SWS CH 17

Chapter 17

“How does a place this fortress-like even end up being wiped out?”

[Uuugh!]

“Huh? Junel?”

Now that I thought about it, Junel had been unusually quiet. I hurriedly looked down, only to find Junel crushed in my hand.

Oops.

“Sorry. I completely forgot about you.”

[I almost suffocated to death!]

“You can die?”

[I was speaking figuratively! Treat this body of mine with care, Brinihanta!]

“My name is Halara. Call me Halara from now on.”

[Halara? That’s a pretty name. As expected of the Brinihanta. Even your names are well chosen.

Despite his gruff tone, Junel had a surprisingly gentle side.

Thanks to that, the tension I’d been holding eased a little—

but only for a moment.

“Haaah…”

A deep sigh escaped from my core.

“This is completely screwed now.”

[Halara, by the way, what is this huge situation?! You’re marrying that Docep guy?!

Unlike me, Junel was excited, flapping his wings wildly.

“That’s not happening. I’m a commoner, and he’s a noble. In a society like this, it’s an impossible fate.”

[Impossible? I’ve lived over a thousand years. Want me to list how many loves I’ve seen that transcended status?

“No. I don’t want that…”

Why not? From what I saw earlier, that Docep fellow and even the lady of the house are willing to accept you. And you said you spent a very intimate night together, ho ho.]

Junel blushed and grinned as he clung to me.

“It was just one night. And nothing really happened.”

Probably.

If nothing happened, do you think that stiff brute would suddenly insist on living with you? Do you know how uptight he is? Women were always throwing themselves at him because of that face, but he never once gave in.

“I know.”

Fantasy novel protagonists are supposed to have zero interest in women.

I knew that setting better than anyone.

[A man who only looks at you. A descendant of the prestigious Bloodymary family. His face isn’t as great as mine, but it’s passable. Why would you reject someone like that?

Junel crossed his arms, clearly baffled.

“Junel, you just want to live here, don’t you? You’ve been going on and on about how great Bloodymary is.”

[Ahem! You like it too, don’t you? Wearing expensive clothes instead of rags, eating expensive food!]

For a few days, maybe.

But—

“If I stay here, everyone dies.”

Why? Because you’re Brinihanta?]

I looked at Junel with cold eyes.

What good is living a thousand years if you can’t recognize a family on the brink of destruction?

“No. This family is destined to be wiped out soon.”

Wiped out? What are you talking about?! Bloodymary may be weaker than me, but they’re still solid!]

“They still die. Everything collapses. Everyone dies.”

If I marry in, my already fragile life will only be shortened faster.

[Explain properly. What happens, and how?!]

“I wish I knew exactly. I just know they fall. I don’t know who destroys them.”

Because I never finished the novel.

More accurately, I couldn’t.

I was too busy preparing ancestral rites.

‘I died doing in-law labor, and now I’m supposed to do it again here? Living with the whole in-law family?’

“If the Korean Daughters-in-Law Association found out, they’d stop me immediately.”

[What does that even mean?]

“Something like that. Anyway, I have no intention of getting involved with this family. Just surviving on my own is hard enough.”

I refuse an ending where my head gets cut off like in the original.

I’m going to survive no matter what.

[No!! If Bloodymary falls—!!]

Junel suddenly screamed.

[Halara! For my sake, save this family!!

Spouting nonsense.

“Junel, do you really believe me? I mean… does this even sound believable?”

It was true that Bloodymary would fall, but it shocked me how readily Junel accepted it.

[Of course. There’s no reason for you to lie to me. And the Brinihanta never lie to spirits.

Simply because I was a race that could communicate with him, Junel trusted me completely.

Part of me thought how lonely he must have been—

And then I realized that loneliness was the same as mine.

My chest tightened.

“It’s such a relief I can talk to you. I think I finally understand you too. Keeping this to myself was suffocating. That’s why I want to run away. If I stay here, I won’t get wealth or glory—I’ll just die.”

[You can’t!]

Junel flew around wildly.

“Then what do you want me to do? An enemy they can’t even fight is going to invade.”

[Who is it?!]

“I don’t know. That’s the problem. What do I do?”

