DPAA 03

chapter 03

I let out a small laugh, as if I couldn’t believe it, and asked,

“What did I even do?”

“……”

He shut his mouth, as if he had nothing to say. Before I knew it, he had gotten up, glaring at me with dark, murderous eyes.

I just shrugged my shoulders and walked off lightly.

At the nearby carriage stand, several carriages were still lined up, waiting to depart.

‘Ah, that must be the Duke’s carriage.’

But finding the one I had to board was easy.

Not only was it the most lavish, but a huge crimson eagle—the emblem of House Escliff—was emblazoned on it.

“My lady? Why are you alone…?”

The coachman sitting on the driver’s seat trailed off mid-sentence. He must have found it odd that the young lord was nowhere to be seen, only me returning.

“Set off.”

“Pardon?”

“Claude seems busy with his friends. So I’ll just have to leave first.”

Of course, it was a blatant lie.

The coachman must have sensed something strange, because he asked again.

“But milady—”

[Intimidation (A)]

“What, are you questioning my order?”

“N-no, my lady.”

Crushed by my aura, he lowered his head and grasped the reins.

‘This Intimidation skill is insane.’

I marveled inwardly, then closed the carriage door and commanded:

“Depart.”

* * *

Inside the carriage, wide enough to fit ten people with ease, I sprawled about alone.

‘Ah, this comfort.’

And it wasn’t just physical comfort.

‘By now, that jerk must be throwing a fit. Just imagining it feels so refreshing.’

It was the mental satisfaction that came only from pulling one over on an infuriating opponent.

Of course, I wouldn’t do this to someone innocent. But Claude? His sins were many.

I had only met him briefly, and he was already like that. I could picture vividly how he must have treated Kanis on a daily basis.

‘So really, this is nothing compared to what he deserves.’

Not that he’d ever see it that way.

After all, the one who strikes never remembers, while the one struck never forgets.

“Huwaaahm.”

Stretching, I leaned back against the seat. Whatever enchantments had been laid, the cushions pressed against my back without the slightest discomfort.

‘Every time I had to go to a faraway dungeon, I was stuck on those sweaty, hellish subways…’

I recalled those dreadful days.

“Excuse me! I need to get off here! Please move!”
“Miss, can’t you see we’re stuck? None of us can move right now!”
“…Should I just push through with strength?”
“Agh! This hunter’s attacking people! I’m reporting you! REPORTING YOU!”

‘And that’s how I got slapped with a 100,000 won fine.’

If a hunter so much as used physical force on civilians, they got slapped with enhanced penalties.

Even though an F-rank like me was only about as strong as a reasonably athletic adult male.

‘If it weren’t for that, I could’ve eaten something better than instant noodles for a whole week!’

I wiped away a tear at the sad memory.

But those shabby days were behind me now.

“Alright then.”

I sat upright again.

Earlier, I had been too distracted by that little brother of this body, but now was the perfect chance.

It was time to confirm exactly what my reawakening had given me.

“Status window.”

[Kanis Escliff (S-rank)]
[Class: Mage]
[Strength: A]
[Stamina: F]
[Agility: B]
[Mana: SSS]
[Luck: S]

“Oh.”

Even aside from that absurdly high mana I had glimpsed earlier, the rest of my base stats were incredible.

‘Back when I was F-rank, my stats were pitiful.’

My highest had been Strength, and that had only been at E. That said it all.

“Check mana sub-stats.”

[Mana: SSS]
[Casting: SSS]
[Control: SSS]

My jaw dropped.

“With this… I’d easily be world rank #1 back on Earth.”

It made sense.

The higher one’s Casting, the shorter the time needed to activate magic, and eventually, one could even use chantless casting.

The higher one’s Control, the more freely and effectively the same spell could be wielded.

From what I remembered, the top-ranked mage in the world—Aaron, world rank #3 overall—only had triple-SS stats.

But me? My magic-related stats were outright broken.

“S-skills, then?”

With stats like this, surely my skill window would be overflowing—

[Archmage (EX)]

“…Huh?”

Contrary to expectations, only a single skill appeared.

But it was too soon to be disappointed.

I swallowed nervously.

‘Archmage?’

I had never even heard of such a skill.

And EX rank? Not even rank #1 hunters had skills of that caliber.

“Check skill details.”

And the description that followed—

[Archmage (EX)]
[As long as mana allows, grants access to all existing magic skills.]

