Memoirs of the Returnee - Chapter 142



Only Krnovel

Returner’s Notepad Episode 142

Bilateral contractual relationship (2)

Drizzle – Drizzle – The rain is falling and sticking to the window. It is rainwater mixed with Shadowling’s poison, falling from smoggy clouds. When exposed to bare skin, it takes 3 dot damage per second.

“It’s not bad. “I could stay for a few days.”

An abandoned building in Harlem, especially a rooftop room hidden above the ceiling. The team seems satisfied with this hideout. Well, it’s not noticeable to those around you, and it’s safe enough that you can log out.

“Let’s prepare some food. “I’m starving to death.”

The party members noisily take out pots and food to prepare, but Soliet is still lost in thought.

What Zion said to her today.

For some reason, I keep thinking back to his sharp tone telling me not to be friendly. He feels as if his heart is being pierced like an awl.

It’s pain for no reason.

“… … “What is it about the Red Bari that makes him seem so broken-hearted?”

[Knife] interrupted those dark thoughts.

“There was a time when I was most passionate about Nightmare. “They only talked about contracts and other things they knew among themselves, and then they got kicked?”

Solliet didn’t even respond. Her [Knife] chuckled and muttered.

“He seemed overprotective somehow. I knew it.”

Solliet’s brow trembled slightly.

“… … “Overprotective?”

I grabbed the tail of my horse and glared. [Kal] raised his eyebrows slyly.

“okay. It’s a bit weird to treat people like children, especially men. “It makes me think that this woman doesn’t even treat me like a man.”

“… … .”

Solliet became expressionless again, but then quietly rewinded the day.

He glances at Shion who is sleeping behind him as if he is cute, doesn’t even let [Kal] hold her hand because he is a newbie, and ignores the words that he can solve the problem on his own, saying it’s dangerous… … .

“That’s the way I see it. Was it like this? That friend seems to have a lot of feelings for you, Solliet. “I understand even though we were only together for half a day.”

“… … “Don’t talk nonsense.”

Solliet’s complexion became stiff.

“Look at this, look at this. Solliet, you dismiss it as bullshit. “We’ve already given a lot of room.”

“What is Yeoji…?” … .”

“Yes yes~”

[Carl] stirred the soup with a sigh. Solliet stared at him quietly and then lowered her head again.

… … suddenly.

A woman quietly approaches and sits down next to her.

This is [Jenny], who pretended not to care about Soliet who was depressed.

“Mr Solliet. “Are you okay with a little conversation?”

“Yeah what… … .”

She took off her robe. He looked at Soliet with a gentle smile.

“Are you afraid? “I’m afraid I might lose a colleague again.”

“… … .”

At that moment, it felt like my temple was scratched. Solliet clenched her fists without realizing it, but she held back because it was [Jenny]’s words.

“I know it’s presumptuous. Still, it feels like I’m seeing the old me.”

[Jenny] moved her gaze into the air and whispered.

“In my view, Mr. Solliet is full of different people. Probably because I can’t forget it. “I guess it’s because it’s unforgettable.”

──Track and trace.

The pitiful rain mingled with the sound of her words.

“I was like that too.”

“… … Mr. Jenny.”

[Jenny] has already lost her party.

In her friends window, four comrades are offline. They were all killed by Nightmare.

These are the wounds I learned while spending about two weeks with them through the game.

“I’ve only been with you for two weeks and this is how much it is. Doesn’t Si On, who is close to you, know that?”

[Jenny] muttered softly.

“You probably know better than me. “You know it all too well.”

“… … .”

As she said, Zion knows Javed and Felix.

How good of a person they were, how important they were to you.

“So, I think Mr. Sion was considerate of Mr. Solliet today.”

“consideration… … “What do you mean?”

[Jenny] smiled lowly.

“yes. “I’m just trying to stay out of the way so that Mr. Solliet doesn’t feel like he’s a burden.”

Suddenly, a small tremor arose in Solliet’s heart.

“Keep a reasonable distance so Mr. Solliet can heal himself slowly. “I don’t want to hurt Mr. Solliet.”

“But, Zion is not a wound to me.”

Solliet only responded like that. [Jenny] smiled mischievously as if she had been waiting.

“if. What if Mr. Sion likes Mr. Solliet? “What if that feeling is closer to love?”

“that… … .”

“No one helps people without any reason. Mr. Solliet, haven’t you felt it at some point?”

Of course, there is a reason why he is with him.

