Changes (4)
I was floating again in a hazy state of consciousness. As I tried to focus, I realized it must be a dream.
In the apartment hallway, a man was waiting for the elevator. The boy in the uniform had an incredibly youthful face.
Yeah. It was me. The face of a college freshman before even entering the university.
Back then, it was much different from now. After coming to this world, my appearance had changed even more, but looking at it now, I was even younger then.
In the past, I held a glass of milk and looked at the clock. At that moment, my mom came out of the front door and handed me a piece of toast.
"Take this, son."
"It's fine. I'm not hungry. It's late."
"Hurry. Ah, fast!"
Under force, I had no choice but to bite into the toast. Only then did my mom go inside the house with a satisfied expression.
By now, I had already graduated high school. So I was dreaming of this?
If she finds out I disappeared, she must be very sad. If I could go back, I hope I return before too much time passes. Please don't let it be too late.
"...Mom."
Gradually, the dream faded, and my eyes opened. As I became aware of the forgotten reality, I raised my arm and placed it over my eyelids.
"Master, were you having a nightmare?"
Shit. What the hell? Startled, I immediately sat up from the lying position.
"What are you doing here?"
"This is my room, right? Even as owner, entering someone else's room without permission isn't something I would do. You come in here almost every day. Really."
"Hoo. You, why? Are you missing your mom?"
"Why are you here?"
A warm sensation touched my cheek. Twisting my body from Jane's soft touch, I turned my face away. Even in a world without hand cream, the faint rose scent lingered.
"Maybe you want to go back? To the modern world?"
"What are you saying all of a sudden?"
It wasn't her usual playful tone. It carried a heavy weight. With my lips tightly shut, she pinched my cheek lightly.
"You want to go back? To the modern world?"
"...Isn't that the obvious thing to want?"
I answered with a pout. My goal right now was, of course, returning to the modern world. Nothing good has happened since I came here.
"Hoo. Yeah, I see."
"......"
Jane muttered something like she had realized something. With a displeased expression, she slowly got out of bed.
"But that's something that happens when you've repaid the debt. Master, think carefully. Honestly, hunting the Demon King isn't easy, right?"
"......"
When she said that, it seemed like she was talking to herself rather than to me. It was like a knight making a firm vow.
"And you have to properly repay the debt. Because it's me, I'm letting you sleep here right now. So you should show your gratitude. Right?"
Even I thought she was treating me well. If it wasn't Jane, I wouldn't have received this kind of treatment.
"...If you go to your original world, what are you going to do? It's lucky if you only get bullied. Just stay quietly by my side."
Jane stared at me sharply. Those sharp eyes wouldn't leave me alone if I didn't answer.
"I get it. First, I'm going to sleep a bit more."
There's still some time left, right? She really doesn't sleep? She starts complaining the moment I wake up.
Especially since I drank a lot last night. I needed to stock up on stamina again.
Ah. My eyes were already closing.
She wasn't leaving. What the hell was she doing?
⁕⁕⁕
Under a bright moon on a dark night, shops in the night streets gradually opened their doors. In the window-lined street illuminated by lewd red lights, women were wandering everywhere.
I slowly looked around. Since there were people working, the desolate feeling had mostly disappeared.
Of course, it wasn't because of their own will. I couldn't say they were lively, but...
I quickly entered the room. As soon as the store door opened, Mera-an, who had been waiting in the most spacious room, appeared. Sitting with an elegant posture, she had already been my regular customer several times.
"Sorry. Sister, you waited a lot, right? I missed you."
"Hmph. If you knew, fine. But today, you're staying with me the whole time? Don't go to another room."
"Yeah. Yeah. Got it."
I smiled at Mera-an and quickly scanned my surroundings. Friends had come too. Lucky me.
Today wasn't just Mera-an. As the saying goes, people with similar interests stick together. The women who came with her were all nobles.
"I was curious because of that, so I just brought them."
"Good job. This time, there are many new ones. I'll make them cheap. Bring them and play."
The women beside Mera-an brightened up. Cute.
"Really? Sister, is that okay?"
"Too good. Hurry. Yeah?"
Of course, the decision-maker was Mera-an, who was calculating. It was important to conquer her. In fact, a high duke family, she couldn't even pay that much.
I lightly stroked Mera-an's thigh. After checking her wriggling mouth corner, I struck with a cane.
"Sister, there are fun kids. Yeah? Give me some dignity."
Even if the young ladies here don't like it, it doesn't matter. I can just take on the role of buying the drinks.
Smiling slyly, Mera-an coughed loudly and nodded. Her well-groomed brown hair and dress sparkled in the light.
"Hmph. If you say that, I'll call them once. There have to be guys to play with them too."
Wow. Was that the same guy who threw a liquor bottle while cursing 'ass'? You turned out to be surprisingly easy to seduce.
"Then I'll call them."
"Yeah. No. Just seat all the ones who don't sell."
"Really? Thank you. As expected, only the sister."
