Chapter 303: Myself
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 303: Myself
Unlike Choi Seulgi, who was uncertain, Jeong Ji-young was in surprisingly good shape. If I had learned one thing from our recent conversation, it was that no matter what I did, it would be impossible to make Ha Yuri feel anything like love for me.
Even in the worst of situations, Ha Yuri was still Ha Yuri.
I had considered bringing in Lee Wanyong and having him transform into the Sword Saint’s likeness, but for now, Jeong Ji-young was the most suitable candidate. He had been closer to Ha Yuri than anyone, a loyal retainer who had ultimately thrown his life on the line to save her.
He wasn’t bad-looking, either, and I figured he was the best man for the job. The fact that they had supposedly slept together made it even better. As I entered the prison cell, he came into view. His entire body was bound in chains, a sight far removed from the shape of a human being.
“Hmm… he’s not in great condition.”
At my words, Choi Seulgi nodded. He had pulled the spear from Ha Yuri’s body amidst a deluge of blood and fire, shielding her from every attack with his own body. There was no way he would be unscathed. In fact, it was a miracle he was even alive. He was clinging to life with holy power, but he would die the moment we stopped intervening.
“We should treat him first.”
“Okay.”
We spent a full day treating him. The doll, whose form was too wretched to be called human, gradually began to regain its former shape. Only after using the clan’s shamans, priests, and a great many potions was he able to recover to some extent.
Wrapped in bandages from head to toe, the man’s vacant eyes fluttered open, and the first thing he saw must have been my face and Choi Seulgi’s. He seemed to be glaring at us with hatred, but that was of little concern to me.
“Lady Ha Yuri is…”
“Alive.”
“Huu…”
To ask for his queen the moment he opened his eyes—he was a truly loyal knight. This man wasn't normal either, and I was baffled as to how someone like him had gotten hooked by Ha Yuri. As I continued to stare at him, he let out a sigh and spoke with great effort.
“The war… we lost.”
“That’s right. The West and South have fallen into the hands of the North and East. The war criminals are all either dead or rotting in prison. The same goes for Ha Yuri. She’s impaled by a spear in an underground cell, waiting for someone to save her. Screaming all day long…”
“………………………………”
He said nothing, just glared at me with defiance in his eyes.
“I don’t understand how a guy like you got hooked by a whore like that.”
“……………………….”
A brief silence hung in the air.
“You would not understand. She is my sun.”
“Whether I understand or not isn’t what’s important. What’s important is whether you and Ha Yuri get to live or die.”
“You’ll let us live?”
“If things go well… though you might find that dying would have been better…”
I trailed off, and he nodded. For a guy from the West, he was surprisingly reasonable. In fact, Jeong Ji-young’s reputation hadn’t been all that bad back when he was in the West. He probably would have made a greater name for himself if he had served under someone other than Ha Yuri.
“What do I have to do?”
“We’ll figure that out as we go. For now, you know better than anyone that you can’t fully recover your body as it was. If you try anything stupid, I’ll kill you immediately. Both you and that woman.”
He nodded at my words. He would probably do anything if it meant the Sword Saint could live. I would have done the same if Choi Seulgi had been in that situation.
In any case, he was immediately moved to the same cell where the Sword Saint was being held. He was completely bound, of course, but he would be good company for Ha Yuri. As I was lost in thought, Choi Seulgi began to bite her nails anxiously and spoke to me.
“Kim Taesung, what if this doesn’t work either?”
“There’s nothing else we can do. If even this fails, it might be easier to just give up.”
“Hmm…”
“But I have a feeling it might just work.”
“What makes you say that…?”
“Darkness has a way of making people a little more honest. It’s about time for our daily drama to start. Shall we watch together?”
At my words, Choi Seulgi nodded and smiled. The tragedy they felt was a comedy to us. Hoping for a decent drama to begin, Choi Seulgi and I entered the tent.
Directed by Blood Dagger, starring Ha Yuri and Jeong Ji-young. It was going to be a rather heart-wrenching love story.
Since Choi Seulgi and I didn’t want to interrupt their private time, Elia came over from the East herself. We also brought in Lee Jihee from the special effects team to disperse a little something to improve the atmosphere. Of course, this wouldn’t be built in a day.
In fact, during the first broadcast of this heart-wrenching drama, only Jeong Ji-young’s voice could be heard. He was no doubt thinking about our purpose for putting him in there with her. I prefer it when the emotional arc builds up slowly rather than igniting all at once. Thanks to that, I ended up talking more with Elia on the first day.
“Elia.”
“Yes, Chieftain.”
“How is Alisha doing?”
“She’s fighting with my eld… sis… no, that ungrateful… b-bitch. It seems there aren’t many casualties, but… Ah! A-Actually, I think Alisha misses you from time to time, Chieftain. If it wouldn’t be too much trouble…”
“I’ll pay her a visit after this is over.”
It seemed she was still fighting her eldest sister in the elven lands. I don’t remember much of the conversation after that.
