The Outer God Needs Warmth

When I arrived home, there was something I’d never seen before.

Checking the item, it turned out to be clothes and food. Beyond that, there were various tools.

Cheonma seemed oblivious to Soo-oh meeting the daughter of the previous church leader. Thank goodness.

I felt at ease as I entered the room and gently set Soo-oh down.

Seeing the objects in the room, Soo-oh was startled and, while about to reach for something, suddenly stopped in her tracks. I glanced at her, wondering what was so strange.

Soo-oh was hesitating as she pointed at the clothes.

“Can I touch it?”

Ah, so she hesitated thinking they belonged to someone else. I walked over to Soo-oh, placed my hands on her shoulders, and made her look at me.

“Soo-oh, I received you from Cheonma. Unfortunately, this means you are mine from now on.”

Technically, I had kidnapped a child with parents, but what can I do? It’s too late now. Soo-oh looked at me with an expression that said she didn’t understand what I was saying.

She’s still too young to grasp the concept of ownership.

However, since it was the harvesting period, I figured it wouldn’t take long for her to realize what I meant.

Her body would strengthen, and her mind would become sharper, so she’d likely understand quickly.

“Do you not know what I mean?”

At my words, Soo-oh lowered her head and quietly replied, “Yes.” Well then, there’s no helping it. I had to explain it simply.

“Think as you like, move as you like, live as you like.”

This isn’t freedom, but indulgence. I hope people live like that, doing as they please until they face the consequences.

“Do as I please?”

That’s what I tried to say. But the memory of the Faded Man glimmered. “You must say this.” It was essential to extend warmth longer.

If that’s the case.

“Do as you please. But remember that you must take responsibility for what you do. Got it?”

Soo-oh nodded and immediately dashed toward the place where the new items were, eagerly opening things as if she received a gift.

Isn’t taking responsibility more about freedom than indulgence? Yet, the memory reminded me that knowing responsibility makes it easier to indulge.

Just like how the one who kills many isn’t simply a murderous monster, but often the CEO of an exploiting corporation; mass killing is not always illegal, but stands above the law.

It feels like a suggestion to stand above the law. But by this point, it seems indulgence becomes synonymous with freedom.

Not entirely wrong, I accepted that.

I sat back inside the house, watching Soo-oh rummaging through the new items.

Ah.

The kitchen wall had a faint warmth. Well, it makes sense with a fire that doesn’t go out.

I figured it would be fine to let her sleep here. Who knows what winter brings.

Speaking of which, winter is coming, and I’m not sure if Soo-oh will survive.

Let’s set aside thoughts of the future for later.

Now, shall I try to learn this thing called martial arts?

I do have memories.

The other five, excluding Soo-oh, systematically learned martial arts. Especially Eunjae, who likely knows the most.

I pulled out those memories about martial arts.

And I gathered as much martial arts information as I could.

Considering the roots, there were indeed many similar aspects, including Eunjae’s martial arts.

The issue lies with the “gathering Qi.” What exactly is “Qi”?

Now that I think about it, even though I have a magician’s memories, I couldn’t use magic at all. It wasn’t about whether it was easy or complex; I simply couldn’t sense any magic power.

If there’s nothing, how can I do anything?

So even if I tried to move my organs like they did, I feel no presence of Qi at all. Yet, I’m a bit hesitant to change my heart like Rebecca did.

Because the resurrected Rebecca was hard to perceive, lacking light and warmth. I have no idea what happened to her when I fell to the first world.

Of course, I’m in the middle of digesting the first world’s memories, but I can sense that Rebecca isn’t in there.

So, I should avoid altering the body as much as possible.

I need to find a way to use martial arts.

Even after moving my insides around, I see no way to gather Qi.

Or should I try the method Eunjae used?

Since I’m inside, maybe I can use the way Eunjae would pull me from Sangdanjeon, and something might happen.

Hmm. Hmm. Ummmm…

No, I remember everything from back then, but I lack something important to move forward.

Imagine a flood in the river, sweeping many things along.

I remember how the floating items move. But I don’t understand water. That part is completely blank.

Even if I mimic it, nothing will come out. I can follow the inside movements, but if there’s no water, what’s the point?

Although I remember how to move, I can’t replicate it due to a lack of the necessary power.

Wait, if it’s just the form, maybe I could mimic it somehow?

But at that rate, I’d be better off using the techniques utilized by warriors in another world. Just like the warriors of the first world.

Ah, but specialized fighters like the knights of the first world use unique methods, like martial arts.

In other words, I can’t use them.

Does this even make sense?

I’m a powerful creature, yet I can only manage the harvesting period?

Oh dear.

Well, I’ve been unfortunate since I was dropped on an empty ground without warning.

