* * *
“Habios, I wasn’t aware you had connections with a priest from the Temple?”
The voice was hoarse and aged. Seo Woohyun’s gaze shifted past Habios.
An elderly man with a gruff demeanor stood leaning on a cane.
“Yes, Grandfather. On our way to the principality, we owed a great deal to a priest from the Erdian Temple. Priest Ciel, this is my grandfather, Count Sophist Locam.”
As Habios introduced his grandfather, Seo Woohyun hesitantly nodded.
This was his first time meeting a noble.
While his face feigned composure, his mind was on the verge of exploding.
‘What should I do? Do I offer a handshake? Should I bow since he’s a Count?’
His lack of experience was about to betray his shallow knowledge.
He shot a pleading glance at Tia, hoping for some guidance.
“I am Sophist Locam. I deeply thank you as a member of the Temple for the kindness you’ve shown my grandson,” the old man said, extending his hand first.
Seo Woohyun awkwardly shook it and introduced himself with a name he still found jarring.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Ciel.”
Normally, this would be the moment to add a polite remark like, “I’ve heard a lot about you, sir,” or to modestly say, “It was the least I could do.” Yet, for some reason, no words came.
Seo Woohyun was too preoccupied with the absurdity of calling himself “Ciel” to think of anything else.
Of all the fake names Sihero had given him, why did he choose this one?
Though he had no plans to reuse it, if there ever came a time for another alias, “Ciel” would not be on the list.
“My grandson owes you a great debt, and as his grandfather, I can’t let that go unacknowledged. May I invite you to a meal at my estate?”
Habios seemed to be hoping he’d accept, but Seo Woohyun had neither the appetite nor the inclination to get further entangled with the imperial family.
That family, infamous for sending assassins at every turn, was far from trustworthy.
‘Tell Sihero to immediately contact the imperial family and find out who sent those assassins. Those insolent enough to meddle with my Temple will pay dearly.’
Recalling Erdian’s earlier warning, Seo Woohyun figured Habios wouldn’t face assassins anytime soon.
Still, he had no desire to accept his grandfather’s offer.
Seo Woohyun was naturally reserved and didn’t want to disrupt their lighthearted sightseeing schedule.
“Thank you for the invitation, but we’ve already eaten. Besides, we don’t plan to spend much time sightseeing, so perhaps another time.”
“I see. Then I won’t insist. It was a pleasure meeting you. May the blessings of Erdian always be with you.”
The old man gracefully accepted the indirect refusal.
Habios, though visibly disappointed, followed his grandfather with a bow, distancing himself from the group.
The phrase “May Erdian’s blessings be with you” was a standard pleasantry among the Temple’s believers.
However, given his recent estrangement from Erdian, Seo Woohyun couldn’t help but feel irked.
‘Those blessings might fade soon enough. Ah… how did it come to this?’
With a deep sigh, Seo Woohyun let out his frustration.
“Is there anywhere else we need to visit?” he asked.
“There’s a display of the sword Duke Soznian used before receiving the Master Swordsmanship Medal,” Tia replied.
Seo Woohyun’s eyes lit up.
Receiving such a medal meant the person had reached the level of a Sword Master.
While Raullet, who stood nearby, was also a Sword Master, Seo Woohyun hadn’t dared to ask him to demonstrate his aura or show his sword. B
ut the idea of seeing another Sword Master’s weapon on display was thrilling.
‘I have to see this. Who knows if I’ll ever get the chance again?’
For Seo Woohyun, who had once been a fantasy novel enthusiast working at Pyogang Industries, this was a dream destination.
“Will there be a long line?”
“No! Only those with verified identities are allowed in, so it’s not too crowded.”
“Let’s go then. Is it far?”
“Not at all! Follow me!”
Seeing Seo Woohyun finally show some excitement after days of gloom, Tia eagerly led the way.
As members of the Erdian Temple, their attire alone was proof enough of their identity, allowing them entry without presenting any additional credentials.
Once inside, Seo Woohyun carefully examined the sword displayed behind glass.
Raullet, standing beside him, asked quietly, “Are you interested in swords?”
It was the kind of question that hinted at a willingness to teach if asked.
Sword Master training?
That was an opportunity that wouldn’t come twice.
Considering how uncertain survival seemed without Erdian’s backing, the offer couldn’t have come at a better time.
It was sure to come in handy someday.
“Of course! Would you consider taking me as your student?” Seo Woohyun asked, trying to mask his enthusiasm.
“I’ve thought about it, but I’m afraid accepting you as my student would likely shorten my life,” Raullet replied with a faint smile.
“Knights consider injuries part of their training, but there’s someone who wouldn’t take kindly to you getting hurt.”
Even without a subject, the implication was clear: Erdian.
Ever since Seo Woohyun had rejected his courtship, Erdian hadn’t shown his face.
‘So unhelpful right now. Sigh.’
Even though their relationship had become strained, Seo Woohyun doubted Erdian would make a fuss over minor injuries from training.
