105. Changes in the Returned Daily Life (5)
Most of the restaurants on the street hadn't opened their doors.
Many had closed due to the terror of the Demon King's attack, and many owners had fled to other cities.
Among them were shops that couldn't open due to death.
"The atmosphere on the streets certainly isn't good."
"The Demon King's attack isn't something to be taken lightly. The adventurers of Henencia will go hungry for a while."
Irina frowned as if she found this situation distasteful.
She seemed to feel deep anger at the city's destruction.
Just then, Irina looked at me and asked casually.
"Jun, do you have any preference for the menu? Is anything fine?"
"It's fine."
"Then let's go to that place we used to visit together. I don't know if it's still operating, but it's quite far from here, so we'll have to walk a bit."
Thud- Thud-
Irina informed me and quickened her pace.
Her gait was stiff and heavy, perhaps because she was a knight.
*...It seems we were close enough for her to know what food I like.*
The memories erased from my mind.
What kind of person was I to this steadfast knight?
Walking with such questions, we arrived at a shabby restaurant.
From its appearance, it looked over 40 years old.
"Shops that keep operating through the years are usually delicious."
"I remember you telling me something like that in the past. You talked about that food called guk...bap? I remember it."
"..."
She really must be my past companion.
I opened the door and entered the shabby restaurant.
Inside, an old woman was preparing food alone.
"We'll go inside."
Irina gave a simple nod and guided us inside.
Her movements seemed quite familiar.
Estia sat down excitedly.
"Oppa, I used Divine Power so I'm hungry! Give me food quickly!"
"I'll order soon, so wait just a bit."
Estia sat next to me.
Irina and Luna sat across from us.
Luna seemed quite uncomfortable for some reason.
But since this wasn't the first or second time I'd seen her like this, I ignored it and asked Irina while reading the menu.
"You seem familiar with this place, so you must have come often. What's good here?"
"Stew. The stew with potatoes and meat cooked thoroughly is delicious."
"Then I'll have that."
Stew is a basic dish at any restaurant.
If a restaurant can't produce a stable taste with stew,
it'll disappear within three months.
Stew is a reliable menu anywhere.
I turned my gaze and asked the children.
"What about you two? Luna, Estia. Will you have stew?"
"I'll have the same as oppa!"
"...I want something different from ahjussi, hmph."
Is she sulking because I didn't give her much dinner yesterday?
Luna's reaction was clearly sulky.
I decided to talk with her later and ordered the food.
"Three stews and a salad, please."
"I said I wanted something different! Salad doesn't count!"
"...One roasted chicken, please."
Nod-
Only then did Luna nod her head.
It seemed she didn't like vegetables for a meal no matter what.
It could be seen as Luna's principle regarding food.
"..."
Silence enveloped the table before the food arrived.
Irina and I couldn't rashly start a conversation.
Meanwhile, time passed, and the old woman quickly placed the stew on the table.
"The chicken will take longer, so wait a bit..."
"Yes, thank you."
"But isn't that red-haired woman coming with you...? I remember the three of you used to come often..."
"..."
Flinch-
Irina fell silent at the old woman's words.
The old woman was startled by the silence and apologized.
"I, I'm sorry... I made a mistake because I'm getting old..."
"It's fine. Thank you. We'll enjoy the meal."
Bow-
Irina answered in a stiff tone.
Did I used to come here often with the red-haired woman and Irina?
Feeling pain in my chest, I asked Irina.
"Did you and I come here often?"
"...If you ask if we came often, I suppose you could say that. It was a long time ago, but we did come every day. We were indebted to this place until your cooking skills improved."
Then.
"Did that red-haired woman also come here with us?"
"...Yes."
"Where is she now?"
What is the reason for the silence?
I know what answer Irina will give.
However, I wanted to hear it directly from her mouth.
Luna stared at me with anxious eyes.
Estia inhaled the stew without a thought.
Irina spoke without minding them.
"The red-haired woman's name is Aina. She is your... master. And she is now"
Not in this world.
She's dead.
"..."
Irina spoke matter-of-factly and
began to fill in the blanks in my memory.
"Jun, where do your memories stop?"
"I don't know, I only know there's a gap."
Lee Jun-woo's words were true.
He didn't know which part of his memories he had lost.
Irina wondered where she should start the story.
She pondered for a moment.
*...I need to explain. I need to properly explain to Jun.*
But.
The opportunity is right before my eyes.
If I give this up, the chance won't come again.
If I miss this opportunity, will I be able to avoid regret later?
*Damn it.*
Biting her lip with the self-loathing that washed over her,
Irina filled in the blanks in Lee Jun-woo's memory.
"From what I can see, since you don't remember me and Aina, it seems you've forgotten your memories from your adventurer days, Jun."
