episode_0088

Milk with magical powers is extracted from Mila -> Hyunho drinks the milk and purifies it -> He shares it with everyone and receives errand items in return.

Through this series of processes, the materials that the Geumto and Baekto sisters requested were created in an instant. Perhaps, the reason they were separated while saying that they needed to find a feeling was because they wanted to tell the story to other monsters. Hyunho thought so.

“My legs are shaking…”

– Who would want to keep being held captive? Honestly, you could have escaped.

“What a heartbreaking word…”

– That’s because I’m in your heart. Next time, just try to get caught on purpose!

He was caught on purpose. That was true. It was also true that he was held captive even though he could have escaped. There was absolutely no room for rebuttal.

But Bartholin had no intention of taking Hyunho out either. It was an opportunity to absorb the magical power that a certain monster had accumulated.

-Well, your bones and tendons have gotten a little stronger, but… you know? It’s a bit awkward to call you human now.

“Hmm… If you gain something, you lose something.”

Bartholin spoke as if he was serious, but it didn’t really hit home. I didn’t really care about it after my eyes changed color and I started growing wings on my back.

Of course, there were things I couldn’t feel. Because on the outside, nothing seemed to have changed. It was also because there was someone like Mayhen by my side.

– I’m not talking about physical abilities. Hmm… It’s hard to explain.

Bartholin wanted to say something, but he trailed off, unable to find the right words.

– This is exactly what I feel… How should I explain it?

“Isn’t that because you’re stuck there?”

– That could be true… Normally, you can tell just by looking at a person, but you feel a little different. A little more familiar?

She seemed to be racking her brain, but she couldn’t come to a conclusion until the time Geumto had mentioned.

***

As the sun was starting to set, we went back to Baekto and Geumto’s house.

“Hmm- Judging by your appearance, it looks like you had a good time?”

“Honestly, it was good up to 5 people. After that, it was a bit…”

“Lying. Then you must have escaped in the middle. It’s not like your mother would force you to do it.”

After talking to them, I could tell that they had sent me knowingly. From the way they smiled brightly, it seemed like they were full of thoughts of teasing me.

I had a feeling that talking about it would only result in a loss, so I changed the subject.

“By the way, is this all done?”

What was placed on the workbench was an item that could replace one of the missing wings. In contrast to the white wings sprouting from the body, these were wings with a black steel frame.

One time, I fought a demon who had his body parts replaced with machines like this. I thought the thing I saw back then was amazing, but this thing was a masterpiece at first glance.

Baekto and Geumto were also satisfied with their work.

“A masterpiece of… conversion…!”

“It looks cool, but…”

The giant steel wings were certainly a dream, but it was difficult to actually use them. You can’t always carry them around. And you have to practice piloting them.

Although Hyunho’s concerns were plausible enough, Geumto asserted that there was no such thing.

“That’s why I asked you to get the rest of the materials. I mean, I want to make sure my little brother has a good time, but do you really need them?”

The process may feel strange to some people, but the result is perfect for anyone to see, Baekto said with a pounding heart.

As he said, I put the wings on my back and it started to stick to my back.

“Oh…”

The joints of the wings, which looked like solid steel, began to soften and deform to fit the curve of the back.

And the burning sensation on my skin. It wasn’t like a burn, it was more like when I was poisoned.

“It’s a little stinging because it’s attached to the body. But it’ll be bearable because you’ll be anesthetized.”

“You asked me to collect them to write here?”

“That’s right. It’s used to connect muscles and nerves as if they were originally part of the body. The rest of the materials will play additional roles. And…”

The explanation continued after that, but it was too difficult for a non-expert like me. It was roughly about each person changing their body through their magical powers…

Clang, keeeing-

“Oh, it works. It works.”

I’m the type that’s strong in practical matters. Even if I don’t know the theory, if I can make it work, there’s no problem.

“Okay, this is the engine, right?”

As I applied force somewhere on my back, the core in the center of the wing heated up and made a humming sound.

The feeling of having parts of my body replaced by machines was alien, but it actually helped, since I only had to test the newly created parts.

“Like this, oh… it might come out.”

The wings on both sides felt strangely different, but I thought I could solve that once I got used to it. The important thing is to actually experience it. I can’t understand theories even if I hear them anyway.

“I’ll fly once and come back!”

Hyunho flew high into the sky, leaving behind the seemingly dead white clay.

“I made a user manual…”

***

The view from above was definitely different from that from the ground.

Of course, that’s natural because the field of vision has expanded, but apart from that, it means that the process of receiving and processing visual stimuli has changed.

I should say that I could observe other people more objectively than on the ground. Instead of being able to see their expressions or hear their voices, I could observe people’s behaviors well.

Just as it is said that when playing Go, you can see more from the perspective of the spectator rather than the player, I was able to see the actions of multiple people comprehensively rather than just one.

Just as there are things that can only be seen from the ground, such as falling leaves or bugs climbing trees, there are things that can only be seen from the sky.

For example, a woman looking this way from the roof of a shrine built on the highest point in the village.

“Is that Ryu…?”

Unlike me who had just noticed, it seemed to be watching me the whole time. I was just mumbling to myself in a low voice, but it must have heard me and motioned for me to come closer.

