“That’s a really unexpected question. Is it something important?”
Yujin asked. He felt baffled for the first time in a while.
Sure, even after arriving in this other world, he had gone about life without much tension or concern about the situation, but still….Han-cheol, of all things, had chosen to bring up cosmetic surgery instead of the many other important questions he could’ve asked.
“No, but honestly, it’s been bugging me since the moment I saw you. You definitely look better than you did back on Earth.”
“That’s a rather creepy thing to say for what’s supposed to be a compliment.”
“Anyway, so did you actually get some work done or what? What the hell happened in this world that made your face look so divine?”
So that was the real question.
Apparently, the change in Yujin’s appearance had been bothering Han-cheol, but ultimately, he seemed more curious about what had happened to Yujin since coming to this world. As expected, Han-cheol continued.
“I actually heard a few things from the members of Hugo’s party, you know? Stuff like how your skills are suspiciously good, how you supposedly sliced a demon clean in half, or even…what? That you invented some kind of space-time magic? What the hell have you been doing since you got here?”
“……”
At those words, Yujin fell silent for a moment. Of course, explaining what he had been doing since arriving here wasn’t difficult. The question was how much of it he could or should share.
He did have a favorable impression of Han-cheol and trusted him to some extent. After all, Han-cheol was the only one in the guild he could consider even remotely close, and as the squad leader, he had a strong sense of responsibility, which had earned Yujin’s respect.
Still, trusting him completely was a different matter.
Yujin believed that in human relationships, shared interests were crucial.
If the interests aligned, you could even join hands with an enemy. But if they didn’t, you could part ways with a lifelong friend.
And since he had no idea what Han-cheol’s thoughts or goals were, revealing everything outright would be reckless. So Yujin decided to ask one thing first.
“Before I answer that, I’d like to ask you something first, Squad Leader.”
“What is it?”
“What is it that you ultimately want to do? Do you have a goal in this world, or is there something else on your mind?”
At those words, Han-cheol stared at Yujin for a while. Then he asked,
“Are you testing me?”
“Yes, I am.”
At Han-cheol’s words, Yujin nodded calmly and confirmed without hesitation. Seeing that, Han-cheol scratched his head and began to speak.
“Well… when you answer that confidently, I really don’t have anything to say. Something about this feels serious, but honestly, I don’t have any particular plan. I mean, I do have a goal, though.”
“And that goal is?”
“Obviously, it’s to return to Earth.”
It was the most expected answer, and Yujin, having anticipated it to some extent, looked at Han-cheol without much reaction.
Han-cheol continued.
“There are still things I’m responsible for… and my brother’s still on Earth. If I were dead, it’d be one thing, but since I’m alive like this, I’ve got to at least try to find a way back.”
“So it is that, after all.”
“What about you?”
At that, Han-cheol asked Yujin in return. Yujin shrugged his shoulders and replied.
“To be honest, I don’t particularly care if I can’t return to Earth.”
From Yujin’s perspective, it was only natural.
A life with no family, no lover, not even anyone he could truly call a friend.
For Yujin, who had nothing left behind on Earth, there was no burning desire to return. If there was anything at all, perhaps it would be his parents’ graves.
Besides, now that he had become a transcendent being, with more than enough time granted to him, there was no urgent need to find a way back. Of course, at the very least, he thought it would be good to return once. Before his parents’ graves disappeared from the Earth.
“I see… well, I get it.”
Even though Han-cheol didn’t know that Yujin had become a transcendent, he still understood the fact that Yujin held little attachment to Earth. Han-cheol knew Yujin to a certain degree, after all.
There wasn’t anyone waiting for him, and there was no particular reason he had to return. Naturally, it made sense for him not to care much.
Understanding this, Han-cheol muttered bitterly.
“Then I guess I’ll have to be the one to find a way back to Earth on my own…”
“There’s no need for that. I’ll help you find a way back, too.”
“…Huh?”
At those words, Han-cheol’s eyes widened. He stared at Yujin.
“…Didn’t you say you didn’t have much attachment to Earth?”
“Of course, I don’t have much attachment left, but it wouldn’t hurt to at least find a way back to Earth.”
“…If you’re saying that because of me, there’s really no need.”
Han-cheol wondered if Yujin was saying that for his sake, so he said as much, but Yujin simply shrugged.
“Well, it’s true that I said I’d look for a way back partly for your sake, Squad Leader. But my parents’ graves are still on Earth, so I was thinking of finding a way back at least once, somehow.”
“…You’re talking like it’s some simple thing, and it’s giving me a bit of cognitive dissonance. Do you really think going back to your original world is that easy?”
“It won’t be that easy, of course, but I’ll have to give it a try somehow.”
“……”
Still unaware that Yujin was a dragon, Han-cheol looked at him in disbelief, but Yujin continued to face him with a shamelessly confident expression.
Unable to hold back his curiosity any longer, Han-cheol finally asked.
“No, seriously, how are you even planning to do that?”
“I’ll have to do some research in my own way. I haven’t figured anything out yet, so I can’t give you a definite answer on how I’ll do it.”
