Chapter 1285 – 1285. The Plum Blossom Swordsman Reincarnated Into The Baek Family
Kyle, the leader of a small Hwasan Sect, had a monotonous daily routine.
At 5 AM, Kyle would wake up before sunrise. He would tidy his bedding and go outside. He would sit cross-legged under a tree and practice his inner cultivation.
At 7 AM, after breakfast, he would teach the newcomers who had recently joined the Hwasan Sect until dinner.
It was an excessively monotonous routine.
However, Kyle was satisfied. No, he had to be satisfied. The founding of the Hwasan Sect was his dream. Although he couldn’t become Count Prucus himself, he was able to establish the Hwasan Sect with his younger brother’s help. His dream had come true.
Since his dream had come true, it was definitely a satisfying life. However, Kyle felt a void in one corner of his heart. That void didn’t disappear easily, even after several days.
Whenever Kyle felt the void, he would stop his training and choose to take a walk. If he concentrated on training with a disturbed mindset, he could fall into a state of inner demon possession. He had already experienced inner demon possession once before. He couldn’t help but be wary of it.
Kyle’s walking route was around the Hwasan Sect and the outskirts of the city. Refugees had settled on the outskirts of the city. They were made up of women, children, and the elderly. It was hard to find young men. One young man he happened to see was missing a leg, just like he was missing his left arm.
‘Their lives will become more and more impoverished as time goes on. The war needs to end as soon as possible…’
He wanted to provide food to the refugees, but all the wealth Kyle possessed was the Hwasan Sect. It was also awkward to ask Eugene, Count Prucus and his younger brother, for help with this matter. Kyle felt guilty towards Eugene.
Kyle’s meeting with Silly was accidental.
Silly, in a hurry for some reason, tripped over a stone and fell to the ground, and Kyle helped her up by grabbing her hand.
“Th-thank you.”
Silly blushed as if she was embarrassed by falling and expressed her gratitude. Kyle was momentarily surprised when he saw Silly’s face head-on. Memories from his past life suddenly came to him.
‘Senior Sister Nanyoung…’
She looked very much like Senior Sister Nanyoung of the Hwasan Sect, whom he could no longer see. Not only her appearance but even her aura.
“Do you have something urgent?”
“I was on my way to deliver potato soup to Grandma Elga. Grandma Elga really hates being late.”
“You still need to be careful. Are you hurt anywhere?”
“I’m okay. I’ve been falling a lot since I was little, so I’m used to it. I have a knack for falling without getting hurt…? And the potato soup is safe too! Thank you for helping me!”
After checking the potato soup in the container, Silly immediately prepared to run again. Kyle unknowingly blocked her path.
“Um… I’m Kyle from the Hwasan Sect.”
“Kyle… Gasp! Kyle Prucus, right? I, I didn’t recognize a noble…”
Kyle hurriedly stopped her as she was about to kneel on the ground.
“Please don’t do that. I didn’t reveal my name to make you kneel. I just wanted you to know my name. What’s your name?”
“Ah… I’m Silly Jeffnik.”
Kyle scratched his head. He wasn’t used to this kind of situation. However, what was certain was that he didn’t want to end his relationship with Silly like this.
The container in Silly’s hand caught his eye.
“That potato soup smells savory. Did you make it yourself?”
“Yes, I made it, but…”
Silly’s eyes trembled anxiously. She hoped that Kyle wouldn’t ask for the potato soup.
“Would you be willing to help with the kitchen work at the Hwasan Sect? There are a lot of people, so we’re a bit short-handed in the kitchen. I’ll give you a generous reward. How about 2 million Ner a month?”
Silly’s expression brightened instantly. 2 million Ner. It was definitely not a small amount of money for commoners. If she had a fixed income of 2 million Ner a month… her life would be much better.
However, her face hardened in an instant as she recalled what her mother, Martina, usually said.
“It’s a kind offer, but… I have to work in the fields during the day. I can’t leave my mother to work alone.”
Kyle sensed her wariness towards him. Normally, he would have backed down here.
“Then, how about coming in the afternoon and helping with dinner only?”
The field work was finished in the morning. The field itself wasn’t that big, and there were plenty of people who wanted to work. If she could work in the afternoon, which was a more relaxed time… Silly pondered and made a decision.
“I’ll work. So, I can go to the Hwasan Sect tomorrow afternoon and help with the kitchen work, right?”
“Yes. I’ll be waiting.”
“Um… Can I go now?”
“Of course.”
Kyle stepped aside. Silly ran off somewhere as she had done before. Seeing her swaying body, Kyle felt the void disappear.
***
More than ten days had passed since then.
Kyle headed towards the entrance of the Hwasan Sect. He could see Silly running from afar. Perhaps it was from working in the fields. Surprisingly, she was in good shape and always ran as if she was in a hurry. It was the same when she came to work and when she left.
“Haha. Sir Kyle. It seems you like her.”
A knight who trained under him spoke to Kyle. Kyle chuckled and shook his head.
