No Dark Secrets In This Book

Episode 126

“I want to hold hands, do you not like it?”

“No. That’s not it.”

“Are you really not going to hold my hand? Even though I want it.”

Eventually, Ryuseong put so much strength into the back of his hand that his veins bulged, then slowly lowered his hand.

At that moment, I realized that Ryuseong was trying his best to hide his flushed cheeks. He was frowning around his eyes, wanting to hide his pounding true feelings, but the look of being lovestruck again was evident in his eyes. Ryuseong seemed to fall for me every time he looked at me.

“…Damn it, give me your hand.”

I couldn’t help but smile and stubbornly refused to give my hand. When I played around by pulling my hand back and sticking out my tongue, both of my wrists were caught from behind and restrained by one hand. Since I couldn’t use mana right now with the professor ranting on stage, I was completely caught. Only then did Ryuseong make a ridiculously lopsided smile as if satisfied, and I, who became spiteful, took revenge by kicking his shin.

“Ugh.”

Even while playing around like this, Professor Dohyun’s remarks boosting me didn’t stop. He was going on about how I became the hope of all of Russia or something.

‘They’re going this far? Why?’

I definitely need to hear those words about the parents’ strife.

“Which family’s parents put in the strife? I’m right here.”

“Your family’s parents.”

What? I have parents? Is it about that ugly family head or great-grandfather?

‘Ah, wait a minute.’

Come to think of it, Cassice Demillang had them.

‘…Mom and Dad.’

Okay, I managed to associate this far. But Ryuseong frustratingly didn’t answer easily. When I glared at him as if urging for an answer, Ryuseong finally met my eyes.

With that peculiar, strange look he’s been showing these days.

As if pitying me.

That expression reminded me of something.

“…Is it the parents’ side?”

Suddenly, my eyes felt hot.

The very parents whom Cassice, who no longer exists, loved so desperately, whom I met during the formal greeting and encountered in the form of memories through the trick of the forest spirit…

‘If by any chance they don’t place any meaning on Cassice Demillang.’

I smiled miserably.

“Why, do they perhaps wish for this body to disappear?”

I felt like I’d rather die than endure such a miserable sight.

“That’s not it. They have nothing to do with it. What are you talking about?”

Ryuseong urgently grabbed my shoulders. He seemed to say something, but anyway.

…I need to come to my senses. Cassice Demillang is not me. Because he’s not me, no matter what he goes through, it has nothing to do with me. Even if his deepest wound is twisted and squeezed, it’s none of my business. Therefore, Ryuseong’s pity is wrong. It’s misguided. The direction was different.

In a word, he shouldn’t be talking nonsense to me.

‘Why are you looking at me with those eyes? I have no problem. Stop it before I gouge out your eyes.’

If I had received pity a few days ago, I might have said that out of anger. However, I swallowed the intense emotions that were frantically welling up. I didn’t want to anymore.

‘I don’t want to feel a sense of solidarity with the pitiful Cassice Demillang.’

I wasn’t pitiful. So there was no need to feel a sense of solidarity with him.

“My… parent. Okay. That’s fine. Even if it’s not my parents, there are more, right? Yes.”

Finally realizing Ryuseong’s words, I nodded as if accepting reality at last. Although I’m only answering now after barely suppressing my anger inside.

Anyway, I couldn’t not put up a barrier while having this conversation.

Creak.

“Is it the family head? Or great-grandfather?”

Lightly biting my fingertips, I set up a barrier that wouldn’t let sound leak out and said,

“If it’s someone taking my side, it’s probably great-grandfather… but doing it in such an ignorant way is just asking for trouble, isn’t it?”

When I said that, Ryuseong spoke with a strange expression.

“It’s the family head’s side. He made a request to Damyeon.”

“That fellow lacks creativity. In what way did he tell them to ruin me?”

“The order was to use Areah’s name to undermine your reputation and achievements.”

“Aha.”

“To be exact, it was to shout all over town that you’re just a greenhorn without even a ‘second name’ and an unqualified low-level novice.”

Grasping the situation, I nodded my head.

“Then why are they embarrassingly gilding me instead of doing that? Making a fuss over something not even that big…”

“Excuse me, are you crazy?”

Then Ryuseong provoked me with an annoyed expression. No, I was already troubled and stressed, so I wondered why he was doing this. But what he said was,

“Why would the principal listen to that, and you, have you not thought about what you’ve accomplished?”

Ah, what? Was it about merits and achievements? Isn’t there plenty to refute about that?

It’s none of my business why the principal is doing that, but,

“No, didn’t you do it too?”

“You did almost all of it.”

