episode_0002

…Ni..

…Dni!

“Kidney! That’s your name.”

A cold yet warm voice heard around.

A woman with blue hair and golden eyes looks at me with an expression that I can’t help but find lovely.

As I ponder how long it’s been since I’ve received affection, the realization dawns on me that this is not a dream.

“Iwooi..”

“Yes, Kidney! You’ll be called upon a lot in the future, so get used to it.”

“No matter what happens, I’ll treasure you more than myself. Definitely… this time…”

Taking my eyes off the woman, I look around me

Fleshy fists, a small but soft bed and pillow.

As I start to think ‘No way,’ I clear my throat again

“Oh… Oh no..”

Realizing it’s screwed.

I distinctly remember the last thing being in touch with the author. Thinking about it again,

‘If you, my reader who has watched over and raised my other child longer than anyone else, might be able to change that child.’

What did the author mean by that statement?

The commonality between the child to the author and what I’ve watched over would likely be the author’s work.

Since the author sees their work as akin to their own child. While I understand the child’s meaning, what could the other child signify?

No way.

‘What part of the work didn’t you like?’

‘Maybe I was being too accommodating because it was my sore spot.’

‘My other child…’

Even the top-ranked [Becoming the Villainess’s Younger Sister] seems to be another work by Author.

Although rebirth or possession wasn’t surprising due to the novels seen so far, I’m somewhat curious as to why.

If I’m caught up in worrying about whether I criticized the work,

‘My reader, who has watched over my other child longer than anyone else, might be able to change that child.’

What does it mean for me to change a work?

I’m just a mere overly immersed fan.

***

“Kidney, are you sleepy? Shall I bring Rebecca’s music box?”

“Yes, miss.”

“Miss, from now on, you should call me Lady or Mistress.”

“But…”

“That’s enough. Hurry and bring it. Kidney, after you nap, I’ll knit you a scarf. The northern winds will be chilly for you.”

“..Yes.”

“Sleep well, my little one (Kid).”

***

“Young Master!! Where are you going for real!!”

It’s been five years since I was born into a new body. I seem to have adapted somewhat to this world.

Although it’s a fantasy world I’ve never read before, I want to immerse myself in it as it’s by an author I like.

One regret is not being born into a martial arts novel.

“Young Master!! Stop right there!”

A middle-aged woman running towards me with fire in her eyes is truly terrifying.

“Rebecca! I’m sorry, but something urgent came up!”

“Young Master! I handle all your schedules, what could be so urgent! I know you have nothing planned right now!!”

Despite this being a protagonist-centered world, she seems willing to do anything for me like family.

“Nobles should learn manners for ladies from the age of 5!!”

Except for the fact that it’s a fantasy.

“Oh, hello Young Master.”

“Hanson, let’s go to the training ground.”

“Weren’t you looking for Rebecca?”

“It’s okay. It’s not important.”

“It doesn’t seem that way… Alright then.”

Another satisfying point is the opportunity to actually display swordsmanship that I’ve only seen in writing.

“Wait, come with me, Young Master!!”

***

“So Hanson, what you’re saying is our family is a wizard family?”

“In a way, yes. Since the lady primarily uses magic, and our ancestors did too.”

“Ah, but that doesn’t mean you have to use magic, Young Master. Some of our ancestors used swords.”

Until now, one of the things I felt while living was that whether it’s magic or a sword, it definitely feels fantastical.

Since I enjoyed fantasy, there is no difficulty in understanding, but there are still confusing parts between the realm of martial arts novels and the knights of the fantasy world.

The swordsmanship in martial arts and the aura or mana in the fantasy world.

I tend to confuse these things, but aren’t they actually the same?

Drawing on the body’s energy or the power of nature to manifest as a sword, making it sharper and more deadly.

The foundation must be to make it better withstand.

“So, we’ve established ranks for sword users: Novice, Expert, Master, Grand Master.”

“Then how strong is the Grand Master?”

“Well, I haven’t met one personally, but in general, if they can draw strength from nature, they’re considered an Expert.”

