I couldn’t help but feel ashamed, but I had to finish this.

“I’m thinking about testing a few things,” I said.

“Of… course. I look forward to working with you,” Yuno said.

After getting rid of her excited expression, she slowly spoke and for some reason, she looked happy.

“I don’t have any ill-will,” I told her.

“I know and I also know that you’re only punishing me because you treasure me,” she said.

“I can’t say that it’s a punishment, but it’s up to you on how you want to interpret it… but first, you won’t be able to breathe starting now,” I said.

“...”

I saw her eyes wide open as she looked at me. When she didn’t show any reaction, I thought about whether this shaman was a fraud or not, but when I heard her voice again, I realized that I had made a mistake.

“You need to use your mana as you say it,” she told me.

“...”

Naturally, I felt embarrassed. When I opened my mouth again, I saw her taking a deep breath.

“You won’t be able to breathe,” I said.

A large amount of mana started to flow out of me almost immediately and even though I didn’t expect this much mana to flow out, it was a really good trade considering that I had complete control of her body. A frown appeared on Yuno’s face and the way she coughed while grabbing her neck showed that she definitely wasn’t acting. The way she reached her hand out and rolled around told me how much pain she was in.

“Mas… ter… cough…”

She seemed to be struggling as her body refused the air regardless of her will. Naturally, she started crying and her tongue stretched out as if she was longing for air. When I thought that she would really run out of air, I had no choice but to speak because I didn’t want her to die here.

“You’ll be able to breathe starting now.”

The test was over and the reasonable contract between me and her was completed successfully. She spoke after taking in the air she needed. “Th-Thank you, Master.”

I wasn’t sure why she was thanking me, but the enchantment she had placed on herself was now complete and on top of that, it was perfect. I didn’t lose anything through this contract, but if I had to explain one thing, I had to be responsible for her.

‘It should be fine, right?’

If the scene I saw earlier was shown to me before the enchantment, then I wouldn’t have done something so troublesome as this. I wasn’t sure why I was able to see that scene, but I didn’t think that it was because of the enchantment, so it was probably best to think that it was a momentary error that occurred while her body and my mind were in the middle of connecting to each other. The look on the shaman’s face as she hugged me tight and the fact that she saved my life were all true.

When I helped Yuno stand up, I saw her looking at me with an unknown expression. She looked as if she didn’t know what to do while being happy at the same time. Even though I had this feeling earlier, I felt even worse right now.

‘I’ll treat you nicely from now on.’

I realized that my actions were far worse than what Lee Ki-Young of the past life had done and it felt like I had driven an innocent person into an indescribable pit of evil. I felt even worse after recalling that look on her face in the dark world.

‘Shit…’

But it was a reasonable decision and the result wasn’t that bad because she was the happiest about it.

‘Of course, I’m justifying it…’

Thinking about how I had gained an ally that I could really trust was the best way to get rid of my sense of guilt.

“I’m not sure what I should say…” I said.

“Excuse me?” she asked.

“Thanks,” I told her.

“Th-That’s not… it’s not necessary,” she said.

When I pushed back the shaman’s long hair, I noticed her face turning red and when a light smile appeared on her face, I became flustered because she seemed like she wanted to drop to the floor, but giving her a small reward was the right thing to do.

“Master…” she called.

When I quietly put my face close to hers, she closed her eyes and when I lightly kissed her forehead, she fell apart.

“Thank you, thank you,” she said.

“It can’t be compared to the loyalty you’ve shown me and it’s not much compared to the warmth you’ve given me in the dark world,” I told her.

“Oh…”

“It was only for a moment, but I saw what you saw,” I told her.

“What?”

“That moment. Are you the one that told me that you pitied me?” I asked.

“That’s right. H-How did you…”

“I don’t understand it either, but as you said, it might really be destiny,” I said.

She looked extremely happy, but I only said it just to make her feel better.

That was when I heard a ruckus outside…

‘Jung Ha-Yan?’

I guess when I made physical contact with the shaman, the information went straight to Jung Ha-Yan. I thought that she was doing well enduring it, but I guess that she couldn’t bear it anymore and came up here.

‘Ugh…’

I still had other things I needed to do with this woman, but I couldn’t just leave Jung Ha-Yan alone.

“By the way, have you told others about me?” I asked.

“I haven’t,” she answered.

“That’s a relief. Then let’s stop here for today,” I told her.

“If that’s what you wish.”

“Of course, our relationship should be kept a secret,” I said.

“I understand,” she said.

Seeing her nod as if she was used to it made me think that something similar must have happened in our past lives and after I nodded, I immediately opened the door and noticed how easily I was able to open it compared to earlier.

I thought about how I should make Jung Ha-Yan feel better, but the person I saw was a man I had never seen before. He was tall and had a sword at his waist.

‘A katana?’

I was speechless when I saw a katana on a medieval-based continent. I thought that maybe he had it customized, but I didn’t have the time to think because my attention was on the man that was looking down at me.

‘What’s with him?’

I saw his information after using Mind’s Eyes.

[Checking Player Ito Sota’s Status Window and Potential.]

