CH 35

Yul’s head was busy looking around the downtown area. Everywhere he looked, it was a whole new world. It was crowded with a completely different atmosphere from the downtown area in Korea.

Come to think of it, he had been wearing a mask for several years before he moved into this world. However, after he moved through a dimension, he lived in a world without a mask.

He did not realise that he had never left the downtown area, and it was an unexpected benefit.

“Whoa, ha, fresh air! This is the air you breathe without a mask!”

“…Fresh?”

Mikael narrowed his brows at Yul’s words. Not to mention, Pokavon Street was a busy street, so there were no trees to improve the air quality. Because of the crowd, it was difficult to breathe, but he was speechless as Yul was talking about fresh air.

“Of course. Oh, you don’t know, Mikael? In the 21st century where I used to live, there is a plague outbreak, so everyone wears a mask. Can you believe it? A plague outbreak in the 21st century. Of course, plague is a thing of the past, and it is correct to call it an epidemic. The expression of an outbreak is also appropriate for a plague.”

Yul chattered words that Mikael couldn’t understand.

He could guess what he was saying in context, but he couldn’t really imagine the situation.

Even in the Wydefia Empire, epidemics were prevalent every few years, but not everyone wore a mask.

“Wearing a mask? Everyone?”

Yyes. Everyone does. Of course, there are people who use kosk or tusk1, but… Imagine living like that for a few years, it’s stuffy to death.”

“If you live wearing a mask, of course it will be stuffy.”

“Right? It drives people crazy. It’s Hell when I work out. So I stopped going to the gym for three months and went twice?”

Of course, exercise time was also a luxury for graduate students.

Yul clicked his tongue and shook his head.

In the first place, Yul, who did not think that the mask of Korea and the mask of the Wydefia Empire were completely different, did not realise that the more he spoke, the more Mikael was falling into confusion.

“Ugh, it should calm down a bit. What kind of virus is so diligent about self-improvement? It evolves from time to time and becomes a mess. It’s more diligent than me, a graduate student.”

Yul, who grumbled and recalled the stuffy past due to the mask, found something and widened his eyes.

“Gasp, the visuals are amazing.”

What Yul’s slender fingers were pointing to was ice cream.

It was a generous amount of ice cream on a savoury and crispy waffle cone. Not only that, there were plenty of sweet things such as jelly, chocolate, and marshmallows on top of the ice cream.

“Do you want to eat it?”

“It is, but…I’m worried that I might get a lifestyle disease.”

The combination of sweet plus sweet plus sweet definitely drew attention, but he was concerned about his health.

Still, Yul naturally went to the ice cream like a metal attracted to a magnet.

“Welcome.”

The ice cream shop owner looked at the two of them and gave a welcome while tilting his head. He widened his eyes, seeing the two men with tight hoods were suspicious, and tried to examine their faces.

Yul was already preoccupied with the brightly colored ice cream and did not notice the gaze towards him, but Mikael was different. He pushed Yul’s hood down a little more and covered his face.

Then, the store manager tried to look at Yul’s face more tenaciously. Mikael covered his face deeper.

“Uh, I can’t see. Mika…”

“Let’s go.”

“I haven’t chosen yet…”

Yul was taken aback by Mikael’s words, but he was dragged away helplessly by the strong force of his reckless pull.

Only after the ice cream parlour was so far away that it looked like a small dot did Mikael release Yul’s arm.

“What?”

Yul glared at Mikael with a grim gaze as if he was resentful. Mikael pretended not to see it and avoided his gaze.

“How can you act like this if you say you’re going to buy it for me!”

“Eating something like that is not good for your health.”

“I don’t eat it for the sake of being healthy.”

Mikael pretended not to hear Yul’s answer. Yul was zealous, but was quickly mesmerised by the scene behind him.

“Huh, what is that?”

A pillar of fire soared above the heads of the crowd, and then disappeared.

Yul approached it as if possessed. Mikael quickly followed and walked beside him in order not to miss him.

