Chapter 1382. An Unexpected Debut (17)

The only consolation was that he remembered the name Aina Peneloti. Of course, it was a name that echoed all over the ballroom, and since he was there when the incident happened, it was only natural for him to remember that name.

However, this bastard wouldn't really bother remembering the names of strangers, so this was actually a remarkable feat. One way or another, he had subconsciously stored my name in his mind.

‘Wow, it’s really difficult. I must be really important.’

This situation wasn't really worthy of being remembered. Aina Peneloti was still just a passing extra to him, one of those characters who happened to linger nearby for a while.

Now that I thought about it, it was a miracle to succeed on the third attempt.

‘I knew this guy was kind of cold, but still...’

He hesitated before stepping up. Of course, it didn’t make him a bad person.

After all, it wasn’t fair to blame Kim Hyun-Sung for not helping me.

‘Yeah, he’s always been kind of cold-hearted.’

When I first met him in the tutorial dungeon, he looked like he had a noble heart. After all, I saw him gather people to rescue others. Looking back on it today, that was only to increase the odds of saving his hyung.

He didn’t show any particular kindness to the tutorial dungeon’s parasites either, and looking at everything he had done so far, he never gave much meaning to helping the weak or those in trouble.

He never really talked about protecting the continent for everyone’s sake or minimizing civilian casualties. In hindsight, the things Kim Hyun-Sung had done fell within the category of good deeds, but he was indifferent to those outside his boundaries.

‘This guy... might not even be lawful good.’

Kim Hyun-Sung wasn’t Kim Myung-Won. Perhaps his outward appearance and gentle aura gave off that impression, but strictly speaking, he was far from the archetypal heroic protagonist, especially in the first life.

Unlike the second life, where he had a minimal sense of purpose and responsibility, the non-regressor Kim Hyun-Sung had nothing except the goal of surviving on the continent as an ordinary human being.

He probably had no time to spend on others and was struggling to protect himself.

There was no grand goal of saving the continent or uniting the summoners to protect them. He didn’t even know about the existence of Outer Gods at the time.

I realized once again that Kim Hyun-Sung wasn’t born a hero—he was forged into one. A myriad of incidents were unfolding across the continent, so it was reasonable to think that the person trained Kim Hyun-Sung wasn’t just First Ki-Young.

‘Yeah... just knowing my name is enough to praise him.’

Since he had already intervened, perhaps he thought he had to finish what he had started. His face looked rather worried.

‘So he has been paying attention after all.’

He was kind enough to feel burdened at the idea of not being able to help. It was hard for him to just ignore someone crying alone after getting slapped. Perhaps it was just my imagination, but his face looked strangely at ease, as if he had set down a burden.

“

Um

... are you all right, Lady Peneloti?” Kim Hyun-Sung asked.

Of course, I looked up cautiously. I had already checked his face out of the corner of my eye, but Kim Hyun-Sung’s face finally became clear in my eyes.

“...”

“Who...”

“My name is Kim Hyun-Sung,” he answered.

“

Ah!

”

Aina Peneloti was startled.

“

Ah

! I mean... I....”

Of course, embarrassment came first; she was caught crying all by herself, after all.

“I-I should introduce myself properly... I’m sorry for showing you this side of me...” I said.

“It’s fine, Lady Peneloti. I should be the one to apologize for approaching you without permission...” Kim Hyun-Sung said.

“...”

“...”

‘As expected, this guy... can’t talk to save his life.’

He had no idea what to say, and he also had no idea how to comfort someone.

He probably rushed in because he was worried, but now, he had no idea what to do.

‘I can see why he’s never been in a relationship.’

Just then, he pulled out a handkerchief.

‘What, to wipe my tears away?’

I expected him to hand it over, but...

‘Wait, what the hell...’

He brought the handkerchief to Aina Peneloti’s lips.

‘What?’

'What the hell is this guy doing? Is he actually oblivious, or is he trying to seduce an innocent young lady?'

He had always been pretending to be pure and innocent, but what if he was actually a famous playboy in his first life?

