Chapter 18 : Honeymoon (Or Not)-2

As Bernard Harbor came into view, the scent of the sea wafted strongly.

The air I breathed in was slightly salty, and the fishy smell tickled my nose.

I used to dislike the fishy smell so much, but now it felt comforting.

It’s true—I haven’t seen the sea in quite a while.

I remembered holding my parents’ hands tightly and coming to play by the sea.

“Siyoon, do you dislike the sea by any chance?”

“No? Not really. Why?”

“You looked sad while gazing at the sea, so I was curious…”

I must have let my nostalgia show on my face.

I came on this trip with an excited heart, so it wouldn’t do to seem gloomy.

I naturally lifted the corners of my mouth and leaned back against the soft cushion.

“It’s just that being by the sea reminded me of the past. I was feeling nostalgic because I can’t go back to those times.”

“From the way you say it, it must have been a very fond memory.”

“Yeah. That’s why I want to create lots of wonderful memories on this trip too.”

“Leave that to me! I’ll make sure this becomes a trip you’ll never forget!”

“Can I really count on that?”

“Of course!”

The atmosphere, which could have grown uncomfortable, shifted for the better.

It would be a lie to say I had no lingering attachment to the world I once lived in, but I had no intention of returning.

My former body was undeniably dead, and I lacked the courage to face my parents again.

Above all, I had formed precious connections in this world that I couldn’t bear to part with.

I am no longer South Korea’s “Lee Siyoon,” but rather “Siyoon” of the Kingdom of Lyor.

I resolved to live my life clearly separating the two identities.

“Then I’ll inquire about a ship heading to the sea dragon’s territory. You two can rest comfortably at the inn in the meantime.”

“Are you sure that’s okay?”

“This is precisely why I accompanied you—to handle such mundane tasks. Despite how I may appear, I take my responsibilities quite seriously.”

“Thanks. I’ll leave it to you then.”

“Oh! But in return, I’d appreciate it if you postponed making a second generation. Losing your strength before facing a tough task could be dangerous, and I’d hate to see my master become a widow…”

“Th-that’s unnecessary meddling!”

“Hoho! Just a joke.”

When Letia shouted in irritation, Zenith let out a warm laugh and quickly scampered away.

When she gave advice with such seriousness, it felt genuine.

But seeing her mischievous retreat made me realize it was all an act.

Though she was the oldest among us, her playful nature was like that of a child.

Still, her role as comic relief wasn’t unwelcome.

Having someone who lightened the mood was essential to making life more colorful.

“Huh?”

As I watched Zenith leave, Letia suddenly grabbed my sleeve.

The slight trembling in her hand betrayed her unease.

Could it be that she was imagining the future Zenith joked about, where I die and she’s left a widow?

“Siyoon, is it okay if I come along after all?”

“Why? Are you afraid I’ll fall victim to the sea dragon?”

“N-no way! I was just thinking it might be a good idea to get used to ships since we might face naval battles with the Empire in the future…!”

“Tell me the truth.”

“I’m sorry. Even though I know your skills, there’s always that tiny chance, right? I’m worried about what might happen if you face an unexpected crisis.”

“If you want to come, I won’t stop you. But when we face the sea dragon, I’d like you to watch quietly from a distance. I want to handle it on my own.”

“Can I intervene if it gets dangerous?”

“If I’m pushed to the brink of death, then yes.”

“Got it!”

Letia’s expression eased considerably.

I must have felt a sense of relief knowing I had the chance to prevent a terrible disaster with my own hands.

I could have stopped Letia from coming entirely, but she would have probably sneaked into the cargo hold to follow us anyway.

In that case, it was better to let her come along with the condition of staying quiet, ensuring some control over the situation.

That was the rational judgment, but in truth, I just wanted to spend more time with her.

I couldn’t say it out loud—it was too embarrassing.

“Then while Zenith is securing the ship, how about we go on a date?”

