CH 4

〈4〉 Formation of a Party

Tae-ram, who had come out for a walk after having a late breakfast, discovered Se-ho collapsed in the hallway. He almost stepped on him. Tae-ram pulled Se-ho up and moved him to his room.

“Hey, are you okay? Wake up.”

“…Senior Tae-ram.”

“Are you alright?”

“…I’m fine.”

Se-ho’s face was pale, but his attitude remained composed. He was the type of person who could furrow his brows at most poisons and pass them off.

“Is it Fran again this time?”

“Are there any other options besides Fran? It seems like I accidentally spread poison on my cup today. I checked the tea, but I didn’t have a chance to check the other side. As soon as I drank it, my tongue went numb, and I couldn’t make it to the room…”

“It’s been a while since you collapsed.”

“But I think I’ll be able to move in a little while. It seems like I’ve developed some resistance.”

“Detox with a morning poison! Maybe your skin will improve too, right?”

“…Not even a little fun!”

“Haha… sorry.”

“Since we’ve met again, I wish we could figure out the cause of the tarnished gem together.”

“Yeah. Lately, you’ve been so busy that we haven’t had time to talk.”

“I truly envy you, Senior.”

“I want to help even with simple tasks, but I’m illiterate here.”

“I didn’t expect you to.”

Feeling ignored, he felt upset, but unlike Se-ho, who worked like a cow, he had no choice but to shut his mouth and continue working diligently.

“You said you met Kairan at the banquet, right?”

“Yeah. There were no problems when I checked right before entering the banquet hall.”

Tae-ram sighed deeply as he looked at the book in his hand. Unlike before, when the jewel embedded in the center shone brightly, it now emitted a deep crimson light.

“It was a different encounter from the original work by Fran, and I don’t know why,”

Tae-ram said.

“I think it’s because you cleared the main storyline that opposes Fran. Even when filling the first page, I felt it, but the judgment wasn’t as strict as I thought,” 

replied Se-ho.

“The timing is different, but it seems that Kairan is interested in me too.”

“Even the slightest thing would be good to consider the differences between the two.”

“By the way, Kairan said something strange.”

“What did he say?”

“He said my presence is larger than others.”

“Presence… If it’s because you came from a different world, he must have been interested in you too. The only difference between me and Senior is that he is the original creator. In my opinion, presence refers to how much you know about the original work. Kairan recognizes that fact itself goes against the flow of the original work.”

“Does that mean I’m in trouble if other people find out I’m the original creator?”

“It’s not certain, but the probability is high. You need to become an ordinary dimensional traveler from now on.”

“What on earth is an ordinary dimensional traveler? This is strange.”

Then, suddenly, a person came to mind. However, their face and name were foggy and couldn’t be remembered.

“Why is everything so complicated? If only… Oh, I can’t remember…”

“Senior?”

“There was someone like a family who always helped me in difficult times.”

Seeing Tae-ram’s confusion, Se-ho also became deeply concerned.

“Are you talking about Senior Min-ah?”

“…Who is that?”

“Senior…”

“Yellow mentioned it. If you stray from the original story, you become integrated into this world…”

“…Is it okay?”

Tae-ram forced a smile when he saw Se-ho’s face becoming more serious. He should pull himself together. After all, he’s the senior.

“It’s okay. If we quickly finish until the end, everything will return. Right?”

“Yeah…”

“Great! For now, I’ll try to fill in some pages on my own.”

“But…”

“Please take a break, it’s poison and you’re going to overwork yourself.”

“Understood. Don’t push yourself too hard.”

“Leave it to me.”

Tae-ram calmly organized his thoughts. The next event is party formation. The main character, after searching for a way to return to the original world, hears a rumor and forms a party to embark on a journey. The first companion, the prince, is fine, but the second one…

* * *

Tae-ram parted ways with Se-ho and called Fran to the greenhouse garden.

“Sometimes, it’s nice to spend time like this, leisurely.”

The delicate touch of the gardeners and the blooming spring flowers adorned the flower bed. And there was the beautiful Fran. The three elements blended like a beautiful painting.

“You’re right.”

Tae-ram, who had momentarily lost his focus, quickly regained his composure and intentionally lowered his gaze. Let’s pretend to be lost in sad thoughts. He should act extremely sad.

“Tae-ram? Your complexion doesn’t look good. Is there something troubling you?”