[Name - Ito Sota]

[Title - Wind of Celia]

[Age - 28]

[Nature - Cautious Strategist]

[Job - Samurai - Legendary Rank]

[Job Effect - Acquired basic swordsmanship knowledge]

[Job Effect - Acquired intermediate swordsmanship knowledge]

[Job Effect - Acquired advanced swordsmanship knowledge]

[Job Effect - Acquired advanced magic application knowledge]

[Stats]

[Strength - 81/Below epic growth limit]

[Agility - 99/Above legendary growth limit]

[Stamina - 61/Below rare growth limit]

[Intelligence - 89/Below epic growth limit]

[Endurance - 66/Below rare growth limit]

[Luck - 34/Below average growth limit]

[Magic - 75/Above epic growth limit]

[Gear - Wind Blade - Epic Rank]

[Attribute - Wind Blade - Legendary Rank]

[Overall Review - He’s a legendary-ranked samurai. His overall stats are high, but his agility stat is what stands out the most. His slightly low endurance is his weakness, but it’s not really necessary since he’s an agility-based warrior. It breaks my heart to see his low stamina, but his legendary-ranked job and attribute do stand out. The only similarity between you two is your nature. Please work harder.]

‘How come the people I meet are monsters?’

An agility-based swordsman… I wasn’t sure who he was, but he didn’t look ordinary. There was no way an ordinary person would have these kinds of stats in the first place and I was sure that he was either on the same level or stronger than Cha Hee-Ra. I thought that as the guild master of a guild, his stats weren’t lacking, and funnily enough, his nature was the same as mine. Despite that, I thought that it was unfair because he possessed so much power compared to me.

He spoke when I tried to walk past him.

“...”

“Mr. Lee Ki-Young?”

I felt the man lightly grab my shoulder.

“Mr. Ito, what’s wrong?”

Naturally, the lovely shaman became wary of the man, but the man kept looking at me while smiling.

‘This is annoying…’

“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Ito Sota, the guild master of the Yamato Guild.”

“...”

Naturally, I became speechless and even though it was only for a moment, I recalled the terrorist attack that happened in Lindel. The explosion, the arrows, and the swords that were flying toward me weren’t exactly a traumatic memory, but it was a frustrating one. But I gulped it all and shook his hand because I couldn’t show him that I was shaken up.

‘It’s annoying…’

This place was safe and since disputes weren’t allowed here, there was no way that this guy would harm me. My trustworthy shaman was behind him and Juliena was at my waist, so she would be able to block at least one of his surprise attacks.

‘Although it’s not likely considering his agility stat…’

I thought that it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have a conversation with him. Meeting like this was fate and the reason I came here was to officially file a complaint regarding the Yamato Guild, so I should try to get as much intel as possible.

“I guess you’ve seen me from somewhere,” I said.

“I haven’t, but I’ve heard a lot about you since you were the center of the terrorist attack that happened in Lindel,” he answered.

‘This bastard…’

It was a sight to see a small smile appear on his face. I thought that he was going to pretend not to know about the terrorist attack, but he looked calmer than I thought.

‘A cautious strategist?’

It was probably because we had the same nature.

“I was really surprised when I heard the news since it’s a terrorist attack that happened in the middle of a free city. Our cities may be different, but since we’re both from Earth, I had been very worried,” Sota said.

“I see. Thank you for worrying about me,” I said.

“But you know…”

“Yes?”

“There are rumors saying that Lindel has judged us as the ones responsible for the terrorist attack,” he said.

‘So what?’

It was a sensitive topic to talk about right now and I thought that it would be best to discuss this with Hee-Ra noona.

“I think it’ll be best to talk about this at a later time since this isn’t the best time to talk about it,” I suggested.

When I lightly turned my head, I felt him grabbing my shoulder again. Naturally, Kasugano Yuno stepped up and I heard her quiet, yet determined voice. “He’s my guest…”

“Ooh, it’s nothing. I just wanted to talk more with him,” Sota said.

“Please refrain from doing anything rude,” she told him.

That was when I felt bloodthirstiness…

‘Shit...’

I guess I wasn’t the only one that felt it because our surroundings were instantly filled with white smoke and when I looked to the side, I saw Kasugano Yuno quickly casting a spell. I saw that bastard Sota’s face and saw one corner of his lips going up. I didn’t think that he would do something crazy here, but since he was the one behind the terrorist attack in Lindel, I couldn’t help but think that he wanted to get rid of me once and for all while we were both here.

Kasugano Yuno. No matter how strong the shaman was, there was a limit when it came to one-on-one battles. If it had been the samurai that was standing in front of us, it wouldn’t take him long to break her shield and then cut my head off.

‘Hyun-Sung…’

For some reason, I missed being in Kim Hyun-Sung’s warm arms.

Buzzzzzzz!

The moment Juliena naturally jumped out from me, I saw Sota maintaining his smile.

“Oh…”

Something’s wrong…

“Juliena, no!” I screamed.

The moment I screamed, Juliena had already pierced through the neck of the swordsman that was standing beside Sota.

‘A cautious strategist?’

The situation was the perfect checkmate.

‘Shit!’

The man fell to the ground while making choking noises. 

Ito Sota grabbed the handle of his sword and mumbled. “Oh dear… what did you do, Mr. Ki-Young? You suddenly threw your sword at him while we’re inside the Holy Empire’s castle in the holy and glorious city of Benigoa. Pfft… did one of your favorite subordinates die? Hehehe…” 

“...”

“Would it be okay if I filed an official complaint regarding this?” he asked.

“...”

“If not… can I accept it as you declaring war against the Yamato Guild?” he asked.

Our nature wasn’t the only thing that was similar. The way we acted was very similar as well. I couldn’t help but realize it the moment he looked at me with that teasing look on his face.