Chapter 17
Douglas Kim.
One of the eight S-rank Awakeners Korea has produced, and a founding member of the 'World Nobles Council.'
...And a man who suddenly made his presence known when the Gates were publicly announced.
He has many secrets.
First, there's his combat ability.
Despite his size, he's known to prefer speed-based combat, but his actual combat type has never been revealed.
The nobles who formed raid parties with him have maintained nothing but silence about him.
Why don't they say anything?
If an S-ranker wants to keep something confidential, then that's simply how it is.
By the same logic, everything from his basic profile—height and weight—to his wealth and education is shrouded in mystery.
It's even unclear what he did before the Gate era began.
Why does he hide himself? Only he and God know.
The most secretive man in Korea.
Douglas Kim.
......In fact,
none of that is particularly important.
There's another reason people talk about him so much.
'If I sit one out, someone else will handle it.'
That was the doctrine he openly spouted in front of reporters.
Extremely reluctant to suffer losses, he doesn't even go to the front lines because he hates seeing his ‘equipment' get damaged in battle.
He was a man steeped in extreme selfishness and individualism.
The only time he ever mobilized was when an AAA+ or higher top-tier Gate opened.
Then why did he face top-tier Gates?
Was he afraid the world would be destroyed?
Or did he secretly care about people deep down?
Of course not.
For one thing, the other family heads moved as well, and for another, there was far more to gain than to lose.
The runestones and items that emerged from top-tier Gates were simply that valuable. Other people's lives had never even entered his calculations.
Of course, the word 'noble' is supposed to mean something when nobles protect people with their overwhelming power.
That was why public criticism was so fierce toward him for refusing to deploy even when a Gate was on the verge of a dungeon break.
'An old man who cares only about glittering treasures. Where has his duty as a noble gone?'
That was the public's assessment of him.
***
......But!
What was with that innocent expression?!
"Hahahaha!!!!"
I was bewildered.
A man known to be a cold-blooded individual who didn't care about anyone else was bouncing around like a child who had received a birthday present.
And with that build and appearance, too.
'While holding me...!'
"Agh...! Gasp! F-Family Head! P-please stop...! Stop!!"
Why was he shaking me so hard?! Was I a mortar or something?
I was so dizzy that I felt like I was going to throw up the delicious meal I'd just eaten. I couldn't put any strength into my shaking limbs.
Apparently oblivious to my low rank, he was shaking me as if he intended to dislocate every joint in my body.
Seeing this, April opened her mouth.
"Family Head, you'll break the child you went to all that trouble to bring here. You should put the child down now."
"Hmm...? Whoops! I suppose you're right."
Douglas's eyes widened, and he froze in place.
Then he slowly set me down and covered the crown of my head with one large hand.
"Yes... Are you hurt anywhere? You must have worked hard handling such a major matter so far from home."
I hadn't been hurt—I had nearly died. Just now, right here, because of him.
"I-I'm fine. Haha..."
Douglas began examining me through narrowed eyes.
"Your complexion doesn't look very good, though. Hmm... April."
"Yes, Family Head."
"Did you do something to this child on the way here? I heard you got out of the car along the way."
Wait, why was the blame being shifted over there?
This wouldn't do.
April had certainly been rude to me, but whatever the reason, it had happened because of me.
I couldn't cause her trouble over something like this right from the start.
'Of course, she doesn't know I'm to blame...'
Still, what if they started treating me like a nuisance? I quickly spoke to Douglas so April wouldn't get in trouble.
"I told Big Sister April that I wanted to take a walk! I'd been cooped up after spending too long on the plane."
"I see. ...Yes. Transportation from the old era is cramped, too. Running is faster, after all."
Douglas stroked my head, clearly empathizing with me.
At the same time, he seemed to be studying my hand intently. The innocent look from earlier had completely vanished, replaced by a serious gaze.
'So he's heard everything.'
I was certain of it.
He had clearly mentioned something about a monster as soon as we met. He had even looked slightly flustered after saying it himself.
The excessive welcome I'd received compared to what I'd heard, along with the excitement that had made him slip up like that, made it clear that he knew about my unusual nature.
He turned his head and spoke.
"April, you worked hard bringing her here alone. It would be nice if all your siblings came out to greet her like you did, but why do they all pretend to be so busy...? Tsk, tsk."
"There have been more Gates lately. There are five maze-type dungeons that need to be dealt with today alone, so everyone's quite busy."
April answered with her characteristic sociable smile. Douglas smiled proudly at her.
"Hahaha, yes, you've always covered for your siblings like that. Not flaunting your achievements—truly the daughter of this Douglas Kim. Take good care of your new youngest sibling just as you are now."
"Understood, Family Head."
April answered with her arms crossed. As she did, she slowly bowed her head.
I slightly opened my mouth when I saw it.
'Wow...'
Though she was in the same pose as I was, she exuded an entirely different elegance.
A smile as beautiful as an angel's, reflecting the sunlight.
The dignity that radiated from the tips of her fingers clearly suggested that she had lived a life entirely different from that of a commoner.
......Was I supposed to do that too someday?
"Then show her around."
"Understood."
Douglas left me with someone and turned away.
A woman in a black uniform knelt and bowed to Douglas as he walked away.
She appeared to be in her early thirties. Once Douglas had moved farther away, she slowly stood up.
