Chapter 34
34
I sometimes imagined us meeting late at night on lonely days to share a beer, having deep conversations, sharing suggestive stories before bed, and falling asleep while talking about the people we liked.
Clap, clap, clap—
Just then, Elluaerd, clapping slowly as he walked over, wore an admiring expression.
“Indeed, your special training has paid off. To grasp the opponent’s weakness so quickly. A truly insightful attack.”
“Pardon?”
“That woman recently broke up with her lover. The language of yellow roses is ‘farewell.’ It seems rumors are circulating that she has no eye for men after the breakup. And that dress is an elaborate imitation of a design with only two originals in the Empire. You sharply pointed that out, Master.”
Why did it turn out that way? Does that mean I delivered a highly sophisticated, veiled insult with a smiling face like a bing shuang?
“I didn’t intend to do that. And why do you know all that? Are you a Dispatch reporter?”
“I’m a demon. It’s easy to discern the inner wounds and weaknesses of humans. And that woman is one of the social circle’s Big Three. You met a strong opponent from the start.”
So, he didn’t approach me to become friends but to measure my combat power. Indeed, this is the World’s Greatest Tournament.
I’m glad I went through the strengthening period. I wasn’t hurt at all by the attack of one of the social circle’s Big Three, and I won just by breathing.
Now that I’ve achieved my primary goal, I feel a little hungry. It seems the time has come to achieve my next goal.
Just as I turned my gaze toward the lavishly prepared food and dessert table.
“Lady Fortuna.”
A deep, husky voice calling my name was heard.
Suddenly, a chill swept through the surroundings as if winter had arrived, and an unfamiliar figure appeared among the people.
With curly, dark brown hair like Jesus, rare black eyes, a beard on his philtrum and chin, and a fierce impression with a long scar on his eyebrow.
He was undoubtedly Northern Grand Duke material.
He’ll probably shave his beard and have a shocking transformation that captures the hearts of those who don’t prefer beards.
The man, with a rough and heavy atmosphere as if he had lived in a cold and barren place, stared at me intently and said.
“I am Kaiden Draxler.”
So what?
But wearing armor draped with dark gray wolf fur in warm May? Excuse me, but is he crazy?
The man with a clear concept continued.
“I am the one who proposed to you through Viscount Murray.”
“Excuse me? But when did we meet for you to speak so informally?”
Ignoring my question, Kaiden scanned the group of fiancé candidates behind me and said.
“I heard that only the strongest man who survives to the end after a life-or-death battle among the strong can be chosen.”
“What groundless nonsense is that…?”
It hasn’t even been an hour since I said that, and it’s already being distorted this much? Is there no sane person in this world?
Just then, Dante, who had been unable to speak, stepped forward and stood beside me. His fiercely honed blue eyes turned to the Northern Grand Duke, the fifth prospective candidate who had suddenly appeared.
Dante, after carefully examining the beast-like man standing before him, made an unpleasant expression.
“Did they perhaps capture a savage warrior from the wild?”
Dante, who values neatness, regarded the beastly Kaiden as a human who had received no benefits of civilization.
“An unpleasant human in many ways.”
Elluaerd, unlike his usual smiling self, also wore a completely serious face.
From his cold gaze, I could feel contempt and hatred beyond mere annoyance. Does he hate long-haired, bearded men that much?
On the other hand, Killian’s opinion was slightly different.
“I think he’s cool. He’s like a legendary conquering king who once occupied half the world’s territory. He was my idol when I was young.”
Ezekiel, who seemed to have no particular feelings, asked Killian.
“He does have a wild charm. But the king of a nomadic people who annihilate everything larger than a cartwheel is your idol?”
“He at least politely suggested surrender first. Isn’t that merciful for that era?”
It seems that even if there is no Northern Grand Duke I know in this world, there was Genghis Khan.
He even knows the extreme either-or diplomacy of surrender or destruction.
Could this be some kind of parallel world?
