Chapter 53
'=Kim Ma-ri.
A name that somehow made you crave street food - she was someone I had a bit of history with.
She was the one responsible for getting my neighbor friend Mr. Owlbear killed.
Well, I was the one who actually killed him... but she was definitely the root cause.
And if I remember correctly, this Kim Ma-ri was also a streamer.
For some behind-the-scenes context, her stream once caused people to flood into my forest, which was quite annoying...
To be honest, while she was annoying, she wasn't particularly memorable.
And she was being annoying right now too.
Because she currently had her stream running.
I could see it - the chat window scrolling with messages next to her.
[Yooha~]
[Chaeha~]
[? lol why's she here]
[Who's that?]
[You know, that NPC Yor's friend who shows up a lot]
[oh]
I secretly frowned.
Damn, I even went through the trouble of disguising myself to avoid streams. Who'd have thought I'd run into a streamer here.
[But who's that tall person next to Chae-rin?]
[wow wearing a cloak in this weather]
[Wait they look pretty built... maybe a guy?]
[omg a guy??]
[This bitch Yoo Chae-rin skipping streams to hang with guys lololol]
It was slightly irritating, but I couldn't exactly ask her to turn it off.
Sure, Yoo Chae-rin would probably listen since we had a contract.
But Ma-ri and I were practically strangers.
I couldn't ask someone to stop their livelihood right after meeting them.
Plus, there was no guarantee she'd comply even if I did ask.
"So why are you here, Chae-rin?"
As I was thinking to myself, Ma-ri asked Chae-rin.
Chae-rin hesitated for a moment, glancing at me before answering.
"Oh, um... I heard Amducias was coming here... so I just came to check it out."
"Aha!"
It wasn't a very detailed answer.
But it seemed to be enough for Ma-ri.
"So you haven't unlocked 18+ Mode either!"
"Um... what?"
A question mark appeared over Chae-rin's head.
Fortunately, Ma-ri continued and provided the answer.
"They say that unicorn gives gifts to people who've kept their chastity. That's why I'm here too."
"Ah... so you haven't unlocked it either then?"
"Nope, hehe. Not here anyway."
Kim Ma-ri, or whatever her name was, gave a meaningful smile.
It was a smile filled with strange confidence.
"It's not like Amducias would know what happens in the real world, right?"
[This bitch acting all high and mighty since she got a boyfriend]
[fr why did that priest even accept her confession]
[Makes me wanna smack her every time]
[Unnie you're being too ugly ;-;]
I nodded internally. So the real world doesn't count, huh.
'Speaking of gifts though.'
This was the first I'd heard of this. I'd only vaguely heard about the demon's appearance.
I hadn't properly grasped its personality or characteristics yet.
Though from what I'm hearing now, it seems to detect 'chastity'...
'Ugh...'
Just thinking about it made me feel embarrassed already.
What if when I meet it, the demon proudly announces "This one's pure!" for all to hear?
For reference, I've maintained my virginity for 43 years total - 20 years in my past life and 23 in this one...
To have that openly praised and mentioned.
Sure, others might not understand... but just thinking about it makes me want to die from embarrassment.
'Suddenly I'm scared to meet it...'
That thought made me want to turn back.
"Since this is fate, want to do a collab stream?"
As I was thinking, Ma-ri spoke up again. An unexpected collaboration proposal.
Chae-rin looked at me with questioning eyes. I immediately shook my head.
"Ah, sorry. I'd love to stream together, but I'm with someone right now..."
"Ah."
Ma-ri's eyes finally turned to look behind her.
Then she said.
"I'm sorry. Since this is my first time seeing Chae-rin, I got excited and forgot introductions. I'm Kim Ma-ri. What are your names?"
Sudden introductions. I couldn't help but be flustered.
Obviously, I hadn't prepared for this situation.
Even as I was thinking this, time kept flowing.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Im Ha-neul... Yoo Chae-rin's editor."
[why's her voice so tiny]
[kinda cute wwww]
[Those boobs are huge wow]
After Ha-neul's shy introduction, all eyes turned to me.
I quickly made up a name, speaking in a deliberately lowered voice to hide my identity.
"...Yohan."
[oh wowow]
[Voice like a cave wow]
[Heung... oppa...]
[My lower cave wants to meet you too hehe]
[ㄴ Has been kicked by a moderator.]
Thankfully, they seemed to buy it.
