868

 [Chapter 216]

[Taegeuk Medal]

What people affected by Lilith's magic needed most now was rest.

So those who returned to Seoul originally needed to report the results of the Lilith subjugation operation to the Fairy.

But the Fairy specially accommodated them, so it was decided to end with just a few representatives who weren't caught in the magic reporting.

In other words, Eun-ha who returned to Seoul had to head straight to the Pandora Clan hall.

No, if I go like this, I don't know how much the kids will curse at me.

It would be better to have time to calm the kids' anger...

The clan members' reactions were obvious.

Kim Min-ji will surely be preparing food and waiting.

Eun-ha didn't want to meet people who were furiously waiting.

What Eun-ha needed wasn't rest but time to mentally prepare.

So though he tried to report himself.

Bae Su-bin suddenly spoke up.

"I'll go report as Pandora Clan's representative. You guys go to the clan hall first."

"...Wouldn't it be better if I go report as Clan Lord?"

Eun-ha carefully expressed.

Then Bae Su-bin snorted.

It was a face that said it was obvious without looking.

"No, you can't."

Bae Su-bin immediately retorted.

She seemed to really look forward to what would unfold.

The corners of her mouth were raised wickedly.

For her, it was an opportunity to get payback for what she suffered from Eun-ha so far.

Meanwhile, Bae Su-bin sighed and whispered to Eun-ha.

"If you go report alone, are you going to send Yeon-hwa unni to the clan alone?"

"..."

It was right.

Eun-ha couldn't refute.

Though Jung Ha-yang is hospitalized.

Surely two mistresses would be waiting for him at the clan hall.

If he sent only Ryu Yeon-hwa there alone, who knows what trouble would happen.

Seo-hyeon and Yu-jung probably wouldn't, but if they say something to Yeon-hwa...

It was terrifying just to think about.

He didn't want a catfight.

In the end, Eun-ha had to send Bae Su-bin as representative.

"Okay, I'm counting on you."

"Then I'll be going. See you later."

Bae Su-bin leaves with other representatives.

Players gradually part ways too.

Eun-ha was about to return to the clan hall with Pandora Clan members too.

It was then.

Kang Hyeon-cheol was approaching.

"Are you guys leaving too? We're going too."

"Yes, we're about to. Are you okay?"

"...I endured with guts. I'm fine."

"How about <Holy Mother>-nim?"

"She's resting over there now. Since her stamina seems to have fallen a lot, I'm going to let her rest at the clan hall."

"Why don't you go to the hospital then?"

"Hye-rim insists she's fine so I can't take her there. Well... It's my responsibility so I should help nurse her."

Kang Hyeon-cheol was very different from usual.

His personality seemed slightly dead.

After suffering from magic for three days, he must be feeling fatigue physically and mentally.

Eun-ha felt camaraderie with him and held out his hand.

"Hang in there. Don't get scolded by the administrator."

"Yeah, you hang in there too. Don't get scolded."

To think I'd feel sympathy for this crazy squid.

Eun-ha realized how much the world had changed.

Soon Kang Hyeon-cheol turned and left.

"Blaze Clan Lord is a monster... Though his stamina must have fallen tremendously, he's walking normally like that."

""""..."

Eun-ha watched his back.

Though he didn't say it, he really envied Kang Hyeon-cheol.

Of course, people beside Eun-ha shook their heads seeing Eun-ha quietly admiring.

"Does he not think his stamina is the most amazing? Among people caught in the magic, he most..."

Bong Gu-rae spoke as representative.

Everyone nodded.

Ryu Yeon-hwa's face turned red and she couldn't say anything.

☆

And so at the Pandora Clan hall.

Eun-ha stood blankly in front of the clan hall lost in thought.

Should I go in?

Beyond the door is a dungeon.

I can't guarantee my survival.

Eun-ha gulped.

Bong Gu-rae clicked his tongue.

"Are you really going to do this? Rather than going in cautiously, you should know to go in confidently like a man."

"Gu-rae, that's gender discrimination."

Eun-ha groaned.

It was easy to say, easy to say.

Then he looked for his familiars clinging to his side.

"Bba."

"Kang."

The two familiars tilt their heads.

When Eun-ha sent emotions through the pass, they burst into laughter.

Just give up.

It's comfortable if you give up.

The familiars seemed to say that.

Then they disappeared swiftly.

Buldak flew up into the sky and disappeared through an open window.

Kang suddenly ran to the main entrance and entered through the automatic doors.

