TL/Editor: Butter Cat

    Status: 4/week mon-thurs

    Illustrations: none

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    So, shall we quickly take a look back at everyone''s past?

    Don''t want to see it? Look anyway.

    1. (2 Years Ago) — The Relocation Chapter.

    Remi, six months before going to the academy, embarked on a journey to find the last traces of Aris.

    At this time, Saelli had deliciously eaten up everything alone to the point of not even leaving any ‘food’ behind for Aris''s (Alice''s) so she can ‘hand’ call the waiter, and decided to move far away, worried that their hidden shelter might be discovered by the princess and her entourage.

    To Syria Village, within the empire''s territory, far from the kingdom.

    2. Encounter.

    Two years before the main story, unidentified individuals infiltrated Syria Village!

    But they were the main characters.

    There, Alice met Sia.

    Their bond grew stronger during the six months that followed, and Sia''s heart, deeply wounded by hardships and rejection, gradually began to heal...

    Winter came, snow fell, and an unprecedented cold snap caused the tin to crumble.

    The wound that was slowly healing, started to reopen.

    Wide open.

    3. 1 Year and 6 Months Ago (Omitted part).

    Saelli didn''t like the idea of bringing someone else into their home, but knowing that her own sins were far heavier and irreparable, she didn''t object strongly to Alice''s decision to bring Sia back.

    She didn''t like it.

    Really, she didn''t like it at all.

    ''What is this, a parasite or something?'' — A quote from an anonymous person who saw ''someone'' asking for food (Anonymized to protect their privacy). (TL Note: It’s Saelli. She is talking about Sia.)

    Anyway, Sia''s heart, which had been shattered and reduced to dust by Alice''s head pats and affection, started to heal, and she was horrified to realize that she had indeed degenerated into a parasite as Elli, just like Elli had said.

    But she still ate well.

    Very, very well.

    The incident that dealt the final blow to her heart came from Alice''s legendary statement, ''Sis Sia, I''ll earn money and take care of you, so you don''t have to work!''

    She began to question if she’s someone who deserves to be alive.

    She wondered if she should just stick her head in water and die.

    —Creak.

    ''Ah, Sis!! Nooooooooo!!!!''

    Sia, who had been contemplating her worth in life while hanging a rope from a beam, finally surrendered at the sight of Alice clinging to her, crying and begging her to stop. Sia thought she couldn''t go on like this, she had to do something.

    She decided to become a mercenary or an adventurer like in the novels she occasionally read.

    …Though the mercenaries here were quite different from what she had imagined. sea??h thё novёlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    They had cards that, when registered, would be plugged in to a digital system, allowing those who used them to use it at any guild in the world or prove their identity. What kind of cheat is that.

    If such technology existed, it wouldn''t be the Middle Ages.

    If they had that kind of technology, would people be fighting with swords?

    They''d be playing Overwatch in PC bangs. (TL Note: PC Bangs is a word used for Korean internet cafe.)

    Ryuu ga waga teki wo kurau! (TL Note: Phrase from Hanzo, Overwatch.)

    Well, anyway.

    Instead, there were mercenary guilds that held influence over each region, taking on requests, subjugating bandits, and participating in wars between lords on their behalf.

    Think of it like a PMC, you''ll understand better. (TL Note: PMC = Private Military Company. Contracts with armed combat or security services for financial gain.)

    For the record, she also learned swordsmanship from Alice (for six months).

    She cried, lamenting her pathetic self, learning swordsmanship from a child after confidently declaring her ambition to become a mercenary.

    Well, it''s none of my business.

    I don''t know if she even has any pride or self-respect left to lose.

    "That''s too much!!"

    4. 1 Year Ago.

    After six months of learning basic swordsmanship, Sia decided to join a mercenary guild.

    And at her remarkable growth, Alice wiped away her tears with a handkerchief, and Elli, who had the face of a mother that was very pleased to have gotten rid of the freeloader who only ate their food.

    They wished her well on her journey.

    But the path to becoming a mercenary was long and arduous. Naturally, it wasn''t something she could easily achieve.

    But luckily, the guild master of a rising mercenary guild saw Sia and immediately hired her.

    The reason? They said she had talent, or something.

    And so she began her one-year internship as a mercenary.

    And then she thought.

    ''Ah, did they see my talent for dishwashing!?''

    —Clatter, clatter.

    ''Hey, hey, back in my day, I used to, huh!? Swing swords and stuff, uh?''

    ''Hey Han, stop talking and come wash the dishes.''

    ''Ah, shit!''

    Clatter, clatter.

    In fact, they did give her proper combat training.

    5. The Present. The mercenary guild selects personnel for an academy exchange program.

    Considering her age, personality, and character, the guild members decided that Sia was the most suitable candidate and decided to send her.

    In reality, it''s just them dumping the task.

    ''.........''

    ''Raise your hand if you think it''s you.''

    ''.....Ah...Aah....!''

    The truth was, it was a small act of kindness from those who knew that Sia had always romanticized the academy.

    Well, will the day ever come when Sia realizes that?

    At this time, Remi was in the academy... if we had to specify a grade, 2nd year.

    Sia also entered the academy as a second-year transfer student.

    Dun Dun DUUUUN! (TL Note: Dramatic sound effects)

    ***

    I omitted some parts because I thought people might get really pissed off, so.

    I skipped appropriately.

    You guys wanted that too, right?

    No need to answer, mm-hmm.

    If you want, I''ll write it.

    Honestly, looking at it from a distance, I think Sia is the true protagonist of this novel.

    There''s a heroine (who''s like a walking anti-tank mine that chases people while walking, only exploding herself when she gets close to someone) caught in a tragic situation.

    And a tsundere sub-heroine who dislikes herself (and also sometimes eats people. Also tears them apart. Scary.) but also dislikes her

    A coming-of-age story (a heroine''s crisis — though almost all of it is self-inflicted, but that''s just a feeling).

    And in the end, she overcomes everything, and even achieves success.

    Wow, clap, clap, clap.

    If there were a novel starting from Sia''s point of view, it would be really interesting.

    It would be quite a dark novel, though.

    Isn''t it fascinating, to look at it from this perspective?

    Just by changing the protagonist, everyone can watch with a smile.

    Even though only the viewer''s perspective changed, a smile comes naturally instead of tears.

    It''s strange, isn''t it, how only the feeling of ''this would be fun'' dominates the brain?

    But, that''s just how the world is, even if it seems strange.