Chapter 144. The Saint Has Awakened (1)
Scary and terrifying.
Will I never be able to open my eyes again?
Will I have to lie here forever, like this?
Is this state, like that of a vegetative person, the result, the responsibility, and the punishment for my past actions?
‘This can’t... happen…’
As if in a dream.
As if drifting through a hazy world.
Half in unconsciousness, half in a coma.
In that gap, Kim Jangcheol muttered to himself.
That this couldn’t go on.
That it was time to open his eyes.
But it wasn’t easy.
“........”
He was half-conscious, but his body wouldn’t obey.
It was like being trapped in a terrible sleep paralysis.
He could sense the presence around him.
He could even hear the sounds nearby.
But he couldn’t open his eyes, couldn’t get up.
That’s why... it was even more frightening.
Especially because the conversation he could hear nearby... was horrifying!
“Then, should I not simply become family? Chamberlain! Summon the princess! And bring the department head who oversees the royal family’s marriage talks as well! Quickly!”
Princess?
The king’s daughter?
Become family?
So, they wanted to make him a son-in-law?
“..........”
That part wasn’t so bad.
But as he listened to the continuing conversation, he was horrified.
“Your Majesty? I regret to inform you, but as far as I know, the royal family currently has no princess.”
The elderly Chamberlain spoke cautiously.
“Also, I deeply apologize for saying this, but Your Majesty has only nine princes. This humble servant, even if he died and came back to life, cannot summon a princess who doesn’t exist, so I beg for your understanding.”
“...... I am aware that I have no princess.”
“Then how could this humble servant carry out Your Majesty’s order to bring a princess?”
“It can be done.”
“How, exactly…?”
“Dress one of the princes as a woman!”
“......Your Majesty?”
There was a trace of desperation (?) in Chamberlain's reply.
Kim Jangcheol, who was listening, also felt desperate.
‘......This is insane, damn it!’
At this rate, he would be married off—or rather, forced into marriage—with a cross-dressing prince whose face he didn’t even know.
But fortunately, the king’s outrageous idea was soon met with Zephyros’ sharp objection.
“But, King of the human realm? You must reconsider.”
“Hmm, and why is that?”
“Would such a marriage truly... bring happiness?”
“What?”
“Consider the position of the prince who would be forced to cross-dress and marry into the demon race.”
“Umm.......”
“Would such a life have any joy? Your Majesty, look at that face. And think again. Living a life where one must see that face, morning and evening, every day... could there be any delight in such a life?”
“Hrmm.......”
Kim Jangcheol felt the king’s gaze land squarely on his face.
That made him feel even more unfairly treated.
‘What’s wrong... with my face…’
Was a single tear trickling down from his unconscious eyes?
He wanted to jump up right away and argue back. But he couldn’t. He couldn’t even lift his eyelids, couldn’t even open his eyes.
But in truth, that was only natural.
‘I…’
His balance had collapsed.
The self-destructing statue.
While trying to absorb that tidal wave-like explosion of energy. Trying to absorb and digest it beyond his limits. His Mana Seed had expanded rapidly.
‘........’
The boundary between consciousness and unconsciousness.
Though he hovered between them, he could faintly sense it.
A serious imbalance.
The Mana Seed had expanded and grown rapidly.
But his body had not kept pace with the Mana Seed’s growth and had remained stagnant.
Mana Seed and body.
The imbalance between the two had become severe.
If he opened his eyes now?
‘I’d probably suffer all kinds of side effects. The Mana Seed and the body are out of sync. The body remains unchanged while only the Mana Seed has grown excessively.’
Like slapping a 12-cylinder supercharged bi-turbo engine into a paper-thin compact car without tuning the balance. Or like cramming an elephant’s heart into a human’s body.
Severe side effects would occur.
Sensing this, his body was refusing to awaken.
His body was stalling for time, trying to grow naturally to match the Mana Seed’s level.
After all, the body grows during sleep.
‘But at this rate....’
