episode_0117

I had a dream.

It was a scene where my family and friends looked at me with empty eyes and criticized me.

An ordinary nightmare, no different from usual. I thought I had definitely shaken it off, but it seems it didn’t work out as well as I thought.

“No…..”

In my dream, I struggled. I denied it and tried to get out of there, saying there was no way you would say something like that to me.

In the dream, I couldn’t move as I wanted, as if something was weighing me down.

A bone-chilling cold hits my body. And an even stronger feeling of loneliness and guilt burrows into my body like a bug.

I… what should I do? What should I do… how can I endure this bitter cold?

The water that felt calm at the tip of my feet soon seemed to reach up to my chin. Without realizing it, my breathing becomes heavier.

Again… do I have to suffer like this? It’s so painful and sad. I feel like tears are flowing without me knowing.

And that moment.

Hwaaa!

The space that was once dark begins to shine brightly. A light so warm and brilliant that it is difficult to even open your eyes.

The hands of light reach out to me. I am so weak, insignificant, and useless.

The hand that seemed to understand and care for me was so warm.

***

“Umm…”

I think I’ve finally come to my senses. Where… is this?

I rub my blurry eyes with both hands and look around. A small bonfire was burning next to me as I lay down, and I was in a mud house with all sides blocked off.

“….Are you awake?”

“Captain…! You finally woke up…!”

“I was waiting. Good morning.”

“Master….!”

And I see women sitting around me looking down.

They have strange expressions that seem somehow happy and sad at the same time.

And what was a little strange was that everyone was holding one hand tightly. It was as if he had caught something precious.

“Uh….Did I fall asleep…?”

Now that I think about it, when did I fall asleep? I think I just closed my eyes for a moment and opened them.

The sound of birds chirping and the slight wind blowing from beyond the small entrance of the mud house let me know that it is morning.

“Yes. I heard you sleep very well? Dororong- While making a sound.”

“Uh…that…that…”

“Cook Cook. are you okay. Because I watched without realizing time was passing.”

“Hmm, hmm.”

“Mmmm.”

“Hehe….”

There seemed to be something strange in the middle, but since everyone except Royu had the same expression, it seemed like they were observing me while I was sleeping.

“That…that! Let’s get out first…!”

I felt heat rising to my face in an instant, so I had no choice but to stop shouting.

Thankfully, they obeyed me while letting out a small laugh.

“Hmm… Anyway, it’s really interesting. Just because one eye has disappeared, the land of death has changed so much.”

When everyone came out of the mud house and was stretching their sore bodies, Ariel looked around and spoke.

Everyone seems to be nodding their heads and looking back at the beautiful scenery with admiration. I was the only one who didn’t understand.

“….Ah! Captain! The leader’s vision is blocked by those bastard eyes…!”

It seemed that I was the only one looking around in confusion while everyone was nodding their heads, so Ceris thankfully explained it to me.

“Aha… Thank you, Seris.”

“Hehe…hehe…! Wow…thank you! If the leader asks anything, it’s Seris! I will definitely answer it!”

“Ahaha…”

For some reason, I was looking at Seris, who had a proud expression on her face and was full of energy, and then I looked around.

That’s how it happened. The range of activities in this body was very narrow, and I didn’t even think about going beyond the tree that blocked me like a wall.

Still… isn’t a good thing a good thing? Anyway, this place, which used to be a desolate land of death, is now like a painting like Mureungdowon.

“Master. Anyway… what are you going to do now?”

“Uh…so…okay?”

Carly’s question once again left me in agony. What should I do from now on?

When everything is over, I don’t know where to start or what to do.

“Hehe…If it’s what you want to do, I’ll make it happen.”

As I looked at them nodding their heads in agreement with Royu’s answer, I began to think for a moment.

What did I want to do? A daily life dreamed of by a body that was not very active.

And this is something I did not forget even when I worked as an alter ego three times, or rather as a different me.

“…Travel. I want to travel around this world.”

I’m still so curious about this world. I want to see it with my own eyes and walk on it with my own two feet without missing anything.

“But…is it okay?”

Of course, I wouldn’t be able to do it alone. Now I don’t have any abilities, and I’m even shorter and weaker than an ordinary person.

I, who would lose miserably to even a 1-star monster, couldn’t even imagine traveling alone.

however.

“Of course, my love.”

“…If the leader wants, anything.”

“Of course.”

“…..Yes!”

Although there were three failures. Right now… I guess it’s okay because I have people who are too good for me to protect me.

“…hehe. Thank you, everyone.”

My heart suddenly felt so warm that I smiled foolishly without realizing it.

Compared to the insignificant me, they were so outstanding that they were the strongest and most outstanding women in this world.

“”…….””

But… their expressions are somehow strange.

***

“Many people?”

Looking at a creature looking up at them while tilting its head, the four women fell into deep trouble.

‘Kidnap this thing, don’t you?’

That’s because Venice’s expression was so dizzying. Although they had seen and felt it over and over again, it was so fatal to them that they still could not get used to it.

Surely, if it were me now, I would be able to take at least one vulnerable person, Venice, and run away to a place no one knows about.

Even though right now they are just women who are infatuated with one person.

