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Chapter 20
A Crazy Thing to Do
“Alright! Now, we’ll announce the final successful applicants! If your name is called, please come forward and stand on the right. Those who didn’t make it—unfortunately, we hope you’ll continue honing your skills and try again next year.”
The next morning, under a clear sky once again, a sergeant unfolded a list in the plaza to announce the final ten who passed the Red Moon Knights’ selection.
All the candidates were on edge, tense with anticipation. Only Jimena, whose right arm was heavily bandaged and tied with a cloth around her neck, looked utterly dejected and drained of energy.
“Hermes, please don’t be too discouraged. You did your best. Honestly, kicking the Marquis in the face is a serious offense—you should be thankful you didn’t end up in prison.”
“Yeah… I know… But hearing that from your mouth while you’re so cheerful is kind of annoying. You sound like you’ve already passed.”
“Hehe. Well, I do have high hopes. You didn’t see it yesterday, but I was one of the three who defeated a senior knight. Hehe.”
“Oh, so while I was hanging between life and death, you were guzzling booze without a word?”
“Uh… I-I didn’t mean to, but… everyone was congratulating me like I already passed, so I got a little carried away…”
Thwack! Thwack!
“You call yourself a knight who values honor and loyalty?! Huh?! You scumbag! You traitor!”
Jimena, frustrated, lashed out at Royce to vent.
“Ow, ow! Hey, why are you punching people when your arm’s not even healed yet?!”
“I made sure to keep my left hand in good condition just so I could smack you, okay?!”
“Ahem! Yellow chicks over there—quiet down!”
“Yes, sir…”
“First successful applicant: Salvatore Something, Second: Giorgio Something, Third: Niccolò Something…”
“Wow! I made it!”
“Yes! I did it!”
“Mother!!”
Those whose names were called shouted with joy and ran forward. The rest of the candidates, though disappointed, showed chivalry and applauded sincerely for the winners.
“…Ninth, Manuel Something. Tenth, Rolex Something! That’s the ten of you! Congratulations!”
“Wooohooo! Haha! Did you hear that, Hermes? Rolex! That’s me! That’s my name! Like the luxury brand! Hahaha!”
Royce jumped up and down with excitement, despite his large frame, and ran forward.
“Tch… Is he that happy? Sure, my plan fell apart, but… it’s been his lifelong dream. I guess it really is good news for him. Congrats, you yellow fungus…”
Jimena turned and trudged back to the barracks, leaving behind Royce hugging the others in joy.
‘Guess I’ll go pack…’
“Oh! And this year, as an exception, we’ve selected one more candidate—not officially, but as a trainee. Though they beat the Marquis through improper means, we recognized the will and determination they showed by holding onto their sword despite the injury. So we’ve decided to give a special opportunity. Hermes Something!”
“Wow! Hermes! Hermes! Wait, where did he go?”
“Hermes Something! Hermes Something! Where are you?”
‘Sigh… What other options do I have now? Being a knight is out… Maybe I can disguise myself as a maid? Add a couple of fake moles? But I’m terrible at housework… What about a cook? Oh right, my cooking is garbage… A stablehand? Nah, stablehands don’t stay near Kylian—they’re in the stables.’
Thud!
“Ow! Sorry!”
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Jimena, walking with a pout lost in thought, bumped into someone and quickly lowered her head—only to hear a familiar voice.
“Oh? Marquis.”
“What were you thinking about that you didn’t even hear your name being called several times?”
“Pardon? You were calling me? Sorry, I didn’t hear…”
“Not me—the list announcer over there in the plaza.”
“Oh, I know. But I didn’t pass… so I was heading to the barracks to pack.”
Jimena tried to walk past him again, lips sticking out like a child’s.
“I’m the one who passed you—so who said you didn’t make it?”
“You passed me, so you… dropped me… wait, what? Special selection? Me?”
“Yes. Look behind you.”
“Hermes! Hermes! Hey, what are you doing?! Come on already!”
“Uh… wha… huh…?”
“…Broken again. Figures.”
“But, I… I kicked the Marquis…”
Royce ran over, unable to wait any longer.