“It’s nothing, really.”

“If it’s alright with you, I can listen to your worries.”

Tae-ram felt a sense of satisfaction that Fran took the bait so easily. Although he was concerned about Se-ho’s absence, he had a feeling that things would work out more smoothly than expected.

“Well, actually…”

After hesitating for a while, he slowly opened his mouth.

“I’m planning to go to the Killain Mountains.”

“Why such a treacherous place?”

“There’s someone I must meet.”

“Could it be the rumored magician?”

“Yes.”

Tae-ram made sure not to lose his pitiful demeanor as he explained his own, or rather, the Main character’s situation. The magician of the Killain Mountains. The one hiding in the Killain Mountains had surpassed the limits of humanity and reached the 10th Circle. According to the rumor that the original Main character had picked up, he was capable of dimensional teleportation. Thus, the Main character of the original work embarks on a journey to meet him.

“It’s scary, but I can’t give up.”

“I understand your situation, Tae-ram. However, it’s too dangerous.”

Fran’s expression became even more serious.

“The magician of the Killain Mountains is known to be skilled in illusion magic. It is said that if you get caught in the barrier, you will be trapped in eternal nightmares.”

Moreover, the Killain Mountains were infested with monsters as no human had set foot there for a long time. It was rumored that hundreds of people had already gone missing or died there. However, the reason why so many people were searching for the magician was because of the rumor that he granted the wishes of those who approached him.

In reality, it was nothing more than a bored dragon’s amusement, and its true identity was Kairan.

“I know. But his magic is urgent for me. The prince also said that he would be of help…”

“By the way, where is the prince?”

“He seems to be busy.”

“He seems to have skipped lunch too. I’m worried if he’s not feeling well.”

Fran’s lovely face was filled with concern. Tae-ram found it absurd that Fran, the perpetrator, was worried about Se-ho, the victim. Although he thought poorly of Fran, he smiled softly and maintained eye contact with him to avoid showing any signs.

“Don’t worry too much. The prince often skips meals when he’s focused on his work.”

“Is that so? You two seem to be very close.”

“We have a lot to take care of before our journey. I have things to prepare as well, so it’s a bit challenging.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Just listening to me like this is enough.”

“I also want to be of help to you, Tae-ram.”

Tae-ram felt that the groundwork had been sufficiently laid. He sighed heavily to make it seem like a difficult decision and cautiously brought up the main point.

“I want to bring a high-ranking official with me… But it’s hard to find someone suitable for such a notorious place.”

Tae-ram blurred the end of his sentence and looked at Fran.

“If it’s alright with you, could I come with you?”

Upon hearing Fran’s words, Tae-ram smiled inwardly. Should he push him away once here?

“Fran is an amazing person. I can’t involve you in a personal journey for my purposes.”

Fran possessed the purest and most sacred energy known as “Divine Power,” which was said to be bestowed by the gods. He was the owner of an exceptionally high level of Divine Power, and he was a combat clergyman, a rarity in history.

Originally specialized in healing and support abilities, Fran’s Divine Power could not be used for magic. However, among the clergy, some could manipulate magical energy, the foundation of magic, and they fused Divine Power and magical energy to create sacred magic. They were called combat clergymen. 

In times of precious crises, combat clergymen who could wield both Divine Power and magical energy were welcomed in any country. Moreover, Fran was the youngest high-ranking clergyman, making him politically desirable as well.

“I would feel reassured with Fran by my side, but I know you’re busy.”

“But I want to be of help to you, Tae-ram.”

“If you insist to that extent…”

Just as Tae-ram was pretending to reluctantly agree to Fran’s request, Yellow suddenly appeared. What’s going on? He didn’t summon it.

[We’ll discuss it outside, so come out for now.]

Fran seemed unable to see the yellow creature. Did something go wrong? Tae-ram felt uneasy and got up from his seat.

“Fran, I’m sorry. Something important just came to mind… Can you wait for a moment? I’ll be back soon.”

“Yes? Please go ahead.”

Leaving Fran looking puzzled behind, Tae-ram exited the greenhouse for the time being.

“There must be a very special reason for interrupting at a critical moment.”

In the corridor, Tae-ram firmly held the cheek of the yellow creature.

“I feel unjust! I was sent by Se-ho to fetch you.”

