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Chapter Text

Kim Rok Soo some time in her twenties had acknowledged the fact that she was a depressed woman. Her world was bleak, she’s didn’t have a family, or friends or lover or even children. After running away from her uncle, she had tried hard to rebuild her life in the way she often dreamt of as a lonely, abused girl, make friends, go to college, find a good job, fall in love, get married and eventually have children. In the long nights that she spent in her childhood home, miserable, she made up stories in her head of what her future would be like, she made up hope.

She had tried so hard but every time she thought she had something to hold dear, it slipped away. People shied away from her because of her scars, her often stoic face; the men she tried to date couldn’t bare her for more than a few weeks, calling things off with same excuses she had heard all the time, ‘it’s not you, it’s me’, ‘you are so frigid, Rok Soo, sometimes I think you don’t give a damn about this.’ And all the time, her throat would choke up, the words she desperately wanted to say just wouldn’t come out.

Even the two people she barely managed to keep in her life died in front of her, one she considered her brother, the other something akin to a father figure, both dead on the same day. She tried still to live, to keep her promise to them. She tried, she had thought of becoming a parent but the doctors she consulted had been clear, her childhood had fucked up her body. And before she could even entertain the thought of adopting, the world as she knew had quite literally been broken apart. And after surviving this apocalyptic world, she had kept the idea of bringing a child into her life far away from her mind.

Living as an ability user, regularly on the frontlines, her survival wasn’t guaranteed and adopting a child in midst wouldn’t be fair to either of them. So, she had just gone on living as she always had, alone.

Until one night, when she had gone to sleep after reading a stupidly long novel halfway and had woken up a fucking character of the very fucking book!

--

When she woke up, she was inside a novel, The birth of a Hero. It was something of a regular isekai-fantasy novel, mainly of the main character Choi Han’s adventures and the friends he made along the way.

The thing is, she wasn’t the main character or even one of his friends, she had woken up as the spoiled young lady of Henituse family, who was for the lack of better term, a trashy noble. And the one who mouths off at the main character for his village’s slaughter and gets beaten up. ‘This is a problem…’

But… maybe it is worth a try.

--

Kim Rok Soo could feel someone gently tapping her shoulder, the hand was soft and unhurried, it was warm. “Young lady, please wake up, it is morning.” It was a voice she couldn’t recognize, it was softer than any of her team members and it jolted her awake. She sat up fast, surprising the young woman who was trying to wake her. She took in the sight around her, an extremely luxurious room and settled her eyes on the woman, no, girl who was dressed in a maid costume with her face caught in surprise. ‘What in the world?’

“My Lady, you woke up at the first try!” the girl had wide smile on her lips. It was rather cute.

“What...”

“The master would you like join them for breakfast today. Young lady Cale, I will be helping you this morning, should I ready the bath?”

‘She’s talking to me?’ Rok Soo glanced past the girl’s shoulder into the large mirror in the room and was surprised by the red-haired girl staring back.

“Young lady Cale?” she focused back on the girl who was now starting to look worried. ‘I guess she is talking to me.’ The name she used was familiar, Cale…

“Cale Henituse” she blurted out and the girl blinked back her, nodding as though she couldn’t understand what she was asking. “Yes, My Lady? Are you alright, perhaps you have a headache? Would you like me to call Mr. Ron? He’s waiting outside to escort you to the dining hall.” The girl asked her nervously.

“Ron?” the girl nodded, “Beacrox?”

“The chef, young lady? Do you need something from the kitchens?” Rok Soo could tell the girl was growing increasing nervous at her questioning. She once again glanced around the room and felt dizzy, she lowered her head into her palms and sighed. “Get me two glasses of cold water then prepare the bath.” She instructed the girl, maybe her maid. The maid’s face brightened immediately and rushed to follow her orders, “At once, My Lady!” and bolted out the room. Outside she heard faint murmurs of two people talking but ignored for now.

She looked back into the mirror that was now completely unobstructed and could see long blood red hair that fell around her body, entirely different from her original black hair.

Cale Henituse, Ron, Beacrox… these were the name of the characters she had been reading about before falling asleep in her room in her house in Korea! She rubbed her eyes aggressively before heaving a long sigh. ‘What in the world was happening?’

She stood up from quite frankly a ridiculously soft, comfortable bed, stretching her body as she approached the mirror. Staring back at her was a beautiful fucking face that was not her. In Korea, often her co-workers would remark about her good-looking appearance but this, the face and body in the mirror, her co-workers would faint.

Cale Henituse, in the novel, was described someone with a bad personality, frequently called a trash. She was a drunkard, crash-talking young girl from the Henituse who created trouble for those around her. Rok Soo lifted a hand to touch the face she was wearing, watching clearly as the body in the mirror mimic the action. ‘Huh… I am really Cale Henituse.’ It was difficult to not agree as the novel had taken time to describe each of its characters’ appearances

She carefully checked out her apparently new body in the mirror, turning this way and that. A frown marred the beautiful face as thought popped up in her head, ‘It is seriously unfair, how attractive this girl is.’

She wondered if people usually became calm and clear headed in such situations when they are surprised or shocked. She folded her arms under her chest and rather calmly recalled the night before. It was one of that typical day-off and she had decided to read something as it had been a while since she held an actual book. She had made the journey to the library and had borrowed an entire series which caught her eye. She had planned to do nothing except lazy around her home, order some spicy take out and read all day.

It was called ‘The Birth of a Hero’ and she had managed to read up till the fifth volume before sleeping. And waking up, suddenly she was the minor character from the first volume, Cale Henituse.

‘Will things from this point follow the novel?’ as she thought about, she recalled her initial thoughts on the novel, it was a very okay-ishly and strangely written, the author had truly tried their best but in some there had been excessive detailing, in some there hadn’t been more than a few lines.

She hummed gently, to herself, it felt odd how calm she was being. She naturally wasn’t a very expressive person but even in a situation like this, it felt unnatural to be this calm. She went and perched on the bed as she recalled the contents.

The Birth of a Hero was about birth of heroes across the two continents- Eastern and Western, about their trials and growth. Choi Han, the main character, was a Korean who had been transported into this world when he was in high school. Surviving in the Forest of Darkness that was under the Henituse County, his lifespan had become as long as that of a dragon’s, making him age at an extremely slow rate. “Ah…this could be bad” she sighed.

This person was going to beat her up, she moved from her perch and headed inside the annoyingly lavish bathroom to check something and inside was another large mirror, no one had two such mirrors in the household. She shifted the long white nightdress she had been wearing and lifted it up to reveal a pale unblemished side, a slight smirk pulled at the pink lips, she hadn’t been beaten up yet. That was good, now she just had to make sure not to get beaten up by the main character. She once again folded up her arms and leaned against the bathtub which was already filled with warm water.

In her life as Kim Rok Soo, there wasn’t anything she will miss much. She was an orphan without much money, neither did she have anyone she loved to death that wasn’t already dead. There really wasn’t anything, she just continued living because she couldn’t die, that’s it.

She really hated the thought of death or any kind of pain. No matter what, even if she had to roll around in dog shit, it was still better than being dead or being in pain.

‘First, I have to avoid being beaten up.’ She wasn’t sure of the date or day in this world, but she hadn’t met Choi Han yet for sure as there was no scar on her side that Cale gets after causing a ruckus when drunk and gets stabbed by a broken piece of desk leg. She meets him after she had gotten the scar. Cale Henituse was an interesting character to read about, she could be what would fit the very minor villain role in such novels. She gets beaten up by Choi Han who was already barely hanging on to his sanity after she messes with him.

And after that for a while, people were weary of Choi Han for his actions. Though, that weariness didn’t last long as Cale hadn’t been well liked by the people and Choi Han had moved on to becoming a hero in people’s eyes with his many encounters and trials. Whereas after the first volume, Cale Henituse had no further mention in the story, she had no idea of what happened to her after getting beaten up.

Cale frowned as she turned, discarding her clothes and getting into the bathtub, Kim Rok Soo before becoming Cale, had a very simple motto in life. Live long without pain, enjoying the small joys of life, living peaceful. She could try this… it could be worth trying.

‘As long as I can make the story progress like normal while taking out the fact that I get beaten up, the main character should take care of the rest.’

Hm, how odd, she could recall every single line in the book without any issue, perhaps…? She leaned her head back on the tub, completely relaxing in the water, coming to a conclusion as she felt clear headed now. ‘It’s worth trying, to avoid the whole upcoming war and living peacefully.’

This trashy noble Cale’s situation was better than her own as Kim Rok Soo in Korea. The location of this estate was in the corner of the western continent, ideal for avoiding war and even if the war couldn’t be avoided completely, she could minimize the damages.

She hears the earlier girl’s voice calling out from the bathroom door she had left ajar. “Young lady, are you already inside the bath? I have your water, may I come inside to help you?”

She thought about it for a moment, it is rather embarrassing and weird, but it was a common practice in such era. Whatever, it’s not like she hasn’t been naked in front of someone before. “Come in, bring the water with you.” She replied.

The maid entered and handed her the first glass of cold water which Cale gulped down and proceeded with her tasks, helping her wash out her long hair, scrubbing and then helped wrap her and her hair up with a robe. The two walked out the bathroom and into Cale’s room and Cale sits her ass down on the vanity, the girl following behind her.

“What’s your name?” Cale asked and gestured her to hand her the second glass of water. The maid was rather surprised, and it made Cale wonder if it was strange or out of character. “Its Miran, My Lady.”

Cale hummed, “How long have you been working for my family?” Cale could not recall or access any of the original Cale Henituse’s memories. It might be a little to navigate her relationships but if she behaves even a bit like the original Cale, she should be fine, hopefully. She gulped down the second glass, feeling very refreshed.

“Three months, My Lady.” Cale nods to herself and asks, “In three months, how many times have you served me?”

The novel had specified that because of Cale’s bad behavior, she hadn’t managed to keep any maid longer than a few weeks and the only one who could manage to serve her was the butler, Ron because he had been around her since her birth and Deruth, her father had trusted Ron with instructing the maids on attending to Cale as Cale had been very resistant on letting head maid and Viola doing it.

“I have served you four times, My Lady.” Miran replied, a small smile on her face. Honestly, Miran’s personality so far seemed rather pleasant, if she had any issues with Cale or her personality, she didn’t let it be known, Cale could get used to having Miran serving her regularly. Miran reaches the towel holding up her hair and gently began drying them. It was rather relaxing having someone else do it for you, so Cale decided to absolutely enjoy it.

“What would you like to wear today, My Lady?”

Without hesitation, Cale responded, “Something simple and light to move around easily.” She knew exactly how noble women of this era dress and how the novel described Cale would dress, she had an extravagant wardrobe, expensive enough to feed a family of four for a whole year; jewelry matching each of her clothing, extensive footwear.

“Understood, My Lady”

Right now, she could not be bother with any complicated clothes. Miran then, lightly pat her face with another towel, applied what she assumed might be face cream and went to apply make-up and Cale stopped her. “Not today and no need to style my hair either, just comb it.”

Miran nods, putting away the products and takes a comb to brush the hair. Once she’s done, she goes to pull out her clothes. With Miran’s attention away, Cale runs a hand through her hair and begins to think about this world she had ended up in.

‘There are so many strong people here.’ In fact, there were too many, no matter what place the main character went to, there were many strong individuals or with secrets. These people were either humans or some other races.

‘I need strength to protect myself at least.’ To survive here in this continent which would soon be at war, to live long without any pain, she needs decent level of strength. The novel mentions such powers, not too strong or too weak, Ancient Powers. She just needed to pick one of them up. After all, first come first serve.

“My Lady, I will dress you now.” She nodded and stood up. Miran had understood exactly what Cale was asking for and brought out a light-colored flowy dress for her. She frowned lightly after Miran finished, the reflection in the mirror was gorgeous, even though, the dress was simple, it was still extravagant, for her liking.

‘She’s truly gorgeous and makes any clothes look great.’ The face was really the final piece to fashion.

