Chapter 25 – #06_Inn(2)
25
1.
When Siwoo went to pick up Amelia, she was already walking towards the inn, exhausted from waiting.
Judging by her expression, it seemed like she was about to burn down this inn if he had taken any longer.
I’ll get scolded if I say that, right?
“Why are you so late?”
“I’m sorry. I was begging them to let us stay, saying we already had a reservation…”
Amelia frowned slightly, but she didn’t get too annoyed, probably because she knew that she was the reason they were staying at an inn instead of a villa.
She has the ability to be reasonable like this, so why has she been so difficult all this time? It’s hard to understand.
“……What are you doing? Keep drinking.”
“Hahaha!”
“Oh, you surprised me.”
Siwoo, who had been to a bar with Odile before, could predict the reactions of the people when Amelia entered the inn.
Everyone would become quiet and watch Amelia’s every move.
However, that prediction was way off.
You could say they were quite bold? Even after seeing Amelia, who was clearly a witch and a noble, there was no special reaction.
Most of the sailors glanced at Amelia’s beautiful appearance once, but quickly looked away as if they didn’t want to get into trouble.
There were one or two who were staring intently at her figure and face, though.
“The room is this way, they say.”
Siwoo guided Amelia towards the stairs.
However, Amelia plopped down at an empty table in the corner.
“Let’s have a simple meal.”
The innkeeper, who had been diligently wiping glasses until just now, walked over to the table as soon as Amelia sat down.
Then, he spoke in a tone that didn’t feel particularly subservient.
“It seems too noisy for a noble witch to stay here. The sailors are stubborn and loud, so even if I tell them to be quiet, it won’t work. I’ll bring the food up, so please go to your room.”
Siwoo was surprised.
The innkeeper’s words had the nuance of telling them not to disturb the atmosphere here and to go upstairs.
To be so presumptuous in front of a witch was a sight he had never seen before in Gehenna.
“I don’t like the smell of food in my sleeping quarters. I will pay a fair price, so bring the food here.”
But, true to her fiery nature, Amelia didn’t back down at all.
Rather, she looked down at the innkeeper, who was twice her size, and took out four shiny gold coins.
The innkeeper scratched the back of his head, where there wasn’t much hair.
He seemed to have quickly realized that Amelia was the type who couldn’t be persuaded.
“With this money, I could scrape together all the ingredients in the warehouse and still have change left over. Just give me one. Hey, chef! One special course! Put some muscle into it, it’s worth a gold coin!”
The innkeeper took only one gold coin and shouted to the kitchen in a booming voice.
By the way, a special course?
To hear such words in a tavern in Gehenna, where most places don’t even have a proper menu.
It certainly feels like this place is closer to the modern world.
Not long after, the chef’s special course was set on the table, almost breaking it.
First of all, the most eye-catching thing was the huge steak, with blood and juices dripping even before you could touch it with a knife.
But that was the end of the meat dishes, and instead, various seafood dishes that were hard to find in Tarot Town were served.
Gambas, made with king prawns and scallops, boiled in a spicy broth.
A whole boiled large lobster and grilled fish heads.
In addition, more than 13 other dishes adorned the table without any gaps.
“Enjoy your meal.”
The chef, who had personally served the food, went back, and Siwoo swallowed hard, looking at the late-night meal in front of him for the first time in five years.
“Thank you for the meal, Associate Professor!”
The surroundings were so noisy that he had to almost shout to be heard.
Just as Amelia and Siwoo began to eat, a sudden commotion arose.
“Attention, attention! The sailors whose names are called must immediately prepare to set sail!”
A man in a neat suit walked in from outside the inn, ringing a bell to draw attention.
He read the names written on a piece of paper one by one, calling out the sailors.
“What the hell! Why are we suddenly setting sail?”
“I don’t know, the captain said he has something he needs to do right away.”
“Max, Ben, Timmy. Hey, wake that bastard up and bring him along.”
“Why me! Take someone else!”
“Are you crazy in the moonlight! How are we supposed to steer the ship when the helmsman is passed out!”
“Damn it, I’m stepping on land for the first time in a month, what bad luck.”
