Chapter 119 – Palace Maid (12)
“What exactly are you?”
“……”
The last Sword Demon, which had lost both legs after being struck down by the arm of its fallen comrade, didn’t answer.
Kiiik—
With the one arm it could still move, it only tried to take my life!
“Next time, try learning some swordsmanship first.”
Cling— slash.
I lightly knocked away the sharp arms it swung and severed its neck.
“……”
Even after losing its head, the Sword Demon flailed for several seconds before its movements gradually slowed and finally stopped.
(Learn swordsmanship? You’re one to talk—stop relying on brute force and learn more yourself.)
“Hmph.”
(Better than a pianist, sure, but don’t go around bragging that you’re good with a sword. It’s embarrassing just listening to you.)
“……”
Listening to the senior’s scolding, I left the bandits’ hideout.
How did the Olympics go?
(Rejoice. Gold medals in taekwondo—men’s 20s and all-ages.)
Great work!
The taekwondo gold medal that couldn’t be won in Nam Hae-soo’s dream was taken in reality. Even if I hadn’t competed personally!
Weight classes?
The system of dividing competitors by body weight had completely disappeared after P’s Aptitude Tester was introduced. After all, one’s natural physique was also part of aptitude.
Instead—
(I thought athletes in their 30s and 40s would at least make up for their lack of stamina with better technique, but they weren’t much different.)
“Well…”
If the all-ages taekwondo gold medalist says so, I suppose that’s how it is.
Most sports that used to be subdivided by weight classes in the past were now divided by age.
20s, 30s, 40s, all-ages.
I’d learned that this balanced things out with events like track and swimming, which had many gold medals, and also had the advantage of steadily releasing the fighting spirit unique to combat athletes.
(Heh heh! If the guys I defeated have even a shred of talent, they’ll realize their limits and quit being athletes!)
Uh—hello?
I was a little worried about what he’d been doing with my body.
(It’s already over. From now on, you can run wild as you like. There won’t be any competitions for a while, so I’ll be holed up in the hotel.)
That’s a relief.
(Be grateful for the P-Medal.)
“P-Medal…”
The most glorious moment of the Olympics isn’t the gold medal ceremony.
The P-Medal.
A single medal awarded to the athlete who wins the most Olympic gold medals across both the Summer and Winter Games!
It honors P’s achievement, which completely changed Olympic history, and carries the symbolism of being the most outstanding athlete over the past two years—a supreme honor in every sense.
Why am I grateful for it?
(I’ll tell you the remaining Olympic schedule. After soccer, basketball, and baseball, it’s track and field. Then boxing, water polo, and swimming.)
“Lucky timing.”
If multiple events were held simultaneously like in the old days, unfair situations would arise where one had to choose between gold medals. That’s why, even though the total duration of the Olympics became extremely long, events were held one by one.
This rule was also the reason I could participate in multiple events without strain, even if I wasn’t aiming for the P-Medal.
However—
(When I control your body, its efficiency seems to drop by about half.)
“By half…”
I couldn’t smile once I understood what the senior meant.
(In track and swimming, if you don’t compete personally, you won’t just miss bronze—you’ll be dead last. The 10 km swimming marathon might still be possible for gold, though. Even with stamina halved, it’s still usable.)
“Dead last is… a bit much.”
I even thought it might be better not to compete at all than to embarrass myself.
(That’s why your attending physician made a suggestion.)
What suggestion?
(The patient’s life is almost over. The hospital is forcibly keeping them alive at great expense.)
“……”
I didn’t really want to hear this.
(Still, listen. If the life-support equipment is turned off, the patient will die within thirty minutes. They’ve been in a coma for a long time, have no money at home, and legally there’s no problem.)
Because there’s no money.
That had been the excuse I’d used most often since being left alone.
(For you, it’s good news. Once the patient dies, you’ll be able to exit the dream without suffering aftereffects like losing abilities or brain cells, and you can participate in track and field.)
