IBML 03

Chapter 03

There are several challenges, but the biggest one is probably his social status.

I thought so as I rested my neck on the arm of the sofa.

In the original story, the main male character, Kalian, was a commoner. He had been an orphan since childhood and had been raising his twin younger siblings on his own, acting as the head of the household.

Because of his tight finances, he had done various jobs. One of his current workplaces was…

Where again? The original story didn’t describe his workplace, so I didn’t know.

But I did know his home: an apartment on the outskirts of the capital.

“I should go see him.”

I got up from the sofa and changed my clothes. It seemed reasonable to meet him in person while I had some free time.

Even if I couldn’t meet him, I could just say I went for a walk a little farther than usual.

Since he’d be busy adapting to his work for a while, it was good that I had a pass for going out today.

I showed my pass to the knights guarding the main gate and stepped out.

“Hmm~ hmm hmm~”

The wind messing up my hair made me hum absentmindedly. Walking a bit along the main road, I quickly managed to hail a carriage.

Feeling the jolting discomfort of the carriage, I recalled the original story.

One day, Kalian, who worked hard to support his two much younger siblings, went out to play with them on a rare day off.

Due to the exhaustion from intense labor, Kalian fell asleep, and one of his siblings had an accident, getting hit by a carriage.

Luckily, Rekalin happened to pass by, and the accident was safely resolved. Kalian also awakened his divine healing power to treat his injured sibling.

That was the content of the first chapter.

After that, the two quickly fell in love, so there was no real need for me to create contact points before the original story.

However, I didn’t want Kalian’s family to experience a carriage accident.

Having experienced one myself, I knew just how terrifying it was to see the solid wheels and horse hooves coming at you, ready to crush you. I remembered the weight pressing down—it was heavy and painful.

Though my brain’s defense mechanisms made the memory fuzzy, it still made my stomach churn to think about it.

Moreover, the story mentioned that Kalian’s sibling suffered from trauma afterward.

So, for the sake of the children, it was better to establish contact beforehand.

Clatter—

Lost in thought, I realized the carriage had already arrived.

The edge of the sky was dyed a soft pink.

The onset of dusk climbing up the wooden walls of the buildings was so mesmerizing that it made me pause in admiration.

Flap-flap—

A bird, shining with iridescent colors as if it had popped out of the sky, appeared.

I couldn’t guess the species, but its well-groomed feathers looked luscious.

For some reason, I watched the striking bird fly off until it disappeared from view, then continued walking.

Even the chilly early evening air, typical of a late cold snap, felt pleasant. I walked slowly, breathing deliberately.

Passing through a shopping street toward the residential area, I spotted a bookstore.

Its sign was clean, suggesting it was newly opened, and it seemed to also function as a small library.

If it involved books, I could go crazy. Just like in my current life, my previous life also loved books.

Hmm, web novels are still books, right? I decided to take a quick look before heading to Kalian’s home.

With that in mind, I pushed the door open wide.

Ding—

“Welcome—”

The clerk’s voice rang with the bell as I headed to the shelves.

On a display table next to the shelves were freshly released books.

“Oh, this author published a side story?”

I brightened and picked up a book titled One Night Encounter.

It was a recent popular novel about a romance between a maid and a prince. Initially a one-night affair, it gradually became genuine, ending happily.

Though not very popular, it was praised for vividly portraying the maid’s life.

I had read it before, and although the premise was common, the writing was fresh and gripping.

Authors like this often found great success later.

I tucked the new book under my arm, planning to purchase it, and continued walking.

The bookstore wasn’t crowded, though the laughter of two children echoed as they ran around.

Somewhat noisy, but expected for children. I glanced at them.

The girl had short pigtails, and her speech and actions showed her lively personality.

The boy next to her had a neat bob cut and a calm demeanor.

Da-da-da-da—

“Catch me~!”
“No. I won’t. I’m reading a book.”

Both looked like they had just started elementary school.

Though their eye colors differed, their bright blond hair and similar features suggested they were twins.

“Ah, Paul Ripe, you’re so annoying.”
“I don’t like you either.”

The girl, frustrated by the boy’s lack of response, turned away, heading straight toward me.

Thud—

“Ah.”
“Gah!”

Startled, the girl stepped back. But she was only waist-high to me, so she didn’t get hurt.

I waved my hands to reassure her. She whispered a small “sorry” and hurried back to the boy, muttering about the collision.

‘Where are the children’s guardians?’

