TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 63
A Blue Window appeared before her eyes.
A Blue Window, containing an ominous story enough to make her frown, loomed in front of Hanna’s eyes.
[Q. If He Hadn’t Been There…]
Histania Hanna, burdened by a Tragic Fate. She was originally destined to die.
Despite Father’s Constant Discrimination and her relatives’ indifference, Hanna worked hard, seeking only recognition.
With the sole belief that someday she would be treated the same as them.
She steadily improved.
Because she had exceptional talent in Swordsmanship and remarkable learning ability.
However, her Father did not give her the attention she desired.
He believed that focusing on Malik over Hanna was what was best for the Household.
Hanna was starved for Praise.
If even one person had stood by her side and offered a single word of Praise, she could have avoided the Tragedy…
One scorching summer day.
Hanna made a Drastic Decision.
Knowing she couldn’t defeat her opponent, she climbed the Hamel Mountain Range for the Growth of the Sword and to earn Father’s recognition.
1. Read the letter sent by Histania Rowen. (0/1)
2. Meet Histania Rowen. (0/1)
3. Subjugate the Elite Orc Warriors of the Hamel Mountain Range (0/30)
Reward: Viewing of the [41st Side Story] “If He Hadn’t Been There…”
Hanna blinked.
She could understand with her body what was happening but couldn’t comprehend it with her mind—what situation this was, or why she was seeing such a thing.
Was it because her training had been too intense?
Or was it because she had skipped meals?
Even after deeply blinking, the Blue Window before her eyes did not disappear.
‘What is this…’
Her Entire Body shuddered.
Because the Blue Window contained an ominous message stating that if she hadn’t met the Butler, she would have died.
Having recklessly swung her sword in the past, solely seeking Father’s recognition, Hanna’s fingers trembled slightly as the message pierced through her Past Self.
‘Why would I die…’
Hanna considered herself a steadfast person.
Both in the past and in the present.
She believed that the reason she had managed to endure a lifetime of Neglect was her strong mental fortitude.
The thought that she, who wasn’t swayed by Father’s Neglect, had made a Foolish Decision was unimaginable. But as someone who knew herself better than anyone, Hanna couldn’t hide her trembling heart.
Her gaze kept being drawn to the Blue Window due to a foreboding feeling.
She denied it internally, calling it nonsense, but thinking back to her Past Self, perhaps she really could have done something foolish.
If…
If she hadn’t sought out the Butler back then…
Hanna shook her head, trying to shake off her thoughts.
-Smack!
Hanna slapped her cheeks with both hands. To snap out of it. Thinking that it was because she hadn’t been focusing on her training and had been thinking only about the Butler, Hanna shook her head and willed it to disappear.
When she opened her eyes, which she had squeezed shut, the Blue Window that had spoken of ominous things had vanished.
“It’s because I’m tired… just tired.”
Hanna struggled to her feet, clutching Father’s letter firmly in her hand as she stood.
‘It’s nothing.’
With an uneasy heart, Hanna headed back to the Dormitory.
*
Three days ago.
Imperial Knight Commander Histania Rowen was seated at his Office desk, holding a pen for the first time in a long while.
Rowen, who hadn’t held a pen in ages, rubbed his throbbing forehead as he fell into thought.
[To Hanna…]
His hand holding the pen wouldn’t move.
What should he write?
What words should he use?
Unable to come up with anything, Rowen let out a Deep Sigh.
“Hoo…”
The words of the Red-Haired Boy from back then wouldn’t leave his mind.
-Coming to hunt Elite Orcs at this age is something only lunatics would do.
-Isn’t it impressive? Why aren’t you clapping?
-You’ve never even done anything like this…
The boy who had boldly defended Hanna. It wasn’t something anyone could do without significant courage.
That Guy must have known that I was the Imperial Knight Commander.
The fierce Killing Intent that had been radiating so menacingly vanished as soon as he saw me, and the faint Aura that had been rising dissipated cleanly, as I confirmed with my own eyes. It was a situation I could somewhat infer.
Even so, the words spoken by The Boy without a flicker of hesitation remained vividly in my memory.
“Arrogant Bastard…”
Today, Rowen found the pen in his hand to feel unusually heavy.
Having faced countless strong opponents and survived battles on the brink of death, the pen in his hand felt heavier than any sword he had wielded hundreds of times.
‘Hoo…’
The blank letter paper was stained with Ink, as nothing had been written on it.
Crushing the letter paper, Rowen let out another sigh.
“This is driving me crazy.”
Behind Rowen was a mountain of crumpled letters.
Starting with “To Hanna.”
Even writing a simple “How have you been?” had taken him an hour, only for Rowen to tear it up again.
Where had it all gone wrong?
Rowen, who always thought of the Best Effort, couldn’t figure it out.
Those around him continuously praised Hanna. They said he must feel reassured to have a daughter who had Awakened her Aura at such a young age.
Colleagues and nobles who exalted her as the Family’s Glory spared no Praise. Yet, Rowen, the person directly involved, found their praise unwelcoming.
‘Did I make a mistake?’
Even when he asked himself, the answer came back as a resolute denial.
Because he wasn’t wrong.
Whenever he tried to write, only sharp words came out.
-Lay Down the Sword.
-It’s dangerous, so laying down the sword would be beneficial to you.
If it had been before Hanna had Awakened her Aura, he could have written a letter mentioning her Talent, but now his daughter had achieved accomplishments that couldn’t be dismissed by mere Talent. Even this was impossible anymore.
