Ch.190Chapter 190 – Heavenly Demon, I Am Already Spoken For

With an elite guard from the Paseong Gold Family and Baek Yuwol’s escort, I finally arrived at the Paseong Gold Family’s main residence, my original destination, after a day of traveling from Cheonma Mountain.

The Paseong Gold Family’s main residence was adorned with numerous gold decorations everywhere, perhaps befitting the “gold” in their name.

As the massive gate leading into the Paseong Gold Family’s main residence opened, there stood Geum Taeyang, the head of the family.

“I apologize, Count. I must sincerely express my regrets that our inadequate abilities led to your involvement in such an unfortunate incident.”

Geum Taeyang repeatedly bowed to me in apology.

In truth, my kidnapping was entirely the work of Manoe, who acted alone to awaken Cheonma.

So it would be correct to say that Geum Taeyang was not at fault.

However, since I was already somewhat entangled with the Cheonma Divine Sect, there seemed no need to reveal the truth here.

“I accept your apology, Family Head. These things happen in life, don’t they?”

I accepted the family head’s apology, and Geum Taeyang’s face brightened.

“Hahaha. As expected, the Count is magnanimous. For now, please rest well today. Starting tomorrow, I’ll arrange for you to properly tour our Paseong Gold Family.”

“I appreciate your consideration, Family Head.”

Geum Taeyang, extremely satisfied that I had accepted his apology, instructed his servants to provide me with the best room.

Incidentally, Baek Yuwol decided to stay in separate quarters outside the main residence.

She said that unlike other places, the security at a major family’s main residence surpassed even that of the imperial palace, so there was no need for her to enter.

“If a kidnapping were to occur in the main residence, it would truly be a crisis threatening the family’s existence, so I believe the Paseong Gold Family has made thorough preparations.”

Hearing Baek Yuwol’s explanation, it certainly made sense.

If I were in their position and a guest I had invited to my home was kidnapped due to my negligence, the responsibility would ultimately fall on me for failing to maintain proper security.

Hmm, whether nobility or major families, it seems quite difficult to protect power once you have it.

Anyway, I entered the guest room provided by Geum Taeyang.

“Wow.”

The guest room was truly the epitome of luxury.

A red blanket embroidered with gold thread was spread across the bed, and the room had a subtle fragrance that tickled my nose, suggesting they had burned incense to eliminate any musty odors.

“This is your room, guest. How do you find it? Is it to your liking?”

“It’s satisfactory.”

“If you need anything, please let us know. If you require light refreshments or anything else, just pull the red cord.”

Oh, a kind of room service, is it?

Since I’m a guest visiting their family, they intend to provide proper hospitality.

“If you need bedding or clothing, please pull the white cord.”

Bedding and clothing… is that really necessary?

The clothes I’m wearing already have a Clean magic spell cast on them.

And not just any spell, but a permanent Clean magic spell personally cast by Sister Regina.

So I don’t need to wash myself or my clothes separately, as they always remain in a comfortable state.

“And if you feel lonely during the long night, please pull the black cord. Then…”

Something feels suspicious… why emphasize “long night” and “loneliness”… surely not?

“We will send women selected from the family, known for their beauty, to your bedchamber…”

“That’s fine. There’s no need for that.”

Goodness, is this person trying to socially bury me?

If rumors spread that a guest from the Western Continent was engaging in debauchery with women, my reputation would ultimately suffer.

The Paseong Gold Family servant seemed to understand my words and quietly bowed before withdrawing.

After the servant left the room, I sighed.

“Sigh…”

I really miss Sister Regina today.

To be honest, as a man, I was slightly tempted by the servant’s words, but…

‘No matter how pretty the people here are, they’re all small anyway.’

My preferences are unwavering.

The bigger, the better. Of course, if they’re too big, I’m slightly hesitant, but basically, I prefer a size that I can fully embrace.

Besides, perhaps because this is the Eastern Continent, those things attached to the chests of non-martial artists were smaller than I had expected.

The people wandering around Glesius Academy, Arkenium, and Aurelios at least carried something the size of apples or pears…

‘Do mages also get stronger magic power if those are bigger? Then do swordsmen emit stronger aura if those are bigger? Hmm, does that mean martial artists also improve their skills if those are bigger?’

