The Villain Wants to Change Genres

Chapter 31

“I know. I’ve grown a lot, haven’t I?”

Luwen, who stood up with me, suddenly put his face close. Wondering why he was doing this, I watched quietly, and he smiled prettily.

“See? Even when standing, I’m exactly the same height as you, young master.”

Then he raised his hand and moved it back and forth over my head and his own.

I chuckled and lightly tapped Luwen’s forehead, careful not to hurt him.

“Are you happy about that?”

“Yes. I’ve been hoping for this since I was little…”

“Oh, Luwen. No. Go to the bed, to the bed.”

His eyes started to flutter, and then Luwen suddenly collapsed, leaning on my shoulder.

Oh dear. I thought he’d hold out a bit longer, but it’s faster than expected. Is he particularly susceptible to the drug? I didn’t know since I’ve never given him anything like this before. Still, it should be fine since I used a type that doesn’t linger in the body. The problem is that I need to move the child to the bed.

“Luwen… You’re heavy…”

I must be being punished. But now was the time I needed to move alone.

* * *

After struggling to move Luwen to the bed, I was completely drained. I caught my breath for a moment, then finished the rose tea I had left, and groomed myself in front of the mirror. I gathered my disheveled hair and tied it back, tidied my clothes. Finally, I took out a bracelet, put it on, and left the room.

As I was leaving the main building to go to the east wing, I encountered a knight patrolling along the garden. He looked me up and down, then passed by with a sneer.

If he were our family’s knight, I wouldn’t have let that slide, but these were mercenaries disguised as regular knights. And low-quality ones at that. They were all disposable pawns in the 1st Prince’s scheme. It means they’re pitiful figures who will be swiftly eliminated later to destroy evidence.

‘Daring to mock me without even knowing they’re already set for their funeral.’

Moreover, they’re useless to me because they don’t know anything. Unlike the Kans people I’m going to meet now.

In the next life, live as a good person. Or at least pretend to be good like me.

I hurried my steps, needing to return before Luwen wakes up. As I walked alone, I couldn’t see a single servant except for the regular knights. I wonder if they’re all hiding somewhere. They’re probably wary since these men are fundamentally different from the family knights they’ve seen so far.

But most of the family knights have been mobilized for the subjugation, and since these were sent directly by the 1st Prince, there’s nothing that can be done. If they were rashly driven out, the 1st Prince might apply a charge of insulting the royal family, claiming he felt disrespected.

The 1st Prince can’t act recklessly against our family either, but a duke isn’t higher than a prince, so it can’t be helped.

It took twice as long as usual to reach the east wing because I avoided encountering the unpleasant regular knights. Of all places, why hide in the east wing?

Just as my legs were starting to ache, I saw the stables. Right next to it stood the hay storage, which was my destination. Due to managing the knights’ horses as well, an enormous amount of hay was needed, so it had been expanded to two floors. The Kans were hiding on the second floor of this hay storage.

Creeak-

The unoiled wooden door opened with a noise. Thanks to the high-quality hay we feed, a sweet smell of earth and grass wafted thickly. Moonlight brightened the interior through windows left open for ventilation.

Step by step. I moved between neatly stacked hay bales. Although the moonlight helped, it was still somewhat dark, so I carefully climbed up, holding onto the stair railing. It would be ridiculous to lose face by falling.

Standing on the second floor, I dusted off my hands and looked around the relatively wider space compared to the first floor. There seemed to be no one.

However, they would be hiding behind the hay piles I couldn’t see, suppressing their presence. I spoke in a cheerful voice towards them.

“Welcome to the Vinter Duke’s residence.”

It’s quiet. This is awkward. But you didn’t know I was coming, right? You’re acting calm despite being surprised.

“I am Fei Vinter.”

As soon as I finished my introduction, I felt a cold sensation on the nape of my neck. It also felt a bit stinging.

A moment later, with a tick-tick sound, sparks flew from all directions, and suddenly the surroundings brightened. It was thanks to the Kans holding torches.

When did they surround me like this? Four sword blades were crossed, pointing at my neck. It seemed like my neck would be cut if I moved even a little, no, didn’t it sting earlier? Is it already cut?

