episode_0007

I looked at Laurent in front of me, swaggering and showing off.

It reminded me of a male peacock spreading its colorful tail to seduce a female during mating season…

Thinking about it made me a little angry.

No matter how much I had become a woman, it felt bad to be treated like one.

“I heard you were a sniper too… Is that true?”

Laurent talked to me while effortlessly taking down Dushark’s soldiers.

“Yeah, I fought as a sniper in the 30-year war.”

“To think that a beautiful lady like you fought in such a dangerous battlefield… that’s…”

Laurent skillfully entwined the enemy’s sword with his own, causing their swords to drop to the ground.

Clang!

As the swords fell to the ground, the soldiers looked at Laurent in a daze.

Laurent swiftly wielded his sword with a flashy move, cutting down the soldiers.

“Don’t you see that I’m in the middle of a conversation with the lady?”

Laurent kicked the heads of the fallen soldiers and sighed.

“What do you think?”

Laurent brushed his bangs aside.

“I mean…”

Seeing Laurent like that, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Not impressed? Then how about my swordsmanship?”

Laurent struck a pose and looked at me.

“I dreamed of becoming the best swordsman in Elance with this swordsmanship alone.”

Intentionally showing off, Laurent displayed flashy moves in front of me, lacking practicality.

I looked pitifully at Laurent, who was trying so hard to impress me, and sighed.

When my reaction wasn’t what he expected, Laurent stopped his swordsmanship.

“Are you always this arrogant?”

“No, I’m usually a humble and romantic romanticist.”

Laurent spread his arms wide.

“But, it seems like I can’t control the mischief inside me in front of a beauty like you.”

Hearing Laurent’s cheesy words, I was speechless and stood up, drawing my sword.

Swish!

As the saber was drawn from its sheath, making a fierce sound, the soldiers looked at me.

“Come at me, bastards.”

The soldiers, who hesitated at the sight of me being a woman, seemed to have made up their minds to attack me and rushed towards me.

I easily parried the blades coming at me and separated one soldier’s head from his body in one swift motion.

The head that fell to the ground rolled around.

Feeling the hot blood spraying from the soldier’s neck on my face, an unknown thrill covered my body.

When I fought Dushark’s soldiers before, it was just like exercising, but now it was different.

Fighting, drenching my body in the opponent’s hot blood, and continuing to fight…

Suddenly, I remembered that blood had splattered on me and worried if it had stained my clothes, but fortunately, only a little blood was on my face.

Smiling with relief, I looked at the soldiers, who were startled by my appearance.

As the soldiers flinched, I rushed at them and swiftly slashed the abdomens of three of them.

They clutched their bellies and fell to the ground.

“What did you say?”

I swung the sword forcefully, wiping off the blood on the blade.

“With that kind of swordsmanship, claiming to be the best swordsman in Elance… just spouting words and continuously performing flashy moves without substance in your swordsmanship, I don’t know who your master is, but they probably didn’t teach you that way.”

Laurent’s expression soured at my words.

“And that cheesy tone might have worked in your hometown, but it gives me chills, so don’t ever do it again.”

“Uh… I-I’m sorry…”

Laurent sighed softly at my words.

I wiped the blood off my cheek with the back of my hand and left Laurent standing there in a daze, going to help Aramis who was fighting alone.

“Hahaha! Don’t be too disappointed. Parisian ladies are naturally complicated like that.”

Lotus approached Laurent and patted his shoulder.

“Hmm?”

“Among them, Marie is relatively better, she’s different from the usual Parisian women.”

Lotus chuckled and when I glared at him, he was startled and started fighting with the soldiers again.

“Marie! Are you joining in too?”

“I couldn’t just stand by. I’ll lend a hand.”

“If you can’t stand watching the fight, then you should fight.”

Aramis smiled at the news of my participation as if it were good news.

“Turns out there’s a kid fighting alone over there. Came here without helping.”

Suddenly, Lotus approached us after cutting down the soldiers.

“He’s arrogant, but we’re comrades fighting together now, right? Let’s go help.”

We approached Laurent and started helping him.

