The S-Class Hunter Doesn't Want To Be A Villainous Princess - Chapter 31
There are various ways to gain fame in this world, but there seemed to be three main ones.
- Increase it by successfully completing quests.
- Clear misunderstandings and erase any infamy you've accumulated.
- Achieve a remarkable accomplishment that anyone can recognize.
At the moment, only the second and third methods were available to her.
However, it seemed unlikely that she could significantly increase her fame with the second method any longer.
So, the only choice left was-
'Number 3, achieve a remarkable accomplishment.'
But how exactly?
Renee pondered for a moment, then pulled out the original novel she had received as a quest reward and read it again.
And a few hours later, she put the book down.
'Things aren't going as they did in the novel. Not since I've taken over.'
Major events were happening as they did in the novel, but there were differences in some minor details.
Moreover, those differences were growing larger and larger, which was making her increasingly anxious.
She had seen firsthand how much difference that tiny uncertainty could make.
In her previous life, Renee had always relied on her knowledge of the novel to solve problems when she was in trouble.
She would steal the accomplishments that others should have achieved and make them her own.
Of course, Renee didn't particularly like that method.
It was almost like stealing someone else's happiness to make it her own.
Unfortunately, in most cases, that was the most effective way.
Would it be the same this time?
Would it be most effective to steal someone else's accomplishments again this time?
'I'll find out by trying it out from now on.'
Not someone else's, but what she do best.
That's what she wanted to test.
***
That morning, Cedin had a deep sleep for the first time in a long time.
It was because the dream he had last night was sweet. He couldn't even remember when he had last enjoyed a proper sleep.
One thing was certain, he had hardly slept since becoming a sword master.
Since becoming a sword master, he had been tormented by nightmares.
The nightmares gnawed at Cedin from deep within, making him distrust people and constantly awakening the anxiety that had been dormant in the deepest part of him.
But the worst part of the nightmare was that he couldn't remember any of it.
But last night, instead of a nightmare, rest came to him, and he regained peace under that rest.
The fact that the visitor who came to him was not just rest, he only found out after he woke up.
At the sensation tickling his forehead, Cedin reacted immediately, reaching out before he could think, grabbing the hand that was touching his hair.
And the moment he grabbed that hand, another reaction followed.
His heart, settling down.
"... Renee?"
As soon as he saw Renee's blue eyes looking down at him, Cedin doubted whether his dream was still not over. Am I still dreaming?
If so, he wished he wouldn't wake up, holding her hand tighter.
"Hello, Cedin."
But when he heard Renee's voice, Cedin had to admit.
This was not like a dream. It was something that made his heart more regretful than a dream.
"How did you get here...."
"Did I disturb your sleep?"
On the other hand, Renee was a little embarrassed.
She had come into his barracks thinking that Cedin would be awake by now - because Cedin was sleeping so well.
Perhaps because Renee didn't want to be caught by others and completely killed her presence, it seemed like he didn't even notice her coming in.
So she just sat next to him and looked down at Cedin.
At first, she wanted to wake him up, but seeing him sleeping peacefully without a care in the world, she didn't want to wake him up.
She knew how precious a sleep without nightmares was.
'I've always felt this, but he looks really pretty when he sleeps.'
It's a bit disappointing that she can't see his eyes. But it was also fun to see his black hair, which she liked the most.
In fact, one of the reasons why she liked Cedin's black hair was not only because it reminded her of a black cat - but also because it reminded her of the people from her previous life.
Similar to those people, but different hair. Cedin's hair was black, but it had a strange mix of other colors.
Sometimes it felt blue, and sometimes it even felt transparent. A transparency that seemed to break at any moment.
Between nostalgia and unfamiliarity. That was Cedin.
"I wasn't disturbed at all."
"You can sleep more. I'll watch."
"Watch... me sleeping?"
"Yes."
"It's not fun, and it's not a particularly good sight."
At Cedin's words, Renee flicked his forehead with her finger. This time, without hurting him.
"I'll be the judge of that."
"Then can I watch too?"
"What?"
"Renee sleeping."
"Absolutely not. That's not a good idea."
Renee said sternly. Then, Cedin laughed softly and got up.
"Now tell me. Why did you come here?"
"I could have come for no reason, right?"
"That would be my pleasure, but it's not, is it?"
There's nothing more to say when he put it like that.
Renee gave Cedin a disgruntled look for understanding her intentions too well.
"You know. What if I reveal that I'm a Sword Master?"
"The impact would be huge."
"Would it be a bad impact, or a good one?"
"If I had to choose, I think it would be a good impact. But His Highness the Crown Prince will be quite surprised, are you okay with that?"
"Isn't it a benefit for Ishir too? Having a Sword Master as a lover? Not as much as a Saintess, but a Sword Master... it's not bad, right?"
"Not bad, you say?"
Cedin, let out a bitter laugh.
"Sometimes, Renee doesn't seem like she lives in the same world as me."
"...Huh?"
"I've felt it from time to time. Even when Renee is with me, it feels like she could just disappear at any moment."
Cedin said, leaning his forehead on Renee's shoulder. Renee didn't know what to do, seeing Cedin's voice sounding somehow weak.
After a long while, she finally patted Cedin's back. Barely.
"So you're upset?"
"No."
"Why? I think I would be upset."
At that, Cedin lifted his head to look up at her. Renee unknowingly turned her head slightly to avoid his gaze, which was much closer than she thought.
"Would you be upset if I disappeared?"
"Of course-"
Renee stopped there. Of course what? Of course, she'd be upset. Was that a natural feeling?
Was it natural to feel upset when someone disappeared?
'The commander sometimes seems emotionless.'
Externally, she was a hero who saved the world.
But to those around her, she was always the coldest machine, a leader without a heart.
'Commander, are you human? If we die, will you shed tears for us?'
'Our commander is not only her abilities that are inhuman, but also her personality.'
'What do we mean to the commander?'
Renee was surprised at herself. What was her feeling when her colleagues lost their lives in her previous life?
Sadness? Grief?
No.
'Pride.'
The pride of clearing the tower and bringing them back to life.
Around the time she had regressed over thirty times, Renee had completely given up on clearing the tower.
No matter how many times she tried, the tower was too high. So she just waited for death. Watching other people die.
What's left for her after desperately clearing the tower? Even if she returns to the original world, what's left?
The system promised Renee that if she cleared the tower and returned to the original world, she would be sent back to the day before her death. So she could avoid the accident caused by drunk driving.
But the more she lived, the more Renee lost her will to live.
She even forgot how precious her original life was.
So she lost the desire to go back.
Then the system made a second proposal to her.
If she cleared the tower, it would bring everyone back to life. They would be happy forever in the world where she disappeared.
From that moment on, Renee regained hope - ironically, she no longer mourned the deaths of her colleagues.
Their preciousness gradually dulled. In the end, all that was left for her was pride.
'But now, I feel upset?'
Really? Cedin, perhaps anxious by her sudden silence, cupped her cheek with his hand.
"Renee?"
"Ah, sorry. I just had a thought."
But Renee took Cedin's hand and carefully put it down.
"Did I upset you?"
"No. What were we talking about? Oh, right. We were talking about what would happen if I announced that I'm a Sword Master."
Renee continued with an awkward smile.
There was still anxiety in Cedin's eyes, but she tried hard to ignore it.
"Will you help me, Cedin?"
"...Of course. How can I help you?"
"You said you have an information guild, right? Just put in one request for me."
"A request?"
"Yes. A very, very difficult request."
If only it could be accomplished, it could immediately make her name known.
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