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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Teottry
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“Violence?”
I calmly turned to look at Jin. She had stopped in her tracks, her confident stride, like that of a successful professional woman, faltering. Her heels, which had been striking the floor with purpose, now scraped against it awkwardly.
Our eyes met, and Jin blushed, then forced a smile. I couldn’t tell what had happened, but it seemed she was the one who had caused this situation. I turned my attention back to Jaken.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Y-Yesterday! Many people witnessed Master Allen resorting to violence! Just because you paid for her services doesn’t give you the right to use violence against the women who work here…!”
“Violence, you say.”
I could roughly guess what had happened. To think she would interpret my request for an act in this way… I knew she was inexperienced, but I had expected her, as the future Great Mother of the underworld, to handle it more skillfully. I was mistaken.
However, the outcome wasn’t bad. My worsened reputation would only lessen my stepmother’s suspicion. However, I couldn’t tolerate a mere pimp lecturing me.
Those who dwelled in the underworld were always looking for an opportunity to exploit any weakness for their own gain. Jaken wasn’t concerned about Jin’s well-being, but about the money he could extort from me.
If this were the past, I would have fallen for it…
I chuckled.
“How can a foreigner become a citizen so quickly? According to customary law, one must reside in the city for a year to become a citizen.”
“Th-That’s…”
Jaken looked flustered by my unexpected counterattack. Even I wouldn’t have expected my past self, who only knew how to act like a spoiled brat, to come up with a valid argument.
“Besides, since when have you been so law-abiding?”
It was absurd for a pimp to lecture a knight’s son about customary law. This was a barbaric era where conflicts were resolved through duels.
I placed my hand on the hilt of my sword.
“I-I apologize. I must have misspoken. Hehehe.”
Jaken’s arrogant demeanor vanished, replaced by a pale, fearful expression. He bowed his head so low that his back was almost at a right angle, a gesture of utmost respect he wouldn’t even show to the King.
I wasn’t fooled. The moment I showed any weakness, he would try to exploit it.
“Rise. I’ll forgive you this time, considering your past services.”
“Then, about the violence…”
“It was just a loan. Damaging the merchandise wouldn’t be beneficial for you either. Fine. I’ll be gentle.”
“Gentle… Yes, yes. Thank you.”
Jaken retreated with a disgruntled expression. I ignored Jin, who was watching us nervously, and headed to the private room. Jin hesitantly followed.
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“I did my best.”
“I know. But you drew too much attention.”
I was also to blame for equating Jin with her future self. I had forgotten that everyone has a clumsy beginning.
“I’m not good at acting. Perhaps we should try a different approach.”
“A different approach?”
“Wouldn’t it be more effective to maintain my image as a scoundrel by parading around with a whore, rather than relying on unconvincing acting?”
“No.”
I couldn’t accept her proposition. Getting closer to Jin would risk altering the future. Even our kiss last time had crossed the line. I couldn’t go any further.
“So, I have to continue this awkward act?”
“It would be best to tone it down a bit.”
Wary of getting closer to Jin, I left the room without waiting for her reply. That’s why I didn’t see her body tremble.
Jin muttered to herself,
“In the East, they say it’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.”
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I noticed Jin’s presence when I ran into Fiore at the entrance to the Swordsmanship Guild.
“You! You brought a whore to this sacred training ground?!”
Fiore, who was supposed to be at home reflecting on her behavior, rushed towards me as soon as I entered the guild grounds. Jin, who hadn’t expected to be followed, avoided my gaze and pretended to be looking at something else.
This was a mess.
Jin’s presence was the most pressing issue. If a named character who played a significant role in the story continued to act on her own accord, the future I knew would be altered, causing unforeseen problems.
“Jin, I won’t tolerate such recklessness.”
“Our contract doesn’t specify who’s in charge, does it?”
“So, you’re going to continue acting on your own?”
“Does the process matter, as long as the result is the same?”
I silently stared at Jin. I had chosen her because I had no other options, but it seemed like a hasty decision. Unable to withstand my silent gaze, Jin mumbled defensively,
“I-I’m not good at acting…”
By now, the people at the brothel would have noticed our absence. Telling her to go back would ruin the act. However, I needed to warn her to prevent this situation from happening again.
“You should be mindful of your position. You’re a fugitive.”
After confirming that Jin’s expression had hardened, I turned around. Fiore was glaring at me, her arms crossed.
“Weren’t you banned for a month?”
“Hmph! It’s been cancelled.”
“Sir Andrei’s love for his daughter is truly remarkable.”
“Wh-What?”
While she was flustered, I walked past her and entered the guild. Fiore, snapping out of her daze, followed me.
“Hey! Where do you think you’re going?!”
“Where’s Sir Andrei?”
“A scoundrel like you might have all the time in the world, but my father, a vassal of Quaran, has to make time even when he doesn’t have any.”
“I paid for my lessons.”
“Basic training is my responsibility!”
Fiore added that she was the second strongest in the guild, after her father, and smirked.
My excitement for gaining experience points subsided. It was difficult to complain since we hadn’t signed a formal contract yet. Besides, I didn’t have the money to buy the fishing rights yet.
“Are you skilled enough to replace Sir Andrei?”
“What? What’s with that condescending look? You think I’m weak just because I’m a woman?”
“I don’t doubt your skills. You were the most dedicated trainee when we briefly trained together, so your skills must be excellent. However, teaching ability isn’t necessarily proportional to skill.”
“R-Really…?”
Fiore’s expression changed subtly. She avoided my gaze and fidgeted with her fingers, as if embarrassed.
But only for a moment.
“W-Well, flattery won’t get you anywhere!”
Fiore stormed back into the building, as if she had forgotten about kicking me out. Jin, who had quietly followed me inside, muttered,
“You’re quite good at handling children.”