“Uh…”

Laurent looked surprised as we stepped in to help.

“You came to help again. Adding one more this time.”

Encouraged by Lotus’s words, Laurent charged at Dushak.

“You arrogant brat!”

Clang!

As Dushak swung his sword in anger, Laurent dodged lightly and then whipped his sword like a whip at Dushak’s back.

“Ouch!”

Dushak, hit by Laurent’s sword, aimed his sword at Laurent again and started stabbing wildly.

Dushak, infuriated, stabbed at Laurent, but his attacks missed as Laurent dodged effortlessly.

After playing with Dushak for a while, Laurent broke his arm and disarmed him.

With his sword broken, Dushak glared at Laurent as if to kill him.

“Wanna go another round?”

Laurent tossed his sword to Dushak.

“You arrogant bastard! Next time, I’ll definitely kill you!”

Dushak grabbed the sword, snapped it with his knee, and retreated.

“Retreat!”

Dushak’s soldiers, angry and retreating, hurriedly followed him.

“Wow!”

“The Three Musketeers! The Three Musketeers! The Three Musketeers!”

The citizens who were watching our fight cheered.

The cheers and applause from all directions made my heart swell.

“This… It’s been a while…”

Aramis closed his eyes as if savoring the moment.

Lotus waved to the citizens, encouraging their response.

“Why are people cheering?”

“Don’t ask that, just feel the situation, kid.”

I answered Laurent’s question, waving to the people.

As I waved, even louder cheers erupted.

Whistle! Whistle!

Some people even whistled and cheered louder.

“Being a beauty sure makes you popular, huh?”

“Let go of my hand.”

When Lotus grabbed my shoulder, I shook off his hand.

“Seems like being a lady makes you snappy.”

“Please, shut your mouth.”

When I glared at him, Lotus chuckled and stepped back.

“Alright, enough chit-chat. If you don’t want to fight all of the Duke of Orleans’s soldiers, then let’s leave quickly.”

At Aramis’s words, we left the fountain.

“What are you doing? You should come with us.”

Lotus followed us shoulder to shoulder with Laurent.

#

Hastily leaving the fountain, we started walking on the street.

The street was filled with stalls selling fruits and various items.

Dressed in dresses and holding umbrellas, the young ladies passed by with laughter, while the nuns carried groceries in their arms and headed back to the cathedral. A swordsman with a tightly pressed hat was also seen walking down the street.

On the river, long, narrow boats were ferrying people and goods back and forth.

Normally, it was just the three of us, me, Lotus, and Artemis, walking together, but this time, Laurent joined us, making it four. Laurent held onto his reins and followed us.

“So, how are we going to settle our duel?” Laurent asked, looking at the three of us.

“Aren’t you tired of fighting? It seems like we’ve already had our fill of battles today,” Lotus replied.

Laurent remained silent at Lotus’s words.

“If you fought alongside us, then you are our comrade, right?” I added.

“That’s right, if you fought with us, then you’re a comrade,” Artemis chimed in.

“Facing the highest authority figure of Elance, Duke Orléans, and his right-hand man, Count Raspur, who is also the best swordsman in Elance, as enemies…,” I continued.

“Arriving in Paris and already making an impression on the high-ranking individuals is quite something,” Artemis added.

“Ha…,” Laurent sighed deeply at our words.

“Foolish, impulsive, rude, and hot-tempered,” Lotus muttered Laurent’s shortcomings, causing him to glare at Lotus.

“Even though my neck might be on the line soon, I do like your fiery spirit,” Laurent smirked.

“I’m not sure if I should be happy about that or not,” I mused.

As we walked, we arrived at a bridge over the Gen River.

“So, where are we going now?” I asked.

“Hey, young master. Do you have a place to stay?” Laurent inquired.

“Normally… I would have enlisted in the military and stayed at the barracks,” Laurent replied.

“Oh…,” I replied to Laurent’s answer.

“In that case, where do you plan to stay?” Laurent asked.

“I’m not sure,” I replied.

“Do you have money?” Laurent asked, pulling out a coin purse from his saddlebag and showing it to us.

