C | Epilogue Part 2 | Restart | Crack In The End

“Uh, so…?”

Ian asked uncertainly, to which Revenant explained again.

“Think of it like being in an empty house. There’s nothing but walls. You have to live there. You’ll need things, right? That’s what you’re picking out.”

Revenant’s explanation sounded simple, but it was daunting to actually try it.

“So I just pick them out?”

“No. You have to buy them.”

“But we have a plane to catch.”

Having not flown in a long time, Ian vaguely remembered there being luggage limits. According to Revenant, if they needed to fill an empty house, they had to buy enough stuff, which seemed implausible.

“But.”

“But what. Carrying luggage on the plane would be even more cumbersome, wouldn’t it? It might be better to buy what’s needed after we get there.”

Georg answered that question.

“Hevaulis is a small country, so shopping there can be cumbersome. It’s not difficult to buy everyday necessities or general goods, but proper shopping requires a flight to another city. Places like Paris or Milan aren’t very far, but it’s still a hassle to go there repeatedly. It’s more convenient to shop in advance.”

“….”

It was indeed a strange country. Ian missed Leo’s presence; he would have come up with a more amusing expression than just calling it strange.

“So I just need to pick what’s necessary?”

“That’s correct.”

And so a somewhat odd shopping spree began.

Ian, thinking about what he could carry on the plane, hesitated to choose anything too bulky. Moreover, uniformed staff were closely following behind, immediately trying to pack anything he looked at slightly, causing him unnecessary delays.

After wandering around the store for about thirty minutes, all Ian had chosen was a baseball cap. Finally, Revenant turned him around.

“Try a little harder. Time keeps passing.”

Ian ran his fingers through his hair, feeling as if he was sweating.

“But it’s hard. People keep following me…”

“It’s not hard. And it would be even harder if people weren’t following.”

Georg added to the explanation.

“To shop in Hevaulis-style, you first have to learn to save time. Shopping isn’t about money, it’s about time.”

Revenant pointed to the

bodyguards who had come with them. They had been actively shopping since the moment they entered the department store.

“This, this, that. And this. From here to there. That too.”

Watching them, Ian understood why so many staff were needed to follow. Even ten people seemed insufficient to pick and pack the items the bodyguards were pointing at.

“I don’t need that much.”

“Then I’ll choose today.”

Revenant picked items in the same way as the bodyguards. Unfortunately, he was faster than them, and even though twice the number of store staff followed him, they struggled to keep up.

After circling the first floor and pointing out numerous items, Revenant now stood in front of the escalator heading to the second floor.

“What are you doing?”

It was as if he was urging him to come along. Ian hurried towards him, wondering why they had to shop this way.

“Is there more to buy?”

“There wasn’t much on the first floor.”

“You’ve bought half the items on display there.”

“Not really.”

“Whether it’s half or a third.”

“That can’t be. There wasn’t that much worth buying.”

The second floor was similar. It mostly housed high-end suit stores, and Revenant swiftly navigated through them, casually pointing out items like he had on the first floor. After quickly finishing the second floor, they moved up to the third. The third floor had slightly more brands Ian had occasionally heard of. The mannequins dressed in everyday clothes looked more practical compared to the first and second floors. Revenant only began what he called real shopping here, buying half of the items on display.

They could finally catch their breath on the fourth floor, which mainly sold furniture and interior products. Revenant, who had been indifferent to other items, took great care in examining every bed. After sitting and lying on every bed in the store, he decided not to buy any, citing dissatisfaction as the reason. Georg subtly hinted that this meant they should keep using the same bed.

By the time they reached the fifth floor, which was an electronics store, Ian was quite busy too. He enthusiastically chose items like the latest model palm-top computers, which seemed useless but intriguing. Nevertheless, Revenant, anticipating they might break, bought several of the same models Ian chose, in different colors and capacities.

The uniformed store staff were busy checking inventory as they ran around. Ian had chosen a total of nine items in that store, but when it came time to pay, the bill showed 98 items.

Ian protested, saying they didn’t need to buy so much, to which Georg responded.

“In Hevaulis, after-sales service (A/S) is actually more expensive. If it’s really necessary, you take a flight to the nearest city where A/S is available. Considering the cost of fuel for a single flight, it’s economical to buy in advance.”

“….”

By the time they finished shopping, three hours had passed.

Revenant complained that it had taken too long and advised that next time, Ian should learn to finish shopping within an hour. Georg reiterated that shopping in Hevaulis wasn’t a matter of money but of time, but from Ian’s perspective, it wasn’t about either. What was really needed for Hevaulis-style shopping was stamina and nerve. The amount of money Revenant had spent in those three hours was almost frightening to consider.

When Ian mentioned this, Georg, instead of his usual politeness, grinned showing all his teeth and said.

“What’s more worrying is when you’ll ever be able to spend all the money you earn. In Hevaulis, there’s really no need for money.”

The whole population worked for the royal family in a country where no one paid taxes. Housing, education, and childcare costs were all provided free of charge. Since there were no universities in Hevaulis, any citizen who wanted higher education had to study abroad, with all expenses fully funded by the royal family.

Super cars were parked casually in alleyways throughout the country. Since the entire territory of Hevaulis was mountainous, any car that wasn’t an off-road four-wheel drive was difficult to enjoy driving. It didn’t matter if cars were left with the keys in them, because you wouldn’t get far before having to stop and switch to a jeep anyway.

