episode_0009

“…Korean?”

“Gasp!!!?”

The answer that popped out of the hero’s mouth was unexpected, causing Darin’s mouth to hang open. She hadn’t known there could be a person from the same nationality. No, rather, she had thought that there might not even be people from the same dimension, but this unexpected turn?

“Wow…”

Forgetting the fact that she was a noblewoman, the woman’s lips gently parted. Like a child receiving a sweet snack, her pumpkin-colored eyes began to sparkle.

‘Ah! This isn’t it.’

Unable to contain her overwhelming emotions at meeting a Korean after decades, she lowered her head and calmed her heart. Perhaps she judged that more detailed verification was needed just in case.

“Jeju Island specialties!?”

“Tangerines…?”

“Wow, wow…”

It really is a Korean! How moved must Darin be? The woman with two children waved her hands around like a fool, unable to compose herself. Her smooth lips parting once again was an added bonus.

– Clap clap clap clap!

Suddenly, she started nodding her head absentmindedly while also clapping. If this were a ballroom, all the attendees would have turned their heads toward her. It was truly a scene of utter excitement.

“Are you really an earthling as well?”

Nevertheless, Lucas was equally astonished. Perhaps his shock was even greater than what the lady felt.

While Darin had at least suspected that the hero might be from another world, for Lucas, the appearance of a trend person was truly an unpredictable event.

“That’s right! That’s right!”

It was as if any answer would be affirmative. It was an intense nodding, a word that proved that the two were individuals from the same dimension.

“Shake hands! Shake hands! Hehehe…”

The man’s small, pale hands shook up and down as they held the man’s right hand. Lucas, who usually maintained a cool rationality, couldn’t compose himself and allowed it.

“Wait, where is your hometown? And I’d like to know how you crossed over.”

“Ah! I’m from Jeju Island. In my past life…”

The two men and women began to talk about their past lives in a remote place where no one came. Lucas, who had only known the woman as a nuisance, acted like a person today. He didn’t make a fuss like her, but he seemed excited.

“How did such a coincidence happen…?”

As Lucas had always been the top predator in the category of power when he crossed over to this world, being a resident of this world was like an NPC that he could handle at will. Perhaps his character became more twisted because there were no constraints on his power.

But perhaps this girl didn’t know that she might be the only one who could form a bond with me. So she could approach me even more specially.

“By any chance, did you receive any special abilities when you were reborn into this world?”

“Yes…?”

“Until now, the people who have crossed over to this world have usually received blessed bodies and outstanding abilities.”

“Uh, ah…”

Darine hesitated without knowing what to do. Were there people like me before? But outstanding abilities? She only had advantages related to tangerines. Listening to the conversation, it seemed like this person became a hero with cheat abilities, but her ability was so embarrassing that she couldn’t even bring it up.

“U-um, shouldn’t you laugh?”

“Of course.”

Lucas maintained a serious expression. Because they were a very rare couple, he probably didn’t want to provoke any antipathy. He silently vowed not to laugh.

“Gu-gu…”

Did his sincere consideration come across? Darine started to speak with difficulty. Aside from the embarrassment, she judged that it wasn’t right to hide her ability after openly revealing it.

“I don’t die even if I eat tangerines.”

“W-wait, what…?”

“…I don’t die even if I eat tangerines.”

“…??? Oh, it was a joke. I almost fell for it, haha.”

Could that be an ability? Normally, people don’t die from eating tangerines. Is this a Jeju-style joke? It’s pretty lame, but there’s nothing wrong with it.

“Darine…?”

Lucas just tried to take it lightly and pass it off as nothing. But soon, wasn’t her face blushing like an apple? Seeing her bowing deeply, it didn’t seem like a mere joke…

“Surely not, really?”

The warrior’s bewildered tone made the girl’s ears start to turn red. However, she didn’t forget to nod her head in affirmation.

“…”

If it were truly a simple ability, he would have acknowledged it as distinctive, but it was such a trivial and unimpressive ability that it didn’t even provoke laughter. Whether it was Darien feeling uneasy or not, he quickly began to showcase his abilities. The content was equally pitiful, to say the least.

“At first, it was like that. But now I can do quite a lot! I can throw oranges better than others. I can promote the growth of citrus plants like oranges or yuzu, and, and! This is a real secret, if I consume all my mana, I can drop 100 oranges in a certain area! I’ve only used it once because playing with food is not good. I also feel severe fatigue…”

“Oh, I understand. You don’t have to say anymore.”

“Oh, okay…”

Darien wanted to cry. We were both reincarnated, but that person flies through the sky and cleaves the earth with a holy sword. What am I? I’ve lived without comparing myself to anyone, but now I just want to kill a goddess.

But inwardly, she swallowed her anger and put on a tearful face. She felt like tears might flow, but she was a married woman with two adult children and already over thirty. Is this a trivial matter… or is it? Anyway, it seemed shameful to shed tears so easily.

While she felt embarrassed, the warrior thought he didn’t care about whatever it was. His gaze was already fixed on the girl’s ample bosom.

The crimson-haired girl’s pitiful expression was so brain-searingly poignant to onlookers. It seemed she had a bit of a hard time meeting Lucas, as sweat beaded beneath her neck. The scent of peaches subtly wafted around her chest.

Lucas’s suppressed suspicions rose in his mind. If sweat gathered above her chest, what fragrance would linger below her ample bosom? From a man’s perspective, it was an impossible temptation.

