IGWNI Ch 7
by soapaHowever, the horse shook its head and tugged at Yoon Jaewoo’s sleeve.
“Why?”
The red horse nodded. Yoon Jaewoo realized it meant for him to get on its back and widened his eyes.
“Get on? Why… Whoa!”
Before Yoon Jaewoo could finish his sentence, the horse bit his body and tossed him into the air. Then, it lightly took a few steps and caught Yoon Jaewoo. It was a perfect landing, but Yoon Jaewoo was startled and wrapped his arms around the horse’s head.
A strange smile appeared in the horse’s eyes.
“Hey, hey. Whoa. Doing this so suddenly…, Ugh. D, Don’t move.”
Having never ridden a horse before, Yoon Jaewoo was terrified and lowered his head, tightly gripping the mane with his fingers.
The scenery of the garden passed by high, beside him. A soft wind mixed with the scent of flowers caressed Yoon Jaewoo’s nape.
An unbelievably beautiful sight unfolded before him as he slowly raised his head.
“Hahaha, …I’m flying.”
He hadn’t noticed because of the horse’s height, but at some point, he had risen from the ground and was flying through the garden. Without even sprouting wings, the horse lightly trod upon the air.
“Wow, you little rascal.”
Yoon Jaewoo stroked the horse’s back with his palm. Now that the seemingly hard armor was gone, the texture felt incredibly soft.
“This rascal of a horse, unbelievably amazing.”
With a pleasant laugh, Yoon Jaewoo stroked the horse. His touch was even bolder than before.
The horse, which had been walking in the air of the garden, suddenly stopped. Yoon Jaewoo raised his head and looked up at the sky. The precariously hanging moon was within reach.
Yoon Jaewoo removed the hand that was gripping the mane and carefully raised it upwards. Even though he knew it was impossible to touch it.
Sensing his intention, the red horse curved its eyes as if smiling.
“Ah, I think I can reach it….”
Suddenly, the horse moved its body.
“Uh, uh…!”
With both arms raised, Yoon Jaewoo instantly lost his balance. In an instant, his body plummeted towards the ground.
Yoon Jaewoo squeezed his eyes shut. He couldn’t believe it. That the horse, which had been so obedient, would deliberately drop him from the air.
Damn it, they say there’s no one to trust in this world, and now I can’t even trust a horse….
“……!”
With a soft thud, Yoon Jaewoo slowly opened his eyes at the feeling of being embraced. The moment his eyes met the man looking down at him, Yoon Jaewoo froze.
「I picked you up this time, I did.」
“Damn it.”
Yoon Jaewoo, grimacing, looked at the man who had caught him. Yatenbaum looked down at Yoon Jaewoo with a seemingly good-natured smile. However, knowing how vile and depraved he truly was, Yoon Jaewoo couldn’t be entirely pleased or grateful.
“Put me down.”
「Aren’t you grateful I caught you?」
“I said, put me down.”
Just where did this guy pop out from? Don’t tell me….
Yoon Jaewoo frowned and glared at Yatenbaum. Yatenbaum, with a generous expression, waited for Yoon Jaewoo’s next words.
“That red horse, don’t tell me, …is your subordinate?”
「What are you talking about?」
Yoon Jaewoo lowered his arms and pretended to walk on all fours. Then, he made a horse neighing sound, “Heehing,” and looked at Yatenbaum.
Yatenbaum covered his mouth with his palm and nodded. He gestured with his eyes as if to tell him to continue.
While Yoon Jaewoo was pondering how to express the word “subordinate,” he pointed his finger towards the air. Then, he moved to the opposite side and bowed his head respectfully, mimicking receiving an order.
“Now, do you understand?”
Yatenbaum turned his head with a strange expression. A long time passed, but no answer came. Yoon Jaewoo turned his body towards Yatenbaum with a worried expression. Yatenbaum, who had been barely holding back his laughter, burst out laughing when his eyes met Yoon Jaewoo’s.
「Hahahahaha. Hahaha, you really are, amazing.」
“…….”
「You’ve been communicating like that this whole time? You’re something else, and so is Rau. Even after seeing this, pwahahaha.」
What kind of gestures, hand movements, and eye signals would he have to make to convey the message that it’s not polite to laugh like this in front of someone?
As Yoon Jaewoo stood there sullenly with an angry expression, Yatenbaum finally stopped laughing and waved his hand.
「No. Even if I take you, I’ll leave your mouth as it is. It’ll be amusing just watching you.」
“I’m not going with you. What are you saying, you pervert?”
「Well, more importantly,」
Saying so, Yatenbaum smacked his lips. Yoon Jaewoo often felt a fear that this man might chew him up and swallow him alive.
「I have to ride you once, too.」
“Ride what? Where are you going to ride? Are you crazy?”
Yoon Jaewoo recoiled in disgust. To think he would deliberately have his subordinate throw him from the air and then catch him to act all noble.
「Didn’t you know? Dweord don’t interfere in matters that occur on another Dweord’s land.」
“So what? Deal with that amongst yourselves.”
When Yoon Jaewoo replied with a bright smile, Yatenbaum reached out and grabbed his chin.
「However, it is only right that a favor is always repaid.」
“What are you talking about? This is like throwing someone into the water and then demanding a bundle, no that’s not it. Giving a disease and then the cure? No, that’s not it either, damn it. It’s not the right proverb. What is it, something that fits perfectly, …damn it. Forget it.”
