Chapter 3
I knew what would happen in this world, but… I was so stunned by how matter-of-factly it was said that I couldn’t speak.
And come to think of it, even though I know the original work, if one of the main characters, Leana, moves differently, I’ll just be a bystander.
If I survive in Letitia for a year, who knows what butterfly effect it might cause.
And what does me knowing the original have to do with what you’re trying to do?
“If you can stop it with your ability, you can stop it. I’m busy, so I’m leaving now. See you next time!”
“No, wait!”
Leana disappeared along with the magic circle drawn under her feet, leaving only her words behind.
Left alone, I stared blankly at where Leana had disappeared, then shook my head and snapped out of my trance.
Before I knew it, I was back in the exact spot where Eugene had put handcuffs on me.
It was confusing, but this wasn’t the time to dwell on it. I had forgotten because of Leana, but I was being chased by Eugene.
Since I didn’t know when Eugene would return, I had to run away wherever I could.
Now that I’ve met Leana and heard some explanation, why I ended up in this novel doesn’t matter anymore.
The more important goal now is to survive for a year.
“If I survive during that time, they’ll send me back to where I originally came from… I have to believe that, right?”
I didn’t trust Leana at all, but until I found another way, I had to believe only in those words.
Now I had to focus solely on surviving, without thinking about anything else.
“Yeah, just one year. Let’s just hold on for one year. If I just lay low like I’m dead, Eugene won’t be able to track me down.”
The name “Letitia Montrose” felt awkward because I had been called by another name for 23 years, but if I kept being called that, I would eventually get used to it.
Just because it’s a world in a novel doesn’t mean you can live without money.
I walked along the dirt road with a grumbling stomach. I’ve been doing this for days now.
I missed my warm home, cozy room, my dog Sunny, and my friends.
I was hungry and my feet hurt. Thinking about my comfortable reality made my determination falter.
“…If a year passes, they’ll send me back to the real world, right?”
I couldn’t freely worry about such things when my body wasn’t comfortable.
So today, I absolutely had to find a place to stay. My whole body felt sticky because I couldn’t take a bath.
“…But where can I hide where Eugene can’t find me?”
I sighed in frustration and grabbed my head. What’s the point of deciding anything? I couldn’t think of a suitable place to hide.
Eugene Willen.
He’s the male protagonist of the 19-rated trashy novel I’ve been possessed into, and the commander of the first Holy Knights, “Ruche”.
He’s usually referred to as a cold-hearted handsome guy, but his personality is so dense that if he opens his mouth, it’s like hitting tofu.
“…So what if I say that? He’s a double personality!”
Before I actually met Eugene, I would have been like any other reader, saying, “Our male lead who can distinguish between reality and fiction.” But now my perception has changed. Eugene is a very serious double personality.
What if his real personality emerges? What can I do? I still shiver at the thought of when he chased me.
“Well, if readers were to ask who the tofu mentality is in this novel, everyone would shout ‘Yushen’ without hesitation. That’s how strongly Yushen was associated with the tofu image.’’
Moreover, he was somewhat obsessed, like a typical male lead in a melodramatic novel. Being chased by such a character was something I didn’t want to believe.
“Of course, his obsession towards the heroine is probably stronger than mine.”
Anyway, even though it was a different kind of obsession, the fact that Yusen had set his sights on me was quite intimidating.
In this world, there might be a place where I could escape Yushen’s obsession, I thought.
“Huh?”
As if on cue, a temple barely standing with pillars that seemed about to collapse came into view.
Instantly, a sense of conviction washed over me. It was as if this place was where I was meant to stay.
Surely, since Yushen was a member of the “Luche,” a group of knights belonging to the central temple, ordinary temples were out of the question. But perhaps, being a small temple in the rural outskirts might change things!
Since Yushen belonged to the “Luche,” a group of knights considered elite in the empire, there were many places where they were needed, and hence, he couldn’t stay in one place for long.
Therefore, amidst such thoughts, I concluded that Yushen wouldn’t come as far as this small temple.
“There’s a saying among ancestors that goes ‘It’s darkest under the lamp.'”
By imperial law, fighting was prohibited in temples, so I had no refuge other than this.
Without further hesitation, I headed towards the shabby temple.
Located neither in the capital nor in a central temple, and perhaps somewhere in the countryside, it wasn’t difficult to trust this temple.
The assistant priest in charge of managing this small temple welcomed me warmly. He even patted my shoulder, saying I came at the right time as they needed help.
It seemed that here, personal qualities or magical abilities weren’t of great importance. So, it was even more fortunate.
A temple managed by a lazy person was safer for me.
Thus, a week passed.
