Ch.123Chapter 5. Battlefield of Proof, Ulleung (9)

# To Make a Hero Commit Adultery, I Made My Wife Unable to Get Pregnant

There’s one premise I need to clarify first.

Who is this wife I’m referring to?

Obviously, it’s the “Chairman,” the master of Yimemangryang.

The Chairman told me to be proactive in recruiting Baek Seol-hee and Ymir, and even explicitly said I could introduce her as my wife.

So the wife I’m referring to is the Chairman.

And if my wife can’t get pregnant now, it means the Chairman is in a situation where she cannot become pregnant.

“Is it… really true?”

“Yes. My wife is currently in a condition where she cannot get pregnant even if she wants to.”

It’s not a lie.

“But, you mentioned having a daughter…?”

“…….”

That’s right.

I did mention having a daughter the last time we were here.

“That was then, and this is now.”

“……Ah!”

I’m sorry.

I’ll sell you out to convince Baek Seol-hee.

It’s clear that you can’t get pregnant right now anyway.

“Well, this is somewhat awkward to discuss. It’s a family matter that’s difficult to bring up casually, but since I’ve been rude to Seol-hee, I’ll tell you the truth.”

I can’t just lie about something like this, and if a lie is discovered, it would cause significant problems.

“My wife tried to have a child. We loved each other, still love each other, and will continue to love each other. There was a result of that love, but… there’s just a small issue. Yes.”

But in Korean, you need to listen until the end.

“If it could be resolved medically, or with the help of abilities, we would do whatever it takes. But that didn’t work. Haha. We tried everything… Really. What can’t be done, can’t be done. Heh. It’s just…”

There are two ways to annoy people in this world: one is to stop mid-sentence, and the second is-

“My wife…. Sigh.”

Just like that.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you worry about this, Seol-hee.”

Being a villain, I don’t finish what I’m saying.

I leave out the most important part.

Like serving a hamburger without the beef patty and saying “As you can see, it’s a hamburger,” I hide the most crucial truth.

“So… your wife can’t get pregnant now?”

“Yes.”

There’s no lie.

“She’s become someone who can’t do it even if she wants to.”

This sentence is based on perfect facts and wouldn’t be punishable as a lie even in court.

So what’s the actual truth?

Baek Seol-hee doesn’t need to know that.

“What I said before… I was trying to make things sound better, but… I’m sorry, Seol-hee.”

To make inconsistent lies seem true, all you need to do is cover them with a bigger lie.

“That’s how it happened.”

“Ah, I see…. How long has it been?”

“…….”

All I need is silence.

I picked up my cup of black raspberry wine, looked out the window, and waited for Baek Seol-hee to respond.

“Then… is that why you suggested adultery…?”

“Is it consideration—asking someone else to do what she can’t provide? I’m not sure.”

I clearly said I don’t know.

“My wife needed time for herself, and coincidentally, when I came to Sejong Island, we both got some time apart. That’s when it happened.”

But I keep my gaze down, swirling the cup of black raspberry wine slightly, with a bitter smile.

“Sometimes, I don’t know what’s what. I wonder if this is right, if I should continue like this.”

I add verbose yet meaningless sentences to cover the truth.

“But one thing is certain—I love my wife.”

If you think about it, this is a completely irrelevant non-sequitur, but I cloud rational judgment with emotional appeals.

“Living like this is simply my fate. It’s either heaven’s will, a trial from God, or love.”

I finish with religious belief, which is difficult to counter with rational persuasion.

“Are you disillusioned?”

And I turn the arrow toward Baek Seol-hee.

“I may have explained my situation in a somewhat pitiful way, but this is who I am. Someone who took advantage of your situation and imposed my circumstances on you without asking.”

“…No, that’s not true.”

Finally.

Baek Seol-hee begins to speak.

“You’ve done nothing wrong, Ji-hwan. And I think… she probably hasn’t done anything wrong either.”

I can see confusion in Baek Seol-hee’s eyes.

She seems to be struggling to find some comforting words—she can’t bring herself to criticize my wife since I said I love her, but she wants to console me somehow.

“Seol-hee.”

“Yes. Perhaps what happened to her was due to stress from you… um…”

“…….”

“Women have, how should I put it, um, certain things that men don’t understand.”

I see.

“Such stress can build up and lead to depression. And that might be her way of dealing with that depression.”

This woman has completely taken the bait.