Yoon Jaewoo firmly shook off Yatenbaum’s hand.
「Let’s do it just once.」
“Do what? I only rode because your horse rascal told me to!”
Yoon Jaewoo hurriedly looked around. Just where had that horse disappeared to? If it showed up, he wanted to drag it over and side-kick it, making it tell the truth in front of its master.
Yatenbaum reached out. He grabbed Yoon Jaewoo’s waist, lifted him up, and placed him over his shoulder.
“Hey! Crazy! Dog! Pervert! Let go!”
Despite struggling with his whole body, Yatenbaum easily restrained him with a laugh.
As he chanted something in his mouth, a boundary formed around them. Yoon Jaewoo was suddenly scared. Part of him believed that since this was Eustace’s land, he would definitely come and stop this. However, as the translucent sphere enveloped them, he had a bad premonition that things wouldn’t go as he expected.
Yatenbaum stamped his foot on the ground. Then, the ground opened up like a large door welcoming a guest. Unable to believe what he was seeing, Yoon Jaewoo forgot to resist and watched with his mouth agape.
「Going underground will be more, intimate, right?」
“Intimate my foot! Who would like that! This crazy bastard!”
「Once we do it, you might change your mind.」
It was absurd sophistry and coercion. Even punching and kicking, the opponent didn’t budge. He felt like he was going crazy. He had never even imagined being involved with a man in that way.
There were days he vowed he would do anything if only he could meet the god who could heal his legs. He would beg by any means necessary. He would cling to the god. That’s what he thought, and prayed, and prayed again. However, Yoon Jaewoo realized, again and again, in front of the man smacking his lips, how naive his thoughts had been.
Damn it. Even if my legs are healed, I can’t play soccer if I’m pregnant!
The thought that if he returned to the other world pregnant, two million malicious comments would be the least of his worries, and that he would never be able to step on the field again for the rest of his life, made Yoon Jaewoo’s vision go white. The single thread of patience that had been holding up his sanity, the thought that this guy is at least a god of this world, snapped.
Yoon Jaewoo opened his mouth wide and bit into Yatenbaum’s neck. Yatenbaum’s expression, which shouldn’t have even flinched at such an attack, suddenly froze. Flames of fury flickered in Yatenbaum’s eyes. Yoon Jaewoo, unable to see that, bit him with all his might. The taste of blood filled his mouth. He found it fascinating that even a god’s body bled, and he didn’t lessen his bite.
Yatenbaum tore Yoon Jaewoo away from his body. His hand covered his bleeding neck. Yatenbaum’s burning red rage felt suffocating, but Yoon Jaewoo didn’t miss the opportunity.
“Hi-yah!”
He was an excellent kicker. A kicker with the accuracy to score from any foot and the power for long-range shots. This time too, he accurately kicked towards the ball he was aiming for.
Seeing Yatenbaum bend over with a groan, Yoon Jaewoo thought it was fortunate that the gods of this world had balls and a dick.
「…You….」
Flames erupted from Yatenbaum’s body. Yoon Jaewoo ran like the wind. A large hand reached out from behind, trying to grab him. In his haste, Yoon Jaewoo saw the closing door. Thinking he should get inside and lock the door, no matter who made it, Yoon Jaewoo threw himself inside.
Thud.
The sound of the door closing behind him echoed, and darkness enveloped him.
“Whew.”
He breathed a sigh of relief.
The thought that he had protected his body from the lust-crazed god drained all the energy from his body. Still, wanting to firmly lock the door, Yoon Jaewoo got up and groped for it with his palm.
“…Huh.”
At first, he thought he couldn’t find the door because of the pitch-black darkness. However, even after a long time, all that his palm touched was hard stone. Furthermore, Yatenbaum’s voice, which should have been audible from beyond the door, couldn’t be heard at all.
“I’m trapped.”
Muttering to himself, Yoon Jaewoo slumped down, having groped the walls until his palms were sore. Just when he thought it couldn’t get any worse, the worst happened.
A heavy darkness descended upon him.
How long had he been like that?
The rumbling sound from his stomach finally convinced Yoon Jaewoo that he couldn’t stay put any longer. He stood up. He had given up hope that either Yatenbaum, who had received a powerful kick to the groin, or Eustace, who had declared he would lock him in the tower, would come looking for him.
“Damn it. Just try to scold me for not staying put.”
Eustace disliked Yoon Jaewoo running around. He had barely been allowed to stroll in the garden.
Even in a situation like this, he had stayed put for a long time, thinking he would be scolded even more if he moved from this spot and got lost. However, when his stomach and back met with a loud rumble, he couldn’t just sit and wait any longer.
He didn’t know how far this tunnel Yatenbaum had made extended, but surely there would be a room with food inside, since he had said they should have a good time in here.
Yoon Jaewoo leaned against the wall and moved slowly, feeling his way with his hand. His steps were slow because he didn’t know what might pop out.
It was a long tunnel.
The uneven floor and ceiling made it look like an old cave.
“Just how far does this go on?”
He yelled, “Yahoo,” to check the length of the tunnel by the time it took for the sound to echo back. After a long while, a small “Yahoooo” could be heard from somewhere.
There’s an end.
Hope blossomed, and Yoon Jaewoo quickened his pace.
Hope is important in any situation. Without hope, there is no will to do anything.
Yoon Jaewoo’s current hope was that this tunnel had an end and that there were two other gods left who could heal his legs.
