“...What are you so sad about?”
“Because I am weak.”
“? A passing dog would laugh.”
“It’s not funny.”
"You're not called the Princess of Wassenberg for nothing. If I were you, I'd go around yelling at everyone in the neighborhood to come out and see if anyone was stronger than me."
“So what can I do?”
“...”
I was really depressed at that time.
Sixteen. Because I knew my family was rotten. And that my father and brothers wouldn't listen to me at all.
“You knew something was weird about our house, right?”
“What criteria are you using to say this?”
“Don’t beat around the bush. You know what I’m asking.”
“...”
“When I was young and didn’t know anything, I was always traveling abroad, buying clothes, playing, and living in luxury. What did you do?”
"I'm just a hired escort. What was I supposed to do?"
"...sorry."
“It’s okay. I understand why you’re crying, Miss.”
Kali asked me.
“Do you hate your father and brothers?”
"...No."
How could I dislike it? Ever since I moved back home at the age of twelve, I've been happy thanks to my family.
My father loved me more than anyone else, and the brothers I met for the first time were so affectionate that it brought tears to my eyes. He always gave me expensive gifts, calling me "pretty" and "princess."
At the age of sixteen, I vaguely knew what my father and brothers were doing.
At an age when family was everything, how could I hate them?
I just wanted to fix it. Properly.
"I don't hate it. But I want to tell you not to do it, and this is the first time my brother and sister haven't listened to me."
"Yes."
What was most shocking was that my brothers had not been suppressing the demonic situation without paying a price.
“Monsters, I want to catch them...”
I had the best attack series blessings from my brothers, but I just had them.
I wasn't trained enough to face the demon alone.
So, that's why I cried that day.
"It would be nice to get stronger. Why would Father stop me? Why?"
I went out to train Bless, got scolded by my father, and was sentenced to a week of confinement.
“Are you asking this question because you don’t know?”
“No, I know. You don’t have to answer.”
"The Wassenberg family maintains its power by suppressing demonic incidents and gaining vested interests. But if a young lady, who seems willing to subdue demonic forces without compensation, is attempting to train Bless, the Duke has no choice but to dissuade her."
“Wow. I told you I knew! I didn’t ask because I didn’t know!”
Kali laughed. Is this funny...?
“That’s amazing.”
"What?"
"The reason you, Lady, can live comfortably in such a nice home is all thanks to him, the Duke. Moreover, since he loves you dearly, all the bothersome and difficult work falls to his other children."
“...”
"Young lady, just continue living the way you've always lived. The Duke has raised you with great care, never letting a drop of water touch your hands, so that you can live that way."
Kalo raised an eyebrow.
"But why do you go against your father and do such a troublesome thing yourself? That's strange."
“I find you fascinating. That's how it should be for a human being.”
At that time, Kali looked at me with a strange look in her eyes.
“...If it were a person?”
"Yeah, if you're human. You saw it, right? My family asked the imperial family for land in the south, but they refused and pretended not to know about the first-class demonic incident. If we had helped, it would have ended without anyone dying, but in the end, countless lives were lost. Do you think that's true?"
"What's wrong? If you have the power, should you fight without paying a price?"
"Who told you to sacrifice? Those with power have responsibilities. Even if it doesn't benefit you personally, there are values you must never turn away from."
Kali was silent.
And after a long time, she said.
"...Yes."
I wiped my tears and got up.
“Kali, will you run away with me?”
“You have no sense of reality.”
“I can’t do anything if I’m stuck at home. I have to go out and do something!”
"No matter how strong I am, I can't avoid the pursuit of those with supernatural powers. No matter where I run, I'll be caught. Of course, you'll return safely, young lady, but my head will surely be cut off. If that's what you wish, I'll serve you."
“...”
I laughed. Kali laughed too.
It wasn't that I was laughing because it was funny, but because the situation I was in was so frustrating that I laughed in vain.
“You don’t like my house?”
“How could anyone dislike an employer who pays them?”
“Are you okay with anything as long as I give you money?”
"Yes. If I'm promised a higher salary, I'll even serve as an escort for commoners, beggars, and demons."
“...That’s ridiculous. What if you were guarding other brothers besides me? If my eldest brother told you to kill someone, would you do it?”
“If you tell me to do it, I will do it.”
“...”
Absurd...
“I’m so glad you’re my escort.”
“I think so too.”
But even if she says that, I knew better than anyone that Kali, whom I had been watching over for a long time, was not that kind of person.
On the one hand, I thought it was fortunate that she was a transparent person with clear values.
"Miss."
Kali sat next to me, patting my head as I looked depressed.
“Shall we hug each other and sleep together today?”
She was sweet, Kali. Really.
