Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: A Nice Day!
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Today’s a nice day!
Carrot juice came out at breakfast, so I planned to give the baby carrots I’d hidden away for a snack to Beth.
Oh! Beth is the horse I’ve been brushing lately.
She has such cool dark brown fur and such a gentle temperament!
Thanks to the young master, it’s not quite like racing across the plains back home, but we even have races together, and these days have been so much fun.
But what’s going on over there? I have to pass that corridor to reach the stables in the back yard...
“Crazy, for real...”
“Shut up! We’ll get caught. And let me see too. I can’t see well...”
“Why’s he so handsome even covered in all that dirt?”
They were plastered to the window. What could be so riveting?
I crept closer and peeked out too, but all I saw was that male servant who’s been hanging around with young master Kane lately.
Ouch... that’s gotta hurt. Getting whacked mercilessly with a sturdy wooden sword—it’s like a sunny day drying blankets.
“Achoo!”
Watching together, someone’s perfume tickled my nose, and I ended up sneezing.
“Eek! You scared me!”
“I thought you were Head Maid Elise...”
“It’s just Luna? Perfect. Hey, Luna, do you know that guy’s name?”
I was rubbing my itchy nose with my sleeve when their words hit me, and I just blinked.
“Uh...”
He’s not a stranger, but being suddenly surrounded and fawned over like this... it’s too much. I get all self-conscious and embarrassed...
Without thinking, I grabbed my ears to cover my eyes and bowed my head. It’d be easier to hunt wild boars or giant moles on the plains... Talking to people is so hard...
“It’s okay, just tell us. Come on? I’ll make you a carrot pie if you do.”
“I can bring you a few carrots too.”
“It’s Kane.”
Carrots!
I can’t give up on carrots. I mustered my courage and told them Kane’s name.
“Kane? Even his name’s handsome!”
“Luna, you’re always around with the young master—don’t you see him a lot? What’s he like? Kane’s personality? Is he still hot up close?”
“Come to think of it, the young master’s been doing better lately, right? Still capricious, but way less violent.”
“Yeah. Seems like he’s finally growing up... He was never bad-looking to begin with, but his temper was so wild and debauched...”
“Honestly, I thought you wouldn’t last long, Luna. I regret not becoming his personal maid now.”
Now’s my chance!
While they’re all caught up talking about the young master and Kane, I need to make my escape. Beth is waiting!
* * *
Got my ass handed to me again today. Pathetic.
Even after feeding him that good nutrient shake?
I crunched on a cookie as I got back up and eyed Kane charging at me again.
Lap after lap around the training grounds, lifting weights, getting up and down, then beaten all day on repeat.
Still, his stamina’s improving—he lasts longer running and holding out now.
I started riding and etiquette swordplay again too.
Surprisingly, the body remembers some of it, so mounting up and wielding the blade didn’t feel entirely foreign. But as expected, this incompetent Adelrian body could only go so far.
Back when I was Kang Suho, I never got body dysmorphia or whatever, but now I get it.
Unlike before, where I could pick up sports or dance just by watching a bit and mimicking, this body? Wow. Words fail.
I can’t control my own body freely, and that lack of so-called “sense” hits bone-deep.
It’s like the difference between working out in sports gear versus trying to exercise underwater in a cotton robe?
‘It’s fine. I’m a wallet warrior. As long as I gather the items... just the items...’
Some games rely on control, others let you spam F1 to F12 like a turret.
I finished crunching the cookie, brushed off my hands, and mounted up again.
‘Full endgame gear from the start is a stretch.’
But aiming for a national set wouldn’t hurt, right?
One more lap, then off to the auction house.
Better than dealing with the Krueger family’s merchant guild—no haggling nonsense.
“Tell Kane I’ll eat lunch and head out, so he skips afternoon training.”
I ordered the knight who’d been watching Kane roll around with a weird look on his face, ignored his half-hearted reply, and spurred my horse.
* * *
“My butt hurts.”
Does it build calluses if you ride all the time?
I lightly fretted over my numb-feeling rear, then greeted Luna and Kane—who arrived looking dissatisfied—with a welcome.
“No poker face?”
“I was in the middle of figuring out sword paths. Why’d you call?”
“Uw... I was napping with Beth...”
Discipline’s lacking.
I clicked my tongue, grabbed Luna’s ears, and tugged them firmly, then handed them both nutrient shakes as a lesson in reflection.
“Drink up and let’s go. Heading to the auction house to check for buys. Grab some tasty snacks on the way if they look good?”
“Is there a real reason I have to tag along? I don’t see how outings like this help me get stronger even a day sooner.”
“I’m... your guard, so I guess I should, but...”
“Quit whining. Without me, you couldn’t even buy your own food. You two—especially you, Kane—need socialization training. No arguments. Follow me.”
If you’re just gonna hole up training, you shouldn’t be in Innocent Saga. Go join some secluded martial arts novel sect.
Complain to the moss on the rocks if you’re mad.
Normal people light up at the word “outing,” but dragging around these two social misfits is my burden. My suffering.
Part of me wanted to ma車 and be done quick, but treating this as training too, we three rode out of the inner keep.
Unlike the inner keep, rumors of my turnaround hadn’t spread as far in the outer districts.
