The Romance Fantasy Novel MC is Only Into Me

[Lancel’s Mercenary Guild]

From the moment Merigold arrived at the guild’s main building, her heart beat strangely fast. The closer she got, the worse it became.
“Wow, it’s morning but already there’s a cloud of sweat smell. Just being near makes me feel contaminated. Hm? Miss? Misssss?”
Without a chance to stop, Merigold squeezed through the crowd.

“What? This is a mercenary guild, girls should—Aaaah!”
She twisted back the wrist of the man trying to block her and stubbornly pushed to the very front.
“Cutting in line is bad, miss.”

“Ah.”
Finally reaching the front row, Merigold’s mouth slightly opened.
“Lancel Dante…”

The man she’d seen in her dreams.
He was leaning casually against the reception desk. Thump thump. Her heart pounded harder than ever before.
“Why do you keep paying attention to that man, miss? He’s just an ordinary noble.”

She had no fitting answer.
This feeling wasn’t easily described as like or dislike, affection or aversion.
“You didn’t even know him before. Who exactly is that person?”

“Hmm.”
After some thought, Merigold tilted her head and answered Pinna.
“My husband?”

“...?”
Not exactly wrong.
Even if only in a dream.
“Now, the test begins! One at a time!”

The test started, and Merigold’s turn approached. Her opponent was decided long ago.
“Please, a match, Lord Lancel Dante.”
Whether Merigold would pass was basically a done deal.

Mastering basic swordsmanship meant she had the minimum skills to work as a mercenary.
Her outward posture, unlike before, was admirable—better than most mercenaries.
“Please, a match, Lord Lancel Dante.”

Most of all, her eyes.
Those blazing eyes.
Like cut emeralds, her sparkling irises seemed ready to spark lightning.

Merigold held back words, but Lancel sensed unprecedented passion raging within her.
‘...Wasn’t this her first time this cycle?’
Lancel was momentarily speechless.

Merigold was not a returning player. She had no memories of previous cycles. That much was certain.
So why?
“Please accept. She wants it so much.”

The third prince watching nearby spoke with a slight smile, clearly enjoying the situation.
Hmm.
What was this situation?

“What are you doing? He’s the guild master, not a judge. Hurry over here—”
Lancel raised his hand to silence the judge’s voice.
Without a word, he drew the wooden sword from his waist.

“My lord?”
“That’s enough. Anyone can watch the test. I was bored standing around anyway.”
“Are you sure?”

“Don’t make me say it twice.”
“Yes!”
The judges stepped back.

Everyone surrounded Lancel and Merigold like spectators.
The unexpected turn stirred murmurs.
“A noble fighting with an inn girl? I’ve lived long enough to see strange sights.”

“Isn’t she the maid from the countryside?”
“But isn’t he a knight?”
“So skinny, what kind of knight is he? Probably just got the rank by being in the right place.”

The mercenaries talked nonstop.
“Even if mercenaries are easy targets now, an inn girl acting tough? I can’t stand it.”
“You don’t know anything. That woman’s no ordinary girl. At least a dozen got hurt messing with her at the western inn.”

“What?”
“Is that the woman?”
The mercenaries’ eyes shifted, recognizing a rumor.

“You know Robben who didn’t come today?”
“The one lying down with a twisted waist? Yeah, I know.”
“That’s her doing.”

“Hah. So the story about him falling in the bathhouse was a lie?”
Lancel spun his wooden sword lightly and stepped forward.
“Here’s the deal. If you touch my clothes even once, I’ll give you the Bronze Medal immediately.”

A rank above the mercenaries who start with Iron Medals.
“Touch me even once, Silver Medal. Draw blood even a single drop, Gold Medal. How about it?”
“If I win?”

“If you win……”
Lancel smiled, watching Merigold’s competitive fire.
“I’ll grant you anything you want then.”

“That’s a promise.”
With that, one judge raised his hand.
“Ready, start!”

At the signal, Merigold’s wooden sword traced a line.
Sliding five steps across the floor in an instant, she thrust the sword forward.
Lancel lightly turned his head and dodged.

He was unbothered by her swift movements. The problem was the strange aura from her wooden sword.
‘…Magic power?’
No, that was impossible.

Magic-infused swords were only possible after mastering ‘top-tier swordsmanship.’ Merigold was far from that.
But now, magic power oozed not just from her sword but her entire body. Her hair fluttered slightly in the still indoor air.
Had she suddenly jumped five ranks higher? Even a protagonist couldn’t do that.

Only one possibility.
‘Yuri. That bastard.’
Lancel glanced behind. The third prince stood there, hiding his face behind a wide fan, watching their duel with crescent-shaped eyes.

Feeling the flow of magic, it was clear. The prince’s magic was flowing directly to Merigold.
===========
—Random event triggered! Third Prince supports Merigold. Casts 5th-level magic ‘Blessing.’ Merigold’s stats greatly increase until the prince’s magic is depleted.

※The third prince wants to see guild master Lancel Dante in trouble. Let’s defeat him!
===========
Blessing.

A high-level mage’s blessing pushed Merigold to her limit. The magic power she had was effectively the third prince Yuri’s.
‘All the empire’s princes are crazy.’
Poor Merigold, having to marry one of those. Lancel steadied his stance, thinking so.

“Don’t misunderstand, Merigold. I have no ill feelings toward you.”
He tried to take it easy but—
 
Lancel already knew the third prince’s intent: to size him up.

To see his skill, his hidden power.
Lancel had no intention to play along.
He gathered all his magic inside. From now on, only his body would move.

Swish!
Merigold’s wooden sword sliced through the air.
Lancel deflected the force, stepping back. The destructive power inside could shatter him on a direct hit.

Countless attacks and defenses flashed between them in an instant, too fast to follow with the eye.
“...That…”
Onlookers’ eyes filled with growing astonishment.

Merigold’s fierce sword strikes were impressive.
But more astonishing was Lancel, deflecting all attacks with one hand.
“Even with enough strength, it’s still not enough. You’re not there yet.”

A relaxed smile curved his lips.
“Your stance is empty.”
“Ugh!”

“Stop whining. This time your shoulder’s empty.”
“Argh!”
He lightly tapped her empty spot with the sword tip.

No one here knew how it was possible.
They only sensed Lancel Dante’s mastery of swordsmanship beyond their understanding.
“Hmm.”

As the situation progressed, one man’s smile faded.
Lancel sensed the change and rejoiced inwardly.
‘Did you really think just boosting stats would work, Your Highness?’

Merigold’s power was enhanced by the prince’s magic, meaning it depleted as time passed.
Though the third prince was a magic genius with plenty of mana, it probably wasn’t pleasant.
Lancel was satisfied with that fact.

Swish!
Until a red ring appeared in Merigold’s eyes.
“I’ll go again.”

The tired look °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° vanished from her face. Sweat evaporated into the air, shimmering like a heat haze.
===========
—Event updated! The third prince refuses to let Merigold lose. Casts 7th-level magic ‘Overflow.’

※The third prince’s mana consumption increases significantly. Merigold’s life and spirit drain continuously. Condition drops sharply.
※From now on, all damage Merigold takes is substituted by the third prince’s mana. (Remaining mana 98%)
===========

As expected.
Lancel had firsthand experience with Overflow in a previous cycle. In short, it was terrible.
“Ugh!”

Merigold convulsed under the onslaught of power.
Warmth vanished from Lancel’s eyes.
He had considered losing intentionally to gain favor with the prince—maybe a first step toward becoming future queen.

But he changed his mind.
‘Third prince, you crossed the line first.’