“Eustace and Yatenbaum are hopeless.”
Clicking his tongue, Yoon Jaewoo recalled the two gods he had met. The chances of either of them healing his legs were zero. Yatenbaum, who even used his subordinate to lure him in and try to assault him, was one thing, but Eustace, who was considering breaking the other leg just because he was annoyed, was even worse.
He hoped and prayed that the gods of the South and East, whom he hadn’t met yet, would be somewhat normal.
The sound of water reached his ears as he walked. He sharpened his senses. He was certain that the exit was nearby.
His footsteps, as he walked while feeling the wall, grew faster and faster. The desire to arrive somewhere and eat something overtook him. That was why. He, who had been carefully watching his feet, stepped into a pitch-black hole.
“Aaagh!”
He swung his arms to avoid slipping, but there was nothing to grab onto. He slid down the almost vertically dropping pit like he was on a slide. Yoon Jaewoo desperately moved his arms to grab onto anything. His fingernails broke on the rocks, drawing blood and causing wounds, but that wasn’t important right now.
“Ugh.”
He managed to grab something protruding with his right hand. His arm trembled. Yoon Jaewoo raised his remaining left hand. He barely managed to look down, and he heard the sound of water below his feet. The sound of water he had heard from afar earlier seemed very close now.
He had to get to where the sound of water was coming from. Did that mean he had to keep falling? While he was at a loss for what to do, the stone he was holding onto suddenly came loose. Yoon Jaewoo started to fall again.
“Fucking damn…!”
Just as he was about to curse the stone, Yoon Jaewoo realized he was floating in midair.
It was a gentle wind. The wind was embracing him.
A figure came to Yoon Jaewoo’s mind. The god who controlled the air seemed to have not completely forgotten him. The wind slowly lowered him until his feet touched the ground.
Holding the stone, Yoon Jaewoo sighed. At the same time, the wind that had been embracing Yoon Jaewoo slapped his cheek mercilessly.
“Ouch, why did you hit me!”
The wind didn’t answer. Looking at the wind dispersing into the air, Yoon Jaewoo gritted his teeth. It seemed Eustace had found him. The thought that he would soon be here calmed his restless heart.
“…I shouldn’t be relieved. That damn corpse collector is coming.”
Yoon Jaewoo clicked his tongue.
Even if it was unfair and hurt his pride, the only one who could get him out of here was that damn Eustace.
Yoon Jaewoo looked around.
It was a huge cave. It was so enormous that he wondered how such a large cave could have been created. The floor and walls were all made of white stone, so transparent that his face was reflected in them. Yoon Jaewoo looked up to check the hole he had fallen through and sighed. That height. If it hadn’t been for Eustace, he would surely be dead now, his head smashed on the ground.
“He must really want that black bead.”
Shaking his head, Yoon Jaewoo thought of Eustace, who wouldn’t even deal with the dead. Thinking he should at least quench his thirst, he followed the sound of water. He soon found a small spring.
He was about to drink the water when he stopped, a strange feeling stopping him, and his eyes widened.
Depending on the angle of the light, the surface of the spring appeared silver, blue, and even red and gold. Yoon Jaewoo stared blankly at the spring and then rubbed his eyes with his sleeve. Then, he suddenly realized that the stone he was holding was also changing color with the light.
“What is this, a jewel? Then is this spring a jewel spring?”
Yoon Jaewoo briefly calculated in his head how much he could get if he sold this stone, then he threw it away without hesitation.
If his legs were healed and he returned to the other world, his body itself would be a jewel; what use was this mere stone?
Yoon Jaewoo approached the sparkling spring. Up close, the water on the surface looked like ordinary water again. He hesitated for a moment, then sat near the spring and cupped his hands. He scooped up the water, sniffed it, and lightly touched his tongue to it, but couldn’t find anything unusual.
“Don’t tell me, if I drink this, my hair color will change depending on the light, …damn it. What will happen if I become even more attractive here?”
But he was too thirsty to worry any longer. His lips were dry and chapped.
Yoon Jaewoo drank the water cupped in his hands. It was so sweet that he couldn’t stop. Yoon Jaewoo plunged his head into the spring and drank the water. Every time the water entered his body, he felt a little better. Perhaps it was his imagination, but now the water seemed to have a sweet smell.
“Ha, this water is really delicious.”
Muttering to himself, he checked his reflection on the water’s surface. Fortunately, his hair color didn’t change with the light.
“I’m starving to death, let’s fill my stomach with this.”
As Yoon Jaewoo opened his mouth again and gulped down the water, someone’s gentle voice echoed in his ears.
“Huh?”
A gentle voice?
Neither the corpse collector Eustace nor the lust-crazed pervert Yatenbaum would call him in such a voice. He tilted his head, thinking he had heard things.
「…Ah」
This time, the voice was even clearer. Startled, Yoon Jaewoo shouted, “Who is it?”
「Ramia, my child…, Ramia.」
It was a very gentle and soft voice. A sweet voice that made his mouth water just by hearing it.
“Wh, who is it?”
「Child, traveler from afar. Are you alright?」
He wasn’t a child, but since “traveler” clearly referred to him, Yoon Jaewoo looked around repeatedly. He couldn’t even tell the direction from which the voice was coming.
「I am worried whether you are hurt, if you are in pain.」
“I’m not hurt, …who are you?”
「You must listen carefully to my words….」
“Huh? What? I can’t hear you well.”