“Se-ho?”

“He said there’s a problem with the story’s progression.”

“…What?”

“He told me to let go if you understood! He’s coming this way, so ask him yourself. I’m leaving!”

As the yellow creature disappeared, Tae-ram looked in the direction it had pointed. Se-ho was staggering and struggling to walk at the end of the corridor.

“Why are you here? Your condition is a mess.”

“What about Fran?”

“More importantly than that, if you keep it up, I’ll really punch you.”

“It’s not just me who will leave if the story goes off track.”

“Things were going well.”

“One crucial thing is missing in the story’s progression.”

“…What is it?”

“Open the book,” 

Following Se-ho’s words, Tae-ram opened the book. Unbelievably, today’s portion of the pages was completely empty.

“What? Was all the chaos I went through this morning for nothing? All the hard work?”

“In important events, all the necessary characters must be gathered. It seems like we need the prince this time.”

“No. Amil, he’s usually here, snooping around. Why did he decide to close today?”

“Where is Fran right now?”

“In the greenhouse.”

“Let’s make a plan.”

Tae-ram calmly explained the situation to Se-ho, and the two of them, utilizing the author’s imagination, quickly devised a simple skit.

“Then I’ll go in first.”

Saying so, Se-ho roughly opened the door to the greenhouse and entered. Upon seeing Fran leisurely enjoying tea, he immediately shouted.

“Even without someone like you, I can protect Tae-ram.”

“What’s going on all of a sudden?”

As Fran looked bewildered, Tae-ram, who was timing his entrance, also emerged.

“Prince! Hold on for a moment.”

“Tae-ram? What’s going on here?”

“I went to fetch some items from the room and happened to run into the prince. Then somehow I mentioned Fran….”

“No need for explanations.”

Se-ho intervened between Fran and Tae-ram. His forehead was still sweaty, indicating that he was still struggling. Won’t he collapse? Tae-ram stood awkwardly and couldn’t keep his composure.

“Stop unnecessary thoughts and go back to the temple.”

“I will accompany him on the journey.”

“I refuse. I am sufficient on my own.”

“Does it burden the prince?”

“Are you insulting me?”

“Look at you. You’re still staggering like that. Control your possessiveness.”

Fran scoffed and taunted Se-ho, who was in poor condition.

“You should be the one to control yourself. There are limits to tolerating your jokes.”

“You called it a joke. Can the prince, who can’t even handle such trivial jokes, protect Tae-ram?”

Tae-ram was worried about Se-ho, but it was the right answer not to intervene here. He’s a dirty innocent bystander. He doesn’t know if it’s poison or what. Tae-ram stood there, rolling his eyes like a frightened rabbit.

“Tae-ram, you said you needed me.”

“It must be the official, not you. The royal family has plenty of excellent officials.”

“No one surpasses me.”

Se-ho and Fran glared fiercely at each other. It was intense. Despite the pain, Tae-ram secretly admired Se-ho for not being swayed by Fran.

“You’re arrogant.”

“I’ll return those words to you.”

When the ominous atmosphere reached its peak, Se-ho glanced at Tae-ram. Now is the time to intervene. Tae-ram felt annoyed, but after making a firm decision, he spoke up.

“Don’t fight because of me!”

Although the line sounded cliché and cringe-worthy, he suppressed his irritation, thinking that Amil might be watching from somewhere.

“It’s not like that.”

Fran’s long, white hand descended onto Tae-ram’s shoulder. Tae-ram, who was gently embraced by Fran, felt his heart melt at the pleasant scent. He couldn’t dislike a beautiful man who showed him kindness.

“Let go of me.”

“I don’t want to.”

“You shouldn’t touch what belongs to others.”

“Don’t refer to Tae-ram like an object. Nothing has been decided yet.”

“You’re arrogant!”

Disappointed, Tae-ram detached himself from Fran’s embrace and clung to Se-ho.

“Prince, please calm down!”

“Let go!”

Due to Se-ho’s rough movements, Tae-ram stumbled and fell to the ground. He knew it would happen since they had discussed it in advance, but it still hurt too much. Tae-ram felt a sense of disappointment as he realized the difference in physical abilities.

“Tae-ram, are you okay?”

“Tae-ram!”

The two of them rushed to the fallen Tae-ram.

“Shall I treat you?”

“Are you alright? Should I call the court physician?”

