former cult leader Gu Seongyong is the hottest topic. That’s because she brought Oh Myeongseong, a Heavenly Demon Body, as her partner and declared she would challenge the Heavenly Demon in this promotion battle.
By the way, Heavenly Demon Body refers to a harvester.
At some point, people started calling harvesters Heavenly Demon Bodies. Since becoming a harvester allows one to learn the Heavenly Demon Divine Technique, it’s not exactly wrong.
Though people who are too confident can’t learn the Heavenly Demon Divine Technique. So Oh Myeongseong can’t use it either.
But he can use what’s called internal energy cultivation methods to pull me up like Eunjae did.
It means it’s not just one person’s technique.
However, surprisingly there are no people with supernatural abilities here. Is it because they can get by without abilities?
The faded man’s memories suggest that in this world called wuxia, supernatural abilities aren’t really necessary. Or martial arts alone are sufficient.
“What brings you to a place like this?”
Late afternoon. While Heavenly Demon was training with Soo-oh, I came back to the village, and shortly after arriving, Yin Simwon hurriedly ran over.
He’s not wearing the Moon Emperor Hall outfit that covers his whole body.
I guess there’s no reason to wear clothes that cover even his face anymore.
Originally, Moon Emperor Hall members had more parasitic organisms in their bodies than regular Heavenly Demon Divine Cult members. Not only did that compress their bodies, but it also slowly transformed their flesh into fish-like forms.
That’s why they covered their entire bodies.
That’s also why he was inhaling smoke full of painkillers.
By the way, if you search through the Great Kraken’s memories, strictly speaking, they’re closer to bio-robots than insects or parasitic organisms.
Of course, they can also replicate, but then there are genetic problems and the soul is weak, so proper descendants aren’t produced. Even if left alone, intelligence gradually degrades and size decreases.
If intelligent beings are made into kin, there are no such side effects, or rather the next generation becomes even stronger.
Searching through the Great Kraken’s memories, there’s a ton of material that could be translated as soul science, but I’ll chew on that slowly.
I answered Yin Simwon who approached me.
“To give myself away.”
For now, since I’ve resolved most of the issues blocking me in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, I want to increase harvesters if possible.
But there are too few people here, so even if I turn everyone into harvesters, there’s not enough warmth. The number is just under 100,000.
It’s too small a number to gain warmth through infighting.
So I’m trying to go outside.
If possible, I’d like to turn the emperor who encompasses this entire martial world into a harvester.
As I learned in the first world, kings are highly efficient.
Because only leaders can easily kill many people.
An emperor would be even better.
“If it’s blessing…”
“I can heal even injuries that can’t be recovered from, right?”
When I pointed at Yin Simwon while speaking, he nodded in agreement. Both he and his friend were saved by my blessing.
And though I had forgotten at the time, I somehow managed to follow the rule of only 3 people per day. Fortunately it wasn’t a lie.
Anyway.
According to what I contemplated while Choseol’s body was resting, if I repeat the act of healing someone a few times, I can soon meet high-ranking people.
Who wouldn’t want an ability that regenerates without question?
And very few people would try to share that benefit. It’s clear that people blinded by profit will snatch me away faster than such people.
Yes.
I’ll be able to meet high-ranking people easily without needing to worry about how to meet them.
Even in a world where physical regeneration is easy, becoming a harvester makes you stronger.
Not just physical strength, but intelligence increases too.
Who wouldn’t like that?
But that needs to be done outside. Doing it here doesn’t have much meaning.
However, I can prepare for contingencies.
If Heavenly Demon loses to Oh Myeongseong, or changes her mind and tries to eliminate me, I can’t just let it happen.
Yin Simwon nodded soon, perhaps because he had seen me heal people. Then he told me to do as I please and stood behind me.
“Go about your business.”
“My job is to watch over you.”
Yin Simwon answered like that. This means he’s monitoring me. I see. So that’s why those who moved to hide me when I stopped by the village last time were severely injured.
I left the lively village center and entered a secluded alley. While doing so, I started looking for people.
If possible, I hoped to meet them.
But.
As I wandered around corners, before I knew it the sun had set quite a bit.
Unfortunately, I can’t meet those people.
Even though Yin Simwon didn’t give any separate orders, they’re not visible.
As the days are getting longer, if it gets too late Soo-oh will probably say something again.
I decided to turn back and leave the village.
So I first headed for the main road, but strangely the sound was disappearing from one side. Silence was gradually spreading.
