The Replacement Plan
Everyone in the seat turned their heads toward the sound.
The vice-president had a cold expression on his face.
Behind him, Antonio was frowning.
Antonio came up to me.
"It seems like you... no, that... no, that kid... no."
It seemed he couldn't come up with the right term for the sovereign's nephew.
At that moment, the vice-president asked.
"Has Miss Marina made my guest like this?"
It seemed the nephew's name was Marina.
Marina flinched.
"That rat calls the captain my guest?"
Then, Antonio, who had been helping me up, said with an indignant expression.
"Rat?"
Marina, startled by the two's attitude, opened her mouth.
Then, as if she thought of an excuse, she pointed at me with her fingertip.
"I only disciplined her for not knowing her place and coveting clothes."
Antonio looked at the dress Marina was holding and said "Clothes?"
The servants turned their heads with awkward expressions.
That alone seemed to make the vice-president understand the situation where Marina thought the clothes were hers.
The vice-president's gray eyes shone coldly.
"She knows who the owner of the clothes is. Not knowing her place was someone else."
And he snatched the clothes from Marina's hand and told the servant.
"Dry the wrinkled parts and wrap them properly."
"Yes, Captain."
Marina's face flushed red.
"No matter how much of a knight captain, you can't be so rude to me."
The vice-president, with a neutral expression, whispered in her ear.
The servants looked puzzled, but in my ears, who had experience dealing with thieves in the past, I heard it.
Don't forget.
Choosing their big uncle as the San Miguel lord because they had nothing but a well was us.
Wow.
Marina's complexion turned dark.
The one who was tightly biting her lips turned around and ran away.
The vice-president, who watched the scene briefly, sat on the sofa.
Then he told the servants.
"Leave."
The servants left the room as is.
Antonio sat me on the sofa opposite the vice-president and said.
"Are you hurt anywhere?"
"Yes. I'm fine."
"Then it's good."
"Um, but what did you call me for...?"
I looked at the vice-president with a tense expression.
The vice-president had the same blunt face as before, but there was something odd about the atmosphere.
Was it embarrassment?
Was it because it was embarrassing to say not to come near the city?
That was troublesome.
I was trying to show the guild members well while working in the city.
Then, when the lord becomes a duke, I won't need to hide as an Irregular anymore, and I thought I could use me as a member.
But if I get caught, I'll be out of the vice-president's eyes forever...
Yes, for the process, I can't be out of the Irregular 2nd in command's eyes.
In the end, I made up my mind.
Then, the vice-president finally opened his mouth.
"I called you for... "
"Yes, I'll be going."
"... What?"
When I said it with a sad face, the vice-president flinched.
It was natural for him to be surprised since I spoke first.
I sighed.
"I'll go as far as possible."
"No, I..."
"I won't work in this city even in my dreams... "
"... "
Until the lord becomes a duke, I have to work elsewhere.
And after becoming a duke, I have to come back.
When I lowered my head dejectedly, the vice-president said with a surprised voice.
"Th... isn't it hard to find a job...?"
"With a recommendation letter from the Imperial Army commanders, I can work anywhere."
"Recommendation letters from commanders?"
Then Antonio helped from the side.
"They are amazing recommenders. Lieutenant colonel, colonel, captain... Even that captain is Munyus the old man."
Of course.
It was said that the captain's fleet had clashed with the Irregulars.
The captain is an excellent commander and gave a big blow to the Irregulars.
Probably the vice-president broke it.
The captain who was crushed at the end by the vice-president's command exploded in anger at just hearing the Irregulars' story.
I nodded.
"Yes. If there's no place to work, you can go to Captain Munyus. Don't worry."
I won't make it hard for you, so please take care of it.
I glared at the vice-president.
But for some reason, the vice-president's eyes narrowed.
"...?"
Damn Munyus the captain...
The vice-president gritted his teeth silently and touched his forehead.
Without speed, Antonio was busy with Yustea and talking loudly.
"Munyus the captain is strict and doesn't accept people easily. All the crew on his ship are people who have been there for more than 5 years."
"Is that so? He said to come if the captain is difficult. You can go to the colonel."
"Colonel? He also gave a recommendation letter."
"Colonel too. And Lord Mori gave a recommendation letter too. If you need a job, come."
Famous names from the Imperial Army came out one after another.
The Imperial Army or something, but why are they coveting other talents.
The vice-president had a headache.
The previous words swept through his mind.
"You are foolish."
"I know you have good tricks. You cooked Antonio well. So I don't want to send you away even more."
