Dancing with Bella #001

The street was darker than usual because the sky was full of dark clouds, blocking the sunlight. Feeling the eerie atmosphere since morning, the shop owner rubbed his goosebump-covered arms, constantly glancing at the shop’s door. He had an uneasy feeling that someone would burst through that door and harm him at any moment. It wasn’t just the shop owner who felt it; people walking down the street either raised their coat collars or lowered their gaze to the tiles on the ground, quickening their pace.

Wondering if the small dagger, usually used for peeling fruit hidden under the counter, could protect his life, the owner decided to buy a decent self-defense weapon from the blacksmith on 3rd Street as soon as he closed shop. There might not be any brazen figures committing robbery in the Imperial Capital, but he thought he’d buy a better weapon than a dagger for his peace of mind.

Trying to ease his anxiety by soaking a rag in water and wiping the dust off the merchandise, the merchant suddenly turned his gaze out the window at a noise. A man was lying on the gray street as if drunk. The shop owner brought his face close to the window out of curiosity. He worried that the man who suddenly appeared on the street, as if dropped from the sky, might be the reality of the anxiety he was feeling, and he considered locking the door. Unlike the owner, the man lying on the street was still unconscious.

Unlike a moment ago, there was no one passing by on the street. Worried about the man lying alone on the street, the shop owner, following the teachings of the church that proved his good nature with a small amount of gold every week, put down the rag and carefully opened the door, sticking his face out.

Shop Owner: Ibosiyo, are you alright?

The man didn’t move at the shop owner’s question. He was likely either drunk and asleep, or had lost consciousness and collapsed. The shop owner was afraid that if he got closer, the man might suddenly jump up and swing a dagger at his neck. But the shop owner was nosy. His nosiness, which didn’t cross the line, was an advantage that made regular customers for the store, and one day, helping a woman in a difficult situation at a church gathering became an opportunity to start a lifelong relationship with his partner.

♪Some might think I’m stupid

♪But this is who I am!

♪I can’t close my eyes like this

♪I don’t know what kind of relationship awaits me

♪Or… it might be the beginning of misfortune!

♪But all I can do is stupid good deeds!

The owner sighed deeply enough to make the ground sink, and praying that God would bless his stupidity, he approached the man who was face down on the ground without moving. He was also worried that people would say the shop owner coldly ignored a person who had collapsed from a seizure.

When the shop owner carefully tapped his shoulder and asked if he was okay, the man finally came to his senses and struggled to get up. The shop owner, meeting the eyes of the man who raised his hand and wiped his face once, was able to ease his anxiety a little at the man’s appearance, which was on the border between adult and boy.

Unlike the blonde hair that suited the daylight, he was a melancholy-looking man with sad eyes. The man, frowning as if feeling a headache, shook his head roughly and thanked the shop owner. Relieved that he wasn’t a monster with three eyes or spouting unintelligible words, the owner went back to the store and handed the man a glass of water.

Shop Owner: Are you okay? Here, have a glass of water.

Man: (Receiving the glass) Thank you.

The man emptied the glass in an instant and thanked him again, returning the empty glass to the owner. The shop owner shrugged, thinking that his good deed would one day return as good fortune. The man, looking around the surrounding streets, frowned slightly and asked the shop owner.

Man: Excuse me, where is this?

Shop Owner: It’s the street of Rontron Pizza. If you go out that alley, you’ll find the most famous Rontron Pizza in the capital.

The man pondered for a moment and then asked the shop owner again.

Man: Is it Imperial Year 622 now?

Shop Owner: That’s right, Imperial Year 612.

Man: (Surprised) 612?

The shop owner then realized that he had answered incorrectly because of the man’s reaction. And it felt strange that the man was asking about the Imperial Year. Asking if it wasn’t 10 years later was not a normal thing to do. The shop owner confirmed that it was Imperial Year 612, fiddled with the empty glass, and then slipped back into the store. And he didn’t forget to lock the door tightly in case the man came into the store.

But the man, lost in thought, didn’t care at all that the shop owner had disappeared. Because the man had bigger worries. The man. No, Ross, who had been wandering through other worlds aimlessly to return to his original world, sighed at the fact that he had returned further into the past than he had thought. He had clearly thought of the academy where Kane was baking pizza, but he wondered why he had arrived on the street of a Rontron Pizza place he had never heard of.

After a moment of thought, Ross felt his stomach shrinking with hunger. Come to think of it, he hadn’t eaten anything in the last world. It was natural to be hungry. It would take time for the runes on his wrist to recharge, so Ross decided to fill his stomach first and left the alley that the kind owner had mentioned and arrived at Rontron Pizza. It was a pizza place that didn’t exist in Ross’s memory. There were several carriages parked in the empty lot behind, and the multi-story building was full of customers.

