episode_0044

“Wake?”

I was embarrassed.

In my memory, the wake was clearly a small kid.

She’s a pretty girl, but she hasn’t lost her breast fat and still looks young, so it’s difficult to date her.

But what about the wake we face now?

Tall, like a model, with straight limbs.

Before you know it, you have bulging breasts and a pelvis that stands out for its feminine beauty.

Plus a face with mature beauty.

Everything has changed from start to finish.

“It’s a wake, right?”

I asked in a dazed voice.

“…bounded?”

Heng Jeok said with a puzzled expression.

“What is going on here…”

“Ah, I came to meet Hang Liang.”

“Uncle?”

“Yes, there are circumstances.”

I hesitated and changed the subject. Isn’t it a bit presumptuous to say that I came here to get some food?

“By the way, I really don’t know. It’s so big. Aren’t you taller than me?”

“Hmph. You still don’t know anything about manners. It’s rude to say something like that to a woman.”

Even though Hang-woo said that, he didn’t seem to be in a very bad mood, and continued speaking, puffing out his chest.

“Now that I have signed the contract, isn’t it natural for me to grow day by day?”

Anyway, it’s been about a year and it’s already gone.

Did you drink some kind of growth elixir?

‘By the way, terms and conditions? So you were 19 when we met last year?’

I guessed that if you played well, you would be around middle school age…

“The eyes are filled with unpleasant thoughts…”

“Huh? I have no idea?”

“…”

Haengjeok narrowed his eyes. Then he shook his head as if he was okay with it.

“Well, that’s it. That’s not important. I was wondering why the banquet was being held, but I guess it was because of you.”

“That’s right, with such a precious person joining us, we need to throw a big banquet.”

“He’s still so arrogant that I’m sick of him.”

Haengjeok laughed softly, speaking in a more old-fashioned way.

“Then, I’ll see you at the banquet.”

Haengjeok waved his hand with a thin smile.

“And Uncle Hangbaek, please wake up too.”

“Yeah, but… he hit me…”

“Please wake up.”

“Hing!”

Hangbaek whined and stood up hesitantly, as if he was scared of his nephew who was much bigger than him.

It seems like the roles of nephew and uncle have been reversed.

So the two left this noisy scene.

The sun went down and night came.

The banquet has begun.

*****

The banquet was noisy.

Xiang Liang generously provided meat and alcohol, and the soldiers, who were exhausted from the continuous battles, gladly enjoyed Xiang Liang’s kindness.

Rather than being a political venue to reveal each other’s true intentions, the banquet had the character of pure entertainment.

First of all, it was a situation where my forces had joined as allies.

At the same time, my forces were too weak to keep in check.

Even though I was the ruler of a place not far from Paengseong, which was the hometown of King Xiangliang and a spiritual sacred place, my name was not that famous yet.

Perhaps because of that, Zhang Liang was also relaxed and enjoying the banquet.

She chatted with Hangbaek and drank one glass after another.

“You are that kid.”

As I was resting for a while, feeling tired from dealing with important people in the Anti-Baek Army, a woman approached me.

Beautiful flowing gray hair.

Beautiful beauty that doesn’t seem to belong to royalties.

And ears that are elongated like those of a deer.

‘Now are you an elf?’

I felt like I was going crazy.

Although this world is a mess, Elfran…

“Hmm-”

She chuckled, as if she was amused by my confused expression.

“Joyful child logo. That kid is worth worrying about.”

She covered her mouth with her fist and laughed softly.

“But he’s not a threat. I will be a good partner for my child.”

I looked at Canf with a sullen expression as he continued talking incomprehensibly.

“I would like to talk more, but the time allowed for me is not long. My child seems dissatisfied.”

The woman giggled as she said that.

“Then, bye. My name is Beomjeung, so remember it, baby.”

As expected from Kanf, she left, using words that looked down on humans.

I’ve always said that I don’t trust people with big ears.

A good elf is a dead elf.

They even say that they don’t trust dead elves these days, so I feel a sense of hostility for no reason.

…Ac, this is also a disease. It’s a disease.

I shook off any unnecessary prejudice and looked at the woman who appeared behind the criminal.

“Are you having a hard time?”

Heng Jeok smiled awkwardly and shook the bottle.

“Can you take my alcohol?”

“I won’t refuse alcohol if it comes.”

Although it was only our second meeting, I received a drink from a person who I thought we had become quite friendly with.

The two drank in silence.

“Whoo-”

The wake gave off sweet breath mixed with the scent of alcohol.

Even though that was all, her appearance was as beautiful as a painting on canvas.

“Not long ago, I thought alcohol was not tasty…”

Haengjeok raised the corner of his mouth and said.

