"Look behind you," Darius said, pointing behind them.
The group turned to look and instantly felt like fools for having worried just minutes ago.
Eoryun couldn’t understand how things had escalated so quickly.
One mont he was just buying food nearby, and the next, a complete stranger—a woman—suddenly darted behind him like she had radar or sothing.
The result was clear: he stared silently at the group of towering, muscle-bound n blocking his path.
Lady, seriously? Look at these guys—each of them nearly two ters tall and built like mountains.
Now look at . I’m practically a baby chick in comparison. Did you really co to for help?
Still, Eoryun tried to resist his fate: "This is just a misunderstanding..."
But before he could finish, the woman hiding behind him cut him off.
"They’re bad people! Help !"
With that, the big n’s expressions turned even more nacing.
Stared down by their murderous glares, Eoryun could only think: "...Let’s make a deal—how about you stop talking."
For so reason, Illiya’s words suddenly popped into Eoryun’s mind.
"Crying for being poor too often would bring divine retribution."
"For example, you might run into a ’selling-themselves-to-bury-their-father’ scenario or a ’damsel-in-distress’ situation..."
Damsel in distress.
Damn it, wasn’t this exactly the "damsel in distress" storyline?!
Eoryun was filled with bitter regret.
He wanted nothing more than a spell that could rewind ti—just enough to take him back to when they first entered the city.
He swore he would never "crying for being poor" again.
This retribution had co too fast; he hadn’t even had ti to react.
Who the hell wants to go through a "damsel in distress" scenario?! Why was this an optional plotline for other people, but for him, it was a mandatory, unavoidable event?
This was not fair!
No matter how sorrowful he felt, Eoryun realized grimly that he still had to face the harsh reality in front of him—naly, dealing with these bulky n if he wanted to escape.
He tightened his grip on the food he was carrying, his throat bobbing nervously.
Staring at the n seriously, he spoke with utmost sincerity: "Um... I have sothing to say. You might not believe , but I still want to try."
"I really don’t know the woman hiding behind ! I’m just an innocent passerby! I have no idea why she ran behind either!"
After finishing his speech in one breath, Eoryun took a deep inhale and opened his eyes to face them. Under their death stares, he hesitated and added, "...So, do you believe ?"
The leader of the group chuckled coldly, a mocking smile spreading across his face.
Eoryun didn’t need him to answer out loud to know—no, they didn’t believe him at all.
The man snorted, "Little brother, I’m not trying to be difficult. But as a man, you should show so responsibility. If you don’t know her, why would she run to you? Do strangers do that? Since the two of you are clearly together, and your partner caused trouble, it’s up to you to give us an explanation."
Eoryun: "..."
Now he really was suffering in silence.
How did he even know this person would hide behind him in a crisis? No matter what Illiya said now to explain, no one would believe him.
It was really too hard.
Sob sob sob sob sob, he swore that he would never run around out of curiosity again.
Illiya, Seoryun, Darius, please co and save !
Eoryun prayed devoutly in his heart.
...
After Illiya and the others found Eoryun, they walked over to spectate like they were watching a good show.
After all, this was Eoryun’s romantic entanglent; it wouldn’t be polite for them to interrupt so abruptly.
Illiya and his little companions wore mysterious, knowing smiles.
Illiya stared at the scene before him thoughtfully.
The unexpected trouble Eoryun found himself in felt oddly familiar—didn’t it resemble the kind of plotlines described in those hot blooded youth novels the teacher once ntioned?
He still rembered that ti when they entered Haneulseong City, and Eoryun was publicly rejected at the gate.
Everything that happened back then closely mirrored events straight out of a hot blooded novel.
And that Eoryun’s personal traits also matched the typical traits of a novel protagonist.
So now, thinking of him as a protagonist in such a novel, it suddenly made perfect sense that he would run into a "damsel in distress" type of situation.
Illiya pondered with a touch of seriousness and began to idly guess what might happen next.
Following the logic of those novels, after the protagonist "rescues" the girl in distress, he receives her gratitude.
However, he also ends up facing so kind of revenge.
During an ambush, the protagonist is beaten badly, but also gains new opportunities and power.
So would Eoryun go through the sa thing?
"Illiya? Illiya?"
Darius’s puzzled voice suddenly sounded by his ear, startling the absent-minded Illiya.
"Hmm?" Illiya responded with uncertainty. When he saw who was speaking, he suddenly let out a sigh of relief. "Oh, it’s you, Darius."
Darius didn’t say anything at first, simply staring at Illiya for a mont.
Just as Illiya was starting to feel uncomfortable under the gaze, Darius suddenly chuckled. "Were you zoning out just now, Illiya? I called your na so many tis and you didn’t respond."
Caught red-handed, the tips of Illiya’s ears turned pink. His gaze wavered, not daring to et Darius’s eyes.
He looked around quickly and changed the subject.
"Hahahahahahaha, what are you talking about? Darius, did sothing happen?"
Darius kindly played along and said, "What I was going to say is, if we keep watching any longer, we’re about to witness Eoryun getting beaten up."
Illiya: "Huh... huh?!"
Damn, this isn’t how it goes in those novels!
Illiya quickly turned to look.
Whatever had happened in the anti, the faces of the burly n had darkened, and their hands at their sides were clenched into fists.
Just the tiniest spark would set them off.
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