30 Years Have Passed Since the Prologue

27 – 8. Night of Stargazing (1)

*

There’s a saying that if something strange happens in world history, it somehow connects to England.

Kim Sunwoo, being more dedicated to studying internet memes than world history, knew this meme even though he didn’t exactly know why.

From Ivan’s perspective, he knew a similar meme widely spread in this pre-modern world.

When something strange happened in the original world’s history, capturing an elf on camera would roughly do the trick.

Elves, by nature, were filled with a sense of chosenness, arrogance, strong self-esteem, and considered racial discrimination common sense.

The only reason these elves could be affiliated with the United Kingdom was that, from their perspective, demons were more detestable than humans. (Dwarves, unfortunately, being a race without prejudice, lent their hands to demons.)

“There’s a theory in academia that humans might be evolved monkeys. In most cases, they’re not much different from monkeys, but at least humans show some degree of intellectual prowess. Don’t think too negatively. Take it as a compliment.”

“No, did a human just reply? Oh, how the world turns….”

“Magic…? Calling the earthplay done with magic power by such an exaggerated name. Humans, your race is too young for wielding magic, isn’t it?”

The above remarks were words spoken directly by Beolgrin, who was praised as the most excellent in character among the elves, to Ivan.

Ivan still vividly remembered that moment.

While all members of the hero party were mad, Beolgrin belonged to the category of very high-quality madness.

Even more surprising, Beolgrin was, in fact, devoid of any malice.

In other words, those words were just a natural expression of his perspective.

Even now, at this moment when the already scarce population is breaking into pieces again due to the war with demons, and to preserve the nation, it’s necessary to open the gates.

Elves are inherently contradictory in character.

“A ‘volunteer club’?”

“Yes.”

“Me?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Why?”

The saint of the hero party and the thief, namely the head of the theology department and the professor of knightly studies.

And even the head of the magic department had given their approval. It wasn’t compulsory, but at least, seeing their faces, it was possible to persuade them to spare some time.

Instead, Ivan caressed the handle of his axe, contemplating. After all, it was a historically acknowledged truth, even by the Demon Lord himself, that killing elves is faster than convincing them.

“Brother, I’ll take care of it!”

At that moment, a young man standing next to Ivan exclaimed eagerly.

This is the story of the sudden appearance of a younger brother for him.

Ep. 8 Starry Night

“I’m Korean. Oh, wouldn’t it be nice if you were Korean too, teacher? People from the same country get along well, right? What do you think, teacher? Do we have a reason to blush at each other? Do you know? Even in the Bible, it is written that there are no problems in the world that cannot be solved with words.”

The possessor, kidnapped from the theology department, said this as soon as he came to his senses.

Ivan was somewhat taken aback. Not only did he reveal his identity too easily, but he was also more talkative than Ivan had expected.

“Your name is Ivan Petrovich, right? Oh, even your name is cool. Yevgeny. How about it? From the perspective of a Korean, the pronunciation is difficult and annoying to remember. Well, really, I only know about Russia up to Stalin, but why did I suddenly end up in a world like this? Oh, by the way, you are from the post-Stalin era, right? Actually, the Soviet Union collapsed.”

He poured out these words without being asked.

Ivan, while stroking his chin, suddenly stopped listening to Eugene’s monologue.

“How did you know that I’m Korean?”

“Oh, why. You were deducing from the status window, right? Actually, the concept of a status window is only found in Northeast Asia. Character sheets in a novel text are mostly seen in Korean web novels and Japanese light novels! It’s still a somewhat unfamiliar concept in other foreign countries, you know? These days, little by little, though….”

“And?”

“Because only Korea and the English-speaking world accurately pronounce the name Yevgeny! So, I took a guess! hehehe.”

Although the three Northeast Asian countries are all part of the Chinese cultural sphere, their pronunciation methods differ. Japan has long vowels, and China has tones. Pronouncing Yevgeny with short vowels is a Korean name.

It means he deduced this during the time he was being dragged here. Should I call it survival instinct, or was it the help of the status window?

Even considering those things,

“This guy is more competent than I thought…?”

Ivan nodded.

“Yeah, you saw the status window?”

“Yes, of course! Can’t you see it, teacher? Oh, right in front of my eyes! Until it came out, I thought my life was over. But, there’s nothing given, nothing gained, just suddenly giving me a quest and canceling it. This is not a status window, it’s a sh*tty window. Is yours the same, teacher?”

“I don’t have one.”

