Chapter 387

Chapter 387

Reincarnated User Manual.

Episode 387: W-IFSS: If This Were A Childhood Friend Story Instead (9)

To the Silleya people, who made their home in a cold and barren land, death was simply a part of life.

They died from starvation, from the cold, or at the hands of beasts. Because death could come anywhere, anytime, they did not find it surprising and treat it without reverence.

There were no “graves” to remember the dead, which showed just how closely they lived with death.

However, even so, that didn’t mean they did not fear death.

They must not fear struggle, but to continue their lineage and allow the village to thrive, they could not treat life lightly.

They must learn something from the deaths of their kin, and the children left behind—along with the village—must be cherished more than life itself.

“Kyrie.”

“…”

“Don’t you want to know why that child’s parents died?”

‘What is he thinking?’

That’s why, the moment the reason for “death” was brought up, the elder could not hide his confusion.

‘Is he confessing that they killed them?’

That didn’t seem to be the case.

The recent subjugation left more than one child orphaned. Three in total, including Kyrie.

There were clearly more casualties than in previous years’ operations, but Kuijin, who led the warrior unit, claimed the only cause was the increasingly ferocious beasts.

Still, there was something unsettling.

‘How does he know Kyrie’s name…?’

The fact that an outsider knew the child’s name.

Because death always lingers nearby, Silleya adults never let children wander outside.

Only adults could see traveling merchants, and even when they went hunting with neighboring tribes, children’s names were kept strictly secret to protect them from plagues and curses.

“How does an outsider like you know the child’s name?”

That was why the elder had to confirm it here and now.

Who this man was, and why he mentioned Kyrie’s name and the warriors’ deaths.

“Elder! We must kill this man!”

The sentry shouted as if ready to strike Hyun-jun’s head off at any moment.

Not only did the outsider know of the warriors’ deaths, but he also knew the child’s name.

He must die. The immediate threat must be eliminated.

The less wise man instinctively wanted to avoid judgment and pleaded with the elder. But—

“Stand down.”

One who possessed wisdom did not act rashly.

The deaths of the warriors were troubling.

The recent behavior of the beasts had been unusual. They had grown stronger and more ferocious, and they were appearing outside their usual territory more frequently.

Whether this man caused it or not must be determined. The elder had already made his decision.

“Daipa, put your sword away.”

“But Elder…”

Perhaps the sentry was about to protest the elder’s decision, but he couldn’t finish his words and turned pale.

As if prey before a predator, he even dropped the sword he was holding.

Thunk—

The sword hit the ground. So did the sentry’s gaze.

“Y-yes, sir.”

The elder didn’t even glance at the sentry and stepped toward Hyun-jun. Hyun-jun broke into a cold sweat under the unexpectedly intense aura of the elder.

‘So this really isn’t the world I knew…?’

At this moment, Hyun-jun regretted speaking so casually.

He was overwhelmed by the elder’s presence.

‘He’s not just some old man.’

He had assumed “elder” meant an old man with some local sway, but the aura radiating from him was on an entirely different level—even compared to those two brutes who could probably chew through iron.

“Outsider.”

“…Have you decided to talk?”

He almost spoke in formal speech from the pressure.

But Hyun-jun barely managed to keep his composure. The elder’s extraordinary aura surely wasn’t a bluff, but Hyun-jun knew he had to appear like he was holding a massive trump card.

‘I do have a massive trump card.’

Meanwhile, the elder continued sizing Hyun-jun up.

“You don’t look strong enough to take on the tribe’s warriors…”

“I never said I did, did I?”

Hyun-jun smirked and shrugged. The uncharacteristic nonchalance made the elder’s eyes narrow once again.

‘So he didn’t kill them, but he knows the cause of death?’

Even on second glance, the man wasn’t strong. He was hiding something, clearly—but it wasn’t strength.

‘So it’s information he’s putting on the table…’

Even though this was their first meeting, the man seemed to understand their situation.

The recent increase in ferocious beasts, the fact that he spoke the name of a child who had lost her parents— the elder couldn’t help but grow more curious about what he had to say.

He had faced crises hundreds of times. Long years of experience told him not to drive this outsider away.

“Come with me.”

—————

Hyun-jun and Yura were led to a hut inside the village.

It seemed to be a space prepared for guests. A warm fire crackled in the corner, and after being told to wait a moment, the people left. With the drowsy warmth, the tension finally eased.

“Somehow, we made it.”

Hyun-jun let out a deep sigh and gave Yura a light poke in the side.

Having just escaped the threat of death, Yura had been glancing around nervously, but now she leaned in and whispered to Hyun-jun.

“You idiot! What were you thinking, saying something like that?!”

“Who went mute even though they said they had a plan?”

“I-I almost fainted when the sword came up under my neck!”

It was the first time in her life she’d faced a brush with death—an experience Yura never wanted to repeat.

“Your neck… is it okay?”

Seeing Hyun-jun hurt was another experience she never wanted to repeat.

“Again, because of me…”

“It’s fine. This time, it wasn’t your fault.”

“So you are saying the wolf was my fault?”

She tried to match his teasing tone to lift the mood, but her voice trembled.

Hyun-jun gently patted Yura as she began to tear up again.

But this time, something felt awkward about the hand on her back.

If he was going to pat, just pat—don’t sweep it like he was lost in thought. His hand hovered awkwardly in the air.

After fumbling around for a moment…

Wham!

“Hey! W-what are you doing?!”

“We’re… alive.”

“…”

Held in his arms, Yura could feel the full tremble of someone trying to act okay. She bit her lip.

Hyun-jun took a deep breath and continued.

“It’s not your fault… so don’t worry.”

The Yura in his arms felt small. Fragile, like she might break if he held her even slightly too tightly.

“Mistakes happen. Like freezing up earlier—you could mess things up. But I’m here. Just like now, I can find a way to deal with it somehow.”

“…”

“If we keep going like this, supporting each other… I think we’ll make it through.”

“I-I know.”

Yura hugged Hyun-jun back. His body was big—barely holdable even with both arms.

“I know…”

Had they ever been this close before? Maybe they had back when they were younger, but not since they entered adolescence.

‘I’m not embarrassed.’

Normally, she’d be making a scene, flailing about in panic. But now, Yura even found herself wishing time would stop like this.

If only time could stop—just like this…

—————

“…Elder.”

“What is it, Kyrie?”

“Who are those people? And why are they being all lovey-dovey in someone else’s house?”

“…I don’t know either.”

Kyrie tilted her head, glancing back and forth between the hut and the elder’s face.

‘So there is something the elder doesn’t know.’

The pair’s affectionate moment didn’t end until a bit later.