Chapter 4
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Really?
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Really?
They say that when you're so shocked, your mind goes completely blank.
Asha was in exactly that state right now.
She jerked her head up to stare at the statue's beautiful face. Blinking rapidly, she then lowered her gaze back to the plaque.
Whish— Whish—
She repeated the motion over and over. In the end, she couldn't say a word, her mouth just opening and closing silently.
'...Is it really true?'
She had no intention of denying the fact that she had memories from her past life at this point.
But even so!
Her father had been a woman in his past life? And a Knight of Knights, no less? That guy?
Asha flapped her mouth open and shut, repeatedly denying what her own eyes were seeing.
She scowled, her pretty face twisting as she glared at the plaque's inscription.
If sheer force of will could destroy it, the plaque would have been in tatters long ago.
Soon, Asha tilted her head slightly to the side and began sorting through her thoughts.
'Maybe I'm imagining things?'
Wasn't that possible?
Troublemaker. Rebel. Free spirit. Reckless life. Those were the words that first came to mind when she thought of her adoptive father, Min Hyeong.
Of course, he was uncannily skilled in a fight, and whenever someone needed help, he'd charge straight ahead no matter the odds, bulldozing through honestly and directly.
Honestly, she had thought he was pretty cool in those moments.
But still!
'Knight of Knights...'
What? The epitome of a true knight?
Hah! Asha snorted derisively.
It all looked exaggerated, except maybe for the part about never bending, even if it meant breaking.
Rumors and heroic tales had a way of inflating themselves over time, after all.
'...No, wait, that's not right.'
Asha's head, which had tilted nearly ninety degrees, slowly returned to its normal position.
She touched her lips thoughtfully.
'Maybe it's just a coincidence?'
Or perhaps she had misremembered the family name. Silvern instead of Silvarun, Silverion, Silvernus... something like that.
Memories had a way of getting distorted the older they got!
Even in her past life, her memory had been good, and she figured it was even better now. But she wasn't some fantasy novel dragon with perfect recall.
It was entirely possible.
Asha mentally reviewed the countless stories her adoptive father had repeated whenever he was bored.
At that moment, Elysia, who had been admiring the statue beside her, spoke up.
"What an incredible person."
"...Yeah?"
It seemed Elysia knew a fair bit about Yulia Silvern.
Asha was about to ask right away.
But Elysia turned away first.
"The sun's almost set, so let's head straight to the inn."
"Ah, sure."
Her questions would have to wait.
Asha hurried after Elysia with quick steps.
"It was about a century ago, I believe."
After checking into their rooms at the inn, the two women came back down to the first floor and began chatting over dinner.
"The records say that a calamity beast and its minions terrorized the entire continent back then."
"Must have been incredibly powerful, huh?"
"Yes. All the greatest heroes from across the continent gathered, formed an army, and defeated the calamity—or so the tales go. And the most famous knight among them hailed from this very village."
"Ahh..."
A country girl becomes the Knight of Knights. That alone could fill a whole biography.
Asha nodded slightly.
She scooped up some stew with her spoon and took a bite. The warm broth soothed her stomach pleasantly.
Some things never changed, no matter the era—the best meals were always the ones someone else prepared.
Her cheeks flushed with contentment, and Asha found herself grinning broadly without realizing it.
Here was the luxury of a meal free from chopping ingredients or washing dishes.
She had finally escaped her self-sufficient mountain life.
How long had it been since she'd last enjoyed this...?
Feeling her heart soften, Asha said,
"Do you know anything more about this Lady Yulia Silvern?"
"Not really, just the famous anecdotes... You might have better luck at a bookstore or library."
"Ah. That's a good idea."
"Though places like that are only in the cities, of course."
"..."
Asha blankly stared at Elysia's face for a moment.
It was a perfectly innocent expression, without a hint of mischief—like she'd just stated a simple fact.
And truthfully, Elysia was completely serious.
