Ch.25Unfair Raid Boss NPC (1)

Has it been about a year since I recalled my past life memories in this world?

A lot has happened during that time, but looking back now, most of it was just me being jerked around by ridiculous circumstances.

The Heavenly Horse committing suicide, a status window getting stuck to a boss golem and following me around, a trouble-maker designating me as their personal trouble and chasing after me.

The guys who used to give me 800 cans putting a bounty on me, raid bosses that never moved in the game suddenly rolling after me.

The golem devouring all the raid rewards and turning into a beautiful girl.

Seriously, listing it all out like this makes it seem like I’ve just been swept up in absurd situations that weren’t my fault at all.

But I think what’s happening right now might be the most horrifying twist of fate in this world.

“Thanks for saving me just now, Forest Keeper Jack. And while I’m at it, I’d like to ask for one more favor.”

Expensive-looking clothes that she probably wore trying to look like a commoner.

Blue hair that screams nobility and red eyes filled with strong will.

Anyone would look at her and think, “Oh, is she a noble? Wait—royalty?!” As this woman who was unmistakably of high lineage opened her mouth to me, I couldn’t help but twitch at the corners of my lips as if my facial muscles were having a seizure.

“Help me.”

“…Please. I, I really don’t want to, but is there any way out of this?”

Forest Keeper’s Ultimate Sincerity Series. I bowed deeply.

Someone please turn back time!!

*

—Before Jack’s forehead hit the ground.

We’re at a point where Aigram is less than two months away in physical distance.

‘Hmm. Should I just hang around in the Empire for a while and go after ep.1 breaks out?’

I have enough money.

Gor must have felt guilty about eating all the raid drop items and raising his own specs, because every morning when I wake up, there are magic stones placed on the table.

Ray seemed quite surprised, thinking I had instructed Gor to do this, but no. I’m not that kind of exploitative boss. I didn’t tell him to do it. He did it voluntarily… wait.

If I make excuses like this, it really makes me sound like I ordered him to do it, doesn’t it?

But what can I do? Honestly, I do feel a bit like that.

This is why in my past life, in a country called Korea, the phrase “read the room and act accordingly” was popular among people of similar social standing.

Gor, you’re doing great! But I won’t tell you to do more, okay? Just keep doing well on your own!

“Hehehe! Finally got to hug you!!”

“Ughh!! Let me go!! Oppaaa!!”

Anyone could see it was a forced hug, but Ira is partly to blame for this.

Originally, protecting his sister was Gor’s duty, but as Ira gradually distanced herself from Gor after he became a beautiful girl, she started hiding behind me more often, and I accepted it all.

But what do you know?

While Ira and I were sleeping rough, and Gor had temporarily left to hunt monsters, Ray woke up early, snatched Ira from my arms, and ran away with her! If that were true, Ray would be dead by now.

The truth is, Ray persuaded Ira to show me a better side of herself in the morning.

Ira fell for it completely, followed Ray to a nearby stream to wash up, got all dressed up, and even had her hair neatly tied before appearing before me.

Ray bought the clothes with her own money, but wait. I only give her 800 cans, so how did she afford them?

Anyway, I lavished praise on Ira’s adorable appearance and gave Ray a “like.”

As a result, Ray legally(?) took charge of Ira’s grooming, and now she’s hugging her from behind while doing her hair.

Goodness. From a distance, they look like beautiful sisters, but what’s actually happening is a level 2 girl desperately trying to escape from a level 33 warrior. Honestly, as her oppa, I find it a bit amusing.

“Kyaaaa!! No!! Let me go! I said no!! Ray unni, let go!!”

“Huh, what?! Did you just call me unni?!”

The moment Ira shouted “unni,” Ray grabbed her own cheeks, blushing.

Not missing the opportunity, Ira escaped from her embrace, ran toward me, and jumped into my arms.

“Oops.”

“Oppa!! Stupid! Stupid!! You should have saved me!!”

“Ahaha! Sorry, sorry. But Ira, do you not need to finish tying your hair?”

“Oppa should hold me and tie it! Ray unn…?!!”

Ira’s eyes widened as she realized she had just called Ray “unni,” covering her mouth like a startled small animal.

Pfft. Does she dislike it that much?

“I, I hate that auntie! She keeps trying to hug me! Oppa, protect me!!”

“Kuku… Hey, Ray the auntie.”

“S-she called me unni… She called me unni just now, right?!!”

Ray rushed over as if she couldn’t even hear me calling her, trying to place her hand on Ira’s head.

But Ira slapped Ray’s hand away with a sharp smack.

Oh, that’s got to hurt.

“Ahaha! So cute!! Ah!! I finally became an unni!!”

“No! Ray is an auntie! Auntie!!”

“Soon you’ll call me unni properly?! Hehehe. Come on, let me tie the rest of your hair!”

Anyone could see how much Ira hated it, but Ray was still grinning from ear to ear, which I found truly impressive. Wait a minute.

