“You’re not wearing any underwear?”
“Is this really something to say in the middle of Kyoto?”
“People can hear you. So embarrassing!”
“Look at her, just like a light novel heroine, saying whatever she wants without a care.”
“Th-that’s…”
Rin’s face turns bright red.
As if showing off, she places her hand back on her chest and confidently declares,
“Ah, no. I’m only saying this in front of Kim Deok-Sung. I’m a Kim Deok-Sung limited pervert! Don’t mistake me for someone who has loose morals!”
What? A limited pervert?
My head hurts again.
“Oh my, young people nowadays are so bold. Public confessions on the street!”
“This is what youth is all about.”
“Hahaha. I once had times like that with him, too.”
I can hear annoying extra reactions around me.
“I get it, so stop blabbering and guide me to Kiyomizu Temple.”
I’m tired of arguing with every little comment.
In the end, even if I say something, they won’t listen anyway.
It’s been nearly half a year since I was reincarnated into this crazy world.
Through countless experiences, I realized that the explosive reactions of lazy light novel characters and the crap convenience of this world won’t change no matter what I do.
Like an old saying goes, if you can’t avoid it, you might as well enjoy it, but honestly, that sounds a bit too much.
All I can do is endure.
“Well. It’s only natural to visit Kiyomizu Temple when you’re in Kyoto. Good choice, Kim Deok-Sung. I’ll take full responsibility for guiding you!”
Tap, tap.
Confidently, Rin thumps her large chest wrapped in a kimono.
We board the bus heading to Kiyomizu Temple, a representative tourist site of Kyoto.
When we get off, we’re in a place called Kiyomizu-machi.
It must be a symbol of Kyoto, because even on a weekday afternoon, the streets are bustling with tourists.
As we walk, there’s a shopping area filled with traditional Japanese buildings on both sides of the sloped path.
“This is Sannenzaka, the entrance to Kiyomizu Temple. They say if you fall on Sannenzaka, you’ll die within three years, and if you fall on Ninenzaka, within two years.”
Rin adds unnecessary commentary.
Sannenzaka.
I recall seeing it a few times in various anime.
“What a gruesome superstition.”
It’s not even the three-year pass!
Looking around Sannenzaka, there are quite a few tourists dressed in kimonos.
I can even see kimono rental shops.
Rin’s kimono attire, which stood out in the city, is now pretty average among all the visitors.
“The matcha ice cream sold here is quite delicious. I’ll buy you one, Kim Deok-Sung. Hehe. It’s my duty as your future wife, so be grateful.”
Rin, unusually excited, walks up Sannenzaka while eating a green ice cream she handed over with some random chatter.
The street filled with traditional Japanese buildings was quite a picturesque spot.
If it weren’t for the crowds of tourists, the scenery might have been even prettier.
Click.
As I whip out my phone to snap a photo while climbing Sannenzaka, the entrance to Kiyomizu Temple comes into view.
The main gate of Kiyomizu Temple, painted in vibrant red, looks rather splendid. Like Sannenzaka, it’s bustling with worshippers.
“There are too many people. I might just get lost.”
“It seems like that’s the case, Kim Deok-Sung. If you’re scared of getting lost, how about holding my hand?”
Rin extends her hand.
The blue kimono sways in the wind.
Look at her, always trying something funny.
“If I don’t hold your hand, you’re not moving, are you?”
“Of course not! I pledge I have no such intentions! But, um, with so many people around, what if I, uh, lose you…?”
Rin flusters, reddening her face.
“Tsk…”
She seems flustered, biting her lips.
“Alright, let’s do it. Hold on.”
If I stayed like this, I’d definitely become a statue stuck to the spot.
Just like back at Imgan School.
Snap.
I grab Rin’s hand and lead the way.
“Uugh…”
Rin makes a sound like she’s in pain, trailing behind me.
“What are you doing? I thought you were my guide?”
Kiyomizu Temple is a spot that’s appeared countless times in anime, manga, and light novels.
I’ve never been to Japan, but I roughly know what’s at Kiyomizu Temple.
