Chapter 116 – Palace Maid (9)
Boom! Crash!
All the random objects the bandit hurled using his magic lost their power the moment they touched “my world,” falling to the floor with a loud clatter.
“A traitor has infiltrated!”
“Protect Her Highness!”
“Block his escape!”
The thief, discovered the instant he arrived, had no time to prepare. Unable to give up on Deok-chun, he stubbornly circled around her.
He was resolved to die here if he couldn’t take the woman he loved.
‘Oh, man…’
Just like the countless handsome men in the romance fantasy novel <I Became the Youngest Daughter of a Count Family>, the rules of this world had turned another perfectly sane man into an idiot.
“Run away! You idiot!”
Deok-chun was making perfect sense.
“No way!”
But an idiot is still an idiot.
“…”
“…”
The generals escorting the Crown Princess frowned at her words defending the traitor who had infiltrated the palace, but perhaps because of the Crown Prince’s orders, they said nothing.
‘This guy is seriously annoying!’
Having realized firsthand that he was no match for my invisible swordsmanship, the bandit switched to a passive stance.
Teleportation used solely for evasion, not attack!
There was no way to catch him.
(You frustrating junior. Calm down. Teleportation isn’t unlimited either. There are conditions and rules the drama’s director and writer didn’t explicitly set.)
What are they?
(That’s for you to figure out. I have to go shower and head out for the marathon soon. If you don’t want to ruin my marathon either, stop going wild and find a reasonable compromise.)
“…”
Compromise?
The decision was made.
“Who the hell are you?!”
“Me? A human who holds a grudge against you.”
“What…”
Though it wasn’t shown in <Palace Lady Deok-chun>, every time the thief met her in secret, countless guards and officials were punished for failing to stop him.
Demotion, salary cuts, dishonor…
All palace ladies belong to the king. If the officials who failed to stop the intruder aren’t punished, the king’s authority would suffer.
‘A pest like this deserves to die!’
If I pushed just a little harder, his stamina would drop and I could catch him.
(Here I go.)
Click.
But time ran out.
‘Ah… damn it.’
I stopped pursuing and could only watch as the thief escaped the palace.
(…This is bad.)
Why?
(It seems the body’s performance drops when I take control.)
“…”
That’s really the worst possible news.
(Overwhelming first place looks impossible. The problem is the other events. The short-distance track and swimming events—where even with you competing we’d barely scrape gold—are probably out.)
“…It’s okay.”
Right now, as a national Olympic athlete, having even one gold medal is more important than anything else.
Like Coach Jang Seo-yeon, Song Sun-young’s mother—if you fail to win a medal, you’re treated as a loser who can never recover. But if you have even one, you’re hailed as a hero.
(At 14 km, 6th place. Don’t push it—run slowly since we can’t trust the stamina.)
Yes.
I turned and returned to where Deok-chun was.
‘I’m dying to know!’
The patient’s life was pushed to the back burner. I felt like I wanted to watch the Olympic marathon on TV!
My heart was pounding.
(At 21 km, 4th place. Unlike you, I can really feel the stamina draining.)
“…Gulp.”
For me—who once leisurely completed a 100 km marathon like a stroll—this made my heart sink. The marathon was the event I was most confident in.
If we couldn’t get gold here, the other events were obviously doomed.
“Um… what happened to that traitor?”
“Unfortunately, he got away.”
“…You’ve worked hard.”
To make up for her slip of the tongue defending the thief in danger, Deok-chun quietly accepted the escort.
The Crown Princess committing adultery?
Even a rumor alone would be a grave crime severe enough to strip her of her position as the official wife.
(It’s going smoothly. At 37 km, 1st place. As long as you don’t do anything stupid, we’ll take the gold medal without issue.)
“Phew…”
I let out a sigh of relief at the senior’s confident commentary.
Bang!
The Crown Prince, returning late to the wrecked newlywed quarters, shouted.
