Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Unreasonable Adaptation Period (ft. Leon)
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Though his words were curt, it was undoubtedly impressive.
They had dug up every last weakness in less than a day.
"This bastard embezzled funds, this jerk bribed the school principal. This bitch cheated... and even committed tax evasion with her cousin, this prick?"
It was only natural that nothing would turn up on people who were clean. But these guys? Dirt just kept piling up endlessly.
...To a bewildering degree.
"...Hey, is all this stuff really accurate?"
"It's real! Don't you trust my skills?"
"I swear on my elven name—there's not a shred of Falsehood."
"......"
These guys—no, girls—had unshakeable pride in their skills and heritage, so it couldn't be lies.
'No wonder the kid turned out like such a piece of trash. The parents were the real problem.'
They say you can tell a person's character by looking at their kids... Old sayings never miss the mark.
And so, at present.
"P-Please, forgive me! If my company finds out, I'm dead!"
"Wouldn't it be better to settle this amicably? I can handle the negotiations for you and keep it quiet from everyone else."
"H-How much do you want? I'll pay whatever I can, so how about we just let it slide?"
The guy squirming under his own guilt. The rotten one reeking of decay. Even the whore playing out of her league.
Reminded once more of how worthless humanity could be, Yuseong crushed the vermin beneath his foot—not even worth a wild weed, let alone an azalea bloom.
"No settlements. Just get out of my sight."
For the next three days, they screamed unconditional surrender as Yuseong shook them down completely.
Leon had been deep in a brutal maid purge for a while, but once the "amicable" settlements wrapped up, he returned to his daily routine.
"From now on, every time you score under 80 on a test, that's one hour of boot camp, you worthless shit."
...Correction: a far harsher routine.
The criminal stayed silent, so Leon meekly bowed his head and buckled down on his basic studies.
Being grounded was par for the course, too.
And additionally.
"Your outings are banned for the time being, too."
"Why?!"
"Because this idiot's got a rap sheet now."
"......"
...Leon had become public enemy number one.
"Tell me what you learned from this mess."
"...Huh?"
"Not 'huh'—spit it out. You had a rare experience, so you must have some takeaways."
"......"
"What, cat got your tongue? Why can't you answer?"
"N-No... It's just..."
Leon figured he was in for a scolding.
The issue had resolved smoothly, but Yuseong was the one who'd fixed it. All Leon had done was wait around and take some verbal abuse.
...Not to mention the side-eyes from his comrades.
"What, you want more punishment? When did you switch jobs from hero to pervert, you freak?"
"P-Pervert...?"
The sudden chill in his comrades' gazes—surely for different reasons now—was just his imagination, right?
Leon shot Yuseong a look full of grievance and resentment, but Yuseong didn't flinch, simply waiting for an answer.
Swallowing his injustice, Leon replied.
"...It felt unreasonable."
"What did?"
"The laws... and the people."
"Keep going."
"I thought a world with such advanced tech and progressive social systems would have equally evolved laws and people. But no. If I had to put it... it felt similar to Midgard, just without the class system. No, I couldn't shake the feeling it was even worse."
Those who commit crimes should face fitting punishment, regardless of family or connections. They should know how to condemn sinners.
Humans aren't wise enough to repent just because they're coddled... Everyone knows that, yet they turn a blind eye.
It all stemmed from the irrationality and instability of people and laws.
The core issue? People trying to stand above the law.
"My grandfather once said, 'Laws are made by people, but no person should ever stand above the law.' Yet this country seems full of those trying to do just that. Democracy's a fine system, but it's not flawless."
Equality is great. But ignoring corruption in its name, projected on screens under the guise of "juvenile detention centers"?
Not that it's bad. Or wrong.
Just...
"Stagnant. Like they were desperately ignoring the problems."
Leon spoke his honest feelings.
Yuseong's gaze shifted to Valian next.
"The irrationality I felt was in what counts as 'strength.' In this world, money and power define strength and dominate everything—that feeling wouldn't fade. Of course, money and power aren't absolute. You showed me this world has its own ways of fighting."
Valian stared steadily at Yuseong.
The strongest human he'd seen here, in raw power or otherwise.
A 'true strong one' who toppled foes not just with fists, but words and actions.
"...'For now,' I couldn't think of a way to beat him."
The barbarian's battle instincts yearned for a clash with this powerhouse. His eyes burned with competitive fire.
"...Humans are just humans in the end. Ungrateful, clueless. But... not as repulsive as Midgard. Yeah. I don't hate it."
Alicia remembered.