The salary, the money he pays to Zion.

But… … There are too many parts that cannot be explained by that alone.

It’s not that she isn’t, she has a sense of humor too.

He is a genius whose “intuition,” which is the superior compatibility of intuition, has developed into the realm of the spectrum.

That intuition rarely betrayed her.

Therefore, when Zion treats himself, when he looks at himself, those ‘unknown feelings’ that suddenly flow but are quickly swallowed up by him.

It comes very naturally and intuitively to Solliet.

It’s like soft milk powder mixed in the wind gets on your skin.

I can’t explain it clearly, but that’s how it is.

“Mr. Shion probably knows. “Just liking Mr. Solliet will hurt him.”

“How could that…” … . “Does it hurt?”

Solliet asked back without thinking, but the answer was already in her head.

Jenny repeated the same answer.

“Because Mr. Solliet cannot love anyone else now.”

“… … .”

I can no longer contain people in this heart.

I don’t even have the confidence to do that.

Because it is already filled with the past, there is no place for anyone to stand. Because there is only a big ‘hole’ there.

“Love is… … Probably not. Zion has the same purpose as me. maybe… … .”

maybe.

As she lengthens her speech, she becomes aware of something. She says she doesn’t know much about Zion. The fact that he is completely ignorant of what kind of life he has led, what he pursues, and why he wants to be with him.

I didn’t even try to find out.

On the other hand, Zion knows herself.

What are you sad about, what are you suffering from, and what do you want?

Even though he didn’t even make it known, he always ‘came to visit’ first whenever he needed it… … .

“Then check it. “You got something last time, right?”

“… … 「Synaesthesia eye drops for personal convenience」. “You mean?”

“yes.”

An item that allows you to utilize Solliet’s intuition to its fullest potential and allow you to see with your own eyes the emotions and true intentions of others.

If you use it─

“Stop playing house.”

─Chaeng!

Unable to bear it any longer, [Hans] banged the pot loudly. The two women looked back at him in surprise.

“The food is ready. Anyway, wizards and thieves joke around whenever they get the chance.”

“ruler. Take it. “It’s Carl’s special dish?”

Carl handed me the soup. Solliet held the bowl with both hands. There were a lot of pieces of meat floating around.

Tuk-tuk-

Suddenly, there was a knocking sound from underneath the hiding place.

The party quickly got ready for battle.

─It’s me.

It was Zion’s voice. [Jenny] smiled and moved out of her place, and Soliet opened the floor door of the rooftop room.

Below was Zion. He spread his arms and shrugged his shoulders

“look. You lived, right? Or do you think I’m dead?”

“no. Come up, Sipchoon.”

Solliet was so awkward that she limped.

“Sipchon? “Are you swearing?”

Zion was the same as usual.

I think we just had an argument three hours ago. Is this really the distinction between public and private life?

“W-what kind of insult are you talking about? Please come up.”

“You have to lower the ladder to go up.”

“… … ah.”

I lowered the ladder. Zion came up quickly.

“Oh, baby bird. “You survived, after all?”

“I approve of you. “Come and have dinner.”

[Karl] and [Hans] said. The archer [Chris] was muttering something while glaring at the city map of ‘Shadow Ring’.

“Oh yeah. It looks delicious. “I was hungry at the moment.”

Shion quickly ate the soup first. Solliet watched him with a very complicated face.

-Stop pretending to be friendly. Have you forgotten our contract?

The cold voice is rewound again, and Karl’s frivolous tone overlaps.

“Oh right. Did you know that this is the lunar eclipse cycle? Red Moon. At that time, no one can log out or log in. Instead, the Count’s gate will open then. Until then, let’s secretly complete quests in this city and level up.”

[Red Moon] is one of Bethundun’s special events. You won’t be able to log out for a while, but if you wait patiently, there is a worthy reward.

“Ugh… … “I’m full.”

Shion has already eaten all the soup, meat, and rice. He looked at himself calmly.

“Aren’t you eating?”

“I will eat it.”

“okay? Then, do you want to eat and log out? “I need to prepare for the semester.”

Soliette shook her head.

“… … I will stay here longer. “The Nightmare is just around the corner and there is no time to waste.”

In addition, I still need some more time to organize my mind.

“Sure.”

Shion stood up. I shook it off and did a short stretch.

Solliet said hesitantly to him as he prepared to log out.

“Zion. “I was worried.”

“hmm?”

Then Shion looked at Solliet blankly. She stared at it closely enough to cringe and crane her neck back, then she smiled a little.

