While Others Became Female Leads In Romantic Fantasy Novels, I Became A Closet Monster
Chapter 38
In the future, Jacob would manifest his Aura. If it became known that Delaney had summoned someone personally appointed by the Grand Duke just to spout such nonsense, her reputation within the Black Falcon would be dragged through the mud.
Jacob wouldn’t say anything, but my mouth was quite loose.
For now, I would turn a blind eye to protect Jacob’s honor, but on the day he finally manifested his Aura, I would make sure the rumors spread far and wide.
“I’m glad I stayed still!”
I let out a satisfied laugh.
When the parlor door opened and a maid entered, I slipped out of the room.
‘I have to go tell Dedrick this great news right away!’
I was about to run off in excitement when the maid’s voice from behind caught my feet.
“Madam, Sir Hogan has arrived.”
Hogan? I pricked up my ears and scurried back toward them.
Hogan was the commander in charge of the Black Falcon Knights.
He had been away for a monster subjugation; why was he back already? It wasn’t time for his return yet….
The Grand Duchess also sprang up from her seat at the unexpected news.
“…There was no word of his arrival!”
If the Black Falcon had returned, a grand banquet should have been held for those who successfully completed the subjugation, but nothing was prepared.
That failure would fall squarely on the Grand Duchess.
The maid flinched and hurriedly added, “It seems only the Commander of the Black Falcon has returned on personal business. That is likely why no one was notified, Madam.”
“Where is Sir Hogan now?”
“He is heading to the training grounds with Sir Jacob.”
Delaney’s face turned pale. No matter how much Jacob kept the secret, there was no way Hogan wouldn’t find out. In the novel, he was a man so sharp he was nicknamed the Ghost.
I couldn’t suppress the smirk creeping onto my face. To think she’d be backed into a corner like this without me even doing anything.
“I must meet Sir Hogan.”
The maid looked at her and said, “Sir Hogan said he would not meet anyone…. He said he will come to pay his respects to you later, so you do not need to come see him….”
After mocking the trembling Delaney to my heart’s content, I headed to the training grounds faster than anyone.
“Please, tell Hogan everything! Just don’t tell the Grand Duke!”
I prayed as I ran.
Because I was forcibly summoned back to the Wardrobe halfway there, I arrived at the training grounds a bit late.
Fortunately, Delaney was nowhere nearby.
‘I thought she’d come regardless.’
Then again, showing up like that would only make her desperation obvious.
“Are you not going to talk?”
Hearing a deep, masculine voice, I stopped thinking and headed straight toward it.
Didi, I’m running here and there all for your sake.
Please recognize my tear-inducing love.
“Talk about what, sir?”
“This brat, are you going to keep hiding it?”
It was only when I finally got close to them that my jaw dropped.
Hogan, who looked well over two meters tall, exuded an immense pressure just by standing still.
With his rugged beard, a large X-shaped scar across his face, and thick hands that looked large enough to crush a bear barehanded, he was a sight to behold.
It wasn’t quite the same as when I saw the Grand Duke, but this man’s presence was no joke either.
I tilted my head back as far as it would go to look up at Hogan.
Contrary to his menacing appearance, Hogan’s eyes were full of mischief.
“I saw you coming out of the Grand Duchess’s parlor!”
Jacob squeezed his eyes shut and pleaded earnestly.
“P-please, lower your voice.”
“You want me to lower you into a grave?”
“That isn’t funny, Commander.”
“Tsk! If you don’t talk, I won’t take you on the next subjugation!”
The two-meter giant sulked.
His forearms were so thick that when he tried to cross them petulantly, they wouldn’t even fold properly.
His angry muscles twitched, asserting their presence.
“You won’t take me…?”
“How long do you intend to just listen to people gossip about how you can’t even manifest Aura?”
“I thought it was because you lacked a sense of crisis, so I stopped by briefly to take you with me this time.”
“…Pardon?”
“If I throw you alone into a mountain range crawling with monsters, wouldn’t you manifest Aura just because you want to live?”
Isn’t that just killing him…?
But Jacob was different. His expression changed in an instant. With a startled face, he stammered.
“Are you… are you really going to take me?”
“If you tell me, I’ll take you~!”
I reflexively covered my eyes and screamed.
An old man acting cute….
Mister, I’m warning you.
Don’t ever do that again.
“But I am currently the Young Master’s….”