Life in the temple wasn’t bad. It was quite fitting for someone like me who had spent a year as good as dead. However…
“The problem is that I find this life boring.”
Living in a world where science hadn’t progressed properly, unlike the active internet era, was driving me crazy with boredom.
Even if I had stayed somewhere other than the temple, the situation would have been similar.
As I was sweeping the hall with a broom, I lay down on the floor with it. Since there were no priests watching over me, it didn’t matter if I cleaned lazily.
As I listened to the warm sunlight and the songs of the birds, intending to take a nap, I heard the voice of the assistant priest not far away.
“Who broke another flowerpot this time?”
It was a common occurrence, so I tried to brush it off, but this time felt different.
“Tia!”
I didn’t even realize he was calling me until the assistant priest came closer to wake me up.
“A-Assistant Priest?”
“There’s an urgent matter at the temple, so hurry and move!”
I grumbled as I rose to my feet.
What urgent business could there be in this small temple other than people from nearby villages coming in groups like tourists to offer prayers? But as I entered the temple, the atmosphere felt different. It was a bustling energy that I hadn’t experienced before.
I hurriedly grabbed the passing priest next to me and asked, “Father, are important people coming?”
“Haven’t you heard?” he replied.
“No. My assigned area is outside the temple.”
“A message came from the central temple a while ago. There’s a group of knights who have come on a mission nearby and need a place to stay for a few days.”
“…Knights have come nearby?”
A wave of unease swept over me as my mind, which had been quiet for a week, began to stir.
“Wait a minute!”
I grabbed the assistant priest who was about to leave and asked again, “What’s the name of the knight order coming here?”
“I vaguely remember, but it’s something like… Luche? Roche? I think it’s the First Knight Order, but I’m not sure. I’m not really interested.”
Though the priest couldn’t recall exactly, with that information alone, I could tell which knight order it was.
Luche, Roche—clearly referring to the ‘Luche’ to which Yushen belonged.
No, no way. How could this be intertwined like this? What could Luche possibly have to do here in the countryside?
“Could it be… Are they after me?”
Though I hadn’t committed any crime, my heart pounded as if I were a guilty person.
“They say they missed a criminal around here,” the priest continued.
Oh no. The worst scenario unfolded. I knew they would come after me, but I never imagined they would come so close.
As I momentarily pondered my helplessness, the priest tapped my shoulder and urged me to join him towards the dining area.
“Should I run away?”
I felt genuinely sorry to the assistant priest who helped me, but my own life was more precious to me.
But then, I quickly shook my head.
Running out of the temple, where people were overflowing, to escape not only Yushen but also others trying to capture me, would be foolish.
“Perhaps it’s fortunate that only Yusen caught me. Thanks to the novel, I know quite a bit about the protagonist, Yushen.’’
“Yeah, hiding in this temple is the best option for now.”
I could only hope that the Luche Knights wouldn’t linger in this temple for long.
Lost in thought, I suddenly realized the commotion outside the temple. Reacting quickly, I dashed towards the opposite side of the door.
As the door swung open, I threw myself behind a large statue.
“Phew, that was a close call.”
I kept my body low, peeking out with just one eye to survey the situation.
I caught sight of the assistant priest and the leader of the Luche Knights, Yushen, exchanging greetings with a handshake.
“Ah, well, that’s how it is. Everything seems to be falling into place smoothly.”
A sigh of relief escaped me at Yushen’s appearance.
According to the original setting, he wasn’t supposed to be encountered so easily, so why do I keep running into him?
Although I couldn’t memorize the faces of dozens of people at once, I thought it would be better to at least remember one of them, so I was scanning the faces of the knights when my body stiffened as if I had seen something I shouldn’t have.
“…Are you laughing?”
Yushen chuckled audibly, looking slightly embarrassed.
As he laughed, my doubts about whether the person I saw was really Yusen grew stronger.
“Is he completely different on the inside despite looking the same on the outside?”
It was a natural thought. Just a week ago, the Yusen I saw was rough and fierce, like a predator with prey right in front of it.
The eyes that had shot up high like a feline’s, now softened, and he was smiling gently.
As much as I didn’t want to admit it, the expression “two-faced” suited him well.
“Wow, this is really infuriating, isn’t it?”
Even though I witnessed his gentle demeanor with my own eyes, I didn’t want to believe it.
As if sensing my confused feelings due to cognitive dissonance, the assistant priest quickly led the Luche Knights to hastily arranged accommodations.
Suppressing my anger, I watched them disappear into the distance, making a vow.
Just until they leave this place. Just until that moment, I promised myself to keep my head low and avoid making a sound.