Curious about what was happening, I looked towards where the silence was coming from.
In the center of it, a beautiful woman was standing.
“Seong Go…”
Yin Simwon muttered in a small voice. Seong Go.
To put it simply, it means holy woman. A figure in a high religious position in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. In other words, Gu Milmil.
Oh Myeongseong is currently talking with the Earth Management Hall Master, who is equivalent to the First Hall.
That means Gu Milmil is alone.
If I take a religious stance, she’s someone who would become my enemy.
An outsider who came claiming to be a person of heaven, and an insider who has been revered here since long ago.
If you think about which one would be more loved by people, it would be the latter. It seems like it would be very beneficial to turn her into a harvester too.
Gu Milmil, as if used to people’s attitudes towards her, skillfully soothes and helps people stand up. Then the people who were kneeling and bowing all raised their heads.
From Oh Myeongseong’s perspective, this person is close to the type who is kind but has adapted to such a vicious environment that her sense of good and evil has been distorted.
Rather, the fact that she maintains considerable kindness in such a world is something to be congratulated for.
Conversely, if she commits something, she’s someone who would do anything for what she believes is right.
In other words, I think more things will happen if I meet her and form a connection.
Hehe.
I went between the people who were gradually standing up.
After walking just a few steps, Gu Milmil looked at me with a surprised expression.
Well, it would be harder not to notice if a woman a head taller than those around her was walking towards you. I’m about as tall as a tall man after all.
As I approached her, Yin Simwon following behind me was somehow fidgeting restlessly, but what is he doing that for as the Moon Emperor Hall Master.
This person is so wishy-washy.
I hadn’t even walked a few steps, but a path had already formed. That’s because people moved out of the way on the path I was walking. I’m not sure what the people who stepped aside on both sides were thinking when they opened the way.
I expected it would take some time to push through the crowd, but thanks to this I arrived easily in front of her.
“Hello. Your name is Gu Milmil, right?”
“Who are you?”
We’ve met once before, but she doesn’t recognize me at all.
Well, that’s understandable. At that time, I was just tall like a stick insect. My limbs were thin, my chest was flat, and in this world many men have long hair too, so she may have mistaken me for a man.
Putting aside the questions, I stood in front of her. With a bit of exaggeration, there’s about a two-head height difference between us.
“My name is Choseol.”
“Choseol? I haven’t heard that name before.”
Huh?
Oh, come to think of it, we’ve had a brief conversation before, but we never exchanged names. We met at the place where Gu Seongyong died too, but she didn’t see me properly.
While Eunchun was dealing with them, I passed by them and jumped down to the ground.
After the failed attack on Heavenly Demon, they immediately left the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, so there was no chance to meet.
“Do you have some business with me?”
Back then she spoke with quite a husky voice, but now she’s speaking with a proper voice.
She must be good at imitating voices.
“Yes, I do have business.”
It’s not that big of a deal. First, to make my face known to you who might be the next person in power.
And second.
“If you want to know about Oh Myeongseong’s transformation, come to the house in the north of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.”
To let people know about the house where I am.
I thought I had let them know last time too, but no one came.
If someone knows someone went, the next steps will be easier.
“The house in the north?”
She’s looking at me with an expression that says ‘what are you suddenly talking about’. It seems she can’t recall it right away.
Ah.
This should work.
“I’m living with a child. Well then, come visit anytime you have time. I welcome anyone who comes.”
Then after giving a polite greeting according to Heavenly Demon Divine Cult etiquette, I immediately headed home.
“Why did you invite that person to your home?”
Yin Simwon, who had been silently following behind me, opened his mouth as soon as we left the village.
The person who was quietly silent in front of Gu Milmil immediately asks.
I don’t know what he’s thinking, but I can observe what he’ll do.
So to know what this person is thinking, I told the truth.
“When Heavenly Demon was a man, I happened to meet her by chance. I had medicine that removes the insects put inside bodies, so I fed it to Soo-oh.”
Then he stiffened his expression and asked me.
“What do you think about the Three Deaths?”
Three Deaths. The most basic insects put inside bodies to control people. Ah, come to think of it, those kind people had those inside their bodies too.
It must be hard to act against the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
“I don’t like them because they restrict freedom. I think people should be free.”
“Is… that so. Do you intend to remove all the insects?”
Hmm.
It’s an important question. So after careful consideration, I answered.
“If I can.”
Saying that, I waved goodbye to him and returned home.
I wonder what choice Yin Simwon will make?