episode_0069

Friede continued to complain and curse at Fernet for a while, and Calix tried to console Fernet and defended Fernet.

Rather than a defense…it was just that fairies are that kind of race and that if you get angry, it’s your own loss, so just ignore it.

After saying goodbye to them, we parted ways.

It was a bit difficult to keep standing in front of the front door of the building.

Before parting ways, I didn’t forget to ask Asha for a new black iron armor to wear. Shawls, skirts, arms and legs, and even breastplates.

The original armor was shattered into pieces.

…It was an item that had only recently been repaired, spending raw money on it.

The request was to make the breastplate large enough to cover only the chest, rather than a large armor covering the entire upper body.

If it covers my abdomen, my movements become too restricted, and it really interferes with my fighting style.

He said he would pay that much for 80 gold, so I asked if I could split the payment over two months.

I also need to save some money for living expenses.

Fortunately, perhaps thanks to our friendship, Asha readily accepted our request for two months of interest-free installments.

—-

“Now that I think about it, Nigel, wasn’t your armor pretty broken too? That needs to be repaired too.”

“Oh, I already ordered mine. According to Landenburg’s article, when purchasing military supplies, it can be processed with public funds simply by submitting documents.”

“I’m a bit jealous of that.”

I came up to my room chatting with Nigel.

Perhaps because the employees had continued to maintain it, the room was as clean as before without a trace of dust.

I put down the weapons I brought with me when I was discharged from the hospital and headed straight to the desk.

I just waited for this moment.

I took out my first cigarette in almost a month and lit it with trembling hands.

And suck it in deeply, very deeply.

It fills my lungs so much that it overflows and pops out.

My mind becomes clear, and the scent of burning mint fills the room.

A cold sensation, similar to a refreshing sensation, spread through my veins to my fingertips.

Okay, this is it.

I really missed this feeling.

The room suddenly fills with pale smoke.

I opened the window to let the smoke flow out, and continued to chain smoke.

Until the ashtray is full.

When I passed the first pack and reached the second pack, Nigel looked at me intently.

With an expression similar to that of a woman who encounters a man running errands on the street.

…Still, she couldn’t bear to say anything, so it must have been her understanding.

Fortunately, the cigarettes here do not contain any harmful ingredients.

If that were the case, there would be no way to make an excuse even if I was stopped.

—-

After that, I went into the bathroom to wash up and go to sleep.

Because I had been at the relief center so far, I couldn’t wash properly.

They said it was difficult to secure water for bathing because there were quite a few patients besides me.

When I lifted my arm and smelled it, there was definitely that strong body odor coming from it.

I wiped my body with a wet towel, but that had its limits.

The peppermint scent of the magic vinegar, which had been smoked enough to make a smoked dish, was at least slightly masking the body odor.

While waiting for the bathtub to fill with water, I took off my disgusting hospital gown.

Even when returning on the carriage and in front of the main gate of the special building, I continued to wear this patient uniform.

The original clothes were stained with all kinds of dirt, including blood, sweat, and ash, and were torn to shreds, turning into rags that couldn’t even be used as rags.

At least I bought enough clothes last time, so I can just wear them now.

It seems like I end up discarding my clothes every time I fight…

Is this the fate of a warrior? Who would have thought that even clothing would become expendable?

I threw the patient’s clothes into the basket and spent some time sitting on the edge of the bathtub.

Then, suddenly, my eyes met my face in the mirror.

…Now that I think about it, it’s been a month since I’ve looked in the mirror.

What should I say?

A woman I had never seen before was looking at me.

Maybe it’s because I haven’t been exposed to sunlight for a while. A face so white it makes you pale.

The eyes are sad and sunken, and the eyes have darkened slightly as if they are tired.

Cheeks that are slightly hollow and look pale.

Even the hair that sank and stuck together pitifully.

…Who are you?

Where on earth has the sharp-eyed female warrior gone?

In the mirror, only a beautiful woman with a sickly and exhausted appearance was looking at me with a puzzled expression.

I was in big trouble.

—-

Damian appeared in my dream that day.

Damien, who became a warrior, finally saved the world and was getting married to his lover who had been waiting for him at the wedding hall of the church.

Many guests were applauding them…they were all familiar faces.

Calix and Edgar nodded happily, and Asha, Friede, and Lana were smiling.

Ophelia bit her handkerchief and shed angry tears.

The officiant was Marquis Ludwig, dressed in priestly clothing.

As Damian approached the bride, the bride gently lifted her veil and blushed shyly.

Hair flows down beyond the veil.

Damn it, it wasn’t green hair.

Black color. Yes, it was black. It’s a crazy dream.

“Will the bride and groom swear before the Lord that they will love each other forever?”

“I swear!”

Damian answered cheerfully.

The woman wearing a pure white dress shyly opened her mouth in response.

This is a nightmare. You have to wake up quickly.

– Kwaaang!

At that moment, the door to the wedding hall exploded with an explosion.

“I cannot agree with this marriage!!”

…It was Knut again.

Really, what is it? this.

“I don’t agree either!!”

A loud roar echoed through the sky.

