Chapter 53: IF-017-1 Part 6

A hole in the middle of the building, and halfway through it, a dark, shadowy staircase led inward.

I looked down at Kwangcheol, who was crying and going bweeeeh while I held onto his cheeks.

“Croaar…!”

Even for Kwangcheol, he had been huge.

But now he was small.

He’d gotten shorter.

Just… changed a lot overall.

And yet, what surprised me was that his voice was exactly the same as before.

He was only slightly bigger than a plump snake, but still making those croaar sounds.

The mismatch was so funny that I started playing with his squishy cheeks.

As if I might yank them hard at any moment.

Kwangcheol got nervous.

“Craara…”

Watching him tremble like that reminded me of the old days.

Mna used to say that, remember?

She told me not to scold the Kwangcheol too harshly.

That Kwangcheol were always the kind of kids who got sad easily, and I should soothe them instead of scolding.

But then, I remembered what came after that—and I chuckled.

Once Mna found out why Kwangcheol was being punished, she started scolding him before I could even get the chance.

Yeah.

That’s how it used to be.

Kwangcheol were always up to something and getting scolded.

‘You understand?’

You little rascal.

I kept kneading Kwangcheol’s cheeks as if they were hostages, sending him a wave of psychic intent.

This little brat once made me erupt in fury.

He flipped my entire insides upside down.

That definitely deserves punishment…

‘Eeeek! No more cheek pulling! I won’t do it again! Please forgive me just this once…!’

Startled, Kwangcheol teared up and begged through psychic intent to let go of his poor cheeks.

To that pitiful little thing, I replied: “Just saying sorry is enough?”

Kwangcheol began trembling, as if he sensed what was coming.

Time for a proper punishment.

I started pulling on Kwangcheol’s cheeks—stretching to the left, then the right, then up, then down.

With every direction, Kwangcheol cried out in a new pitch of bweeeeh.

It was different from the cry of a fat snake—more colorful.

It felt like I was playing an instrument.

Yes.

Mna’s music, when she played the Milky Way as sheet music, was truly otherworldly.

I should follow her lead and practice my performance with Kwangcheol.

Yap.

‘Ancestorrrr! Please stooop…! My cheeks aren’t instruments…!’

Kwangcheol kicked his stubby legs in protest.

Hmm.

I gave it a try, but unlike Mna, it’s not easy.

‘Maybe because this instrument is alive?’

Time to stop the performance.

I pulled Kwangcheol’s cheeks to the max—

And then let go.

Boing!

His cheeks snapped back like a slingshot.

“Kwaaang!”

The recoil made Kwangcheol’s head wobble like a toy punching doll.

What a satisfying sight.

“Hehe.”

I nodded proudly as I watched Kwangcheol’s eyes spin in dizzy circles.

Okay, that’s enough punishment for now.

I’ve got questions for this strange Kwangcheol.

Need to ask him a few things…

“Ancestorrr… there’s two of youuu…”

‘Still out of it.’

‘Did I go too far?’

“Seventy-two…”

Then there’s no helping it.

Time for a drastic remedy.

I reached again for Kwangcheol’s cheeks.

They were red with handprints, but I gently rubbed them.

Then, as if I might grab them again—press.

Kwangcheol, who had been dazed, instantly froze like a statue.

Whoa.

He snapped out of it immediately!

‘N-Nooo…!’

Kwangcheol shut his eyes tightly as if bracing for another attack.

But instead, I softly patted his cheeks.

They were as soft as steamed buns now…

Kwangcheol slowly opened his teary eyes.

“Ancestor? You’re… not going to pull them?”

‘What, did you think I would?’

At that thought, Kwangcheol lowered his head to wipe his tears with his tiny arms and sighed in relief.

‘Yes… Your punishment was so scary… but I endured…!’

Smiling proudly, he nuzzled his red, swollen cheek against my hand.

That psychic message was filled with genuine joy.

Hmm.

Seeing him like this makes me think bad thoughts again.

What if I said the punishment wasn’t over yet and gave one more tug…

Nah.

This is enough.

‘Thank you for your mercy, Ancestorrr…’

He looks so happy—no need to ruin the mood.

I left Kwangcheol’s cheeks alone.

Hehe. I really am merciful.

This is what it means to be divine.

***

“Gyah.”

I gently stroked Kwangcheol as I asked, “Kwangcheol, how did you end up so small?”

When I sent that thought, Kwangcheol tilted his head and smiled sheepishly.

‘I’m not sure… Could it have been because of your grace, Ancestor…?’

Seemed like he just woke up and found himself this way.

Sheesh.

These descendants never do anything the simple way.

Well.

I didn’t have to ask.

At this distance—

I could’ve figured it out easily just by concentrating.

I only asked because it was easier.

“Gyaw.”

I looked closely at Kwangcheol.

‘Ancestor…’

When our eyes met, Kwangcheol flinched and shrank back as if embarrassed.

Well, I guess that makes sense.

I was staring straight through Kwangcheol’s entire body.

And then, at last, I saw something.

Kwangcheol’s tiny, bean-sized heart.

Covered entirely by my Celestial Flame.

Aha.

Now I think I understand what’s going on.

Yes, the last time I saw it…

The shattered fragments of Kwangcheol’s own Celestial Flame were completely buried under mine.

