As soon as I woke up in the morning, I checked first if my heart was still beating safely.
It wasn't because I was worried I might have died from drinking too much the night before.
Just being able to live and enjoy each day in this unpredictable world. I find small happiness in that.
Being able to see others' futures but not knowing a single thing about my own future is scarier than one might think.
I don't even know if I'll be able to safely open my eyes the next day before going to bed.
That was what it meant to live as a fortune teller.
'Did I pack everything properly?'
Today was the day I would follow Tang A-yeong to subjugate that so-called vampire.
From what I heard about the schedule, we would need to camp once each way during travel, so we'd probably have to ride in a carriage for a long time.
While conversation with people was nice, I didn't think we'd have that much to talk about for that long.
Since they said they would prepare the food, I only packed some light snacks and books to pass the time.
Just in case, I also tucked some hidden weapons in my clothes.
'I wonder if this will work.'
I spent all my points buying expensive items from the Shop Window, but I wasn't sure if they would actually work against martial artists.
I'll just have to believe they're worth the points I spent.
-Creeak
As I went down to the first floor of the inn carrying my bundled belongings, Tang A-yeong waved at me.
I knew there was still quite some time until the meeting time, but it seemed she wanted to have a meal together before leaving.
"You're early? I thought we still had quite some time."
"I wanted to talk about some things before we leave and have a meal together. You know we'll have to eat preserved food for a while, right?"
"..Ah."
Come to think of it, that was true.
After enjoying all these delicious worldly foods lately, to think we'd have to eat preserved food...
Though it would probably taste better than the grass I used to eat in the mountains, I couldn't help feeling disappointed.
"Sit down. You'll have beef noodle soup, right? I saw you enjoying it last time."
"..You're treating me?"
"You spend all your money the same day you earn it, so you don't have any in the morning, right? Even if you did, you could only afford thin noodles, right?"
"Young Lady, you know me too well."
She's probably the person who knows me best besides Master.
I sat across from Tang A-yeong and looked at the waiter dozing off in the corner.
"Having alcohol first thing in the morning might be a bit..."
"Young Lady, my hands shake if alcohol isn't flowing through my blood." [TL]He said it in English.[/TL]
"Al... what?"
"Ah, I meant alcohol."
I've gotten pretty used to this world, but it's still hard to stop certain things from slipping out sometimes.
Anyway, alcohol is important.
"..Well. Should I buy you a bottle too? But wouldn't it be bad to be drunk before meeting our companions?"
"Have you ever seen me get drunk, Young Lady? Try bringing out a whole barrel. I'm confident I won't get drunk."
This is the only thing I like about this body.
My alcohol tolerance is no joke.
Seeing how I spend every day soaked in alcohol without getting sick or passing out drunk even once, it seemed unlikely I'd cause any accidents from drinking.
"But isn't your stomach empty right now? Won't it hurt?"
"Young Lady."
I spoke in an unusually serious voice.
"That's the best part."
.
.
.
"Besides you and me, there are 3 warriors in our party. They're all men."
Tang A-yeong was explaining the schedule while I poured drinks.
But I had a question about the personnel.
"Wasn't it originally supposed to be two men and one woman?"
According to the letter, there was supposed to be one woman.
But now suddenly it's three men.
It wasn't a big deal, but I was curious.
"She suddenly had urgent business to attend to. She arranged for someone to go in her place before leaving. Why? Disappointed it's all men?"
For some reason, her voice seemed slightly murderous, but that must have been my imagination.
"No. I'm not interested."
And I really don't care about the gender ratio of our companions at all.
I'm so used to Master's appearance that most women look the same to me anyway.
Even Tang A-yeong, who in my previous life would have been beautiful enough to make me turn around for a second look...
-Shake shake
'That woman is cheating.'
While her personality was problematic, I couldn't find a single flaw in her appearance even if I tried.
Truly a beauty that could topple a nation. A beauty worthy of being called one who could bring a country to ruin. A beauty deserving of that phrase.
After seeing such a woman almost daily for 10 years, my standards for beauty couldn't possibly be normal.
If Master was a 100, celebrities from my past life would be 70, and Tang A-yeong would be about 85?
Even though her figure was quite impressive now, it still wasn't at Master's level.
"..Why do I feel an unpleasant gaze from somewhere?"
"Must be your imagination."
I'd probably be in trouble if she found out about these disrespectful thoughts,
However, the mantle allowed me to keep my poker face perfect.
Not that my expression could be seen anyway.
I wonder how I would be living now if I didn't have this mantle.
I didn't really want to imagine it.
*
-Bump! Bump!
It had been about 3 hours since we started traveling by carriage.
I frowned at the gradually increasing pain in my lower back as I turned the page of the book I was holding.
The three men and Tang A-yeong were having a conversation, seemingly finding common ground as martial artists.