The sailors, who had been chatting and having fun, suddenly started grabbing their belongings and running out.
Despite all the harsh curses and complaints, the sailors quickly sorted themselves out and rushed outside.
After the sounds of the creaking floorboards and the doors opening and closing, only about a dozen people remained on the first floor of the inn.
While Siwoo was blankly looking around, Amelia continued her meal without paying any attention to her surroundings.
By the time all the called sailors had gone outside, Amelia had finished her meal.
She ate so little that she finished much faster than Siwoo.
The tavern became quiet in an instant.
Even with a dozen or so drunkards, it should be quite noisy, but the inn was eerily quiet, with a sense of tension.
“Oh my, Witch. We meet again.”
Then, with the sound of heels clicking, Larisa walked over to the table.
Amelia wiped her mouth with a napkin she had pulled out from somewhere and looked up at Larisa with a straight posture.
“What is it?”
“It’s nothing special…”
“I’m eating. Can’t you see?”
Larisa, who had been speaking in a friendly manner, was at a loss for words.
In fact, that reaction is normal for someone who is seeing Amelia’s way of speaking for the first time.
She’s a woman who doesn’t have even a speck of sociability.
“…It’s just that I happened to bring some good wine for the after-party. As you can see, the sailors have set sail, so there aren’t enough people to share it with.”
Larisa took out two clean wine glasses and placed them on the table.
Then, she skillfully opened the cork and uncorked the wine.
“It’s an expensive wine brought from the modern world, so it will suit the Witch’s taste.”
Amelia watched Larisa’s actions, as if trying to gauge her true intentions.
Amelia was a noble, and Larisa ran a contact point for nobles.
There was no such thing as a favor without a reason.
“I’m sorry, but there’s nothing I can do for you in return for this.”
“I know. It’s just a token of my sincerity.”
-Pouring sound
The red wine began to be poured beautifully into the glasses.
The fragrant scent of grapes, which was not buried by the smell of food, tickled the nose.
Larisa poured wine not only for Amelia but also for Siwoo’s glass.
“I hope you have a good time.”
Larisa, as if her business was done, took the remaining bottle and poured a glass for each of the surrounding sailors.
Amelia didn’t seem to feel any sense of discomfort in that situation.
A witch is an object of awe and fear, and also in a position where people try to look good to her, so it was understandable.
Amelia took a sip of wine and frowned slightly.
Siwoo knew why as soon as he tasted the wine.
It was a very dry wine.
It was the kind of thing Amelia, who liked sweet things, would dislike.
“I’ll go up first, so eat and come.”
Amelia pushed the wine she had taken a sip of away as if she had no more lingering feelings and got up from her seat.
“No. I’ll be done with my meal soon, so please wait a little longer.”
“You don’t have to eat while watching me. This is a reward for the caretaker running around today.”
It was worth it to have been running around busily all day without rest.
“And I don’t think I’ve heard your answer yet. What do you think about being assigned as my assistant?”
So that offer was still on the table.
It was an unexpected second chance for Siwoo, who thought he had blown his chance with his slip of the tongue earlier.
“I’m willing to guarantee your convenience as it is now.”
Was that really why?
Siwoo felt his complicated thoughts clear up a bit.
Amelia had been trying to make Siwoo, a mathematician from the modern world, her assistant for the past five years.
Siwoo had mistaken it for an offer to be her bed warmer.
Siwoo, who had been indoctrinated by slave traders about how terrifying witches were, had assumed it was dangerous and refused.
Amelia, who had suffered the humiliation of being rejected by a slave, had been constantly tormenting Siwoo ever since.
The reason she had been particularly nice to him recently was to make him the assistant offer again.
It all made sense now.
Siwoo answered without much hesitation.
“Okay.”
Anyway, he only had to endure it for one more year.
If he became Amelia’s exclusive assistant, his workload would probably decrease.
Then he would have more time to study magic and might be able to complete the magic to escape this Gehenna faster.
It was an offer that had nothing to lose.
Amelia nodded slowly, as if satisfied with Siwoo’s answer.
Although she had no expression, there was a certain atmosphere about her.
“Good thinking. Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Amelia went up to the upper floor where the guest rooms were.
