episode_0004

The old man sent me a piercing gaze.

It was so intense that it was hard to avoid his eyes.

His determination was evident.

“What…!”

Marry the granddaughter of Geomseong.

What kind of crazy talk is this?

It’s impossible.

No, I don’t want to.

I can’t.

“Did you mishear? Just get engaged.”

“Me? With Geomseong’s granddaughter? Just ask someone else to do it!”

Please don’t involve me in this delusion of Geomseong.

I want to live.

“No, you’ll be fine.”

“…Is there any way out of this? Ah! What if they don’t believe in my existence over there.”

What if I go there and end up being executed by Geomseong….

“It’s okay. I’ll give you evidence that you’re related to Geomseong.”

“Evidence?”

“Take it.”

The old man handed me a sword.

The sword he cherished.

A sword that even my peculiar talent could handle.

He handed me the sword so willingly.

“This should be enough to prove that you’re me.”

“….”

And this is supposed to be evidence of being related to Geomseong.

‘But… it seems real?’

There was no falsehood in the old man’s eyes.

‘Really… Geomseong?’

Unknowingly, I started to believe that the old man was Geomseong.

‘No way…. Geomseong in this rural area….’

Isn’t Geomseong’s main residence in the southern part of the kingdom?

This is the eastern part.

There’s no way Geomseong would be here.

‘And also….’

It was hard to believe that the old man was Geomseong.

Especially considering the way the old man had behaved so far.

A lifestyle attitude that seemed far from nobility.

A typical lazy appearance.

‘How could someone like that be Geomseong! It must be a lie…?’

But I started to believe that the old man was Geomseong, at least in the aspect of being good with a sword.

Just a little.

I needed more concrete evidence.

To prove that the old man’s words were true.

“Other than this sword, do you have any other proof…?”

“Hmm… well, it doesn’t matter. Take it.”

It was a ring.

But that ring….

“It’s the crest of the Messiah Viscount family….”

The ring was engraved with the crest of the Messiah family.

It meant one thing.

A member of the family!

Now I had no choice but to believe.

That the old man in front of me was really Geomseong….

In a voice so small that the old man couldn’t hear, I murmured.

“It wasn’t a lie….”

The old man… no, Lord Geomseong.

He really was Geomseong.

Now that I think about it, what I thought was snoring every night was actually meditation, as Lord Geomseong had said.

‘Ugh! Is it blinding?’

Some kind of aura seemed to shine behind Lord Geomseong.

Noble!

And not just any noble, but a descendant of the Viscount family!

And known to the public as Geomseong!

Unconsciously, as I received the sword from Geomseong, I knelt down on one knee.

Like a knight’s oath.

“Why are you making such a fuss about receiving a sword?”

“I have to show respect when receiving a sword from Lord Geom…!”

“You’re being ridiculous. Hmm… wait? Judging by your attitude… do you not believe that I am Geomseong…?”

“No! I believe you! I always have!”

I quickly thought of excuses.

“So I brought news about your granddaughter!”

“I see. Anyway, what I’m asking of you is… superficial.”

Superficial?

First, I need to answer.

“Yes? Yes!”

“Marry my granddaughter. Just say that Geomseong has come to seek a marriage alliance.”

“Understood! Grandfather…?”

Now that she’s my fiancée’s grandfather, it’s right to call him grandfather.

But it seems like I made a mistake.

Geomseong’s face showed displeasure.

“Are you joking?”

“Yes?”

“You’re just a temporary measure. My granddaughter will be free to date and get engaged as she pleases.”

“Ah… I see.”

“Therefore, just call me ‘Nochinnae’ as usual.”

It was truly pitiful… I didn’t feel sorry at all.

“I don’t want to get engaged either.”

I didn’t sincerely welcome the fact that I was engaged to the granddaughter of Geomseong.

In the eyes of the public, Geomseong’s granddaughter was beautiful and well-known.

But I didn’t believe such rumors.

“Because she’s Geomseong’s granddaughter.”

It was clear that these rumors were spread by those who flattered Geomseong’s granddaughter.

In reality, the nobility’s appearance is like a heavily photoshopped profile picture.

It might be possible that she looks dignified like a Nochinnae.

“In that case, I just have to act as a fake fiancé.”

“Yes, that’s right. But let me warn you. If you lay a finger on my granddaughter, I will kill you.”

Since it was a threat delivered with a deadly intent, I made sure to remember it.

I became stronger.

Even though I became stronger, it was still difficult to survive as a Nochinnae.

So, I made up my mind.

I would never touch the granddaughter.

“Understood!”

By the way, being engaged to Geomseong’s granddaughter…

Honestly, there was something that made me happy.

It wasn’t because I was happy to be engaged to someone as prestigious as Geomseong’s granddaughter.

“I can finally repay the favor.”

I was happy that I could repay the favor to Nochinnae.

Except for the fact that it was as natural as breathing, this was practically the first time Nochinnae had asked me for something.

It would be strange to refuse a favor from a benefactor.

“By the way, if I go to the Messiah family, and they ask me about Geomseong, what should I say?”

“Don’t say unnecessary things. It will only complicate things if they come looking for me.”

