The Mad Princess's Tale of Doom and Survival

 

TL note- Hello, dear readers! It’s Nosha, Astel was chick before transmigrating! Sorry, for assuming her gender wrong. It was not clear in raws at first…

 

 She unfastened a few buttons at the back of her dress and pulled it to the side, revealing her bleeding shoulder.

 

  “Phew…”

 

  The wound was a result of her attempt to save Alex.

 

  However, she couldn’t show her injuries in front of the hunters. She needed to demonstrate their contrasting abilities to gain their trust and unite them under the guild.

 

  ‘When facing a powerful crazy person, it’s terrifying, but when they’re on your side, they become the most reliable.’

 

  However, when Duke Luteous smelled blood, the reason she passed it off as a lie was instinct.

 

  Because being in pain was a weakness.

 

  Over the past 21 years, Astel had suffered enough from her own weaknesses.

 

  As the one who possessed her, Astel would no longer be susceptible to others.

 

  “I’m lucky that the dress is black.”

 

— Anonymous Holy See: That annoying bastard.

— Anonymous Holy See: It seems like there’s always at least one person like that on every channel. It’s like some kind of natural law.

— Anonymous Holy See: So disgusting. Can we start the exorcism?

— Anonymous Holy See: Should we bring all the viewers of that idiot’s broadcast here?

— Anonymous Holy See: Maybe they’re not such a bad person? They didn’t even know about the core in the Queen’s eyeball, right?

— Anonymous Holy See: ┗ you mean Alex’s , please refrain from doing that here.

 

  “I apologize for the exaggeration. And please don’t get involved with other broadcasts. If the idiot… I mean, Alex finds out, it’ll become even more troublesome.”

 

  I took out a healing potion she had received as a donation from the storage box and carefully applied it to my wound.

 

  “Ah… it’s stinging.”

 

  As I held the potion, my hand trembled. The sensation was a result of absorbing a significant amount of mana from Arondite.

 

  Although Arondite had a reputation for being a glutton, it had become more challenging to manage compared to my previous life.

 

  This issue extended beyond Arondite alone.

 

  ‘It’s as I expected, the efficiency is too low with just the first awakening.’

 

  Awakenings were categorized into two stages.

 

  The second awakening wasn’t particularly remarkable, except for its ability to combine special moves without requiring formulas.

 

  This was achievable due to a substantial increase in mana efficiency.

 

  If the first stage was akin to a car running 10km with 1L of oil, the second stage was like covering the same distance with only the same amount of oil.

 

  ‘In terms of cost-effectiveness, it’s incomparable.’

 

  The disparity between the first and second awakenings was so significant that hunters eagerly awaited the second awakening.

 

  With a stroke of luck, it was even possible to climb up 100 ranks in the rankings.

 

  This was an achievement that couldn’t be attained through any item available in stores.

 

  Especially for users like me who heavily relied on mana-consuming special moves, the second awakening was crucial, if not mandatory.

 

  The problem lay in the requirement to gather all the fragments of memory to make it happen…

 

‘But I can’t give up like that.’

 

  There was another reason why I had to undergo a second awakening.

 

  To maintain my rank as number one.

 

  ‘What? Am I losing confidence?’

 

  Just wait and see. I’ll secure the top rank until I’m old and gray.

 

  “In return, next year’s contract will start with a triple increase in the base salary!”

 

  I grumbled at this, then opened a flashing message box in one corner.

 

 

  “That’s settled. Next.”

 

 

 

 

  “With this, the second one.”

 

  When I selected [YES], everything in front of me blurred into white.

 

* * *

 

  “Ah… my shoulders.”

 

  My whole body was sore.

 

  I never felt it during training, but whenever I finished for the day, I would involuntarily groan in pain.

 

  There wasn’t a single elderly person suffering from arthritis like me.

 

  I’m only 19 years old, what’s going on?

 

  “Just endure a little longer. Once I win the medal, this tiresome life will come to an end.”

 

  The intensity of my Taekwondo training had drastically increased as the Olympic participation drew near.

 

  However, giving up was not an option for me.

 

  I had already sealed a verbal agreement to join the national team if I could secure a medal in the upcoming Olympic Games.

 

  Fortunately, I had a proven track record of winning a gold medal at the World Taekwondo Championships.

 

  Furthermore, I was regarded as a promising contender for a gold medal in the Olympics.

 

  “Just win the medal. Then I can finally leave this wretched orphanage together with Shinwoo.”

 

  For 16 years, starting from the age of 3, I had been residing in the orphanage.

 

  No other child had stayed there longer than me. I was treated as an outcast, practically.

