Chapter 3: Koreans Run on Rice (2)

“Order…?”

“Priest Tailo. Hah, you pass.”

“…Thank you.”

Screeech!

Too much attention!

It’s not like I had social anxiety or anything and I certainly wasn’t an attention seeker.

But there was a very real reason why this situation felt so uncomfortable.

“It didn’t even break when the Saint tried…”

“Then could it be a difference in divine power…?”

It was because of the rumor that always followed.

The Saint and I were both part of the same Order.

Normally, no one would even think to compare us— it was just common sense.

But if that crystal orb really had shattered due to prayer? 

That changed everything.

Naturally, since we were in the same domain, the Saint and I were bound to be compared.

And as someone who had read this novel, I knew exactly what kind of person he was.

That’s why I needed to avoid this comparison at all costs.

He might be called a “Saint,” but in truth, he was no different from a madman.

He moved fast.

Tailo has successfully escaped!

Leaving behind the crowd’s intense curiosity, I kept spamming the “Thank You” emote as I hurried out of there.

The first exam was simple.

Judging by the order, the second one called a “duel” would likely take place after lunch.

Conclusion?

That meant I had a decent amount of free time until then.

Going back through the novel again, I could clearly see just how much the protagonist was suffering.

[Uriel kept a blank face, but it was clearly agonizing.]

[Matching the emotions of others was exhausting and annoying.]

[Especially when it came to romantic situations— something she was completely unskilled at. Titles like ‘Saint’ or good looks didn’t matter to her in the slightest.]

[She was barely surviving as it was. Who had time to think about love?]

[If he hadn’t been part of the Order or called a Saint, she would’ve ditched him a long time ago.]

Uriel was still suffering even now.

Our dear Hero was currently under mental assault from the Saint.

We already knew the destination.

Now all that was left was to head there.

“Let’s go!”

Time to rescue our Hero.

He’s not a bad guy, really but they were just a terrible match.

Honestly, isn’t that basically an enemy disguised as an ally?

***

Uriel’s red eyes gradually dimmed.

Beside her, the man chattered on tirelessly, trying his best to flaunt his charms.

Of course, under the Order’s laws, love between men and women wasn’t forbidden.

Still… wasn’t there a certain noble image expected of a Saint?

That gentle voice paired with a benevolent smile— that sort of thing.

The regressor, now in her fourth life, was unfortunately still a virgin.

It wasn’t that she never had the chance, but survival had always taken precedence. 

There simply hadn’t been any room for that kind of indulgence.

To put it another way— she was tired.

In the first round, the Saint had clung to her just like now.

Uriel was a woman too, after all— 

Didn’t she have her own type? 

Being forced to endure a man who so utterly failed to meet her standards had probably killed off whatever love cells she had left.

Not that the men around her were any better, if you’re wondering.

“Haaah.”

“Is something troubling you?”

Troubling.

Yes, what is a regressor without her fair share of worries?

But unfortunately, this sigh wasn’t from worry.

Social skills. Social skills.

She still had a long way to go before she could become someone strong enough not to care what others thought. 

Even if the experience remained, her body and cultivation level hadn’t caught up yet.

For now, it was wiser to assess the background and bow her head where needed.

“It’s nothing.”

“Well… alright. Did you eat? If not, maybe—”

“I ate.”

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, after all.

Uriel lied, fed up with the interaction.

If she actually ended up eating breakfast with him? 

That would be more painful than a mental attack from a demon.

Sigh.

Another breath slipped from her lips as she watched the Saint walk away— relief mingling with it.

Finally, she was free.

Uriel silently gave thanks that she could now rest in her favorite space.

Though… her mood soured again when she saw the Saint still hadn’t left.

But then, perhaps because of the unexpected situation, her irritation twisted into curiosity.

More people?

Someone coming in and someone going out had run into each other— more trouble for Uriel, essentially.

Still, the fact that both were men made it at least somewhat worth watching.

She channeled magic into her ears, sharpening her hearing until their voices reached her.

They were quite far off.

From a normal person’s perspective, they’d barely be visible like dots.

This place had always felt spatially weird, like people could teleport.

[“S-sorry…”]

[“I said there’s someone in there.”]

