Reader’S Regeneration Life [EN]: Chapter 5

Should I just pretend nothing happened?

If I put on a good act and lower my voice, maybe Count Lichten will see my sincerity and let it slide…

‘Yeah, right.

This body is practically braindead.’

Above all, he values honor.

That’s why he ultimately chose Kim Yu-hyun over his own son, and why he didn’t meet his end at his son’s hands.

Besides, he probably already has a rough idea of what Zion Clausen has been up to.

Even if he doesn’t know about today’s events, he might have secretly had people tailing Zion at other times. If that’s the case, Count Lichten is likely well aware that his son has been forcibly bringing women to do unspeakable things.

Trying to pull a fast one won’t work.

Just like I convinced Kim Yu-hyun and Lucia, I need to come up with the best possible plan that satisfies him and makes sense by talking a good game.

‘Seriously, I’m going to have a brain aneurysm trying to avoid an early exit from this world.’

It felt like going through two or three consecutive 1:1 interviews.

The only difference was that this wasn’t an interview for a job, but one where my life was on the line.

“Father.”

The moment that word came out of Zion’s mouth, Count Lichten’s eyes flickered slightly.

Zion, not noticing the change, continued speaking.

“Trusting that you know everything, I’ll be honest with you.

In truth, I resorted to excessive methods to personally select my direct maids.”

“Direct maids?”

“Yes.”

For reference, in the world of the novel, maids are not just treated like slaves.

They are ‘professionals’ who assist nobles up close and handle all sorts of tasks. It’s not something anyone can do, and nobles don’t entrust it to just anyone.

Some might ask if they also have to provide nighttime services, but if that were to happen and a child were born, it would create a headache for the noble and could become a major weakness in the noble world. Therefore, for most nobles, maids are like ‘pros engaged in a specialized profession.’

“I need to explain a bit more.”

“I wanted to offer the position of maid to those who are unyielding and dignified in any situation.

I wanted to confirm their inherent qualities, not just the dignity they show through words, but the dignity that comes from their actions.”

“…”

Lichten pressed his temples, wondering how to respond to his son’s somewhat absurd words.

Originally, the selection of maids was the responsibility of the head maid, and the final approval was made by the head of the household.

However, there were also direct maids who served only one person. They were individuals who proved their work abilities and character and were able to perform maid duties without the head maid’s recommendation.

However, not just anyone could have a direct maid; only influential figures such as the head of the household or the heir to the family could have one.

“Are you saying that you forcibly dragged women and created an atmosphere of trying to rape them to choose your direct maids?

That sounds very offensive and doesn’t seem right.”

So, he knew.

I almost screwed up by trying to deny it.

Zion, breathing a sigh of relief inwardly, opened his mouth to change Lichten’s mind.

“I am well aware of my mistakes and am reflecting on them.

I plan to visit them later, tell them the truth, and appoint them as direct maids if they wish. If not, I will provide them with sufficient compensation.

Of course, along with my direct apology.

As the ‘heir of the Clausen Frontier Count.'”

The words about appointing direct maids and personally apologizing.

All of them seemed to emphasize that he was the heir to this Frontier Count.

Thanks to that, Lichten had to sigh inwardly.

Until now, Zion had never emphasized his position as heir in front of him.

It wasn’t out of humility but out of a sense of entitlement that it was naturally his.

Lichten had often felt a headache coming on from Zion’s gaze, which seemed to say, ‘Aren’t you going to hand it over someday anyway?’ as he waited to receive it.

It wasn’t good to see him so careless, even though he wasn’t the only son, and there was a competitor, albeit a half-sibling.

‘But suddenly, he’s talking about the heir position and the privileges and obligations that come with it, huh?’

This wasn’t just about waiting foolishly for the Count title but a declaration that he would now 본격적으로 [in earnest] participate in the heir competition!

‘It’s sudden… but also fortunate at the same time.’

Zion had never shown any 모습 [signs/appearance] worthy of the Frontier Count’s heir until he turned 20.

Although the start was quite offensive and displeasing, he hadn’t actually raped any women, and he was thinking of appointing them as direct maids or providing compensation and apologies if they refused, so Count Lichten decided to let it slide this time with a stern warning.

“Zion Clausen.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Never do such a thing again.

This is a warning from your father and also from the owner of this territory.

If you ever do anything that tarnishes the family’s honor again, I will punish you severely.

Do you understand?”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Zion readily accepted Count Lichten’s words, knowing that touching a woman 함부로 [carelessly/recklessly] by modern standards would not end with just a warning.

Of course, Count Lichten was inwardly embarrassed when his son immediately agreed without any complaints.

After clearing his throat, he decided to ask his son another question.

“So, you’re thinking of having a total of four direct maids?”

“No.

Three.”

“Weren’t you going out to do that strange thing again today?”

“That’s…”

Zion was about to answer that he was going to meet Lucia, Raido’s daughter, to talk for a while.

But at that moment, something flashed through Zion’s mind, and he stopped talking.

‘Wait a minute.

Did Zion at this time know that Lucia was Raido’s daughter?’

He was too flustered to think about it when he was comforting Lucia earlier, but now that he had calmed down, Zion felt a chill down his spine.

At this time, the only one who knew that Raido was staying in the Frontier Count was Count Lichten.

Raido, who was originally a court mage, had suddenly left the capital and secretly entered a foreign land, and the one who hid him was Count Lichten.

Of course, Count Lichten wasn’t the type of man to blab secrets to others or have an empty head.

Others didn’t even know Raido’s name, and they only knew him as a strange wizard or a 현자 [sage/wise man] of ridiculous rumors.