*
"Well, let's meet again another time. It was nice meeting you!"
"Ah, yes! Same here...!"
After all that chatter, Kim Ma-ri finally went on her way.
From what I heard, she was going to warn the villagers to evacuate again.
Though the rural folks who'd lived here their whole lives weren't very receptive, she said these little things help build reputation.
"Phew..."
Once Ma-ri was completely gone, Chae-rin let out a light sigh. Both she and Ha-neul looked quite drained.
Ha-neul muttered with various emotions in her voice:
"Such an... energetic person."
I nodded. She was energetic, for better or worse.
In terms of that old MBTI trend, she seemed like she'd be at least 90% E.
Being sociable is definitely a good trait, but being around someone like that can be mentally exhausting.
Well, I guess that's how she manages to run her own guild and maintain a stream.
'Can't use the spear though...'
I clicked my tongue at the thought. It's already been exposed too much on streams.
Just using the spear alone might be enough to identify me.
Good thing I brought my weapon pouch this time.
It's a shame to hide my main weapon, but it's not like I can't handle other weapons.
Though spear and dagger are the best, any weapon will do as long as I can swing it.
"Let's rest at the inn now."
I said that as I tried to head into the inn.
But that's when it happened. When screams suddenly rang out from somewhere.
"Kyaaah! A demon!"
"What?"
"Already...?"
Our heads turned toward the screams.
Whoosh-!
I immediately shot off toward where the screams came from.
*
"Please spare us. I beg you!"
"Please, we have a child who isn't even weaned yet..."
A young couple trembled before him.
In front of them stood a massive white horse on four legs.
If not for the huge horn on its head, the couple probably wouldn't have been so terrified.
Even in this rural village, widely spread news still reaches them.
As such, information about the demon Amducias had already spread.
A deranged demon who only kills those who've lost their chastity.
They'd scoffed and ignored the Otherworlders when they said a demon would come here...
'Who'd have thought it would actually attack!'
The couple expected they would die for sure.
After all, these two who were born and raised in this village had recently consummated their love.
"Waaah! Waaaah!!"
Indeed, between the two was a crying baby.
"......"
However, contrary to the couple's expectations, the One-Horned Lord didn't attack immediately.
Rather, his face was full of delight.
If they could read a horse's expressions, they would have noticed his broad smile.
Finally, the One-Horned Lord spoke:
"Excellent."
"P-pardon...?"
"To maintain chastity throughout life until marrying another pure one, then bearing a pure child. This is the highest beauty humans can achieve."
"But... but..."
The child's father, who had been listening in a daze, spoke up.
"We lost our virginity to each other. As you can see from this child... Will you still spare us?"
A human daring to question a demon. Normally unthinkable, but the father couldn't contain his curiosity.
There was quite a difference from the mad demon they'd heard about.
"Humans sometimes misunderstand what purity means."
The One-Horned Lord laughed heartily as he continued.
"The impure ones I speak of are those who recklessly indulge in pleasure.
The act that brings forth life should certainly be noble, yet because of such people, the very perception of that act is being corrupted..."
"...Ah."
"Such ones deserve death. But you are different, are you not?
You maintained your principles throughout life, then consummated your lifelong vows and bore the fruit of love. This is a blessing, this is art!"
The One-Horned Lord laughed heartily as he placed his front hoof on the child's head.
"I'm in a good mood! I shall bestow a gift upon your child. From now on, this child's voice shall sing of the heavens."
"Th-thank you!"
Though it was a demon's power they received, the couple still bowed deeply.
For them, just surviving was more than enough.
Later, the child would grow up to become an exceptional bard... but that's another story.
Though the couple survived, that didn't mean the One-Horned Lord's work was done.
"However, there are still impure ones in this village."
A village is a community where dozens of humans live together, and as such, impure ones are bound to exist.
The One-Horned Lord was about to move toward where the unpleasant smell was coming from.
But that's when it happened.
"...Found you, you damn horse."
Crash-!
A human blocked the One-Horned Lord's path.
A hooded figure wielding a long sword in one hand.
The One-Horned Lord frowned as his path was blocked, looking ahead.
"What insolent being..."
And he couldn't help but be shocked.
Because he saw an intense white radiating from the human before him.
A color only visible to his eyes that could detect 'purity'. And what that color meant was clear.
Seeing that milk-white radiance, the One-Horned Lord exclaimed with delight:
"What incredible purity...!"