“Mr. Ron is outside, to escort you to the dining hall, My Lady.” Miran was smiling at her happily. Cale couldn’t understand what exactly was causing her to nor wanted to.

“Right, let’s go.” She walked towards the door, Miran followed and rushed ahead and pulled it open. Immediately, she saw Ron standing there, smiling a kind smile. “Good morning, young miss.” He greeted her and Cale just nodded back. Ron understood there won’t any response, proceeded to guide her to the hall and Miran bowed to her and walked away in the opposite direction. That’s good, Cale couldn’t be bothered to keep up with etiquette or having to verbally dismiss them or greet them. She just followed Ron as she was unfamiliar with the layout.

While, in Cale’s head, she was taking in the old man walking in front of, this man could easily kill Cale with a single blow but instead treated her like a puppy that you felt bad about, that left a bad taste in her mouth. He did not genuinely care for her, in fact in the Ron and his son Beacrox left with Choi Han after he had beaten her up.

As they walked Cale saw the servant that they came across, flinched and bowed hurriedly and ran away. ‘Why were they so scared of her?’ Cale never hit anyone though. She just drank, played and would behave crassly or break something, but whatever, this was make things easier for her as she would have to worry her actions.

“I will open the door, young miss.” Oh, they were here. “Sure.”

She recalled the novel mentioning that Cale treated Ron as nicely as her father for Ron raised her like his own grandchild. It mentioned that Cale would always respond to him and treat him like a person. But whatever Cale thought of Ron, he did not really think that way.

“I hope you enjoy your breakfast.” There was benign smile at his lips as he said that. Cale nodded, “Sure, you have a good meal too.”

She walked past him and into the dining hall where the rest of the Henituse family was already sat. Deruth sat at the head of the table, to his right, leaving a seat empty, perhaps for Cale, sat her stepmother Violan and to the left sat her two siblings, Lily and Bassen. Their eyes on her as she entered, “Take a seat, you are late again today.” Her father spoke and she met his eyes and simply said, “Yes, father.” And took her seat at the end of the table

The novel had described their relationship as her father being the one person that Cale listened to. The reason the trash lady of the county did not leave the area and got everything she wanted within the territory was because of her father. But unlike in typical fantasy novel, her father Deruth wasn’t strong, he did not have any special skills or great influence. He just had a lot of money.

However, Cale liked this a lot, it was the perfect family to live a simple and easy life. Then there was her stepfamily, Violan who knew that Cale didn’t like her and avoided her; Bassen, the smart and only son who found it difficult to deal with his older sister and Lily, the cute youngest who did not know how to interact with her sister and too avoided her. But Cale didn’t bother them either, they just treated each other like perfect strangers.

To her, it was a great environment to live in quietly. She looked at the feast on the table which was far from her definition of breakfast. She felt something was odd and lifted her head up to see her father staring at her with emotions she couldn’t understand or name.

Her head tilted slightly and questioned, “Is there something wrong, father?”

“No…its nothing.” She noticed that the rest of the family was doing the same and met their gazes. They all quickly looked away and focused on eating.

‘I guess, they truly find me difficult to handle.’

Cale just ignored that and dug into the feast laid before her. It was delicious, everything was tasty, well-cooked, the meat was juicy, and the fruits looked so fresh. This was one of the best meals she’s had.

“Cale…” her father called out hesitantly, his face beginning to frown. She hummed, absolutely enjoying the food. “It’s delicious” she spoke out loud unconsciously.

“Yes, yes, it tastes li- what? It’s delicious?” he asked in surprise. She nodded and feeling the need to explain, said, “Yes, everything is fresh and delicious.”

She was probably breaking some or the other protocol, talking to the head of her house whilst eating but nobody really cared or tried to criticize her on it. Ah, being the trash was really the best in her situation. In fact, her father was smiling.

“Yes, it really is good. It is nice to see you enjoy food like this.” He really seemed to care for his elder daughter, didn’t even mind or flinch at her lack of manners. Though, as a caring father, he should have tried to correct her behavior, but she was not the real Cale therefore did not care.

*Meal passes much the same as the book*

-

In her hand was the allowance she had requested from her father, given to her via the deputy butler, Hans and she was a loss of words. ‘So much money!’

This family didn’t just have a bit of money, they had a lot! The novel alluded to Cale’s large allowance but never the exact amount. 10 million gallon, it was equivalent to 10 million Korean Won (roughly 6-7 thousand USD and 6lac INR).

This changed things, Cale quickly began rethinking her plans and options. Hans done with his task and bid goodbye, “I will be head out then, young lady.”

Cale though didn’t respond, and the butler treated it as normal and headed towards the door. She called out to Ron who had been the one to accompany her instead of a maid, “Ron, let’s go, I need to use the study”

Hans who was heading out and Ron who was standing by her side jolted in surprise. “Did you say the study?” Ron asked oddly. Even Hans became anxious.

“Yes, why?” She quickly needed a desk to sit down with pen and paper to plan out her actions. “Excuse me, young lady”

She turned to anxious Hans who had spoken, “What is it?”

“This... we have not been able to do the morning cleaning yet.”

“Is that it? That’s fine with me.”

“No, young lady! We cannot let that happen!” he was being rather relentless about it, even Ron’s face was odd.

Hans then smiled brightly, putting up one finger, “Please give us one hour. I will make sure that the study is completely clean, not like it hasn’t been used in ten years, but like one that was used yesterday.”

That statement gave her a pause and her sharp gaze pinned Hans to the spot. According to the novel, Cale had completely abandoned her studies and had stopped using her personal study, but it seems, she forced the smirk pulling at lips down, the servants took this to means they didn’t need to clean it anymore. Hans was sweating nervously at her face, even Ron was frozen to the spot, caught off guard.

In all honesty, she didn’t care all that much about whether they had been cleaning the study or not. It was something else, as Kim Rok Soo, she had suffered through her childhood with no adult giving a damn about an orphan, even her adulthood had been full of it because of the apocalypse, it was something similar. It reeked of neglect.

Up until now, she had noticed these things: first, the Count’s oldest daughter who despite her behavior and actions was still the heir, had no maids assigned to her except an old butler. Whether the maids lasted or not was irrelevant, everything that would need to be taken care of for a Count’s daughter was likely left up to Ron, simply for being born into nobility, to keep face Cale should have been forced to keep maids. Second, according to the novel, she had begun drinking at 15, and her father hadn’t stopped her at all, even in this world, 15 was considered young. And third, again, for being a Count’s daughter, she shouldn’t have ever been allowed to stop her studies.

‘Is this some kind of out of sight, out of mind situation?’ why had Cale Henituse been allowed to run wild as she had?

‘Fuck… whatever, I don’t need to get so worked right now. I will handle this later, first I need to focus on making a plan.’

“Fine, one hour. Now, get lost.” She didn’t mind waiting an hour, she could laze around in her room.

“Yes, young lady! Then, I will report this to the lord.”

She smiled at Hans, “Sure, do that and be sure to let him know exactly why I will have to one hour to access my study.” He visibly cringed at her response. She waved him away, let him bear whatever consequences would be. He rushed out and like a well-trained deputy butler, he closed the door without making the slightest of noise.

“Ron” she addressed the old man. “Young miss?”

“Why are you blanking out?”

“Ah, my apologies, young miss.”

“Don’t apologize.” As she said that, Ron made another odd expression, but Cale ignored that, her fingers clenching around the precious check and asked, “What’s the date today?”

“It is the 29^th day of the 3^rd month in the 781^st year of the Felix calendar.”

“That’s a problem…”

“Pardon?”

“Nothing” Cale focused her attention on the cheque and puts it away into the pocket which had surprised her about the dress. In this world, the only thing she could trust whole-heartedly was money.

“Ron”

“Yes, young miss?” ugh she was already getting tired of that smile of his

 “A glass of cold water and a sweet tea, please.”

“…I understand.” He bowed slightly and left to get her the drinks. She tilted her head staring at the old man’s back, why wasn’t there even a pitcher of water in her room? Whatever…

Yesterday was the 28^th, the day the Harris Village was attacked and the villagers murdered by an unknown group of assassins. Choi Han after having escaped the Forest of Darkness, had ended up in that village where he had been welcomed. He had for the first time after tens of years felt human affection, made friends and had created a second family which he had found slaughtered after returning from collecting herbs for the lady who had created him like her own son.

Choi Han went berserk after seeing and for the first time killed a person. Of course, they were the assassins who were members of this secret organization that clashes against Choi Han every so often throughout the novel.

She covered her face with her hands, sighing deeply. She had thinking out head out and helping him out. And now the problem was that the Choi Han that arrives in the city, is twisted by his loss and in novel this is when Cale runs into Choi Han and ends up getting beaten. The scenario to avoid the main character is no longer available.

‘I would have preferred to have saved the innocent villagers but at this point, nothing can be done about it.’ If she was to avoid Choi Han who was likely speeding towards the city right now, Ron and Beacrox might not run into him. She needs the three of them to run into each other so that they can leave together, she doesn’t need two assassins around her when this body is so weak and can’t put up a fight and especially two who have interacted with her, her whole life and could potentially catch on her changed personality.

A knock pulled her out of her mind, “Young miss, may I enter?” it was Ron carrying a tray with two cups.

“Yes, come in” he came in with her drinks and handed the water to her, putting down the tray on the table. She happily drank the cold water; it truly made her feel so good. She put it back on the tray and reached for the tea. ‘hmm?’

“What is this, Ron?” she asked, a frown on her face.

“It is a lemonade, young miss.” The insidious man had a benign smile on his face and Cale wanted to chuck this cup to his face. She could tolerate many things but never anyone messing with her food and drinks. This bastard knows that Cale, much like herself, did not like sour things, but he still chose to bring this to her. If only she wasn’t wary of this assassin, this cup would be meeting his face. She put it back down and stood up, “Wonderful, enjoy it yourself. Let’s go to the study, it’s been long enough.”

“…of course, please follow me. I will bring you your tea in the study.”

“Whatever”

--

She really couldn’t think about anything else when such delicious food was in front of her. So much so, she tends to blurt out her honest thoughts in front of food. “So delicious”

Hans, who had brought it to her, flinched hearing those words and she felt a twitch in her brow at his reaction. Other than breakfast, the Henituse family took the rest of the meals freely due to their responsibilities often interfering or needing priority. She placed her fork and once again noticed Hans flinching and she didn’t care about him or his nervousness, she thought back to the novel and the information in it about the Roan Kingdom.

‘There are a lot of experts hiding here as artists or craftsmen.’

The Roan Kingdon was advanced in construction and the arts, sculpting especially as there was a lot of marble available in the Kingdom. Thanks to that fact, the Henituse region became the fifth best marble mining region which brought in a ton of money. And a mountain range took up most of the Henituse territory, this mountain range was extremely fertile, the residents easily grew grapes for wine, which is one of the best wines in the entire continent.

However, it had been these ‘strong individuals’ that were occupying her mind the whole of the afternoon, that she even missed eating her delicious lunch. ‘Roan Kingdom wasn’t anything special, so why were so many experts hiding on this land. This wasn’t the murim but there were still many experts hiding like in the murim.’

The conclusion she draws is simple enough, don’t mess with just anybody. Anyone could be anyone very dangerous.

Ugh… she just wanted to not die and live peacefully.

“Young lady.”

She turned her gaze to the source of the voice who was being very cautious. “What?”

“Should I bring you something else to eat?” Hans watched as the young lady’s face changed, he was worried she might flip the table or throw the plate. Earlier the count had reprimanded him for his lapse in duties and had assigned him to her until he decided otherwise.

She frowned at him, “Why? There’s no need to remake something this delicious, I was just taking a break.”

“Huh..” Hans could only utter that as he watched her pick her fork back up and begin eating.

“Hans.”

“Yes, young lady!” she gave him an odd look.

“Who made this food?”

