Chapter 19: Imprisonment (4)
Depressing.
If I had to define my current state of mind, that was it.
What was I even doing here?
I could only guess that quite a bit of time had passed.
About two weeks maybe.
There was no way to count precisely, so the exact amount remained unclear.
In the modern world, the greatest happiness had been lying comfortably under the covers while scrolling on my phone.
Ah. I don’t even remember it anymore.
Even a computer or television would have been more bearable than this.
To long for such luxuries in my current situation would make me a heartless person, but I was completely cut off from the outside world now.
What am I going to do now?
I lifted the pillow and muttered to myself.
The longer I was alone, the more I started talking to myself.
I had once heard that the thing most vulnerable to turning a person is loneliness.
I wasn’t particularly sociable to begin with, but I never imagined I would start feeling so exasperated that I couldn’t keep my mouth shut.
The only person I could talk to was Jane.
Maybe she was busy, because the frequency of her visits was extremely irregular.
How ridiculous. I can’t even be concerned about the woman who imprisoned me.
I should be worrying about myself.
I had asked her to let me go several times already, but…
Still not yet. Sorry.
Jane’s face showed zero remorse.
She simply told me to wait.
How much longer?
Stop provoking me so much. You didn’t show any trust from the very beginning, so this is what you get.
I’m already grateful you haven’t fired me just for not letting me go to work.
Her expression looked genuinely angry.
I had no choice but to close my mouth before I could say that going to work would be better.
Was every problem really my fault?
What if I hadn’t run away?
It was already in the past, but I still wondered.
What if Yu Seonghyun hadn’t helped me…?
Maybe I wouldn’t have ended up in this situation.
!!!
My own resentment toward Yu Seonghyun popped into my head unbidden.
I shook it off hard.
Even for a moment, the thought disgusted me.
I didn’t appreciate the help he gave me.
I was so ungrateful.
Since coming to this world, nothing had gone right.
My personality had even gotten worse.
Had I always been this useless?
I should have gone to school like usual.
Why did this have to happen to me?
Why the subway in particular!
Just sitting here, my mind kept wandering.
I kicked the crumpled blanket on the floor with my foot.
The white blanket that fell to the ground looked just like my situation.
All right. First, I should move.
Clink-clink.
With the shackles on my legs, I left the bedroom and headed to the kitchen.
Drinking water from the cup made my mind feel a little clearer.
I told myself to be optimistic.
Humans are adaptable creatures.
I had gotten used to this imprisonment.
Think about it.
Surprisingly, Jane wasn’t treating me too badly.
As long as I kept her mood right, she brought me delicious food every day and took good care of me.
Thinking about it, what was so different from being a pillar?
When Jane wasn’t around, I would go to the bathroom to bathe and eat the food she prepared.
I would see Jane watching me sleep, but I pretended not to notice.
There was one saving grace.
No one had found out about my ankle injury.
Maybe that was why she always shouted whenever she tried to touch it.
She must have had some conscience, even if her expression showed guilt.
Sigh.
The real problem was that she never touched my body at all.
Actually, that was what I couldn’t understand the most.
Well, I wasn’t planning to do anything either.
Normally, people would think the reason for this was love or desire
for me.
But I had no such expectations.
Master, think it over.
Who else will take care of you if it’s not me?
Jane’s smiling face was filled with a strange mix of satisfaction and obsession.
Even while looking at me, her gaze projected onto someone else, which was unsettling.
I don’t want you to be coquettish.
You just need to stay like this.
It’s that simple, right?
Unless you can’t even do that properly?
Is Jane seeing someone through me?
Given the situation, I had developed insomnia.
I tried to fix it, but the dreams where I met Yu Inna stopped after that.
She’s coming, isn’t she?
But I knew.
If she could come, she would have by now.
She had acted like she would come.
Why had I been sent to this world because of me?
I forgave her for saying there was a reason.
But my heart hurt.
A sense of anxiety that I couldn’t just wait began to grow.
I needed to make a more proactive plan.
⁕⁕⁕
Creak—!
The door opened and Jane returned.
The corners of her beautiful face, with its slender lines, lifted slightly.
What?
Jane’s expression, which had seemed irritable, suddenly softened.
Her slightly widened eyes sparkled as she walked over to where I was sitting.
Master, do you know how to cook too?
Surprise leaked into her voice.
My cooking skill wasn’t that great, but if it meant I could lower my guard, it was worth it.
Hmm. What’s her scheme?
Could she have put something in the poison?
There’s nothing like that.
I speared a piece of food I had cooked myself with a fork and slowly chewed it.
Only then did Jane, holding a spoon, let out a snicker.
It was a joke.
If it’s the master’s choice, then dying is fine.
…What are you saying?
Really, I should have tried putting poison in it.
But I couldn’t get it in the first place.
Hmm. What is it?
What?
Why aren’t you doing something pretty?
