638 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

Is Kang Yoon Ho dreaming of Jegal Hyang the Bunny Girl? A man, Kang Yoon Ho. A man who dreams of a harem. Will he end up filling up all ten fingers at this rate? Will he be split into seventeen pieces one day? There was a time when he seriously considered this. However, he hadn’t been planning to safely fill the remaining fingers with Jegal Hyang, the insider Jegal Hyang, and Jegal Hyang the Bunny Girl, in addition to the noir version of Jegal Hyang. Jegal So Jeo was asleep on the bed, and then there was Jegal So Jeo in a bunny girl outfit. It was a scene so unbelievable that it was hard for him to stay composed. “Two Hyang?” "Hyang Mae. What is this all about?" “They're two, but I don’t quite understand why,” she responded, looking flustered, glancing between herself sleeping in the bed and me. This is no time to be dazed. I rushed to the bed where Jegal So Jeo was sleeping. “Are you okay, son-in-law?” “Yes, fortunately, she is breathing fine.” Her breathing pattern was steady, her complexion normal. Jegal So Jeo seemed to be simply asleep. “Huh, Hyang, you aren't a ghost or anything, right?” “What? I can touch things, though,” she replied, picking up a book lying on the ground in response to her worried mother's question. It wasn’t an out-of-body experience; maybe more like an illusion or cloning technique. "When did you split into two?" “I remember waking up last night, wearing strange... no, traditional Korean clothes, and then suddenly lost my senses. When I woke up again in bed, I thought it was a dream and went back to sleep. But when I came to, I was in bunny clothes, so I thought I’d seek help.” "So, you came to my room then?" “Yes. Suddenly, mom barged in, making me wish to go back, and when I opened my eyes, I found myself back in my room. Trying to sit on the bed, I found myself lying on it...!” Jegal So Jeo was evidently frightened by her double present, her pointing hand was trembling. "Hyang Mae, calm yourself." “I really don’t get what’s going on!” In the end, unable to overcome her anxiety, she jumped into my arms, trembling. Despite the overwhelming sensation, I embraced Jegal So Jeo’s shaking shoulders with care. “It’s alright. First, take a deep breath in and exhale.” “Breathe in. And out.” “Ahem!” Perhaps I shouldn’t have said that. Maintaining composure was tough as my bare chest felt the rise and fall of her breaths. "Dear, change out of those revealing clothes and embrace your fiancé. It must be hard for him to control his expressions." "Ah...!" I met Jegal So Jeo’s startled eyes. No, it’s not like that, Jegal So Jeo. I was genuinely just trying to help, with maybe just a bit of ulterior motive. As I sheepishly averted my eyes, her mother sighed softly seeing us. "No point raising a daughter, going straight to her fiancé instead of her mother... I’ve already sent for someone. Let’s wait a bit." "As expected from my mother-in-law!" Not just any mistress of the Jegal household. I gave a thumbs-up, prompting another composure-breaking, sweet smile before turning to her daughter. “Hyang, think carefully. Any idea how to return to normal?” “I tried closing my eyes or touching my hand but…” No effect, then. "Hmm." How do we merge a split person back together? A few methods came to mind. "Do you have any ideas?" “Nothing special.” “Since people are on their way, attempt any ideas you may have.” “If mother-in-law says so… Hyang Mae, clasp your hands and point your index finger.” Propping myself on the bed where Jegal So Jeo lay, I beckoned for the Bunny Girl Jegal So Jeo. “An index finger?” “Now, chant the spell I teach you.” “Ah! Yes!” Grasping Jegal So Jeo's sleeping hand, I extended my index finger the same as Bunny Girl Jegal So Jeo, and as our fingers met. "Now!" “Fusion!” I had her say the most renowned merging spell. “...Didn’t work.” Of course, there was no change. "No clue what's happening, but seems it failed." “Should it have been Final Fusion?” Without the power of courage, the probability of success was below one percent, so I gave up. Let's move to the contingency plan. I gradually leaned in towards the sleeping Jegal So Jeo. "Gaga?" “In ancient Joseon folklore, it’s said that a lover’s kiss can break a spell.” "What?!" A startled voice shouted behind me. “Let me try this……. Hyang Mae?” I was halted immediately. Why pull on my sleeve desperately as though it’s absolutely forbidden, Jegal So Jeo? “For reasons unknown, that’s probably unnecessary.” “It might work, no?” Isn't it better to try everything available? Seeing my puzzled look, Hyang Mae fidgeted, head bowed. “Ah! Well, when asleep, it'd be a waste, you could say. I mean, I’m here, right?” “Hyang Mae?” Why does she fidgetingly glance at me? "Agh, um, well! Even though we did it once, it wasn’t real, you could say. No! I mean, doing it properly awake for the first time... what?!" Suddenly, Jegal So Jeo disappeared. “Hyang!” “She vanished?!” Where did she go? In a panic, I scanned the surroundings only to hear a soft murmur from the reclining Jegal So Jeo. “Ugh.” “Jegal So Jeo, are you coming to your senses?” “……” There’s