Chapter 06:
What the man spoke was a perfectly translated version of a Korean sentence—into the Holy Empire’s language.
“I thought you were just babbling nonsense, but… it’s a language with proper grammar and meaning.”
Muttering quietly, he looked at me more sharply.
“Say something else.”
Still dazed, I said whatever came to mind.
“I want to eat chicken.”
“‘I want to eat chicken’?”
“Chicken feet with soju.”
“‘Chicken feet with soju’?”
“…Daebak.” (Awesome / amazing)
“What do those even mean? Can’t you say something more proper?”
“Uh… um, wait. Let me think of something better.”
“Say that sentence again.”
“…What?”
He spoke irritably.
“That sentence you just said. Say it again in that ‘Korean’ or whatever.”
“Uh… um, wait, let me think a bit more…?”
After a moment of silence, he frowned.
“…It really is a proper sentence.”
He actually understood it?
My eyes widened.
I stared at him, then a thought struck me.
N-no way.
“Are you a transmigrator too?!”
“A transmigrator?”
“I mean—did you come from Korea too?!”
“What are you talking about?”
He frowned like he’d heard something ridiculous.
But the more ridiculous one here was me.
“Then how do you understand Korean? And what do you mean you’ve ‘never heard it before’? It’s not like you know every language in the world, so how—”
Before I could finish, he looked at me like I was pathetic.
“How many years do you think the Black Mage has lived?”
“…!”
A moment later, I realized what he meant and covered my mouth.
“Y-you’ve really lived for a thousand years?”
“Roughly.”
“…Are you even human?”
The moment I saw his expression, I waved my hands quickly.
“S-sorry! I didn’t mean—”
“I am human. Probably.”
He answered flatly.
Silence fell again.
The air felt cold.
I glanced at him carefully.
The reason the Holy Empire hunts mages is because they consider them “non-human” and heretical beings.
I never really agreed with that idea when reading fantasy novels…
But judging from his reaction, it wasn’t a joke here.
I was trying to find the right moment to apologize, but he seemed lost in thought.
After a moment, he spoke first.
“After becoming a mage, I can understand anything that takes the form of language. Though this is the first time I’ve understood the language of another world.”
He pressed his lips together, then looked at me coldly.
“Even if you really are from another world, there’s no reason for you to help me.”
I glanced at his expression and pouted slightly.
“I told you. I’m a ‘fake’ Saintess.”
“And you have no intention of becoming a ‘real’ one?”
“I hate being the Saintess. I seriously hate it.”
“I can gladly kill you.”
“N-no, that’s not what I meant!”
I waved my hands quickly.
“Since I’ve possessed this body, I have no choice but to live as her. But the problem is this Saintess already has a ton of bad karma piled up.”
So—
“I’ll help you get what you want, and you help me.”
This was my second reason—and my real goal.
In the original story, it wasn’t mentioned, but—
The Saintess had a powerful enemy.
The High Priest.
If I wanted to survive, I needed someone strong enough to oppose him.
And who better than—
The most dangerous criminal in the empire.
The Black Mage.
Of course, I can’t tell him everything. He might run away.
You always hide the hook inside the bait.
I wrapped it up simply.
“Let’s help each other.”
He scoffed.
“You think such vague terms make for a deal?”
“…”
Yeah. Not easy.
I sighed and decided to reveal a bit more.
“Fine. I’ll explain my situation.”
Just a little.
“When I was still in my world, I read a book about this world’s future. And somehow, I ended up possessing the character I hated the most—the Saintess.”
“Wait.”
He interrupted.
“In this world, the Saintess is someone revered. Why would you hate her?”
“Because she has an affair with a married man and gets killed for it.”
“…?!”
His eyes widened.
I quickly waved my hands.
“B-but! That hasn’t happened yet! So I can still survive! And if you help me, I’ll help you too. It’s a win-win!”
“I refuse.”
He rejected me immediately.
“Why?!”
“I hate getting involved in other people’s romantic messes.”
“I’m trying to avoid that mess!”
“To avoid it, are you planning to replace that married man with me? That’s quite shameless.”
“…What?”
I stared at him in shock.
“What do you take me for?!”
“I’m talking about myself, not you.”
“…What?”
He rested his chin on one hand.
Then, as if stating an obvious fact, said calmly—
“My face.”
“…”
I stared at him blankly for a few seconds—
Then burst out laughing.
“Are you laughing right now?”
I bent over laughing.
He raised an eyebrow.
“Wasn’t that supposed to be funny? How can you be this confident?”
“It comes from a thousand years of experience.”
My laughter stopped instantly.
…Okay.
I glanced at him.
His appearance was… undeniably striking.
Hair like clear water reflecting sunlight.
Gold and gray eyes.
Perfect features.
…Yeah.
I get it.
Still—
Admitting that felt like losing.
“Oh wow, must be nice being that good-looking. No wonder those guys yesterday were so into you.”
“I’ll pass on that kind of attention. So—your answer?”
“Don’t worry. That will never happen.”
“Hmm.”
“What’s with that doubtful sound?”
“Your reasoning?”
This guy is seriously suspicious.
I sighed.
“I’m completely done with romance.”
“What does that mean?”
“In my world, my fiancé of ten years cheated on me—with four women.”
“…”
After a brief silence, he said quietly,
“…I see why you hate the Saintess.”
“Right? Seriously, all cheaters should just—well, anyway! This Saintess hasn’t actually done anything yet, and I’m totally different from her, so I deserve to live!”
I spoke exaggeratedly, trying to lighten the mood.
But he kept staring at me.
I tilted my lips slightly.
“What?”
“It feels like I’m looking at someone with split personalities. One that hates the other.”
“It’s not ‘both.’ I hate her.”
“Where is the original Saintess?”
“How would I know? Whether she’s dead or not, I don’t care.”
“Hmm.”
“What about you? Are you sure you won’t fall for me? I mean—look at this face.”
I lifted my chin slightly.
Even I had to admit—
The Saintess was beautiful enough to make Rexton fall for her at first sight.
But he answered firmly.
“That won’t happen.”
“How can you be so sure? In the future I read, the saintess had plenty of admirers—not just that married man.”
“Because you are the ‘Saintess.’”
“…”
Right.
To a mage hunted by the Holy Empire—
The Saintess is practically an enemy.
He probably still wants to kill me.
The only reason I’m alive is because he believes I’m “fake.”
“I understand.”
I carefully watched him.
“So… will you work with me?”
