I Just Wanted to Avoid Death - Chapter 64
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“…Change.”
Much had changed.
But the changes weren’t as bleak or painful as Yeshion had anticipated.
The person who once glared at him with anger now smiled in his presence. The one who had run away in tears now held his hand, asking him to stay.
“Can it truly be changed?”
The story.
Yeshion knew how dangerous this thought was. He’d read enough books about others who’d possessed fictional characters to understand the risks.
“But still…”
Yeshion recalled Rosaline, trembling and clutching his hand.
He remembered Eldis, gently stroking his hair with a soft smile.
And even Adelio, asking to be friends.
“…A place for me.”
Could he find it here?
There had been countless reasons he wanted to run.
To avoid getting tangled in the original story. Because he didn’t feel capable of dealing with what the original “Yeshion” had done. And most of all, because this place didn’t feel like it was meant for the person who had possessed this body.
Though “Yeshion” was a villain, the relationships he had built were entirely his own. The emotions others showed weren’t meant for the current inhabitant of his body.
That was another reason for wanting to leave. Relationships formed in a place where no one knew “Yeshion” would be genuinely his.
“I should have just pretended I lost my memory from the start…”
At the time, the joy of being alive had overwhelmed his better judgment.
Claiming amnesia was a convenient excuse when he needed to ask questions about things he didn’t know. But by pretending to have partial memories, he had only muddied the waters further.
“If I die and this repeats again…”
If running was no longer the goal, perhaps he should fully embrace the role of someone who had forgotten everything. Yeshion buried himself deeper under the covers, determined to adopt that mindset if the situation reset.
At that moment, there was a quiet knock, and a priest’s voice called from outside.
“Priest Yeshion, you have a visitor.”
“A visitor?”
“Yes.”
The brief exchange ended with the sound of footsteps retreating. Yeshion blinked, tilting his head in confusion.
I have a visitor?
Opening the door, he found himself looking up at someone significantly taller than him. He craned his neck to meet the gaze of the figure before him.
It was Adelio.
“…Your Highness?”
As Yeshion’s eyes widened in surprise, Adelio stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. He didn’t speak, simply observing Yeshion for a long moment.
“Your Highness?”
When Yeshion called out again, Adelio clenched his fists, looking like a man holding back a strong impulse.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Adelio asked with a growl.
“Did you… do it with the Archpriest?”
“Pardon?”
“I’m asking if you slept with him.”
“…What?”
Yeshion’s eyes widened to the size of saucers. What could possibly have led to such an accusation?
“I heard you were unwell recently.”
“That did happen…”
It had been less than a week ago—hardly something Yeshion could have forgotten.
“I also heard the Archpriest took you to his room while you were ill. And that… your moans could be heard from inside.”
“…No, that’s—”
“Did you sleep with him?”
Adelio seemed like he was holding back a flood of anger, his clenched fists trembling as veins stood out on his hands. Depending on Yeshion’s answer, it was clear Adelio’s reaction could swing drastically.
Panicked, Yeshion hurriedly explained the situation.
“…It was treatment?”
“Yes! What on earth—why would I ever do such a thing with the Archpriest?”
At Yeshion’s firm denial, Adelio let out a relieved sigh. The tension in his body visibly eased as he pulled a chair from the side of the room and sat down in it with little care for decorum.
“Don’t tell me you came all this way just to ask about that?”
Propping his chin on his hand, Adelio gave a lazy smile and shook his head.
“That was just part of it.”
“Then what?”
“I wanted to see you.”