“Hm…”
I swallowed the groan that nearly escaped my lips. The senior’s words were cold—but they were the most realistic option.
(So, what will you do?)
“……”
(I’m not testing you. I’m asking sincerely.)
You can just read my thoughts, can’t you?
(Don’t misunderstand. My spellcraft can infer thoughts based on memories I’ve glimpsed, but it can’t make definitive judgments. If I could do that, we wouldn’t need to have such a roundabout conversation.)
“…I’ve decided.”
I can’t let it end like this without even trying to persuade the patient.
(Hm. Good.)
“All I need to do is meet Deok-chun.”
I’d already thought of the most reliable way to find the patient.
(You’re planning to read Deok-chun’s thoughts. Aren’t you relying on me a bit too much?)
“Ahem.”
I’ll reflect on that later.
(There isn’t much time, so I’ll help you.)
Thank you!
“By the way…”
Even the capital’s royal palace—along with the walls and gates surrounding it—had been partially destroyed.
“Hurry up!”
“Heave-ho!”
Countless civilians, young and old alike, had been mobilized for repairs, carrying stones and clearing rubble.
“Please! Mom—!”
“Father… sob…”
Heartbroken cries and wails from those who had lost their families echoed everywhere.
“Hm…”
I’d experienced war to the point of exhaustion in the romance fantasy novel I Became the Youngest Daughter of a Count’s Family, so this level of devastation didn’t affect me much.
However—
Sword Demons were here too…
Cuts so smooth they were utterly impossible with the stoneworking techniques of this era.
The Sword Demons hadn’t attacked only me. Judging by the damage, their numbers were enough to overwhelm even the strongest palace cavalry in the historical drama Palace Maid Deok-chun, excluding the bandits.
(Hurry.)
“…Yes.”
The city streets were a mess as well. When I’d headed toward the bandits’ hideout earlier, they’d been lively—now they were filled with bodies yet to be cleared and with ruins.
And the royal palace?
“Hah… even that was breached.”
I’d thought only the outer wall surrounding the city had collapsed. But even the inner wall—the palace’s final line of defense—had partially fallen.
For now, let’s get inside.
“Excuse me. Where is His Highness the Crown Prince?”
The guard who received my question replied in a grave tone.
“You are one of His Highness’s guests, I see. Go to the Great Hall. He was attacked by monsters and is currently in critical condition.”
“…That’s serious.”
Deok-chun, now the Crown Princess, would be at his side. Whether I’d be able to meet her was uncertain—but if I was stopped, I could simply find another way.
(Soccer’s finished.)
“Ghk!”
Already?!
(Why are you so surprised? The qualifiers were finished before the Olympics, and it started from the round of sixteen. One match a day—win four matches, and you’re champion.)
“……”
That explained it. In this short span of time, four full days had passed in reality.
Which meant the patient’s condition had worsened even further.
The loss is too great.
It wasn’t something I’d known beforehand, but from now on, I would never enter the dream of a patient in poor health. Too much real-world time was being lost.
“My lord…!”
Deok-sun, holding an armful of towels soaked with the blood and pus of injured soldiers, greeted me warmly.
“You look tired.”
“Ah! I must look awful. We’re terribly short on hands right now… Thank you for your concern!”
“Hm.”
If one has no ambition for power, it’s best not to get close to palace maids. A needless misunderstanding could invite the king’s suspicion. The same applied to Deok-sun.
Or maybe not?
Given how extraordinarily lenient the romance historical drama Palace Maid Deok-chun was toward palace maids, it might be fine.
“Um, my lord.”
“…What is it?”
I was slightly irritated that Deok-sun stopped me again when I was short on time.
“Is there someone you love? Or perhaps you’re already married…”
“There is.”
“Ah…”
“If I may offer unsolicited advice—don’t forget your duties.”
“My duties… I am a palace maid, after all. Thank you for the advice.”
“Hm.”
I quickened my pace.
