Chapter 41
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Ten People, Ten Colors (2)
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'Calling me old?'
Asha's head tilted in surprise.
Where the hell did that come from?
Even looking at it objectively, her face was far from wrinkled or aged.
Asha's mouth fell open slightly as she stared at Kyle like he was some bizarre creature, scanning him up and down.
Dark red hair and hazel eyes. His tall, well-built frame naturally exuded the air of a spoiled young master from a wealthy family.
No matter how she looked at him, he seemed to be in his early twenties.
And this guy was calling her...
'Old?'
His tone even dripped with condescension.
It was like some punk on the street yelling "Hey, lady!" at a passing girl.
The only difference was that his noble upbringing had polished the wording a bit...
"Did you just call me, by any chance?"
Asha's head swiveled left and right. He'd shouted "miss" before blocking her path.
Coincidentally, among the people milling about nearby, she was the only one who fit the bill.
In the end, Asha turned back to Kyle and asked,
"...For real?"
"Yeah, old timer. I just want to chat for a minute."
"Hah..."
Asha unwittingly swallowed a gasp at his brazen rudeness.
Looks like he hadn't gotten enough of a beating yesterday.
But she couldn't just start pummeling someone in the middle of the street. Especially not when she was a commoner and he was a noble.
Instead of engaging, Asha decided to slip away quietly.
Wise folks avoid shit not because they're scared, but because it's filthy!
"...Could you step aside?"
As Asha tried to go around him, Kyle blocked her again.
She twisted the other way, and he mirrored her, getting in the way once more.
Sigh. Asha let out a breath and asked,
"And how old are you, then?"
"Hm? I just turned twenty."
"You don't look it."
Asha narrowed her eyes.
"Mid-twenties if I'm being generous... or even late twenties?"
She prodded him on purpose, throwing his rudeness right back.
"What nonsense..."
Kyle's brow twitched as he snorted and curled his lip.
At that moment, Asha pointed at her own face with her index finger.
"Seventeen."
"What?"
"My age. Seventeen."
"...?!?"
Kyle's face went blank for a second before his eyes widened, raking over Asha from head to toe.
Then, as he lifted his gaze back to her face...
Oh crap. Kyle froze stiff.
Beneath her elegantly furrowed brows, which hinted at annoyance, her cheeks still held a soft, babyish flush that hadn't fully faded.
He hadn't noticed at first because of his preconceptions. But now, her face had the fresh vibrancy of a flower bud just beginning to bloom.
With looks like that, she really could be seventeen.
Even elves, who lived long lives and stayed youthful, showed some age differences.
Especially between a growing child and someone nearing the end of their lifespan...
'No way, she's really seventeen?!'
Kyle hesitated before asking,
"...For real?"
"What, you think it's fake?"
Asha snickered at how he'd parroted her own words from earlier.
A young master from a prestigious count's family looking that dumbfounded was quite the sight.
Kyle flailed desperately.
"Don't lie! Prove you're younger than me, then."
"You prove you're twenty first."
"..."
"Yeah, thought so?"
Of course he couldn't. Asha shrugged leisurely.
In this era, proving your age right there in the street was next to impossible.
"So, anything else? If not, I've got places to be, sir twenty-year-old."
"..."
Now he was the one being called old. Kyle clamped his lips shut, struck dumb like he'd swallowed honey.
Only now did he understand why this elf woman—unlike his master—didn't rage at being called old.
And that wasn't even the half of it.
'But if—just hypothetically—she really is yesterday's thief...'
That would mean she'd reached the superhuman realm at just seventeen!
It defied all common sense.
Superhumans. Those who transcended human limits.
The youngest in history was the hero from a century ago, Yulia Silvern.
She'd started being hailed as a superhuman around that exact age.
An unbroken record to this day.
Even Kyle, who prided himself as a genius and was seen that way by the world, hadn't broken it.
His elf master was over a hundred, so he'd figured he could surpass her with talent or effort.
But an elf superhuman at seventeen? That was...
'Is that why she gave a fake name? Because even she knows?'
It all clicked perfectly.
Recalling yesterday's humiliation, Kyle pressed her.