“Oh, my goodness, I envy you, teacher! You might not believe it when I say this, but in the four years I’ve been here, the status window has never been helpful at all! If I want to do something, it just keeps warning! Warning!”

Yujin was more talkative than he was competent.

“Oh, by the way, how many years have you been here, teacher?”

“30 years.”

“Wow….”

At Ivan’s words, Yujin closed his mouth with a sip.

Without a status window for 30 years…? No, with that period, it’s even before the Demon War era…?

“By any chance, when did you come from Korea?”

“It was 2021.”

“Oh! I was 22! Goodness, is it possible that the one-year difference in our hometown translates to a 30-year difference here? If that’s the case, it’s been four years since I came here… It feels like just a few months have passed!”

“It’s hard to think that way.”

Among the stories of ‘distant reincarnators’ that he had heard from the saint, there were things that could only be considered as modern customs.

It’s difficult to believe that the time on Earth and in this world necessarily corresponds. Perhaps someone from the future has reincarnated into a more distant past than themselves.

What criteria could there be? What conditions existed for reincarnation?

“Oh, by the way, teacher, what were you doing before you came here? I thought there might be some commonality between us.”

“I was a college student.”

“Oh, I was a working professional. Well, well, looks like I’m your younger brother! Can I call you ‘hyung’?”

“…??”

Ivan closed his mouth and looked at the madman in front of him.

Eugene, who had been talking animatedly, felt Ivan’s gaze and flinched. He quickly continued speaking.

“But age isn’t really important, right? Considering the time you’ve lived, teacher, you must be at least over 50 now…? If 20 years on Earth and 30 years here… Right?”

“…?”

Ivan pondered for a moment.

He had never deeply thought about his own age.

But somehow, that seems plausible.

“Well, um… Then! Uh, can I call you ‘hyung’?”

Damn.

Eugene sighed in frustration at the awkward silence.

Why did I say that? Have I gone crazy?

Ivan looked at Eugene, thinking.

This guy, he’s kind of interesting, isn’t he?

Talented in swordsmanship to the point of using aura detection, going through a regular theological course, having a status window, and being good with words…?

He could be useful. At least more than Dmitri.

“Well, if it doesn’t work, there’s nothing we can do! If you’re okay with it, can we go with ‘teacher’? If that’s more comfortable for you…”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“…Yes, teacher!”

Ivan nodded at Eugene, who was grinning like a loyal follower.

“Let’s do something together.”

At that moment, when he had analyzed the profiles of all the students at St. Jansk University.

Three individuals were suspected as potential possessors: Eugene, Yuri, and an elf named Oswald.

While only one of them might be the possessor, the rest could just be unfortunate residents of this parallel world who accidentally ended up on the dragon’s path.

But certainty in anything was preferable. As long as it was the chosen one sanctioned by the saint, there should be no issues.

Gathering all possible possessors, sifting through them afterward, and analyzing their commonalities—if any.

“What’s my story? What story remains in this world?”

There might be some discernible common thread at least.

Conditions of possession, shared traits of being possessed, and the existence or absence of an ‘ending.’

In essence, for an experiment, a broad control group was necessary to ensure meaningful results.

“Yes, sir! Leave it to me!”

*

Isabel, Yuri, and Essidis had been having meals together regularly since the start of classes.

This was a result of several intertwined relationships.

First, Isabel. She instinctively cared about the perception of those around her, a skill acquired after a long life in the royal court. She could perceive the ‘pretense’ of others.

Being the daughter of a renowned warrior made everyone approaching her aware of her background, something Isabel despised, resulting in voluntary isolation.

Essidis, on the other hand, had a slightly different situation. As recalled, she attended university with her uncle.

Being too delicate and gentle for the eager freshmen due to her muscular uncle’s protective nature, Essidis unintentionally became an outcast.

Yuri, needless to say, was in a league of her own. An orphan, and even in an era of improved opportunities, those who could afford university tuition were mostly nobles.

Coming from war orphanage roots with skills far surpassing nobility, she inherently challenged their pride. Consequently, she too became an outcast.

Thus, these three outsiders were nurturing each other’s wounds while scripting their own teenage drama.

“Hey! Sir!”

Isabel set down her sandwich and enthusiastically waved at someone.

While Yuri was sharing a sandwich, she suddenly turned her head and dropped it as she noticed a gardener, wearing a cloth around his neck, walking straight towards her.

‘The midday sun has arrived…?!’

Accompanied by a young nobleman smirking beside him.

*