For the sake of the Household, supporting Hanna was the correct decision. But the hallucination he had seen then made him write negative words in the letter.
-Please Save Me… Father… Please Save Me…
Hanna dying…
It was something he had never even considered before.
That’s why it was even more unsettling.
What kind of Father in the world would entertain the thought of his child dying? Rowen found it increasingly difficult to make rational judgments.
For the Household’s Honor, supporting Hanna was the right thing to do.
Although Malik had Awakened Aura and shown remarkable achievements, they paled in comparison to Hanna’s reputation.
Rationally speaking… that was the correct course of action.
But thinking of Hanna wielding a sword made his heart tremble.
-Please Save Me. I don’t want to die like this.
Crack… Rowen broke the pen he was holding.
“…I need to think of another way.”
Sighing, Rowen pulled out a new sheet of letter paper.
-To Hanna.
‘…’
The Letter Paper was once again soaked with Ink.
*
[Read the Letter sent by Histania Rowen. (0/1)]
-Crumpled.
Sitting at her Desk, Hanna stared at the Letter in front of her with eyes full of complicated thoughts.
The Letter was filled with traces of her hesitation, as though she meant to tear it but couldn’t bring herself to do so.
Hanna slammed the Desk irritably.
-Bang…
“What’s he trying to say now?”
Her clenched Fist trembled.
She didn’t want to look at it.
She felt as though it would only contain obvious words.
-Lay Down the Sword.
-You have no Talent.
Hanna was certain that these kinds of words were written in it.
What kind of hurtful words would he choose this time?
Would he call her the Disgrace of the Household? Hanna was afraid.
She was scared of Father.
And she hated Father, who hadn’t changed even after she had proven her worth.
Hanna could only stare at the unopened Letter with a Troubled Heart.
“I proved myself…”
I proved myself, so what more does he want… Hanna couldn’t understand.
With teary eyes, Hanna glared at the Blue Window in front of her.
[Q. If He Hadn’t Been There…]
[1. Read the Letter sent by Histania Rowen. (0/1)]
[2. Meet Your Father Histania Rowen. (0/1)]
[3. Subjugate the Elite Orc Warriors of the Hamel Mountain Range (0/30)]
[Reward: Viewing of the 41st Side Story “If He Hadn’t Been There…”]
“I’m not doing it.”
Because avoiding an Ending she didn’t want to see was better.
She was already living a happy enough life. She didn’t want to dwell on the past, and she had someone who supported and believed in her, unlike her coldly rejecting Father.
Hanna coldly rejected the Blue Window in front of her.
But.
She couldn’t help but glance at it out of unease.
If. If she listened to the story the Blue Window showed…
She felt like she would never be able to look Father in the face again.
With a Troubled Heart, Hanna gazed at the sky.
“Haah… I miss the Butler.”
Today, for some reason, Hanna missed the Red-Haired Butler.
***
“Sit!”
The peaceful Young Lady’s Room.
The Young Lady, more serious than ever, was holding a piece of Jerky in her hand and trying to train Gomtangi, who was sitting under the Bed.
Gomtangi, not understanding a thing, tilted her head while looking at the Young Lady’s hand, and the Young Lady’s irritation level was rising uncontrollably.
The Young Lady shouted at Gomtangi.
“Sit! You lowly beast!”
-Goom?
Gomtangi completely ignored the Young Lady’s words.
Gomtangi’s gaze was fixed solely on the Jerky in the Young Lady’s hand.
Drooling as she waited, Gomtangi.
Spinning the Jerky in front of Gomtangi’s eyes, the Young Lady said.
“I’ll give it to you if you sit.”
-Nom!
Gomtangi ate the Jerky along with the Young Lady’s hand. Unable to match the reflexes of a beast, the Young Lady stared blankly at her saliva-soaked right hand.
The Jerky disappeared in an instant.
-Goom!
Gomtangi wagged her tail happily.
“Eeeek…! You Bear Cub!”
“It’s a dog, not a bear.”
“Bear or dog, whatever! So annoying!”
The Young Lady swung her hand around to threaten Gomtangi, but to me, it only looked cute.
It was a peaceful day.
The sun was shining brightly.
No Guests were coming.
A lazy day, like that of an Unemployed person.
This is life.
I want to live like this forever.
Doing nothing, enjoying a peaceful Unemployed life, throwing all the work to Mikhail… a leisurely Unemployed lifestyle…
It was then.
Gomtangi, who had been playing well with the Young Lady, climbed onto the Bed and started barking while looking outside.
-Goom! Goom!
“Eeeek!! Where are you going! You need to be scolded!”
As the Young Lady yelled at Gomtangi, who had ignored her, she looked out the window where Gomtangi was staring and tilted her head, wondering, ‘Huh, who is that?’
“Ricardo. A Thief has come.”
“What? There’s nothing to steal from our place.”
“There is.”
“What is it?”
“The most beautiful me in the world.”
I lightly ignored the Young Lady’s words.
“Why are you ignoring me!”
“…”
“Eeeek!!”
I shrugged my shoulders.
Who would come to this ghostly Estate?
I cursed the sinner in my heart for disturbing my happy Unemployed life and resolved to put a warning sign on the front door of the Estate: [Villainess Bites if You Enter.]
Slowly, I looked out the window.
A Brown-Haired Man was standing in front of the gate, waiting for someone to come out.
With a towering height.
And Graceful Looks.
The person who would become Mikhail’s Master.
Histania Rowen.
I told the Young Lady.
“Air Raid Alarm!!!”
“Hiiiek!!!”
We dove onto the Bed and hid.