Ch.132Side Story: Three Days on Earth

“At first, I didn’t think much of it, but the more I ate, the more I couldn’t stop.”

“Really? I think ramen is much better than this.”

“I thought so too, but as I kept eating, I started to taste something mysterious about it. Ah, I already want to eat it again.”

Radios and Arsia left the restaurant after finishing their malatang meal.

Time had passed, and the streets had transformed into a full-fledged night scene.

Arsia seemed satisfied with the malatang, but Radios wasn’t impressed.

After all, Namgung Ihyun had said malatang was a polarizing food.

Still, it wasn’t inedible—just less appealing than the two dishes they’d eaten before.

Anyway, dinner was over now.

[Seoul has amazing night views, you know? So follow me.]

“Where are we going?”

[A place called Namsan Tower. I’ve never been there, but I heard the night view is great from up there.]

Namgung Ihyun seemed a bit more energetic.

Probably because she had a body that could move around more freely in the darkness of night.

Anyway, guided by Namgung Ihyun, Radios and Arsia gazed down at the brilliant lights illuminating the night streets and exclaimed in amazement.

“Wow… This is a sight we’d never see in Kadinant. To think all those lights are from cars and buildings…”

“Our world and Earth developed differently, so that makes sense… but this is truly amazing.”

“We should develop scientific civilization too. I don’t think we should rely solely on magic power.”

“I’ve been thinking the exact same thing. We really do think alike, don’t we?”

“Do we? Hehe.”

Radios and Arsia smiled as they gazed at the night view.

Namgung Ihyun tactfully gave them space to spend time alone.

Honestly, she shouldn’t have joined this trip at all.

She had come along as both a guide and supervisor to prevent them from doing anything strange on Earth, since they were unfamiliar with it.

“What if… we had been born on Earth instead of Kadinant? What would we be doing?”

“Hmm… what would we be doing…”

Arsia pondered Radios’s question carefully.

If she had been born on Earth, a society where science had developed instead of Kadinant, where magic power had flourished.

She wondered how she would have grown up.

“I probably would have pursued a job exploring and applying scientific principles. Since I wouldn’t be a magician, I’d be a… scientist? Yes, that’s the word. Anyway, something along those lines. I hate to say it myself, but I do have an exceptional mind.”

“Scientist… it suits you. You’re definitely the research type.”

“And I think Radios would have had some kind of leadership position.”

“Me? I’m not really someone who leads people well.”

“That’s not true. If it weren’t for you, we all would have died.”

Radios claimed he wasn’t qualified to lead anyone.

But Arsia thought differently.

During the past war against the Outer forces.

The Guardian Spirit’s morale had plummeted after losing countless talents in the Demonic Prison.

They were on the verge of being unable to resist the Outer forces.

But Radios stepped up and took the position of leader during that time.

Although they faced a series of defeats, if he hadn’t taken the leadership position.

The number of defeats would have been fewer, but the damage to the Guardian Spirit would have been greater.

Radios wasn’t a failed leader.

The situation was destined for failure, and Radios minimized the losses.

Between a leader who maximizes allied sacrifices to kill enemies and one who minimizes allied sacrifices even in defeat.

If someone asked which person to follow, one would choose the latter without hesitation.

“So stop blaming yourself. If you hadn’t been there, everything would have ended long ago.”

“…Thank you, Arsia.”

Radios nodded at Arsia’s passionate words and smiled.

But he didn’t take her words at face value.

Rather than a leader who minimizes damage in a failing situation.

A truly great leader would be one who somehow achieves victory while minimizing damage, even in a failing situation.

And the only such leader was the Empress currently working in the Kadinant Empire.

The courage to want to be called a good leader just for minimizing damage was a luxury.

Still, he accepted Arsia’s words since she had gone to such lengths to encourage him.

“I think I finally know what I want to do when we return.”

“Oh?”

