IGWNI Ch 9

Even so, this was the second time.

Yesterday, it had been so long that he had dismissed it as an automatic erection… but what was this now?

Had his preferences changed after he died? Did he say he developed a filthy preference, one where he gets turned on when a man applies medicine for him!

Yoon Jaewoo bit his lower lip hard.

If, by any chance, his body had really become like that, then even if he lived, it would not be a life worth living. When he worked out, it was common to get massages or have medicine applied, but what if he got an erection every single time?

“Ugh.”

A shiver ran through him at the horrifying thought.

If rumors like that started to spread, it would be difficult to survive in that field. Among the senior athletes he trained with, there had been one rumored to have those inclinations. At first, it was a light, joke-like rumor, but later, it was embellished with serious stories like who had been victimized, and in the end, that senior athlete had to quit the sport.

“…No.”

He had gone through hell and back to regain his legs, so what was the point if his body had become like that?

Yoon Jaewoo sobbed quietly. He really, truly did not want that to happen. What was that, anyway? He would become a pervert. No different from that insane Yatenbaum bastard who was in heat.

“Heuk….”

Feeling like a sob was about to escape, Yoon Jaewoo clamped his lips shut. With his head pressed against the ground, he waited for the crying to stop.

Eustace was also sleeping behind him. He did not want to be seen like this by him. He was already so ashamed of subtly hiding what was below the belt when Eustace was applying the medicine earlier. If it were not for the clothes Eustace had thrown him, he would have undoubtedly exposed his swollen member.

Yoon Jaewoo bit his forearm and swallowed his sobs.

“Heeut….”

It was incomparably more humiliating than when Jinsoo hyung had caught him in such a scene yesterday. At least beasts cannot talk….

Eustace had not made eye contact the entire time he was applying the medicine. The one thing he had tossed out after he finished was, ‘You little kid’.

Yoon Jaewoo could clearly read the ridicule and mockery contained in those words.

He wanted to scream back, what is so young about being twenty-three, that it is an age where you can get a hard-on, but he was in no mood to do so.

Yoon Jaewoo pulled the clothes Eustace had covered him with over his head and lay down. Tears welled up. His mind was a tangled mess of shame, bewilderment, and humiliation. Yoon Jaewoo covered his hot face with his palms. It was only after a good while that he noticed a shadow being cast over his head.

“Heok.”

Yoon Jaewoo quickly wiped his eyes with his sleeve. Eustace was looking down at Yoon Jaewoo, his chin propped on his hand.

“Wh-what is it.”

「You were not as much of a scoundrel as I thought.」

“Pardon? What wasn’t.”

「Crying is all you did.」

“What do you mean, crying is all I did? So you thought I would do something….”

Yoon Jaewoo’s face instantly flushed bright red. He shot up from his spot in a fit of anger.

“Am I a pervert? Am I a perver—, …what if I am a pervert. Fuck.”

Yoon Jaewoo covered his face with his palms.

As it stood now, he could not even strongly argue that he was not a pervert. He wanted to die. This was a different problem altogether from not being able to play soccer.

Yoon Jaewoo buried his face in his palms, unable to lift his head. He wanted to cry. If Jinsoo hyung were here right now, he would have buried this shameful face in his fluffy tail and cried his eyes out.

…Jinsoo hyung.

You were scared and surprised because I did something weird, so you ran away, right. Jinsoo hyung, I’m sorry. Because I’m a pervert, …I’m sorry.

「What is the matter?」

Eustace tilted his head slightly, as if he could not understand. Yoon Jaewoo did not answer and just waved his hand.

「Ramia. What is the problem.」

The voice asking that was so languid and gentle that Yoon Jaewoo almost obediently confessed that he had developed a strange body that got an erection whenever someone just applied medicine on him.

「Ramia. Do not be a nuisance and answer.」

Eustace’s voice questioned him sternly.

“…I might be.”

「Speak louder.」

“…I said, I might be.”

「Clearly.」

“I said I don’t know if I’ve become a, a pervert!”

Resonating. Yoon Jaewoo’s voice echoed through the deep forest.

I, I, I… might have become, might have become, might have become a, a pervert, a pervert, a pervert… I said, I don’t knowww.

Yoon Jaewoo’s face flushed bright red again. He pulled his outer robe over his head and lay back down.

Eustace’s expression, which had been frozen for a moment, twitched slightly at the corners of his mouth. He had roughly grasped the meaning of what Ramia had shouted at the top of his lungs.

Only then did Eustace understand a little of what Yatenbaum had said.

How on earth did I pick up something like this.

「Ramia.」

A light breeze rustled Yoon Jaewoo’s clothes.

「Ramia. Lift your head.」

Yoon Jaewoo did not budge from inside the clothes. Eustace spoke in a low voice.

「If you keep that up, I will throw you into the valley below.」

“Heok!”

Yoon Jaewoo hastily threw off the robe. The moment he met Eustace’s smiling eyes, he realized he had been tricked. Yoon Jaewoo started to say something, then closed his mouth again.

What words could he dare say, being a pervert?

Eustace reached out his hand. His white hand touched Yoon Jaewoo’s cheek. Startled, Yoon Jaewoo flinched, his body trembling.

「Stay still.」

Before Eustace’s words even finished, the tingling sensation he had felt before was transmitted through his hand.

“……!”

Yoon Jaewoo’s eyes widened. In an instant, despair clouded his gaze.

He had now become a pervert who felt things just from a touch, without even applying medicine.

Eustace let out a small chuckle and continued speaking.

「It is not you. It is I who am doing it.」

“Pardon?”

「I can maximize pain, or turn agony into pleasure. I just have to twist the direction of the senses as I wish.」

“Th-then….”

「You were screaming nonsensically while I was applying the medicine, so I was trying to shut you up.」

Eustace put a slight pressure on his fingertips. A sound, “Aht,” burst from Yoon Jaewoo’s lips.

「It seems that since you are a Ramia, you are a little different from the people of this world.」

Eustace murmured offhandedly, with the tone of a researcher in front of a test subject. Yoon Jaewoo’s face grew hot with an emotion he could not identify as either anger or shame.

The memory of himself from just a moment ago, agonizing to death thinking he had become a pervert, swallowing his sobs with his fist in his mouth, came flooding back.

Damn it. How many times did I go back and forth between heaven and hell today.

Watching Yoon Jaewoo muttering silently, a smile formed on Eustace’s lips. Only then did Yoon Jaewoo realize that the warmth had not yet faded from his cheek, and with a yelp, he slapped Eustace’s hand away from his face. Wiping the cheek Eustace had touched with his sleeve, Yoon Jaewoo asked.

“So, …is my body normal?”

「It is not normal.」

“Pardon?”

「Even with just a little force.」

Eustace’s hand touched Yoon Jaewoo’s face again.

