episode_0027

I was so surprised, I couldn’t even scream.

The Village Chief-nim was looking at me with an expressionless face.

In that clear voice, he called my name.

“Ritsu.”

“Wh-what’s going on?”

“From now on, listen carefully to my words.”

“Father!”

I got up and rushed forward, but.

Strangely, my body wasn’t there.

More precisely… I definitely hugged the Village Chief-nim, but when I looked down, my physical body was gone.

I lifted my head at the unbelievable situation.

The Village Chief-nim wasn’t looking at me.

He was just staring blankly at the spot where I had been a moment ago.

As if… he couldn’t perceive my existence.

“What you are seeing now is ‘memory’ and ‘the past’.”

“……Huh?”

“You are seeing events that happened in this place. Or to this object.”

That means….

Am I seeing an illusion from the past right now?

Finally, I understood.

The Village Chief-nim was speaking from the past to ‘me in the future’.

In preparation for when I would discover this basement.

The Village Chief-nim continued speaking.

“You must be surprised. This is precisely the curse passed down through Amon’s blood. Since ancient times, people have feared our bloodline and tried to eradicate us. However, we have survived by borrowing the wisdom of the past.”

“Ah…….”

“Ritsu. I have sustained Breezedon with this power. No one dared to touch me. They feared the words that would come from my mouth more than the King of Deseo himself. Long ago, the King of Deseo sought me out and begged. He promised never to harm our bloodline again, if only I would not interfere in the secular world. I granted his request.”

I had thought it was strange for a long time.

Because Breezedon alone received special treatment, being completely exempt from tributes or any interference whatsoever.

I thought the Village Chief-nim was just an incredibly great person, and that people bowed to him out of respect.

But in reality… it was ‘this’?

“By speaking of what I saw in the past, I watched the destinies of countless people twist. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say the world changed dozens of times. By the time I realized the heavy responsibility that comes with this ‘knowledge’ that everyone fears, a lot of time had already passed.”

The Village Chief-nim said he lived a long time.

Longer than his own lifespan.

He said it felt like he had lived about 200 more years.

Just how many fragments of the past had he seen?

He must have truly seen countless stories, things that ordinary mortals, who perish within a maximum of 100 years, couldn’t even dare to imagine.

I’m scared.

I think I understand why people feared the Village Chief-nim so much.

Because I’m feeling that way right now too.

The face of the old man, who had only seemed benevolent, suddenly looked like an unfamiliar monster.

“Ritsu. This power might be too soon for you. No, perhaps it’s closer to a curse.”

“N-no. Absolutely not.”

“But there was no other way. The tempest of the world will soon swallow this village. Ritsu. When you are struggling, when you need help with your decisions. Then unfold the memories. Listen willingly to the stories of the old people who lived. If you do so, you will be able to overcome challenges wisely.”

“I understand.”

Even though he wouldn’t be able to hear my answer anyway.

I nodded firmly.

“Lastly, keep this one thing in mind.”

The Village Chief-nim’s illusion began to fade.

“Even if you read all the memories of others, all the answers lie within you.”

My hands gradually began to become visible.

“Resolutely… survive. My son.”

Snap.

I snapped back to reality.

I was still standing in the same spot.

As if I had woken up from a sweet dream after a short while.

This sensation of being thrown back into reality felt unkind and awkward.

But there was no mistake.

The empty bottle clutched in my hand and the still aching wound… proved that what I had seen was not an illusion.

“Crazy…”

I exited the basement and firmly closed the door.

I put the bed back in its original place too.

Rough breaths escaped me.

I couldn’t remember how I had gotten out of the cabin.

Suddenly realizing I was too cold, I hunched my shoulders, only to find my entire body drenched in sweat.

“Hahaha!”

I heard laughter.

It was the villagers, gathered closely around a bonfire, drinking beer.

Marvin Uncle-nim was dancing boisterously, and Olivia Aunt-nim, sitting beside him, clapped and laughed.

Everyone looked happy.

I looked down at my hands.

The Village Chief-nim had protected these people’s laughter.

…with the absurd power residing within my body.

I’m tired.

Somehow, today felt long.

Even though I’d only had a brief conversation with the past Village Chief-nim, it truly felt like more time had passed than usual.

The moment I took a tired step, intending to go home.

“Ritsu!”

Marvin Uncle-nim waved at me.

It was an invitation to drink and have fun together.

I didn’t have the energy for that.

I stared blankly for a moment, then started walking again.

“Hey, you! Ritsu! Where are you going!”

“Honey. Just leave him be. He said he’s in a lot of pain.”

“Oh dear! Then we should carry our young Village Chief-nim on our back all the way home! Hey! Ritsu!”

Marvin Uncle-nim strode over.

“I’ll take you home.”

And the moment he grabbed my arm.

“…Ugh?!”

Again, my body suddenly flared up, and I collapsed under an irresistible pain.

“Gasp-.”

My surroundings flashed wildly.

As if lightning without thunder was continuously striking without cease.

I lifted my head.

This wasn’t lightning.

It was the sight of day and night rewinding backward dozens of times at an incredibly fast speed.

Whoosh-.

From somewhere, the wind swept through once.

And a dark night, of some day, arrived.

I was slowly walking right on this spot.

Thud. Thud.

The hand holding the lantern was coarse, and covered in thick hair.

[Burp-.]

A burp like a dragon’s roar.

With just that, I realized who I was.

It was Marvin Uncle-nim.

The Uncle-nim patrolled alone, looking around the nearby houses.

Then, as the wind whistled and blew, he shivered.

[Phew-. It’s cold. Shall I go now?]

His steps grew faster.

He hurried, as if escaping the cold, walking towards somewhere.

That place was… Merid Aunt-nim’s house.

In the house’s kitchen, Merid was tending the brazier.

