A knight appeared in the Kargonar Realm.
The knight’s helmet, uniform, and cloak made for an awkward fashion statement.
However, the presence of the person wearing them overcame that awkwardness.
– “Who is that person?”
– “I don’t know. I’ve never seen someone dressed like that before?”
Among the gazes of the people, the knight – Duke Erwick – seemed pleased.
“Hmm.”
‘I do look quite stylish, don’t I?’
He had a superficial nature that didn’t match his appearance.
Duke adjusted his outfit and checked the time.
“It’s a bit too early to meet up with Rex.”
He recalled that in the original story, the scene took place around sunset when he entered during the day.
‘The author must have wanted to create an atmosphere with the sunset.’
Now that he was in reality, there seemed to be a good reason for it.
“It’s really difficult to find people at the slave caravan.”
As a wandering knight, Duke Erwick realized how difficult it was to find missing children when he was tasked with searching for one.
Based on his experience, many people he found had either gone insane and didn’t respond to their names or their appearances had drastically changed.
What was worse, the slave traders lacked professionalism and often claimed they didn’t know who he was asking about.
Moreover, since Rex didn’t know the name or appearance of A and only had the shoes as a clue, it wasn’t unreasonable to enter in the morning and leave in the evening.
“Regardless, I have plenty of time.”
Checking the current time, Duke realized he needed to account for about three hours before attempting to find A.
‘Where should I pass the time?’
It was then that he heard it.
His stomach growled.
“Oh, I skipped lunch.”
So absorbed in preparing his gear, Duke had completely forgotten about eating.
He momentarily thought of grabbing a quick sandwich but dismissed the idea.
“I can’t eat like this; it would be too embarrassing.”
Sitting at the fountain eating a sandwich while in full knightly regalia would draw too much attention.
He even considered a restaurant but was immediately concerned about the menu.
“Ah, I haven’t planned what dishes to order and how to present myself…”
How could he have not thought about this during the past two hundred years?
His original plan was to settle into a mansion, hire a personal chef, dismiss all other servants, and dine alone in his room to enhance his air of mystery.
Now, in this transitional period before settling down, he had neglected to plan his meals.
“Ugh…how could I make such a mistake!”
The charismatic final bosses in stories would have thought about even this detail, Duke thought.
At that moment, a woman’s voice called out from behind him.
“Excuse me, are you Sir Erwick?”
Unconsciously, Duke’s hand went to his helmet.
“Wait, I’m definitely wearing a different helmet.”
The wandering knight Duke Erwick was known for his worn armor and the red plume resembling a rooster’s comb.
In comparison, the knight Duke Erwick, associated with Rex, had a much cleaner and more dignified appearance.
“How did she know?”
He also clearly remembered the blacksmith’s explanation that his helmet had a mild feature to conceal his identity.
“Could the blacksmith have tricked me?”
At the thought of this, Duke felt a sense of anger toward the blacksmith who might be waging a fierce defensive battle in some other context.
But now, it was pointless to dwell on such thoughts.
Resigning himself, he turned to face the woman who had addressed him.
The first thing he noticed were the head decorations and hats of the knights who appeared to be her bodyguards.
This was because Duke, being quite tall for a human, could see over their heads.
Lowering his gaze slightly, he saw the top of the woman’s head who had called out to him.
Among her black hair, a blue hair clip stood out.
Looking further down, her porcelain-like white skin was visible between her strands of hair.
Simply confirming this made Duke’s heart start pounding.
“Could it be…”
Lowering his gaze further, their eyes met.
The beautiful black eyes, reminiscent of obsidian, came into view.
“Ah…”
For the first time, Duke’s role-playing began to waver.
While he suppressed the joy rising from his lower dan, the woman looked at Duke’s front and then…
“I apologize. Your mana is similar to someone I know…”
“Duke is correct.”
“Huh?”
“I do not know you, but I am indeed Duke Erwick. Who might you be?”
The woman bowed politely to Duke without losing her dignity.