Of course, he wanted to wipe away the blood on my lips, but still... touching a young lady’s lips before marriage was unthinkable.

If he had received proper etiquette training, he would have known that, but... he even rubbed her red cheek.

“???”

‘Seriously, what the hell are you doing?’

I was so flustered I momentarily forgot how Aina Peneloti was supposed to react.

'Should I push him away? Or should I just leave?'

The idea popped up in my mind, but in the end, all I could do was blush and lower my head, acting as if I wasn’t used to such sudden contact.

As expected, his startled voice followed right after.

“

Ah

! I-I’m sorry, Lady Peneloti.”

“...”

“I just... I mean, this handkerchief has a simple healing spell imbued in it. The effect isn’t very strong, but it can heal small wounds... I saw that your lips and cheek were wounded, so I unknowingly—since I’m an adventurer...” Count Kim Hyun-Sung stammered.

“...”

“I swear I had no intention of disrespecting or offending you, Lady Peneloti. I know it’s hard to believe, but I’ve only just come from the Empire, and I’m still... not entirely used to the customs of the Union of Kingdoms...” Count Kim Hyun-Sung added.

‘What is he even saying? Do they just go around touching noble ladies’ lips in the Empire or something? Who would buy that excuse?’

“I don’t even know how to apologize for this...” Count Kim Hyun-Sung mumbled.

‘Apologize? What you should be saying is that you’ll take responsibility. How is this idiot even going to survive in a world this harsh when he’s this dense?’

To be blunt, if I were to make it so that things would go my way, he would have no way of getting out of it. This would have easily ended in an engagement. Had he acted like this with the other young ladies, too?

“I truly... have nothing to say except that I’m sorry, Lady Peneloti,” Count Kim Hyun-Sung said.

“It’s fine, Count Kim Hyun-Sung,” I said.

“...”

“You don’t need to explain yourself. I already know you didn’t mean anything else by it,” I added. “Pardon?” Count Kim Hyun-Sung asked.

“I could tell you just wanted to comfort me...

hehe

,” I giggled.

“...”

“You’re a kind person, Count Kim Hyun-Sung,” I said.

‘Yasashii hito dana

[1]

...’

“Honestly, I thought you were a little frightening. Your face looked empty during the ball. And... well, I

did

have a bit of a prejudice against summoners, thinking that all of them must be tough people. I never imagined you’d approach me and offer comfort like this,” I explained.

“That’s not true. I...” Count Kim Hyun-Sung trailed off.

“Yes?”

“I’m not someone who deserves to be called kind,” Count Kim Hyun-Sung answered.

‘Yeah, that sounds about right.’

“Actually, when I first heard you crying, I only thought about leaving,” Count Kim Hyun-Sung confessed.

“What? Then why did you...?” I asked.

“I’m not sure myself. I just couldn’t bring myself to walk away. It was... just a whim,” Count Kim Hyun-Sung answered.

“

Ah

... b-but if you heard me crying, then...” I paused.

“Yes. I’m afraid I heard everything. I considered stepping in, but I thought it would only make things worse... Please don’t make that face, Lady Peneloti. What I saw and heard today will never leave this room,” Count Kim Hyun-Sung reassured me.

“Thank you... I-I feel so embarrassed and sorry,” I said.

“There’s nothing for you to feel ashamed of. You didn’t do anything wrong,” Count Kim Hyun-Sung said.

“

Huh

... Pardon?” I asked.

“Perhaps I’m not in a position to judge, but at least to me, that’s how it seemed. Whatever happened in the House of Peteloti, and whatever burden you're carrying, none of that changes the fact that you did what you had to do,” Count Kim Hyun-Sung replied.

“...”

“It doesn’t matter how others judge or think of you, my lady. You are valuable. This is just my awkward way of trying to help you; this isn't an expression of empty sympathy... I truly mean it, Lady Peneloti,” Count Kim Hyun-Sung said.

‘You... since when did you know me well enough to say something like that?’

'And if you keep saying things like that... you're going to make her cry.'