They were still the world’s errors, the world’s strongest swordsman, the greatest wizard, and the most vicious beast.

They had obviously made a pact last night to join forces for Venice, but Venice’s sincere smile made them forget even that pact.

…If I were to be the person I am now, I would surpass the women next to me…

“”……..””

As I looked at both sides with a glance, the four women made eye contact at the same time.

Look at the desire in those eyes. How can that be said to be the most outstanding thing in the world?

But no one could open their mouths. Because it’s obvious that that expression and look in his eyes must have appeared the same way to himself.

“Hmm…Hmm.”

“Kuhm…”

“…..um.”

“….A.”

In the end, I cleared my throat with a mixture of half regret and half embarrassment. The first attempted kidnapping in Venice has come to an end.

“???”

Actually, the person in question didn’t know anything. And not knowing can be good for your mental health.

***

We were walking towards the central capital of the empire, as if taking a leisurely stroll.

Of course, if I left it to them, I could get there in an instant, but I didn’t really want to do that. Because we had a lot of time.

“…So, the leader…”

“No. Venice is for me…”

“What are you saying? Master, me..”

“Hehe. It’s laughable.”

I am walking out from the front, and the four women standing behind me as if they are guarding me are muttering something.

Judging by the way their voices rose and they smiled, it seemed like they had become friends quickly. That’s a good thing.

“…Isn’t that a foul?”

“This… is unfair.”

“….Damn.”

“Hehe… If you tease me, you know, right?”

He seemed to have adjusted the sound to the point where I couldn’t hear him clearly, but it seemed clear that he was talking about me.

okay. I’ll just quietly look around.

I take brisk steps, hum a song, and look at the beautiful scenery around me.

This… was a neighborhood where no living creatures lived until recently?

The freshly growing grass and trees, and the sounds of animals singing clearly.

It’s really nice to see and hear. And even though it was summer, it wasn’t that hot, and the large leaves blocked out the sunlight, which was perfect.

“Hiya…”

This is life, this is life. I felt like I had lost more than half of my life.

Stop living the same routine of staying at home, playing games all day, eating delivery food, and just sleeping.

From now on, I will only see new things and enjoy only fun and amazing things!

“Huh, what is this?”

And that moment. I heard a rustling sound coming from the grass next to me, so I looked into the gap.

I found a creature with a round head sticking out of the floor, two bright eyes, and cute antennae on its head.

What is this? I’ve never seen it in the Encyclopedia of Monsters. So is this an animal that lives in this world that I don’t know about?

“Hello? What is your name?”

I slowly approached it. Is it an animal that lives stuck in the ground? Anyway, it was cute.

The hand is stretched out. Now, if you come a little closer, you will see those soft-looking antennae-

Kwaang-!

And at that moment, it suddenly popped out of the ground and came towards me with its mouth wide open, as if it could swallow me in one bite.

“….Huh?”

What situation is this? It was definitely… a cute little friend.

Why is it bigger than a monster? Why do it have so many teeth?

I don’t think I can avoid it. The speed was so fast, and my body was so weak and slow.

Am I… going to die?

Piing-!

At that time when I thought about whether I should close my eyes or not. The monster that was coming toward me stopped right on the spot.

Sigh-! clattering.

And it, which was not even moving, was instantly split into 184 parts and spewed out a huge amount of blood.

The blood didn’t splatter on me, perhaps because Ariel had cast a spell, but it could be said that it spurted out more forcefully than a fountain.

Jeopuk-jeopuk.

And just as I was blankly looking at the cute antennae on the floor, I heard footsteps coming from behind.

“Thank you…”

Of course, it wasn’t something I did because I was powerless, so if that were the case, they would have been protecting me. I said thank you.

Kwaaang-!

And the moment I turned around to face them, I heard several of the monster’s cries that I heard just now right behind me.

Sigh.

And as I was looking at them closely, it seemed like they flinched a little. I’m sure there would have been no other movement.

Whoosh…

When you hear the sound of hundreds of blocks collapsing coming from behind, you don’t need to find out what happened.

“…I can’t do it. my love! In my arms.”

“What are you talking about! Please hug me…!”

“No, it’s me.”

“Master…! Ignore these bitches and tell me…!”

And after that, I ran into monsters once every three steps, so I had to work hard to stop them when they started going wild.

I still don’t know why everyone wants to hug me. I am a worthless human being…

***

That night. Venice and the others used Ariel’s magic to create a small camp.

They had been urging Venice to go in first and sleep, but Venice euphemistically refused, so all five of them had no choice but to sit down on a log next to the bonfire.

The log was created after Ceris and Carly competed to cut the log more cleanly, and it was so elaborate that anyone who saw it would believe it was a chair for sale.

A camp at night where only the sounds of night insects and the hooting of owls can be heard.

That moment when no sound was heard other than the crackling sound of the bonfire.

“….that! Let’s stay alert! I will stand too…! If you guys don’t sleep, I won’t sleep either!”

The moment when everyone was puzzled by Venice’s sudden announcement of a night watch.

“I…I’m a little scared by myself, so would you please just have one person stand with me?”

As soon as they caught sight of Venice speaking with her hands together as if she was a little embarrassed, the four women’s eyes began to burn.

More intensely and passionately than a crackling bonfire.