It seems to match what my sisters explained, and since everyone told me to meet Ryu once, there must be a reason.

Without much thought, I moved my wings and arrived at the shrine. Ryu, who had been curled up on the roof, untied himself and gave me a place to sit.

“Sit here.”

“Oh, yes. Nice to meet you.”

The atmosphere that was emanating from it felt like it was from a distant elder. Yes, sometimes it was like Kuzunoha who set the mood…

“It’s okay if it’s not that hard. Aren’t we already physically interacting?”

“Yes? Me?”

I don’t remember that, but it was the first time I saw that person.

Instead of explaining to Hyunho, who was trying to recall his memories, Ryu stuck out his tongue to show him.

The tongue that stuck out with a “bae-” was split in two at the center of its tip. The sticky saliva dripping down the red tongue onto the floor was a little obscene.

“Choo-up, don’t you remember? I think I liked it.”

“Ah, ah- that!”

Movements that seemed to move with will. Hyunho recalled his memories as he watched Ryu tie a knot with his forked tongue.

There was a man who, while apparently in custody, performed the feat of tying up the egg sac with his long tongue.

A person who tied two eggs together like a rope, dug down, and squeezed milk into his mouth.

It was impossible to forget the exquisite tongue technique of squeezing hard and then loosening it just as it was time to ejaculate.

“Okay. You remembered. Now that you know this isn’t our first meeting, sit down comfortably.”

“Yeah… That, that felt good.”

It was a compliment that came out without thinking because she didn’t know what to say, but the woman nodded as if she was satisfied.

“I’m glad you said so. I enjoyed it too. ”

It was a strange feeling that the person I thought I was meeting for the first time was someone I had already enjoyed with.

“Then, excuse me.”

As I sat on the thick snake’s body, I felt the thick layer of muscle hidden between the pretty, hard scales.

“Huh? What are you looking at so intently?”

“Nothing.”

They say that snakes have a very strong constricting power, but I felt a little disappointed that I never got to experience being constricted. It would have been nice to have one wrapped around my body instead of my tongue.

As soon as she sat down on my body, she got to the point.

“Kuzunoha, don’t worry about that girl too much.”

“Yes?”

“She’s a vixen by nature, so worrying about her is a waste. There’s no need to be so impatient. If the rest of you were there, your life would be okay.”

It was a rather harsh assessment, but it was somewhat relatable. It wasn’t the first or second time that I’d been treated with consideration.

“Are you two friends?”

“I’m not interested enough to call him a friend, but I don’t want to say we’re not, since we’ve known each other for so long… I guess it’s okay to call him a bad friend.”

She chose her words with a subtle expression, and described Kuzunoha as a bad person.

“I settled down here, but that girl likes to wander around. She wants to start a family or something. If that’s the case, she should settle down…”

After grumbling for a while, Ryu took out a bead from his sleeve and handed it to Hyunho.

“If you are still not in your right mind, hit me once and give me this bead. It will help you too.”

Yokai store their accumulated magical power in different ways. The most common way is to create a body part like a tail to store it, but they also create consumable items like milk that Aunt Mila squeezes.

The bead I received was of the same type, and was an object that contained the magical power I had been collecting.

“I don’t think I have to repay you separately since you smell like fox, but…if there’s anything you want, just tell me.”

Repayment, repayment… I received what I deserved here. If it was a debt, it would be enough to make me work for the rest of my life.

Hyunho thought about it for a moment, then came up with a reward that would satisfy both parties.

“If you don’t mind…”

***

When I returned to the blacksmith shop, I saw my sisters napping. They must have been sleeping deeply, because they both woke up rubbing their eyes at the sound of me opening the door.

“Whoa… The kid is here? What’s that mark on his body?”

“It’s just a trace. Oh, I met Mr. Ryu that my older sister mentioned, and he was a kind person.”

As for Kuzunoha, she only said very unpleasant things, but it was clear that she was worried. It was also fun to hear stories from the past.

It was also a useful time to learn that snakes’ reproductive organs are located on their tails.

But I can’t stay here forever. I said out loud that I had to go.

“I’m going to go soon.”

It was nice to take a break and catch my breath, and to be able to recall the feeling of living in a peaceful village. It was a heartwarming time, as I received a lot of help.

The warm and comfortable memories I felt on Yokai Mountain became the driving force that allowed me to move forward again.

My sisters didn’t try to hold me back any longer as I was leaving. Fortunately, if they had told me to stay a little longer, they might have actually done so.

“Well, you and I will both live long. We will come again next time.”

“Umm… Did that help?”

“Of course.”

More than the wings my sisters gave me, it helped me a lot mentally. The peaceful village and the interaction with the people around me. These were things I had once lost.

As the saying goes, you only realize the value of something after it’s gone, and while I was staying here, I sometimes missed the old days. I also wondered if I had stormed the castle for nothing.

But-

“There’s nothing more frustrating than giving and then taking away.”

I lost my power and my family to something embedded in an unknown sword, and I have no intention of just giving it back to it.

I will definitely repay you for all the foolish things I have done to you, including the stab wound to your chest.

Hyunho said goodbye to his sisters, promising that he would definitely give them a good time.

“Okay, next time. I’ll come back when it’s all done!”