Aina Peneloti couldn’t help it, as this was the first time anyone had ever comforted her like this, so her tears fell uncontrollably. She had already been struggling to hold them back. When Count Kim Hyun-Sung suddenly appeared, she clenched her teeth and forced herself to keep her composure.

Even if he had wiped away the blood on her lips and cheeks with his handkerchief, how could he possibly wipe away her sorrow? She knew she couldn't cry again, as she ought to avoid showing such shameful weakness twice, but no matter how hard she tried, the tears just wouldn’t stop falling.

“

Uh...

”

“...”

“

Huh?

”

‘Huh? This is the moment to step in, isn’t it?’

“I-I wasn’t going to cry... I...

hehe... hehe

...” I giggled awkwardly.

“...”

“W-wait, Count Kim Hyun-Sung. P-please... why... suddenly... I really wasn’t going to cry...” I muttered. Her mouth was smiling, but tears kept falling from her eyes. She tried wiping them away with one hand, but it wasn’t enough.

Big, heavy tears dripped down her cheeks like raindrops. Aina Peneloti had never learned how to express one's sadness, and today, it exploded all at once. It was like she was releasing every bit of grief she had been holding in for years.

Eventually, even the faint smile tugging at her lips faltered and twisted slightly.

She looked pitiful as she broke down and cried so hard over a few kind words of comfort. Perhaps it was a bit too much, but sometimes being a bit much wasn't so bad. Her shoulders trembled nonstop, and her tears wouldn’t stop as if her eyes were like broken faucets.

‘

Hey, idiot. Hurry up and comfort me.

’

“L-Lady Peneloti?” he said.

“I-I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Count Kim Hyun-Sung. H-hic... I just... I can’t stop crying all of a sudden,” I stuttered.

“...”

“...”

‘God, this guy... can’t you tell this is the perfect moment to hug me?’

I could tell what was going through his mind—he was feeling awkward and was hesitating about it, but seriously, he had already touched her lips and cheeks.

What was there to overthink about a hug at this point?

'You’re a modern man, aren’t you? You’ve seen plenty of dramas. Lady Aina Peneloti isn’t going to calm down until she has been comforted properly. If you don’t want to watch her cry until the whole garden hears her, then hurry up and do something.'

Count Kim Hyun-Sung froze in panic, but eventually, he realized that there was no other choice, so he pulled Aina Peneloti into his arms. Whether that could truly be called a hug was questionable. It wasn’t tight, and he didn’t really hold me close.

However, he

did

something, at the very least.

As expected, Aina Peneloti’s trembling shoulders began to calm down.

“I-I’m sorry, Count Kim Hyun-Sung,” I said.

“It’s fine, Lady Peneloti. If anything, I should be the one...”

‘

Not bad for a first meeting.

’

It was a far more memorable introduction than anything born from a game of chess.

‘

Now the introduction. I have to do a proper introduction. That’s the rule.’

Our bodies parted slightly, and Kim Hyun-Sung exhaled a quiet breath and looked at me again upon realizing that the heavy air had been assuaged. His gaze remained fixed on Aina Peneloti. I gently wiped away the traces of my tears and smiled brightly.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t properly introduced myself yet,” I said.

I lifted the hem of my dress just a little and bowed gracefully.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Count Kim Hyun-Sung. I’m Aina Peneloti, third daughter of the House of Baron Peneloti,” I introduced myself.

The man blinked and awkwardly placed his hand over his chest according to the etiquette he had learned. Then, he inclined his head slightly and said, “I’m Kim Hyun-Sung from the Empire. It’s an honor to meet you, Lady Peneloti."

𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

“...”

“...”

In the silent garden where darkness loomed, a man and a woman met, each guided by their own purpose and stories. Aina Peneloti and Kim Hyun-Sung stood together beneath the cool glow of the moon and the distant glimmer of the stars.

‘Now this is what you call classic.

’

A meeting with real meaning. This was the kind of scene that could turn the coldest winter into midsummer. And so began a story born on a midsummer night...

1. Veela: 優しい人だな translates to 'what a kind person' ☜