Regardless of whether those men were openly gossiping like villainous extras, Kaiden maintained his unique solemn expression. His black eyes were still fixed on me.
“I have come to end that fierce battle.”
“The recruitment period is over.”
Since he kept speaking informally, I also spoke informally.
At my words, Kaiden stroked his chin beard as if regretful.
“Then, if a dropout occurs, will you recruit again then?”
“Then the meaning of the last one you mentioned is gone.”
It seems we’ve strayed too far from the usual concept of marriage or engagement, but letting go of understanding and common sense makes me feel relatively calm.
However, I couldn’t tolerate the continued informal speech, so I shouted.
“And why do you keep speaking informally? How old are you!”
I was so calm that I had momentarily forgotten even the class system.
In fact, it’s not a world where a commoner loses their life for speaking informally to a noble, so it doesn’t matter much. It’s just that you’ll be marked and lose your future by making it difficult to get a job. That’s the same in any era.
Even after seeing my clearly uncomfortable expression, Kaiden still answered in a low, serious voice.
“I am nineteen this year. If you want to call me nunim, I will do so.”
“Ah…?”
I couldn’t help but be dumbfounded. Not 35, but 19? Younger than me? Looking again, he does seem to have baby-like skin.
If I were the female lead in a novel… could I have handled the man who appeared armed with strong keywords like #NorthernGrandDuke #BeastlyMan #YoungerMan #LongHairedBeardedMan #WinterFashion?
I pressed my fingers against my eyes and said to Kaiden.
“I clearly refused several times. Didn’t that old man tell you that I rejected the proposal?”
“I heard that you initially accepted it with joy. But suddenly, you had twelve fiancés. I only thought you were a woman who couldn’t refuse, but hearing that eight of them died in battle made me even more interested.”
Shouldn’t interest decrease normally?
How did it come to this? That man who is willing to participate in the engagement battle even after hearing those words is also out of his mind.
“So, the proposal is still valid? Even if my relationships with men are fatally complicated?”
Kaiden looked down at me with a strong gaze.
“I like challenges. The more competitors, the better.”
Rather, as a side effect, it seems I’ve pressed the button of that 19-year-old’s spirit of challenge and vigor. I looked at Kaiden with suspicious eyes.
“Are you perhaps after my necklace? There’s no reason to go this far.”
“No. Since you only have that, I meant that no dowry is needed. Even if we marry, you don’t need to give it to me. That necklace is entirely yours.”
If so, I should definitely nail it down.
Armor-clad Killian, younger man Ezekiel, Toto who doesn’t listen to me, shaggy Alexander Nurungi XII, etc., because the existing beings in our house overlap with many setting keywords.
“Anyway, I definitely rejected your proposal.”
“What is gained through adversity and trials is more valuable.”
A closed church to an open one. He doesn’t listen to others at all, but strangely, he is broad-minded and open.
Eventually, I decided to deviate from the normal thinking stage and become flexible.
“I see. What do you get after adversity and trials?”
“There is such a thing. I will behead and remove all those who obstruct my path.”
I glanced at the sword he wore at his waist.
I feel like I know why that man got the nickname Executioner. He was the executioner himself, truly dancing with a sword.
Then Kaiden turned around and only turned his head to look at me.
“It seems I have taken too much of your time. I will only greet you today, but you should be prepared next time.”
He spoke like a villain leaving a terrifying warning.
“Why should I be prepared? The one who mocked you as the protagonist of The Jungle Book is that black-haired human!”
The person you should point out is Dante Van Dyke!
Despite my unfair cry, he disappeared leisurely.
-Master, it’s best not to get involved with that savage warrior.
At the telepathic message suddenly flowing into my head, I unknowingly asked loudly.
“Why?”
Elluaerd, who I didn’t know when he had gone over there, put his finger to his lips as if it were a secret.
-I’ll tell you that later. The time to utilize the results of the special training is approaching.
I’ve already utilized it enough, what more do I need to do?
I Accidentally Hired the Mastermind as a Housekeeper
