episode_0096

When the woodcutter ascended to the sky, Okhwang Sangje, furious like fire, scolded the woodcutter.

“If you cannot pass the three trials I give you, you will never see your wife and children again.”

The woodcutter was very scared, but wanting to see his wife and children, he nodded his head in agreement.

“I will send down the first trial. The first trial is….”

– Overcoming the celestial trial of the fairy and the woodcutter.

[Crying sounds]

His crying appearance is truly a perfect match with Heeseon.

Indeed, father and daughter are alike….

Trying to comfort the craftsman who cannot seem to calm down as he bursts into tears like a child, he pats his back for a while to soothe him.

No matter how high his authority is, Okhwang Sangje seemed just like a father in front of his child.

It wasn’t incomprehensible. I will soon have a child too….

But really.. um.. Is it okay to pat the body of Okche? Is it appropriate to comfort Sangje-nim’s body like this?

[Thank you… sniffle… thank you… sob…]

Oh my.. Where did that dignified figure from earlier go….

Sangje stopped crying and calmed down only after quite some time had passed.

[Hmm..! You showed an embarrassing sight]

Straightening his neck, Okhwang Sangje speaks with a majestic voice in an instant.

It didn’t feel embarrassing, but perhaps because he had seen a too harsh scene before, the same sense of intimidation as before was somewhat…

“It’s, it’s alright. I can understand everything. I am about to become a father too.”

“What… what did you say?”

Huh? Why.. all of a sudden that kind of expression…?

“Oh, father…? Could it be..? You! Tell me right now! Who is the mother of your child! It couldn’t be our Heeseon, could it!”

“!?!?!?”

Oh no! I made a mistake because I relaxed! They still don’t know that Heeseon is pregnant…!

Oh.. Gilyongaje always told me to stay alert!

To avoid surprising him, I try to explain slowly with Heeseon.

Um.. um.. What did the son-in-law say in situations like this in dramas..?

“Uh… I’m sorry. It just happened that way.”

“What… what? How did it happen? Oh my..! Really.. that…! Oh..! Oh my..!”

“Huh? Isn’t this what I meant to say? C-calm down, craftsman… I mean, Your Majesty!”

Supporting Sangje, who is about to collapse, I quickly approach him.

Even Okhwang Sangje has high blood pressure…. Oh! This is not the time for such thoughts..!

[Sob… Why does Heeseon have a child even in the changed destiny… If only Jim could hear the story…! Sob….]

“Sangje-nim..! Sangje-nim..! Please come to your senses…!”

[……]

After muttering to himself for a moment, Sangje looks at me sharply and speaks.

“You… You wouldn’t have forcibly taken Heeseon, would you!”

“Absolutely not! We just love each other…!”

“Enough! There’s no need for long explanations.! Since things have turned out this way, you must take responsibility firmly! Jim’s daughter, Jim’s grandson!”

“Yes, yes! Please don’t worry. I will definitely protect them even if it costs me my life.”

Oh.. Does this mean I’ve been accepted as a son-in-law? Did he just approve it without much thought?

Sangje.. No, the craftsman seems dizzy at the shocking fact that he has become a grandfather, rubbing his face with his palm lost in thought.

“Phew… Soon I will summon my subjects to Daejeon.”

“…Yes.”

“Besides feeling gratitude towards you, the law must be strictly upheld. Whether you are qualified to handle the chaos in Heaven caused by your sins, whether you are qualified to be Jim’s father-in-law, all of this must be proven through trials.”

“Yes… Yes?”

In the heart of a father who cherishes his child, he momentarily loses composure and shows disgrace before you, but he will treat you strictly in front of his subjects, so do not feel too disheartened.

Thud thud

The master smoothed his expression back to dignity and walked back to his throne to sit down.

But the proof of qualification…

It was a strange feeling.

There was no tension or fear about the trials ahead.

Like the feeling when talking to a deer.

Could he read something from my subtle expression? The Jade Emperor looked at me as if amazed and said,

[“Oh? Are you feeling it?”]

“What? What do you mean…?”

[It’s about the story.]

“So, you mean, is this really true?”

[Ha, I just turned that into my story in an instant… It’s really hard to distinguish between reality and fiction. Yes, your thoughts are correct. Originally, this wasn’t your story, but now, since it’s clear that you will become the husband of a fairy, we can say that it’s your story now.]

So… if it were according to fate, was the woodcutter supposed to face this trial?

Was there such a story with a fairy and a woodcutter? The story I know just involved going up to heaven and meeting a fairy, that was it, right?

[“Look! Call the attendants again!”]

Lost in thought, the Jade Emperor called for the attendants, and the fresh gods who had been waiting outside for a long time began to enter one by one.

Sari and Heesun… aren’t coming in?

Of course, there shouldn’t be any issue, but I’m worried for no reason.

As the voices of the attendants subsided and they found their places, the Jade Emperor slowly opened his mouth.

I discreetly kneel and sit back in front of the Emperor.

[“The punishment of the sinner has been decided, so let the attendants follow the orders.”]

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

[“The sinner has changed a recorded story with his own abilities. This is a clear sin that cannot be tolerated by the laws of heaven.”]

“……”

[“However, considering that there is a person who has been saved because of this, and also that strange events and altered stories are flowing in accordance with fate without distortion, I temporarily suspend the judgment on the sin of arrogance.”]

“Your, Your Majesty! How! That may bring chaos to the world!”