“Eut.”

Without fail, a thin moan escaped Yoon Jaewoo’s lips.

「Good boy.」

“G-good boy, what good boy! Am I a dog! …Never mind. I’m a Ramia. Right.”

Muttering in a dejected voice, Yoon Jaewoo then added, please don’t do that again.

Eustace stared at Yoon Jaewoo for a moment with a puzzled look before replying, I will not. The reply came back so readily that Yoon Jaewoo felt a moment of suspicion, but he nodded his head for now.

As a goodnight greeting, Eustace delivered a low-pitched threat that if he woke him up one more time, he would throw him straight into the valley below.

Feeling a cold breeze brush against the nape of his neck, Yoon Jaewoo quickly lay down.

The forest night deepened.

When he opened his eyes, Yoon Jaewoo realized he was lying on a bed and closed his eyes again.

It must be a dream. Because I should be lying on the dirt floor, using moss as a pillow.

However, at Eustace’s threat that he would tie him to the carriage and drag him along if he did not get up, Yoon Jaewoo shot up from the bed.

“H-how…. It was a forest, was it a dream.”

Perhaps his escape attempt, and his meeting Eustace in the forest, were all a dream. Yoon Jaewoo scratched his head and tilted it to the side.

Come to think of it, I think Jinsoo hyung appeared in the dream. Jinsoo hyung’s fur was really soft. …Where did Jinsoo hyung go.

As Yoon Jaewoo sat on the bed with a clouded expression, Eustace cast a glance at him.

“It’s nothing. Don’t worr— …ahaha.”

Yoon Jaewoo’s words trailed off, thinking he was saying something unnecessary. Would a man who planned to turn him into a bead and put him in a display case worry about him?

“But really, what happened. …How did we get here?”

Eustace looked at Ramia, who was sitting on the bed asking questions, with a look of displeasure. This was a Ramia who had not learned the etiquette of this world. Of course, he would not know what it meant to speak to someone from on top of a bed without being properly dressed.

You little kid.

Those words swirled inside Eustace’s mouth.

「Get changed first.」

“Alright. But was all that from yesterday a dream? Do I have a sleepwalking problem, did I walk all the way to the carriage in my sleep?”

Raad was a land that was not under the rule of any Dweord. There, Eustace could not freely use the power of a Dweord. Nor could he, at a time when he needed to go check on the seals, be strolling through the forest with Yoon Jaewoo. After a moment of thought, Eustace had returned to his Lot form, picked up Yoon Jaewoo in his mouth, and run through the forest.

“Do I have a sleepwalking problem? Like this….”

Yoon Jaewoo closed his eyes and mimicked walking with both arms raised. Eustace cast a pathetic look at such a Yoon Jaewoo and pointed to the bathroom.

“I get it. I shouldn’t have said anything. My opponent is a god, for crying out loud. It’s only natural that things I can understand are rare.”

Yoon Jaewoo grumbled and went into the bathroom. When he came out after washing his face, Eustace was already completely ready to leave.

He calls himself a god, but he’s surprisingly diligent and hardworking.

Yoon Jaewoo stared blankly at Eustace, who had finished all his preparations and was putting on his outer robe. A hood came flying and hit Yoon Jaewoo squarely in the face.

「Put it on.」

“…But this, you said it was women’s clothing.”

Yoon Jaewoo muttered, pointing at the hood. The fight he got into on his first day here was, in a way, all because of this hood.

“Can’t you give me different clothes?”

Yoon Jaewoo held up the hood as he spoke, but he was lightly ignored. Yoon Jaewoo quickly followed after Eustace, who had already left the room. He put on the hood and tied the strings as he went down the stairs.

Having seen them pack all the luggage and load it onto the carriage, Yoon Jaewoo naturally thought they would leave by carriage. However, Eustace, seeing Yoon Jaewoo climb onto the carriage, gave him a reproachful look as if asking where he thought he was going. Yoon Jaewoo quietly climbed down from the carriage, watching Eustace’s expression.

「Follow me.」

“…Where….”

「We will look around at the people before we go.」

“Why?”

All Eustace had done yesterday was wander through the market, looking here and there. Of course, at the end he had helped a little girl and had a meal. But other than that, there was nothing in the time they spent yesterday that could be called ‘work’.

Yoon Jaewoo could not understand the reason why he was taking the time to look around at the people, both yesterday and today.

“Why are you looking around?”

He did not seem to interfere in human affairs, nor did he seem particularly interested, so why was he going around looking at them?

As Yoon Jaewoo looked up at Eustace with eyes full of curiosity, Eustace reached out and pressed down the hood of his cloak.

「I see in order to see.」

“Pardon?”

To Yoon Jaewoo, who had lived a straightforward and simple life, Eustace’s words often sounded like riddles. Noticing his increased confusion, Eustace spoke in a low voice.

「Do not take off your hood, do not make eye contact, and do not speak with anyone. Keep your head down. Stick close behind me. And do not get involved in useless fights like yesterday.」

Another command was added.

Yoon Jaewoo nodded. Eustace helping him yesterday was highly likely to be the result of a whim rather than a god’s benevolence.

If Eustace had things to do as a Dweord, then Yoon Jaewoo also had things to do as a human.

“……”

When can I run away.

That was the single-minded thought that filled Yoon Jaewoo’s head. He had learned from yesterday’s events that secretly slipping away while Eustace was asleep was impossible.

I have to look for an opening. When will that bastard ever have an opening.

Yoon Jaewoo stared at Eustace’s rock-solid back, contemplating how he could possibly find an opening there.

As they entered the main street, Yoon Jaewoo, who had been walking with his head down, involuntarily raised his head at a loud noise.

There were incomparably more people out on the street than yesterday. Wondering if something had happened, Yoon Jaewoo looked around anxiously and his eyes fell on Eustace.

No way.

“Uh…!”

Yoon Jaewoo gently tugged at the corner of his cloak with his fingertips, gesturing alternately between the crowd filling the streets and Eustace.

「I did not come here as a Dweord.」

“Ah, um.”

But what if he’s been found out?

Even though Eustace’s long silver hair had changed to platinum blonde and its length had been shortened, his unique aura was something that could not be helped.

As long as the people were not blind, they would have long since realized that this man was no ordinary person.

Yoon Jaewoo figured that the rumor of Dweord Eustace’s arrival had spread from mouth to mouth. That would explain the countless people swarming the streets.

Eustace pointed at something. It was a flag. On the flags hanging here and there was a drawing of a solemn-looking face. It was neither Eustace’s face nor Yatenbaum’s. Thinking it might be, Yoon Jaewoo pointed at the flag with his finger and raised his eyes.

「Iman. The messenger who acts in the Dweord’s stead.」

Yoon Jaewoo scratched his cheek for a moment, then guessed that he must be similar to a pope.

