‘What the hell are you doing here?’’
I briefly forgot to keep a straight face because I hadn’t expected to run into him at all. He wasn’t just anyone; he was Villain Song in the flesh, so I couldn’t help but stare blankly at him.
‘Is he really Song Soo-Kyung?’
I rubbed my eyes and looked again, but there was no mistake. The same wavy hair, the psycho-looking face, the eyes and face that screamed "con artist," and that utterly useless physical build. He was definitely that Song Soo-Kyung.
He didn’t look much different from his second-life self.
‘Except his hands are a bit rougher than now.’
Well, that fact was useless. Compared to a warrior’s calloused hands, his hands that were a bit rougher were laughable. However, he had to have been through his own share of hardships. Unlike in the second life, summoners weren’t valuable at all in the first life.
Only a select few nobles or the lucky ones could land administrative desk jobs, and even then, the prevailing belief was that summoners also needed a certain level of physical combat prowess.
Society wasn’t exactly kind to production jobs either; all the glory went to combat roles. Hence, someone like him would never stand out.
In the second life, he headed to the Union of Kingdoms right after being summoned to Lindel. However, in the first life, there was no way he would choose that place as his destination, as every single nation was hostile to each other.
I never really thought much about Villain Song before, but assuming a weakling like him had died without accomplishing anything was a pretty reasonable guess.
‘Turns out I was wrong about that.’
Seeing him now, I had to admit it.
‘So you were in Heren all this time.’
Whether he’d been biding his time under the fat, clueless lord, wallowing in despair, or carving out a spot for himself in the black market, it didn’t really matter. It had to be one of those three reasons, anyway.
What mattered was that this incident gave him an opening.
‘This guy’s just pure ambition in human form.’
Even if Kim Hyun-Sung hadn’t gotten involved with him, he always had the drive to climb even higher.
“Call me Big Boy,” Big Boy introduced himself.
“Carlton. And...”
“Looks like he’ll have to introduce himself later... The little kid here’s really shy around strangers,” Big Boy said.
“I understand. My apologies,” Song Soo-Kyung said.
Naturally, I had to take advantage of the situation.
‘I’ll never get a chance like this again.’
If he ended up defending the city, the rewards waiting for him would be obvious. With some luck, he could even replace the fleeing fat lord and be appointed as Heren’s new lord, gaining a noble title.
Even if that weren't the case, he’d at least win the support of Heren’s residents.
One way or another, this was the perfect timing to make a name for himself.
Kim Hyun-Sung couldn't remember Song Soo-Kyung, so one could easily assume that his plan had ultimately failed and the chimeras tore him apart, but that was not necessarily the one and only possibility.
If he had no hope of winning this defense battle, there’d be no reason for him to step up at all. It wasn't a stretch to think that the appearance of this mysterious little mage made Song Soo-Kyung decide that it was time for him to spread his wings.
Of course, the former was still more likely, but at the very least, he appeared confident that I was the lifeline he needed.
‘Look at those eyes full of ambition.’
Anyone could see that his gaze was fixed on me. His stare felt so burdensome, so I had to slip slightly behind Big Boy, yet his eyes refused to leave me.
“First, please allow me to serve you. You haven’t eaten yet, haven’t you...?” Song Soo-Kyung asked.
“Uh... we can eat on our own...” Big Boy mumbled.
“I have something important to discuss, so I’d appreciate it if you didn’t refuse. We’ve even prepared some hambier meat, which I hear you enjoy...” Song Soo-Kyung said.
“Well, if that’s the case, we have no choice,” Big Boy said.
In the end, Big Boy was scratching the back of his head as he led me along. I couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh at the absurdity of having to eat hambier meat while all kinds of rare delicacies plundered by the fat-bellied lord were just sitting untouched.
Big Boy and Carlton tried to act like they weren’t interested, but judging by the constant rumbling of their stomachs, they seemed eager enough to join for a meal, even if it wasn’t some hambier meat.
This could easily turn into an awkward and formal affair, but Song Soo Kyung’s scummy grin was so disarming that Big Boy looked like he was starting to relax a little.
Not that we had much of a reason to refuse in the first place.
‘There's so much food.’
Big Boy still didn’t seem thrilled about putting me out on the battlefield, but there wasn’t really another way. As expected from someone meticulous, a plate of hambier meat was set right in front of me.
I couldn’t ignore the expectant look on Big Boy’s face as he patted my head, so I started shoving the hambier into my mouth without hesitation.
Before long, I heard Song Soo-Kyung’s voice, tinged with amusement. “Hahaha... please, take your time. There’s plenty more where that came from.”
“But... a feast in this situation... do we really have that many supplies? I mean, I heard we have lots of supplies, but even so, this is a bit...” Big Boy paused.
“Yes, the former lord left quite a lot, so we’re well-stocked. And honestly... there’s no reason to hold back in times like these,” Song Soo-Kyung answered.
“Ah...”
“Anyway, we don’t exactly have a lot of time. We’re still investigating why the chimeras haven’t started attacking the castle yet... but once they launch a full assault, it won’t take long for the defensive barrier to break,” Song Soo-Kyung added.
“...”
“If we’re lucky, they’ll last a month. Worst case, a week. In the absolute worst scenario, they’ll collapse in a single day. So honestly, the amount of supplies we have doesn’t mean much. I won’t deny that part of this feast is to make a good impression on you all, of course...” Song Soo-Kyung revealed.
