Chapter 1080: Scorched World.

“I, I like you.”

“…….”

A woman who bluntly confessed her feelings.

I wore a dumbfounded expression, looking at the woman whose name or identity I didn’t know.

Like me?

Me?

‘……Why me?’

It was something I’d never heard in my entire life.

Especially from a woman who approached me like this out of the blue.

Suspicion welled up.

“I don’t believe in things like gods.”

“……What?”

“I’m not expecting any strange things, and I don’t have money either.”

“……What are you talking about?”

Or is it?

The more I spoke, the stranger the woman’s reaction became.

This isn’t it? If this isn’t it, then nothing makes sense.

This is impossible.

I don’t think I’m ugly myself… well, I don’t think that, but…….

At the very least, I was aware that my appearance wasn’t the kind to experience something like this.

The only person of the opposite sex who ever told me I was handsome was Tang Soyeol, ever since I was born-.

‘Wait a second…’

Tang Soyeol?

……Tang Soyeol?

I narrowed my eyes as much as possible and looked at the woman. Tang Soyeol… Tang Soyeol.

And at the same time, I glanced at the clothes she was wearing.

“Miss.”

“Yes, yes?”

I asked, looking at the woman.

“……What is your name?”

“Ah…”

The woman hesitated at my question, then took off the veil she was wearing. I wondered why she suddenly took off her veil, but…

As she removed it, the woman’s face became much clearer.

I thought so earlier, and it’s the same now.

The woman looked so much like Tang Soyeol. Her green hair and the clothes she wore, and so on.

Which means…

This woman was also someone from the family I knew.

“…My name is Tang Seon.”

“…….”

The woman’s introduction confirmed this guess.

“If you’re Tang Seon… perhaps…”

“That’s right… I am Tang Seon of the Sichuan Tang Family.”

I was right.

No wonder it felt strange.

‘Tang Seon.’

Who is she?

Was there anyone else of that age among the Tang family’s bloodline?

As far as I knew, there was only the Poison King?

As I looked at the woman with questioning eyes.

“That’s right. I am the Poison Phoenix.”

She spoke as if I had recognized her.

Poison Phoenix.

A familiar alias reached me from her.

‘So she means she’s the previous Poison Phoenix.’

This woman must be the person who held the title of Poison Phoenix before Tang Soyeol.

In that case.

“…What is your relationship with the current Poison Dragon…?”

“What?”

Thinking she must have a relationship since the current Poison Dragon exists, I asked.

Tang Seon looked at me strangely and said.

“…My sibling, right?”

“…….”

I nodded.

‘So she had an older sister.’

If we consider Tang Soyeol, does that mean she’s my aunt?

I didn’t know Tang Soyeol had an aunt. Of course, I’d never heard of it.

“Well… Ah, yes.”

I awkwardly assessed the situation and said, changing my dumbfounded expression.

“Miss Dang… you said?”

“That’s right.”

“Um… yes. Thank you for your words, but…”

I understood that she approached me saying she liked me.

“I already have a fiancée.”

“Ah…”

When I mentioned my fiancée, Tang Seon’s eyes widened, then quickly turned sad.

“I- I see. That’s a shame… truly.”

“I appreciate the thought alone.”

Where else would I hear something like this?

The problem was that the one who said it was a woman from the Tang family, known for having the strangest tastes in the world.

“Thank you for telling me. I hope you have a good day.”

Tang Seon then bowed to me and quickly disappeared.

Even her disappearing back resembled Tang Soyeol, giving me a strange feeling.

‘Is she doing well?’

Considering the time, it probably hadn’t been that long, given what Old Man Shin had said, but…

From my perspective, quite some time had passed, so I found myself thinking of her.

Ah, right.

‘I miss her.’

I missed the kids.

Very much so.

---

A day passed.

Even when the day broke, I was still in this world.

Since I didn’t particularly expect anything, I didn’t feel it was a problem.

I just cleared my dazed head and, suppressing my irritation, stepped out of the inn.

‘Ah, the weather is damn nice. Fucking hell.’

As if oblivious to my mood, the world was pointlessly bright and vast.

I sighed, looking at the pouring sunlight.

“Ah, screw it…”

Life really sucks.

I’ve regressed, I’ve been to other worlds.

Now I’ve even ended up in my father’s childhood, of all things.

“Life…”

Ah, come to think of it, I’m not even human anymore, am I?

“Damn it.”

I walked on, lost in thought, and passing the prefecture, I soon saw the main headquarters.

Seeing it, I casually approached and spoke to the guard at the entrance.

“Excuse me.”

“Are you a successful candidate?”

“Ah, yes, that’s right.”

“Hand over your certificate.”

As if having experienced this many times before, the guard demanded my credentials.

I showed the certificate I had prepared to the guard.

After checking it here and there, he soon let me pass.

“Go on in. Congratulations.”

“Yes.”

He didn’t look congratulatory at all. More like a tacit greeting.

I understood their feelings, so it was fine.

‘……Poor guys.’

A gatekeeper… I’ve done that job myself in my past life.

Those were very tough days.

