The Outer God Needs Warmth

Chapter 109

I left the clinic after signing contracts for two patients in critical condition.

That’s when the catastrophe occurred.

Goomilmil, who called herself a celestial maiden, asked me if I was an immortal, which was a very harsh remark. I immediately denied it.

I’m just a simple monster.

I may have said it rather firmly, because after that, there was no further conversation and we parted ways quietly.

Sooga looks at me with a look of respect, and I must say, I like that gaze. But since I know it's a lie, I must keep in mind that when she discovers the truth, that respect could turn into hatred.

Will I be sad then?

I don’t know.

Anyway, as light is the soul, once I take the warmth, I’m faced with a rather horrifying end.

Either I'll shatter under the cold sea, or become dust inside a glass bottle, scattering in the wind.

One day, it will all be revealed.

This warmth, too.

But here, things are a bit unclear. Even Daegon has no understanding of warmth as a resource. While they know how to use souls, there's no separate category for the warmth within those souls.

Ah, warmth reminds me.

Now, I must prepare for the winter.

A long and harsh winter is approaching. It will come again and again.

Not long ago, the Heavenly Demon received a report from Woljedang that no production had come in, nor would they receive any in the future.

The reason is that the place where they were supposed to give it disappeared in the light.

Severance and the blood clot cult.

This wasn’t just a ritual where humans offered other humans as sacrifices.

When a human sacrifices another or becomes an offspring, they bring back a gift from the other side.

A large amount of seafood and various jewels. These are what they received.

The Heavenly Demon Church isn’t a very productive organization, nor do they conduct large-scale raids.

One can guess why they were able to live in relative wealth without such profits.

But now that it’s all cut off, they will likely grow impoverished in the future.

At a very bad timing, the Murim Alliance is attacking.

So, shouldn’t we prepare for winter?

At least, we should be able to survive until this winter. But we’ll have to wait and see what actually happens.

The longest night has passed, and the season where the days slowly warm has arrived.

The Heavenly Demon Church was stronger than I had assumed.

Originally, they received a massive amount of goods from the offspring, right? So, I thought they’d collapse immediately once that was cut off...

But I was wrong.

Although their income dropped significantly after Woljedang stopped sending resources, the Heavenly Demon Church wasn’t so weak that it would collapse right away without them.

However, that’s only when things are peaceful.

In times of war, it will be difficult.

Rumors of the righteous battle between the orthodox and the demonic are spreading through the villages.

Constant clashes occur at the boundary between the Heavenly Demon Church and the Murim, and big sects are sending their groups there to help maintain order.

They claim it's for security, but we all know that such sects only care about their own territory.

Among the orthodox sects, small ones or those from the demonic side are leaving the area, and the Murim Alliance sects are taking their place, simply changing the nameplate.

Weapons are being gathered, and people are increasing.

It’s obvious that something is going to happen.

As fights grow more frequent, the meetings among those at the level of sect leaders and higher, including the Heavenly Demon, have increased.

More than half of the sect leaders are saying that we will have to fight the Murim Alliance in the end.

More than 15 sects have already been confirmed, and even the Five Great Families are watching this place, with even government officials starting to show up.

In the faded memory, the phrase "Government Unbreachable" gleams brightly. If a large-scale gang fight happens, it would be strange if the state doesn’t take notice.

I’m hoping that I can somehow use this to reach the government.

That would actually be a good thing.

But on the first day of the war, I gained a lot of warmth.

Hehe.

On the second day after the war began, Sooga finally noticed something strange.

“Choseol. There’s something strange in the forest.”

Sooga pointed to the forest in the north.

Sooga didn’t know.

There hadn’t been much disturbance within the Heavenly Demon Church yet.

Yesterday, the Heavenly Demon didn’t come, but that wasn’t too unusual, so Sooga spent the day unaware.

“What’s so strange?”

I didn’t feel anything.

So, I asked Sooga if she really felt it, or if it was just a hunch.

Sooga narrowed her eyes and surveyed the forest.

Then, she pointed to the center of the forest while looking at me.

“The forest is too quiet. It’s like it’s asleep, there’s no sound at all.”

Ah, that area?

Now that I think about it, the background noise from the birds is absent.

I don’t know whether the animals knew something was happening and fell silent, or if someone had entered the forest.

The only Harvesters around here are the Heavenly Demon and Omyoungseong.

And both of them, along with the sect leaders, are discussing what to do.

But they aren’t discussing how to fight; instead, they’re discussing whether to negotiate or not, which is a bit of a sigh.

I thought the Heavenly Demon Church would just kill those who were dying in the name of serving the god without asking any questions.

But the Heavenly Demon, after becoming a woman, or rather, after her heart became more feminine, has become much gentler.

Instead, Omyoungseong is advocating for a more aggressive stance.

They’ve been persistently attacking, targeting her violet hair, and she says they will never negotiate.

But there’s someone who contradicts this.

It’s none other than the head of the Jigwandang.

Not only is he the leader of the Jigwandang, but he also holds the role of an elder in the Heavenly Demon Church. He’s the one pointing at Omyoungseong, suggesting that they give him up.

He claims that the Heavenly Demon Church is being attacked because of this person, and suggests that they sacrifice Omyoungseong, rest, and plan for the future.

The old man’s face is full of annoyance.

You can tell from his expression.

That future, he means, is the time after he’s dead.

It’s the unique sentiment of an old man who feels like once he survives, there’s nothing left to worry about.

But the person saying this is one of the highest-ranking people in the Heavenly Demon Church.

So, no one can easily refute his words.

And the reason for the silence is not only because they can’t oppose the head of the Jigwandang, but also due to the hatred toward Omyoungseong.

She suddenly appeared and took the position that could easily be considered as the next Heavenly Demon.

It’s a position worth envying.

Maybe that’s why the balance has unexpectedly tipped in favor of handing over Omyoungseong and negotiating.

The sect leaders, not knowing why the Murim Alliance is attacking, are thinking that they should clear out the things they don’t like in this opportunity.

Or maybe, for the sect leaders, this righteous battle is someone else’s business.

Because, except for the Woljedang sect leader, they aren’t Harvesters.

The leadership is in chaos, and the war continues.

I turn my gaze and see Sooga still checking the forest, and I say to her:

“Sooga. Something big is going to happen.”

I thought the war would be easily won when the Heavenly Demon and Omyoungseong teamed up, but now, with this situation, even the outcome is uncertain.

Therefore.

It seems it’s time to speak the truth.