Is this that thing? Is she a masochist? How did everyone in our party end up with masochistic tendencies?

Is the whole world crazy except for Ira?

In the end, Ira, still in my arms and refusing to turn around, let Ray finish tying her hair, and I gave Ray another “like” point.

I’ll hire you as my sister’s personal stylist. It might be fine as long as that quest remains sealed.

As I was enjoying this peaceful and happy moment…

[(!)Quest–Rescue a carriage being chased by thugs. (Time limit: 9 minutes 59 seconds)]

“Huh?”

“What? What did you say?”

“Ah, no. Not you. Gor?”

Suddenly a small status window appeared before my eyes with a quest.

What’s this? No response from Gor. He must still be busy hunting monsters in the area.

From what I heard before, my titles, skills, and quests aren’t given by Gor but just appear on their own.

He said he’s just in the position of displaying them.

In other words, this small status window that separated from his body is literally just a display.

A quest. Since it’s carriage-related again, is it a similar situation to before?

Back then, it was a carriage being chased by monsters. Now it’s clearly a carriage being chased by people.

…Damn it.

“…Ray, Ira. Let’s move for now.”

“Huh? But Gor hasn’t come back yet.”

“It’s fine. He’ll follow us anyway.”

I decided not to do this quest. After holding Ira in my arms and gathering our belongings, I started walking in the exact opposite direction of where the quest appeared…

[(!)Quest–Rescue a carriage being chased by thugs. (Time limit: 8 minutes 36 seconds)]

[Penalty will be applied if the quest is not completed.]

[Penalty – The demon continent’s invasion will accelerate by more than 3 times.]

“……”

“…Um, Jack? What’s wrong?”

Ray frowned with concern as I stopped in my tracks while carrying Ira and our belongings.

‘Damn it. This is driving me crazy.’

“…Ray. Take care of Ira. I need to go somewhere for a bit.”

“What? Where? The next town is still a three-hour walk from here, and the previous village is more than a day away…”

“Sigh. I’ll be back soon. Ira, listen to unni and don’t leave her side, okay?”

“…Okay.”

I handed Ira over to Ray and put down my luggage.

Honestly, I don’t care about people killing each other, and I don’t care if the demon invasion proceeds as scheduled.

But.

‘…A faster invasion than the original timeline means less time for Ira and me.’

I bit my lip and ran following the status window.

*

– ⎯⎯⎯⎯!!!

The terrible scream of a horse and the sound of something crashing and overturning on the road echoed.

“Y-Your Highness!! Run…! You must run!!”

The reason the coachman survived despite the carriage rolling over wasn’t because he was extraordinary, but because this wasn’t just any carriage.

It was carrying someone who would rank in the top 10 most important people in the Empire, or even the continent, so in a way, it was only natural.

And.

“Your Highness…!!”

“Close the door and come in. Going outside will only get you killed. Hurry.”

Inside the overturned carriage, which hardly looked overturned at all—the interior was so neatly arranged it seemed completely disconnected from the chaos outside—a blue-haired woman spoke.

“Ah, yes! I’m coming in right n…!!”

-Thunk!!

“Kuhak?!”

“…This is bad.”

The coachman sprawled across the carriage entrance. A throwing spear protruded from his chest, killing him instantly.

Now there was no way to close the carriage door.

“Sigh. So this is where my fate ends.”

She quietly closed her eyes.

Despite being born with numerous skills related to the Empire’s wisdom, being the next ruler, and having kingly qualities, she was still just a 16-year-old girl.

She could guess without looking how she would die.

First, she would be violated by these men, then taken somewhere to be forced to bear children in some red-light district before being killed.

She wondered if she could at least stay physically intact for a while if she didn’t resist…

“Come out, princess. If you want to keep your limbs intact…”

“Just so you know, I’m a virgin. Wouldn’t it be better inside here than outside? Can you at least give me that courtesy?”

“……”

She spoke as if resigned, not even looking at the masked thug pursuing her.

The man flinched at her response.

“…What are you talking about…”

“You’re probably all second or third sons from noble families. You’ll want the royal bloodline to continue somehow. Probably from a distant maternal relative. I don’t know your name, but I believe there’s a border count family with royal blood. Are you from there?”

The woman’s calm demeanor as she addressed those pointing swords at her hardly seemed like someone who had been attacked. And finally:

“Could you at least tell me the name of the person who’s going to take my virginity? I think I already know who ordered this.”

“…You monster of a woman.”

The man entered the carriage with his sword and rope. Holding back his irritation at his superior who ordered him to violate this unwomanly creature, he pressed her down to tie her up…

“Hey. Get out, punk.”

“Huh?”

“What?”

Both the woman who wasn’t resisting being tied up and the man tying her turned their heads at the sudden voice.

“I don’t care if this is an 18+ game, but why the hell are you doing SM play in broad daylight outdoors? You crazy bastards.”

A gray-haired man extended his fist sharply while muttering something incomprehensible.