“Ah, I got it! Let’s go do the famous ‘Tainai Pilgrimage’ first!”
“Tainai Pilgrimage? What’s that? I’ve never heard of it. It’s not something weird, right?”
With my track record, it’s hard not to be suspicious.
Rin is taken aback by my words.
“Uh, no. T-this is something that’s a must-do at Kiyomizu Temple, it was written in the guidebook… hic!”
Rin waves her hand while mentioning the guidebook and hurriedly covers her mouth.
Well, of course.
“Fine, just guide me.”
If it’s in the guidebook, it shouldn’t be anything strange.
“Okay! Just trust me and follow me!”
Pounding her chest, Rin leads the way.
As we pass through the entrance, a scene of wooden boards with written wishes hangs everywhere.
I stop in my tracks.
Wishes, huh.
I don’t believe in any religion, but given that I got dropped into this wretched world, it’s clear there’s a god or some transcendent being out there.
“Why are you staring at the wish boards? Do you want to make a wish?”
“Nah… these are all just superstitions. Who believes in that?”
True.
I don’t believe it.
But I can’t help but keep glancing over.
Inescapably dropped into this crazy world.
Unknown family and news from my original world.
Even if it’s a superstition, isn’t it natural to wonder?
“It said in the guidebook that writing a wish on a wooden board here at Kiyomizu Temple is a great tourist activity. I’ll pay, so let’s go.”
Now, Rin isn’t even trying to hide the guidebook talk.
Led by her hand, I grab a wooden board.
“It’s been a while since I wrote on a wish board.”
Listening to Rin’s voice, I pick up the pen.
I only have one wish to make.
[Please let me return to my hometown.]
I offer the wish board with that written in Korean.
As the wind picks up, my wish board collides with another one hanging nearby.
I don’t know if there’s a real deity or not, but I really hope I can return to my original world.
I don’t know, but I really wish I could go back to the original world.
I’m worried about my parents, and getting used to this crazy light novel world is terrifying.
Is this some kind of cringe moment?
No matter how accustomed I get to this reverse, my hands and feet tremble and my face turns hot at the occasional new pattern of disgust.
Just as I was glancing at the wish plate that Rin had offered.
“D-Don’t look! It’s, it’s embarrassing…”
Rin blushes and hurriedly hides the wish plate behind her back.
How childish.
“Alright, just offer it quickly so we can get this… whatever it’s called, embryo pilgrimage over with.”
I don’t even want to look.
I draw her interest toward her wish plate.
“Okay, I got it…”
Only after Rin finished her wish plate offering did I understand the nature of the embryo pilgrimage.
It was a kind of pilgrimage ritual through a dark maze constructed in an underground space.
Literally just feeling my way through the darkness by finding walls until I come out at the exit—it’s nothing but a simple ritual.
The entrance fee was 100 yen!
The problem is…
“K-Kim Deok-Sung! I-I can’t see anything! I’m s-scared! H-help me!”
Suddenly, Rin clings to me, acting terrified.
“Ugh. What are you doing? You’re so annoying. I know you’re not scared at all!”
I carefully peel Rin off, who keeps clinging to me.
Maybe with Olivia, but I saw Rin hold her own during courage training.
And now she’s pulling this awkward act?
Doesn’t she feel any self-doubt?
“H-help me… Huh? Hii?!”
BAM!
With a loud crash, Rin falls over.
“Ugh… Kim Deok-Sung… I’m sorry, but I really need help… My ankle…”
I hear her dejected voice.
Looks like she hurt herself while putting on that pathetic act.
“You really take the cake, Rin.”
“Ugh… I’m sorry…”
Her voice is wet with tears.
What are you crying for? It’s all your fault.
I use my gift.
The dark underground suddenly lights up like midday.
I see Rin in a kimono leaning against a nearby wall.
Her ankle seems slightly swollen; she might have twisted it.
“Kim Deok-Sung…”
I can see tears glistening in her eyes.
Can a superhuman really injure their ankle like this? But in the original story, heroines often sprain their ankles and need help getting around.
Damn, I can’t believe I fell for this light novel setting convenience.
