Chapter 1285

<Episode 1285> 1285. Reincarnation Exchange at the Viscount’s Manor: The Plum Swordswoman

The daily routine of Kail, the headmaster of the small Volcano Sect, was monotonous.

At 5 AM, Kail wakes up before sunrise. After tidying his bedding, he goes outside and sits cross-legged under a tree to practice meditation.

By 7 AM, after breakfast, he trains the newly initiated disciples until dinner. It was a routine so repetitive it bordered on absurd.

Yet Kail found contentment in this life. Or rather, he had to be content. Founding the Volcano Sect had been his dream. Though he hadn’t become Viscount Prucus himself, with his younger brother’s help, the sect came into existence. His dream had been realized.

Surely this should mean a satisfying life. But deep down, Kail felt an emptiness that wouldn’t fade no matter how many days passed.

Whenever this void surfaced, Kail would halt his training and opt for a walk instead. Practicing with a scattered mind could lead to calamity—something he’d already experienced once. He couldn’t afford to let his guard down against such spiritual chaos.

Kail’s walking route usually took him around the Volcano Sect and the outskirts of the city. There, refugees had settled. Mostly women, children, and elders. Young men were scarce; those occasionally seen were often missing limbs, much like Kail’s own absent left arm.

‘As time passes, their lives only grow more wretched. This war needs to end soon…’

Though he wished to aid the refugees with food, all Kail owned now was the Volcano Sect itself. Asking his brother Eugene, who was Viscount Prucus, for help felt awkward. Guilt gnawed at Kail for even considering it.

Meeting Silla was purely accidental.

Rushing down the road, Silla tripped over a rock and fell. Instinctively, Kail grabbed her hand and helped her up.

“T-thank you.”

Her face flushed with embarrassment as she thanked him. Kail stared directly at her face and froze momentarily, startled by a sudden wave of déjà vu.

‘Elder Nanyoung…’

She resembled Elder Nanyoung of the Volcano Sect, someone he would never see again—not just in appearance but in aura too.

“Do you have some urgent business?”

“I’m delivering potato soup to Grandma Elga. She really dislikes being kept waiting.”

“Still, you need to be careful. Are you hurt anywhere?”

“I’m fine. I’ve been falling since I was little, so I’m used to it. There’s a knack to not hurting yourself when you fall, you know?… And the potato soup is safe! Thank you for helping me!”

After checking the container of potato soup, Silla prepared to rush off again. Without realizing it, Kail stepped in front of her path.

“My name is Kail of the Volcano Sect.”

“K-Kail… Huh?! Kail Prucus?! H-how could I dare not recognize a noble like you…!”

Before she could kneel to the ground, Kail quickly stopped her.

“Please don’t do that. I am merely…”


It’s not that I revealed my name to make the Spirit kneel. I just wanted you to know mine, that’s all. What’s your name?”

“Uh… My name is Shili Jefnik.”

Kail scratched his head. He wasn’t used to situations like this. But one thing was clear: he didn’t want to end things with Shili here and now.

Shili’s bucket caught his eye.

“That potato soup smells so savory. Did you make it yourself?”

“Yes, I did… but…”

Shili’s eyes wavered uneasily. She silently prayed Kail wouldn’t ask for some of her potato soup.

“Would you mind helping out in the kitchen of the Volcano Sect if you have time? With so many people around, we’re a bit short-handed in the kitchen. I’ll make sure you’re well compensated—how about 2 million ner per month?”

Shili’s face lit up momentarily. 2 million ner. That was definitely no small sum for commoners. If she had a steady income of 2 million ner every month… her life would improve drastically.

But then she remembered what her mother Martina always said, and her expression hardened instantly.

“It’s a kind offer, but I need to work the fields during the day. I can’t leave my mom to do everything alone.”

Kail sensed her guardedness toward him. Normally, he would’ve backed off at this point.

“What if you came in the afternoon and just helped out in the evening? Would that work?”

Fieldwork usually ended in the morning. The field wasn’t large, and there were plenty of people willing to work. If she could work during the less busy afternoon hours… Shili hesitated before making her decision.

“I’ll take the job. So starting tomorrow afternoon, I’ll help out in the Volcano Sect kitchen, right?”

“Yep. I’ll be waiting.”

“Um… Can I go now?”

“Of course.”

Kail stepped aside. Shili dashed off somewhere as enthusiastically as she had earlier. Watching her retreating figure sway, Kail felt the emptiness inside him fade away.

More than ten days passed.

Kail headed toward the entrance of the Volcano Sect. In the distance, he saw Shili running toward him. Was it from working the fields? For some reason, she had surprising stamina and always seemed to be in a rush—whether coming to work or leaving afterward.

“Haha, Lord Kail. Looks like she’s growing on you.”

One of the knights training under him approached and teased him. Kail smirked and shook his head.

