Noir von Leonhart was a genius.
More than just a genius, she was a diligent one, always striving to improve.
Possessing extraordinary talent in both swordsmanship and magic, along with elegant black hair and stunning blue eyes, she was also humble, never letting her gifts breed arrogance.
Instead, she strived to be a role model for all, maintaining a cool and composed demeanor.
Drawing upon every popular trope imaginable, Noir was among the top five most beloved characters in the original game.
Beyond mere popularity, her performance as an SSR character remained almost indispensable for an extended period, fostering deep loyalty among her fans.
However, that was the Noir of the main story.
It was a description that bore no resemblance to the Noir of the present moment.
“Hehe, hehehe…”
As Noir lay sprawled on the floor in the dead of night, engrossed in an entertainment novel, not a trace of the dignified princess from the main story could be found.
Her ability to devour secretly acquired cookies without spilling a single crumb, all while lounging about, was nothing short of miraculous.
Had her fans from the original work witnessed this sight, they would have either vehemently protested, crying, ‘This giggling, sprawled-out princess isn’t the Noir I know!’, or enthusiastically defended her, exclaiming, ‘Oh, I adore this different, more casual Noir!’, leading to a month-long conflagration across fan forums.
“Ah, it’s finished.”
[Expelled from the Adventurer’s Party, I entered the Academy only to be discriminated against for being incompetent, but then my stock soared and I acquired a fraudulent exclusive item, causing my old comrades to regret their actions.]
This book, with a title too long to memorize and a content too obscure to grasp, was the novel Noir had recently become utterly absorbed in.
While it was nothing more than a fleeting seasonal trend (TL Note: A ‘hancheol jangsa’ refers to a business or product that sees a brief surge in popularity and profit before quickly fading, often without lasting value) devoid of any literary merit, what did that matter?
All that mattered was that it was entertaining.
“Hmm, there are no more novels left, are there?”
Unable to be away from her duties for extended periods, Noir typically purchased books in large quantities whenever she had the chance.
With the novel she had just finished, her last reserve was gone, meaning she now had to acquire new stories.
“Hmm… I definitely need to buy the next volume of the one I just read, and I should also get the next installments of ‘I Became the Academy Director’s Mother’ and ‘Returned to the Novel, I Became a Grand Star of the Troupe’…”
Although she felt a pang of regret at finishing her current reads, the prospect of enjoying some shopping after so long brought a wide smile to Noir’s face as she eagerly jotted down her desired book list in a notepad.
In an instant, over twenty novel titles filled her notepad, and Noir, anticipating tomorrow with eager excitement, finally surrendered to her bed.
Yet, Noir remained blissfully unaware.
She didn’t know that out of those twenty-plus novels, only three would ever see a next volume.
She hadn’t realized that a ‘hancheol jangsa’ (TL Note: A Korean term meaning ‘seasonal business,’ often implying a fleeting trend that quickly extracts money before disappearing) was a den of those who simply milked money until the season passed, then vanished.
Having only just discovered the world of entertainment novels, Noir had not yet experienced the sting of abandonment.
****
The Golden Festival had begun.
The celebratory fervor enveloped the streets of Phreas.
While obvious, there was a significant difference between merely observing a festival in a game and actually immersing oneself in its enjoyment.
The palpable atmosphere of the scene, the unique characteristics and culture of the region, and the distinct local customs—all these were elements one could never truly experience in a game that merely presented cities as background CGs.
Although Maria had undertaken various missions and traveled through numerous cities over the past year, nothing quite matched the thrill of personally visiting a city depicted in the game.
Seeking out the real-life locations that served as backgrounds for in-game CGs, comparing them to their digital counterparts, and even sampling the foods characters were shown eating—each of these small endeavors brought a unique, understated joy.
“Hmm, this is peculiar.
You claimed this fabric was from the East, yet the flowers embroidered on this silk do not grow in the East.”
“Haha, young lady.
That’s just how Eastern goods are made these days.”
“Furthermore, I specifically requested fabric for a maid uniform, so how am I supposed to incorporate such an extravagantly patterned material into one?”
Yet, exploring a city from the game in reality also brought its share of unfortunate incidents.
With railroads only just beginning to be laid, the public safety in these cities was, predictably, a mess.
It was truly regrettable that they were also rife with merchants eager to swindle outsiders.
In the game, shops would occasionally offer limited-time sales, selling certain items at special prices for a set duration.
However, finding only those who sought to fleece customers in reality felt unnecessarily realistic.
“Moreover, the scratches are quite severe.
Do you genuinely believe this fabric is worth its asking price?”
“Hey, goddammit, are you buying it or not?
And didn’t you make those scratches, young lady?
Looks like you’ll just have to buy it!”
Maria realized he had severely miscalculated.
He had assumed that with the Golden Festival attracting numerous merchants, he would be able to find high-quality fabrics.
Instead, all he saw were unscrupulous traders who had clearly sold their consciences, intent on bleeding outsiders dry.