The noble ladies who were delighted by Mera-an's large purse, but I had selected only the ones who play well.
In short, the ones good at skinship. Once they drink a bit and make contact, the wallets open easily. Plus, those young ladies already knew the taste of playing with men.
"You look cute."
"How old are you?"
"What perfume did you put on?"
"Where did you come from? Sing a song."
To be honest, it wasn't about skinship, but about accepting. In non-extreme acts, I had given instructions to match moderately.
Soon, fruit and appetizers came in. The women chatted as if teasing the men. I carefully watched the most important one, Mera-an. Expectation was already in her eyes.
"You said you'd make it fun. What are you going to do?"
I hope she wasn't expecting a show. I really couldn't take off my top and jump around.
It couldn't be done. That was the last resort. I still had to be gentle.
"Sister, but I'm hungry."
It was funny, but true. Jane, who usually came and woke me up, but today she didn't wake me, so I couldn't eat and went straight to work.
This happened every time Mera-an came.
"Really? Where's the waiter?"
Mera-an quickly called the waiter. As the newly hired employee rushed in, I lightly scratched Mera-an's thigh and said,
"Sister, give the waiter a tip. He's working hard."
"Yeah. Got it. What do you want to eat?"
"Um... meat. Since I'm eating alone, have the others order too."
Then Mera-an took out gold coins. As a high noble, her purse was huge. Smiling and patting her shoulder, she looked even more excited.
"Take this. Buy something to eat outside."
"Thank you."
Seeing the waiter receiving the money carefully, I was satisfied. As the waiter left, Mera-an looked at me and boasted,
"Ah. First, let's order some alcohol."
"Yeah. Sister, I'll pour it for you."
"Yeah. Anything, quick."
After that, expensive alcohol came in. How much was all that? Mera-an poured it into the glass naturally and drank it. She was quite generous.
"Wow. The alcohol is sweet."
"Hic. Really? Give me just one glass. Lately, there are so many perverts, it's so hard."
Actually, it wasn't that hard. If it was really bad, she would complain to Jane. So I got used to it. As I made an exaggerated act, Mera-an was startled.
"Call the others. There are many men now."
"I need to make money. You know that. I have a lot of debt here."
The atmosphere sank with my words. It wasn't wrong. In fact, she had said she would repay many times, but I refused. In the end, the leash just moved from Jane to Mera-an. Originally, Jane would have refused.
"Hey. Sister, one glass. By the way, no news lately?"
"Yeah. What?"
"That, the Hero Party or something."
Then Mera-an scratched her head.
"Oh. Recently, I heard there were some high-level monsters defeated. Why? Just kiss or something."
"Just~. I'm curious. Got it. Now I'll focus on the sister."
I put my arm around Mera-an's shoulder. As we played shoulder buddies, the sound of giggling laughter was clear. Just like usual, tonight was flowing.
⁕⁕⁕
"That... is that true?"
Yuse's hand, asking that, was trembling. His dirty and dirty pageboy uniform clearly showed his position at the imperial court.
"...Unfortunately. When I went to the store, I couldn't find Master Seong-hyun."
"Wait, wait a moment. You really investigated it accurately, right?"
With those words, Beka shrank a little. Her neatly worn uniform and elegantly tied purple hair shook lightly.
"I searched the entire building and asked the employees. But after that time, no one has seen Master Seong-hyun."
"...Really?"
"Unfortunately, yes. Jane, that woman, also cleverly slipped away. At least, we were to inherit her property and slaves."
Yuse's heart thumped. In the end, the plan he had ambitioned for failed. Rather, it led his master he had briefly served into danger.
Even if it was 'that time,' it must have been the day he planned to run away. If it hadn't been found until now, he might have already met a lonely end.
In the end, without returning. In a place no one knew.
Gradually, tears filled Yuse's eyes. The woman Beka in front of him was watching was of no importance at all.
Perhaps he misjudged because of his nature. Actually, the existence of the foreigner Seong-hyun had left a deep impression on Yuse.
Because he looked like his cousin brother, already sacrificed in a political marriage, whom he played with in childhood. Perhaps he was projecting the appearance of his dead brother.
"Are you all right? Tears don't suit a gentleman like you."
Beka handed Yuse a handkerchief. After a moment of hesitation, he slowly took it and wiped his eyes.
"...Thank you. Lady Beka, you personally investigated and told me..."
"It's fine. Rather than that, doing such rough work. I will immediately..."
In Beka's eyes, which seemed to move at any moment, there was a faint anger. Startled, Yuse hurriedly grabbed her wrist. At that moment, Beka's body stiffened like a plaster statue.
"Please don't do that. I'm fine. I'll handle it myself."
Beka slowly looked at Yuse. Her made-up face was overwhelmingly clear and kind.
"I understand. But please don't forget that Lord is also a noble."
Yuse nodded slightly and left the place to handle the pushed work. The guards who had been standing there for a while also slowly moved their feet.