At Last, Entering House Douglas Kim
At last, I had set foot inside!!
Douglas Kim.
One of the eight S-rank Awakened Korea had ever produced, and a founding member of the World Noble Council.
...And also the man who abruptly surfaced into the spotlight the moment the Gates were made public.
He was a man of many secrets.
His combat capabilities, for one. He was known to favor speed-based fighting, oddly enough for a man of his sheer bulk, but his actual combat type had never been disclosed.
The nobles who had once raided Gates alongside him maintained nothing but silence on the subject.
Why won't they talk? Because when an S-rank asks for confidentiality, that's simply the end of it.
By the same logic, everything from the basics—height, weight—to his fortune, his education, all of it remained shrouded in veils.
Even what he'd been doing before the Age of Gates opened was unclear.
Why does he hide himself? Only he and God could ever say.
The most secretive man in Korea.
Douglas Kim.
......Honestly, though,
none of that really mattered.
Because the reason he was famous and talked about so much was something else entirely.
'Even if I don't lift a finger, someone else will handle it.'
That was the personal philosophy he'd spat out brazenly in front of reporters.
A man pathologically averse to losing out on anything, he didn't even take the field in battle—because it would wear down his 'equipment.'
A human being thoroughly saturated with egoism and individualism.
There was exactly one circumstance under which he would move: when a top-tier AAA+ Gate or higher opened.
Then why would he ever step up to a top-tier Gate?
Out of fear the world might end?
Or because deep down, he genuinely worried for people?
Of course not.
One reason was that the other patriarchs moved as well; the other was that the gains far outweighed the losses.
The rune stones and items that came out of top-tier Gates were simply that valuable. Other people's lives? Those had never even registered in his eyes to begin with.
Granted, a 'noble' was supposed to derive meaning from protecting the people with their power.
And so public criticism of him was fierce—here was a man who wouldn't even show up for a Gate on the verge of a Dungeon Break.
'An old geezer who's abandoned his duty as a noble and cares only for shiny treasure.'
That was his reputation in the world.
***
......BUT!
What is with that beaming face?!
"Gwa-hahaha!!!!"
I was, at this moment, thoroughly flustered.
The man the world knew as a cold-blooded monster who cared for no one was bouncing around like a child on his birthday.
With that body, and that look, no less.
'While holding me in his arms...!'
"Hwak—! Hk! L-Lord Patriarch! Th-that's enough...! Enough!!"
Why was he shaking me so hard?! Did he take me for a mortar and pestle?!
The dizziness made me feel like the delicious meal I'd just eaten was about to come right back up. My limbs dangled uselessly, unable to summon any strength.
Apparently my low rank meant nothing to him—he was shaking me hard enough to snap every joint in my body.
At that, April, who had been watching, spoke up.
"Lord Patriarch, you'll break the child you went to such lengths to bring home. You should put her down now."
"Hm...? Oh dear! So I should."
Douglas's eyes flew wide open and he froze mid-motion.
Then he lowered me down gently and covered the crown of my head with one enormous hand.
"There... You're not hurt anywhere? You must have had a hard time, off handling big business so far away."
I wasn't hurt, I nearly died. Right here, by your hand, just now.
"I-I'm perfectly fine. Haha..."
At that, Douglas began scrutinizing me with narrowed eyes.
"Your complexion doesn't look so good, now that you mention it. Hm... April."
"Yes, Lord Patriarch."
"Did you do something to this girl on the way here? I heard she got out of the car mid-journey."
Wait, the sparks are flying over there?!
This won't do.
Sure, April had been rude to me, but whatever the reason, this whole thing had started because of me.
I couldn't very well go causing trouble for people the moment I arrived.
'Not that they know it's my fault, but still...'
Who's to say I wouldn't get branded as a troublesome brat? I hurriedly spoke up to Douglas so April wouldn't be put on the spot.
"I'm the one who asked April-unni to take a walk with me! The flight was so long, I felt cooped up."
"I see. ...Yes, I find the transport of the old era suffocating as well. Frankly, running there on foot would be faster."
Douglas patted my head, saying he deeply related.
But as he did, he seemed to be studying my hand with unusual attention—with a grave, piercing look that had none of the innocence from moments ago.
'So it all got through to him.'
I could be certain of it.
He'd said something about a magical beast the instant we met, after all—though he'd looked a little flustered right after letting it slip.
Both the over-the-top welcome I'd received, wildly disproportionate to anything I'd heard about, and his excitement enough to fumble his words—it was obvious he knew something about my oddities.
He turned his head and spoke.
"April, you've worked hard bringing her back all on your own. It would have been nice if all of you came out to greet her, but your siblings are all so busy pretending... tsk tsk."
"Gates have been appearing more frequently lately. There are five labyrinth-type dungeons that need clearing today alone, so everyone is quite busy."
April replied with her trademark sociable smile, and Douglas gave a satisfied one in return.
"Heh heh, yes, you've always looked after your siblings like that. Never flaunting your achievements—truly worthy of being my daughter, Douglas Kim's. See that you look after your new youngest just as well, as you do now."
"Understood, Lord Patriarch."
April answered, crossing her arms—and then bowing her head, ever so slowly.
Watching her, my mouth fell slightly open.
'Whoa...'
It was the same posture I'd been taught, yet an utterly different elegance poured out of her.
A smile like an angel's, catching the sunlight.
The refined grace flowing down from her very fingertips made it vividly clear that she had lived a life no commoner ever could.
......I have to learn to do that someday too, don't I?
"Then, guide her."
"Yes, my lord."
Douglas handed me off as one entrusts a precious thing, then turned away.
A woman in a black uniform, kneeling to bow as he departed. She looked to be in her early thirties by any rough estimate, and once Douglas was out of sight, she rose unhurriedly.
