Ch.5151. Can I Really Live the Sweet Life I’ve Always Wanted?

“Guh, guhack!!”

“Monster! Run away!”

A devastating scene that had turned to ruins in an instant.

As I stepped out of the carriage, bodies were already scattered across the ground everywhere.

I swung my sword to quickly assess the situation, but my mouth fell open in bewilderment.

‘Why are these guys so weak?’

I had thought I would easily defeat elite-level knights.

After all, my stats had increased dramatically from hunting magical beasts in Evis territory, and hadn’t I also obtained the Raiden Sword?

But this…

The knights were swept away like autumn leaves with just a single strike.

Even the elite knights were the same.

And this was me holding back, afraid of drawing too much attention.

Had I already become this strong?

“Ugh, urgh!”

“Guhack!”

Due to my overwhelming power that I could hardly control, I now stood at a distance, merely maintaining my position.

I only caught those who tried to escape.

Finally, the ambush scene came to an end.

The captured survivors were all foaming at the mouth and thrashing on the ground, likely having bitten into poison capsules hidden in their mouths.

As I stared blankly at the situation, a knight approached me discreetly and spoke.

“…Sir Jawill Wilson? Thank you for your hard work.”

He was one of the elite knights, but what was his name again?

Edric, was it?

“You too, Sir Edric. Unfortunately, there’s no one left to capture alive.”

“Indeed, they seemed quite skilled, but they didn’t look like ordinary bandits, did they?”

“No, bandits wouldn’t carry poison in their mouths.”

“Sigh… Thanks to you, Sir Jawill Wilson, we handled this smoothly.”

“Not at all. I only did what needed to be done.”

As I bowed my head, applause erupted from all around.

Perhaps it was the impact of taking down an elite knight with a single blow?

The cheers were just a bonus.

Of course, I didn’t mind it. Except for one thing.

“Hurrah for Sir Jawill Wilson!!”

“Did you see how those bandits went down with just one strike?”

“Bandits? They were clearly at least elite-level! If it weren’t for Sir Jawill Wilson, we might have died tragically.”

“He’s a knight of House Alphonse, right? With skills like that, he must be the captain of the knights!”

It was fortunate that ‘Selden Alphonse’ wasn’t getting the attention, but how should I explain this uncomfortable feeling?

With slumped shoulders, I boarded the carriage, and Jawill Wilson raised both hands above his shoulders in excitement.

“Hurrah for Jawill Wilson!!”

Should I kill him?

No, if I kill Jawill Wilson now, ‘Selden Alphonse’ would die too.

I let out a short sigh and sat down on the carriage sofa.

“Happy about becoming famous because of me?”

“When I heard people chanting my name into the carriage, I felt shivers all over my body.”

“Weren’t you looking like you were being dragged to a slaughterhouse earlier? Are you okay now?”

“W-well, not exactly, but it felt strange. Like I had become the protagonist of this world.”

I felt the same way.

When I first won a battle after possessing this body, the knights’ cheers left an impression that lingered even now.

However, I don’t want to be the protagonist.

To become the protagonist in this world, how many sacrifices would I have to make? Why would I willingly throw myself into that?

I raised the corner of my mouth at Jawill Wilson’s words.

“Do you want to be the protagonist?”

“Yes, isn’t that natural for a man?”

“Then train hard. That’s the answer for you.”

“I understand! But is it okay to stand out like this?”

“You were jumping with excitement earlier, and now you’re worried again?”

“Ha, now that the incident is resolved, reality hits again…”

It was fortunate, amid the misfortune, that attention was drawn to ‘Jawill Wilson’ rather than ‘Selden Alphonse.’

Since I was currently playing the role of Jawill Wilson, I could handle any problems myself if they arose.

“We haven’t even arrived at the imperial palace yet. Just keep your mouth shut, and I’ll handle everything, so don’t worry.”

“So I really just need to stay quiet?”

“Yes, don’t do anything, and if someone greets you, just be polite.”

Jawill Wilson fidgeted with his fingers, which didn’t match his large build.

If I had known it would be like this, should I have brought Leo Sergang instead?

Yes, that’s right.

If I were only thinking about handling the immediate situation, he would be much better than the guy in front of me.

I admit he’s handsome and capable of carrying out missions with gravitas.

Of course, that’s if I were prepared to ruin the original story.

‘It’s strange.’

Unintentionally, I keep connecting with the protagonist’s companions, and though not exactly the same, I feel like I’m following a similar development.

