Chapter 161 – Stop Kidding!

Nobility.

An elite group that has fallen into the electorate.

During the three years I fell in this world, I could count on one hand the things I saw, and during the two years I lived as a poor man, I hadn’t seen a single one.

Such a noble is right next to me right now. Even with arms crossed with me.

“Is it silver grade? I wrote the letter of recommendation the day after I returned.”

“No. I haven’t been promoted yet.”

Unlike me, who was confused, Karen was carefree. She asked me what happened after the Battle of Yeongji, and I gave an appropriate answer as I walked down the hallway.

But we weren’t alone in the hallway.

“Karen, the banquet is in full swing, where are you going?”

The old lady-in-waiting grabbed Karen and asked. If you grab hold of a noble and ask him, it seems that he ranks high among the ladies-in-waiting.

“I’m going to the balcony for a moment. I have something to share with this person. It doesn’t take long.”

“Is that so. If possible, please come back before the Marquis finds you.”

“Don’t worry, chamberlain.”

The chief chamberlain bowed his head and continued walking the way he had been going.

‘…When I just turned around, the chief chamberlain’s eyes were fierce.’

Is it my delusion?

After a while I realized that those eyes were not an illusion.

Even after the chamberlain, I ran into other ladies-in-waiting, and they also looked at me with various emotions.

Eyes are hot

Karen saw my expression and tilted her head.

“You don’t look good. Is there anything you don’t like?”

These fucking arms. I couldn’t say that, so she softened it.

“There is nothing I don’t like. It is such a wonderful banquet. It’s just that I’m a little nervous.”

“Nervous?”

“Yes. Karen-nim in the dress is so beautiful… And being close to the street, to be honest, it stimulates me too much.”

I expressed my request to stay away as indirectly as possible.

If you mix it with a compliment, you won’t be offended.

“…”

Karen stared blankly at me. Stop walking too.

Did I do something wrong?

It’s not. I think I said it right…

Karen opened her soft lips as she turned her head quickly.

“You say those words so easily. Even if you have a lover.”

“Yes?”

“There was a word for someone like you… Well, yes. Lovelace. Are you a prostitute?”

“Yes..?”

Why is the story going like that all of a sudden?

She was dumbfounded and couldn’t answer, but Karen nodded her head as if she were sure.

“Right. You were a rogue So, was it to seduce me that you just said that to me? I’m sorry if that’s the case. I am…”

“Wait, wait.”

I interrupted Karen by lifting her palm. I felt like I shouldn’t get caught up in her flow like this.

“I am not a playboy.”

“No?”

“Yes. I am not such a barracked person. Rather, why did the story suddenly become like that?”

“That’s it… Don’t you have two lovers? Just because you have two lovers, you have the temperament of a playboy. Even though there are two lovers there, he lightly praises other women. Am I wrong?”

I was about to say something, but I kept my mouth shut. Because everything she gave her reasons for was true.

Does this happen?

I’m a playboy?

“No, no. First of all, it’s true that I have two lovers. But aren’t there many people on the continent who have more than one wife? Even in this city…”

“They are mostly arranged marriages. Forbidden magic may be good, but profit takes precedence over emotions. Is your relationship with them like that?”

“…Not at all.”

Me, Seris, and Kara are not related to profit, but through pure love. It’s a fact that shouldn’t be touched even as a joke.

‘But what the fuck should I do now?’

Being branded as a prostitute by aristocrats.

How can I solve this absurd misunderstanding? Unexpectedly, the fatal blow made my head stiff.

I stiffened my expression and turned my head desperately.

When Karen saw me like that, she smiled.

“It is a joke. It’s just a joke, so why be so serious? Come on, let’s go.”

Karen hurried her steps.

That’s a joke… I sighed.

“…In the first place, there’s no way I’m begging someone who even has a fiancé.”

“Fiance? I don’t have anything like that.”