“It’s not like that. I’m just keeping an eye on her so you guys don’t bother her.”

“She’s beautiful, so she’s quite popular among us. The other day, a new recruit confessed to her.”

“What?”

“Haha, relax, Lord Kail. That new guy got turned down immediately. Apparently, she doesn’t even give anyone a chance—it’s like she already has someone special in her heart.”

“Someone she likes…?”

“Who else? Surely it’s you, Lord Kail! You’ve got a good personality, a good family, and great skills. Even if I were a woman, I’d fall for you!”

“…Stop talking nonsense and get back to practice.”

“Understood. By the way, Lord Kail, I heard the 3rd Brigade, which went to the northern front, will return in a week. They’re planning a welcome-back festival to coincide with their arrival.”

“I’ve heard about that too.”

“You should enjoy the festival with her. Opportunities like this don’t come often. I met my wife during a festival too.”

The knight chuckled and headed back to the training grounds.

‘A festival…’

Kail briefly thought of Yuria. He quickly shook his head. She was soon to become his younger brother’s wife.

“Kail!”

Shili called out to him. Over the past few weeks, Kail and Shili had grown quite close. When they were alone, they didn’t worry about their social statuses and happily chatted away.

“You’re here?”

“Yeah. Sorry, am I late?”

“A little. What happened?”

“Well… I lost track of time playing with Elsi.”

“Elsi is Shili’s younger sister.”


“Hey, if you’re having trouble taking care of your sister, you can come with me too.”

“Gean won’t come. Elsie just loves playing at home. I’ll head to the kitchen now.”

“Sillie.”

Kail hastily called out to her as she headed towards the kitchen.

“Hmm?”

“We’re hosting a festival coinciding with the return of the 3rd Brigade next week. Wouldn’t you like to go together?”

“Festival… will I even have time then….”

Kail was taken aback. Her unexpectedly lackluster response contrasted sharply with her usual cheerfulness. After some thought, Kail said,

“You mentioned wanting to see the Prucus Viscount’s mansion last time, right? I’ll show you around during the festival.”

Sillie waved her hands frantically in surprise.

“Ah, no! I was just curious about what it’d look like up close!”

“It’s fine. Though formally inviting you might be difficult… guiding you through is possible. I am also part of the Prucus family.”

“Hah, but…”

“There’s no problem. We’ll just enter and leave the mansion. That’s all.”

“…Are you sure it’s okay?”

“I guarantee it.”

Kail confidently declared.

After pondering, Sillie accepted his offer.

She was extremely curious about the viscount’s mansion where Prucus lived daily.

“Thank you, Kail.”

“No big deal.”

“I need to prepare dinner, so I’ll head to the kitchen now.”

Having arrived at the Zebrik household this morning, I played joyfully with Elsie. Perhaps because we played too much, Elsie fell asleep as soon as she sat on the chair. I took her to her room so she could nap comfortably.

“Sillie went to work at the Volcano Sect… and the only potential disturbance, Elsie, just fell asleep.”

Elsie would wake up in the evening.

I headed toward Martina’s bedroom.

Knock knock knock.

“Martina, may I come in?”

“Yes, of course, my lord.”

The door opened.

Martina was sitting on the bed. She wore comfortable clothing, her long brown hair tied loosely, revealing her thin white neck. Upon meeting my gaze, she smiled gently.

“How’s your left leg doing?”

I asked while sitting on the chair beside the bed.

“It doesn’t hurt anymore. I feel like I could walk right now.”

“No, you can’t. Follow the doctor’s advice and rest more.”

“I understand.”

Martina replied calmly.

I looked seriously out the window beside the bed. The scene beyond the window was quiet. Being in the outskirts of the city, there were hardly any passersby.

“Um… My Lord?”

Martina’s expression stiffened due to the unusual atmosphere.

“Is something troubling you, my lord? While I may not have the ability to solve your worries, I can certainly listen. I’m discreet.”

“Hmm… Martina, it’s not that. This is an issue concerning the Jefnik family.”

“Me?”

I pretended to deliberate for a while before speaking.

“Since it concerns the Jefnik family… I must tell you. Martina, brace yourself. Alphonse Jefnik has perished.”

“Wha, wha… are you joking?”

“…I only learned this morning. The battle was so fierce that they couldn’t even recover the body.”

“Aaah… Alphonse…”

Martina swayed. I stood up and held her shoulders. Tears streamed down her eyes.

“Sniff… Waaah…”

“I regret having to deliver such news to you, Martina. And… I’m sorry to you. There was nothing I could do.”

“Sniff… It’s not my lord’s fault… my lord did nothing wrong. Alphonse… Sniff… Waaah…”

As a mother of two daughters who always tried to stay strong, Martina broke down and leaned on me. Her tears soaked my shirt. Without saying a word, I patted her back to comfort her.