Right now, I’m slowly infusing Eunjae’s technique into the harvesting period beings. Currently, the best performer is Eunchun. Next is Jeonyang. Then Byeongil and Gapjae in that order.

Of course, once they fight, we’ll see who survives.

This depends on how much of Eunjae’s memories each has.

Starting today, Soo-oh will also gain Eunjae’s memories, so the youngest is now Soo-oh.

I wonder if it’s possible to cleanly extract just the martial arts sections from Eunjae’s memories. If only I could cleanly extract how to summon me from Yasle’s memories… heh heh.

Of course, I haven’t given up on ambushing the sorcerers of this world to create harvesting periods.

But I always need to prepare for the worst-case scenario.

Assuming I can’t acquire sorcery.

I cut off my thoughts and, instead, watched Soo-oh excitedly examining the items, while I checked how the other harvesting periods were operating.

First, Gapjae.

This guy has a duty of Boundary Duty every three days, so while he has a plan, his time to move freely is limited.

Also, his spare time is taken up with errands.

He is the head of the agency. It’s a title using “Immortal Herb,” where “agency” means government office. The richest and most powerful leader of the faction sends for Gapjae to work.

He’s assessing whether he can enlist Gapjae to his side. And since he knows this, Gapjae works diligently, because he understands it’s about making a good impression.

These correspond to the 3rd Bamboo, 4th Sea, 8th Crane, and 9th Stream.

In total, five factions are plotting to oust the current Cheonma.

For reference, Immortal Herb refers to medicine, of course, including regular medicine, health supplements, and drugs.

The bamboo deals with intelligence, the sea handles the religious aspects of Cheonma Church, the crane covers logistics, and the stream oversees the overall management of the land where the Cheonma Church resides.

The chiefs of these factions have the right to gain byproducts from this.

Originally, a religious group would typically be strongest through the sea, but since there’s a focus on physical power, it appears the authority is weaker.

In short, think of it as an agency managing the villages surrounding the Cheonma Church.

Following Gapjae’s gaze, I gathered bits of information about Cheonma Church one by one.

He’s quite the productive harvesting period!

Thanks to that, I learned that Cheonma is more anxious than I expected.

For reference, Eunchun is the second-in-command turtle, and Byeongil is the sixth mountain.

Byeongil has almost succumbed to the persuasion of the other five, so strictly speaking, more than half of the ten heads of Cheonma Church are planning to oust Cheonma.

Additionally, the turtle manages the port, and the mountain handles minerals.

When a young woman comes to serve as a slave in the main hall of Cheonma Church, men lacking martial arts talent are distributed throughout various regions. Among them, the mountain is essentially a death sentence.

It’s common to send criminals to the mines, right? It’s similar here. However, the one who first reaps the benefits from selling those minerals earns quite a bit of money. Hence, they rank high among the ten heads.

Overall, it has quite a professional structure, but the governing system is precarious.

While Gapjae provides a wealth of information, what about Eunchun, who is likely the strongest in single combat?

He’s caught up in womanizing.

It’s not like Eunchun is a bad person. But you’d think once he suddenly rises high enough to gain something, he’d let his guard down—and that’s where women dig in.

Corresponding to the fifth deer. This focuses on the taverns, and the woman introduced to him by the faction’s leader toys with him as seen from his perspective.

When you hear it, it sounds quite clever.

Highlighting that Byeongil, who completed Cheonma Gunrimbo, is admired by the Cheonma Church, she turns his mind away, making her own appeal in contrast to him.

She gets him drunk and gives him substances, then they end up falling asleep together.

The Cheonma Church is rife with schemes and plots.

It’s swift how an only strong youth falls victim.

It doesn’t seem like Eunchun’s future looks bright. Honestly, I expected him to be the most active, so it’s quite disappointing.

Meanwhile, Byeongil.

He’s currently working to be the next Cheonma.

While claiming to have restored Cheonma Gunrimbo, the current Cheonma whispers that Byeongil doesn’t know how to use Cheonma Martial Art.

In other words, this implies he isn’t the real deal.

Therefore, Byeongil is growing rapidly while consuming the sexual tonic sent by the heads who are contemplating betraying Cheonma.

He consumes all the drugs without suspicion, suggesting his future doesn’t bode well either.

Finally, Jeonyang.

This guy is training Cheonma Martial Art under the direct guidance of Cheonma himself.

If Byeongil appears under the pretext of Cheonma Martial Art, he should be able to suppress Byeongil with Cheonma Martial Art.

However, from all perspectives, no movements from the daughter of the previous leader are visible.

It’s certain that something will happen soon, but that timeframe may take longer than expected.

What on earth is going to happen?

I turned my gaze back to Soo-oh, who had fallen asleep nestled in my arms after playing.

Waking up in the middle of the night is out of the question.

I covered Soo-oh with a blanket.

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