「It is a day celebrating Iman’s birth.」

Yoon Jaewoo looked around again. All over the streets, flags with Iman’s face drawn on them were hanging densely. So much so that it made him think he was a god, not a god’s messenger.

Yoon Jaewoo looked at Eustace’s face again. He felt a strange feeling. He had never once seen a flag with Eustace’s face drawn on it, even in the castle where Dweord Eustace lived, so why were there so many flags with the face of a person who represents a god?

He checked to see if Eustace was perhaps feeling displeased by this situation where the guest had overshadowed the host, but Eustace walked down the street with the same expression as always.

Flowers hung on every street. Every time he passed by the fragrant purple flowers, Yoon Jaewoo was reminded of the flowers in the white garden. That tangy and soft fragrance.

One of the reasons he walked in the garden was because of those flowers. Walking amidst that fragrance, he felt his complicated mind become peaceful.

The purple flowers overflowing the streets had a beautiful and splendid fragrance, but they were not to Yoon Jaewoo’s taste. They were so overwhelmingly strong that his nose actually hurt.

“Achoo.”

I knew it, I knew this would happen.

Yoon Jaewoo scrunched up his face, rubbing his reddened nose. A soft breeze brushed past the tip of his nose.

When he lifted his head, Eustace had taken out a long cloth and was wrapping it around Yoon Jaewoo’s face. After wrapping him up so only his eyes were showing, Eustace went on his way again.

It was so stuffy that Yoon Jaewoo surreptitiously loosened the cloth, and Eustace’s eyes narrowed. Yoon Jaewoo quickly fixed the cloth back in place.

Wanting to find out some information about the other two Dweords for now, Yoon Jaewoo followed closely behind Eustace. He was about to speak to him when the cloth wrapped around his neck got caught on the jewelry of a woman coming from the opposite direction.

“……!”

In a flash, the cloth unraveled from Yoon Jaewoo’s neck. Yoon Jaewoo tried to grab the cloth, but there were so many people on the street that the cloth got dragged along, caught on the woman’s jewelry.

“Uh….”

Yoon Jaewoo reached out his hand. He could not even grab the cloth because of the crowd coming from the opposite direction. Thinking he would surely get his butt spanked if he said he lost the cloth Eustace had wrapped around him, Yoon Jaewoo unhesitatingly pushed through the people.

He spotted the woman walking with the cloth attached to her and reached out his hand. He barely managed to grasp the cloth.

At that moment.

A wind blew.

It was a cold and heavy wind. A chill ran down his spine. His chest fluttered and a cold sweat broke out. He felt an overwhelming power.

He had felt this sensation once before. Yoon Jaewoo hurriedly raised his head. A large carriage passed by. The carriage, pulled by eight horses, was adorned with lavish gold decorations.

It was an accident that the end of the cloth Yoon Jaewoo was holding got caught in the carriage as it passed by with a heavy sound.

“……!”

Without even a moment to scream, his center of gravity was pulled sharply forward. To make matters worse, his bad leg wobbled, making it impossible to right himself. Yoon Jaewoo instinctively squeezed his eyes shut.

「You incompetent thing.」

There was a tangy scent.

Yoon Jaewoo realized that the hand holding his waist was Eustace’s. Eustace set him upright and chided him in a cold voice.

「It seems you cannot even memorize those few instructions.」

“That’s….”

「Do not speak.」

“…….”

With an aggrieved look, Yoon Jaewoo held up the tattered cloth. He had been standing still, but the end of the cloth had gotten caught on a woman’s jewelry and then tangled in the carriage wheel, causing this mess. He did not know how to explain all of this from the beginning without words, so he just bit his lips hard.

Eustace’s gaze was fixed on the carriage that had already disappeared into the distance.

That’s right. That’s it. This whole mess happened because of that carriage!

Yoon Jaewoo nodded his head and pointed at the carriage with his hand. Eustace grabbed his hand and forced it down.

「Do you wish for your hand to be cut off.」

“……?”

「You must not carelessly point your finger at a Dweord.」

“Eh? …Uh. ……?”

Yoon Jaewoo’s finger had clearly been pointed at the carriage, not Eustace. He could not readily understand, but seeing that Eustace’s expression was dark, Yoon Jaewoo postponed his question.

「I do not understand.」

“…….”

「At a time like this….」

“…….”

He was never a man who made himself understood, but this was too much.

Leaving out all the important parts of his sentences, was he even speaking or not.

Yoon Jaewoo grabbed the corner of Eustace’s sleeve with his fingertips and shook it carefully. He was dying of curiosity about what they were talking about. Eustace sighed and led Yoon Jaewoo into an alley.

After confirming that there was no one around, Yoon Jaewoo, with a face that said he could finally breathe, poured out his questions.

“What’s with that carriage? What do you mean he can’t come at a time like this? Who was in that carriage?”

Eustace frowned slightly.

Understanding Ramia’s speech was, to use an analogy with objects, like feeling its shape with one’s fingertips while one’s eyes are closed. The detailed color, shape, and decorations are not visible. It is difficult unless one pays attention, as it involves reading the flow of the air. Even though Ramia should have known this fact to some extent, he was busy pouring out his own words.

“I’m curious, that’s why. Hurry up and tell me.”

What kind of being is this.

「Iman and Dweord do not meet privately.」

“The Pope and God probably don’t have private meetings either. What of it.”

「Especially during the Ajan period when Azhar’s seat is vacant, even more so.」

Iman is Azhar’s messenger.

Azhar is the Dweord who rules not only his own region but also Raad. The seat of Azhar was a seat of blood. Countless Dweords died to claim that seat. Unable to endure the tragedy of brothers pointing swords at each other, the Dweords eventually all gathered and made a pact. An era of peace arrived. To guard against the arrogance and laziness of the Dweords, they have the Ajan period, where they compete to occupy the seat of Azhar.

It has been four years since the Ajan period began. Considering that the seat of Azhar is usually decided within five years, now is a very sensitive and important time.

Since Iman is currently acting in Azhar’s role, it is natural for the Dweords not to meet him privately. If something important happened, it was standard for Iman to visit the Dweord in question and report it.

Therefore, a Dweord visiting Iman’s castle to coincide with his birthday is, something that cannot happen.

Eustace’s gaze sank heavily. Noticing his expression, Yoon Jaewoo carefully prompted him for the next words, saying, but.

People entered the alley. Because it was a narrow path, their bodies could not help but press together. A group of merchants carrying goods passed by with a perfunctory apology. Yoon Jaewoo, pressed tightly against Eustace’s chest, waited for the next words. Eustace lowered his head and continued in a low voice.

「But I definitely felt the aura of a Dweord from the carriage. Though it was for a very brief moment.」

“Oh, …so that’s what that was.”

