Side Story Chapter 76 - There is No Light Here (1)

"I'm off to work. I'll be home past midnight again tonight, so don't wait around for me and go to bed," said Cha Yeon-Joo as she slammed the front door shut and left.

Han Seol-Ah stared at the front door worryingly and said, "She's going to work without eating breakfast again... is she that busy at the guild lately?"

Yeon-Joo had been coming home late far past midnight and going to work early for the past five days. She was not sleeping in the large bedroom with Kang-Woo but taking short naps in her private bedroom. Seeing how on-edge she was, she also seemed considerably stressed out.

Oh Kang-Woo smiled awkwardly and scratched his head. "Mm. Who knows?"

"I think it's because of the complicated matter she has been dealing with at the guild."

Seol-Ah thought Yeon-Joo's sudden change in behavior stemmed from problems at her guild but Kang-Woo knew exactly what the problem was.

'Did I go too far?'

Kang-Woo found himself inadvertently teasing Yeon-Joo far more than he usually did. Getting hurt by that, Yeon-Joo had not even been looking Kang-Woo in the eyes.

'I should set aside some private time with Yeon-Joo.'

Thinking back, he admitted he had gone too far. He needed to apologize to her for teasing her so much. He had a feeling it wouldn't be too hard; although she was upset, she always came home every night and Kang-Woo noticed her hesitantly stealing glances at him occasionally.

"Hehehe. So gosh darn cute."

Every time he noticed Yeon-Joo twisting in embarrassment, he wanted to run to her and give her a big hug.

'But I need to endure it.'

Apologizing came first.

"P-Pardon? Wh-Why are you calling me cute all of a sudden?"

"Huh?"

Seol-Ah blushed and swept her hair behind her ear, misunderstanding that Kang-Woo was talking about her. Kang-Woo remained confused momentarily but pulled her toward him by the waist and kissed her.

"Because I love you to death, Darling."

"J-Jeez! You shouldn't say something like that so out of the blue!!" shouted Seol-Ah as she closed her eyes in embarrassment. She trembled as if she were desperately holding something back. She then smiled and stroked Kang-Woo's hair. "Fufu. I love you too, Kang-Woo."

'Ahhh. I'm being healed.'

Barely anything could top being softly held by Seol-Ah.

"I'm... sorry, Kang-Woo," said Seol-Ah sorrowfully as she stroked Kang-Woo's hair.

Kang-Woo looked up in confusion.

"Huh? Sorry for what?"

As far as he knew, there was nothing Seol-Ah needed to apologize to him for. No, even if she did something wrong, he could laugh it off as nothing.

"For showing an awful side of myself after failing to suppress my impulses."

"Oh."

As Seol-Ah mentioned, she looked extremely dangerous as she massacred the Succubi.

Seol-Ah continued dejectedly, "I want to hold myself back too, but... my mind goes blank once the impulse takes over."

"Hehe. Have you been worried about that this whole time?"

"Even I could tell I looked insane. I-I'm worried you'll come to hate me..."

"That will never happen," said Kang-Woo firmly as he tightly embraced her. He could never come to hate Seol-Ah. "I don't care whether you go insane, let your impulses take over, or show a detestable side of yourself. You just need to stay by my side."

He did not need anything else. Even if she were to chain him up after failing to control her impulses, brutally massacre any woman out of jealousy for trying to approach him, or fall into madness due to her obsession, he did not care. Others could see Seol-Ah's obsessive love as twisted and insane, but he did not.

"My life with you is what I've been desiring for ten millennia."

Hence, her existence itself was perfect and pure.

"Kang-Woo..." Seol-Ah stared at Kang-Woo with trembling eyes. Her smile widened like waves forming after throwing a pebble in a pond. "Me too... I'm so happy that I met you, Kang-Woo."

"Hehehe. So don't think about pointless stuff like that again. Got it?"

"Okay."

Seol-Ah smiled as she and Kang-Woo kissed.

"Oh, but you'll have to change one thing," Kang-Woo mentioned.

"Pardon? Ch-Change what?"

"Make time for yourself."

It was no exaggeration to say Seol-Ah's life excessively revolved around Kang-Woo. He was happy that his lover felt so strongly about him but it did not stop him from being worried.

"For example, go shopping with Yeon-Joo and Lilith... or somewhere to play with Echidna... or find a hobby you can enjoy by yourself."

Kang-Woo was not one to have many hobbies but he was not as bad as Seol-Ah; she had severed herself from all forms of entertainment like a monk and was spending her time only for Kang-Woo.

'Joys in life aren't necessarily felt only with your lover.'

Kang-Woo wanted to let Seol-Ah enjoy other joys in life besides himself.

"But all I need in my life is y—"

"Don't give me that. You know I'm not saying I dislike being with you."

"Mmm." Seol-Ah fell into thought and then clapped her hands together as if she had thought of a good idea. "In that case, could I take some classes?"

"Classes? For what?"

"Fufu. Cooking classes. I want to learn a wider variety of dishes."

"Mm. Everything you make for me is delicious, though."

"Hohoho. Thank you very much, but I want to gain some professional knowledge. After all, it brings me so much joy whenever you find my food delicious."

"Really?"