‘But suddenly, if my son, who has no interest in territorial affairs or the world, knows Raido’s name and identity, and even knows his daughter?’

It wouldn’t be to the point of being dissected, but it was definitely a suspicious situation.

If a 병신 [idiot/moron] like him knew a secret that only he should know, anyone would give him suspicious eyes.

‘No, wait.

Damn it, wait a minute?

I definitely…’

He had definitely mentioned Raido’s name to Lucia.

He called out the identity of the former court mage, the man whose identity no one but the Frontier Count knew, as if his son knew it all too well.

Zion, who had been blankly blinking, felt his hair stand on end.

Suddenly, he felt a chill down his spine, and the lyrics ‘Something unusual has happened’ came to mind.

It was as if another monster was glaring with its eyes wide open, licking its lips, and running straight towards him.

―――――――――

“So, that’s what happened?”

“Yes, Father.”

Lucia answered in a soft voice.

At her words, the man who was nearing the end of his middle age, now someone who should really be called an old man, stroked his beard and seemed to be thinking hard.

Kim Yu-hyun, watching him, cautiously stepped forward and joined the conversation between the two 부녀 [father and daughter].

“Master.

Have you ever told anyone other than the Frontier Count about your identity or destination?”

“What do you take me for?

A senile old man who can’t even handle his work properly?”

“That’s not it.”

“Even most of the people in the royal palace don’t know that I’ve come here.

At best, only the king, that mediocre prince, and a few 머머리 [balding] ministers know.”

“Then, could Count Lichten have accidentally slipped up to his son…?”

Kim Yu-hyun’s suspicion was quite reasonable, but the man shook his head.

“The Lichten I know would never do that.

He even promised to keep the secret at the risk of his own honor.

Even if a knife were to his throat, he’d rather bite his tongue and die than reveal my identity.

Of course, he loves his son dearly, but he’s not the type of parent who can’t tell right from wrong and acts recklessly or has severe mental retardation.”

The man chuckled and brought the teacup to his lips.

But soon, he was startled by a thunderbolt that struck his ears.

“Father!”

“Puh! What, what is it, Lucia?”

“Can’t you please do something about that way of speaking?”

“Way of speaking?”

“How long are you going to use such vulgar language when you were even a court mage!”

“No, this is just an unavoidable habit…”

It was a 궤변 [sophistry/excuse] that didn’t work.

When Lucia glared fiercely with her eyes wide open, Raido, the former court mage, 깨갱 [whimpered/yelped] and lowered his tail, replying, ‘I understand.’

Sighing at the reaction, Lucia unleashed a storm of nagging, telling him to please act his age, and then 박차고 일어나더니 [abruptly got up] went into the room.

쾅!

“…”

“…”

In the silence that followed, the two men were speechless, like a 꿀 먹은 벙어리 [a mute who has eaten honey – meaning speechless], a 정글러 [jungler – a term from online games] who had been ganked [ambushed].

After a few minutes had passed.

“Anyway, the guy who mentioned my name and the owner of the 개새끼 [son of a bitch] who bothered our Lucia are the same person?

And that same person is Lichten’s son?”

“That’s right.”

“Hmm.”

Raido crossed his arms and fell into thought.

He was eager to get up and tear the knight who had done something terrible to his daughter limb from limb and give the owner a piece of his mind.

But Lucia had already given her father a stern warning.

If you do anything to harm Young Master Zion, I really won’t say a word to you!

Along with a terrifying threat.

In the end, Lucia had retreated after making a vow that he would never do such a thing, but that didn’t mean that Raido could just gloss over this matter.

‘It’s a problem that he bothered Lucia, but he mentioned my identity to Lucia as if he knew it well when only Lichten should know it…’

The owner of the Count’s family, Lichten Clausen.

Raido and he were close 형, 동생 [older brother, younger brother – close friends] who had known each other for a long time, and Raido knew better than anyone that he was a stubborn guy who would keep his promise no matter what.

So, the probability of him breaking his promise and blabbing about his identity was not just close to zero but simply zero.

‘Then the only remaining option is that the guy named Zion Clausen found out about my identity.’

He may live his life without paying attention to worldly affairs, but he was still a man who had been involved in 중앙 정계 [central political circles].

According to the rumors he heard, Zion, the eldest son of the Count’s family, was said to be 영 젬병 [utterly hopeless] in his actions and words, even though he was a strong candidate for heir.

So much so that there were even 개소리 [dogshit/nonsense] that he might be threatened for the heir position by his half-brother, who was only 5 years old.

Zion was already twenty years old, an age when he should have been 낙점 [designated/chosen] as heir long ago, but the fact that Lichten was still reluctant to name an heir made it clear that even talking about it was a pain.

‘That guy found out about this body’s identity?’

At that moment, the corners of Raido’s lips rose upwards.

He thought that Lichten had ruined his farming [peaceful life] for life because he hadn’t properly cultivated his children due to being faithful to his duties as Frontier Count, but he was secretly digging into the ground, taking root, sprouting, and growing vigorously.

“I have to go see him once.”

“Master.

If Lucia finds out about this…”

“Don’t worry.

I’m not going to do anything strange, I’m just going to watch.

I’m going to see what kind of guy he is that he’s doing such 상큼발랄 [refreshing and lively] and 괘씸한 [offensive/unpleasant] things behind his father’s back.”

He’s a guy who has hidden his true self while deceiving not only the various retainers of the family but also Lichten himself.

Raido felt like he would get 종기 [a boil] on his 남근 [penis] if he didn’t go and check out such an amazing 애새끼 [brat/punk] who was right nearby.

‘And.’

And he wanted to see with his own eyes what kind of guy had stolen his daughter’s heart.