“Oh, the second chef Beacrox.” She suddenly wasn’t enjoying the food very much. Ugh…

Chapter Text

Kim Rok Soo, for all her stoic face, felt deeply. She wanted nothing more than to hide herself away where she wouldn’t have to feel a thing, for every emotion she felt and experienced left itself buried deep in her. For a long time, she had hated herself for being able to feel. She had hated when her emotions, her feelings, her stupid expectations left her so vulnerable. She hated.

She has hated more than she has loved. Hated her life, hated her situation, her feelings, hated her parents who left her facing this life alone, hated the world, the monsters that took over and took her second family. She hated that she went on living while they died, hated that she was coward for not ending it all.

And then, one day, she just stopped, stopped feelings. It was like someone had put everything behind a veil, she stopped caring, things just didn’t affect her anymore. And all that was left was just… exhaustion.

She was exhausted. With everything.

Even then, she tried to occupy herself with her work, training her body and her awakened abilities, trying to find anything that could make her feel. She had, briefly. After the exhaustion had set in, in a moment’s relief, she had found someone.

Cale sighed as she thought about the assassin Ron’s son, Beacrox. He was a meticulous individual, and unlike his father, he specialized in sword art…and torture. She shifted a little in her seat.

Beacrox in the novel had ended up admiring Choi Han’s sword skills and had chosen to follow him. Ron who cherished his son quite a lot, makes a deal with Choi Han to help him and chooses to leave with him for his son. Cale glanced down her delicious food, at the medium rare steak in her plate and decided she needs to make sure she steers clear of the man who specialized in fucking torture.

Her gaze shifts to Hans who was still looking to her, she cut a piece of the steak and puts it in her mouth. She hummed as the flavor burst in her mouth; she chewed the piece happily.

“This is surprisingly delicious. He did good.”

Hans’ face wore a baffled smile, and he nodded energetically, “I will definitely pass your complement to the chef Beacrox!” His expression was now better, happy for some reason. She ignored the man and simply enjoyed her meal with a relaxed heart.

She finished her meal entirely, just like the breakfast and stood, “Hans, why were you suddenly assigned to me?” he had announced to her that her father had sent him to personally tends to Cale’s needs. Hans maybe extremely skilled and well on his way to becoming the head butler, but Cale was a female. It made no sense to assign this butler to her when a maid would have made more sense. She was sure that both Violan and Lily had maids attending to them, so it couldn’t be as though the Count was unaware that she would require maids more than butlers.

“The count had been concerned with the servants’ negligence in their duties and mine as well. Until he decides otherwise, I am to oversee the upkeep of the young lady’s study, rooms and meals personally whilst Mr. Ron would continue as regular.”

So, he was being punished in a manner. ‘Huh…but’ she glanced around the study; sure, the servants had done well cleaning up a space that they had likely left uncared for ten years, she could see and make out how unkempt it must have been and recalled the room she had woken up in, except for the bathroom which was kept clean, her room had been littered, there was dust on the vanity and some of the small tables like it hadn’t been wiped or dust for days, the air in the room had been stale. However, when she was walking to the dinner hall with Ron, she had noticed the top-notch, spotless condition of the hallways and the dinner hall. Trash or not, difficult or not, she was still the count’s daughter, Hans and Ron should have made sure that at least the hygiene of her rooms had been maintained or even raised an issue with her father to allow them to carry out their work easily instead of simply letting things be.

‘He deserved it.’

“Is that so? It really wasn’t necessary though. But since he has ordered you, Hans, take real good care of me.” Cale smiled towards Hans much like a bloody thirsty shark.

He stumbled a bit as he answered, “AH! Yes! Of course, young lady! I will do my best.”

Cale was done with the conversation and with the study, she had, prior to Hans bringing her the meal, written down all the important details of the novels and a draft of plans she could employ, all of it in Korean. She had then scrambled and divided them and arbitrarily thrown them in the drawers of her desk; she had already memorized everything anyways. She moved to the door; Hans followed and opened the door for her.

Cale forced her face to remain indifferent as she saw immediately that Ron was standing there waiting with that stupid smile on his face.

“Didn’t I dismiss you, Ron?” as soon as he had guided her to the study, she had asked him to leave her alone so she wouldn’t have to endure looking at his face. But he wouldn’t leave, she associated him to an annoying fly that was beginning to get on her nerves.

She moved past him and walked ahead, Hans and Ron taking pace behind her. She had memorized the way just so she wouldn’t need this butler constantly around her.

“Young miss, it is my duty to take care of you.”

She scoffed, “Stellar that’s been, you couldn’t even remember the drink I asked for. Whatever, I don’t need you right now; so why don’t you go away like I had told you earlier. You are really getting my temper rising, Ron.” She waved a dismissive hand at the old man who got a stiff expression on his face and even Hans was starting to look increasingly nervous.

She glanced back at his expression and scoffed again. She had long stopped being intimidated and scared of any such men; she had killed that part of herself that was conditioned to fear men by her abusive uncle the moment she had escaped that life. Assassin or not, strong or not, if either of father or son came at her to kill, she would fight back. This body might be weak, untrained but she would manage.

“Hans, my study is off-limits to servants. Without my permission, nobody enters. Make sure that the message gets to each one, got it?” She ordered sternly and Hans hurried to nod. She picked up the pace, needing to be inside her room desperately.

--

‘The indestructible shield…’ she laid on the super comfortable bed, recalling her most immediate plans. For her to live long without dying in this fantasy world, her first step was defense, second was a recovery method, third was being faster than anyone else and fourth was having a power that couldn’t hurt her but could kill others. Coming upon these powers was considered a fateful encounter in the novels, but really, isn’t it a first come first serve kind of thing and she, a weak ass human, needs these powers more than already strong individuals.

And of course, the most important thing was to avoid battlefields and any other fights of the characters, though being a female and one without any power or magic, it was unlikely that she would be anywhere near a battle or in situations where her blood would be spilt.

‘No matter what, I have to make sure that I am not beaten up by Choi Han or anyone else.’ She fell asleep thinking of her plans of acquiring the shield.

As the morning came and she woke without anyone waking her up, she just took a minute to herself and laid back down; this kind of leisurely, monster-free life, she could get used to this.

Five minutes, as she dozed little, quick knocks sounded, she peeked, and the door opened to Miran. Seeing her, Cale felt at ease and rose, watching as surprise clearly showed on her face. Good.

As her morning opened smoothly thanks to Miran, she was far more relaxed than yesterday, even Ron who showed up to guide to the dining hall didn’t phase her much. Although, she was beginning to feel like that all she did after coming to this world was eating as she was once again sitting down to take breakfast with Henituse family.

‘But it’s fine, I will be getting busier soon, so I should enjoy these truly delicious meals as much as I want!’

“Cale, I heard that you fell asleep in the study yesterday.” It was her father inquiring.

‘Ah, right! I did fell asleep at noon there.’

“It somehow ended up that way.” She said casually enough, she would have to be more careful. After all, Cale Henituse had not touched her study in last ten years and it seemed that her father was keeping a thorough eye at his trouble-making daughter. And it looks like Hans wasn’t just being punished.

Deruth asked no further and they just took the rest of the meal in silence. Cale finished first and stood up which garnered everyone’s attention. She was sure she was breaking some etiquette or rule here, but the Count didn’t seem to mind her at all. He looked at the empty plates and her satisfied face and smiled.

“I will head out first.”

“Sure, go ahead.”

“Thank you.” She needed to hurry up and leave to get started on things she needed to do.  But Deruth held her back for a moment. “Do you need any allowance today?”

She paused her thoughts for second. “…I do need some.”

Wow, this was really a family with a lot of money. Cale held back her smile as her father told her that he will send her some through Hans and she quickly starting to leave. Her eyes met briefly with Bassen’s but she decided to ignored it and simly headed for the door.

She noticed Ron following a step behind her and just immediately wanted to shoo him away. “I am going out, Ron. Don’t look for me.”

That was Cale’s code for letting him know that she was leaving to get drunk and every time, Ron would smile and tell her to have a safe trip.

“Will you not be going to the study today, young miss?” it seems today was different that instead of his usual reply, he decided to question. Really, just one small deviation from Cale Henituse’s daily routine could change her interactions like this? Hans, Ron, and even her father.

She knew her face was rather impassive right now, “Ron, don’t be curious about things that don’t concern you.”

There was palpable pause before he answered, “… I understand, young miss. I will be waiting for you.”

She frowned up at him, “Don’t wait for me.”

They walked towards the entrance of the residence, a carriage waiting probably Hans or Ron’s doing. Good, this way she wouldn’t have to wait with Ron. She entered quickly, waving away the hand that was held up to help her in the carriage. ‘How unnecessary.’ Inside, she lets out a sigh, that assassin really made her uncomfortable. She peeks back and sees his stiff expression. She understands he’s taken care of the original for eighteen years but that’s not enough for her to feel at ease around him, especially with his background.

‘I was at least able to shake him off for now.’ She had no access to original’s memories and her relationship with the old man, it was safer to keep him at arm’s length.

“Is this the right place, young lady?” the driver cautiously asked as he opened the door for her, this time understandingly not holding out the hand for her. ‘At least, they learn quickly.’

“Yes.” His face was clear with confusion, but she didn’t have to explain herself to him.

Cale was once again wearing the simplest dress Miran could find, her long red hair brushed neatly but much like yesterday untied, swaying lightly with the wind. She stood outside a tea shop, ‘The fragrance of tea with poetry’

It was a tea shop that had poetry books for the customers to read with the tea. It was clean three-story building that would probably be expensive, which of course wouldn’t be expensive for the owner. He was the bastard son of a concubine of a large merchant guild, he was wealthier than Cale, he was living here while hiding his identity.

‘If I recall it right, the owner will go to the capital around volume 3 to meet Choi Han there. There, he claims that he might be a bastard son, but he will become the owner of the merchant guild.’ As Cale only read the first five volumes, she does not know if the man who shouts and swears, he will become the owner ever ends up becoming the owner.

Cale looks at the driver and gave her order, “You can leave now.”

“Excuse me?”

She quirks a thin brow at him, “you want me to repeat myself?”

“No, young lady! Its… that should I not wait for you here?” he asked nervously.

“No, I will be here for a while.” She said casually as she pulled the door open and entered. A clear bell sounded as she entered, announcing her presence.

Chapter Text

Kim Rok Soo had long decided to give up the idea of having a child, a family of her own the moment she was pulled out from the rubble of the fallen civilization. Her body had been damaged far worse than even her childhood had managed to do. And then soon after, she had managed to join a team as an ability-user; the thoughts of a child and a family were pushed far away from her mind. She was too damaged and hurt, by life, by people and knew she did not want to try again, not in this life anyway. Maybe if she was reborn in a kinder world, she could.

At least, that’s what she had maintained until she rescued a girl, Lina from under the rubble, the resemblance to her own condition and rescue was stark. Lina had been 13, scared and hurt. She was the only child in the shelter that had been attacked.

When Kim Rok Soo had pulled her, Lina had clung to her with a desperation that surprised her. All the way to getting her medical care, Lina had stayed glued to her side. And once her diagnosis had come in and she needed to be monitored overnight and probably for a few more days, it had been a task to get her to understand, to let Kim Rok Soo go. She hadn’t until Kim Rok Soo promised her that she would see her tomorrow.

Lina was entirely unexpected in Kim Rok Soo’s life. She had been separated from her little brother during an attack and had ended being sent to a shelter in a different location, where she was rescued from. Lina was looking for her brother; she sworn to Kim Rok Soo after being released and being brought Rok Soo’s place, that she would find him no matter what. And Kim Rok Soo had been so surprised, so caught off guard by this 13-year-old that she had been trying not to get attached to like she had with Choi Jung Soo and Lee Soo Hyuk.

She hadn’t been successful at all. Lina stayed with her for a few years, in that time she awakened an ability which Kim Rok Soo had named ‘Enhance’, as long as Lina’s mind and sight was working, she could enhance the physical capabilities of her body to match the strength of her opponent.