“no.”

And then he shakes his head.

“You pretend to care about me while you worry about yourself.”

“no. What is that… … .”

She was speechless.

Even though I tried to reply that it wasn’t true at all, a thought suddenly spread in my head.

If something goes wrong in Zion, will the trauma of that day be over?

If the person next to me dies, will those two people from the past come to mind again?

“… … .”

Did he already know this about himself?

She looked at Shion with slightly sad eyes.

“Let’s make sure nothing like today happens again.”

Shion said that and stood up.

“I take care of my body. I won’t be protected just because you protect me, and it’s definitely not your fault if I die. “It seems like you don’t know this obvious thing.”

“… … According to the contract. “Are you saying that?”

“okay. Bilateral contractual relationship.”

Shion smiled brightly. And then she let out a sigh of relief.

“Goes. “You too, just do it in moderation.”

“ah… … yes.”

Pop-!

He logged out. Solliet stared at the spot where he was standing.

“how is it. “I guess I’m right, right?”

“!”

Before I knew it, [Jenny] came closer and laughed. Solliet pursed her lips at her.

“You were surprised.”

“It happens sometimes.”

“… … What.”

“It’s a ‘other person’ who seems to know me better than myself.”

“… … .”

Someone who knows me better than I do.

As Solliet silently repeated Jenny’s words, she felt pain as if an awl was being stabbed in her chest.

Knock-knock-

It was an unexplainable pain that kept getting sharper, little by little.

* * *

Same time.

A lively and peaceful afternoon in [Ralphin], Bethundun’s beginner village.

“How much is this?”

Elise is walking around the village market. It is a place that suits her and her tastes, where countless people, young and old, buy and sell things to each other.

“Three fairy tales!”

“How can a porcelain cup like this cost three copper coins? “Just take one fairy tale.”

She bargained behind her back. She didn’t know what to do at first, but after studying for a few hours, she quickly learned.

“Draw. ruler.”

“yes.”

Bedun Dun. An augmented reality game developed by Trick City.

However, it was not an open world with this type of entry from the beginning. Originally, it was just a 2D game, but with repeated updates and developments, it became like this or something.

For your information, no one has cleared the final stage yet.

Perhaps that’s why there’s a strange rumor going around that the first person to beat the game will be granted a ‘wish’.

“But lady, what is your name?”

“Oh, I’m Elise.”

“Elise?”

“yes.”

In fact, the ID itself is not Elise.

mark

[This is Elise]

│Advanced Human │ Lv. 2 High Priest │

I’m really dissatisfied with the “-” behind it. I ended up like this because I thought I was being asked to introduce myself.

How can something be fixed without giving it a chance to be modified?

Anyway, she is sightseeing now. Let’s do our best to find Zion.

“hey. “Are there any camels here?”

I asked without any expectations.

“camel? “Oh, right.”

“Really?”

Elise’s eyes widened.

“Where is it?”

“You can find the camel farm to the right from here.”

Elise quickly ran to the place pointed out by her grandmother.

I think it was like that for about 10 minutes.

“… … “It’s a camel.”

She muttered absentmindedly. Sure enough, there was a real camel inside the fence.

It’s not even a desert.

In particular, there was one cute camel with black fur… … wow.

“Wow, that camel is amazing. “Your hair is dark?”

Elise struggled to maintain her composure and pulled on the owner’s arm.

“yes.”

“How much is that camel?”

Even though it is not in the game, it is an opportunity to purchase a companion camel. In my family, my father absolutely hates pets.

“Five gold coins.”

Five gold coins?!

“It doesn’t make sense. “Isn’t it too expensive?”

“You chose a very nice camel. In human terms, that guy is a camel of the noble breed. This is a camel brought from the desert called Vial. “If you tame it, it’s faster than a horse.”

A camel is faster than a horse. Battle camel.

Even on the actual continent, black camels are absolutely rare.

Elise’s heart suddenly starts pounding, but she actually has no money. All I have is three silver coins.

“… … “Did you say it was five gold coins?”

“uh. Geulje.”

However, his CD is a special edition. The ‘high’ priest class itself is a privilege.

She muttered with a stern face.

“You have to make money.”

Priest’s unique skill, “Healing.”

With that, if I set up a clinic here, I could easily earn about five gold coins.

“I’ll come back later.

Elise turned and walked, then stopped for a moment, staring at the black camel again and clenching her fists.

“I’ll bring you.”

certainly.