Chapter 1 ….
The firmly shut temple door shattered and collapsed with a deafening roar.
A single sword strike had instantly demolished the massive door.
Shattered debris and billowing dust obscured the view.
And then, after an unknown amount of time had passed…
As the dust settled and the hazy view gradually cleared, a man walked out, step by step.
A tall, well-built stature.
Sharp black pupils that seemed to pierce through everything around him.
The intensely arrogant aura emanating from the man clearly identified him as the culprit of this commotion.
“Family Head…?”
His aide, who had been staring open-mouthed at the man confidently walking out, finally spoke.
“Are you… coming out by breaking the door down now?”
“They wouldn’t open it.”
“Ah, yes.”
In response to the incredulous question, the man tilted his head and replied. As soon as he opened his mouth, a certain nonchalance, characteristic of his overwhelming aura, was evident.
“Even so…! What is the meaning of breaking down the temple door?!”
Seeing the scene, the aide, unable to hold back any longer, let out a stream of complaints.
“Control your temper a bit! Smashing this? And this again? How can a person not change at all!”
“Don’t be angry. Well, what else could I do? I had my reasons too, you know?”
But the man just shrugged his shoulders, brushing it off as unimportant.
“Anyway, let’s head down to the village first.”
“Ugh, really…?”
“Ah, Tae-woo. Go down first and find some clothes that would fit a child.”
“A child?”
At the man’s nonchalant words, the aide’s face became puzzled.
Just then, something peeked out from behind the man.
“Hello!”
It was a young girl.
A small child who would barely reach the man’s waist.
The girl grinned.
It was a cute and pretty smile. However…
Kkwaaaak—
Despite her pale face, the girl’s tiny hand was tightly clutching the man’s clothes. A sense of stubbornness could be felt from that very small hand.
“Wh-what child is this?”
Confused by the inexplicable turn of events, the aide’s eyes filled with bewilderment.
The man glanced down at the child.
“Well…”
He looked at the child once, then at his aide once more.
His jet-black eyes seemed somewhat complicated.
His following answer was simple.
“…That’s just how it turned out.”
“Excuse me?”
“Heheung.”
The child’s laughter filled the space between the two men.
I smiled towards the person standing there dumbfounded with their mouth open.
He had a distinctly bewildered expression, as if he couldn’t understand what was happening.
‘I totally get how you feel, Mister.’
If your superior suddenly smashed a temple door to pieces in the blink of an eye? And then came out clinging to some random kid?
Anyone would find this situation hard to accept.
Especially since the person who did it didn’t seem to have any intention of explaining.
‘Well, not that he doesn’t have any intention, but rather…’
I looked up at the man holding my hand.
Seol Doha.
To be honest, he must also be clearly at a loss for how to explain this situation.
Because the start of all this was none other than me.
“…That’s just how it turned out.”
“Excuse me?”
Sure enough, a voice giving up on explanation came from above my head.
“Hehe.”
I gave a sly smile towards the two of them.
‘I know you’re both flustered, but please try to understand.’
I have unavoidable circumstances too, you know!
So, to explain the current situation, we need to go back a little in time.
“Naryeong-ah.”
“Yes!”
This is the Cheonsu Temple. A priest with a gentle appearance called me.
Baek Ri, the head of the Cheonsu Temple. He spoke with a kind and soft face and voice.
“Let’s go to the training room.”
“Aww, but I don’t wanna…”
“Good children listen well.”
I acted spoiled towards him, smiling innocently.
A benevolent priest and a child holding his hand and smiling. It was a scene anyone would call heartwarming.
However, contrasting this heartwarming scene, my inner thoughts were different.
‘I’m getting out of here no matter what.’
It was a firm resolve to escape.
You see, this place is inside a fantasy exorcism novel.
And I am a nameless extra in it, destined to be used by the villain and then killed by the protagonist.
A character who isn’t even given a name, just referred to as a ‘cursed puppet,’ and used like a tool.
And the villain using me is none other than…
“Let’s begin. You can do well today too, right?”
Baek Ri, the priest before my eyes.
Baek Ri, who smiled at me, tried to start the training with benevolent words.
“Waaait, h-hold on a second!”
I urgently stopped Baek Ri.
The ‘training’ he was about to put me through right now…
That training was the very process of turning me into a ‘cursed puppet.’
It was meant to make me lose my ego, become a mere puppet of a body, and ultimately only obey the words of my master, Baek Ri.
“Can’t we play a little bit first?”
“Huh?”
“I really, really don’t want to do it today!”
At my whining, Baek Ri smiled a troubled smile, as if looking at a mischievous puppy. His eyes were very kind.
Right. The person who had been taking care of me with such kind eyes until now was, in fact, using me for experiments.
It hadn’t been long since I realized this fact, along with the memories of my past life.
It was already well into the experiment. The other children who were being experimented on with me had all already disappeared.
And the day I, the only one left, would become the ‘successful experiment’ wasn’t far off.
So I had to escape this place, no matter what, and quickly.
There was still a possibility.
“Just a little more play…”
I cautiously checked Baek Ri’s expression and gently delayed the start of the training.
Because according to the original story, probably very soon, that person would visit the temple.
‘It should be any time now.’
If I could just hold out until then…
“Head Priest!”
At that moment, Head Priest Baek Ri turned his head at the sound of a priest calling him with an urgent voice.
“What is it?”
“W-well, a guest has arrived suddenly and wishes to see you, Head Priest.”
