When I arrived at the house, there were unfamiliar items.
Upon checking, there were clothes, food, and various other tools.
It seems that the Heavenly Demon didn’t realize Soo had met the former church leader's daughter. That’s a relief.
I felt reassured and entered the room, laying Soo down.
Soo, seeing the items in the room, suddenly froze, looking at them in surprise before trying to go grab something. I noticed and glanced at Soo to see what was wrong.
Soo hesitated and pointed at the clothes.
"Can I touch them?"
It seemed that she had hesitated because she thought they were someone else’s belongings. I approached her, took her by the shoulders, and turned her to face me.
"Soo. I received you from the Heavenly Demon. Unfortunately, that means you’re mine from now on."
I had essentially kidnapped a child who had parents, but what could I do? It was already too late. Soo looked at me with a confused expression, as if asking what I meant.
She was still too young to understand what ownership meant.
But now that she was a Harvester, it wouldn’t take long for her to understand.
Her intellect would improve along with her physical transformation, so she’d catch on quickly.
"Don’t understand what I’m saying?"
Soo lowered her head and quietly nodded, answering "Yes." Well, then I had no choice but to explain it simply.
"Think as you wish, move as you wish, live as you wish."
It’s not freedom, it’s indulgence. That’s what I want people to do—live as they please, until they face the consequences of their actions.
"As I wish?"
I was about to say yes. But then, a memory from the faded man shone brightly. He insisted on this being said. Only by understanding this could I extend warmth for longer.
In that case...
"As you wish. But don’t forget, you’re responsible for what you do. Got it?"
Soo nodded and immediately rushed to the place where the new items were. She began opening everything as if she had received a gift.
But isn’t responsibility part of freedom, not indulgence? However, a memory floats in my mind, suggesting that understanding responsibility is what makes indulgence truly possible.
Just like how a murderer who kills many isn’t an ignorant killer, but rather the CEO of a company exploiting people—mass murder is often not illegal, it’s simply above the law.
I thought this might mean standing above the law, but in such cases, indulgence would become synonymous with freedom.
It wasn’t entirely wrong, so I acknowledged it.
I sat in the room, watching Soo as she rummaged through the new items.
Ah.
The wall near the kitchen is faintly warm. Of course, with an unquenchable fire, it would be odd if it weren’t warm.
The child should be able to sleep here. Though, I wonder if she’ll survive the winter.
Speaking of which, winter is coming, and I’m not sure if Soo will make it.
I’ll think about that later.
Now, shall I try learning martial arts?
I have the memories.
All five of them, except Soo, have systematically learned martial arts. Eunjae, in particular, probably knows the most.
I pulled martial arts techniques from their memories.
Then, I laid out the memories and gathered as much of the martial arts knowledge as I could.
There are many similarities, including Eunjae’s martial arts.
The problem is chukgi (energy gathering). What is energy?
I have memories of a magician, but I could never use magic. It wasn’t about magic being easy or complex; it’s because I couldn’t perceive mana at all.
If something’s missing, there’s nothing I can do about it.
So even though I tried moving my internal organs like they did, there was no sign of energy moving. I didn’t feel anything, and I wasn’t quite sure about changing a heart like Rebecca did, it’s a little unsettling.
After all, when Rebecca was revived, there was no light or warmth, making it hard for me to perceive her. I don’t know what happened to her when the first world fell into the place I’m in.
Although I’m still digesting the memories of the first world, I have a gut feeling that Rebecca isn’t in there.
So, I’ll try to avoid modifying my body too much.
I’ll find a way to use martial arts.
Even though I tried moving my internal organs around, I couldn’t find a way to access energy.
Should I try using the method Eunjae used?
Since I’m here, I might as well try the method Eunjae used to extract me from the upper dantian.
Hmm, hmm, mmm...
I have the memories, so I remember the sensations, but there’s nothing important happening, so it doesn’t move.
Imagine there’s a flood in the river, and a lot of things are swept away by the water.
I remember how the objects swept away by the water move. But I don’t know the water itself. The concept of water is cleanly missing in my mind.
Even if I try to mimic it, nothing comes out. I can mimic the internal movements, but without water, what’s the point?
I remember how to move, but I can’t follow through because I don’t have the force to push the body during the movement.
Wait, if it’s just mimicking the form, maybe I can manage somehow?
But then, it would be better to use the technique the warriors used in another world. Like the warriors from the first world.
No, warriors like the knights from the first world use special methods like martial arts.
So, I can’t use it.
Wait, does this even make sense?
I’m a pretty strong monster, and the only thing I can do is create Harvesters?
Ugh.
Well, I’ve been unlucky ever since I was suddenly dropped into an empty place.
For now, I’m giving the Harvesters the memories of Eunjae, piece by piece. The one who’s doing the best right now is Euncheon. Then, Jeonyang, followed by Byeongil, and Gapjae.
