Three Selves in This World

Hearing this, Alice placed the medical book on her lap, propped her cheek up with one hand, and tilted her head as she looked at John.

"Those are clearly words of concern, so why did you have to say them so harshly? The whole tsundere thing isn't popular anymore."

As she spoke, a gentle smile curved Alice's lips.

"John, you have a kind heart, but it is wrapped in thorns to defend against the unfairness and malice of this world."

"Like an adorable hedgehog, the moment someone touches you, you wrap yourself tightly in armor, wary and distrustful of everything."

"But the world is beautiful. I hope you can live happily. Take care of yourself!"

"Alice, you truly are a good woman..."

John looked deeply at Alice, his gaze incomparably complicated.

The look lasted only an instant before he swiftly withdrew it, turned around, and left the wooden cabin.

By this world's standards, John's life could be divided into three stages.

At first, he had been a pirate who longed for freedom, innocent and full of courage and conviction, wanting to adventure everywhere and witness the splendor of the world.

He wanted to unleash the boldness in his heart and turn the world upside down, all to leave behind a magnificent mark and live a life without regrets.

Later, he had become a Marine determined to uphold justice to the end, firmly believing that "without rules, nothing can stand," and that all freedom had to remain within limits.

Perhaps there was no true justice in this world, but if one upheld the law to the end, one could come infinitely close to justice.

In the end, he had become a politician of the World Government, a king of either an affiliated nation or a non-affiliated nation.

In his world, pigpens had pigpen rules, and human pens had human laws. Whether justice or evil, their ultimate purpose was merely to serve profit.

People were unequal. Everyone was born with a role of their own—perhaps a farmer, perhaps a sheepdog, perhaps livestock awaiting slaughter.

Right and wrong had never mattered!

His birth had defined him as livestock awaiting slaughter. The hardships of life had worn down his edges, teaching him to lie low, making him calculating and willing to flatter others for insignificant gains.

But he was unwilling to remain that way. He wanted to become the master of the farm!

For that, he would stop at nothing!

"Even if I die on this path, I will have no regrets."

"I shall be—wild and unrestrained by fate!"

Late at night, the men of the village gathered in the tavern, raising their cups and cheering for the Blazing Sun of recent days and the melting snow.

At the same time, an unfamiliar guest arrived outside the luxurious wooden cabin belonging to the village chief.

Knock, knock, knock—

In the living room, a charming woman with chestnut hair curled up on the sofa. Her black, fitted wool dress accentuated her voluptuous figure, while a pair of delicate feet clad in flesh-colored stockings peeked out from beneath the hem, lightly arched.

Hearing the knock, the woman put down her copy of Liar Noland and looked toward the door.

"Who is it?"

She was Vanessa, the village chief's wife. She knew that whether her husband had been drinking or not, he would only ever pound heavily on the door. Someone who knocked so lightly and politely could only be someone else.

"It's John."

A man's steady, magnetic voice came from beyond the door.

"John?"

John's handsome face instantly appeared in Vanessa's mind.

She knew this man. She had even once wanted to get close to him and hear him tell stories about the outside world.

Thinking of that, Vanessa rose from the sofa, slipped her stockinged feet into her slippers, and walked toward the door.

She pursed her lips and opened the door a crack, revealing half her face as she looked at the man outside.

"Mr. John, what can I do for you?"

It was late at night, and she was home alone. What was this man doing at her door?

John met the charming half of her face visible through the crack, smiled with pursed lips, and spoke softly.

"May I come in?"

Vanessa bit her lip lightly, looking somewhat troubled.

Late at night, with a lone man and woman in the same room, it really was a little...

Seeing Vanessa remain silent, John pouted slightly and began acting cute.

"Pleeease?"

Used to her bald husband's usual domineering manner, Vanessa's heart was instantly pierced when the handsome man treated her so coquettishly.

She slowly pulled the door open.

"P-please... come in."

By the time she managed to force out the invitation, Vanessa's pretty face was already as red as the evening clouds.

"Thank you."

John gave Vanessa a gentlemanly nod, then stepped into the wooden cabin.

As the door closed, Vanessa's heart began pounding uncontrollably, adding a trace of ambiguity to the atmosphere inside.

With his hands behind his back, John strolled leisurely through the living room. After looking around, he turned back toward Vanessa, who was still standing blankly by the door.

"Beautiful lady, won't you offer me a drink?"

"Ah?"

Vanessa suddenly came back to herself and hurried toward the wine cabinet in tiny steps.

"I'm sorry, I've been a poor host. How rude of me."

"No, I was the rude one for visiting so abruptly in the middle of the night."

A faint smile remained on John's face. Combined with his tall figure and handsome features, it made him seem endlessly gentle.

Under that gentleness, Vanessa's movements grew clumsy. It took her quite a while to take out two wineglasses and a bottle of red wine from the cabinet.

John sat on the sofa, glanced at the copy of Liar Noland, and raised his hand to lightly pat the seat beside him.

"Would you sit with me for a drink and tell me about the outside world?"

"Sure!"

The moment she heard that they would be talking about the outside world, Vanessa forgot everything else and hurried over in her slippers.

John took the wineglasses and poured wine for both himself and Vanessa. Then, gazing at the dancing flames in the fireplace before him, he began telling the story of the Golden City in a low, gentle voice.

"Beautiful lady, do you know about Sky Island? There, a group of warriors is fighting to honor a promise made more than three hundred years ago..."

Romantic stories were always intoxicating. Before they knew it, the two had traded cups and finished three bottles of red wine.

Even Vanessa, who had been born on a winter island and naturally had a strong tolerance for alcohol, gradually became glassy-eyed and unknowingly leaned against John.

John naturally wrapped an arm around Vanessa's waist, his eyes leaving the fireplace to stare intensely at her intoxicated, lovely face.

As their emotions deepened, everything happened naturally.

"May I come in?"

"Y-yes..."

"How rude! You should say, 'Please come in!'"

"P-please come in."

"You hesitated too much. Say it again!"

"Wah... you're bullying me..."

Meanwhile, the village chief staggered along the road home, reeking heavily of alcohol.

When he passed the wooden cabin where Alice lived, he stopped and turned his head to look at it. Some of the drunkenness faded from his eyes, replaced by displeasure.

"You rejected me? Sooner or later, I'll get you into my bed!"

Though he lived the enviable life of an old man with a young wife, even the most beautiful woman would eventually grow tiresome.

He needed something new!