episode_0022

“Oh~ My exceptional beauty must be the best among all the previous female knights. So beautiful~”

“Wow, Rachel? Are you admitting to having exceptional beauty?”

“…I never said such a thing.”

Rachel denied with a bewildered expression.

She had never thought for a moment that her face was exceptional.

“Oh, look at this honey-like skin~ Don’t attack my face~ If you insult me, I might just kill you~”

“Hmm, Rachel. You seemed confident contrary to your appearance?”

“…I have never been confident.”

Rachel denied with a cold face.

For her, who had always kept a distance from femininity, it was an absurd and somewhat shameful remark.

“My swordsmanship is heavenly! The only one who can defeat me is myself!”

“As expected of my bodyguard. People need to have confidence to succeed. Excellent.”

“…I have never reached heavenly heights.”

Tremble.

Wrinkles appeared on Rachel’s usually calm forehead.

Knowing that confidence could lead to arrogance, she had humbly walked every path.

“I’m not weak because I’m a woman! It’s because I refuse to submit to a weak world! I will never submit-!”

“Wow, submitting to a weak world makes you weak. Isn’t this a really cool line? Look again, Rachel.”

“…Please don’t look at me again.”

Rachel’s face, which was always blunt and never uttered embarrassing lines, gradually turned red.

It was a line that felt like a disgrace to her, not fitting with her uncomfortable emotions.

Her fist clenched.

She wanted to put a stop to Elden, who recited lines as if in a reading club, every time he found a favorite passage.

What was the reason for her recently doing things she never did before, things she never cared about?

“With this sword, I will cut through the cloudy sky and illuminate the world brightly. Dreams and hopes will come together to allow everyone to rise.”

“Wow- This is such a romantic line. It gives me chills. Rachel, were you optimistic despite your appearance?”

“…No. I have never enjoyed romance nor been optimistic.”

Tremble tremble tremble tremble.

She considered the world to be vile, dirty, and dark.

That’s why she had lived stubbornly, surviving by burying herself in all kinds of filth and blood.

Romance was trash, and optimism was considered a sin.

Who on earth was the one weaving such pathetic delusions that insulted her beliefs?

As Rachel’s face gradually reddened with repeated shame and humiliation, she said.

“And the body that the gods themselves have sculpted is fantastic even in my eyes~? Hiding this is definitely a sin.”

Chuckle.

“…Please don’t look at me with those wicked eyes.”

“Rachel, I never knew you were surprisingly confident about your body?”

Chuckle.

“…Why are you looking at me like that, even Lady Yeong-ae?”

“Heh… It’s human nature to long for what they can’t have! I envied people with good bodies too much! If the opportunity arises, I want to bathe with Rachel someday!”

“That, that will never happen.”

Rachel’s face turned beet red and sour.

She secretly thought her body was feminine, which made her uncomfortable.

Being plump was just awkward for a knight.

Rachel gritted her teeth.

And she had to ask.

“Who is the one weaving such delusions? I want to know the author.”

She would seek retribution with these teeth.

She would leave a mark on the pathetic tabletop with this fist.

With a vow of revenge, Rachel asked Ariel.

“That… It’s not their real name.”

“It’s okay. Someone must know the truth behind the pen name.”

Arielle hesitated for a moment in front of the seemingly angry Rachel before quietly speaking up.

“My pen name is Gojangnam.”

“Gojangnam… huh.”

Rachel, who had never even heard of this person before, was insulted by the derogatory term.

There was only one way to resolve this.

Find them.

And kill them.

Rachel, who had found one more reason to live, was determined.

**

“Thanks for having lunch with me! It was a great meal. I’ll head to the library now!”

“Yeah. See you tomorrow.”

“Okay!”

After quickly finishing her meal at the Great Hall, Arielle returned to the library, while I headed to the training ground with Rachel.

Holding the novel “The Path the Crimson Lady Walked” in my hand.

“Do you really intend to read that book to the end?”

“Isn’t it interesting? Learning more about the bodyguard who lives under the same roof and spends all day with you is a good thing even as an employer.”

“…It’s just a delusional story written for self-satisfaction.”

“Well, fanfics need delusions, don’t they? Still, thanks to it, I learned about your tastes and hobbies. Especially that you enjoyed monster cooking since childhood was quite pleasant to know.”

In the novel, Rachel was said to spend her time writing and knitting when she wasn’t wielding a sword.

By not denying it, she acknowledged it.

Rachel, who had lived a harsh life, seemed far from anything quaint, so it was surprising that she had such a hobby.