It felt like it would take an incredible amount of time for his body to catch up with the Mana Seed.
He sensed it instinctively.
Waiting for his body to grow naturally while he slept like this... might take at least 200 years, perhaps even over 300 years.
‘..........’
That wouldn’t do.
That would be a serious problem.
If he stayed like this for that long, everything would be doomed. He himself, those who followed him, everyone in the Abandoned Land.
So... he had to wake up quickly.
But since he couldn’t do that as he wished, it was a problem.
No, it was even more disheartening because he didn’t know how.
Meanwhile, the surroundings grew livelier.
Knock, knock, knock!
“Your Majesty, the Archbishop has come to visit Sir Kim Jangcheol.”
The sound of knocking.
The attendant’s clear voice.
Soon, the door opened.
Archbishop Rephelon entered the hospital room.
“I greet Your Majesty. But, where is Saint, Sir Kim Jangcheol?”
“He has not yet opened his eyes.”
“Sigh. It has already been nine days, has it not?”
“Yes.”
“Have you, perhaps, stayed here all day again today, Your Majesty?”
“As always. This is the ninth day.”
“I worry that Your Majesty’s health may suffer.”
“No. I am fine. Sir Kim Jangcheol, my benefactor, has lain here unable to awaken for nine days. How could I leave his side in peace? Not nine days, even if it takes ninety-nine, it does not matter. I intend to stay by my benefactor’s side.”
The king’s earnest voice.
Because of that... Kim Jangcheol, at the boundary between unconsciousness and consciousness, clenched his teeth without realizing it.
‘..........’
It’s annoying.
I don’t know why.
But it keeps bothering me terribly.
So……..
‘Why do they keep… only saying 9?’
It was irritating.
Listening to it made him anxious.
It felt like his obsessive-compulsive disorder was flaring up.
No, it had already flared up.
And yet, their conversation kept oddly, incessantly mentioning 9!
"Ah, and today, a reply arrived from the nine elders of the Holy Order."
"Oh? Have they agreed to recognize Sir Kim Jangcheol as a Saint?"
"Not yet. They said they wish to come and verify it themselves."
"I see. If the nine elders say so, there must be a good reason."
"Indeed."
"But, there’s something I’ve been wondering for some time."
"Please, ask freely."
"Thank you. Then, let me ask. About the elders of the Order. Why are there only nine of them?"
"Pardon?"
"When you think about it, it’s a bit strange. If it’s the Holy Order of Perfection, shouldn’t the number of elders also match that perfect... number?"
"Aha. You are wondering why there are only nine elders, instead of the complete, perfect number?"
"Exactly."
"The reason is simple. It’s because they pursue perfection."
"Because they pursue...?"
"Yes. To pursue something means that it has not yet been attained. To remind ourselves of that fact always, to avoid becoming arrogant, and to never neglect our training and efforts to achieve perfection, we always maintain nine elders—one short of perfection."
"Ohh... such a profound meaning."
"Thus, the headquarters of the Holy Order also plans to erect nine statues of Saint, Sir Kim Jangcheol."
"Nine? Statues of the Saint?"
"Yes."
"And the last one?"
"The last will be a devotee gazing up at the statues."
"Ohh... ohhh...."
The king continued to express his admiration.
Hearing this, Baal grumbled.
"Baal! Complicated talk, headache! It’s already 9 PM! Baal, sleepy! Good demons should lay out their bedding and go to dreamland early at 9 o’clock!"
"Oh, is it already 9?"
"Yes! Archbishop, no sense!"
"My apologies, Baal. I tried to arrive earlier, but a flood of complicated duties kept me tied up. I haven’t rested or eaten since 9 this morning."
"Archbishop! You skipped meals?"
"Yes. Somehow, it happened."
"That’s terrible! Nine meals a day! Baal needs at least that much to not feel hungry!"
"Hahaha. Your digestion must be quite vigorous."
"Baal! Can even burp nine times in a row! I can show you now!"
"Haha. That won’t be necessary. I believe you."
