Volume 4 Chapter 23 – Declaration

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Translated by Rain

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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In front of the main gate of Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment.

Before business hours started, at dawn, it was only natural for it to be generally quiet.

However, the sight of the street in front of Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment’s main gate, which was not just clean but grandly renovated, being completely empty was exceptionally bleak.

“Today is the first day, right?”

At the question of the Special Duty member who was keeping watch at the neat guard post, the colleague who was writing a log under the oil lamp replied.

“That’s right. The construction is mostly finished, and today is practically the opening day of Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment.”

The Special Duty member keeping watch looked at the street.

Although the buildings were packed with oil lamps casting bright light, not a single person could be found on the street.

“…It’s like a ghost street.”

The colleague writing the log chuckled.

“No matter how decently it is decorated, since its master is who he is, it cannot be helped that it is quiet.”

At his words, the Special Duty member keeping watch smacked his lips.

“…It would be nice if some guests came, though.”

“Did you somehow take a liking to the Eldest Young Master?”

“No, it’s not that, but the maids. Considering how hard they worked, I just hope enough people show up to make it feel worthwhile…”

“Hmm… That’s true.”

They were the Special Duty members who had watched most closely as the girls, who were young enough to be their daughters, did their best to prepare.

“…But, it will be hard, right?”

“Probably. Wouldn’t it?”

Just then, two people revealed themselves from the other side of the main road.

“Unidentified identities, two individuals approaching.”

“Surely, are they guests already?”

The two strained their vision to look at the approaching individuals.

A moment later, the Special Duty members sighed.

“…They are indeed guests, but not welcome guests at all.”

* * *

The ones who visited Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment from such an early hour were none other than the two individuals who were having a headache because of Jeong-ah, who had become the Eldest Young Master’s Chief Maid.

The butler of Howon, which the Second Young Master had created to replace the Inner Courtyard.

And a warrior belonging to the Three Absolute Warriors, the personal guard group of the Third Young Master.

Under normal circumstances, they were two people who would not have even acknowledged each other, but the situation was bad.

“…I don’t know what kind of nerve that crazy wench has to ignore several of our letters.”

At the Howon Butler’s words, the Three Absolute Warrior ground his teeth.

“Even if the Head of the Administration Department hadn’t dragged things out talking about procedures and whatnot, it was a matter that should have been settled long ago.”

“It is also a problem that the Eldest Young Master lifted his confinement in that brief interval.”

“Even so, that wench is nothing more than a lowly servant girl. She is someone who must obey when ordered from above.”

“So isn’t it a problem that the Eldest Young Master reclaimed his position?”

“Hmph, our Lord is a far greater person than that Swordless One. He is someone who cannot even be compared.”

“If we only look at the standing within the Main Family, that is a matter of course. If my master, the Second Young Master, properly exerts his political influence, he can adjust the whereabouts of that bitch as much as he wants. However, since he cannot do that, isn’t it a problem?”

“What problem is there in the strong taking what they want?”

“…My mistake was engaging in conversation with a foolish warrior.”

“What?! A skinny weakling who isn’t even worth a single fist…!”

The two, after growling at each other for a moment, sighed and hurried their steps.

Although they were two people who did not think guests would visit someone like the Eldest Young Master from such an early hour, as the matter was what it was, they had to avoid drawing attention.

“…Didn’t you receive instructions from above to just leave that wench alone for the time being?”

“…Did you receive such an order as well?”

But they were two people who did not want to miss a golden opportunity to earn the recognition of their respective masters.

“What is someone like the Eldest Young Master…”

“None of our warriors fear someone like the Swordless One.”

The appearance of the gorgeously decorated street was exceptionally displeasing.

* * *

As the two waited for a moment, ignoring the glares of the two Special Duty members who looked at them with extreme hostility, Jeong-ah revealed herself.

They, who had intended to yell at her the moment she appeared, unconsciously swallowed their dry saliva.

Wrapped in court dress boasting restrained splendor and adorned with dazzling accessories, Jeong-ah boasted a beauty that could not help but captivate anyone regardless of age or gender.

Wearing heavy makeup and looking down at them arrogantly as she took confident steps, one could feel not just dignity and class, but a strange force from her.

And as twenty sword-bearing maids followed behind her and lined up in front of the main gate, even the Special Duty members admired that force inwardly.

“For what business did you wish to see this Chief Maid?”

Her golden eyes stared at the two uninvited guests.

The Howon Butler, who had almost bowed his head unconsciously for a moment, intentionally snorted loudly.

In accordance with what was agreed upon beforehand, the Three Absolute Warrior kept his arms crossed and silently watched.

“It is utterly laughable to see you acting so high and mighty just because your circumstances have improved slightly.”

Jeong-ah replied without even snorting.

“Even so, can I compare to you, who is only acting up by relying on your master?”

As the opponent spoke informally, Jeong-ah immediately replied informally.

She was no longer the Jeong-ah they had seen last time.

“This lowly thing…!”

At her informal speech, veins immediately bulged on the Howon Butler’s forehead.

Before Jeong-ah could say anything in response, the maids opened fire at him all at once.

“Watch your tongue!”

“How dare you speak such abusive words in front of Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment, where the Eldest Young Master of the Main Family resides!”

“Even if it were the Chief Butler of Howon who gives you orders, he would not dare speak so carelessly to the Chief Maid of Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment!”

The Howon Butler ignored those maids, pulled out a fan, and pointed it at Jeong-ah.

“Do you think I would be intimidated in the least just because you drag around mere maidservants?”

Jeong-ah replied expressionlessly.

