My mother, who ran the target guild, once told me something.
"Listen carefully, dear Eustea. Life is tricky; if you try to live it easily, it'll make things harder for you."
"Like when Mom tried to save on taxes and got beaten up by the tax office for evasion?"
"…That was just failed tax-saving. The children of that incompetent tax officer used a single outdated law to hound you… let's just pretend you didn't hear that."
Ah, that's not what she meant.
"But there is an unspoken rule that doesn't make life harder."
"What rule?"
My mother smiled like sunshine.
"If someone slaps you, repay them with a skull fracture."
That way, they won't dare strike again. Human hearts are like blank paper—ink spreads when it splashes.
If you let Marina hit you once, she might hit three more times next. So I…
"Want me to bite hard?"
"What?"
"I could even bite your tongue off."
I grabbed her by the collar and threw her.
Smack!
Marina lay sprawled on the ground, bursting into tears.
I watched Marina run away while sobbing.
Perhaps the threat worked; she didn't call anyone and ran off in a panic.
Picking up the scattered assignments, I muttered,
"Blackmail works…."
"Of course."
"…!"
Startled, I turned around.
The Deputy Master (Budanju) stood there, arms crossed, staring at me.
I quickly straightened and bowed.
"Hello."
"I'm fine, but I'm not sure about you."
"Pardon?"
"Do you think you can throw the Lord's niece around and get away with it?"
Did he see that? When did he see it?
Swallowing hard, I watched as he slowly approached me.
"Would it help you understand the situation if I told you I saw the Lord's niece before you did?"
"…You knew I called in the hypnotist?"
"There's nothing in this castle I don't know."
I couldn't help but gasp. From the start, Marina's plan to bring in a hypnotist had been anticipated and monitored.
Truly, he deserved the title of the Master's right-hand.
"Did you think the Lord's niece was naive enough to underestimate you?"
Budanju asked, and I tilted my head.
"No?"
"Then what confidence made you throw the Lord's niece around? You seem to know you can't use the hypnotist as leverage."
"Yes, there's no proof."
The hypnotist had fled. So I had no evidence to expose Marina.
"But Marina probably didn't think that far."
"Why?"
"If she had, she wouldn't have been scared in the first place."
"…."
"Even if someone tells her I'm in a disadvantageous position, she can't go to the Lord and report it. She has no proof I flipped her over."
Budanju stared at me intently. Then…
chuckle
A sly laugh escaped his teeth.
"That's correct."
"But shouldn't you warn that a hypnotist, skilled in brainwashing, has come to the castle?"
There are three elite members in this castle: the Master, the Deputy Master, and Antonio.
The rest were reportedly occupied outside.
"So Marina only has one target for brainwashing."
The Master. She would stop at nothing to become his adopted daughter.
Budanju ran a hand through his hair and sighed.
"You don't need to inform the Master."
"Why…?"
"Because you, the Lord's niece, are the one she's trying to brainwash."
What? Why target Budanju instead of the Master?
'Wait…'
The puzzle pieces clicked in my mind.
It's Budanju who decides the Master's adopted daughter. His influence is enormous.
'Then…'
I quickly scanned Budanju from head to toe. He flinched slightly.
"…What are you doing?"
"Don't you have any marks, like blemishes? Feeling unwell? Hypnosis doesn't always require contact; it can be done through scent."
The Master's barrier is as strong as the Emperor's, maintained by the magic tower and priests.
Of course, other elite members are also powerful, but the Master is on another level.
Had I targeted Budanju, it might have worked.
"May I lift your bangs to check your forehead for marks…?"
"You're quite something, kid."
"Pardon?"
He stepped back, letting go of my hand, looking embarrassed.
"I know I was overly cold when we first met. But why…"
"…?"
"If I'd been that cruel, you'd avoid me. Why worry about me?"
I hadn't been worried about him—just my future. If Budanju were brainwashed and quickly named Marina as the adopted daughter, I'd be kicked out immediately.
I opened my mouth to explain, but Budanju spoke first.
"Enough of being too kind. Don't meddle in things."
With that, he strode away.
"…?"
I wanted to say he was worrying about himself. But he was already gone.
Budanju stared at the papers on the desk.
Although wet at one point, they had been dried skillfully and were still readable.
Yes. These were the assignments Eustea wrote, with Antonio and other members dipping their pens and contributing.
"They work… too well."
He muttered, and the subordinate member looked puzzled.
"What do you mean?"
"These assignments."
"Ah, yes. They've improved a lot."
The member smiled. Six elite units, excluding the Master, each lead their own squads, and their subordinates often mirror their leader's style.
Currently, the castle is guarded by Antonio's unit—the strongest in offense.
But the problem…
'They're useless at thinking.'
Budanju kept Antonio's unit nearby to compensate for that.
The member looked at the uneven handwriting in Antonio's unit assignments.
"They've even learned to write diaries. The whole unit has improved."
"Is that all you notice?"
"Huh?"
Looking closely, there's more.
[Someone approached the castle gate][Antonio ate my meat! It's only been three days since we got meat, how dare he]
"…!"
The member glanced sharply at Budanju.
"Isn't this castle intelligence?"
Antonio's unit handled castle security. Eustea could gather information from just this diary.
The member frowned.
"What's she thinking?"
"She's clear on her learning objectives. All I expect from Antonio's unit is reporting."
And it serves as a thorough report.
"Could she be diverting this info to others?"
