Cardboard Houses Do Not Tear - Cardboard Houses Do Not Tear chapter 74

74 – Sunset Orange (400 characters added lehu!)

“I’m going to get some fresh air.”

The leader of the Priianian squad disappeared without saying that.

Tak.

The door is closed, and I am left alone in this tomb of obsolete knowledge.

Thousands of thoughts come to mind in the silence where the dust hugs the noise and settles to the floor.

Among them, ‘Oh, I want to go home’ and ‘Heukheuk. It was delicious. Today’s apology is.’

Among them, there was only one thought that was most beneficial.

‘What should I do now?’

It is literally about what I should do in the future.

As usual, by now it would be time to get on the carriage to the north or to caress the thick wallet while rolling around in the military camp.

At the same time, though, he slowly came up with a plan to escape the mercenary group, which he would have done sooner or later.

But one damned bastard ruined the whole plan.

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Piles of corpses, undead, warlocks, territories, death knights.

And even some bizarre totems.

Three days ago, it was a banquet of so many things I experienced in one day.

You can tell just by looking at that keyword lineup, but it’s not an ordinary thing.

‘I’m sure there will be 50,000 requests for cooperation to investigate the black magician.’

Me, the leader of the Prianian squad, and Priest Rien were the main characters who solved the incident that day.

Even if I were an investigator, it was obvious that the three of us would be investigated first.

And among them, I was the one with the highest risk.

The reason I think so is simple.

Because I can’t hold on between the bombs being turned to avoid the responsibilities of the necromancer and the high-ranking people.

Holy Kingdom, Wizard Guild, British Royal Family.

At least, no matter where the affiliation pops out, the F-class bastard will be torn apart even if nothing is done.

Because the mercenaries who disappeared were not alone.

Even if I was joking, it didn’t change.

Because it’s just like a joke in front of each hand that holds power, mystery, and miracles.

That’s why I couldn’t sit still and suck my fingers, relying only on Hwar’an.

Suddenly, my head was pounding.

It was because he received at once several times the amount of sh*t that a person could take in a day.

“f*ck. This is why I didn’t carelessly care about other people’s affairs.”

As I listened to the stories of the mercenaries around me, I spread light gossip, but I never spit out their serious stories.

I would rather have turned the words around, but I never confessed.

Because I wanted to live a quiet life and write my thesis again, instead of living in fear of getting a dagger stuck in my neck.

But I had to take responsibility for what I said, and I had no regrets.

So, if you don’t want to be f*cked up, it’s time to move.

There won’t be too many occasions where my head will be cut off in the middle of the plaza, but it could happen that my side is pierced in the back alley of the market.

Sure.

After thinking about where to go after a while, I got up and walked towards the bookshelf.

There must be something useful.

While thinking so.

Didn’t the ancients say that there is a path in a book?

***

After a while.

Kikkik.

I came out with my head sticking out.

And then I started wandering around looking for a bathroom.

Sadly, because there was no way to solve that side of the road that was in the book.

While I was in such a hurry to turn off the lights, I heard a sound of chatter from the director’s office next door.

A quiet voice and a voice that is louder than others in decibels.

It was Priest Rien and the director of an orphanage.

“So, Ellie. Are you okay.”

“It’s all thanks to the director’s concern!”

Calling them by their nicknames, it seemed like the two of them got along better than I thought.

“Anyway, I didn’t know there were black magicians in a place like this. Fortunately, it was fortunate that you were passing through here.”

“If it wasn’t for the G-House mercenary, something bad would have happened.”

Suddenly, my story comes out?

I continued walking.

“You mean that tall guy? He doesn’t seem like a normal person, but he was a mercenary.”

I could feel curiosity in the director’s voice.

“Yes, what kind of person do I have to say this many times?”

“He fights very well.”

“What is the grade? Grade A?”

“No! But one thing is for sure, it is very reliable! Really-“

“I see. However-“

I continued walking. I have no interest in eavesdropping on other people’s conversations.

After the conversation between the two behind our backs, I went to the front of the library and saw the prianian squad leader.

“Where have you been?”

At her question, I turned around and said.

“I went to get some fresh air.”

It was a little too much to say that I had to go to the bathroom.

She said with a nod of her head.

“By the way, I’ve sorted out all my books. Is there a place I want to go to after a while?”

“Let’s go where the squad leader wants to go. I’m fine anywhere.”

“Then, in a little while, Mr. G-House will go where he wants to go.”

I nodded.

When she thought about where to go for a bit, she thought it best to give her discretion.

***

The place the prianian squad leader wanted was a tea house.

“Drinking tea isn’t bad, is it?”

As she said that, as she opened the door to the teahouse, a tinkling bell accompanied the scent of peppermint, strong at first but sweet at the end.

I don’t know if it’s the scent of tea I’ve smelled in years.

I almost got emotional for a moment, but I managed to hold it in.

Why is it like this today?

The inside of the elongated, rectangular teahouse was very tidy.

The tablecloth is made of an orange color that will not show through spilled drinks, and there is hardly any dust visible on the floor.

In the back, something in the shape of a square was hissing and hissing, and on top of it were overturned glasses.

Seeing that familiar figure somewhere, I remembered one thing.

‘Is that a coffee machine?’

I think it would be correct if the cup was heated with the residual heat from the machine.

“Uh, so-“

“Give me your hand.”

Seeing that the people sitting sparsely apart are mostly male and female couples, it must be a place where lovers often come.

Maybe that’s why it was quite strange to see us from the surroundings.

“Welcome.”

While we were standing there, a neatly dressed male clerk greeted us.

In order not to cause any misunderstanding, I could feel the moment when he smiled at me while not looking at the other two.

“Are there three of you?”

“Yes. Do you have a window seat?”

Before the other person answered, he jumped first.