“Seriously, this might be the most intense feeling ever. No, should I call it an obsession instead of just a feeling? Why does she look so beautiful? I can’t seem to keep my composure…”

From those suspicions to unfamiliar, ticklish emotions, he felt it all too vividly. Perhaps because she was his trend person, various complex emotions surged within him. It struck his heart like a dull log, causing his heart to beat incessantly.

Perhaps, this insanely lovely woman would appear as a goddess to Lucas. Regardless of his inadequate abilities, she would undoubtedly be more special than anyone else in the world.

“Get a grip. Pull yourself together, Lucas.”

His heart trembled at every opportunity, and his lower body became harder than a rock. He wanted nothing more than to take her to a secluded room, undress her, and make her his woman right away, but he knew he had to restrain himself. After all, she was the ‘real destiny’ he had encountered in this world for the first time.

“Haha, your abilities might be a bit lacking, but isn’t it okay? You’re so beautiful.”

“…I haven’t really relied on my looks much, you know?”

Darine puffed out her cheeks in a slightly irritated retort, but it didn’t mean she was angry, just a little put off.

“But how did you end up with that ability? Normally, goddesses bestow powers based on a person’s inner desires…”

“…I died from eating a tangerine.”

“Excuse me…?”

“I died from eating a tangerine. Due to an allergy…”

“Really? Not joking?”

“Yes.”

“Hahaha!!!”

Earlier, I couldn’t help but laugh, but as I listened, the content was so absurd that I couldn’t help but burst into laughter this time. As a warrior, one should not belittle the deaths of others, but even so, isn’t it just too ridiculous? The ability gained from that is truly fitting.

“Hey, don’t laugh! Stop laughing!”

Darin’s expression began to change. It shifted from embarrassment to anger. That guy was so funny that he doubled over, burying his head in his knees and going into hysterics.

“Oh, for heaven’s sake!”

Darin fidgeted with her hands and walked quietly towards the sofa where the warrior was sitting. No matter how angry she was, it didn’t seem right to resort to violence at their first meeting.

“Stop laughing! Is someone’s death really that funny to you? Do you want to get hit with an orange for real???”

She pulled at his sleeve, warning him sternly to stop laughing. But it seemed like the warning was equally futile.

“Hahaha!”

The warrior laughed even more vigorously than before. What? Hit someone with an orange? It’s a threat that really suits her ability.

A gentle breeze wafted in through the open window. The scent of flowers carried in here mixed with the girl’s fragrance and tickled Lucas’s nose. The warrior felt as if he were inhaling the scent of his forgotten hometown because of this.

Today, Lucas was truly happy. When was the last time he had burst out laughing like this? Simply meeting and conversing with one person was more stimulating than any other moment he had encountered in this world. While maintaining his laughter, he silently vowed to himself as he stared fiercely at the girl.

“I must not let this woman slip away.”

Now, his sinister intention to hypnotize her evaporated instantly. He probably felt repulsed by the idea, thinking that it might lead to a predictable fate, just like those women who fell for hypnosis.

“Ahem, sorry. But about the food… If we have enough strength left, then we won’t have to worry about provisions to some extent. Ahem, just a moment…”

“……”

Trying to gather my thoughts and give compliments, but I just ended up laughing. Lucas repeatedly made up his mind to “calm down” internally. After a while, he managed to control his breathing.

Darin is truly an amazing woman. Even when facing a demon, a hero has never had such rough breathing.

Lucas raised his head again and faced the displeased girl’s face. She seemed angry, but not unreasonable. After talking a few times, her straightforwardness and temperament appealed to him.

The girl, with a faint orange-like complexion, wore a mask, yet she was overwhelming. She was a beauty that couldn’t even cover half of her face with a masquerade mask, which made it even more prominent.

From the beginning, Lucas had been using his clairvoyance to see her true face for quite some time. He considered slowly getting to know her as a pleasure and intended to uncover the mask later, but his impatience to see her sooner made him unable to suppress his curiosity.

She wasn’t just beautiful. The reason for her death seemed foolish, but she seemed smart in her own way. She spoke well. There was also a familiar charm that kept making him turn back.

The elegant hair ornament swayed charmingly with the movement of her crimson hair. Was she born to be loved by others? Even the princess who had been determined as the real one would have to bow her head before her beauty.

“We, we should talk a little more.”

The man, who had been nervous, bowed to the woman who had turned away. They had only met for half an hour, but they quickly became close, yet Lucas still had much to learn about her. He didn’t want to make a mistake. He felt guilty for deducting points for just laughing a moment ago.

It was not about forcing, but Lucas wanted to continue their relationship slowly through promises and meetings. Unknowingly, he had become “Eul”‘s advocate.

“Ah, okay then…”

Although Darien’s inability to consider my position and her bitter complaints were frustrating, I didn’t think much of it. She was overwhelmingly positive like Lucas. The meeting itself was just so welcoming.

But regardless of the warm welcome, as a wife, I had to maintain my dignity. This time, after making plans, I had to get permission from my returning husband or son. If I suddenly declared that I was going to meet a friend like an ordinary person, it would be no different from disgracing my family.

“I have company now, so I should go. Shall we decide on the next meeting place?”

Or maybe since it seems like my son’s friend, wouldn’t it be okay for us all to meet? For now, I promised my son that I wouldn’t reveal my identity, so I should postpone revealing myself.

“Of course. Then…”

With an excited expression, Lucas took out an artifact that could be a means of contact. He couldn’t deny his growing curiosity towards the girl he had met just an hour ago.

As the two smiled, the conversation was coming to a beautiful end.

“What are you doing here?”

A wrinkled face with white hair barged in like a demon.