For a disciple, the Celestial Flame is fate itself.

Every move a disciple makes must follow the will of the flame.

If a disciple strays from their path, they become a Kwangcheol.

So in the end, Kwangcheol was also a kind of disciple.

Which meant… it was my fault.

Because I thought those long, lanky limbs were creepy and blasted him with my breath…

That intention must’ve seeped into the flame.

‘Did you know that?’

“Uuh…?”

“Nope.”

“That’s fine. You don’t need to know. Ever.”

I gently stroked Kwangcheol, who looked up at me, clueless.

“Master… your eyes are so prettyyy…”

He didn’t even remember how much I pinched his cheeks earlier, just smiled like a fool under my touch.

“Got it.”

“He’s just like Tubby Snake, isn’t he?”

Kwangcheol snuggled into my hand, unaware that the corners of my mouth had curled up in a sly grin.

***

A little while later, Kwangcheol made a request.

“Master… I know it’s shameless, but could you grant a prayer…?”

‘A prayer?’

‘Is there something you want to say?’

Kwangcheol hesitated and slowly opened his mouth.

“Those humans…”

He was pointing at the red-haired one and the group in black vests.

Oh, look at you.

I knew you were angry when we first met, and you still haven’t let it go, huh?

I readied my fingers to punish him again, ready to pull at his cheeks.

“Don’t be shy. Just say it. Hehe.”

But the content of Kwangcheol’s prayer caught me completely off guard.

“Could you… help them?”

What the—

That’s way more wholesome than I expected.

Out of all the Kwangcheol who complain about everything, this one especially seemed to hate humans the most.

When I first showed up, he was shortened and being chased.

So naturally, I assumed he wanted revenge.

But no—this was the total opposite.

I awkwardly pulled back my hands that were ready to discipline him under the excuse of a “bad prayer.”

Tch.

I looked over at the humans.

The red-haired one I’d seen before, and the black vest guys standing a bit apart.

‘How was I going to move them all?’

Even if I moved one per second, it’d take dozens of seconds—and if I did it that fast, their human bodies would explode.

I didn’t want to carry them myself.

Good thing I didn’t have to.

There was someone perfect for the job nearby.

I sent a telepathic thought upward.

‘Nessho?’

But despite hearing me loud and clear, Nessho didn’t respond.

You little—

“If you answer now, I’ll let it go. Come on, answer. Right now.”

“…Master, why are you calling me?”

At last, Nessho answered.

“Come down here.”

“Why? What’s going on?”

Contrary to my expectations, Nessho didn’t come immediately and started dragging her feet.

Stop talking back and just get down here.

“…Okay.”

With that reply, a short time passed.

***

Then a circle appeared in front of me, and Nessho popped out from within.

“Master, I’m here!”

Alright.

Kwangcheol, talk to her.

I stepped back.

“Uwah, who’s this…? She feels familiar somehow.”

Nessho stared strangely at Kwangcheol.

But Kwangcheol’s eyes sparkled as he approached her.

“So nice to meet you… Can you send those humans up to the surface…?”

I gave a proud nod.

However—

Nessho glanced at the humans and shook her head.

“They’re two-leg beasts! I don’t like them!”

Ugh, here we go again with the two-leg beast nonsense.

My brow furrowed.

She keeps calling humans two-leg beasts… but then treats the most inhuman human, Kang Hana, like a normal person.

I don’t get it.

That’s when it happened.

Kwangcheol collapsed, shocked by Nessho’s refusal.

He sent a deeply emotional telepathic message.

“Nooo… You can’t look down on humans… If you do, you’ll end up like me… beyond saving…”

He clung to her feet, gently patting her.

“W-What? That’s not it… They’re just really two-leggy…”

Nessho looked flustered, clearly not expecting such a serious reply.

She stammered for a moment and then finally blurted out—

“…Forget it! I’ll take them! Do whatever you want!”

Then she vanished back into the circle.

But unlike before, the circle didn’t disappear.

That was the difference.

Kwangcheol, seeing that, came running toward me with a big smile.

He grabbed my tail and rubbed his cheek against it.

“Thanks to you, Master… Thank you sooo much…!”

A prayer of pure gratitude flowed from him.

Huh.

Nessho did all the work, but I’m the one getting the blessing.

Hehe.

I twirled my tail around Kwangcheol.

Wrapped up in a flash, Kwangcheol got all dizzy.

“Dizzyyyy…”

Now that I’d gathered all my so-called descendants, the only thing left was to head back to the lake.

‘Maybe because he was mid-prayer, but Kwangcheol felt warm.’

And then, out of nowhere—

A sudden flash of memory from my human days.

“Gyah?”

At first, I was going to use them all separately…

But what if—

I laid on top of Kang Hana floating in the lake, rested my head on Tubby Snake, cranked up Nessho’s AC power, and placed Kwangcheol on my belly for a cuddle.

‘Wouldn’t that be the comfiest setup ever…?’

Gasp.

Hehe.

So excited by the thought, I hugged Kwangcheol tightly.

“Masterrr… I can’t breatheee…”

Kwangcheol squirmed in protest, but I didn’t really care.

‘Why would I, when it sounded just as exciting as finding the third Dragon Orb…?!’