As expected, the tea house is a window seat. The seating inside is a bit ok.

“Yes. Come this way.”

So we settled down by the window, decided to call again after choosing our tea, and sent the clerk away.

Squad leader Prianian, who was reading the menu board provided on the table, pointed at one with a thin finger and said,

“For me, this.”

The tea variety she pointed to was Earl Grey.

I couldn’t hold back my admiration at that strange naming.

‘No, is that one here too?’

It is an honor to see you here, Prime Minister. Thanks to that, I don’t even have to worry about which car to choose.

But my pick was different. Because I don’t follow what others choose.

“I will go with Lady Grey.”

And I like orange better than bergamot.

I’m sorry Count.

“Then I’ll take the same one as the mercenary!”

Priest Rien said he drank the same thing as me.

Then, the prianian squad leader also suddenly changed the type, so our order was unified with lady gray tea.

It must be easy to make a part-time job.

Before the staff who finished the order left, Priest Rien raised his hand and added one more spell.

“Mercenary, Mr. Prianian. I’ll order some bread too!”

“Then the calculation is-“

“Don’t worry, I will pay for this!”

Then it doesn’t matter.

We decided to chat a bit until the drinks were served.

“Prianian, do you like tea?”

“I enjoyed it quite a bit. In the past.”

There was an unknown longing on the face of the squad leader who said that.

At that appearance, I said with a smile.

“Now, we can enjoy it again. Squad leader.”

“Thanks to Mr. G-House.”

As usual, I decided to only half understand what she was saying.

Because if you don’t fully understand, you’re not human.

“Anyway, I didn’t expect G-House to like tea either.”

“Once upon a time, I enjoyed it.”

That’s how I looked around.

Working at my parents cafe for 5 years, I enjoyed coffee and tea.

You have to eat to fix what needs to be fixed.

And while I was able to smell the aroma enough to write down the tasting notes of coffee or tea, there is no need to take that out.

There’s nothing good about talking about my past.

“How about Rien Priest?”

“I don’t really know! The G-house mercenary seems to know tea well, so I chose it according to him!”

Priest Rien looked at the prianian squad leader and said.

“It’s as if Mr. Prianian was also changed according to the mercenary’s choice!”

“……”

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At those words, I don’t know why, but the prianian squad leader was at a loss for words.

“Enjoy your meal.”

After a while. The clerk left behind only a tray of tea and bread and a formal greeting.

That’s right. This world brings drinks directly to you. It still seems like yesterday when you yelled at me for having a drink.

When the squad leader was about to fill his teacup with tea, I made the cute mistake of almost putting my index finger on the rim of her cup without realizing it.

Succeeded in opening the direction of the hand with the kettle naturally.

“I will follow you.”

“Thank you, Mr. Ghouse.”

After she filled her cup with tea, she filled Priest Lien’s cup.

“Thank you!”

“Say something.”

After roughly accepting her greeting, I grabbed my kettle.

The feeling of this tight fit, there was no doubt.

Squeeze.

As I lifted the kettle and filled the teacup, the early sunset was contained in the white teacup.

She puts the glass to her nose as her hands tremble with emotion.

Close your eyes and feel the fragrance that you have not felt in 5 years.

The warm steam tickles the tip of my nose.

Soon, the steam becomes a thin orange line and begins to fill the empty head little by little.

The solid lines that took shape like that calmly remind me of something somewhere in my head.

But that wasn’t enough.

“Mr. G-House?”

“Mercenary?

People around me were saying something, but I didn’t care.

Put the teacup to your mouth and exhale lightly through your nose to cool the tea.

At the same time, smell the overflowing fragrance along with the ripples in the tea water.

Then I slowly take a sip of slightly cooled tea.

When a drop touches your tongue, before you even feel a slight burning sensation, the sunset-colored waves wet the bright red sandy beach.

Wait until the tea in your mouth is sufficiently fragrant, then pass it on.

A gentle fragrance rises, but it is still not enough.

Feeling a bit lacking. A warm orange scent that gives only a small aftertaste and disappears cannot be in my dictionary.

“Whoa.”

That’s why the inhalation awakens the fading incense.

As if the fire in a dying furnace is revived with a weak fan.

Three grams of tea leaves are placed in 300ml of water for 3 minutes, slowly to feel everything they want to put out.

He warmed up the inside of his mouth while circulating the tea water and air without interruption.

The process of coming up with a taste is like making a picture.

So I drew a sketch with my tongue,

Color the painting with inhalation and exhalation,

I add one last line of evaluation that can only be expressed in typeface to the painting that is finally overlaid and is on the verge of completion.

‘A slight orange. The bitterness was neutralized by the sweetness felt when breathing. A picture of orange warmth sinking down in the nose and mouth.’

And I put all these signals together in my head.

Just as multiple layers drawn with Photoshop are overlapped, I create a portfolio that cannot be undone even at this moment.

Glow orange.

This is the taste of the first tea I drank in another world.

It has already been 5 years since I lived in a world where eating and drinking tea was a daily routine, and then eating and being beaten was a daily life.

There are no cars in the mercenaries. It was because of Huar An’s policy to put more barrels in the basement with that money.

I didn’t have money to buy tea, so I purposely went to a restaurant to boil water for white soup, and I was tired of eating it.

Now that I have money, I would have drank someday, but now that it is now, it is rather good.

So, I spat out a word while my hands trembled.

“…Happy.”

Click.

When I put my glass down and looked ahead, the eyes of the two of them changed to those of a rather pitiful person.

“Mr. G-House.”

“Mercenary?”

I couldn’t understand the expressions on those two, so I asked back.

“Yes?”

They said it was nothing, and just shook their heads.

I was dumbfounded at the words of the two of them to come back for tea later.

Why?