R4STWH - Chapter 76
Chapter 76
“…Zero.”
He strode into the drawing-room and settled onto the sofa.
“Have a seat.”
After Yumi and Baeksa sat down, a knock came at the door, and maids entered, filling the table with cakes and pastries.
After they poured fragrant tea and left, everyone’s attention turned to the food.
“Shall we… eat?” Baeksa suggested.
Without hesitation, they devoured the food.
“This is insane…”
“I’m glad we’re alive.”
“We have Whitey to thank for that.”
The plates were empty in no time.
“We can have this whenever we want, as much as we want.” Their faces were filled with satisfaction.
“Should we ask for more?” Yumi asked.
Zero clicked his tongue. “Dinner will be served soon. They serve an abundance of fresh vegetables and meat here.”
“Then, we should save some room.”
“Are you acting like you’re a day older than us?” Yumi chuckled and put down her fork.
Filled with a sense of satiety they hadn’t felt in a long time, the three of them relaxed on the plush sofa.
After a long silence, each lost in their own thoughts, Yumi spoke first. “Do you think our world also had a time of such abundance?”
“Considering our level of civilization, it couldn't have been much worse.”
Baeksa, who had been silently observing their conversation, sat up and asked, “Just checking, but no one’s thinking of anything strange, right?”
“Strange? What do you mean?” Zero asked innocently.
Baeksa stared at him intently, and Zero met his gaze without flinching.
“Well…” Yumi began, as if trying to diffuse the tension. “Which side we choose is a matter for later. We have to confirm something first.”
Neither Baeksa nor Zero questioned her, so she continued, “Whether the Evil Dragon Ermitar is actually alive in this world. In a much younger form than we remember.”
“Have the quests ever lied?”
“Even so, I need to see it with my own eyes. I can’t make a decision without meeting him and hearing about the quests he received.”
“That’s a good idea. I was planning to look for him anyway. Let’s share information if we find anything.”
“Agreed.”
Baeksa watched them, his expression grim.
“Relax, Baeksa. Nothing’s certain yet.”
“No, I…” Baeksa sighed. “I just hope… you won't make the same choice as the Evil Dragon. Sacrificing one world to save your own…”
“Baeksa,” Yumi said firmly, cutting him off with a smile. “I said ‘yet.’ Why are you being so pessimistic?”
Baeksa frowned, sensing something in her gaze.
“Alright, I understand. But whatever you choose, remember one thing. How we got this second chance, and who carried the burden to the very end.”
“Don’t worry. I haven't forgotten. Not for a single moment, from the moment I died to this moment, brought back to life.”
“…That’s enough for me.”
Baeksa shifted his gaze to Zero, as if prompting him for an answer.
But instead of replying, Zero raised an eyebrow and stood up.
“What? Where are you going? We’re in the middle of a conversation.”
“Unlike you leisurely people, I have a busy schedule.”
He left the drawing-room after giving his curt reply, leaving the other two staring after him.
“He’s… acting strange.”
“……”
After a moment of pondering Zero’s words and actions, Baeksa turned to Yumi and suggested, “Let’s go eat.”
“Good idea.”
There was no need to rush. Their time was no longer limited.
‘And the leader told us to get settled in first.’
Although she might seem simple-minded, there was a reason why Ilesha was their leader.
How else could a two or three-year-old abandoned child not only survive in a trash heap but also endure the laboratory, and then survive again after escaping and being left alone?
Ilesha’s instincts were honed for survival.
Following her instructions, even if they didn't make sense, was the best way to survive.
‘So…’
Tasting all the different kinds of food in this world would definitely be a part of that.
Elias’s stamina had increased exponentially after awakening and the subsequent surge in his stats.
This meant that we got out of bed not because we were tired, but purely because our stomachs were rumbling.
If Elias was my greatest joy in this world, food was undoubtedly a close second.
Tonight’s dinner was a savory and sweet duck dish, and I really wanted to tear off a leg and devour it with my bare hands.
After filling myself with the food that covered the large table, enough to feed ten people, and indulging in dessert, I started observing Elias’s expression.
It was time to bring it up.
‘Is he waiting for me to speak first?’
Considering his behavior so far, he was probably most curious about the familiar way Yumi and Baeksa had acted towards me.
After all, they looked exactly like the wicked Princess Selena and her associate, Howell Ricks, who had tried to kidnap me.
The easiest way to explain it would be to tell him the truth, but…
‘They seemed to want me to keep it a secret.’
Judging by Yumi’s head shake, that was definitely their intention.
I didn’t like keeping secrets from Elias, but I couldn't act selfishly when Yumi and Baeksa’s safety might be at risk.
‘They were able to transfer without my help, which means… they probably received a quest.’
I had a hunch how they had come to possess Selena and Howell. The greater one's past sins, the more vulnerable they were to Specters and Ghosts.
‘And the nobles in this world have such weak minds. Probably because they’ve always been pampered.’
They relied on others for everything, from washing their faces to bathing, eating, and dressing, so it was difficult for them to develop mental fortitude.
That's how I’d been able to so easily break the Tenaclad family members.
‘By the way, Selena and Leonard are rivals in the succession struggle…’
Because of this incident, the future was uncertain.
‘Well, this world won’t have the luxury of caring about that soon enough.’
They might believe they could maintain their normal lives for a while, but once dungeons started popping up everywhere, and some of them erupted, they’d realize.
That the nations, the social hierarchy, the power they held, were all meaningless.
‘But… I can't let that happen.’
I had to protect Elias’s world.
I had to completely clear this damn quest called “Proof of Qualification” and ensure the people of this world could live in peace.
‘What’s the final boss of this world? Will another dragon appear?’
I hoped it would be something similar. It would be troublesome if something I didn’t know how to handle appeared.
“Ilesha.”
I looked up at Elias’s call, snapping out of my thoughts.
“What are you thinking about?”
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