Of course, if we fought, we wouldn’t know who would survive.
This depends on how much of Eunjae’s memories you have.
Starting today, Soo will also gain Eunjae’s memories, so the youngest is Soo.
If I can, I’ll try to more carefully separate the martial arts from Eunjae’s memories. If I can cleanly pull out the method of summoning me from Yasle’s memories, that’s the goal.
Hehe.
Of course, I haven’t given up on attacking a shaman in this world and turning them into a Harvester.
But I always have to consider the worst-case scenario.
That I can’t get the shaman’s abilities.
I cut off my thoughts there and, watching Soo excitedly inspect the items, I checked how the other Harvesters were progressing.
First, Gapjae.
Gapjae’s duties as a border guard come once every three days, so he has plans but very little free time to move around.
This chapt𝙚r is updated by freeωebnovēl.c૦m.
Furthermore, his free time is often filled with errands.
The faction leader of the "Bamboo" faction. Writing about Immortality, but the character for "immortality" also means government offices. The wealthiest and most powerful faction leader calls Gapjae to give him tasks.
Gapjae knows that the leader is testing if he can be loyal, so he works hard, understanding that he’s leaving an impression.
The third and fourth factions are Bamboo and Sun, and the eighth and ninth factions are Crane and City.
In total, five factions are planning to push out the current Heavenly Demon.
Incidentally, Immortality is a medicine. It includes normal medicine, special elixirs, and even drugs.
Bamboo represents intelligence agencies, Sun deals with the religious aspects of the Heavenly Demon Church, Crane handles logistics, and City manages the territory where the Heavenly Demon Church is located.
The faction leader is entitled to the byproducts of the faction’s work.
Normally, the Sun faction should be the most powerful, but because this place values strength first, their power is weaker.
In essence, they manage the villages surrounding the Heavenly Demon Church.
Following Gapjae’s gaze, I’m gathering information about the Heavenly Demon Church.
Really, this is a good Harvester.
Because of this, I learned that the Heavenly Demon is more anxious than expected.
By the way, the second-ranked faction, Turtle, is headed by Euncheon, and the sixth-ranked faction, Mountain, is led by Byeongil.
Byeongil has nearly been swayed by the other five, so technically, more than half of the Heavenly Demon Church’s ten leaders are planning to exclude the Heavenly Demon.
Turtle represents the ports, and Mountain handles minerals.
Young women who come to the Heavenly Demon Church to become slaves are assigned to different areas, and men who lack martial arts talent are placed in various locations, with Mountain being almost like an execution ground.
Typically, criminals are sent to the mines, and it’s the same here. But the profits from selling minerals make it a highly profitable place. Hence, the faction ranks high.
In total, it’s a highly specialized structure, but the governance system is fragile.
While Gapjae gives this much information, let’s consider Euncheon, who’s probably the strongest of all due to her single combat power.
Euncheon’s distracted with women.
Of course, Euncheon’s not bad. But when you suddenly rise to a high position and get everything you want, you tend to relax, and it’s during that gap that women start to invade.
The fifth-ranked faction, Deer, specializes in brothels. The women introduced to Euncheon by the faction leader are manipulating him, and he’s watching from his perspective.
It’s quite clever.
By emphasizing that Byeongil, who completed the Heavenly Demon Realm, is admired by the people of the Heavenly Demon Church, he drains his heart and plays with Euncheon’s emotions by pretending he’s not like that.
They give him alcohol and drugs, and he passes out with them.
The scheming and plotting within the Heavenly Demon Church.
The young man, with only strength, quickly falls victim.
Euncheon’s future doesn’t look bright. Honestly, I’m disappointed since I thought she’d be the one to cause the most chaos.
Meanwhile, Byeongil.
He’s being set up to succeed the next Heavenly Demon.
They’re whispering that Byeongil restored the Heavenly Demon Realm, and while lifting him up, they’re telling him that the current Heavenly Demon can’t use the Heavenly Demon Technique.
In other words, he’s not the real one.
So, they’re betraying the Heavenly Demon and feeding Byeongil the elixir, letting him grow stronger.
Seeing him drink the elixir without suspicion, his future doesn’t seem bright either.
Finally, Jeonyang.
He’s training the Heavenly Demon Technique under the Heavenly Demon’s personal guidance.
If Byeongil shows up under the pretense of the Heavenly Demon Technique, Jeonyang will be able to suppress him with the same technique.
But no matter whose perspective you look at, there’s no sign of the former church leader’s daughter’s movements.
It’s certain that an event will happen soon, but it seems it may take longer than expected.
What exactly will happen?
I turned my attention back to Soo, who had fallen asleep in my arms after playing around.
It looks like I won’t be waking up in the middle of the night.
I covered Soo with a blanket.