Perhaps the fact that she had let him continue his meal until the end was a kindness in its own way.
Since he was a slave, he didn’t have many opportunities to eat such food, and above all, seafood was especially hard to come by inland.
“Still, that’s kind of nice.”
After Amelia had completely disappeared, Siwoo focused on his meal again.
“Hey, kid.”
Just as he was about to start poking at the lobster shell with his fork.
Someone plopped down at the table in front of him.
He thought the voice was familiar, and it turned out to be Fyodor, the muscular giant who had picked a fight with him earlier.
“What’s the matter?”
He gulped down the wine Amelia had left behind, then grinned, baring his teeth.
“So you’re a male concubine?”
That damn cock, that damn cock.
I’ve never even held Amelia’s hand, let alone had sex with her, so I don’t know why I keep hearing those words.
“That’s not true.”
Siwoo answered curtly, scooping up lobster meat.
He was an awkward guy. Siwoo decided to eat as quickly as possible and go upstairs.
But I soon regretted that choice.
The old man’s face was a roadmap of wrinkles, each line etched with the passage of time. His eyes, though clouded with age, still held a spark of mischief. He chuckled, a dry, rustling sound like leaves skittering across pavement. “So, you’ve come to hear another tale, have you?”
I nodded, settling onto the worn cushion beside him. The air in his small study was thick with the scent of old paper and dried herbs. Sunlight streamed through the dusty window, illuminating motes of dust dancing in the air.
“Very well,” he said, his voice raspy but firm. “But this one is not for the faint of heart.” He paused, his gaze drifting towards the window as if he were seeing something far beyond the confines of the room. “It’s a story of a girl named Hana, and a forest that held secrets darker than the deepest night.”
He began to speak, and the room seemed to fade away. I was no longer in his study, but in a world woven from his words, a world where the trees whispered and the shadows danced.
Hana was a girl of the village, known for her bright eyes and even brighter spirit. She loved the forest, the way the sunlight dappled through the leaves, the soft moss beneath her feet, the songs of the birds that filled the air. But the forest was not always kind. There were whispers of things that lurked in the shadows, things that were best left undisturbed.
One day, Hana’s younger brother, Minho, went missing. The villagers searched, calling his name until their voices were hoarse, but he was nowhere to be found. Hana refused to give up. She knew, deep in her heart, that the forest held the answer.
She ventured into the woods, deeper than she had ever gone before. The trees grew taller, their branches twisted into grotesque shapes. The air grew heavy, and the sunlight struggled to penetrate the dense canopy. She called out for Minho, her voice trembling, but only the rustling of leaves answered her.
As she pressed on, she began to notice strange things. The trees seemed to watch her, their bark forming faces that seemed to leer. The shadows stretched and writhed, taking on shapes that made her heart pound in her chest. She felt a presence, something ancient and malevolent, watching her from the darkness.
She came to a clearing, and in the center stood an ancient oak, its trunk gnarled and twisted like a tormented soul. The air around it thrummed with an unnatural energy. And there, at the base of the tree, she saw him. Minho.
But he was not the same. His eyes were vacant, his skin pale and cold. He moved like a puppet, his limbs stiff and unnatural. He was no longer her brother. He was something else.
A figure emerged from the shadows, tall and gaunt, its face hidden beneath a cloak. It spoke, its voice a low, guttural growl that seemed to vibrate in Hana’s bones. “He is mine now,” it said. “And you will be too.”
Hana stood her ground, her fear giving way to a fierce determination. She would not let this creature take her brother. She would fight.
The old man paused, his eyes fixed on some distant point. The silence in the room was heavy, broken only by the ticking of an old clock.
“And what happened then?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
He smiled, a sad, knowing smile. “That,” he said, “is a story for another time.”
The old woman’s face, deeply etched with wrinkles, was a roadmap of a life lived. Her eyes, though clouded with age, still held a spark of mischief. She sat on the porch, her back supported by the worn wooden railing, a small, hand-carved pipe clutched in her gnarled fingers. The smoke curled lazily into the still morning air, carrying with it the scent of dried herbs and something indefinably ancient.