“...”
“Mr. Big Boy, Mr. Carlton, how do you view the current situation in Heren?” Song Soo-Kyung asked.
‘What do you mean by how do we view it? We’re all trapped here.’
“Well... guys like us who live by the sword aren’t exactly experts at that sort of thing, but there’s one thing we do know.
"We’re standing one step away from death. The only reason we’re alive right now is that those chimeras are feeling merciful,” Big Boy answered.
“You’re not wrong,” Song Soo-Kyung commented.
“We’re trapped in here, just waiting for the day we die. If you’re asking whether I think we can hold them off... well, I can’t give you an optimistic answer. As far as I’m concerned, escape is the only real option,” Song Soo-Kyung added.
“...”
“...”
“Yes, we can’t expect any help from the outside. Even if reinforcements from Lindel were dispatched right now, it would still take them at least a week to get here. On top of that, we have no way to even let them know about Heren’s situation, so yes, we’re cornered, but I don’t believe we’re completely without hope,” Song Soo-Kyung said.
“What do you mean by that?” he asked.
“The success or failure of Heren’s defense depends entirely on the resolve of the people here right now,” Song Soo-Kyung answered.
‘Wake up, you idiot. There’s no such thing as hope. Your best bet is to bunker down and cling to life until Kim Hyun-Sung shows up.’
“Heren... you could call it a gathering place for the forgotten... but that doesn’t mean everyone here has given up on living. On the contrary, most of those gathered here are people who don’t want to let go of that thread,” Song Soo-Kyung continued.
“...”
“They want to survive more than anyone. Maybe you don’t see it that way, Mr. Big Boy, but people like that... if you give them even the smallest spark, they can unleash a strength you wouldn’t believe,” Song Soo-Kyung added.
‘And there he goes, sneaking a look at me.’
Big Boy’s expression looked bad.
“I know better than anyone how hard and painful this is. I’m not exactly a supporter of sending children into battle either... but given the situation, I think you understand this better than anyone, Mr. Big Boy,” Song Soo-Kyung said.
“That’s...”
“I hate to put it this way, but I’m convinced that having the little mage fight will actually make them safer in the long run,” Song Soo-Kyung added.
‘He’s not wrong. What good would it do to keep me tucked away?’
Hiding wasn't going to solve anything. If Heren’s castle ended up falling, we would all die, anyway, so whether I was a child soldier or not wouldn't matter at all. Song Soo-Kyung was simply refraining from saying it outright.
‘He’s basically asking us to join in for the defense battle before we all get wiped out. That he could really use our help...’
Big Boy obviously knew this, too. He just couldn't bring himself to accept it. Child soldiers were common around here, but it was a different story when the kid in question was your kid.
“I promise you, above all else, the mage’s safety will be our top priority,” Song Soo-Kyung reassured him.
“B-But...” Big Boy stuttered.
“...”
“...”
“Whoo...” Song Soo-Kyung sighed.
At this point, it felt right for me to step in. There really wasn’t any other choice anyway.
“I’m fine with it, hyung.”
‘I’m also curious what this guy’s really thinking.’
“Y-You sure about this?” Big Boy asked.
“Yes. It’s not like there’s another way. If the castle falls, we’re all dead anyway... and I want to protect you guys, too,” I answered.
“Y-You little brat, who do you think you’re saying you’ll protect? A kid like you talking so big! You’re supposed to be studying right now, you hear? Leave grown-up business to the grown-ups—”
“And what were you doing at my age, hyung?” I asked, interrupting him.
“Me? I was... A-Anyway,” Big Boy stuttered.
“Anyway, I will protect you guys. That’s never changed for me, not then and not now,” I told him.
‘Why’s he getting all flustered?’
“Then where’s our little kid going to be placed? At the very least, if it’s not with me or Carlton...”
'Just look at him trying to change the subject...'
In response to Big Boy’s question, Song Soo-Kyung smiled faintly and said, “Of course, I intend to have you all move together. Having guardians accompany the child is only natural.”
'That smug little smile of his always rubs me the wrong way.'
‘No matter how you look at it, he’s just dying to use me.’
I was getting angry for no reason, and then I realized that I was judging him unfairly.
“...”
“...”
'Just looking at his face makes me want to smack him.'
‘No, no. Don't think like that.’
“...”
“...”
‘Don’t be too judgemental.’
I knew I was supposed to separate the first life from the second life, but why was I feeling irrationally hostile when it came to him? In the end, people were shaped by their circumstances, weren't they?
‘Maybe he was actually halfway decent in the first life.’
In the second life, he was just a lunatic who worshiped Kim Hyun-Sung like a messiah.
Song Soo-Kyung was just an ambitious but otherwise ordinary adventurer until Kim Hyun-Sung saved his life. Villain Song Soo-Kyung was born at that moment of salvation. His departure from Lindel for the Union of Kingdoms... it was all for the sake of standing by Kim Hyun-Sung’s side.
If he never ended up meeting Kim Hyun-Sung in this timeline, then perhaps he was just living an ordinary adventurer’s life. First of all, I need to figure out whether this guy had already turned into a Kim Hyun-Sung fanatic. Taking him out was a decision for later.
‘I need to get rid of him.’
Only if he turned out to be genuine trash...