These traitors...

The familiars ran away.

Eun-ha felt betrayed.

Anyway, it meant he had to handle this alone.

There was no choice.

Eun-ha took a deep breath.

Then, Ryu Yeon-hwa hesitated.

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"Because of me... I feel ashamed towards Seo-hyeon, Yu-jung... and Ha-yang."

Like Eun-ha was intimidated.

Ryu Yeon-hwa was intimidated too.

Even if she was caught in Lilith's magic, looking at just the result, it was no different from adultery to his wives.

And she was the culprit who seduced Eun-ha and made him commit adultery.

She couldn't help but be intimidated.

I was thinking wrong.

I was only worried about getting scolded, I didn't think about Yeon-hwa's position.

Eun-ha belatedly realized his mistake.

He decided to accept Ryu Yeon-hwa.

But he shouldn't be unnecessarily discouraged.

She gets discouraged along with him.

It makes her feel guilty for no reason.

Eun-ha who came to his senses firmly held Ryu Yeon-hwa's hand.

"...Eun-ha?"

"What? This hand is my hand now."

"..."

"Let's go in. Let's go in and tell Seo-hyeon, Yu-jung and the kids."

The surprise on Ryu Yeon-hwa's face was only for a moment.

She accepted Eun-ha's words and smiled.

That smile was lovely.

Then Eun-ha entered the hall.

""""Welcome back, good work on the subjugation. It's fortunate you all weren't hurt.""""

The clan hall 1st floor lobby.

Clan members had gathered waiting.

Eun-ha received their cheers.

""""..."

The welcoming voices abruptly cut off.

Now clan members were silent, each choosing what to say.

Eun-ha walked holding Ryu Yeon-hwa's hand and observed the clan members' reactions.

"Clan Lord, spill the tea. How good was it? How did it feel to have vigorous stamina for three days caught in magic?"

"Ah, I'm so envious. When will we be able to date, unni?"

He ignored the twin sisters lightly.

Those two were harmful.

"As expected... I should have gone even if I had to push strongly. To think my Lord would fall for the devil's temptation and scatter his holy seed for three days and nights..."

Ilya was out of her mind.

She muttered something.

Eun-ha ignored her too.

She didn't represent the reaction of most clan members either.

Among them, if he had to say who could represent the majority's opinion─

─Min-ji, Seo-na, Eun-woo, A-ra perhaps.

Among the men, it would be Min-ho and Si-hyeong.

Eun-ha searched for them.

First Kim Min-ji caught his eye.

"Sigh."

Kim Min-ji sighed.

It wasn't a good sign.

Then he could find Seo-na, Eun-woo, and A-ra.

Eun-ha focused his consciousness looking at Jin Seo-na just in case.

[Seo-na, can you hear me?]

But contrary to Eun-ha's expectation.

Jin Seo-na didn't connect a pass to Eun-ha using the two's whisper.

She turned her head away.

It was a seriously bad sign.

You, filthy, trash, pervert, worst.

Meanwhile, Cha Eun-woo and Jo A-ra were moving only their lips without sound.

The two were spewing curses.

Eun-ha couldn't bear to read what the two were saying anymore.

It meant the situation was the worst.

Other people...

Where are Min-ho and Si-hyeong? Damn it.

He found Mok Min-ho and Kang Si-hyeong too.

Mok Min-ho sighed.

Kang Si-hyeong avoided his gaze.

Since the Clan Lord was caught, clan members inevitably ended up in the same situation.

It was obvious the two were scolded by clan members not to say anything.

Where's noona?

I see the wives standing in front.

The two are smiling brightly.

Noh Yu-seong held by Han Seo-hyeon was bursting into laughter finding something so funny.

In that situation, Eun-ha tried to find his sister last.

And while approaching his wives.

Eun-ha could find Noh Eun-ah mixed among new clan members.

Snip snip

Noh Eun-ah was holding scissors.

He wondered what those scissors were for.

Where would she need to use scissors?

Eun-ha gave up thinking.

He didn't even glance at Han Chang-jin worrying about him beside Noh Eun-ah.

I expected it but...

There's no choice.

Kang clinging to Han Seo-hyeon's leg.

Buldak sitting on Lee Yu-jung's shoulder.

Eun-ha found the two familiars annoying.

Eventually Eun-ha brought Ryu Yeon-hwa and approached the women who were essentially Pandora Clan's real power.

It was fortunate Jung Ha-yang wasn't here.

