Chapter 391
“……When I opened my eyes, we were in this world.”
“That’s right. We don’t even know what’s really going on…”
“We can’t even log out…”
After hearing the whole story from the men who had been starving for days and were now devouring food, I realized they were lying. They claimed to be office workers, but my eyes weren’t fooled. They were programmers and hackers hired by Director Choi Jae-man to take control of the Milky Way system. In other words, they were accomplices in Director Choi’s plan.
CEO Park punished them for trying to swallow the company whole. By trapping them forever in the world they wanted to monopolize.
“Hmph… CEO Park. That lunatic locked us, who did nothing wrong, in this world.”
The mastermind of this incident, Director Choi Jae-man, muttered sullenly. Thinking I didn’t know the details, he was playing the victim.
Well, Director Choi doesn’t know I’m Jeong Ji-hwan, so it’s natural. He probably thinks I don’t know what they were trying to do, so he’s taking the victim’s position. Or maybe, now that he’s actually trapped in this world by CEO Park, we’re in the same boat.
But honestly, I don’t feel sorry for him. He tried to secretly monopolize the world I live in. From my perspective, CEO Park and him are no different—both are enemies. Yeah, if it weren’t for Park Se-hee, I would’ve kicked them out long ago.
“You said you’re an acquaintance of Secretary Park, right? Is there no way to send us back to our original world?”
“I don’t know.”
“I heard there’s magic in this world. Isn’t there any magic to return to the original world?”
There is a Gate, but I have no reason to tell them. Besides, unlike me, who possessed Tristan, they came to this world in their original forms. Like Michaela, it’s entirely possible they can’t leave due to the system’s control.
“…If I find a way, I’ll let you know. Until then, stay quiet here.”
“Is there a place to wash up here? It’s been days since I’ve washed, and it’s driving me crazy.”
“Ah, me too. Please let us wash. New clothes would be great too.”
“……”
But their attitude has been bothering me since earlier. They don’t use honorifics, and they seem to think I’ll grant any request they make.
I can guess the reason. Without saying it outright, they think of me as an NPC in a game.
Even in this situation, they’re still under that illusion. I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.
As Park Se-hee told me, Director Choi Jae-man doesn’t see us as fellow humans. At best, we’re NPCs; at worst, objects of exploitation, slaves.
Well, thinking about it, when I first possessed Tristan, I was out of it for a while too. I couldn’t accept the fact that I was trapped in this world for over a week. And these guys have only been here for a few days. They haven’t yet realized the reality of this world.
And I’m not the only one tolerating their rudeness.
“Is that so, Count? Should we let them use the tub in the interrogation room?”
That’s not a tub, it’s for water torture… No, Helga knew what she was saying. She was smiling brightly, but her eyes were bloodshot. She was furious. She’s been holding back only because I’ve been staying calm. It wouldn’t be surprising if she lashed out at any moment.
Indulging them like this isn’t good for my or Helga’s patience.
“Come to think of it, I haven’t introduced myself. I’m Tristan, Count Ruelberta, the master of this mansion.”
Seeing my polite introduction, they were momentarily confused, then quickly realized the situation and stood up.
“Ah, I’m Lee Sang-sik…”
“I’m Kim Woo-hyun.”
“I’m Cha Tae-seok.”
“I’m Choi Jae-man.”
Director Choi, thinking he was superior, spoke without standing up.
“…I see. But don’t you think you should follow the Empire’s laws now that you’re here?”
“Huh?”
“For example, this country values etiquette. I also deeply dislike those who are rude and lack decorum.”
“No, but we don’t know the etiquette of this country…”
“It’s fine if you don’t know. Helga, can you teach them some basic etiquette?”
“Yes, of course. I’d be delighted.”
Helga, smiling fakely in sync with me. We work well together in times like this.
“Now, everyone. The Count isn’t someone you can casually speak to. So, you must use honorifics when addressing him. It’s not hard, right?”
“Hmm. Then, Mr. Tristan?”
“Wrong.”
*SLAP!*
A sudden, thunderous noise echoed. But it wasn’t thunder.
Helga had slapped the man who called me “Mr. Tristan.” Almost a full swing.
The man spun two or three times in the air before crashing into the wall and collapsing to the floor. She didn’t use magic power, so he was just bleeding from his nose and convulsing.
Everyone froze at the sudden turn of events.
“Haha. Mr. Tristan? Did you hit your head? Or did someone stab your brain with a knife… Oh my, I got a little carried away.”
Helga, who had been furious, smiled sweetly again.
“Does anyone know the correct answer? Hint: I just mentioned it.”
“W-what are you doing!?”
“What am I doing?”
I smiled arrogantly at the shocked men.
“Aren’t I teaching you etiquette since you don’t know it?”
More like forcing it on them.
Thinking they were guests who deserved to be treated well, Director Choi, who had been sitting, suddenly stood up.
“This is violence! No matter how uncivilized this country is, you can’t just hit people like this!”
“You’re right. This isn’t the Empire’s law. It’s the law of this mansion.”
“What…?”
“Just as the Empire has its laws, if you plan to stay in this mansion, you must follow its laws.”
*Crack.*
A sinister sound came from Helga’s fist.
“So, does anyone know the correct answer?”
