695 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

"Lightning." As I closed my eyes to focus, a profound voice echoed within my soul. 'Imagine storm clouds gathering, lightning filling the sky.' A million-volt lightning bolt that always sent those self-proclaimed "cute villains" flying. The thunderstorm wielded by the terrifying master of the Sky Island, the lightning shot from the mouth of the Demon King candidate, the railgun that could be fired with a single coin. As my willpower surged fiercely, a tingling sensation coursed down my arm. When the golden aura rippled to my fingertips, I once again let a drop of blood fall on the talisman. The room darkened with the windows obscured. Through my closed eyelids, an intense light pierced into my gaze. "A gentle breeze." Not just any breeze, but a gentle one. In Siberia, merely a breath of air. No, that's not it. What should I envision? The golden aura dispersed. The concentration I had been holding onto slipped away in an instant. "If the concept becomes even slightly complex, the willpower dissipates." "Haha." I, along with Si Wang Eo Reu Sin's words, opened my eyes with a sheepish smile. "In contrast, simpler concepts like fire, water, ice, and lightning come easily to you." "It seems that anything I can visualize vividly is easier for me." When there are many instructional aids to imagine in your mind, it's naturally easier to imbue them with intense willpower. "It's definitely not a strength suitable for spellcasting. The response time is slow, and you can only invoke intense willpower a few times a day." "Unless it's at the level of lighting a fire with wood, it seems entirely useless to me." If a talisman were to cause an unusual phenomenon, it would have to be completely consumed. In my case, the talisman remained intact except for the part touched by blood. "Don't be too discouraged. We've confirmed you can imbue intense willpower into your blood. It might even be useful for awakening." "Really?!" Has Si Wang Eo Reu Sin found a way, thankfully? "I've found a clue to awaken that child. I plan to give them your blood." "But isn't it forbidden to consume blood?" "If it's blood imbued with willpower, it should be possible." "Willpower?" Si Wang Eo Reu Sin nodded at my question and continued to explain. "That child's soul has already weakened significantly. As you saw once, they might be no different from an imbecile." "When it happened before my eyes, they did indeed seem more like an animal reacting to prey than a person." Isn't there advice to stay still when facing a dangerous wild animal? The Hwaju I saw was more of an instinct-driven animal than a person led by reason. "Your intense willpower can act as a kind of food to restore their soul. However, there's a problem." The concept that will-imbued blood becomes food made me think of my recent willpower training. "Does the attribute of the willpower-fed blood determine what abilities are usable? Like, if it’s lightning willpower, they become a top-tier Hwaju, but if it’s fire willpower, they become a lower-tier waste?" "Similar... indeed." Was my insight too sharp? A flicker of surprise crossed Si Wang Eo Reu Sin's gaze. "So, that's why the previous training makes sense. The will of evolution! It's certainly a significant and thoughtful issue." To what extent is this possible? The lightning, fire, and water I trained for several days? Perhaps the darkness attribute too? No, to avoid burnout, maybe just up to the fairy attribute. This is a once-in-a-lifetime evolution. As Si Wang Eo Reu Sin said, I must be utterly cautious. As I contemplated, Si Wang Eo Reu Sin's expression hardened as he spoke further. "You've nearly got it, but seem to be mistaken about something. You are currently feeding a tiger cub." "A tiger cub?" "Once it tastes your blood, it might become a demon craving your flesh forever. Even if now it sees you as its master, would a grown tiger see you as its master?" "Would be fortunate if it doesn't see me as prey." Even if I once likened it to a puppy, its true nature is closer to a tiger, it seems. "Exactly. It might suddenly lose reason and attack you, or continually crave your blood. Therefore, it’s essential to solidify its perception of you as its master, ensuring it obeys you in any situation." "So, I must provide a will-imbued sustenance that firmly establishes myself as its master. Is that what you’re suggesting?" Si Wang Eo Reu Sin nodded at my words. "I aim to strengthen the connection between you and that child with your blood. Not merely feeding it as a master but embedding the relationship at the soul level." "How should I proceed with that?" "Continue as an extension of your training. The issue is that complex willpower can't be imbued. Hmm..." What is it? Si Wang Eo Reu Sin's gaze suddenly shifted as he looked at me. Not the look of disdain or discrimination, but appraisingly, from top to bottom, judging a person from head to toe. It's not unpleasant, but I feel a strange tension. 'I’ve felt this kind of gaze before somewhere.' Was it from the Jegalse family? Perhaps not. Or was it from Wang Uncle, Ha Yeon’s father? Where? It feels unfamiliar, but oddly familiar as if I've experienced it a few times. "Yes, just one more... It can't be helped..." Si Wang Eo Reu Sin seemed to mutter to himself, his gaze locked thoughtfully on me, as if accepting a certain compromise he couldn’t avoid. "Sir?" "Feed that child blood imbued with willpower daily." "What kind of evolution... No, what willpower should I imbue it with?" I’ve understood the situation. It seems I've been chosen not by a stray dog but a tiger cub. Ordinary sustenance won't suffice. Otherwise, I’ll be devoured by the tiger one day. To ensure it cannot attack me, I must embed the relationship at the soul level. Not a stone of evolution, but rather the notion of a relationship. What kind of notion should I feed it with? "Imbue it with the notion of a wife." "...What?" Si Wang Eo Reu Sin's suggestion was completely unexpected. --- "It is true that the child is resisting becoming a threat now, but there’s no guarantee that resistance will hold. Though you cannot imbue a complex notion, something relatable like the notion of a wife should be possible." "Uh..." As I was caught off-guard by the unexpected suggestion, Si Wang Eo Reu Sin began to explain