“It’s stress from wanting to have a child but being unable to, manifesting in that way. You know, like in historical dramas set in the Joseon era. When a wife couldn’t bear children, they would bring in a second wife. No, that’s not quite right… um, what I mean is…”

“…….”

I’m not responding not because I’m speechless, but because I don’t want to make things worse unnecessarily.

“I’ve heard so many stories from people who struggled for years trying to have children. After experiencing a major setback, they failed with in vitro fertilization, failed with artificial insemination… It’s not just about the money—not being able to see the fruit of love between a couple really takes a toll on both people.”

Even without me saying anything, Baek Seol-hee is filling in all the details herself.

“I’ve heard of couples divorcing because they couldn’t have children. Stories of couples separating after a woman reaches a certain age without being able to bear children. Since it’s impossible to clearly determine which side has the problem… they end up wishing each other happiness and going their separate ways.”

Baek Seol-hee looked at me with a serious face.

“Can I ask you something? It might be rude, but is there a problem with either of you specifically?”

“Medically, there’s no problem.”

I told the truth.

Piecing together fragments of truth from conditional statements might come later, but at least I’ve given Baek Seol-hee the answer I can provide right now.

“Alright. Then, Ji-hwan. Do you want to have children with your wife?”

“Yes.”

No lies.

“If I could, I’d like to have enough children with my wife to form a soccer team.”

“…Eleven children?”

Baek Seol-hee’s eyes widened in shock.

Even as a figure of speech, talking about having eleven children rather than two or three is bound to cause confusion.

Isn’t eleven a bit extreme?

Yes. I deliberately chose a large number.

And since I’ve already gone this far in confusing Baek Seol-hee, I might as well follow through with another strike.

“Wouldn’t we need 22 people for a proper soccer match?”

“…That’s, that’s incredible. So, you love your wife that much?”

“Of course.”

I express my strong determination, showcasing my love for my wife.

This is the truth, after all.

“Of course, having that many children would ruin my wife’s body, so I’m just speaking figuratively.”

I recover from the exaggeration with a realistic reason, while also showing confidence that I would be up for it if it were physically possible.

“If I could, I’d like to carry the children instead of my wife, but realistically, there are biological differences between men and women that make that impossible.”

Nothing but the truth.

“It’s not about biological reproduction, nor about the miraculous probability of having children with abilities. I simply want to have children with the woman I love, to pass on everything I’ve achieved to them, to have children that my wife and I will love for our entire lives.”

I speak only the truth, without lies.

“It just… hasn’t worked out well.”

Baek Seol-hee’s expression began to darken.

“What about you, Seol-hee?”

My turn is over.

Now it’s time to turn the arrow toward Baek Seol-hee.

“Have you ever seriously thought about having a child with someone you love? Genuinely?”

“…….”

“Not marrying someone designated by the state and having their child for patriotic reasons, but having a child with someone you truly want—have you ever thought about that?”

“…….”

Baek Seol-hee’s expression gradually hardens.

Whether she’s had such thoughts or not, it’s difficult to discuss easily in this situation.

“Um.”

With a somewhat troubled face, Baek Seol-hee pointed outside.

“Can I have some time to think?”

“…….”

Normally, I shouldn’t give her time to think here.

But it doesn’t matter with Baek Seol-hee.

Why?

From a young age.

This world, this country teaches ability users like this:

-Be a good person.

-Help those in need.

“Yes. Come back when you’ve sorted out your thoughts. I’ll be tidying up the bedroom in the meantime.”

Because from childhood, the country and the world taught Baek Seol-hee to be a good person.

Against brainwashing and propaganda…

Fight with brainwashing and propaganda.

When at a disadvantage, use lies.

When advantageous, use truth.

Through this double standard, what I aim to achieve is ultimately making Baek Seol-hee “my ally.”

After all.

Netorare.

It’s what a Goblin does—brainwashing the heroine to make her his own.

* * *

At that moment.

“This is it.”

“Wow.”

Ymir’s jaw dropped when she saw the pension.

“How much does it cost per night here?”

“It varies, but for one night, at minimum….”

Whisper, whisper.

The pension owner quietly told Ymir, who covered her mouth in shock.

“That’s… really expensive…?”

“It’s a top-tier facility with its own hot spring.”

“Um, by any chance.”

Ymir lowered her voice.

“Could I book a room for next weekend? I have enough money.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. This pension only accepts one group per day. And…”

Mr. Jang shook his head.

“We’re already fully booked.”