Chapter 09

Escape from Another World with a Possessor (9)

1. Families Collapse, Society Collapses, the Empire Collapses (7)

Under the shade of her hat, her bright blue eyes blinked down softly. Watching her eyelashes flutter like layered cherry blossoms, Selena felt a warm feeling in her chest.

Now she understood why people smiled at a quietly sitting cat.

“Let’s think more after lunch. If you need hints, just ask.”

“Yes.”

Selena found a fairly neat restaurant and went inside.

It was bustling.

The customers were all kinds of people, but none looked bad. They had lucked out finding a decent place.

After making brief eye contact with the busy waiters, they sat near the edge of the room.

A freckled boy waiter approached politely.

“Welcome! What would you like to order? We have corn soup, roasted chicken, cheese-baked potatoes, and rye bread. Today’s special is mountain rabbit stew. It costs five fairy coins. Drinks: dark beer, milk, or water.”

Gayeon picked quickly without hesitation.

“I’ll have the mountain rabbit stew and milk, please.”

“I’ll take the cheese-baked potatoes, rye bread, and a glass of dark beer. Here’s the money; keep the change.”

When she handed a silver coin, the waiter’s face brightened.

“Thank you, ma’am. I’ll bring it right away!”

Watching him leave excitedly, Gayeon glanced at Selena.

“You’re generous with tips?”

“I’m rich. Plus, it’s money we’ll just leave behind when we go back to our original world.”

“That’s true.”

“And he’s cute with freckles. I don’t mind giving a little extra.”

“You like freckled people?”

“No, he’s my favorite.”

Thinking of her favorite she had to leave behind, Selena got lost in memories.

Once she returned to the original world… the story would be over.

After opening seven dimensions and gathering information, she had found that time flowed similarly across worlds. That meant thirty-three years had passed since she had died and been reincarnated on Earth.

Thirty-three years was enough time for any story to end and for all popular character side stories to be released.

She had even seen the scene where her favorite escaped the final execution stage.

Surely, they had survived. Even if not, losing a limb like someone with red hair wouldn’t matter—rolling her favorite around was still fun.

She looked forward to it. She would buy it, read carefully, avoid spoilers, and cherish each page after proper preparation.

Selena’s desire to return home and pursue the top wishes on her “1001 things to do” list, especially related to her favorite, burned brightly again.

But Gayeon’s expression changed slightly at Selena’s answer.

“You mean your favorite is the protagonist from that story where pirates fight to see who becomes king?”

“Yes! You know it too? Well, my favorite is a bit famous.”

“Right… It even appeared in internet search rankings, and someone in class opened the door to shout it…”

“Really? My favorite was that popular? I even saw them escape in the final battle. Hmm, then you must know story parts I don’t. No spoilers! You have to see it yourself.”

Excited to talk about her favorite after thirty-three years, Selena quickly stopped Gayeon from speaking.

“…Right, yes. You must see it yourself.”

As always, polite, kind, and beautiful Gayeon understood.

Meanwhile, the food and drinks arrived.

They had promised it quickly; it seemed the waiter meant it.

Selena and Gayeon started eating.

After days of jerky, dried fruit, and biscuits, proper cooked meals were a delight.

“Unnie, try some of this too. Eat a lot.”

Suddenly, Gayeon seemed even kinder, but Selena ignored it lightly.

A person’s mood softens when the stomach is full of delicious food. Selena happily shared chewy rabbit meat and gooey, delicious cheese potatoes with Gayeon.

“Eating is nice.”

“Should we eat at restaurants from now on?”

“Is it safe?”

Safe. Selena bit into her rye bread and thought.

Normally, there would be no worries. How could anyone catch someone teleporting without leaving physical traces? Even while traveling, they had used memory-altering magic—no witnesses.

But their pursuer was the Emperor.

Even with memory-altering magic, he would likely order high-ranking knights or mages in each city to patrol.

Those people could sense magical disturbances and approach.

They might not know the exact location, but they probably noticed a line of long-range teleport traces pointing north.

If someone connected the teleport traces in each city, the path would be revealed.

Finding traces of teleportation wasn’t easy.

Mana didn’t stay in one place naturally; it flowed and dispersed.

To find “mana traces,” you needed at least a seventh-class mage.

And the search had to happen within three days, or even an Archmage would struggle.

So normally, it would be impossible.

“Seems a little dangerous.”

After Selena and Gayeon ran away, the Emperor had likely summoned all seventh-class mages in the Empire.

Weighing all the risks, Selena made a decision.

“Still, let’s eat at the restaurant.”

“I’m fine, but is it okay?”

“If we eat only rations until the Frost Mountains, our condition will worsen. Neither of us has strong stamina, and if one of us gets sick, it’ll be a real disaster. If we’re spotted, we can take them out and escape again.”

“But won’t chasing them make it even more dangerous?”

Gayeon still looked uneasy. Perhaps as the former Empress, she knew how strong the Empire’s forces were.

“Officially unknown, but the Shadow Knights and Red Thorn Brigade… there are many very dangerous experts.”

“…Who are they?”

“They secretly protect the Empire. Only the rabbit and its spouse know of them. I was told they can even catch a Master.”

So, the Empire’s assassins. Perhaps they had been used to eliminate nobles opposing them.

Selena clicked her tongue but reassured Gayeon.

“If they swarm the far north, we can hide until they leave or distract them by going west or east. That could delay them for a year. I’d rather not, but… honestly, we just want to get home. Even if dimension travel is slower, it’s fine.”

“True. I want to get home quickly, but safety is important too.”

“If we die trying to go home, it defeats the purpose. Annoying, but true.”

Gayeon comforted her with a smile.

“It’s better than risking yourself, unnie. You can even use me as a shield if necessary. They won’t touch a finger of mine.”

“Gayeon…”

Good girl. Selena felt a bit touched by Gayeon’s voluntary offer.

She had no intention of using her as a shield, but it was sweet.

Just then, a sudden commotion erupted in the otherwise calm restaurant.

A man rushed in holding a newspaper, shouting loudly.

“Everyone hear? Count Kim has come to the north!”

The reaction was hot.

“What? That kidnapper?!”

“Good heavens. The terrible Archmage who kidnapped the Empress has arrived here?”

So, their location had been discovered. And now the news was public.

It was hard to hide. They had poured forces into chasing them, so rumors were inevitable.

Selena clicked her tongue and met Gayeon’s eyes. Her face had hardened, and a flash of fear passed.

Gayeon, still sensitive after the Emperor’s obsession, naturally felt tense. Selena held her hand for reassurance. It was slightly cold.

Just as Selena opened her mouth to calm her…

The man continued.

“But Count Kim came to the north to forcibly marry the Empress!”

“No!”

Selena jumped up instinctively, denying it.