“I’m fine. I’m just saddened by the rift between the two because of me.”

Tae-ram deliberately choked up his voice, thinking of a sad movie. Please, let the tears flow. Fake tears welled up in Tae-ram’s eyes, and Fran was the first to raise his handkerchief.

“It’s not that Prince and I have a bad relationship. We just had a slight difference of opinion.”

“That’s right. Tae-ram, you’ve done nothing wrong. I’m sorry for hurting you.”

“Then we won’t fight and travel together peacefully?”

“I promise.”

“Understood. Permission granted.”

And so, Fran became a member of the party.

* * *

Having resolved one main event by recruiting Fran, Tae-ram returned to a leisurely unemployed life. There was still about a week left until departure, so he had plenty of free time.

Today, he decided to have a dessert party. Tae-ram walked lightly towards Amil. If he hadn’t seen the red-haired figure lingering in the corridor, he would have still been happy.

Kairan? There you are. Tae-ram turned cautiously, trying to hide his presence, but he was caught by Kairan.

“Look, we meet again?”

“…Hello.”

“Why are you trying to run away? Do you dislike me?”

Kairan looked dejected, having snatched the food bowl from Tae-ram, who was trying to escape. Tae-ram’s conscience pricked him. Staring like that weakened his resolve.

“I have something to do over there.”

“Lies. Are you hesitating?”

That damn cheat. It’s a complete scam. Why did his past self set up such a character? Tae-ram felt annoyed, even though he thought it was all a bluff.

“By the way, Kairan, do you work in the kingdom?”

“Acting like you don’t know when you do. Fine. Well, I’ll let you in on a secret. In return, play with me today.”

Kairan flicked his finger. When Tae-ram regained his senses, he found himself in an unfamiliar place.

“Where is this?”

“My room.”

Old-looking books and peculiar magical tools, mysterious magic circles drawn on the walls, and suspicious herbs in glass bottles. Kairan’s room was fascinating, and everything was scattered messily, making it mentally overwhelming.

“Just sit wherever you’re comfortable.”

“Where should I sit? I can’t see anywhere to sit.”

“Got it.”

When Kairan waved his hand, a small space appeared.

“That’s amazing.”

“Enjoying it?”

“Yes. Show me more.”

Kairan showcased various enchanting spells until Tae-ram grew tired.

“I feel good when you smile.”

“T-Thank you.”

Caught up in the reignited flame fluttering, Tae-ram didn’t know what to do.

“I don’t know what kind of emotion this is. I want to know everything about you.”

“Perhaps it’s just friendship?”

“Is that what you want to believe?”

As the atmosphere turned strange, Tae-ram decided to escape before things got more awkward.

“It’s almost dinnertime. I think I should go before it gets too late.”

As Tae-ram was preparing to leave, Kairan called him back.

“I saw it. In your dream, you were tinkering with a fascinating machine.”

Kairan moved his fingers in the air as if playing the piano. Tae-ram realized that those hand gestures represented a computer.

Wait… Kairan, can you even peek into other people’s dreams? That’s just cheating. Se-ho has strength, Fran has divine power, and Kairan has magic. Everyone is special except for him.

“If you tell me what that machine is, I’ll send it to you.”

Unaware of Tae-ram’s burning feelings, Kairan laughed cheerfully. It felt like a scene from a teenage novel. Anyway, he couldn’t completely deceive Kairan, who was like a living lie detector.

Since it came from a different dimension, revealing it should be fine since it matches the original work, right?

“You probably guessed it, but I came from a different dimension. The machine that appeared in my dream is a universal device from our world, which can access information.”

“That’s amazing. If I understand its structure, I might be able to build it.”

“But Kairan, you have magic. From my perspective, that’s more impressive.”

“But it seemed like you weren’t searching for information… you were using something else…”

“A-A diary! I wrote a diary every day.”

At that moment, the high-level 19+ BL novel disguised itself as an innocent diary.

“I don’t want to torment you further, so shall we stop here?”

“…I’ll go now.”

“One last thing, though.”

“What is it?”

In the next moment, Kairan lowered his head and pressed his forehead against Tae-ram’s chest. Could it be? Is he asking for a pet? Is this for real?

“Oh, quickly.”

“Oh, okay.”