[Wait. This body is using its brain for once.]

What was he planning?

If Bloodymary disappeared, Junel would lose a good source of sword aura, sure—

but he wouldn’t die.

The energy of the Kalrai Market and Bloodymary Land would remain.

But I would really die!

Having finished thinking, Junel clung to me.

[Halara. Listen carefully. You must marry Docep.

“Why does it always end like that?”

My fault for expecting better.

It’s not a loss for you. The fact that you’ve survived this long is already a miracle. It’s only a matter of time before your identity is exposed. Do you know how many hidden Brinihanta I’ve seen dragged away and killed?

That… was true.

Unable to calm himself, Junel grabbed my cheeks.

They died horribly! Torn apart like witches being hunted, burned alive —]

“Stop. Don’t describe it. I’m getting really scared.”

[I thought about it. You survived because you lived in Bloodymary territory.]

Because of Bloodymary?

Come to think of it, entry into the duchy is tightly controlled. Past dukes who led countless wars built high walls to block hostile forces, creating today’s isolationist environment.

There’s nothing safer than hiding right here. Isn’t it said the darkest place is under the lamp?

“So what? The family will fall anyway. I’ll die with them.”

[Then we prevent the fall.]

“Why should I? I don’t have that kind of power.”

I might sound cold, but I had no obligation.

My goal was to live quietly, running a small shop.

Playing hero wasn’t for me.

[You have me.]

“Then you stay and protect the family. I’ll leave.”

[No. I need you.]

“Let’s leave together. There are plenty of strong swordsmen elsewhere.”

That won’t do. Halara, if something happens, I’ll sacrifice my life to save you. So let’s stay together.

“You’ll save me?”

With that tiny body… how?

Honestly, if Junel had the power to save the family, why didn’t he in the original story?

[Want me to show you?]

As if he’d read my thoughts, Junel rolled up his sleeves, offended.

I tried to stop him—

I was about to ask him to help me escape.

“Hey! Woman!”

BANG—!

The door was kicked open, and a tall man stormed in.

For a moment, I thought he looked like Nikolai and came bearing good news—

but no.

He resembled Docep and Nikolai, yet was clearly someone else.

Younger, with a mischievous grin.

That useless youngest brat again. Get lost!]

Youngest?

Then that must be Helvern Bloodymary.

[Go away!]

Junel angrily blocked Helvern—

But Helvern, unable to see him, passed straight through and stood before me.

His gaze swept over me from head to toe.

Then his expression twisted.

“Damn. Should I just go ahead and cause trouble too?”

Unlike his brothers, his mouth was completely unfiltered.

I instinctively stepped back.

If someone said Helvern was the real Bloody Mary brute instead of Docep, I’d believe it.

His eyes gleamed dangerously.

“The more I think about it, the more pissed I get.”

He ground his teeth.

A terrifying aura poured out, making my body tremble.

“I—is this because of me?”

I asked carefully under his murderous glare.

I felt like I’d die by his hand before the family ever fell.

“Yeah. Hearing that you’re marrying that bastard just makes me furious.”

“I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“You’re pretty.”

“…What?”

I froze at the sudden compliment.

Thinking I’d misheard, I looked at him—

But Helvern continued.

“You’re famous in the village as the top beauty, right?”

“Uh… well…”

Beauty, maybe not. Seductress, yes.

“Damn it!! That bastard!! I was glad I didn’t see his face lately, and it turns out he was seducing women behind my back!!”

Before I could even finish speaking, Helvern shouted and grabbed his hair.

My ears rang.

It didn’t seem like he hated me for being a commoner—

He was just jealous that Docep was marrying a beautiful woman.

“Um… people aren’t just their looks. I may be pretty, but people say I’m a seductress.”

It was meant as comfort.

Helvern pointed at me sharply.

“Seductress? That’s proof you’re pretty! Pretty women always attract flies. Even if you didn’t want it, men would swarm you and rumors would spread!”

“Huh? No, I really am a seductress.”

“Exactly. The heroine of Anne Canalina was one too. She was married, yet men lined up for her. But a love so desperate it crossed taboos… ahh…!”

At his incomprehensible rambling, I could only scratch my head awkwardly.