NOVEL NEXT chapter 127
127 – An Unexpected Discovery (1)
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[Asuka]
– Wow…, this is the first time I’ve heard the top student say that.
– I want to see her soon too, that girl.
[Lee Seoyeon]
– Yujin, I’m starting to feel left out.
– You’ve never said we’re cute, but you say that so easily to her?
– I can’t take it anymore. I can’t wait here. Yujin, send me your location. I’m going to go meet her.
[Arthur]
– …Seoyeon, Asuka. Both of you, calm down a bit.
– Yujin did say she’s super cute, but it’s not certain that she’s a girl, right?
– And even if she is a girl, she could just be a really cute little girl. So don’t make assumptions until you see her for yourself.
[Asuka]
– What do you mean by that, Arthur?
– Seoyeon and I are being very rational right now.
[Arthur]
– Rational, huh…, that’s strange.
– Then what was that sound of destruction I just heard? It sounded like something was breaking in Seoyeon’s room and yours.
[Asuka]
– (ര ̫ര ;;)
[Lee Seoyeon]
– Yujin, I’m really worried about you, so can you please send your location quickly?
– Ah, it’s not that I’m curious about that girl or anything.
– …Yujin? Can you answer me?
– Yujin?
[Arthur]
– …This obsession is severe.
– Yujin, there’s no helping it now.
– Take a picture of the hero you said was super cute and show it to us.
– That should end their obsession.
[Lee Yoo-jin]
– …Yeah.
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As Arthur said, I should do that.
I’ve unnecessarily fanned the flames of Lee Seo-yeon and Asuka’s obsession by saying things I didn’t need to, so I should show them As and evolve.
I lowered the chat window floating on the hologram screen and turned on the photo mode to look at As.
Then, with a happy face, I snapped a picture of As, who was licking an ice cream.
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[Lee Yoo-jin]
– [Photo].
– This is the hero.
– Isn’t he super cute, just like I said?
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I uploaded the photo to the chat.
But somehow…, the reactions are strange.
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[Asuka]
– …As the chief said, he’s really cute.
– But who is the girl next to the kid?
[Lee Seo-yeon]
– The kid is really cute.
– But who is the girl next to the kid?
– Why is she there? Do you know her? Did you meet her here?
– No, more than that, why are they together? Huh? Can you tell me why?
– Yoo-jin? Can you please answer me?
[Arthur]
– …Lee Yoo-jin. I can see that the hero is really cute, just as you said.
– But this… I think it might need some explaining.
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“Ah.”
Let me know if you need anything else!
So Terra was captured in the photo too.
I had been so absorbed in taking pictures that I completely forgot Terra was sitting next to As.
“Um….”
This is awkward.
I had thought about telling them about Terra someday, but not like this.
‘Ah, what should I do?’
What should I say?
‘The maid next to As is an artificial intelligence belonging to my system?’
As soon as that thought crossed my mind, I immediately rejected it. I can’t say that.
Of course, if they were someone I trusted deeply, they would believe me. Still, I can’t bring up Terra’s existence.
The Apostles, and the foreign entities.
It’s because of their presence.
They’ve already started to pay attention to me. And they’ve noticed the cheat created as the source of the foreign entities.
For that reason, I absolutely cannot let them discover the system created as the source of Gaia, the developer who has possessed me in this world.
After all, wasn’t it Baek Yu-hwa who did that during the last duel season?
The reason I, who had no mental immunity, was unharmed by the Apostles’ mental interference was because of Gaia’s protective power and the source of Gaia that belongs to me.
So I can’t speak carelessly.
Even if this place is a hidden world where the Fallen do not interfere, I’m sorry to them, but I cannot reveal Terra’s existence or my secret. Not until all the foreign entities are dealt with.
‘…I’ll have to think slowly about my explanation.’
A few things come to mind for clarification.
Still, there might be better explanations, so I’ll have to avoid the conversation until we reach the royal road.
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[Lee Yu-jin]
– Ah, maybe it’s because I’m in a car. I think I’m getting car sick.
– I’ll catch some sleep until I arrive.
– Let’s all meet up in a bit.
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I closed the chat window. Then, following that, I ended the hologram.
Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding….
As if waiting, the alarm on my smartwatch began to go off in a frenzy.
The cause of the rampage is, of course.
[Lee Seoyeon]
– Yujin, pick up the phone. Yujin.
[Asuka]
– Yujin! Explain yourself! Explain!