Yoon Jaewoo had also definitely felt that overwhelming flow of air that made him hold his breath for a moment.

「Who could it have been.」

If they had hidden their energy to the point that even Eustace could not tell who it was, they certainly had not come here openly. Heavy contemplation settled on Eustace’s features.

A very good idea flashed through Yoon Jaewoo’s mind.

“Let’s find out who it is.”

The god who had said he would help Yoon Jaewoo was one of two.

It could be the Dweord who came here today. If so, there would be no need for the difficult task of escaping and finding him.

“Let’s find out who it is. Who it is, who came.”

Yoon Jaewoo’s eyes sparkled as he said it again. Eustace sighed and then pressed down on his head with his palm.

「No one must know that I am going to the Forest of Kalit.」

“Then you can just say you came to get a free meal. A birthday party. Woooow. Nom nom.”

Yoon Jaewoo spread his palms and made a sparkling gesture, then pretended to eat food.

「You want me to go to Iman’s castle? You are mad. A Dweord does not go to Iman’s castle without an invitation.」

“Is that so? Then can’t we just say I received an invitation.”

As Eustace just kept looking down at him with a puzzled gaze, Yoon Jaewoo said in a small voice, I’ll go. He could not speak loudly because of the people passing by on the street.

「I do not know what you are saying.」

Yoon Jaewoo looked around and then stood on his tiptoes. It was a precarious height. Raising his body as much as he could, he whispered into Eustace’s ear.

“I will go.”

Eustace said nothing. Thinking he had not heard him, Yoon Jaewoo whispered in a slightly clearer voice.

“I will go and come back.”

Eustace pushed Yoon Jaewoo away from his chest. Seeing his somehow angry expression, Yoon Jaewoo did not know what to do, and Eustace lightly raised his hand. The surroundings instantly became quiet. Not knowing what was happening, Yoon Jaewoo looked around anxiously.

「Say it again.」

“Uh… may I?”

「People can no longer come this way.」

As he said, at the end of the alley, people looked around with bewildered expressions as if they could not find their way, and then turned back.

“I’ll go. Over there.”

Yoon Jaewoo pointed to the castle, which was lavishly decorated with spires. Then, remembering what Eustace had told him earlier, he quickly withdrew his finger. He remembered being told that his finger could be cut off if he carelessly pointed at a Dweord.

…But haven’t I pointed at Eustace an incredible number of times until now.

Yoon Jaewoo looked down at his finger with a horrified expression. As if reading his thoughts, Eustace replied with a hint of a smile.

「I have no interest in your finger.」

Yoon Jaewoo wiggled his finger and then tucked it into his clothes.

I should put it away while he says he’s not interested, because he’s the type of guy who could suddenly become interested and snatch it off.

「You are going there?」

Eustace asked. So he understood properly. Yoon Jaewoo’s eyes shone as he nodded his head.

「Why.」

“Pardon?”

「Why do you say that you will enter Iman’s palace?」

Not expecting to be asked for a reason, Yoon Jaewoo’s mouth fell open and he froze for a moment. Then he quickly came to his senses and stammered out his words.

“Th-that, well, what should I say. Loyalty?”

Eustace’s eyebrow rose slightly.

Thinking this was his only chance, Yoon Jaewoo earnestly asserted his loyalty.

“I’m a Ramia, right? Ramia. You are a Dweord. Ramia. Dweord. Be loyal.”

Yoon Jaewoo had never wished for Eustace to understand his words as much as he did right now. He had to get into Iman’s palace somehow. And he had to confirm whether the unknown Dweord who had come here now was the lifeline that would help him.

「I wonder.」

Eustace looked down at the Ramia, who was being unusually proactive in this matter, with a suspicious expression.

“Please entrust it to me once.”

Yoon Jaewoo put on the most trustworthy expression he could muster. However, the suspicion in Eustace’s eyes did not disappear.

“It’s fine. I won’t run away. Really.”

「It is not that you will not go, but that you cannot go.」

“…….”

「You looked disappointed just now, did you not.」

“N-no, sir. It is absolutely not like that.”

As Yoon Jaewoo jumped and shook his head, Eustace’s eyes curved. He looked down with smiling eyes at the Ramia who was pulling such an obvious trick.

“Really, I won’t run away. I’ll just go and take a little, just a little look and come back.”

Yoon Jaewoo made a gesture with his fingers to indicate a very small amount and put on a serious expression.

Eustace was lost in thought.

There was a need to find out who the Dweord that had appeared here now was. But the problem was whether it was worth taking the risk of sending this utterly foolish Ramia there.

“You don’t trust me?”

Yoon Jaewoo placed a palm on his chest and shone his large eyes. When Eustace did not give any reply with his expressionless face, Yoon Jaewoo began to plead, almost clinging to him, that he would go to the castle.

“I’ll go and come back. Just for a moment, I just have to look and come back. Isn’t that all?”

He looked ready to barge in if he was not sent.

“You don’t trust me? A Ramia as loyal as this.”

A soft wind brushed the golden hair that fell over Yoon Jaewoo’s forehead. Yoon Jaewoo thought that wind was like laughter.

Eustace straightened Yoon Jaewoo’s disheveled hair with his hand and said.

「Of course not.」

At the reply he received, Yoon Jaewoo’s heart jolted.

He could not tell if he should be happy that Eustace trusted him, or if he should feel sorry. After all, he was not going out of loyalty, but for his own selfish gain.

…Haa. The problem is that I’m too trustworthy. I’m sorry. Mr. God.

As Yoon Jaewoo let out a small sigh, Eustace patted Yoon Jaewoo’s cheek with a gentle touch. Thinking he might unleash some strange power at any moment, Yoon Jaewoo held his breath in tense anticipation.

「There is no way I would trust something like you.」

“…….”

Damn it, you bastard.

Yoon Jaewoo wanted to turn back the moment he felt a pang of guilt and erase it completely. Looking at Yoon Jaewoo, whose face was turning red and blue, Eustace nodded his head.

「Fine. Go and come back.」

“Pardon?”

「It should be fine to go mix in and come back, if it is just to the extent of offering flowers and leaving.」

“Pardon? Pardoooon?”

Eustace grabbed Yoon Jaewoo’s ear and pulled.

「Can you not hear?」

“I-I can hear you! Let go. I can hear you.”

As soon as Eustace let go, Yoon Jaewoo covered his ear with his palm. The stinging pain was so bad that he had to check with his hand to see if his ear had fallen off.

「Does it hurt?」

“What a thing to say, ha…. Unbelievable.”

Just you wait. I will definitely escape, no matter what.

Yoon Jaewoo forced a bright smile and waved his hands.

“It hurts, but it’s bearable. Hahahaha.”

