episode_0075

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There is a fairy tale called Hansel and Gretel.

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It’s a tale that’s hard to find someone who hasn’t read it. Even if you haven’t read it, you’ve probably heard of it at least once.

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As is the case with fairy tales, they are not fixed to one type of story, but each has different details and endings… .

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But whether you’ve actually read fairy tales, heard them in passing, or encountered them in other media, there are common themes that generally come to mind.

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That’s right, the return.

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It’s about going home. The children’s desire to go home. The threat of being caught by a witch while returning home is the main plot of the fairy tale.

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Carl really likes this fairy tale.

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Although I couldn’t come across it in this world of illusions, I tried to remember it. I even wrote it down in a separate notebook as I recalled the memories.

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It’s a wonderful thing to return home after a arduous journey.

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What should not be misunderstood is that Carl has no desire to return to his former college days.

The place he wants to return to is the orphanage where he stayed with Alana.

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The warm times we spent relying on each other… no, Alana, who protected the sword. The times we spent with her, who was already more noble than any priest, even before she was a saint.

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It doesn’t have to be an old orphanage run by a religious order. Just being by Alana’s side is enough. Because at the end of my journey as the protagonist, I will eventually return to Alana’s side.

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Like Hansel and Gretel, who wandered through the forest and found their way home.

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Like Hansel and Gretel, who escaped from the witch’s clutches and returned to their family.

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Carl has been dropping breadcrumbs so far, so that he can look at them and find his way back whenever he feels lost. He has been recalling memories, hoping that his feelings for Alana will not fade.

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Memories of the original. The power of the reader.

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and….

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The time and memories I built with Alana after the ice age.

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I will definitely go back following those crumbs.

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*

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Carl arrived at the information agency’s safe house located in the commercial district.

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He stood in front of the door he always saw for a long time. When he gave a signal, Rachel would open the door. It was simple. But Carl hesitated.

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Hesitating to enter the door.

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To be exact, I am nervous and trembling. My feet are stamping and my breathing is getting faster. I have been thinking for a long time about what to say first on the way here. But I am still not finished thinking about it.

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The sword became infinitely small in front of Alana.

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The omnipotence that I had as a possessed reader was useless in front of Alana. I could not even make eye contact, I stuttered, and I could only shrink back as my heart pounded.

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Just standing in front of her, I break down. My conversations, my gestures, even my brain, all go as I want, as if I’m drunk. I feel embarrassed because it’s like I’m still showing the fool I was before I got possessed. But I liked Alana, who covers up even that embarrassing appearance with a bright smile.

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Beatrice doesn’t know, but Karl’s possession occurred long before the beginning of the novel.

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The confusion and fear I felt when I opened my eyes in the orphanage of the colonial church is still chilling to the core when I look back.

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Clearly, Carl Maynor at the beginning of the novel was a tough protagonist who took care of all the dirty work at the church, but he ended up possessed by his insignificant and weak childhood… .

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Literally a bloody mess.

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He was possessed by an ordinary little boy from an orphanage who didn’t even have a family.

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Before Carl entered his puberty, before he grew up and developed a strong body, the only person who protected him was Alana.

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Even though she was only two or three years older, she acted like an adult, like a guardian. Thanks to that, she was able to survive. Alana guided Kim Se-jin, who was an only child, to the path of Carl Maynor.

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From the time when you couldn’t see even an inch ahead to the introduction where you can finally utilize the reader’s memory, it was only thanks to Alana that you were able to complete that entire journey.

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“Hoooo… .”

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Carl stood in front of the door, recalling old memories.

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Knock knock- knocked on the door.

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It was an unusually timid knock. A cautious knock that lacked confidence.

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I remember the day Alana became a candidate for sainthood. The day I had to let her go.

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I knew it in my head, but I also knew that it was inevitable and a fate written in a novel… .

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It was painful.

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There was no way of knowing whether he would not see her for at least several months, or at most several years. There was no way to stop him. At the time, he was just a child, as Lewis put it, and he did not have the courage to change the original story.

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All Carl could do was wait. As time passed and the original story unfolded, he surrendered himself to the flow. And as it flowed and flowed, he followed the thread of fate that would inevitably continue.

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Leftover bread crumbs.

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If you follow the original memories, you will definitely be able to get there.

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… to you.

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Clank-

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The door opens.

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Now it’s Rachel’s turn to come out and check out the outside. She’ll check out Carl’s surroundings and let him in.

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Then the sword would be able to see the woman who suited him—somewhere in the safe house—perhaps at the dining table on the first floor, or the conference room on the second floor, or even in the Duke of Mainer’s office… wherever he could imagine.

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She stands out wherever she is. You will find a nobility that even feels divine.

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I looked at Rachel, who had opened the door with that kind of imagination.

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“!?”

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It wasn’t Rachel.

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“It seems bigger than before?”

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This voice is not Rachel. The woman in front of her looks up at the knife with a chuckle.

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“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you… If you just stand there blankly and don’t greet me, I’ll be disappointed.”