No one saw her as a slave. They showed desire, but it felt more like instinct toward a beautiful artwork than ugliness. She recalled passersby who carefully stepped aside without approaching.
That alone made this world livable for her.
Even without...
her kin.
With Alicia's thoughts, the brief modern-world impressions wrapped up.
"Well... the end wasn't great. But you all took something away from it."
That was enough.
"Don't forget these feelings. No matter how irrational, filthy, or sordid it seems... this is the world you all have to adapt to. 'A place like this.'"
As everyone mulled over their personal answers, one woman approached Yuseong with lingering curiosity.
"Luke."
"...What now?"
"...I have a question."
"These guys are so full of questions..."
"If it's inconvenient, I'll come back tomorrow."
"...Forget it. Just ask now."
"Th-Thank you. It's just... why didn't you get mad at Leon?"
"......"
"D-Don't look at me like that. I'm genuinely curious. Leon ended up defying your orders. He knew he was wrong. Yet you didn't say a word—just let it slide. I was just wondering why..."
"Figures it'd be something trivial."
No matter how much he glared accusingly, Sylvia just gave a wry smile and waited patiently for an answer.
Yuseong chewed his lip.
He clearly didn't want to talk, but this tenacious, bothersome saintess showed no signs of backing off.
"Those guys just said it, right? A world full of irrationality."
"Yes."
"But... sometimes, you fight that irrationality."
It could be meddlesome, or fizzle out as pointless interference.
But sometimes, very rarely...!
"...That meddling turns out right."
"...Pardon?"
"You wouldn't get it."
The irrationality they described—who saw it every single day?
None other than Yuseong himself, a resident of this world.
Whether from his innate rebellious streak or sheer disgust at trash strutting around, he couldn't stomach seeing them thrive.
"It happens sometimes. Victims drowning in past trauma, while perpetrators live happily ever after... You think that's right?"
"...Well..."
"It disgusts me. If you ruin someone's life, you pay the price. Same with those trash this time."
"S-So you're saying...?"
"Yeah, I hate the bastard, he's a goddamn pain...!"
He hated to admit it, but... this once.
"This time, I thought his meddling was right. That's all..."
So yeah, it annoyed him, but there was no reason to blow up.
None.
Io smiled warmly.
Just yesterday he'd sulked over being called a pushover—her simple joy now was endearing.
Were all goddesses this kind-hearted, or was it just his nature...?
Io saw Yuseong's prickly personality as a defense mechanism forged from a decade of harsh sights.
Too many wounds, so thorns became instinct...
She just felt pity, and sorrow for his thorny decade.
Io felt her duty was weighty.
Helping her daughter and the others adapt mattered, but soothing this wounded boy's scars was a goddess's role too!
Io indulged her habit of seeing the best in everything.
And then.
"......"
"...Don't ever say that in front of Luke. Strongly recommend against it."
"Trust me, it's better for your health."
"......"
Luxy secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
If she'd said that to Luke's face... that day...
'Goddess, you'd lose your avatar.'
She cautiously predicted he'd snap her in half, body and all—the wise Luxy.
…
……
Though Yuseong said he could stop the chores, Leon kept voluntarily cleaning the bathroom and yard afterward.
He'd learned a lot from the incident and couldn't bear the shame without self-flagellation like this.
In the early dawn, as Leon swept the yard, he sensed a presence.
"Who's there!"
"Eek...!"
"...?"
A childish voice.
Blurred by morning mist, but definitely a kid's face—looked like a student.
"You...?"
"S-Sorry...!"
"...? "
The child bowed frantically in panic and bolted away.
What the hell...?
"Mailbox?"
Aram, who managed Yuseong's house 24/7, informed him. Curious, Leon checked the mailbox.
"This... a letter? What's it say...?"
Thanks to the goddess's blessing, he could use the language, but Korean? Still at kindergarten level, at best.
"Uh, okay..."
Aram checked the letter for the illiterate Leon. Soon, she sounded puzzled.
"...Huh?"
"......"
In a world with no acquaintances, Leon froze at the letter addressed to him, but followed Aram's instructions and opened it.
Who could it be from?
"...What?"
"Th-Then that boy just now...!?"
Leon finally understood why the boy had fled, though it still felt odd.
Why leave him a letter?
"......"
"......"
"......"
Leon stood frozen like a stone statue, staring blankly into the morning mist.
The spot where the hesitant boy had left the letter moments ago.
"Yeah... What I did... wasn't meaningless after all..."
One might say a single letter means nothing.
But
'For me, this is enough.'
Sometimes, to someone, a single letter holds the world.
Like now.
For the first time since falling into this world,
Leon could wear a bright smile, free of shadows.