Then she bowed to me with her arms crossed as well.
"My name is Han Jihye. From now on, I will be the attendant serving Lady Raebi."
"Ah, hello..."
At that moment, something suddenly climbed onto my left shoulder.
When I turned around, April was slowly shaking her head with her eyes closed.
"April...?"
"Nobles don't bow their heads to commoners, Youngest."
"Ah, I know that, but..."
It's just so burdensome! I hadn't lived as a noble.
‘Is there no way to make an exception for me?’
I moved my lips soundlessly and gave April a troubled look. Her expression changed.
"Don't tell me. ...Sigh—Youngest, this is an inviolable rule of nobility. Surely you didn't decide on the adoption without anticipating even this much change, did you?"
"......."
I quietly lowered my gaze.
It was difficult.
From the outside, people might chatter about nobles and such, but up close, I realized they, too, lived under constraints of their own.
I'd decided to accept this changed world... but I was beginning to think that things wouldn't be easy from here on out.
'Still, this was my choice.'
Nothing in this world comes free, Raebi.
After steeling myself once more, I looked at Han Jihye. She still had her arms crossed, so I spoke to her calmly.
"......Please take good care of me, Ms. Jihye."
"The pleasure is mine."
Only then did she straighten up. Apparently, she couldn't uncross her arms unless a noble accepted her greeting.
......She's been trained well.
She had bowed to a little kid, yet showed no sign of wounded pride whatsoever.
Unlike my past self, who would have mocked it as strange, she seemed to have adapted quickly within just a few years, despite her age.
‘Maybe I was the one who got left behind...’
At that moment, April poked me in the forearm.
"Then I'll be going now. I suppose I'll see you at the welcome party tonight."
"There's a welcome party?"
"Hehe, of course. Ask the attendant for the details."
"Ah, right. Understood. Thank you for bringing me here, Big Sister!"
April nodded elegantly, then turned away. Thus ended my first meeting with the inscrutable woman.
'Still, she didn't really seem like she was being sarcastic or anything.'
There had been a chill in the air when we got out of the car earlier... I hoped her current attitude would last.
"Shall I escort you, then?"
"Yes!"
Afterward, I followed Han Jihye. There was a car waiting for us in advance, but I declined.
I wanted to get a sense of the island's layout, and more than anything, the vehicle's design made me uncomfortable.
'A carriage-style vehicle, seriously...?'
Its appearance reminded me of a medieval noble's carriage. Just looking at all those elaborate gold decorations was overwhelming.
It was an extremely open-air vehicle permitted only within Noble Island... At the very least, I couldn't ride in it dressed like this.
"Th-the island's bigger than I expected. I heard it was tens of thousands of pyeong."
But I immediately regretted my decision. The distance was farther than I'd expected.
Han Jihye's expression had seemed slightly strange earlier, but now I understood why.
Han Jihye answered me with a bitter smile.
"The island covers more than 80,000 pyeong. I'm not a manager or a gardener, so I don't know the details, but I heard it's at least a kilometer from the far end to the entrance."
"Whaaat...?"
O-one kilometer?
"H-how could an area that large even...?"
"Hehe... Amazing, isn't it?"
"......."
It wasn't merely amazing.
Even if they'd used prefabricated construction and prepared everything in advance, how could an artificial island this large have been completed as soon as the Gates appeared?
......These people definitely had something going on. Now that I was finally here, I would find out.
I began bombarding Han Jihye with questions. I thought she'd find it annoying, but fortunately, she took it all in stride, even calling me cute.
"This is the place, Lady Raebi."
By the time I finished prying into this and that, we'd arrived at the mansion entrance.
The place where I'd be living wasn't the main building but an annex. More specifically, it was the smallest building, exclusively for 'adopted children.'
Han Jihye led the way to my room, where I was confronted with a scene straight out of a movie.
'Wow... There's a building inside the building.'
The interior was so clean and beautiful that it was difficult to describe, with a lofty ceiling and spacious rooms.
There were also a dozen or so mysterious rooms, along with a kitchen.
It was such a luxurious place that it was impossible to believe one person was supposed to live there.
Pointing at the people lined up in the center of the room, I asked,
"Who are those people...?"
"They are the temporary attendants who will serve Lady Raebi."
"Temporary?"
"Literally. Dismissing me requires the Family Head's permission, but you may dismiss them at your own discretion. In addition, bringing other commoners in from outside is also at your discretion, Lady Raebi."
......Oh-ho.
As I approached, the four attendants crossed their arms one after another.
"I am Anna-ri. I'm a D-rank Hunter assigned to guard Lady Raebi."
"I'm Kim Daeseok. I'll be serving as the chef."
"I'm Kang Hana. I've been placed in charge of Lady Raebi's education."
Anna-ri... She looks young too. Is she a high schooler?
Kim Daeseok has a swarthy, neighborhood-big-brother sort of vibe.
Kang Hana gives off the impression of a glasses-wearing student at a prestigious university.
After taking in each of their characteristics, I opened my mouth.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Raebi Na, and I'll be joining you all starting today. I look forward to working with you."
"""We look forward to working with you!"""
The introductions ended with that mismatched chorus.
But then,
“Wait a moment!!!”
Huh?
From the entrance, I saw a familiar tall man running toward us.
'Team Leader Ahn...?'