Chapter 423 - That's a bit... (1)

“What the hell did I just say?”

Yeonwoo clutched her face. As Lee Gun had requested, she had told his Constructs about the wish fulfillment plan. But she also recalled what she had said to Lee Gun.

- Marry me.

When Lee Gun had said he’d grant any wish of hers, she had unconsciously blurted that out.

As she thought back on it, she realized how embarrassing it was. This was why Yeonwoo let out a soundless scream after the telepathic communication ended. The weight of her words finally hit her.

‘What if Gun thinks I’m weird?’

Of course, she had no idea what had made her speak those words. However, something had flashed through her mind when she had heard his question. It was a memory of a time when she had lived with Junwoo and Lee Gun.

- Ah. If there really is a god, I want to hit him.

Junwoo grumbled as he spoke.

- I don’t mind being born as a human, but why did I have to be born a male?

Yeonwoo and Junwoo were twin snakes. Junwoo was younger, but they had been sisters.

Of course, gods could change themselves more freely as they became high-rank gods. They were transcendent beings, so gender didn’t mean much to them. The problem came when the twins realized they had reincarnated as humans.

Of course, they were able to avoid detection from the gods and grow up thanks to the change in gender, but...

- Since I can’t have Gun hyung, I’ll concede him to you, Noona. Don’t let someone else steal him from you.

- I’m just glad that we can live like a family.

- That’s completely different from being able to become a real family. That’s an entirely separate problem!

At the time, Yeonwoo hadn’t thought much about it. She had just laughed it off.

‘Why is Gun so popular?’

After she was reunited with Gun, she realized a lot of people coveted him. There was even a brat who wanted to use the power of Cycle on himself!

Of course, Lee Gun ignored all of them, yet for some reason, Yeonwoo had developed a crisis of awareness when it came to him.

This was why she had spoken what was in her heart without realizing it. Yeonwoo covered her face from embarrassment.

On the other hand, the Gemini Saint Heiji was angry. She had been with Yeonwoo inside the Scorpio temple’s holy ground.

Although she hadn’t heard the conversation between Yeonwoo and Lee Gun, she had seen how the Constructs of the Serpent Bearer had reacted. She picked up on what was going on.

Heiji immediately went to her fellow Zodiac Saint. She grabbed Hailey by the collar. “Why are you standing by and doing nothing?”

“??”

Hailey looked confused, and it made Heiji’s insides burn. She shook Hailey. “Didn’t you hear what’s going on? That woman is a Construct, so she’ll have her wish granted! It’s obvious that she brought up marriage! Are you going to stand by and do nothing?”

Heiji looked at Hailey as if she should be doing something. However, Hailey was calm like an ice princess. “She is his Construct. Of course, he’ll grant her wish.”

“What! You are taking their marriage as a given!”

“What? I think Gun will treat her very well.”

When Hailey said that, Heiji pounded her chest in frustration. They had never been close even as Zodiac Saints, but when it came to such matters, Heiji was extremely incompatible with her.

“Can you watch them act lovey-dovey?” Heiji asked.

“Mmm... I doubt I can see it.”

“See! You won’t be able to stand it either!”

“Although it would be great if I could see it.”

“...?”

Heiji furrowed her brows. What the hell was Hailey talking about right now?

Hailey continued to speak, sounding a bit sad, “By that time, I won’t be in the picture.”

“...???” Heiji looked at Hailey for an explanation.

Instead of answering, Hailey recalled what Scorpio had told her. It was around the time when Hailey had taken on the persona of Black Scorpion and followed Lee Gun to the Divine world.

For the very first time, she had been able to converse with Scorpio in person, and she had heard something unexpected.

- I know how you feel, Hailey. However, I’m telling you this because I consider you as a daughter.

- !

- It can’t be helped that you have feelings for the snake god, but it can go no further than that.

- What do you mean by that?

- You do realize you have a bounty on you, right? Do you know why that bounty was placed?

- It was during the invasion of the Divine world... Is it because I damaged the Divine world...?