“Are you safe?!”
“Though I regrettably let the traitor escape, Her Highness the Crown Princess is unharmed.”
“Oh! You have rendered great service! It was wise to entrust this to the martial arts of the great nation!”
“…”
The historical accuracy is impeccable.
(At 64 km, still 1st place. The 2nd and 3rd place runners who tried too hard to catch me just collapsed and dropped out a moment ago. It naturally reminds me of what you did back then.)
“Your Highness…”
“Deok-chun, do not worry. That traitor who knows no surrender will surely pay the price.”
“…Yes, Your Highness.”
On the Crown Prince’s orders, he embraced the heroine tightly, and the wrecked newlywed quarters were quickly tidied up.
“Neigh~!”
In my eyes, I could see the quiver and bow hanging from the saddle of the white horse the Crown Prince had ridden here.
‘What a shame.’
If I could stay longer in this world, I might have learned the overpowered archery and horsemanship of the mounted archers featured in <Palace Lady Deok-chun>.
Especially to catch the bandit who escapes quickly with teleportation, I needed a long-range weapon like a bow or gun.
(At 84 km, still 1st place. No one behind me! Perfect!)
…A good idea just came to me.
“Warrior Kang Moon-soo of the great nation. If there is anything you desire, speak freely.”
“If it is not too presumptuous, I would like to meet the master who taught Your Highness archery and horsemanship.”
“Hm. Surely your purpose is not merely to meet him?”
“That is correct. To capture the traitor, I need swift feet and a bow.”
“I see… For such a reason, I will grant special permission.”
“Thank you.”
“I shall look forward to it.”
The Crown Prince lifted Deok-chun by the waist and hips with both arms and leisurely walked away.
“…Good grief.”
Is producing an heir far more important than the sword demon that infiltrated the palace?
The male leads, injected with blind love by the rules of this world, all turned regrettable the moment they got involved with the heroine.
(100 km finish line crossed. Gold medal secured. They’re making a huge fuss about shattering the world record by 24 minutes and 13 seconds. Now you can go wild all you want. It’s already over, though.)
Senior.
(…You were thinking something random again.)
“Haha!”
Please!
(You frustrating guy—you wouldn’t be grateful enough even if you bowed to me 100 times. Wait for me. I’ll dump your body in the hotel first, then come help.)
***
The Blood God who stained the Central Plains with blood was a grand master of mystical arts capable of seeing far into the future!
To him, who could even steal glimpses of the future, the human mind would have been nothing.
(It’s called Mind-Reading Art. It was a technique I often used because I don’t trust people.)
‘Mind-Reading Art…’
I had used it once on the most beautiful woman in Sichuan with the Blood Demon’s help, but this technique was truly overpowered.
(Hmph! You and the Blood Demon only reached a trivial preview level that can’t even read deep inner thoughts or knowledge. Don’t dare call that the Mind-Reading Art.)
‘So prickly…’
Mind-Reading Art (觀心法).
I planned to actively utilize the senior’s sinister technique.
It was a clever trick I thought of when the senior asked me to smack the thief’s head to analyze the immortal arts he learned from the hermit on Mount Baekdu.
Tap.
“Wh-what are you doing?!”
“My apologies. A fly landed on the general’s head, and my hand moved without thinking.”
“How can a guest of His Highness the Crown Prince be so rude…”
“I’m sorry.”
(I didn’t master this technique to read the mind of some dark-skinned brute. This is no longer a request. You must strike the bandit’s head with your hand. If you don’t, I’ll tell Song Sun-young about Valentine.)
That’s too much?!
The senior’s terrifying threat sent a chill down my spine.
(I’ve securely obtained the knowledge and experience of the kingdom’s greatest mounted archer who taught the Crown Prince archery and horsemanship. I’ll pass it on to you when there’s time in the next dream.)
Thank you!
(Just go find the thief.)
“…General, it was truly an honor that you made time for me.”
