Chapter 190: Foolish Guy (4)
Yuno Kasugano’s closed eyelids opened, and she looked at me.
In the place where her pupils should be, there was only black darkness. It looked like a scene straight from a horror movie, and goosebumps naturally rose on my skin.
‘Don’t look at me.’
Though I wanted to say this out loud, it felt as if Yuno Kasugano couldn’t really see me. It felt as if she was seeing something different. Perhaps she was in the black world now.
Suddenly, her facial features, shaking with her lips tightly closed, looked very different from before. Though I knew her ability was very limited, there was a possibility that she could see what I wanted to know, and that in itself would be able to make me happy.
‘Huh, not bad.’
Seeing that she knew about Park Deokgu, I felt as if my guess was correct to an extent.
I couldn’t confirm how I had lived in the first round before meeting Yuno Kasugano, but considering my disposition, I must have gone through a similar pattern. Therefore, I could at least predict that I had still gotten stuck with Park Deokgu back then. He must have really been someone I could rely on.
It was not a big deal right now, but it was only natural to think this way since his initial stats were pretty good as they were.
‘Since Hyunsung wouldn’t have been a returner then, it would have been more likely that he did not try to contact us…’
I did not know whether or not Hyunsung’s talent levels were high back then, but they probably weren’t, seeing as I did not stick to him during the first timeline. Rather, I had chosen to cling onto Park Deokgu. That was until I met Yuno Kasugano.
Did I end up backstabbing Park Deokgu in the end? This thought alone worried me.
‘At least Park Deokgu wouldn’t have abandoned me first.’
This fact was, at least, undeniable.
As I mulled over my thoughts, Yuno Kasugano reached out to hold my hand.
‘That scared me.’
When I turned to look back into her black eyes, I could see something shining through.
‘Huh?’
[Access limited information due to external intervention. Checking the activation of the legendary-grade attribute, the Mind’s Eye.]
‘Wait…’
[Player Kasugano Yuno’s attribute, the eyes that see the essence and through the past and future, do not resist.]
“What…”
Before I could even form my own thoughts, I suddenly found myself being able to see the black world, as Yuno Kasugano mentioned it.
Now I realized why Yuno Kasugano called it that. I could also confirm the fact that I was currently seeing what she was seeing. I didn’t know how this was possible, but I had been able to look at her memories in the past, so perhaps…
At the time, it was a scene where I had been strangling her, but she was not in this particular scenario.
What I was seeing now was Park Deokgu and me.
As Yuno Kasugano described before, it was as if unedited videos or pictures had been mixed up.
The Park Deokgu and I, in this version, looked entirely different, in a shabby kind of way. I looked like a third-class adventurer who had just left the slums. Not only did I look miserable, my entire body felt frail and weak.
‘Hey… I’m sorry…’
‘For what?’
‘Today’s hunting. I should have performed a little better…’
‘You don’t need to worry about it, Deokgu. It was our first time anyway, and we still got paid.’
‘It was a good party…I don’t think they’ll call us from now on.’
‘I told you that you don’t have to worry about that. I will do the rest on my own.’
‘Still…’
‘And oh, you can go first today.’
‘Do you have any other appointment?’
‘I have one with the Geumma Clan Vice-Director.’
‘Are you having dinner with her again?’
‘Don’t be too upset. This will be helpful for both of us.’
‘That woman… The rumors about her are not very good…’
‘It’s not something you should care about. You just train hard. Remember what I told you.’
‘…’
‘If I can do it, you can do better.’
‘…’
The scene changed once more. This time, I didn’t know where we were, but I could tell that we were definitely not in Lindel.
At least, as far as I know, there was no hunting ground in Lindel. I was now out of my cheap clothes at this point, seeing as Park Deokgu was dressed like a warrior, and I, a wizard.
I didn’t know what I had chosen for my next class, but I had definitely not chosen alchemy. In the first place, I would see no reason to choose it, as I had not received Ramus Tucker’s Introduction to Alchemy from Kim Hyunsung in the first place.
‘Hyung-nim!’
‘You bastard! I told you to focus! Didn’t I say that if you slack off, I will kill you?’
‘But, Hyung-nim… your magic power.’
‘Don’t worry about me. Worry about yourself.’
‘O-Okay.’
My movement didn’t seem that bad, either. I appeared to be a wizard wielding a spear, and Park Deokgu looked like every bit a foolish frontliner.
It seemed as if our relationship with the people nearby wasn’t too bad. I didn’t know if the others belonged in a clan, but it didn’t seem like we belonged with the rest of them, either.
I alternated between using my spear and chanting spells, but Park Deokgu himself seemed to commit many mistakes. It was as if he had not managed to overcome his trauma, as he had when we had first entered the Garden of Terror.
Eventually, a monster passed through the front line and had aimed to hit the priest in the rear, but I had chosen to block its way. As a result, I got hurt by the monster, though it was me. However, the battle soon ended.
As I tried to comfort the angry priest, Park Deokgu bowed his head in shame.
‘I’m sorry…’
‘How can you say you’re sorry? I believed in your endurance ability and followed you…’
‘That… that…’
‘Excuse me. Please say it directly. Don’t hesitate. It’s really annoying. Did you know I’m being patient because of Kiyoung-ssi? Do you know how many times this has happened already? If you’re going to be like that, I don’t know why you chose to be a tanker. It looks like Castle Rock is looking for more workers. Go there and do some physical labor. After Celia’s guys came, the situation has gotten a lot worse. They say that anyone can go hunting these days… It’s so ridiculous, really…’
‘Ah… I’ll apologize for this, Gahee-ssi. He’s not usually like this.’
