Chapter 79
* * *
The following days of the journey were smooth.
Or more precisely, it seemed that way until they crossed the rugged mountain slopes that marked the border between Jungwon and the Northern Sea Province.
“Huh?”
Yerin, who was stifling a yawn inside the carriage, suddenly lifted her head.
Doyul’s gaze had become sharp as well.
“Do you hear that sound?”
“Yes. It seems to be the clashing sound of swords and armor.”
From a distance, faint but distinct sounds of metal colliding could be heard.
Yerin leaned her head out of the window without hesitation.
“What’s happening right now?”
In the unrefined appearance of Kamo, who lacked any sense of dignity, the agent replied with a troubled expression.
“Kamo-nim, it’s dangerous to stick your head out like that.”
“Oh, I see.”
Yerin withdrew her head with a perplexed expression.
Then she asked again.
“So, what exactly is happening up ahead?”
“We are currently investigating, but…”
The agent, clouding his words for a moment, cautiously continued.
“There seems to be some conflict up ahead. It appears to be the work of Nokrimchae….”
“What? Nokrimchae?”
Yerin’s eyes widened.
Nokrimchae, or the Alliance of Thieves Seventy-Two, was essentially a coalition of bandits.
In the past, Yerin had encountered and destroyed many Nokrimchae while wandering as a mercenary.
“But were there originally Nokrimchae in this area?”
Doyul asked with concern.
Maintaining the security of the Northern Sea Province was the responsibility of the Northern Ice Palace.
Naturally, as the lord of the palace, Doyul had to respond sensitively to such matters.
“Well, originally, there weren’t any.”
“But now?”
The agent hesitated before speaking cautiously.
“It seems that there is some kind of dispute up ahead. It looks like the handiwork of Nokrimchae….”
“It seems that recently there has been an increase in people moving around, especially those from the upper ranks. It looks like they are being targeted.”
Yerin’s pupils sparkled with that response.
So, in other words.
The Northern Sea Province was originally such a desolate place that there was no need to patrol the mountains and resort to robbery.
But now, the land had become quite livable, and with upper-class individuals occasionally passing through, it seemed that Nokrimchae had established a branch in this area as well.
“Haha, it was worth running around until my feet sweat!”
This was the pride of the nation, or rather, the pride of the Northern Ice Palace?
Yerin had to hold back the corners of her lips that were trying to shoot up into the sky, using all her willpower.
“No, I shouldn’t be too cocky.”
Even though she was someone like the Kamo of the Northern Ice Palace, she shouldn’t act too brash.
Yerin smoothed out her expression and spoke.
“We cannot allow harm to innocent civilians. Go and resolve the situation.”
“Yes, Kamo-nim!”
“We will follow your orders.”
The agents, with refined manners, rushed towards the commotion.
Watching their backs, Yerin clenched her fists tightly.
‘Great.’
Wasn’t I just like a proper Kamo just now? Right?
But then, at that moment.
– Contractor.
The Eternal Ice, addressing Yerin, sounded disdainful.
“Well, what is it?”
Yerin turned around, startled.
The Eternal Ice, with narrowed eyes, clicked its tongue.
– You’re really immature…
“Why, what, why!”
Blushing, Yerin raised her voice.
“Yeah, so what?”
Doyul, who was watching Yerin exchanging banter with the Eternal Ice, just chuckled and nodded.
“As long as my wife is happy.”
Somehow, Doyul had become quite laid-back since his retirement.
* * *
The agents went ahead to assess the situation, and Yerin and Doyul’s carriage followed behind.
And the scene they encountered was…
“Wow, it’s really Nokrim, huh?”
It was indeed a typical Nokrim scene.
They held crude axes in their hands, and wore rough-looking attire made from fur and hide.
It seemed like they had occupied a carriage…
Clang, clang!
The sound of metal clashing was loud.
“Don’t let them push us back!”
“Protect the carriage at all costs!”
The warriors were fiercely fighting against the bandits.
The bandits shouted with a glare in their eyes.
“Hand over everything you’ve got!”
The skills of the warriors were commendable, but the problem was that their numbers were significantly fewer than the bandits.
In the face of a frontal assault, they could only be pushed back.
“Oh, Nokrim causing trouble right at the doorstep of the Northern Sea Province.”
While watching the scene, Yerin couldn’t help but feel a pang in her chest.
“The Northern Sea Province has grown so much…!”
Of course, it’s too harsh to expect anyone to be moved by such a grim atmosphere.
But still, what can you do about being moved?!
At that moment, the bandits seemed to notice them and swung their axes in their direction.
“What are you guys again?!”
“Don’t move!”
“Before I cut your throats!”
The bandits glared with both eyes.
