One Day, a Villain Fell into My Wardrobe

24

The lunch menu was kimchi stew filled with an unknown meat. Yeon Ji-ho took some kimchi from a sealed container, sautéed it appropriately, and then quickly made the kimchi stew with just a simple seasoning.

Of course, the meat in the kimchi stew was what Isquis had brought. Yeon Ji-ho didn’t bother to ask what kind of meat it was. It just felt like the right thing to do.

“Ugh, cough, cough!”

Even before the cooking was complete, Isquis, who had been wandering around while swallowing saliva, immediately dove in with a spoon as soon as he received it. He looked like he had been starving for a while, just like Apophis.

Then, when Isquis started coughing as if he was about to throw up, Apophis, who was watching, jabbed his hand with a fork. Isquis quickly backed away, hugging his bowl tightly.

“Eat cleanly, you idiot! Seriously, it’s disgusting…”

Yeon Ji-ho recalled the first time he met Apophis, who had been too busy gobbling down food at the pork belly party, but he said nothing. Instead, he simply scooped some broth with his spoon to taste, and it was quite good.

“Damn, it’s delicious, really delicious! I admit it! Apophis, I’ve decided to acknowledge that person! Even if he’s a man… Ugh!”

“What are you saying? Has your intelligence dropped to that of a bird?”

The good thing about kimchi stew was that as long as the kimchi was tasty, it didn’t need much seasoning to be flavorful. Since the broth tasted good even to him, Yeon Ji-ho whispered to Set.

“If this goes on, we’ll lose everything.”

Yeon Ji-ho pushed more food into his bowl than Apophis or Isquis had, fearing that he would lose it all to the two who were eating so aggressively.

Set merely stared blankly at his bowl. He didn’t pick up his spoon. He had a look on his face that suggested he was displeased with something.

“Ji-ho.”

“Yes?”

“You don’t need to cook after coming all this way.”

He hadn’t brought him here to make him suffer. He wanted to take him to his castle and let him stay in the most comfortable place. No, at the very least, he should let him sleep in a nice inn instead of this cave.

However, Set was in a desperate situation. If it became known that someone who had publicly undergone a burning execution was still alive, they wouldn’t let him be. Set felt tormented by his inability to do anything for Yeon Ji-ho.

“I’m feeling good because everyone is enjoying the food, though.”

“…Still.”

“After my parents passed away when I was 18, I only have memories of cooking for myself. It’s really nice to eat together like this.”

Set felt an indescribable feeling wash over him as Yeon Ji-ho spoke to him as if he were older. Eventually, at Yeon Ji-ho’s urging, Set picked up his spoon.

The kimchi stew was gone in an instant. Apophis shook his head in disbelief as he watched Isquis peck at the bottom of the bowl, licking it clean, and Yeon Ji-ho chuckled softly at the sight.

Set stood a bit away, watching them, lost in thought. It was the second day since he had come to this world, but as time passed, his complexion only worsened.

***

I’m not feeling so great.

As usual, Yeon Ji-ho was atop Set, checking his condition. Instead of voicing that fact to Set, he asked something else.

“Where are we going now?”

For the past few days, the four of them had been on the move. Set, Apophis, and Yeon Ji-ho were on horseback, while Isquis spread his wings and followed at a suitable speed.

“We’re on our way to find the scattered Gorgon Knights. Isquis is good at gathering information, so he can find them on his own, but the rest of us can’t.”

“I see. It’ll take a while to find everyone if they’re scattered.”

“No, once we get a reasonable distance from the capital, Apophis will send a signal. Then everyone will gather within a few days.”

While talking with Set, Yeon Ji-ho leaned against his chest and looked around at the scenery. After riding all day, he had become quite accustomed to being on horseback.

“But it really seems peaceful here. I don’t see a single monster.”

At those words, Set raised an eyebrow. Then he lowered his head and whispered softly into Yeon Ji-ho’s ear.

“There’s a chronic jinx for knights and mercenaries.”

“Jinx?”

“The moment you say it’s peaceful, you encounter a monster.”

“Oh, come on.”

As Yeon Ji-ho crossed the fields, he looked around at the nameless leaves fluttering in the breeze. It was so calm that there was no way a monster would pop out.

It shouldn’t come out… 

Kugugugung. He felt a vibration throughout his body. It was a sensation slowly rising from the hooves of the horse touching the ground. Goosebumps crawled up Yeon Ji-ho’s arms.

“Could it be, oh, no way.”

“Ji-ho. Never get off the horse. This horse will protect you.”

“What?!”

With that, Set handed the reins to Yeon Ji-ho and jumped down. Yeon Ji-ho, suddenly left alone on the horse, was so startled that his eyes widened.

“Apophis, Isquis. To your positions.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Yes, sir.”

