CHAPTER 13. I Went to Train in the Mountains

* * *

Rosé, who was promoted to a mythical maid, received a 4-week vacation from Alfred.

The ostensible reason for this was to make alterations to her private lounge room, but in reality, it was actually to make the Duke’s marriage proposal in writing.

To do that, they needed the seal of the Ramford family, located in the territory, so Alfred and the Duke decided to leave the villa temporarily.

As a result, Rosé ended up returning to the Blue Rock, which was an unfortunate event for her since she had to repay her debts within a month.

“Miss, I’m here to talk about what you mentioned yesterday.”

Elion approached Rosé, who was lying on the reception room sofa like a corpse, interrupting her thoughts. Rosé finally wriggled and sat up.

Come to think of it, she asked Elion about Ethan’s disappearance yesterday. He had said he would inquire with ‘that person,’ and finally received a response.

“The hardcore zone was released, and the error was fixed. But the modified result is… a little peculiar.”

How peculiar should it be for Elion’s usually calm voice to falter? Rosé opened her ears, pushing aside her complicated emotions.

“The system recognized ‘Ethan Gredean’ as the cause of the error and completely erased its existence.”

“What did you say?”

Up until then, Rosé had been silent, but she suddenly stood up from the sofa. As a result, the teacup on the coffee table rattled.

“Fortunately, soul preservation is possible, so he was planned to be reborn as a different creature in the future, but it’s difficult to determine what he will be born as.”

“Then…?”

“If he’s lucky, he’ll be born as a human. If he’s unlucky, he’ll be born as a worker ant.”

In her mind, Rosé imagined Ethan’s face transformed into that of a worker ant, and she shuddered. The thought of an ant’s c*ck attached to that handsome face was horrifying.

Although he was a pervert who got excited by watching his wife being molested by other men, his c*ck was quite something.

“But it’s fortunate that he’ll be reborn, isn’t it?”

Elion smiled brightly as if it didn’t matter. Rosé also felt gloomy, but she instinctively raised the corners of her mouth.

Yes, it is. He was the one who was supposed to hold a funeral under the Duke’s final blow. To be reincarnated is a grace bestowed by the Creator.

Although it was a bit pitiful to be reborn as a worker ant…

“By the way, what’s that?”

Rosé, who had collected her thoughts, touched her aching head and asked. To be honest, she had been bothered since earlier. A small basket was in Elion’s hand.

Because Elion occasionally threw snacks at her as she rolled around on the sofa, Rosé’s voice carried a subtle anticipation.

Elion, who was well aware of her hidden feelings, smiled slyly and spoke.

“It’s jerky. I made it with the pepper you brought, miss.”

“Pepper?”

Wasn’t pepper hard to find? Seeing Rosé look so confused, Elion added with a realization.

“I thought you had some pepper in your room, so I used it, miss. Did I make a mistake?”

Here it is again. When Elion lowers his eyelashes, his face looks so melancholic.

She bowed her head in front of that beauty, but the problem was that she didn’t know what the pepper was.

Come to think of it, she did mention to Alfred in passing that there was no pepper at home.

Could it be that Alfred remembered her words and secretly put pepper in her bag? Considering Alfred’s kind nature, it was quite possible.

“But why beef jerky all of a sudden?”

When Rosé came to her own conclusion and asked with a smile, Elion made a blank expression for a while and finally spoke.

Rosé may not be aware of it, but her smile occasionally evoked similar emotions in Elion.

“Oh, I was just about to tell you…”

“What are you hesitating for? Haven’t you explained it yet?”

Then she heard the voice of an old man. A sinister premonition crawled up Rosé’s back.

When she turned her head, she saw the master standing in his training outfit, just as usual. His appearance wasn’t particularly surprising since he had been coming every weekend.

What was astonishing was that he had tied his hair on one side. During all the training, he had never once tied his long, white hair.

‘Dangerous.’

Rosé’s intuition in sensing an approaching misfortune was relatively accurate. Although she couldn’t fully demonstrate it in the imperial palace.

The master stood up straight with his shoulders raised. Elion looked at him disapprovingly. Rosé’s intuition spoke: if you want to run away, now is the only chance.

“I suddenly have something to do…”

Rosé quietly headed towards the parlor. But at that moment, a large hand, unusually hard and strong for an old man, grabbed Rosé’s shoulder.

“Disciple, you are going to the mountains today.”

“What?”

“Shouldn’t you catch up on the progress you missed while slacking off?”

The corners of the master’s mouth twitched in a grimace. He wasn’t someone she could reason with. Rosé looked at Elion with a desperate look.

“You must come back by Monday.”

Why is this happening? Did the two of them plan this? Damn it!

“Did you hear him? Stop with the useless talk and follow me.”