「I, to…you again, …come to….」
“Wait a minute. Hey! Look here? Hello? Can you see me? I think the signal is bad.”
Yoon Jaewoo waved his hands around for the unseen person who might be watching him somewhere. However, the other person was preoccupied with saying what they wanted to say.
「I will send you back, so …come to. I am Dweord….」
“What? Dweord? Are you a Dweord too?”
Yoon Jaewoo’s voice rose.
「…Come to. I will help you.」
The last words, “I will help you,” made Yoon Jaewoo’s heart pound.
“Help me? Then can you heal my legs too? Hey! Dweord! Dweord!”
「…I will grant your request.」
“Really? Where are you! Hey!”
Excluding Eustace and Yatenbaum, there were two Dweord left. He had to know exactly which one it was.
At that moment, the surface of the spring in front of Yoon Jaewoo rippled with a clinking sound. Realizing that the Dweord’s voice was coming through the spring, Yoon Jaewoo quickly leaned towards its surface.
“Hey! Can you hear me? Can you hear me, I’m asking. East or South, which one is it? What’s your name! Tell me when I get to a place with a signal!”
Yoon Jaewoo shouted, banging his palm on the ground. However, the gentle voice that seemed to melt didn’t return.
“Hey, you! Tell me where you are!”
Yoon Jaewoo jumped to his feet. He felt that if he missed this now, he might never hear this voice again. Hadn’t Eustace said he would lock him up and go on a business trip?
Without hesitation, Yoon Jaewoo walked into the spring. The cold water chilled him to the bone. However, he didn’t stop walking.
“Where are you! Where should I go! Tell me how! Damn it, tell me how!”
He shouted as he walked into the spring. He looked around, hoping to hear that voice again. Wondering if there was something inside the spring, he submerged himself further. The clear water continued endlessly inwards. He raised his head above the surface, took a deep breath, and then fully entered the spring.
There’s an entrance leading somewhere. He was certain. A path to the god who said he would help him. A path leading to a miracle, to hope, to healing his legs.
As he repeated the process of rising to the surface to breathe, submerging to search, rising again, and submerging again, Yoon Jaewoo grew increasingly exhausted. Still, he gritted his teeth and endured. He inhaled as much air as he could and plunged his head into the water. His arms and legs were already exhausted. He had no strength left to paddle through the water. But he knew that if not now, then never. The water that changed color with the light was the same below the surface. Like jewels, each boasting its own color, the water sparkled.
Beautiful.
Frantically diving beneath the surface, Yoon Jaewoo was unconsciously captivated by the beautiful spectacle of light. It was so dazzling that it made him dizzy; they were entrancing colors. He realized for the first time in his life that color could be so beautiful.
The colors changed from moment to moment. Watching the colors dance and ripple along the surface, Yoon Jaewoo felt increasingly pleasant. Sleepiness washed over him. A sweet, drowsy sensation enveloped him. A pleasant laugh bubbled up from his belly.
Laughing underwater was a first. He just laughed. Every time he laughed, water entered his mouth. Sweet, soft water filled his body. Thinking that it would be nice to stay here like this, Yoon Jaewoo closed his eyes.
He felt so good that he didn’t even care that something large was approaching, biting him, and dragging him out.
With a splash, cold air touched Yoon Jaewoo’s face, but he couldn’t regain consciousness.
A white beast spat him out onto the ground. Soon after, a white hand cupped Yoon Jaewoo’s face. Checking that there was no breath after putting an ear to his mouth, Eustace’s expression hardened.
「I told you to give it to me before you died.」
Yatenbaum, who had approached at some point, clicked his tongue regretfully. Eustace clicked his tongue softly and lowered his head. He had to get the water Ramia had drunk out of his system.
Gath, the gods’ liquor, was poison to ordinary humans.
Eustace opened Ramia’s mouth and breathed wind energy into it. Yoon Jaewoo’s limp body jerked. Eustace repeated the same action several times. When Yoon Jaewoo, thrashing as if electrocuted, coughed up water and started to cough, Yatenbaum, who had been watching with his arms crossed, relaxed his expression slightly.
“Cough, ha…. uh….”
Unable to grasp the situation in front of him, Yoon Jaewoo stared blankly ahead with blurry eyes for a while. Then, he suddenly started giggling.
Looking at Ramia, with his golden hair plastered to his nape from the water, his pale cheeks, and his bright smile, Yatenbaum’s eyes softened.
「I was going to punish you for daring to bite me, but seeing that face makes me think I should forgive you for something like that.」
「It’s the punishment for carelessly touching what belongs to another.」
Regardless of what the two were saying, Yoon Jaewoo giggled for a long time, then suddenly slapped his knee as if he had remembered something.
“Hehe, that’s right. I was having such a good dream.”
「Stop laughing.」
A cold voice spoke, but Yoon Jaewoo didn’t stop laughing. Instead, he smiled even wider and grabbed Eustace’s sleeve next to him.
“The water was delicious…. Really delicious.”
Slurring his words, Yoon Jaewoo mumbled on.
“Ah, I feel good. This is, hehehe.”
「What is he saying? Is he drunk on Gath?」
「…Crazy.」
Yoon Jaewoo giggled, “hehehe,” and grabbed Eustace’s clothes. Then, he looked around as if searching for someone.