“…Because of a promise?”

I wonder what promise Nochinnae is trying so hard to keep.

I didn’t ask further because it seemed like he had no intention of telling me.

“Yes, because of a promise. Just let them know that I am doing well for now.”

“Okay, understood.”

By the way, the Messiah Viscount…

This is the eastern part of the Deteiosk Kingdom.

The Messiah Viscount was located in the south.

“It will probably require quite a bit of money for the journey, right?”

Of course, I could earn the travel expenses myself.

But considering Nochinnae’s intentions, I had to hurry.

Nochinnae threw a bundle at me, a wallet that looked familiar.

“Huh?”

Suddenly, I remembered the first meeting with Nochinnae ten years ago.

“This is the wallet I pickpocketed?”

If that’s the case, then what’s inside this…

I opened the bundle.

As I suspected.

There were magic stones inside the bundle.

“If you sell this, you can cover the travel expenses and even the living expenses in the Messiah Viscount.”

“You still have this?”

“I have no choice but to keep it. Who would buy magic stones in a rural place like this?”

It was a valid point.

Wait?

That means…

“In the end, you can’t use this, right?”

“It might be difficult in the east, but you can sell it even in the outskirts of the south.”

“The travel expenses to the outskirts of the south…”

“You have to earn it yourself.”

“…Yes.”

It wasn’t a difficult task.

Just a bit bothersome.

Was that all I had to say?

Nochinnae lay down on the bed.

I was about to lie down as well.

“What are you doing?”

“Yes?”

“We have to leave.”

I stepped outside for a moment to check the time.

It was dark.

Although it was still early evening, the sun set early in the mountains.

“Now?”

Who in the world sets off at this hour!

“Yes, now.”

It was me.

Without even daring to complain, I started packing my things.

But…

“What kind of luggage do you need? Just take what I gave you.”

“…Yes.”

My luggage was simplified.

With tears in my eyes, I was about to leave the house under Nochinnae’s coercion.

Right before leaving.

Out of pure curiosity, I asked Nochinnae.

“But what if your granddaughter genuinely starts to like me?”

I may not say it myself, but I’m handsome.

I learned swordsmanship from Geomseong, so I’m strong.

I can’t help but be popular.

“…Do as you please.”

“Well… just in case… if my granddaughter likes me but I don’t like her?”

“I have no intention of manipulating people’s hearts.”

“…What if my granddaughter falls for another man while we’re engaged?”

“Then, you can come back. Stand as my name, and be the guarantor of that engagement.”

“Yes, I understand!”

I didn’t say a separate farewell to my grandmother.

At least five years.

If five years pass, I’ll inevitably meet her again, as per the promise with my grandmother.

***

“By the way, the outside world…”

A reaction as if a being descending from the mountains to the mundane world.

But I couldn’t help but have this reaction.

I’ve lived in the mountains for a long time.

Even if I’ve been far away, the village below the mountain was all there was.

“Come to think of it, I lived in the city when I was ten.”

Before meeting my grandmother.

Until then, I lived as a pickpocket in the city.

But now, I have no memory of the city.

“Well… I guess I’ll have to become a mercenary for now.”

I needed money urgently.

There was no place nearby to sell the magic stones.

A poor eastern region.

Tears cloud my vision at the thought of my poor hometown.

Anyway, as my grandmother said, I had to go to the outskirts of the southern region to sell the magic stones.

“Should I go there after a long time?”

To earn money, I headed to the largest city in the east.

A three-day walk.

It’ll be quick.

Arrived.

Mullid, the largest city in the east.

Infinitely smaller compared to the small cities in the south or center.

Still, it was the largest city in the east.

The armed guards at the gate were quite strict for the largest city in the east.

“The village guards don’t even carry swords or wear armor.”

There were times when there were no guards.

In that regard, the difference between the city and the countryside was felt.

“Please show your ID.”

“Here you go.”

The gatekeeper carefully examined my ID.

Perhaps the gatekeeper confirmed that I was a commoner….

“Take off your robe.”

The words were curt.

“City guards really do treat commoners with no respect.”

Seeing how easily they spoke, I understood.

The guards in the countryside are more gentle with visitors.

“Anyway….”

I took off my robe as the gatekeeper instructed.

The gatekeeper briefly hesitated when he saw my hair.

“Understandable. Black hair isn’t easy to see.”

If he thought that way, it was understandable for the gatekeeper to react like that.

“Go ahead….”

“Yes, thank you.”

And so, I entered Mullid.

As I entered, old memories suddenly flooded back.

It was ten years ago.

This city was where I pickpocketed magic stones.

“It feels like I’ve come back!”

Arsus, the black-haired pickpocket, returned to Mullid.

***

The guard who let Arsus through, Las.

Las hurriedly moved with a stern expression.

“It must be him. It’s definitely him.”

All the clues pointed to him.

Black hair, black eyes.

Plus, exceptional looks.

“It’s definitely him from ten years ago.”

He seemed to be in the right age range.

So it was certain that it was him.

“I finally found him…!”

In the deep alleyways of Mullid.

There, Las quietly disappeared.