TWPN 03

Chapter 3

[Whoa! I can feel the wind!]

Inside Alex’s body, Lee Baek marveled as he felt the cool breeze, the warm sunlight, and the fresh scent of grass.

However, all Alex could see was the village drawing closer.

Alex was deeply moved. He felt a lump in his throat and tears welling up at the sight of this peaceful and serene landscape—something he couldn’t even dream of during the Era of Ruin.

Alex’s steps quickened.

“…!”

Then, in a split second, he froze.

It was sunset. He had spotted a child playing with friends at the entrance of the back hill.

A six-year-old boy with golden hair.

“…Leo.”

Though he had muttered it in a tiny voice without realizing, Leo—who was waiting for his uncle while drawing in the dirt with his friends—turned his head to look in Alex’s direction.

That moment seemed to unfold in slow motion.

Alex stared at the child without even blinking.

Fluttering gold hair, plump and soft rosy cheeks, sparkling sky-blue eyes, and a smile as bright as a flower.

Standing right there was not the forever-asleep “Hero Leo,” but a young Leo bursting with life.

His heart pounded wildly.

It felt like a dream. Unlike how he had been running so excitedly moments ago, Alex didn’t even dare to breathe, afraid he might wake up if he moved even a little.

Right there. Leo was there. His nephew was alive and well, standing right in front of him.

The child’s face, which had been smiling brightly upon discovering his uncle, soon filled with surprise.

“Uncle!”

Seeing Leo call out to him while looking straight at him with those sparkling blue eyes, Alex felt like he was going to burst into tears, but he held them back.

His clothes were already in tatters; if he started crying on top of that, Leo would worry.

“…Leo!”

However, he couldn’t hide the heavy, emotion-packed voice full of longing and overwhelming joy.

“Uncle! Did something happen?”

Leo ran over with a worried face, startled to see his uncle returning from the back hill looking like a beggar.

Reflexively dropping to his knees, Alex pulled Leo into a tight hug.

“Ah! You’re cold!”

Because his wet clothes touched Leo, the boy shouted, making Alex feel bad, but he didn’t want to let go.

He felt the warm body heat and the thumping heartbeat of Leo, proving he was alive. Vitality radiated from that tiny body.

‘…Ah!’

Only after holding that small, warm body in his arms did Alex truly feel that this was reality.

He had genuinely returned to the past.

“Uncle, what’s wrong? Are you hurt somewhere? Does it hurt a lot?”

Seeing Leo worry about his uncle first despite the cold, Alex tried his best to suppress his surging emotions.

For over ten years, he was a nephew whom Alex couldn’t reach no matter how much he talked to him, but now, he was speaking to him first.

Laughter and tears threatened to burst out simultaneously, but Alex forced himself to hold back, smiling brightly with red-rimmed eyes.

“No, I’m not hurt. Look, only my clothes got torn.”

Alex showed his intact, bare skin through the tears in his clothes. Just as Alex said, Leo and his friends looked him over, but there wasn’t a single scratch.

“Your uncle dodged super hard left and right!” “Woooow!”

When Alex exaggeratedly demonstrated how he dodged by swaying his body from side to side, the kids’ eyes sparkled in admiration.

“How about it, Leo? Isn’t your uncle amazing?” “Yeah! Uncle is the best!”

Seeing Leo smile brightly as if putting his worries to rest, Alex made a vow.

No matter what happens, he would protect this smile.

[Is that your nephew? He’s cute!]

[How old is he?]

To do that, he first had to strip this ‘Otherworld Lich’ off his body.

“Oh my goodness. What happened to you?”

Drawn by the kids’ noisy chatter, the gathered adults gasped in surprise upon seeing Alex looking like a beggar.

Looking at the faces of these nostalgic people who had all died in the ‘future,’ Alex tried hard to suppress a grimace and whispered so the children wouldn’t hear.

“I heard a wolf howling, so I tumbled down while trying to run away.”

At that, the adults looked Alex up and down again.

“How do you tumble for your clothes to tear like that?”

“Seriously. You can’t even use those as rags anymore.”

“Ahahaha.”

Alex laughed awkwardly.

“Wait, a wolf appeared?”

“I only heard the sound.”

In truth, only a single wolf would appear in the village in the ‘future,’ but now that he was alive and that wolf was dead, he couldn’t know how things might change, so he thought it was best to give a warning. Wolves, after all, pack together.

“Then we should inform the neighboring village and the Lord’s castle. Everyone, stay away from the back hill for a while.”

At the words of Mark, who lived next door to Alex, the villagers nodded in agreement.

“But why are you soaked?”

“I got into the stream to wash off my scent.”

“You went through a lot. Go change your clothes quickly before you catch a cold. You too, Leo.”

“Okay.”

After saying goodbye to the villagers, Alex took Leo’s small hand and headed home. Realizing it anew, six-year-old Leo was truly tiny.

“Bye! See you tomorrow!”