‘I used to get a lot of complaints that the gatekeeper looked scary.’

It was a faint, shitty memory.

Maybe that’s why I feel so shitty now.

Gritting my teeth. I entered the main headquarters.

There were many people inside, but fewer than yesterday.

It seemed like everyone who came for the exam had left, and only the successful candidates had gathered.

When I arrived, they were gathered and forming a line.

I glanced around subtly and stood behind them.

As I was waiting patiently like that.

Tap tap. Someone tapped my shoulder from behind.

I looked to see what it was, and a young man I’d never seen before was standing there.

“……What is it?”

“When did you pass?”

“What?”

It was a sudden question.

“Yesterday, right?”

“Ah, you passed at a different time than me. Ahaha. Wasn’t the exam difficult? It was really hard for me.”

“…….”

Ah, he’s just a talkative person. I figured out his deal.

“……Uh, it was moderately difficult.”

“Moderately? What are you talking about, did you know? They say this exam was the hardest in the last ten years.”

“Really? Is that so?”

It was?

“I’m telling you! Apparently, in the monster-related book exam, there were three questions about Red-grade monsters. I mean, Red-grade monsters don’t even appear now, so people aren’t studying them. Why would they put three of them…”

“Oh…”

Right, I solved them without issue. Come to think of it, Red-grade monsters don’t appear in this era, so those questions were unnecessary.

“So, the pass rate this time hit rock bottom.”

“Is that so?”

“It really is. Only one person got a perfect score!”

“Ah.”

“Whoever that person is, they really came prepared. They’re bound to become someone great.”

The young man kept shaking his head as if it were unbelievable.

Just when I thought he was done talking and it would get quiet.

“Ah, and also.”

“…….”

He continued talking as if he still had more to say.

I started feeling a bit annoyed.

“You must have seen him yesterday, right? I heard the Heaven’s Respected One came.”

“Ah… I did.”

“Kuhhhhh!!! I’m so jealous… I should have applied yesterday… Haaaaaa… To see the great Three Honored Ones… I’m so envious.”

“Ah, well…”

Was it just seeing him up close?

If I told him I used the Three Honored Ones as servants, mentors, and even gatekeepers, he would probably faint.

“What’s more, he didn’t just show up; he specifically chose a disciple to take with him, or so I heard. Did you see that too?”

“…….”

As talk turned to me, I involuntarily shut my mouth.

“You didn’t see it, but… anyway, so?”

I didn’t see it, I experienced it. It wasn’t a lie.

“You didn’t see? Ah, that’s too bad. I was curious about who received such an offer…”

The young man kept smacking his lips.

“I heard he was a huge giant, a peerless warrior. He looked manly too, the type whose aura would surely capture a woman’s heart?”

“…….”

What is this nonsense rumor?

Only a day had passed, yet such ridiculous talk had already sprung up.

What kind of crazy talk is this.

“Well, it makes sense that the Heaven’s Respected One of the world would show interest in someone like that. Moreover…”

The young man spoke, extending his index finger.

“Don’t be surprised.”

“……Okay.”

“The person who received that offer, you see, was the sole perfect scorer on the monster-related book exam I mentioned earlier.”

“…….”

Hearing this, I had to put on a nonchalant expression.

Seeing my expression, the young man seemed to realize something and patted me on the shoulder.

“Hey. Don’t make that face. I think it’s unreasonable too, but isn’t that just how life is?”

It seemed he had made another strange misunderstanding.

“Just look at the current Dragons and Phoenixes. Our lives are different. If you start envying them, it never ends, you know? Besides them, there are always others like that person from yesterday whose lives are different.”

Ah, it seemed he thought I was envious.

“Oh right, we’ve been talking like this but haven’t even introduced ourselves.”

When did we have a conversation? I felt like I only listened to his one-sided talk?

“I am Do Yun of the Sanseo Do Family. What is your name, young hero?”

“……Ah, I am.”

Still, I thought I should at least give my name, so just as I was about to speak.

“Baek-“

“Baek Yangcheon! Where is Baek Yangcheon of the Baek family!!!”

“Huh?”

I turned my head. Someone on the platform far away was looking for me intently.

Then.

“Baek Yangcheon? Ah, that guy. The one who received the offer from the Heaven’s Respected One and got a perfect score. His name has already spread everywhere.”

The young man looked at me with interest.

“I was curious about what kind of person he was, so this is perfect timing. Ah, right. What did you say your name was?”

“It’s me.”

“Huh? What, what are you talking about?”

“That just now.”

I pointed towards the platform with my hand.

“Baek Yangcheon!”

After pointing at the disciple shouting repeatedly, I had to put on a slightly awkward face.

“……Huh?”

The young man’s expression crumbled.

Seeing that, I chuckled and said.

“Let’s greet each other again later. They’re calling me, so I’ll go.”

After patting the shoulder of the young man who introduced himself as Do Yun, I walked towards the platform.

Instantly, all sorts of gazes fixed upon me.

“Mmeuueooo!?!”

Amidst that, I could also hear Do Yun’s startled cry.

Because of that, I almost burst out laughing.