episode_0007

“Hey, I’m Regina Youngae.”

“Indeed. Someone who usually doesn’t show their face suddenly appears today, what’s going on?”

“Setting that aside, who is the person next to you…?”

“Oh my. I heard earlier that it’s Kidney Yeongsik, the writer from the North, Asterin…”

“They look quite mature.”

People walking towards us talk about us. Regina is still standing next to me with a somewhat subdued posture.

“What are you doing? Shall we go together?”

“Yes.. Yes!”

Until now, due to her hunched posture and dark expression, there was no chance to see closely, but now, looking at her, she seems to be around the same age as Selina, David, not much different from our age group.

“By the way, Regina, how old are you?”

“Well.. My sister is about to go to the academy soon, and since I’m one year younger than her… I’m fourteen.”

With her dark face, petite figure, even now, and her constantly hunched posture as if she’s always looking around nervously, Regina doesn’t look like she’s fourteen at all.

“You need to eat a lot of meat. Meat.”

“Pardon? Meat?”

“Don’t skip fruits, especially apples, they contain a lot of nutrients.”

Perhaps influenced by Appleholic Youngae, the thought of apples comes first, so I mention it.

“Hehe. What do you mean by that?”

Now, Regina shows a smile suitable for her age,

“Okay, it’s our turn for the next song.”

“I… I’ve never danced before..”

“Well.. Let’s think of it as a simple game of tag. I’ll move first, and you follow that path. Can you do that?”

“I’ve never played tag either, but… I think I can do that much!”

Regina, who has never played tag, looks embarrassed and tears up for a moment…

“Next, Frillyoungae will also dance!”

“It’s said that His Highness the Prince will join her.”

“I envy that.. I want to dance with Frillyoungae too..”

“No, shouldn’t you be envious that His Highness the Prince is dancing with her?”

“Hey, Sister and His Highness the Prince are going to dance together..”

“I know. So what?”

“But isn’t that inappropriate..”

“If it’s inappropriate?”

“Aren’t they unnecessarily covering the attention they should receive with malicious gossip about us..?”

“Regina, that wouldn’t happen, and even if it did, would it be a problem?”

“Today’s protagonist is your sister..”

Suddenly, thinking that this world is like a novel, I felt embarrassed at the mention of being a protagonist.

“Being a protagonist, rather than the superficial story that everyone is a protagonist, I think you fit the role better.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you’re a growing protagonist. A story of gradually growing in an environment with nothing and gathering comrades to find the true self.”

“Really. Me.”

“Today, let’s open the curtain on that story here.”

“…Yes!”

**

“Seems like Kidney Yeongsik and Regina Youngae are going to dance.”

“Oh, but the next order is for Frillyoungae and the Prince..”

“Indeed, aren’t they trying to volunteer for the supporting role?”

“It seems like they have good chemistry.”

**

“Regina, what are you thinking!”

“Oh, Sister.. I also wanted to dance..”

“Frillyoungae, you seem too excited.”

“You! Do you know the current situation, ha…”

“Alright, let’s stop here. Hmm? You’re a new face, right?”

“Nice to meet you, Your Highness. They call me Kidney from Aster the Writer.”

The eyes that seemed welcoming and those that didn’t. That expression resembled the unpleasant look children made when a disagreeable sponsor visited the orphanage, so I immediately recognized it. Perhaps, the Prince may not be as significant as the rumors suggest.

“Right, Kidney Yeongsik. Since today’s protagonist is Frillyoungae, how about showing some concession?”

The moment the Prince mentions concession, everyone present knows it turns into a command.

**

“Hyung, do you think I could be the main character in my next life?”

“Haha, we are already the protagonists of our own lives…”

“Pi. I don’t believe those empty words. They’re just like what the principal always says. Love your enemies, turn the other cheek if one is struck. Where’s the truth in that?”

“Is that so?”

“If there is a next life, if the next opportunity comes, then I want to be a real protagonist at that time. Not someone who slays dragons with a single blow in a fairy tale, nor an heir to a conglomerate who eventually takes over the chairman position. I want to be a protagonist who can live my own life.”

“Yongju, you will definitely become like that. You won’t even need the next life. Let’s conquer our lives within the next 10 years, no, within 5 years.”

“Got it… We…”

“No, I can’t do that.”

“Kidni-nim?”

“Oh, yes?”

“Well.. It seems like all eyes are on us now, and it’s time to start slowly.”

“Aksa! Play the music again!”

“Isn’t it annoying when people try to control everything themselves?”

“What!? What do you mean by that..”

“People who try to place the world under their feet, trying to move here and there. People who see others as pawns in their chess game, as extras.”

