episode_0119

After safely rescuing Hiyori from the spray.

I was able to receive treatment in a nearby village in time.

Although he would carry the burn marks on his back for the rest of his life, the people around him were jealous of the scars on his back.

“That’s an injury you received while protecting the young lady, right?”

“From what I heard, the assassin who kidnapped the young lady was a supreme expert?”

“Did you defeat that level of expert by yourself? You’re crazy!”

No matter where I went, people listened to my story.

I was familiar with the disparaging gaze, but this was my first time looking at me with interest, so it felt unfamiliar.

I avoided eye contact with them as much as possible and covered my bandaged body with my outer clothing.

“The supreme expert will freeze to death. He was just an ordinary peak expert.”

If it had been at its peak in the first place, a smoke screen or mana bomb administered with acid poison would not have worked.

In the end, it was a fluke this time too.

The factor in my victory was that my opponent was caught off guard and unable to warn or prepare for my technique.

“Is the treatment finished?”

“Yes, the schedule has been delayed due to treatment. Sorry.”

“There is no need to apologize. Not only were you not the only one injured in the fight with the sprayer, but the young lady also ordered that every injured person be treated, so there is no need to feel burdened.”

“When you say that, I feel a lot better.”

It was not uncommon for compensation to be reduced due to the employee’s personal affairs.

Of course, getting hurt while on duty is also an employee’s personal problem.

They say he wouldn’t have gotten hurt if he had been strong from the beginning, and even though he got hurt, he gets a pay cut.

However, this time my employer was generous and instead of reducing my salary, they even supported my medical expenses.

To be honest, this kind of employer is so rare that you might only meet it once every 10 years.

For reference, I started wandering 10 years ago.

In other words, this was my first time with an employer like Hiyori, and the 10 years mentioned above were scheduled to continue to be renewed.

“Seojin!”

They say even tigers will come if you tell them.

Hiyori popped her head through the carriage window and was waving at me.

I tried to ignore it and get on the horse, but the guard captain placed his hand on my shoulder.

“The lady asked me to ride in a carriage, not a horse. Let’s go quickly.”

“… … I’m an escort, so is that okay?”

“Wasn’t the young lady kidnapped even for a moment because there was no escort in the carriage? Normally, you wouldn’t be able to put anyone on the carriage, but since you protected the girl even when you were seriously injured, I guess it’s okay.”

“I am worried about the reactions of those around me, thinking that I am the only one receiving preferential treatment.”

“If there is someone among the guards who thinks that way, I will personally tell them to leave, so don’t worry and go.”

There were no more excuses.

If I made any more excuses in the first place, it would have been a bother to the guard captain, so I needed to be proud of myself.

I sighed and headed toward the carriage instead of the horse.

As I approached, Hiyori opened the carriage door and motioned for me to come inside.

“Excuse me.”

“Welcome!”

Hiyori greets you with a bright smile.

He grabbed my arm and dragged me into the carriage.

I understand that you are grateful because you are my benefactor who saved my life twice, but I think the distance is too close.

“You haven’t eaten a single meal since last night, so you’re hungry, right?”

“It’s okay. Because I have no appetite.”

“Then you will feel uncomfortable covered in blood, so at least clean water… !”

“I just finished treatment, but if I wash it now, it will add more to the wound.”

“Refused to eat or take a bath. Then I have no choice but… ?”

“… … I’m being damned.”

“Kkeut!”

I hit her on the forehead.

It was rude to my employer, but I couldn’t keep quiet after hearing that sound.

Fortunately, Hiyori did not question whether she was aware that she had done something worthy of being beaten.

“Wow, I was just kidding… … .”

“Don’t you know that there are some jokes that are acceptable and some that are not?”

“Woohoo! I can’t argue with that because you’re right!”

“Leave aside the small talk, why did you invite me into the carriage?”

“Nothing different, I was calling you to come with me until Seojin’s injury heals.”

Hiyori hugged my arm a little tighter and smiled brightly.

The smile of the beautiful black-haired beauty was so noble that any man would be taken aback by it.

If her target wasn’t me.

“You know. I am here because I was hired as an escort.”

“Didn’t the guard captain tell you? That’s strange. I’m sure you said you needed an escort in the carriage, right?”

“I heard it, but I’m not physically fit, so closely escorting me won’t be of much help. Moreover, it will make other bodyguards jealous.”

“Hehe! How about proudly bragging that you have a beauty like me by your side throughout your escort?”

“The employer was crazier than I imagined. I also heard a rumor that you have a fiancé.”

“It’s a marriage that my father decided on his own terms. I’m sorry to that person, but I have no interest in arranged marriage.”