“You’re back again, are you?” she rasped, her voice like the rustling of dry leaves. She didn’t look at me, her gaze fixed on the distant hills where the morning mist still clung to the peaks.
I nodded, though she couldn’t see it. “Yes, Grandma. I came to see you.”
A low chuckle rumbled in her chest. “Came to see me, or came to hear another story?”
I smiled. “Both.”
She finally turned her head, her eyes twinkling. “Alright then, child. But this one will be different.” She took a long draw from her pipe, the embers glowing red in the dim light. “This one is about the stars.”
She began to speak, her voice weaving a tapestry of words that painted vivid pictures in my mind. She spoke of constellations that danced across the night sky, of celestial beings who walked among us, and of the secrets hidden within the heart of the universe. Her words were like a lullaby, soothing and enchanting, and I found myself lost in the world she created.
The sun climbed higher in the sky, casting long shadows across the yard. The birds began to sing, their melodies blending with the old woman’s voice. I sat there, mesmerized, listening to her tales until the last word faded into the air.
When she was done, she looked at me, her eyes filled with a knowing light. “Do you understand, child?”
I nodded, my heart full. “Yes, Grandma. I understand.”
She smiled, a rare and beautiful sight. “Good. Now go. The day is waiting.”
I stood up, feeling lighter than air. I turned to leave, but then I paused. “Grandma?”
“Yes?”
“Will you tell me another story tomorrow?”
She chuckled again, the sound like the gentle tinkling of bells. “We shall see, child. We shall see.”
I smiled and walked away, the old woman’s words echoing in my heart. I knew that I would be back tomorrow, eager to hear another tale from the keeper of stories.
The old woman’s face was a roadmap of wrinkles, each line a testament to the years she’d lived. Her eyes, though clouded with age, still held a spark of mischief. She chuckled, a dry, rustling sound like leaves skittering across pavement. “You think you’re so clever, huh?” she rasped, her voice like sandpaper. “But I’ve seen more than you’ve dreamed of, little one.”
I crossed my arms, trying to look unimpressed, though her words did make me a little uneasy. “I’m not little,” I muttered, “and I’m plenty clever.”
She laughed again, a sound that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. “Clever enough to find the hidden path?” she asked, her eyes twinkling. “Or are you just another lost soul, wandering in the dark?”
I hesitated. The hidden path was what I’d been searching for, the one whispered about in hushed tones. It was said to lead to a place of untold power, a place where dreams could become reality. But the old woman’s words made me wonder if I was truly ready for what lay ahead.
“I’m not lost,” I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. “I know exactly where I’m going.”
The old woman’s smile widened, revealing a set of teeth that were surprisingly white against her wrinkled skin. “Then show me,” she said, her voice a low challenge. “Show me the path, and I’ll show you what lies beyond.”
I took a deep breath, trying to ignore the knot of anxiety in my stomach. This was it, the moment I’d been waiting for. I turned and started walking, my steps firm and determined. The old woman followed behind, her laughter echoing in the air, a constant reminder of the challenge that lay ahead.
The old woman’s face, wrinkled like a dried persimmon, was a map of her life. Her eyes, though clouded with age, still held a spark of mischief. She chuckled, a sound like dry leaves rustling in the wind. “You think you’re so smart, huh? Little rascal.”
I puffed out my chest, trying to look as confident as possible. “Of course! I’m the smartest kid in the whole village!”
She laughed again, a series of short, sharp bursts. “Smart, you say? Let’s see if you can answer this then.” She held up a gnarled finger, her nail yellowed and thick. “What’s the one thing that everyone wants, but no one can ever truly have?”
I frowned, thinking hard. I knew all the answers to the school problems, I could even recite the entire history of our kingdom, but this… this was different. I racked my brain, trying to come up with something, anything. “Is it… gold?”
The old woman shook her head, her lips curving into a knowing smile. “Nope. Try again.”
I thought about it some more. “Is it… power?”
She shook her head again, her smile widening. “Still wrong. One more try.”
I was stumped. I had no idea what it could be. I looked at the old woman, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “I give up,” I said, defeated. “What is it?”
She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. “It’s tomorrow.”
I blinked, confused. “Tomorrow?”