Moreover, the fact that the original Elden did not remember Rachel enjoying that hobby suggested that it was kept quite secretive.

In a medieval era where information was scarce, having such advanced details added to it made it seem like a fanfic written by a sincere stalker who knew about Rachel’s life and created a bright and bold character in hopes of loving and cherishing herself.

As a reader and an employer who had Rachel as a bodyguard, I thought it was truly desirable.

Even though I hadn’t read beyond the beginning, I could see how fiercely Rachel had lived, how much painful suffering she had endured to overcome her inherent weakness.

At the end of it all, despite gaining the highest honor of the Crimson Lady, she was somewhat looked down upon for being a woman, for being of low birth, unable to become a knight of the royal family or the commander of the Grand Duke’s guard.

In terms of honor alone, Rachel, who would not be out of place as the head of a powerful organization rather than a bodyguard of a declining viscount, had many abilities that were not utilized, having to live a fierce life in an underground chamber.

Of course, compared to Rachel, Junwoo had a much more pitiful life, but there seemed to be some resemblance in their struggles.

I must do well.

With that determination, I arrived at the training ground and saw a sinister excitement in Rachel’s face as she turned back.

That determination quickly faded away.

“Get ready. We’re going in right away.”

…It must be a misconception that Rachel’s black pupils appeared red, right?

**

Thud, thud, thud.

It seems that it wasn’t a misconception that the master’s black pupils appeared red after all.

The master suggested bare-handed sparring to fully understand the disciple’s level, and I was currently unable to avoid the sandbag.

Fortunately, unlike the sandbag that was being beaten on a rope, I had arms and legs to defend myself.

Moreover, it was confirmed that what seemed to be Derron’s slow punches before was not a misconception but actually good visual acuity.

“I see.”

Rachel’s punches and movements were visible to the eye, and the next action was predictable.

Does the one who has eaten meat eat well, and the one who has fought well?

It seems that Elden Raphellion’s enjoyment of fighting was not just for venting anger.

Even the reckless trash ruffian had ‘talent’ and ‘skill,’ and it was a means to express it.

Of course, hand-to-hand combat was not Rachel’s specialty, and she could also be a master who showed mercy in the first match with a disciple. However, considering the gap between a UFC champion and an amateur player fighting on the street, just defending was enough to hold her own.

Is that why?

Rachel’s lightly swinging fist became heavy, and her excited face became serious.

In response, I also took it seriously.

If I were to embark on a culinary journey across the continent, I definitely needed the master’s practical combat techniques.

Rather than the meaningless final evaluation of the mock battle, the evaluation duel to assess basic skills was more meaningful.

Whoosh!

Dozens of clashes went back and forth in an instant, and Rachel stopped moving.

My whole body was tingling.

It was definitely a power that was hard to believe was from a woman.

“You have a good natural sense. Your basics are solid too.”

My defense was rushed, so my breathing was uneven, and I had to breathe heavily, leaning on my knees.

My arms and legs were trembling due to lack of exercise.

There may be natural talent, but it seems that physical and muscular exercise is definitely needed.

“Haah- Haah- Am I decent?”

“Yes. However, if your stamina is low, your concentration may waver, so it seems necessary to exercise as well. Your muscle strength is also lacking.”

“Okay. Then….”

Thud!

I raised my upper body with even breathing.

At that moment, Rachel walked outside and had to fall heavily.

Was it to teach to be prepared for a surprise attack?

Or was it to vent frustration at not being able to beat someone who had read a strange fanfic?

The latter seemed closer to the intention, but that wasn’t important.

When humans are in danger, they want to escape.

If escape is impossible, they try to minimize damage in any way possible.

The primal instinct of humans who dislike pain, and my falling down and looking for something to grab to minimize damage was a natural defense and instinctive reaction.

The problem is.

What I touched with that gesture was Rachel’s chest.

I should be grateful that I didn’t grab it.

I should be grateful that I avoided a situation where trying to avoid danger would have caused even greater danger.

I should be grateful that I didn’t become a perverted disciple who grabbed the master’s chest in the first match.

Yes, it’s better to hit the buttocks.

Thwack!

I fell to the ground with a soft and squishy feeling in my palm unintentionally, and it was inevitable that Rachel’s contemptuous face caught my gaze.

“…Was the purpose of the training ultimately this?”

No.

“No. That’s not….”

You’re the one who suddenly fell, right?

“As expected….”

No.

“Truly, you are a master.”

It’s not like that.

I’m not that kind of person.

“You’re pathetic.”

…

…

…

But, it was quite big.