episode_0009

Not long after arriving at Behimos’ shopping district.

If you have too many expectations for anything, disappointment will be as great as the expectations.

However, the unchanging fact, no matter how much I pondered, was that this is another world.

To put it simply, upon entering the shopping district and feeling what was ingrained in my mind.

“This… is beyond imagination.”

One corner of my mouth couldn’t help but twitch upwards at the sight that truly evoked admiration.

It was nothing special since it was filled with guys living near the front lines or the Union Headquarters, covered in blood, but the central area was definitely different.

Contrary to expectations, there were ordinary crowds in exotic attire and street vendors everywhere.

Restaurants with peculiar flora and fauna depicted on their signs, perhaps using ingredients from this world.

Especially the restaurants, even the scents wafting from them were exceptional.

And the diverse appearances of the people from this world stimulated the hidden fangirl inside me.

It was an otherworldly experience that couldn’t be fully captured in words.

“Hand.”

Chaeseol extended her hand within that moment.

She probably wants me to hold it. She seems to be cleverly utilizing our agreement.

Every time she mentions ‘hand,’ reaching out like this makes me feel somewhat like a dog, but it’s a promise, so what can I do?

I don’t even know.

“Haah…!”

“W-what’s wrong? Why are you like that?”

“Sorry… I suddenly felt a tingling sensation.”

I was taken aback by the sudden whimper.

Well, if a girl suddenly moans outright in a bustling area that’s not home, it’s easy to be misunderstood.

At some point, my hesitation towards contact with Chaeseol lessened, and psychologically, I seemed to become more stable.

Moreover, now I’ve learned that I’m sensitive to physical contact initiated by others.

…Needlessly, thoughts of yesterday’s events in bed came flooding back.

“Well, shall we go?”

She took a step forward while holding hands.

When the fresh, clear wind and sunlight passed over her face, for some reason, I felt a flutter in my chest.

This feels like a date.

“Yes.”

This girl was a stalker who followed me around incessantly just a week ago, engaging in lewd acts under the guise of love.

Things that couldn’t be stopped under the pretext of love.

After avoiding it for four years, what’s come over her now?

It will probably end in another misunderstanding.

“I’m hungry.”

“Come to think of it, we haven’t had a proper meal since we got here. Let’s fill our stomachs first.”

Looking back, all I could remember was running and running for almost two days without eating anything.

Upon arriving at the shopping district and surveying it, I found that the cost of living here was quite reasonable.

To be precise, it wasn’t significantly different from where we used to live.

In easy terms, the compensation we received was about 5 million won. Looking back, it was a small amount considering the tremendous favor we were given, but it was a worry-free sum for the time being.

What surprised me was that there was a concept of tax here too, and the money left after giving it to the caretaker of the place we obtained was 4.7 million won. We still had some leeway.

So, we can afford to overspend for today.

“Is there something you want to eat?”

Chaeseol blushed silently, looking towards the inn.

“…Are you thinking about that all day? You said you’re hungry.”

“Even this is food.”

“If you don’t choose, we’ll just go to a decent place.”

And thus, our first restaurant visit in this other world.

From the outside, it looked like an ordinary restaurant with a drawing of meat replenishing energy when there were enough customers.

Of course, the chef, waiters, and others visible inside were not ordinary either.

“…Do cows sell beef here?”

“W-what? Beef?”

The waiter who brought the menu clearly resembled a cow one might see in the countryside.

Upon hearing the muttered words about meat being from cows and pigs, he soon began to show a disdainful look and started to look visibly scared.

“You, calling it beef. Even though it’s an era where everything is treated as an ingredient, it’s too barbaric.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“Hmph. If our boss had heard, he would have kicked me out. Lucky me.”

“…Then give me two of the best-selling ones.

It’s a world where ordering beef at a restaurant can get you in trouble.

To blatantly mention beef in front of cows.

Rather, is it saying that this common ingredient, beef, is still considered a luxury food here?

Someday, if they also get the chance, they will not be able to forget the unique flavor and texture.

“Doing this, it feels like we’re on a date.”

“Just eating together, nothing more.”

“Well, should we?”

Following that, Chaeseol shaped her mouth as if saying ‘date.’

Of course, she was the one who suggested leaving first, and until a little while ago, she thought it wasn’t like a date at all.

One must not interfere. Although she knows little about him, one fact firmly remains in her mind: once the ‘switch’ is flipped, there’s no stopping him.

Even in the past…

“Haha, just kidding. Did you know you looked so funny just now?”

“……”

“That too, was a joke. The date is for real.”

For some reason, just when Chaeseol felt like she was being teased, a strange sensation began to creep under the tablecloth covering the table.

“…Hey, what’s this?”

“Or, we could do it once.”

“Get your foot off.”

“Tsk.”

While a somewhat trivial conversation was going on, the awaited food finally arrived.

Its appearance was such that if I were on social media, I would want to snap and post it right away.

In reality, there were concerns because these were foods that humans don’t eat, but starving is worse than eating.

And look at this splendid visual. Even after seeing this, one cannot resist.