Then she crossed her arms and inclined her head toward me as well.
"My name is Han Jihye. I will be attending to you from this day forward, Lady Raeby, as your chief attendant."
"Oh, hello there—"
Just then, something settled its chin on my left shoulder.
I turned to find April shaking her head slowly, eyes closed.
"April...?"
"Nobles do not bow their heads to commoners, my lady."
"Ah, I know that, but—"
It's embarrassing! I haven't lived as a noble, remember?!
'How do I get out of this one?'
I bit my lip and looked at April in helpless confusion—and her expression shifted.
"Don't tell me. ...Haa—my lady, this is the established rule and law of nobility. Surely you didn't decide on adoption without anticipating even this much change?"
"......."
I quietly lowered my gaze.
It was harder than I'd thought.
From the outside, everyone made it out to be all glamour and nobility, but up close, even these people lived bound by their own set of constraints, didn't they?
I had resolved to accept this changed world... but I could tell it wouldn't be easy from here on out.
'Still, this is the life I chose.'
Nothing in this world comes free, right, Raeby?
I steeled my resolve once more and turned to Han Jihye. Addressing her, still holding her crossed-armed bow, with perfect calm.
"......I look forward to working with you, Jihye-ssi."
"The pleasure is entirely mine."
Only then did she straighten up. Apparently, she couldn't lower her arms until a noble had formally accepted her greeting.
......Well-trained, I see.
Bowing to a little kid, and not a flicker of wounded pride to be seen.
Unlike my past self, who would have cracked jokes at how strange it all was, this woman—who had plenty of years behind her—seemed to have adapted to it all in just a few short years.
'Maybe the reason I got weeded out back then was...'
Just then, April jabbed me in the forearm with her elbow.
"Well then, I'll be off. I imagine we'll see each other again at tonight's welcome banquet."
"There's a welcome banquet?"
"Hehe, of course there is. Ask your attendants for the details."
"Ah, right, of course. Understood. Thank you for bringing me all this way, unni!"
April gave an elegant nod and turned away. It was the closing moment of my first encounter with that utterly unpredictable woman.
'Still, she didn't really needle me or anything.'
There had definitely been a chill in the air when she'd picked me up in the car... so I sincerely hoped this new attitude of hers would last.
"Then, shall we escort you, my lady?"
"Yes!"
From there, I followed Han Jihye. There was a car waiting for us, but I declined it.
Partly because I wanted to get a feel for the island's layout, but mostly because the vehicle's design was too much for me.
'A carriage-style car...? Really?'
It looked like something straight out of a medieval nobleman's procession. Just the sight of those lavish golden ornaments was intimidating.
An extreme open-top vehicle permitted only for travel within the Noble Island itself... I could not, in good conscience, board that thing in the clothes I was wearing.
"Th-the island is bigger than I expected. I heard it was tens of thousands of square meters."
But I almost immediately regretted my decision—the distance turned out to be far longer than I'd imagined.
Han Jihye's expression had been ever so slightly wry earlier, and now I think I understood why.
She answered my remark with a bittersweet smile.
"The island covers over eighty thousand square meters. I'm no groundskeeper or gardener, so I can't say for certain, but I've heard the distance from the far end to the entrance alone is a full kilometer."
"Y-you... what?"
O-one kilometer?
"I—I mean, how does anyone build something that enormous...?"
"Hehe... It's astonishing, isn't it?"
"......."
Astonishing doesn't cover it.
Even granting modular construction methods and whatever head start they'd had, an artificial island of this scale, finished the moment the Gates appeared? Come on.
......There's definitely something behind all this. Well, since I've already gotten in, I might as well find out.
I launched a full interrogation at Han Jihye. I'd expected her to find it tiresome, but thankfully she indulged me, saying I was adorable.
"We've arrived, my lady. This is it."
After all my questions and answers, we stood before the entrance of a mansion before I knew it.
The place I would be living in was not the main residence, but a detached annex—the smallest of them all, a building reserved exclusively for 'adopted children.'
Han Jihye led the way, guiding me to the room I would occupy, and there I came face to face with a scene straight out of a movie.
'Whoa... there's a whole building inside this building.'
An interior so immaculate and beautiful it defied description, soaring ceilings and vast rooms.
And on top of that, a dozen-odd rooms of unknown purpose, and even a kitchen.
It was a space so luxurious I could hardly believe it was meant for a single occupant.
I pointed to the people lined up in the center of the room.
"And those people are...?"
"The temporary attendants who will serve you, my lady."
"Temporary, meaning?"
"Exactly what it sounds like. Dismissing me requires the Lord Patriarch's approval, but they may be dismissed at your sole discretion, Lady Raeby. Furthermore, bringing in any other commoner from outside is likewise within your authority."
......Oho.
As I drew near, the four attendants crossed their arms in turn.
"I am An Na-ri. I have been assigned as your bodyguard, Lady Raeby, serving as a D-rank hunter."
"I'm Kim Dae-seok. I'll be heading up your kitchen."
"I am Kang Ha-na. I have been entrusted with your education, Lady Raeby."
An Na-ri... she looks young too. High schooler? College?
Kim Dae-seok had the vibe of a big, tanned neighborhood guy.
Kang Ha-na had the air of a glasses-wearing student at a top university.
Having taken in each of their features one by one, I opened my mouth.
"Nice to meet you all. I'm Raebi Na, and I'll be living with you starting today. I look forward to working with you."
"""We look forward to serving you!"""
With that slightly mismatched chorus, the introductions came to an end.
And then,
"Hold it right there!!!"
Huh?
From the entrance, I could see a familiar tall figure sprinting toward us.
'Assistant Manager An...?'