Episode 17: My Reputation is Too Good, It’s a Problem

I woke up around lunchtime.

Honestly, I didn’t think I’d be able to sleep, but as soon as my head hit the pillow, I was out.

I guess I was more tense than I realized.

Well, I’m not exactly an iron man.

I’m just a guy who’s died and come back to life a few times at best.

I got up with my hair a mess and brushed my teeth with salt toothpaste.

It’s been about 100 years since transferrers started appearing in this world.

Thanks to that, there are quite a few things that have become commonplace because the transferrers have used phrases like, ‘Ah, this is what you call…’.

Of course, complex devices like computers and cell phones couldn’t spread to general society.

There was a major war after the transferrers appeared, and power grids and electricity require large-scale national resources.

Naturally, those resources are concentrated among the otherworlders who have lived in this country for a long time.

There was no way the otherworlders would readily share their resources with the transferrers, who were outsiders.

What’s more, magic is more developed than science in this world.

Even with the knowledge and abilities of the transferrers, they haven’t been able to gain an advantage in the war against the otherworlders.

The gap between the otherworlders and the transferrers is too deep for their knowledge to spread.

Still, thankfully, people from any world covet useful things.

From simple tools like toothbrushes and toothpaste to clothing, transferrers have spread various aspects of modern knowledge.

So much so that only 100 years ago, they used primitive toothpaste made by mixing herbs with the powder of burned animal bones.

Hooray for transferrer knowledge.

Brushing my teeth and washing my face made me feel refreshed.

I overcame the strangely gloomy mood from last night with the new morning.

As I came out of the bathroom, I saw Aransel running towards me.

Because of what happened yesterday, it feels a bit awkward.

,Harua, Master and Raphael-nim have arrived.

But after hearing the next words, my worries flew away.

When I hurriedly followed Aransel to the entrance, I really saw Soun and Raphael.

Sohan was also with Soun.

,Raphael-nim?

,Harua!

Raphael shouted as soon as she saw me.

She ran straight into the entrance and hugged me tightly.

For a moment, my face was buried in a heavy softness, and I almost died from being crushed.

I knew it, but her chest had terrifying destructive power.

,I’m so glad. I’m really glad.

Raphael took a few deep breaths and sighed in relief.

Only then did I realize that she had come all the way here because she was worried about me.

She’s been so busy with work that she sent me on an errand.

She must have heard about the airship crash.

But she was so worried about me that she dropped everything and rushed over.

I knew how much that meant.

,Aransel.

,Master.

While Sohan closed the front door, Aransel stood in front of Soun at his call.

Soun casually put his hand on her head.

,You’ve worked hard.

He didn’t say much.

But that alone seemed to be enough for Aransel, who looked choked up.

She had overcome it strongly, but each moment had been a matter of life and death.

She became a child in front of an adult.

,Raphael-nim, I’m fine. I’m not hurt anywhere.

,Of course! Who raised this Saint Magic user? If you got hurt, I would have scolded you.

Let’s keep the dying part a secret.

,Yes, you’ve really raised her well.

At that moment, Lilian appeared from inside the house with a familiar voice.

She smiled at me when our eyes met.

It seems the essence of the Breathwood is back in its place.

,Raphael, Soun, it’s been a while.

,Lilian.

Raphael barely pulled away from me and dabbed at her eyes.

Raphael’s tear ducts were weak, perhaps because of her age.

,He received a lot of help from that boy. You have a good disciple.

Raphael looked at me with a puzzled face.

She didn’t know yet how I had helped Lilian.

On the other hand, I glanced at Aransel.

,Lilian, I heard the Great Sin of Sloth has appeared.

Soun spoke as if he had heard about it in advance.

Lilian rummaged around and took out a new pipe.

,Yes, I’m involved in this and have something to say. The Great Sin of Sloth targeted my life, and they probably think I’m dead too.

Lilian and Cosmic Writer were both buried at the bottom of the deep sea.

Anyone would have thought they were dead.

Moreover, the Great Sin of Sloth.

I could tell that there were more people behind him.

,So, I think it would be better to pretend I’m dead for a while to cause more confusion.

I’ve hidden it from the fairy race except for a few trustworthy individuals, so let’s take advantage of that.