Jane’s face, which looked a bit drowsy, was like a cat that had just woken up.
Her shoulders were bare, and the dress kept slipping down carelessly.
It tastes good.
Master, should I marry you?
Just eat.
For now, let’s probe a bit.
T, is something wrong?
Starting as concerned as possible.
Huuung. Why?
She must have looked tired when she came in.
But now she was smiling brightly while eating.
A good reaction.
Why did you come so late compared to usual?
This is touching.
Did you wait for me, master?
Why is she smiling like that?
I recalled fairy tales from my childhood.
The traveler’s clothes could be stripped off by the scorching heat, not the cold wind.
First, I decided to stimulate the emotions.
Even if it wasn’t touching on family, this was the only method that came to mind right now.
Oh right.
The clothes I’m wearing now.
You said they belonged to your father, right?
…Yes.
Who was he?
This is great.
So you’re finally interested in me?
I picked up the cup on the table and drank it.
Thirst was quenched by the lukewarm water.
If you don’t want to say, then don’t.
I only asked because I wanted to know.
In my mind, I thought of other topics.
But when I set down the spoon, Jane casually spat out a word without hesitation.
A good person.
…Ah.
Is my tone strange?
He raised and loved me.
He only suffered.
That’s all.
Raising a child alone as a man isn’t common, is it?
She seemed somewhat relieved while saying that.
This isn’t it.
Why are you laughing?
Because of that annoying ankle.
It’s funny to imagine master cooking.
I’m not laughing at all.
Yes.
It’s cute.
Jane propped her chin up.
I wanted to hit her because it was annoying.
By the way, how’s the ankle?
Eh?
Jane got up from the chair and walked over to me.
She knelt down.
Soon she reached both hands toward my leg.
Don’t touch it!!!!
Ah. Okay.
Don’t be scared, master.
I won’t touch you.
I yelled and went back to my seat.
I had better start the main topic slowly.
…Isn’t our trust built up to this level?
I’m also feeling suffocated.
Will you please take this off?
Hmm? If I take it off, you’ll run away again.
…Where do I have to go?
Jane smiled faintly.
She made an expression that looked genuinely worried.
Master has no place to go, right?
So you have to be by my side.
That’s not right.
If you really think about me, you shouldn’t say that.
You broke my ankle too.
Clink.
I’m sorry.
I’m sorry.
You didn’t even show me your ankle while apologizing!
Is that how an apologizing person acts?!
THUD!!
You only have that self-important body!!
Jane, who had suddenly taken off, slammed the table.
I had no words to say.
It was just that in this messed-up relationship, any further persuasion felt too heavy.
⁕⁕⁕
Before the sun set, the Hero Party arrived at another village.
Compared to the previous small village, it had a peaceful and lively commercial district.
After purchasing all the necessary items, they gathered in front of the fountain.
The town center in this bustling village was filled with people coming and going.
It’s not expensive, so don’t feel burdened.
I know you love me too much, right?
Of course.
The watch is so wonderful.
I love you too.
A man and woman who looked like a couple were tightly hugging.
The item the man had given to the woman, compared to the simple clothes she was wearing, was so noticeable.
It was a luxury watch that was clearly expensive at first glance.
Looking at the noble or extravagant watches, the man smiled in satisfaction.
It suits me so much.
I’ll give you a better one next time.
Really? Um. What would be good?
Soon after, the couple left somewhere.
Eili’s pointed ears, watching them, twitched oddly.
Look at those two going to the inn.
They’re making so much noise.
Should I just steal them?
Leave them alone.
Just looking at them, the woman seems like a pushover.
Even the saint can say that?
It’s troublesome.
But isn’t learning a life lesson cheaply by just getting a watch?
Plus, if they’re both satisfied, that’s fine.
Eili’s long silver hair swayed in the wind.
Her holy robe fluttered, showing off her graceful figure.
You too.
Your personality is unique.
Better than a pervert elf full of lewd thoughts.
Isn’t the saint supposed to be pure?
What are you saying, saint?
Uugh.
When I go back to the temple, I’ll write down that the elf race is crazy about men.
Even though they were quarreling now, in battle they were serious comrades who protected each other’s backs.
While laughing at their conversation, Sienna muttered while looking at passing couples.
When the demon king is defeated, I’ll really have a boyfriend.
That’s naive.
I’ll have two.
Eili shouted as if she had been waiting.
Because her voice was too loud, people’s attention focused on her, so she immediately closed her mouth.
Sienna approached Yu Inna, who had been silently watching them.
Are you still upset because you couldn’t go to the capital?
Ah. No.
Yu Inna smiled slightly.
She fiddled with the armor she was wearing.
It was sturdy and firm defense gear.
It was one of the most expensive she had ever worn, in its price range.
Her growth had been the fastest, but she was the weakest among the party members.
For now.
So she had to become even stronger.
Now, let’s head back to the inn.
Elina, who had finished her errand, walked over wearing a robe.