「Ramia.」

Every time he called him that, Yoon Jaewoo felt the strength drain from below his knees, and his legs trembled. Clearing his throat with a dry swallow, Yoon Jaewoo nodded his head. Eustace’s hand touched Yoon Jaewoo’s cheek.

「If you do anything foolish, the body that feels pain will disappear.」

“…….”

「I am telling you this specially because you seem to have a bad head. Keep it in mind.」

Eustace made a slight gesture. As if the alley had opened again, sounds rushed in. People began to come and go on the street again. Eustace wrapped Yoon Jaewoo’s body within the folds of the hood he was wearing.

When the hood’s flap was lifted, the color of the hood Yoon Jaewoo was wearing had changed to a deep purple. Feeling as if he were dreaming, Yoon Jaewoo’s eyes widened as he spread the hood with his hands.

「Then, shall we go.」

At the low voice of the man, Yoon Jaewoo came to his senses. Pulling on the purple hood, Yoon Jaewoo was led by Eustace’s hand and blended into the crowd.

Standing in front of the huge castle gate, Yoon Jaewoo tried to gauge its height with his eyes and could not close his mouth.

“Whoa, amazing….”

Startled by the words he had muttered unknowingly, he looked around. People were all walking with armfuls of flowers, and no one was paying him any mind. Yoon Jaewoo slapped his lips with his palm and recalled the precautions Eustace had given him.

‘Do not speak.’

This was perhaps a natural precaution since their languages were different.

‘Do not make eye contact with people.’

It meant to be careful, as someone might be captivated by his eyes and insist on checking his hair color. Yoon Jaewoo accepted this as a matter of course as well.

‘Do not stray from the path.’

The people offering flowers to Iman only walk on a designated path. This was the rule that people entering the castle had to follow. He had said that today was the only day of the year that ordinary people could enter Iman’s castle. By going before Iman and offering flowers, they could receive his blessing, so people would come from far away just to offer flowers.

Eustace had explained that if he just followed the brick path painted with purple flowers, he could safely reach his destination without getting lost. Yoon Jaewoo nodded quietly. At that, Eustace held out a small fruit to Yoon Jaewoo. When he asked what it was, Eustace opened Yoon Jaewoo’s mouth and put it inside. The moment it entered his mouth, he felt a nauseatingly bitter taste, and Yoon Jaewoo realized it was the same red drink he had eaten every day in Eustace’s castle. He had hated eating it back then, but trying to chew it raw was hell.

As Yoon Jaewoo scowled and held the fruit in his mouth, glaring at Eustace, Eustace added one more thing in a low voice.

‘Swallow it.’

Having no choice, Yoon Jaewoo swallowed the fruit with a gulp. It was so bitter that it felt like his throat was burning. Eustace explained that the fruit served to erase the scent of a Ramia from the Dweord.

And.

“…….”

Yoon Jaewoo put his hand inside his hood and fiddled with the small mirror Eustace had given him.

‘Look at the person next to Iman with that mirror. If you see a Lot, that will be the identity of that Dweord.’

Yoon Jaewoo fiddled with the mirror and tilted his head. To Yoon Jaewoo who asked what a Lot was, Eustace had given the answer that he would know when he saw it, without explaining it with a strange look in his eyes.

He said I would know when I saw it….

In any case, it was a problem that could be solved by looking in the mirror. Yoon Jaewoo stopped fiddling with the mirror. All he had to do was go tell Eustace what he saw in the mirror, and the problem would be solved.

Lastly, there was something Eustace had said while holding Yoon Jaewoo’s chin.

‘Do not cause any problems.’

Yoon Jaewoo had been about to flare up and argue, am I some kind of troublemaker, but then he recalled the list of his offenses so far and shut his mouth.

“Haa.”

A sigh escaped. But it could not be helped. Problem or not, my only way to survive is to escape.

Yoon Jaewoo touched the small bead Eustace had given him, which he had put in the opposite side. It was what Eustace had given him after grabbing his chin and giving him a threat that was not quite a threat, to absolutely not cause any problems.

He had said that if, due to unavoidable circumstances, he got caught up in trouble, to swallow the bead. Then all problems would be solved. But he had also kindly added that it would be better for his well-being to absolutely not use this bead if at all possible.

“…….”

I will never swallow it.

Yoon Jaewoo did not doubt for a moment that the bead Eustace had given him was poison. If he died, that would be the end, so all problems would be solved. That damned omnipotent son of a bitch.

Yoon Jaewoo snorted and walked, holding the flowers.

The people around him were all walking the path with pious expressions to receive Iman’s blessing. As someone who had never had a religion, Yoon Jaewoo could not understand this situation well.

Why not just offer the flowers to the god? Why go to such lengths for the person who represents the god. What on earth does a representative do anyway.

Yoon Jaewoo briefly thought of the gods of this world that he knew.

Eustace and Yatenbaum.

He pictured a scene of offering flowers to those two, then immediately shook his head.

“Ugh….”

Just how much longer do I have to walk. Yoon Jaewoo adjusted the flowers he held in his arms. The weight of the flowers was heavier than he thought. In addition, the scent was so strong that he did not know how many times he had sneezed on his way here.

The places that sold flowers for offering were fixed. Yoon Jaewoo could not help but be shocked when he saw the money Eustace paid to buy the flowers.

He had seen the money Eustace handed over after buying food or lodging over his shoulder, so he knew how much more expensive the flowers were compared to those. As Yoon Jaewoo stared alternately at the flowers and Eustace’s face with wide eyes, Eustace chuckled and handed him the flowers.

They say that the best business is the religion business. It seemed to be the same in this world. Yoon Jaewoo walked diligently down the path, tapping his stiffening arm with the other. Once inside the castle, people were standing in a long line centered around the tower where they offered their flowers.

A sigh escaped him at the sight. It seemed like it would take at least half a day to leave the flowers there and see this Iman fella, or whatever his name was.

His arms were already aching. Yoon Jaewoo diligently switched the arm holding the flowers and patted his shoulder. He wondered what kind of suffering this was, but it was unavoidable in order to see the Dweord who was said to have come here. Was it not a fifty percent chance?

Moreover, Eustace had said he would give him a reward if he returned after succeeding safely. Yoon Jaewoo had immediately pointed to his own leg, but was immediately rejected. Since there was nothing else he wanted, to Yoon Jaewoo, who was muttering, then forget it, with a sullen expression, Eustace said that rewards and punishments must be made clear.

It was then that Jinsoo hyung crossed Yoon Jaewoo’s mind. He had been subtly worried about Jinsoo hyung, who had not shown so much as a strand of his tail fur since that incident that night.

Yoon Jaewoo had then said, then let me meet Jinsoo hyung, and mimicked Jinsoo hyung with a gloomy expression. Eustace’s face, looking down at him, had contorted strangely. As Yoon Jaewoo was saying, if this isn’t okay either, then forget it, Eustace nodded his head in agreement.