“Do you have no conscience as a merchant?”
“Conscience, my ass.
I was going to let you off with just buying the fabric, but this won’t do.
Looks like you’ll have to leave all your money here, won’t you?”
‘Sigh’.
It seemed Maria had truly stumbled into the clutches of an idiot.
Even if policing every individual in such a crowded festival was difficult, did this fool not realize that such blatant coercion would swiftly draw the attention of the Leonhart family?
Other merchants, at least, contented themselves with inflating prices or selling defective goods as if they were flawless.
This imbecile, however, didn’t even adhere to that basic line.
As the bald man, whom it was now embarrassing to even call a merchant, gestured with his chin, his formidable guards, who had been standing behind him, moved to block Maria’s escape.
Maria had thought only his head was bare, but he never imagined the inside of it would be equally empty.
A reasonable suspicion arose that perhaps his hair, unable to endure his profound ignorance, had simply cried out in agony and fled his scalp.
“Just hand over the money in your pockets, and we’ll let you go in peace.”
It was a lie.
Maria could immediately discern that the eyes of the hulking men blocking his path were brimming with lechery.
While it was true that in the actual past, the concept of minors’ rights was vague, and even twelve-year-olds were treated as adults, this was not a world from real history, but one from a game.
Although the awareness of human rights might lag behind reality, the treatment of minors was, for the most part, quite similar to the real world.
Frankly, if a game, despite claiming to be a game, depicted a twenty-something man marrying a fifteen-year-old girl, as might happen in actual history, it would undoubtedly draw immense criticism and face legal repercussions.
Even American-made games, known for their penchant for extreme depictions, tended to be cautious about portraying minors.
Thus, it was only natural that Korean games, with their plethora of regulations, would be even more mindful of how they handled minors.
Therefore, these two men blocking Maria’s way were not merely lustful individuals, but depraved bastards obsessed with minors.
Even setting aside the minor aspect, their very actions already branded them as utter scoundrels.
“Are you not afraid of the Leonhart Knights?”
“Hah, do you really think knights would bother coming all the way to this remote corner during the Golden Festival?
We didn’t pick this spot by accident, you know.”
“Hoh.”
So that’s how it is, then?
****
To become a maid, one needed to master an immense array of fundamental skills.
This included not only culinary expertise spanning the globe, but also the ability to perform massages for their master, medical knowledge for when their master fell ill, and proficiency in clerical work to assist with their master’s duties.
Among these essential qualifications, the negotiation skills required for dealing with merchants were also included.
To acquire the best possible goods at the lowest possible price, thereby maximizing profit.
This was not just a fundamental skill for maids, but a basic necessity for any housewife.
It wasn’t for nothing that Maria had taken the accountant and financial planner exams.
Though he had unfortunately failed, his former boss had comforted him, saying there was no need to go to such lengths.
To accept him as a maid, despite his mere hundred or so qualifications, truly showed how kind his previous employer had been.
Though Maria could never forgive how the café’s maids had been perverted before his arrival.
“So, is this all you have?”
“Yes, yes!
That’s all of it!
Truly, that’s everything!”
And so, utilizing the negotiation skills he had honed in his previous life, Maria was able to strike an excellent deal with the bald man before him.
While the quality might not be superb, to acquire so many items and money for free…
Looking at it now, this bald man wasn’t a malicious merchant at all, but a truly honest one who conducted business at a loss.
‘Yes!
A maid who can negotiate with merchants like this is truly amazing ♥’
“Hmm, it truly seems this is all.
It’s such a pity, as finding such a good trading partner isn’t easy.”
“Ah, ahaha.
I-is that so…?”
“By the way, that’s quite a lot of goods.”
The items handed over by the bald man were truly diverse.
As a maid, Maria could not indulge in luxuries, so he intended to discard most of them.
Nevertheless, there were still many items he needed to keep.
“Bokja, swallow them.”
“Hiiik!”
Carrying all of that by hand was simply out of the question.
Maria summoned Bokja, his shadow, and commanded them to swallow the items.
However, Bokja seemed distressed, merely covering their mouth with both hands and shaking their head.
‘Why are they acting like this?
They’re usually such a good, obedient child.’
“Ah, is there perhaps a cucumber in there?”
“Pardon?
Ah, yes… there’s cucumber in the sandwich I packed for lunch…”
“Take it out immediately.”
Hearing the command, the bald man hesitantly approached the bag and pulled out a cute lunchbox adorned with a rabbit.
“There, Bokja.
Swallow them.”
Once Maria confirmed the bald man had removed the lunchbox, he commanded Bokja to swallow the items again.
Only then was Bokja able to consume the merchant’s belongings.
‘Choooong~! Chwing-chwing!’
After swallowing the items, Bokja beamed, showering Maria with adorable gestures.
They were truly endearing.
‘If only they’d eat their cucumbers, it would be perfect.’
