No Dark Secrets In This Book

Episode 118

Contrary to the misunderstandings of Cassice and others around him, Logan Esteban, who was the only one excited at the time of the ‘Gyeongju’ announcement, actually had no hobby of enjoying quiet historic sites at all. At least the current Logan preferred cutting-edge culture and urban areas. 

However, he also had his own calculations.

‘If it’s a boring place, it will be good to observe Soga without any problems.’

In order to understand their daily life and have something like a conversation with them, a boring place was better than a stimulating and fun place or a disaster situation continuous occurrence simulation. Cassice was now being revered as a noble hero without them realizing it. There were too many aspects of Cassice that Logan didn’t know, and how quickly he grasped them was the key to resolving the situation.

Moreover, Logan had many people to talk to besides Cassice. For example, Diedrich, who exchanged magic and pokes with each other, or Capone, who had been avoiding conversations with the other two.

Logan was going to be busy throughout this field trip. Even when everyone arrived cozily in Gyeongju and unpacked their luggage at the accommodation, Logan’s mind was spinning busily.

‘Ugh, I have a headache……’

Logan had never used his head this much in his life, so he was greeted with a migraine. This won’t do. He needs to cool his head for a moment. Logan slipped out during free time and walked on a trail with few people. The walk seemed to have an effect, and the headache gradually subsided. If he goes back like this and sticks next to Cassice,

‘Crazy, what is that?’

Logan’s plan was perfect in its own way. Until he saw ‘that’.

***

Unlike everyone, even the professors, glancing at me and being tense, I actually had no intention of deviating or causing an accident at all. I’m human too. It hasn’t even been a month since I came back from the dungeon. People get tired and I want to rest too.

Resting seems more appropriate than doing something crazy for someone who recently faced a disaster in the form of their past life.

…… I even strangled Jeong Ian.

‘Strangling me while telling me to die……’

It’s certainly not a pleasant thing. Those words telling me to die, words of curse, murderous intent…… I know it’s irrational to be trapped and unable to escape, but I can’t help it. If it were me before, I might have done something reckless when I felt this down, but now I have Ryuseong.

‘He’s been quite cute these days.’

For some reason, he seemed to become more affectionate and pay more attention to me. Seeing him trying to time conversations here and there, it was so adorable that I couldn’t stand it. I don’t need any fun or games. Ryuseong is the most fun.

So I hope they can rest assured. If they keep trying to monitor, it will interfere with our private time.

Because I made this resolution, I never thought I would commit something worse than the escapades the professors thought of, whether it be alcohol, cigarettes, karaoke machines, or whatever. But at least for now, I was obediently listening to the professors’ explanation of the schedule, unaware of anything.

Around the time we were moving to Bulguksa Temple, I heard the professors whispering.

“Where did Esteban go?”

“What?”

“Cadet Logan Esteban. The one who stays next to ‘him’……”

“I didn’t confirm…”

“I saw him unpack his luggage at the accommodation.”

What is it? Listening to their whispers, it seemed that Logan had been missing for a while. Seeing the professors doing that, they must have looked for him once, but did he disappear without a trace?

‘Did he finally run away?’

He didn’t seem like the type to enjoy escapades here, so if Logan suddenly disappeared at this timing, it must be that. But I soon stopped caring. I had no reason to care about Logan running away or not during my rest time. I can catch him anytime if I want to anyway.

Ryuseong, who seemed to have heard the whispers with his sharp ears, said,

“I have a bad feeling.”

…… Oh, Ryuseong’s intuition is quite reliable. Among people with good intuition, he had something like an animal’s instinct, if I had to say.

“What kind of smell did you catch?”

“Well. It’s unpleasant and makes me feel dirty. I thought I could rest with you, but maybe not.”

This is the first time Ryuseong directly mentioned resting, and wanting to rest with me at that. My mouth slowly opened and drew an arc, feeling naturally to the point of hurting my pride, and I had a premonition that the smile would surely be dazzling in Ryuseong’s eyes.

Ryuseong, who was gazing at me, asked with a distant glow, as if gulping for breath.

“…… Aren’t you afraid?”