Marvin Uncle-nim grinned.

[You’re still awake?]

[Couldn’t sleep.]

[Hahaha. Such cold right from the start. This winter won’t be ordinary. Can I warm myself up for a bit?]

[……Come in.]

The Uncle-nim closed the door.

Then he sat down on the stairs and sighed.

Merid asked brusquely.

[Why are you sighing so much?]

[Because it’s warm. It feels like it’s been a long time.]

[Hmph. You were in Olly’s arms all day, yet you’re complaining.]

[That’s an old saying. After having the child, she doesn’t entertain me at all, saying she’s tired. Are women originally like that?]

The Aunt-nim tossed a log into the brazier.

[I wouldn’t know about that. I don’t have a husband, so—.]

[Haha! You go down to the lower village often, but you still haven’t found a partner?]

[What man would be interested in an old maid like me? I’ll just grow old and die like this.]

[Twenty-six… is a bit late, but I still think you’re pretty. Looks like those guys in the lower village have blurry vision.]

[…….]

The two silently gazed at the brazier.

Perhaps because of the heat, Merid’s cheeks and ears had turned red.

The Aunt-nim crossed her arms.

[Saying things like that won’t change anything.]

[Haha! Merid. You know I’m an honest person, right?]

[……That’s what makes me uneasy.]

[Don’t worry too much.]

And then, he suddenly took Merid’s hand.

The surprised Aunt-nim flinched, but for some reason, she didn’t pull her hand away.

[Ma-Marvin…. Last time, I let it slide because it was just the alcohol talking… but anymore of this… to Olly…….]

[When you’re in your house, please don’t mention my wife’s name.]

[But…….]

[Merid.]

Marvin Uncle-nim gently stroked Merid’s blonde hair.

[Beautiful.]

[Ugh…….]

His rough hands lifted her clothes and fondled her ample chest.

[N-no… Marvin……!]

[Shh.]

[Aahhn….]

[You were waiting for me too, weren’t you? Getting this excited and wet.]

[No…….]

He pushed her down and licked her slender body wildly.

Each time his tongue sucked at her breasts, Merid winced and held back a moan.

How long did he lick her?

Her pale breasts were drenched in saliva, and her abundant hair was widely disheveled.

The Uncle-nim, panting roughly, suddenly lowered his pants.

Merid’s blue eyes trembled.

[Ah… Marvin, please….]

[Just forget for a moment. Forget everything. There’s only the two of us here. So….]

[Uhhngh……!]

The moment the man embraced the woman.

Merid held her breath and gripped the Uncle-nim’s back tightly.

Her fingers were far too slender to grip his large, sturdy shoulders.

[Ohh. You’re really tightening around me.]

Marvin Uncle-nim began to thrust his hips like a beast.

His movements were rough and intense.

Each time he forcefully pushed up, Merid bit her lip as if enduring pain.

[Ugh… sob…….]

[Merid.]

[Sob….]

[How is it? Does it feel good?]

Merid didn’t answer, covering her face with one arm.

Sounds like sobbing, and moans of pleasure, one breath at a time.

Escaped briefly through her plump lips.

[Ahh… good, Merid.]

[…Hnn, …Aahhn, …Hhhk.]

[I love you. Hold me. Embrace me warmly.]

[Haa… ugh, aahhn…♥]

Marvin sucked Merid’s lips as if devouring them.

She, who had resisted slightly… also offered her tongue, along with a single tear pooled in the corner of her eye.

Wrapping her arms around the Uncle-nim’s neck, she fully accepted the man’s rough desire.

In front of the brazier, quietly burning with soft crackling sounds.

The sound of their bodies colliding echoed regularly, thud. thud.

However, no one was there to hear it.

A forbidden act, one that should never happen.

Unaware and unseeing… the village was simply fast asleep.

When their lips parted, a long string of saliva connected their tongues.

The Uncle-nim licked from Merid’s collarbone to her neck, thrusting his hips even more fiercely.

Her moans grew louder in proportion.

[Merid. It feels so good, ah… I think I’m going to come.]

[N-no…! That’s…….]

[Just take it. That’ll feel even better.]

[Marvin… please… don’t do that…….]

Merid resisted, trying to push Marvin away, but his large hand gripped her waist tightly and didn’t let go.

The more she resisted, the more he pressed his body down fiercely, holding her so she couldn’t escape.

[I’m coming!]

[No—!]

Marvin Uncle-nim, who had been breathing heavily, suddenly clenched his teeth for an instant.

[Hhhk!]

[……!!]

He stopped thrusting and inserted himself into Merid’s deepest part.

His grotesque, large veins pulsated vigorously, and he forcefully ejaculated what he had accumulated.

Silence fell.

[Phew-.]

When Marvin Uncle-nim, who had been there for a long time, finally pulled back, semen flowed out from Merid’s parted vulva.

She lay there, covering her eyes, silent, merely breathing with heated gasps.

Marvin Uncle-nim removed her weak arm and kissed her deeply.

[I love you, Merid.]

[…….]

Marvin Uncle-nim got up, picked up his lantern again, and went outside.

Whoosh-!

My eyes snapped open.

My body, which had been intensely heated, was instantly thrown into a cold wind.

Before I could even collect myself, Marvin Uncle-nim’s shouting hit my ears.

“Ritsu! Come to your senses! Ritsu!”

“Ugh….”

“What’s wrong? Are you in pain again?”

I was sitting on the ground.

Ah, that’s right.

The villagers were having a festival.

“Looks like you’re not feeling well. Get up quickly. I’ll take you to Sherry’s house.”

This large hand, lifting my arm with a kind voice.

The moment I felt that touch, an instinctive revulsion surged through me.

Goosebumps rose.

Just now, I… was inside that body?