Moreover...
"Will you kill me?"
"The most reliable and clean method."
I felt like slapping my own head for saying such words to the teacher sent by heaven.
How do I make him feel good and ask for a job?
It seems his heart is really hurt after suddenly saying to leave the city.
Moreover, there were many places to go.
But we only have this kid.
The 11th replaced teacher.
Now, before the 12th, who is this fool...
Then the fool... no, Antonio brought up another topic.
"Those damn old men monopolizing your galbi-jjim are a shame. You taught me how to read too."
"Do you want to learn more letters?"
"The vice-president told me to learn it well."
"Then shall I come often to teach you?"
The vice-president raised his head sharply.
I thought light was coming in.
Antonio asked.
"Is it okay?"
"Of course."
"But going back and forth from the territory is hard... "
"Yes, it will be hard."
The vice-president quickly interjected.
Antonio and Yustea looked at him with a start.
The vice-president cleared his throat and said.
"If the two of you want it, I'll prepare a place in the castle."
"In the castle?"
Yustea asked in surprise, and Antonio frowned.
"After chasing her away so coldly, what job is that."
"... "
"Since earlier, you've been strange. Suddenly jumping out without looking for the teacher... !"
The vice-president covered the mouth of the illiterate who didn't notice.
"Will you do it?"
Yustea's eyes widened.
When the answer was delayed, she got anxious.
"I'll charge tuition as you wish."
"... "
"I'll give you full authority."
"... "
"I'll give you authority comparable to the part leader and you can even invite guests... "
At that moment.
Thud.
Yustea grabbed the vice-president's hands with both hands and shouted.
"Really?"
The vice-president stiffened in shock.
Although he is handsome, he has the aura of someone who catches wild animals, so young girls were scared of the vice-president.
No one thought of holding hands like this.
Soft and small hands.
It was hard to pull away because it looked like it would break if I put strength.
Yustea was happy as if she was going to run.
"Waa! Waaah─!"
She even jumped while holding the vice-president's hand.
Antonio, who had a dissatisfied expression with his mouth blocked, smiled sweetly enough to make him pick up.
The vice-president also saw the scene and momentarily curled the corner of his mouth.
* * *
A few weeks later.
"You are a precious person who came from the territory, right?"
"Yes. It seems you are doing something amazing. The housekeeper said so. That you will fulfill everything Yustea-nim requests."
Marina, who was listening to the maids chatting behind the corridor corner, bit her teeth.
For the past few days, the castle was full of that rat's story.
Precious person from the territory? Funny.
Like a beggar with no teeth.
On top of that, acting like she has a chin up.
Marina ran with a grudge.
The destination was the San Miguel viscount's office.
"Will you keep doing this?"
The viscount, looking at the documents, frowned.
"What do you mean."
"The knight captain. He brought in the guest as if he was the lord."
The viscount's hand holding the pen had veins popping.
He had heard the news.
Bringing in the girl who was already bothering him when entering the castle with the lord as a guest.
The viscount said in a sinister voice.
"So you want me to chase her away?"
"You can't do it? The big uncle is the real lord. The knight captain said that. That they chose the big uncle. How rude─."
"It was said not to mention that word again!"
The viscount shouted.
Marina flinched and shrank her shoulders.
"I was just trying to tell you that the knight captain is overstepping..."
The viscount's expression hardened.
His influence didn't reach the vice-president.
Because the lord didn't permit it.
According to the vice-president's words, the current San Miguel lord is the chosen one.
Because the family is very poor and there are no children.
If there is no successor, there is no one to inherit the San Miguel territory.
It was to put Esgard in hand and naturally replace the lord.
Let it be that way.
The viscount said in a cold tone.
"So your role is important. Marina, you have to become the lord's daughter."
"... "
"If you win his heart, the Esgard will come into our hands beyond the San Miguel territory."
"Yes."
The San Miguel viscount smiled satisfiedly and patted his nephew's shoulder.
"Don't worry about that girl. It was rather good."
"What do you mean?"
"Antonio, that idiot can't learn to read properly. The girl will prove her incompetence herself."
Then, would the lord take that girl as his adopted daughter.
A smile returned to Marina's face.
"She will be chased away soon."
She laughed uhu, like a flower.
But at that moment.
A strange thing was happening at the forge outside the castle.
A veteran with 54 years of forge experience.
Similar to the experience of scamming fools, the old man who sold head-axe weapons to the last members last time was in a panic.
"Shall we write a contract?"
"Yes."