And after she had begged Rok Soo for days to train her to be able to use her ability and join a team herself. Rok Soo gave in and started training her; she understood Lina’s drive to train her abilities and join a team was so that she could have more opportunities to look for her better. So, she trained as she would her team members. And in their training came a surprise, they discovered that Lina’s ability had a secondary ability; it wasn’t a separate ability like Rok Soo, but Lina found that when she enhanced her sight, she could literally see the ability and physical capabilities of other ability users and enhance them too.

Kim Rok Soo was stumped, it was an insanely useful ability. She knew what this meant for Lina, her potential could be unmatched, any team would bend over backwards to have her. And she knew Lina knew this too. Lina threw herself into building her ability and her body. And the moment she felt ready, she joined Rok Soo’s team for a temporary period and started taking on solo missions to carry out in hopes of finding even a glimpse of her brother. And each time she would set out, Kim Rok Soo would have a mini meltdown in her bathroom. The fear would clutch her heart and refuse to let go until she returned to her alive.

She hadn’t wanted to be attached at all, but as the years went by, she had grown attached to the girl; how couldn’t she when Lina was such a tenacious young girl and so often remind Rok Soo of herself.

But the thing was… Lina was not looking to stay with her and Rok Soo wasn’t going to ask her to. Lina and Rok Soo had lived together harmoniously live for a few years and in those years, Lina had been clear, ‘I love this life you have given me, I love you, Unnie but I want to find my brother, so I can also give him what you have given me.’

Each time Lina would say something like that to her, she had to force herself not to tear up. She had promised her something in return, ‘When the day comes and you are ready to face this world of monsters to find your brother, I promise not to try and stop.’

Kim Rok Soo had kept her promise to Lina as Lina had kept the promise to herself. The day Lina decided to leave to set out in search of her brother, Rok Soo had hugged her close and wished her luck.

Lina had managed to keep checking in with her regularly for a year and 2 months, until two weeks after her usual check-in when Kim Rok Soo was struck by the news of her demise. Lina had found her brother a few towns over, surviving with a small group of youngsters. And within minutes of meeting him again, they had been ambushed by monsters. Only two people out of the group and Lina had survived. Lina had died trying to get them away and her brother had died with the group. The two who survived had been rescued by the team that had been on their way.

When the team had sent the word across, Lina had been recognized as her ward and Kim Rok Soo was delivered the news a few hours later. “Lina attempted to rescue them, the group had no ability user and there were just too many monsters. She had tried her best, she took down most of them before one had come upon her from behind and flung her away. Her spine and neck had broken upon impact, Kim Rok Soo, I am truly sorry for your loss.”

Suddenly, it was like Kim Rok Soo was back in past, standing at Lee Soo Hyuk and Choi Jung Soo’s funerals. She had wanted to scream and cry and rage at this world. Why her too!? She was back again at this place watching as her people kept leaving her behind.

She had barely managed to pull together a funeral for her ward before she had once again withdrawn from the world, back to her safe place, disconnected from this reality surrounding her.

“I should have never made that promise.”

--

Cale entered the tea shop; she stood still at the entrance for a moment and looked around the tea shop. It was still early and there weren’t many people around. She noticed the shocked looks on the seated customers seeing her stand there.

Well, the novel did say that there was nobody in this region that did not know of Cale and her drunk, often public fits. She was also the public enemy number one for the merchants because of her tendency to break things in their shops when drunk.

“Welcome” the owner of the shop greeted her warmly still. Cale looked at the man who seemed to resemble a piggy bank standing behind a counter. ‘He’s likely the owner.’

She took a gold coin and put it on the counter and ordered, “I plan on staying on the third floor all day today.”

He stared at her with a smile; she pretended not to notice and pointed a finger at the bookshelf. “Any sweet tea will do. Do you have any novels here or just poetry?” her tone was brusque.

Clang, she consciously ignored the sound of someone dropping their teacup behind her somewhere and simply stared at the owner, Billos. She preferred novels over poems, especially with her drink.

“Of course, we have a lot of novels here, young lady Cale.” There was the standard fixed customer smile on his face as he replied, and she smirked.

“Is that so? Then send up the most interesting book you have here and a cup of tea.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Her hands pushed gold coin into his chubby hands, turning away as he tried to hand her the change. “I will be drinking more tea later, keep it.”

“…Young lady, it is still too much.” A gold coin in this world was worth 1 million gallon, which was worth 1 million Korean won (approx. $684 USD), so Cale tried something she always wanted to; she tried to look as cool as possible as she pointed around the shop.

“I have a lot of money. Treat everyone here to a cup of tea on me and consider the rest your tip.” She smiled at the owner and wanted to wince as she saw a flush appeared on his cheeks. Cale’s face was delight and a problem, she would have to be careful.

Billos coughed in his fist, dispelling the blush, “Young lady, it is still…”

“Enough. Just bring me my tea.” She cut him off and headed up to the third floor. Cale’s bad reputation really came in handy; she wouldn’t have to care about being respectful. She could hear whispers behind her, her name being utter a few times but didn’t care. There were plenty rumors about the Count’s trashy daughter, what’s a few more?

The third floor was empty right now as it was still early enough in the morning. She took a seat in the innermost corner towards the window overlooking the Northern Gate of Western City. She planned to watch Choi Han from here today.

‘He will get chased away from the gate early in the morning.’ Choi Han was heading towards the Western City; in the direction he had remembered hearing from the villagers after he buried all his beloved villagers as best as he could. Choi Han was transported to this world when he was a freshman in high school, but he lived here for tens of years already. And the fact that he had been transported in the Forest of Darkness, surviving there had made him mature in a slightly twisted way. That’s why, he was the most rational than most would expect after such an incident. ‘I need to report this incident to the lord of this territory.’ That’s the reason that Choi Han was headed here as Harris village may have been a remote village, it was still under the Count Henituse’s jurisdiction. He was hoping to prepare at least a small funeral for them and to find any information on the assassins he had killed as he hadn’t been able question them.

Of course, for him, the funeral came before any revenge. ‘If I think about it, he is a really affectionate person.’

But losing all the people who showed him love after tens of years in the Forest of Darkness all at once, made it impossible for Choi Han’s mind to not become twisted. In the novel, it was at this time when Cale had messed with Choi Han and had touched a nerved when she bad mouthed the village and villagers. She remembered exactly what Cale had said in the novel.

“Why should my father care whether some useless villagers are dead? This alcohol in my hand is worth more than all your useless lives!”

Cale’s words had enraged Choi Han, a man who did not like to hurt the innocents or the weak. He had started laughing at her, asking, “What an interesting thought. I am very curious to know if you will change mind or not. Shall we test it out?”

The test was beating up Cale unconscious. Choi Han had been pushed so far by her words that he hadn’t care that he was beating a drunk woman, likely of high standing. The onlookers had been horrified but hadn’t stepped in to help as her reputation was so bad among them. Though, people feared Choi Han beating her up in middle of the street but had simply ignored it all. Someone had just alerted the patrol knights afterwards to collect her unconscious body.

But the most amazing thing was that despite the beating, Cale never changed her mind.

‘What a crazy girl!’ she laughs nervously, chills running down her spine. She rubbed her arms as goosebumps developed all over and reached towards the cup of tea and quickly took a sip. She looked back out again and just got the chills back. ‘It’s him!’

The moment gates opened for the morning, a young man wearing clothes with black marks all over. It was Choi Han. She did not move from her seat and just observed him. His speed was admirable, he had run like a lunatic to cover the distance that would normally take a carriage a week to cover and as a result, he looked like a mess.

The guards blocked his path as he walked in with his head down; he looked exhausted. She didn’t know what they were saying but Choi Han shook his head at their question.

‘Ah, they must be asking for his identification.’  The guards of Western City were generally gentle, but they were surprisingly strict with the rules; they replicated their liege in this manner, Count Deruth’s personality.

“They kicked him out.” She whispered to herself. As expected, Choi Han walked back out of the gate. He did not even try to throw a fit; after running all day, he had slightly recovered his conscience that told him not to kill an innocent man doing his job.

‘He will now wait until nighttime so he can stealthily jump over the city wall to enter.’ Then, he had run into Cale who was drunk out of her wits.

Cale stood up, the sound echoing loudly through the empty floor and headed downstairs towards the counter and Billos who sat behind it. “I will be back soon, so don’t clear my spot.”

“Yes, young lady. I will look forward to it.” She ignored the smile and the little blush on his face as she walked out of the tea shop.

“She didn’t break anything or cause a ruckus!” she heard the loud exclaim from inside the shop but didn’t care.

She needs to start on gaining the Indestructible Shield today. It was not a physical item; the best comparison she could find was a mage’s mana shield. However, the shield was closer to a superpower or an ability than it was to mana.

A funny thing she remembered was that the human who created the power but ended up dying, was someone who served a god but was excommunicated. ‘All sorts of weird things are in this novel.’

As any fantasy novel’s world, this novel’s world also had its ancient history. During that ancient time, magic and weaponry wasn’t as developed as now. Instead, it was society in which a person’s own innate talents gathered from supernatural occurrences played a pivotal role. The strongest powers in that society were superpowers, divine powers and natural forces. It was truly primitive times.

And some of those powers have lasted until now, they were called Ancient powers. The heroes would find these powers, but they were all just used as supporting powers, not considered strong enough to be used as a main power.

And Cale was looking for these same powers. ‘Everything but the divine powers.’ She nods to herself. Cale did not want to be involved with anything gods or angels or devils. Hence why she was looking for powers developed naturally by humans or came from the nature. ‘I will collect these powers to become decently strong.’

It was a satisfying goal to have, and she started looking for the ancient power closest to her that was hidden here in Western City. And she knew exactly the requirement to earn that power, Food.

--

“Youn-young lady…welcome.” Th baker stuttered out, clearly surprised to see her. Cale just nodded at the fearful man who seemed worried to have garnered the local trash’s attention.

“Give me some bread.”

“Ex-excuse me?” So, she pointed at all the bread in the bakery and sharply ordered, “Everything from here to here, pack it all up.”

She tossed a gold coin at the counter, watching it clank in the wood. The baker was frozen in shock, but Cale didn’t care about that and continued speaking, “Two or three gold coins should be enough for a week’s worth, right?” she knew that it was too much for just bread but…whatever.

But the baker was just staring at her dumbfounded. She waited a moment and said, “I can go somewhere else?”

And that shook him right out, “No! it is nothing like that, young lady! I will pack everything up quickly!” suddenly sounding eager and respectful. And the idea of his shop clearing out early in the morning and probably for the whole week, he happily and hastily began packing. After just a few minutes, Cale had an entire bag full of bread packed for her, the baker smiling and bowing to her as she left.

The bag was heavy even though it was just bread, and it made Cale frown; she hefted it up and started walking to her destination. She walked ignoring the way the people who kept glancing her way.

‘It really is different from Korea. This is really a fantasy world.’ She looked around the market and how much it gave off the fantasy feel.

As she walked, she made eye contact a few times with the merchants around and they would give her this wide-eyed look and then look away in fear and walk away. Cale Henituse really lived up to her title of the trash. She walked past the market, towards west, where the slums were located.

Now, she wasn’t going there to share this bread with the people of slums, though most people would think that seeing her lugging the bag full of bread around, but it truly wasn’t so.

She could feel the people taking peeks at her as soon as she entered. And although these people might not know the face of the Count who was their liege; they certainly knew his troublemaker daughter, Cale’s face. But she ignored everyone and everything and just continued her way.

She was starting to frown; there was something here, the smell, the sight of this place was unsettling her. It was reminding her a little too much of her past. And it made her walk faster, almost running, trying to reach the top of the hill that sat in this area.

She stood at the top and looked down towards the city, it was quite the scene but as the hill was not as high as the count’s estate, you couldn’t see the city entirely from here. A moment later, she focused back on her task, her gaze locked on to a fenced off area at the hill. The fence was rotten as no one wanted to come up here in fear of this one tree.

