Chapter 56
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 56
I stood there, bow in hand, looking at the three young lords standing beside Tedric like a personal guard.
"Of course, that goes for you lords as well. Like true nobles, right?"
I expected at least one or two of them to look uncomfortable, but they didn't.
They probably think Tedric will take all the responsibility.
Moreover, seeing them step forward so confidently for such a dangerous stunt, they seemed certain they wouldn't hit me even once.
Right. It was just a nasty bit of intimidation.
However, reason and emotion are usually two very different things.
My body began to tremble slightly against my will.
Tedric, catching on with uncanny speed, immediately sneered at me.
"Why is the great Tulia trembling? Don't worry, I'm actually quite a good shot. I’ve always had a perfect score, you know?"
Tedric’s eyes gleamed with cruel mockery.
"Oh, but then again, who knows? According to you, I’m just a 'bug,' right?"
"..."
Unless Tedric Frezier or those noble bastards had truly lost their minds, they wouldn't dare actually hit me with an arrow in a place like this.
So, there was only one thing they wanted from me.
To see me collapse in terror as a rain of arrows poured down.
In the process, if I made a spectacle of myself—like tripping over my dress—they would probably howl with laughter.
They might even make it a favorite story to mock me with for the rest of their lives.
In short, they wanted to break Tulia’s spirit.
That was that bastard Tedric’s goal.
Because I’ve put him through a lot.
But does he not remember the countless things he did to Tulia?
Then again, if he were the type of person to learn from others' mistakes, he wouldn't be this wicked...
"Over there."
At Tedric’s command, his loyal servant hurried over and led me to a spot a fair distance away.
"You want me to stand here?"
"Yeah. Isn't it perfect?"
It was a very precise distance, one where the trajectory of the arrows could be adjusted most easily.
I knew the arrows wouldn't hit.
I knew that not showing fear was how I would win.
And after enduring those twenty shots, I fully intended to put an arrow right into that bastard’s foot.
He seemed so excited at the thought of intimidating me that he wasn't thinking straight, but this bet was actually disadvantageous for him.
You might be famous far and wide for being a good shot, but I’m certainly not.
I was a beginner who hadn't even learned how to hold a bow properly.
Literally, the blind arrows of a total novice.
Whether that arrow ended up lodged in Tedric’s body or not was none of my business.
Maybe I should just aim for his crotch.
Tedric, you bastard.
Should I make you live the rest of your life as a eunuch?
Should I end the Lilius line right here?
Even as I snidely mocked him in my head...
Standing in the middle of the forest, feeling like public prey, did not feel good.
To be honest, I was a little scared.
The sharp arrowheads pointed right at me.
The mouths snickering on purpose, debating where to hit me or what would happen if they "accidentally" slipped.
I knew their words and actions were meant to scare me.
I knew all too well that as long as I held the position of Lady Tulia Frezier, they could never truly hurt me.
"..."
My hands shook, so I quietly gripped the fabric of my dress.
No matter how hard I tried not to give them the impression that I was intimidated, I couldn't do anything about this slight trembling.
Frustratingly enough.
I am a tree rooted here. I am the World Tree.
The moment I steeled my resolve not to move a single inch.
Whish!
Whish, whish, whish, whish!
The magic bows, drawn with full force—bows nearly the size of longbows—unleashed a volley of sharp arrows.
It was a display of confident skill.
Tedric was a self-proclaimed master archer, and the men he recruited were undoubtedly excellent shots as well.
So, nothing would happen.
I wouldn't get hurt.
They would surely land right next to my shoes or pierce my skirt without touching my legs.
They would use that miraculous, hair-raising skill to crush my spirit and boost their own egos.
Or so I thought.
"Agh!"
A scream echoed through the forest.
"Aaagh!"
Did that come from my mouth?
A beat late, I realized I was the one screaming.
No, what I realized first was the pain.
The raw pain of my instep being pierced through by a sharp arrowhead.
"Gasp!"
"L-Lady Tulia Frezier!"
"Are you crazy?! She—she was hit in the foot!"
"Her arm was hit too! Are you out of your minds?!"
"B-Blood...!"
The terrified screams of the lords and ladies didn't even register properly in my ears.
I don't know what kind of mental strength I summoned in that moment.
Even amidst the burning agony in my arms and foot, I looked straight at Tedric’s face.
Did he hit me on purpose?
Was that crazy bastard actually trying to cause an accident?
