The Foreigner on the Periphery

“Since I’m like this at this point I think you, Cain, have saved up enough money. Maybe two people would be enough to cover it.”

“…” 

“Of course, you need to think carefully. After applying for more than one person, partial cancellation is not allowed, whether individually or by group. Of course, there is no refund amount. The application deadline is only in one month. I can’t say for sure if there will be a next application period, and if there is, I mentioned that the required talents could increase.” 

It was quite an absurd condition. A curse came out of nowhere. “Even if everything else is like that… it’s been a few years until we could reach 50%, but you’re only accepting applications for a limited time now?” 

“I heard that these details need to be decided as soon as possible in order to develop a staffing plan. Years ahead of implementation.” 

Of course, they both knew it was an excuse. She closed her eyes for a moment and then opened them. “I know there are very few prisoners like you, Cain, in all dimensions.

I’ll be honest. I want you to stay in this dimension.” 

The leader of the prisoners then persuaded the most capable person he knew. Minjun looked at her without saying a word. “Of course, I will stay here. But the sharp decline in the number of colleagues is a big crisis. So if you stay, it will be a great help.” And Min-jun 

In addition to this, Minjun was motivated enough to want to stay. “You want that too? The moment Dell and you are relocated to another dimension, there is a higher chance of being torn apart, right?” 

“Maybe on the committee….” 

“I already asked. The committee is not accepting special requests for where prisoners may wish to be reassigned in the future. I have no plans for that.” 

This meant that only if one wanted to remain in this dimension could they be guaranteed that choice, in return for 150,000 Talents. “I’m just proposing. I think it’s not a bad story for you and Dell.” 

Telesia was vaguely predicting through Minjun’s prisoner identification number. He also received a severance pay that was as great as hers, and even if she had accumulated 300,000 Talents, her retirement would be impossible anyway. 

And so, he would have given up halfway already. The committee’s proposal was to give up hope of a freedom that could not be reached anyway and find stability in the present. Ait was a nasty and malicious suggestion, and yet at the same time, it was too sweet. 

“Cain, again, I don’t want to leave Ashtal.” 

However, her reasons were a little different. “Unlike you, who have traveled through many dimensions, this is my first dispatch site… and I have only stayed here. I was not reassigned when the first dispatchers who came with me eventually left and went around the rotation.” 

The prisoner, whom the locals call “the mother of all,” spoke with the utmost seriousness. “I have dedicated my entire life as me to them. It was confusing and hopeless at first. Because Ashtal at that time was like hell. It was just burdensome to see the poor people I had to save. But over time, that mindset slowly began to change,” Telesia confessed. 

In the early days of her dispatch, after starving, she collapsed the moment she discovered the poor who had been exchanging the youngest child in the family for resources. Because she was weak, she thought, she couldn’t forgive their inhumanity. And so, she wandered for a long time.

She couldn’t understand what she was supposed to do here, or why she had to help them. The seeds of change began to sprout inside her when she faced people who had gained a new life in the aftermath of what she had done, simply because she could not die. The moment the children who were left with only bare bones gained weight… The moment the poor people who had been cured of an indigenous disease that melted their skin kissed her feet and wept tears… The moment they called each other’s names…

They paid unpretentious respect and love to the Savior Telesia. And at some point, she knew that Telesia had made herself love them too. “I gave up my lust for freedom. It’s a past sin I can’t even remember, but if this is the way to pay for my sins, I’ll take it sweetly. I will remain with the people who love me forever . . . to live a life of service to them.” 

She looked at Minjun and said, “I think it would be nice if you and Dell would also be with me.” 

Sometimes, there were times when one would have no choice but to suffer, even when they knew they were going to experience this beforehand.

 *** 

Dell’s gift for her 80th wedding anniversary was a dagger. Seeing it, Minjun became a riot of color. 

“Is this a real thing?” Minjun preferred short sword-type magic tools. This one was made by Dell, who knew it well. She was also excellent in performance, and it seemed that any curse would work well.

“It would be better than cutting your own bones every time, like now.” Minjun nodded as he agreed. 

“Certainly, it could be….” Minjun, who could not find a suitable sword in this dimension, each time used a bone that had been transformed into a sword shape through his flesh, then cut it and used it as a weapon. Dell felt sorry for it, but after 80 years of research, it finally produced a better product than Minjun himself. 

Minjun then looked at the sword with a look of honey dripping from his eyes, then saw the words engraved on his handle. With that, he began to laugh aloud. Dell blushed slightly. Minjun put down his dagger for a moment. Now it was his turn to give. 

“What the hell is this year?” Dell is full of anticipation. Unlike usual, Minjun was empty-handed. 

This was one of two cases. If what one had prepared was too large to be brought into the lodgings of the sending planet, or if one prepared an event in lieu of a material gift. Either way, she was prepared to be happy. Dell looked at her husband with her twinkling eyes. 

Minjun opened his mouth. “Don’t be surprised, listen calmly.” And the explanation followed, with a hologram floating in front of her.

