Ch#22
Tiye apologized inwardly to the grave owners.
‘When Tiye gets rich later, I’ll repay the favor……!’
First find Dad, then bury the jewels again once she had more.
Basto said there was a little money he’d saved in the Capital’s central bank, so they could hold out for a while with that.
“Tiye, I have no face to show you.”
Just then, Basto spoke up.
Tiye stopped walking and widened her eyes round.
“Ever since becoming an adult, I’ve only been a burden……”
“I know that.”
Veil snarked, but Tiye hurriedly stuck out her palm to Basto and shook it hard.
“Nooo, Uncle Basto! Everyone lives like that!”
Nordix, Basto, and Veil all looked at Tiye.
“If there’s no money coming in anywhere, might as well die, they say.”
It was what 107-room Grandmother and 203-room Auntie always said.
And was that all?
“Being an adult doesn’t mean you gotta have tons of money. You marry off your kids, struggle away, end up in debt—that’s just how it is.”
As Tiye wiped her nose, everyone’s faces turned bewildered.
“……Yeah. I see.”
Basto was the first to creakily start walking again.
Tiye trailed after him, lost in thought.
‘If only there’d been jewels in Jongno-gu too.’
If Tiye had jewels back then, she would’ve given them all to Dad.
Dad in Korea had worked all day every day and been so tired.
Even so, Dad never showed it to Tiye.
‘He smiled every day instead.’
In summer, he’d fan her until she fell asleep, and in winter, he’d cover her with his own blanket.
‘The twisted donuts and old-style fried chicken Dad brought home from work…… sooo good.’
Thinking of Dad made her nose tingle.
Tiye lowered her head for no reason.
Coming to this world, she’d naturally realized one thing.
‘Suddenly falling into an unfamiliar world one day is scary and sad.’
Actually, Tiye had felt that too.
When she crossed to this world to meet Dad.
Getting left alone in the forest by chance had been so scary and sad.
If she hadn’t luckily met Basto, would she still be wandering the woods now?
‘Maybe already eaten by a T-Rex…….’
Thinking about it, getting this far was all thanks to Dad in the end.
Dad telling her about this world every day in Korea was why Tiye had survived until now.
If she knew nothing about this world.
Could she have formed a mercenary corps like now?
‘No. Tiye couldn’t have.’
Which naturally made her wonder how Dad had been.
When he first fell into Korea, Dad knew nothing.
‘It was an accident.’
‘Accident?’
‘Yeah. Honestly, I still don’t know what happened. But if I keep looking, a way back’ll turn up.’
‘Yeah! Dad can do it! Can go home!’
‘Yeah. Dad’ll definitely go back. With my pretty daughter.’
Dad in her memories had worked since Tiye was very young.
Some days he came home with bruises on his face, other late nights he’d stay up alone staring blankly out the window.
‘Must’ve been super tough……?’
Even though Dad never showed it, Tiye could naturally tell.
That Dad was utterly exhausted.
“Tiye, time to ride. At night it’s easier to move fast with you on my back.”
Then Basto spoke up.
Tiye hopped onto his back right away and stared far into the horizon beyond.
‘Dad…… wait for Tiye.’
After stopping in Pearl City, after Populosa Armory District.
Tiye would come find Dad.
And when she met Dad,
‘Even if you meet your dad, that man won’t know who you are.’
Kkamangi’s words flashed, but she shook her head to push them away.
‘It’s okay. Even if Dad doesn’t recognize Tiye.’
107-room Grandmother said one step at a time and nothing’s impossible.
Tiye’s goal was just one thing anyway.
Making sure Dad never fell into Korea again.
‘Astie. There’s something called the “Law of Fate’s Return” in this world.’
Law of Fate’s Return.
It was what Kkamangi had told her the day before leaving.
No matter the situation, no matter what life you relive, most humans end up with the same result?
In simple terms, it meant Dad might fall into Korea again in this life too.
Because he’d fallen into Korea in another timeline.
‘But this time, Tiye’ll stop it.’
Tiye had no intention of just watching.
‘I’ll find out why Dad ended up in Korea and make sure it doesn’t happen again!’
Dad had to be happy in his hometown, this world.
Korea Dad flashed through Tiye’s mind again.
Dad staring tiredly at the streetlights outside the window.
Dad making funny faces to play with Tiye despite bruises on his face.
And in the end…… Dad returning as a rain-soaked Relics Box.
She clenched her fist tight.
‘I’ll definitely find Dad and make him live till he’s a hundred-year-old grandpa!’
This time, she was absolutely determined to make it happen.
* * *
The next day.
Dawn broke over the dazzling sea.
“Still the same as ever here.”
Nordix smiled before the giant pearl shell statue, symbol of Pearl City.
Meanwhile, Veil collapsed to the ground, clutching his forehead as if his legs had given out.
“You really over seventy? What kinda old man’s got better stamina than me!”
Nordix chuckled heartily and turned to Basto.
On Basto’s back slept Astie, dead to the world.
The summon she’d occasionally poked her head out of the bag to look around with had vanished somewhere too.
“Finding an inn comes first. It’ll take at least a week to Populosa Armory District, so let’s gear up properly.”
“Then the Red Glove Inn. Only place that takes credit, right?”
Red Glove Inn.
It was a fairly large inn run by a retired old mercenary in Pearl City.
It had plenty of rooms and allowed credit, so it was always packed with mercenaries, but
“Perfect for investigating the child’s parents while we stay.”
Basto nodded.
Veil, who’d caught his breath, stood too.
The three carefully draped a black cloth over Tiye’s head.
The Necrolord who should look fearsome sleeping soundly was one issue, but Tiye’s appearance drew eyes anywhere.
Her hair shining like afternoon sunlight, sparkling green eyes too.
To prevent any hassle, this was best.
They passed the shell statue and vast square into the inn street.
Deeper in, an inn larger than the others revealed itself.
The Red Glove Inn they sought.
“I’ll check if there are rooms available.”
Nordix vanished inside first.
A while later, as Basto readjusted Tiye on his back, he said,
“……He’s late.”
But even minutes more passed with no Nordix.
Veil, rubbing his temple while watching, spoke up.
“Should we just go in too? Wanna sit anywhere.”
Basto reluctantly nodded.
Opening the inn door revealed Nordix’s back at the counter.
“Rooms are full but will open up soon—what does that mean?”
Nordix was talking with the innkeeper.
The innkeeper kept glancing upstairs as he replied.
“Just what I said. One guest definitely said they’d check out early today.”
“Early?”
“Yeah. Said they’re taking the morning ship to the Capital, so checking out around now……”
“Heyyy—Rudy.”
Right on cue, someone appeared from the stairs beyond.
Black hair swept back over his forehead.
Hands casually in his pockets.
The innkeeper’s face lit up.
“Oh, Tesetan! Checking out now?”