A man-eating tree. She tilted her head slightly, these two had followed her from the slums. She wondered why but the answer came quickly.

“You can’t approach that- that tree!” It was a young, worried voice and she almost jerked in surprise but controlled herself. A second voice piped up when it became clear she was going to ignore the warning.

“You- you really can’t go there! It’s the man-eating tree!” this voice sounded even younger, and she closed her eyes in frustration, and stopped herself from turning around. ‘Ah…really… children remain my greatest weakness.’

‘No, focus on this…’

This man-eating tree was the one she was looking for; in ancient times, there was a person who loved food so much that this gluttony of his got him kicked out of a church or something. And this person ended up starving to death. And this tree is said to have grown on his corpse and absorbed his grudge and strength. The Indestructible shield was here in this very tree.

She was trying hard to ignore the two kids who had followed her but that was becoming even harder, “You are going to die! Stay away!”

She heaves a sigh and turns around, and it seems she was right, it was two kids holding hands, a girl maybe around 10 and a boy who was probably her younger brother. Both looking at her with concern. The young girl seeing Cale’s attention on them, stumbles on her words and starts mumbling, “It’s a man-eating tree. You are go-going to die.”

Cale took out two wrapped up bags of bread and tossed them lightly at the two kids, “I won’t die. Take that and get lost.” There was something bitter in the back of her mouth.

The boy instantly took the packet, but the girl hesitated, Cale decided to use her name and reputation to send them away, “You don’t know about me, Cale the trash noble lady?”

The girl’s face became pale immediately, but the brother picked up the bread for his sister, looked at Cale for a bit and tugged his sister’s arm, “Noona…”

The girl hummed at him, looking back and forth between Cale and the tree even with the boy pulling her away. “You can’t die, okay?”

And Cale wanted to scoff but just turned back to the tree. She wasn’t worried about those kids seeing what she was up to, the warm bread, having a full stomach mattered more to them than what the infamous trash was doing.

Cale simply started taking the loaves of bread out of the bag and began putting them into the hole. There was cold sensation on her hand as she fed the bread into the dark hole. ‘If you die with a grudge, you have to resolve that grudge.’

“Well, eat all you want then.” She spoke to the hole and emptied the bag into it. However, the darkness of the hole remained, only slightly fainter. Cale sighs, she would have to buy ten or more so bags of bread then. There was an odd rumble from the tree as though asking for more and Cale quickly got away from it. “…It is a bit scary.”

She will come tomorrow with more bread. She walked back down the hill, noticing the siblings from earlier eating the bread as she reached the slums. Both seemed happy to receive to the fresh, warm bread. She huffed slightly in amusement; these kids were too scared to go near the man-eating tree, but it would be bad if they got curious and put their head into the hole. So, Cale decided to entice them with a promise of more food. “If you want more bread tomorrow, don’t say anything to anyone. Okay?”

The two didn’t reply verbally but the girl put a hand on her brother’s mouth and pretended not to see Cale. She smiled at her, the girl seemed pretty smart and quickly left.

There were people who had seen Cale go to the top of the hill and were looking at her with a puzzled look, but Cale simply walked own.

--

Cale returned to the tea shop and Billos immediately greeted her, “Young lady, welcome back!”

“Yes, bring me a new, refreshing cup of tea.” Cale headed back to her spot at the third floor and found the floor still empty. Likely that people were avoiding it because of her; better for her really.

“Here is your tea, young lady and some desserts as well.”

“Oh? Great, thanks.” She will take sweets anytime. She gazed out the window, enjoying her tea and dessert.

Billos observed her with an odd expression before he left quietly. Cale stayed at the shop, ordering tea and sweets until the sun set.

She got up once it was dark outside; it was time to go interact with the dangerous main character who will be looking to jump over the wall.

She headed down, there weren’t that many people left at the shop now, Billos was at his place. “Young lady, are you heading out?”

“Yes.” It was past 9PM, there would be more people at the bars now than a tea shop.

“I look forward to your next visit, young lady.”

Cale nodded her head, “The tea was great. The desserts were good too.” She smiled to herself, and a blush lit up Billos’ face. “I have some of those desserts again whenever I come next.”

He instantly threw a big smile at her and nodded happily, “Of course, young lady! Please come again soon, I will be waiting for you!”

“Sure, whatever.” She ignored the man and left. She walked in the loud streets, filled with people. She headed to the bar Cale frequented. The owner looked instantly afraid of her upon arrival. ‘Ah…’ Cale had once broken nearly everything in his bar.

She just threw a gold coin at him, not waiting for a response and ordered, “A bottle of my usual and roasted chicken breast, no salt.”

“Ex-excuse me? You don’t want a seat first?” she frowned at him, and he hastily waved his hands and bowed, “Yes, I will bring your order immediately! Immediately!”

He moved quickly, a smile stretching on his face, probably happy that she wasn’t planning on sitting in his bar. She looked around and everyone was actively avoiding her gaze and turning away their heads. She clicked her tongue at the people inside.

“Here is your order, young lady!” that was truly fast service. “Great.”

She grabbed it and stepped out. Alcohol wasn’t something she enjoyed, only drinking when necessary. But decided to give this one a try, she opened the cap and took a two sips. It was…good, not bad or anything, a little strong. She felt her face flushing from just two sips but since Cale had a high tolerance, it didn’t seem to affect her.

She took a few more sips and walked on; it seemed that her face just flushed easily which would probably make people think she was a lightweight. She walked past the tea shop she was at, she was starting to feel hot because of walking and drinking.

She walked a bit further until she reached the city wall. She recalled the information from the book, ‘Approximately 100 steps from the gate.’ She clenched the bottle and hurried towards the location. It was a residential area, so there were not many people out on the streets. Cale took a deep breath to calm herself and counted exactly 100 steps.

It was corner and not well lit but there was just enough light. She approached slowly, ‘Just as I expected.’

Chapter Text

Cale was admittedly a little nervous. This was an unknown body to her; she had no idea of its strengths or limitations, and she was headed straight towards the insanely strong main character of this novel, which she was inside. She felt nervous as she looked around and could make out the shape of a person curled up in the dark.

She approached slowly. There were two kittens curled up near the man. ‘Just as I expected.’

The two kittens were meowing and shivering from the cold of the night. Cale almost smiled; it was the right spot.

The moment Choi Han jumps over the wall, a cat is caught in his way, and he quickly twists away to avoid landing on it. In this world, coincidences played a great role. Choi Han twisted his ankle because he landed wrong in haste to prevent hurting the kitten. ‘He is a good guy.’

She gazed at two kittens and the man who sat nearby, wincing in pain, resembling a homeless individual from the slums. According to the novel, she was meant to encounter him tomorrow. Tonight, however, she planned to get utterly drunk and inflict pain upon herself. Cale had already altered the course of events, even if only in small ways.

Cale moved closer and crouched down for the kittens; she could see Choi Han’s gaze on her through his shaggy black hair. ‘Damn, I am shaking.’

Her heart was beating like crazy. Although it was dark, Cale could tell that the eyes watching her were extremely cold and that the man was dangerous.

She took a deep breath as she started to speak, half at Choi Han and half at the kittens. “You look like you are hungry.”

She clicked her tongue and pulled out the chicken breast from the bag. With extreme gentleness, she offered it to the kittens. “Go ahead, eat it.”

Though her hand itched to pet the soft-looking kittens, she controlled herself, not wanting to risk being scratched. Cale hadn’t expected them to be this small. Could they eat chicken at this age? Concerned they might choke, she quickly began ripping the chicken into small pieces to make it easier for them to eat.

‘What in the world am I even doing?’ Cale wouldn’t say that she was a cat person or an animal person, but she was weak to small, cute beings. And also, Choi Han liked small animals.

She sighed and reached out a hand to gently scratch at the silver kitten’s ear. There was a gentle purr from it before both kittens dug in.

Choi Han hadn’t taken his attention off her even for a moment. She didn’t acknowledge him or even turn towards him as she asked, “Do you have somewhere to go?”

There was no response, but she didn’t mind and continued speaking. She needed to move Choi Han before the patrol guards came this way, or Choi Han limped away.

“Or a place to stay?” She kept her attention on the feasting kittens, periodically petting their soft fur. “Are you hungry?”

No response, Cale expected that. The man was observing her right now, but he needed to rest. Both his body and mind had reached their limit. Additionally, he may be in shock from what happened. He might be decades older, but he was also young, stuck at seventeen.

“Are you going to say anything?”

“…Why are you talking to me?” He finally decided to respond to her, perhaps thinking her weak enough that he could easily kill her even when his body was at its limits. Maybe that’s why he accepted her goodwill.

The guards would be returning here soon. She stood up from her crouched position and walked up to him. As she got closer to him, she could make out his condition. Choi Han was a mess, but his eyes were clear as they locked onto her. His pure black hair and eyes, with his distinct features, made it easy to know that he was Korean. Before she could stop herself, her lips pulled into a smile.

“Follow me, I will feed you.” After all, the best first impression was to be the one with delicious food.

She held back her surprise as Choi Han stopped leaning against the wall and pushed his body up.

She noted that he was leaning to his left, probably because his right ankle was uncomfortable, but she refrained from saying anything about it, nor did she offer to help the man. Cale instructed Choi Han to follow her to the Count’s estate, deliberately slowing her pace.

Before they could leave, the red kitten ran up to her and rubbed its cheeks against Cale’s leg. Sighing, she leaned down to scratch its cute face. As she knelt, chills ran down her back and nape, prompting her to turn around. Choi Han was staring at her intently.

‘Why oh why?’ Cale awkwardly petted the kitten, with the protagonist’s attention focused solely on her actions. “What to do with you? Do you want me to take you home with me?”

As she wasn’t much of a pet person, Cale never did understand why people talked to animals. However, she could see the appeal behind it because it seemed as though the kitten understood her perfectly and bounded away. The silver kitten growled at Cale and Choi Han, likely warning them away, especially Cale, since she had offered to take the red one home.

Sighing, she waved at the two kittens and got back up to leave. She heard growls and mewls behind her, but did not turn back to the kittens. Instead, she peeked at Choi Han, who was limping slightly but still keeping pace with her. Startled a bit as she made eye contact with him, she nodded at him once to hide her surprise.

They passed the residential area, the market, and the plaza, and she noted people giving her strange looks. It was, of course, because one: Cale, the infamous trash of the county, was being so calm and two: likely, that a noble family’s daughter was taking a man home with her. Nobody was going to miss the guy shadowing her two steps behind her.

She stopped and turned once she realised Choi Han had stopped following. Quirking a sharp, red brow at him in question. He was looking around at the people and the soldiers. Looking at their reactions upon seeing her, the soldier bowed slightly in greeting as she walked by, and the people consciously avoided her. "What’s the matter? Have you decided not to follow me?" she snapped, feeling the weight of this stupid, wretched life she got somehow trapped in.

However, instead of answering, Choi Han resumed walking. She nodded once and began walking back to the manor. She understood that, for the time being, he was probably only following her to learn about the Harris Village and arrange a funeral, rather than simply seeking food.

When she arrived at the main gate of the estate, the guards quickly stumbled forward to greet her. “Y-young lady, welcome back.”

She bit back a sigh; she really disliked this whole business of being a young lady. It was honestly so weird to hear the people greet her in this way each time.

It would be easier to be a trashy young lady than a noble one. She was trying to make her life as easy as possible. Cale frowned at the words while the guards quickly opened the gate.

“Please head on in.”

Cale turned back to look at Choi Han. The rest of the guards were also looking at Choi Han, probably curious about this beggar whom their young lady brought back with her. She noted the knights observed Choi Han with suspicion in their eyes.

“Follow me.” She ignored the suspicious looks and entered the gates. Choi Han should know of Cale’s status by now. He continued to limp as he approached behind her. Walking in through the main entrance, she tried to force her mind to calm down. It was really cooking up weird scenarios. Like the limping man taking her hostage to get his way. While she was sure it was unlikely to happen, as she recalled his character as it was described in the novel. But she couldn’t shake off the sense of fear she felt with the man being right behind her when her back was undefended.