“I want to become someone who creates things. Living with you is wonderful, Radios, but… I’m ultimately someone who should be creating results.”

“I see.”

Radios recognized the passion in Arsia’s eyes.

In truth, he was already grateful that she had lived with him in the mountains for three years.

She had accepted his unreasonable demands.

So if she wanted to leave the mountain, he was more than willing to let her.

Especially since there was no reason to keep living in the mountains anymore.

“When we return, let’s go to Midret. Veichel will probably give us something to work with if we talk to her.”

“Yes!”

Arsia beamed at Radios’s approval.

As much as she enjoyed being alone with him, her essence was that of a magician.

The only mental challenges she’d faced were how to chop firewood efficiently.

And what dishes to cook for a delicious meal.

These were important concerns for daily life but not the kind of problems a magician should be tackling.

Now she could return and create magic freely, pioneering something new.

“Magical science…? Anyway, I want to create and pioneer a new field like that. But it doesn’t roll off the tongue. Magical science… magical science… engineering? Magical engineering?”

“Oh, magical engineering sounds good.”

“Then magical engineering it is. I’ll create interesting things by combining magic and science.”

People find their own epiphanies in life at different times.

This was true for Arsia as well, and Earth’s environment had been full of shocks for her.

Earth was a society powered by science, making it very different from Kadinant’s environment.

Cars, buses, and taxis all looked different but were personal vehicles that rolled on cylindrical wheels.

Transportation methods using railways, like subways and trains, were also noticeable.

Especially when she saw airplanes, Arsia’s eyes sparkled.

Not creating something with magic.

But purely through the interaction of tangible objects creating a complete entity that moves on its own.

She had become fascinated by the discipline of science, which was completely different from magic.

After spending time on Earth and returning to Kadinant, Arsia became a pioneer of magical engineering.

And after a long time, she earned the title “Mother of Magical Engineering” for her contributions to Kadinant’s development.

But that was a story for much later.

“Shall we go now?”

“Yes!”

Having sufficiently enjoyed the night view, Radios and Arsia came down from Namsan.

Namgung Ihyun rejoined them at that time.

[Did you enjoy your date enough?]

“Yes. I think we should sleep now, so do we need to go to an inn for lodging?”

[This is where you have two choices.]

As soon as Radios brought up lodging, Namgung Ihyun smiled mysteriously.

He didn’t know what these two choices were.

But that smile made him feel uneasy.

[You can either stay somewhere cheaper but a bit uncomfortable, or somewhere more expensive but comfortable.]

“Then it’s better to go somewhere comfortable even if it’s expensive.”

[Wait, hear me out first. You two are about to get married, right?]

“So?”

[Young couples in their prime shouldn’t sleep in comfortable places. Even if it’s a bit uncomfortable, going to a motel is the standard.]

What’s a motel?

Radios frowned at Namgung Ihyun’s nonsense.

But Namgung Ihyun, who had already completed all her fantasies, continued without restraint.

[Don’t misunderstand. Since I’m connected to the owner, I can’t help but feel certain sensations.]

“..?”

[Are you going to do it all night, or just sleep?]

“…Are you crazy?!”

Radios finally understood what Namgung Ihyun meant and cursed.

Arsia was so embarrassed she kept her head down.

One part of what Namgung Ihyun said had caught her attention.

“Hey… you, don’t tell me all this time?”

[Don’t misunderstand. I was connected, so I couldn’t help it. But I didn’t see anything!]

“…”

Saying she didn’t see anything meant she felt it.

Radios seriously considered eliminating Namgung Ihyun right there.

At this rate, their honeymoon life would be completely exposed too.

“Shut up and guide us to a comfortable place to sleep. Or you’re dead.”

[…Yes, sir.]

Namgung Ihyun scratched the back of her head at Radios’s murderous words.

In truth, she had neither seen nor felt anything.

But she decided to let it go, fearing she might die if she admitted to lying.