Apophis and Isquis, who had been following closely beside him, completely vanished from sight. Now, the only one in front of Yeon Ji-ho was Set, who had drawn his sword and taken a stance.

At the same time, dirt erupted from the ground. No, he thought it was dirt, but it wasn’t.

“Giant Worm! It’s been a while!”

At Isquis’s excited voice from the air, Yeon Ji-ho looked up to see it. Ah, that’s a monster. Seeing it with his own eyes, something in his mind went blank.

The Giant Worm, quietly howling, suddenly thrust its body toward Set, who stood in front of it. As the bald head, devoid of eyes and nose, approached him, Set didn’t dodge but simply stared at it.

Then he slowly drew a line in the air. Just a few seconds later, the Giant Worm’s waist was severed.

Before he could even comprehend what was happening, the situation was resolved. Isquis and Apophis had finished off the Giant Worm, which had been cut in half.

“Ji-ho. Is there any dirt splattered on you?”

“No, no? There isn’t.”

“Thank goodness. We need to pick up the pace. Giant Worms usually stay in groups of three or four.”

With that, before Yeon Ji-ho could gather his wits, the group returned to their horses.

Set lightly shifted his body and climbed back onto the back of Yeon Ji-ho. Even after effortlessly dispatching a monster the height of a three-story apartment, he showed no signs of joy. It was as if it were just another day.

“Wow…”

“Ji-ho?”

“I almost fell in love. That was insane.”

“…What?”

Yeon Ji-ho mulled over the scene he had just witnessed. Insane, insane. All he could do was exclaim. The fact that he had seen with his own eyes what he had only read about in novels made his heart race.

As Yeon Ji-ho kept glancing back at Set, revealing a flushed face, Set’s heart began to race as well. Unbeknownst to Yeon Ji-ho, he was also feeling a rush of excitement.

“Was that… was that a sword energy? Something blue shot through the air just now. I didn’t see it clearly, but…”

“Yes, that was sword energy.”

“So this is what a Sword Master is like… Wow.”

Set couldn’t help but smile subtly at Yeon Ji-ho, who was unable to hide his excitement. It was a moment when Set’s shoulders seemed to broaden a little more.

“Stop.”

The atmosphere changed abruptly. Set, Apophis, and Isquis stiffened as they looked at the attire of those blocking their path. Only Yeon Ji-ho looked at the figures in front of him with a clueless expression.

They were mounted on horses, clad in pure white armor. There were nearly twenty of them, and the one at the front rode closer to them.

“Who are you to have slain the Giant Worm in one blow?”

Except for Yeon Ji-ho, everyone else had their hoods pulled deep over their black robes, making it hard to see their faces at a glance.

When no answer came, the face of the one who stepped forward twisted in frustration. He shouted loudly.

“We are the knights who protect the royal family. Reveal your identities!”

“…”

Set was organizing his thoughts. Should he kill everyone in front of him, or should he just leave? He even finished contemplating the idea of slaughtering them without blinking.

What stopped him was a voice that came from behind them.

“Lord Reckless. Is it really necessary to corner those who have achieved something?”

The voice was sweet and low, as if honey were flowing. It was then that Set’s breath caught in his throat.

Someone slowly rode out from the center, parting the knights. A white horse. Honey-blonde hair. Green eyes that captured the fields. He was clad in armor like the others, but…

“It seems you all were surprised. We are the royal knights who came to exterminate the Giant Worms after hearing that they appear here periodically.”

He pretended to be a member of the royal knights in armor, but everyone in Set’s group, including Yeon Ji-ho, knew.

It was Hadad.

“I want to thank you for doing our job for us. However, I would like to greet you face to face…”

Hadad smiled warmly as he slowly dismounted. Then, the knights behind him began to dismount in a rush.

“May we have a moment to talk?”

Hadad looked directly at Yeon Ji-ho, the only one in the group not wearing a robe. The moment he felt their eyes meet, Yeon Ji-ho’s vision went black. Set, who was behind him, pulled his hood over his head.

“…That’s not possible.”

Set whispered quietly, only moving his lips. Hadad’s eyebrows twitched, rising and falling lightly.

“Impudent fools! Do you know who this is? Get off your horses immediately, reveal your identities, and kneel!”

“Ah, Lord Reckless. If you do that, you won’t be able to express your gratitude to them. Please bear with it for a moment.”

Hadad gently soothed his knight, Reckless.

“Are there those who do not wish to reveal their identities? If so, I apologize. We merely wanted to express our gratitude, so please don’t take it too unpleasantly.”

Set tightened his grip on the reins. If Hadad showed even the slightest opening, he was ready to move immediately.

“However…”

“…”

“I’ve only seen one person in my life with that level of sword energy.”

Hadad’s lips curled into a smile. Yet, despite that, his expression still appeared infinitely kind, perhaps because he was the perfect protagonist.

“Isn’t that right, Set?”