Chapter 68
Baeksam wriggled slightly as if flustered, then, as if giving up on escaping, stayed still in Sawoo’s embrace.
After a while, the intense emotions that had surged through him gradually subsided.
When Sawoo realized that her own heart had become like a calm, still surface of water, he let her go.
Her face, now facing him, shone brightly.
The moonlight streaming through the window softly illuminated her unblemished, pure features.
It was a brilliance that could effortlessly dispel any darkness that came near.
No matter who else stood in the moonlight, they wouldn’t shine like her.
Her radiance seemed capable of sweeping away even the devil’s most sinister whispers. It felt as though she could cure madness without even using her mysterious golden aura.
Hesitantly, Sawoo reached out and lightly tapped Baeksam’s fresh cheek.
“W-what are you doing?”
Her face scrunched up in a pout.
Displeasure was etched across her startled expression.
Yet, Sawoo didn’t mind it in the slightest.
“Did you not like it?”
He gently stroked her puffed-up cheek as if acknowledging her displeasure.
She flinched slightly, but didn’t push his hand away.
Instead, she let out a cute little mumble.
“…You hurt my companions.”
“Are you still mad?”
“….”
“How long will you hold a grudge?”
I hope you don’t dislike me.
Sawoo’s hand slid down as he continued to stroke her cheek and lightly brushed against her lips.
The surface of her lips, where his fingertips touched, was incredibly soft.
He wondered what it would feel like if something other than his fingertips touched them.
The mere thought flushed Baeksam’s face crimson.
It was funny and somewhat endearing to see her blush in front of someone she disliked.
“Baeksam, answer me.”
“I’m not sure.”
“I see.”
“Excuse me?”
“I promise I won’t mistreat your companions again.”
Not sure why, but he adjusted himself so thoroughly for this woman.
Saying it was just because of healing felt like an understatement.
Even with his doubts, Sawoo couldn’t stop showing care for her.
It wasn’t a decision of the mind, but of the heart.
He knew he must not treat this woman carelessly.
“Really?”
“Yes. Even if Namgung Jin challenges me again, I’ll make sure to lose just enough.”
“….”
Baeksam didn’t seem entirely pleased with that either.
How lenient must he be, she thought. Sawoo let out a deep sigh.
“Do you dislike that too? You want me to get beaten by Namgung Jin?”
“No! I just don’t want you two to fight.”
“But who knows. Namgung Jin seems determined. People like him risk death to grow stronger. Especially if they have something to protect, they’ll dive in like a moth to flame.”
“But… I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”
“I’ll lose just enough. No more compromises. And… this wouldn’t even happen if Namgung Jin didn’t challenge me in the first place.”
Sawoo finally looked around.
It was late at night, and the surroundings were dark.
Namgung Jin, whom she had healed, was nowhere to be seen, and nearby, only Jegal Haesu was sleeping uncomfortably.
“Namgung… is in the next room. Seems like Jegal moved him while we were asleep.”
“When did you return to human form?”
“Not long ago. Luckily, this time I returned quickly.”
“Is there a correlation between changing forms and healing ability?”
It didn’t seem random.
Sawoo recalled Baeksam’s form transforming into perennial snow pine whenever she exhausted her energy.
There must be some connection between healing and the snow pine.
As she pondered, she hesitated to answer, caught up in thought.
If her assumption were wrong, she would have immediately said so.
Sawoo took that hesitation as confirmation.
“…Yes, your guess is correct.”
“How can you remain in human form?”
“I’m still researching it.”
“I see.”
“You’re not very surprised, huh?”
“My emotions don’t change much. And nothing could shock me more than the strange story of your body.”
She pouted, apparently displeased even at the remark that he wasn’t surprised.
Sawoo couldn’t help but chuckle quietly.
“Oh! I’ve never heard you laugh out loud before.”
“….”
Sawoo quickly stiffened his expression, as if he hadn’t laughed at all.
It wasn’t the laughter—it was that his heart had relaxed too much, almost triggering an uncontrolled release of energy.
He was certain it had never happened before.
“You looked better when you were laughing.”
Shaking his head, Sawoo softly called her.
“Baeksam.”
“…Yes?”
“I promised to do what you wanted. So you should take back that you dislike me.”
“…Yes. I’ll retract that statement in light of your effort.”
“Thank you.”
“But, why are you doing all this for someone like me? You don’t like being hated, you want to accompany me on my journey… I don’t understand.”
“….”
“Of course, it shouldn’t happen, but I also can’t help but wonder if you might have some bad intentions.”
“Well.”
Sawoo had a clear reason, but couldn’t bring himself to speak it.
He couldn’t tell her that she reminded him of someone he had once cared for deeply.
He tried to say nothing, but Baeksam’s expression irritated him. Her face, silently pleading for an answer.
He lightly grasped her defenseless fingertips.
“Your healing ability.”
“….”
“I envy it.”
This much he could say.
Her eyes widened at the unspoken sincerity.
“I have a serious illness.”
“…Excuse me? Illness? Come to think of it, you mentioned having an illness before. Can you tell me what it is?”
“I’ll tell you later. Then, I hope you can heal me properly.”
Having naturally answered, Sawoo suddenly realized something.
She didn’t threaten him—she asked. And she did so gently.
Even he could hardly believe the situation.
He didn’t feel the least urge to kidnap her.
Strangely, he always faltered in front of this woman.
Baeksam nodded slowly, seemingly unaware of his feelings.
Judging by her expression, she wasn’t entirely sure she could heal him.
“I’ll pay generously, so don’t worry.”
“Money is not as important as the heart.”
“….”
“If you want to be healed by me, make it so that I can’t help but heal you.”
Sawoo didn’t answer immediately, lost in thought.
Baeksam, fragile as she was, always considered others and showed care.
Yet, she didn’t offer that care indiscriminately.
She seemed to have her own boundaries.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have used words like ‘dislike’ to push him away.
How could he make her heal him without crossing that boundary?
At that moment, he remembered how Baeksam had treated Namgung Jin with utmost care, almost burning herself out to heal him.
“Healing…”
Baeksam hated the demon cult.
And healing.
If he could use these two things cleverly, it would work.
By using the demon cult to his advantage, he could make Baeksam heal him without revealing that he was a celestial demon.
Sawoo’s eyes glinted sharply.
