Episode 67: Thought It Was a Tragedy
“Lord Jung Yong, are you really not going to say a single word?”
How long had I been walking toward the capital of Markeuteuriseu when Seop Baek stopped me with those words?
I had no choice but to halt in my tracks.
“What… what do you want me to say?”
“Why are we rushing so suddenly? It seems unnatural.”
“Well, it’s just… the country isn’t that large, so I figured we might as well make it all the way to the capital before resting…”
“…”
The glare of suspicion was sharp indeed. She clearly didn’t believe a word of it.
Go ahead, don’t believe me. Even I thought my excuses sounded pathetic.
But what could I do? My mind was such a jumble I couldn’t come up with anything better.
My thoughts were nothing but a stark white emptiness.
Specifically, it was filled with that blinding white explosion from my previous life.
So I only realized Seop Baek had stopped walking quite some time later.
“Lost in thought again, I see.”
“Huh?”
Seop Baek’s voice snapped me out of my daze. And I was startled.
She was looking at me with an indescribably sorrowful expression.
Why was she looking at me like that? Confused, I asked her.
“Am I not being enough of a support for you?”
“What?”
“So is that why you’re not telling me anything? Am I a burden to you?”
“No, hey! Why the sudden rush to conclusions? Initial B?”
Please don’t misunderstand.
It’s not that I don’t trust Seop Baek, quite the opposite. I trust her too much to tell her.
“Would you like to become a hero to mankind too?”
At the moment I revealed the truth, Seop Baek’s title would likely change to that as well.
To explain the space-time regression would inevitably require revealing my connection to the Demon King Ruci first. And once she knew that, there would be no going back to ignorance.
I don’t want her to have to unnecessarily bear such a heavy burden.
It’s enough that she cooks well when we camp, and provides good healing when needed.
“Not Seop Baek, it’s…”
“Then what? What exactly are you hiding from me, Lord Jung Yong?”
“…”
What to do…
I’m not sure why she’s suddenly being so persistent, but I quickly formulated a countermeasure.
And one plausible strategy came to mind.
“Are you not hiding something as well?”
“Wha, what? Me?”
An eye for an eye, a secret for a secret, and bluffing for the truth.
I nodded smugly while chuckling meaningfully and pointed at Seop Baek’s flustered face.
“So you thought you could keep it from me?”
“M-my…”
She avoided my gaze, obviously uneasy, unlike her confident demeanor just moments ago. The deception was working well—so well that I think her face turned slightly red.
…Wait. This might imply she’s truly hiding something, despite the method working so effectively.
‘The aftertaste feels a bit off, but…’
Anyway, who cares. My belief is that there’s no one in this world without some flaw.
As long as secrets don’t interfere with cooking skills, I don’t care what they are.
With that thought, I resumed walking.
“Hurry up. We need to get as far as possible.”
“Uuuh… yes…”
Though Seop Baek still seemed agitated, she fell silent, and reluctantly followed me.
“Such a difficult way to live, humans. If you just beat each other until you’re willing to talk, it’d be simpler.”
The Demon King was watching us with disdain, shaking his head with a laugh.
Yeah. Though I won’t do it to anyone else, I’ll make sure you experience exactly that.
With that vow in mind, I quickened my pace.
*
Night fell.
In the end, we camped by the roadside. After enjoying Seop Baek’s magnificent cooking, everyone drifted off to sleep.
Of course, I was on watch again. In fact, I practically spent the whole night awake, so more like I’m on duty.
“Ugh damn, it’s freezing.”
I was freezing even while sitting by the crackling campfire.
The indoors were cold enough; how could the outdoors be any different? It felt like my face was splitting.
‘And I’m going through all this to…’
As a side note, there’s nothing to burn on this vast plain, so the various books Lord Halsenberg gave me as a parting gift are now being used as firewood.
I’m sorry, Lord Halsenberg. I’m destroying your books just to survive—I hope you’d understand.
‘Fucking hell. If it’s this cold, it’s ridiculous.’
Not just me, but the fiery complaints from Seop Baek and the Demon King compelled Halsenberg’s books to burn an hour after we started camping.
“Hmph, when will the sun rise?”
I reached into my pocket and pulled out the Saint’s Emblem.
Sighing deeply, I absentmindedly spun the emblem in my hand.
“…Wow, what is that, Lord Jung Yong?”
From the tent came a voice.
Turning my head, I saw Seop Baek looking at the emblem in my hand with obvious curiosity.
Looking into her dark eyes that gleamed in the darkness, I casually asked.
“Aren’t you asleep? You want to take watch?”
“…I can’t sleep.”
“I see.”
Seop Baek fidgeted in the tent, speaking. I couldn’t help but smile.
“Because you’re cold?”
“Eh, yes… how did you know?”
“… Well.”
Of course, I knew from my previous life, but I didn’t elaborate.
I tapped the empty spot next to me, speaking to Seop Baek who was still hunched up.