「Who are you looking for? If you’re looking for me, I’m right here. Dweord Yatenbaum.」
Yatenbaum pointed at his own neck with a meaningful smile. Ignoring him, Yoon Jaewoo asked with a tearful face,
“Where did Jinsu-hyung go? I saw Jinsu-hyung earlier. In the water. Jinsu-hyung saved me.”
Eustace glared at Yoon Jaewoo without saying a word.
Yoon Jaewoo, his eyes brimming with tears as if he were about to cry, called for Jinsu-hyung.
“Jinsu-hyung! Jinsu-hyung! Where are you? Where are you, Jinsu-hyung!”
「What are you looking for? You don’t mean your Lot, do you?」
「Shut up.」
“Jinsu-hyuuuuuuuuung!”
Holding Yoon Jaewoo’s face, which was now wailing, Eustace slapped his cheek hard with his palm. As Yoon Jaewoo’s face, which had been moving with each slap, drooped, Yatenbaum burst out laughing.
「Hahahaha. He gets more amusing the more I see him. But this Ramia, doesn’t it seem like he interferes with power?」
「I suppose.」
「I’m sure of it. The power doesn’t flow properly and gets distorted. The passage I made wasn’t connected to this place. That’s why it took you so long to find him. You’ve picked up a really interesting Ramia, Rau.」
「An annoying Ramia, you mean.」
Eustace’s expression was laced with a sigh as he spoke.
「Since he’ll be annoying, give him to me. I’ll take good care of him.」
「I told you, I don’t let living things out of my hands.」
Yoon Jaewoo slowly blinked. His consciousness was fading. He thought he should listen to the conversation, but he was so sleepy that he couldn’t stay awake.
Just as he felt it was too much effort to lift his eyelids, a particularly cold male voice reached him.
「Ramia.」
Ah, that voice is calling me.
Yoon Jaewoo tried to reply, “Yes, you damn dog,” but his voice wouldn’t come out. After his lips moved a few times, the man’s frigid voice continued.
「I’ve changed my mind. I won’t leave you in the Tower of Eclas. Instead….」
Yoon Jaewoo knew better than anyone how important the words that would follow that “instead” were, words that would decide his fate. But the sleep that was washing over him like death forced him to surrender his consciousness.
Thud.
The bed shook.
Was there an earthquake?
Thinking so drowsily, Yoon Jaewoo smacked his lips.
Thud, again.
This time, it was a definite shake, enough to jolt him awake. Yoon Jaewoo opened his eyes.
Every time he opened his eyes, he had been transported to a new world a few times, but he was startled by the newly unfolding scene and sat up.
“Ugh, my head.”
His head was throbbing. It felt like the morning after drinking too much without any mental preparation.
Yoon Jaewoo pressed his temples and looked around. He was bewildered, not knowing why he was lying in a large, jolting carriage.
Yoon Jaewoo retraced his fragmented memories. The lust-crazed god had tried to assault him, so he had entered the cave, got lost, wandered around, and fallen down, then he had found the spring.
That’s right! The spring! He had heard a voice at the spring. Telling him to come. The gentle and kind voice that had said it would help him!
Finally, a true light had appeared in this muddy life. Yoon Jaewoo vowed that no matter what, he would find the owner of that voice. Even back then, he had gone into the spring to find the source of that voice….
He recalled the underwater scenery that looked like spilled paint. Was that not a dream but reality? As Yoon Jaewoo groaned, the image of Jinsu-hyung biting him and Eustace slapping him flickered alternately in his mind.
“…The latter must be real.”
Rubbing his cheek, which felt strangely numb, Yoon Jaewoo grumbled sullenly.
Thinking he should at least figure out where he was, Yoon Jaewoo opened the carriage door and poked his head out. He couldn’t see the face, but he could see the coachman’s back.
Looking at the man’s platinum blonde hair, Yoon Jaewoo tilted his head. The back definitely looked familiar, but did he know any man with such hair color? …Wait a minute. In a society where hair color determined social status and beauty, a human with such beautiful platinum blonde hair is driving a carriage?
「You seem to have come to your senses.」
“Gasp!”
Yoon Jaewoo couldn’t believe his eyes. He slapped his cheek. The stinging pain told him this wasn’t a dream but reality.
“H, hair color, n, no, why are you driving a carriage…, what? This must be a dream, no matter how I look at it?”
If this wasn’t a dream, then he must be hallucinating from going insane. Otherwise, there was no way Eustace’s silver hair, which had a bluish tint, could have turned into golden blonde, and there was no way he, a god, would be driving a carriage.
「We’re on our way to Kalit.」
“Huh? …Huh?”
「To get to Kalit, we must pass through Laad. Laad is a land that can only be ruled by Azharman. A Dweord must leave their power in their own land for a while before entering Laad.」
For Yoon Jaewoo, who had spent most of his history classes asleep, the unfamiliar words coming from Eustace’s mouth were too difficult. He pieced together the situation with the minimal knowledge he possessed.
“So you’re saying you’re disguised because we’re going to Laad? Like a secret royal inspector? But why are we going there?”
Eustace loosened his grip on the reins and looked back. Even though his hair color had changed, his cool and aloof impression remained the same. As their eyes met, Yoon Jaewoo instinctively shrunk back, even though he hadn’t done anything wrong.
「There seems to be a problem with the seal in the Kalit Forest.」
“So explain it so I can understand.”
「No being with a color I haven’t permitted can enter my land.」
The black snake and the swarm of insects that had flocked like clouds flashed through Yoon Jaewoo’s mind. Unfamiliar with the workings of this world, he had simply accepted it, but he had heard others whispering as if something terrible had happened.