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He has a pouty, sharp expression, and a disappointed voice. Even that looks noble. It doesn’t look like a child’s tantrum, but rather a mature expression, as if he is giving a loving scolding from the child’s perspective.

It was a habit she had when she was young, when she treated knives like little kids.

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“……”

“Kal, you’re twenty now? It’s a bit late to be rebelling… .”

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Even though the age difference between them was not that big, she acted like an older sister for a long time, pinching Karl’s cheek with her crow’s feet.

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“Le, Rachel… .”

“Huh? Oh, I said I’d open it for you. I wanted to see it soon!”

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The first words he exchanged after a long time were another woman’s name… For a moment, Carl felt ashamed of himself for not being able to say anything nice. But that was only for a moment, and his mind became dizzy as the woman continued to speak.

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“Me?”

“Then who are you? Who else would I want to see besides you?”

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The beige-haired woman, Saint Alana, answered with a bashful smile. Her half-moon-shaped smile was impressive beneath her bangs that slightly covered her eyebrows. No, she was extremely beautiful.

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Alana’s angelic appearance made Carl laugh. He smiled brightly.

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Then Louis intervened from afar.

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“That’s a bit disappointing, isn’t it?”

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It’s thrown out there with a lot of playfulness and no trace of seriousness.

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“How much Chris and I missed you… . Sob.”

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Even the way she was sobbing didn’t look sad at all. The way she was pretending to cry with her face covered with both hands was so awkward that it was almost ridiculous.

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“Ah! I wanted to see the old men too, but I guess I didn’t express myself well enough earlier… .”

“Really?”

“Yes! The Director and the Duke both really, really missed you.”

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The light-hearted correction of Louis is surprisingly sincere. Louis, who had started the joke with the intention of teasing, was unable to finish it and instead made a genuinely moved expression.

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Alana is definitely an angel. Carl thought as he entered the building.

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“But why did you come so quickly?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Why are you already in the academy… You should be on a pilgrimage by now, traveling around the continent… .”

“Ah! That’s… .”

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Carl muttered as he recalled the novel’s memories. He remembered most of the storyline in the novel, but he made a conscious effort not to forget the part about the saint in particular. It was a habit he had developed after being possessed.

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“It’s April, so it’s definitely the Kingdom of Primera… .”

“Huh? How did you know that?”

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The saint opened her eyes wide, her beige hair fluttering. Her long, flowing hair was shiny. It was almost as if she could smell the fragrance just by looking at it.

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When I look into her pink eyes that stare intently, my mind becomes disarmed. I feel like I’m being sucked into the saint’s pink eyes. In order not to be sucked in, I end up answering everything she asks without hesitation.

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Because that was the only way to escape from her gaze that made me nervous just by looking at it. Because if I looked into her eyes properly, I would immediately feel awkward… .

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“……”

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But I have no choice but to desperately keep my mouth shut. I am actually a possessed being from another world. I know this thanks to the novels I read in that world! I can never say that.

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“Aesong-i, no matter how much you like Alana… You didn’t do the mission you were asked to do and just went around digging up stories about the saint? I like being an information agency agent~”

“Me, really!?”

“… No.”

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The saintess, who took Louis’ joke seriously, asked in surprise. Her surprised expression was a mixture of joy and embarrassment. Looking at her, Karl answered weakly. I have to make excuses, but I don’t like Louis’s dark accusations.

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While I was thinking about this, the peacock came down the stairs.

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“Everyone looks happy because it’s been a while since we last met.”

“Well, unlike someone who can’t even express their joy at being weighed down.”

“… Let’s take our time to let go of the regrets after the breakup. Work comes first.”

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The Duke ignored Louis’ words and approached Carl and Alana.

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“Kal, you must be wondering why Alana suddenly came to see you.”

“Yes.”

He said, looking back and forth between Carl and Alana.

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“Alana, is it okay if I explain this to you?”

“Yes! I would be happy if you could explain it to me.”

“Thank you.”

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The Duke turned around and sat down at the table that was usually used as a dining table. Louis followed him and sat down, while Carl was led by Alana’s hand.

Swish-

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It was still Alana’s habit of leading him since he was much younger. Now that they were all grown up, one of them had ascended to the noble position of a saint, it was a very bold act.

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Even though he was enjoying the glory beyond his ability, being dragged along by the saint’s hand that held him tightly and would not let go, Karl was unaware of it.

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The sacred gesture of the saint holding hands — the slender fingers that will one day interlock — still stimulates desire for each other.

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And so, the day has yet to come when, guided by the surname, men and women obsessed with desire will bear fruit in passionate love.

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But it would be better to hurry.

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The breadcrumbs that the sword had left behind… the pieces of his heart for Saint Alana, his determination to choose her as his wife, and the sense of purpose that sustains his journey towards her.

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Because those delicate crumbs may have disappeared on the way back.

Just like in the fairy tale, where birds pecked at the bread crumbs left behind by Hansel and Gretel. Just like the story of how they got lost in the forest… .

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Because someone might eat up every last crumb of Carl’s heart.

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He eats and eats until even his affection for the saint disappears.

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