episode_0011

For a commoner to achieve the word ‘success,’ there weren’t many ways.

Especially as a woman.

To become a great merchant, marry into a noble family of a duke or higher, become a concubine for a nobleman, or even become the top courtesan in the kingdom’s largest pleasure district.

Due to humble origins, the path to success was long and narrow.

And that path unfolded for Rachel, born in a small village in the western part of the Elpherion Kingdom.

“Dad, buy me a sword.”

At the age of 13, while helping her father, a tenant farmer, Rachel suddenly spoke up.

“What? A sword all of a sudden?”

“Yeah!”

“Why?”

“To make you happy, I need to earn a lot of money, right?”

“…Haha. Our daughter, your dad is already happy.”

“People said you should have big dreams. I’m going to become a personal bodyguard for a noble. It’s safe and you can earn a lot of money!”

“…Hmm. Rachel, listen well. Nobles don’t entrust their protection to women.”

“Why?”

“Well… because they are inherently weak.”

Weak.

It wasn’t just for that reason that Rachel realized at the age of 17.

It was when she entered her fourth year of sword training, started out of stubbornness.

It was due to inherent weakness and the prevailing male chauvinism in noble society.

That women were mere possessions to them.

That commoner women were just ‘sex slaves’ to them.

They didn’t entrust women with the heavy duty of risking their lives, protecting their honor, and fulfilling their mission through loyalty and courage.

It was unfair.

She was confident, showed exceptional talent in swordsmanship, yet wasn’t even given a chance, which was unfair.

“I don’t care! I’m going to become a personal bodyguard no matter what!”

Stubbornness and pride.

Rachel didn’t give up on her sword, and at the age of 19, her father passed away in an accident, starting to stain her hands with blood.

Her anger towards the world exploded.

She wanted to overcome the injustice.

She willingly jumped into a rough path.

It was during this time that she headed towards the Winterfell Northern Territory engulfed in the chaos of war.

She overcame whatever came her way, trampled over whatever came her way.

And as a result, she acquired the title of ‘[Violet Knight].’

However.

She failed repeatedly.

In the personal bodyguard recruitment test.

Having lived a narrow path, she applied to the recruitment test held by a noble family of a duke or higher, always scoring well, yet had to taste the bitterness of defeat.

She didn’t give up.

And in the end, she finally became the personal bodyguard of the Duke.

[Laferion Duke]

Her determination to succeed shone through, finally fulfilling the promise she made with her father to succeed.

Of course, there was a vulgar aspect to why she could become the personal bodyguard of the Duke.

“Hehe. It was my own voice that convinced my father to accept you.”

“Thank you. I will protect you with my life for the Duke.”

“There’s no need for that.”

“Yes?”

“If you strip down to your underwear, I’ll pay you double the agreed salary.”

“……”

Rachel gripped the hilt of her sword, still sheathed in its scabbard.

On her first day as a bodyguard.

Rachel, who almost ended up cutting the Duke’s throat, was saved by her overwhelming aura.

“…Hey, you don’t have to strip down if you just take the agreed salary.”

Despite her continuous efforts to take her own life, an unfortunate incident was avoided as the Duke accepted her vulgar proposal.

Of course, she didn’t stop trying to take her own life.

But the reason Rachel didn’t give up was that, money aside, it was just too comfortable.

Elden Laferion.

He never asked for help from others when he felt threatened.

He was a combat enthusiast who wanted to take matters into his own hands and didn’t hesitate to get his hands dirty.

Moreover, he had quite exceptional fighting skills.

He was able to take down most opponents single-handedly, so there wasn’t much for him to do.

Of course, in Rachel’s eyes, it was a pitiful brawl, but unlike other noble young men, he had enough skill to protect himself, so there was no need to exert himself against the lackeys.

Although he was employed as a bodyguard, he often found himself accompanying a master who didn’t need protection, making his job more like a honey-like workplace where only gossip was constantly brought up.

And so, five years passed.

“You need to go to West 18th Street for the black market.”

Even though there was nothing to do, he always accompanied Elden on his outings.

Whenever they arrived at a new territory, he always made a stop at the black market.

Afterwards, they would go to a tavern, drink heavily, and cause a ruckus.

However.

“…Let’s go to a restaurant. A place full of romance.”

The order was reversed.

It was strange, but he visited the restaurant based on his past memories.

And.