“What kind of joke are you talking about? Why is my fiancé, who is still alive, suddenly disappearing?”

She didn’t answer my question. I just walk fast and retrace my steps. She couldn’t help but walk in her stride.

The place we arrived at was a semi-circular balcony.

“How is it? Isn’t the scenery quite nice?”

“Yeah, that’s cool.”

Even within the city, the lord’s castle was built on a hillside. Thanks to the balcony, you can see the city at a glance. The city under the stars was truly spectacular.

For a while, we looked at the city leaning against difficulties.

It was Karen who got lucky first.

“You asked why my fiancé, who was still alive, disappeared? The answer is simple. Van Reed, because she broke off her engagement to that bastard.”

“A breakup? In that short time?”

“Okay.”

Karen nodded her head. Then, with an embarrassed expression, he scratched his cheek.

“Well… I unilaterally notified you, though. There might be a backlash from that side. However, I have no intention of breaking up the marriage no matter what.”

“May I ask why?”

“I decided to inherit the family. Now that you’ve made that decision, your engagement to Van Reed will only be an obstacle.”

“You say you carry on the family?”

Karen nodded her head.

“Of course now I know it’s too late. Because the older brothers are already forming factions and fighting in secret. If you’re late to get involved… It’s going to be a pretty uphill battle. Nonetheless, I will go.”

Karen’s voice contained firm determination. I was a little surprised by her answer.

It is already a well-known fact among the people that she is not greedy for the position of her successor.

To the point of resenting those who admire her.

But suddenly, to participate in the successor competition? What was the wind?

“Are you wondering why I changed my mind?”

Seeing my surprised expression, Karen smiled and said,

“Yes… May I ask?”

“Of course. You deserve it It’s also a resolution that was made thanks to you in the first place.”

Karen turned her gaze to the night sky.

“Do you still remember what happened that day? The day I was being chased by ghouls.”

“Yes. It is still clear.”

“Me too. Even now, when I close my eyes, I can play it vividly.”

Karen closed her eyes as she gazed at the night sky.

“The wagon shakes. The eyes of the people of the territory devoured by fear. The ghoul that chased endlessly. And … Han Yoo-seong, who jumped toward her falling mother and daughter, even the figure of you.”

She opened her eyes She turned her head towards me and smiled broadly. The smile against the background of the stars was like a piece of a famous painting.

“When I asked why you jumped, you answered. My body moved on its own.”

It was.

For a moment, the image of the mother hugging the child overlapped with that of my mother throwing herself into the car. Because of this, my body moved on its own.

“Do you know how I felt when I saw you jumping?”

“…How did you feel?”

“It was embarrassing. I couldn’t stand it because I was ashamed of her self-sacrificing figure that put her body to shame. So she decided to listen to your answer. Let’s put aside any trivial excuses and move as our heart desires.”

Karen placed her hand on her own left breast. Her facial expression was unparalleled.

“After that day, I chose everything related to me myself. It was also decided to inherit the family. The fact that she broke off her engagement with Ban Reed. Everything else too.”

“Uh… Um… Yes…”

My seizure-like behavior changed the life of an aristocrat.

I feel strange.

Karen sighed.

“To make a foolish voice. Well, that’s it Rather, let’s get to the main point. About the reason I called you to the banquet.”

“..? Didn’t you just call me to tell the story?”

Karen made a puzzled expression.

“It is important to say thank you. But that’s not a reason to call you here. Because it’s right for me to go there myself.”

That’s more difficult

“Then why did you call me?”

Karen cleared her throat, clearing her voice. She erased her smile and made the solemn expression she saw on the battlefield.

“Dude… No, adventurer Yuseong Han. Do you intend to become a knight?”

“A knight… You mean?”

“Okay. The image of you jumping toward the child that day was the image of the knight I longed for. It’s embarrassing, but at that moment you were more like a knight than me. In addition, you also have excellent skills. It’s a little short of being a knight, but with the support of the Marquis Clener, I’ll overcome it in no time.”

