Chapter 43
In medieval noble society, unaware of hereditary diseases, incestuous marriages were rampant to preserve pure bloodlines. The Somac Duke and Chimac Count, sharing the same grandfather, had also forged a betrothal in the womb for that very reason...
The novelist who shamelessly fed the protagonist chocolate and coffee, ignoring local climate and history, wouldn't have a clue about such nitpicky historical details—but anyway, the protagonist and his fiancée were cousins.
"It's so damn far!"
He turned his back to the girl as if they were just taking a stroll, striking a cool pose, but trudging on foot from one metropolis to another was downright reckless. They could run into brutal bandits, it would take forever, and finding food and shelter would be a nightmare.
So, he decided to spend some money.
Should be around here... Bingo!
He diligently dug at the roots of a lone tree standing in the middle of the plains.
Scrape, scrape—
What was hidden there? A money pouch he'd buried in secret, promising a future reunion before being dragged off to war!
He'd worried someone might've stolen it, but the first button of his plan slipped neatly into place.
Jingle♪
"Heh heh! I never get tired of this sound!"
The crisp chime of coins clinking inside the pouch. He tucked it carefully into his combat gear without drawing attention, then headed for Chimac Count's castle.
First things first: clothes.
Wandering around looking like a beggar would attract eyes, so he bought some threads, changed quickly, and hit up an inn-cum-restaurant to eavesdrop on patrons while gathering the info he needed.
"Glad it ended peacefully."
"The prince himself came to mediate the war."
"But that completely shattered the alliance between the two houses, right?"
"Yep. The prince gunning for the lady pulled off a big move!"
"Cheers to Chimac Count and the beautiful lady!"
"Cheers~!"
The war between the two houses had ended in a draw, just as Manager Seo Hye-ju predicted. But with the wildcard prince butting in, it wrapped up on a sour note, fully splitting the families.
That's unexpected.
For the prince to personally intervene just to boot the protagonist's fiancée? But it wasn't simply about one girl. It was likely to check the Somac Duke's expansion, which threatened royal authority.
"Saw him again."
In the original novel, he was a dimwit obsessed with the protagonist all day. But this world's prince moved with cold calculation, prioritizing national interests. It was too spot-on to dismiss as my misconception.
The reason? "But that's going too far. Forcing a concubine position as mediation payment!"
Concubine. For a protagonist who craved the love of countless men, it was the polar opposite of monogamy or principal wife—utterly incompatible.
And it didn't stop there. The situation was dire enough that it couldn't be brushed off as princely nonsense.
"No choice. There was that thing with the guard knight..."
"You buying that? The lady spending the night with her guard knight..."
"Rumors don't just spread for nothing."
Even the original novel got weird as men piled up around the protagonist. They all lost their minds, turning into blind zealots worshipping her. But the fake protagonist, possessed by the patient, apparently lacked the real deal's charm.
Does this mean the story wraps at volume 2?
A tale where the beautiful protagonist gets dumped by her fiancé and falls into the prince's scheme as a concubine? No one would read that.
"Never saw the prince becoming a wildcard..."
The huge gap from the original novel caught me completely off guard.
Wait, not necessarily?
There was that one line describing the prince as so handsome and smart that countless noble ladies pined for him. Just one line, but no setting collapse.
Didn't matter anyway.
"Excuse me."
No matter what choice the patient made, I'd stick to my plan.
"Did you call me?"
A man drinking beer with his buddies eyed me.
"Yes. I heard you're heading to Somac Duchy."
"That's right. Why? Got something to send there?"
"I'd like to travel with you."
This world had no taxis or buses. People banded together ad hoc with matching destinations or hired mercenaries for escort...
"Anyone else?"
"Just me."
"Hm. Can you fight?"
In this harsh world with spotty security, muscle was always in demand.
"A little. I just went through a war."
"Oh! Turns out you're a comrade from the battlefield! Solid!"
"No big deal."
"Surviving's impressive enough. Tons of us out-of-towners conscripted like that died."
"...Yeah."
Did they?
I hadn't noticed at all. Discrimination like that among commoners, excluding nobles! They'd sacrificed outsiders willy-nilly to minimize local losses. Was that even okay? It was no different from using foreigners as cannon fodder in their war—a straight-up atrocity.
"I lost a precious son in that war."
"Ah..."
"Meant to show my boy, who just had his coming-of-age, the wide world. Guess it didn't agree with him. He left before his parents."
"......"
I had no idea what to say to a man who'd lost his child. Time had passed and he'd composed himself somewhat, but it sobered me up too. I'd seen so many deaths in that war.