No matter how insane he was, would he do it so openly with so many witnesses?
But it wasn't that.
Tedric Frezier’s face was deathly pale.
Like lead soaked in sea salt.
This meant it wasn't Tedric Frezier’s intention.
Even the noble lords who had been snickering beside him while firing—men who surely held titles as master marksmen—looked bloodless and ghastly.
Suddenly—and I mean truly suddenly.
A certain 'existence' came to mind.
It wasn't a thought I summoned intentionally; it invaded my mind like an involuntary reflex.
It couldn't be.
Surely...!
A penalty?
I wasn't in any state to look up and search for the star-shaped icon as I usually did.
But that winged golden star followed me everywhere.
Even now, in this urgent and desperate situation where I was being showered with arrows, it was likely floating leisurely near my head.
Status Window!
The moment I shouted internally, text appeared in the air as if it had been waiting.
No, perhaps the text had appeared even before I called for it.
[System: Status Window]
Tulia Frezier (15 years old)
Overall Rating: D-
(!Warning: Due to the Luck Penalty, all attacks performed by others will hit.)
Hey, are you seriously crazy?!
Warn me about that sooner, for God's sake!
I hurried to use my remaining coins to raise my Luck stat.
Or rather, I tried to.
[System] Insufficient coins.
What?
[System] Insufficient coins.
I have 10 coins right now, and you're saying I can't even raise my Luck stat by a single level from -10?
[System] Insufficient coins.
[System] Insufficient coins.
[System] Insufficient coins.
Does the Luck stat really eat up that many coins?
My bewilderment was quickly pierced by pain.
"Aaagh!"
What kind of farce was this?
In the midst of it all, another arrow that hadn't stopped yet pierced my shoulder.
Even as I writhed in pain as if my entire body were on fire, a hollow laugh escaped me.
I’ve seen this scene before.
I had already seen it in The Milk Bread, in the game.
It was one of the many endings where Tulia Frezier, the greatest piece of human trash in the world, was executed.
The sight of Tulia dying, covered in blood after being showered with arrows by righteous nobles.
I had seen it so many times it was sickening.
I was the one who played through it all.
But it’s strange.
Am I still the trash, and are they the righteous nobles?
Is that it?
Is that really how it is?
I felt like I was going to burst into tears.
No, I was already crying.
Tears streamed down my cheeks uncontrollably.
The wounds pierced by the arrows were simply too painful to endure silently.
The first shot Tedric fired. And the multiple arrows fired simultaneously by the other lords.
Meanwhile, the remaining two shots in the magic tool in Tedric’s hand had not yet been fired.
It was then, when I finally collapsed, unable to bear the pain any longer.
"S-She collapsed!"
"A doctor! Get a doctor!"
"Call for help immediately!"
While people were running around in confusion, Tedric was aiming his bow at Tulia once again.
Is he insane?!
The nobles' eyes grew as wide as they possibly could.
"No, Lord Tedric! What are you doing?!"
"Put that magic tool down this instant!"
"Dammit, this is a magic tool! Once you fire, three shots always go out! I can't stop it of my own will!"
I lifted my gaze at Tedric’s death-rattle-like scream.
My eyes, blurred by tears and pain, saw only a haze.
Is this what the world looks like right before you die?
Then the Tulia in the game must have always seen the world like this at the end.
Everything slowed down like a revolving lantern.
I felt like I could see the final two arrows flying toward me.
The ones fired from the very magic tool Tedric had bragged about, the one his father, Lilius, had bought for him.
The arrows launched from that device looked exceptionally large and sharp.
Just like the one that had first pierced my foot.
"Get away, My Lady!"
A few knights were rushing over after hearing the ladies' screams, but the flying arrows were much faster.
My foot was crushed and I couldn't move; how was I supposed to get away?
"My Lady! Get your head down!"
The knight’s urgent voice was useless.
(!Warning: Due to the Luck Penalty, all attacks performed by others will hit.)
Interest? To hell with it.
At this rate, I had no choice but to break the Lead Bank!
I remembered seeing a warning that interest wouldn't apply if I withdrew before the deposit period was over, but I was about to get shot again!
Just as I was about to pull the coins from the bank and pump up my Luck stat...
"You crazy bastard!"
Along with a sharp curse, a large figure blocked my vision.
Thwack.
The sickening sound of expensive silk suits lined with high-quality wool being pierced, and the flesh beneath being punctured, struck my ears.
"...Leon?"