Encounter in Luplettas
Inside the Lugbelk Kingdom, the place where I would be staying for a few days was a village called Luplettas. Head up for a week and you could reach Bellante, the frontline village closest to the Demon Realm—the first human settlement I'd ever set foot in. Head down for a few days and you'd hit Igverian, right on the border with foreign lands. That made it a popular transit stop. Famous for its sausages, the village also sold plenty of other dried goods and meat, drawing crowds of adventurers and soldiers. Coming here with Kudbeka proved it—the place was packed even at breakfast time.
I lifted the menu, then remembered my near-blindness and let out a sigh. At least Kudbeka was here. I slapped the menu down on the table and slid it over. He picked it up, rotated it to the readable angle for me, and slowly pointed with his finger as he read it off.
"This is the basic meal—sausage and eggs..."
From his explanation, sausage and eggs formed the base, with prices climbing if you added potato salad, corn, pasta, or other sides. No need for extravagance with my small frame—I didn't require much food anyway. After a moment's thought, I added mashed potatoes and waited for the meal. Kudbeka ordered too. Here, unlike before, it would've looked odd for him to stand behind me.
"I really don't know if this is proper."
He meant a servant sharing a table with his master, but that aside, his excessive deference lately felt a touch isolating. Sure, master and servant, but after a week together, he felt more like a friendly companion or a reliable adult. Of course, if this were my original body, we might've opened up more. Or maybe he was kind because I was Lobelia Yuris.
"It's fine, really."
This childish little frame, the heavy breasts weighing down my upper body, these slender, fragile limbs—I was relieved to finally grow accustomed to them. But that was it. The body felt familiar now, yet there was no place in this world for the me who'd taken it over. Living comfortably under Kudbeka's care in Lobelia's skin was one thing, but how far could this last? What if they discovered I wasn't Lobelia Yuris, but Min Siyoon from South Korea? The thought filled me with dread. I no longer feared what he might do, but the mental slack was gone. What remained after fleeing? Lobelia's place existed there, not mine.
As unease flickered through me, our food thudded onto the table. These handmade sausages looked mouthwatering—worthy of the village's fame.
"Please, eat."
Kudbeka sat ramrod straight, watching me take up my utensils. Oh—I grabbed fork and knife, sliced the sausage small. Nearby adventurers ate with hands or speared bites straight to their mouths. Tempting, but I resisted, nibbling a tiny piece. The casing burst with a pop, flooding my mouth with rich aroma and juices. Delicious, if a bit salty. Still worlds better than haphazardly grilled magic beast meat. I nodded in approval, then scooped mashed potatoes to balance the salt.
"Tasty, right?"
"Indeed."
As I chewed, Kudbeka froze mid-motion. What's wrong? Swallowing my bite, I glanced at him. He snapped back, resuming with busy hands. I wouldn't miss that split-second hesitation.
"Something up?"
"Sorry for worrying you. Just a tickle in my throat..."
He gulped water from the glass nearby, insisting all was well. But something was off. What's the difference? Then new customers entered: dark hair blending navy shades into night, brilliant blue eyes. Nothing odd at first glance, but the ornate clothes screamed nobility. A noble? Patrolling personally because he doesn't trust the soldiers? No clue why he was here, but it wasn't due to my absence—no troops swarming, so not my problem. I sliced another piece of sausage.
Then a booming voice rang out. I startled but finished my forkful before turning. Eyes locked on the noble man who'd just entered, Kudbeka leaned in, whispering just for me.
"Milady, it's the Hero."
What the fuck? Why tell me now? And how does he know? Does Lobelia? Anyway, first time seeing him. That's the Hero. Gotta be careful next time. I turned away, back to him, as a voice thick with grudge filled the shop.
"Magic beasts...! I'm seeking clues on the Demon King! Anyone who knows of remnants or traces nearby, tell me...!"
