Chapter 41
This place, crafted from the novel the patient adored, was a textbook feudal era. Kings, nobles, knights, commoners, slaves. The feudal system divided into five rigid classes, with bloodlines dictating one's fate for life.
Though it might be different here.
I didn't assume what I'd learned in school was the absolute truth. This world's feudal setup would vary wildly depending on how the author of I Became the Youngest Daughter of the Count's Family had spun it.
"Please take this money."
The handsome knight who'd escorted the novel's protagonist—the youngest daughter of the Chimac Count family—back home handed me a pouch of coins.
"What's this for...?"
"No need to feel burdened. Think of it as compensation for getting dragged into our mess."
"Ah..."
"This is the will of the Chimac Count family."
"In that case, I'll gratefully accept."
Jingle♪
Nobles ruling territories collected taxes from commoners in exchange for protection, using that revenue to raise knights and armies, bolstering their power and waging wars. But history was littered with nobles who'd prioritized taxes over protection and crumbled...
A true noble!
All things considered, the Chimac Count was undoubtedly a cut above average, novel setting or not.
"Not a bad start..."
I'd nearly died from an arrow out of nowhere, but I'd scored this world's clothes and some living expenses. A profitable trade, all told? Now I just needed to find the patient lost in this novel-turned-reality.
Gurgle.
"...Time for some food."
Searching was fine, but stomach first.
Jingle♪
That satisfying clink of coins—enough to fill the belly and soothe the soul!
Got to be careful.
No wasting time on odd jobs, so I slipped into the bustling streets wary of pickpockets.
"Apples for sale!"
"Grab a meal before you go!"
"Check out these clothes!"
Minus the lack of card payments, it wasn't so different from modern times. Except...
"Sweet chocolate~!"
"Coffee? Just one cup?"
"We've got rum too!"
The backdrop was 14th-century Europe, pre-knight decline, yet the living standards screamed late 16th century? Coffee and chocolate, once noble luxuries, hadn't gone mainstream until the 18th. Totally nonsensical.
It's a novel.
Intellectually, I got it, but as someone versed in world history, it grated.
Anyway, "Let's eat."
I ducked into the shabbiest, cheapest-looking eatery nearby.
"Welcome!"
"Hm... I'll have this."
"Right away~"
I could bail by offing myself, but since I was here, I wanted to meet the patient and drop some truth: Your parents are grieving and suffering!
My body's fine, right?
I trusted the coach watching my collapsed hotel self. For now, eat well, sleep well—that was key. Rebuild stamina to hunt down the patient somewhere in this world.
While waiting for my potato dish, I eavesdropped on the other patrons.
"Hey, ever seen the Chimac Count's youngest daughter?"
"Caught a glimpse once. Every bit the stunning beauty from the rumors!"
"Lucky you! I wanna see her too."
"Word is, the Empire's young emperor proposed..."
"You're behind, buddy. She turned him down—big scandal."
"What?! How could she?"
Nine out of ten chats circled the Chimac Count's youngest daughter. Because she was this world's protagonist? Having seen everyone in Choi Kang-min's dream obsessed with the Magic Boy, I couldn't dismiss it lightly.
A bit unnatural.
The Magic Boy was a global hero, at least. The count's youngest? Just one kid among countless noble spawn. No matter her looks, she wasn't someone everyone fawned over.
"Your food's here."
"...Ah! Thanks."
Snapping from my thoughts, I dug into the potato dish.
Whoa! Tastier than expected?
Meant just to fill up, but jackpot. Perfectly boiled potatoes, moist inside the skin; nutty mayo sauce; warm mushroom soup and bread... Cola would've been nice, but carbonation here? Luxury bordering on lore-breaking.
The chatter rolled on.
"Rumors say she summoned her guard knight to her bedroom at midnight..."
"Shh! Wanna die? This is Chimac Count territory!"
"Wasn't it love for the prince that made her reject the emperor?"
"Hah! All gossip. She's prenatally betrothed to the neighboring duke's eldest son, remember?"
"True. Breaking that could spark war."
I pieced together the snippets in silence. Conclusion: What a greedy girl.
Maybe none of the suitors appealed, but as a noble duty-bound to protect her lands and people? Not the move.
"Eh... the author's call."
I refocused on finding the patient somewhere in this novel world.
* * *
If I had drawing skills, I'd sketch a composite, but hunting a black-haired, black-eyed mystery woman by description alone? Impossible without a name.
Still, I'd recognize her on sight, so hope lingered... until "Nah. No dice."
Even the find-people-for-cash joints said info too thin. I agreed. Half the Chimac payout left, but no point chasing ghosts.
My effort lacking? Hell no.
Eight straight days of nonstop hunting? Plenty!
Worth every pricey ice cream and soda splurge. Plus,
"Take up arms!"
"For the Chimac Count family!"
"Chimac! Chimac! Chimac!"
War erupted with the neighboring duke's house—no more leisurely searches. Blame? The youngest daughter ignoring her prenatal betrothal, kissing another guy—witnessed by the duke's heir!