With an explosion of alcohol, someone fell, shattering the ceiling of the wedding hall.

It was Orhan wearing only pants.

So, the three people tangled together and started fighting.

I lost consciousness at the dizzying sight just looking at it.

Even if it’s in a dream.

—-

The day dawned.

“……”

As soon as I woke up, I took out a cigarette again and asked. Because I couldn’t survive without smoking.

I feel like I’m going crazy. Why are you doing this these days?

Wouldn’t it be better to dream of the dead?

…Anyway, I need to think of a way to deal with it first.

It gives me the creeps that I might end up dreaming of raising children later.

I sit at my desk, blow out smoke, and think.

Since the lectures haven’t resumed yet, there wasn’t anything else to do today.

okay. It’s a terrible thing, but let’s say there’s some crazy nobleman wooing me…okay, wooing me.

How should I respond?

I feel like I want to do it like Asha, but if I do something like that without a good reason when we’re not sparring, it’ll be very difficult to clean up after it.

I continue to think while roughly raking my hair.

First, let’s divide up the enemies.

If you know your enemy and know yourself, you can always win.

First of all, those who will listen to you verbally.

In this case, it would be okay to just decline. They are the best ones if you can just endure the unpleasantness.

All you have to do is think about what you should say to refuse.

Second, there are people who cannot understand you through words and will carry out shady tricks. Among them, there are those that won’t cause any harm even if you touch them.

It would be a problem to touch them openly, but they can do things like secretly attack them.

Obvious enemies.

Among the imperial nobles, there are quite a few evil people on the human side.

If you think about it later, these guys should actually be eliminated.

Although he said he would protect people, that didn’t mean he would protect those guys in the first place.

Third, there are people who do tricks, but can’t get away with it if they mess with them. Like high-ranking nobles or royal family.

I don’t know if people of that caliber would be obsessed with me…but you never know.

This case is the most troublesome. There is no way for me to do anything about it.

Maybe I should ask Marquis Ludwig or something…

Or will it completely eliminate the merits of approaching me?

This method seems to be quite effective, but it may become a problem if it is overdone.

Because it would be difficult if the empire considered me to be an uncontrollable person.

It’s important to keep the line.

Since there is no way to do anything about appearance, let’s move on. I have no choice but to wait for recovery.

then…

Think about it and make a plan.

Anyway, you don’t know what variables may arise until you actually experience it, but it will be convenient later to think about countermeasures in advance.

And three days later, Marquis Ludwig finally came.

—-

When I saw Marquis Ludwig for the first time in a few months, he looked no different from before.

Wearing a navy blue uniform and coat. Even the magic candle in your mouth. It was the same as then.

When the Marquis saw my face, he opened his mouth in surprise and let out a soft exclamation.

Don’t admire. Because I’m annoyed.

Nigel politely saluted the Marquis, then put down the refreshments he had received from the restaurant and left.

“It’s been a while. As for the noble girl, Shinsoo, what should I say… It’s not that she’s become brighter… Yes, she’s become pitiful.”

From the beginning, you start saying unlucky things.

Poor thing, I didn’t know that word would come to refer to me.

“As soon as I met you, it made me feel bad. I’m still worried that the boys will cling to me because of that.”

“Hmm? Do you hate that kind of attention? You too will have to find a spouse someday.”

The Marquis, sitting on the reception sofa, shook out the ashes of the magic candle into the ashtray.

The slightly twisted eyebrows gave off an expression that seemed a little perplexing.

“Until dirt gets in my eyes, that will never happen.”

It’s the same thing if dirt gets in my eyes.Spouse, it’s a terrible thing to even imagine.

It’s impossible for a man to begin with because it’s mentally unreasonable, and once he’s like this, he doesn’t feel moved even when he sees the woman.

I will be single for the rest of my life. It has already been decided that way.

“Hmm… Is that the case even if the other person is a person of high status? For example, the royal family.”

You’re persistent. Plus, it’s strangely specific.

…You don’t mean that they’ve set up some kind of dirty trick against me, right?

I felt a little uneasy.

I hope not. There is no way to handle it if the royal family and the marquis are one in the same group.

“It’s the same even if you’re an emperor and not a member of the royal family, so I hope you don’t make me say it too many times.”

“If the girl’s intentions are so strong… then, I guess there’s nothing we can do about it. I understand.”

The Marquis sucked in smoke again.

It was an attitude I couldn’t tell if he was convinced, had given up, or was just trying to move on.

“Then, let’s get to the point.”

“Yes, I said I had something to say about the imperial family. He said there was something more important to talk about than that. That’s good. There was something I wanted to ask too.”

“I want to ask… Yes, since I am a guest, answering the owner’s questions comes first. Tell me. If I know anything, I will answer.”

It may seem like you’re being considerate, but in the end, you have to tell me first.

It was a questionable attitude until the end.

It’s as if they are subtly trying to change what they were originally trying to convey to me, depending on what my question is.

What do you think? Is my suspicion too much?

Well, it doesn’t matter. Regardless, the questions I would ask were already decided.

Then… shall we hear the answer?

“About my mother, Aimela Median. Did you know?”

Okay, answer me.

Ludwig.