It was an undeniable fact that the pig was stupid. One did not even need to look at anything else. Just by looking at Park Deok-Gu’s low Intelligence stat, anyone could tell that he was dumb. Of course, he never studied and read even a single character in a book, but there was something about this bastard that couldn’t be explained by the Intelligence stat alone.

A part of him was clearly using his head in strange ways to plan things. He was also quick-witted. There were moments when he moved in a way that was both quick and unpredictable.

‘There’s no way he hasn’t noticed.’

In appearance, there was only a slight difference between First Life Ki-Young and me. He was a bit thinner, and his eyes looked a bit more empty. However, Park Deok-Gu’s sense of smell was as sharp as Shiro’s.

I remembered he said that he could smell a faint medicinal scent from me, but I could say with certainty that First Life Ki-Young wouldn’t have any faint medicinal smell.

At best, it would be the smell of blood.

As expected, his nose flaring periodically like a beast stood out to me.

‘Even getting me to promise to go to the gym together must’ve been part of his plan.’

I became more certain that the pig was starting to realize that this guy wasn't Second Life Ki-Young. I wondered why he was pretending, but the pig probably knew what was going on to some extent. Whether the one in front of him was real or fake, First Life Ki-Young still cherished him greatly, and he had to be thinking that there was some other reason unknown to him.

He probably believed there was a reason why Kasugano Yuno had dragged him all the way here just to make him meet First Life Ki-Young.

Honestly, even setting all those reasons aside...

‘How could he look at that and ask where his real hyung-nim went?’

At the simple suggestion to have a meal, he wrapped up what he was doing and his questions to start setting up the table. Of course, this wasn’t something I would do.

Park Deok-Gu also seemed a bit flustered, feeling awkward, but since he was the one who usually handled odd jobs, he moved even more quickly. First Life Ki-Young also seemed to have shed some of the awkwardness and burden he felt when he first saw Park Deok-Gu. Right now, he simply wanted to enjoy this time.

“You understand what I’m saying, right? Don’t meet Domiro no matter what,” First Life Ki-Young said.

“I’m telling you, whether it’s Domiro or Domino, I don't care about her at all. Stop talking about that woman already. When I asked if there were any other people, you were the one who brought it up, so why are you getting so worked up now?” Park Deok-Gu asked. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

“...”

“Let me just ask one thing. Did that woman do something wrong? I’m not trying to defend her, but it looks like she lived her life diligently in her own way. If anything, by your standards, she’s even more impressive. A noble, a court mage, and now even a professor,” First Life Ki-Young said.

“You think that’s impressive... Hah... Domiro is... no... the brigade is... no...” First Life Ki-Young muttered.

The Red Mercenary in the second life didn’t suffer from a shortage of mages and had no need to recruit Domiro, and since the brigade didn’t even exist in the second life, perhaps there was a chance Domiro lived a normal life, but a person’s true nature would not just change.

One could tell without even seeing her. She wasn’t someone who went through a dark evolution like Sun Hee-Young. She was born with the tendencies of a mad scientist.

“If I said no, then it’s no! You damn pig! See her one more time, and I swear I’ll drop dead! Damn it! I’ll die, and you’ll be dead, too! And don’t even bring up Domiro again!” First Life Ki-Young shouted.

“Anyone would think I’m cheating or something. Like I said, now that Jung-Yeon is in my life, there’s no room for any other woman,” Park Deok-Gu said, reassured him.

“Y-yeah... that’s the right attitude,” First Life Ki-Young said, stammering.

“Anyway, let’s just eat. You went through all this trouble to set up a full spread, and all we’ve been doing is talking about some Mi-ro or Mi-no or whatever. I feel bad about the food. Oh! Yuno noonim too... Huh? Noonim?” Park Deok-Gu called out.

“Yuno stepped out earlier,” First Life Ki-Young told him.

“It'd be nice if she were to eat with us...” Park Deok-Gu mumbled.

“She’ll be fine. Let’s eat. Start with some salad—Hey! You pig! Eat some salad...” First Life Ki-Young scolded him.

“I, Park Deok-Gu, don't eat salad,” Park Deok-Gu said.

“Cut the crap and eat the damn salad! You want high cholesterol?!” First Life Ki-Young shouted.

“Well, meat tastes better, so what can I do? But since you’re making such a fuss, I’ll have just one bite,” Park Deok-Gu said.

“You... crazy pig...” First Life Ki-Young muttered.

‘He’s having a serious reality check right now.’

“Other things can be compromised, but this is one thing I absolutely won’t compromise on,” Park Deok-Gu told him.

‘Yeah... that’s definitely the face of someone questioning his life choices.’

