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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Simzy
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Kerry barely managed to arrive in the capital on schedule. He’d thought he had ample time before his departure, but that wasn’t the case. From a night of heavy drinking with the Sage to losing consciousness for over a day after consuming the Doll Ginseng, not to mention the multiple times he delayed the carriage’s departure to have sex with the succubus or rural beach babes… Listing it all out like this, it seemed impossible he’d arrived on time.
Next time, I’ll limit my sexual escapades to fit the schedule. Lesson learned.
In any case, it looked like he’d make it. The Saint’s social gathering was at lunchtime, so he still had about two hours to prepare.
He had already arranged to meet Lina and her party at the inn furthest from the capital’s main entrance. He’d initially considered meeting near the entrance, but those places were usually crowded, and they might not find a spot.
After asking passersby for directions, he finally reached the designated inn. A kindly-looking, plump woman, clearly the innkeeper, was diligently wiping down a table with a cloth.
“Excuse me… I’m a traveler. I’d like to ask if my companions are staying at this inn.”
“Companions? What are their names?”
“Lina Knightly.”
The plump woman suddenly clapped her hands. Why?
“Oh dear, you should’ve come a little earlier. Those pretty young ladies waited all morning for you, saying a young man would arrive.”
“Waited? Then where are they now…?”
“They’re gone. They said they had some urgent business and left.”
This was troubling. While he doubted he had anything truly important to do there, he felt uneasy leaving matters regarding the Saint solely to Lina. The Saint was Lina’s nemesis from her past life, the one who gaslighted her.
Just then, the innkeeper handed him an envelope.
“They asked me to give you this if you showed up.”
“What is it?”
“I don’t know. It’s not mine. They just said you’d understand once you saw it.”
Kerry nodded and opened the envelope. Inside were a few pieces of paper. He decided to read the note first.
The note summarized that they had to leave early due to time constraints. It said he could relax and that Lina would handle everything. But he couldn’t help but worry. It was the Saint they were dealing with.
“This is a map and an invitation… and this is… a voucher for a clothing store Lina recommended.”
He finished reading Lina’s note. It stressed the importance of adhering to etiquette and punctuality for the social gathering. Otherwise, he’d be turned away at the door.
“No choice then. I can still make it in time.” Unlike women, men just needed to style their hair and change clothes.
Kerry headed to the recommended clothing store.
Kerry awkwardly stared at his reflection. The mirror showed him in an unfamiliar black tuxedo, his hair styled. This is so awkward. I don’t think it suits me.
But the shop owner had been overly enthusiastic, insisting it looked fantastic, so he decided to trust her judgment, especially since Lina had recommended the place.
He hurried the coachman and arrived just in time.
“We’ve arrived, sir.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
Kerry stepped out of the carriage. A wrought-iron gate stood before him, beyond which lay a magnificent mansion. So this is the Saint’s mansion.
The grounds were easily several times larger than a high school athletic field. A beautiful garden and fountain in front of the mansion added to the luxurious atmosphere. It felt like another world lay beyond the gate.
A man approached.
“Are you here for the Saint’s social gathering? May I see your invitation, please?”
“…”
Kerry presented the invitation Lina had given him. The man nodded, and people inside began to open the massive gate. The garden was so vast; it might have been easier to enter by carriage.
He could see people gathered in front of the grand mansion. Musicians played in a corner, and people chatted in small groups. They were all handsome men and beautiful women. Considering the Saint’s infamous personality, it was only natural she’d select such guests.
Where are Lina and the others?
Perhaps due to the sheer number of people, he couldn’t spot them. This was his first time at such an event, and he felt out of place. The boisterous laughter and chatter mixed with the classical music. I hate these kinds of gatherings. If it weren’t for Lina, I’d turn around and leave right now.
Trying to appear natural, Kerry casually surveyed his surroundings.
“Would you care for a drink?”
A maid offered a tray of wine glasses. Observing the other guests, Kerry took a glass.
“Thank you.”
“Oh… yes. You’re welcome.”
The maid seemed flustered by his simple expression of gratitude.
Looking closer, Kerry noticed a dark bruise on her arm. He knew who was responsible. Speaking of which, where is the Saint? Damn it. I have no idea what’s going on. Don’t act like a country bumpkin. Just blend in.
Kerry took a sip of wine, pretending to be at ease. This is good. One sip tells me it’s high-quality wine. Our Saint must be loaded. Works for me.
Just then, someone spoke to him. He turned around to see a group of women who looked like noblewomen. They were all beautiful, their makeup meticulously applied.
“We haven’t seen you before. Are you new here?” one asked.
“Uh… yes. It’s my first time,” Kerry replied.
“My, you’re very tall. You seem to be the tallest man here.”
“Indeed. And you’re so well-built… very handsome.”
“What’s that scar on your neck?”
The scar on his neck was probably from a goblin’s claw.
“It’s a wound I received while hunting monsters,” Kerry answered.
The women squealed. Some women were fascinated by monster hunting and adventuring. They chattered excitedly around Kerry, asking what kind of monsters he fought and why. When they asked if he had other scars, he rolled up his sleeve to show off his “badges of honor,” causing even more commotion. They’re just naive noble maidens.