She approached the main door, forcing back a frown at the sight of Ron, the old servant, standing there.

“Welcome back, Young Miss.” His smile had a sharp edge to it as his gaze roved over her and her companion.

She did not expect the old man to be waiting for her; that hadn’t been the case for the original Cale as far as she recalled. This annoying old man. Why exactly would Ron be waiting for her today of all days? ‘Whatever, maybe it’s for the best. Choi Han has to meet him anyway.’ She sighed. She realised she had been doing that a lot lately.

Ron’s gaze turned toward Choi Han, and his benign smile suddenly stiffened. She wanted to scoff but held herself back. The old assassin was likely estimating Choi Han’s strength.

Choi Han also stared back at Ron. Cale ignored the silent battle they waged with their eyes and continued with her plans as intended.

“Hey,” she called out. The man’s reaction was immediate. His gaze snapped to her, giving her his complete attention, blinking in surprise and unknowingly dismissing Ron as a serious threat or enemy. She wanted to laugh and curse at the strange turns of events. Honestly, she should have expected it to be different the moment she interfered.

Cale led Choi Han further inside, and Ron stepped aside to follow them.

“Young Miss, what is going on? I will take care of this guest if you tell me what is needed.” There was something unusual about Ron’s tone; she couldn’t quite place it, but it caught her attention.

“No need.” She shook her head at her old servant, briefly looking back at him. His expression… was troubled if she could call it that. She paused for a second. Goodness, no.

‘Certainly not that!’ She closed her eyes for a bit to control her frustration at the misunderstanding this whole situation was leading to.

Someone else approached them before Cale could say anything to Ron.

“Young lady. You returned after drinking today.” It was the annoying deputy butler, Hans.

‘Ah, right, he was responsible for me.’ Cale clicked her tongue and ignored Hans’s words completely. He was already beginning to grate on her already fried nerves. Instead, she lifted the alcohol bottle she had forgotten was still in her hands and pointed toward Hans to take it.

“Aaack!” ‘What a dramatic bitch.’ She had only lifted it in his direction. Hans covered his face with both of his arms as he curled up. Silence filled the air as none spoke. She couldn’t see the face Ron or Choi Han were making, but knew her own was scrunching up in anger.

Cale clicked her tongue again, and Hans looked up with a face completely red from embarrassment as he looked back at Cale’s angered face, his own face paling slightly.

“Put this away.” She ordered sharply. “Yes.” He nodded hastily and received the alcohol bottle from Cale with a blank expression on his face. “I will actually throw it at you next time.” She promised, to him and herself, that she would either strangle him or bash his face with a bottle.

Hans turned pale at her words. Cale did not care at all, and she continued to walk.

With the inclusion of Hans, there were now a total of three people following her for some god-forsaken reason. Cale refused to glance back at those following her and reached her intended destination.

Kitchen- 2. Cale pushed the door open as soon as she saw the sign hanging above the door.

“Young lady?” She could hear Hans’s confused voice behind her. However, there was a smile on Cale’s face. Finally, the end was near.

Now, Beacrox and Choi Han can meet, and she will be done here. The door easily opened. Cale’s expression stiffened at the scene in front of her inside the door.

Clang. Clang. Second Chef Beacrox grinned while sharpening his blade, but his grin vanished when he saw her, which, rude, in Cale's opinion.

She was uneasy because you never knew what unpredictable things a lunatic might do.

Cale made a move before Beacrox could respond. Putting a hand on Choi Han’s arm, she instructed the chef, “Give him something to eat.”

“Excuse me?” Beacrox asked with a stiff expression on his face. The sharp blade in his hand was shining as it reflected the light. Cale calmed her uneasy heart as she repeated herself, this time more firmly, “Give him something to eat. He’s hungry.”

Someone let out a shocked noise behind her, but she couldn’t care less about it. She waited for Beacrox’s response while anxiously tapping her foot. Finally, Beacrox answered with a stiff expression still on his face. “I will do as you instructed, young lady.”

And it was done. Beacrox and Choi Han. And even Ron, someone that she did not expect, they were connected now.

A bright smile formed on her face. She could finally relax as she gave Beacrox another order with a slightly chirpier tone.

“Prepare something for me, too. I’m hungry.” Cale thought about the steak from last night’s dinner.

“Your steak last night was good, even though I had it cold.” She noticed the tip of Beacrox’s knife slightly shake. “Something like that steak would be good. Prepare it quickly.”

Cale turned around without waiting for Beacrox’s response. She then left the kitchen and headed towards her chambers. Ron stayed while Hans followed after her, and Hans quickly asked.

“What should I do about that… guest?”

“He is my guest. You take care of it.”

Since she got the three of them to meet today, she didn’t want to deal with anything else for now.

Beacrox and Ron should be able to tell Choi Han’s strength. In the novel, Beacrox originally swears his loyalty to Choi Han because of his strength, so he should pledge his loyalty after figuring out Choi Han’s strength this time, too. Of course, Cale had some other plans in the case Beacrox was unable to determine Choi Han’s strength. Cale had thought about a lot of different things.

“Hans. Stop annoying me and bring the meal over to my chamber when it’s ready.”

She left Hans outside her chamber door as she closed the door and lay down on the bed. She was happier now with the two of her servants gone and not hovering behind her. But she wanted to clear the misunderstanding Ron seemed to be developing about Choi Han’s presence here. Her exhaustion and the alcohol made her fall asleep before she could call Ron or the food ever showed up.

In the kitchen, an entirely different chaos than cooking was taking place. Beacrox’s cooking knife slashed toward Choi Han’s neck, and Ron’s sharp dagger was flung toward Choi Han’s heart. Of course, both of their attacks had failed. “You seemed awfully chummy with our Young Miss, brat.” Ron was pissed at the dog Young Miss had picked up. “She’s only helping me!” The dog dared to snarl at him as he parried away their attacks.

Ron paused briefly, “Yes, she seems to be. Beacrox.”

His son nodded at him immediately, understanding his father’s instructions. They would feed it for now. And take it out when the young lady’s attention was no longer on it.

It was late at night, and Deputy Butler Hans stood in front of Count Deruth. He was making his report while the count quietly listened.

“The young lady is currently sleeping in her room,” Hans concluded his report, and Deruth spoke, his voice strong, “The driver reported that she went to the Flynn Merchant Guild’s illegitimate son’s tea shop. And, she brought a young man whose identity we cannot verify. In terms of drinking, she only drank a little bit and kept a clear head.”

Hans’s report had been short, but Deruth found that interesting.

“Should we put a tail on her?” The butler questioned, but Deruth waved it away; there was no need to put a tail on his daughter. He didn’t want to know what she was doing on the outside to the point that he would put a tail on him.

“No need. As long as she is in the city, anything she does is under my authority to handle.”

Deruth cherished Hans the most out of all the young deputy butlers. It was because he fulfilled orders well and was a good person.

“Do what you have been doing in terms of observing Cale inside the house and reporting what you see.”

“…I understand.” His tone was hesitant, but Hans did not say anything else as he bowed his head. He waited quietly for his dismissal.

Deruth was someone who did not have any special abilities or any solid networks. However, just like the previous Count, his father, he was able to rule over the Henituse territory and grow his wealth by selling marble and wine. He was capable of protecting his territory well.

‘Cale has changed.’ A thought that had been eating him since he saw her that morning breakfast. First breakfast in ages that his daughter had truly enjoyed. Cale felt different than normal. It wasn’t that she suddenly got smarter or stronger, but that her actions were clearly different from before. And he couldn’t quite grasp why did she sudden bring in a man, and not discreetly at that.

“Ah, Hans,” Deruth called out.

“Yes, Count-nim?”

“Bring me some information about the Flynn Merchant Guild.”

Tea shop owner, Billos. Deruth had heard about this bastard son of the Flynn Merchant Guild. As Henituse’s largest trading partner for wine was this same guild.

“I will get right on it.”

“Great.” He dismissed Hans for the night.

Deruth watched Hans walk out of his office as he began to contemplate. There were a lot of things for him to think about, other than the sudden change in Cale’s demeanour. For now, he will simply observe her actions and what she does with the unidentified man. With the latest gossip going around his manor, he was at least sure of one thing: the man was not here to serve his daughter in bed. She had brought him in, fed him and had instructed Hans to treat him as her guest. ‘Ah, it is a stressful job, being a father to two daughters.’ Deruth slumped his posture. ‘Well, if he turns out to be a trouble for Cale, I will just have to get rid of him quietly.’

Leaving that train of thought for a minute, he contemplated that the atmosphere around the continent was becoming dangerous. It was like a volcano right before it erupts. Deruth could clearly feel the dangerous atmosphere even though he was in the corner of the kingdom. He was always receiving an endless amount of information about it. But the message from the Imperial Court that he received today made Deruth even more certain about the current atmosphere of the continent.

He recalled the advice that the former Counts of the Henituse territory always passed on to the next in power. ‘There is no need to be recorded in history. Just live for peace and happiness.’

“I guess I need to reinforce the city walls.” A long sigh passed his lips. He may not be a good fighter, but Deruth was always thinking about ways to protect himself and his family. He knew there were times when the body was stronger than the mind.

"Young lady, you were sleeping so soundly that I did not wake you up.”

Cale had slept in. Miran was standing beside her bed with a huge smile on her face. Cale was really beginning to like the girl, who seemed to be always smiling, even around Cale. “Next time, just shake me awake, Miran. I don’t mind.”

Miran’s surprise was clear on her face, and Cale chuckled, “Truly, Miran, do that next time.” The maid nodded at her happily. “As you say, young lady!”

Cale nodded back, satisfied. She slid out of the bed that was calling her back, but she held strong. She stretched herself, hearing the satisfying pops. Gesturing Miran towards the bath, she began walking. “Umm, young lady?”

She paused and turned around at the maid’s hesitant call. Tilting her head in question, she waited for her to continue. Miran gestured a hand nervously towards the small table beside the bed, and Cale chuckled happily at the small tray waiting there. “Two glasses of cold water and warm, sweet tea, young lady. Please have them while I finish preparing the bath.”

“Miran, you are a delight!” Cale felt ridiculously happy at such a small thing that Miran had remembered, and the tea was likely from Ron. “I will have them first; take your time preparing the bath.”

The maid’s face was beaming. She bowed with a large smile on her face, the previous nervousness in her body gone. She rushed away towards the bathroom, and Cale sat on the edge of her bed and gulped down water. Feeling refreshed, she picked up the warm tea, took a small sip, and let the subtle sweetness, probably from fruit with a hint of mint, linger on her tongue. She had to get the name of this tea.

As she finished her tea, Miran stepped out and announced, “Young lady, your bath is prepared.”

“Coming.” Cale felt rather cheerful this morning. Probably because of Miran’s thoughtfulness. But really, having this young woman around was putting Cale at ease in this house. Entering the bathroom, Miran turned around for a bit as Cale dropped her clothes and stepped inside the tub. She leaned her head back and sighed as her body relaxed into the water. She felt Miran come up behind her and started helping her with her back.

Just like yesterday, Miran helped her bathe and wash her hair before helping her get ready for the day. As the two came out of the bathroom, Cale sat down on her vanity’s chair and asked, “Miran, what do you think of becoming my personal maid?”

And Miran, who had already started pulling her hair free and drying them, squeaked in surprise, “M-Me!? Young lady, I am barely qualified!”

Cale waved a hand as though shooing away her worry, “I like you, that alone makes you all the more qualified to be assigned to me personally.”

Miran stuttered on her words, completely taken aback, while Cale turned around on the chair and grinned back at her. “So? Miran, should I ask my father and the countess? I promise you, you’ll have more fun with me.”