Ross ordered a cheese pizza and a cold beer from the employee and sat by the window, leaning his tired body against the cushioned chair. It was a mistake not to think of the Imperial Year when creating the passage. He must have arrived in a similar capital because he only thought of pizza and the academy.

Come to think of it, it was natural to be able to go to the past world a few years ago, just like he had gone to the future world. It was an unwanted journey, but at least he wouldn’t be unfairly attacked as a demon like before. Ross was a 10-year-old kid now. Ross decided to spend his time leisurely in the capital of the past, unlike before.

Ross thought about meeting the young Roel and Ross, but… he stopped because he was worried about getting caught up in something strange. The most important thing now was to return to his original world. Ross really didn’t plan to do anything and would create a passage back to his original world as soon as the runes turned green.

The food he had been waiting for came out. Ross, drinking a cold beer with his cheese pizza, was almost sad that such a delicious restaurant would disappear in the future. It was that delicious. As he emptied his beer glass, thinking that Kane should have tasted this, Ross heard a voice.

A man who had finished eating on the top floor was coming down the stairs. Behind him, those who appeared to be his children and subordinates followed him down the stairs. Next to the man, a man with a mustache gathered his hands in front of his chest as if flattering him, taking an extremely respectful attitude.

Mustached Man: Duke Yousef-nim. Thank you again for visiting the store.

Duke Yousef: How can I just pass by a store recommended by the First Imperial Prince-nim. Surely, no one can follow the First Imperial Prince-nim’s eye for quality. Hahaha!

Duke Yousef spoke in a loud voice as if he wanted the customers in the store to hear.

♪Everyone feels it

♪A new world is coming (Justice is coming!)

♪Where are the nobles who held their heads high with arrogant faces?

♪Everyone is just bowing to the First Imperial Prince!

♪Everyone feels it

♪The Yousef family will become even stronger (No one can look down on us!)

♪Where are the arrogant nobles who insulted us?

♪If you don’t lower your gaze, we’ll cut off your head!

♪Everyone feels it

♪The execution is coming (For the First Imperial Prince!)

♪Who dares to refuse the First Imperial Prince?

♪We’re just getting everything that’s natural!

Duke Yousef’s party left the building noisily. Ross could recall Kane’s face from the face of the small child at the very back of the group. He had clearly thought of Kane baking pizza, but for some reason, he met the young Kane who was at the pizza place in the capital. Speechless, Ross sighed, put the money on the table, including a generous tip, and left the store. He had filled his stomach and had nothing to do right now, so he was going to watch the young Kane and tease him later.

Duke Yousef’s party doesn’t take the carriage they came in and walks somewhere together. The knights who went ahead push away the procession heading somewhere, creating a safe path. Ross, taking out the robe he often wore when going to Modiste from the space warehouse, followed behind them.

The place where Duke Yousef and his people headed was the plaza in front of the Imperial Palace. It looked like a performance was being held, and a huge stage could be seen, and nobles wearing expensive clothes were taking their seats in the audience. When Duke Yousef headed to an empty seat with his family, all the nobles who were sitting stood up and showed their respect. Duke Yousef, nodding with a satisfied face, sat down. Kane sat with a woman who appeared to be his mother in a seat blocked by a pillar far away from where Duke Yousef was sitting.

It was as if all the people of the capital had gathered, and there were too many to count. There were several people wearing uniforms or official robes, and several people wearing clean clothes and perfume. There were also those who appeared to be church believers in the place where the nobles were sitting, and Benedict’s figure, whose hair had not yet fallen out, could be found. The smell of bread and meat being baked wafted from somewhere, and there were also people holding wine and flowers. Ross, naturally blending into the crowd, asked a man who seemed to talk a lot.

Ross: Excuse me, what’s the reason for gathering here?

The man’s eyes, which had looked bored at Ross’s question, lit up. He was a man with a natural talent for luxury. The man, who introduced himself as Barus, said in a friendly voice.

Barus: You don’t know why we’re gathered? Are you perhaps from the countryside?

Ross: (Awkwardly nodding) That’s right. I came from the north today, and I followed everyone heading here.

Barus: That’s right! Today is the day of the most famous festival in the capital. It’s almost been a month. I heard that the people standing in the very front row have been lining up since dawn!

Ross: A festival, you say?

Someone’s voice, amplified by magic, covers Barus’s answer. It was a clown wearing a hat with bells and makeup.

Royal Clown: Justice will be served soon. Did everyone bring bread? Oh my, the young lady in the front row brought a huge baguette! What, do you want to see your great-grandchildren?

People cheered at the clown’s joke. Barus gave Ross the answer he hadn’t been able to give yet.

Barus: (Smiling brightly) Today is the day of the execution of the Fourth Imperial Concubine who committed adultery!

Ross then realized that today was the day Bella’s mother died.