"That's not what I want to ask. There was a bandit attack yesterday. The one who fled in perfect order had a build like yours, miss."
And the same eye color, too.
He swallowed the last part and glared steadily at Asha.
"Hm... Do I look like the bandit type?"
Asha countered with relaxed poise.
She clasped her hands politely in front of her chest and tilted her head slightly. She was the picture of an innocent, refined young lady who wouldn't harm a fly.
Playing it cool on purpose, Asha flashed a bright smile.
'Gotta look like a harmless, ordinary citizen, right?'
Kyle's brow furrowed faintly as he watched.
'...Well, she is an elf. Can't argue with that.'
The way they'd issued crisp orders and retreated in formation.
No elf had judgment like that. They didn't know the word "retreat," proportional to their bravery.
The realization hit him late, and Kyle sighed softly.
Elves definitely weren't likely to be yesterday's slender thief. Nor was this girl in front of him.
'Was I jumping to conclusions?'
As confusion stirred in him...
Asha tossed out casually,
"And besides. Saying bandits are brazenly roaming inside Hiragart? Isn't that an insult to the Raglain Knight Order?"
"...!"
It was spot on! Kyle's eyes went wide.
He might think it, but saying it aloud tarnished their honor.
He'd spoken too rashly. As a knight himself, Kyle had no choice but to own up.
"...You've got a point. I was careless."
"Hee hee, right?"
Asha's eyes crinkled prettily.
His honest apology was refreshing to see.
"Anything else? If not, I'll be on my way."
"Ahem... Sorry for blocking you. Have a good day."
Kyle stepped aside.
Asha nodded contentedly and walked off lightly.
Kyle stood there, eyes fixed on her back until it vanished completely.
The raid mission's chaos felt like a distant memory as Asha's days flowed peacefully on.
She played when she felt like it, and when laziness got the better of her, she'd head to the mercenary guild for a simple job.
True to her freelance mercenary life, Asha savored her free and easy routine.
The downside to this gig? Unstable income, of course...
'But the vice-captain promised a hefty reward!'
No worries for now!
Asha giggled to herself, rolling around on the bed.
Of course, she never skipped her diligent training. It was already woven into her daily routine.
One such leisurely day...
"Miss, miss."
"Yes? Did you need me, Selma?"
Asha had just returned from a pleasant stroll in the nice weather and stepped into the living room.
The maid Selma approached her.
"A letter arrived for you, miss."
"A letter?"
"Yes! Well, technically two invitations and one letter."
Selma, who'd stepped out briefly, handed Asha three envelopes.
Each sealed with wax stamps bearing different crests.
Asha nodded lightly, took them, and headed to her room.
She checked each one.
"Hmm..."
Elves' banquet. Ladies' tea party. Knight Order visit request. All as expected.
No overlapping dates or times, so she could hit them in sequence.
First up: the Knight Order headquarters. Finally!
'I can place that cloak order!'
She'd been waiting so eagerly. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Asha grinned ear to ear.
Her winter outfit was already neatly stocked in the wardrobe.
Plus, she'd reserved a sub-space pouch for easy travel adventures. A pricey one with plenty of room—just pay up and it was hers.
The time for adventuring in unfamiliar worlds, long dreamed of, was nigh.
All prep was done; now it was time to enjoy.
After handling prior commitments, of course.
The banquet she'd been waiting for with invitations piling up. A chance to meet those "buddies" she'd planned to party with—
'No, wait.'
Her fellow "elves" she'd planned to party with.
The intel she'd gain was simple yet crucial.
How this world would basically treat her going forward.
Would she build relationships amid prejudice and excessive flattery?
Or be seen as a noble, beautiful being and enjoy lighthearted laughs?
It tied straight to her dream of living easy and comfy.
Asha vividly recalled a conversation from her past life.
- You said you wanted to live easy and comfy, right?
- Yeah, I did.
- Then elf's perfect for you?
- ...Uh? I didn't mean live brainless.
Her adoptive dad Min Hyeong had burst out laughing at her horrified reply.
'Just you watch, Dad.'
I'll prove at this banquet that not all elves are pains in the ass.
And I'll live comfy my way in this world.
With her thoughts sorted, Asha immediately prepped to head out.