“Please excuse me for addressing you so abruptly. My name is…”
‘Yohana.’
Duke forcibly held back the word that instinctively wanted to burst out.
Fortunately, he did not interrupt her speech.
“…Yohana. I am also the lord of a neighboring realm that borders this one. I am currently staying in this realm for some business, but I meet you by chance.”
Duke bit his lower lip with excitement from behind his helmet.
“Oh, heavens. Though I usually distrust you, today I am truly grateful.”
Duke was so moved that he even thanked the heavens he normally disregarded.
This was because Hana was his favorite character.
“Yohana.”
She was the first person in this world to show Rex that his dreams were achievable without killing.
In a world where lords would kill their subjects, their friends, and even their families to ascend and were chased by karma, she showed Rex that one could ascend without resorting to such methods.
In short, she was Rex’s senior, mentor, and spiritual support.
“Because of you, Rex was able to remain human.”
Because her example existed, Rex was able to reject ascending through evil deeds until the very end of the novel.
Thus, her presence remained throughout the story, and Duke liked her the most in the novel.
However, she was not Rex’s heroine.
Duke struggled to maintain his role-playing in front of his favorite character, which was on the brink of breaking.
“Doesn’t ‘Hana’ mean the highest in the Eastern Confederation?”
Duke barely nodded in his紧张 state, but thanks to the helmet, it appeared somewhat arrogant.
Hana’s guards subtly revealed their slight displeasure upon Duke’s action.
Conversely, Hana seemed to like it.
As if Duke had shown respect for her homeland culture.
Her guards did not notice the change in her aura, but Duke, meeting her for the first time, accurately sensed it.
‘She seems to be in a good mood.’
For some reason, Duke also felt happier seeing his favorite character’s happiness.
However, Duke could not be happy for long.
Because he knew her fate.
“Hana does not end up with anyone.”
Certainly, she had taught Rex about justice and chivalry.
She had shown him that one could become stronger through persistent training and effort, not just through evil deeds.
She had proven it by governing her subjects with law and justice among the lords who exploited and sacrificed humans.
She had also demonstrated the concept of welfare, which was unknown in this world, showing how people could all live well.
However, strangely, there was no romantic flag between her and Rex.
And the reason was revealed early in the novel.
Because she ultimately took her own life for the sake of her subjects.
<From Duke's Point of View>
Yohana died early in the novel due to her own karma.
In this world, where karma and divine punishment are central themes, she had committed an act that was absolutely forbidden, even in a world where exploitation and murder were considered necessary evils for ascension.
The ultimate taboo:
Cannibalism / Human sacrifice
She broke this worst of all taboos.
Of course, she had her reasons.
Early in the novel, her realm was invaded, plagued by a wave of monsters, and urgently needed power.
In the end, she and her knights made a solemn vow, and she consumed them, turning them into her shadows.
The power she gained from eating her knights was overwhelming.
“Cannibalism is definitely effective for ascending.”
It wasn’t for nothing that ogres and goblins, the orcs of this world, grew so quickly.
Cannibalism was far more effective for ascending than mere murder.
But the amount of karma accumulated was incomparable.
Even in this world, where people tried to outpace the karma by quickly ascended before being overwhelmed, cannibalism was not recommended.
Because the karma penalty was so great that it didn’t justify the return.
“Humanity rules the earth rather than monsters for a good reason.”
Which is why it was forbidden.
“But Hana did it knowing it was forbidden.”
To protect the realm she loved.
And in the end, all she received was a curse.
Her subjects feared that her actions would bring greater famine to the land, and the religious zealots condemned her.
Eventually, fearing that karma would destroy her realm, she took her own life.
Or perhaps, she couldn’t bear the guilt towards her subordinates, the betrayal towards her people, and the sense of futility.
“Protect this beautiful land of Sneeria for me.”
She left that message with Rex before ending her life.
After which, Rex started in this realm but centered his operations around the Sneeria Realm she had bequeathed to him.
In the end, the Sneeria region became the capital of the empire, but her story was close to a tragic ending.