Tae-ram gently stroked Kairan’s head. He found the soft, curly texture strangely addictive. He seriously contemplated what kind of reptile a dragon was. They do things like this, but in reality, they’re probably lizards, right? He’s not sure.

“Now I’ll really go.”

“Yeah! Be careful. Oh, wait!”

“What now?”

“You’re also going on the trip in a week, so I know about it.”

“What?”

Tae-ram suppressed his urge to shout out of anger. Wait. It’s a party to find him, but does it make sense for him to participate?

“Do you know who I’m looking for?”

“I do. It’s me, right?”

“Uh…”

Kairan’s casual response momentarily left Tae-ram speechless.

“You even know my true identity. At first, I thought you only knew superficial things, but every time you see me, you keep thinking of a dragon. How did you find out?”

“It just happened…”

“Don’t give me that deep probing look when you have no intention of delving deeper.”

Kairan looked at Tae-ram with understanding eyes, as if he knew everything. It made Tae-ram even more uneasy. What should he do?

“…If you know all that, why do you want to follow me? There’s no reason for you to follow me.”

“Are you sure there isn’t? Even when the dragon you’re looking for is right in front of you, you still have to go there for a reason.”

In his frustration, Tae-ram blurted out words that shouldn’t be said.

“Well, because I’m the protagonist…”

“Protagonist? Tae-ram is the protagonist?”

Oh no. The Se-ho scolding him in front of him suddenly became an adult. It was problematic to be exposed as the author, even if he didn’t know anything else. Yeah, he’ll just discard the embarrassment.

“I always think of myself as the protagonist of my own life.”

“…If that’s what you’re going with. Anyway, don’t try to stop me. I’ve already told the king.”

Tae-ram found Kairan irritating. A wicked dragon.

“Just promise me that if you become a party member, you’ll fulfill your promise.”

“Okay! What is it?”

“If the party I’m organizing breaks through Kairan’s barrier, Kairan has to meet the rest of the group as the magician of the Killain Mountains.”

“So, you want to act like a prince with me?”

He knows almost everything. Tae-ram couldn’t be more surprised.

“…Sure.”

“It’s strange. Why make things so complicated? It’s like someone is watching us.”

“I said I have no intention of prying.”

“But I’m curious as if someone is watching.”

Tae-ram breathed a sigh of relief inwardly. Not knowing about Amil meant that this place was the world of the novel, Amil was the protagonist, and he was the author. But he couldn’t let his guard down, of course.

“There are circumstances I can’t tell anyone about. But after everything is over, I will tell you the truth.”

“…Make sure you do.”

“I will. Until then, please think of it as a game of hiding my true identity.”

“A game? Hmm, interesting. Anyway, got it! Now I’m getting closer to you like a prince.”

“That’s right. Please take care of me from now on.”

“Yes! I’ll be by your side like a prince until you accept my proposal.”

Tae-ram let out a deep sigh. A terrifying dog, no, dragon. He would tell Se-ho appropriately later.

And so, a reluctant ally was born in this haphazard collaboration.

* * *

Kairan and Tae-ram broke up late at night. Se-ho came to find Tae-ram.

“You still don’t look good. Are you okay?”

“Not at all. I feel like throwing up. That damn bastard.”

Se-ho still seemed exhausted, as if he hadn’t fully recovered. Tae-ram found Se-ho’s cursing refreshing.

On the other hand, he thought his negative feelings towards Fran had accumulated considerably.

“If you’re sick, you should’ve come tomorrow.”

“…Are you okay, senior?”

“Huh?”

“Earlier, in the greenhouse. You said you were adjusting, but it seemed a bit too forceful… Senior, you’re not an ordinary human, are you?”

Tae-ram was about to say that he was an ordinary human too, but he couldn’t help but close his mouth when he saw Se-ho’s sturdy physique.

“It’s okay. It’s not too much to strain a body that’s not fully recovered. Still, thank you for your concern.”

The warm atmosphere was shattered by Se-ho’s following words.

“I read the book. It seems you had a great time with Kairan.”

“R-really? Amil must have seen it somewhere. But the gem didn’t get any clearer, and Kairan agreed to cooperate, so I think it went well.”

“Cooperate?”

Tae-ram explained to Se-ho about negotiating with Kairan, leaving out the part about him being the protagonist.

“Kairan knows that I’m a special existence, but he didn’t pick up on things like novels or narrators. Still, it’s a relief that the gem didn’t get clearer. R-right?”

