Raise Me, So That I Can Eat You Up - Chapter 4

“Indeed. Clean it up, will you?”

Mmm. A delicious smell. A freshly grilled lamb rib steak and an angry Sword Master. Could there be a more perfect lunch?

I quickly sat at the table and started eating.

General Pelard’s face turned pale at the Hayworth siblings’ eccentric behavior.

“Y-you. A rat, you say! I’m your superior. Are you in your right mind?”

“Yes. I’m so clear-headed that I’m at a loss. Please explain the current situation.”

“Don’t you know that insubordination within the knights’ order is punishable by death?”

“I know. That’s why I’m quitting.”

When did he prepare it? Leon pulled out a resignation letter from his chest and threw it in the General’s face.

“W-what is this!”

“Ah, that feels better.”

Then he drew his sword and pointed it at the General’s neck. His eyes were brimming with killing intent.

“Now I can kill you without hesitation.”

“Do you think you’ll be safe if you kill me?”

“I’ll just be executing a scoundrel who insulted my sister. Well. Whether I’m safe or not isn’t your concern, is it?”

The General froze, trembling at Leon’s unflinching attitude.

“What should we do, sister?”

“About my room’s carpet. It’s an expensive one imported from the East.”

“And?”

“I don’t want it stained with blood. But if I hold back again, I’ll feel too dirty.”

I chewed on the meat while contemplating the disposal with indifferent eyes.

“What should we do?”

Realizing that I held his lifeline, General Pelard changed his attitude.

“M-my lady. I apologize for my rudeness. I seem to have overstepped due to my eagerness. Please forgive me.”

“Just with words?”

“Pardon?”

“I’m sorry. I absolutely detest apologies that are just lip service.”

“……”

“Leon. I guess the carpet doesn’t matter after all?”

“I-I’ll give you this as an apology gift!”

General Pelard, in a panic, held out the diamond ring.

I quietly put down my napkin and approached the General.

Taking the ring, I smiled contentedly and also took the sword from his waist.

It was a fine sword that looked very expensive at a glance.

“Leon. You seem angry too. Take this and let’s call it even.”

“Well. If my sister says so. I suppose I can show some mercy.”

General Pelard, completely played by the Hayworth siblings, looked like he was about to cry.

“General. Do you have any complaints?”

“No. How could I?”

“Think of it as a retirement gift. Our Leon was quite a capable subordinate, wasn’t he? Too good for you, even.”

“……”

“You won’t come again, will you?”

“No, of course not.”

“Please spread the word that Lady Hayworth is a madwoman.”

So that flies like you won’t bother me anymore. I smiled charmingly, to the point of being creepy.

“…Pardon?”

“I said, goodbye.”

After bidding farewell, I pulled the bell rope.

As if on cue, the employees entered with quick steps.

“The General is leaving. His legs are shaking, so support him well and escort him to the front door.”

“Yes, my lady.”

General Pelard was dragged out with a bewildered expression.

At that moment, the system suddenly chimed.

[System: ‘Ariella Hayworth’ has rejected 30 men so far (including 1 male lead and 1 jerk).]

[System: Congratulations. You have acquired the title ‘The Iron Wall Lady of This Area’.]

‘Should I be proud of this?’

I stared at the system window with blank eyes.

[System: As a reward for the title, your ‘Karma Score’ will decrease. (-30)]

‘What’s this?’

The score that didn’t budge even with desperate prayers finally dropped.

“That bastard. He said he was a bachelor. I can’t believe it. I’m sorry, sister.”

Leon scratched the back of his head, his face reddening. He seemed embarrassed by the farce that occurred because of him.

“It’s okay.”

“He was so annoying about having a meal together, so I brought him. I didn’t know he was such a conscienceless guy.”

“But what about your position in the knights’ order?”

“I didn’t quit because of you, sis.”

“Then why?”

“I was already on the verge of going crazy because of all the ‘introduce me to your sister’ requests.”

It must have been tough in a male-dominated society, having a sister famous for her unparalleled beauty.

Especially after the broken engagement with Henry, he must have suffered tremendously.

I felt a bit sorry for Leon, who had suddenly become unemployed.

“What are you going to do now?”

“Well. I haven’t thought about it yet.”

Leon stuck out his tongue slightly and smiled.

Somehow, it felt ominous. I suddenly felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

“I guess you’ll have to take responsibility, sister.”

As expected, the system chimed.

[System: Leon Hayworth’s relationship has changed from ‘Family Register Mate’ to ‘Sister’s One and Only Bodyguard♡’.]

‘What? What about my opinion?’

I felt dizzy at the system’s sudden tyranny.

“Leon Hayworth swears loyalty to his sister. Please appoint me as your bodyguard.”