why it had to be a wife. "How could a wife ever defy her sky-high husband? If you feed it with the notion of a wife, its soul will naturally grow to see you as its husband." I understand the reasoning. Given the times, a wife defying her husband would be seen as almost an outrage. Yet... "Sir, I have a fiancée." "What’s wrong with a man having multiple wives?" I quite agree. Indeed, he truly embodies the revered Si Wang Eo Reu Sin. And what’s wrong with a man having multiple wives, right? Aside from one small issue. "My future in-laws are from the Jegalse family." "You mean to say Jinju Un family isn’t good enough?" "Sir, that’s not what I meant." As I wore a troubled look, Si Wang Eo Reu Sin urged me to reconsider with an earnest expression. "There is no better notion than that of a wife. Picture it: a wife who loves, complies with, and serves her husband. Etch that into the soul, and even if the child loses reason, it wouldn’t dare harm you." "Though my father-in-law might." "..." "Sir, I’ve only had permission for the marriage for less than two months." I went to meet my in-laws in the dead of winter. Winter isn’t even over yet. "I will have a word on your behalf." "And I will likely face annulment." I am just engaged, not yet married. While Si Wang Eo Reu Sin’s argument has its points, with three fiancées already, I must exercise restraint for now. Even though unavoidable circumstances have brought us to assist each other, if I immediately moved on to a new household within two months, many would be out for my blood. "Tsk. Those who overthink things are never helpful. Fine. Make it a daughter, then. No daughter attacks her father." "Absolutely not." I quickly refused. "What?" "The moment I admit to having a secret daughter, many will come with swords drawn." An immediate and unforgiving trial awaits. I’d be dragged through the mud five times over. "If not, how about a mother?" "Are you implying the Hwaju could be a woman who might have been my mother?" The notion of a motherly attribute. It did indeed have a body exuding maternal love. Perhaps I should have foreseen it. As I subtly expressed my hesitation, Si Wang Eo Reu Sin realized the absurdity and sighed lightly. "To imbue a notion, it must be one deeply familiar, like imagining fire intensely. There’s nothing as fitting as family." "You mean it has to be a concept you've grown up with, one deeply familiar, and a being that can never harm me, so family is the best relationship?" "Exactly." I couldn’t even properly envision a gentle breeze. Meanwhile, concepts as tangible as fire, water, and wind carried intense willpower, so the idea was to feed it a notion as familiar as family. "Then shouldn’t we stick to the idea of making me its master as you initially suggested? Is there any particular reason you’re unsatisfied with that?" The master-servant relationship shouldn’t be that hard. "The idea of you being the master hasn’t changed. To avoid harm from the Hwaju, nothing could be better. But the child who will ingest the notion is problematic." "What’s the problem?" A deep worry etched on Si Wang Eo Reu Sin’s face was hard to hide. "It’s not about him viewing you as the master. But should his soul be marked as a slave, how would he respond to ordinary people?" "You’re concerned about the formation of character." I immediately understood. Si Wang Eo Reu Sin spoke of the Hwaju as if it were healing. Certainly, breaking free from an imbecilic state would be healing. If the term "slave to the bone" exists, and once freed from idiocy, finds it imprinted with a slave mentality, who would be pleased? "Your willpower is potent. It will be a good nourishment for the soul. The problem is the inability to make fine adjustments, leading to unforeseen issues." "Time constraints exacerbate the issue." Despite my resolve not to ignore a plea for help, making it my wife is out of the question. This dark-haired Kang Yoon-ho, having secured marriage approval from the Jegalse family, now found a new fiancée from the Un family. Congratulations to me. From that point, I’d be reduced from flesh to a state where soul or no soul becomes meaningless. 'What kind of relational notion should I feed it with?' I rested my chin on my hand and pondered various possibilities. "Rest for now. I’ll ponder if there’s another way." "That won’t be necessary." "What?" "Please, proceed." An idea came quickly. --- "Do you have a solution?" As Si Wang Eo Reu Sin carefully lifted the lid of the ice coffin, he asked, and I confidently nodded. "Yes, instead of labeling it a slave, there’s a way to prevent it from attacking me." "If it’s not a notion as familiar as family, it’ll be tough to imbue it with willpower." "There is a relationship I can imbue with certainty." "...Very well. As the master of this child, do as you see fit." With assured eyes, Si Wang Eo Reu Sin looked me over, refraining from further inquiries before stepping aside. "Let us begin." I closed my eyes and focused my mind once more. The crucial requirement, first. 'A wife is out of the question.' No matter how unavoidable the situation, that option is clearly crossing a line. If word gets to the Sacheondang family or the Jegalse family, it would become a tremendous issue. In this instance, I must tread carefully. 'The relationship must prevent any possibility of attacking me regardless of the situation.' Even if she loses her reason, it must be a relationship in which attacking me is impossible. Ideally, a bond where she feels affection towards me. Since the bond engraved on her soul will persist. 'A slave is not an option. It must be a concept where she can lead an ordinary life.' Since Si Wang Eo Reu Sin regarded this as a lifelong achievement, his opinion should be actively considered. As suggested by Si Wang Eo Reu Sin, a woman who can show affection like a wife, be playful like a daughter, and carry the nurturing qualities of a mother wouldn't be bad. The golden aura flowed down my arm. Somewhere, a surprised gasp could be heard, but it wasn't enough to disrupt my concentration. Focus and more focus. A relationship that satisfies all these conditions. A concept known only to me, Kang Yoon-ho, in this world. I imbued the rebellious one's blood with the willpower satisfying all these conditions and declared: "From now on, you are Kang Yoon-ho’s exclusive maid."