In particular, the chief attendant’s face had turned pale and looked as if he would collapse at any moment after hearing that the insects of Angra had entered the castle. Yoon Jaewoo couldn’t understand their reactions. What was the big deal about a few insects? Proper pest control would take care of it.
「There must be a problem with the barrier I sealed. …It would have been better to lock up something troublesome like you in the tower.」
Eustace’s voice was tinged with faint annoyance. Yoon Jaewoo realized that he was being dragged along to this place called the Kalit Forest.
“So, I’m going too? There?”
Eustace didn’t answer. He didn’t seem pleased with the situation, but Yoon Jaewoo, whose curiosity was insatiable, couldn’t help but ask.
“I’m going there too? Why are you dragging me along? You said you’d leave me in the tower!”
If Eustace had left him in the tower, Yoon Jaewoo had planned to escape by any means necessary and find the Dweord who had promised to help him. But to go together!
He’d rather be trapped in a tower without stairs. It would be near impossible to escape the surveillance of this human, no, this god.
As Yoon Jaewoo’s face paled, Eustace frowned slightly.
“Are we going alone?”
Yoon Jaewoo pointed alternately at himself and Eustace.
He was hoping that if someone else was coming along, he might be able to get away from Eustace, even a little.
「Just the two of us. If you’re asking because you want Yatenbaum to come along, he said he’d join us later. If there’s a problem with the barrier, he needs to check his own land as well.」
“No way!”
If that guy joined them, escape would be impossible even in his dreams. How could he possibly escape with two ghost-like men stuck to his side?
When Yoon Jaewoo grumbled in a small voice, Eustace held the reins with one hand and looked back.
「If you cause any trouble or try to escape on this trip…」
“…….”
He gulped nervously.
Eustace’s gaze narrowed slightly as he looked at Yoon Jaewoo.
「You’ll be carrying a black bead.」
“…….”
「It’ll be more portable for you.」
“…I don’t know what it is, but I’m sorry.”
He couldn’t help but apologize readily. Whether he understood Yoon Jaewoo’s mumbled apology, Eustace straightened up.
「Close the window. The wind will get stronger.」
Yoon Jaewoo hurriedly closed the window. A strong wind immediately picked up. It was incredibly powerful. Yoon Jaewoo could tell that the carriage he was in wasn’t traveling on a road.
The large moon, visible through the gap in the window, precariously brushed past them.
When they arrived in front of a boisterous inn, Yoon Jaewoo couldn’t believe his eyes. Even if he was disguised, there was no need to eat at such a shabby tavern.
It showed how fickle humans were. After being treated luxuriously in the castle, nothing outside seemed good enough.
As Yoon Jaewoo stood there sullenly, Eustace, getting off the carriage, raised an eyebrow quizzically.
“Are we going there?”
Yoon Jaewoo’s finger pointed at the place, whether it was an inn or a tavern, he couldn’t tell, which reeked of a mixture of alcohol, food, and other unidentifiable smells.
「We’re staying there tonight.」
“Why?”
Yoon Jaewoo asked in protest.
“Why there?”
When no answer came, Yoon Jaewoo asked again.
He was a god ruling a country. It wasn’t as if he was short of money; no, judging by the jewels decorating his room, it was clear he was overflowing with wealth, so he couldn’t understand why he would choose such a place for some kind of commoner experience.
「We could go there.」
The place Eustace indicated with his chin was clearly a luxurious castle. Yoon Jaewoo’s eyes sparkled, and he nodded eagerly, urging him to go there quickly.
「If I reveal that I am Dweord Eustace.」
“Is there a reason why you can’t reveal it?”
「If the barrier collapses, this world is over.」
“…….”
「It would be great if that fact became known, wouldn’t it?」
“…It would be great.”
Whether he didn’t hear the timidly added comment or not, Eustace didn’t answer and took something out of his bag.
“What’s th…”
Before Yoon Jaewoo could finish his sentence, there was a flapping sound, and a soft cloth enveloped him. Wearing the hood that covered his head, Yoon Jaewoo blinked.
Eustace, with a grim face, personally tied the hood strings tightly. Feeling choked, Yoon Jaewoo tried to take the hood off, but Eustace stopped him with a frightening look.
「You don’t intend to go in looking like that, do you?」
“What’s wrong with how I look?”
「You stand out too much.」
Judging by Yatenbaum’s behavior, he could easily imagine the kind of disaster that might occur. Having no choice, Yoon Jaewoo obediently wore the hooded cloak and followed behind Eustace.
「Do not speak in front of others, no matter what happens.」
“Why?”
「There’s no need for everyone to know you’re Ramia.」
Yoon Jaewoo nodded, pretending to close his mouth.
The inn, once they entered, was several times shabbier than it appeared from the outside. Drinking parties were going on everywhere, with boisterous laughter and rough curses filling the air. Yoon Jaewoo, who had been living in a peaceful, almost sacred atmosphere, hesitated to enter.
Eustace, who was walking ahead, gestured for him to follow. Yoon Jaewoo quickly followed behind him.
Yoon Jaewoo stared blankly at the man who settled down in a corner and ordered a room and food. Even with his changed hair color, his exceptional appearance definitely stood out. The number of glances cast in his direction had increased since he entered the tavern.
「You’re not a picky eater, are you?」
“Yes. Ah, …mm.”