"Welcome back, it must have been tough?"

"Uh, yeah... Nothing happened at the clan right?"

"Thanks to nothing happening, we could grasp in real-time what you did there for three days. Ah, Yeon-hwa unni welcome too. Are you in a lot of pain?"

"I-I'm fine, Seo-hyeon..."

"Really? That's fortunate then."

Fortunately Han Seo-hyeon knew propriety.

Pandora Clan's scale had grown.

She couldn't say anything to Eun-ha in front of clan members like before.

She also recognized it was an unavoidable incident.

So she couldn't speak coldly to Ryu Yeon-hwa either.

"But I'm sorry to you two, don't we four have things we need to say to each other?"

"Seo-hyeon unni is right. I think it's better to clarify this too."

""..."

"So let's postpone resting and have a conversation among ourselves? Of course you'll be fine Eun-ha..."

"Uh, I should go then."

Noh Eun-ha had no right of refusal.

Eun-ha hurriedly nodded.

Then Han Seo-hyeon smiled faintly.

Her gaze turned to Ryu Yeon-hwa.

"Yeon-hwa unni, you'll be fine too right?"

"Yeah, I'm fine too."

Unlike before.

Ryu Yeon-hwa took an extremely humble attitude and obeyed Han Seo-hyeon.

☆

Pandora Clan hall, Noh Eun-ha's office.

Han Seo-hyeon and Lee Yu-jung sat on the sofa opposite Eun-ha and Ryu Yeon-hwa.

Then Han Seo-hyeon chuckled.

"I didn't expect to see my husband like this in front of me. And I didn't expect Yeon-hwa unni to be sitting beside him either."

""..."

There was a bite in her words.

Eun-ha and Yeon-hwa couldn't say anything.

At that moment, Noh Yu-seong toddled over.

"Papa! Papa!"

"Yu-seong, did you do well?"

He's over 10 months old now.

Now Noh Yu-seong could walk and speak somewhat.

Eun-ha's face softened.

Eun-ha reached out trying to hold Noh Yu-seong coming towards him.

Then Han Seo-hyeon quickly reached out and grabbed Noh Yu-seong's armpits lifting him up.

"Wa! Waaah!!"

Noh Yu-seong excited kicking his feet wildly as he was lifted into the air.

Han Seo-hyeon spoke to Noh Yu-seong in a firm tone.

"No, Yu-seong. That person isn't papa anymore."

"Not papa? What is he?"

"Jiji. He's jiji."

"..."

"Jiji! Papa jiji!"

Noh Yu-seong burst into laughter.

Eun-ha was shocked hearing Noh Yu-seong call him jiji while looking at him.

"Yu-seong, go play with Kang and Buldak over there."

"Kang!"

"Pipipi papapa pupupu!"

Then Han Seo-hyeon put Noh Yu-seong down and asked the two familiars.

The two familiars followed Han Seo-hyeon as if she was their owner.

They knew too.

That she was above Eun-ha.

"Now that Yu-seong went to play, we should talk in earnest among ourselves right?"

Han Seo-hyeon crossed her legs.

She folded her arms and looked at Noh Eun-ha and Ryu Yeon-hwa with a displeased face.

Lee Yu-jung's face was quite scary too.

A face that only seemed that way to Eun-ha.

Eun-ha and Ryu Yeon-hwa shrank back.

"We can't blame you since spilled water can't be undone, and it was an unavoidable incident."

"Yes, that's right. I think it's fortunate nothing bad happened to Yeon-hwa unni."

Fortunately Han Seo-hyeon and Lee Yu-jung didn't seem to intend to severely reproach Eun-ha.

If they intended to reproach Eun-ha in the first place, they would have called only Eun-ha.

But the fact that they called Ryu Yeon-hwa too meant they had some business other than reproaching.

And shortly after.

Han Seo-hyeon finally got to the main point.

"So putting aside what's spilled, what do you plan to do from now on?"

"What do you mean what we plan to do?"

"You sleeping with Yeon-hwa unni can be seen as a kind of treatment to break the magic cast on Yeon-hwa unni. So now that the treatment is over, shouldn't you return to how things were originally?"

""..."

Back to the relationship of Clan Lord and clan member.

Return to the original relationship as if what happened didn't happen.

That was the gist of Han Seo-hyeon's words.

You didn't think it would become an ongoing relationship anyway.

 Eun-ha now realized why the two weren't as angry as he thought.