Lilian didn’t reveal how she faked her death.

She just gave me a short smile.

She was showing that she had kept her promise.

I can trust her in the future, right?

,Let’s talk about the rest at your place.

Lilian landed lightly between us.

,Let’s go.

With that, the magic circle that appeared beneath our feet changed our view.

Before I knew it, I had arrived in front of the entrance to Raphael’s mansion.

I’m reminded once again that space magic makes people’s jaws drop.

To think that we could return so quickly from the distance that Aransel and I had struggled so much to travel.

I understand why Cosmic Writer was so determined to target Lilian.

Lilian’s space magic was on another level.

Anticipating this, the head butler was waiting at the entrance of the mansion.

He skillfully guided Soun and Lilian inside.

While Lilian and Soun were talking as they walked, Raphael came and stood next to me.

,I heard about the airship.

,Was it a little cool?

,I thought I should scold you.

It’s sad to get scolded for doing something good.

But instead of scolding me, Raphael put her hand on my shoulder.

,You did well, Harua. Thanks to you, many people lived. I’m proud that you’re my disciple.

Raphael smiled brightly.

It was the first time in a while that Raphael, who was always exhausted, had smiled like that.

That alone made it worth the effort.

,I should have shouted that I’m Raphael-nim’s disciple, Harua.

,If you did that, I’d be too embarrassed to show my face, so don’t.

Raphael said that and tried to pass me.

,Raphael-nim, will there be a war?

I asked her what I had been wondering all along.

Raphael’s shoulder twitched.

The news that there might be a war.

I don’t know exactly who is at war with whom.

I just knew that it was an extension of the war that had taken place between the transferrers and the otherworlders in the past.

She turned to me with a bitter face.

,I’m going to prevent a war from happening.

Raphael is working hard day and night to do that.

That must be why she brought in strong people like Soun and Lilian.

,So, Harua, don’t worry and just focus on learning Saint Magic.

An era of storm and stress where you don’t know what will happen.

To survive, you have to become strong.

I could feel a sense of determination in Raphael’s retreating figure.

She was carrying the burden of an adult to prevent the era of suffering they had experienced from being passed on again.

Living as an adult is not easy, even in another world.

* * *

Shishiroka’s tomb in the mansion.

I stood in front of it and told her about what I had experienced this time.

I’ve gotten into the habit of telling Shishiroka things.

Sometimes, when something big happens, I want to tell her about it.

Shishiroka must be bored just lying there.

I hoped my story would be a little entertaining for her.

As I brushed off my butt and got up, looking at the white flowers placed on the tomb, I saw Aransel coming this way.

,Harua.

She no longer hardens her face when she looks at me.

Instead, she just gives me a gentle smile.

,Were you talking to Shishiroka?

,I’ve already told her everything I have to say, so it’ll be boring if you do.

,It’s okay, you’re better at talking than I am, Harua.

My eloquence was recognized even by the otherworlders.

Aransel stroked Shishiroka’s grave once.

Perhaps because it was still summer, there were beads of sweat on Aransel’s forehead.

She was still vulnerable to the heat.

,There’s going to be a Star Cluster Gathering this time.

,What’s that?

,It’s a gathering of disciples of monarchs or those of equivalent status.

So, it’s a gathering of disciples.

Well, the disciples of strong people like monarchs were practically elites.

They’re the guys who will be in high places someday, so it’s good for them to get to know each other.

But in dramas, those kinds of gatherings aren’t always viewed positively.

That’s how it is in modern society, so would another world be any different?

It’s like a terrible old boys’ club.

,Okay, have a good trip.

I wondered why she was telling me that.

Then Aransel stared at me with a strange look and said again.

,Harua, you can go to the Star Cluster Gathering too.

Oh, come to think of it, I’m Raphael’s disciple too.

I forgot.

,So, you’re asking me to go with you?

,Remember what Lilian-nim said about the war that might happen?

I remember it like it was yesterday.

It was the question I asked Raphael as soon as I got back.

,You can find out a lot of information if you go to the Star Cluster Gathering.

They’re the disciples raised by strong people spread all over the world.

They must have heard a lot of different information.

,Maybe there’s a clue to prevent the war.

Prevent the war.

I turned to look at Aransel when I heard those words.