 

  Shinwoo, a 16-year-old boy who arrived at the orphanage when he was 5, was particularly susceptible to illnesses. He frequently fell ill and easily developed fevers.

 

  As a result, despite his doll-like appearance, he remained unadopted.

 

  The caregivers at the orphanage held a dislike for Shinwoo due to the extra attention he required.

 

  Eventually, the director entrusted Shinwoo to my care.

 

  Everyone had to contribute in their own way, and my role was to look after Shinwoo so that the caregivers wouldn’t have to bother with him.

 

  That was the principle I consistently emphasized, even when he frequently spat and threw tantrums.

 

  Hence, I would assist Shinwoo with his morning baths and read bedtime stories to him at night.

 

  I would stay awake throughout the night to attend to him when he fell sick.

 

  Whenever Shinwoo faced scolding from the director and refused to eat, I would secretly bring him food from the cafeteria.

 

  Except for the time I spent going to school, I was always by Shinwoo’s side.

 

  After living like that for eleven years, it would be strange if we hadn’t developed a strong bond.

 

  Before I realized it, Shinwoo had become like a little brother to me.

 

  Initially, he would reluctantly follow me, but eventually, he started eagerly following my lead.

 

  “What makes a family special? If they care for me as much as they care for my own body, then they are family.”

 

  That’s why it was an easy decision to leave the orphanage together with Shinwoo.

 

  Even though we weren’t blood-related, I couldn’t even fathom the idea of being separated from him.

 

  They say that if you become an Olympic medalist, you receive a pension. Can’t just one person take responsibility for that?

 

  “If I join the national team, I’ll probably receive a salary too…”

 

  Even though it might be challenging for Shinwoo to get married, he had confidence in at least going to college.

 

  “Before I leave, I’ll give that despicable director a good punch.”

 

  That director, the lunatic who treated innocent children as his personal punching bags.

 

  I’ve endured his blows on multiple occasions.

 

  Suddenly, I had a growth spurt and started learning Taekwondo, and eventually, the beatings ceased. But until then, I would release my anger every day.

 

  “That’s all in the past now.”

 

  Recently, the director had been tormenting Shinwoo as if holding a grudge.

 

  During the last visit of the director’s daughter to the orphanage, when she followed Shinwoo around, he mercilessly kicked her away… It seemed like that incident triggered some hidden resentment.

 

  Instead of that, the director should properly educate his own daughter.

 

  “Imagine him rushing in and scratching my face just because I didn’t pay attention to him. His father is crazy, and he’s just like him.”

 

  As I arrived at the orphanage with a bag of candies to give to Shinwoo, Hyewon came running out.

 

  Hyewon, a first-year high school student, also takes care of the children after school like me, acting as a “Unnie.” {Older sister}

 

  That’s why I had asked her to look after Shinwoo until the Olympics were over.

 

  “But there’s something strange about her expression…”

 

  I noticed a sense of unease in Hyewon’s expression and inquired.

 

  “What’s the matter?”

 

  “Unnie, Shinwoo was called to the director’s office.”

 

  “Why?”

 

  “He… he spat during mealtime.”

 

  “Is Shinwoo upset?”

 

  “Well, he’s been like that for a few days now.”

 

  “What? He seemed fine when I checked last night…”

 

  I muttered absentmindedly and bit my lip.

 

  ‘He’s hiding it again! Probably because he didn’t want to burden me while I was busy with training, even though he’s in pain.’

 

  Shinwoo was the type of child who would smile and say it’s okay if I gave him just one candy, even though he was suffering.

 

  He never showed his pain visibly.

 

  There were often instances where he endured and endured until he collapsed, only then realizing that he was truly in pain.

 

  That’s why I was trying to be as attentive as possible, but lately, my focus had slipped due to training.

 

  “Medication? Maybe I should try giving him some fever-reducing medicine.”

 

  “That’s what I had planned… But the director didn’t grant permission.”

 

  “That despicable bastard!”

 

  I hurriedly ran to the director’s office and forcefully swung the door open.

 

  “Director…!”

 

  Suddenly, a strong gust of wind blew.

 

  The director’s office was dimly illuminated.

 

  Thanks to the street lamp outside, I could observe that the window was shattered. The wind was entering through it.

 

  Who could have broken it? That wretched scoundrel is probably having another tantrum.

 

  “Damn it. Can’t see a thing. Let me turn on the lights, Director.”

 

 However, instead of reaching for the light switch, I stood frozen in place.

 

  Something eerie was swaying in front of the director’s desk.

 

  It resembled the haunting image of a person hanging by the neck.