However, Yerin’s attention was more drawn to a woman being pulled out of a carriage in the distance than the bandits in front of her.
‘Who is that woman?’
Yerin widened her eyes.
Long, flowing black hair and skin as radiant as jade.
Her moist eyes were like jewels in themselves.
She was truly a woman to whom the clichéd expression “stunningly beautiful” perfectly applied.
“Wow.”
“This woman seems quite valuable, doesn’t she?”
The bandits were captivated by her beauty to the point of savoring it.
The warriors, who were fighting desperately, urgently shouted.
“Lady, young lady!”
“These guys, can’t you release her right away?”
Wait.
Yerin froze in place.
Young lady?
The widened eyes focused on the woman who was struggling in the grasp of the bandits.
‘Isn’t that name the protagonist’s name from the original work?’
No, it’s not time for Jo Young-joo to appear yet, right?
Was the name Young-joo so common?
Nevertheless, upon hearing the name Young-joo, Yerin reflexively moved.
“Mi… Mistress!”
Doyul urgently called Yerin’s name.
Yerin immediately leaped out of the carriage and rushed into the midst of the bandits.
Thud!
Yerin landed on the ground like a bird.
She swung her sword high.
And…
“Ugh!!”
The bandit who was holding the woman staggered backward.
Thunk!
The bandit rolled on the ground like a disconnected wooden puppet.
“Ugh, cough…”
Struggling to breathe properly, the bandit held his chest, which had been struck by the sword.
Whether he liked it or not, Yerin turned to look at the young lady.
‘Oh no.’
Internally, Yerin clicked her tongue.
The young lady remained seated, unable to control her body properly, looking quite shocked.
She must have been very surprised.
“I’m sorry for showing you a rough sight.”
Yerin tried to comfort the young lady.
The young lady quickly shook her head.
“N-no, but more importantly, the soldiers…”
Her voice was like silver beads rolling on a silver tray.
Yerin marveled inwardly.
‘Wow, even her voice is pretty.’
However, sadly, Yerin didn’t have the luxury to engage in a calm conversation with the young lady presumed to be the protagonist.
“Profit, this woman!!”
A bandit attacked from behind.
Without even looking back, Yerin swung her sword again.
“Ack!!”
The sharp blade echoed through the air.
Simultaneously, the people from the Northern Ice Palace surrounded the bandits.
“Mistress!”
Doyul raised his voice loudly.
“How many times have I warned you not to rush out like that!”
“Oops. I’m sorry, Lord of the Palace.”
It couldn’t be helped. It seemed that the young lady, who was presumed to be the protagonist, was in danger, so Yerin unconsciously rushed out.
Yerin just smiled casually.
‘…Lord of the Palace?’
For a moment, a chill ran down Yerin’s spine as she met the young lady’s eyes.
Here, at the border adjacent to the Northern Sea Province, there was a young man referred to as the Lord of the Palace.
And the fact that this young man called this woman his mistress…
“Are you okay, soldier?”
At that moment, a voice interrupted Yerin’s contemplation.
Yerin was extending her hand to the young lord.
“Oh, yes.”
The young lord, hastily nodding, took Yerin’s hand and stood up.
Having brushed off the dust on her hem, Yerin flashed a bright smile towards the young lord.
“Since the situation is urgent, shall we first subdue these bandits and then continue our conversation?”
“Yes, yes…”
After that…
The situation unfolded swiftly.
The people from the Northern Ice Palace quickly captured the bandits and extracted information about their base. Then, in the blink of an eye, they advanced towards the Nokrimchae.
“Oh, no.”
“Can this really be happening?”
In the blink of an eye, they pacified the entire Nokrimchae, leaving the young lord, as well as the guards accompanying the young lady, completely stunned.
Among them, the first to regain composure was the young lord.
“Now is not the time for this.”
“Miss?”
“We should express our gratitude.”
With a determined expression, the young lord approached Yerin.
“Um…”
“Oh, yes.”
Yerin, who was observing the situation, turned to the young lord with a smiling face.
“Thank you so much for saving us. We are truly grateful for your great favor.”
The young lord bowed his head appreciatively.
“I am Jo Young-joo from the Jo Yangpyo Kingdom.”
I knew it…
Yerin sighed inwardly.
She had half-expected it, but now it was confirmed. She was indeed the protagonist of this world.
Jo Young-joo.
A woman with both beauty and talent, responsible for managing the branch of the Jo Yangpyo Kingdom.
‘But… Something seems different from the original work.’
————————————————————————————————————-
Translator Note:
Hello there! This is Sid. I hope you liked it<3
Next post will be released on February, 15.
Want to read more?
https://www.patreon.com/srnovels