The Hero's cry for the Demon King and magic beasts sounded utterly heartbroken. Angry at my absence? Or something else? Either way, getting caught now spelled disaster—I knew it instinctively.
"Please...!"
His plea tugged at me guiltily. I'd stopped him from unleashing beasts to kill others, so he shouldn't be that hung up on me. Hmm—I folded the soft yolk over, speared sausage atop it, and ate. Half-boiled to save cooking time, or standard here? Smart choice either way. The salt mellowed, flavors blooming richer. Kudbeka focused on his meal too—probably avoiding drawing the Hero's eye. Smart. I'd mimic him.
Soon the Hero stormed out, likely to whine elsewhere. The shop buzzed.
"Heard? Clues on the Demon King."
"What? Didn't he go kill it?"
"Failed, huh. Guess even Heroes don't always win~"
Not their story, so the humans just murmured and moved on.
"He's gone."
I murmured, adjusting my hood. Kudbeka nodded, sighing deeply.
"Yes. I thought we'd been spotted."
I widened my eyes at him. Spotted? He knows Kudbeka's face?}
"You two know each other?"
"He took action at the Demon King's Castle once. We crossed paths then."
"What action...? Kudbeka Mk. 2?"
"Mk...? No, I had an illusion of myself guarding the castle."
What measures had he taken to leave the Hero so desperate? No way to know. I stared at Kudbeka, who cleared his throat.
"Anyway, best I not show my face."
"Got it."
Fair enough. I finished eating, set down my fork and knife with a clink. Kudbeka did the same, wiping his mouth. I rinsed the salt with water, dabbed dry, stood first, and slipped out.
Since we'd prepaid several days at the inn where we'd started staying yesterday, no need to hunt a new room. We headed elsewhere.
"Milady, have you pondered what to do once we reach foreign lands?"
His question on the road made me tilt my head. I'd questioned if I belonged here, but never planned what to do in this body. Fugitives had no goals beyond escape. Secure a safe haven, far from pursuit—that vague aim didn't even feel real to me.
"Well..."
What after fully evading the Hero? Could I live as Lobelia, Demon King, under Kudbeka's care forever? Should I? Pushing doubts aside, I recalled Min Siyoon's dreams: earn big money, live in a nice house with a great woman. The woman was a lost cause, but money? A fugitive's earnings were limited. How to buy a good home on scraps? Reality crashed in, miserable. Kudbeka would help, but leeching eternally? No.
"Earn some coin and farm?"
In the end, I clung to modest hopes. Undeveloped land everywhere—perfect for crops. No hard labor, and a farming Demon King had name-card appeal. Though cursed soil might bury me in failed harvests.
"Farming—what to plant?"
"Dunno... potatoes?"
"Too many already. Fierce competition."
"Oh, right?"
Farming wasn't easy either. Same crops meant struggling here too. Hero not fully shaken, still lingering in the village—better play cautious, plan after leaving the kingdom. Think slowly, I decided, tapping Kudbeka. He chuckled.
"I'll prepare several good ideas."
"Great. If we do, you'll till the land."
"Simple enough."
Reality sucked, but dreaming of happiness brought a smile. Funny how past-life Min Siyoon and present Lobelia Yuris aligned here amid opposites. Though back then, no one chased me. I was confident; she wasn't. Dragging this inefficient body in flight irked me. If granting a new life, why not a normal one? Polishing strength in a fantasy world sounded fun.
"Kudbeka. Thinking of resting at the inn. What do you say?"
They say mind follows body—frail frame meant constant sleepiness I couldn't fight. No "power through with willpower!" here. Light meal anyway; maybe nap. Yawning, I glanced at him. He smiled warmly.
"I'll escort you. And fetch something nice while you rest."
"Nice what?"
"Save the joy for when you receive it."
No idea what grand gift, but escort sounded good. Back at the inn, I handed him the key, locked the door alone, and quietly shut my eyes to melt away the fatigue.