“Now this has become my pleasure in life.”

Ugh, the strong smell of Aljung.

What is this kid who just turned 20 talking about? It makes me cringe.

Do you drink alcohol? It’s because I haven’t been through a lot of hardships, but I’ve been through a lot of hardships, so alcohol is like a sweet drink.

The appearance of Heo Se-chung, who was always at the drinking party, seemed to overlap with his appearance.

I thought about teasing him, but Haeng Jeok’s expression was so bitter that I had no intention of doing so.

Why is this young guy looking so pensive?

“You’re so young, why are you looking like you’re dying?”

I grunted.

“…kick!”

Haengjeok burst out laughing as if that was funny.

“Yeah, you were that kind of guy. He was a guy who spoke freely about what he thought.”

Haengjeok continued speaking with a somewhat sad smile.

“So, he must have said something so easily that no one has ever said before.”

“…”

What did I say?

“Did you forget?”

“Ugh.”

“Yes, that can happen. It can be done…”

Heng Zhe quietly looked down at his glass of wine. As I swirled the glass, the cloudy liquor inside shattered the moonlight and illuminated small clusters of light.

“You told me to do what I want.”

…Now that I think about it, it seems like that.

I guess they meant to just get into it and call it a hobby instead of getting into trouble, I guess?

“From then on, those words filled my head. What do I want? What should I live for?”

He closed his eyes and quietly breathed in the night air.

“I thought I wanted to take the emperor’s seat and sit there. I thought it was my deepest wish to avenge my family and my country.”

Haengjeok added in a sad tone.

“But it wasn’t.”

“…”

“I never wanted anything like that. There was a time when I resented Uncle Hangyang, who only used me as a decoration, but not now. I would rather live as a decoration.”

A single tear fell down Haengjeok’s cheek.

“I don’t want anything. My courage is for writing. My affection is that of a woman. My bowl is infinitely small. I have nothing to wish for. I was an infinitely small person who just wanted to live quietly like a plant. Because of the advice you gave me, I was faced with such a shabby self.”

Haengjeok lowered his head.

Her long red hair waved helplessly like a dying flame.

“Tell me, Yugye.”

She said in a crying voice.

He said it as if he was pleading.

“How should I live? Show me the way.”

…Grunt.

I have done many things since I entered the emperor’s body, but I never dreamed that I would do something like this.

Career counseling.

Don’t be impatient and look for a job that suits your aptitude. Teacher, the enemy is on the student’s side, right?

I couldn’t even say something so simple.

These are difficult times.

Moreover, the wake began to advance together with his uncle.

Saying something like that in a situation like this would only be ridicule.

So, I had to think carefully before speaking.

I had to coax this suffering woman as best as I could so she wouldn’t turn into a rare massacre.

“…Then do you want to come with me?”

After much thought, what came out was such an unfashionable statement.

Haengjeok looked at me with surprised eyes.

Her red, bloodshot eyes matched the color of her hair very well.

“Let’s go together. Rather than staying here suffering for no reason, it would be better to go away for a while and cool off. It might be better to brush it off and leave rather than overthinking it. How about it?”

“…”

Haengjeok stood blankly for a while, as if he was at a loss for words.

“…It’s like an old story.”

Wake said.

“A debaucher who deceives the hearts of rural girls and takes them away. You’re saying really rude things, Yugye.”

Haengjeok shook his shoulders and laughed.

After laughing for a while, she shook her head and tried to shake off her laughter.

“Thank you, as expected, I enjoyed talking with you.”

Haengjeok honestly expressed his gratitude.

I can’t believe that that twisted little boy has become so mature.

I feel something new.

“I heard that the reason you requested supplies from your uncle was to go to Hamyang, is that correct?”

“Yeah, but?”

“…Let me help you. We may not be together, but I will help you from afar.”

A helping hand extended by Haengjeok.

It was a very helpful help for me.

It would be a burden to advance towards Hamyang alone.

The task would be easier if the wake advanced on a different course and dispersed the enemy’s forces.

“I am thankful.”

I spoke plainly.

“Okay, as you said, I think I made it too complicated. Okay, right now, let me help you and clear your head. That would be nice.”

Haengjeok said that and waved goodbye.

“Farewell, Yugye. Let’s meet in Hamyang next time.”

And so the wake left.

*****

“How do you feel, child? Did you find what you were looking for?”

Beom Jeung asked.

“Yes.”

Haengjeok nodded.

“I want to help Yugye.”

“Ohh.”

Beom Jeung was impressed.

“I will move forward, destroying all who will be his enemies.”

Wake said.

“That will be my life’s goal.”

Beomjeung laughed. She burst out laughing, looking very cheerful.

A deep cruelty flickered like a flame on her face.