“Sounds good. Have you been to Bernard Harbor before?”

“I’ve visited once before when traveling to another kingdom across the sea. I didn’t stay long, but I’m confident I know most of the famous spots here!”

“Then I’ll leave the guide duties to you.”

“Just follow me!”

Letia’s face lit up with excitement at the thought of a date.

She let go of my sleeve, grabbed my hand, and eagerly led the way.

She cheerfully weaved through the burly fishermen, moving freely about the harbor.

“You must be getting hungry by now, right? I know a restaurant that serves amazing seafood dishes! I still can’t forget the grilled fish I had there!”

“That sounds promising.”

Since being hailed as a hero, Letia must have been served all kinds of gourmet delicacies.

If she still remembered a place fondly, it had to be a guaranteed gem.

The concern was whether that restaurant still existed.

“Oh, that restaurant? Unfortunately, the original owner passed away, and his son took over. But the place had poor hygiene, leading to a mass food poisoning incident, and it was forced to close down.”

“What? That can’t be…!”

The restaurant from Letia’s memories had disappeared, replaced by a jewelry shop.

I learned the details from a nearby fisherman who happened to pass by.

As I feared, what I had worried about came to pass.

Letia was momentarily disheartened by the loss of the nostalgic restaurant but quickly stood up.

“It’s fine! I know other good places to eat!”

“Wouldn’t it be better to just ask the kind locals who’ve been helping us for recommendations?”

“Please, just give me one more chance! Just one more!”

Suddenly, Letia grabbed the hem of my pants.

She begged in a pitiful voice, asking for another chance.

“I don’t think this is worth grabbing onto my pants for…”

“I said so confidently to follow me, but all I’ve done is show you embarrassing failures!”

I understood her feelings.

Sometimes, people bluff because they want to show their best side to the ones they care about.

But when things go wrong, they feel a strong need to make up for it.

“Alright, let’s go to the next place you recommend.”

“This way! This one was run by a young couple. It’s less likely they’ve retired compared to the last place!”

“Is that so?”

But retirement isn’t the only reason a place might close down.

People have countless personal reasons, and the possibilities are endless.

And there’s no guarantee that bad luck only strikes once.

“Oh, that young couple’s restaurant? They moved to another region recently. They wanted to provide a better education for their child.”

“Just one more time…!”

“It’s their scheduled day off today.”

“Next time for sure…!”

“The wife ran off with the money in the middle of the night.”

“One last time, please!”

“There was a tsunami recently. They’re remodeling the place.”

“Shipwreck…!!”

All the restaurants Letia remembered had either closed down or were temporarily shut.

In the end, we gave up on finding a proper restaurant and settled for some bread and coffee at a nearby tea shop to satisfy our hunger.

“This doesn’t make any sense! How can there not be a single place open?”

“Well, some days are just like that.”

“This is way too unlucky! I wanted to show you the same wonder I experienced in the past, Siyoon!”

“It’s a shame, but it’s fine. Those closed restaurants will probably be open when we get back after finishing the mission, right? We can eat there then.”

“That’s true, but still…”

Letia explained that she wanted me to have a nice meal before we set sail.

During the voyage, we’d mostly be eating bland preserved food.

Her thoughtfulness touched my heart.

“The toast here is pretty good, you know.”

“There are way better dishes than toast, though.”

“That’s disrespectful to the shop owner. Besides, delicious food is great, but isn’t it more important who you’re eating with?”

“Of…!”

Letia nodded, fully agreeing with my words.

Her disappointment about the toast before her vanished as she started eating with a bright smile.

Even though it was just ordinary jam toast you could find anywhere, sharing it with her filled me with contentment.

It seemed Letia felt the same, as she was happily eating with a radiant grin.

“You’ve got some strawberry jam on your cheek.”

“Really? Where?”

“Hold still.”

I reached out toward Letia and gently wiped the jam off her cheek with my finger.