[Arthur]
– Lee Yujin, I will be outside the gate from now on.
– I will wait until you come, until I can see you.
There are three of us.
*Sigh… I should turn off the alarm for a bit.*
I set my smartwatch to silent mode against the incessant alarm sound.
Of course, considering that I am not on Earth but in the other world, setting it to silent is not the best choice.
I might miss a call if something happens to my friends.
But that’s not really my concern.
After all, I have Terra.
A system that has hacked the smartwatch made from the essence of science and magic at the academy.
Moreover, I’m wearing all the safety devices created by the principal and the transcendent, so I’m not too worried.
*If it’s an urgent message, Terra will let me know.*
Having secretly learned the basic qualities of a maid, she should be able to read the content of the message quite easily.
*She might even be reading it right now.*
As I thought this and lowered my wrist, I suddenly realized that the car had gone quiet.
The sound of Asuka’s laughter should be clearer now that the smartwatch alarm was off, but I couldn’t hear it. I turned my head to check.
Squeak…, squeak….
Asuka was sound asleep. Cradled in Terra’s arms. And Terra was quietly stroking Asuka’s head.
*No wonder it was quiet…*
As if reading my thoughts, Terra, who had been gazing at Asuka with soft eyes, turned her head toward me. Then, a small smile appeared on her lips.
[Master, doesn’t it feel like we’re having a secret rendezvous like this?]
She sent an utterly absurd message.
I let out a hollow laugh and replied.
*Hey, Terra. You’re not just looking at maid-related stuff on my smartwatch, are you?*
To be honest.
Did you see anything else?
As I asked inwardly, Terra simply smiled with her eyes, saying nothing.
‘You saw it, didn’t you?’
With that almost unspoken response, I let out a small sigh.
‘You definitely erased those records, right?’
[…….]
‘…Terra?’
…You did erase them, didn’t you?
&
&
&
Fortunately, I heard Terra’s assurance that she had indeed erased all records except for those related to the maid.
Still, a lingering sense of unease prompted me to check the search history on my smartwatch immediately. Only after confirming it was clean did I shake off my anxiety.
“Terra, don’t pull stunts like that again. I was genuinely freaked out.”
“Yes, understood.”
Terra nodded with her usual expressionless face. Yet, the playful glint in her bright blue eyes remained.
‘How is she a golem and an AI?’
I marveled anew at Terra’s emotions, which were no different from a human’s, as I gazed out the window.
A rather neat, artificial road came into view.
‘There shouldn’t be any bandits or thieves now.’
Maybe it’s because it’s the medieval era.
Until this road appeared in my sight, I had encountered bandits and robbers several times.
Of course, I hadn’t been robbed. I wasn’t in a position to be plundered.
That said, I didn’t deal with the thieves directly. I simply kept driving without stopping.
Whether they shot arrows or crashed into the car, I just ignored them. The vehicle I was in wasn’t an ordinary car; it was an iron golem, so their attacks were nothing.
As I barreled through the thieves who appeared like an event blocking the road, three hours passed, just as I had told the main characters.
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[Lee Yu-jin]
– Almost at the royal capital.
– The castle gate comes into view.
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The castle gate, through which people and carts pass, began to appear in sight.
“It’s time to start getting down.”
I turned my head to the side.
I could still see Asga, fast asleep.
“It’s a bit uncomfortable to wake her since she’s sleeping so deeply.”
Maybe she’s relaxed now that we’re in a safe place.
Asga shows no sign of waking up at all.
Well, what can you do?
“I’ll carry her.”
“Master, I’ll carry her.”
“No, I’ll do it. You just get off and put the cart in the inventory.”
“Yes, understood.”
The castle gate drew closer.
As it did, the number of people and carts on the road increased. So did the curious glances directed our way.
And then.
“…Wow, have they really been waiting all this time?”
I could see them in front of the castle gate.
Completely unconcerned by the strange looks from others.
The trio, arms crossed, staring intently at us.
“Wow, how intense.”
Is that what’s bothering Terra?
“This is just my system’s artificial intelligence….”
“A loyal maid.”
“…that’s all.”
I looked at Terra.
When her gaze met mine, she tilted her head as if to ask what the problem was.
At that sight, I opened my mouth, then sighed and swallowed my words. As we approached the gate, I grabbed the handle and said,
“…Terra, let’s walk from here.”
“Yes, I understand.”
The carriage came to a stop.
Clunk.
