The S-Class Hunter Doesn't Want To Be A Villainous Princess - Chapter 6
Meanwhile, Cedin had fallen into a deep sleep for the first time in a long while.
When was the last time he had drifted off with such a sense of fullness?
It was a blissful sleep he never wanted to wake from.
"...Sir!"
Who's calling me? I don't want to get up.
"S-Sir! Wake...up...!"
'Raven.'
Raven? Who's Raven?
‘Wake up. You’ve angered your master—it’s time to be punished.’
Master? I don't have a master.
'Starting today, I am your master. If you don't wake up, I'm going to punish you.'
Punish...? What kind of nonsense is that? I don’t have any master—
"Ugh."
A sharp, throbbing pain in his nose forced Cedin’s eyes open.
"Sir Cedin! Are you conscious?"
"What on earth... happened...?"
“You collapsed for a moment. The Young Lady of House Markious discovered you.”
"I collapsed?"
Cedin frowned deeply at the unbelievable claim.
Only then did he begin to take in his surroundings.
Priest Melson was holding his hand, casting a blessing, and behind him sat a dazzling silver-haired woman.
“Yes. We moved you here and began administering blessings. It may have been due to overexertion.”
“A Sword Master doesn’t collapse from mere fatigue. There must have been an attacker—”
Something hovered at the edge of his memory.
Cedin clutched his aching head, trying to recall.
Yes. The dream demon’s sleep magic had activated, and the priest had collapsed.
So he went to the Saintess’s tent to investigate—
‘And I felt the presence of someone incredibly powerful.’
I need to find that person. No matter what, I must find them—and ask them to take me in.
Cedin pushed aside the blanket and tried to rise.
But a voice stopped him.
“There’s no one who would dare attack a Sword Master.”
Cedin looked straight at the woman who spoke.
He hadn’t recognized her earlier in the confusion—
But now it was clear.
Renee Markious.
The infamous one.
"The daughter of the Duke Markious"
The arrogance and ease radiating from her face confirmed it.
"So you know who I am. Have we met before?"
Why is she smiling like that? Is she really that kind of person?
Cedin frowned slightly, unsettled by how different she felt from the rumors.
"No, we haven't..."
"I thought so."
"Priest Melson. Did you see anyone else in the Saintess's tent?"
Cedin asked urgently.
But Melson only looked confused.
“The only person there was her ladyship. Why do you ask?”
“There was—”
“That’s enough. Mind if I cut in?”
Renee abruptly covered Cedin’s mouth with her hand.
Melson, startled by her rude behavior, nevertheless nodded hesitantly.
But the most shocked person there was Cedin himself.
He was now convinced—this noble lady had truly lost her mind.
“Could you step out for a moment, Priest Melson?”
“Pardon? But Sir Cedin still needs treatment—”
“Leave while I’m asking nicely.”
“Y–Yes…”
As soon as Melson left, Renee dragged her chair closer—far too close.
Cedin stiffened, clearly uncomfortable.
“Please step back, my lady.”
“You remember me, don’t you?”
“I beg your pardon…?”
“My presence. You felt it, didn’t you? Someone of your level couldn’t have missed it.”
Renee grabbed his hand.
A faint energy flowed from her into him.
There was no doubt.
It was the same presence he had sensed earlier.
Cedin’s mind reeled.
“Then… it was you…?”
“Yes. That was me.”
'Then the person I swore to serve…'
“…You’re saying it was you, my lady?”
“That’s strange. Your Wisdom stat is high, but you’re a bit slow, aren’t you?”
“…Wisdom stat?”
“And why did you cover up the witness, little raven?”
“…Little raven?”
What kind of ridiculous nickname is that? It sounds like calling a neighbor’s pet.
Cedin felt as though he’d been struck repeatedly.
But one word forced his focus back.
“Who ordered you to conceal the witness? The Crown Prince? The Saintess? Or a third party?”
“…I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”
“I already know everything, so hiding it is pointless. Let’s not waste time.
I know you’re the Mercenary King. I know the youngest priest was the last to see the Saintess. I already spoke to him.
But what I really don’t understand is—”
Renee gripped Cedin’s chin and slowly turned his face.
Her deep blue eyes swept over him.
Cedin couldn’t even think to resist.
He was completely overwhelmed.
“…why you did it.”
“….”
“The Saintess left of her own accord, Cedin.”
Renee smiled faintly.
But to someone with Cedin’s experience, that smile was anything but gentle.
“That means I’m completely innocent. There was no reason for me to wake up in a prison cell.”
“…!”
Her grip tightened.
Yet fear wasn’t what Cedin felt.
It was something else—
Something far more compelling.
“The Saintess left… because it was assumed you threatened her.”
“So they think I forced her to leave? Well… given my reputation, it’s a reasonable assumption.”
Renee released his chin.
“But I didn’t.”
“The Crown Prince believes otherwise.”
Her eyes gleamed.
'The Crown Prince. Suspicious.'
“He gave the order, didn’t he?”
Cedin nodded quietly.
He had no reason to hide it. His relationship with the Crown Prince was purely transactional.
“Were you acting on a contract?”
“…Yes.”
Then that’s understandable. Business is business.
“Still, you shouldn’t hide the only witness.”
Renee stood, satisfied.
This was more progress than expected.
At least now she knew no assassin had been involved.
“My lady.”
But Cedin grabbed her wrist urgently.
"What on earth are you, My lady? Are you a demon?"
"What are you talking about? Of course, I'm human."
“Then how can a human possess that kind of power…?”
It was impossible.
Even summoning a dream demon was unbelievable—
But that presence…
It wasn’t something a human should possess.
It wasn’t just powerful.
It was—
‘Dark. Ancient. Filled with accumulated resentment.’
And yet, at the same time, pure and without impurity.
That contradiction made it even more incomprehensible.
“Try dying fifty-eight times and coming back.”
“…What?”
“It’s not something you can do, so don’t bother asking.”
Cedin slowly released her hand.
He assumed she was joking to avoid answering.
“But you were known to have never even held a sword.”
“That was true.”
Until recently.
Renee shrugged.
“Why hide your strength? With power like yours, you could conquer the empire—no, the entire continent.”
“And then what?”
“…What?”
“Cedin. I’m not interested in any of that.”
‘All I care about is clearing this quest and going home to Cerberus.’
What would she even do with ruling a fictional continent?
But Cedin misunderstood her entirely.
He looked deeply moved, silently reflecting on her words before nodding.
“…I see. You are not swayed by material things. You pursue only the path of the sword.”
That’s not what I meant.
Renee almost corrected him—
But stopped when she saw his shining green eyes.
Who could argue with eyes like that?
"I've made up my mind.
I would like to serve your ladyship as my master."
'Excuse me?'
[Cedin Ansirad's affinity has increased by 200!]
A master-disciple relationship?
That was new.
“I would like to receive your great teachings.”
<A sudden quest has been activated!>
<Mercenary King> Cedin Ansirad requests that you accept him as your disciple.
Do you accept his request?
[Yes]: Reputation +100, Cedin Ansirad's Affinity +100
[No]: Cedin Ansirad's Affinity -100
'Wait... he wants to serve me as his master?'
"No."
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