episode_0022

1.

-Clang, clang.

I hear natural noises as spoons and bowls, knives and forks touch plates.

Before the meal, fill your stomach with warm cornbread.

Salty and smoky bacon, mashed potatoes with fluffy potatoes and crunchy whole grains and corn.

The fried egg, soaked in the flavor of meat and oil, was a delight to the palate when served with bacon.

Finally, a red wine that goes well with strong-flavored bacon.

It’s a great meal.

If only it weren’t for the random thoughts that keep crowding my mind.

“Kai, do you have anything to say?”

“Huh? No, no, eat it.”

I don’t want to interrupt a good meal to tell this story, so I’ll bring it up as the meal is finishing.

So for a while, the only sound in the cabin was the clatter of dishes.

…

I’ve eaten most of the food and I’m starting to feel a little tipsy.

Even the uncomfortable expression on your face is somewhat relieved by the alcohol and food.

Yuli said, placing both hands on her cheeks as if to soothe her reddened face.

“Ugh… I’m drunk. So, Kai. What do you want to say?”

“Okay, pour me another glass first.”

-Crunch, crunch.

He moistened his dry mouth with wine again and prepared to open his mouth.

A refreshing taste lingers, swallowing the alcohol.

‘under.’

I think I’ve been mentally preparing myself for the afternoon, but it seems like saying it out loud is another thing.

Because my mouth still won’t open.

After rolling the wine on his tongue for a while, he finally opened his mouth to say what he wanted to say.

“……..I’m not from this world.”

“……..What are you talking about?”

He slowly opened his mouth and began to tell his story.

First of all, the fact that I am a person with a disability.

A possessed person is… literally another soul possessed by the protagonist of this world, ‘Caesar’, and a person who twisted his fate.

…

“…So this world is fake? It only exists in a book?”

“No, I can’t explain it clearly, but it’s not that this world is fake… When you read a book, you’re ‘transported’ to another world.”

I had to explain that what was contained in the book was not just text, but felt like it was being transmitted to another world.

Because everything we’ve done together isn’t a lie.

…

“I’m dizzy… What on earth is going on?”

“I had to tell you this, so I told you this.”

It might have been okay to hide the fact that he was a possessed person.

Even if you deceive Yuli with a suitable lie, Yuli will be willing to be deceived.

Even though there is still a very subtle distance between me and Yuli, we can stay together.

Rather, it could have led to a white lie, without having to accept this painful truth.

but.

“Our story has come to an end. The story of a hero who defeats the Demon King.”

“…Yeah.”

“Another story begins again.”

“…?”

I had to endure this inconvenience to tell this story.

‘The Demon King lives in the Academy.’

King Akama.

Because that story started in the same time and space as me… and I decided to tell that story.

After experiencing ‘completion’ once, I was at a crossroads with two choices.

To explain it simply, like a web novel.

The first is… to become an extra in Akama-Ou.

My position in this work is that of a mere janitor.

It’s a role that makes up the Academy, and even if it’s not mentioned, it doesn’t have much weight.

Akama King is the story of those children, not mine.

Close your eyes and ignore the Demon King’s presence.

And in the happy ending created by those children, they can finally open their eyes and go back to living their peaceful daily lives.

The second is… to become the mastermind behind Akama-wang.

Find the Demon King.

And isolate them to protect the children.

Once again, it’s time to take on the role of a warrior.

This time, I will write my new story, that of Caesar, who has grown into a true warrior and retired, rather than a fatalistic story.

My choice is.

“I will find the Demon King.”

“…What?”

It’s the latter.

As soon as she finished speaking, Yuli’s eyes began to tremble without mercy.

…okay.

I definitely wanted to live the rest of my life in peace.

I wanted to enjoy my youth again, which had been stolen from me.

Even this boring and dull daily life is a precious time to me that I cannot trade for money.

But a happy future for those children.

I hope you don’t get robbed like me.

I hope they don’t become a warrior party.

In this world, the warrior party is an unfortunate entity that must be at war with the Demon King.

Even those kids.

I just want you to be happy.

…and there is no way to rejuvenate a youth that has already passed.

Youth never comes back.

Because youth does not mean the young me, but the time when I was young itself.

No matter how ageless my body may be, my youth is gone.

‘I want to live for the children of the future.’

Like why I started working at the academy.

I just want to see those students living bright futures.

2.

The story Kai told made my head spin.

It was as if one of the truths of this world had been shattered and a vast amount of knowledge was being forced into my head.

‘Kai is not from this world.’

The ice maker.

That is, a person who reads a novel and enters the world of the novel.

‘This world is not a book.’

Even in the world of the Ice Emperor, not all beings are decorated.

Rather, it was like a stranger entering a normal world.

I am also real, and even if I were possessed by someone named Caesar, the Caesar I am with is the real Caesar I know.

‘A new story begins in this world.’

The Demon King lives in the Academy.

That is, the content about King Akama.

From this point on, I had to start shaking with a sudden sense of anxiety.

Is this a story about a warrior and a demon king similar to the one we experienced?

Why now of all times?

Now that it’s all over?

But I felt relieved when I heard that our story was ‘complete’.

Because our remaining role in this world has ended.

There’s no need to go through the warrior’s journey again.

…That sense of relief and anticipation was shattered by Kai’s next line.

“I will find the Demon King.”