Leon bent one knee and placed the hilt of his sword against his chest. It was a knight’s salute swearing allegiance.

I’m barely managing myself, so who’s taking responsibility for whom? And you’re too high-caliber to be just a bodyguard!

I held my forehead as it throbbed.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think I need a bodyguard.”

“Why?”

“I hardly ever go out.”

“That’s fine. I like staying at home too.”

“Leon. I’m serious, I can barely take care of myself.”

“That’s why you need a bodyguard. Please allow me to do my best to keep you safe!”

“I told you I don’t have money to pay you?”

“You’re my only sister. I’ll gladly volunteer for free.”

“Sigh……”

There was no getting through to him. He says he’ll guard me, but my opinion doesn’t seem to matter at all.

“Will Father allow it?”

The reason Leon joined the knights’ order in the first place was all because of Father, Viscount Hayworth.

His educational policy was quite strict.

“The more capable one is, the more they need to experience organizational life to avoid becoming arrogant.”

This was Viscount Hayworth’s principle.

So he set one condition for Leon.

He said he would pass on the title only if Leon endured three years in the knights’ order and was discharged.

However, social life can’t always go as one wishes.

Although Leon was capable, he couldn’t become the captain of the knights due to age restrictions.

‘Of course, it must have been torturous to serve under a superior less capable than himself.’

One could overlook the lack of ability, but a superior who behaves disgracefully towards his own sister?

It must have been the worst situation for Leon in many ways.

Even so, it was hard to understand why he threw in his resignation letter so impulsively.

“It’s fine, I tell you.”

“You’re okay with not receiving the title? What, did you win the lottery or something?”

It was a brazen attitude that could only come from having a strong belief in something.

It seemed I was the only one worried about his sudden declaration of resignation(?).

“If I say I’ll just chase away the flies around you for a while, Father will allow it. The social circles are in an uproar because of you, sister.”

“You’re a Sword Master. Don’t you have any sense of mission, like saving the world or protecting the country?”

“Not really?”

“What?”

“I didn’t become one because I wanted to. It just happened as I went along.”

Sword Master was a heaven-sent talent for swordsmanship. To say he didn’t become one because he wanted to…

“My master said he’d buy me a steak, so I followed him and……”

When I got there, it was the knights’ order.

Father suddenly set conditions that were hard to refuse.

I just diligently did my best according to my skills, and before I knew it, I was promoted to an executive.

Then I inadvertently slaughtered some magical beasts and became a Sword Master.

It seemed this was the gist of his story. I let out a hollow laugh, dumbfounded by the incredible tale he told so casually.

“No, I mean. Are you saying that your dream, as a Sword Master no less, is to be unemployed?”

“My dream is to open a swordsmanship dojo to teach kids. Grandiose titles like that are just cumbersome.”

It was certainly a modest dream for a Sword Master. Judging by the seriousness in his eyes, he seemed sincere.

“So when do you plan to set that up while staying by my side?”

“I’ll save money by giving private lessons to nobles on the side. What I need is a reason to stay here. Help me out just this once, sister.”

As Leon pleaded with his hands clasped together, I felt my resolve weakening.

Whether it’s me, a peerless beauty who became a bachelor, or Leon, a Sword Master who wants to open a modest swordsmanship dojo.

If we want to live the life we desire, who can interfere?

“Alright. It’s your life, do as you please.”

As soon as I answered, the system chimed.

[System: Several conditions have been met, unlocking a ‘Hidden Quest’.]

[System: Hidden Quest! ‘Find the Sleeping Time Bomb!’ begins.]

Wow! Just like that…… so suddenly? Where on earth did this game’s coherence disappear to?

‘Well, the setting where a dragon goes berserk every time I see an ending was messed up from the start.’

It’s not the first time it’s made such an abrupt turn. I shook my head.

Soon after, an unfamiliar map unfolded in my mind.

[System: Follow this map to find the ‘Sleeping Time Bomb’.

(Time limit: 24:00:00 / Reward: ??? / Failure: Dragon’s rampage)]

Looking at the complex map gave me a headache. Moreover, I was a terrible navigator.

‘What on earth is a sleeping time bomb?’

And a dragon’s rampage if I fail? After all the humiliation I’ve endured putting up walls against the male leads.

I even risked my life speaking informally to royalty. I’ve persevered through days of being treated like a perverted trash.

Really. This game has no mercy, does it?

‘I never wanted to unlock a hidden quest like this in the first place!’

I let out a faint sigh.

“Well then, since we need to go out. Let’s start the mission now.”

Oh, whatever. I need to survive first.

For such a dangerous quest, I needed the help of a capable guard.