Chapter 13: Being Target [First Arc Complete]
"If you are a good trainer, there is nothing to worry about. It was just a small incident. If you understood why I was concerned about my friend, you'd help with the investigation, right?"
"Yes."
The atmosphere had made it impossible to refuse.
I felt trapped. There were no bars, no guards, but an invisible pressure had kept me frozen.
'Was that woman fully aware of the situation? Was she waiting for me to confess?'
"Verdia. The trainer has given his permission. May I confirm a few things?"
"Y-yes."
Even Verdia had seemed uneasy about her friend's strange behaviour.
That look in her eyes—
For the first time, I had felt that Ariella was truly frightening.
What was she going to ask for?
A handstand 3P position that only a skilled trainer could pull off?
No, that had just been my imagination running wild.
"Show me your licence."
"Excuse me?"
I had been so caught off guard by the reasonable request that I stupidly asked back.
Ariella calmly extended her elegant hand.
"Your training license."
"…"
My heart had pounded.
Was this actually a world where you could get a license to train?
I had tried to calm down and think it through.
Maybe she was trying to see how I would react.
There was no such thing—but she wanted to make me believe there was.
"I don't really understand what you mean…"
I had pretended to be clueless.
Then, seeing a slight shift in their expressions, I had quickly added, "What kind of trainer carries that around?"
"Hmm??"
Ariella had withdrawn her hand.
"You're right. I just asked to be sure."
Thank goodness.
I had barely gotten away with it. Even if training licenses existed, I wouldn't have carried one like a business card…
Having narrowly avoided the crisis, I smiled and said,
"Whoever reported me, Lady Verdia was very satisfied with my services. The Lord also trusted me."
"The four great families were the most honourable protectors a trainer could have."
Who had reported me?
There had been no need to think hard. In that world, only one person had hated me enough to report me to Ariella.
Fiona Arente.
'Did she say I fucked her?'
That couldn't have been it.
If she had really believed that, she wouldn't have invited me here.
Should I have stayed confident and trusted Verdia?
'I'll prove that I'm an excellent trainer. How about making Lady Verdia squirt right here?'
"Huh? What…??"
Verdia had fidgeted, looking nervous.
"What's squirting…? It sounded rude just saying it…"
I had said it that way on purpose.
I had needed to cover it up somehow.
Verdia had already told Ariella enough about me.
I could push this far.
Ariella had remained unfazed, no matter what I said.
I hadn't been able to tell if her expression had changed at all.
I had started to understand what kind of person she was.
She could put on a show, but inside, she was ice cold.
Cold and ruthless.
She hadn't let her personal feelings interfere with her work.
If I had stayed silent, she probably would have cornered me until I confessed and begged for forgiveness…
I had grabbed Verdia's hand.
"Tr-Trainer. In front of Ariella…"
"Let's show her."
"Wait!!"
Ariella had stopped me.
"Ariella…?"
"You don't have to show me."
Verdia had looked happy, as if she was more relieved than I was.
"Then…?"
"I just had one question before you left. Was that okay, Trainer?"
"Yes. Ask me anything."
"What was your brand?"
…Brand?
Burning Vengeance, Brand?
(It had been a reference to League of Legends.)
But I didn't think that was the kind of brand she meant.
"…"
"You weren't going to say you didn't have a brand, were you?"
I was running out of time.
It was the worst kind of question, because even a delayed response could make me look suspicious.
Without thinking, I blurted out whatever my dick told me to say.
"MILF Hunter…"
"Huh?"
"I was a MILF Hunter."
After a short silence, Ariella burst into laughter and covered her mouth.
"Ha ha!"
"…"
Shit.
I wanted to headbutt the window and jump out.
Verdia tilted her head and asked, "What's a MILF?"
"Wait a minute. Ahaha."
"Ariella, don't laugh by yourself. Tell me too!"
Whatever happened, happened!
"Yes, I was a MILF Hunter!"
It was humiliating, but seeing Ariella clutching her stomach and laughing made me feel a bit better.
Yeah, so what if it was embarrassing?
At least I could remember her bouncing breasts for a little longer.
"That was a really unexpected answer."