“What is there to be afraid of? I’m already happy enough with those words that you’re doing it for me.”

I looked at Ryuseong’s face. For some reason, I felt a sense of sadness reflected in his eyes. Why didn’t I notice it before? What is he thinking about alone again? I’m happy. I’m happier these days than any other moment in my life.

‘If I die at this moment, I would be the happiest, to the point of having no regrets……’

To the point where I wish time would stop at this moment forever, to the point where I’ve climbed so high that I’m afraid of the fall that will come in the future.

‘Because my expectations are incomparably heavier than a thousand gold.’

So I can’t even expect to be happier than this, to reach a state of happiness beyond imagination. You have lifted me this high. This moment of feeling like I’m flying in the sky, which I can’t find even if I combine all of my lives, is such a brilliant and wonderful thing.

So there’s absolutely nothing to be sad about. 

We should be happy.

You made me like this, so we should be happy.

‘What on earth made the deep gaze in his eyes tinged with sorrow……?’

Just as I looked into Ryuseong’s sorrow, Ryuseong also seemed to be trying to look into something in me. But as if he didn’t want to tell me what he was trying to see or why he had such eyes, Ryuseong only replied to my words like this.

“Yes, with you and me here. There’s nothing we can’t overcome.”

There may be nothing we can’t overcome. But there are things to be afraid of?

However, the conversation was cut off there. Because the group of cadets had arrived at Bulguksa Temple. With the professors still unable to find Logan, a subtle emergency was declared.

But most of the cadets had no idea what was going on, so they showed various reactions to Bulguksa Temple.

“This is a Korean temple?”

“It’s pretty!”

“Hey guys, look under the roof here. It’s so colorful.”

“To really enjoy the dancheong, you have to look up at the sky from under the roof.”

They complained at the mention of Gyeongju, but the cadets who had endured the harsh life at Areah Academy seemed to be having fun and healing in their own way. Hae Yuna and Shinmyohan, who were sucking on orange juice packs, roamed the temple grounds in an excited mood as if slightly drunk.

Should we go to Seokguram Grotto now? We have to go there if we’ve come all the way to Bulguksa. However, there was a snag due to the entrance fee issue. The entrance fees for Bulguksa and Seokguram were separate, and it wasn’t handled in advance. I heard the waiting cadets grumbling.

‘I guess they’re distracted because Logan disappeared.’

Areah Academy’s work processing can’t be this sloppy. It means the professors are having a hard time paying proper attention right now. What could this be? Maybe something fishy happened according to Ryuseong’s feeling after all.

Before long, the Seokguram fee issue was resolved, and we could enter in order. While some people quietly admired the majestic stone Buddha statues and structures, more people were distracted. I was one of them, and just as I was about to walk out.

“Aaaaah!”

Seokguram Grotto is a structure carved out of stone, with a concave interior. That means if someone speaks loudly, it echoes all around. Everyone frowned. Hae Yuna, the culprit who screamed, said as soon as she came out.

“The Buddha glared at me!”

…… I wonder if something is really happening? Lee Hyang approached with a worried look.

“What’s going on?”

I approached nearby as well. Hae Yuna said with a still bewildered face.

“The, the Buddha in the center, glared at me. I was so startled.”

“Could it be some ominous sign? Maybe we should tell the professors……. Hey!”

Hae Yuna was trying to calm down, or just opened another pack of orange juice and started drinking, but Lee Hyang glared.

“You got scolded for doing such a thing and looking at the Buddha!”

I had been listening to their words without making a sound, and suddenly said,

“What does that mean?”

Both Lee Hyang and Hae Yuna were startled. Lee Hyang hurriedly said,

“She did something stupid, it’s nothing……”

“That’s for me to judge.”

Logan disappeared and the Buddha glared at someone? This was very suspicious.

Perhaps if they confess about ‘that thing’, something might be solved. As I spoke, Hae Yuna opened her mouth, mumbling.

“Doing something unholy there……”

“Do you want a pack too……? The one with the sticker is distilled soju……”

‘Ah.’

I nodded.

There are crazy flying over quirky ones.