“Shouldn’t you go precisely for the Young Master’s sake? It’s obvious the Grand Duchess told you to stop acting as his teacher since you can’t even manifest Aura.”
As expected, he didn’t get the nickname ‘Ghost’ for nothing.
He figured it out immediately without even seeing it.
“Your silence means I’m right.”
“The Young Master will have a hard time if I’m gone. Even now….”
“That’s why you have to manifest Aura quickly. If you want to raise the Young Master to be the strongest in the world!”
“The strongest in the world…. That sounds good.”
Jacob smiled faintly but couldn’t bring himself to answer readily.
Hogan clicked his tongue in frustration.
“I’ll assign a separate knight to him.”
“Pardon?”
“Are you jealous?”
“Just teach him until you get back! Do you want to be kicked out of the Black Falcon without ever manifesting Aura? Are you planning to bring shame to my face, the one who personally brought you in?”
Hogan’s booming voice made my ears ring.
“Failing to manifest a simple thing like Aura and letting the Grand Duchess say those things to you! If it were me, I’d have been so insulted I’d have smashed everything to pieces, you brat!”
Well, he had a point there.
While debating which would be better for Dedrick, I ultimately wanted Jacob to follow Hogan.
If he did, he would manifest his Aura much sooner than expected, and his position would be solidified upon his return, which would help Dedrick grow even more.
After a moment of contemplation, Jacob seemed to realize that path was better and nodded.
“Then, may I go and speak to the Young Master myself?”
“Hey, I have a condition. If you don’t meet that condition, I haven’t the slightest intention of taking you.”
Hogan thumped his chest as if frustrated.
“Tell me everything that happened with the Grand Duchess!”
“…Haa.”
Jacob hesitated but spoke briefly.
“…The Grand Duchess is not very pleased with the Young Master learning from me….”
“That woman lies every time she opens her mouth. You hear me? Our little Young Master Dedrick would never say such things to others. Especially to the woman who killed his mother—would he really have said that to her?!”
“Please, lower your voice!”
“Who dares tell me what to do?”
Watching Hogan laugh boisterously, I gave him a thumbs up.
As expected, to be the Commander of the Black Falcon, one had to be both insanely skilled and a little bit crazy.
In the novel, Hogan had never been described in such detail, so it was fascinating.
“I didn’t believe it either. I’ve seen enough to know. Anyone could see she was trying to drive a wedge between us.”
Jacob turned around sharply.
“Regardless, I will go speak with the Young Master. Please make sure to take me as promised! And I will be the one to help the Young Master manifest his Aura.”
Jacob ran toward Dedrick, and I hurried after him, though luckily I was transported to the Wardrobe first.
Before I could open the Wardrobe door, Dedrick flung it open.
He looked at me silently with a strangely lonely face.
Even though I hadn’t committed any crime, I found myself walking on eggshells as I stepped out of the Wardrobe. I tentatively let Dedrick pull me into an embrace.
“What’s wrong…? Is it because I was wandering around instead of studying?”
The corners of his mouth twitched before he finally gave in.
I knew Dedrick was weak to physical contact with me. He hugged me tight and shook his head.
“No…. It’s just because you were gone. I was lonely being by myself.”
“Is that so? I’m sorry. But I saw something very satisfying!”
“Something satisfying?”
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll tell you about it in a bit. Jacob will be here soon.”
“Why Sir Jacob?”
“He has something to say. Um….”
I glanced up at him and stroked his hair.
“Don’t be too disappointed or sad.”
Since Dedrick had a soft heart, it might be hard for him to let go of someone he had grown fond of.
“Does it have to do with you…?”
His voice trembled slightly. I shook my head.
“Absolutely not.”
Soon, there was a knock at the door.
“Young Master, it is Jacob. May I come in for a moment?”
I gestured for him to open the door. Looking reluctant to let go of me, Dedrick opened it.
Jacob entered, explained the situation, and then looked at Dedrick with a firm resolve.
“I will make sure to manifest my Aura this time. So, can you wait for me? I will return as a better teacher and truly be of help to you, Young Master.”
I watched Dedrick anxiously, worried he might be upset, but he nodded calmly.
“I’ll wait. Come back after manifesting your Aura for all to see. I truly want to learn Aura from you, Sir Jacob.”
“…Thank you, Young Master. Please stay healthy until then.”
Jacob’s eyes grew slightly red.
Ironically, Dedrick, the one I had worried about, remained perfectly composed.