- No. It might look like that on the surface, but the reason is the Karmic debt stemming from your origin.

- Origin...?

- You are a Cluder, yet you aren’t able to change into your monster form. Do you know why?

- ...?

- You are a forbidden child. You are a half-breed between a Cluder and a god.

- ...!

This had surprised Hailey. She had always wondered about her appearance, yet she had never imagined her father to be from the Divine world.

- Your father was my friend.

At the same time, a question was answered.

- Is that why you chose me as your Zodiac Saint?

- That’s correct. There is no way I would make a pure-blooded Cluder my Zodiac Saint.

It made sense. Scorpio had reacted very negatively when she saw Eternal Change. Moreover, Hailey wouldn’t have been able to use the power of the Zodiac unless she had the blood of a god flowing through her.

- When the snake god realized what you were, didn’t he say you smelled like someone from the side of humanity?

- ...!

He had said that and declined to kill her. Back then, Hailey had thought she wasn’t fully a monster. She now knew the reason. However, the surprising part was yet to come.

- The Karmic debt is the reason your mother remains captured. It is why the gods can exploit her.

- My mother is currently imprisoned by the gods?

- That’s right. She is the first-generation monarch Flame. She was captured because of that Karmic debt, and she is being fed to the Divine world as a nutrient.

- ...!

Hailey didn’t even need to ask the why of it.

- Cluders and gods are enemies. It is forbidden to have a relationship with each other. It is much worse if a child is born between the two.

That was a rule of the Divine world. Since the forbidden child was made, the first-generation monarch Flame was captured, and Hailey, who had still been a child at the time, had a bounty placed on her.

The reason behind the rule was unknown, but the mixing of blood was considered taboo.

- When two races get closer, the weaker one dies

- ...!!

It was a type of provision and curse.

- Anyway, let me give you this warning. Forget about having a physical relationship with the snake god. You shouldn’t get close to him. Your lifespan is already very short as a forbidden child (half-breed).

Hailey had already known her lifespan wasn’t long. She knew she had only twenty years left from the time she met Lee Gun for the first time. She had known she wouldn’t be able to protect Lee Gun throughout his lifetime.

This was why she had chosen to become a Zodiac Saint early on and planned on eradicating the monsters on the earth.

Basically, Hailey didn’t have long to live once Lee Gun came back.

Furthermore, Lee Gun was a god now, and he was overwhelmingly more powerful than Hailey. This meant that Hailey would be the one to die if she got close to Lee Gun.

Although she already knew this, Hailey still chose to join hands with Lee Gun. In other words, her lifespan had become much shorter now, yet Hailey didn’t think her life had become shorter.

Instead of sharing the inside story, Hailey discreetly said to Heiji, “I will be satisfied if I can die while I protect Lee Gun like this. It was enough that I was able to kiss him.”

Heiji felt like she was having a mental breakdown. The kiss wasn't the problem right now! It looked like there was a problem with Hailey’s lifespan! She had said she wouldn’t be able to see Lee Gun’s marriage. This implied that she wouldn’t live past a year or two.

“What do you mean...!”

Yeonwoo bit her lips. She had been secretly listening to the conversation from a distance.

‘The reason is her Karmic debt...!’

Yeonwoo knew about the forbidden child.

‘I thought it was only a rumor.’

That wasn’t important right now. If Hailey died, Lee Gun would surely be sad.

‘Hailey purposefully kept this information away from Gun.’

Hailey had accepted that her life would be shortened once she became a Zodiac Saint. It seemed she was prepared for her death, which could happen at any moment.

Yeonwoo became conflicted. At the end of the day, she didn’t want Hailey to die.

‘If we have the Rule Book, we can change the rule itself.’

Valhalla’s goddess of fate possessed it right now. She was the Construct of Valhalla’s Great Spirit.

Yeonwoo’s eyes started to shine as if she had come up with an idea.

* * *

[Ahhk!! Master! Please compose yourself!]

[You shouldn’t kill him! You can’t kill him!]