“I didn’t intend to.”
Jin didn’t seem convinced.
“She’s quite beautiful, even without any makeup. She might even be prettier than Lucy with some effort. She’s tall, so she would be a good match for you. And with all that sword training, her figure must be beautiful as well.”
“Are you jealous?”
“A mere whore like me wouldn’t dare.”
Despite her words, her voice sounded cold. When Fiore emerged from the building, Jin quickly retreated and leaned against the wall, watching us like a sulking child. I chuckled.
Come to think of it, receiving instruction from Fiore wouldn’t be a bad idea. If she was truly the second strongest in the guild, she would give me a good amount of experience points.
Even half of what Sir Andrei gave me would be a success. Besides, I preferred sparring with a beautiful woman over a middle-aged man.
“If you hang around with that whore one more time, I’ll really kick you out!”
Fiore emerged, holding a blunt practice sword. It seemed Jin wasn’t the only one who was jealous.
I shrugged.
“When do we start?”
“Right now! Prepare to die!”
“Beginners start with basic training in plain clothes, but you’re way behind! You’ll have to work twice as hard to catch up. Well, if you don’t want to, just say so. I won’t force you.”
Despite her words, Fiore glanced at Allen nervously. She had been furious when her father ordered her to train Allen, but she soon realized that this was an opportunity. An opportunity to legally torment Allen.
That’s why she had stayed up all night preparing. Of course, it wasn’t solely for tormenting him. If her father found out, she would not only be banned from the guild but also forced to marry.
Fiore was long past the marriageable age.
Anyway, all her preparations would be for naught if Allen suddenly changed his mind and backed out. That’s why she had subtly provoked him.
‘Hmph! I’ll make you crawl on your knees and beg me to stop!’
Fortunately, despite her warning, Allen hadn’t run away. He even smirked and picked up a sword.
“I didn’t know you cared so much about me.”
Fiore suppressed a smirk. He seemed to be underestimating her, thinking of their childhood training sessions. He would change his tune after experiencing her training firsthand.
“Don’t get cocky! We’ll start with running!”
“How many laps?”
“Until I tell you to stop!”
After a thorough warm-up, Allen started running around the training ground, which was half the size of a football field. As expected, he kept fidgeting with his armor as if it were uncomfortable, and he was already drenched in sweat after just one lap. His pace was slowing down.
“Huff, huff, enjoying your carefree days, are we? How hard do you think you’ll have to work to make up for all that wasted time? Twice as hard? Three times? One thing’s for sure, it’ll be hell. Do you think you can handle it? If you think it’s too hard, give up now. And never show your face here again.”
Fiore ran alongside Allen on the inner track, taunting him. Allen didn’t respond, simply glancing at her before focusing on his running.
Fiore frowned.
“So, this is easy for you? Fine! Pick up the pace!”
Even though Allen was clearly struggling, Fiore pushed him harder.
“Haa… haa…”
His sweat-soaked shirt clung to his skin, and his armor felt like a thousand pounds. His pace slowed to a crawl, but Allen persevered.
Fiore, watching his almost desperate struggle, bit her lip hard. She had never imagined such a sight. The scoundrel wasn’t giving up, he was showing determination?
‘Did he really change? Now?’
The metallic taste of blood from the wound on her lip snapped her out of her thoughts. Even if he had changed, it was too late. His body, weakened by years of debauchery, wouldn’t recover easily. Even if it did, it would take a long time.
“Stop!”
Allen’s body had long since reached its limit. Fiore wouldn’t tolerate any injuries during her training sessions, even if it was the scoundrel she despised.
“Haa… haa… haa…”
Allen gasped for breath, the boundary between inhalation and exhalation blurring, as if his lungs and the air had become one. His body must have been aching all over after such strenuous activity.
“Hmph, serves you right. And you call yourself a knight.”
“Haa… when do we start sword training?”
“Sword training? You can barely hold a sword!”
Even as he gasped for breath, Allen drew his sword. The tip of his blade trembled. Fiore’s face crumpled. The more determination Allen showed, the more irritated she became.
“You’re so annoying.”
“I don’t care about your feelings. All I want is for you to do your job.”
“I said you’re annoying!”
Fiore’s irritation exploded when Allen perfectly imitated the basic stance and sword movements she had demonstrated. It had only been once. He had replicated it perfectly after seeing it just once.
It wasn’t a coincidence. He repeated the same movements with the next technique. Was he remembering what he had learned in the past? Or was it pure talent? Fiore couldn’t accept either possibility.
‘You were always like this.’
Allen had casually displayed the talent she craved from the moment he first held a sword. And he had squandered it without realizing its value.
Fiore had always hated that about him.
‘Father must be expecting something from his talent as well.’
Fiore was certain that her father had taken Allen back because he remembered his talent.
‘I won’t accept it.’
She had worked so hard to get where she was. She had to train twice as hard as anyone else to compensate for her lack of talent and the disadvantage of being born a woman. And now, this scoundrel, who had squandered his talent with his debauchery, was trying to act as if nothing had happened and reclaim his position above her?
Fiore couldn’t accept it.
Not when she had suffered so much.
The image of Allen obsessing over sparring with her father flashed through her mind. A smirk spread across Fiore’s face.
“You want to spar, right? Then spar with me. But it won’t be free. There’s a condition.”
“A condition?”
Despite his ragged breathing, his reaction was quick. Fiore’s irritation subsided, as if things were going according to plan. She was certain that Allen wouldn’t be able to refuse this offer.
“Yes, a condition. If you lose, you leave.”
Allen answered immediately, as if it wasn’t even worth considering.
“No.”
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Why a no, no Allen?? You can bet for a one night stand tho 😆