Eyes downcast, fleeing in haste, or hasty greetings before dismounting at drawbridges—once an image sticks, it doesn’t change easy.
“No helping it.”
I muttered to myself and pulled up the hood of the robe I’d worn for this.
Didn’t need it leaving the inner keep—my face was my free pass.
But outside, running into Adelrian’s old drinking buddies or rowdy pals would be a hassle, so I hooded up alone...
‘What’s this?’
Perched high on horseback, way above head height, stares felt extra piercing.
Glance after glance.
Men, women, young, old—two or three out of any group eyed us.
With the hood pulled low, only my lower face showed, so not recognition or wariness. What then?
Before I could ponder, we reached the auction house entrance. I dismounted and strolled in slow.
“Oh, young master.”
“Coming right out means you’re confident this time?”
“Of course, sir. Some fine items just came in. Here’s the categorized list. And I can guide you through the details...”
I eyed the goblin manager bowing obsequiously, rubbing his hands, then stripped off my riding gloves to hold the reins and tossed them to Luna.
“Want to browse slow on my own. Scram.”
“Pardon? But isn’t it more convenient with a manager following to explain the items?”
“Fine, trail ten paces back then. And why explanations? If I want it, I buy it.”
I flicked my fingers to shoo the goblin manager away, then murmured low enough for just Luna and Kane.
“Read this paper and tell me if there’s anything you want. I’ll buy it.”
“Don’t need it. Already getting more help than I deserve.”
“Me? M-me too.”
I tsked at the two handing back the pamphlet without properly checking.
“No backtalk. Especially you, Kane.”
I locked eyes with Kane’s golden irises, still gleaming fierce even under the hall’s soft lights.
“You need to practice getting into debt.”
“What?”
“Especially to me.”
I grinned at his baffled stare.
“I know you’re hot shit. Even without checking traits yet, your growth speed proves the talent.”
But humans are social animals, right?
Is going lone wolf, shouldering everything solo, really a happy life?
I think building a harem with six wives sounds happier.
“But you try hogging it all. Ever thought that’s inefficient?”
Even basic math: one person doing 100 units of work versus splitting with two is obviously better.
“You need to get used to owing me. And repaying it till the day you die. You too, Luna.”
I added playfully, shoving the pamphlets back into their hands.
“Browse and pick one thing you want. Then tell me. ‘I want this.’ That’s your task today. Both of you.”
Anyone’d think I told them to eat bugs.
“But...”
“Do I... have to browse alone...?”
I shooed the rabbit and wild dog staring lost at me with a “go on already” wave and turned away.
You two aside, need stuff to lure potential future heroines too.
Truth is, I’d love male party members too, but...
‘Too many planned party members.’
Just Kane’s future wives are six, plus me makes eight.
Unlike games where units stick till you dismiss, reality makes recruiting tough from the jump.
‘But... can’t give up.’
Real harem ending, visuals live—not just illustrations. Gotta see it.
“From here to here.”
I traced a display case of elemental stones, then beckoned the distant goblin manager.
“My preorder?”
“Adelrian young master’s order? Naturally handled with care, sir. Not all arrived, but some are here.”
I left the lined display hall for a curtained private room, sipped tea the manager brought, and lounged on the sofa checking items.
Flashy jewelry sets with no other options. Robes with auto-repair, three or four. Magical stuff sure takes time.
“By the way, weekday auctions must bore you. How about the casino after so long, Adelrian young master?”
“Too much hassle.”
“Th-then the Red Pavilion? Heard they got a new slave versed in rare instruments...”
“Not interested.”
I’d spent plenty on stones and custom orders, but maybe original Adelrian blew cash like water.
I sipped tea, half-listening to the goblin’s sales pitches, when someone approached beyond the curtain.
“Young master...”
“Luna, picked something?”
Maybe the goblin made her shy—she crept in mumbling, eyes darting, so I jaw-nudged the manager for more tea, then took the box she shyly offered.
“What’s this?”
A fist-sized soap-like lump in a palm-sized wooden box.
Wait, not soap-like. Actual soap?
I picked up the faintly floral-scented bar, sniffed, weighed it in my fingers, and eyed Luna.
“Uh... it’s an artifact that makes one soap a month...”
“And? Why’d you want this?”
Surprising. Expected food or family gift.
I tilted my head, propped my chin, put the soap back, and returned the box.
“When you leave the city, bathing won’t be as easy as in the castle... And I’m your guard and maid—if you get dirty, it’s negligence on my part...”
“Picked mine too.”
I chuckled at Luna’s words when Kane barged in, thrusting a simple metal bracelet before me.
“And this?”
“Artifact with three charges of 4th-class shield magic, they said.”
I slipped it on a finger, spun it, and looked at Kane.
“You gonna use this?”
Shield? Not a weapon—defense gear?
“No, you. If you’re traveling with me, at least don’t drag my ankle.”
So. Don’t want me hurt?
Both picked stuff for me—odd feeling welled up. I stared, then burst laughing and ruffled their heads.
“Eh... heh?”
“Feels off.”
“Buying my own gifts and can’t handle this?”
“Not a gift.”
“Y-yeah. Just daily necessity...”
So shy.
I chased Luna’s dodging hands and Kane’s turning head till I got good scritches in and enjoyed.
But this fun didn’t last long.