10 – The Evil Lady, Rose Van Darmian (2)

“Oh my, why are there so many customers? I’m exhausted.”

Mr. Jaekel, turning pale, flopped into a chair and sighed.

“40…50… 72 gold, 60 silver. Another record-setting day.”

Whatever the case, I handed the day’s earnings to Jaekel and held out my hand.

“What? 72 gold? You’re my lucky charm! A few more menu items brought in 72 gold in a day! hahahaha!”

Upon hearing this, Mr. Jaekel sprung up from his chair, his scruffy beard shaking with delight.

It was understandable. In terms of my previous life, this was equivalent to earning 720,000 won in a day from beverages alone.

“Enough with the flattery, please calculate my share.”

“Right. Your share should be…24 gold.”

“Stop right there. It’s 29 gold.”

“Ugh…”

Trying to cheat me again?

As I looked at him sternly, Mr. Jaekel pondered for a moment before reluctantly handing me the 29 gold.

“Really, I don’t understand why kids these days are so sharp.”

“I happen to excel at it. Shouldn’t you be grateful to me, Mr. Jackel? After all, your household has improved so much because of me.”

Not just improved. Jackel’s profits had grown more than tenfold.

The secret was my stash of recipes that contain the experience of my previous life.

I had promised Jackel a quarter of the profits from the stall in exchange for sharing my recipes.

“Yes, yes, I am thankful, of course.”

“You should be. Without me, you would have failed a while ago.”

“You’re a bit harsh, aren’t you? Don’t you think you should be thankful to me too? I took in an eleven-year-old and even went into business with them.”

“So, when will you give me a bonus? More than 90% of the drinks sold today were made with my recipes.”

“Umm, finish cleaning up and go inside. I’ve just realized, it’s my daughter’s birthday today…”

When I asked, Mr. Jackel dodged the conversation and vanished like the wind.

His action made me chuckle.

‘I wonder if he knows that he’s already celebrated his daughter’s birthday three times this month.’

Of course, one of the reasons I work is to earn money.

One of the eternal truths of life.

The more money, the better.

That doesn’t mean I’m greedy, I’m just saving money for the future.

Preparing for the chance that Daphne, who takes care of me, might leave me, or vice versa.

‘Well, there’s a more significant reason.’

This refreshment stall is located right in the center of the village.

In other words, it’s visible to everyone. Or to put it another way, it’s a great place to observe passers-by.

‘It’s good to see beforehand.’

Many high-ranking nobles visit the Darmian Estate.

Among those noble figures are many main characters who will appear in the main episodes.

‘Most importantly, this is the territory where Rose resides.’

Rose Van Darmian.

The first daughter of the Count of Darmian.

In the game, she made her appearance as the main boss of chapter 1, causing great fear among gamers. She was a villain of epic proportions.

For reference, she had two nicknames.

‘Noob Crusher’ and ‘Chili Scissors’.

‘Ugh…’

The moment I remember being ousted by her for the first time causes goosebumps to rise on my skin.

The screen gradually blurs out.

The torn-up pants of the player.

A woman holds two blood-stained swords crossed over like scissors, with an expressionless face.

The last thing you see is a vivid splatter of blood.

This was one of the worst endings, causing immense trauma among male gamers.

‘I wonder what happened there?’

Rose, as one of the few fixed bosses in the famous free-choice game [Harem Academy], was a character that couldn’t be made into a heroine.

Perhaps that’s why.

He was extremely curious. What the Grand Duke had gone through, why he held such a strong hatred for men.

‘If I observe, I’ll understand.’

With that thought, he pulled out a disposable bowl and spread a layer of vanilla ice cream.

He sprinkled chocolate syrup and muffin crunch, and topped it with more chocolate ice cream.

Next, chopped blueberries, strawberries, and bananas were neatly placed on top.

In this way, working hard to make a parfait…

“Ta-da! Here I am!”

Just like now, when a frequent customer of this parfait appears in front of me.

“You’ve arrived, Rose.”

“Hmm!”

“Here it is. A special chocolate parfait made just for you, Rose. I knew you’d come, so I prepared it in advance.”

“hehehe, thank you.”

The cute girl with red hair and dark black eyes, looking impressive, shyly bowed her head and accepted the parfait.

How can she make such a happy face as she totters about?

‘Why did such a cute girl change like that?’

They took the painstakingly made parfait. As they see Rose, who is recovering her sense of taste, they feel mixed emotions.

“Carmel. You should have a bite, too.”

“I’m fine.”

“Oh, come on. Ah~”

In a moment of negligence, a mouthful of sweet chocolate entered.