If the Dweord who came here today was the owner of the voice who had said he would help Yoon Jaewoo, then his luck would turn around, and even if not, he would meet Jinsoo hyung. Thinking that it was not a losing business, Yoon Jaewoo readjusted his hold on the heavy flowers.

Just then, he heard a murmuring sound from ahead. A little boy standing at the front had been pushed by the crowd and had fallen over. The boy, on the verge of tears, shouted for them not to step on his flowers, but soon the flowers were trampled under people’s feet. Yoon Jaewoo’s brow furrowed automatically.

What a waste. How much did that cost.

The little boy cried out, on the verge of tears.

「No. Please don’t step on them. These are flowers I bought with money I saved for a year. Please.」

Even as his hands were stepped on by people’s feet, the little boy diligently picked up the fallen flowers from the ground. But among them, only a few were in proper condition.

The guards, hearing the commotion, flocked around the little boy. The little boy’s face turned white.

「What is all this commotion.」

「Are you the one who caused the disturbance.」

「I’m sorry. I’m sorry.」

The boy, pale as a sheet, bowed his head. Yoon Jaewoo smacked his lips with a bitter taste and resolved to himself that he must never fall over.

「Are you going to offer these dirty flowers to our Lord Iman Hakan?」

「It is because I just dropped them.」

「You cannot offer flowers like these. You must go back and buy new flowers.」

Yoon Jaewoo, who had been carefully taking steps, looked back. Tears were pouring from the little boy’s eyes.

「Sirs. I do not have the money to buy new flowers. Even these flowers I barely bought by selling two of our family’s horses.」

「That is none of my concern. Hurry up and go back.」

「I beg you. Please, I beg you. I must receive Lord Iman’s blessing. I have to pray for him to cure my younger sibling’s illness.」

Yoon Jaewoo let out a deep sigh.

You should pray to God for that… but it’s no use. Because the gods know that the world works that way.

「Go back now. These dirty flowers will only incur Lord Iman’s wrath.」

「Sirs. Please, I beg you, please.」

The guard who seemed to be in charge ordered the other guards to drag the child away. The child clung to them, crying and begging, but they grabbed the child’s arm with faces that said such things were a daily occurrence. Everyone around looked at the little boy with pitying eyes, but no one readily stepped forward to help. No one in the line was wealthy enough to pay for the flowers on his behalf.

Yoon Jaewoo bit his lip and tried hard to recall the reasons why he should not cause trouble.

If I cause trouble here, I can’t offer the flowers. Then I can’t confirm who the Dweord who came here is, and if I escape, it will be a big problem deciding which of the two to go to. More than that, if I cause trouble, that corpse collector waiting outside….

Yoon Jaewoo shivered and steeled his heart. I hear nothing. I am hearing nothing. I am hearing nothing at all.

「Please, I beg you. Please let me offer these flowers.」

The child’s tearful cry grew more distant. Telling himself not to look back, Yoon Jaewoo closed his eyes.

「I only have my younger sibling. Please, I beg you. My parents passed away from the plague last year, and as an orphan, I only have my sibling. Please.」

“…Heuu.”

In the end, a defeated sigh burst from Yoon Jaewoo’s lips. He walked through the crowd and blocked the path of the guard who was dragging the little boy away.

「Who are you.」

“…….”

Yoon Jaewoo silently held out the flowers he was holding to the child. The child, not understanding the situation, just blinked his eyes and did not dare to take the flowers.

Yoon Jaewoo held out the flowers again.

Take them quickly before I change my mind. If you hadn’t pulled the orphan card, I wouldn’t have given you these flowers.

As if he had finally understood Yoon Jaewoo’s intention, the child hesitantly reached out his hands. Yoon Jaewoo placed the flowers in the child’s arms. The child, with eyes full of tears, repeatedly thanked him. Yoon Jaewoo waved his hand as if it were a bother.

Hurry up and go. This hyung-ah is about to go crazy wanting to take those flowers back right now.

The child, holding the flowers, gave a broad smile and bowed several times before running off into the crowd.

Yoon Jaewoo gave an awkward smile and looked at the guards.

「Giving the flowers was your choice, but if you have no flowers to offer, you cannot enter this place.」

“…….”

Who doesn’t know that.

「Leave the castle. Or go back to the entrance and buy flowers again.」

Yoon Jaewoo glanced at the crowd of people stretching all the way to outside the castle. He might be able to go back out, get money from Eustace, and buy flowers. Of course, he would have to endure the humiliation of getting his butt severely spanked.

The problem was that there was no certainty that the Dweord would still be staying here when he returned to this castle with those flowers. The line was so long that it would take more than a whole day to buy flowers and come back here again. Moreover, more and more people were flocking in.

Yoon Jaewoo sighed.

Damn it. Why did he have to pull the orphan card there. Why did that kid have to become an orphan last year of all times. Ah, damn it. I need to overcome my orphan complex to succeed too.

「I said, hurry up and leave.」

The guard grabbed the arm of Yoon Jaewoo, who was just standing there sighing. Yoon Jaewoo racked his brain. From the looks of them, these guys had the rotten fish eyes that would take a bribe, but the problem was that he did not have a single thing that could be used as money.

Then Yoon Jaewoo suddenly remembered a jewel he had. No, something more valuable than a jewel.

Yoon Jaewoo silently pulled the guard’s collar.

「What is it.」

The guard turned his head with a blunt expression. Yoon Jaewoo subtly gestured for him to follow. The guard cleared his throat and made a lame attempt, saying, I will guide you to the restroom.

You bastard who deserves to freeze to death on the Siberian plains. Talking about restrooms.

Yoon Jaewoo swallowed his curses and followed the guard. When they arrived at a secluded place, the guard held out his hand as if he had been waiting.

「Hurry and give it. There are many eyes watching.」

Yoon Jaewoo placed his own palm on top of that palm. The guard glared at Yoon Jaewoo with an annoyed look, as if asking if he was playing a joke. And then he froze.

Yoon Jaewoo had slightly lowered the hood he was wearing. As the dazzlingly beautiful blond hair was revealed, the guard stared at the sight, mesmerized.

Yoon Jaewoo quickly pulled his hood back on and gestured for the guard to let him in. However, the guard, who had soon come to his senses, shook his head.

「N-no, I cannot. If I let in someone without flowers to offer, we will, …ha.」

Yoon Jaewoo took off his hood again. The guard gulped and his eyes shone. Yoon Jaewoo forced a smile and gestured again. The guard, with a dazed expression, shook his head, saying no.

Oh, you. This bastard.

Yoon Jaewoo felt a surge of competitive spirit rise up in him, thinking, let’s see who wins, you or me. He winked one eye, closing and opening it. The guard’s eyes grew as wide as lanterns. It looked as if drool would start dripping from his open mouth.