Se-ho let out a small sigh, and Tae-ram read his reaction.

“I understand. Do you have any other information?”

“Specifically? Isn’t it better to travel with Fran than that? Even in the palace, it’s easier to poison from the outside.”

“Since you’re here, we’ll find a way.”

“That’s not like you.”

“Well, yeah. I’m relying on you a bit more than usual.”

Tae-ram was slightly moved by Se-ho’s voice, which felt warmer than usual.

“Yeah. You’re really amazing. How did you receive it so well, like a prince, without even reading the book?”

“I know the main character’s pattern in your novel is always the same.”

“What!”

“Jealousy and a desire for monopoly, causing trouble for those around him.”

“You do it less than me! But whenever I try to be nice to you, you always get defensive.”

“I never asked you to be nice to me.”

“But wait a minute! How do you know the pattern of the main character in my novel so well? Tell me honestly. You’re my fan, aren’t you?”

Se-ho fell silent again. Tae-ram was convinced it was the right answer.

“You always become silent when you’re cornered. You read my novel thoroughly, didn’t you? You even bought a copy, right? You’ve read it all. You have, right?”

Se-ho only twitched his eyebrows unpleasantly and continued to maintain his silence. Tae-ram persisted, unwilling to give up. After a while, Se-ho muttered quietly.

“…It was just market research, that’s all.”

Even though it was just a trivial argument, Tae-ram heard it clearly.

“It’s funny. You always use heavy material, but now you’re talking about market research. Without even reflecting it in your novel.”

“It was for overcoming a slump. This level of story sells, and I didn’t think I couldn’t do it. Especially for this book, I tried to read it all out of courtesy, but in the end, I only touched the beginning and couldn’t read further.”

“Hey! Do you have to go that far?”

“I mentioned it just in case you misunderstood. I don’t like your novels.”

“I don’t like your novels either. They’re heavy and leave a nasty feeling!”

“Nasty? I’ve been thinking this for a while, but your choice of words is quite childish.”

“What?”

That night, the two of them engaged in a heated argument and continued their debate throughout the night.

* * *

A week later, Tae-ram’s party set off on their journey. Tae-ram glanced around at his companions. It was quite a diverse group, to say the least. There was Se-ho, with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered nature, always getting into arguments. There was Fran, a court official with a deceptive smile that could easily swallow someone whole. Kairan, the dragon who seemed innocent but would unleash fiery explosions when least expected. And then there was Amil, with an innocent face hiding a sinister aura. 

Was this party going to be alright? There was still some uneasiness lingering, but Tae-ram felt relieved as they left the oppressive atmosphere of the palace behind.

And an hour later, Tae-ram’s radiant face was mercilessly crumpled. He was tired of the never-changing scenery along the steep forest path. His stamina was also a problem. He was exhausted. His legs trembled.

Choosing such a treacherous path was not intentional. Originally, the journey was supposed to be inconspicuous, with only Amil accompanying Tae-ram. But the party attracted too much attention from people. They hastily bought hoods and pulled them down deep, but it only made them look more suspicious. That’s why they chose to bypass the forest.

“Tae-ram, are you feeling very tired?” 

Fran approached Tae-ram, who was walking wearily. Tae-ram, who had no energy to reply, simply nodded his head. Kairan, who had been observing them closely, interjected in their conversation.

“If you’re tired, I can hug you! Or should I carry you? How about giving you a ride?”

Tae-ram inwardly sighed. Oh, Kairan. Humans aren’t meant to be carried by others. Are you trying to prove that you’re a dragon?

“Kairan, Tae-ram is the representative of the gods. Please observe proper decorum.”

“But Tae-ram said he’s fine, right?”

“Even so, there are boundaries that should be respected…”

“If you envy it so much, should I make a concession?”

“I never said I envied it… I’ve never felt that way!”

“But it’s so obvious.”

“…This conversation is going nowhere.”

Tae-ram found it amusing to see Fran unable to move a muscle. It was rock-paper-scissors, with Fran as scissors and Kairan as a fist. While Tae-ram quietly analyzed the situation, Kairan made another proposal to Fran.

“If you desire it so fervently, just carry him!”

“But… well…”

“After all, it’s just us. So what? Tae-ram is tired.”

