Chapter 110
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: Fellow Countrymen
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Under the empire's reign, the Central Plains maintained a society so prosperous it was incomparable to the history of his previous life.
Consistent administrative power naturally presupposed unified standards of measurement.
The name of the system was the Chi-Gwan method.
Park Ji-hoon screamed the moment he learned about it.
The nightmare of yard-pound units, where conversions constantly spat out ugly decimals and lacked any correlation between units, making calculations a tedious hassle.
However, upon closer inspection, it wasn't the chaotic mess of rampant decimals he had imagined.
Rather than rough estimates based on footstep widths or arm lengths, it was an advanced system grounded in precise physical quantities.
It merely used names like chi or gwan, but compared to the vomit-inducing yard-pound, it was positively angelic.
Since established units were already in common use and eminently rational, there was no reason not to follow them. Thus, Park Ji-hoon quickly resolved to adapt to the empire's Chi-Gwan system.
In this way, it wasn't an exaggeration to say his second life was a process of adaptation.
Days spent living in a world where the unscientific concept of qi truly existed, brimming with mysteries and wonders.
Forging iron from air, objects unbreakable by any physical force, tearing and mending space with personal power...
Each time he confronted these shocking realities that outright defied the laws of physics, he learned to calmly analyze and interpret their principles rather than doubting his eyes or crying illusion.
In short, the current Park Ji-hoon had developed a steel heart unshaken by most things.
"Where are you from, if I may ask?"
"…Pardon?"
Stunned momentarily by the sudden question in his previous life's language, he narrowed his eyes and began interpreting the situation.
This world was different from his past life; even if landmasses looked similar, their sizes could differ by several times.
Naturally, the empire's official language wasn't Chinese, and though the script resembled hanja, it followed a distinct system.
Western tongues weren't English either, and even if it mirrored historical eras from his original timeline, accents and grammar couldn't match the modern exactly.
All circumstances led to one conclusion, so Park Ji-hoon judged swiftly.
"You must be from the same hometown as me."
"Oh my, I suspected as much, and it really is true?"
Unlike So-hyang, who smiled softly in delight, Park Ji-hoon's expression subtly stiffened.
In this world farther than any distant land, they were fellow countrymen, but his previous life's Earth had been vast too.
Even sharing the same nationality didn't guarantee benign intentions.
Unbidden anxiety welled up, suspicion filling his eyes.
"No particular reason for coming; don't worry. I just got curious seeing railroads laid here."
"…!"
And So-hyang read that suspicion.
More than mere doubt, her milky-white gaze began probing deeper secrets.
"From your accent, you're Korean, right? Same nationality too—this coincidence is something."
"…Yes?"
Park Ji-hoon doubted his ears.
The English he'd spoken amounted to just a few sentences. Guessing his original nationality from accent alone—was that even possible—
"Your lectures are so systematic and clean; your education must be impressive. Which university did you attend...?"
Her eyes sparkling as she read his facial muscles and whole-body movements, attuning her ears to the rhythm of his heartbeat and blood flow—
"Not KAIST... then Korea University? Ah, a fine school graduate."
No need for verbal answers; his physical reactions sufficed for conversation.
"Hey, what are you—"
"Turns out I attended the same school. Dropped out midway, but still alumni, right?"
Same world, same country, same school—what a coincidence. So-hyang beamed, patting his shoulder as she cozied up.
Asking herself, nodding in satisfaction without reply.
Unable to keep pace with the whirlwind dialogue, Park Ji-hoon froze—then gasped as she closed in abruptly.
"Wait, huff…!"
Her faint, sweet body scent infiltrating his nostrils; her voluptuous figure asserting itself even through clothes.
Even the shocking glimpse of pale skin and intimate areas from before replayed in his mind.
He felt blood rushing southward, hastily bowing at the waist.
"Y-you, what...! Get away!?"
Sensing inexplicable crisis, the dean shrieked and pried them apart.
"Ahem, sorry. Met such a delightful connection, got carried away..."
"…No, what's delightful about it? Don't just get it yourself—explain."
In truth, So-hyang's exchange had been less dialogue and more one-sided intel gathering.
Even Park Ji-hoon grasped somewhat, but the dean couldn't fathom what she knew to nod and rejoice.
So-hyang beamed, explaining to the frustrated dean.
A soul from another world obtaining a second life via possession and reincarnation.
Coincidentally sharing world, nationality, even education—hence her delight at fellow countrymen.
"So, a reincarnator from another world..."
Somehow his hidden truth spilled; Park eyed the dean with anxious fear.
Worries harbored: thief stealing another's body, fraud masquerading genius, demonic spirit—such treatment...
"D-Dean, I didn't mean to deceive..."
"No, I knew you were reincarnated."
"…Yes?"
"Come on, what do you take a Star Messenger for?"
The dean pointed incredulously at his eyes flickering with blue flames.
High vantage insight piercing souls and essences.
No complexity; it was simply visible.