Rosé struggled with her limbs as the master grabbed the back of her clothes. Elion pretended not to see and raised his hand to say goodbye to Rosé.

No way! My comfortable sofa! I just barely escaped from the hardcore zone!

“Save me, Elion!”

But Elion just waved his hand. Rosé’s face was filled with resentment towards him.

You wicked servant! Give me back my day off! But her desperate shouts didn’t reach Elion.

* * *

In an unnamed mountain.

Rosé trembled on a rock,  gasping for breath, saying that she couldn’t go any further.

Her whole body was soaked in sweat, and the stickiness reached an indescribable level.

“Master, huff, let’s go together.”

It had already been half a day of almost running up the mountain, following her fast-paced master. Just an hour ago, she had to climb the rocks bare-handed.

On the other hand, the master remained calm and composed, like a mountain spirit. With a single leap, he would jump over a rock, and within a few steps, he would easily navigate the steep mountain path.

Looking at my master, I could tell that it was true that Hong Gil-dong¹Hong Gil-dong is a fictional character known for his rebellious nature and Robin Hood-like exploits used the ‘shukuchi’ technique²축지법 (chukji method) refers to a magical method of contracting space, allowing for swift movement over long distances; manipulating the earth’s energy to shorten distances, enabling rapid travel beyond normal means. His skin is full of wrinkles, but what about those muscles?

Between the sleeves rolled up by the master, I saw massive arm muscles. It seemed like he would have been quite popular when he was young.

“Huff, huff, Master…!”

“Stop calling me. It’s time to get serious, you punk!”

Muho struck Rosé’s forehead with the cane as she struggled to climb up the rocks. It took twice as long as usual to reach the halfway point. The sun was starting to set.

“You’re so slow.”

“Let’s go together, haah!”

Finally, Rosé managed to climb onto the rock and lay down, gasping for breath. How about giving her a break once? But even though he was an old man, he clenched his teeth and grumbled, and then a thunderbolt struck.

“No time to rest! Training starts now.”

Training starts? Then what was it until now?

“Here’s the divine bead³a bead that lights up on its own at night, as told in Chinese martial arts novels and classical novels.”

Muho took out a bead glowing red from his pocket.

“A divine bead? Is it expensive?”

Rosé’s body stiffened as if she had never been tired. How much is it? She didn’t know, but its price was probably more than enough to pay off all of her debt.

Although she didn’t know, this divine bead, also known as ‘tears of a deity’ in the Eastern lands, was a rare item that completely disappeared from existence after being exhibited at the national auction house 150 years ago.

So, her guess was not entirely wrong.

“Master, you might drop it. Give it to me.”

Rosé politely folded her hands and approached Muho slowly. Drop it? Muho burst into a chuckle at his disciple’s enthusiasm.

“Do you want it that badly?”

Without realizing it, Rosé nodded hastily.

“I want it! I’m worried you might drop it, Master.”

“Is that so?”

Rosé looked at him intently, as if it were obvious. With a smirk, Muho tossed the divine bead high into the sky and caught it.

“Ah! Master! But…!”

“But what?”

Muho simply smashed the divine bead he threw with his hand. The bouncing ball rolled helplessly under the rock with a clattering sound.

“I dropped it?”

“No! My divine bead!”

Rosé descended under the rock in a hurry. And after searching for a while under the rock, she sobbed. My divine bead! It disappeared!

Since when was it yours? Muho swung his cane towards Rosé’s calf.

“Ouch!”

“Not there, you fool.”

His cane pointed to a nearby rubble.

“There.”

“My divine bead…”

“Do you want it?”

“Of course!”

Now you’re being honest. Muho slapped Rosé’s cheek as though he was scolding a disobedient child.

“Ow, Master!”

“If you want it, bring it.”

“Will you give it to me if I bring it?”

Tsk.

Those chestnut-colored eyes that looked so innocent to others were, in Muho’s eyes, a bundle of greed. Lust, appetite, and even gluttony. Insatiable desires permeated Rosé’s eyes.

Muho stopped his spanking, clicked his tongue once more, and said,

“Bring me the divine bead in three hours! Return here with it!”

“Are you really going to give it to me? For real?”

“You’ve been deceived all along, you fool.”

Rosé narrowly avoided her master’s hand as he attempted to strike her with a stick.

Deceived? You won’t be able to say that when you realize that the First Princess, rumored to be the most beautiful woman in the empire, is actually a man with a big d*ck.

“Run!”

“I’m going now! You’re really going to give it to me, okay! My divine bead!”

As Rosé descended the hill at a quick pace, she firmly asserted her ownership of the divine bead.

But it was all just an excuse. Muho burst into laughter at his disciple’s unexpected stamina.

‘Well, it is quite amusing.’