“…What?”

“If there is a Demon King, it is natural that the students will fall into misfortune. So… I will stop the Demon King.”

-Kwaaang!!!

“Are you in your right mind!!!!!!!!”

Before I knew it, I stood up, slammed my fist on the table, and started yelling at Kai.

I can’t control my anger.

“Yes, who are you to interfere in that conversation? You’re an outsider!!! That Aka, whatever Aka-Maou is, it has nothing to do with you!!! Why are you showing your face for no reason??”

“Wait a minute, Yuli. Calm down and talkㅡ”

“Calm down? After hearing that story? You… are not the type of person to make that decision. You should not be sacrificed in this story anymore!!!”

“Yulie…”

ah.

Even though I’m angry, a part of my heart feels like it’s being stabbed by a needle.

It feels like the air is escaping and scraping my vocal cords sharply.

I feel like tears might flow at any moment.

It hurts so, so much.

I curse my mouth, which only vents anger without any consolation or encouragement.

I feel resentful that my body and mind can’t get along.

Too embarrassed to raise my head, I roughly opened the half-open door and left the cabin.

“Where is Yuli!”

“…I’m going to get my underwear. I’ll be back soon from the river, so don’t follow me. ”

He made some ridiculous excuse and left the place.

I’m on the verge of exploding with emotions, but… I don’t want to explode here.

What shame do you have to show tears?

…

I gritted my teeth and ran, and it took exactly one minute to get to the Rukia River.

The tears I had been holding back because I didn’t want to cry in front of Kai are about to burst out.

‘……..I am not from this world.’

Yeah, Kai said he was a fucking idiot.

You’re not from this world?

But he loved this place more than anyone else in the world and devoted himself to this world.

Enough to save this world.

“Idiot….idiot……..”

The tip of her voice trembled uncontrollably, as if she were about to burst into tears at any moment.

My nose was itchy and my throat was tight, and I was in agony, so I knelt down in front of the Rukia River, my legs giving out.

The air that cannot even be spoken is squeezed from the lungs, making my chest ache.

“Oh my, ugh, this idiot…………”

Finally, the tears flow.

I guess I have no shame or conscience.

The one who really wants to cry is Kai.

Why, why on earth do I not understand why such a choice was made.

I’m so sad and my heart aches.

But the fact that Kai would be in more pain the more he cried out made me shut my mouth.

Just suppress it.

I force myself to keep my mouth shut and let the anger melt inside me.

“Euuuk…..whaaang.”

The anger that was boiling up like it was unbearable was so intense that I buried my face in the river and cried, letting it flow away.

I cried and trembled several times, curled up in a ball, and regretted it.

There is one thing that worries me the most.

Will something like this happen again in the future?

Can we be sure that the misfortunes that occurred during our daily lives after regaining them after 17 years will not occur again in the future?

Again… what if Kai gets involved?

I wish I was forced to live a life where I could neither die nor grow old.

Without asking anyone for help.

‘It’s all my fault. I’m sorry Kai, please don’t do this, please…’

When I raised my head to bury my face in the river, my heart was pounding again and I felt like crying.

“Oh my, why didn’t you come back when you went to get my underwear?”

“….!!!!”

Kai hugged me from behind.

Very strongly.

A warm feeling and a pounding heart come from behind me.

“Did you do something weird with my underwear?”

He came in looking cool and made some pointless jokes.

I thought the joke was just a joke to lighten the mood… but it was an embarrassing joke to me.

“What, what what what!?!?!?”

“Poohahaha! Really?”

“There’s no way!!!!”

Yuli tried to escape Kai’s embrace by flailing her body and limbs, but Kai only tightened his grip on her arms.

“Oh my, you cried?”

“Oh, no! I went into the river to find some clothes! It’s not tears, it’s river water!!!”

When you try to pull your arm away to wipe away your tears.

Kai instead put his hand into her armpit and spun Yuli’s body around.

“Ouch…!”

Because of that, her eyes were swollen and red and her facial expression was a mess.

Embarrassed, Yuli tried to cover her face with her arms, but Kai didn’t even look at her face and just hugged her again.

My body was pressed and I let out a stupid hiccup.

“……..Hipp.”

-pat pat pat

Kai patted my back with his thick hand.

Gently and carefully, like soothing a crying baby in the middle of the night.

“…….Whaaa …

For a while, I cried like a baby in Kai’s arms.

…

“Hipp. Heukkeuk…”

After a while of crying and snot, Kai realized what was really going on and spoke to me again.

“Yuliya. Do you know why I brought this up?”

“…I don’t know, idiot.”

“Because I want to overcome this together with you.”

Yuli opened her eyes wide and tried to turn her head towards Kai.

But the hand that had been patting her back began to gently press the back of her head and stroke her hair.

“We’ve even defeated the Demon King together. Nothing will be harder than what happened back then.”

“…Right.”

“Then the story that is unfolding now will not be a problem for us. Because we will overcome anything. So I will not suffer alone. Because we are destined to overcome it together and live happily.”

….Tears are welling up again.

Enough to eventually explode.

“…Heeeing….”

I hugged Kai again.

Because I could feel the deep regret and determination in that voice.

And finally, I was able to cross the gap of one inch that remained between Kai and me.

3.

Dawn of the Academy.

“………….”

In the middle of that dawn, there was a man with blood on his lips.