"Reincarnators remembering past lives aren't common but not rare."
Upon death, souls ride reincarnation's wheel, past memories flowing into Lethe's river—yet sometimes retained.
Unlike wicked soul-theft arts, merely happenstance retaining forgotten past.
Thus, Park's worries were just that: needless.
The dean's reason for not prying into his past identity or knowledge source was simple.
"…Thought when you truly trusted me, you'd tell me yourself."
"Ah..."
Waiting patiently without pressing, proof of trust and respect.
Deep gratitude and relief dawned on Park Ji-hoon's face.
The lingering knot from his precious second chance dissolved.
"…Well, didn't know it was another world's soul. You show no signs."
At Park's emotive gaze, the dean blushed faintly, averting eyes.
"Oh my..."
Watching their exchange, So-hyang covered her mouth, smiling softly.
Sunny rays through the window blessed them; truly summer.
"…Whatever method you used dug up my background thoroughly. Care to introduce yourself?"
"Ahaha, etiquette demands it, right?"
So-hyang smiled sheepishly, opening up.
"Nothing to boast about, but in my previous life, I was fairly famous."
A madman wielding a sword in a modern era long past cold weapons.
Guinness collector ignoring physics and medicine repeatedly.
Swordsman deflecting bullets and shells.
The one who razed Fortress of Nine Dragons, single-handedly dismantled a Mexican warlord. Terrorist of terrorists.
Ignoring law and morals, acting on whim—a transnational criminal fugitive...
So-hyang introduced herself with milder, well-known exploits.
But Park's reaction differed from her expectation...
"What... are you talking about manga or game settings?"
He gaped in absurdity and disbelief.
"…Hm?"
"No Mexico for starters—what you describe sounds like the Toltec state in America... Something's off."
"No Mexico... you say?"
"Yes, never heard of it."
Their info diverged.
Park's Earth and So-hyang's largely matched but differed in details.
Existence of certain nations, historical kings' names, event dates.
And So-hyang herself.
Denying knowledge of the enigmatic madman who upended the world with one sword.
"Worldlines branching at key events... a parallel world, perhaps."
Their past lives: similar yet distinct worlds, not quite fellow countrymen.
"Hm, disappointing. Thought I'd met a true compatriot."
So-hyang nodded readily; Park suggested she leave as sunset colored the window.
"…W-well, it's late. Shall we continue this later?"
"Ah, evening indeed."
Courteous words, clear dismissal—yet So-hyang accepted gladly, unoffended.
After So-hyang's friendly farewell to the dean and Park, his face drained pale.
"-Uh, heh, uheeeek…!"
"Huh!? What's wrong suddenly!?"
Legs buckling, he crumpled to the floor, cold sweat pouring like rain.
It was a lie.
Park Ji-hoon knew So-hyang.
He'd even seen her in person.
When his advisor visited America for international research collaboration, tagging along as assistant.
Among them, at the US Department of Defense HQ—the Pentagon...
One day, the main entrance cleaved in two as an old man stepped in.
"Pleased to meet you, young folks. Fine evening."
Strolling leisurely like a park walk, smiling warmly, greeting politely.
"I know dropping in unannounced is rude, but I heard you developed a new material here."
Barrage of bullets for intruder met by fluid yet precise sword swings, all deflected.
"No intent for theft, damage, or secrets—just 3kg of that new material. Please cooperate."
Paralytic gas from vents, floor currents, arriving reinforcements—all futile.
"Ah, this must be the new material...?"
Thus, the old man sauntered to the Pentagon's core, taking only his target.
"Here, payment. Generous amount for repairs and treatments."
Dropping a bag stuffed with crisp laundered dollars, he departed whence he came.
Park witnessed it all.
Modern civilization's might nullified by one individual.
Chaos unbound by morals or laws, following personal creed.
His world crumbling, worldview shattered...
That event etched as trauma in Park Ji-hoon.
Until death—and beyond.
In short, his recent lie was a defense mechanism.
No desire for her inscrutable attention.
Pretend ignorance of her existence.
Instantly fabricating backstory, aligning plausibility, spinning theory...
Like an ostrich head-in-sand, but fear prompts irrational choices.
"U, uuu... Shouldn't have...!"
Regaining senses, soul-freezing terror shuddered through him.
Monster reading truth from face and words, peering into heart. Should've been honest—why lie...!
"Eh, she'll be fine...? Your acting was top-notch! Even I couldn't spot the lie..."
Overwhelming fear and survival instinct birthed flawless deception.
Instantly plausible, immersed to the point of self-belief while speaking.
Seemed utterly truthful even to the elevated dean's eyes.
"…R-really?"
Park finally breathed relief, easing tension.
"Am I that scary?"
Of course, So-hyang had pierced Park's lie from the start.
But could she bully a kid remembering and fearing her past self into admitting he knew her?
Desperately feigning ignorance, she'd play along.
"Tch, should I treat him to hometown food...?"