Yoon Jaewoo hid his arm, on which goosebumps had broken out, and winked several more times.

「Th-…follow me for a moment.」

“……?”

「Haa, I have never seen someone as beautiful as you in my entire life, and if you come on like that, as a man…. I cannot help it.」

Only then did Yoon Jaewoo notice the bulge in the front of the guard’s pants.

Daaamn it. The plan has failed.

A red light went on in Yoon Jaewoo’s head. He knew very well from his many past experiences what kind of situation would unfold if things continued like this. The breathing of the guard who had grabbed Yoon Jaewoo’s arm became rough. Yoon Jaewoo gently, but secretly, tapped the guard’s shoulder.

「What the….」

With a thud, blood splattered. Yoon Jaewoo climbed on top of the fallen guard and delivered several more punches. After confirming that the guard had lost consciousness, Yoon Jaewoo shook the blood from his fist and stood up.

“I should have done this from the start.”

Yoon Jaewoo muttered as if he felt refreshed, and also wiped the blood that had splattered on his face. He cracked his shoulders, which had stiffened from carrying the flowers for a long way, and looked around. Since he had no flowers, he could no longer go down that path.

In that case.

“It can’t be helped. I’ll have to take the back way.”

The stairs that people were climbing after offering their flowers came into Yoon Jaewoo’s view.

It seemed that if he went roughly this way, he could join the people heading for those stairs. Yoon Jaewoo spat on the fallen guard.

Do not stray from the path.

Eustace’s voice echoed in his ears, but since it had already happened, he thought he would just follow the remaining rules well and pulled his hood down deeply.

“Haa….”

Yoon Jaewoo slapped his forehead with his palm and let out a cry. He had to admit a terrible fact.

“…I’m lost.”

There was a reason why Eustace had told him not to get distracted and just follow the people. He was sure that if he went this way, he would end up over there, but a completely absurd path would appear.

Are all castles structured like a maze like this.

Yoon Jaewoo, having a belated realization, tore at his hair. He tried to go back the way he came, but he could not even remember where he had come from.

“What kind of path is this complicated. Who would even look for a way around like this.”

Grumbling, Yoon Jaewoo stuck his head out the window and checked the direction of the stairs people were climbing.

Alright, so if I go this way like this….

“Heok!”

Startled by the sound of voices from afar, Yoon Jaewoo hastily looked around. A large display cabinet came into his view. Yoon Jaewoo first hid his body to the side of the display cabinet. Thanks to the display cabinet standing next to the corner, its side was as good as a blind spot to passersby. Yoon Jaewoo pressed himself tightly against the inside of the corner and waited for the people to pass by quickly. As the voices grew closer, Yoon Jaewoo squeezed his eyes shut and tensed up.

「The seat of Azhar will be decided within this year.」

It was the voice of a middle-aged man. As soon as he heard the voice, Yoon Jaewoo thought that the person must be of high status.

Here, the higher a person’s status, the different the power carried in their voice.

The owner of that voice must be of quite high status. But seeing as he was using honorifics, the other person must be of higher status. Are they people holding important positions in this castle.

「Having four Dweords share the seat of Azhar is a useless act, no matter how you look at it. The Ajan period, where the one with the most power takes that seat, should continue.」

As a few words he knew came up, Yoon Jaewoo’s ears perked up.

「Do you think so?」

A gentle voice flowed out.

Yoon Jaewoo instinctively knew that the owner of that voice was the person with the highest status.

「Of course. The seat of Azhar is a sacred place. It is not right for the seat to go to a Dweord who is not suited for it just because it is their turn.」

The man’s laughter followed.

Who on earth are these people having such a conversation. His curiosity grew and grew.

「Is that what you called me to talk about.」

「No, sir. I had something urgent to tell you, …I thought I would be less conspicuous on a day like today when many people are entering, so I took the liberty of contacting you despite the rudeness.」

Having heard this much, Yoon Jaewoo was convinced that the middle-aged man was Iman, the main character of the day. Which meant that the other person was none other than….

Yoon Jaewoo fumbled in his pocket and took out the mirror Eustace had given him. He peeked his head out from the corner and observed the backs of the two men walking down the hallway.

They were not clearly visible because they were obscured by the display cabinet, but the man wearing a purple robe with splendid gold embroidery seemed to be Iman. And next to him…, ah, if only he would move aside a little. That fat Iman bastard….

Yoon Jaewoo stuck his head out a little more. The back of the man hidden by the display cabinet was moving farther away. A sense of urgency grew as he thought that if he did not find out the man’s identity now, he would not be able to.

Yoon Jaewoo leaned against the display cabinet, holding the mirror. A little more, just a little more and he could reflect the man’s back in the mirror….

「Who goes there!」

Startled by the sudden voice, Yoon Jaewoo looked back. It was a guard who had been escorting Iman from a distance. The guard, who had spotted the hand peeking out from the display cabinet, aimed his spear and shouted.

「Who is there! Reveal your identity at once!」

Yoon Jaewoo’s mind went blank. If he was caught here, he was a dead man. No matter how powerful Eustace was, he would not be able to save him.

He heard the sound of the guard running towards him. Iman and the man of unknown identity had already disappeared to the end of the hallway long ago. Cold sweat ran down the hand of Yoon Jaewoo, who was holding the mirror.

「Come out at once!」

Yoon Jaewoo counted down in his head.

Five, four, three….

The sound of the guards’ footsteps was getting closer.

Two….

「You scoundrel!」

One!

Yoon Jaewoo pushed the display cabinet next to him with all his might. A crashing sound was followed by screams. Not missing the opportunity, Yoon Jaewoo started running towards the opposite end of the hallway.

「Get that man! Guards! It’s an intruder! Catch the intruder!」

The guard pinned under the display cabinet shouted. Cold sweat ran down his spine. With his bad leg, it was clear that he would be caught before he got far.

What should I do. What on earth should I do.

A window came into the view of Yoon Jaewoo, who was running with a limp. He put his foot on the window sill without hesitation. Without realizing it, Yoon Jaewoo had already climbed up to the third floor of the building.

「Stop right there!」

An arrow lodged itself next to Yoon Jaewoo. He gasped, and putting strength into his other leg, he threw himself out the window. Creak. He heard the sound of a tree branch bending. Yoon Jaewoo, who was precariously hanging onto a tree branch far from the window, let out a stream of curses in his mind.

Right, why did I have to pull the orphan card there. Damn it. Damn it all. My life!

「There he is!」

「Shoot!」

Arrows flew. Yoon Jaewoo put strength into the hand holding the branch and used the momentum to move to the tree next to it. The branch bent and the skin on his palm peeled off. It hurt like hell. But he had to live for now.

Arrows flew. Quickly to the tree on the other side….