Hiyori, who was smiling brightly, suddenly erased her smile and revealed her thoughts.

Although he respected it because it was his life, it was difficult to understand.

She is ready to give up all the benefits she enjoys while living a decent life.

“I know it’s hard to understand. But I want to be with the person I like! chamberlain… !”

Hiyori suddenly turns her head towards me.

Even though he looked at my face in silence, he soon blushed and made a raspy voice.

“I guess he’s a dependable person who can protect me… … ?”

It was such an blatant remark that even I, a former donmisae, would have noticed.

Having never been in love in my life, I couldn’t respond even after hearing Hiyori’s feelings.

Just as Hiyori didn’t have any feelings for her fiancé, I didn’t have any feelings for her either.

I tried to push Hiyori away by formally apologizing, but she suddenly covered my mouth.

“Not yet! Unlike me, Seojin has no good reason to like me!”

“Why are you doing that when you know so well?”

“There’s still some travel left! Until then, I will work hard to make Seojin like me! If your feelings are the same even after the trip is over… … At that time, I will give up completely!”

“Bold.”

Hiyori declared that she would seduce me simply with her abilities, without using her status or money.

It was funny from my perspective, but I didn’t particularly hate it.

Because I came to this place with only my own abilities.

I decided to give Hiyori a chance.

And her challenge… … .

“Hehe! Sir!”

“Thank you for coming out to see me off, but I need to take care of myself.”

“This is okay!”

It was amazingly successful.

Hiyori nursed me with utmost sincerity during the long journey, became my companion, and made sure I was not bored at all.

I, who was apathetic at first, gradually fell in love with Hiyori’s charms.

Eventually, after the journey was over, I accepted her heart.

However, due to strong opposition from her mother’s family, Hiyori broke ties with her family as she had decided and ran away.

We built a house in a remote place, lived happily ever after, and our love bore fruit.

“Sorry. I wanted to be by your side until the birth… … .”

“It’s okay. You’re participating in the war to protect me and the story in my belly, right?”

“But… … .”

“I don’t ask for much from you. Please come back home safely to see me and Seolhwa’s faces!”

“Yes, I promise.”

“Hehehe!”

I kissed Hiyori’s forehead and immediately got down on one knee and put my ear to her stomach.

“Seolhwa, I’m coming home from dad. Should I stay calm by my mother’s side?”

We stood up and said words of love to our child beyond our swollen abdomen.

He waved goodbye to Hiyori, saying that he would come back before it was too late and waving his hand to a place where Hiyori could not be seen.

This war was not that fierce. All you need to do is block the enemy troops coming from the castle walls.

After completing an excellent defense, all I had to do was return home while my beloved wife and child waited for me.

“Then that’s enough… … .”

I was leaning against the wall with a knife piercing my abdomen.

The war was not lost. Even if I was defeated, I was confident that I could survive on my own.

However, while fighting the enemy soldiers who had climbed the ladder to the castle wall, someone among my allies stabbed me.

“Damn… !”

After killing the soldier who stabbed me from behind, I realized his true identity.

He was from a family that Hiyori had isolated.

It was as if he had been ordered to come and see an opportunity to kill me during the war.

If so, Hiyori and Seolhwa at home might be in danger.

I have to go back quickly.

however… …

I had no strength in my legs.

“I can’t do it… … .”

I have to go back.

You have to go to where your precious family is.

I have to go to the arms of my family who are waiting for me, and to the side of the family that only I have to protect.

“I promised… … .”

I promised that I would definitely come back.

I made a promise to my beloved wife and to the child waiting in my womb.

I can’t be a father who can’t even keep his promises.

“Ugh!”

I reached out to the floor with the intention of crawling if my legs didn’t work.

However, the strength in my arms was gradually loosening and my vision was gradually becoming blurry.

‘no! It can’t be like this! please… !’

After going through difficult days, happiness is finally just around the corner.

But are you telling me to give up on this?

Consciousness must not be interrupted. Just give me a little more time… !

“Give me time, fuck… !”

I saw a shattered crystal.

In the end, I couldn’t keep my promise.

At that fact, my heart was torn apart again and I sobbed in front of the shattered crystal ball.

He tore the flesh with his nails near his eyes and cried out in pain, mixing blood and tears.

A series of never-ending tragedies.

I went crazy from the pain in my heart.

In a space that was only me and the crystal ball, there was no one who could understand my sadness and pain, and in the end, I continued to harm myself until I ran out of energy to divert the pain elsewhere.

“… … Ah.”

A situation where the final crystal ball is in front of you.

But my fear prevented me from touching it as confidently as before, so I quietly closed my eyes.