‘It’s strange.’

Not only did he allow introspection, but he was also too strange to ask to become a ‘master’ to himself.

Furthermore, he didn’t utter a single word of gossip that he habitually spat out towards himself.

Moreover, he, who had lived his whole life as a troublemaker, didn’t even touch alcohol.

‘…What’s going on?’

Moreover, when leaving the restaurant, he left a tip twenty times the cost of the meal.

He had never seen him ‘pay’ when he came out to the commoner’s street, whether it was a tavern or the black market.

For him, the lower class was nothing more than a free playground.

Although he never initiated conversation, he couldn’t help but ask out of curiosity.

“You’re not drinking today?”

“The sun is already high, what’s the point of drinking.”

“….”

When did he not drink?

Swallowing the words, he asked another question.

“What do you mean by ‘master’?”

“Just as it sounds. You’ve been watching me for five years, so you know where I’m lacking. I’ll start tomorrow, so get ready.”

At his answer, Rachel thought.

‘…Is he planning to start a real fight.’

**

Chirp chirp chirp.

Waking up to the chirping of birds is truly a pleasant experience.

Moreover, waking up to the bright light streaming in through the window in the late morning is truly a luxury.

For Lee Jun-woo, who woke up at 6 a.m. to the sound of the garbage truck and prepared for work, it was nothing short of a luxury.

After enjoying a refreshing morning and finishing his quiet bath, he got dressed with the help of the maids.

“Shall we depart?”

“Yes.”

Following Rendler, he headed towards the nature where the final evaluation match would take place.

The first full meeting where Remyan would appear would be held at the nature’s main arena.

Similar to the Great Hall, the arena was a somewhat sacred place where only ‘nobles and extreme poor’ could enter.

Therefore.

“I’ll wait outside.”

“Okay.”

Rendler couldn’t enter the arena.

No one except the extreme poor could enter.

And even the extreme poor had to undergo a body search by the guards to enter.

As he entered the arena through strict security, he saw the three members of Regret sitting at a large round table.

If the Great Hall had a glamorous atmosphere, the arena had a stiff and solemn atmosphere.

“Huh? You…?”

As he walked down the red carpet towards the table, the three members of Regret greeted him with faces that seemed to have seen something they shouldn’t have.

Ignoring the blatant stares, he sat down at the table.

And, he decided to make the first move.

“I am just here because I did not hear a response to the withdrawal declaration. Do not worry, I have not withdrawn my intention to withdraw.”

Before hearing any annoying chatter, I made a preemptive strike.

In response, Blund chuckled and replied, “Haha. What’s there to worry about? I was just surprised to see you again.”

“I was also unaware.”

Deron said, casting an uncomfortable glance.

“Not receiving a response to the withdrawal… Perhaps your declaration was a kind of plan to attract attention.”

“Well, that could be possible. Master Deron. You truly have exceptional insight.”

“Haha. Is that so? Then you’ve played a big move. I didn’t know you were so clever as to devise such a plan.”

…Even if I make a preemptive strike, it seems I can’t avoid the annoying chatter that scratches at my nerves.

Already, the thought of having to participate in a 15-day evaluation battle that is both uninteresting and meaningless makes me sigh.

I wanted to retort to those who were trying to sell my pure desire to escape, but the annoying chatter was bound to continue, so I responded with silence.

It’s just painful.

Let them speculate and sell as they please.

That is their specialty, and those with kind hearts should understand with broad-mindedness.

I simply hoped that this pointless evaluation battle would start soon.

Fortunately.

“The 3rd Grand Duchess, Remiange Winterfell, has arrived.”

As the entrance to the arena opened, it signaled the beginning.

The start of the tearful competition.

Of course, for me, it was the start of executing Plan B.

Swiftly, I stood up from my seat, following the three regretful characters who rose like springs.

All eyes turned towards the open door.

And then.

Clack, clack.

I saw a woman approaching the round table.

In a white dress, with a white fox mask, white hair, she looked like a pure white angel.

“Nice to see you all.”

The woman stood at the head of the table and greeted everyone.

“I am Remiange Winterfell.”

As her blue eyes hinted at what was to come, she began to look around at the male lead candidates.

‘…’

When her gaze met mine, I felt a subtle emotion.

With a smile, she greeted me individually.

“Ho ho. Nice to ‘meet’ you again, Elden Raphelion.”