Karen held out her hand. As if to catch it.

‘I heard that there are adventurers who occasionally caught the eyes of nobles and became knights.’

This is honestly…

“It is too sudden.”

It’s sudden. That you have to respond as soon as you hear the offer.

There is no time to organize your thoughts.

Karen nodded her head as if understanding.

“Well, I don’t have that feeling. She honestly had a mind to surprise. Apologize But this is an opportunity. Promise Just hold my hand and you will be able to fly higher than you are now.”

Karen tightened her outstretched hand as she urged her.

What would happen if I held that hand? He will probably become a knight who receives Karen’s full support. Maybe it’s because she likes me.

I’d be swayed by a factional war, but…

It would be much better than an adventurer in a harsh environment.

I reached out. He placed it on the back of her hand and gently pushed it away.

Karen’s expression hardened.

“…Why? Wouldn’t it be better for you to be a knight than an adventurer? Or is it because of a lover? But a true lover will rejoice at your success…”

“It’s not because of that.”

I shook my head.

“As Karen-nim said, the environment of a knight is so good that it cannot be compared to the poor environment of an adventurer.”

“Yes! So…”

“But I have a purpose. It’s something that must be done. To me, adventurers are just a means to an end.”

If it wasn’t for the main quest.

If only it hadn’t been for the rewards and penalties of that main quest.

Adventurers would have beaten them after making a moderate amount of money. It’s not a pleasant thing to risk your life every day.

However, I had a main quest to complete, and the reward was so sweet. The penalty is more bitter.

The final goal of the main quest, the Demon King.

It takes strength to kill him, but freedom is more important than anything else.

You shouldn’t get caught up in anything.

“And above all, I’m not as nice as Karen thinks.”

The image Karen saw of me that day is not real. At that time, I was completely out of my mind because of the trauma. That won’t happen next time, and then Karen might be disappointed in me.

“You who I saw were more chivalrous than anyone else…”

I shook my head once again at Karen, who made a sad expression.

She smiled bitterly and lowered her hand.

“I get it. If it’s your heart, there’s nothing you can do about it. I hope you will regret your decision today for the rest of your life.”

“Yes. Thanks… Yes?”

I looked at her, wondering if she had heard anything wrong. Karen had an expression of ‘what, what to do’.

“What are you looking at? Did you really think that I would bless your future path? I’m sorry, but my insides aren’t that wide. Instead of blessing, I will pour out a curse.”

She furrowed her brow.

Oh shit?

That’s not what I was thinking. As she said, I wanted a warm ending that blesses each other’s future.

I couldn’t believe that a nobleman called a knight was so narrow-minded.

I couldn’t imagine.

“That… Are you kidding?”

“Does this look like a joke?”

“…”

“That’s a joke.”

Karen let go of her serious expression and started laughing.

Was that human nature originally like that?

I thought you had a more serious personality.

“Still, it is true that I did not know how to turn down the offer. I never thought you would have such a purpose. Can you tell me what the purpose is?”

“Sorry.”

“Is it. I get it.”

She smiled bitterly and started walking off her balcony.

“Where are you going?”

“Follow me. I have something to give you.”

The place she followed her to was in front of a certain room.

“This is my room. Come in.”

She went into the room with Karen. The large bed and colorful decorations made me realize that this was a nobleman’s room.

Karen pulled something of hers from a drawer, wrapped in a cloth.

It was a little less than two spans long.

“Take it. It is a gift from me.”

I accepted the lump of cloth Karen gave me. It looks like something hard and heavy is inside.

“What is this?”

“Let go.”

She did as she said and untied the cloth. Then, the dagger hidden in the cloth was revealed.

The curves drawn by the blade are like the teeth of a beast.

The patterns engraved on the sword face are moderately antique, and the silvery color is unusual.

“It is a dagger made of pure silver. There is nothing like this to deal with dead things.”