Maybe because Kim Rok Soo was in a body that was way younger than her own, but she felt giddy, felt like giggling while swinging her legs. It felt like making her very first friend in school and planning to get their parents’ permission for a sleepover. Nothing that Kim Rok Soo had truly gotten to experience. Miran was nervous, but she broke into a giggle at seeing Cale grin so happily at her, “I would be honoured, young lady.” She bowed lightly. A giggle burst through Cale’s lips, surprising herself, but she didn’t stop it. She turned back around and let Miran get back to her work while Cale happily planned to request her parents of this world.

Much like yesterday, Cale decided to go without makeup and with simple dresses. Miran asked if she wanted her wardrobe to be rearranged to bring out her simpler outfits, to which Cale agreed immediately.

As they finished, Miran let her know that Ron was once again waiting outside her rooms, as well as her guest from yesterday. Cale nodded, likely something of a daily routine, but Choi Han was a surprise. “You are free to go, Miran. Let Ron inside as you go.”

Miran bowed and walked away with a cheer in her step. She opened the door and asked Ron to step inside before leaving.

The moment Ron came in, Cale noticed the bandage around his neck. Good mood evaporating, she felt a bit reluctant but asked anyway, “Are you hurt?”

“…Are you worrying about me, young miss?” There was that smile again on his lips.

“No. It’s just annoying to look at.” She was getting irritated now.

“It is nothing much. I was just scratched by a dog’s paw.”

Is a ‘dog’ another reference to an innocent person? Cale was sure that a few people had their fated meeting last night. She avoided looking at Ron, who was smiling, and headed toward the room’s window. She needed to move faster because she had slept in.

“Will you be heading out right away?”

“Yes. I’ll take care of everything on my own outside.” For a moment, she thought of involving the assassin Ron in her plans, but she just did not trust him enough, even though it would make some things easier for her. She made her way to the door.

“I understand. Oh, young miss.”

Cale let go of the door handle and turned slightly to look at him. Ron had an odd smile on his face.

“If I may ask, what do you think about the lemonades?”

“Really, Ron?” Cale felt her face twist in disgust at the thought of the sour drink.

Ron’s voice became an octave lower. “My apologies for yesterday, young miss.”

“I see. So, you sent that tea with Miran today.” Her assumption had been correct.

The old man had noticed the changes in her behaviour. But unlike the original Cale, who was loud with both her anger and dislike, she made it known loud and clear by screaming and shouting until her will was done and satisfied. Kim Rok Soo, in her anger and displeasure, was cold. She did not shout or raise her voice; she let her anger simmer, let it boil slowly before letting it all out at once. Often, very drastically, ending in injuries to the other person. And this perceptive old assassin had picked up on the new coldness of her nature. But he was not confronting her. Why?

However, Ron was someone she could not ignore. Annoying, he may be, but he was still one of the central cast of the book. “Ron, you have been serving me all my life. That is not a question you should have to be asking.”

“…Young Miss, you are right, of course. I have served you for 18 years. It is just…you are different.” His gaze sharpened as he looked her straight. She turned around completely, her head tilted in curiosity as she stared right back at the assassin. For a few seconds, the two merely stared, gauging each other. Finally, Cale smirked, “I am different. Ron, you may have served me for 18 years, but you are definitely not someone I trust.”

The assassin looked a bit taken aback, but regained his composure remarkably quickly. “I understand.”

She turned back and opened the door, and closed it with a loud slam. ‘Fuck!’ She almost had a heart attack. She completely forgot about Choi Han. ‘And what the fuck is he doing, standing so close to the door like a ghost!?’

“…Ron, why is he standing so close to the door?” Voicing her thoughts, she looked back at the butler, who was biting back a grin. And her irritation peaked.

“Young Miss, were you surprised? Your guest from yesterday was waiting for you.”

Motherfucker, Cale was definitely surprised. More like, scared out of her bloody wits seeing that gloomy face up close. Cale had seen Choi Han staring at her as soon as she opened the door, which made her shut the door in fright. Her hand clutched the cheque in her inner pocket of her skirt. The 10 million gallons in her pocket calmed her down.

Ron gazed toward Cale as he spoke. “I didn’t have a chance to tell you because you opened the door right away. I told him to wait comfortably in his room, but he insisted that he needed to see you and waited outside the door.”

‘Didn’t have a chance to tell me my ass.’

Cale did not say anything to this terrible old man, who definitely had the chance but chose not to tell her. Cale moved closer to the door as she opened it again.

“What’s going on?” Cale pretended like she never slammed the door and invited him inside. She was paying attention to Choi Han’s appearance as she asked.

After taking a shower, fixing his hair, and changing into new clothes, Choi Han looked purer and cleaner -better overall. Still, after seeing the look in his eyes, it was impossible to hold onto that impression. Choi Han was still in a poor mental state. The expression in his eyes made Cale feel uneasy. Choi Han also stared back at Cale before finally speaking., “Pay you back.”

“Heh?” Okay, that wasn’t very polite or elegant. But she was a bit surprised.

“I will pay you back for the meal.” Choi Han was speaking more formally, unlike yesterday. More importantly, Cale started to frown at the words, ‘pay you back.’

‘Pay me back? For a meal? That would mean you would be around me even more. That’s a bad idea!’ Who in their right mind would use Choi Han for manual labour? Cale just wanted Choi Han to get out of this city as soon as possible.

While Choi Han would agree to do whatever she asked if she said it was to pay her back. He was that kind of person. However, Cale didn’t have anything she needed from the man.

“No need. Is there anything else you need?” She quickly rejected Choi Han’s offer.

It was unnerving how he kept staring at her. That gaze reminded Kim Rok Soo of how Cale was beaten to a pulp in the novel, sending goosebumps up her arms.

Choi Han started talking once more, “There is something I would like to request your help for, ma’am.”

Cale closed her eyes at the word ‘help’ and the awkward feeling of being called ma’am by this man who was decades older than her. She did not want to get involved with Choi Han. The help that Choi Han wanted could be nothing other than something regarding Harris Village and funeral arrangements for them.

The Cale in the novel called the villagers of Harris Village useless and ended up getting beaten up because of it. Cale thought about that as she opened her mouth, “Tell Hans your request. He will take care of everything.”

Cale made eye contact with Choi Han, who was standing there as still as a statue. “He is annoying, but a talented deputy butler. He will be able to help you out with almost any normal request.”

Cale then gestured a hand towards Ron, who hadn’t left yet. She could almost feel Ron flinch, but Cale decided to get both of them out of her way at the same time.

“Ron here is pretty useful as well. He will also help you out. You are my guest.” Cale nodded at her butler, “Make sure to take proper care of whatever he needs.”

“But you don’t even know who I am.” Cale’s eyes stayed locked on Ron as the old man froze with a peculiar expression on his face. Right, she had to address that misunderstanding first. “Ron, he is not here to be my companion.” She emphasised, trying to get Ron to understand that she hadn’t picked up the man to sleep with or have an affair with.

Ron, it seemed, understood her implication as his stiff posture and the strange expression relaxed. But he was now observing Choi Han with a chilled look.

Cale turned around to look. She could see Choi Han looking right back at Ron with the same look. Well, looks like Choi Han wasn’t as oblivious to the workings of nobility as she had thought. “Neither of you misunderstand this: Choi Han is here because I decided to feed him and help him out a bit. He is not here to be my lover or anything. Ron, make sure this is made clear to all.”

She turned to Choi Han, “And why do I need to know who you are? Is there a reason to help someone who does not have as much as I have?”

Choi Han started to frown a bit at Cale’s words, which might have come across as rather rude. It was very faint, but Cale, who had been closely observing Choi Han, definitely saw it.

“Well,” Cale decided to just bulldoze on, “Based on your situation, I doubt you’ll ask for something difficult. Well, if it is something difficult, I’m sure Hans will know where to draw the line.”

She eagerly pushed Ron toward Choi Han as she turned away from the two of them.

“Then goodbye. I have a lot of things to do.”

Cale quickly headed toward her father Deruth’s office. She needed to get a large amount of allowance today. She heard Ron’s voice coming from behind her. “Young Miss, I will do as you commanded.”

‘I don’t care whether you do or do not.’ Cale rolled her eyes, exasperated.

Frying and stirring were for them to do as the main characters, not Cale. Wouldn’t they get closer to each other faster since they met four days earlier, all thanks to her?

Ron looked toward Cale, who was walking away from both of them, before looking down at the empty cup in the tray in his hands.

“Interesting.” That fearless kitten had certainly changed, almost overnight. And if Ron assessed the change more, it began reminding him more of the late countess, Jour. But he pushed the matter aside for now. Lifting a hand, Ron touched his neck. He had been hurt for the first time in a long time, but something more interesting than the injury kept nagging at him. The fearless kitten was wary of him.

‘Does she know something?’

“Lead the way.”

Ron turned his gaze toward the source of the voice. He could see Choi Han looking at him with disgust. This dog that the young miss had picked up on a whim seemed to have figured out that he was someone who had killed after their short spar last night.

“Sure.”

This punk, who also gave off a similar scent of blood, was pretending to be clean. Ron found it funny that such a twisted punk was acting that way. This annoying dog, whom they met last night, gave off the violent, disgusting, and murderous aura of the Forest of Darkness. It was an aura that Ron and Beacrox could instantly tell apart from other auras. Not something that the young miss could pick on, or else she would run in the opposite direction of this guy.

‘I guess there is no way those people would cross over.’ Ron thought about the events of last night as he spoke to the boy, who seemed to have gone through a lot in the past few days.

“Follow me.” Ron started to walk to follow his young mistress’s order, and Choi Han followed behind him. Choi Han’s gaze momentarily headed toward Cale’s direction before turning back to Ron. And the old assassin bit back a snarl. While Cale had clearly stated that Choi Han was merely a guest, not someone to accompany her, as poor old Ron had been fearing. The dog’s audacity still grated on him. He had no right to be even looking at her face.

Cale held a bag that was twice the size of yesterday’s bag as she headed back up to the top of the slums. And the two siblings were there to greet her once again. The children kept their mouths shut as they looked toward Cale. Their appearance was curious, a red head and a silver head. Cale smiled as she took out two small bags and pushed them toward the children. “Take it.”

The young girl slowly approached him. Cale frowned as the approaching girl walked with a limp. “Hey.” Cale pushed the two bags toward the young boy. “You come here and take it.”

The young boy quickly rushed over and took the bags from her hands, briefly pausing to stare at her before running back. Compared to her own bright red hair, the boy had coarse, dark red hair that shook as he ran. ‘Hmm, coincidence?’

Instead of wondering anymore, Cale turned around and headed toward the man-eating tree.

“Wow.”

“It’s not bread. It’s meat and cake.”

She could hear the siblings talking about the food, but she paid it no mind. She continued towards the man-eating tree.

There was a large gust of wind and a strange sound emitting from the hollow of the tree. “…It’s a bit scary.” She had to admit. The black tree without any leaves seemed to be moving its branches in a grotesque welcome to Cale. It made Cale nervous, but she didn’t let that stop her from pouring the contents of the bag into the hole underneath the tree. The bread quickly disappeared.

The moment it did, she could hear a voice, “…More, give me more.”

‘This is starting to drive me crazy.’ The response she read about in the novel showed up. It was the voice of a weak girl. Yes, the person who starved to death was a priestess who served a god. However, unlike the present-day priestesses of the temples or churches, the ancient priestesses were shamans. The majority of ancient shamans could be considered individuals who possessed superpowers or commanded natural forces.

Cale quickly grabbed the bag and started to go back. She recalled something that happened back home: her father had requested to meet her tonight when she had gone to him to collect her allowance.

‘Cale, come to my study tonight.’ It was so curious of her father.

That was why she had to leave here before evening at the latest. She came here with the intention of taking care of half of the gluttony of the tree today. She went back down the hill to get more bread and saw the two siblings looking at her with cake crumbs on their lips. Cale sighed and clicked her tongue as she walked past the two siblings. Cale headed back to the bakery-filled street. Since she had already cleared out the stock at the bakery she visited yesterday, it would be a while before they could restock. She realised she needed to search for a different bakery. A woman’s voice made Cale turn her head.