"Yes..."
The capital of the empire, Valen.
If you were to ask who the most famous mercenary guild in the current system is, everyone would unanimously say <Cerberus>.
Cerberus, an S-class mercenary guild comprised of twenty elite members, is led by a 22-year-old guild leader.
Each member is powerful enough to take on five or more trained knights. This is a gathering place for veteran mercenaries, hired for each demonic incident and possessing extensive combat experience.
So, all the members of the unit are constantly receiving love calls from nobles wanting to recruit them as private soldiers... but not a single one has responded.
If you want to see the skills of the Cerberus mercenaries?
Short-term employment for up to four days.
And it will have to be offered at a price that will make your eyes pop.
“Hmm.”
Kali, the leader of the Cerberus Guild, stood in front of the mirror, humming.
[105th Imperial Swordsmanship Tournament]
The path to becoming an honorable knight!
A notice was posted on the wall next to the mirror.
Kali has signed up for this competition, and there are only three hours left until the event begins.
This is an annual competition, so why is this her first time participating?
During that time, she relentlessly honed her swordsmanship and martial arts, building her physique. Even considering her innate physical condition, she was twenty-two, at the peak of her health and perfection.
This is Kali's prime time.
'At las!'
It means that it is a 'prepared' year, capable of defeating any skilled player from all over the continent.
'Of course I won't win.'
If she won, she would have to become an imperial knight without a choice, so Kali planned to lose in the finals.
'It would be better if I came to Wassenberg before the final.'
This young mercenary needs neither fame nor money.
Unconditionally enter the Wassenberg family and secure the position of bodyguard for one of its members.
She has lived with only that one goal in mind.
"Oh."
A smiling face reflected in the mirror.
Looks strong.
Long red hair. Sharp eyes. Tall stature and broad shoulders.
Above all else.
“You’re pretty.”
Yes. A good-looking face is easy to like and get along with.
Moreover, since it would be more comfortable for her than the ignorant ones, the chances of her becoming the bodyguard of the Third Princess of Wassenberg are quite high.
'That woman doesn't have an attack-type ability, so it's easy to beat her.'
Kali thought, humming and tying her long hair up high.
No, she's trying to tie it up.
“?!”
“What the hell?”
The hometown dialect suddenly popped out!
Kali said and scratched her mouth with her hand in surprise.
“Because I am weak.”
“? A passing dog would laugh.”
“It’s not funny.”
"You're not called the Princess of Wassenberg for nothing. If I were you, I'd go around yelling at everyone in the neighborhood to come out and see if anyone was stronger than me."
“So what can I do?”
“...”
I was really depressed at that time.
Sixteen. Because I knew my family was rotten. And that my father and brothers wouldn't listen to me at all.
“You knew something was weird about our house, right?”
“What criteria are you using to say this?”
“Don’t beat around the bush. You know what I’m asking.”
“...”
“When I was young and didn’t know anything, I was always traveling abroad, buying clothes, playing, and living in luxury. What did you do?”
"I'm just a hired escort. What was I supposed to do?"
"...sorry."
“It’s okay. I understand why you’re crying, Miss.”
Kali asked me.
“Do you hate your father and brothers?”
"...No."
How could I dislike it? Ever since I moved back home at the age of twelve, I've been happy thanks to my family.
My father loved me more than anyone else, and the brothers I met for the first time were so affectionate that it brought tears to my eyes. He always gave me expensive gifts, calling me "pretty" and "princess."
At the age of sixteen, I vaguely knew what my father and brothers were doing.
At an age when family was everything, how could I hate them?
I just wanted to fix it. Properly.
"I don't hate it. But I want to tell you not to do it, and this is the first time my brother and sister haven't listened to me."
"Yes."
What was most shocking was that my brothers had not been suppressing the demonic situation without paying a price.
“Monsters, I want to catch them...”
I had the best attack series blessings from my brothers, but I just had them.
I wasn't trained enough to face the demon alone.
So, that's why I cried that day.
"It would be nice to get stronger. Why would Father stop me? Why?"
I went out to train Bless, got scolded by my father, and was sentenced to a week of confinement.
“Are you asking this question because you don’t know?”
“No, I know. You don’t have to answer.”
"The Wassenberg family maintains its power by suppressing demonic incidents and gaining vested interests. But if a young lady, who seems willing to subdue demonic forces without compensation, is attempting to train Bless, the Duke has no choice but to dissuade her."
“Wow. I told you I knew! I didn’t ask because I didn’t know!”
Kali laughed. Is this funny...?
“That’s amazing.”
"What?"
"The reason you, Lady, can live comfortably in such a nice home is all thanks to him, the Duke. Moreover, since he loves you dearly, all the bothersome and difficult work falls to his other children."