Kang-Woo had no reason to refuse.

"Hehe. Okay then, I should take some time today to search for a good cooking school~"

Seol-Ah went into her room with a smile.

As Kang-Woo stared at Seol-Ah's back in silence, Lilith giggled with one hand over her mouth after returning from the Hall of Protection.

"Fufufu. You're smiling so big that your lips are about to rip, my king."

"Oh, welcome back."

"My, my, I always wonder if our cute little Seol-Ah really is a fallen angel whenever I look at her~"

"She's the same to me regardless of whether or not she's a fallen angel."

"Oh? I think I'm getting a bit jealous."

"I love you just as much, Lilith."

"Fufu, then—"

"Oh, but I hate your tentacles."

"Hmph," Lilith cutely snorted with her index finger on her lips. "Oh, come to think of it, I have something to report to you, my king."

"What is it?"

"I heard from Layla today that a suspicious church has been rapidly expanding its influence as of late."

"A suspicious church?"

"Yes. It's called the Church of Radiance."

"..."

Just from the name, it was similar to his Church of Splendor.

'Though the Church of Splendor is practically gone on Earth.'

The Church of Splendor, which had spread to Earth from Aernor, was almost gone on Earth. It was due to various reasons such as a difference in culture or how nonsystematic it was, but the main reason was because the church was not managed during Kang-Woo's three years of absence being stuck in the Abyss of the Demonic Sea. A church could not last long without donations, a scripture to learn, or even a place to hold a service.

'I heard it's still booming in Aernor.'

Whatever the case, Kang-Woo no longer cared. Now that he had acquired Transcendent-rank Deific Essence, the amount of Divinity he earned from faith was but a drop in the ocean.

'I guess it's better than nothing.'

However, he wouldn't be bothered even if he didn't have it; a drop in the ocean was still something but it did not change the fact that it was nothing but a drop. Time would be better spent fighting otherworldly beings in Gates than bothering with the Church of Splendor.

"What kind of church is it?" Kang-Woo asked.

"I'm not sure. They have yet to fully reveal themselves, but they've been saying shady things like how they needed to evacuate to paradise since the Earth would soon meet its end."

"So it's a cult." Kang-Woo had never seen a normal religion that prophesized the end of the world. "If you're reporting it to me, then the religion must've spread quite far, right?"

"Yes, and the matter Si-Hun has been investigating is related to the Church of Radiance."

"Oh."

'No wonder I couldn't get in touch with him. He was investigating this matter.'

If Kim Si-Hun was tasked to investigate, it meant the situation was quite dire.

"Is he still investigating?" Kang-Woo asked.

"No, he completed his investigation and returned."

"Really?"

Kang-Woo nodded and turned around.

'I should hear it directly from him.'

There was nothing better than hearing about the situation from the investigator.

'And I'll get to see him after a while.'

Kang-Woo wanted to see his little brother since it had been a while.

"Right then, I'm going out to meet Si-Hun."

"Shall I come with you?" Lilith asked.

"It's fine. I'm just gonna see him and get a quick rundown."

Kang-Woo headed to the Hall of Protection through a Gate and entered a familiar white hallway.

"It's been a while, Kang-Woo," Layla greeted.

"Sure has~ How've you been, sister-in-law?" replied Kang-Woo casually as he waved.

They used to speak formally but have been talking more casually to each other lately since they had become quite close.

"It's been busy, but... I've been fine. What brings you here?"

"I'm here to see Si-Hun."

"Oh, he's in his room."

"Hehe. How have you two been getting along lately?"

"We're getting along great. But..."

"But what?"

"I think he's been avoiding me since recently."

"Eh?" Kang-Woo couldn't believe Si-Hun would do such a thing. "Did you force the dog ears on him or something?"

"No, nothing like that... I mean, I bought them but I haven't brought them up yet."

"So you did buy them."

'Poor Si-Hun.'

"Hehe. Don't worry, sister-in-law. I'll get to the bottom of this."

"Please don't mention anything about me telling you about it."

"Sure thing."

Kang-Woo nodded and knocked on Si-Hun's door.

"Hyung-nim...?"

Si-Hun came out of his room immediately after Kang-Woo knocked on his door, likely from sensing Kang-Woo's presence. Kang-Woo had not seen Si-Hun in a while but he was as breathtakingly handsome as ever. However, Kang-Woo's expression hardened as he stared at him.

"I-It's been a while, hyung-nim," Si-Hun stuttered, considerably flustered by Kang-Woo. "I'm sorry I haven't called. The investigation took longer than I expected. Oh, why don't you come in first? Would you like something to drink—"

"Hey," Kang-Woo interrupted.

"Hyung-nim...?"

Si-Hun looked back at him in confusion. Kang-Woo placed his hand on Si-Hun's shoulder and violently ripped his shirt.

"Wh-What are you doing, hyung-nim?!"

Si-Hun stepped backward in shock. Kang-Woo caught up to him in a flash and tore up the rest of the half-torn shirt, exposing Si-Hun's extraordinarily toned body.

"That's my goddamn line," Kang-Woo replied as he glared at Si-Hun's bare upper body with a grimace. "Who the fuck did this to you?"

There was a massive wound stretching from his left chest to his pelvis.