After I Died, The Male Leads Became Strange

“Your Holiness, be careful…!”

Despite the priest’s cry, Yupheon immediately stepped on a piece of broken bottle lying on the floor.

Unfortunately, as he was barefoot, a long gash appeared on his pale sole, drawing blood.

Yupheon glanced down at the wound on his foot with an indifferent gaze.

Shortly after, along with a golden glow, the wound quickly healed without a trace.

“Don’t make a fuss.”

Although it was a miraculous sight no matter how many times one saw it, Yupheon himself seemed unimpressed.

“Will you attend?”

“…Those bastards?”

The priest was startled by the rather crude language that didn’t match Yupheon’s pure appearance.

“Please watch your language! I’m afraid someone might hear!”

“Are those bastards coming too?”

“By ‘those’… do you mean Emperor Alpenhayer and Lord Cail Aleret?”

“…”

Yupheon frowned at the names that fell from the priest’s lips.

Even hearing their names was unpleasant.

“Emperor Alpenhayer will attend, of course. As for Lord Cail Aleret, I’m not sure, but he’ll probably be absent this time too, won’t he?”

“Shameless bastards.”

Yupheon swallowed a low curse in his throat.

Niel Alpenhayer, who arrogantly hosts the Foundation Day celebration after usurping her position.

Cail Aleret, who secluded himself as though in penance for her death, which he caused.

Both were utterly shameless and detestable.

However, the most terribly detestable one was none other than…

Crash!

The glass window reflecting Yupheon’s face shattered without warning.

As the faintly reflected image of his face broke into pieces, Yupheon finally curled his lips in satisfaction.

Some of the broken glass shards cut his skin.

With mottled bloodstains on his face, he smiled softly.

The most terribly detestable one was none other than Yupheon Arne himself.

The one who had been her only friend and family, but ultimately betrayed her.

“f*cking bastard. Serves you right.”

Yupheon wiped the wounds on his face with the back of his hand and grinned.

He often, no, every hour and every moment, had to fight the urge to kill himself.

This body that couldn’t die at will because of that damned divine power was a punishment, not a blessing.

“Oh my, Your Holiness.”

The priest closed his eyes tightly and opened them again.

In that brief moment, all the wounds on Yupheon’s face had healed cleanly, but the reddish bloodstains remained.

For five years now, Yupheon Arne would always become this sensitive and violent as the cold winter approached, bringing with it Alpenhayer’s Foundation Day.

Despite being showered with God’s love, what on earth was the problem?

‘Could it be that the Saint’s death still remains a wound for him?’

The only special events from five years ago were the Saint’s death and the defeat of the tyrant Jella, saving the Empire from Shunaibel’s tyranny.

The priest shook his head.

“Any other news?”

“No, nothing special… Oh, I heard a rumor that Emperor Alpenhayer will soon welcome an Empress.”

“What?”

For a moment, Yupheon’s face contorted.

“Niel Alpenhayer…”

Yupheon glared out the broken window with eyes full of murderous intent, muttering a vicious curse.

Then suddenly, he turned around and strode out.

“Your Holiness? Where are you going?”

Towards the priest who followed, asking in a bewildered voice, Yupheon left a brief response.

“I’m going to kill Niel Alpenhayer.”

***

On a late morning with warm sunshine, I was lounging on a soft bed, enjoying the leisure.

The Imperial Hotel was something I had built when I was the Emperor to extract some money from foreign dignitaries visiting the capital, Yetrisha.

Although the accommodation was a bit expensive, all the profits collected here became taxes used for national affairs, so it wasn’t bad for either party.

‘Being here, I probably won’t run into Niel Alpenhayer.’

In his previous life, Niel absolutely detested anything even slightly related to me and wouldn’t go near it.

‘Well, that’s good. I’ll stay here until I save up enough to open my pharmacy! I’m a pharmacist after all!’

Recently, all I’ve been doing in this new body I’ve possessed is extorting Tenes to stay in a luxurious room and looking around for a building for my new pharmacy.

The doctor told me I needed to rest for two weeks, but thanks to managing the magic power inside my body, I was able to fully recover in just a week.

As a result, I had no trouble moving around.

‘I still like the Yetrisha Square street or near the Imperial Hotel best.’

I pondered, looking down at the prime real estate visible through the large panoramic window.

The building I liked the most was the small one across from the hotel where I was currently lounging, but it cost a whopping 3 million gold.

‘Isn’t the land price in the capital too expensive?’

Considering that an average commoner family needs 100,000 gold to get through a year, it was far too expensive.

The 50,000 gold retirement fund I had extort… no, peacefully obtained from Tenes was nowhere near enough.

‘Should I just retire to the countryside?’

Whether I settled in the capital or retired to the countryside, what I needed was money.

“This won’t do! I need to make some money!”

I jumped up and stood in front of the mirror to check my appearance.

I slung a basket with a long strap diagonally from my shoulder to my waist and stepped outside briskly.

“It’s Jella!”

“The witch Jella has appeared!”

The children on the street screamed and shouted upon seeing me.

As I was trying to ignore them and pass by, a stone flew from somewhere.

Swish!

I caught the flying stone with one hand.

Then I glared fiercely at the children.

“You little brats!”

I clenched my fist hard, and the stone crumbled in my palm.

“Gasp!”

“Wi-witch!”

“She crushed the stone!”

“Let’s run away!”

“Aaaaargh!”

The children screamed and ran away.

“Oh, geez.”

Instead of chasing after them, I shook my head while dusting off my hands.

After two weeks in this new body, this had become a familiar routine.

It seems Jella Irene was bullied even by the street children just because she shared a name with the tyrant Jella.

‘Well, I suppose it’s all my karma.’

After all, the name ‘Jella’ being hated is all because of me in my past life.

‘Come to think of it, Jella Irene must have suffered quite a bit because of me too.’

The streets were bustling due to the upcoming Foundation Day.

People’s main interest was undoubtedly the three heroes of Alpenhayer.

The first hero, Niel Alpenhayer, who became the new sun after overthrowing the Shunaibel imperial family.

The second hero, Yupheon Arne, who united the hearts of the entire continent.

The final hero beloved by the people, Cail Aleret, who plunged his sword into the tyrant Jella’s chest and killed her.

People argued about whether they would attend this Foundation Day or not.

The faces of those whispering were filled with expectation, excitement, admiration, happiness… all the positive emotions in the world.

I loved this peaceful scene so much.

It was a sight that could never have been seen when the tyrant Jella was alive…

‘Ah, this is not the time!’

Just as I was getting lost in my own sentiments and about to move on, I remembered my purpose for coming here.

“We meet again.”

I looked up at the low, husky voice suddenly sounding above my head.

A tall man was standing in front of me, looking down at me.

As I was about to lower my gaze following his line of sight, which was focused slightly below my face, his hand suddenly reached out and gently grasped my wrist.

Then he carefully opened my palm.

There were stone fragments embedded in my pale palm, though I hadn’t noticed when they got there.

“How dangerous, these things.”

“It’s fine…”

I was about to push him away saying it was fine, but I hesitated at his next action.

He began to remove each of those small, sharp fragments one by one.

His movements were as careful and respectful as a servant attending to their master.

Yet the gentle motions of his hands were elegant and noble.

I watched him for a moment.

A ticklish sensation arose where the sharp fragments were pulled out.

Unaccustomed to the feeling, I unconsciously bit my lip.

Finally, looking at the clean palm, he pulled the corners of his mouth into a languid, satisfied smile and raised his head.