A dish filled with delicious meat that looks like just the tip of the tail cut and roasted, surrounded by a crispy outer layer of pale pink flesh.

When cut and picked up, the subtle aroma and golden oil oozing out were truly impressive.

This is irresistible.

It’s impossible to resist.

How long has it been since food entered my body?

The moment the stomach absorbed the meat.

“It’s really amazing.”

“Eat mine too.”

“You won’t eat…”

What’s this?

That expression that seems to be waiting to be wiped after being blatantly smeared around the mouth.

Ignoring the overt display and continuing to pretend not to notice.

I’ve been through a lot, too.

“Is that enough?”

“I can wipe it with my mouth.”

“Rather, once we finish eating, if we buy extra clothes, our business here will be done.”

I need to think ahead again.

If that guy had made a good impression, I could relax more, but for now, I can’t stretch my legs as much as I’d like.

So, it was time to return to the original purpose.

“Although wanderers are a minority, it’s strange that we’ve never seen them in any village or market.”

“Could it be that they’ve already formed a separate group somewhere?”

It’s not an impossible statement.

Since they are generally classified as weak in this world, they have no choice but to join forces.

As a result, a community will naturally form. Except for a tiny minority, they may have already established a system.

“…But still, there seems to be no way to find out in the end. Is there no good solution?”

“How about going there yourself?”

Thinking they had taken a seat at the most secluded table possible, it seems that someone nearby had keen ears.

The identity of that someone was an elf sitting at the table next to ours.

She appeared older than us, and soon turned her body to actively join the conversation.

“My name is Luna! I am destined to become the next Elf Queen and a great elf. It seems like you are looking for wanderers like yourselves, and I might be able to help.”

“Lady, stop eavesdropping and let us handle our own affairs, so if you’ve finished eating, please leave?”

“W-what… Lady?”

Chaeseol seems determined not to give any room to women.

She was taken aback by the venomous attack as if it were the first time in her life, but Luna managed to continue speaking firmly.

“You’ll regret this! It’s a solution that your feeble minds could never conceive.”

“What kind of…”

“Hey lady, I told you not to interfere.”

“What! Who are you calling ‘lady’ all of a sudden? I’m still a maiden who hasn’t even been married!”

“No one asked, but it’s just an observation since you look older. Moreover, if you speak to this girl one more time, I will kill you.”

“This… this…!”

Pushed back in the verbal sparring with Chaesola, Luna was on the verge of tears.

While it is crucial to be cautious about eavesdropping on conversations, it is also true that the path ahead is blocked once again. Now might be the time to set aside doubts and listen to what that solution entails.

“…Argh, how cruel. I haven’t even gotten married yet.”

“…This girl is a bit sensitive. What exactly is this solution? Do you happen to know where the wanderers are?”

“No way! I wouldn’t know about that.”

Truly a dignified and grand Elven response.

How remarkable must this method be to exude such confidence.

It was a moment when curiosity about that solution grew.

“…So annoying. Whether it’s this woman or that one, they keep poking around.”

“Oh, no. This time she initiated the conversation…”

A familiar thrill.

This is bad. It feels like something is going wrong.

Chaesola approached Luna emitting a tense aura.

And with a face that showed no signs of leniency, she began gathering magic in her fist.

“I’ve been patient so far. Wagging similar tails and meddling between us?”

“T-That’s not it! Let go for now and let’s talk…! Oh, no! Please spare me!!”

“Chaesola…!”

“Fine, if you can say it even in death, I’ll listen as much as you want.”

Damn it. Is she not hearing anything?

At this rate, she will end up forcefully ending her life in this world as a murderer.

The situation has long slipped out of their hands, to the point where even the restaurant patrons couldn’t intervene.

What should be done?

How can Chaesola be calmed down?

To put her to sleep….

Something she likes….

“Well then…”

I didn’t want it to come to this.

From the perspective of my real self, it must be an unimaginable sight.

“H-Hanul?”

“Just calm down a bit. We don’t know what lies ahead, but isn’t it worth listening to the story properly?”

The black lightning fizzled out.

Is it okay to just hug her right now?

“Oh, uh, well, um.”

“If I let you hear the story, I’ll hug you as much as you want, so let’s calm down for now.”

“But you keep nagging…”

“Since this seems to be something only between you and me, let’s start with the conversation.”

“Just between us.”

They narrowly averted a disaster that could have blown up the entire restaurant.

It feels like dismantling a time bomb that could have destroyed the world.

Some time later, they found themselves in a secluded alley.

Thus, the risky situation was settled, allowing them to initiate a conversation with her bound as a condition.

“Wait a minute! I didn’t agree to being tied up!! Untie me! I look like a criminal!”

“That… it has to be this way. Besides, I didn’t tie you up.”

“These absurd people! What are you trying to do to me…!”

“I have no intention of doing anything. Just tell me a good way. Then I’ll untie you.”

The way they were conversing seemed a bit strange, but perhaps this was the best course of action.

Perhaps this rope will serve as a lifeline for her.

Luna, pinned to the ground, began to speak.