NOVEL NEXT Chapter 7
<Unexpected Option> Cedin Anshirad, the Mercenary King, suggested that you accept him as your disciple. Will you accept it? [Yes]: Fame increased by 100, Cedin Anshirad’s favorability increased by 100 [No]: Cedin Ansirad’s favorability also dropped by 100
So, he’s gonna think of me as a teacher? That’s…
“No.”
It’s no good.
Why should I?
‘Not just a relationship, but a master-disciple relationship?’
“Don’t you like me?”
“No, that’s not the problem.”
Even after living for hundreds of years, she had never taken a disciple or anything like that.
In some lives, even if a child who had followed her for 20 years asked to be her disciple, she refused.
Rene had a hard time living alone. She hated being responsible for other people’s lives.
But you want me to take the guy I just met as a student?
Why should I?
[You have selected [No]! Cedin Ansirad’s favorability drops by 100.]Look at that jigsaw that’s clipped right away.
“Don’t you like me?”
“No. I like you.”
She meant it. He was a likable person that she hadn’t seen in a long time in this world.
But it wasn’t what this was about
“Then why…”
“I don’t like taking responsibility for anyone.”
“You don’t have to take responsibility for me. I can take care of myself.”
“Then why do you ask me to be a teacher? You can do it yourself.”
Cedin looked at her with a puzzled look. But Rene was adamant, too.
“If you’re done talking, I’ll go.”
“Young Lady, please listen to me for a moment.”
Should I ignore it or not?
[The <Monarch of Waves and Healing> says he is handsome, so she recommends you listen to him.]
“Okay. Go ahead.”
“You know, I’m on the verge of being a swordmaster.”
They’re called swordmasters here? People who can use a sword?
Then what was she supposed to do? She wasn’t a grand swordmaster.
Cedin was quite strong even from the perspective of Rene who was not familiar with the rules of the world. In her previous life, he would have been a tower ranker. He’d make it to the top 100.
‘…He wouldn’t have made it to the last floor.’
Suddenly, she remembered her former life colleagues. Rene shook her head to shake off her memories of them.
“Young Lady?”
“Sorry. Keep talking.”
“However, I can’t even see the situation beyond this. No matter how much I trained and how much I competed with the sword, I couldn’t see any clues. Even when I saw the Crown Prince who might be the strongest on the continent, I couldn’t feel anything.”
Hold on.
This is going in a slightly strange direction.
He couldn’t possibly fall in love with her right away just because the genre was romance fantasy, right?
“But the moment I saw Young Lady, I felt something inside me wake up.”
“W-What is it?”
His heart was pounding. She heard Cedin’s loud heart beating all the way here. Rene tried to shake off her cold intuition.
No way, this baby was just born. It couldn’t be. She was born a long time ago.
“It’s…”
A crush? Is it a crush?
“Fighting spirit.”
“…Fighting spirit?”
“It was the first time I felt like this. It makes me want to compete. And at the same time, I feel so helpless. But even though I know I will lose, my heart doesn’t calm down.”
…What shall I do with this man? Come out, the person who told me to listen to him earlier.
[The <Monarch of Waves and Healing> looks at the distant mountain.]
[The <Lord of Vile Blood> nods in delight.]
[The <Emperor of Enticement> asks what kind of young man is this.]
“Yes, I appreciate that. Thank you.”
“I’m not just asking you to accept me. I will also help Young Lady materially and mentally. I’ll get you anything you want. Whatever you order, I’ll do it.”
That was a little tempting.
‘I actually need a loyal henchman. Honestly.’
To be honest, it wasn’t bad to have a pawn like this. It was kind of like having a ranker begging her to accept him.
If this was her previous life, she would have accepted it without saying anything.
‘What’s the big deal? I just have to teach him the sword.’
“All right.”
[You have selected [Yes] again! Cedin Anshirad’s favorability increases by 200.] [Fame increases by 100!] [Cedin Anshirad’s status window has changed. Would you like to check it out now?]‘Check. Check it right now.’
<Status Window> Name: Cedin Anshirad Family: House of Anshirad. The first head of the family. Fame: 792 Title: <The Mercenary King>, <The Head of the Moonshine Information Guild>, <Sword Master>, (NEW!) <Blackie> Power: 810 Agile: 890 Strength: 830 Wisdom: 892 Luck: 673 Favorability: 300 (NEW!) Relationship: Master-Disciple [Teacher-Rene Marchius/ Disciplel-Cedin Anshirad] [The <Mercenary King> Cedin Anshirad has become your disciple! Fame goes up by 100. (Current Fame: -849)] [The more your master-disciple relationship is known, the more your fame will increase. Promote your faithful disciple!] <Special Quest – Your Faithful Disciple> For the first time, you took in a disciple. Why don’t you promote your relationship with this disciple? Clear Conditions: Reach 500 in likeability Clear Reward: Fame +50, Relationship Change: ?? Relationship“Master.”
“Ugh.”
At the unfamiliar and tickling name, Rene eventually threw her hands in frustration.
In her previous life, she had only been fighting with stinky guys, so a sense that she had forgotten for a long time passed by her.
“I don’t think that’s right. Master, my ass.”
“Which name do you prefer?”
“Just call me Young Lady as you normally call me.”
“I understand. Whatever makes Young Lady comfortable.”
Ugh, that felt really weird. Cedin looked at her as if he would follow everything she said. The look in his eyes was like…
‘Cerberus?’
Are you a dog, not a cat?
“Well, may I ask you a favor, Cedin?”
“Anything you command.”
It was kind of burdensome.
‘Is this what romance fantasy novels are about?’
Rene hated to admit it, but she was starting to like this world more and more.