“You seem to be mistaken, but these maids were not brought out because of you.”

The Howon Butler’s eyebrows twitched.

“I tried to show you some consideration, but if you insist on embarrassing yourself in front of so many people, I won’t stop you.”

“This Chief Maid has nothing to be ashamed of, so do as you please.”

The Howon Butler wore a blatantly despicable smile at the corner of his mouth.

“Do they know that you are nothing but a whore who ran away to Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment after being unable to handle the things you did while tightrope walking between my master, the Second Young Master, and the Third Young Master?”

It was a word that gave a blatant insult.

At the same time, the goal was to create dirty rumors about Jeong-ah among the maids of Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment.

“You went around giving off heat with that lowly body of yours and tempted the two young masters of the Main Family, but when it didn’t work out, you ended up seducing the Eldest Young Master, who is ignorant of the world, to snatch the position of Chief Maid.”

He wagged his tongue and rolled his eyes, quickly checking the maids’ reactions.

“For such a wench to be the Chief Maid serving the Eldest Young Master of the Main Family, it is utterly absurd!”

However, contrary to his expectations, there was nothing more or less than anger toward him on the maids’ faces.

In the first place, there was no way the maids of the maid division would harbor even the slightest doubt toward the Chief Maid trusted by the Eldest Young Master.

Moreover, they were already living together with the Chief Maid and felt very well what kind of person she was.

Jeong-ah waved her hand.

“It feels like my ears are rotting from that filthy mouth of yours. If your business is merely to spout such nonsense, get lost at once.”

It was not just the maids who felt unpleasant, but the two Special Duty members keeping watch felt the same way.

They slithered forward slowly and began to subtly release their presence.

However, knowing they could do nothing to someone who had not trespassed into Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment, the Howon Butler remained nonchalant.

“Though I went as far as to personally search you out like this, in the end, you are digging your own grave.”

He clicked his tongue.

“Even if you are the Chief Maid of the Eldest Young Master, in the end, there is no helping your lowly origin. Don’t you know that if the young masters eventually become angry, transferring the position of someone who is no different from a family slave like you is no task at all!”

He shouted at Jeong-ah, spitting as he spoke.

“You acting up by relying on the figurehead Eldest Young Master, who has no faction or power in the Main Family, will only last until then!”

At his words, Jeong-ah finally burst into laughter.

She was someone who knew what her master had done and what he was capable of doing.

At that clear, ringing laughter, the Howon Butler was momentarily flustered.

“Th-This wench has finally lost her mind…!”

Jeong-ah abruptly stopped laughing and cut him off.

“Dealing with a fellow like you who doesn’t even know the master’s true face is merely a waste of time, but…”

She took a step forward.

“Since there are a few things you are mistaken about, this Chief Maid must personally teach you a lesson.”

As her eyes flashed with a golden glow all of a sudden, the Howon Butler felt a chill and took two steps back.

“First, it is not that I wish for the master to protect this Chief Maid, but that this Chief Maid serves and protects the master.”

As she took another step, the Howon Butler hastily retreated two more steps.

“And second…”

A wicked smile hung on her lips.

“This Chief Maid is no longer a family slave who cannot decide her own whereabouts. My status is…”

She placed her hand on the pommel of the sword hung at her waist.

“A warrior.”

The Howon Butler felt as if he saw her pupils narrow vertically in that instant.

Before he could even reflect on what he had seen, he did not even realize that he was sitting flat on the ground.

“Ugh…?!”

While everyone looked at him with sneers, a hearty laughter rang out.

“How laughable! A mere maid who used to deal with guests thanks to her beauty is suddenly a warrior!”

It was the Three Absolute Warrior who had his arms crossed.

“If you are a warrior, the whereabouts are indeed not an issue. For a warrior has the right to choose and serve a lord.”

Contrary to his hearty laugh, he was clearly enraged.

“…However, if you dared to insult us by falsely claiming to be a warrior, you must be prepared to pay the price, right?”

He gripped his sword hilt firmly.

At the same time, a savage momentum surged from his body.

It was a murderous intent of such magnitude that the maids retreated a step in that instant.

“Wench. If you consider yourself a warrior, you must know, right…?”

In the past, Jeong-ah left the Howon Butler and the Three Absolute Warrior, retreated to the main gate, and benefited from the Special Duty unit.

And the current Jeong-ah smiled coldly and stepped outside the main gate.

“In the Sword Family, the status of a warrior is not given, but obtained by oneself.”

At her words, the Three Absolute Warrior wore a sinister smile.

“You know it well. I, this Three Absolute Warrior, will personally test just how sharp the sword of a bitch who used to charm guests with her beauty is.”

The ones who were rather flustered by that sight were the Special Duty members.

One of the Special Duty members spoke hastily to a nearby maid.

“Although the Chief Maid must have stepped out because she has something she trusts, the Three Absolute Warrior of the Third Young Master is by no means an opponent to be underestimated.”

The maid was nonchalant.

“We know. In the Third Young Master’s personal guard, ‘Three Absolute’ is a title given to one who has mastered three of the five sword stances of the Main Family’s sword technique, Sword Heart, Sword Ring.”

Another maid picked up the conversation.

“We have only made just one sword stance our own now, so how could we underestimate a Three Absolute Warrior?”

At their words, the Special Duty member beat his chest.

“Then why are you not stopping the Chief Maid?!”

At his words, the maid shook her head.

“By ‘we’, I was referring to the maids of Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment.”

At her words, the Special Duty member’s eyes widened.

“Then the Chief Maid…?”

The maids only smiled.