“Yeah! Bye! Leo!”

To think that this little child, whose daily routine was playing with friends, would grow up so splendidly to become the hero who slays monsters and the Demon Race.

‘I should feel proud… wait, no, I shouldn’t.’

He wanted to prevent Leo from becoming a hero.

‘…Though I doubt it’s something that can be stopped just because I want to.’

He had to try somehow! Alex steeled his resolve.

“Hey, hey, Uncle! Today I had a match with my friends to see who could catch the most fish. Guess who caught the most!”

Leo spoke in a boasting voice, swinging his hand which was held by his uncle.

“Mmm… Our Leo?”

“Correct! I caught the most!”

Giggling, Leo talked about what he played today, what he had for lunch, and how well he did errands for the grandma next door.

Alex tried to calm his trembling heart as he listened to the chatter.

The ‘future’ that had now disappeared. The 6-year-old Leo would have wanted to tell these stories to his uncle who would return from the back hill.

However, all that had returned was his uncle’s corpse, killed by a wolf.

Without being able to talk about winning the fish-catching contest, eating a homemade sandwich for lunch, or doing well on the errand for the neighborly grandma, he had just cried his eyes out.

And Alex, who had died and become a ghost, could only watch.

As that young face came to mind, Alex couldn’t hold back his heartache and scooped Leo up in his arms. He squeezed him tightly—as much as he hadn’t been able to back then.

“Our Leo is the absolute best!”

“Woah! It’s cold, Uncle!”

Even as he shouted that, Leo giggled as if it were fun.

“Ah, right, I’m soaked. Let’s hurry up and go change our clothes.”

“Okay!”

Alex wanted to enjoy this miraculously regained time happily and joyfully with Leo.

“Leo. What do you want to eat for dinner?”

“Mmm. Meat!”

“Meat! Sounds great!”

[I like meat too!]

…If only this guy weren’t here, it would be perfect. He needed to figure out a way to detach him quickly.

Having changed into clean clothes, Alex and Leo headed to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

Along the way, Alex forgot that he possessed a physical body and tried to walk through doors and walls, bumping into them, but when Leo laughed thinking it was a joke, Alex couldn’t help but laugh along.

Though more than a decade had passed in Alex’s perception of time, the kitchen remained just as it used to be. Leftover stew from breakfast and neatly sliced chunks of meat were preserved well.

“I’ll get the bread!”

Leo naturally went to fetch the bread as well.

“Our Leo is so good.”

As Leo noticed his uncle’s teary green eyes, he tilted his head in confusion before giggling softly. It felt strangely more emotional than usual, but come to think of it, his uncle had always been a bit like this.

Alex placed a frying pan over the fire. He was about to put the meat in right away.

[Wait!]

[You gotta season it first!]

[Salt! Pepper!]

If Lee Baek hadn’t suddenly chimed in, that is.

While Leo set the bread and forks on the dining table with his tiny hands, Alex whispered.

“What’s with you all of a sudden?”

[It’s a meal after a really long time, so we gotta make it delicious!]

[Koreans run on rice and food power!]

He didn’t know what that meant, but he could definitely feel Lee Baek’s strong desire to eat something delicious.

“Have you ever cooked before?”

[Of course!]

[Even after becoming a Lich, I cooked often.]

[Though I couldn’t taste it!]

A cooking Lich. It was hard to even picture.

In contrast, because Alex had wandered around with his older sister when he was young, he hadn’t paid much attention to food. Even after settling down in the village, his mindset was simply that food just needed to be seasoned right and cooked through.

He fed Leo the same way.

‘…That’s why he became a Hero who eats just about anything well. Our Leo.’

Whenever he watched “Hero Leo” eat unpalatable meals without complaint, Alex regretted not cooking better food for him in the past.

‘Of course, thanks to that, he managed quite well even when supply lines broke down….’

Alex thought that from now on, he should feed him plenty of delicious food.

[First, season the meat. Sprinkle salt and pepper!]

Though skeptical, Alex sprinkled salt as Lee Baek instructed.

“We don’t have pepper because it’s too expensive.”

There was no way the house of an ordinary peasant farmer would have pepper, which traded for its weight in gold.

[Then it can’t be helped.]

[Ah. Do you have herbs?]

[Like rosemary or something.]

At that, Alex pondered for a moment. It was a bit of a hassle, but if it resulted in delicious food as Lee Baek claimed, it seemed worth it.

“Leo. Can you go to Grandma Jesse’s house and borrow some rosemary?”

“Yep!”

Leo nodded briskly at his uncle’s errand.

While Leo went outside, Lee Baek explained the recipe.

[First, sear the meat over high heat on one side. Then, when you flip it to cook the other side, add butter, herbs, and garlic.]

“Garlic? How much?”

[A handful!]

Alex, who was about to grab two cloves of garlic, paused at Lee Baek’s words.

“…How much did you say?”

[A handful!]

[A full hand’s worth!]