A flash of light appeared before his eyes. Yoon Jaewoo bit his lip at the pain, as if someone had seared his shoulder with fire. He knew without having to check with his eyes that an arrow had pierced his shoulder.

“Damn it.”

The sensation in his left arm began to go numb. If he did not get out of here quickly, he would surely die looking like a hedgehog. Yoon Jaewoo bit his lip hard and put strength into it, throwing himself towards the tree on the opposite side. His face was scraped and covered in scratches from the small branches, but he had no time to care. Just a little more, and down to the bottom….

「There he is!」

「Catch that man!」

At the voices coming from below, Yoon Jaewoo closed his eyes. Since he had no talent for soaring into the sky, there was nowhere left to run.

“Shitttt….”

Just a little more and I could have fixed my leg… no way! There’s still a lot left! There’s so much left to do, but to die here. Damn it. It’s so frustrating!

The blood flowing from his left shoulder soaked his clothes. Yoon Jaewoo remembered the bead in his pocket. Eustace’s voice, telling him to swallow the bead if he got caught up in trouble, came to mind. He held onto the branch with one arm and barely managed to rummage through his pocket to take out the bead. The bead was stained with his blood.

So if I swallow this, I can just die without any worries.

From below, he could hear harsh voices shouting to catch him, and above his head, arrows were flying and lodging themselves into the tree trunk with thuds.

「He must not be sent back alive!」

「A special order has been given by Lord Iman. Kill him!」

Yoon Jaewoo realized that Iman had noticed that he had overheard their conversation in the hallway. That damn middle-aged fatty is annoyingly quick-witted.

Yoon Jaewoo looked down at the bead. The transparent bead, stained with blood, seemed to be looking at him.

“Forget it. …Not twice.”

He could eat it and die comfortably. But he did not want to take his own life with his own hands twice. Giving up on life once was more than enough of an experience. And more than anything right now, he did not want to die.

The branch creaked and broke. Yoon Jaewoo’s body dropped down. Bracing for the impact, Yoon Jaewoo bit his lip.

And then, the wind blew.

「…You foolish thing.」

“……!”

Eustace was looking down at Yoon Jaewoo with a displeased face. Yoon Jaewoo just stared at Eustace with his mouth open, blinking his eyes.

「The most foolish thing in the world, who only holds the bead I gave you to swallow.」

“Y-you can’t come here, no, you said you wouldn’t….”

「I heard the sound of the bead resonating with your blood.」

Only then did Yoon Jaewoo discover that the bead he was holding in his hand was trembling slightly.

“Th-that….”

「I told you to shut your mouth. Is there even a single thing I said that you have followed?」

At Eustace’s stern questioning, Yoon Jaewoo was at a loss for words and hunched his shoulders.

He had not been able to follow a single one.

「You foolish thing. Just you wait until we get out of here.」

“…Don’t hit me.”

「That mouth.」

“Hup.”

Yoon Jaewoo covered his mouth with his palm.

The guards waiting below surrounded them, holding their spears. Eustace, holding Yoon Jaewoo, lifted his head.

「Kneel and surrender at once.」

「The crime of daring to enter Lord Hakan Iman’s castle, you shall pay for with your death.」

Eustace smirked. A cool breeze enveloped his surroundings.

「The crime of blaspheming the divine, you shall pay for with your death!」

At the word divine, Yoon Jaewoo let out a snort of laughter without realizing it.

「You dare to laugh? You insolent bastard!」

A guard swung his spear. The tip of the spear was aimed precisely at Yoon Jaewoo. With a clang, the metal flew into the air. A growling sound, it seemed he heard it.

Yoon Jaewoo looked up in surprise. The hand holding him was exceptionally cold. He felt a sharp pain, as if the claws of a beast were digging into his skin.

「Th-this…! Seize them!」

The flustered guard shouted. Anger tinged Eustace’s expression.

Even in this situation of being held by a god, Yoon Jaewoo was restless with anxiety. The grip of Yoon Jaewoo’s hand, which was holding onto Eustace’s clothes, tightened.

「That is enough.」

A cheerful voice stopped the guards.

「What are you all doing there.」

The moment he saw the red-haired man approaching with a suave smile, Yoon Jaewoo almost waved his hand.

To think a day would come when I’d be happy to see that pervert.

「Lord Yatenbaum Dweord.」

The guards all knelt in unison. Yoon Jaewoo felt slightly wronged. If he was a god, there was another one right here, yet they aimed a spear at him just because he changed his hair color and appearance a little.

As Yoon Jaewoo glared with a wronged expression, Eustace slapped his forehead with his palm. It was a signal to stay still.

「These are my attendants. I had just sent one to look for the other who had gotten lost, and here they were.」

Yatenbaum approached with a smile and took off the coat he was wearing, draping it over Yoon Jaewoo. He tried to embrace Yoon Jaewoo, but Eustace did not let go of him, smiling.

「Hahaha. My, my. This fellow is injured, so I think we need to go and treat him.」

「Lord Dweord Yatenbaum. However, Lord Iman said that man is an intruder and must be….」

「However?」

Yatenbaum’s smile vanished. His red eyes flared up even redder.

「Since when did Iman act like a Dweord? Have you forgotten who I am.」

At Yatenbaum’s voice, all the ground around them shook. The sound of the earth rumbling clawed at the air. Everyone prostrated themselves on the ground, their faces pale, and bowed their heads.

Yoon Jaewoo resolved to filter his words a little when he cursed at Yatenbaum. Yatenbaum, who had been glaring at the guards with blazing eyes, suddenly turned his head towards Yoon Jaewoo. When their eyes met, he winked one eye.

“…….”

No, why should I filter my words when he can’t understand them anyway. That damn pervert bastard.

Yatenbaum looked around with a face that still held his anger and said.

「I came a long way to celebrate Iman’s birthday, only to be insulted like this.」

「We have committed a sin worthy of death.」

「It is all our humble servant’s fault. Please hold us accountable for the crime.」

The guards trembled like aspen leaves and each confessed their sins. Eustace slapped Yoon Jaewoo’s forehead one more time as he watched the scene with satisfaction. He gestured with his eyes to Yatenbaum.

「I shall be on my way. Send my regards to Hakan Iman.」

Yatenbaum moved his hand. At that moment, their bodies floated into the air. Yoon Jaewoo’s eyes widened in surprise. The castle was receding beneath his feet.

To Yoon Jaewoo, who was looking down with his mouth agape, Eustace spoke in a cold voice.

「You out-of-your-mind thing.」

“Uh….”

「Close your eyes. It will be over soon.」

Not knowing what Eustace’s words meant, Yoon Jaewoo stared at him blankly. The next moment, at the sharp pain that shot through his shoulder, Yoon Jaewoo let out a scream. There was no need to close his eyes. He lost consciousness right away.