His face looked like he was asking himself—"did I really come here for this?" Not that he had been expecting anything in particular, but it felt like he had suddenly been roped into babysitting.

“Just eat it already!” First Life Ki-Young shouted.

“Hyung-nim, stop hitting me! You’ll break your fingers or your wrist!” Park Deok-Gu shouted.

“Ah... come on. Your Endurance is ridiculously high. Aren’t you managing your diet? How much have you been drinking lately?” First Life Ki-Young asked.

“Alcohol... Well, I don’t drink that much,” Park Deok-Gu answered.

“You’re not smoking cigarettes, too, right?” First Life Ki-Young asked.

“I told you, I don’t smoke,” Park Deok-Gu replied.

“Then manage your diet! How long do you think your body’s going to last? No one beats time. Guys like you who make a living with their bodies need to take even better care of themselves.

"No matter how much magic and technology have advanced, even with holy power, you can’t stop aging. You need to start taking care of yourself now so you don’t suffer later. If your mana is low, time hits you even harder...” First Life Ki-Young warned him.

“Why are you going on about things everyone already knows?” Park Deok-Gu questioned.

“Because if I don’t yell at you, you won't listen, you pig! You listen to everything else just fine, so why are you so stubborn about the weirdest things? Damn it,” First Life Ki-Young complained.

“Didn’t I tell you that a man has things he can compromise on and things he can’t?” Park Deok-Gu repeated.

“I seriously want to smack you right now,” First Life Ki-Young said. Even so, he looked happy. He would deny it, of course, but the faint smile at the corner of his lips was real. He missed moments like this more than anything.

“Eat a little more cleanly, Deok-Gu. Wipe your mouth, too. You’re not a three-year-old, so why are you making such a mess? How old are you now?” First Life Ki-Young complained.

“When food tastes this good, it just happens. It’s been a while since you cooked, hasn’t it? I can’t stop eating,” Park Deok-Gu said.

“Really?” First Life Ki-Young asked.

“I mean, I’ve been making good money lately and going to nice places, but I still prefer this. You don’t seem to like it much, though... But there’s a reason why home-cooked foods are better.

"Fine dining or whatever just makes you wait forever for no reason, and even the food at those parties you take me to feels kind of... lifeless. Not that I don’t like spending time with you. It’s just... in the end, nothing beats a home-cooked meal,” Park Deok-Gu said.

“...”

“Don’t you agree?” Park Deok-Gu asked.

“Yeah... nothing beats home-cooked food,” First Life Ki-Young said in agreement.

“Hyung-nim, try some of the meat soup I made,” Park Deok-Gu offered.

“It’s not good,” First Life Ki-Young commented.

“Just try it first,” Park Deok-Gu insisted.

“I’m telling you, it’s not good,” First Life Ki-Young repeated.

“Come on, just one bite,” Park Deok-Gu said.

“I said it’s not good,” First Life Ki-Young said.

‘It really isn’t, though.’

It was edible, sure, but it was definitely not to his taste. Even so, the reason First Life Ki-Young kept turning him down was probably that... the guy couldn’t actually taste anything right now.

‘Did he lose his sense of smell, too?’

The whole comment earlier about something smelly was probably just him mumbling things out of embarrassment. He had likely lost quite a few other things as well. He was putting food in his mouth, but there was barely any change in his face.

Even if he tried Deok-Gu’s soup, it wouldn’t be any different. If anything, perhaps he just didn’t want to be reminded about how much he had changed.

The cheap inn and Park Deok-Gu were both right beside him, but he had changed far too much to completely feel any of those. I felt like he was afraid to admit that.

Even so, he eventually pushed a spoonful of the soup into his mouth, and it was all thanks to Park Deok-Gu insisting that he try the soup.

“Well? Is it good?” Park Deok-Gu asked.

“...”

“...”

“Yeah, it’s good,” First Life Ki-Young answered.

‘This isn’t some cooking manga.’

There was no sudden miracle where he'd burst into tears or regain his sense of taste.

He looked happy, but at the same time, there was something slightly subdued in him. Like he had just been reminded once again of how much he had changed. He had lost only his sense of taste, but an overthinker like him wouldn’t believe that it was all he had lost.

Watching Park Deok-Gu smile so innocently in front of him like a kid would only make those thoughts stronger. He didn’t show it on the surface, but his energy had clearly dropped. Still, he didn’t stop talking. There were still too many things he wanted to ask.

“So... lately, about Lindel...” Park Deok-Gu said.

“Yeah?”

Most of it was about Park Deok-Gu’s day-to-day life, and about the people who First Life Ki-Young had been curious about.