'This is boring as hell.'
I brought this book because it was supposedly popular, but I couldn't help wondering what this garbage content was.
While it might have been considered quite stimulating by this era's standards, for someone from Earth, this was as bland as unseasoned salt.
There were also quite a few parts I couldn't understand due to cultural differences.
'Should have just kept reading the travel guide.'
I regretted trying to read a novel, now I was in for 4 boring days.
"What are you reading?"
While I was regretting my book choice, Tang A-yeong came over to me.
"Why? Aren't you having deeper conversations with your fellow martial artists?"
"Well, we had to discuss things like battle tactics and formation arrangements. Are you upset?"
"..I'm not a child to get upset over something like that."
I'm just small in height and build, but the contents are completely adult.
It doesn't feel good to be treated like a child.
Besides, what child could drink alcohol like this?
"So what are you reading? Is it interesting?"
"..It's not interesting. Just another common novel about a man who finds a fateful encounter, completes his training, comes out to the Central Plains and gets his hands on all sorts of treasures and women. The presentation is cliché too."
"Ah. I think I've heard of that one. Isn't it quite popular among men?"
"..This is popular?"
"Yes. I heard the author bought a building after writing it..."
I thought I'd just fallen for a baseless rumor, but it's actually popular?
This?
"..I guess this just isn't my taste."
"Why not? Isn't it cool? Isn't it every man's dream? Finding a fateful encounter, becoming the strongest under heaven, and getting all those beautiful women?"
"..."
Let me think about it. If I became the strongest under heaven...
"I could forcefully take all the precious alcohol hidden by various sects..."
"Do you really have nothing but alcohol in your head?!"
"Well, I've never really imagined it before."
I had long since abandoned dreams of becoming stronger.
If I were to become stronger, it would be just to secure enough safety to protect myself, not for some strange goal like becoming the strongest under heaven.
Besides, it's not possible with this body anyway.
"Then are you not interested in women? There's a saying that heroes should have at least three wives and four concubines. You're not interested in monopolizing the beautiful women of the Central Plains?"
A harem, huh.
"I'm not really interested in women right now."
I have to return before Master appears anyway.
Even if I were to date someone, we'd have to part ways eventually.
But if...
"But if I were to have feelings for a woman..."
Then...
"I would dedicate everything to that one woman."
I have no interest in three wives and four concubines or whatever.
The heart is barely enough to give to one person, let alone dividing it among many.
If there was someone who said they would do that, I'm confident I could curse them out.
"..Just one person?"
"Yes. A person's heart is barely enough for one person. Love even more so."
"..."
Tang A-yeong seemed lost in deep thought.
.
.
.
As the day grew dark, it was time to make camp.
Despite how I might look, I was properly doing my job.
We were heading to our first destination, which was a mix between where the vampire was last spotted and the location I had divined.
"It seems to still be in the same location as before. Let's check again tomorrow morning just in case."
I was properly checking the location periodically like this.
Though there was one regret...
'Should have brought alcohol.'
There was no alcohol.
I need at least one bottle before bed to sleep properly.
-Crackle
I mindlessly tossed a branch into the campfire while keeping watch.
My shift was first and Tang A-yeong's was last.
I could understand why Tang A-yeong was last, since she was the strongest among us and needed to conserve energy, but it was a bit surprising that they put me first.
'Did they consider me because I'm a civilian?'
Seems not all martial artists are ill-tempered people.
-Crackle
As I threw another branch into the campfire, I felt a strange sensation on my shoulder.
When I turned my head, there was a familiar face.
"Keeping watch well?"
Tang A-yeong sat down beside me.
"Isn't your shift last, Young Lady?"
"I was worried and came to check. Wondering if you were doing alright."
"..It's tough without alcohol, but I have to endure."
I sighed.
Should have brought alcohol instead of that combination of letters.
We still have 4 days ahead - maybe I should ask if there's a village on the way where I can restock...
-Slosh
"Looking for this?"
At the familiar sound, I quickly turned my head to see a familiar-shaped bottle.
"H-How..."
"I figured you'd react exactly like this, so I brought some. How about that? Aren't I the only one who understands you?"
"Really, I can't do anything without you, Young Lady."
"Heheh, try flattering me more?"
"I love you, Young Lady."
"..."
Tang A-yeong's body froze completely.
Just as cold sweat was about to break out thinking I'd made a mistake, thankfully Tang A-yeong came to her senses.
"A-Ahem. You shouldn't say such things carelessly."
"..I'm sorry."
"No need to apologize... Here you go."
Tang A-yeong placed the bottle in my hand and stood up.
"Don't let the others catch you drinking."
"Is this our secret?"
"Yes, our secret."
Perhaps because of the campfire's light, Tang A-yeong's smile looked especially beautiful that day, appearing slightly flushed.