It’s ridiculous.
And this is why this world is scary.
Not a moment to let my guard down in this light novel world.
I take her hand and help her up.
“Hey, you’re such a burden, just like Nishizawa.”
“Ugh…”
Rin bites her lip.
I support her.
I ignore how unnecessarily soft her chest keeps brushing against my arm.
We make our way out of the embryo pilgrimage together.
“Finally, feels like we’re alive.”
Even with a gift, the darkness is suffocating.
“Next time, don’t mess around. It makes it tough for those around you. And stop crying. It’s embarrassing. What are you crying for?”
“Okay, I got it…”
Rin hurriedly wipes her tears with her kimono sleeve.
With her eyes still red, she suddenly comes closer and links her arm with mine.
Feels nice.
I feel her soft weight on my arm.
“What are you doing?”
“I-I didn’t get hurt… I thought this would be more comfortable for walking around…”
Rin stammers, adding excuses.
“Do as you please.”
I can’t help but suspect she did this on purpose, but there’s no time to waste on that now.
Ugh.
To avoid seeing that hellish sight any longer, I should at least give her first aid.
I help Rin lean on my arm and move her to a nearby bench where there aren’t many people.
“Put your injured foot up.”
“Foot…? H-Hold on, do you perhaps have a foot fetish? As a wife, you’re supposed to accept all your husband’s tastes. Good! I’m willing to do anything with my feet for you…”
“If you say one more nonsense, I’ll just leave you here.”
What am I supposed to do with my feet?
Seriously irritating.
Why does she want to say something like that even in this situation?
I don’t get it.
“Ah, got it…”
Rin places her injured foot on the bench.
When I remove her flip-flops and socks, her swollen ankle and bruised big toe appear, probably due to the flip-flops.
Look at that.
Am I really going to have to carry her around like the protagonist does?
‘No way.’
Me? Carrying that heavy girl around?
That’s an absolute no.
Just thinking about it is terrifying.
“I’ll go get some medicine, so just sit tight here.”
“Hey, medicine? Y-You’re getting it for me?”
“It’s for me, not you, so don’t get confused. I’m off.”
Not just Nishizawa.
I came here for sightseeing, but I feel like I’m only doing the dirty work.
*
On the Kiyomizu Temple bench.
Left alone, Rin bites her lip.
“Ugh…”
She felt anxious.
No matter how low her charm might be, she isn’t so oblivious that she doesn’t notice he doesn’t like her that much.
Maybe that made her more anxious.
Even though she hasn’t won his heart yet, her rival Olivia is already way ahead.
In a race, the latecomer would have to take risks to catch up.
Wearing a kimono, not wearing underwear, acting like a fool during the vitality pilgrimage, and making a pact with her rival Nishizawa to share Kim Deok-Sung this time—everything was part of her desperate measures.
‘All I have to offer is my body.’
The problem is she was too hasty.
“I messed up…”
Her impatience led to mistakes.
She sprained her ankle while acting a fool during the vitality pilgrimage.
“I’ve become a burden…”
Rin bites her lip.
She doesn’t want to be a burden and be hated by him.
He said he’s going to get medicine, but what if he left because he doesn’t want to see her? What then?
Her mind filled with all kinds of negative thoughts.
Though she claimed to have been freed from her family’s tools, the scars of those years of abuse still lingered in her heart.
Low self-esteem, feelings of inferiority, and insecurity didn’t dissipate easily.
That’s why Rin tended to imagine negative scenarios so easily.
She shuts her eyes tightly.
“Ah, no! Don’t go! Kim Deok-Sung!”
She absolutely can’t let that happen.
“Ah, I haven’t even warmed your bed yet…!”
Tears start flowing from Rin’s eyes again.
She doesn’t want to let go.
She doesn’t want to be hated.
Suddenly, the wish she wrote down earlier comes to mind.
[I want to be by his side.]
She wants to be by his side.
Even if only as a concubine instead of a true wife…
“How are you going to warm it?”
A familiar voice whispers in her ear.
Rin opens her eyes.
“Kim Deok-Sung…?”
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