That’s because I was trying to monopolize the fame. If Ryuseong had done it, it would have ended much faster and cleanly without natural damage.

But before I could say anything, Ryuseong stretched out his hand, telling me to look around.

…Only after following the direction he was pointing to did I realize that everyone was thrilled while watching the recording of the dungeon raid.

I heard Professor Dohyun shouting something at the scene where I was proclaiming the line.

‘I was lying about everything.’

Nevertheless, everyone applauded and saluted. I greeted them by taking off my hat as nonchalantly as possible. It was strange that my chest was boiling up. I didn’t deserve this salute, but somehow I couldn’t stop my heart from pounding.

As the combat scene played next, everyone gulped with a sense of awe.

Not a single person could take their eyes off the sorcery board.

Some messed up their own hair in frustration, unable to keep up with the movements even after slowing down the playback speed. That’s right. They were the awakened and aspiring conquerors. The students didn’t seem to dislike being compared to me. Rather, almost all the students seemed to want to chase after me with a heart of admiration beyond a fighting spirit.

Perhaps I had underestimated them too much?

Did I mistakenly think they would react shallowly because they were just one-dimensional characters?

Moreover, it wasn’t just the students. Even the conquerors and civilians passing by near Gyeongju were surprised to see me and erupted in cheers. Saying that hero is right there.

At that moment, I suddenly felt embarrassed.

‘I, I didn’t do much.’

You have no reason to think so highly of me…

“You did it. Enjoy it.”

Ryuseong said. And at that moment, I felt like a heavy stone was placed on my chest, but the weight didn’t feel bad.

Perhaps that’s what a foundation stone is, I thought. In other words, it’s like an anchor. So that I don’t scatter into the universe… An anchor that makes me want to stay in this world.

People who welcome me, people who cheer for me.

I felt like protecting their daily lives. I wanted to create a peaceful world. So that there would be no people crumbling like me.

‘And so that beautiful people like you can smile.’

Ryuseong smiled as he handed me my heart that I hadn’t been able to face, like a bouquet.

The daily life I wanted to protect looked lovely in my eyes like small wildflowers or little stars, as many as the number of people living here.

And you were among them. The star shining the brightest with the name of love.

‘Ryuseong. Why are you doing this?’

My only gravity was here.

***

“Okay! Since Cassice Demillang is this awesome, you guys should fight too! Got it!”

“Yes! We got it!”

Thinking about it again, it’s really amazing. Dohyun’s propaganda worked, and the students were tightly disciplined. But I was in a very pure love mode right now. Should I say chaste and pure? You know, the appearance of a virtuous wife who modestly keeps her chastity.

‘Huh? Hasn’t the chastity already flown away?’

Shut up. Even if I keep my spiritual chastity, it’s fine. Why are you so wordy in the 21st century?

Of course, since Jeong Ian is me, one could say that even the spiritual chastity is ruined. Because I have a lot of experience. But you know what, do I have to be called unchaste and lacking chastity just because I’m promiscuous? It’s enough that I’ve never loved anyone and only came to love Ryuseong. Judging chastity only by physical relationships is too conservative, isn’t it? Don’t you think?

I mumbled only inwardly those words that a faithful Confucian boy shouldn’t say. I was never a Confucian boy when I lived in Korea as Jeong Ian anyway.

Ryuseong became more precious to me. That was quite a big deal for me. Even more so because of the considerable work I had done.

‘Now, let’s think one by one.’

The chess pieces I had set up behind Ryuseong’s back to deal with the family head.

If you ask anyone, a hundred out of a hundred would think that ‘Cassice’ visiting the criminal den in Incheon was to use the criminals in Incheon. To deal with the Demillang family. And I actually did that.

It was nothing special, just hiring them for my security, but I invested a hefty amount of the balance in the account piled up like a cornucopia.

Even for me, the youngest son of a conglomerate family, it was the first time in my life to flex like that.

And as expected, my spy planted in Incheon, Kirill, reported back.

‘The Demillangs have contacted all the hired men! Black money is being delivered in crates in apple boxes! The traitorous bastards are plotting to assassinate you, Master!’

Yes, why keep your mouth shut?

I was aiming for this.

I’m going to wipe them all out except for Bangju, whom I allowed to escape.

I softly revealed a fragile appearance.

‘Making me look like someone who can be messed with.’

I deliberately showed a reckless and hasty appearance to make those measly hyenas all pounce.

Because I judged that it was the only way to catch the ‘family head’ alone—!

‘Ryuseong. Even if I look suspicious, please bear with me for a bit. I’ll propose to you soon with the family head’s head.’

Ah. Is this a bit too much?

‘Hmm, would it be okay as a pyebaek gift?’