Under Kairan’s persuasion, Fran finally took action.

“Very well then, Tae-ram. Excuse me.” 

“What? Wait a moment!”

Without any warning, Fran swiftly approached and hugged Tae-ram. Tae-ram screamed inwardly. This is insane! His rear end. He didn’t realize Fran was that strong. And he’s sneakily touching him!

Amil, who had been staring intently in their direction, was diligently writing something and it made Tae-ram even more embarrassed.

“Are you feeling uncomfortable?”

“Well… I’m really fine! Could you please let me down?”

“But… if you collapse…”

After struggling for a while, Tae-ram finally managed to free himself from Fran’s embrace. Fran was a court official with strength and persistence. He may look delicate, but one cannot let their guard down.

“If being carried is burdensome for you, you can lean on me instead.”

“I can’t let Amil, who is younger than me, walk alone. Besides, we couldn’t ride because of me.”

That’s right. Initially, Tae-ram’s party traveled on foot. However, Tae-ram, who had never ridden a horse before, couldn’t handle it properly. He could only manage to ride with Se-ho’s help, but Tae-ram’s slender body, even with enhancements, couldn’t endure prolonged horseback riding. In the end, they sold the horses midway and continued on foot. Tae-ram’s rear end still hurt. It’s like a debuff. It’s a disaster.

“Tae-ram is an ordinary person, while Amil is an imperial envoy. A combat envoy, at that.”

Amil, who had been leading the way, turned around and spoke confidently.

“Yes! This is nothing for me. I am continuously training!”

Tae-ram realized that Amil was carrying a tremendous amount of luggage. It seemed to be several times their body weight. Yet, he didn’t shed a single drop of sweat. In contrast, Tae-ram was drenched in sweat carrying a bag that was only a fraction of Amil’s burden.

Damn it. Is he the weakest one there? Tae-ram had no choice but to acknowledge his fragility.

“Tae-ram! I can carry your bag, at least.”

“It’s okay…”

Tae-ram pretended to resist and tried to hand the bag over to Amil. It was a bit embarrassing, but he had to survive.

“I’ll carry it.”

Se-ho, who appeared out of nowhere, snatched Tae-ram’s bag halfway. He discreetly pulled Tae-ram by his side. Then, Fran, who had been observing the situation, stepped forward.

“I will carry it. I can’t dare to burden the prince with such a task.”

“You’re making fun of me. Since when have you cared about such things?”

“From the beginning, I had decided to offer my assistance first.”

“Let go. What’s Tae-ram’s is also mine.”

“Is that how you think, Tae-ram?”

“Well, not exactly…”

Previously, Fran was losing to Kairan, but they were stronger when it came to Se-ho. Tae-ram found the dynamics among the three of them intriguing. So, Se-ho turns out to be the peacemaker.

For a brief moment, the two of them sandwiched Tae-ram between them, playfully shoving him back and forth. Tae-ram, already exhausted, became increasingly annoyed. 

“Just go away since you’re bothering me!”

All eyes were suddenly on Tae-ram. Due to his fatigue, his true feelings slipped out. What excuse could he come up with? He particularly found Se-ho’s stern expression to be intimidating. Tae-ram thought he should resolve the situation before Se-ho scolded him.

Surprisingly, someone unexpectedly stepped in and organized the chaotic situation. 

“I’ll carry it!”

Kairan, who appeared out of thin air behind Tae-ram using magic, swiftly took Tae-ram’s bag. Se-ho and Fran, who had lost their focus for a moment, quickly regained their composure and returned to their positions. Truly impressive. How did Kairan manage to intervene there? Tae-ram admired Kairan’s natural elegance.

With the situation settled and the burden is gone, Tae-ram felt relieved both physically and mentally. 

“Kairan, thank you.”

“It’s nothing. After all, you’re my potential boyfriend.”

No. No. That’s not it. Tae-ram protested with his gaze, but Kairan ignored him and pulled Tae-ram along. 

“Let’s go quickly!”

“Let’s go a bit slower.”

Amil, witnessing this scene, made an incredibly ominous expression that was unimaginable compared to his usual lively self. He murmured with meaningful intent, 

“The innocent and naive… are delicious.”

Regardless, the conflict was resolved peacefully, and the journey continued. Tae-ram enjoyed the peace, unaware of the impending dangers that awaited him.