“Who would come without any prior notice…? I have a schedule now, tell them to wait for a moment.”
But despite Baek Ri’s words, the priest hesitated and didn’t leave.
“Well… it’s him.”
“What?”
“It’s General Seol Doha from the northern part of Garyeo Kingdom.”
“…Hah.”
A hollow laugh escaped Baek Ri’s lips upon hearing the uninvited guest’s name.
And then…
‘It’s done.’
I also secretly swallowed a sigh of relief.
He’s here. Finally.
The person I’ve been desperately waiting for.
“He’s still as forceful as ever. Tell him I’ll be there shortly.”
“Yes, yes.”
The priest, nodding his head, left, and Baek Ri looked at me with a troubled smile. Then he spoke softly.
“It seems we’ll have to postpone your training a little, as you wished.”
“Yay!”
“For now, go back to your quarters.”
I shook my head at his words.
“I’ll just wait here!”
“Here?”
“Yes! I’ll wait here quietly!”
“…Alright. I’ll be back soon. Behave.”
Baek Ri eventually left me in the training room and went out.
I clenched my fists tight.
Good. Everything is going according to plan.
‘Behave? As if. Escape operation begins now!’
From the moment I realized I was inside a novel, I scoured the original story searching for a way out.
And I found one person.
Seol Doha.
A helper in the novel who lends strength to the protagonist. He was the best possible method for my escape.
The reasons were as follows:
-
He’s a very, very high-ranking person.
-
He’s an incredibly, incredibly strong person.
-
For some reason, he doesn’t seem to get along well with Baek Ri!
A person who doesn’t get along with Baek Ri, yet has both power and strength, making him someone Baek Ri can’t recklessly lay a hand on!
And the most important point.
According to the original, he was scheduled to storm this Cheonsu Temple today.
So the conclusion is, I absolutely must leave this place with Seol Doha today!
Having found a method, I eagerly awaited today, planning my moves.
And now, it’s time to put that plan into action!
Plan One: Delay the training as much as possible until Seol Doha appears, and escape the training room!
Shashak! Shak!
I seized the opportunity and secretly slipped out of the training room.
“Uh uh! What the!”
“Grab her! We have to grab her…!”
Voices of adults who had spotted me came from behind.
But they fell down, unable to lay a hand on me.
That’s because, since realizing my past life, I had gained one pretty decent ability.
I’ll look into that slowly later; right now, I need to hurry and proceed with the next plan.
‘Plan Two is to meet Seol Doha, who must be somewhere in the temple!’
Wadadadada!
I ran here and there inside the temple, searching for him.
‘Where is he?’
Just as I was getting short of breath, I saw a tall figure about to step out through the main gate.
Broad shoulders, great height, perfect proportions, a glimpse of a sharp jawline!
‘There he is!’
I didn’t even need to ask.
This is a novel world.
Someone who looks like that can’t possibly be just a passing extra!
Found him, my lifeline!
“My lord!”
As soon as I spotted him, I shouted at the top of my lungs.
At my voice, the lord turned his head this way. On his handsome face, one of his nicely shaped eyebrows rose slightly.
Great. Now only the final third plan remains.
I waved both my hands frantically towards him and shouted.
“My lord! Take me with… Eeeyaahk!”
At that moment, I missed my step and my body plunged straight to the ground.
Thud! My body sprawled flat on the floor.
‘Ow, that hurts! I almost broke my nose!’
But no time to worry about such trivial things now! I tried to get up quickly.
But perhaps this grand plan was a bit too much for a child’s body?
My legs, having already given their all, wouldn’t obey well.
‘Why is this body so weak!’
No, no. The plan isn’t over yet!
Third. Escape this temple with ‘Seol Doha’!
The most important plan is in danger of failing.
In my panic, still lying face down, I shouted. Take me with you!
“My lord, take me too…!”
“What?”
“Eung?”
Suddenly, a pleasant low voice came from above my head.
Startled by the voice coming from above, I quickly looked up.
Then, a handsome face was thrust right before my eyes.
Thick eyebrows, clear and sharp eyes, a sleek jawline, and a high nose bridge. Seeing him up close, he was really, breathtakingly handsome.
Before I knew it, the lord had come right in front of me.
The lord knelt down in front of me and spoke.
“I had a feeling something was off ever since this little thing came running up in a hurry.”
Then he held out a large hand.
“Here. Take my hand and get up.”
Huh?
Without thinking, I grabbed his hand. Heave-ho! The lord lightly pulled me to my feet.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
Shake shake.
I looked at our joined hands and shook my head.
“That’s a relief. Walk carefully from now on.”
Glancing around, I saw Head Priest Baek Ri approaching.
A chilly gaze instantly turned towards me. A gaze devoid of any warmth.
“It’s you, Naryeong. Why have you come here in such a hurry?”
I guess this is Baek Ri’s true face. It’s surprising I didn’t realize it until now.
Feeling the pressure of his gaze, which felt like it was heavily weighing down on me, I got goosebumps on my back without even realizing it.
So, instead, my mind became sharply focused.
‘If I don’t escape with Seol Doha now, it’s over for me.’
It was the moment I had steeled myself for countless times.
Kkwaaaak.
I quickly tightened my grip on the hand I was holding and looked at the lord. The lord’s face then took on a slightly puzzled expression.
I directed my most innocent smile towards that face and said,
“My lord, please take me with you!”
Final Plan Three: Hold the lord’s hand and begin the haha-hoho temple escape together!