“Come get warm.”
“Eh? Oh, oh… yes…”
Seop Baek suddenly tensed upon my invitation, clearly flustered.
She remained flailing for a while before quickly coming to sit by me and basking in the fire’s warmth.
Splinters of wood crackled and sparked. We gazed absentmindedly at the flames.
Seop Baek suddenly gave the faintest of smiles.
“It’s warm.”
“Yeah.”
And the silence returned. I silently poked at the fire with a stick.
It wasn’t awkward exactly. Though we hadn’t known each other long, Seop Baek seemed like an old friend.
‘Wait. This situation seems familiar?’
It was then that I realized something.
Of course. This wasn’t déjà vu but an almost exact replay of an incident from my previous life.
Next, Seop Baek’s comment would surely be something along the lines of “It’s so awkward I could die, why don’t you say something entertaining, you clueless jerk.”
…Or something a bit less harsh, but the general mood, yes.
‘Critical strike charged.’
After aimlessly playing with my hair, I nodded in determination. A decision had been made.
If this continued indefinitely, I might never shed my awkwardness. Go ahead, Jung Yong. Show that you’re a man who can handle this.
“Seop Baek, this silence is getting awkward. Let’s talk.”
“E-eh? Ah! Yes, yes!”
Seop Baek startled as if she’d been waiting for just that command and nodded vigorously.
She was clearly feeling awkward—inviting her to speak was a good move.
Gaining some confidence, I began.
“Now, this happened when I was in the military…”
“Excuse me? The military? Were you a soldier too, Lord Jung Yong?”
“Yeah. I was in the army for about two years. So, it was around three years ago when I was stationed in Gangwon Province. It was freezing there too. Snow covered the ground when this one private, nicknamed ‘Fireman Kim Tae-seon’…”
“St-stop! Please, that’s enough!”
Seop Baek cut me off mid-sentence.
‘The Legend of Fireman Kim Tae-seon from Battalion 777’ had ended before it even began.
I shot her a questioning look, rendered temporarily speechless. She scratched her cheek sheepishly.
“I… I just had a feeling that if you didn’t stop, we’d be here until dawn…”
“…”
Well observed. As she said, it could’ve gone on until sunrise.
Also, judging by her reaction, I gathered that military stories don’t go over well with women.
Knowledge gained. I silently nodded.
“…Lord Jung Yong.”
“Ung.”
“It might be random, but…”
“Ung.”
“Thank you. Truly.”
“…”
“Being able to make small talk like this now is thanks to you meeting me.”
“…”
Damn. I knew this could happen, and here it was.
I gazed at Seop Baek with a rather bitter look. She caught my eye and quickly looked down.
“I owe you a debt I can never repay.”
“A-ah.”
A telltale line appeared. Definitely the ‘I’ll undress if you ask’ pattern from my previous life.
‘Fuck. Why would you replay the cheesy rejection lines?’
Unknowingly at first, now I’m fully conscious of reiterating them—they’re disgustingly awkward.
Very disgustingly awkward. I feel like vomiting.
‘Why not just get it over with smoothly?’
That thought popped into mind unexpectedly.
Perhaps because I never wanted to repeat those lines again, it oddly felt reasonable.
After all, if the other party consents and you still reject them, it might hurt their pride.
Alright. Let’s do it. This time, in this life, I’ll truly cross the Rubicon.
“Seop Baek!”
I cheerfully grabbed both her shoulders.
Shocked, she opened her eyes wide.
“Yes, yes yes? What is it?”
“Let’s do it!”
“Whaaa??”
Shit. I got ahead of myself. That was awkward.
I closed my eyes, cleared my throat, and organized the lines in my mind.
Then, fluidly:
“There’s no need to say it out loud. I already understand your feelings completely. So, do what you wish. I won’t refuse…”
I softly opened my eyes afterwards.
And saw Seop Baek, leaning against the log, sound asleep.
“…”
“…”
Deep sleep. She doesn’t even stir when called, muttering incoherently in her sleep.
Realizing I was about to have a serious conversation with thin air, overwhelming regret washed over me.
“Arghhh…”
I rolled around on the ground, clawing at my head.
If there’s a god, either kill me or destroy this continent right now. Immediately.
Come on, let’s die. Let me lose my memory. I’ll leave a note in the Box of the Dead saying ‘Never Regain Your Memory’. Then, none of this embarrassing history ever happened.
“You’ve become a comedian while I wasn’t looking.”
In the midst of my self-flagellation, I heard a voice.
Involuntarily, all movement stopped. For a moment, I doubted my ears.
“Hey, voice…”
Not exactly missed, but a voice I wanted to hear one last time.
A voice I wished to hear crying and sobbing through my fists.
I abruptly turned to the source of the sound.
“Hello, 163,417,413th Hero. Long time no see.”
There she was—Minerva, the Goddess of Dark Blonde Hair who has replaced her notorious brunette locks, beaming cheekily at me.