Lee Gun’s Constructs were desperate as they clung to his arms and legs.

[Master! Please calm down!!!]

[You must not kill him!]

“Fuck off! I’m going to kill him!”

[I get that you don’t like what was proposed, but it’s an exceptional offer!]

[A Great Spirit is willing to become your Construct!]

[That is why—]

“Exceptional offer, my ass!!!”

Yes, the Great Spirit of Kunlun was willing to become Lee Gun’s Construct. He was willing to help Lee Gun get rid of the other Great Spirits. However, there was a catch.

- I don't need to marry you. You just need to live as a goddess.

“You’re courting death!” Lee Gun took out Heaven’s Punishment, planning on breaking open the head of Kunlun’s Great Spirit. His eyes flashed. “Do you think I’ll stand still and do nothing after hearing such words? What did you call it? Exceptional?! How can you call yourselves my Constructs!”

[It is an exceptional offer!]

“What?!!”

[You don’t have to marry him! You just have to change your appearance!]

[That’s right! High-rank gods are transcendent and noble beings! The humanoid form isn’t that important!]

“It’s important!! It’s very important!” Lee Gun let out the power of Death. When it looked like he was going to kill anyone, the Great Spirit of Kunlun sighed as if he had no choice.

[Alright. It’s my fault. I’ll change the condition.]

“Hmmph. Yes. You finally get it...”

[You have to marry my daughter.]

“Damn it!!! I don’t need him!!” Lee Gun would rather kill him and acquire an achievement. He moved to kill the Great Spirit of Kunlun.

Kunlun’s Great Spirit clicked his tongue as he looked at Lee Gun.

[I don’t mind if this is what you want. However, you’ll find that you need me.]

“What?”

[Snake god, do you know what the other Great Spirits are like?]

“...?”

[Anyway, I was throwing out some suggestions. Still, I’ll help you since our goals align.]

Lee Gun’s anger cooled a little. He lowered Heaven’s Punishment. It seemed the Great Spirit of Kunlun had beef with the other Great Spirits.

As proof of this, Kunlun’s Great Spirit did nothing when Lee Gun used the power of the Serpent Bearer.

“I designated you as being on our side. Don’t say otherwise later on...”

[I’ll give you fighting clothes that’ll be helpful to you.]

Kunlun’s Great Spirit took out clothes for a bride.

Lee Gun became angry once again. Should he just kill this bastard?

“Hmmph. I can’t believe he is a god.”

“!”

Lee Gun turned his head when he heard a familiar voice. He saw someone who he hadn’t seen for a while.

“I came out because there was a commotion. What the hell did you do in the Divine world? Why would a god act like that?”

It was the Leo Saint Stevens.

Lee Gun had assumed Stevens had died at the hands of the new Zodiac Saints. But he was still alive.

When the Great Spirits had decided to sneak into the earth, Lee Gun had told Kevin to gather all the remaining Zodiac Saints. It seemed Kevin had found Stevens. At the end of the day, Stevens would be a boon for their side.

Stevens’s Zodiac Leo seemed angry too.

[We will cooperate as well. How dare they try to execute us!]

Leo had appeared in its incarnate form and was grinding its teeth.

[We will take care of that damn Lord of the Sky.]

“Is that so? I might have someone who’ll be helpful to you guys.” Lee Gun gestured with his hand, and a goddess appeared from Lee Gun’s shadow.

It was one of the goddesses of fate, who had her appearance changed because of Hugo.

“Since our opponent has a goddess of fate, this one will be helpful in shielding you. I’ll lend you one of them. Also, you can take the other Zodiac Saints...”

Lee Gun suddenly tilted his head in confusion. “Hey. Are you listening to me?”

He looked at Stevens, displeased. However, Stevens’s eyes remained fixed on the goddess of fate.

“Hey.” Stevens grabbed the hand of the goddess of fate. “Marry me—”

Bbah-gahk!!!

Lee Gun immediately brought down Heaven’s Punishment on Stevens’s head. “Damn it! How come I don’t have anyone normal around me!!!”