A prompt apology on-site might've nipped it, but her brazen attitude snowballed into chaos...
"Smash the duke's house!"
"Glory to Chimac Count!"
"Protect the beautiful lady!"
"Chimac! Chimac! Chimac!"
Objectively, she was at fault, handing them war pretext. Yet all the mudslinging hit the duke's side. Fanatics, every one.
"You! Spear straight!"
"Yes, sir!"
And just like that, young and fit as I was, I got drafted into this farce of a war. Now training in a makeshift camp outside town, prepping for combat if final talks tanked.
I prayed for diplomacy... but
"You've got solid stamina."
"Thank you, sir!"
Resting with the exhausted would've kept me low-key, but my drive to get stronger pushed me ahead. Then it hit: What the hell am I doing here?
Time for patient-hunting wasted on efficient kinslaying lessons.
The officer eyeing my endurance barked, "Put this one in the recon squad starting today."
"On it."
No input from me, but protesting the vibe? Nah. I followed orders.
Right then—Dong! Dong! Dong...!
The war bell clanged from the watchtower.
"Talks collapsed!"
"Arm up!"
"For Chimac Count!"
Clank, clink...
Everyone grabbed weapons, filing to the muster ground.
"Hiiing~!"
A mounted knight raised his sword high. "For Chimac!"
"Waaaah!"
"Chimac! Chimac! Chimac!"
"March...!"
Swept in their frenzy, I headed to battle.
This real...?
Thought it'd fizzle with posturing and talks. Then I died.
* * *
"Uwaaaak!"
Consciousness returned; I screamed upright.
Thud, thud, thud...!
Medical gear peeled off, stinging, but no bandwidth for that.
"Huff, huff..."
Thump-thump!
Heart pounding like it'd burst.
They're all insane...!
Physical pain from blades? Bearable. The mental scars? Brutal.
Kill, kill, kill... till they dropped or went limp. That was war. Stepping on corpses? Normalized.
Where's...
Dim yellow sleep-light hue—not my hotel room. Similar vibe, but bigger, plus sofa, cabinets. And medical gear that screamed familiarity.
"You're awake."
"Director Seo?"
Seo Hye-ju, in silky luxury pajamas, emerged from another room. Skipping greetings, she eyed my arm. "Hurts?"
"...Too shell-shocked for that."
Blood trickled from a bent needle site.
"Stay still."
"......"
Wanted to ask why she was here, but zipped it for now.
"All set. Should move easier."
"Thanks. But how'd you...?"
"Called to check on you—some swim coach picked up."
"Aha!"
Hearing I wouldn't wake, she'd packed and flown in pronto...
Inspecting the gear, "Died again?"
"How'd you know?"
"Heart stopped 17 minutes pre-revival."
"Aha!"
"Kang Moon-soo. Not trivial. No oxygen? Brain cells die fast. Want goldfish IQ?"
"No thanks."
Hell no!
"How'd it happen?"
"Drafted to the front—croaked in a day."
Slightly better than arrow-fodder slave; still cannon fodder.
"War? You do get around."
"Not the fun kind. Better off oblivious forever."
"Still curious. Tell me about the dream."
Her eyes sparkled like a granddaughter begging Grandpa's tales. I chuckled hollowly. "Wasn't a dream."
"Huh?"
"Novel world. Book the autistic girl held."
"I Became the Youngest Daughter of the Count's Family?"
"Yeah."
She lit up intrigued. "Novel manifesting as dream... Fascinating. Oh! Bought and read it myself—boredom cure."
"Cool."
No biggie; I brushed it off with a grin.
"But odd."
"What?"
"No wars in the novel. Zero."
"...For real?"
"Yep. Romance—love stories for a mostly female audience. No wars; they hate that."
"Wait—none? Not even mentions?"
"Start to finish: romance. Near-misses resolved peacefully by protagonist's wit."
"Hah!"
Absurd laugh escaped.
No war originally?
Events defying the author's plot. Meant one thing!
"Protagonist's carriage ambushed?"
"Don't think so. Zero violence, far as I recall."
"Knew it..."
"What happened?"
"Got tangled in a war from her 'wit.'"
"Hm?"
"Now I get why I couldn't find the patient."
Assumed vast world, simple logic. Wrong.
Right under my nose!
Starting in Chimac County—novel central—was no coincidence.
"Kang Moon-soo."
"Yes."
"Didn't realize the protagonist was the patient?"
"Eh?!"
"Guessing not."
"How'd you...?"
"Common sense. Romance readers fantasize as the beautiful heroine. Why pick an ugly side character?"
"......"
Made sense now.
"Brain cell count check?"
"Pass."
Some truths best ignored.
"Diving back in?"
"Obviously."
Quitting now? Too raw. But smarter this time.
"Lend you a copy?"
"How long?"
"Five volumes serialized. Recently wrapped after long hiatus."
"Quick read."
First time cracking a romance fantasy novel cover-to-cover.