Free Web Novel"All right. I understand. I'll go talk to that senior."
Since I'd failed to hand off the issue involving Skati to Reisir back in Chapter 64, I'd been worried he'd refuse again this time.
Fortunately, he agreed.
Though he couldn't resist adding a completely unnecessary remark that left me mortified.
"Karvaldr. You're the kind of person who can stay calm no matter what happens and always find something positive in the situation, aren't you?"
"W-Where did that suddenly come from?!"
"That I've come to like you even more."
"...Stop saying ridiculous things and finish your lunch."
"Pwahahaha!!"
"..."
I silently resumed eating.
Reisir's laughter gradually subsided as well.
Even so, the smile never completely left his face.
It stayed there until we finished our meal.
If enduring a little embarrassment is enough to brighten the mood of the protagonist—the person who sets the emotional tone of the entire story—then it's a worthwhile trade.
I desperately tried to look at it positively.
Unfortunately, remembering what Reisir had just said only doubled my embarrassment.
He even asked why my face had suddenly turned red.
I ignored him and concentrated on eating instead, allowing the meal to end without further incident.
"Well then..."
"Since I brought my own lunch, you'll at least treat me to some tea, won't you?"
"...I was just about to tell you to leave."
"Were you?"
"..."
Why had I assumed Reisir would simply leave after finishing his meal?
We were both due at the First Seminar Room by four o'clock.
Naturally, he'd planned to linger until then.
"...Would coffee do?"
Well...
If you invited someone over, it was only proper to offer them something to drink.
Besides, there was no point trying to throw him out.
He would simply deploy his fox-like persistence until he got his way.
There's no reason to waste my energy arguing.
With that in mind, I reluctantly allowed him to stay by offering coffee.
Unfortunately...
There was one thing I hadn't considered.
"You drink coffee even though you have insomnia?"
Reisir narrowed his eyes accusingly.
To be honest, I didn't entirely dislike someone worrying about my health enough to scold me.
The problem was that I didn't have insomnia to begin with.
Besides coffee and water... do I even have anything else I can serve?
As that thought crossed my mind, I instinctively looked toward Yor.
My baby dragon let out a sigh that clearly said I suppose it can't be helped, then walked over to the Ether Mini Refrigerator installed against one wall and pulled out a 1.8-liter glass bottle.
The dark-colored liquid inside immediately drew Reisir's attention.
"Don't tell me... you brew that much coffee at once and drink all of it? No wonder your insomnia never gets any better!"
"Calm down. That isn't coffee."
"Huh...? Now that I think about it... it doesn't smell like coffee."
Only then did Reisir relax.
This was the perfect opportunity to make an excuse.
"I rarely drink coffee. Most of the time I drink the beverage Yor makes."
The only true part of that sentence was that Yor had indeed made it.
Then again...
It wasn't exactly my first time lying.
"It's a precious drink made with Yor's devotion. I wasn't planning to share it... but since my familiar gave permission, I'll make a special exception. You should be grateful."
I deliberately spoke in an arrogant tone while taking three broad teacups from the cupboard and placing them on the table.
Yor then retrieved several dried persimmons from the refrigerator, placed one in each cup, and I poured the dark liquid over them.
Finally, my baby dragon floated a few pine nuts on top to finish them off.
Watching the two of us move in perfect harmony, Reisir didn't question it.
Instead, he simply asked,
"This is a rather unusual drink. What's it called? And how are you supposed to drink it?"
Some readers may have already realized what Yor and I had just served.
It was the traditional Korean drink, Sujeonggwa.
That left me hesitating.
Should I tell him its real name? Or should I just make something up?
After a brief moment of thought, I decided it would be fine.
Back in Chapter 72, I'd eaten Yeolguja-tang served in a sinseollo and had openly used its name.
I hadn't described it in detail at the time because there hadn't been a good opportunity, but Reisir had ordered the same dish alongside me several times afterward.
"It's called Sujeonggwa. You let the dried persimmons soak for a while so they absorb the flavor and aroma. Then you scoop out the persimmons and eat them before drinking the rest."
Trying to hide the name now would only seem suspicious.
Besides...
I'm sure Author Senna isn't watching this scene.
The slice-of-life portions in NaSE were always incredibly brief.
As someone who wanted to write a healing story, I'd always insert a peaceful everyday scene after a chapter packed with exposition or dramatic events.
Author Senna, however, seemed determined to write despair.
The story advanced at a relentless pace.
Even scenes that looked like ordinary daily life inevitably turned into discussions of vital importance.
And if they didn't...
They existed solely to deepen the protagonist's bond with someone immediately before killing that character off for maximum emotional impact.
"So it's a drink that embodies the beauty of waiting."
Reisir smiled.