'...This elf girl really is aiming to become a knight.'
She'd suspected as much from the start.
She didn't know why she'd been holed up training in the mountains like some eccentric, but the passionate gaze and demeanor she'd shown toward the statue...
It was clearly a reverent communion, pondering a hero slumbering in legend across a century's span.
Surely, she burned with ambition hot enough to envy the hero's feats! A resolve as proud as any elf's.
Elysia reflected inwardly.
Her mindset had grown complacent lately.
Where had that desperate original resolve gone—the resolve that drove her to vomit blood in training to awaken her mana, and to dance on the edge of death in battle to earn her knighthood?
Lately, she'd been diligent enough, but not desperate.
She'd merely endured the weight of her knightly title. Rather than sharpening her blade further, she'd settled into a comfortable reality.
Her face burned with shame.
'How embarrassing...'
The passion and determination from this elf girl, who looked younger than her. It was something worth observing and learning from.
Hoo... Elysia let out a deep, low breath.
She then straightened her posture strictly for herself.
At that moment, Asha leaned forward and asked,
"Lady, is there a city near this village?"
"The closest one is to the northwest, but..."
Elysia paused briefly, rummaged through her luggage, and spread a small map on the table.
She pointed to the village with her finger, then slid it along the map before tapping a spot.
"I wouldn't recommend this city right now—it's in the final stages of a territorial war."
"What about then?"
"It'll be a bit of a detour, but I recommend the one to the northeast."
She added that she was heading there herself, then pointed to another spot.
Asha stared at the map intently.
She wanted to at least get a rough sense of the local geography in her head.
'Not as far from the mountains and village as I thought.'
Above all, it appealed because it was the direction Elysia was going.
She needed to learn about the world and its common sense, and recover the social skills lost to years in isolation. A travel companion was essential.
'...So much to do.'
Asha let out a small sigh and hunched her back.
In her current situation, with nothing but the clothes on her back.
To avoid starving, she'd have to find work and earn some money.
She also needed to satisfy her curiosity about her elf heritage and whatever this knight business with her father was...
For a comfortable life ahead, she'd have to endure some hardship for a while.
'Cliché as it is, maybe mercenary work?'
Honestly, becoming a knight didn't appeal.
Her father in his past life had ranted endlessly about how knights were bogged down by rules and formalities until her ears bled.
Asha's subconscious reacted allergically to the word "knight."
She hated excessive restrictions.
'Not that you can become one just because you want to, anyway.'
Asha chuckled softly and finished her meal.
At the same time, Elysia, who had eaten at a similar pace, spoke up.
"Miss Asha. The path to knighthood won't be easy, but I'll cheer you on."
"...Huh?"
"Whether you build honor from scratch or start as a squire, I'm sure you'll do great."
"Not interested."
"?"
"?"
Both women wore equally baffled expressions.
Click—
After dinner, Elysia entered her room. She glanced around before pulling a chair up to the table and sitting down.
She took out a sheet of paper, laid it out neatly, and fell into thought.
It was the report she needed to submit to the Knight Order captain upon her return.
"..."
How should she write it?
Soon, Elysia began writing without hesitation.
Scratch, scratch—
- Heard rumors of a person living deep in the mountains and attempted verification.
- However, the subject was an elf, so determined no relevance and concluded the investigation.
"Hmm..."
Tap, tap, tap.
She drummed her fingertips on the paper.
Wasn't it too brief?
'Right, let's add more detail.'
- Heard rumors of a person living deep in the mountains and attempted verification.
- However, the subject was an elf, so determined no relevance and concluded the investigation.
- The mercenaries hired at the time caused a disturbance, but overcame the crisis thanks to the wise ambush by the elf girl encountered on site.
- This elf's reverent spirit in venerating martial prowess is deemed to have transcended worldly status and touched the essence of glory.
Tap! She placed the final period.
Elysia smiled proudly, setting down her pen with satisfaction.