A brief silence ensued. Alex pulled out two cloves of garlic, just as he originally planned.

[Garlic is the lifeblood of Koreans though….]

“It’s not the lifeblood of the citizens of the Muhti Kingdom, though.”

Though Lee Baek’s voice was filled with deep regret, Alex ignored it. A handful of garlic? Was he trying to ruin the food?

“Uncle! I brought the rosemary!”

“Good job, Leo.”

Smiling brightly, Alex patted Leo’s head and began cooking the meat. He flipped the meat after searing it over high heat, adding butter, rosemary, and the two cloves of garlic.

[Spoon the melted butter over the meat! Keep basting it!]

Butter? On meat?

“I’m really doubtful about this…”

Still, since this didn’t seem like it would ruin the meal, Alex went along with Lee Baek’s advice and began spooning the butter over the meat.

“Uncle, what are you doing?”

“Hmm. They say doing this makes it delicious.”

“Woooow!”

Seeing Leo marvel at everything his uncle did, Alex couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Uncle! It smells so good!”

[Uwaaa! The smell of steak!]

[How many years has it been since I last smelled this!!]

Just like Lee Baek, who was thoroughly excited, Alex felt his own mouth watering at the delicious scent of food he hadn’t smelled in 12 years.

[Now sear the sides too!]

Lee Baek’s voice, full of anticipation, grew louder and louder. Leo’s blue eyes also sparkled with delight.

Finally, the meat was fully cooked. The golden-brown, beautifully seared meat looked mouth-wateringly delicious.

“Let’s eat dinner now, Leo.”

“Okay!”

[No!]

Just then, Lee Baek yelled.

[You have to let it sit as is for about 3 minutes to make it even tastier!]

Alex alternated his gaze between Leo’s sparkling eyes and the meat before speaking with a sigh.

“Shall we make a salad too, Leo?”

Since he had come this far following Lee Baek’s instructions, he thought it best to see it through to the end.

“…Okay!”

At that, Leo—who was staring at the meat with eyes full of regret—soon nodded his head. Alex and Leo washed the vegetables, chopped them into appropriate sizes, and drizzled the sauce given by a village woman over them.

By the time they sat at the dining table, the 3 minutes Lee Baek mentioned had passed.

“Thank you for the meal!”

“Thank you for the meal.”

[Thank you for the meal!]

Out of the stew, bread, salad, and meat, the pair’s forks naturally aimed straight for the meat.

Unlike the usual plain grilled meat, they were excited to taste what it would be like with various ingredients added during the process.

Leo vigorously poked a piece of meat with his fork and popped it into his mouth, his plump cheeks twitching. The meat melted away almost effortlessly after just a few chews, making Leo’s eyes sparkle with surprise and happiness.

“Woooow! It’s super delicious, Uncle!”

Alex was just about to put a piece of meat into his own mouth. For some reason, the hand holding the fork trembled slightly.

After becoming a ghost, he had never eaten food even once. Not a single time.

Whether it was Leo and his friends’ outdoor meals, the peculiar dishes of the Mage Tower Federation, the grand banquets of the Knight Empire, or the holy meals of the Holy Kingdom—Alex, as a ghost, could only watch while smacking his lips in envy.

But finally. He was able to eat food again. And cooked in an otherworldly style, no less!

Starting from the seductive scent, the grilled meat practically brought drool to his mouth.

“Uncle, you’re drooling!”

“Ack!”

He hadn’t expected to actually drool. With an embarrassed face, Alex quickly wiped his mouth and laughed awkwardly.

“It’s just because your uncle is really hungry.”

“I see! Then eat quickly!”

Seeing the sweet Leo spear a piece of meat with his fork and hold it out, tears welled up in Alex’s eyes.

[Eat it quickly!]

[Eat it already!]

[Shove it into your mouth!]

Listening to Lee Baek’s voice, which somehow seemed to speak his exact inner thoughts, Alex put the piece of meat Leo offered into his mouth.

“…Ah….”

[Uwaaaaaah!!!]

The meat, cooked to perfect temperature, gave way softly under his teeth. The juices blended with the butter, filling his mouth with rich flavor. The aroma of rosemary and garlic complemented it beyond perfection.

Alex chewed very slowly, savoring the taste of the meat.

[Sobbing… It’s so damn delicious.]

Even Lee Baek’s voice—sounding as if he were crying out of overwhelming emotion—could not disrupt Alex’s appreciation.

“…It’s delicious.”

It was a taste that fully satisfied a soul starved for over a decade.

“Right! It’s really delicious. Your cooking is the best, Uncle!”

It felt even more so because Leo, smiling brightly with a face full of happiness, was right by his side.

“Eat a lot, Leo.”

“Yeah! You too, Uncle!”

As if everything in the past had merely been a nightmare, it was a perfectly peaceful and ordinary evening.

[One more! Hurry! One more piece!]

…Let’s just ignore him.