It would have been nice if every person she met in her past life gave her their loyalty.
In that world, there were only people who wanted to put a knife on her. There was no romance there.
“I want to know why the Crown Prince covered up the witness.”
By the looks of it, that guy was the most suspicious.
“Ah, perhaps you can’t tell me because you’ve been requested by him?”
“That’s not true, Young Lady.”
Cedin pondered for a moment and then opened his mouth.
“Young Lady. It’s better not to make the Crown Prince your enemy. I know the Young lady is strong, but… He’s a little different.”
“Are you worried about me?”
Rene laughed and patted Cedin’s head.
When was the last time she heard someone worry about her?
It was surprising. It was kinda cute too. It was like a chick taking care of an eagle.
“I-it’s not a light matter, Young Lady.”
“Never mind. I’ll take care of myself, so just answer me.”
Cedin said, turning his face slightly to cover his red face.
“The Crown Prince is afraid of rumors that there was a rift between him and the Saint.”
“Is he putting me in danger just because of that?”
“It’s not just that, Young Lady. The Saint herself is his fame.”
“Is she that amazing?”
Seeing that everyone thought she was sacred, she really was just a huge baby.
“
Because she is called the manifestation of God
. The people of the Empire all love her. That’s why they love the Crown Prince, who will be her husband.”
“I see. Then if the Saint said she left on her own will, the Crown Prince’s reputation will be ruined.”
“Exactly. The Crown Prince also has a strong competitor, so he’s very concerned.”
“A strong competitor?”
“Don’t you know?”
Cedin asked back with a puzzled look.
“Idin von Lambdish, the second princess, is a strong competitor. Except for the emperor, there are only two of them left now.”
“Hmm. Yeah. In that state, it makes sense to cling to the Saint like that.”
But she could’t let it slide.
“Tell me what you investigated about this case. What do you know, Cedin?”
“I don’t know much either. I just came down after receiving a request.
I only heard about the youngest priest as the witness in advance.
“
“Don’t you think it’s a little weird?”
“Yes. That’s why I was going to dig that part.”
Cedin agreed in a whisper. Rene recalled the testimony of the youngest priest she had heard earlier.
‘The Saint was ill all day after receiving a revelation from God. At first, I thought it was a price for listening to God… Now that I think about it, maybe it was a mental illness.’
‘What made you think like that?’
‘It kept bothering me that she talked in her sleep while she was sick.’
‘She talked in her sleep?’
‘Yes, this is what she said in her sleep.’
The youngest priest closed his eyes tightly and imitated Lian’s sleep talk.
“She had said. Please let me go.”
Only idiots wouldn’t notice that she was referring to the Crown Prince.
“…Yes.”
“Did they have a bad relationship?”
“They didn’t. It’s just…”
Cedin hesitated for a moment, then looked Rene in the eye.
“Young Lady, please don’t misunderstand what I’m saying, and listen.”
“Misunderstand? What do I misunderstand?”
“Just because the Crown Prince didn’t love the Saint doesn’t mean he can love Young Lady.”
“What? Why would I misunderstand?”
Rene couldn’t hide her absurdity and raised her voice.
“Young Lady has long cherished the Crown Prince.”
Ah.
‘Anyway, this body is not helpful.’
Well thought-out. Tsk.
“I don’t like him anymore. No, I hate him.”
“So…suddenly?”
“No matter how naive I was, how could I like the kid who framed me?”
“Was it that shocking?”
“Of course. I’ve lost a lot of affection.”
She actually wasn’t shocked at all, but she had to faithfully fulfill the role given to her.
Cedin looked a bit convinced then. He looked at Rene a few times and exhaled.
“…Thank God.”
“What?”
“The relationship between the Crown Prince and the Saint was nothing more than a contractual relationship. They didn’t love each other nor do they care. To be honest, I think the Saint liked the Crown Prince. But that girl liked all human beings.”
“What? Do other people know that? From what I heard-“
“Yes. They’re known as the Lovers of the Century.”
Cedin shook his head.
“
But the high-ranking officials of the Intelligence Guild know.
That it is a false relationship formed by necessity between the two of them.”
“I know what the Crown Prince can gain, but what can the Saint gain from that marriage?”
“She can gain a lot. First of all, her life.”
“The Crown Prince threatened the Saint. That punk…”
He was a bad guy. She knew it.
If it was really as Cedin said, then it wasn’t that strange for the Saint to run away. Rene was moderately convinced.
“This is a little upsetting.”
“What are you upset about?”
“No. To prove my innocence, I have to take her back and show that she’s still alive.
But I think it’s a bit too much to bring back a kid who ran away to survive
.”
“…Young Lady.”
Cedin looked up at her with an impressed face. Rene felt burdened by his gaze and covered his eyes with her hands.
“Calm down. I’m not as good as you think I am.”
“Young Lady is very noble. More than anyone I’ve ever seen.”
“I am telling you that’s not it.”
“I don’t know how the rumors have been so wrong. I’m gonna go fix it right now-“
“Don’t. Just stay still.”
No matter how she thought about it, the rumors seemed to be true.
“Then there’s only one way.”
“What is it…?”
“Now that I see it, the problem is the Crown Prince.”
“That’s…true.”
“Then it’s a matter of handling him.”
“I don’t really understand how you’re going to handle him.”
Cedin sighed and took her hand that covered his eyes and gently put it down.
Still, he didn’t let go of her hand. Rene was not ignorant of the whimsical intention, but she pretended not to know.
“Will you tell me?”
“I’ll meet him and negotiate.”
“The Crown Prince will never listen to Young Lady.”
“Who says we’re going to talk?”
“Then…”
“I prefer body language over words, Cedin.”
Just like that, she would seduce him.