Chapter 117: The Maid and the Master-3
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 117: The Maid and the Master-3
"Did something happen?"
In-ho asked as he noticed Emma’s face, which looked even more strained than before.
Emma looked at him with an apologetic expression, seeking his forgiveness.
"I am sorry for causing you concern, Master."
"No, no. It’s fine. People have bad moods sometimes. I was just curious about what happened. It looked like he was being quite persistent with his pitch."
"Were you... watching?"
"I have a good view from here."
His finger pointed toward the wide window. Beyond the glass, he could see not only the front of the mansion but also the main gate where Emma had been speaking with Hans just moments ago.
"......"
A grinding sound came from Emma’s mouth as she gritted her teeth.
"Well, people in sales have to be thick-skinned sometimes. Don't hate him too much. They’re just working hard to make a living."
In-ho spoke based on his own assumptions, not knowing the exact details of their conversation. He figured the man had probably been pestering her to buy something.
In-ho had been startled when the man suddenly grabbed her shoulder, but he figured it was no different from the phone solicitors at Gangnam Station who would grab women by the hand to drag them into their shops.
However, given the somewhat conservative atmosphere of this society, he couldn't quite gauge the level of shame Emma might have felt.
To survive in this dimension, In-ho desperately needed Emma.
She was his teacher, providing information he didn't know, and his helper, assisting a body that wouldn't move as he wished. To put it bluntly, if she harbored any ill will, In-ho wouldn't last three days before dying.
But is there even a reason to live?
As always, a fundamental question surfaced in In-ho’s mind even as he plotted his survival strategy. No matter how much effort he put in, he couldn't avoid death. Was it really worth struggling this hard...?
Recalling his rather futile death just before this one, a sigh escaped his lips involuntarily.
"Whew..."
"Master? You aren't... angry, are you?"
Had she caught a glimpse of his turbulent thoughts? Emma asked hesitantly. Fearing that her master’s displeasure stemmed from her, she was clutching the fabric of her skirt tightly with both hands.
"No. I just had something on my mind for a moment."
"I see. Regardless, I will make sure not to worry you further in the future."
"By the way, Emma. I have one thing to ask."
"Yes. You may ask me anything."
"I have dementia, don't I?"
"......"
Emma’s lips parted, but she found no words to say. Seeing her at a loss, In-ho waved his hand dismissively.
"There's no need to hide it. My mind feels like it's in its thirties, but I'm asking because my body is so old."
"...Yes. That is correct."
"How long has it been?"
"About three years ago... the symptoms began to worsen about three years ago."
She explained that at first, he began to confuse the names of characters in his novels.
Then, the main plotlines.
Then, the sentences.
The words.
The memories.
Himself.
She said that he became a different person every day, and his once-brilliant eyes grew clouded. Like a child, he simply ate, slept, and relieved himself.
Emma struggled to bring up those hellish times. Her face looked pained as she sifted through her memories, but she ended with a bright smile, as if some hope still remained.
"But this morning, you showed me your original self again."
She told him that her master, having returned to his true self, had sent a notice to the weekly magazine stating he would stop his serialization, and then took a nap.
And then.
And then he probably died. Since that’s around the time I woke up.
The first thing In-ho had done upon waking was drink water. He shouldn't have felt thirsty given the situation, but perhaps due to a thirst embedded deep within his soul, he had desperately sought out water. He had stumbled through the house in a daze, entered the dining room to drink, and that was when he encountered Emma.
"Aren't you disappointed? Since the symptoms have flared up again."
When asked if she was disappointed that he wasn't the original master but rather possessed the mind of a thirty-one-year-old man (or so the setting went), Emma shook her head.
"It’s alright. Master is always Master. No matter what you look like or what state you are in, I will remain loyal to you."
Emma’s cheeks flushed like a shy young girl's.
"And your current symptoms are different from anything I've seen before."
"In what way?"
"When you were ill before, you did sometimes have past memories overlaid like this. But you were never able to converse with me as clearly as you are now."
"I see."
"I think your spirit itself might have become younger."
"Isn't that a bit of a stretch?"
"Still... I can't explain it any other way. Your way of speaking has changed, and your personality is much more cheerful..."
"...Sure, let's go with that."
If that’s what she wants to believe, what can I do? In-ho thought to himself.
A brief silence followed In-ho’s words. He ate a few more spoonfuls of the remaining pudding, and Emma contributed to the silence by standing still beside him.
It was only after he finished the pudding and handed the empty bowl to Emma that she spoke again.
"Master, if it’s alright with you, may I bring the doctor tomorrow?"
"A doctor?"
"Yes. Since your condition has improved so much, I think it would be wise to have a physical examination."
"Sure. Well, there's no reason not to."
"Yes, then I shall make the appointment."
Emma bowed politely as she prepared to leave the room with the bowl.
"Ah! Hey, Emma."
In-ho called out to her as she was heading for the door.
"Do you need anything else?"
"That... the name Kang In-ho... doesn't it sound strange to you?"
"The name... you mean? Not at all. That has been your name from the very beginning, Master."
With a smile that revealed a glimpse of her teeth, Emma left the room.
"So this is what it means to be 'overwritten.'"
In-ho shuddered as he realized once again the meaning of one's existence being overwritten onto the subject of possession.
"That wicked Pigeon. She’s placed a truly dreadful curse on me."
In-ho had no way of knowing that the God who had put him in this mess was currently scurrying about somewhere in the dimensions, desperately searching for him.