Ian heard all this while Georg was signing the receipt for the credit card he had just used to pay. In this department store, only Revenant’s group seemed to have any leisure. The department store staff were practically sprinting to pack the items and send them to the airport.

“…If you’ve finished your business, let’s go.”

Ian felt it was awkward to stay any longer, having spent so much money in the department store without a care.

“Think it over one more time before we leave. See if there’s anything you missed.”

Ian pulled at Revenant’s arm as it seemed he might choose something else.

“There’s nothing left. It’s okay to go. Really.”

* * *

After arriving at the airport, Ian learned another piece of information.

There were no commercial flights to Hevaulis. The ‘plane’ they referred to was obviously a private jet. There would be no restrictions on luggage.

Revenant’s gardener was also an aircraft pilot, and the co-pilot was the housekeeper. Only the chef had no second job, as being a chef was the most demanding job among them. It was the first time Ian could eat freshly cooked food at any time during a flight.

“It all seems a bit… too luxurious. What if I get used to this? I’m basically penniless right now.”

Clatter.

Ian’s fork slipped, scratching the plate.

Revenant snatched the fork away and pulled Ian into his embrace, his lips touching Ian’s earlobe. The scent of champagne he had just drunk spread like perfume.

“Do you know why private jets are good?”

A chill ran down Ian’s spine, and he shivered.

“…It sounds like you’re going to say something lewd.”

“The seats are wide. I can keep you on my lap all the time without discomfort.”

“I knew you’d say that.”

A light nibble on his earlobe.

“The seats might not be uncomfortable, but of course, there’s also a bed. If you don’t like sitting, you can lie down.”

“No, I’ll pass. You always leave marks. I don’t want to go through immigration like that.”

Now, the back of his ear felt the tickle of a tongue.

“I won’t do that.”

“Why?”

“Because there isn’t any.”

“No immigration?”

“I’m entering with you. No passport needed.”

“Ah, right.”

Right. That was what he was afraid of becoming accustomed to. Penniless as he was. Ian muttered this to himself, which the keenly attentive Revenant picked up and whispered into the back of his neck.

“If you’re already scared, that’s a problem. The real luxury hasn’t even started yet.”

“No, I mean… I’m not in a position to indulge in luxury.”

A hand had slipped into his shirt, teasing a nipple until it stiffened from the gentle stimulation.

“You shouldn’t be thinking about that.”

Revenant mixed his breath with Ian’s skin, whispering.

“Why, what? …Ah, wait,”

“Everything that’s mine is yours. This plane too.”

“…What?”

Ian looked bewildered.

“Are you… that rich?”

“Didn’t it show?”

Revenant chuckled. The wet nipple felt the touch of his breath, causing Ian’s body to shiver more intensely.

“I thought you were being greedy knowing that…”

That might have been a joke, but Ian was serious. Surprisingly so.

“I didn’t know. I didn’t ask for this. Don’t offer it.”

“Ah, too late.”

“No, I don’t want it. What am I supposed to do with a jet? I don’t even know how to drive.”

“Want to learn?”

“What? No.”

“It would be convenient. There are smaller ones. It would make moving around easier.”

Ian rolled his eyes.

“…Do I have to take a plane wherever I go?”

“If you don’t like planes, there’s also a yacht, but you have to go to the dock. Hevaulis has no coastline.”

“Ah… What about cars?”

“There are plenty, so choose any.”

“That, that’s good…”

Ian watched blankly as Revenant calmly took off his shirt. Revenant looked at him for a moment as if admiring the body revealed by spreading the shirt, then lifted his eyes to grab Ian’s chin.

“What’s wrong? It’s not that surprising. You must have known roughly.”

“It’s not that… I mean, I was surprised… It feels like I have to do something I never even imagined before.”

Revenant didn’t brush it off playfully as usual.

“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Listen. Your life will completely change. If you want, however you want. But if you don’t want it, then don’t. Whatever you decide, it’s all up to you.”

Ian sighed at that.

“That sounds even more daunting.”

“You’ll get used to it. Don’t worry about it so soon. And don’t use it as an excuse to neglect me.”

Ian cracked a smile.

“That would be the same.”

“I’m not joking.”

“Neither am I.”

Ian finally turned his head to acknowledge the comfort of the private jet seats at three thousand feet. An undisturbed session of sex at this altitude was indeed a different life.

He lifted an arm and wrapped it around Revenant’s head.

“Let’s get used to it one thing at a time. This new life.”

“The seat’s comfortable, I get that. What about the bedroom?”

“If you’re

curious.”

Revenant lifted Ian from the seat. Their lips overlapped as Revenant wrapped an arm around his waist and, with one hand, kicked off his shoes. Thump, the bedroom door closed, and as their backs hit the bed, the jeans’ buckle was already coming undone.

Ian pulled off Revenant’s tie, muttering.

“You’re the first thing I should get used to. I still can’t predict what you’ll do.”

“That sounds nice.”

Revenant held Ian’s chin and pulled his tongue.

“I’ll do my best to make sure you get used to it. Until we arrive.”

With that, a familiar yet still thirsty kiss began.

Ian hoped the process of adapting to his new life would continue as it was now, closing his eyes. The tongue enveloping his felt unrealistically sweet.