"I haven't even tasted it yet, but I already like it."
"I'm glad to hear that."
"You're not going to ask why?"
"...Hmph."
I could say this much with certainty.
Even if Author Senna had been observing us this entire time...
The moment Reisir uttered the first line of this conversation, there would already have been a scene break.
The narration probably won't resume until we arrive at the seminar room.
In other words...
This was one of those moments hidden between the lines.
A stretch of time that never existed in Author Senna's novel.
Realizing that, I finally felt the tension leave my shoulders.
There was no longer any need to constantly wonder whether Reisir's words and actions were being influenced by the original author's intentions.
"Oh, right."
Reisir suddenly remembered something.
"I stopped by the library earlier. The place where How a Repentant Villain Saves the World was supposed to be is still empty. You still haven't finished it?"
Come to think of it...
Because the original novel barely depicted Reisir's everyday life, I'd only learned after possessing this body that he was a frequent visitor to the library.
Had his love of reading novels always been part of Author Senna's unseen character notes?
Or had Reisir himself filled in the blanks left by an undefined setting?
The question occurred to me.
Unfortunately, asking him directly would never reveal the real answer.
So I simply responded to what he'd asked.
"I've just been reading it little by little whenever I have time."
"Whenever you have time? Doing what?"
"Things related to Ether Attribute Skills."
That wasn't exactly a lie.
The Character Analysis skill frequently activated while I organized the settings of How a Repentant Villain Saves the World and planned future developments.
"So that's what you've been doing."
Reisir nodded.
"I was wondering why you only showed up at the Public Training Ground before dawn. I guess you've been practicing Ether Attribute Skills here with Yor."
"The Public Training Ground is open to everyone. People are constantly passing by. It's... inconvenient."
"Fair enough. I'm used to it, but even I find it annoying sometimes."
Then his lips curved into a teasing smile.
"So what skill have you been practicing? If you can train it indoors..."
He paused deliberately.
"...Was it Exaltation?"
There it was.
He wasn't asking out of curiosity.
He simply wanted to make me think about that cat and embarrass me.
Knowing exactly what he was doing, I immediately changed the subject.
"By the way... do you abbreviate How a Repentant Villain Saves the World as Ho-ak-beop?"
"Oh?"
He blinked.
"So you abbreviate it differently?"
"I call it Ho-ak-bang."
"Why? Since it comes from bangbeop ('method'), you can shorten it to beop, but you can't shorten it to bang. Doesn't Ho-ak-beop make more sense?"
"That's true, but... beop sounds too stiff. On the other hand, bang..."
"Bang?"
...
I'd picked the wrong topic.
"Why did you stop?"
"...If I say it, you'll laugh at me."
"I won't laugh."
"And I won't make fun of you."
"So tell me."
"...Because bang also means 'room.'"
I lowered my gaze.
"When I imagine all the characters gathered together in one room, chatting comfortably with each other... it makes me happy."
"..."
"..."
"Uh..."
Reisir hesitated.
"I have about ten different responses in my head right now."
"..."
"But no matter which one I choose, you'll think I'm making fun of you."
"So I'll keep quiet."
He kept his promise.
Unfortunately...
I was still left feeling unbearably embarrassed.
Looking back on it now, that comment had been completely out of character.
I must have unconsciously relaxed because I'd convinced myself the original author wasn't watching.
"But, you know..."
Reisir glanced around my room.
"I've been wondering about something for a while."
"What?"
"You live here with only Yor."
"...Yes?"
"And yet you own three teacups."
"I bought a set of four in case one broke."
"So it wasn't because you wanted to sit in your room with your friends, drinking tea together and chatting?"
No matter how I looked at it...
He was blatantly throwing °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° my own words back at me.
"You promised you wouldn't make fun of me! You promised you wouldn't say anything! Liar!!"
"Kgh..."
He covered his mouth.
"But I didn't actually laugh, so cut me a little slack."
"You just did! You went 'Kgh!' That was laughing!"
"If you're going to imitate my laugh, at least imitate the expression too."
"Even now? Seriously?!"
Half exasperated, I glared at the protagonist of someone else's novel before lifting my cup and taking a long drink of the cool Sujeonggwa to calm the heat in my face.
"Huh?"
Reisir looked surprised.
"Didn't you tell me earlier to eat the dried persimmon first?"
"It's only a recommendation. There's no rule saying you have to."
"You're still explaining things properly even while sulking?"
"..."
"I'm really doing my best not to laugh."
His eyes had already curved into crescents.
The corners of his mouth were still turned upward.
"So... can't you forgive me?"
To say something like that while wearing such an obvious smile...
He really had no conscience at all.
Apparently, as long as no sound came out, he believed it didn't count as laughing.