“If that’s the case, allow me to welcome you and the noble young master to my humble abode,” Lotus pointed to his house on the bridge.

“People really do build houses on the Gen River in Paris,” I remarked.

“But for now, let’s find a place to stay for the night,” Laurent suggested.

After Laurent patted Laurent on the shoulder, we climbed the stairs to the second floor.

“Put the horse in the stable in the corner on the first floor,” Artemis instructed.

As Laurent led the horse to the stable, we entered Lotus’s house.

“Oh, right. What about that fellow if Laurent is staying at your house tonight?” Artemis asked.

“That fellow?” I questioned.

“Flanché. Your servant,” Artemis clarified.

“There are plenty of options, leave it to me,” I replied.

As we entered, Flanché came running to the entrance.

“Oh, have you returned, my lords?” Flanché greeted us, bowing with his belly protruding.

“I thought you would be at the tavern until evening,” Flanché remarked, scanning us from the entrance.

“Oh my!” Flanché gasped as our eyes met, startled and jerking his shoulders.

“Why are you so surprised? What’s wrong with this fellow?” Lotus pointed at me.

“Oh, how can such a beautiful person be with our master, who looks like an orc…” Flanché stuttered.

“What do you mean by ‘orc’?” I asked.

“Oh no! Not at all. It’s just a figure of speech, not that our master really looks like an orc, just that he’s as strong as one…” Flanché tried to explain.

“You little brat!” Lotus raised his hand and smacked Flanché hard on the back of his head.

“Ouch, it hurts! Flangshae is dead!”

Flangshae started bouncing around the room, causing a ruckus.

“Flangshae.”

“Yes, yes?!”

Flangshae stopped in his tracks when Rotus called out to him.

“Stop making noise and go get some drinks.”

“Yes, yes, understood.”

Flangshae hesitated for a moment, then quickly ran to the kitchen, fearing he might get another hit.

“Come inside and keep drinking.”

As we sat down, Flangshae came back with five bottles of alcohol, placing them on the table.

“Yes, I brought them.”

“Alright, let’s pour! Pour! Hahaha!”

Rotus, with a bright smile on his face, began pouring drinks into the glasses.

“To the lovely lady who brought these exquisite glasses…”

“Put it down and get lost.”

Feeling good about drinking, I suddenly felt bad when Flangshae started treating me like a noble lady.

“Oops… Did I do something wrong?”

“Just put the glass down and leave!”

As I snapped, Flangshae slumped his shoulders apologetically.

“Sigh… Sorry for making you angry.”

I sighed and washed my face roughly.

“That guy seems to be on edge today.”

Rotus chuckled as he watched me scold Flangshae.

“I don’t know. It just annoys me when guys try to be overly nice to women.”

“Being nice to women… Hey, Flangshae, did I not tell you to shave your beard and lose weight?!”

Rotus scolded the embarrassed Flangshae.

“Oh… I’ll lose weight quickly.”

“You’ve been saying that for three years now.”

“It doesn’t seem to be about weight or beard…”

Ignoring Rotus’s scolding, Flangshae slinked away to the kitchen.

“But you always drink wine at home.”

“I have to drink expensive alcohol so Flangshae doesn’t steal it.”

Artemis chuckled at Rotus’s response.

“He also likes alcohol, so I sometimes drink with him.”

“I’ll think about that later.”

I sat there absentmindedly, swirling the wine in the glass.

If changing bodies is a blessing from the gods, why haven’t I fully accepted the fact that I am now a woman?

Master Chugyeong once said that I cannot return to being a man because it is a blessing from the gods. I thought I had accepted it to some extent, but every time I am treated like a woman, I get annoyed.

Perhaps I am a sinner who cannot accept the blessing of the gods, even if I receive it.

The exhilaration of fighting and winning is something I cannot understand, even after reflecting on it.

“Why are you just swirling the wine without drinking it?”

“I don’t feel like drinking, but why is that…?”

“Even if you don’t feel like drinking, once you take a sip, it should go down smoothly. I don’t know what you’re thinking, but just drink.”

Following Artemis’s advice, I nodded and took a shot of wine.