I opened the door. Immediately, the murmurs of people, who seemed to have been waiting, began to fill my ears as they looked at me with curiosity.
“…A silent carriage, how fascinating.”
“Is it a wizard? But they look like a country noble’s young master…”
“Where can one buy such a carriage? I haven’t even seen one at the Mage Tower.”
Perhaps because it was something that shouldn’t exist in the medieval era, the people’s interest was excessive.
As I pondered this, the opposite door of the carriage opened.
And in that moment, Terra stepped out, cradling As in her arms.
“……?”
The previously noisy crowd suddenly fell silent. I glanced around.
“…It’s the Hero.”
“The Hero has arrived.”
“Such a young child is the Hero… well, does it matter?”
All the gazes of those watching the carriage turned toward As.
“Mom, is that girl the Hero?”
“Yes, dear. That child is the divine consideration for us.”
“Hey, don’t pay too much attention. That child, after all… tsk, never mind. Just don’t stare so intently.”
They spoke those words, which felt uncomfortable and offered no goodwill.
‘…What is this?’
Isn’t a Hero usually someone who receives a warm welcome from the people?
‘But what are those reactions?’
It’s strange. And alien.
The gazes directed at As did not see her as one of their own, but rather as if they were looking at an object.
‘…I need to get out of here quickly.’
It’s unpleasant. But beyond that, I worry for As. She will be hurt by the cold stares of the people.
So at this moment, I feel relieved. That As is asleep.
[Master, just give the command. I will make them all disappear.]
Terra seemed to share my feelings, as a message conveying her anger appeared in my view.
“I want to do that too, just in thought, but you know we really shouldn’t, right?”
So before my mood worsens, let’s quickly get out of here.
[…Yes, understood.]
Tera approached with a message that didn’t sit well with me. And with Tera carrying As, I carefully hoisted As onto my back, making sure not to wake him, and walked towards the girls who were still staring at us intently.
“Yujin.”
“Yujin-ssi.”
“Lee Yujin, you’ve come.”
Lee Seoyeon, Asuka, and Arthur called out to me with cheerful voices. Then, with a sudden realization, they closed their mouths, looking a bit taken aback.
From their expressions, it seemed they were about to get angry upon seeing me. But upon actually seeing my face, they greeted me brightly, their initial irritation forgotten.
True to my thoughts, all three of them cleared their throats and put on mock angry faces.
And just as I expected, they crossed their arms or placed their hands on their hips, preparing to say something to me.
“Hey, guys. I’m sorry, but let’s hold off on what we need to say for a bit.”
I interrupted their moment to speak. Then I gestured around us.
“”…….””
The three of them relaxed their stances.
Being quick-witted, they sensed through my gesture that the atmosphere around us was off, and their expressions turned serious.
“Definitely… this isn’t a place where we can speak comfortably.”
“The atmosphere isn’t… to my liking.”
“…All the gazes are unpleasant.”
“Right? So let’s get out of here first.”
At my words, the three nodded in agreement.
“…I have many questions about that maid, but for now, let’s do as you say, Lee Yujin.”
Arthur turned away, implying he had much to say but would hold it for now.
In agreement with Arthur, Lee Seoyeon stared at Tera for a moment before turning away and walking into the gate.
“Yujin-ssi, please follow us.”
“…Okay.”
Asuka gestured for me to follow and turned away.
In that moment, I wondered if I should really follow them.
But soon, I let out a deep sigh and trudged along behind them.
&
A lavish interior adorned with gold and jewels.
In front of a table laden with food.
A corpulent man, dressed in extravagant clothing, looked down at a man kneeling before him and asked.
“So, the hero has arrived?”
“Yes, indeed.”
At the man’s words, the corpulent man set down the plate he was holding. Then, with a smirk that was unsettling, he said,
“At last, my tool has come.”
He referred to the hero, defined by discipline, as his tool.
“I wonder how long this time it will last.”
The corpulent man picked up a crown, greasy and filthy, from beside the food bowl and placed it atop his head.
Then he began to scratch at his neck as if it were itchy.
Scritch, scritch.
The sound resembled not flesh being scratched, but rather the scraping of tree bark.
“Ahh… Master, please look forward to it. This insignificant servant shall delight in your amusement.”
Even as he spoke solemnly, the corpulent man’s scratching did not cease. In fact, it quickened.
And the same was true for the man kneeling before him.
On the necks of both men were scales, reminiscent of reptiles, making it hard to believe they were human flesh.