The sharp, biting tone that was the Saint’s voice.

In contrast, the clearer, purer one stirred unexpected sympathy.

Was it the shrinking tone? 

The timidness?

It made you want to protect him.

And on the flip side—

That tone from the Saint only drove home how incompatible they were.

What little affection she had left evaporated.

He always acted so kind, so gentle in front of her…

But when it came to someone clearly beneath him? 

He didn’t hold back one bit.

[“Still… I really wanted to see this place.”]

[“How would you know about it?”]

It was basically saying: How dare someone like you?

In fact, judging from the tone, it came off even sharper than that.

Then, the timid man pulled out an overpowered skill.

[“M-my dad told me to check this place out if I ever got into the Academy…”]

[…]

This place was fairly special within the Academy.

Not because of any unique benefits, but because it was restricted to only a few.

Still, he had just used the legendary skill: ‘That’s what my dad said.’

Bringing up his father, the man’s words finally made the Saint sigh, visibly annoyed, and turn to leave.

You could also say he looked somewhat relieved.

From his perspective, any other man was competition.

A brief exchange was enough to gauge the other’s rank— a mere priest.

A meek voice, unaware someone was already inside.

It must’ve been reassuring enough to walk away.

Once her curiosity faded, what hit Uriel next was the familiar annoyance.

Surely, if he wandered around this place long enough, he’d spot her, and then the whole cycle of irritating conversation would begin again.

It wasn’t that she hated talking to people.

But after everything she’d suffered under that Saint?

Right now, she just wanted a moment of peace.

Ignore him.

Do your best to ignore him.

While hoping he wouldn’t try to talk to her.

Uriel tried to relax as she gazed out at the dreamlike, beautiful scenery of the mana garden.

But as the saying goes— what you dread may come to pass.

Her worry seemed like it might really come true. 

She could feel someone approaching.

Uncomfortable.

She was already anxious about what he might say.

He was a man in priest robes— so even if he wasn’t a Saint, he clearly wasn’t aligned with the Church anymore.

The thought of having to put her mask back on and continue a conversation exhausted her.

But—

“…?”

Uriel’s eyes filled with curiosity.

It was because of the man’s actions— he hadn’t come to talk to her, but simply sat down on the bench next to hers.

He didn’t stick to her side like Saints usually did either.

Roughly six steps of distance separated them.

The benches were spaced out anyway, so it even felt like they were in entirely separate spaces.

Uriel glanced at the man from the corner of her eye.

Maybe it was because he didn’t talk to her when she expected him to?

Unintentionally, her curiosity was piqued.

‘His eyes… are they closed?’

The man had his eyes closed.

With rare black hair and blue eyes.

That unusual color combination… he slowly closed his eyes.

It didn’t look awkward.

In fact, it seemed natural— familiar, even. 

It was something she knew all too well.

Slowly closing your eyes.

If you stayed like that long enough, the mana garden would begin to speak to you.

A gentle breeze would rustle your hair and tickle your skin.

That fresh, pleasant feeling like the scent of mana was washing your body clean.

It was how she enjoyed the mana garden, and it was what the man was doing, too.

[Oh… What a beautiful place~]

Unlike the Saint, who always offered obligatory praise, this priest was genuinely enjoying the space.

Just like she did.

As that sense of shared understanding grew, her discomfort began to fade.

Some might call it the pride of an alpha female, but she prided herself on the fact that no man had ever shown no interest in her.

Why else would the biggest skill she earned in the first round have been escaping men trying to flirt?

Originally, she came here to enjoy the place.

To rest, in other words.

But now, her focus had completely shifted from the mana garden to the man.

On the other hand—

The cute-looking boy didn’t show even a hint of interest in her.

Not even a single glance— no eye contact, not even by chance.

He was thoroughly absorbed in doing his own thing.

Just like Uriel would’ve been.

And then—

Sniff sniff.

The moment the man unwrapped a plain cloth bundle and opened a lunchbox—

“…!”

Third round.

Even after all the years in which memories had faded into oblivion,

Uriel’s sense of smell detected something undeniably Korean.

How long had it been?

The scent of kimchi fried rice, like what her father used to make at home.

It overpowered even the aroma of the mana garden to reach her.