They couldn’t have been left alone in the bookstore.

I looked around and saw a man sitting at a long table in the library corner, reading a newspaper.

I noticed the back of his curly blond head and widened my eyes.

Ah, one of the twins’ names was Paul.

Paul Ripe. One of Kalian’s siblings was named that. And of course, Kalian’s last name was Ripe.

I stepped toward him—no, I tried to.

“Ah…!”

A faint scream came from behind.

I turned sharply to see Paul had misstepped on the ladder used to reach the top shelf. He was about to fall onto a sharp metal decoration attached to the wall.

Why did the bookstore even have that?

I sprinted toward Paul with all my strength. The girl was right nearby, so both could be seriously injured.

Even running my best, it looked like I couldn’t stop Paul from hitting the decoration.

Damn it, I muttered a curse under my breath.

I vividly saw the fear in the children’s tightly shut eyes.

I had come to prevent trauma, but I was about to create a new one.

No, no, no.

If only I were a mage, or even had a magic scroll.

I reached out, hoping someone, anyone, would help, trying to cover the distance.

“Please…!”

Time seemed to slow down. The girl, probably Kalian’s twin named Pana, froze like an ice statue.

Though her body was frozen, her eyes desperately pleaded for help.

I felt as if I could hear her voice: Someone, please help!

In what felt like an eternity in a split second, I saw Paul’s falling body slowly rise as if supported by an invisible sphere. He descended gently, like a feather drifting down.

Before I could question it, I leaped and caught Paul.

I heard birds flapping somewhere.

Paul’s panicked swing dislodged the decorations, which tumbled down.

The twins, too stunned to react, were embraced by my hands reaching toward them.

Urgent but comforting hands.

“Ouch!”

Time began flowing normally again, like a spring winding back. The twins’ knees scraped the rough floor.

Bang! Clang!

The decorations fell noisily.

Pana blinked and looked at the face of the one who saved them.

An angel…

She thought so suddenly.

My soft, caramel-colored hair flowed long. Underneath my worried, curved brown eyes, a golden shimmer swirled rapidly.

The decorations behind me caught the sunset light, looking like wings.

And the glow of the sunset over my entire body gave a warm hue.

To the children who had just escaped death, I looked like an angel.

Even if they didn’t, they were undoubtedly grateful for saving them from mortal danger.

“Argh, it’s okay… hh… hhh…”

The twins began crying mid-sentence. I exhaled softly at the sight.

What had that power been that saved Paul?

I had no way of knowing, so I called it a miracle from the gods.

Since the children were safe, it didn’t matter what that power was.

The loud crash and the crying drew the clerk and the newspaper-reading man running.

The man looked even paler than the clerk, whose face had gone white.

I patted the children and slowly stood. The man quickly scooped them up.

He looked so shocked that his face turned blue and then pale repeatedly.

“They could have been seriously hurt. You can’t leave children alone.”
“I’m sorry, no, thank you.”

I was about to scold him further but stopped when I saw him shaking with the children in his arms.

“Shall we clear the decorations first?”
“Yes, yes. That’s best. I’m sorry. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. The children were more startled than I was.”

My pants were torn from friction, but it was praiseworthy I withstood it.

While the clerk cleared the decorations, I looked at the man.

He was as beautiful as Rekalin.

Having met Rekalin first, I wasn’t overwhelmed, but if Rekalin was a handsome man, this one was a beauty.

Delicate features, androgynous charm—it drew an involuntary admiring gasp from me. It was clearly Kalian.

“He was truly a god, a creature carefully crafted by Lire. To look at him was a sin; every gesture radiated sanctity. Even the finest paintings under the brightest gallery lights could not compare. Kalian was the brightest star, piercing through moonlit nights, our starlight.”

This original description wasn’t exaggerated at all.

After all, if the keyword was “handsome male lead,” he had to be this stunning.

Kalian held Pana and Paul tightly, whispering:

“Sorry, kids. Your brother… I was wrong…”
“Sniff… I really thought I was going to die.”

Listening to the three siblings cry together, my heart ached. I turned and noticed a crumpled newspaper at Kalian’s feet.

It had probably been dropped while rushing over.

I bent down and picked it up. It was the employment section, with some postings marked in colored pen.

Kalian was looking for work. His income must have been low lately.

Scanning the marked postings, I found one…

“Gardener wanted at the Montenium Duke’s estate”

…Wait, why is this here?