"They report to me weekly. If she intended to divert information, she wouldn't."
"Impressive child…."
"But that's not all."
Budanju tapped one diary with his knuckle.
[Antonio ate my meat! It's only been three days since we got meat, how dare he]
The one complaining just now.
The member furrowed his brow.
"Are you saying Antonio's unit isn't being given enough food?"
"It could be that Count San Miguel skimmed funds meant for the barracks."
Budanju never skimped on his units' meals. He ensured meat at least once a day for stamina and rewards.
The member might not have realized, but Eustea noticed the difference in meals between Budanju's subordinates and Antonio's.
'But raising unconfirmed complaints could backfire.'
So if there was truly a problem, the diary ensured Budanju would notice.
The member clicked his tongue.
"She's unbelievably clever…."
But overly clever people are hard to manage—they deal heavy blows if they betray.
'Maybe he'll kick her out?'
The member cautiously looked at Budanju, who scowled.
"She's too kind, too."
"…Huh?"
Budanju sighed. Eustea comes from the House of Andres.
Though abandoned, she'd leave if her father called.
Who would give up a noble inheritance willingly?
But…
'I want her.'
Budanju exhaled.
A few days later.
Looking at the barracks' menu, I smiled.
Budanju had evidently taken immediate action after seeing the assignments.
And naturally, Antonio's unit…
"Because she worked hard on assignments, there's meat every day."
"See? I told you, just trust the little teacher."
They were thrilled.
'Good people.'
I shared my meat with the subordinates tugging at their hair, smiling benevolently.
But something was odd.
'Why are only two holding each other's hair?'
Usually, three would circle and pull.
One was missing.
I asked curiously,
"What about Charlie?"
"He'll come soon. He went to fetch the girls."
"The girls?"
"Yes. They're taking the exam today."
Exam? Only girls?
I pondered, then realized.
'The adopted daughter exam is today.'
The Master wants a daughter, not a son, to avoid succession issues.
Then it happened.
"Antonio!"
A subordinate ran into the dining hall.
"Charlie has been arrested!"
Everyone's faces stiffened. Antonio threw down his spoon and stood abruptly.
"What do you mean? Why Charlie?"
"All the girls Charlie was guarding were kidnapped. Count San Miguel arrested Charlie for this."
"…!"
The atmosphere froze.
'Impossible.'
In the game, this never happened. The girls safely reached the castle and took the exam. Someone other than Marina would have been chosen.
'Why now?'
Antonio dashed out immediately. We followed.
San Miguel Castle courtyard.
People crowded the scene where Charlie was arrested, flattened on the ground.
Watching were Count San Miguel and Marina.
Antonio shouted,
"Charlie!"
"C-captain…."
Charlie looked pale, terrified. Antonio's expression turned cold—his lips split and cheeks swollen.
Count San Miguel, hands behind his back, spoke.
"I had no choice. He rarely opens his mouth."
It was clear Charlie hadn't been harmed in battle but by the Count's doing.
Antonio's unit looked deadly serious. Veins bulged on Antonio's fists.
At that moment…
"Stand back."
Another group arrived—Budanju and his elite subordinates.
Even with Budanju's arrival, Antonio's fury didn't subside.
When Antonio stomped, Budanju swiftly blocked him.
"Step aside."
"This is the Lord's castle. You cannot touch him."
Not only subordinates but other staff were present. If Antonio, a knight serving the Count, touched the Lord, he'd be executed for rebellion.
The Count's plan had counted on that. He smirked.
"The girls vanished without a trace while we looked away. I can't believe it."
Antonio growled,
"You're saying Charlie sold them off?"
"That must be verified. But what to do? The prince's day is coming, and without the girls, the exam cannot proceed."
The Count feigned distress. Behind him, Marina smiled arrogantly.
I realized,
'She manipulated things to prevent anyone but her from being chosen as adopted daughter.'
And involved Charlie to force him to give the desired answer under torture. Likely pointing to Antonio.
'Then Budanju, to protect Antonio, cannot oppose Marina becoming the adopted daughter.'
Others looked confused, whispering,
"Exam? What exam?""To select a girl to serve the prince?"
Amid the chatter, Budanju's expression was ice-cold. He guessed the Count's scheme.
The Count shrugged.
"Marina, you're the only candidate, so prepare to go to Escarlotte."
"I'll do my best, given the responsibility."
Marina smiled at me. I ignored her and approached Charlie.
"Little teacher…"
Charlie, one of the few girls in Antonio's unit my age, was thoughtful and kind.
"I went shopping at the market. It might not be a noble's taste, but it looked pretty to me… Eh, whatever. Here, little teacher, take it."
She shyly mentioned liking the hairpin because of her pretty dress and enjoying my teaching.
I wrapped her cheek with my handkerchief and spoke,
"You can take the exam."
Marina scoffed.
"There's no other candidate. It's none of your business, so step back."
"There is a candidate."
"…What?"
This time, Count San Miguel asked. I looked him straight in the eye.
"She has noble birth worthy of adoption and an education sufficient to serve a prince."
Everyone in the courtyard gasped, understanding my meaning.
As expected, I declared,
"I will be the candidate."
Antonio and Budanju stared, astonished.
Antonio's face was overwhelmed. Budanju…
"I, Lorenzo Worth, nominate Eustea of the House of Andres as a candidate."
I looked at the Count and Marina, thinking,
'The adopted daughter exam begins.'