ETHTKE Chapter 4

My first transmigration was into a classic fantasy novel I enjoyed in middle school.

The second was into a dungeon fantasy game that was all the rage during my first year of high school.

Eight years later, now 25, I found myself in my third transmigration, into the epic fantasy novel ‘The Catastrophe of Initia’.

I thought that with my growing experience in transmigration, I’d gain some perks or figure out some clever tricks…

“Damn it.”

No perks, just endless suffering. Even after struggling through to the end, once I woke up from the transmigration, I didn’t get a single reward.

I was just a miserable tool, like a magic lamp, used and discarded once the protagonists had no more use for me.

Who knew Aladdin was such a sad story…

Escaping from the dullness of reality to experience a fantastical dream is certainly exciting, but…

I’m no genie in a lamp! …Well, maybe I kind of am.

But seriously, why do I have to keep granting the protagonists’ wishes every time?

“Damn it? What does that mean?”

“It means it sucks.”

“Such vulgar language, fitting for someone of your level.”

The man grating on my nerves beside me is Hail Dirzio, someone I should be thanking.

On the first day of this cursed transmigration, when I was in denial, thinking it was just a dream, I was forced to face the harsh reality and accept the fact that I had transmigrated.

After that, thanks to Baek Yigang’s terrifying abuse of power, I was suddenly appointed as the Crown Prince’s personal strategist and ended up staying at the palace.

All of this happened just yesterday.

The feeling of rising from a death row prisoner to a royal strategist overnight…

“…You call this being a strategist?”

…wasn’t great. Not at all.

“Yes.”

At my casual question, Baek Yigang nodded calmly with an infuriatingly serene expression.

Then, a creeping sense of unease sent a dangerous signal.

I had a strong feeling that I’d been tricked by Baek Yigang again.

Last night, Baek Yigang suggested I become his strategist.

A strategist is someone who uses their wits to help others.

Out of all the normal titles like advisor, secretary, or chancellor, he gave me the title of strategist, which made me curious, so I asked him why.

He responded:

“A strategist only needs to move their mouth, so it’s the most suitable for you.”

“Other titles involve talking too… Do I really have to be that? I just need to stay by your side.”

Though my words were blunt, I meant it sincerely. I needed to stay close to Baek Yigang to fulfill his wishes.

In this world, unfortunately, the role of a strategist in ‘The Catastrophe of Initia’ is a minor one, making it a difficult position to receive genuine gratitude.

“…You sure have a way with words.”

“Is that a no?”

For the sake of a smooth transmigration, I had to stay by Baek Yigang’s side no matter what.

When I looked at him with slightly more desperate eyes, Baek Yigang hesitated, then slowly nodded while looking away.

“…I’ll consider it.”

His quiet acceptance made me sigh in relief.

As a strategist, even if I miraculously earned gratitude, the chances of it being heartfelt were slim.

Considering that reality, the strategist role wasn’t exactly ideal for someone who wanted to quickly receive thanks and escape the transmigration.

Of course, according to the contract, I was obliged to make him emperor, so in a way, it was a fitting role.

Even so, that’s a bit much. Even if it’s temporary, I should at least be a secretary to stick by his side all day and handle important tasks…

“I don’t want to be a strategist. I’d rather be a secretary or something like that.”

When I cautiously voiced my wish, Baek Yigang silently tilted his head and met my gaze.

At the same time, the way his lips curved into a smirk was nothing short of ominous.

“What’s wrong with being a strategist? Isn’t it the perfect job for someone with a mouth as free-spirited as yours, even when a sword was at your throat?”

“…What.”

So… Baek Yigang was specifically referring to that humiliating moment when I had no choice but to blurt out those “Welcome words” that the system forced me to say.

He was doing it on purpose, just to rub it in.

What should I do with that wicked yet beautiful face?

“Did you already forget? If you want, I can remind you.”

“Ugh, no thanks! What I want is for you to forget about it!”

Unfortunately, Baek Yigang completely ignored my wish.

…Anyway, after a turbulent night, today, here I am again, struggling to follow behind Baek Yigang while carrying a mountain of documents that needed to be moved to his office.

“Why does a strategist like me have to do this kind of work?!”

Baek Yigang, who paid no attention to my trembling arms struggling under the enormous pile of documents, simply muttered, “You’re slow,” and sharply turned his head away.

What kind of strategist is this?! A strategist is supposed to be a peaceful and comforting role, someone who whispers helpful advice from the side!

“This is employment fraud…! You said a strategist only has to move their mouth! And isn’t this the kind of job that servants usually do?!”

“Didn’t you say yesterday that you wanted to be by my side? I’m just granting your wish, so I don’t see why you’re complaining.”

“I mean, this isn’t what I meant when I said I wanted to be by your side…!”

Baek Yigang, he’s definitely doing this on purpose! He knows this isn’t what I meant by ‘being by his side!’

The more I tried to explain, the more unjustified I felt.

Am I… the type to get easily tricked? Is that really it?

I already got scammed with the contract, and now I’m getting scammed with employment too.

I was starting to feel a dizzying sense of inevitability, as if the proverb about being robbed with your eyes open was made just for me…

“In your position, you shouldn’t be picky about your tasks. More importantly—”

Baek Yigang, who hadn’t even acknowledged my whining, smoothly responded, but then he suddenly stopped walking and turned to look at me.

“…W-What? What are you about to say now?”

For some reason, his purple eyes staring directly at me made me feel unnecessarily embarrassed.

As I rolled my eyes and avoided his gaze, Baek Yigang’s lips slowly parted.

“You said you love me, didn’t you?”

…Huh?

“So if I ask you to do something, you should do it. That way, you’ll be in my good graces.”

…What?

W-What is this… This is like a bolt from the blue…

Did Baek Yigang actually believe that ‘My love, you look pretty today,’ which I blurted out as part of the ‘Welcome words,’ was real?

Did he genuinely take those ridiculous words seriously during my execution?!

“W-Wait, wait. There seems to be a misunderstanding here, that was actually—”

“Don’t worry. I’ve made sure to keep that day a secret, so your treacherous feelings toward me, your benefactor, won’t spread.”

Wait… what? Who loves whom…? And treacherous feelings? What?!

“No, I mean, I—”

“Cheong Dowoon. I kept you by my side because I admired the courage it took for you to confess in front of everyone. So, be grateful.”

Baek Yigang, who didn’t seem interested in hearing my side of the story, finished speaking on his own and turned around with a generous smile.

As much as I didn’t want to believe it, it seemed that Baek Yigang had interpreted that as a confession.

Just a moment ago, I was relieved when he called it nonsense, but now…

Is there not a single moment since I’ve possessed this body where I can let my guard down?

What kind of possession is this, where every moment is so nerve-wracking and dangerous?

“Wait, Baek Yigang…!”

Before I could even try to explain, his white hair disappeared down the corridor in an instant.

He disappeared just like that after saying what he wanted… Did he really just leave? Without me? For real?

Was he really planning to make me carry all these documents by myself?

I thought he would help after saying all that!

What kind of heartless bastard is he?!

“…Should I just hit this crazy bastard on the back of the head and reset by getting executed?”

But the thought of being reset and having to go back to the day of my execution was extremely unsettling.

No one in the world would want to experience that terrifying moment of death again and again.

“First, a terrible boss, and now an overly self-important, villainous superior. This must be a nightmare…”

Faced with this harsh reality, I stood frozen in place, blankly staring at the traces Baek Yigang left behind.