Chapter 49. The Young Witch’s Visit (1/2)
Chapter 49. The Young Witch’s Visit
Practically all the authority in the Heavenly Demon Church belonged to the Pope. Naturally, that meant the Pope possessed quite a bit of power within the church. Not surprisingly, he, the Pope, had up to four military divisions of the church under him.
There was the Mara’s Heavenly Wind Division (魔羅天風隊), the Pope’s bodyguards. The Guardians, who were few in number, but boasted the most power in the entirety of the church. The Disciplinary Division, who were the ones to maintain order within the church. And lastly, there was the Ruling Fire House (異火宮).
“This isn’t a matter we can just overlook.”
The captivating woman wearing a red dress. She had a skin white as snow, with lips that matched the white skin. Adding to that, her light purple hair gave the woman a mystical aura.
She was Baek So Chun (白素天), the current master of the Ruling Fire House, and the one who was known as Flame Witch in the martial world.
Her external appearance suggested that she was in her late twenties, but in reality, this woman was well over forty years old.
How could this woman display such effects, when she hadn’t even entered the Harmonious stage?
The reason was because of two things: her innate strength, and the special magic unique to the Ruling Fire House was what gave Baek So Chun her youthful appearance.
This was why this woman was able to stay young after so many years.
“Rin (麟).”
“Yes, master.”
“I entrusted the job of looking after Ahri to you and your sister, did I not? Do you have anything to say about the failure of your job?”
“……..I apologize, master.”
Rin couldn’t say anything. Not only did she lose the young lady, she had to go all the way to the Grass Shoe Garden without even getting a proper invitation.
The Ruling Fire House really lost face because of what happened this time. Even if this event didn’t seem too significant to outsiders, to the members of the Ruling Fire House, who were secluded by nature, this was something very serious.
The Ruling Fire House.
They were one of the ten military divisions within the church, and the only one out of all of them to be solely consist of women.
“Ahri is still young. She is not yet mature.”
“……..”
“Things went well this time, but what if word got out about the young lady, and something bad had happened? Who would take care of everything then? Do you have the courage to face the enraged Pope?”
Rin, when she heard Baek So Chun’s question, drooped her head. The young lady was the precious daughter of the Pope. The young lady was brought up in a protected environment because of that.
But perhaps that only became a problem for the young lady. After all, the young lady saw the world in too positive of a light. She didn’t realize how dangerous the outside world was, nor did she realize how violent men could become at times.
“Normally, I’d cut off your necks to set an example to the others, but……”
Baek So Chun stopped talking for a bit, then looked over at Gongson Ahri, who was kneeling on the ground right outside, begging for forgiveness.
“Since it looks like Ahri sincerely reflected on her actions, I’ll let you get off with a simple whipping (笞刑).”
(TL: In ancient Asia, when giving out punishment, people would often be slapped on the butt with a heavy bat, usually up to 10 times for light punishment, and up to hundreds for more severe ones. Image)
“T, thank you, master.”
Rin let out a sigh of relief in her heart. At least they managed to control the whole situation just in time… if the situation got out of hand, something bad definitely would’ve happened. Being let off with just this seemed like a gift from the heavens.
“Go pay the price for your actions, and reflect upon what you have done this time.”
“Understood!”
When Baek So Chun waved her hand, the women in the area grabbed hold of Rin and Ryung, and took them outside.
When Gongson Ahri tried to follow them, Baek So Chun stepped in front and stopped her.
“Ahri.”
“Y, yes!”
When Gongson Ahri nervously replied back, Baek So Chun smirked, and rubbed Gongson Ahri’s cheeks.
“These girls are getting punished because of you. Look carefully.”
“What?”
Gongson Ahri made a dark face whilst looking at Rin and Ryung get dragged away. Baek So Chun, amused by the girl’s expression, whispered some words to Gongson Ahri.
“If you get whipped without reinforcing yourself with internal energy, a single hit would make your skin explode and injure your muscles badly. It may be our lightest punishment, but getting hit about ten times should put them down for roughly ten days.”
Gongson Ahri’s eyes began to tremble. While Baek So Chun looked down at the poor scared girl with indescribable joy, Gongson Ahri made up her mind and spoke.
“Ma’am……”
“What?”
Gongson Ahri looked at Baek So Chun with a scared face, and opened her mouth.
“S, since this is all my fault in the first place, can’t I be punished instead?”
Baek So Chun toyed with that idea for a bit. No, she pretended to. Indeed, the cause of all this lie in Gongson Ahri. Because of that, Gongson Ahri would technically have to be punished.
But…..
‘I wouldn’t be able to handle the consequences.’
Baek So Chun smiled bitterly in her mind. If she did indeed punish Gongson Ahri by whipping, it would be hard for her to escape the Pope’s wrath.
Even if the Pope was usually very easygoing and relaxed, when it came to his daughter, he was far from that. Baek So Chun knew that better than anyone.
“I cannot allow that.”
“W, why can’t I be punished? Is it because of my dad?”
It was a question that really hit the spot for Baek So Chun. But trying to deny that outright won’t really educate the girl properly. Baek So Chun shook her head coldly without even flinching when hearing the question.
“You have the duty to watch these girls get punished. Yes, that should bring even more pain to you. This is my punishment for you.”
“……!”
“Do you understand what I’m saying?”
When Gongson Ahri made a face filled with despair, Baek So Chun waved her hand.
“You can go ahead with the punishment.”
* * *
From a while back, Gongson Ahri had been desperately moving bandages and medicine everywhere, trying to help patch up Rin and Ryung’s buttocks which had been blasted to smithereens by the whips.
“Rin, does it really hurt that much?”
“Yes. It really hurts. I thought my butt was going to disappear.”
Gongson Ahri, when she heard that, nodded and muttered under her breath without realizing it.
“You’re right. It doesn’t even look like a butt anymore.”
“……It’s all thanks to you, young lady.”
Gongson Ahri, who was kind of spaced out while rubbing medicine on the wounds of the two girls, became surprised upon hearing that, and panicked a bit.
“S, sorry. Are you angry?”
“Yeah.”
“Sorry, Rin. I must’ve been crazy at the time.”
“Apologize to my butt instead.”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”
When Ryung saw Gongson Ahri rub Rin’s buttocks whilst apologizing to it, she shouted out to the girl.
“Young lady, I’m hurting over here, too.”
“Sorry, I’ll get there now.”
Gongson Ahri quickly walked over to Ryung’s bed, and began apologizing while rubbing the wound with medicine.
Rin looked at the girl rubbing medicine on Ryung’s buttcheecks, and smiled.
Actually, such an amount of pain was nothing to Rin or Ryung.
It should be the first time for Gongson Ahri to see something so bloody, but it was different for Rin or Ryung. To them, this punishment really was light.
The martial world was not kind to women. It was a place where one had to do anything in order to survive.
If you thought about that, the martial world was actually a pretty good place for both men and women. After all, it was a place where strength was key.
Rin felt her buttocks begin to heat up, and slowly closed her eyes. When she did so, she could see something. She could see the cold gaze of the Administrator from the morning.
And…
‘It was the heir, right?’