NOVEL WEB Episode 166
Episode 166
That doesn’t mean it’s better that I came.
‘Rather, it’s not a good thing for the two of them.’
Isaac Demillang and Yurian.
They are Cassice Demillang’s parents. They lost their son because I entered.
However, unlike in the original work, these two at least got to know some of Cassice Demillang’s suffering.
Because I’m here. Because I am me.
‘So that’s why the butler could look down on me and summon the parents… Wait, this sounds unpleasant when I say it like this? Should I just scold the butler…?’
But to scold the butler, I like this moment.
I guess I turned out to be a depraved bastard who feels good for no reason when facing a crying adult…
Even if the ‘truth’ that Cassice Demillang had been abused by the family all this time will torment them, I was happy. Is it because I saw the two of them crying together for Cassice Demillang’s pain? As if Cassice Demillang’s lonely life was being understood even a little. Just.
Thinking that it’s thanks to my existence, it felt like I could breathe.
So I decided to tolerate myself who dared to take Cassice Demillang’s place, even if only for today. I had nothing to say even if it was a selfish choice. But so what? I like it. Who can say anything about it?
No one except the real Cassice Demillang would have the right to curse me.
It may sound arrogant, but I decided to breathe a little more comfortably in this world. Even though I have no right to say this after stealing someone else’s body. Still, if it weren’t for me, Cassice Demillang would have never been understood. Because I was sloppy, Cassice Demillang’s existence could be accepted a little more. Unlike the original work where no one could approach his past, unlike the original work where he was used lonelily and solitarily.
Because I came to this world, ‘Cassice Demillang’ can become a little happier.
At least he can be understood a little more.
I liked that fact.
‘What if the real Cassice Demillang curses me?’
Let’s think about that when the time comes.
At least the current me is strangely excited to the point that it’s strange to foment anxiety by fantasizing about a future that hasn’t even happened, because the current me likes myself too much to waste on useless emotions. A thrilling sorrow and at the same time a strange affection heated up my heart. I slowly hugged Cassice Demillang’s mother.
“…!”
Yurian seemed surprised and trembled her shoulders, then with an expression of unknown thoughts, she sobbed and completely leaned her weight on me. Father, Isaac Demillang, who was hesitating while looking at me, also approached and hugged the two of us. I smiled with a sorrowful sense of satisfaction as I watched Cassice Demillang’s crying parents.
This is a funeral. For Cassice Demillang.
‘For Cassice Demillang who died after I came here.’
A funeral offered by his loving parents and me who remember him.
‘Although they will never know that fact for the rest of their lives.’
Moreover, unless I reveal it, they won’t even know that Cassice Demillang is their biological son until they die.
Even though I don’t think all of Cassice Demillang’s choices were right, I had no intention of revealing that he was their biological son now. Because the person inside Cassice Demillang’s physical shell is me.
I think it’s too much to extort more love that Cassice Demillang should have received beyond this.
That’s the only thing I wanted to protect.
As I was silently comforting Cassice Demillang’s parents like that, it was only after a long time that I realized I hadn’t said a single word about the handcuffs, shackles, chains, and collar. But the atmosphere was too heartwarming right now. It seemed like there was no one in the world who could argue “What are these?” in this atmosphere.
‘But I’m the one who can do it.’
The baddest of the bad, Jeong Yi-an! Let’s go! Let’s overcome the crisis with magical power!
“By the way, mother. What are these?”
Cassice Demillang’s mother, Yurian, raised her tearful, elegant eyes and smiled brightly.
“My eyesight has gotten worse, so I can’t see well. I’m sorry. What are you talking about?”
“…!”
I almost spit out the water I just drank. Wow. I want to scream, but I have nothing to say. Wow…
I froze for a moment, then sent a pleading look to Father Isaac to save me. But Isaac didn’t read my gaze because he buried his face in a handkerchief. Why is he suddenly like this when he wasn’t even holding a tissue, let alone a handkerchief, until a while ago? But it was a quite plausible moment since his handsome face had been a mess of tears for a long time.
Trapped alone, I remained silent for a moment and finally chose the orthodox answer of responding with proper nouns.
“I’m talking about the handcuffs, shackles, chains, and collar. I’m asking what these are.”
“Ah, you’re right, Cassice!”
“…Yes?”
Yurian answered with a bright smile.
“They are handcuffs, shackles, chains, and a collar!”
“…”
Mother, what I’m asking is not that, right? It would be a question of why these are attached to me, right?
To begin with, I should have asked where this place is, but I seem to have forgotten, swept away by the atmosphere.
‘I won’t let it slide anymore…!’
I narrowed my eyes sharply and finished preparing to ask about this and that.
But the next moment, the topic changed.
“Now we’ll bring the meal we prepared.”
“Well, I…”
It was when I was about to coldly refuse…!
Suddenly, Yurian gave a sorrowful smile! Ack! Wait a minute! Don’t make that expression! It’s against the rules!
“For a long time, for a really long time since meeting Cassice, I couldn’t treat you to a single meal I made myself. When you ate the food we made for the first time at the formal meeting, I was really happy then, but… The ending wasn’t good… But, it was my lifelong dream… For the family to gather together and have a harmonious meal. I waited for the opportunity to come back before my eyesight got worse… I’m so happy it came like this.”
“…”
Come to think of it, at the unofficial formal meeting, the great-grandfather appeared at the end and ruined the mood…
‘No, more than that, Cassice Demillang, you really never ate the food your real parents made until then? Even though you missed it so much. Even though you longed for the candy you couldn’t eat then for the rest of your life. For the rest of your life like that…’
Damn it. How can you make me think of that?
“Ryuseong is here too. Let’s all have a meal together. We’re family… Okay?”
There’s no way I can refuse…!
***
And after that, I attempted to escape about 188 times, but was blocked every time.
To put it simply, it was like this.
“Please untie me now.”
“Hmm. But I can still hug you, right?”
Afterwards, the restraints were removed, but I fell asleep while being triple-hugged by three people. When I woke up, the handcuffs, shackles, chains, and collar were attached again.
‘These mean people…!’
When such things continued for about three days, I finally succeeded in grasping their intentions.
‘These humans…! They’re trying to fatten me up!’
That’s right. I had a terribly short appetite, but Cassice Demillang’s mother was a cooking queen…!
‘Ah, right. That’s not what’s important.’
I’m currently experiencing “that”.
What fantasy novel protagonists are forcibly subjected to by those around them after overexerting themselves.
Namely…
‘Emperor’s confinement!’
…But why am I the one experiencing this?
Not Ryuseong?