She nodded. “Everyone wants tomorrow, but no one can ever truly have it. Because when tomorrow comes, it’s already today.”
I stared at her, my mind trying to wrap itself around her words. It was so simple, yet so profound. I had never thought about it that way before.
The old woman patted my head, her touch surprisingly gentle. “Don’t worry, little one. You’ll understand someday.” She stood up, her joints creaking like an old wooden door. “Now, go on. Go play. And don’t forget what I told you.”
I watched her walk away, her back bent with age, but her spirit still strong. I knew I wouldn’t forget her words. They were like a seed planted in my mind, waiting to grow.
The old man’s face was a roadmap of wrinkles, each line a testament to the years he’d spent under the relentless sun. His eyes, though clouded with age, still held a spark of mischief, a glint that hinted at the stories he carried within. He sat on the porch, a worn wooden chair creaking beneath his weight, and watched as the young boy approached.
“Grandpa,” the boy called out, his voice full of the boundless energy of youth. “Tell me a story.”
The old man chuckled, a low rumble that seemed to vibrate through the very air. “A story, you say? Well, I suppose I have a few left in me.” He paused, his gaze drifting towards the horizon, where the sky met the earth in a hazy embrace. “Let me tell you about the time I met a tiger.”
The boy’s eyes widened, his imagination already taking flight. “A real tiger, Grandpa?”
“As real as the sun in the sky,” the old man replied, a smile playing on his lips. “It was many years ago, when I was just a young lad like yourself. I was walking through the forest, minding my own business, when suddenly…” He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “I heard a rustling in the bushes.”
The boy leaned in closer, his breath held captive by the suspense.
“And then,” the old man continued, “out stepped a tiger, bigger and fiercer than any you’ve ever seen. Its eyes were like burning coals, and its teeth were as sharp as knives.”
The boy gasped, his hand flying to his mouth. “What did you do, Grandpa?”
“Well,” the old man said, his eyes twinkling with amusement, “I did the only thing a sensible young lad could do. I ran.”
The boy giggled, the tension broken by the old man’s playful tone.
“But the tiger was fast,” the old man continued, “and it chased me through the forest, its roar echoing through the trees. I ran and ran, my heart pounding in my chest like a drum.”
He paused, his gaze turning serious. “But then, I remembered something my own grandfather had told me. He said, ‘When you face a challenge, don’t run away. Face it with courage.’”
The boy nodded, his eyes fixed on the old man’s face.
“So,” the old man said, his voice regaining its strength, “I stopped running. I turned around and faced the tiger.”
The boy’s eyes widened again, his imagination running wild.
“And what happened then, Grandpa?”
The old man smiled, a knowing look in his eyes. “Well, that’s a story for another day.” He winked at the boy. “But remember this, my boy. Courage isn’t about not being afraid. It’s about facing your fears, even when your heart is pounding like a drum.”
The boy nodded, his mind already buzzing with the lesson he had just learned. He knew that he would never forget the story of the old man and the tiger, and he knew that he would carry the old man’s words with him always.
Even so, Siwoo, who was treated as an elite outside, was a race he had never encountered before.
The wind was blowing.
It was a wind that carried the scent of the sea.
I was standing on the deck of a ship, staring out at the endless horizon. The sky was a deep blue, and the sun was shining brightly. The waves were crashing against the hull of the ship, and the sound was deafening.
I had been traveling for days, and I was starting to feel tired. But I knew that I had to keep going. I had a mission to complete.
I was a knight, and I had been tasked with finding a legendary artifact. It was said to be hidden on a remote island, and I was determined to find it.
I had been traveling for days, and I was starting to feel tired. But I knew that I had to keep going. I had a mission to complete.
I was a knight, and I had been tasked with finding a legendary artifact. It was said to be hidden on a remote island, and I was determined to find it.
I had been traveling for days, and I was starting to feel tired. But I knew that I had to keep going. I had a mission to complete.
I was a knight, and I had been tasked with finding a legendary artifact. It was said to be hidden on a remote island, and I was determined to find it.
The ship was finally approaching the island. I could see it in the distance, a small green patch in the middle of the ocean. I felt a surge of excitement. I was finally here.