“I’m sorry for making this unilateral request.”
The sad smile she wore when she slashed her own neck came to mind.
And that sad smile overlapped with the gentle smile she wore now.
Shaking his head to return to reality.
She was still alive.
And I have sufficient knowledge and power to change that tragic future.
She is diligent but ultimately doesn’t escape the knowledge and common sense of the medieval world.
She has leadership and diligence, but her political acumen and power are lacking, leading to a tragedy.
Fortunately, there’s no need to repeat that tragedy in this worldline.
Therefore, there’s no need to be melancholic from the start.
I continued the conversation with Hana in front of me.
“I apologize, but I don’t remember you.”
I have no idea why she recognized me.
So I asked her.
To prevent unnecessary misunderstandings from piling up.
Fortunately, she was not disconcerted by my question.
“When Duke and I were at the same battlefield, I was just one of the many resistance leaders.”
‘That’s what I thought…’
Cold sweat poured down beneath my helmet like a waterfall.
Before I could respond, she whispered.
“I’ve been looking forward to this day, Lord Ophir.”
My goodness.
*
We decided to change our location.
She guided me to a restaurant, and I naturally followed her into a private room.
“Duke and I will be talking alone, so you all wait outside.”
The contrast between her intimate voice when speaking to me and her charismatic tone when addressing the guards was striking.
‘The older sister is awesome.’
Of course, she’s the Hana queen I know.
While I was silently clapping for her in my head, her guards opposed.
“Lord Sneeria!!”
Upon hearing that, I realized something.
Right, Hana herself is Lady Sneeria.
She has a unique naming system from her eastern origin.
Her official name registered in records but rarely used in public – given name.
The main name used in social life after adulthood – courtesy name (zi).
The last name she chose herself, akin to a nickname – style name (hao).
When in society, she uses her courtesy name, and closer acquaintances use her style name.
And the given name…
“Can only be used by family or really close people.”
It’s common not to reveal the given name at all.
“If you know it but aren’t close, using the given name can be interpreted as a challenge to a duel.”
‘But why did she…?’
Used her given name when introducing herself to me???
While I was wondering, she was debating with her knights.
Their arguments varied, but in summary, they were saying:
– It’s dangerous to be alone with such a crazy, monstrous kid.
I felt a mix of good and bad feelings.
It made me feel good that her subordinates could perceive my strength so accurately.
But it made me feel bad that all my efforts to conceal it were in vain.
‘Am I not talented in acting as I thought?’
Having my past as Ophir and my strength exposed like this.
Despite what I thought was 200 years of successful identity hiding…
I started feeling a bit down.
My RP was forgotten, and I even started influencing the atmosphere around me.
For some reason, her knights trembled at my appearance.
Someone interpreted it as a threat and reached for their weapon.
At that moment, Hana stopped them.
“Even if he wanted to harm me, you would be meaningless against him.”
“…”
“He’s not the type to do that anyway.”
Hey, Your Majesty. Don’t say that; it hurts your subordinates’ feelings.
Regardless, it made me feel good.
That she trusted me like that.
While I was quietly being a bit arrogant, the knights seemed convinced and left.
Eventually, only she and I remained in the restaurant room.
After dismissing the knights, she closed the door.
Using her signature shadow magic, she soundproofed the room perfectly and began to speak.
“Um…actually, that is…”
“???”
The moment the knights left, her aura changed.
The diligent and perfect queen I knew was gone, and instead, a shy girl stood there.
She started fidgeting with her fingers.
‘Crazy…’
She’s adorable.
Against my will, my hand wanted to reach out and stroke her head.
Despite being quite tall for a woman, she was just the right height to reach my chest, making her appear even cuter to me.
‘Am I losing my mind? Why am I trying to break my RP?’
While I was losing focus due to her appearance, she finally managed to get to the point.
“Could we…shake hands once?”
Hearing that line, I was certain.
‘Oh heavens.’
Living for 200 years to become the extremely evil and charismatic final boss was worth repeating if it was for this moment.