Yoon Jaewoo closed his mouth. He simply nodded.
They were never very talkative to begin with, and with Yoon Jaewoo unable to speak at all, the atmosphere around the table was extremely awkward.
Yoon Jaewoo thought he might have been crushed to death by the heavy silence and the piercing stares of the people around them if the tavern owner hadn’t brought the food.
「The room is being prepared, so please wait a little after you’ve finished eating.」
The large man said gruffly, looking at Eustace. When Eustace took money out of his pocket and handed it over, the man’s face immediately brightened.
「I’ll have it ready for you as soon as possible.」
Seeing how quickly his attitude changed, Yoon Jaewoo grimaced, thinking that money was king in both this world and his own.
The food was decent. Compared to what he ate at the castle, it was like the difference between a five-star hotel and a local snack bar, but it wasn’t inedible. Besides, it was his first meal since regaining consciousness after being trapped in the cave.
“Delicious…”
He unconsciously started to say “delicious” but then closed his mouth. Glancing at Yoon Jaewoo, Eustace quietly resumed eating.
Almost finished with his meal, Yoon Jaewoo looked up and saw the men around them drinking what looked like beer. He stared intently at Eustace. Reading the desire in his eyes, Eustace silently stepped on Yoon Jaewoo’s foot under the table.
“Ugh, why….”
「Don’t do anything unnecessary when you haven’t even sobered up from the Gath yet.」
Yoon Jaewoo, who had no idea what Gath was, felt wronged. Eustace, having finished his meal, stood up first.
「I’ll be back after looking around, so stay here and don’t move.」
“Uh….”
Yoon Jaewoo was about to ask where he was going, but then closed his mouth.
「If you run away or cause trouble, I’ll turn you into a bead and carry you around in a bag. That would be more convenient for me.」
“……!”
How could he threaten someone so fiercely, even though he was a god!
As Yoon Jaewoo bit his lip with a frustrated expression, Eustace asked, “Do you understand?” Yoon Jaewoo nodded.
Eustace threatened him quietly once more, telling him not to wander around unnecessarily, and then disappeared outside the tavern.
Left alone, Yoon Jaewoo picked at the remaining food and cautiously examined his surroundings.
It was an ordinary scene. Everyone was talking loudly, singing, drinking, and eating. Some were staring intently at him, huh?
Making eye contact with the men sitting across from him, Yoon Jaewoo quickly lowered his head. As Eustace had said, it was best not to stand out to avoid unnecessary trouble.
「Hey, you there, miss.」
Whew. That’s a relief.
Yoon Jaewoo let out a sigh of relief, patting his chest. Since he was a man, it surely wasn’t him those thugs were calling for.
「Hey, miss in the gray hood.」
“……?”
Yoon Jaewoo looked up in surprise. Looking around, he was the only one wearing a gray hood.
But “miss,” why…?
As a surprised Yoon Jaewoo blinked and looked around, the man sitting opposite him walked over with a drink in his hand.
「Where did the man you came with go, leaving such a pretty miss alone here?」
“Uh…. uh….”
Having been strictly ordered not to speak, Yoon Jaewoo just opened and closed his mouth a few times and then shook his head silently.
「Is she mute? Hey, I think this miss is mute.」
「Is that why she was abandoned?」
「She must be lonely, let’s play with her. Sured.」
A man named Sured, with curly hair not only on his face but also all over his chest, gave a creepy smile.
「So, are you alone?」
The man approached Yoon Jaewoo, reeking of alcohol. Yoon Jaewoo sighed. While his appearance was somewhat pretty, it wasn’t to the extent that he would be mistaken for a woman. Even though he was thin now, his athletic build and physique were definitely masculine.
He wanted to ask why they thought he was a woman, but he couldn’t speak, and even if he could, they wouldn’t understand him, which was frustrating. As Yoon Jaewoo silently pounded his chest with his fist, the hairy man narrowed his eyes and brought his face close.
「Judging by your beautiful eye color, I have high expectations for your hair color. Could you show me what color your down-there hair is?」
Yoon Jaewoo’s fist clenched.
Fuck, do I have to tell you? It’s black…
“Ha….”
He unconsciously let out a loud sigh. He had shrieked in surprise when he recently noticed while bathing that not only his hair color but also the color down there had changed.
He hated that his hair was blonde, but for it to be blonde down there too? It was unspeakably hideous and horrifying.
「What’s wrong? Why the gloomy expression? Is it a color you can’t say out loud? Why don’t you show me secretly?」
“…….”
Damn. Compared to this hairy guy, Yatenbaum was at least decent-looking.
When Yoon Jaewoo gestured for him to go away as if annoyed, the man grabbed his hand. While kneading Yoon Jaewoo’s hand, the man’s other hand started to grope his waist.
Thinking this was going too far, Yoon Jaewoo stood up. It was better to not stand out, but he decided it was better to clear up the misunderstanding that he was a woman.
He pulled down the hood he was wearing. He looked around with an expression that said, “Satisfied?”
“…….”
The tavern, which had been boisterous until just now, became deathly silent. Something was strange. Yoon Jaewoo slowly turned his head to the side. The hairy man next to him, reeking of alcohol, had turned bright red.
「Oh. My….」
“…….”
This is unsettling.
So unsettling it’s unbearable.