Look at this. Isn’t their nature as beautiful and adorable as they look? Quite unlike the Rose I knew from the game.

“hehehe, since I fed you, Carmel, you’re going to grow very tall, aren’t you?”

“Of course.”

I wish. Even if I failed in my past life, this time I want to reach the height of 180…

“Hmm, so because Carmel is the same age as me, you’ll become my knight, right?”

“hahahaha, if that’s what you want, Rose.”

“Then promise me. Come on, hand!”

Rose, who was savoring the parfait, extended her little finger to me.

Seeing her destructive cuteness, I reflexively hooked my finger with Rose’s.

“hehehe.”

Then, giggling, Rose buried her face again in her parfait.

‘I want to protect her.’

To be honest, initially, I had the opposite thought.

I intended to find an opportunity and execute her in the name of justice.

This scissor of the devil who will bring frustration to numerous men.

Why? Because from a gamer’s perspective, Rose Darmien was a boss with a high level of difficulty, enough to be called a ‘novice crusher’.

If Fran, the original main character, is attacked by Rose, the world would surely be destroyed without resistance.

And, above all,

‘What to do about the scary ones.’

There was a vague fear that I might end up one of the victims as well.

So, that was it. The reason why I had resolved to execute Rose in advance.

“Take another bite! Ah!”

However, that thought had completely changed.

Because the Rose I met in person was not a villain.

Rather, like now, she was a kind and untainted child who knew how to share what was hers without hesitation.

“Lady Rose.”

“Camel, swallow before you speak. That’s the rule.”

“Ah.”

“Pfft.”

She laughs purely. How nice it would have been to have such a young sister.

While melting the ice cream filled in my mouth, I soon asked a question that I was curious about.

“Lady Rose, why did you come here alone today? It’s risky.”

“Everyone was busy and didn’t play with me. So, I came out alone. hehehe.”

“You shouldn’t come out alone. What will you do when your older brother finds out and scolds you?”

“Well, it’s more fun to play with you, who wants to be my knight, than being at the mansion.”

When I finished speaking, Rose stuck out her lips and swung her feet on the chair.

“If you’re so worried, you should take me.”

“…That would be a good idea.”

“Let’s go, I’m done eating.”

Rose, who had cleaned the dish, got up from her seat and naturally reached out for my hand.

“Lady Rose, you need to keep the propriety.”

I swiftly avoided her hand and led the way.

“Ugh.”

Rose started to follow me with quick steps, showing a disappointed expression.

How long did we walk?

Suddenly a question occurred to me and I asked Rose.

“Lady Rose, hasn’t anything happened recently?”

“Nothing? What?”

“Don’t you suddenly have a bad idea or something?”

“What bad idea?”

Rose asked me back, putting her finger on her lips, and I spat out my curiosity as softly as I could.

“Do you ever feel like… cutting something off?”

“Not at all? heheheh. Camel, are you worried about me right now?”

But contrary to my worries, Rose only responded with a playful face.

Well, that’s a relief.

“Ah! There’s someone I want to cut.”

“Huh?”

The moment I felt relieved, a shocking answer accompanied by a bright smile took my breath away.

‘Could it be, was it congenital?’

My mind spun.

Because until now, I had thought that Rose had a certain story to be portrayed as a villainess.

From noble mtl dot com

But if it was really something innate.

I had no choice.

If left as it is, Rose would surely become a great villainess.

It was clear that she would become a major risk factor for me in the future and for the protagonist of the original.

‘There’s no choice but to cut it out in advance.’

At this point, only Rose and I were walking on the roadside.

Perhaps, this moment might be an opportunity given from heaven.

Thinking so, the moment when I was about to wrap mana around my body.

“I want to cut Housekeeper Jetti. He doesn’t like me coming to eat Parfait. He doesn’t let me eat pudding as much as I want.”

“Ah…”

Rose made a poignant expression and mumbled, and I had to gasp.

“Aigh, how good it would be if Jetti was a chubby housekeeper who likes desserts.”

Rose, who is lamenting very seriously.

Looking at her, a strong sense of guilt rushed to me.

How could I misunderstand such an innocent kid.

Living too defensively, I must have been sensitive for a moment.

“…?”

It was then. I suddenly felt a creepy energy from behind me.

-Bang!

Reflexively my head fell, and something collided with the wall, resounding through the alley.

“No, Lord Dunkel. What are you doing now!”

When I turned my gaze, Housekeeper Jetti of Darmian House was stopping a man who flipped over his black robe, with a confused face.

“Hooh.”