(Every time I see her, it amazes me. What part of you—who doesn’t excel at a single thing—did that palace maid even like?)
“Hmph.”
That’s a bit harsh. If you look closely, there’s at least one decent point.
For example, Valentine once said she liked how I kept trying despite having no talent for swordsmanship.
(Speak properly. What woman would dislike the second-in-command of an empire that unified two continents? Count Amolang, a founding contributor?)
“Ghn…”
I had nothing to say.
(Unless it’s someone like Song Sun-young, who became obsessed due to an extremely special incident, it’s hard for anyone to like you.)
“Ugh…”
The senior’s merciless verbal abuse nearly left me dizzy.
(Think of it as training. spellcasters fight battles of the mind.)
…The witch?
(Yes. Don’t let your guard down just because you haven’t seen her lately. The longer a skilled spellcaster prepares, the more dangerous they become.)
Understood.
It felt like he was just justifying his bullying of me, but there was no way to prove otherwise.
“I wish to see His Highness.”
“You are… a wandering outsider staying in the palace as His Highness’s guest.”
An elderly man, likely a high-ranking official, frowned deeply, wrinkles bunching on his forehead.
(The royal physician.)
Ah!
So the royal physician (御醫) was treating the Crown Prince, who had been injured by a Sword Demon.
“How is His Highness?”
“He has only just fallen asleep and is resting. The shock of losing part of his royal body is severe, so he needs rest. I cannot permit even a distant audience.”
“May I ask what he lost?”
“That would be difficult.”
“I was hired to protect His Highness. I have the right to know.”
“Hm…”
After hesitating and glancing around, the royal physician answered in a low voice.
“Both legs.”
“I see.”
Both legs!
Perhaps inevitable, given an enemy that could sever anything with ease—but losing both legs, not even an arm, was devastating for his future life.
“Right now, the wound to his heart is far greater than the wound to his body.”
“I will come back later.”
I accepted the physician’s words without protest. The person I truly sought wasn’t the Crown Prince, but Deok-chun.
And she was just then leaving the palace grounds.
“Your Highness.”
“…I’m not in the mood to talk.”
Because her husband had been gravely injured, Deok-chun looked deeply depressed. The injury was far too severe to be called honorable. Even his position as heir was now in jeopardy.
“I met him.”
Stop.
Deok-chun’s steps halted instantly as she had turned her back on me.
“…What did you do to him?”
“I promised him a pardon on the condition that he give up his love. It was a unilateral decision, so I intended to seek His Highness’s approval—”
“Lies.”
Bound by the settings of the historical drama Palace Maid Deok-chun, Deok-chun still couldn’t let go of the thief even after becoming Crown Princess.
It can’t be helped.
I decided to mix in a small lie.
“He said there was something he wished to tell Your Highness.”
“Then say it at once!”
“Then please allow me a brief moment of impropriety.”
“…I allow it. Oh—?!”
Tap.
Placing my right hand on top of Deok-chun’s head, I spoke.
“Deok-chun. I’m truly sorry I couldn’t keep my promise. Be happy.”
“Ah…”
Tears streamed down from the heroine’s eyes as she was given her farewell.
Swoosh—
I carefully lifted my hand from her head.
“Your Highness. I shall take my leave.”
Senior!
(Wait.)
The one who urged Deok-chun to choose the Crown Prince.
Why did it take time?
Because in the original Palace Maid Deok-chun, there were many characters who had originally pushed her toward choosing the Crown Prince.
In other words, I had to compare things to the original work and identify the different person—
(Found them.)
“Oh!”
Who is it?
(Looks like I’ve become an idiot while controlling an idiot’s body. I should’ve realized the moment that young lady started liking you for no reason, despite having no connection to you.)
“Don’t tell me…?”
(Yes. That ‘don’t tell me’ is exactly right.)
Whoosh!
With a clear destination in mind, I sprinted forward—leaping over rooftops as I went.
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