DBOFS 73

Chapter 73

It was outrageous—Layerga’s master had insulted her right in front of her daughter…

“Ah, really? I was just so surprised, that’s all.”

I didn’t apologize. I didn’t feel particularly sorry, even if it was rude.

No, they were worse!

‘Come to think of it, it was strange.’

It didn’t make sense from the moment Dimuard, the second prince of Layerga, was alone in the hallway. I should have been suspicious from the start!

‘…Though it’s already too late.’

Well, everyone seemed a little crazy, but seeing how suddenly it all popped out, they were probably watching. They likely saved us before we really got hurt, I guess.

‘But why me?!’

Why did I have to get involved in that insane survival training?! I have nothing to do with Layerga!

‘Honestly, it was terrifying!’

Sure, compared to the man-eating plant monster, it was trivial and we defeated it quickly (apparently Layerga had some balance system in place), but there was no reason for this kind of crisis to happen to me!

‘And I even ended up exposing my full strength for no reason…’

Before I could even protest, Princess Irene interrupted me: “Hmm, a pistol, huh. Did you get His Highness’s permission?” effectively sealing my mouth.

Lenore, noticing my gaze, blushed and spoke.

“I was going to act after you left, but the doll got out of control…”

“Then you should have stopped!”

“Indeed. I intended to, but… you suddenly appeared and fought so well.”

“Huh?”

Why was my combat skill suddenly relevant here?

But unlike me, sword-enthusiast Lenore smiled with satisfaction and said:

“I missed the timing to intervene, and you handled it well alone, so I just waited until it was over. You really handled it quickly.”

“….”

I closed my eyes in disbelief. No, you don’t wait for timing in that situation—you just jump in!

“You’re amazing. My eyes were not deceiving me. Baron Lian, you have the makings of a knight.”

But Lenore, excited to meet a fellow enthusiast, failed to read my reaction and continued passionately:

“Considering the chivalry of protecting the weak regardless of circumstances, Baron Lian is practically already a knight!”

No! That’s impossible! Damn knight!

I had a lot to say, but I stayed silent.

Because of Princess Irene’s words I had heard before turning away from Dimuard.

‘They say a lion throws its cub off a cliff and only raises the one that climbs back up.’

That’s not true!

In the wild, survival is already difficult. As top predators, lions face many threats and carefully nurture their cubs to prevent them from being killed by other animals.

‘Do your research before speaking!’

That’s even more ridiculous than the myth about a forty-year-old eagle breaking its beak to become stronger!

I almost said it aloud, but even that didn’t come out.

“Sigh…”

I let out a sigh. It wasn’t just because it’s generally unacceptable for an outsider to interfere in someone else’s family education…

‘Princess Irene didn’t look pleased.’

Her expression scolding Dimuard was strict, befitting a family head, but there was also anxiety and unease.

‘Does she really believe that she must prepare her son, even through madness?’

And honestly, I couldn’t say it was entirely wrong. Perhaps the original Princess Irene also trained Dimuard in this extreme way.

Yet in the end, Princess Irene was killed, and Dimuard, who wanted to protect her even at the cost of his own life, also died.

‘Perhaps it’s guilt for his mother’s death and the constant attacks that follow.’

Facing death, Princess Irene was doing her best to survive in her own way.

‘Although it’s a bit insane…’

Anyway, Dimuard must have agreed. Knowing his personality, if someone forced him to do something against his will, would he comply? He would throw a fit.

Following this insane plan, he must have thought it necessary.

‘Still, it feels like child abuse…’

Anyway, in Sicheongui, a dystopia, basic human rights aren’t protected. Harris, my older brother Adrian… everyone’s the same.

“Yes, thank you for your kind words.”

I answered casually, fiddling with Adrian (the stone). Everyone here really seemed like unfortunate and pitiful children.

“You’re welcome.”

Lenore thanked me again, and after a few words, we parted ways.

“…I see. You’ve been very helpful in many ways. Truly grateful. Layerga will not forget this favor.”

He handed me the “Layerga-exclusive wish token,” promising to grant any favor in the family’s name.

I watched him leave, amazed inwardly.