no response. What’s happened? Jegal So Jeo, appearing in pain, clenched her lips and jittered weakly. “Hyang Mae?! What should we do! Mother-in-law! Quickly, fetch a doctor!” “...Hold still." “Pardon?” “Hyang, don’t slyly try to satisfy desires.” With an expression as cold as if she was looking at a child faking illness, the mother addressed Jegal So Jeo with a remark. "Mother-in-law, she seems genuinely in pain. Surely this isn't an act, right?" I attempted to interject, only to see Jegal So Jeo open her eyes in embarrassment. "A-ha..." "Hyang Mae?" "Honestly, how you two are simply made for each other." Her mother sighed at Jegal So Jeo’s chuckle, resigning to the situation. “Honey! What do you mean there are two Hyangs?” The father-in-law burst into the room hurriedly, marking the conclusion of the incident. ——— "It seems like a rebound effect from entering the world of the Mountain and River Map." A few days had passed since Jegal So Jeo’s duplication incident. My father-in-law and the Elder Council had been diligently trying to understand what happened. Apparently, they reached a conclusion; an elder came to speak with me. "A rebound effect from entering that world?” “You must’ve noticed. Was it your actual body moving in that world?” "It felt like my consciousness was manifesting and moving.” If I could convince the world, I might become a martial arts master. If it were my actual body, I should still be a martial arts master now. “What Sanha Sajikdo creates is a sort of pseudo-immortal realm. The two of you have experienced the ultimate goal of Daoist practices, transcending into immortality. Jegal Hyang’s body, in essence, must be seen as an open door.” “So her soul can be easily separated?” Like how a dislocated joint is prone to repeat dislocations? Was what I saw Hyang Mae’s soul then? The realization that Bunny Girl Jegal Hyang was the original shocked me. Still, I quickly composed myself to ask further. “When a person's soul separates, they usually die. Normally, it's as if the door of consciousness that spell practitioners refer to has been opened.” “Instead of a literal soul separation, she operates another body while her physical form is asleep?” “Ho, are you knowledgeable in mystical arts?” No, I was merely comparing it to virtual reality or piloting a robot. “Could I also experience a similar phenomenon to Jegal So Jeo?” The thought of a Bunny Girl Kang Yoon Ho was horrifying. For everyone's sake, it must never happen. “No.” The elder shook his head firmly, indicating it won’t happen. "What? Didn't I also experience the pseudo-immortal realm?" “Though you and Jegal So Jeo returned safely, there's something that never reappeared.” Considering what didn’t return despite our safe return. “Are you referring to the Sanha Sajikdo?” “Where is the Sanha Sajikdo now?” “That... Ah!” “Exactly.” It turned out that the problem stemmed from the Sanha Sajikdo residing within Jegal So Jeo. —— “Are you saying the issue arose because Jegal So Jeo became the owner of the Sanha Sajikdo?” “It’s akin to giving the world's sharpest sword to a child,” the elder confirmed with a nod. Indeed, Jegal So Jeo possessed a treasure sought by immortals, indicating potential for complications. But still. "The Sanha Sajikdo officially recognized Jegal So Jeo as its master. Hyang Mae has even learned to handle the treasure inside that world. She created a portal with the brush." Jegal So Jeo didn’t simply lay claim to the treasure; she became its legitimate owner. It was baffling that it caused an issue. “I’m aware. That’s precisely why the issue arose.” “You mean it’s because she became the master?” “A brush merely serves as an extension of what’s in one’s mind.” “A tool?” “I asked Hyang what she desired most while lying there. She said she wanted to wake up quickly to see you, Young Master Kang.” What exactly happened to Jegal So Jeo? I pieced together my observations with the elder’s words. “Her wish manifested unchecked.” Jegal So Jeo, bedridden all day, and suddenly a Bunny Girl Jegal Hyang appeared. Unable to move her body, she ended up creating a double. “A painter with the power to create as they imagine doesn’t necessarily need to use their hands, does it?” Jegal So Jeo can utilize the power of the Sanha Sajikdo by creating a brush. But wielding such isn’t always required. This implies, ultimately, “She cannot control it.” The Sanha Sajikdo brings to life the world its master envisions. It doesn’t necessitate a brush; just an intense desire helps create it. Sanha Sajikdo is a treasure with such capabilities. “You’re quick to understand, Ho Pil.” "Will such incidents continue happening?" This is no trivial matter. With a grave expression, I asked, prompting the elder to burst into laughter. “Don’t pull such a serious face. Where do you think this is?” "Is there a way to control it?” “No place in the central plains surpasses the Jegal Clan in studying and handling treasures and mystic arts.” “They could create Do Won Hyang after all. Then....!” So it’s not really a problem, is it? My relief was momentary. “However.” “Yes?” “There’s an issue I need to inform you about.”