“When they start communicating with nature, they become Sword Masters.”

“When they completely merge with nature, they’re called Grand Masters.”

“The criteria seem ambiguous…”

“Haha. You probably haven’t connected with nature yet, which is why it may seem that way.”

Nature… The realm of martial arts also has a connection with nature.

The more you embrace nature, the stronger you become. It seemed to be about this, and since it’s the same author’s work, it’s likely to apply here too.

“Strike, thrust, block.”

“That’s right. The basics of all swordsmanship lie in striking, thrusting, and blocking.”

The basics of all swordsmanship. Embracing nature.

Perhaps, rather than ending at the basics, isn’t all swordsmanship about striking, thrusting, and blocking?

“All right, Hanson. Thanks. You can go train the knights now.”

“Sure thing, sir. But may I ask, should I not learn swordsmanship?”

“Nah. I want to try it on my own for now.”

“Then good luck!”

Unwind. Clear your mind.

Swish!

Unwind. The air.

Swish!

Unwind. Myself.

Swish!!

“Sir! It’s time to head back now; it’s already evening!”

“Just a little more…”

“No, you have to listen well to be a good young man. I’ll give you a candy when we get back.”

“…In lemon flavor.”

I heard somewhere that lemons help with fatigue recovery.

“Hehe… You’ve been looking for lemon-flavored candies since you were young, haven’t you?”

It’s not because lemon-flavored candies are particularly delicious.

***

“So, how was your day today?”

No matter how much she fights, she looks like she’s barely 20.

Has she been guarding this mansion alone?

“Kidney?”

“Oh, yes. Today, I trained with Hanson in swordsmanship.”

“Really? But didn’t Hanson leave in the middle to train the knights?”

She knew everything.

“In truth, I wanted to finish training on my own.”

“I see. But our little one isn’t quite big enough to train alone yet, right? Next time, you must have someone with you?”

“If by any chance our kid gets hurt, I’ll cry all day without eating anything by their side.”

Even now, she hardly eats and threatens not to eat anything all day. Isn’t that too much?

“Got it…”

“Alright then, let’s stop here! Did Rebecca skip etiquette class again today?”

“That’s…”

“Don’t you want to attend etiquette class?”

“To tell the truth, yes.”

“Hmm… Is that so?”

Suddenly standing up, she takes off her indoor shoes and starts walking barefoot.

Her hair, like a water spout, flutters as she walks along the window sill.

When the red twilight light breaks and scatters along her blue hair, reflecting back into my eyes…

“How do I look right now?”

Beautiful. Just like Hanson said, it seems like she has become one with nature.

“You look free.”

“Kid, that’s not it. This behavior isn’t appropriate during meals, right?”

“Yes.”

How many people could say it’s wrong to see her like this now?

“Yes. Knowing right from wrong is also important. To cultivate such ability, one must take etiquette classes.”

“It’s important to learn not to be hurt by the world’s judgments. I mean, our kid, won’t he receive such gazes?”

The compassionate gaze shown once again seemed warmer than the sunset outside.

“Yes, I will do that.”

There was a power that made it impossible to say anything else.

I thought our family might be a family of wizards.

***

“Young master! Are you finally considering etiquette training!! I’m butler Andre. I am confident enough to fill a mansion with tears of emotion!!”

“No, it’s not that big of a deal, is it..?”

Feeling pricked for no reason, when I turned my face away, I couldn’t say anything in response to Andre’s incredulous look.

“But what prompted you to take the class…?”

“Well, just because. I received a solution like a golden child from Ahn Eun-young.”

“What? Anyway, let’s start the class! First, it’s about greeting etiquette!”

.

.

.

“Haha. You seem to be trying hard in your own way, even if you’re dozing off?”

“Miss… If the young master finds out, he’ll be shocked…”

“So what! It’s my pride!”

“Even so, having four surveillance crystals in the classroom is a bit…”

“Quiet. Oh! Look at the questions! How can one be so lovely?”

“Sigh.”