The second and third days were just as uneventful. Jeong Ji-young’s groans could be heard intermittently, but Ha Yuri remained silent. It would have been nice if she were feeling guilty, but that didn’t seem to be the case.
Even so, from my and Choi Seulgi’s perspective, just watching them was a pleasure.
It wasn’t a violent and satisfying revenge, but there was a certain joy in watching the seeds we had planted slowly begin to sprout. The Sword Saint first opened her mouth exactly one week later. Choi Seulgi and I were so thrilled that we clasped hands as we watched the dramatic scene. Words couldn’t describe how happy we were.
The sight of a man and a woman, bodies bound, staring at each other in a dark room was quite provocative on its own. In the midst of it all, Ha Yuri slowly opened her mouth.
- Those motherfucking bastards must have ordered you to do something. You incompetent fool.
- It is as I told you when I first arrived. They have demanded nothing of me.
- You fucking bastard! You think I’d believe you?
- Whether you believe me or not is your choice, but I am telling the truth.
For someone speaking to the knight who had laid down his life for her, she was as bitchy as ever. Choi Seulgi watched the scene and muttered in disbelief.
“Kuh… what a complete bitch.”
It was an undeniable fact. It wasn’t the ideal first conversation, but what mattered was that Ha Yuri had spoken. I couldn’t confirm whether she was feeling lonely as Isaac had said, but as a little more time passed, I couldn’t help but feel that Isaac had been right. The more time went on, the more their conversations became mundane.
- The moment I escape this place, I’m going to kill them all. All of them. Especially that demon bastard and that Choi Seulgi bitch, I’ll really…
- Yes… If it is you, Lady Ha Yuri, it is possible.
- Can you pull this spear out now?
- I wish I could, but I cannot move my body.
- Useless piece of shit.
- I apologize.
It was the same even after more time had passed.
- Why did you rush in back then?
- I simply recalled the time you first saved me, Lady Ha Yuri.
- You stupid fool. I don’t even remember that.
- You saved me in Aia, when I was awaiting execution.
- Ah. Now I remember. That was because I thought you’d be useful, not because I felt sorry for you or anything. And you did become my faithful dog, didn’t you?
- Yes. I was your faithful dog, Lady Ha Yuri. Hahaha.
It was for such a trivial reason. I didn’t know what he’d been caught up in, but Jeong Ji-young had probably been framed, and just before his execution, Ha Yuri, judging him to be useful, had extended a hand to save him. It might have been a trivial gesture to her, but for him, it had likely become his reason to live. As the story grew more interesting, I immediately turned to Choi Seulgi.
“I feel a little sorry for Jeong Ji-young.”
“Sorry for what? That bastard’s the same as her. He was too busy defending the Sword Saint to give a damn about anyone beneath him. Fuck, you’re too nice for your own good.”
I am by no means nice. It was just that watching this drama from Jeong Ji-young’s perspective was making me think all sorts of things.
- What did you say you did back on Earth?
- I was a teacher.
- And you, Lady Ha Yuri…
- You don’t need to know.
“Argh! Fucking crazy bitch, I really want to kill her!”
Watching the situation, Choi Seulgi started to get angry. It was a natural reaction.
“Isn’t Jeong Ji-young just a fucking idiot? How can he be like that?”
“It might be better this way. Let’s just wait for the results.”
A little more time passed. During this period, Mev and Jung Hayeon safely completed their dungeon expedition and returned, and the temple managed by Lee Wanyong and Baek Ahyeon was nearing completion. Jang Ye Ri also continued to expand her territory, and the Green Skins and humans began to build a great wall together in the North.
“I hope today’s a little more interesting. Don’t you think it’s been dragging a bit lately?”
“Just wait a little longer.”
Watching this drama amidst our busy lives was a simple pleasure for Choi Seulgi and me.
- Hey.
- Yes.
- Aren’t you hungry?
- The orcs come in from time to time and bring food, do they not?
- You call that food? And why do they only give it to you?
- Perhaps they do not give you any because you have no need to eat, Lady Ha Yuri. Unlike you, I will die if I cannot eat or sleep. It truly makes me wonder if you are human.
- I am a god. And the gods of myth always rise up after overcoming adversity. You will be remembered for a long time in history as my first apostle.
- It is an honor.
The situation was getting better and better. Choi Seulgi seemed to realize it too, as she nodded.
“The atmosphere isn’t bad.”
“It means what Isaac said about her being lonely was true after all. It’s a far cry from love… but it’s not a bad situation.”
“Ugh, fuck… I have work to do, but I don’t want to leave. It’s so annoying, I want to keep watching…”
“I’ll call you right away if anything happens. Go get it done. It looks like they’ll be quiet for a while.”
“Alright.”
Watching Ha Yuri and Jeong Ji-young have all sorts of conversations made me think that, unexpectedly, Jeong Ji-young’s presence might be important to her. He was probably one of the few people to whom she could show her true self. I didn’t know what that meant to her, nor did I want to know, but what was important was that this man was a little different from the others.
And now, after quite some time had passed…
- Hey.
- Why… do you stay by my side?
I had a feeling the climax was approaching.