In fact, Han Seo-hyeon's words were right.

The reason Eun-ha and Ryu Yeon-hwa spent the night together was because it was an unavoidable situation due to Lilith's magic.

It absolutely wasn't Eun-ha's own will.

They probably think that way looking at the two of them.

No, Seo-hyeon wouldn't be like that.

Yu-jung too.

Then Eun-ha inwardly denied.

Han Seo-hyeon and Lee Yu-jung couldn't not know Eun-ha's heart.

He even entered the clan hall holding Yeon-hwa's hand from the start.

Moreover, given their personalities, they wouldn't not consider that her marriage prospects would be cut off because of this incident.

Yet the reason the two are pretending not to know and advising to return to the previous relationship is─

─Either they're saying indirectly not to think about taking Yeon-hwa noona as the fourth, or they want me to say it directly.

It must be one of those two.

The deliberation didn't last long.

Eun-ha knew well what their personalities were like.

They surely wouldn't tell him to drive Ryu Yeon-hwa away.

But they have pride too, so they couldn't tell him to take Ryu Yeon-hwa as the fourth wife.

Originally, this was something they shouldn't bring up first, and shouldn't bring up at all.

Eun-ha had to bring it up.

"─I'm really sorry to you."

""..."

In the end, Eun-ha opened his mouth with a resolved face.

Then the two's expressions changed.

Their faces hardened.

Nevertheless, Eun-ha spoke.

"I tried to break the magic cast on Yeon-hwa first. It wasn't Yeon-hwa who came to me first."

"You dare say that in front of your wives. So what do you want to say?"

"I'm really ashamed to you, but I want to take responsibility even if it means welcoming Yeon-hwa as the fourth."

Han Seo-hyeon spoke in a prickly tone.

Lee Yu-jung kept her mouth shut tight.

She had nothing she could say.

Eun-ha, Han Seo-hyeon, Jung Ha-yang, Lee Yu-jung.

In the family formed by the four people, the person with the highest authority was Han Seo-hyeon.

Han Seo-hyeon's will was no different from Lee Yu-jung's will.

"Is it because of responsibility? Then end it at the level of providing material support. There's no crueler words than saying you'll make a family out of responsibility."

"That's not it."

"Then?"

"I have feelings for this noona too so I want to take clear responsibility."

"What nonsense, how shameless."

Han Seo-hyeon criticized sharply.

But she didn't seem to intend to say anything more to Eun-ha.

Her gift can see the emotions Eun-ha harbors.

She must have confirmed that Eun-ha's will wasn't shaking.

To this, she looked at Ryu Yeon-hwa.

"What do you think, Yeon-hwa unni? Why don't you say something?"

"I'm really sorry to you."

"If you were really sorry, you should have given up your feelings for Eun-ha at the point we were here."

"..."

"So? Do you want to marry Eun-ha and form a family too?"

"If you allow it, I want to do that."

"What if we say no?"

"Then I'll follow what you say. But if you're okay with it..."

Ryu Yeon-hwa who had been shrinking back the whole time.

She straightened her back.

Then she firmly held Eun-ha's hand.

Han Seo-hyeon and Lee Yu-jung frowned seeing that.

Right after, Ryu Yeon-hwa bowed her head.

"I'm fine even if I'm not treated as the main wife. I'm really okay even if I'm treated as a concubine. So can't you let me like Eun-ha like I have until now?"

Ryu Yeon-hwa laid everything out.

The name <Divine Spear> is not light.

Such a person bows her head and begs Han Seo-hyeon and Lee Yu-jung.

It was a part where her resolve could be seen.

Han Seo-hyeon sighed.

"Concubine is absolutely not okay. If my husband forms a harem, I vowed to treat any woman equally with me."

Han Seo-hyeon's voice softened.

She told Ryu Yeon-hwa to raise her head.

"Moreover, unni is the previous <Divine Spear>-nim's disciple, and also a representative of people related to that person. If I treat unni as a concubine saying I don't like you, I could incur their anger instead. Conversely, if I treat unni properly, the connections unni has will become our strength."

Through emotional and rational judgment.

She considers the rationality of how to accept Ryu Yeon-hwa.

That's the kind of person Han Seo-hyeon was.

From the start, she had no intention of blocking Eun-ha and Ryu Yeon-hwa's relationship.

She just wanted to ask about their resolve.

"But even if I treat you equally with me, I absolutely won't forgive someone trying to infringe on my authority."