As time passed, more and more women flocked to Kerry. It was probably rare to find a man at a high-class social gathering with so many scars. The other men were dressed up and looked decent, but they couldn’t compare to his glorious battle wounds.
“You’re so cool. You said your name is Kerry, right? You have… a certain wildness! A raw masculinity that’s different from the usual noblemen.”
“What’s your relationship with the Saint? She’s unbelievable. If she knew someone as wonderful as you, she should’ve invited you sooner.”
“Um… if you don’t mind, can I touch your bicep?”
It was a veritable explosion of popularity. While he’d been popular in this world, he’d never experienced this level of concentrated attention. Is it thanks to the makeover? I feel so awkward.
Even he could see he looked quite different from the surrounding noblemen. Look at their expressions. The men around him glared at him with obvious displeasure. If you’re jealous, get your own scars.
Victoria had often mentioned that Kerry was better than most nobles, and it seemed she wasn’t exaggerating.
Then, a woman casually asked, “Excuse me, but what is your family name, Kerry? Which house do you belong to? With your looks, I can’t believe I haven’t heard of you…”
“…”
Kerry didn’t have a family name. Commoners couldn’t create surnames in this unreasonable world. What should I do? Making up a name feels wrong.
Noticing his hesitation, the men who had been glaring at him seized the opportunity.
“Now that you mention it, I’m curious too. It seems like this is your first time in social circles. Which family are you from?”
“To boast about such unsightly scars… you must be from the lineage of a great war hero, right?”
“Indeed. It must be so.”
How annoying. He couldn’t lie and risk tarnishing the Hero’s name. Rumors spread quickly in these settings, and often got distorted.
“I…” Fine. I’ll just embarrass myself. So what if I’m a commoner?
Just then, the people around Kerry suddenly bowed their heads respectfully. Men and women alike. It was surprising to see the haughty nobles acting so submissively.
He soon understood why.
“It seems lively. What’s going on?”
The owner of the captivating, melodious voice was the Saint. She was still dressed provocatively in a form-fitting outfit. Why is she the Saint?
“Greetings, Saint. Do you remember me…?” Kerry began, but was interrupted.
“Of course, I remember you. Kerry… or should I say, Mr. Kerry? It’s a pleasure to see you. I was so disappointed when you didn’t arrive with your companions. I thought you weren’t coming.”
The men who had been jealous of Kerry’s attention paled at the Saint’s familiarity. The position of Saint held significant weight. Even the Emperor and the Pope couldn’t treat her carelessly. She was, simply put, the spokesperson for the Goddess Elena.
Even shit has its uses. Is that what they say about the Saint? At least for now, he was saved from an awkward situation thanks to her. He briefly considered being more lenient towards her in the future.
The Saint suddenly smiled slyly. “But what were you talking about? You’re not hiding anything just because I arrived, are you? It seemed like a rather interesting conversation… May I join in?”
This woman… It was obvious. She was trying to provoke him. Her slightly twisted smile confirmed it. Her arrival had drawn the attention of everyone, even those who hadn’t been paying attention before. Typical of a Saint chosen by that Goddess.
Whatever. Let them laugh. So what if I’m a commoner? To the modern man Kerry, it was they who seemed foolish, with their aristocratic arrogance.
“Yes, I…” he started.
“Oh, it seems Mr. Kerry is finding it difficult to speak, so I’ll speak for him. Mr. Kerry is of ‘common’ birth, so he doesn’t have a family name. Isn’t that right, Mr. Kerry?”
A murmur rippled through the crowd. A commoner at an elite gathering of nobles? The women who had been fawning over Kerry began to distance themselves. The jealous men curled their lips into smirks, just like the Saint. Birds of a feather…
“Yes, Saint. You are correct. I am a commoner.”
Damn it. The Saint had no idea what she had just done. She couldn’t possibly imagine the hell she was about to experience in the near future.
“Surely you’re not ashamed of being a commoner, are you, Mr. Kerry?”
“…”
“Or would you like to leave now? Honestly, a commoner is a bit out of place here. I sent you an invitation out of courtesy, since you’re part of the Hero’s party… but I didn’t think you’d actually show up so brazenly. Pfft. Were you curious about a noble social gathering?”
I should put a Star of Bondage on her neck right now. No, calm down. I can’t ruin everything with a moment of impulsiveness.
Just then, another murmur arose from the distance. What now? I can’t be any more embarrassed than I already am.
Kerry looked towards the commotion and froze.
Flowing golden hair down to her shoulders. Cherry-red lips and a perfectly shaped nose. A figure that was both curvaceous and elegant. Possessing a dignified aura befitting a Hero, the woman was none other than Lina.
This was the first time he’d seen Lina dressed up. She usually went without makeup, or at best, wore casual clothes. But seeing her properly adorned took his breath away. I’ve been traveling with such a beautiful woman?
But… but… something was wrong. Despite her beautiful makeup, her face was contorted with rage. He’d never seen her this angry. What’s going on?
Lina pushed through the crowd and stopped in front of the Saint. Then, her hand shot out, striking the Saint’s cheek with a resounding slap that echoed through the garden.
Slap!
“Apologize… apologize to Kerry right now!”
Lina was indeed a splendid regressor worthy of his loyalty.
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