MPAWD 51

Chapter 51

The Kingdom of Colin was a country neighboring the Fujis Empire, but it took about half a month just to get there.

Lucy had to learn how to ride a horse first to avoid being a burden on the caravan.

Thanks to Heyris’s consideration, after work she began learning horseback riding while also helping with the guild’s tasks, and she started receiving etiquette lessons as a noble lady.

Of course, becoming the daughter of Count Raiford didn’t drastically change her life.

Above all, by officially being listed as a member of the Raiford family, she decided to keep the name Lucy instead of adopting the name Aileen.

“If I change my name, it feels like I’m denying all the life I’ve lived as Lucy, all that I’ve gone through. I don’t want that.”

Everyone in the Raiford household and the neighboring community called her Lucy.

She still preferred walking short distances instead of taking a carriage and enjoyed shopping with money she earned herself, just as before.

Having gone out to buy riding clothes, Lucy wandered alone through the village’s shops.

After starting to work at the guild, commuting alone and freely walking the streets had become precious to her.

She may not have realized it before, confined to her usual commute, but there was no major issue with being on her own—except on rare occasions like today.

“Hey, there! Pretty lady. I don’t think I’ve seen you around here before. All alone?”

A situation that felt oddly familiar.

Lucy no longer got flustered in situations like this. She certainly didn’t hope for anyone’s help.

“Excuse me, I’m busy right now. Could you move aside?”

The man blocking her path let out a snicker.

‘It’s like a cliché from a novel… even the appearance of it feels predictable.’

Of course, she no longer believed in any of those absurd stories from novels.

So this was her reality.

“Move aside. My husband is waiting. Surely, you’re not trying to harass a woman, are you?”

The man looked momentarily startled. But seeing him smile again, Lucy realized reasoning with him was useless.

‘It would at least be less unpleasant if he were even slightly handsome!’

This man had a terribly unpleasant appearance.

‘No, actually, he’s just plain ugly!’

Perhaps that’s why she found the situation so distasteful.

“I don’t care if you’re married. How about we go somewhere quiet to talk for a bit? I’m not that bad of a person.”

Lucy ignored him, trying to pass by, but the man grabbed her arm to stop her.

“Haa… I clearly expressed refusal. Don’t blame me later for overreacting.”

While the man looked confused at her words, she didn’t hesitate and kicked him in the groin.

“Gah… you, you…!”

As the man dropped to his knees, Lucy quickly distanced herself from him.

It was a relief that she didn’t have to resort to using the dagger she always wore on her ankle.

Even though she had just punished a thug, it wasn’t like she wasn’t scared.

Fearing the man might chase her, Lucy hurried away almost running.

She stopped at the village’s weapon shop.

Since she would soon be embarking on a long journey, she needed to prepare more thoroughly.

She had been reading books on self-defense while learning horseback riding, but her body was practically clumsy.

Even during riding lessons, she had more than once struggled with her head and body not coordinating properly, so managing to defeat the thug without error was already fortunate.

She had theoretically learned self-defense, but it wasn’t enough yet.

“Can I help you find something?”

“Ah, I’m just looking around for now.”

Lucy’s eyes gleamed as she scanned the shop. Well-maintained weapons of various kinds hung neatly.

The items in the weapon shop were far superior to the daggers sold in general stores.

Engrossed in the myriad of fascinating items, Lucy spent a long time browsing. She selected several small weapons, smoke bombs, tranquilizers, and self-defense sprays, and brought them to the counter.

In fact, the smoke bombs and tranquilizers weren’t on her initial list, but curiosity got the better of her.

She spent a considerable amount, but leaving the store felt like walking out with a luxury bag, and her heart raced with excitement.

‘I can’t wait to get home and examine my new equipment!’

Yet she still had other errands to run. Something she had been thinking about for a while.

Lucy went to a clothing store that sold men’s wear.

Just as she was about to enter, she bumped into someone trying to go in first.

“Oh, I’m sorry!”

Lucy quickly apologized and stepped aside, signaling him to go first.

But he silently opened the door and gestured for her to enter first.

He was a very tall man.

Lucy bowed slightly in thanks and entered the store.

Without hesitation, she selected two shirts of different designs and colors and two pairs of pants, all in the smallest size and cheapest option.

The man furrowed his brows as he saw Lucy for the third time that day.

He hadn’t just met her today.

On his first day in the village, he had seen Lucy in a deserted alley struggling with another man—that was the first time he met her.

Seeing a man hitting on a woman, he had been prepared to intervene, but it wasn’t necessary.

Lucy had kicked the man’s groin and vanished in a flash. He found it mildly amusing, but that was all.

And today, he encountered the same scenario.

The woman once again kicked the troublemaker and quickly disappeared.

In crowded shopping streets, such things weren’t unusual, but his attention to detail was exceptional.

Visiting the weapon shop thinking she was just another villager, he saw her a short while later, happily inspecting weapons and heading to the counter with a strange assortment of items in her arms.

Seeing her again in front of the clothing store, he began to suspect she might be following him.

Thinking back, her footwork when she kicked the man’s groin that first day had been remarkable.

‘Better be careful.’

He observed her from the side, ready to be cautious.

Shan Amos, the Mercenary King.

He was called that for a simple reason: his absolute martial prowess.

He was a former prince of the now-destroyed Indeli Kingdom.

At age fifteen, his country fell.

Afterward, he became a mercenary and began wandering the world.

By the age of twenty, he had reached a level of mastery with the sword.

He became the youngest Sword Master on the continent, earning the nickname Mercenary King Amos.

Disliking attention, he felt uncomfortable with the title, though the opinions of others didn’t matter much.

When he became known as the Mercenary King, he often concealed his identity during missions.

He carried two mercenary badges: one with an “S” marking him as a top-tier mercenary, and another with a “B” to avoid drawing attention.

For the security mission with Pablo’s caravan, he used the B-grade badge, so no one knew his true identity.

‘Then who could be tailing me?’

Watching Lucy leave the shop without hesitation, Shan pondered.

‘This is it!’

Standing in front of a mirror, Lucy turned and examined her reflection.

What had always made her uncomfortable were the cumbersome dresses.

Having been more accustomed to pants in her previous life, the long dress and the tight corset were highly inconvenient.

Yet there were no women wearing pants, so she never dared try.

Still, wearing pants wasn’t entirely strange. She simply hadn’t thought to try.

There were a few female knights and mercenaries in this world.

‘If I make a few adjustments, it won’t be uncomfortable to move in.’

Although she had bought the smallest size, the clothes were still too large for her.

For the first time since arriving, Lucy attempted sewing herself.