The ship docked at the island, and I stepped onto the shore. The sand was soft and white, and the air was warm and humid. I took a deep breath and looked around.
The island was beautiful. There were tall trees, colorful flowers, and exotic birds. I felt like I had stepped into another world.
I started to walk into the jungle, following a narrow path. The trees were thick, and the sunlight was filtered through the leaves. I could hear the sounds of animals all around me.
I walked for hours, and I was starting to feel tired again. But I knew that I had to keep going. I had to find the artifact.
I finally came to a clearing. In the middle of the clearing was a large stone structure. It looked ancient and mysterious. I approached it cautiously.
I could feel a strange energy emanating from the structure. It was powerful and overwhelming. I knew that this was where the artifact was hidden.
I entered the structure. It was dark and damp inside. I could hear the sound of dripping water. I walked deeper into the structure, following a narrow passage.
I finally came to a large chamber. In the center of the chamber was a pedestal. On the pedestal was a small box. I knew that this was the artifact.
I approached the pedestal and reached out to take the box. But as I did, a voice echoed through the chamber.
“You have come far, knight,” the voice said. “But you will not take the artifact.”
I looked around, but I could not see anyone. The voice seemed to be coming from everywhere.
“Who are you?” I asked.
“I am the guardian of the artifact,” the voice said. “And I will not let you take it.”
“But I must,” I said. “I have been tasked with finding it.”
“Your task is not my concern,” the voice said. “The artifact will remain here.”
“Then I will have to take it by force,” I said.
“So be it,” the voice said.
Suddenly, the chamber began to shake. The walls started to crumble, and the floor started to crack. I knew that I had to get out of there.
I grabbed the box and ran out of the chamber. The structure was collapsing all around me. I ran as fast as I could, and I finally made it out of the structure.
I looked back at the structure. It was now a pile of rubble. I had escaped just in time.
I looked at the box in my hand. I had finally found the artifact. I had completed my mission.
I smiled. I was a knight, and I had done my duty.
A fist the size of my head could cave my face in, but Siwoo was never one to back down easily. He’d become a lot more docile after his time in the military and his years of servitude, though.
The world was a stage, and all the men and women merely players.
I, too, was one of those players.
A supporting character, to be precise.
A supporting character who was destined to die a miserable death after being used by the main character.
That was me, the extra, the villain, the one who was destined to die.
My name is Ian.
Ian Connor.
The name of the villain who was destined to die in the novel, “The Flower of the Empire.”
I was a supporting character who was destined to die a miserable death after being used by the main character.
I was a villain who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
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I was a character who was destined to die.
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I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
I was a character who was destined to die.
The day I turned twenty, I received a strange message.
[Congratulations on your twentieth birthday! You have been selected as a candidate for the ‘Other World Support Project’.]
[Do you wish to participate in the ‘Other World Support Project’? (Y/N)]
It was a message that popped up on my phone, like a notification from a game.
I stared blankly at the screen.
Other world? Support project? What kind of nonsense was this?
I was just about to turn it off, thinking it was some kind of spam, when I noticed something.
The message was not from a regular messaging app. It was a notification that appeared directly on my phone screen, like a system message.
I had never seen anything like it before.
I cautiously pressed ‘Y’.
[Thank you for agreeing to participate in the ‘Other World Support Project’.]
[You will be transferred to the other world in 10 seconds.]
[10]
[9]
[8]
…
What the hell?
I tried to turn off my phone, but the screen wouldn’t turn off.
[3]
[2]
[1]
The world turned white.
And then, I found myself in a place I had never seen before.
It was a forest.
Tall trees surrounded me, and the air was damp and cool.
The sky was a deep blue, and the sun was shining brightly.
It was a beautiful place, but I was completely lost.
“What the hell is going on?”
I muttered to myself.
I looked around, but there was no one there.
I was completely alone.
I took out my phone, but there was no signal.
“Great.”
I sighed.
I had no idea where I was or what I was supposed to do.
I just stood there, feeling lost and confused.
Then, a message popped up on my phone screen again.
[Welcome to the other world, ‘Aetheria’.]
[You have been selected as a ‘Support Player’ for this world.]
[Your mission is to help the inhabitants of Aetheria.]