"…"
I should've said cougar hunter at least…
I liked both cougars and MILFs, but the problem was, the words had just slipped out before I could make them sound better.
"I thought there was a slight possibility…"
Ariella muttered to herself.
What was that supposed to mean?
She suddenly bit her lip when our eyes met.
"As expected, it wasn't you."
"Excuse me?"
"I'll be off."
"Ariella, let's have a meal together."
Verdia tried to stop her, but Ariella stood up as if she didn't want to speak anymore.
"I had a meal yesterday, so maybe next time."
I couldn't help but notice her bouncing chest as she walked away.
Did I pass her test?
After she left, I looked at Verdia.
"Would you like to have a meal with me?"
"Yes?"
Verdia responded with an awkward expression, as if she had just received a strange proposal.
"Ah, having a meal just the two of us was a bit…"
"…"
What?
Did she reject me because of her husband?
I stood there momentarily stunned, not expecting such a clear rejection.
"I'm sorry."
"No…"
"I'll see you later."
Verdia also left.
'What the…??'
I felt uneasy and disappointed as I stood there alone.
I had a bad feeling, like something terrible was happening somewhere far away.
Verdia, the woman I had just slept with, now seemed distant.
Her cold attitude embarrassed me more than I expected.
Was she saying that she only wanted sex from me?
How could she?
My thoughts were a mess as I returned to my room to come up with a new plan to sleep with Verdia again.
'Training? What was that?'
I might have been a slave here, but I had been doing just fine in the modern world.
It had been my job to turn down women who asked to sleep with me for just one night.
Geum Taeyang's addictive body—once someone experienced it, they couldn't forget.
One day, as I pondered the reason behind my peculiar talent, I came to a conclusion.
I was destined to hunt down women of the MILF variety.
Even the proud and noble women of this world were no exception.
If training wasn't enough, I would use my Mindbreak Breeding Thrust to make them unable to live without me.
It sounded ridiculous, but for me, it was that easy.
Starting tomorrow, I planned to put all my effort into conquering Verdia's heart and body.
Back in my room, I ate a warm dinner and went to sleep.
And then—
"One… two!"
A sudden shock hit me like a hammer.
"Ugh!"
My back felt like it had shattered.
When I opened my eyes, I realized I had been tossed outside like garbage.
Two soldiers looked down at me with awkward smiles.
"What are you doing?" I asked, still in a daze.
I recognized them. We had become somewhat friendly after what happened with Verdia.
"Sorry, it's the Lord's order. We don't have a choice."
"You've been exiled, starting today."
"What?!"
I sprang to my feet in disbelief.
There was no way Vatino would do this. We shared a secret.
"Let me speak to the Lord!"
The soldiers blocked me firmly.
"Don't bother. He won't see you."
"Verdia!" I shouted.
"This guy's causing a scene!"
A punch landed in my gut, knocking the wind out of me.
I rolled on the ground, stunned.
Why?
"You're just a slave now. Get it through your head. Be grateful we even treated you like a person until now."
Something had gone terribly wrong.
When did I step on a landmine?
The only person who came to mind was Ariella.
But she had smiled so beautifully…
Damn it!!
That smile wasn't because she liked me. She had been mocking me from the beginning.
Fueled by anger, I stood up.
"Let me speak to Ariella."
"Back off! Come any closer and we'll stab you!"
I stepped on the tip of a guard's spear and pushed forward.
"What?!"
I punched one of them square in the chest.
The force of my bare fist against iron armor left him groaning in pain.
Blood dripped from my knuckles as I walked forward.
"Don't stop me. If you do, someone's going to die."
"What was that?"
"Is that martial arts?"
"Martial what?"
"If you don't want to be hit with a spinning kick that rotates 960 degrees, then stay out of my way."
Of course, I couldn't actually do something like that.
But it worked.
The commotion drew even more guards to the castle gates.
"Damn it…"
I was really in trouble now.
With no other option, I grabbed a spear from the ground and took a deep breath.
If this was the beginning of my MILF conquest in another world, then starting with a 17-versus-1 showdown wasn't a bad way to go.
I wasn't salt—I wouldn't dissolve and disappear that easily.