"Baal! Gained trust! Happy! Archbishop, kind!"
"I should thank you, Sir Baal."
‘...........’
No.
I’m not grateful to any of you.
Honestly, I feel like I’m going insane right now.
Kim Jangcheol screamed in his unconscious mind.
‘Why...? Why?’
Why do they keep talking about 9?
Say 10.
Just once.
The number 10!
It’s not that hard, right?
Anyone will do, just please……
But his desperate plea could not turn into words or escape his mouth. Unaware of his distress, the people around him kept chatting cheerfully, scratching at his nerves.
"Hmm, ah... Your Majesty? I recently heard you have gained a ninth prince. Though it’s late, congratulations."
"Hahaha. Thank you. My ninth son already... even I can hardly believe it myself."
"Indeed. Nine princes. That must be very reassuring."
"Sigh, though I had hoped to have a princess as well."
"If you try from now on, perhaps you could have nine princesses too?"
"Oh, that’s quite a bold jest. Archbishop, you go too far. I’m already forty-nine years old."
"At forty-nine, you’re still in your prime, are you not? Your hair is still thick."
"Haha? Is that so?"
"It is."
"No, no. My waistline has increased by 9 centimeters recently. I don’t feel as strong as before. It’s concerning."
"Baal! Sleepy! It’s 9 PM! Zephyros! Come up with a solution!"
"........Ugh!"
"Oh? Zephyros just made a weird sound and fell asleep first!"
"Baal, you idiot, you hit him too hard and knocked him out. Now he probably won’t wake up for 9 days either."
"Asurat! You said a bad word to Baal!"
"Click, when did I? Hey, human Archbishop? Just now, when I called him an idiot, was that a bad word? Hm?"
"Hmm, Sir Asurat? That does count as disrespecting the other’s dignity. According to Chapter 9, Verse 9 of the Book of Perfection, it’s clear."
‘...........’
Stop it, you lunatics.
Please, just stop.
Kim Jangcheol felt like crying between the boundary of consciousness and unconsciousness. His heart pounded violently.
That damned 9!
Meanwhile, Asurat argued indignantly.
"Arrgh, what’s wrong with calling a fool a fool? Who doesn’t know it’s 9 PM? And why do they keep mentioning it’s 9 PM anyway!"
"Baal! At 9 PM, you have to sleep!"
"I know that too! I also usually go to bed at 9! I’m sleepy!"
"Haa....... That 9 PM this, 9 PM that, it’s drilling into my ears."
"Sirgi, if you’re just going to be sarcastic, stay out of it!"
"I mean, even I’ve been working since 9 AM...... Everyone, please calm down a little...."
"Archbishop, it’s your fault for bringing up Chapter 9, Verse 9 or 99 or whatever!"
"Haha. In the nine days I’ve stayed in this room, this is the most lively scene I’ve witnessed."
"......‘Gu’rrrr...."
"Oh? Zephyros! He’s making weird noises again! He’s foaming at the mouth!"
"You ‘gu’-hit him, you idiot!"
‘........’
P-Please stop.
Everyone, please.
Anyone, just once.
Even once is fine.
Please, say 10 instead of 9……..
……..‘Gu’rrrr!
Outside, the sound of a passing carriage rumbled, ‘gu’rrrr. Even the cooing of a random pigeon passing by the window poked at his nerves.
Gu-gu! Gu-gu-gu! Gu-gu! Gu! Gu!
That was the final straw(?).
At that moment, when he could bear it no longer, Kim Jangcheol’s unconscious mind snapped.
“......Khaaaah! 10!"
Regardless of the Mana Seed and the body’s imbalance, the infuriated Kim Jangcheol roared and opened his eyes.
At that moment,
Ding dong!
A sudden message announcing an unexpected, tremendous growth boldly filled his vision.
This one is so exciting! I'm waiting for further interaction between Aged Kimchi and Kim Jangcheol!
I really enjoy reading this, and I adore the loyalty Credos' people held to him!