* * *

“I fell asleep while organizing the infirmary.”

Throughout my excuse, the trainees looked at me as if I were an angel who had just fallen to the ground.

“I’ll reflect on my mistake…”

“I’ll also… reflect on my mistake.”

It’s no surprise.

It was the end of the martial arts meeting, so everyone was gathering together.

“Actually, I misunderstood Miss Selina because of that rumor.”

“That’s right. I would have believed the rumor if I hadn’t met you in person like this.”

The rumor that the trainees were talking about was that I stuttered and never wanted to come out to meet people.

Among the trainees, there were also some nobles who were really on probation.

Jenna, the Count Gransen’s daughter, for example.

“Because the Countess only brought her own daughter to the banquet and never mentioned Miss Selina.”

“Yes, I suppose so…”

I responded back with a sad smile.

As if I couldn’t say it with my own mouth, I looked away and pretended to shed tears.

Everyone knew I wasn’t Camilla’s biological daughter.

It was also self-evident that she, who had already received the title of Count Crowford family head, had no reason to be nice to me any longer.

“Oh my goodness.”

“Then the rumor means…”

I smiled and pointed to the potion tray, continuing to act as if I were a noble lady who works hard despite her pitiful circumstances.

“Should we then finish what we were doing? There are still people in prison who needs our additional help!”

“Yes, of course!”

A smile I saw through the closing door came to mind as I made my way to prison with the other trainees.

‘Why hasn’t the man escaped yet?’

He is totally capable of doing so.

* * * * *

“Because he doesn’t have anywhere else to go.”

The question was easily resolved when I asked Franz.

“Who, by the way, would accept a Toono from a martial arts competition? Except for the Holy Knights.”

His oily lips glistened with greed.

It was because of the pork sausage I had secretly obtained.

After seeing that, Franz hardened for five minutes as if in agony, raised a long prayer once, and then went to eat in the closet under the stairs.

‘Such a cute guy.’

Franz accepted the freshly prepared sausage.

I wasn’t going to force him to take it if he refused.

Well, I could understand him a bit as I was unable to eat meat for a month here.

However, I will be returning to the countdom soon, so the exhausting vegetarian diet will be over.

I also gave him the sausage I was going to eat.

“Eat this as well.”

“A-are you sure?”

Franz accepted the sausage quickly, fearing that I would change my mind.

“How did you get this, Miss Selina? You’ll be in big trouble if you get caught.”

It was given by a male servant.

The sausage offered by the servant was filled with the unspeakable innocence of an adolescent boy.

But I was afraid he’d get in trouble, so I quickly said, “I just got it somehow,” and changed the topic.

“But wouldn’t a Toono who did well in the martial arts competition receive offers from everywhere? First and foremost, he is strong.”

“Would you, Miss Selina, hire such a person to the countdom?”

It’s fine if it’s the guy in the quarantine room.

But it’s a different story if it’s The Raven.

That’s exactly what Franz said.

Because Toono is a dishonorable title, no nobleman will sign a Toono as a knight in their name.

As a result, it was impossible for a Toono to join the Knights or Private Corps, even as a servant.

“Neither will the mercenaries accept one. Who would put their trust in such a person and entrust the quest to them?”

Prisoner of war.

The armed forces.

Criminals.

When I remembered Toonos’s origin, I felt suffocated, as if a stone had been placed on my chest.

I assumed the mercenaries would gladly accept those people.

Even if they accept them, they’ll just ask them to do dirty things.

“Toonos has no morality, no loyalty to the empire, and a very fierce personality.”

It’s an undeniable fact.

“I’m sure they’ll always cause trouble wherever they go.”

“……” I know the man in the quarantine room is not a vicious person, but when it comes to Toono… he has no choice but to be prejudiced.

‘That man, he’s even harmed a priest before.’

Why was he imprisoned in the quarantine room in the first place?

‘I keep sympathizing with him because of his face. Selina, get a hold on yourself.’

Looking at Franz eating sausages next to me, it appeared that this was not a particularly vicious world.

But there’s something I’ll never forget.

That this world is a lawless haven for those rogues, and that I am their living prey.

* * * * *

I’ve avoided the quarantine room on purpose since then.

It was an unavoidable situation, but I regretted leaving the man in prison and walking out alone.

But I’m afraid the man who’s surviving alone in the dark won’t make it to the end… It was frightening.

“It’s not long before I go back to Crawford’s countdom.’

That’s how I endured until the day of the final.

Not only did I confirm that I possessed divine power, but I also obtained a Magic Stone with an infinite lifespan.

I even made connections with a high priest.

My original goal was achieved after a lot of hard work.

“It’s dinner time.”

I pushed the meal into The Raven.

This has been my duty for the past few days.

I volunteered because none of the trainees wanted to run to him.

“Enjoy your meal.”

Because this could be your last meal.

I didn’t have to say it, but it was something The Raven and I both knew.

Tomorrow is the final day.

In his seated position, however, he showed no signs of fear.

He appeared relieved, perhaps because of the deep smile on his face, as if he was completely devoid of victory, defeat, and life and death.

I was so taken aback that I spoke impulsively.

“What’s your name?”

The other prisoners glanced in this direction.

Because of some situation, I haven’t asked his name.

‘Since today is the last day.’

Regardless of how long I waited, The Raven did not respond, instead he just laughed.

I could see all of his molars because he was laughing so hard.

‘Only his mouth laughs.’

With his fierce gaze at the air, he appeared unwilling to respond, so I handed over the potion without further questioning.

‘It’s creepy.’

If he was Valhail, I vowed not to meet him until he was released from prison, joined the Holy Knights, and completely exorcised the demons.

* * * * *