The members were asking for a contract while buying weapons.
Moreover...
"This old man hasn't come to his senses yet! What kind of contract is [ABSOLUTE NON-REFUNDABLE]? Are you going to scam again?!"
"...!!"
No, where did these people learn to read?
* * *
A sunny morning.
I showed the sketchbook to the members including Antonio.
Then, before I could say to raise your hand...
"Correct!"
"Me! Me!"
The members started raising their hands with fire in their eyes.
Originally, the class started with only Antonio, but now dozens of members were participating.
Antonio was the first to raise his hand among them.
I said.
"Yes, Antonio-nim, please speak."
"More than ten battleships... uh, what? Ah, ten battleships sank!"
I nodded with a proud face.
Now I can read difficult letters too.
Although I could say some plain words, the progress is fast.
It seems I chose the right teaching method.
From what I heard, other teachers seemed to be scolding to give words and just memorize randomly.
But for types like Antonio or other members, such a method doesn't work well.
I made the members read a book that would make them interested.
Like "The Transparent Dragon Roared. The King Died."
Or "The Madam Touched the Butler's Chin. Touched for a Long Time. The King Was Sexy."
To make them interested.
I made them look up unknown words, and slowly raised the level of the book.
And appropriate rewards.
Those who could say some plain words showed amazing progress.
"Okay, Antonio-nim, take this."
Antonio, who threw a punch into the air, came out and took the reward.
"Kya! Kill!"
The members who lost the problem looked at Antonio with envious eyes fiercely competing.
Even the members who were still learning the alphabet were grinding their teeth.
"If I master this, we'll see."
"Little teacher, do we have no problems?"
Now the members called me little teacher.
The class was like this for about 5 hours.
3 hours were self-study time to put into their heads.
During that time, I...
Have to go report.
I went to the vice-president with the members' assignments to report this week's educational results.
Because the number of people receiving the class increased, we were using the backyard as a classroom.
So I decided to use the southwest corridor.
Although it was the most gloomy, it was also the fastest route.
I have to come back quickly and get the questions.
Thinking like that, I was walking.
There was someone in front of the southwest corridor.
A person who had pulled the hood down so low that his face was not visible at all.
And with that person was...
Marina.
The viscount's nephew.
"Will it be successful?"
"The barrier is solid, but if it catches in my hand, it's impossible."
"Good. Then go... "
At the moment I was about to say 'see', our eyes met with Marina's.
Marina's expression hardened instantly.
The one wearing the hood flinched and ran away hurriedly.
Marina glared at me fiercely.
"Following behind me?"
"I didn't steal it, I was just passing by."
"Do you think I'll believe that?"
This kid has too much self-consciousness.
This wasn't the first time this happened.
Of course, taking the dress, and every time we met in the past few weeks, she was acting nervous.
She was trying to provoke people on purpose to stand out.
But I was always just passing by.
Marina came closer to me with arms crossed.
Then, thud, she pushed my shoulder.
"How much did you hear?"
Thud.
"What rat stole?"
Thud.
"So you think you'll get into the lord's eyes?"
After getting hit on the shoulder like that, she completely blocked by the wall.
Marina raised her hand again.
And at the moment she was about to push me again.
I quickly grabbed her wrist.
"Stop it because the assignment is due."
Marina let out a fake laugh.
Then she threw the assignment and it scattered.
"What if it falls?"
"... "
I quietly looked at the scattered assignments.
Unfortunately, because it rained in the early morning, they fell in the puddles and got wet.
Antonio had been stuck in the library until dawn doing this assignment.
When he brought the assignment written slantedly,
"Since the little teacher taught hard, the big student also studied hard."
─ and smiled.
Other members, even though they had work, split their time to study hard.
Marina stepped on the assignment hard.
"What are you going to do."
"... This."
"What?"
I quickly dove between Marina's arms and broke her arm as is.
Before she could react, Marina who switched places with me was suppressed as is.
I am a descendant of the royal family.
I learned basic self-defense right after walking.
"Let go! Let go! Kyaa, uncle...!"
"If you struggle, it hurts more."
Your uncle can't come.
Why?
"Why did you call the geum-sul?"
"... What?"
I know the voice of the person who was wearing the hood just now.
One of the game shops, the geum-sul shop.
It was a shop where you could request by specifying the sorcerer.
And that sorcerer's special skill is brainwashing.
I can guess who he's targeting.
If it's someone who usually casts barriers, it's only the elite.
That is, this means.
"Your weakness has been caught, you."