“…Insane.”

The words slipped out in raw awe.

So multiple skills weren’t necessary in the first place.

With this one, I could use everything.

“Whew.”

After finishing my inspection of the reawakening status window, I clicked my tongue.

‘A little… disappointing, though.’

If I were still Chae Jiwoo, this would have catapulted me into instant stardom.

Every guild in the world would have been clawing at my door.

A few high-level dungeon runs, and I’d have earned astronomical wealth—maybe even become the legendary Gangnam building landlord that everyone dreamed of.

‘Then I could’ve just sat around binging web novels all day instead of dungeon diving… The more I think about it, the sadder it gets!’

Of course the modern world was better—smartphones, internet, everything—compared to this medieval fantasy land.

But I quickly pushed the regret aside.

‘Still better than living as an F-rank hunter.’

Besides, hadn’t I already died once?

Just being alive again was something to be grateful for.

That aside, it felt like it had already been an hour since I got on the carriage.

I opened the little window to the driver and asked:

“Hey, how much longer until we reach the Duke’s estate?”

“At least two more hours, my lady.”

“Is that so?”

Seems the academy and the estate were farther apart than I thought.

Not to mention, carriages were far slower than modern transportation.

I leaned back into my seat.

Once I reached the Duke’s household, I knew there would be nothing but exhausting troubles waiting.

‘Better get some sleep while I can.’

As I closed my eyes, peaceful darkness wrapped around me.

* * *

“My lord, the young lady and young master should be returning shortly.”

“Is it that time already?”

Duke Winter Escliff raised his head at his aide’s report.

He didn’t much care about his eldest daughter, but Claude—Claude was the son he adored.

‘Yes, Claude will amount to greatness.’

The Duke recalled the report cards that came every semester, smiling with pride. Handsome, taking after Helena, brilliant, taking after himself—Claude lacked nothing.

In contrast…

‘Tch.’

He clicked his tongue, thinking of his eldest daughter, that thorn in his side.

Not a shred of heir-like qualities could be found in her.

If he could have his way, he would have disinherited her on the spot and made Claude the heir.

But in a family as prestigious as the Escliffs, not even the head could appoint a successor at will.

Noble society had its traditions and laws. And in the Empire, nothing outweighed pure blue blood and proper legitimacy.

Helena herself descended from nobility, yes—but only a distant cadet branch, far from real power. And on top of that, the Empire had long held to a taboo against remarriage.

“Devote yourself to a single spouse for life, regardless of gender!”

That was the dogma of the Goddess’ Church.

Of course, nobles secretly kept mistresses, but that was always just a mistress, never a spouse.

So as long as there was a legitimate child from the first marriage, putting a concubine’s son on equal footing was unthinkable.

Thus, making Claude heir over Kanis was impossible—at least while she lived.

“My lord?”

The Duke, lost in thought, lifted his head. His face must have darkened, because his aide looked uneasy.

“Nothing. Just distracted for a moment.”

Setting down his pen, the Duke gave instructions:

“When Claude returns, tell him to change clothes and come to the terrace. Prepare refreshments—we’ll have a small tea time, the three of us.”

The “three” he referred to were himself, Helena, and Claude.

There was no seat there for Kanis.

“Yes, my lord.”

The aide bowed, used to this treatment.

“Oh, and tell Helena I’ll be waiting for her at the terrace.”

“At once.”

After the aide departed, the Duke tidied up the documents and adjusted his attire in the mirror—wanting to look dashing for the woman he loved.

“Oh, darling!”

“Helena.”

When he reached the terrace, she was already there. He raised an eyebrow.

“I only just sent word. Were you already waiting?”

“Oh, come now. Today’s the day our Claude comes home. Of course we should spend it warmly as a family.”

“You’re right.”

He sat down at the table and, in an apologetic tone, said:

“If only I had met you sooner…”

“It couldn’t be helped. And besides, marrying that woman was just a political arrangement, wasn’t it?”

With a soft smile, Helena clung to him.

“You told me I’m the only one you truly love. That’s all I need.”

“Of course. You’ll always be my only one.”

An electric tension passed between them. Though both were closer to middle-aged than young, they still burned as if in the first throes of love.

That “first throes” had been, of course, when they shamelessly began their affair while the Duke still had a perfectly living wife.

“Ah, Winter…”

Helena sighed his name, and the Duke’s lips drew ever nearer to hers.

And at that moment—