It was only when things turned out like this that I realized how angry I truly was.
Then I saw her.
Ariella walked down the hallway, accompanied by guards.
Even at that moment, my eyes couldn't help but notice the movement of her chest.
"Ariella!" I shouted.
"Stop that man!"
I swung the spear to block the guards and ran toward her.
"Lady Ariella, get behind me!" one shouted.
"No, behind me! I'll protect you!" yelled another.
As if they could protect her from me.
Ariella looked at me, then sighed deeply.
"Move aside."
"But, Lady Ariella…"
"I said, move. I'll talk to him myself."
"Understood."
They obeyed instantly.
She had the authority to command soldiers from another family.
'Ariella really was someone special.'
I dropped the spear without hesitation.
I wasn't here to fight. I just wanted answers.
"What's going on? Why am I being exiled?"
She didn't respond.
Damn it!!
Was this really all I could say to her?
She looked at the wall, indifferent, then finally raised her eyes to mine.
"Are you done talking?"
"Answer me."
"Call me Lady Ariella."
"Why should I—"
"Call me Lady Ariella."
"Don't take your anger out on me. I'm not interested in you, and I don't hate you either."
That hurt more than I thought it would.
"This is about qualifications and proof. You don't have either. So you're leaving."
Her words struck like a blade.
It was a fair price for what I had done, but…
"You didn't have to kick me out like this."
"I spoke to Lord Vatino last night. We made the decision together. There's no going back."
Just like that?
I couldn't believe it.
"Did you really think you were special?"
She finally dropped the mask.
"You were just a lucky otherworlder."
Her words lit a spark of defiance inside me.
What about Verdia?
Even if she didn't want me anymore, wouldn't she at least try to settle things properly?
It was better to face rejection than to be thrown away without explanation.
I took a deep breath.
"Where's Verdia?"
"She's in the garden. Go see her."
Ariella spoke coldly, like someone brushing away dirt from their clothes.
"Lady Ariella!" the guards shouted.
They hadn't forgotten who their real master was.
"That man might hurt Lady Verdia."
"We can't predict what he'll do!"
"Who said you could interfere?"
Ariella shut them down immediately.
"You think Verdia can't handle him just because of her feelings?"
They fell silent.
"You don't know your master very well."
I rushed past the guards and headed straight for the garden.
"Verdia!"
The maids turned and whispered to each other.
This place, which had felt like home, now felt like a cage.
"Verdia!"
She looked startled when she saw me.
"Verdia, I'm sorry for deceiving you!"
I bowed my head.
"Please leave."
"I'm sorry, but please… let me stay and work here. I won't cause any more trouble."
"I'm sorry."
Her rejection made me gasp.
"Verdia, you need me too!"
I reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Kya—kyaak! Fiona!"
Fiona appeared out of nowhere and stabbed me.
"Argh!"
Blood gushed out.
She hadn't held back.
"Ugh!"
Verdia shut her eyes at the sight of the blood.
Fiona, having waited for this moment, wiped her blade clean and glared.
"Stop whining and get out."
"Don't interfere!"
"Interfere?"
"Verdia hasn't said anything yet!"
When Fiona looked at her, Verdia turned away.
Then she faced me and said, "Mr. Taeyang deceived me. You deceived me. That is the undeniable truth."
I couldn't find the words.
"As a woman of the Chartreuse family, I am ashamed of what happened with you."
"Verdia…"
I felt hollow.
Was this really the end?
Verdia's voice trembled.
"It's Lady Verdia, Mr. Geum Taeyang. Please don't address me so casually."
My sex life with a MILF crumbled before me.
I laughed bitterly.
"You're more blunt than I thought."
"If you say another word—"
Fiona walked over, sword still dripping with blood.
"Cut me some slack. I feel like I'm going to faint."
"You won't die fast enough for me."
I tried to move, but my body gave out.
"Hmph."
Fiona, satisfied with the sight, sheathed her sword.
"Get him out of Lady Verdia's sight."
"Yes!"
I was thrown out of the Chartreuse estate again.
In the end, I was left with nothing but pain.
The ground was cold.
I knew that all too well.