“...”
"Young lady, just continue living the way you've always lived. The Duke has raised you with great care, never letting a drop of water touch your hands, so that you can live that way."
Kalo raised an eyebrow.
"But why do you go against your father and do such a troublesome thing yourself? That's strange."
“I find you fascinating. That's how it should be for a human being.”
At that time, Kali looked at me with a strange look in her eyes.
“...If it were a person?”
"Yeah, if you're human. You saw it, right? My family asked the imperial family for land in the south, but they refused and pretended not to know about the first-class demonic incident. If we had helped, it would have ended without anyone dying, but in the end, countless lives were lost. Do you think that's true?"
"What's wrong? If you have the power, should you fight without paying a price?"
"Who told you to sacrifice? Those with power have responsibilities. Even if it doesn't benefit you personally, there are values you must never turn away from."
Kali was silent.
And after a long time, she said.
"...Yes."
I wiped my tears and got up.
“Kali, will you run away with me?”
“You have no sense of reality.”
“I can’t do anything if I’m stuck at home. I have to go out and do something!”
"No matter how strong I am, I can't avoid the pursuit of those with supernatural powers. No matter where I run, I'll be caught. Of course, you'll return safely, young lady, but my head will surely be cut off. If that's what you wish, I'll serve you."
“...”
I laughed. Kali laughed too.
It wasn't that I was laughing because it was funny, but because the situation I was in was so frustrating that I laughed in vain.
“You don’t like my house?”
“How could anyone dislike an employer who pays them?”
“Are you okay with anything as long as I give you money?”
"Yes. If I'm promised a higher salary, I'll even serve as an escort for commoners, beggars, and demons."
“...That’s ridiculous. What if you were guarding other brothers besides me? If my eldest brother told you to kill someone, would you do it?”
“If you tell me to do it, I will do it.”
“...”
Absurd...
“I’m so glad you’re my escort.”
“I think so too.”
But even if she says that, I knew better than anyone that Kali, whom I had been watching over for a long time, was not that kind of person.
On the one hand, I thought it was fortunate that she was a transparent person with clear values.
"Miss."
Kali sat next to me, patting my head as I looked depressed.
“Shall we hug each other and sleep together today?”
She was sweet, Kali. Really.
"Yes..."
***
The capital of the empire, Valen.
If you were to ask who the most famous mercenary guild in the current system is, everyone would unanimously say <Cerberus>.
Cerberus, an S-class mercenary guild comprised of twenty elite members, is led by a 22-year-old guild leader.
Each member is powerful enough to take on five or more trained knights. This is a gathering place for veteran mercenaries, hired for each demonic incident and possessing extensive combat experience.
So, all the members of the unit are constantly receiving love calls from nobles wanting to recruit them as private soldiers... but not a single one has responded.
If you want to see the skills of the Cerberus mercenaries?
Short-term employment for up to four days.
And it will have to be offered at a price that will make your eyes pop.
“Hmm.”
Kali, the leader of the Cerberus Guild, stood in front of the mirror, humming.
[105th Imperial Swordsmanship Tournament]
The path to becoming an honorable knight!
A notice was posted on the wall next to the mirror.
Kali has signed up for this competition, and there are only three hours left until the event begins.
This is an annual competition, so why is this her first time participating?
During that time, she relentlessly honed her swordsmanship and martial arts, building her physique. Even considering her innate physical condition, she was twenty-two, at the peak of her health and perfection.
This is Kali's prime time.
'At las!'
It means that it is a 'prepared' year, capable of defeating any skilled player from all over the continent.
'Of course I won't win.'
If she won, she would have to become an imperial knight without a choice, so Kali planned to lose in the finals.
'It would be better if I came to Wassenberg before the final.'
This young mercenary needs neither fame nor money.
Unconditionally enter the Wassenberg family and secure the position of bodyguard for one of its members.
She has lived with only that one goal in mind.
"Oh."
A smiling face reflected in the mirror.
Looks strong.
Long red hair. Sharp eyes. Tall stature and broad shoulders.
Above all else.
“You’re pretty.”
Yes. A good-looking face is easy to like and get along with.
Moreover, since it would be more comfortable for her than the ignorant ones, the chances of her becoming the bodyguard of the Third Princess of Wassenberg are quite high.
'That woman doesn't have an attack-type ability, so it's easy to beat her.'
Kali thought, humming and tying her long hair up high.
No, she's trying to tie it up.
“?!”
The dye had faded from the crown of her head, revealing patches of white hair.
The hometown dialect suddenly popped out!
Kali said and scratched her mouth with her hand in surprise.
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