‘Can I really live the sweet life I want?’

I absolutely must.

Objectively speaking, I’m unsuitable to be a hero.

I don’t have an ounce of self-sacrifice, not to mention patience, which is essential for a hero.

It’s not that I don’t have feelings.

Luna is crazy, so she’s an exception, but I’ve grown somewhat attached to Leo Sergang and the informant, Riden Solis.

I desperately want to keep them as my people rather than attaching them to the protagonist.

However, it’s unpredictable how this small spark might spread.

I had to give up what needed to be given up.

Screech-! Thud!

“We’ve arrived.”

As soon as the door opened, I found myself squinting.

I thought it was because of the sunlight, but it was the reflection from the imperial walls that dazzled my eyes.

For a moment, I was mesmerized by the beautiful imperial building.

Having been confined to exile until now, the only places I’d visited were Cheonsunji and Evis, the hunter’s territory.

I felt like a country bumpkin entering the city for the first time.

Stepping out of the carriage, I bowed respectfully to Jawill Wilson, who was playing the role of ‘Selden Alphonse.’

“Young master, shall we go?”

*

“I heard you were ambushed on your way here.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Edric told me your performance was incredible.”

Although the event was scheduled for two days later and I was planning to rest immediately, a man named Butler Oliver came personally with tea to my resting place.

He was clearly Sairine’s butler.

It was obvious he was trying to figure out what kind of person I was.

Fortunately, Jawill Wilson was resting in another room, so I could converse somewhat more comfortably.

“Haha, Sir Edric is being too modest. I merely assisted from the side.”

“Is that so? Not only Edric but other knights said the same thing. Perhaps Sir Jawill Wilson is the modest one?”

“I’m flattered to receive such praise at our first meeting.”

Butler Oliver gently placed the teacup on the table and continued.

“Do you know why Princess Sairine Silonia invited Sir Jawill Wilson and Sir Selden Alphonse to the imperial event?”

“Because we crossed paths recently in Evis territory.”

“…Pardon?”

For a moment, Butler Oliver seemed surprised by my unexpected answer.

There was no need to hide it.

I judged it better to take control of the conversation by pretending to be honest.

“It’s rare to see a woman wielding a sword with the imperial crest, isn’t it? I had only guessed, but now that I’ve received this invitation from the imperial palace, I’m certain.”

“Ah… I suppose there’s no need to hide it now. The woman you met in Evis territory was indeed our princess.”

“It’s truly an honor to be invited to the imperial palace for what could have been a passing encounter.”

Honestly, I was bored.

Conversations among nobles were already yawn-inducing due to etiquette and formalities, so how much worse would it be with imperial people?

As I gritted my molars, telling myself to endure for just two days, Oliver smiled brightly.

“You’re a much more admirable person than I’d heard. In truth, Sir Selden Alphonse was invited as a means to invite Sir Jawill Wilson; there was no other reason.”

“Ah, I see.”

“It’s shameless of me to say this after you’ve already been ambushed on your way here, but I’ll ensure that House Alphonse suffers no harm.”

He truly was shameless.

It was common knowledge to anyone with even a slight interest in the imperial affairs that the princesses were fighting for succession.

Given Sairine’s personality, she might have invited me with simple intentions, but Oliver would be different.

It was like grasping at straws, wasn’t it?

The second princess probably had no one to support her at the moment.

While the situation was pitiful, this was also part of the story where Princess Sairine would meet the protagonist, Serion Raikers.

Moreover, although there was no evidence, the assassins who ambushed us were likely sent on Princess Etherian’s orders.

There had already been a death threat just for accepting the invitation, so building a friendship with Princess Sairine?

That would be like digging my own grave.

I needed to draw a line somewhere.

“I am merely a knight who receives a stipend. I sincerely hope that House Alphonse suffers no harm.”

“I understand completely. Sir Jawill Wilson is simply visiting due to a casual acquaintance with Princess Sairine.”

“I feel much more at ease hearing you say that.”

Knock-knock!

At that moment, a knock was heard, followed by an unfamiliar male voice.

“The princess wishes to see you. May I come in?”

Oliver hastily rose from his chair and smiled at me.

“It seems Princess Sairine has come to see you.”

I also stood up from my chair, doing my best to show proper etiquette.

With a ‘clunk,’ the door opened.

With an artificial smile, I straightened my respectfully bowed back, only to find my entire body freezing.

The one who entered through the door was not Princess Sairine, but Princess Etherian.