‘Lenore is really good-natured.’

I could have offended him with my advice, but he received it sincerely, without prejudice.

Aside from the grand name “Layerga” and the threat of death, they seemed like a fairly ordinary family.

A younger brother who attracts concentrated attention for various reasons.

An eldest daughter who bears more responsibility as the family becomes relatively negligent toward her.

‘Plus, a mother who went completely overboard.’

It was a situation ripe for family collapse, yet Lenore, a self-centered but strong-willed person, seemed to maintain a somewhat harmonious household.

‘Besides being easygoing and not holding grudges, he has solid mental resilience.’

It was impressive… almost too good. I worried slightly whether the next family head should be that capable.

In such a harsh world, what if he got taken advantage of…

‘Why worry?’

Before leaving for the dungeon, Harris had said irritably:

‘No need to worry unnecessarily. Even if the young Layerga is truly that kind, the family won’t collapse.’

‘The Ring of Prosperity, was it thanks to that?’

The heroes who saved the world were rewarded with a holy gift for their righteous deeds.

Sioni Layerga, the first head of the Layerga family, and a hero of the Ramsus Empire…

‘Was an orphan. Specifically, the sole survivor of a destroyed family, living in abject poverty to survive.’

After receiving the Stone of Prosperity, Sioni embedded it into the family seal ring, which thereafter became known as the “Ring of Prosperity.”

Perhaps because of this, the Layerga family never fell into ruin in the history of the Ramsus Empire.

‘You look skeptical. Yet you believe the Sunstone.’

‘…!’

It turns out the Sunstone, like the Stone of Prosperity, was another relic received at that time.

The founding emperor of Ramsus faced many enemies.

He could fight assassins and enemies, but feared unpredictable curses and magic.

‘Seeking liberation from that fear, they called it the “Stone of Liberation”…’

That was another name for the Sunstone. It was such a strikingly intense name that it wasn’t mentioned in Sicheongui.

‘Or maybe I just forgot?’

I mainly reviewed the characters I cared about, so I didn’t pay much attention to the encyclopedia before. Regretful.

‘Let’s see… the heroes were about five or six.’

Ramsus (the founding emperor), Godwin (Duke), Layerga (Marquis), and the saint…

‘Ah, the noble house founded by the holy knight who protected the saint!’

The House of Isag.

Like the “Northern Duke” trope in romance fantasy, this family survived harsh northern lands, but was more famous for other reasons.

Firstly, the Isag family wasn’t a bloodline succession.

Holy Knight Isag never married and raised orphans in the desolate north, passing the family to the most deserving disciple.

‘More like a martial arts sect than a Western noble family.’

Secondly…

“…?!”

I suddenly tensed, eyes wide, breath caught.

My bedroom, otherwise familiar and quiet, felt strangely alien.

Click—

Opening the door, I saw a maid tidying the room.

“Ah, Jade-sama.”

A familiar voice and face: Maid Mei.

“You’re back.”

She organized the scattered books and smiled at me.

“Not too tired, I hope? I’ve prepared a small snack.”

Dust and light floated in the air, while the outside wind seeped through the open window.

Amid it, a hidden, immense magical power lingered.

I looked at the snack Mei offered: bite-sized desserts and fresh fruit, arranged perfectly.

As usual.

“….”

I took the snack and sat on the nearby sofa, where books I had left were scattered.

“…May I ask something?”

“Hm?”

Mei tilted her head in curiosity.

“Jade-sama, if you need anything, I can always—”

“When you see books like this, does it bother you?”

I held up a book to show the title:

“The Corrupt Knight Every Night”

The blatantly adult title left Mei speechless.

“….”

Strangely, a few days ago, Mei had stayed up all night reading The Corrupt Knight, eyes bloodshot, shouting, “Give me the final volume!”

But now, the person before me—exactly the same-looking person—looked at me directly rather than at the book.

“…Oh.”

I knew who it was.

‘Camillo.’

Head of the Information Guild, exiled from the holy knight house of Isag.

He had become the model for the novel The Corrupt Knight, and now that familiar face wore an unfamiliar smile.

“Caught me.”