“Hermes! We’ve been looking everywhere for you! Didn’t you hear them calling your name like crazy?”
“I mean, I did, but… why…”
“Explain, Rolex.”
Kylian left the two behind and strode toward the successful candidates to give a congratulatory speech.
“So what’s going on, Rolex?”
“Sure, kicking the Marquis was against the rules, but they admired your determination to keep fighting despite the injury. So if you complete a month of basic training properly, they’ll let you take another personal exam—and if you pass, you’ll be officially recognized like the others!”
“One month?”
‘Wait… one month from now… that lines up perfectly with the start of the Demon Beast Subjugation Tournament! Wow! This is actually amazing!’
Jimena suddenly felt emotional watching Kylian’s retreating back.
‘Kylian…’
“Isn’t it great? Right, Hermes? From now on, the two of us—”
“Marquis!!”
Jimena dashed forward like a bullet and hugged Kylian tightly from behind.
“Ugh! Wh-What are you doing…?!”
“Thank you, Marquis! Thank you so much! I promise I’ll never kick you again! From now on, I’ll protect you with all my strength! Just for one month—I’ll really give it my aaaaall… urgh!”
“O-One month?”
“Ugh…”
As Jimena hugged Kylian, she suddenly slipped and tumbled dramatically to the ground, screaming in pain.
“W-What is it? Hermes?!”
“M-My wrist… you hugged me too hard… it hurts…”
“Hermes! Are you okay?! Hermes!!”
At that moment, Kylian had a strong hunch:
‘I’ve probably… just done something insane.’
[Thermos Marquis Surveillance Journal – Day 3]
The Marquis of Thermos is a morning person. (tap tap tap…)
He wakes up early every day and jogs around the castle walls with Deputy Commander Whale for about two hours, then has breakfast. (tap tap tap…)
He holds strategy meetings with his staff in the morning, (tap tap tap…)
Oversees training for the newly selected knights around midday, (tap tap tap…)
And spends most afternoons in his office or occasionally inspecting areas outside the castle. (tap tap tap…)
Luckily, the Marquis doesn’t know I’m secretly observing him.
He also hasn’t realized that I’m actually Jimena.
Good thing he’s a bit slow. (tadadak tap tap…)
So far, nothing unusual around him.
But I can’t let my guard down.
Today, I’ll try to shadow him during his inspection. (tap tap tap…)
I don’t have a laptop, so I made typing sounds with my mouth for fun.
(tadadak tap tap!)
“Done!”
Jimena reviewed her handwritten report in the barracks with satisfaction and tucked it into her clothes.
‘Hmm… My wrist is almost healed now. But I’ll keep pretending it hurts. That way I can skip training and freely tail Kylian. Still haven’t found anyone who might be Ines among the castle staff. I’ll need a way to check the residents living in the castle. What should I do… Oh? It’s Kylian!’
“Marquis!”
She ran out of the barracks and greeted Kylian, who was exiting the lord’s palace with Whale.
“Hello! Have you had lunch yet?”
“Hermes, hand.”
“Yes, sir.”
Snap!
Jimena held out her right hand like a well-trained puppy.
Ever since she hurt her wrist, Kylian always checked it first whenever he saw her.
“How is it? Looks like the swelling’s gone down.”
“Well… a bit, but it still hurts a looooot. I’m still eating with my left hand.”
“Then training is still out of the question.”
“Of course, of course. It’s too early.”
Kylian looked at Jimena faking pain and had a different thought:
‘What is she scheming? She runs to me like a puppy, but the moment I turn around, she’s sneaking around, spying on me from behind pillars, taking notes despite her ‘injury’…’
Even if she had been a detective skilled in tailing and surveillance, Kylian’s instincts and knowledge of the castle layout made it nearly impossible to evade his attention.
‘Could she be a spy sent by the emperor through the Duke? No, that’s nonsense. No one would send their only daughter disguised so clumsily. I’d better keep watching her.’
“Where are you headed today, Marquis?”
“Why? Curious?”
“Of course. I might surpass the Deputy Commander and become your personal guard one day. I should know your movements, right?”
“What? Haha, cheeky kid!”
Whale chuckled and gave her a playful smack on the head.