*
Leaving them to learn etiquette, I went to the next room to see Park Se-hee. She was lying on the bed, fast asleep. She must have had a hard time these past few days—her hair was disheveled, and her face was covered in bruises.
“Ah… Count…”
Wendy was wiping Park Se-hee’s face with a wet cloth.
“How is she?”
“The healer said she’s fine, just exhausted…”
“I see…”
I felt relieved hearing that. When I received the urgent news from Helga early this morning that Park Se-hee had come to the mansion, I thought she was just rambling as usual. But it was really her, right in front of me.
She must have come to me in desperation, like grasping at straws, after being thrown into this world alone.
“Ugh… Ji-hwan…?”
“Se-hee unnie?!”
Hearing my voice, Park Se-hee opened her eyes.
“You’re still not well. Rest.”
“I’m fine…”
“I-I’ll help you!”
“Thank you, Wendy…”
With Wendy’s help, Park Se-hee sat up, looking haggard. She must have been through life-and-death struggles these past few days.
“I heard what happened. Don’t push yourself and rest for now…”
“I have something to tell you, Ji-hwan…”
“We can talk later.”
“No… I need to say it now.”
I didn’t know what it was, but her expression was unusually serious. It felt like something important.
“Sorry, Wendy. Can you give us a moment?”
“Y-yes!”
As Wendy hurried out, only the two of us remained in the room.
“So… what did you want to say?”
“Cough… I found your body, Ji-hwan.”
“?!”
I involuntarily held my breath. Since becoming Tristan, I had only speculated that my real body had fallen into CEO Park’s hands, but I couldn’t find it. And she had discovered it.
Park Se-hee coughed and explained. She told me everything she saw that day in the company basement—the core of the Milky Way, the hospital beds with people, including me, sleeping on them, and everything she had witnessed.
“I’m sorry… Your body was right in front of me… But it ended up like this…”
“…Don’t apologize. You did your best. In that situation, no one could have saved me.”
“But it’s frustrating… The chance for you to return to your original body was right there…”
Park Se-hee hugged her knees and trembled. She must have been frustrated. She had been cautious enough, but CEO Park had outmaneuvered her.
“Don’t blame yourself. I’m just glad you’re safe.”
“Ji-hwan…”
“When I heard something had happened to you, I was shocked. At the same time, I was angry. I was furious at my own helplessness to save you.”
I placed my hand on Park Se-hee’s shoulder.
“So don’t regret it. I’m just grateful you made it here safely…”
I couldn’t bring myself to say “thank you.” It was Tristan’s nature. He’s awkward with expressions of gratitude or apology.
But contrary to my worries, Park Se-hee seemed to understand my feelings.
“I’m the one who’s grateful. If you hadn’t helped, we wouldn’t have survived.”
“…I didn’t do anything. You’re the one who made it here on your own.”
The place where she and the others were abandoned was deep in the forest, far from the Empire. It couldn’t have been easy to make it to my safe mansion, avoiding bandits and wild animals. It was almost a miracle they made it here unharmed.
“You’ve been through a lot. Rest for now.”
“Okay…”
I decided to stay by Park Se-hee’s side until she fell asleep. Her tension eased, and she fell asleep within minutes. After confirming she was fully asleep, I left the room.
‘But…’
Something felt off. Even after hearing about my real body’s whereabouts from Park Se-hee, it felt like someone else’s story, not mine.
Maybe I’ve become more Tristan than Jeong Ji-hwan. Thirty years as Jeong Ji-hwan versus hundreds of regressions as the villain Tristan over a hundred years. It’s no exaggeration to say I’m now more Tristan than Jeong Ji-hwan.
‘Could it be… I don’t want to return to my original body?’
The thought sent chills down my spine.
It would mean I’ve become so satisfied with living as Tristan that I’m willing to give up Jeong Ji-hwan’s life.
But I quickly shook my head.
‘No… If that were the case, I wouldn’t have decided to save Sora.’
Thinking of Sora still makes my chest ache. My pitiful younger sister. My only sibling. No matter what anyone says, I’m her older brother, Jeong Ji-hwan.
“Tristan?”
“No. I’m not Tristan…”
“Huh?”
I was startled by the woman in front of me.
“Are you okay? Tristan?”
Bella was looking at me with concern.
“…Yeah, I’m fine. What is it?”
“Nothing, you’ve just been standing there blankly.”
Ah. I must have been lost in thought.
“…I must have been distracted for a moment.”
With so much to do, I was spacing out. I hurried to leave, but Bella grabbed my arm.
“…?”
“Tristan. Do you have a moment?”
“No.”
Silence fell.
“…Ahem. You’re so blunt.”
“I said no because I don’t have time.”
“Isn’t it a gentleman’s etiquette to say you have time when a lady asks, even if you don’t?”
“First time I’ve heard of that.”
“Liar. You just heard it.”
“What?”
“You just heard it from me, so it’s not the first time.”
What kind of nonsense is this…? As I carefully examined her face, I came to a plausible conclusion.
“…Are you Helga?”
“…Do you think I’m an idiot?”
“You suddenly started talking nonsense, so I got confused.”
“I-it wasn’t that stupid!”
Was it supposed to be a joke? Bella, embarrassed by her own words, blushed. Unable to bear it any longer, she grabbed my wrist.
“Ah, whatever! Stop talking and follow me!”
“?”