"If you want, I'll call you unni. I absolutely won't ruin the hierarchy you created."

"There's no need to call us that. But I hope you'll clearly be mindful of the hierarchy. Also..."

Han Seo-hyeon cuts off her words.

She glared at Eun-ha for a moment.

A sharp gaze.

Eun-ha flinched.

"Absolutely don't be jealous of other kids, and don't try to show favoritism. The latter words are for you too, Eun-ha."

"Of course. How much do I like you all. I'll treat you equally."

"You speak well."

"Ugh..."

"Just keep that in mind. Can you do that?"

"I know Eun-ha likes you more than me. I really know well that I have no face to see you even if I become Eun-ha's fourth wife. I swear. As the youngest, I'll follow the rules you set."

"Good, then I'll welcome you."

"Me too, unni. Ask me if there's anything you don't know in the future. Let's get along like real sisters from now on."

Han Seo-hyeon and Lee Yu-jung's test.

The test ended like that.

Both Eun-ha and Ryu Yeon-hwa passed safely.

Eun-ha finally relaxed.

"The news has already spread outside. So at the clan level, we're planning to announce that you two vaguely had feelings for each other before this incident, and you'll marry because of this incident."

Han Seo-hyeon had everything thought out.

Eun-ha felt like a weight was lifted hearing her words.

"Of course, we'll be cursed at. For not being able to keep our husband in check."

"...I'm really sorry."

"It's fine, I'm tired of hearing apologies so I want to hear thank you or I love you instead."

"I love you."

"That lacks sincerity."

"...Then what should I do?"

"You should prove it with your body."

"With my body?"

"Consider it fortunate Ha-yang is hospitalized now, in the situation of accepting Yeon-hwa unni."

"It's okay, Eun-ha. Ha-yang will understand this time too. Yeon-hwa unni will probably allow it too."

"I hope she does..."

Anyway, Eun-ha had to keep apologizing to them including Jung Ha-yang who wasn't here now.

And he had to be grateful.

It seemed Eun-ha's desperate struggles worked.

The two smiled brightly.

Then they said.

"Anyway, prove it with your body."

"So how with my body?"

"3 days."

"..."

"You did it with Yeon-hwa unni for 3 days, right? I didn't know you had such strong stamina."

"..."

"I'll look forward to 3 days starting tonight. We'll leave Yu-seong with the servants, and have some intimate time after a long while. Okay?"

Eun-ha's body stiffened.

It wasn't that he disliked it.

The problem was he couldn't even rest.

This would be 6 consecutive days.

"When that's over, I'll look forward to it too."

"..."

"Me too, 3 days."

Eun-ha was at a loss for words.

9 consecutive days.

It was the first time Lee Yu-jung showed such a passionate side.

It seemed she got jealous after hearing about Eun-ha and Ryu Yeon-hwa's story.

It wasn't jealousy that harmed the relationship.

No, according to Han Seo-hyeon's rules, the two were equally jealous, and that jealousy was directed at Eun-ha.

It was fine as long as they didn't fight each other.

Is there any Royal Jelly left somewhere...

Eun-ha couldn't refuse.

In the end he accepted with a bitter smile.

Then Ryu Yeon-hwa carefully approached and whispered.

"Um, when that's over, me too..."

"Ahaha..."

Ryu Yeon-hwa hesitates.

Eun-ha laughed out loud.

It felt like his soul would leave his body.

☆

The news of Noh Eun-ha and Ryu Yeon-hwa's marriage.

The world became noisy again.

"Ahaha!!"

But since it was the fourth.

Now people laughed in bewilderment.

Wondering how many more wives the harem king intends to take.

Still, Fairy Im Ga-eul of course, and many people congratulated Eun-ha's fourth marriage.

Noh Eun-ha was a national hero.

Public sentiment was favorable towards him.

So whatever Eun-ha did, he received people's applause.

"This, this... If we allow the harem law, won't he just increase women recklessly without being mindful now?"

"Ugh..."

Im Ga-eul spoke wiping her tears.

Ha Baek-ryeon receiving her education couldn't say anything.

"Ugh, oppa said he'd end at three..."

He's really trash.

Ha Baek-ryeon re-evaluated Noh Eun-ha and concluded.

But she didn't want to oppose Ryu Yeon-hwa's marriage.

"Are you still going to do the harem law?"

"Ugh... I'll think about it."

Im Ga-eul teases.

Ha Baek-ryeon answered evasively with a sulky face.