"Memories from my adventurer days... I vaguely remember working as an adventurer, but... I don't properly remember what I did. You're right."
Lee Jun-woo nodded at Irina's words.
It was a reasonable and logical deduction.
Luna shook her legs and shouted.
"Ahjussi! More importantly, how's the stew?! Is it delicious?!"
"It tastes good. We're talking right now, so don't interrupt, Luna."
"...Tch."
How annoying!
Luna, who wasn't being disruptive at all.
She puffed out her cheeks and glared at Irina.
*Ahjussi needs to be happy! He shouldn't have those memories, knight unnie! The memories of that red-haired unnie! They torment ahjussi!*
Memories that make ahjussi suffer are better off forgotten!
Luna thought this and decided to interrupt their conversation.
However, something placed on the table caught her attention.
"I've roasted the chicken... It's hot now, so eat slowly..."
"Ch, chicken!"
It won't be as good as the chicken ahjussi makes!
But it's delicious anyway!
Luna, who had half her dinner taken away the night before,
ultimately couldn't resist the temptation of food.
"The food is here. Irina, where were we?"
"I said the memories you lost are about our party. I'll explain everything I remember."
Irina recalled the past and explained that time.
"You were originally a beggar begging on the streets."
"...What?"
"The chicken is delicio- wait, ahjussi was a beggar?!"
"What! Oppa was similar to me!"
"Just calm down and listen to me."
Irina calmed the atmosphere and explained again.
"I don't know the circumstances, but Jun, you were discovered by Aina while begging on the streets and became her disciple. It was very fortunate."
"Taking a street beggar as a disciple... Irina, what kind of person was this woman named Aina?"
"A crazy woman. To explain in detail, at first she tried to use you as an experimental subject. When we formed a party together, she threw you into monster dens saying she'd train you."
"For a benefactor... that's a bit excessive."
A benefactor.
Smirk-
Irina smiled slightly and answered with a sad expression.
"Without a doubt, she was your benefactor. She made you strong when you only had a strong mind. She was also a special existence to you."
"A special existence? Don't tell me she was like a lover or something?"
"..."
Their relationship wasn't exactly lovers.
Though it was almost no different from lovers.
To be precise, they weren't lovers.
*I'm... just telling the truth... I'm not lying...*
Clench-
Irina was disgusted with herself for rationalizing.
But knowing there was hope for herself who had glimpsed an opportunity,
she overcame her self-loathing and answered.
"She wasn't a lover. They were specially close... a master and disciple who were close."
"...This feels strange."
Lee Jun-woo felt strange.
Not a lover, but a special person.
Called master and disciple, but no memories of learning anything.
Said to have spent years together, but couldn't remember anything.
Only a frustrated feeling remained in his heart.
Luna listened to their conversation and whispered to Estia.
"Estia...! Did you hear that...? That person Aina wasn't a lover...! Thank goodness...!"
"Really? But why is that good? Is it bad if oppa has a lover?"
"Well, it creates restrictions! They say people with lovers become like iron walls! I read it in a romance novel!"
Luna, who had read many books about Heroes.
*In the books...! Because the Hero and Saint were dating...! The Mage couldn't approach...!*
Having also read romance novels about relationships within Hero Parties,
Luna felt relieved that ahjussi didn't have a wall.
However, Estia didn't particularly care about that part.
Nom-
Estia put stew in her mouth and said.
"Why would there be restrictions? Is Luna stupid?"
"Huh?"
"Even if he has a lover, ahjussi will still warm my heart! As long as he warms it, it doesn't matter!"
"If ahjussi gets a lover, he won't warm you... He won't stick to you...?"
"Then I'll just stick to him! Luna's noisy, I'm going to eat!"
"Eh..."
Estia aspires to infidelity.
Luna realized that romance novels weren't different from reality.
She perked up her ears and focused on their conversation again while tearing into the chicken.
It was delicious, roasted in an oven.
Lee Jun-woo, who hadn't touched his stew, asked Irina.
"Then, Irina, can you tell me what you know about that woman?"
"...I'll tell you what I know."
"Alright, thank you."
And so Lee Jun-woo and Irina continued their conversation.
They spent time talking about the past, and
Lee Jun-woo could understand with his head
why he was staying with the Hero Party.
*Still, it's not enough.*
Even if he understood with his head,
having forgotten with his heart, he couldn't understand completely.
Watching Lee Jun-woo continue to ask questions, Irina's heart ached a little.
*...Even after losing your memories, the first person you look for is Aina, Jun.*
More than me sitting in front of you,
you're more curious about Aina.
It hurts a little.
No matter how much she had trained her knight's heart to be strong,
in front of Lee Jun-woo, Irina was just a woman.