“That’s right, Your Majesty! Exceptions should not be made in the law! Even though things may be flowing smoothly now, who knows when the story might distort! Please reconsider!”

“Please reconsider!”

[“……”]

The attendants’ opposition to suspending the judgment was strong.

Their behavior was understandable.

In fact, the power I possessed was the ability to create new stories, but to them, I was just a sinner who changed stories, so how dangerous would I appear to them.

And that’s probably why the Emperor said he would test me.

From now on, I have to prove my abilities to them.

[“Stop! My words are not finished yet, how can it be so chaotic here! It’s not that I am unaware of your concerns. That’s why I will give the sinner three trials to judge whether he will bring chaos to the world.”]

“Your, Your Majesty! That’s…!”

[“No objections allowed! The trials I will give are stories that should have naturally followed based on conditions even if the sinner hadn’t changed the story. Isn’t it rather a good opportunity? If we can end this forcibly connected story without distortion once again, wouldn’t it be worth trusting the sinner for once?”]

“But Your Majesty! If by any chance the story distorts, what will you do about that chaos, especially since this story is directly linked to Heaven! Absolutely—”

[“I will handle it.”]

“Your Majesty! How could you!”

I know that it’s no different from forcing you… So if a problem arises, it should be your responsibility, right? A sinner. No… For now, guide the author to the room to rest comfortably and prepare for the trial. As soon as tomorrow dawns, make sure to bring down the first of the three trials….

“……”

Do you not hear my words!

“I will accept your command. Your Majesty!”

When I ascended, it was bright daylight, but darkness fell again.

I don’t even know how time passed.

Heaven seems to have a reverse time difference.

I felt a little tired.

Of course, compared to mine, it wasn’t much of a blow since my stamina is good, but…

I had to leave early in the morning, talk with the mountain spirit grandfather until night, and stay awake until it turned dark when I arrived in the bright heaven, so feeling tired was inevitable.

“Here we are. You will use this room.”

The middle-aged deity who guided me under the command of the king stopped in front of the huge door, smiling kindly.

So I nodded vaguely and tried to enter the room, but the deity spoke to me.

“Do you know that? In fact, I’m on your side, cheering for you.”

“Really?”

It was a sudden remark.

Other deities were looking at me displeased… Why would they believe me?

“Why wouldn’t they? I’ve already seen the story you changed. I still peek at it occasionally when I think about it. How interesting it was to watch that innocent farmer shed tears while looking at my land documents and seeing his siblings’ smiles… Haha! Did you have fun playing around?”

“How did you know? Who on earth are you…?”

“Oh! Heesun never told you about me? That rascal usually bullies me, but he didn’t completely ignore me… They say a thief can’t do anything, but how can he act like this with my husband… Oh dear! Pretend you didn’t hear that statement! Well then. Would it be easier to recognize me if I did this.. young man?”

Bang!

Smoke rises as the deity’s back bends.

The middle-aged deity with tight skin and a youthful appearance disappears, and suddenly an old man with white hair stands there.

“Oh! It’s you!”

That person! The grandfather who exchanged the millstone! I suspected he was from Heaven, but he was this person!

Bang!

In an instant, the deity returns to a middle-aged form with the smoke.

“Do you recognize me now? It’s the first time you’ve greeted me properly. I am Dongbangsak, a deity from Heaven! Still the youngest and bullied. Haha! Don’t be too upset that Heesun hid my existence. He probably didn’t deceive you on purpose. Deities face severe punishment if their identity is revealed in the lower realm.”

“Don’t be upset! That can’t be true. Anyway, um… should I call you an elder? You look too young now… Thank you very much. I’m using the millstone you gave me well.”

“You can address me as you wish. And about the millstone… as you may have noticed, the story is not over yet. Until the story ends, you must keep your eyes wide open and see it through to the end. Can you do that?”

“Yes! Definitely!”

“Good… I trust you. Oh! By the way, even if you go into the room, try not to fall asleep right away.”

“Why… why is that?”

“Why, it’s because of your color! Anyway, that rascal… Whether you throw a tantrum with His Majesty or bully this weak old man! Look here, do you see the bruise on my arm? How much more should your color pinch and torment me before I meet you…”

“Heesun? Where is Heesun now? When can I meet her?”

“Oh my… This old man doesn’t show any worry on his face, does he? It’s just my concern for your color! Ah, Heesun, the princess who left home has returned, so she must be in my room with the maids. However, you can only meet her officially after your trial is over. That’s why this old man is being pinched and threatened like this.”

Continuing to extend his arm, the Eastern Sage emphasizes the dark bruise as if showing it off.

Strange, isn’t it? Our Heesun isn’t the type to pinch and threaten people… Hmm… Maybe I exerted too much force when desperately holding onto her sleeve?

“Oh… The bean husk is firmly attached. Attached! Just by looking at your eyes, one can’t feel this intensely! Ah, feeling fresh from somewhere… Anyway, since I’ve used my power a bit, your color will sneak into the room tonight. So make sure to lock the door and leave the window open, understood?”

“The window? Oh… Yes, understood. Thank you, sir.”

“No need for thanks. Anyway, I’ve said all I need to say, so I’ll be going now.”

“Yes, please take care.”

Bowing respectfully to the Eastern Sage, he leaves.

As he straightens up, the fresh person who was right in front of him just moments ago was nowhere to be seen.