“On my days off, I usually hang out with Ki-Mo hyung-nim or Ye-Ri. Ahem... I mean... this is a little embarrassing to say since you’ll probably nag at me again, but whenever the three of us get together, the rum just goes down way too easily,” Park Deok-Gu said.

“You little... seriously...” First Life Ki-Young mumbled.

“You don’t have to worry that much. Actually, Ki-Mo hyung-nim’s been pretty busy lately. I think I heard he’s dating someone. Don’t be shocked, okay? I swear I saw him at a café with those twins who work with Ji-Hye noonim!” Park Deok-Gu continued.

“Twins?” First Life Ki-Young asked.

“Yeah! I mean, sure, this is the continent and all, but even I was getting embarrassed just watching! Dating sisters at the same time, what kind of nonsense is that? Walking around with one on each arm like he’s got no shame at all, I’m telling you, it really made me see Ki-Mo hyung-nim in a whole new light,” Park Deok-Gu said.

‘One of them’s a guy. They’re brothers and sisters...’

“Oh... so Lee Ji-Hye was the one taking care of them...” First Life Ki-Young mumbled.

“You already knew?” Park Deok-Gu asked.

“They can be a bit much, but they’re not bad kids by nature. I’m glad they seem to be doing well. The twins, and Hee-Young too... Oh, and just to say it again, Domiro is rotten to the core,” First Life Ki-Young said, reminding him.

“I get it, I get it. Can we drop the Domiro topic now? Anyway, the other day when we all ate together, Ha-Yan noonim–”

“Ah, right. Jung Ha-Yan. She’s happy, right?” First Life Ki-Young asked.

“Ha-Yan noonim is always happy. If she marries you, hyung-nim, she’ll probably be so happy she’ll float right up to the sky,” Park Deok-Gu answered.

“Hahaha. Yeah, that’s good. I really did a lot of terrible things to Jung Ha-Yan... That’s probably why I turned out this way,” First Life Ki-Young said.

‘They’re both pretending not to see what’s right in front of them.’

First Life Ki-Young had probably already realized that Park Deok-Gu wasn't seeing him as Second Life Ki-Young. They had spent too much time together for him not to notice that. Before, he had at least tried to hide it, but after tasting Deok-Gu’s meat soup, it felt like he was starting to keep a bit of distance from him.

“If you just treated Sera a little better, hyung-nim, he’d probably be even happier,” Park Deok-Gu said.

“Sera? We had a kid?! Ah... ah, Seraphim... Oh! I see... So that’s how it is... Then Thronus must be around, too,” First Life Ki-Young said.

“Of course! Training hard! Too hard, honestly, it’s kind of scary! And Hye-Jin noonim, too!” Park Deok-Gu told him.

“Yeah, I always felt like I could become good friends with Jo Hye-Jin. I never disliked her,” First Life Ki-Young said.

“...”

“They sound happy. It seems like a good place,” First Life Ki-Young commented.

“Isn’t that all thanks to you, hyung-nim?!” Park Deok-Gu exclaimed.

“Hahaha.”

“I’m not joking! Honestly, you're the only reason I made it this far! I often look like I don’t notice things, but I’m not clueless. I know you’ve spent a lot on me, and I know you’ve always been looking out for me,” Park Deok-Gu said.

“That’s because you worked for it, you idiot. Just because someone pulls doesn’t mean you'll get dragged along. You worked hard, kept growing, and chose to stand alongside others. That’s why you’re there. I always knew you’d make it. It’s just that there were too many idiots doubting you.

"Those blind fools can probably see you now; they can definitely see how much you’ve grown. In the end, you proved that I wasn’t wrong. You proved that my decision wasn’t wrong,” First Life Ki-Young explained.

“It’s not like I... proved anything...” Park Deok-Gu muttered.

“I mean it. I’m proud of you. I’m really proud of who you’ve become,” First Life Ki-Young said.

“...”

“...”

“You idiot. Don’t feel embarrassed. I’ve always told you, Deok-Gu,” First Life Ki-Young said.

“...”

“...”

“If I can do it...” First Life Ki-Young trailed off.

“Then I can do it even better,” Park Deok-Gu said.

“Yeah. You can do anything and become anything,” First Life Ki-Young said with a bitter smile. He clearly did not believe that his time with Park Deok-Gu was going to last forever. I didn’t know if this would truly be enough for him, but looking at his face, it almost seemed like it was enough.

He quietly reached out and ruffled the pig’s hair.

“If I can do it...” First Life Ki-Young trailed off.

“...”

“Then you can do it even better, Deok-Gu.” First Life Ki-Young continued.

It looked like he was saying goodbye. No, it was unmistakably a farewell.