「My goodness. This…. What….」
「Is what I’m seeing pure, unadulterated blonde hair?」
「I thought pure blonde was extinct.」
「Even Lord Dweord Malik didn’t have that color.」
「Hey! How dare you speak of Lord Dweord here.」
The murmurs grew louder. People crowded around to see Yoon Jaewoo. Thinking this was bad, Yoon Jaewoo quickly put his hood back on.
「Hey, miss. It’s alright. We’re not bad people.」
“……!”
Fuck. When have bad people ever announced themselves as bad people before doing bad things?!
Yoon Jaewoo gestured for them to get lost with an annoyed expression, but the wall of people surrounding him only thickened.
「Why are you hiding such beautiful hair under drab clothes?」
「Wait, this is a man? I thought he was a woman because he was wearing women’s clothes.」
「What does it matter if he’s a man? He has such beautiful hair.」
At the mention of women’s clothes, Yoon Jaewoo’s brow twitched. Did that damn bastard dress him in women’s clothes? So, the initial “miss” comment wasn’t a mistake, it was because of the clothes!
「Take off your hood one more time. Please?」
The hairy man pressed Yoon Jaewoo with lustful eyes. Yoon Jaewoo gripped his hood with both hands.
「Let us just see it once. Please?」
「It’s not like it’ll wear out.」
Yoon Jaewoo desperately held onto his hood and backed away. The men asking to see his hair color looked like perverts trying to undress him.
「Then, is the color down there… the same?」
At the hairy man’s, Sured’s, murmur, all the men in the tavern gulped simultaneously. Gulp. Yoon Jaewoo realized for the first time that the sound of other people swallowing could be so creepy.
「Shall we take it off?」
「Wasn’t that man his companion earlier? Judging by that man’s hair, he looked like a nobleman. If we cause trouble….」
「Would a nobleman come to such a shabby inn? What’s the harm in just looking?」
“……!”
No! You bastards. That man’s not a nobleman, he’s a god, a Dweord!
A man behind Yoon Jaewoo grabbed his shoulder as he screamed silently. Yoon Jaewoo easily twisted the hand away and shook it off.
「Oh ho, look at this.」
Realizing that Yoon Jaewoo’s strength was unusual despite his appearance, the men cheered. Some whistled, urging others to undress him.
This is bad.
Yoon Jaewoo’s face paled. When getting into a fight, the easiest way to break the opponent’s spirit was to take down their leader. But in this case, there wasn’t anyone who looked like a leader, and if he took down one of them, it seemed like the atmosphere would only get more heated.
Yoon Jaewoo stepped back, grabbing a chair. He was planning to strike if necessary. A man grabbed Yoon Jaewoo from behind, wrapping his arms around his shoulders.
「I got him, take off his hood!」
「Alright! Hahaha!」
Yoon Jaewoo put down the chair and grabbed the arm of the man hugging him. Gritting his teeth, he used one leg as an axis and flipped the man’s entire body, throwing him to the ground. Just as the table crashed with a loud noise and the man went flying,
“…….”
Yoon Jaewoo’s face turned pale as he saw the man entering the tavern.
I’m fucked.
The man who entered brushed off his clothes lightly. As if it had been raining, his hair was slightly damp. As he walked inside, the surrounding atmosphere instantly changed. Yoon Jaewoo knew what that change meant.
It was innate power. The power to overwhelm others just by existing. As if sensing something, everyone hesitated and made way for him.
Eustace walked towards Yoon Jaewoo with an impassive face.
「I’m back.」
“…….”
It was a calm voice, like one would use with a pet waiting at home.
However, knowing how much meaning was packed into that single sentence, Yoon Jaewoo couldn’t simply wag his tail in greeting. …Not that he had a tail.
Eustace glanced around with a displeased expression. The broken table and the people gathered around. And above all, Ramia, pale and disheveled.
It was a scene that clearly explained the situation.
Yoon Jaewoo just opened and closed his mouth.
He wished he could offer some kind of excuse, but since he had been told not to speak in front of others, his frustration doubled.
I was just staying put. Really. I may be the kind of person who usually runs away, falls down, gets into water, gets stung by insects, bitten by snakes… but not this time. Really.
Yoon Jaewoo desperately pleaded his innocence with his eyes, but the man’s expression didn’t soften.
He reached out. Yoon Jaewoo flinched involuntarily and closed his eyes. He had been threatened that he would be turned into a bead if he caused trouble.
「It’s cold outside. Dress warmly.」
Eustace’s hand adjusted Ramia’s disheveled hood. Startled, Yoon Jaewoo just stood there with his mouth open, unsure how to react. Eustace took a gold coin from his pocket and tossed it to the owner.
「I have a room prepared. You can just go up.」
As if waiting for him, the owner replied, and Eustace gestured towards the stairs leading to the room.
The men in the tavern stood there speechless. One of them, emboldened by alcohol, jokingly addressed Eustace.
「He looks like a servant, where did you get him? I’ll pay you handsomely, so if you’re thinking of selling him…」
The man’s drunken rambling abruptly stopped. Eustace looked at him. It was a seemingly indifferent glance. But that alone felt as if someone was pressing down heavily on the air around him, choking the man. The man’s face turned pale.
「What once falls into my hands…」
Eustace’s voice resonated, flowing smoothly like the wind.
「I don’t intend to sell before it leaves dead.」
Eustace’s gaze narrowed. It was a strange expression, somewhere between a smile and a frown.
Only after he said, “Well then,” and disappeared, could the man breathe again. Soon, the tavern regained its boisterous atmosphere as if nothing had happened.