Chapter 22: If you don’t cross the line

“We’ll be back soon, so keep an eye on the house.”

Ha-yeon, with a bright smile, headed for the door, addressing Estelle and Liera.

Liera sulked; Estelle remained impassive.

‘Because Estelle and I have our weekday date…’

Perhaps Estelle was the most calculating and formidable of my wives.

“We’re just going to pick up the elixir from Baek-ryong’s place and have a meal. Nothing to worry about.”

Though seemingly addressed to both, my words were meant for Liera.

Estelle wasn’t worried at all.

“Okay… But come back soon, honey.”

Despite her reluctance, she knew how beneficial the Divine-grade elixir was and wouldn’t stop me.

She was possessive.

But her possessiveness stemmed from deep love.

Why would anyone be possessive of someone they didn’t love?

Despite her twisted sense of ownership, she didn’t want to be hated by me.

Emotionless, I hadn’t understood her love.

But after Jin Baek-ryong incident cracked the dam of my anger, feelings of love were slowly returning.

The more I regained, the more apprehensive I became.

If a mere fraction of my emotions could evoke such strong feelings for them, how deep must their love be, experiencing the full spectrum of emotions?

And I felt guilty for not being able to reciprocate fully.

This life revolved around the connections and emotions I’d built over 17 years, so it was undeniable that my wives had taken a backseat.

Honestly, given the choice between emotionless connections from the past and the bonds forged over 17 years of shared memories and feelings, which would one prioritize?

Anyone would prioritize the emotional connection. And that frustrated me. I yearned to regain my emotions quickly.

But emotions couldn’t be rushed.

I resolved to cherish them even more.

“We’re getting our uniforms tomorrow, right, oppa?”

“Yeah. We’re in Class A, so we get free, custom-made uniforms. Let’s go together tomorrow morning.”

“Okay.”

Getting school uniforms with wives who were at least 29 years old… It felt strange.

Did Estelle sense my thoughts? She glared at me and pinched me lightly.

“Just go and come back quickly. Don’t get any funny ideas.”

‘Does she have telepathy or something?’

“Alright, I’ll be back.”

I rubbed the slightly reddened spot where she’d pinched me and headed out.

Ha-yeon, wearing a flowy dress, waited outside.

It was a novel sight, seeing her in a dress after she’d always worn black martial arts attire as the leader of the Demonic Heavenly Sect. She looked like an ordinary woman, not a martial arts master.

“Did you have a good chat with your concubines?”

“We talked, but… don’t call them ‘concubines’ in front of them. They’ll start a fight.”

I couldn’t stop them if they started fighting.

“Don’t worry, I know. I’d prefer to maintain amicable relations with them.”

That was a relief.

“…As long as they don’t cross the line.”

A glint of malice flashed in her eyes.

‘Is this really a relief…?’

The malice vanished, and she returned to her normal self.

“By the way, this is the first time I’m wearing this dress. What do you think…?”

She held the edges of her dress, twirling around to show it off.

Unused to presenting herself this way, she blushed slightly.

She looked stunning.

“It looks great on you. You’re really beautiful today.”

I reached out and stroked her hair. Having never experienced such affection, she enjoyed my touch.

Her father, a Heavenly Demon through and through, had never shown her such tenderness.

Perhaps her lack of familial affection had made her more susceptible to my charms.

“Show me, don’t just tell me…”

She closed her eyes, stood on tiptoe, and tilted her head up towards me.

I leaned in, interlaced our fingers, and kissed her.

Perhaps due to returning emotions amplifying the physical memories, I felt more skilled at kissing.

The taste of peach from her saliva, the sound of our hearts beating in unison against our chests… It was intoxicating.

Despite the cool spring air, our clasped hands grew sweaty from the prolonged kiss.

The long strand of saliva connecting our lips testified to its duration.

“…You’ve gotten better.”

She was referring to when she’d first arrived in this world.

“I think it’s because my emotions are returning.”

There was no other explanation.

“Intense memories help restore emotions, right?”

“Maybe…? The Jin Baek-ryong incident was the first time, so I’m not sure.”

“Then look at this.”

She released my hand and stepped back slightly.

Holding the edges of her dress, she lifted it, revealing what lay beneath.

Beneath the girlish dress was a rather… adult piece of lingerie. A daring design that barely qualified as underwear.

Lowering her dress, she smiled.

“Are your… emotions returning now?”

It was indeed an intense memory.

The most shocking thing I’d experienced recently, besides the incident with Seung-ah.

“I’d say that was a pretty intense memory…”

Thanks to that, I walked with a slight limp for a while.

Before leaving, I applied a disguise.

Countless videos about me had surfaced on YouTube yesterday.

I couldn’t risk being recognized.

[The Awakened Kim Yu-won: China is Shocked, Japan is Horrified, and America is Amazed!]
[Beatrice Academy’s Top Freshman, Kim Yu-won: Who is He?]
[Why Awakened from Other Countries Tremble at the Name Kim Yu-won.]

The titles alone made me dizzy. I closed YouTube without watching any of them.

[Skill acquired: Disguise (1-star).]

It became a skill since it was my first time using it in this life.

Disguised, I walked with Ha-yeon, enjoying the sights, until we reached the address Jin Baek-ryong had sent.

“What the…”

The sight that greeted us was shocking.

“Oh… impressive.”

A mansion far larger than the Heavenly Demon Palace from my Demonic Heavenly Sect days stood before us.

“He said his company and guild building were separate, and this was just his house. How can it be this huge?”

The monthly staff expenses alone must be astronomical.

“It will be inherited by your disciple eventually, so it’s practically yours. Don’t be too surprised.”

Ha-yeon spoke as if a disciple’s possessions naturally belonged to their master. A true martial artist at heart.

Beside the massive gate, over 10 meters tall, was a doorbell. I dispelled my disguise and pressed it.

Ding-dong.

A voice came through the intercom.

-Do you have an appointment?

An appointment was apparently necessary to visit a house like this.

-I’m a friend of Jin Baek-ryong. He invited me over. Is he in?

-You’re Young Master’s friend! I’ll open the gate right away.

The voice brightened considerably at the mention of Jin Baek-ryong’s friend.

‘Is this… the first time he’s invited friends over?’

Considering his personality, so detached from modern society, it was plausible.

The gate opened, and we entered.

Another gate, beyond the first, opened automatically as we approached. Jin Baek-ryong waited on the other side.

“You’ve arri…”

He was about to call me “Master.” I quickly used Sound Transmission.

-Speak casually! And don’t call me “Master”!

“…You’re here. Yu-won. And Ha-yeon.”

‘Phew…’

Crisis averted.

“Yeah. You said you’d treat us to a feast?”

“Yes. Welcome.”

He responded as a friend, not a disciple.

“Alright. Let’s go to my room.”

I’d thought we’d have to meet his father first, but thankfully, he got straight to the point.

We followed him inside. The mansion was so large it took us three minutes to reach his room.

“Here it is.”

We entered a room larger than my living room. More than envy, I felt a pang of sympathy for whoever had to clean it.

‘I should get a reasonably sized house.’

Too big was inconvenient.

“Everyone, leave us.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

The staff exited. Jin Baek-ryong retrieved a wooden box from a corner of the room and presented it to me.

“The elixir is here.”

A wooden box containing a Divine-grade elixir, an item that would significantly accelerate my growth.