Chapter 545
Chapter 545
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 545
Chapter Title: Reborn as the Plum Sword Guard of a Count Family
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The black cat, having tasted the full-force lightning, cowered for a moment before collapsing to the floor with a thud. Smoke rose from its massive body, and its eyes rolled back into its head. Just to be sure, I checked again. The black cat was definitely dead.
Stagger.
My body lurched forward, but I braced my legs and barely managed to stay upright. My sense of balance was a complete mess. The black cat was undoubtedly the cause...
'Even after killing it, I'm in this state. It'll take time to recover.'
Either way, this needed to be reported. A monster had appeared in the safe academy grounds, so the academy would take some kind of action.
Unlike my other abilities, Complete Recovery couldn't be used. This world could be considered a mental one, in a way. Even when I died here before, Complete Recovery hadn't activated.
"Yu-jin! Are you okay?! Blood! You're bleeding so much! We need to get to the hospital right now!"
Mary grabbed onto me.
Earlier, the black cat's claws had dug into my arm. The bone wasn't broken. It wasn't as dangerous as it looked from the outside, but Mary was acting like I was on the verge of death.
"No need to make a fuss. I won't die from a wound like this."
"Do you think I'm an idiot?! You've been staggering since earlier! And there's way too much blood! Ah, stop the bleeding! First, stop the bleeding...!"
Mary tore a strip from the hem of her dress without hesitation. My eyes briefly lingered on her smooth, exposed leg.
'Even if she's not my type, I'd still like to hit it once...'
In this world, that was nothing but a pipe dream. To avoid any issues, I averted my gaze.
"Lady Mary, you're no ordinary noble lady. That behavior could cause problems as a noble."
"I can't just stand by while someone dies in front of me! Believe it or not, I'm from a martial family. I can't wield a sword, but I can handle basic first aid."
Her bandaging skills were impressively deft.
"You seem quite practiced. Even in a martial family, you wouldn't have had many occasions to do this yourself."
"My little brother gets hurt every chance he gets. When we were kids, I was always by his side, so emergency care just became second nature. Limited to emergencies, though. Now, let's go to the hospital. If we leave a wound like this untreated, you might never use that arm again."
"Lady Mary, I can go on my own. Thank you for the bandaging. I can't impose any further."
"Impose? You saved my life. This is the least I can do. And I saw you staggering earlier. No point in pretending otherwise."
"...I'm worried this might lead to misunderstandings from others. Strange rumors could spread."
"There are already strange rumors going around. A few more won't hurt, so just let me help you!"
"......Very well. I leave myself in your hands."
"Leave it to me!"
I entered the hospital with Mary. My balance had already recovered, and thanks to the healer generously using potions on my arm, it would be fully healed within three days. Potions weren't normally used on servants, but since this was a monster encountered within the academy, support potions were provided.
'Cheap potions that take three days for a scratch like this.'
I wrapped my arm in bandages and lay on the hospital bed. Mary stayed by my side, chattering away. She was volunteering to nurse me out of guilt and gratitude.
"Mary! Mary! I heard you ran into a monster! Are you hurt anywhere?!"
Prince Parein burst into the room. He checked on Mary first. Confirming no scratches on her, he let out a sigh of relief.
"N-No injuries. Yu-jin protected me."
"You don't have to smile like that. You almost died—how can you smile?"
"It's already over. Better than crying, right? Or does Your Highness want me to cry?"
"...No. Smile, then. That's better. But we can't just let this slide. I'll formally protest to the academy. And..."
Prince Parein looked at me.
I slowly sat up.
"My apologies, Your Highness. I'll get up right away."
"It's fine. Stay lying down. I can't make the benefactor who saved Mary strain himself just to greet me. I sincerely thank you for saving her. Butler of Yuria Piltania."
"I am deeply honored."
Prince Parein plopped down in the room. Of course, because of Mary. The prince and Mary chatted away right in front of me. I knew it already, but seeing it firsthand confirmed their relationship was anything but ordinary.
'No wonder those rumors are flying.'
A bit later, Yorsen and Matis—the guys who usually trailed after Mary—joined in. And then they all gossiped amiably.
'Are they showing off how close they are to me?'
Common sense said to let the patient rest in peace.
I wanted to tell them to get out, but no one here was of lower status than me.
Clunk.
The hospital room door opened, and Yuria arrived.
"......"
The moment she entered, the atmosphere plummeted. The nobles in the room looked at Yuria with tense faces. Control of the room shifted to her in an instant. As expected of Yuria. Her presence was unmatched.
"I heard the gist from the healer. However, I don't understand why all of you are gathered in this room."
"Yuria. We were expressing our gratitude to your butler. The investigation is ongoing, but what he did was for the good of the entire academy. He'll receive compensation. He deserves it. Even if I have to fight the academy over it, I won't let this go."
"Understood, Your Highness. I'll take my butler now."
Prince Parein nodded.
I rose with a glad heart. Finally escaping this noisy place.
"Wait a moment!"