“What? His Highness the Crown Prince ordered me to teach you archery, and you’re just leaving?”
The general—who had been suddenly smacked on the forehead—frowned at the spot under his helmet, revealing his displeasure.
“I’ve already learned it.”
“Hm?”
“Would you like to test it once?”
“…Very well. You there—bring a spare bow.”
An impromptu shooting test prepared at the general’s initiative after falling for my provocation.
I received the bow from a soldier and immediately sought out the senior.
Senior! Help me!
(What a shameless bastard! Even the way you’re gripping the bow is wrong. Spread your thumb and index finger… No, wait! Don’t clutch the bow stave so tightly. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, and hook the string on the inner side of your fingers’ first joints.)
“…String?”
(The bowstring, you idiot! You ignorant fool! Hold the bow toward the target and draw the string. Keep both shoulders level, the bow vertical, and split the force evenly—half pushing with the left arm on the stave, half pulling with the right arm on the string. Draw until the space between your right thumb and index finger touches under your chin. Now close your left eye.)
“Hm…”
While getting scolded by the senior, I made minute posture adjustments.
(From now on, adjust the angle little by little according to my instructions. Raise your left hand slightly… No, too high. Ha! The wind changed again already. Nothing we can do. You’ll have to hold your breath and wait until I give the signal to shoot.)
“…”
Normally, you’re supposed to account for the wind when shooting, but my skill wasn’t there yet, so I had no choice. I waited for a favorable gust that felt right—
(Now!)
The moment the senior gave the signal, I released the string.
Thwing— Thunk!
The arrowhead of the shot—fired while being berated—embedded itself dead center in the target.
“…I can scarcely believe it. Your form was extremely sloppy.”
The kingdom’s greatest mounted archer, who had taught the Crown Prince, was utterly astonished.
“Haha! I got lucky.”
“I see. It was luck. Shoot one more.”
(If you make me do it again, I’ll die.)
“…My apologies. I have urgent business and must leave now.”
“Hm. It’s hard to trust, but since you hit the mark, I have no choice but to believe it.”
“Thank you for your understanding.”
After parting with the general, I left the shooting range and headed outside the palace.
My destination?
“Madam~!”
“Auntie~!”
It was a tavern frequented by commoners.
The thatched-roof house that appeared often in the original <Palace Lady Deok-chun>.
It perfectly recreated the scene of men drinking instead of working from broad daylight, throwing flirtations at the tavern’s widowed owner and her pretty daughter.
(Nice thinking.)
“Let’s see… Ah, here she comes.”
The tavern owner’s daughter, whose eyes met mine as I sat in an empty spot in the courtyard, approached with bold strides.
For reference, even though she had a minor role in <Palace Lady Deok-chun>, a famous actress played her, so her beauty was considerable.
(You hopeless lust demon.)
…I’m just stating a fact.
“First time seeing you, big brother. What would you like to order?”
“There’s something on your pretty face.”
“Huh?”
Tap.
Without giving the girl time to react, I touched her forehead with my hand and interfered with “my world.”
(I read it clearly.)
“I need a hearty bowl of gukbap because I’m off to catch a famous traitor.”
Clink!
I placed a suitable amount of money on the table and ordered.
At my words,
“If you mean the famous traitor… you’d be better off giving up. Most people who left to catch him never came back.”
The tavern girl warned me seriously.
“Thanks for worrying about me.”
“I’m telling you clearly—if you regret it later, don’t blame me.”
“Got it.”
(She’s got a one-sided crush on the traitor… Just like her mother, no luck with men.)
“You’re right.”
A warm bowl of gukbap, generously doubled so I could eat my fill before I died.
Tap!
I licked the bowl clean and stood up.
(Head to the mountain visible in the east. The bandit’s hideout is hidden midway up the slope with a formation. I’ll help you dismantle it.)
“Thank you.”
Time to go crack that bandit’s skull!
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