“Y-young lady.” A middle-aged woman smiled awkwardly as she pointed to her shop. Her hand trembled, and she was filled with fear, yet she still held onto a measure of confidence.

“We have a lot of bread.”

Cale felt a smile pull at her lips. Now, this was a woman who knew how to do business. The other vendors were peeking their way while looking at what was going on. Cale threw her a gold coin, and the woman quickly caught it.

“Give me everything you have. Pack it quickly.”

Instantly, the smile on the middle-aged woman’s face grew wider. She went into the store and immediately came back out with a large bag full of bread. She had already packed it all up in advance. How smart. “Here it is, young lady.”

‘Wow. She really is a good merchant.’ Cale wanted to chuckle at the audacious woman. She was clearly someone who knew how to make money.

“I can also prepare some more.” The bakery told her with a confident smile on her rounded face. Cale liked this woman even more. And as though seeing her interact with the woman peacefully, other bread vendors began calling her as well, “Young lady! We can make even more bread than that!”

An old man across the street raised his hand as he rushed over. He was wearing a baker’s uniform. Cale liked his fitting outfit and threw a gold coin to him as well.

“I will head to your shop next. Have a bag ready.” Well, it was making things easier for her.

“Thank you very much!” The man seemed almost giddy as he looked at the coin. Cale was amazed by these vendors. They were afraid of her, yet that didn’t stop them from approaching her to make some easy money. Guess fear of somebody takes a backseat when it comes to making money. And the fact that Cale had spent a gold coin to buy a bag of bread yesterday had already spread like wildfire. 1 million gallons. The others gasped at the week’s worth of profit while their eyes started to sparkle. ‘I can go around to those three places tomorrow to get bread.’

Since she gave each of them a gold coin, she should be able to get another bag from them tomorrow. She was happy that things were going smoothly. But the doubt that they were going too smoothly crept into her head. ‘Well, let’s just ignore it for now.’

Watching the young lady of the Henituse household was the young chef, Beacrox, from afar.

“Hmm.” He had a bandage around his neck, much like his father had earlier, and he was watching Cale from behind a corner. He just watched Cale buy the bag of bread and some medicinal herbs before heading back to the slums.

“…Did she go crazy?” It seemed as though Cale had gone crazy since yesterday.

Though Beacrox never cared about Cale, even when his father had said that Cale was an interesting child. But lately, the more he saw, the more he started to agree. It seemed watching Cale would be just as entertaining as watching that black-haired punk. Beacrox's eyes began to sparkle.

The bastard son of the Flynn family, Billos, the owner of the tea shop, took a sip of his tea as he received his agent’s report. “Young lady, Cale is going in and out of the slums?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I see.” It was so curious of her to be doing such things.

“We also received communication from the capital.”

“Is that so?”

Billos’s round eyes sharpened, which were usually hard to see because of his rounded face. The man flinched for a moment before continuing his report, “Yes. It said that the crown will soon gather people. That is why they wish for Billos-nim to return and get to work.”

Billos put the teacup on the table with a sharp clink, as he motioned with his chin.

“You can head out now,” he heard all he needed to. The agent quickly moved into the shadows and disappeared. Billos stared at the spot his subordinate was standing in as one corner of his lips twisted upward. “Do they think I will be their dog and watch the house again?”

His gaze headed out of the window. It felt like his gaze could reach the faraway capital. Such strange and curious things were happening around him.

“This-this isn’t bread. Isn’t bread.” The silver-haired girl mumbled.

“And?” Cale could understand her confusion, but did not see the need to clarify anything.

Seeing the young girl who was still mumbling, ‘isn’t bread,’ over and over as she held the medicinal herbs in her hand, Cale sighed as she headed back to the man-eating tree. However, the young redhead got in her way with his arms wide open. “You cannot die.”

His voice had the slightest tremble behind it. But Cale kept a stoic face as she just walked past the young boy.

Kim Rok Soo. She had been an orphan with nothing to her name. That made many people feel sympathetic toward her. "Is there a reason to show sympathy for the needy?" She often heard that phrase when she was younger. Some even called her by many names: young beggar, poor little orphan, sweet orphan girl.

‘You don’t need a reason to show sympathy.’ They would say, as though that should somehow make them look like saviours in her eyes. There was a time when she hated it: people offering her sympathy and kindness by giving her things, but never truly helping her in ways that mattered. These people did not provide that kindness or a helping hand when her uncle kept beating her or when he made her starve for days. But as she grew older, she realised how much she had needed that sympathy and how deeply it helped her hold on to life. She began to understand its true meaning: there isn’t always a logical reason for the things your heart urges you to do. You don’t need a reason.

“It is annoying.” She whispered, Cale hated to see young children being hurt. However, she didn’t have any thoughts about nursing the young girl, nor did she have thoughts of consoling her. She frowned at the young girl who was limping toward her and at the young boy standing beside her, as she responded to both of them. “I won’t die.”

The siblings finally stopped following her, thank fuck. Cale was unhappy at the thought that she did something she hated most. She hated people who got involved in other people’s business without being asked, but she had done just that by giving the young girl the medicinal herbs.

Up on the hill, the tree stood looming, grotesque in its appearance.

Oooooooooooong, a strange wind picks up, and she hears something whisper, Give me more.

“Yes. Eat it all.” Cale dumped the whole bag into the man-eating tree without caring about how it landed, unafraid. The bread instantly disappeared into the darkness that was now too light to be called darkness. Cale could see a new grey light. ‘I guess it is paying off for the money I spent.’

Cale poured the other bag of bread into the hole before she headed back home. She didn’t see the siblings anywhere, but that was better for her.

Instead, she saw the two struggling cats on her way back home and flinched in surprise.

‘It’s the cats from yesterday, right?’ She stared for a bit at the pair. ‘Curious, curious.’

Silver fur and golden eyes, dark red fur and golden eyes. The two cats did not even meow as they stared at Cale. Cale chose to ignore them for now and just looked away as she headed back home.

She heard something from her father that almost made her faint. ‘I should have just stayed out till late.’ She despaired internally.

“… Could you please say that one more time?” She mumbled, her voice slightly weak.

“Yes, yes.” Count nodded happily. “You shall go to the capital as our family’s representative.”

Basen stood next to Cale as well, his whole body emitting a nervous energy. The untold story of the Henituse family was unfolding right in front of Cale’s eyes. And it was already beginning to give her a headache.

“Basen was supposed to go originally. However, you are the firstborn of our family. And we have never cared much about gender-based succession.”

And Cale just wished that they had. She watched Count Deruth sitting there with a gentle smile, acting unaware of his daughter’s speechlessness. Cale quickly began thinking about the contents of ‘The Birth of a Hero’ as her father continued to speak.

“The crown is hosting a big event and has invited the noble families of each territory to gather. It will be your first time visiting the crown. While Basen has attended similar functions for the past two years, I am hoping that you will go this time.”

Big event hosted by the crown. It only made Cale think about that particular incident. The Plaza Terror Incident, where a secret, likely terrorist organisation bombs the plaza and the gathering, the one where our dear hero, Choi Han, manages to block at least half of their plot. The one where he crosses paths with this organisation for the fourth time.

Because Choi Han was able to save many of the citizens at the plaza, he became connected with the crown prince. They quickly developed a friendship with each other.

Cale suddenly got the chills. Since the novel described the event from Choi Han’s point of view, it did not talk much about the gathering of the nobles. All it mentioned was that Choi Han gained some party members before and after the incident, as well as the strong backing of the crown prince. And now, she had to go to the scene of that terrorist attack?

Cale started to recall the information in ‘The Birth of a Hero.’

[Tons of people were gathered in the plaza. The platform was still empty. It was for the royal family that would soon arrive. Choi Han could see some other people who looked like they held important positions. However, more important to Choi Han was the fact that a lot of citizens, young, old, male, and female, were gathered here. Choi Han’s heart started to beat faster. He did not want to see a group of innocent people dying ever again.]

Cale turned to look at Basen even as her father was continuing to speak. Basen stood there, looking at their father without giving Cale a single glance.

‘Deruth said Basen normally goes to events like this. Should I ask him to go?’

Cale’s lips twisted in a frown. She did not want to go to a dangerous area. However, she also could not bring herself to let Basen walk into that same situation. Though she knew that the relationship between her and Basen was neither good nor bad, the novel briefly mentioned that he found Cale difficult to interact with.

She felt her thoughts tangling and getting more complicated. Would Cale have gone in the story? There was no way Deruth would send the trouble-making daughter to the capital. Just why was he trying to send her then? Cale wondered if she had done something wrong to have caused this to happen.

“You will leave in five days.” Hearing Deruth say that, Cale understood immediately that the Cale in the novel had not gone to the capital. Because by day four, in the book, she was beaten to a pulp by Choi Han and carried into the Count’s estate. There was no way she could go to the capital in that condition.

“Cale. Before Basen started to do it, you had participated in all of these ceremonies. Think back on those times and have a relaxed journey.”

“Father.” Deruth looked at her, and Basen also slowly turned to look at her. She continued, “I am a bit anxious because of this sudden development. I have not gone to any of these for two years. I don’t understand why I would suddenly have to go. Please let me think about it.”

Deruth agreed easily enough and told his two children that they could leave. The siblings quickly left the study. Cale began thinking of ways to get out of this situation. If she threw a fit and caused a scene, Deruth would probably send Basen, but that left a bitter taste in her mouth. ‘Basen would have to go and face the bombs.’ She did not know the boy, nor was she attached to him in any way. But sending a child into a dangerous situation that he had no way of dealing with was not her style. She was not that kind of person.

Her turbulent thoughts paused as she heard him call her, “Sister,”

Hearing that young voice, not even sixteen years old. She could see his face, sharp and stoic, as was the way of behaving for young nobles. Her younger brother spoke without making eye contact with her, “Sister, there is no reason for you not to go.”

Cale let out a sigh. Basen had not looked at Cale even once after they left their father’s study. She stared at Basen for a long time before speaking, “I know…. But it’s not supposed to be like this.”

Cale had been pushed out of the successor spot. She could not just take that spot again after Basen had spent two years filling it. And she did not absolutely want to be the successor anyway. She has Cale’s body and face, but really, she was not Cale Henituse. She had to remain the trash of the family before quietly slipping away from their lives. And Basen may have been filling the spot, but he had very little understanding of the politics behind it. Hence, he could so confidently say to her that she should go.

‘He doesn’t understand how things will become complicated like this.’ Cale frowned. She did not like how things were going. Despite her efforts to remain similar to the original Cale, she had still derailed the plot. But. But, fuck, it was worth a shot, her going to the stupid event instead of Basen.

She had the highest chance between the two of coming back alive without losing limbs or being grievously injured.

‘And Basen needs to stay healthy and alive to take the Count position.’ For Cale to slip away to live a peaceful life, Basen needed to survive. There was their youngest sister, Lily, but she was too young. Furthermore, Cale must head out of Western City after taking the ancient power located at the man-eating tree to take some other ancient powers located outside the Henituse territory. She looked at the disappearing back of her younger brother. Well, her decision was made.

She turned her head at Deputy Butler Hans, who was heading her way. Hans’s expression was intense, but not dark. He seemed to be a bit bitter, but she did not care for the fool’s feelings.

“Young lady, the request that your guest has asked for…”

“Hans.” She cut him off, “Bring that guest here.”

“Excuse me?” He stumbled a bit in surprise.

If Cale was going to have to move, she might as well do it in a way that was most comfortable for her and in a most beneficial way. Based on Hans’s expression, Cale was certain that Choi Han’s issue was settled properly. In the novel, Count Deruth gave a proper funeral for the villagers and took care of everything, even after Choi Han beat Cale to a pulp. That shouldn’t have changed at all. “Ah, if he doesn’t want to come, just tell him this. Payment.”

“Pardon?” The butler looked so confused, it almost made her smile.

“Tell him to come because a way for him to pay me back has come.”