Come to think of it, both Cheonma and Manoe, whom I met here, definitely had large internal energy pouches on their chests.

“Cheonma wasn’t small either. Though smaller compared to Sister Regina.”

Of course, compared to Sister Regina, she would be considered small.

Can’t be helped. Sister Regina’s are… national power-level size.

“What did you say was small about this master?”

“Whoa!”

At that moment, I was startled by Cheonma’s sudden voice behind me and almost fell forward.

“Be careful. How can a man worthy of this master’s favor treat his body so carelessly?”

Fortunately, Cheonma grabbed my arm, allowing me to narrowly avoid the embarrassment of falling to the floor.

“Ah, um. Thank you, Lady Cheonma.”

“Hehe, it’s fine. Even such mistakes of yours feel truly endearing because they show your humanity.”

…Wait, why is this person acting like this too?

With Sister Regina, I can understand because I helped solve her lifelong curse of stunted growth.

But Lady Cheonma, whom I’ve met only once—why is she being so nice to me?

“Excuse me… but this is the Paseong Gold Family’s main residence. How did you get in?”

“There is no place in this land that this master cannot go. It’s a new technique I’ve mastered after recently advancing in my cultivation. I shall call it… ‘Cheonma Dimensional Step.'”

…Eh? A new technique? But wait, she advanced in her cultivation recently?

“Lady Cheonma, didn’t you already master the Cheonma Divine Art to the 10-star level?”

I’m certain that in the story, Cheonma herself said her martial arts were at the 10-star level, and that alone was enough for her to claim she was the strongest martial artist in the world.

Yet even Cheonma had never used a technique called Cheonma Dimensional Step.

Not even when she received news that the Cheonma Divine Sect’s headquarters was under attack.

“You know so much about this master’s martial arts achievements. You truly are a talent worth coveting. However, there’s more to it. Until recently, this master was attempting to skip two levels at once, challenging the 12-star realm from the 10-star realm.”

Considering whether skipping two levels at once is easy or difficult, I would definitely say the latter.

In a world where reaching the 10-star level is already considered mastery, the fact that she could advance two more levels proves that Cheonma is truly an extraordinary being.

“Of course, this master was attacked while exhausted from training and consolidating insights. I barely managed to eliminate all enemies, but due to overexertion, I fell into qi deviation.”

Hmm. It seems she became more exhausted than expected from trying to skip two levels at once.

“This master was truly miserable then. My mind was conscious, but my internal energy wouldn’t move as I intended… it was enough to make me wish for death.”

Hmm, was it that painful?

But I can understand to some extent. If everything you’ve built over a lifetime suddenly disappears in an instant, how many people could avoid despair and rise again?

Especially for someone as proud as Cheonma, martial arts was her everything, so it would have been even more devastating.

“But then, you appeared and pulled this master out from the cold, dark, deep abyss. How could this master not be grateful to you? It’s as if you’ve given this master a chance to start a new life.”

Hmm. That is indeed quite significant… Qi deviation is dangerous enough to reduce a person to something close to an invalid.

“So I hope you won’t reject the favor this master bestows upon you too much. This master has never bestowed favor upon anyone in this land before.”

“…”

I’m not sure whether I should be happy about this or not.

It’s clear that Cheonma has taken a liking to me, and the most likely possibility is that it’s gratitude toward someone who saved her life.

But seeing how she appeared in the Paseong Gold Family’s main residence…

‘This is like a creepy yandere character who enjoys observing the protagonist.’

Surely not… right?

Come on, someone of Cheonma’s stature wouldn’t have romantic feelings for someone like me.

“I hope that favor is because I saved your life.”

“Why, is there a reason this master shouldn’t have romantic feelings for you?”

Cheonma looked at me with an intrigued expression.

“Because I already have someone to whom I’ve given my heart.”

I finally revealed the truth to Cheonma.

I have someone I love, so please don’t harbor romantic feelings for me.

“Hahaha. And why should that be a problem?”

And Cheonma’s response exceeded my imagination.