“Can I tell you a secret? In fact, such people are more cowardly than anyone else because they worry more than anyone else that their plans might go awry, that others might not follow their lead.”

“Are our lord and lady also like that..?”

Indeed, there was pain. She looked worried as she glanced down at her toes.

“Yes, there’s no need to be afraid at all. Who are you?”

“Regina.”

“And the protagonist of this life.”

“Well, today I’ll make a special exception and become the fairy from the fairy tale. I’ll cast a spell tonight that you won’t forget.”

“Then let’s go.”

“Ack..!”

“Careful. The most important thing in dancing is to relax your body.”

“So your movements don’t stiffen, take deep breaths and follow my steps one by one.”

“One, two. One, two..”

“Kidni Youngsik and Regina Youngae seem to dance well, don’t they?”

“It doesn’t feel like they’re skilled, but.. unlike the dances of others, it feels like they’re conversing through dance, literally engaging in socializing!”

“Pril Youngae and Prince seem truly noble and elegant..”

“That’s truly an unattainable feeling!”

“Kidni! How did you catch the prince’s eye?”

“Sellina, he seemed quite scared, how can I..”

“Ha.. I really don’t know what to do first. What if I’m out of favor with the prince. Don’t you know the risks associated with being a prince?”

“I do. But still, I have no regrets.”

“You..”

“I didn’t like it, and David?”

“Well, he got drunk and I sent him off in a carriage. Let’s go say goodbye and leave.”

“Okay. Let’s go.”

Clatter!

“Hey..!”

“Regina? What’s wrong?”

“Kidni, are you also going to the academy?”

“Um.. I’m still considering it. Why?”

“I hope we meet again next time..”

“I’d like that too. Let’s meet when we’re older next time. Eat lots of meat like I said, and make sure to eat lots of fruit too.”

“Yes..yes! I’ll eat lots and lots of apples!”

“Hey!!”

“Yes?”

“Not Sellina Youngae, the one with black hair over there!”

“Are you talking about her?”

“Yes. My shoes got wet from the juice she spilled when we were leaving. What should I do?”

“Kidni.. she’s one of the prince’s followers. It’s not good to pick a fight for no reason..”

“If that’s the case, I’m truly sorry. But I didn’t even go near where the drinks were.”

“These are also witnesses. Don’t come out like that!”

“Likewise, those servants. Let’s quickly sort out the situation and the more tangled it gets, the worse it is.”

“I must have been nervous since it was my first ball, and I made a mistake. I’m sorry.”

“It seems like I looked scared just like that Regina over there.”

“What? Did you touch her?”

“Well, if I did. What can you do about it?”

Thinking of it as a teenage prank, but keeps crossing the line.

“It was really funny to see you crying and being cornered at the ball. Over here, it’s quite amusing to see you running away until your backside wears out.”

Was it his fault that he cried earlier?

“Dealing with a kid is truly childish.”

“Huh, calling me childish. If you’ve been insulted, you should respond, right?”

“Yes! That’s correct!”

“You were aiming for this from the beginning, Kidney! Trying to publicly embarrass you to elevate his own status in the eyes of the prince.”

“A duel. Right now. Come to the training ground.”

“Yes. I will do so.”

“What’s going on?”

“Well, they say Kidney Yeongsik and Sabi Yeongsik are having an honorable duel.”

“Pril Youngae looks dark.”

“Maybe because she doesn’t think her birthday will end well.”

“Alright! I’ll be the judge!”

Prince Louis flows along as if it’s all fun, while Lady Pril looks displeased.

“Let’s fight until one surrenders, or until someone faints.”

“Yes. Definitely!”

“One.”

“Two.”

That guy surpasses me physically. He’s bigger than David, who’s already big among our peers. I avoid direct strength fights.

“Three!”

“Ahh!!”

Sabi attempts a wild charge like a boar with his massive body. Surprised by his speed, I dodge to the side.

“Hmm. Dodging? Try dodging this too.”

Swinging his massive sword recklessly, it seems unstructured but reveals a hint of skill from his long grip.

“Oh? There… a blue aura.”

“He seems to be using mana.”

“But this is just a duel…”

“Putting your all into a duel is true consideration!”

He incites those he planted to use mana naturally.

“Don’t dodge cowardly, come at me!”

“Alright. I will.”

Though I’ve sparred with David multiple times and am faster in strength and speed compared to him, my mana usage seems less refined.

“Haah!!”

A wide horizontal slash with the massive sword. Mana is imbued in the swinging blade, but not evenly spread, leaving openings to exploit.

Clang!!

“Huh?”

“What’s that sound..”

In a sound that’s hard to believe, Sabi’s sword splits in two upon clashing with the other sword.