“It’s not like that. I’m just watching to make sure you guys don’t bother Silly.”
“She’s beautiful, so she’s popular among us. The day before yesterday, a new recruit confessed to her.”
“What?”
“Haha. Sir Kyle, please relax your face. That new recruit was immediately rejected. According to the new recruit, it seemed like she already had someone in her heart, and there was no room for anyone else.”
“Someone she likes…?”
“Who else would it be? Isn’t it Sir Kyle? Sir Kyle has a good personality, a good family, and is also capable. If I were a woman, I would have fallen for Sir Kyle too.”
“…Stop talking nonsense and go train.”
“Understood. I’m really looking forward to dinner tonight too. Oh, Sir Kyle. I heard that the 3rd Corps, which went to the northern front, will be returning in a week. They say they’re holding a homecoming festival to coincide with that time.”
“I heard about that too.”
“Enjoy the festival with her. Opportunities like this don’t come often. I also met my current wife at a festival.”
The knight smiled and headed to the training grounds.
‘A festival…’
Kyle momentarily thought of Yuria. He shook his head vigorously. She was the woman who would soon become his younger brother’s wife.
“Kyle!”
Silly called out to him. Over the past few days, Kyle and Silly had become quite close. When they were alone, they could talk happily without being conscious of each other’s status.
“You’re here?”
“Yeah. Sorry. Am I a little late?”
“You’re a little late. What happened?”
“Well… I forgot about the time while playing with Elsie.”
“Elsie is Silly’s younger sister, right? If it’s hard to take care of your younger sister, you can bring her with you.”
“She won’t come. Elsie loves playing at home. I’ll go to the kitchen now.”
“Silly.”
Kyle urgently called out to her as she was heading to the kitchen.
“Yes?”
“I heard that there will be a festival next week to coincide with the return of the 3rd Corps. Would you like to go to the festival together?”
“A festival… I wonder if I’ll have time then…”
Kyle was flustered. Unlike her usual lively self, her reaction was unexpectedly lukewarm. Kyle thought for a moment and said,
“You said you wanted to see the Prucus Count’s mansion before, right? I’ll give you a tour during this festival.”
Silly, startled, quickly waved her hands.
“Ah, no! I was just curious about what the mansion would look like up close!”
“It’s okay. It might be difficult to formally invite you, but… I can give you a tour. I’m also a member of the Prucus family.”
“B-but.”
“There’s no problem. It’s just going into the mansion and coming out.”
“…Is it really okay?”
“I guarantee it.”
Kyle said with a confident look.
Silly pondered and accepted his offer.
She was very curious about the mansion where Count Prucus usually lived.
“Thank you, Kyle.”
“It’s nothing.”
“I have to prepare dinner, so I’ll go to the kitchen now.”
***
In the morning, after entering the Jeffnik household, I had a great time playing with Elsie. Perhaps I played too enthusiastically. Elsie fell asleep as soon as she sat on the chair. I took her to her room so she could take a comfortable nap.
‘Silly went to work at the Hwasan Sect… and Elsie, the only one who would get in the way, just fell asleep.’
Elsie would wake up around dinner time.
I headed to Martina’s bedroom.
Knock knock knock.
“Martina, may I come in?”
“Yes, of course. Count.”
I opened the door.
I could see Martina sitting on the bed.
She was wearing comfortable clothes. Her long brown hair was tied in a low bun, revealing her slender, white neckline. She smiled when she met my eyes.
“How is your left leg?”
I asked as I sat on the chair next to the bed.
“It doesn’t hurt anymore. I think I can walk right now.”
“No, you can’t. Follow the doctor’s advice and rest a little more.”
“Understood.”
Martina replied calmly.
“……”
I looked at the window next to the bed with a serious face. The view beyond the window was quiet. It was the outskirts of the city, so it was rare to see people passing by.
“Um… Count?”
Martina’s face also hardened at the unusual atmosphere.
“Do you have any worries? I don’t have the ability to solve your worries, but… I can listen. I’m good at keeping secrets.”
“Hoo… Martina. It’s not that. This is a problem for the Jeffnik family.”
“Yes?”
I pretended to ponder for a while and then said,
“Since it’s a problem for the Jeffnik family… I have to tell you. Martina, brace yourself. Alphonse Jeffnik has been killed in action.”
“Y-yes? Is that, is that a lie?”
“…I only heard the information this morning. The battle was so fierce that they couldn’t even recover the body.”
“Ah, ah… Alphonse…”
Martina’s upper body staggered. I got up from my seat and grabbed her shoulder. Tears streamed down her eyes.
“Hic… Huk…”
“I’m sorry to have to tell you this news, Martina. And… I’m sorry to you. There was nothing I could do.”
“Huk… It’s not the Count’s fault… It’s not the Count’s fault at all. Alphonse… Hic… Huk.”
I hugged Martina’s shoulder. She, who had always tried to be strong as the mother of two daughters, broke down and hugged me. The tears she shed soaked my top. I stroked her back without saying anything, as if to comfort her.