Minjun thought about it until the end. Would he pay her 300,000 Talents for her and let her know that the couple was guaranteed to stay together? He hesitated, fearing Dell would feel his burden and guilt. But after more thought, he concluded that he had to speak. 

Dell used to sleep a lot these days. She seemed extremely anxious, knowing that one day the two would be forced to part. He couldn’t let her suffer like that for a few more years. 

“…That’s how it happened. Now we can both stay here. You don’t have to worry about being separated from life because it’s placed in another dimension!” Minjun, who finished explaining up to this point, looked at Dell with an expression that seemed to ask what her reaction was. 

“This is the present I prepared for you this year.” 

He had expected her to cheer up immediately. However… 

“…” Dell’s reaction was completely different from her expectations. The anticipation of his wife’s expression faded faintly. Her smile slowly hardened and disappeared. 

Minjun felt anxious. “What’s the matter?” 

“How long?” 

“···What?” 

“At the time of this reorganization, he said that his tenure was guaranteed. How long will it last? Indefinitely, as long as we want?” 

Minjun smiled bitterly. “You know who the committee is. The warranty period is 100 years at a time.” 

It was a little longer than the time the two of them had together until now. However, in Minjun’s eyes, Dell looked like she couldn’t be satisfied with that either. “So, what’s next? Are you going to pay another 300,000 Talents? Even if I save 100 years, I can’t even save half of that.” 

“…Dell.” 

“This cannot solve the fundamental problem. What if the committee raises the amount in 100 years?” 

“I can only collect more! Because there are still 100 years left…” 

“The downsizing of the organization means that the committee predicted that there would be less work in the future. And their predictions are seldom wrong. The prisoners here now lead a prosperous life. At least you don’t have to worry about the survival tax. But will it continue to be so? You haven’t talked to me before, have you? How much is the survival tax on you? How long have you been paying such a large sum?” 

Minjun felt disappointed in Dell’s response. However, he saw it as a nervous reaction caused by extreme anxiety. It was necessary to reassure his wife. “About two thousand talents.” 

At this, Dell put on a shocked expression. “Two thousand? Then, the talent you have to pay per year is… 25,000, right?” 

“Yes. And I’ve been here for 800 years without any problems. So, all is fine.” 

It was to emphasize that he had that level of ability. It was said that the Talents given to the committee over 800 years would amount to 20 million talents. He had the ability to earn that much money. 

However, Dell didn’t seem convinced. “This is not a fundamental method.” 

‘This is not the way.’ 

“And…” Dell swallowed again. 

“What’s the matter?” 

“If you keep going like this in the future, it will get harder because of me.”

At this, Minjun sensed that his honesty backfired. Dell spoke with a face close to expressionless. “If you keep withdrawing huge amounts of money from your account because of me…”

For the longest time, Minjun struggled to reassure Dell. This was what he wanted to do, and he would never regard her as a burden. 

A light that seemed to have decided something for Dell passed through her eyes. 

*** 

Even after a year had passed, Minjun and Dell were still on planet XB-610. And that year was considered the worst year since Minjun had gotten married. When did the two of them start creaking?

The change started slowly, little by little, was clear as if paint was soaking into paper. However, Dell’s change was inevitable.

“…” 

Minjun still felt her gaze in the middle of the night. Dell quietly got up and stared at him instead of trying to sleep. However, there was something different in those eyes. 

There was some kind of eerie energy, and he couldn’t understand. He tried to have a conversation, but this attempt failed. What was more, something happened that forced him to pay more attention. 

“Ashamin, help me.” 

A day before the 81st wedding anniversary. Minjun asked his colleague a favor. His name was Ashamin. He, who would later be called Bradley on Earth, was terrified when he heard the story. “Tracking Dell’s personal airship?!” 

“Yes.” 

“No, even with your magic… Oh, no. Okay, you’ll find out soon.” 

“Yes. Real-time tracking catches up quickly. If you want to follow suit, the surest way is to follow the residual thoughts after death.” 

“By the way, what’s going on?” 

At this point, Minjun had no choice but to tell a part of the truth to Ashamin, who asked with concern. “Dell quietly leaves the house in the middle of the night these days.” 

“What?!” Ashamin said in disbelief. 

“If you go out secretly, you will be caught eventually, right?”

“I don’t even think about hiding it anymore. They say they go for a drive because they can’t sleep well…” 

Even during working hours, the length of time no contact had extended. He had never been reprimanded by the Commission as he carried out his duties thoroughly, but with these matters, Minjun grew stronger. 

“Cain. Don’t feel bad about it. if···” 

Minjun, guessing what was going on behind the scenes, shook his head. “No, it’s not an affair. It can’t be.” 

Although she didn’t express her dislike as openly as she used to because she had been surrounded by humanoids for decades, Homo sapiens still looked like bugs in her eyes. In a world where there were only intelligent humans, Minjun was well aware that the probability of falling in love with someone other than him would converge to zero.

“If it’s not an affair, what is it?”

“See, that makes me more concerned. But I keep my mouth shut and don’t say anything.” 

“So, follow me and tell me. What the hell is Dell doing these days?”