‘I’m only being patient because of Kiyoung-ssi. For Kiyoung-ssi…’
‘He’ll be able to adapt soon. I’ll buy you a meal later. How does that sound?’
‘Lunch? Dinner?’
‘Of course, it’ll be dinner.’
‘Then… I’ll extend my patience. Ah. Have you given my guild proposal some thought?’
‘I still have some work to do, haha… I will give a definite answer as soon as I am done.’
‘I’ll be waiting.’
Once again, the scenery changed. This time, it appeared that we were on our way back from the hunt.
‘Hyung-nim…’
‘So, didn’t I tell you not to look back and focus? You bastard.’
‘That… That… I’m sorry…’
‘There’s no need to be sorry. Hunting wasn’t really our purpose anyway… As a result, we got some stuff.’
‘Where are you going?’
‘You don’t need to know.’
‘Are you sure…?’
‘Shut your mouth.’
‘I… I’m sorry.’
‘You just have to follow me without worrying about anything. I’ll do the rest for you. Everything will work out in the end.’
‘Still… Getting in the right guild is more…’
‘You just need to shut up and remember one thing. If I can do it…’
‘I can do better.’
‘That’s right. And… Think about what I said a little more, Deokgu.’
‘T… Thank you.’
More scenes flashed after that. They weren’t very useful, but they depicted me drinking with him, screaming at him, kicking him with my foot, etc. Everything passed by so quickly, so even the scenes that looked important had gone by in a blur. It was a shame all in all.
‘Don’t forget, Deokgu.’
‘I know.’
Interestingly enough, Deokgu’s growth didn’t seem that high, even during the first timeline. At this point, I wasn’t surprised to come to this conclusion.
‘Don’t forget.’
‘I know. If Hyung-nim can do it…’
‘That’s it.’
I had been curious about how he would grow in the future, and these memories were all useless.
‘Are you tired?’
‘Hyung-nim, how can you be so cold?’
‘Because I have to kill to live. That’s why I’m being cold. I don’t think it’s a big deal. This is the type of place where you either kill or be killed. Do not forget it. If I can do it…’
‘If Hyung-nim can do it… I can do better.’
‘That’s right.’
Once again, the scene changed. This one portrayed him carrying me around and running without any hesitation.
I wore classy-looking clothes, and Deokgu had on fine armor, but what really registered in my mind was the fact that I was bleeding.
It didn’t seem as if we were in Lindel. I would have gloated on the fact that we looked quite successful now if it weren’t for the fact that I was bleeding.
‘Can you hear my voice?’
‘Yes…’
‘If you die…’
‘Don’t say that shit. I don’t want to die.’
‘I’m sorry, Hyung-nim. I’m sorry.’
‘What are you sorry about?’
‘Because of what I said…’
‘Stop. I didn’t really follow your words, so don’t worry. There was only an error in my calculation. I was wrong for believing at least a little in those hypocrites. You didn’t do anything wrong.’
‘But because of me… because of me… H-Hyung-nim, as you thought… I should have done….’
‘Yes, you bastard. I think it’s because of you, so run faster. Seeing you regretting it like this, you can do better next time. Right?’
spells came our way, as well as a multitude of spears and arrows. Park Deokgu continued to run, looking really desperate.
I wasn’t sure about what had happened, but it seemed like Deokgu had made a suggestion, and I, for some reason, chose to act upon the said suggestion. As a result, things had backfired.
Anyway, it appeared as if this whole game of tag had been going on for some time now. Park Deokgu alternated between trying to escape the siege by blocking the arrows with his body and beheading the people trying to block our way with a sword in one hand.
However, his limit was coming. Although he could stop the combatants, he couldn’t stop the multitude of spells and arrows falling from above.
‘I can’t tell you to abandon me and go, you bastard.’
‘I thought you would say that.’
‘But it would be better to leave me. Your body is ignorantly strong. You can live. I don’t really care about dying, but I’d appreciate it if you get revenge for me…’
‘Isn’t this a plan to prevent me from abandoning you through sympathy?
‘You bastard….’
‘No matter what you say, I won’t abandon you, so don’t say that bullshit. I will save Hyung-nim.’
‘Stop with the bullshit, put me down.’
‘I’m not bluffing. I will save Hyung-nim. Don’t you remember?’
‘What?’
‘How many times Hyung-nim saved my life. I remember it all.’
‘I haven’t really moved to save your life. You looked to be promising, and that’s why I took care of you…’
‘I don’t necessarily think so. No matter what you say, the fact stands that you still saved me. Thank you for taking all those hits instead of me…’
‘You couldn’t die because I invested in you so much.’
‘I was grateful to you for defending me when we went to the dungeon and grateful to you for choosing me. No matter how much I try to remember, it seems that I was only saved by Hyung-nim. No matter how many memories I go through, you’re the only one in them. I owe you so many things. It’s my turn this time.’
‘You will die, too…’
‘I told you that I would definitely save Hyung-nim. Don’t forget, Hyung-nim.’
‘What…’
‘If Hyung-nim can do it… I can do better.’
‘… ‘
‘If Hyung-nim can do it… can do better.’
‘…’
‘If Hyung-nim… can do it… I can do….’
‘…’
‘Better… I can do…’
‘…’
‘If hyung-nim… can do it…’
‘…’
‘I… can… do…’
‘…’
‘It… I…’
‘…’
‘…’
The scene changed.
This time, I could see the face of Yuno Kasugano.