At the edge of my vision, golden hair swayed like gentle waves. Mary stepped between me and Yuria, as if blocking her. Yuria's eyebrow twitched faintly.
"Lady Mary, do you have business with me?"
"Yu-jin needs rest. He should focus on recovering in the hospital room today."
"That's different from what the doctor outside said. His only injury is to his arm—moving his legs shouldn't be a problem."
"Yu-jin got badly hurt because of me... Lady Yuria. Let me nurse him personally today, so please let him rest fully."
"Haa."
Yuria sighed. Rarely, she showed emotion—irritation, at that.
"Lady Mary, mind your own business. Don't you know your meddling complicates things?"
"I just wanted to repay the favor..."
"Lady Mary, you're a noble, and Yu-jin is a butler. Moreover, he's from the Piltania family. Have you considered how uncomfortable he must feel? Or is this like the rumors—seducing the prince, and now seducing Yu-jin?"
"Th-That's not it. I..."
Mary faltered in confusion.
"Enough!"
Prince Parein intervened.
"Yuria Piltania! That was rude! Apologize to Mary!"
"......My apologies, Lady Mary. Hearing Yu-jin was injured made me on edge."
"Mary! You're at fault too. Yu-jin is Piltania's butler. No matter the favor, interfering with another family's servant is overstepping."
"I'm sorry, Your Highness... I'm sorry... Lady Yuria..."
Mary bowed her head like a drenched puppy. The men, except me, looked at her with pity. I couldn't fathom why they adored her so much.
'Must be that pussy grip.'
I got off the bed and approached Yuria.
"Everyone, thank you for nursing a mere servant like me. I'll return to the lady now."
"Yu-jin... Thank you so much for today. Without you, I might have died."
"I only did what needed doing."
I returned to the dormitory with Yuria.
"Yu-jin. Is your arm alright?"
"Yes, my lady. It's hard to move right now... but it's not crippled, so I can still serve you."
"What exactly happened?"
I had planned to tell her anyway, even without the advice. There was no reason to hide it from her.
"......I see. I understand what happened. Lady Mary is suspicious, as expected."
Thinking about it as Yuria said, it was suspicious.
Did she really not know the black cat was a monster? Why had the black cat stayed meekly in her arms instead of attacking her?
"Yu-jin. Instead of a reward today, you need punishment. But... we'll postpone it. Do nothing today and rest fully. That's an order."
"Yes, my lady."
???
The next day.
I faced a troublesome situation.
It was lunchtime. Mary, who should have been at the academy, had come to find me.
"Lady Mary... What brings you here? Aren't your academy classes an issue?"
"Hehe. I came to repay you for yesterday. And to check on your condition. The academy's fine—the professor gave permission. Your arm... looks much better?"
"Yes. The lady bestowed a potion on me. But what's that in your hand?"
"This is a gift. Cookies I baked myself this morning. The taste... isn't exceptional, but they're edible."
"......I'll gladly accept."
"You'll take them but not eat them, right?"
"I'll eat them when I have time later."
"Even cookies get stale over time. Eat them now. I won't leave until I see you eat."
No matter what I said, it wouldn't work. And given my status, I couldn't treat her roughly.
"Understood. I'll prepare tea time, so please leave afterward."
I brewed some black tea and poured her a cup.
Mary took a sip, her eyes widening in admiration.
"Wow... I didn't know black tea could taste this good. I've never had tea like this. The rumors about you being the best butler are true."
"It's nothing. The cookies you made are tastier, Lady Mary."
"Oh come on. Compared to your tea, my cookies are nothing—I'm embarrassed."
She prattled on with idle chatter, glanced at me cautiously, then revealed her true intent.
"Yu-jin. I want to be friends with Lady Yuria. Could you help me?"
"Even without my help, I think you could easily befriend her, Lady Mary."
It was empty words.
Considering Yuria's personality and yesterday's events, I couldn't picture them getting close. Even if I helped Mary, the outcome wouldn't change. I'd only lose more of Yuria's trust.
I had no intention of rashly stepping in to help Mary.
"I tried talking to Lady Yuria at the academy, but... I just hit a solid wall."
"......May I ask why you want to befriend her?"
"I admire Lady Yuria. She exudes elegance just by standing there, and her blue eyes and calm speech radiate dignity. I admired her at first sight. No matter how hard I try, I could never be like her."
Mary's words rang with sincerity. If it was an act, she'd be a master actress and politician.
"I'm sorry, Lady Mary. I can't help with that. I'm merely a butler of the Piltania family. It's not my place to meddle in matters involving the lady."
"If you put it that way, I can't insist. The tea was delicious. Ah, can I come by occasionally for tea? My maid is terrible at brewing it..."
"I have a lot of duties, so I may not have time like today."
Don't come.
That was the intent behind my words. But she didn't seem to get it.
"See you next time."
She left with a cheerful smile.
???
That night.
I reported the day's events to Yuria.
She listened silently, then spoke.
"Yu-jin. It's time to receive your punishments from yesterday and today."