But as always, Aransel’s eyes were sincere.

She wanted to prevent the war.

Of course, I don’t want a war either.

But that doesn’t mean I understand why she’s making this offer to me.

,Aransel, I’ve told you before, I’m not the kind of person who lives to sacrifice myself to save someone.

Is it because I threw myself to save her last time?

I think Aransel is misunderstanding me.

My goal is to take care of myself.

I don’t have a grand mindset to save the world.

,Preventing the war is also beneficial for Harua, isn’t it?

No one wants a war.

Only the powerful and the idiots who are incited by them want war.

As she said, I definitely don’t want a war either.

,I don’t think the disciples will have that much information.

,Yeah, it’s just a possibility. But many disciples who don’t interact with Master and Raphael-nim will also participate.

Aransel calmly persuaded me, who was still uncooperative.

I don’t know why Aransel is trying so hard to persuade me.

Is it because I was there at the moment she decided on her life’s goal?

It’s like a stray cat that wouldn’t open its heart is clinging to me after I fixed its injured paw.

Aransel grabbed my collar tightly.

,Let’s go together. Please?

This foxy bitch.

Anyway, don’t push those big eyes at me just because you’re pretty.

Aransel knows she’s pretty.

When people’s eyes are on her, she subtly straightens her back and shows off.

That’s why she knew how to use her beauty.

The coquetry that gradually emanated from her teased my eyes.

Aransel was distant from me until the last incident.

So, there was no reason to use her looks.

There was no reason for her to look good to me, so it was natural.

But after the Cosmic Writer incident, the relationship between Aransel and me changed.

I still hate otherworlders.

Aransel still hates transferrers.

However, the transferrer Harua and the otherworlder Aransel were slowly becoming separate concepts.

We don’t have to hide the fact that we hate someone from each other.

Perhaps that’s why Aransel’s true personality began to show to me.

,Okay. I’ll go. I’ll just go, right?

Anyway, I had decided to build connections in earnest.

I’ll try to get in good with as many promising candidates as possible.

,Great!

Aransel smiled brightly with a happy face.

She’s been so good at smiling, but she kept a straight face in front of me.

,Yo, Aransel, Harua.

At that moment, Sohan appeared, yawning.

He smelled of perfume, as if he had slept with another woman.

Aransel’s face instantly turned as cold as ice.

That’s an incredible speed.

Even Cosmic Writer wouldn’t be able to keep up with that.

He’s spent more time with Sohan than I have.

But she was always cold to Sohan.

,I received an invitation from the Star Cluster Gathering. How about going together?

Sohan showed me a letter.

There was an invitation with a fire pattern on it.

The engraved pattern must have been stamped by the organizers.

Sohan subtly approached me and whispered.

,By the way, there are a lot of pretty girls here.

He’s always the same.

Then Aransel stared at me as I talked to Sohan.

For some reason, I suddenly had an impulsive thought.

If your reputation gets too good, you’ll get criticized for doing one bad thing.

But on the other hand, if a bad guy does one good thing, people will look at him in a new light.

,How pretty are they? As pretty as Aransel?

I need to lower my expectations from Aransel a little.

Aransel flinched.

She slightly rolled her eyes and subtly straightened her back.

She was proudly showing off her appearance.

It was like a crowtit puffing out its chest, which was funny for some reason.

,Harua, I’ll tell you in advance.

Then Sohan said with a serious face.

,There are hardly any girls in this world as pretty as Aransel.

Aransel frowned at Sohan’s serious words.

And she bent her back again.

She doesn’t seem to like Sohan’s compliment.

,Well, there probably aren’t many people as pretty as Aransel.

When I said the same thing in moderation, Aransel’s face brightened.

She straightened her back again.

Why do I get a completely different reaction when I say the same thing?

Following Sohan didn’t help.

,Anyway, I’ll assume you’re going.

Sohan left leisurely, unaware of Aransel’s reaction.

He’s yawning, so I think he’s going back to sleep.

,Aransel.

,Yeah?

Aransel, who had become a crowtit puffing out its chest, turned to me and smiled brightly.

I could feel the trust in her eyes.

,…Never mind.

It seems like it’s too late to lower my reputation with Aransel.

I just hope she won’t be too disappointed when she realizes what kind of person I am someday.