Chapter 120

Chapter 120

—This station is... this station is...

With the familiar rumble, the announcements infiltrated his ears. He was on his way to work, in the middle of the subway.

“....”

He narrowed his eyes momentarily, taking in the darkness whizzing past the window beside the automatic doors. His hand, slightly sweaty, was gripping the handle next to the door.

—The doors will open on the right.

Releasing the handle, he turned around. While there were many people, it wasn’t as crowded as usual.

He checked his phone; he was about ten minutes earlier than usual.

Right, even leaving just this much earlier made the commute far more bearable.

A faint smile crossed his lips. The bag's weight on his shoulder felt familiar, as did the shirt with the top button undone.

The train slowed down, and people with tired expressions gathered around the doors. He heard the sighs and coughs of the people.

Soon, the doors opened and the passengers quickly disembarked. He followed them onto the platform, trailing behind the crowd surging toward the stairs, taking in the scene with his eyes—an all-too-common morning scene, devoid of any leisure.

Beep—

After passing through the ticket gates, his pace slowed. The source of a sweet smell that had been teasing his nose was just ahead.

“Ah....”

He chuckled lightly and walked over. It was manju and walnut cookies. The vendor, flipping the pastries nonchalantly, glanced up at him.

“Would you like some?”

“... Yes. Both, please.”

He answered softly, pulling out his wallet. The vendor quickly swiped his card and handed him a paper bag filled with warm, sweet scents.

“....”

He immediately popped a manju into his mouth. It was soft, warm, and sweet. The smile on his face deepened as he chewed, passing by a bakery next door displaying various pieces of bread.

Perhaps I should have opted for a croquette or a sandwich.

Despite this small regret, he continued walking, not stopping. Passersby glanced at him curiously, wondering about the smell. As he was about to exit the station, he felt his throat getting dry. Several cafes were visible up ahead. His steps naturally turned toward them.

Stopping by a cafe would negate the point of leaving early, but that wasn’t his concern right now. He entered a well-known franchise cafe, a place he usually avoided because a smaller cafe a block away was cheaper by more than a thousand won.

“Can I take your order?”

“One iced americano and... a strawberry smoothie, please.”

He ordered the largest sizes available and added that he would drink it there, then sat at a table by the window—a luxury he would not normally indulge in the morning. The street was busy; the cafe was buzzing, and he sat there with the folded paper bag on the table.

Woong—

He savored the moment until the bell rang, signaling his order was ready.

Honestly, what I really want is a Coke or a beer...

Despite this thought, he took a sip of the coffee. Even the bitterness from the slightly burned coffee felt good. The strawberry smoothie was sweet and tangy. He sighed softly and opened the paper bag. The manju had cooled down slightly but was still richly sweet, complemented by the bitter coffee. He savored the taste without a word.

“Is this what you really wanted?” Across from him, a man was spoke aloud. He was a stranger with unremarkable features.

He remained calm; The man smiled faintly and turned away.

“Interesting world, isn’t it? I get to see such fascinating scenes. Quite envious.”

“....” He froze, only his eyes moving to meet the man's gaze. From the moment he saw the man, Ian sensed the guy was not a human.

The man’s smile broadened, and from that point, the man’s facial features seemed to blur and melt away.

Like that, the world flipped. A street bathed in dark crimson light suddenly turned into ruins. Long, waving silhouettes of black meandered through the street.

The paper bag rustled. Instead of a manju, a large, half-eaten insect was wiggling its legs in his hand. The cup held a thick, unidentified liquid.

Tossing the insect to the ground, he spoke, “So, I’m dead, aren’t I?”

Laughter spread around him. The man's head elongated bizarrely upwards. The voice sounded changed, altered somehow.

"This is just your dream. It might be more regrettable for you, though."

The man's head no longer looked like a head. It resembled a reptile's tail, or perhaps a tentacle. Fear enveloped him, but not to the point of shattering his mind. It was only then that he realized he was facing just a tiny part of this man.

Crack, crack—

Purple fractures spread around him. The cracks quickly swallowed up the world, and soon, they blended together. The man also melted into the entwining chaos, and everything became blurred.

"Someday... we’ll...again...."

The voice disintegrated into the noise. Unintelligible remnants of emptiness flickered. And then there was darkness again.

***

His awareness returned like paint spreading across a canvas. The remnants of the nightmare faintly brushed through his mind. He honestly didn't want to know what that entity was.

"Then go call him. It would be easier to talk with him."

"But... Sir Ian."

"...?"

"There are people... waiting for your recovery."

"Who?"

Fermat, looking embarrassed, bowed deeply and said, "One is His Grace, Archduke Olaf, and one is from the order–-"

"I have no intention of meeting them." Ian cut him off.

Given the atmosphere, ?meeting them would only result in tiresome nonsense.

"Do not notify them I have awakened. If it becomes known, also inform them that the visit was refused."

Ian added firmly and gestured with his chin.

"Go call Sir Lucas, Priest Fermat."

"...Yes." Fermat swallowed a sigh, closed his eyes, and turned away.

Ian chuckled. It seemed clear that he was rumored to have killed Tahumrit. The careful way the priests unwrapped each bandage alone told that story. They treated him not just as an apostle of God, but as if a deity had descended among them.

...If this continues, it will keep me up all night.

"How long have I slept?"

As Ian suddenly spoke, the priests quickly spread their fingers.

"You have been at the church for about a week."

"No wonder I'm hungry. Prepare some clothes and a meal for me. I'll take care of this."

"Yes, we will do so... Sir Ian."

The priests bowed deeply, sweating coldly, and stepped back. Watching the arrogant folks fumble was certainly amusing.

Creak—

The door opened again when Ian, wearing a robe, had almost finished eating the bread and soup on the table.

"...?"

He had expected Lucas, but it was Fermat again. Behind him, someone veiled in white caught Ian's eye, and he narrowed his eyes indifferently.

"I believe I asked for Sir Lucas."

"I have... contacted Sir Lucas."

"I also said to refuse visitors."

"Well, it's not that I brought... This... this person is..." Priest Fermat stammered, sweating coldly, his already weary face turning pale.

Then, the person behind him slightly lifted the veil to reveal their eyes. A faint smirk passed over Ian's lips at the sight.

"That's what it was... Come in."

At those words, Fermat, who was nearly breaking down, sighed in relief.

He stepped back, and Ian added, "Priest Fermat?"

"Yes, yes...?"

"Wait at the end of the hallway. Make sure no one enters, and tell Sir Lucas to wait if he comes."

"Yes...."

"If you fail to carry out this properly again, your future will be even more troublesome."

"...."

Fermat bowed his head and retreated.

The veiled figure entered the room. As the door closed, a soft voice emerged from beneath the veil.

"I had intended to persuade you. Thank you for granting permission so readily."

The voice was strange, almost like a woman's or a delicate man's.

"I thought it pointless to refuse."

Ian chuckled lightly, watching as the figure approached.

"The Great Platinum Dragon wouldn't easily back down if refused."

"It's good you recognized it so quickly, but..."

The figure stopped and lifted the veil, looking down at Ian. Golden eyes curved slightly beneath the veil.

"That makes me a bit sad. Aren't we comrades?"