“……”
Han-cheol was left speechless. He stared at Yujin who spoke as if finding a way back wouldn’t be all that difficult, despite knowing absolutely nothing. But only for a moment.
“Are you seriously saying this?”
“I’m serious.”
“Hah…”
With a look of disbelief in his eyes, he asked Yujin,
“Are you really the Yujin I knew? The guy who always insisted he couldn’t even do the things he could do, just to get out of working…”
“Come on, when did I ever slack off? I just didn’t do it because I really couldn’t.”
“This shamelessness… yeah, it’s definitely you.”
With a hint of hope in his eyes, he looked at Yujin.
“You really think you can do it?”
“If I truly thought it was impossible, I wouldn’t have given you false hope in the first place. Of course, I still can’t say for sure whether it’s really possible.”
“Now I’m suddenly dying to know. Where exactly is all that confidence coming from?”
“Actually, I was planning to tell you anyway.”
“Huh?”
Yujin did, to some extent, want to maintain a connection with Han-cheol, and he also hoped to receive some help from him. So he decided to reveal what needed to be revealed.
When Han-cheol tilted his head in confusion and looked back at him, Yujin spoke.
“Squad Leader, the truth is… I’m a dragon right now.”
***
“Phew, finally done with the settlement.”
Meanwhile, Hugo’s party, who had gone to the guild for settlement,
They had just finished and were now heading toward Mary’s inn.
“Think it’s okay if I order a drink for the first time in a while?”
“As long as you promise not to overdo it. And I’m speaking by human standards, of course.”
“Tch.”
Crom clicked his tongue at Hugo’s response. But from Hugo’s perspective, it couldn’t be helped; he simply couldn’t afford the cost of a dwarf’s drinking habit.
“This is exactly why we should be brewing our own alcohol. Buying it outside is just way too much of a hassle.”
“Just keep it within reason, Mr. Crom. I’m not saying you can’t drink at all.”
“Jeez, tsk. Expecting me to measure my drinking by human standards is just way too strict! Don’t you think it’s unfair? I am a dwarf, you know.”
“Then let’s have you cover the drink bill, Mr. Crom. I won’t even touch the stuff.”
“You stingy bastard. Keep that up and you’ll go bald in no time.”
Grumbling nonstop, Crom stomped ahead, while Hugo gave a bitter smile and glanced to the side.
“Mirien, is something bothering you?”
“…Not really. It’s nothing.”
Hugo, sensing that something seemed to be troubling the usually quiet Mirien, had asked her a question. But Mirien only shook her head and gave a short reply.
He had thought their relationship had deepened after what happened last time, but was there still some distance between them? Or maybe it was a personal matter she was hesitant to talk about.
Whatever the case, Hugo felt a bit awkward. He scratched his head and spoke in a low voice.
“If something’s bothering you, you can tell me anytime. We’re teammates, after all.”
“…….”
At his words, Mirien fell silent for a moment. Then, thinking of Yujin’s face, she turned to Hugo and opened her mouth to speak.
“…Then, Hugo, do you happen to…”
She was just about to ask how much Hugo trusted Yujin—
“May I interrupt for a moment?”
“!”
“?!”
Someone suddenly spoke to them. As the two turned toward the voice, they saw a woman standing in the shadows of a dark alleyway, as if trying to stay hidden.
“…Professor Reina Sahart?”
Hugo recognized who the woman was and murmured her name.
As expected, it was Reina Sahart.
A professor of magical studies at the academy, and someone who was at least somewhat familiar with Hugo’s party.
Hugo asked,
“What brings you here? More importantly, why are you in a place like that…?”
“I had to sneak out, so I’m not exactly free to move about openly. More importantly, may I have a word with you, Miss Mirien?”
Reina responded to Hugo’s question with a hint of urgency, then turned to Mirien and asked.
Sensing that something was off, Mirien’s expression stiffened, and Hugo also took on a slightly more serious look as he spoke.
“What business do you have with Mirien?”
“I just have a quick question. It won’t take long. Could you spare a moment of your time?”
“……”
At that, Mirien briefly glanced at Hugo. He hesitated for a moment with a thoughtful expression on his face, then turned to her and said,
“What do you want to do? If you want to hear what the professor has to say, I won’t stop you. But if not, I won’t just stand by as the leader.”
“……”
Somewhat reassured by his words, Mirien turned to Reina. There was a hint of desperation in her demeanor; it wasn’t something easy to ignore.
After a moment of thought, Mirien finally spoke to Reina.
“All right. If it’s just for a moment…”
“Thank you so much. Then, please, this way.”
Reina visibly let out a breath of relief at her response and turned around. Mirien looked back at Hugo for a second.
He gave a nod, and Mirien nodded back before following Reina.
And so, Mirien stepped deeper into the alley.
While Hugo waited outside, Mirien and Reina positioned themselves further inside, just the two of them, and began their conversation.
“What is it you wanted to ask?”
“…Professor Yujin.”
“!”
In response to Mirien’s opening question, Reina spoke.
At her words, Mirien flinched and froze, but Reina continued.
“You know something about him, don’t you?”
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