Still, I know they won’t kill me. Why else would I have greeted them with my full name? Once they know who I am, they can’t help but think of the consequences. Besides, they only agreed to a deal to “steal one item from the duke’s residence.” And that too, because they were cornered with no choice.

Thanks to the brightened surroundings, the Kans’ faces were clearly visible. They all had their foreheads wrapped in cloth.

Kans refers to those branded as criminals on their foreheads. If Irene hadn’t saved him, Luwen might have become a Kans too. Because he stole bread. If not forgiven by the victim, they’re immediately branded.

And these people had formed groups hiding in the mountains because they couldn’t live in cities or villages due to their criminal mark. Since they couldn’t engage in legitimate transactions, they naturally turned to plunder as their livelihood. So, you can understand them as something like bandits.

As I just stood there blankly, murmurs spread among the Kans. Soon after, the sound of snapping fingers was heard from somewhere, and it immediately became quiet.

This group had particularly high loyalty and obedience towards their leader. That’s why I decided to twist the entire incident instead of choosing the option of taking the blade for Luwen. I just need to persuade the leader.

Thump, thump.

Heavy footsteps broke the silence. The menacing figures blocking my view parted to the left and right. The person who appeared between them was a man with a commanding presence that seemed to say, “I am the Kans leader.”

Ignoring him, I rolled my eyes. Among the scarred, burly men was a rather nimble-looking person. A man with a scar on his right eyebrow, long braided hair, holding an axe larger than himself. That was the real leader.

I waited until that person looked at me properly, and when our eyes met, I smiled brightly and said,

“That’s too much, boss. I came here to save your lives, and this is how you treat me?”

Let’s have a peaceful conversation. A conversation that will benefit both of us.

Perhaps because his identity was instantly seen through, the leader shot me a rather fierce glance.

What. Why. What are you going to do by glaring? I stiffened my neck and waited for an answer with a confident face. But the leader remained silent. Is he trying to have a battle of wills with me?

I may act nice because of Luwen, but I’m not someone to be intimidated by mere presence. Feeling mischievous, I relaxed one leg and tilted my body askew. Immediately, I felt the blade touching my neck hastily retreat. Clang- The blades collided, making a metallic sound.

I smirked at the one who withdrew his sword, then looked back at the leader. This doesn’t threaten me. You know you can’t kill me. I wonder if he noticed the meaning of my performance.

The eyebrow with the long vertical scar twitched. Then, as the leader raised his hand, all the sword blades pointing at my neck disappeared.

Oh. Looks like he caught on.

“Dicky! Don’t move!”

Suddenly, the Kans leader raised his voice. At the end of his gaze was a man with scars all over his face. Among the already large and presumably sweaty Kans, he was the most sticky-looking man. Unlike his appearance, his name had a rather cute sound, which made me feel even more annoyed.

So, the reason the Kans leader suddenly introduced one of his subordinates to me was because that man called Dicky had lunged at me. Despite his size, he was surprisingly agile and reached right in front of me in an instant.

But Dedric is faster. Dedric’s sword is hard to see, you know. Do you know how fast our Luwen is now?

Although I couldn’t attack, dodging wasn’t difficult. I lightly twisted my upper body, letting the sword pass through the air. Belatedly, a few strands of my hair fluttered as they were cut.

How annoying.

“Stop him!”

Thanks to the Kans leader’s shout, the result of the failed first attack was miserable. Dicky was pinned to the ground, pressed down by his comrades.

I picked up a sword lying on the floor and held it to the neck of the arrogant Kans bastard.

“You dare to cut my hair, which is more precious than your life?”

This is the hair that Luwen grooms for me every morning. If you’ve committed a mortal sin, you should be punished. My sword rose into the air with a swoosh.

However, before it could touch the ground, it was deflected by a massive axe.

“I’ll punish my own subordinates.”

The leader who blocked me said, setting the mood.

“Of course. I was just trying to scare him a bit. I can’t kill people. It’s scary.”

Ah, my wrist hurts. I raised my clean hand and grinned.

By the way, why does it seem like no one believes me? It’s true. My hands are for saving people, not for killing. I was just going to drop it next to his face.