“Wow, amazing. Mikael, did you see it? The pillar of fire went swish.”

“I saw.”

It was hard to see because of people, but it was probably a fire show.

Whenever the flames soared, onlookers burst into exclamations of ‘Wow!’. Yul was also admiring the powerful flames that appeared little by little above his head.

“Come come, there is a circus performance in an hour. A variety of performances that have never been and will never be, only available at Wonder Circus! A puppet show perfect for fire shows, juggling, hovering and magic shows! Come to the mysterious world where everything but nothing exists! The fire show you’ve seen now is just a taste. We have more shows prepared, so come and see! Our Wonder Circus is in Vitera Square!”

A man wearing a fedora hat, visible among the crowd, spoke enthusiastically and promoted the circus.

Yul, who had never seen a circus in this world or in Korea, naturally widened his eyes when he heard that.

“Mikael, Mikael. Let’s go see the circus! One hour later. Nice timing!”

Whether the failure to eat ice cream was completely erased from his memory, Yul looked at Mikael with a look of anticipation.

Mikael, who was already offended by the person who had already wanted to check Yul’s face at the ice cream parlor, only wanted to return to the mansion immediately. However, seeing Yul was looking forward to it like that, he couldn’t help but keep his mouth shut.

“I’ve never seen a circus before.”

Yul stuck close to Mikael, opened his big eyes and looked up. Eyes like jewel candy shone pitifully.

Yul himself didn’t know, but Mikael thought he must have learned how to handle him.

Though he thought he should turn down Yul’s words, his mouth and head acted separately.

“…Okay.”

“Great!”

As soon as Mikael’s words fell, Yul smiled brightly. Dimples on both cheeks showed up. The corners of Mikael’s lips, seeing that, also curled up slowly.

Yul was anxious to stop and look at places crowded with people. He wasn’t very tall, so whenever he was blocked by people and couldn’t see, his shoulders drooped in frustration.

“I need an insole… Is there any place that sells it? Uh…Wait, no, why is it here?”

Yul, who was looking around for insoles, widened his eyes in surprise. He doubted his eyes and tilted his head.

Something familiar was being sold, and he couldn’t believe it.

“What’s wrong?” asked Mikael, feeling something strange. However, Yul went to the store without answering his question. Mikael also followed him and stood in front of the store, not knowing what’s going on.

“Boss, what is this?”

“Welcome~ Oh, it’s a strange looking candy, isn’t it? It is a popular dessert in countries to the east across the continent, and it tastes good because it is sweet. The texture is also interesting.”

The store owner cut the ivory-colored, long, rice cake-like item with a large pair of scissors. It looked the same as those that are sold like crazy every season of the entrance exam in Korea.

Yul’s smile, looking at the thing that looked so familiar, became insidious. It was because he thought of a timid way of revenge on Mikael, who had been harassing him in the meantime.

“Mikael.”

“Why?”

“Want to fuck off2?”

“…”

“Mikael, screw you, screw you!”

It was the first time Michael had ever heard of ‘yeot’. In the first place, he didn’t go to the market, and even if he did, he wasn’t the kind of person who paid attention to what was sold in the market. Besides, he wasn’t even interested in dessert. It was impossible for him to have ever seen the candy in front of him.

But why? Yuri’s words sounded somehow unpleasant.

Was it because of that giggles, or was it because of Yul’s twisted intentions, which was transparent in that smile? Or was it just because of the disgusting word the word “yeot” gives?

“Mikael, screw you!”

Yul giggled while Mikael was immersed in serious reflection.

He didn’t know why, but he’s not in a good mood for some reason, so he was just about to say something.

“Gasp, guest. You have to be careful. In eastern countries, the word “eat taffy” is used as an insult.”

The startled shopkeeper said, waving both hands. It goes without saying that Yul’s expression turned into contemplation at those words.

This guy must have known what he meant and purposely said it.

Translator: misa