One Day, a Villain Fell into My Wardrobe

19

“Coordinates? Me?”

Yeon Ji-ho might be set as the coordinates.

At that remark, both Set and Apophis momentarily fell silent. A strange sense of unease particularly rose on Set’s face.

It was only natural. Coordinates were the ‘destination’ required for any teleportation magic. They were usually set to a location, but sometimes coordinates could be designated as objects or even people.

In other words, the destination of this gate meant Yeon Ji-ho. And that was…

“…a significant problem.”

“What? Because I’m the coordinates? No, what exactly are coordinates?”

“In a one-way gate, coordinates are the destination. However, if it is changed to a two-way gate, the destination takes on the same properties as the starting point.”

Typically, a two-way gate chose a location as its coordinates, so there were no issues. However, the problem here was that the coordinates were not a location but a person.

When a living being was designated as coordinates, they ‘must’ accompany the teleportation. If the coordinates, which are both the destination and the starting point, are not present, they could become stranded between spaces and become gate lost.

“The other option is to create a new gate with different coordinates… In this case, I cannot guarantee how long it will take. Normally, creating a gate takes at least six months, and this place is in another world, isn’t it?”

“Apophis.”

“Your Excellency, please do not ask me to return alone. I have a duty to escort you.”

Wizards had teleportation magic that allowed them to travel alone. However, since Set had to return as well, using the gate was unavoidable.

Yeon Ji-ho, who had been silently listening, took a deep breath and focused his gaze. Then, with a serious expression, he spoke.

“…So, that means I have to go with you, right?”

“……”

“……”

Apophis and Set’s mouths instantly shut. Yeon Ji-ho realized that his guess was correct by seeing the two of them rendered speechless.

In truth, he didn’t fully understand what coordinates or two-way gates meant. But after listening to the situation and the conversation, it was clear that he had to be present when using the gate.

“Ji-ho.”

“……”

“Ji-ho.”

“Yes, yes?”

Yeon Ji-ho, who had been deep in thought with a frown on his face, finally responded to the voice calling him. Set was looking at him with an expressionless face.

“You don’t have to go with us.”

“Ah….”

“However, it seems it will take some time. Can we stay here a bit longer?”

It seemed that Set had read the worry etched on Yeon Ji-ho’s face.

But there was no helping it. It was already disconcerting that two strangers had suddenly dropped into his home, and now he had to go to their world? Yeon Ji-ho wasn’t particularly one to enjoy adventure or thrills.

“Your Excellency, we don’t have much time. Even now, the beasts of Gorgon are…”

“Apophis. Since when did you start worrying about the beasts?”

At those words, Apophis bit his lip. It was true. The beasts of Gorgon were those who wouldn’t care if they suddenly died on the road. They moved solely for Set Gorgon.

However, Apophis bowed his head with his eyes tightly shut. He had seen the faces of the beasts being killed one by one before coming here.

They couldn’t die comfortably. No one would take their own lives thinking their master might still be alive, and even if they were captured and dragged away, they would only be tortured without attempting to die.

If Yeon Ji-ho didn’t go with them, it would take at least six months to create a gate. Moreover, they had to create a gate that crossed into another world. It was impossible to predict whether it would take one year or even ten years.

“…I apologize. I will correct myself.”

However, Apophis knelt down in front of Set. He even thrust his neck forward as if asking to be killed. It was not his place to worry about the other beasts in front of his master.

Set, who was calmly looking down at him, raised his hand without a word. Before long, a sword of blue light was in his hand.

At that moment, if Yeon Ji-ho hadn’t spoken up, Set might have struck Apophis’s neck without hesitation, despite him being his subordinate.

“Um, you said you were originally going to leave in three days, right?”

“…Yes?”

“Then could you wait until then? I need to prepare if I’m leaving suddenly.”

Apophis’s eyes widened. Set quickly put away the sword he was holding and stepped toward Yeon Ji-ho.

“You don’t need to do that, Ji-ho. You don’t have to go.”

“I heard that means you’ll have to wait here for quite a while. It’s fine, I’ll go with you.”

Yeon Ji-ho scratched his head and spoke as calmly as possible. Of course, his heart was pounding a bit, but he didn’t show it.

No, it was hard to say he wouldn’t go when the two people in front of him were making it clear that it would be a big deal if he didn’t. Yeon Ji-ho let out a low sigh and organized his thoughts in his head.

“First of all, I don’t know how long it will take to return, so I think I need to ask Uncle Soo-cheol to take care of the garden… But I can come back, right?”

“Yes, of course! As long as we have the coordinates, we can send you back anytime. Ah, but for that, I must accompany you…”

“Ji-ho. When you return, the wizard Apophis must accompany you, and he will need to stay there for at least ten days to recover his mana.”

Ten days, ten days.

It was a shorter period than he thought. Yeon Ji-ho decided to think of it as a free overseas trip. Of course, he had never even been to nearby Japan.

“Ten days should be fine. I’ll go to Uncle Soo-cheol’s tomorrow morning and ask him. Ah, oh. Right. I need to organize the food in the fridge that might spoil, and take out the trash… Stay here, I’ll be right back!”

Yeon Ji-ho left his room, recalling the tasks he needed to do one by one. Set conveyed that it was okay for him to take his time in his own gentle way.

Once Yeon Ji-ho left, Apophis let out a sigh of relief, his face visibly relaxing. Set scolded him with a stiff expression.

“Be grateful for Ji-ho’s leniency.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

If Yeon Ji-ho hadn’t intervened a moment ago, Apophis’s head would have surely rolled. He touched his neck, which was still attached, and bowed his head.

“By the way, Your Excellency.”

“What is it?”

“…Who on earth is the creator of this gate?”

Apophis suddenly turned his head to look at the wardrobe beside the bed. There, the gate was glowing with a brilliant blue light.

“It is so intricately and perfectly crafted that it is hard to believe an ordinary human made it. Who could have created something like this, and why did they send us here?”

“Ji-ho said that originally, there were no such patterns drawn.”

Yeon Ji-ho was seeing the gate drawn on the wardrobe for the first time. If someone else had drawn this here, then who could it be?

And why.

“The reason is not important. You must remember only one thing.”

“Command me, Your Excellency.”

“Ji-ho must not come to any harm.”

Set’s face hardened as he issued the command. This was not only referring to the time of teleportation but naturally included afterward as well.

However, it was not an easy command. In their world, anyone bearing the name Gorgon was either a target for assassination or capture. Set felt devastated at the thought of having to take Yeon Ji-ho to such a place.

“Yes, Your Excellency. I will ensure it.”

“If a critical situation arises, prioritize him over me.”

“Your Excellency!”

“Apophis.”

Set looked down at him with eyes that allowed no rebuttal. The master of the beasts and the commander of the battlefield finished his final words with a grave expression.

“This is the last command I give you.”