[Please check your status window.]
Status window?
I looked around, but there was no window.
Then, I noticed a small icon on my phone screen.
It was a small, transparent window icon.
I tapped it.
[Status Window]
Name: Kang Min-woo
Level: 1
Class: Support Player
Strength: 5
Agility: 5
Stamina: 5
Magic Power: 5
Luck: 100
Skills: None
“What is this?”
I muttered to myself.
It was like a game status window.
But this was not a game.
This was reality.
I was in another world, and I was a ‘Support Player’.
I had no idea what that meant, but I knew one thing.
I had to survive.
I took a deep breath and looked around.
I had to find a way to get out of this forest.
I started walking, not knowing where I was going.
I just kept walking, hoping to find something, anything.
After walking for a while, I finally saw something.
It was a small village.
I ran towards it, hoping to find some help.
I was tired, hungry, and confused.
I just wanted to go home.
But I knew that was impossible.
I was in another world, and I had to face reality.
I had to survive.
I had to become stronger.
I had to find out what it meant to be a ‘Support Player’.
I had to find out why I was chosen.
I had so many questions, but no answers.
I just had to keep moving forward.
I had to survive.
That’s quite a size difference.
Fyodor’s expression turns blank, as if he hadn’t expected a retort.
But it was only for a moment.
He sneered, as if he should have known better, and began to spew filthy obscenities again.
“You came to hear some clingy stories about the little male pet who’s doted on by the witch, right?”
Fyodor dragged a chair over and tapped Siwoo on the shoulder.
The wind was blowing.
It was a wind that carried the scent of the sea.
I was sitting on the beach, staring blankly at the waves.
The waves crashed against the shore, then retreated, leaving behind white foam.
I watched the foam disappear, then watched the next wave come.
I had been doing this for a long time.
How long had it been?
I didn’t know.
I didn’t want to know.
I just wanted to keep watching the waves.
The sun was setting.
The sky was turning orange.
The sea was reflecting the orange light.
It was beautiful.
But I didn’t feel anything.
I was just watching.
The wind was still blowing.
It was a cold wind.
I shivered.
I pulled my jacket tighter around me.
I didn’t want to go home.
I didn’t want to see anyone.
I just wanted to stay here, watching the waves.
The sun had completely set.
The sky was dark.
The stars were starting to appear.
The sea was dark too.
But I could still see the waves.
They were white against the darkness.
I kept watching them.
I didn’t know why.
I just did.
I was tired.
I was so tired.
But I couldn’t sleep.
I just kept watching the waves.
The wind was still blowing.
It was a very cold wind.
I was shivering.
I should go home.
But I didn’t want to.
I just wanted to stay here.
Watching the waves.
I closed my eyes.
I could still hear the waves.
I could still feel the wind.
I was so tired.
I wanted to sleep.
But I couldn’t.
I opened my eyes again.
The waves were still there.
The stars were still there.
The wind was still blowing.
I was still here.
I didn’t know what to do.
I just kept watching the waves.
Siwoo was dumbfounded.
Amelia is a witch.
If Siwoo were truly a snitch, she could report this incident to her.
I couldn’t understand what made him so arrogant and rude.
Was he completely drunk?
“What color are her nipples? Huh? Why do you keep your mouth shut? Damn it, good things are good things.”
Hearing this man spew all sorts of lewd sexual harassment about Amelia made me feel disgusted and simultaneously lose my appetite.
Not wanting to cause any more trouble, Siwoo removed the arm around her shoulder and finished her meal.
“Watch your mouth. Do you even know who she is?”
“Kyahahaha!”
-Thud!
My vision flashed for a moment.
When I came to my senses, Siwoo’s face was buried in the plate where the lobster had been.
Fyodor’s burly arm had slammed Siwoo’s head into the table.
“Who gives a shit, you little bastard.”
A ringing in my ears.
Lobster shell embedded in my cheek, my nose stinging, probably from the sauce that went up my nostrils.
I couldn’t even grasp what had happened when I heard that filthy voice.
“Looks like you were gonna run and tattle. Too bad for you.”
A vile voice, not even trying to hide its laughter.
“You won’t be seeing that witch again, anyway.”