Then again, given how Erdian viewed “Ciel” as his precious reincarnation, he might become even more irate.
Not wanting to press further, Seo Woohyun reluctantly nodded, the disappointment evident on his face.
Perhaps when Erdian’s influence waned, he could bring it up again.
Although, that might come off as a little pathetic. Still, the missed opportunity stung.
Seo Woohyun spent a long time admiring the Sword Master’s blade before returning to the inn.
After listening to Malrang excitedly recount their sightseeing experience, evening arrived.
‘I’m not hungry. Skipping one meal won’t kill me, and eating when I’m not in the mood might make me sick. I’ll just turn in early tonight.’
Having spent more time than usual in crowded areas, Seo Woohyun felt utterly drained.
When Justin arrived at the inn and offered to bring a meal to his room, Seo Woohyun declined.
“No, it’s fine. I’m just tired from sightseeing and don’t have much of an appetite. Malrang will eat my share.”
“Yep! And I’ll tell you how it tasted too!”
“Very well. Rest well.”
Justin didn’t insist further, taking Malrang with him.
Seeing how exhausted Seo Woohyun looked, he decided it was better to let him rest.
With even Malrang gone, the room fell silent, so quiet that Seo Woohyun could hear his own heartbeat.
‘Finally, some peace.’
He sank into the plush bed, staring blankly at the ceiling as a sense of relief washed over him.
After over a month of traveling with a group, he desperately needed some time alone.
Drifting off, he dreamt fleetingly of a scene from a past life, vivid enough to feel real.
Given that the memory involved “Ciel” and Erdian’s passionate entanglement, Seo Woohyun woke with a lingering unease.
‘I don’t care about past lives or whatever—why does it keep coming up in my dreams? How am I supposed to sleep properly if this keeps happening?’
Seo Woohyun had always thought using dreams to reveal past events or forgotten truths was a cheap storytelling device.
Perhaps this was karma for all the times he’d scoffed at those tropes while reading novels.
‘Seriously, Seo Woohyun, you’ve got your own fantasy novel playing out.’
Seo Woohyun, cutting off the flood of intrusive thoughts, reached for the water placed in his room.
Though his instincts craved alcohol, he had no intention of drinking.
The last thing he wanted was to drunkenly stumble into Erdian’s room or spew nonsense that would leave him kicking his blanket in regret later.
Instead, he remembered the coffee mix Malrang had brought earlier.
A sweet cup of caffeine seemed like just the thing to clear his foggy mind.
He called on an attendant responsible for the odd jobs around the lodging to bring him a kettle of hot water.
Once the water arrived, Seo Woohyun fetched two packets of coffee mix from a familiar box.
He tore them open along the perforated lines, poured the contents into a cup, and waited.
Soon, the attendant returned with a steaming kettle.
“Thanks,” Seo Woohyun said.
“If you need anything else, just call!” the young attendant replied cheerfully.
“Sure,” Seo Woohyun responded with a small smile.
As he poured the water, a rich aroma of coffee wafted up to meet him.
‘This is it.’
The familiar scent of coffee, one he had encountered countless times in office break rooms, brought an almost overwhelming wave of nostalgia.
He stirred the mix thoroughly and took a sip, feeling his senses snap back to life.
‘I’ve been cooped up too long, spiraling into endless daydreams. I need to clear my head—maybe a walk will help.’
Holding his precious coffee cup, Seo Woohyun stepped out into the garden adjacent to the lodging.
A knight from the Duchy’s Order, whom he’d seen a couple of times before, silently followed him.
He sat down on a bench, letting the cool night breeze wash over him as he gazed blankly at the sky.
The future felt unbearably uncertain.
‘Erdian’s the only one I could remotely trust since arriving here. Not that he’s human… Why did I charge at a god so recklessly?’
Regret bubbled up again, but just as quickly, his thoughts flipped like a coin.
‘But seriously, liking someone just because they’re the reincarnation of your ex? Isn’t that a bit much? “I love Ciel, so I’ll love anyone they reincarnate into”… That’s what this is, right? Can you even call that loving Seo Woohyun?’
Downing his coffee in large gulps, Seo Woohyun wrestled with the storm of emotions.
‘Of course not! It’s not the same! I was right to say no. I handled it well, didn’t curse him out, and even apologized later for snapping. Erdian said he understood. We can’t go back to laughing and joking like before—it’s just not possible after everything.’
Blinking his large eyes repeatedly, Seo Woohyun tried to convince himself.
Nearby, Malrang’s chirpy voice reached his ears as the hatchling chattered with Justin.
Holding his now-empty cup, Seo Woohyun headed back inside.
‘I should write a few more rules for myself.’
The journey back to the Holy City still lay ahead.
If he didn’t want to add more embarrassing moments to his list, setting clear rules seemed essential.
His emotions were all over the place, and without guidelines, he was bound to make a mess.
* * *
Well, I hope he settle his feelings soon…
👍