"And you?"
"Wanted to see the sea one more time before I die."
"I see... Somac Duchy's port city is world-famous. Name?"
"Kang Moon-soo."
"Kang Moon-soo? Unusual name. We were recruiting for Somac Duchy ourselves. Tricky with the bad blood between the houses... Glad to have you."
"I'll pull my weight. Thanks."
We set a departure date and parted. More people meant safer, so they'd recruit a few more days. Supplies were each person's responsibility: clothes, food, bedrolls, weapons... First stop, the smithy.
"What do you need?"
"A spear for me. Length a bit shorter than my height..."
"Purpose?"
"Self-defense."
"Light one then. Pricey, though..."
"Fine by me."
Time to show off spear skills honed in real combat traded for my life.
* * *
The group to Somac Duchy ended up eleven men, two women, one kid.
...Or so I thought, until the "kid" was introduced as a husband and dad supporting his wife and infant. My jaw dropped.
Sixteen? Whoa...
This guy four years younger than me had become a man first. Quite the shock.
Clatter, clatter.
Two wagons loaded with gear and people, driven by the women. Meanwhile, the men conserved energy in the cargo holds, prepping for bandit or wolf pack attacks... Roles divided naturally, no orders needed.
"Take care for now."
"Pray we arrive safe."
"Drinks when we get there."
The mood was generally cheerful. Especially,
"Newlywed, you wouldn't get it yet."
"What do you like about your wife?"
"Still in the honeymoon phase~"
"How'd you two meet?"
The youngest at sixteen became the butt of bored adults' teasing on the wagon ride.
"Ugh..."
The boy's ears turned beet red at the embarrassing questions, and everyone roared with laughter.
Then, "Kang Moon-soo. What'd you do till twenty?"
"Me? Lived hard, I guess."
The baton passed to the second-youngest: me.
What'd I do?
Never imagined fresh out of high school, I'd get ribbed like this.
"With skin like that, you look like a pampered rich kid..."
"Handsome guy endured well."
"Bet you've dated, though?"
"Yeah, dated."
Song Seon-yeong's face flashed in my mind.
"Pretty?"
"Yeah. Really pretty."
"Ho? How much?"
"Hm... Prettier than Lady Anjilina Chimac of Chimac house."
"Ha ha! Big talker."
"Yeah, prettier than the kingdom's jewel."
"Believe it or not, up to you."
"You seen the lady?"
"Yeah. Traveled with her once by chance. Got a close look when she stepped down from the carriage."
"As rumored?"
"Pretty, sure."
But not the irresistible beauty from the novel that everyone had to love. Tastes vary, so unrealistic in reality. Still, anyone would think, 'Fits the novel protagonist.'
Anyway... These guys are so laid-back.
Maybe from my modern city hustle? Sitting in a wagon all day doing nothing felt like torture.
Then, "Gah?!"
A woman spotted something and yanked the reins in shock.
"Neighhh~?!"
"What the—?!"
The horse freaked from the sudden stop, and men in the jolting wagons yelped.
Rustle.
A line of thugs strode out arrogantly from roadside bushes, gripping nasty weapons. Their faces weren't friendly.
"You ain't passing free."
"You're surrounded."
"Drop weapons, no resistance."
"Pay toll, you're good."
Could've ignored and plowed through, but ropes taut at horse-ankle height blocked the road. Tricky.
"Bandits."
"One, two, three..."
"More hiding."
"What now?"
"Try talking first."
"Don't drop weapons."
We quickly settled, then frowned at their toll demand. Even I, clueless on local prices, thought, That's extortion.
"No money, no pass."
"Eh, we'll take a little even if you give up."
"Fee for making us wait!"
"Regret not paying?"
The bandits, unwilling to leave empty-handed, pressed and threatened.
"......"
"......"
We exchanged serious looks, steeling ourselves.
Then, "We'll pay the toll."
"Huh?"
"What?"
Everyone gawked at the woman driving the second wagon.
Plain looks, no social butterfly—no one thought her more than a fellow traveler. But her calm tone, unflinching amid encirclement, made her look different.
"Don't worry. Won't burden you all."
Meaning she'd cover it solo, no split. All I knew of her was her name.
"What?"
"Got cash?"
"By herself?"
Bandits grinned at the twist, then upped the ante: "Hand over the girl nice, we'll let the rest go!"
But we weren't dumb enough to trust promise-breakers. No need for eye contact?
Answer was set.
"Attack...!"
"Waaah!"
We charged, weapons ready.
But... Something's off?
Stab!
Bandits dropped like flies to my swings and thrusts.