But, that man seemed not to care about what the housekeeper said.

He just looked at me with interest.

‘What’s with this look? He’s a broken guy already.’

A shabby nose, a long, ripped off eye, skin full of wrinkles.

Just by looking at it, it was obviously not a good person.

I’m dizzy. There is a dagger dropped near where the sound came from.

If I didn’t bow my head, that dagger would definitely have stuck in the back of my head.

By the time I was thinking about it, my face crumpled and a curse came up from inside.

“You shi…”

“What, what kind of act is this!”

It was the moment I was trying to say something.

A slender palm covered my lips, and Rose, the owner of that palm, stepped forward and screamed.

“Hey, he’s my knight! Where, where do you belong?”

Is she very angry? Or is she scared?

Rose stood in front of me with her arms spread wide open, shaking fiercely, but shouting at the man.

“Oh, I’ve been rude. Your youngness, Rose. I thought that boy was a delinquent in the back alley.”

Even so, the man replied leisurely,

“Whose side are you on!”

“I am a magician, Dünkell, owing my existence to Count Caden….”

Rosé yelled again, and only then did the man lower his head and introduce himself.

“My lord Count, today’s affair must definitely….”

“Can you do that?”

Rosé was about to yell again, still angry. But Dünkell, however, relaxedly and with a laugh, asked her in return.

“W-what?”

“I received an assignment from Lord Darmian. And I have received an order from Count Caden. To find the lost young lady, Rosé.”

Upon hearing this, Rosé began to panic.

Dünkell lowered himself down to Rosé’s eye level.

“I regret to inform you, there are no mages who have mastered tracking magic in the Darmian household. As for me, I was merely ordered by the Count to find you.”

“B-but….”

“I hope you can understand that your safety was my first priority. To be honest, that boy could only look like a kidnapper to me.”

“….”

“Well, it seems that he was able to evade my attack. I think he is quite fit as a guard knight. Rosé, how about this? I apologize to that boy.”

Dünkell said this and turned his awkward gaze towards me.

“Th-that….”

Rosé blabbered and grabbed the hem of Jetty’s clothes.

“Rosé, I think you should do this.”

Jetty sighed deep as if there wasn’t a better choice, expressing his opinion to Rosé.

“Brave little knight, what is your opinion?”

Dünkell stood up from his position and approached me, asking my opinion.

“Wow….”

I exclaimed in genuine admiration at his audacity.

Dünkell. In the game, he was a character I’ve never seen or heard of, so I tried to ignore him.

But I simply couldn’t.

The ruthlessness of throwing a dagger at a child’s head.

A grand spectacle of toying with Rosé like a baby snake. The audacity of treating the noble lady like a child.

And above all.

“This bastard, he’s from the Church of Chaos.”

Powered by my sharp sight, I saw transparent symbols engraved on his forehead, bathed in black magic.

This man, undoubtedly, was a believer of the Church of Chaos.

‘In that case….’

My mind began to draw a picture.

Rosé, who appeared as a villain in the game but was now an innocent and adorable girl.

Count Caden who was depicted as a villain and the believer of the Church of Chaos under his command.

‘I’m not sure yet….’

But the chances of it being these two were high.

What kind of harm did they inflict upon the innocent Rose to turn her into a villainess of epic proportions?

“Oh, did you miss that because you were too tense? I see you understood it well. Such opportunities rarely come to the commoners.”

I could feel my eyes narrowing.

Dunkel shrugged nonchalantly, looking at me with a slight smile, once again jesting with his tongue.

“Well, I, Dunkel, would like to formally apologize to you. I am seeking forgiveness for my rudeness. Would you be so kind as to show me mercy?”

Superficially, he seemed extremely courteous.

To be completely honest, I was considerably impressed.

Who would have thought he would be this good at hiding himself and acting?

I wondered how great it would have been if he chose to become an actor instead.

“Just endure it for now.”

I was tempted to punch him square in the face and rearrange his features.

But I had to swallow my anger.

Even though it might feel better in the moment, it would lead to problems later on.

Rose is the daughter of an earl, and Dunkel is the magician of a viscount family.

If I were to punch him, there’s no doubt that both Rose and the housekeeper would find themselves in a difficult situation.

“I’ll deal with it later.”

So, it would be better to wait for the moment they reveal their true colors rather than acting impulsively.

With that thought, I wholeheartedly accepted Dunkel’s apology with a smile.

“Yes, it’s fine. Oh, but Mr. Magician,”

Deciding to play along and act generous, I even offered him some praise.

“Yes, you should…”

“You really do have a way with words.”

And I sincerely meant it.

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