Translator - Zofu
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In the end, Round Two never started.
While Hildear trembled and finished at the sight of his erect cock—hard and ready for a third round—the queen had sent a maid to check on the delayed pair. Unfortunately, Hildear had been so entranced by his cock that she hadn't even closed the door, leaving the maid to stumble upon them in flagrante delicto. The maid shrieked in horror and fetched the Royal Guard and the Palace Watch.
And thus, a huge commotion erupted.
"I... I am truly sorry. I don't know how I can atone for this sin..."
Hildear knelt on the floor, pressing her forehead to the ground.
Before her stood Queen Sharperia, her face flushed crimson with fury as she seethed.
"This is unbelievable! How could a knight of the Royal Guard do such a thing! And to a Hero Candidate, no less! It would be a grave crime even against a commoner—how could you, Dame Hildear!"
Si-woo watched the scene, thinking he'd never been scolded this harshly even after losing battles. No, in reality, he'd never been reprimanded this severely at all.
No matter how strong Hildear was, she couldn't win every battle. In the First Round, she'd lost to demons a few times, and while the old king—not Sharperia—had been angry, it ended with just a pay cut and a warning.
But the current atmosphere suggested this wouldn't end so simply.
"Was it really that serious a crime?"
He didn't think so.
Perhaps this Reversed World was far more different from the original than he'd imagined.
The maid who'd come for them was proof enough. If the genders had been truly reversed, it should've been a manservant, not a maid. Yet a maid had come, shrieking for the Guard. Moreover, not a single man had responded to the maid's screams among the Guard or Watch.
"So men are rarer than I thought. And even in a Reversed World, women's personalities seem pretty similar to those in the original... I've got a lot to learn about this place."
"And Dame Hildear. Why are you only apologizing to me? Isn't Candidate Si-woo the one you wronged, not I?"
"Th-that is..."
When Hildear hesitated, Sharperia grew even angrier and stomped her foot on the floor.
"Dame!"
"Argh! I-I'm sorry, Hero Candidate Han Si-woo!"
Finally, Hildear turned and pressed her forehead to the ground toward Si-woo, who stood to the queen's right.
"I'm fine. Rather..."
He turned his head and glanced at Sharperia. Sensing his gaze, the queen instantly softened her expression as if she'd never been angry, replying with a gentle smile.
"What is it, Candidate Si-woo?"
"Dame Hildear... was it? What punishment will this knight face?"
At Si-woo's words, Hildear's body flinched. She realized her fate now rested solely in Si-woo's hands. Even if he demanded a brutal punishment, the queen would likely grant it. Her furious demeanor had been excessive, after all.
Though men were precious and heroes were esteemed, most candidates were mediocre at best. Every six months, the Goddess summoned fewer than fifty heroes. Some were men, some women. But truly useful heroes were few and far between.
But Si-woo was different.
The incredible sight of him climaxing twice and getting hard for a third time in under ten minutes. In that rapturous moment, she'd unknowingly trembled and finished herself.
And what about his size? She hadn't seen every man's equipment, but she could swear none were as magnificent. Length, girth, scent, shape—everything was perfect.
Clearly, the queen had recognized his talent early on and was putting on an exaggerated act to win his favor. The room assigned to him proved it.
"Normally, this would end in dismissal... but if Candidate Si-woo desires a particular punishment, we shall oblige. You are the victim, after all."
Just as she'd expected, the queen spoke coldly.
"Ah... what's going to happen to me?"
Hildear pressed her forehead harder against the floor. She felt terrible for her mother, the Guard Captain, who was on leave preparing for her younger sister's coming-of-age ceremony back at their estate. And for her sister and the rest of her family. But she had no regrets. Even if it happened again, she'd definitely suck the Candidate's cock.
"Just tasting the future great hero's seed is worth it. Whatever punishment comes..."
But what came from Si-woo's mouth was unexpected.
"By dismissal, you mean kicking her out of the Royal Guard?"
"Yes, that is correct. How..."
"Then just give her to me."
"...What?"
The queen, the other guards, Geum Tae-yang who'd been watching from the side, and even Hildear with her eyes shut and head bowed—all went wide-eyed. And everyone except Hildear stared at Si-woo.
"W-well, what do you mean..."
"From what you said earlier, it seems heroes need companions. I'll take her as mine."
"As your companion?"
"Yes. Is there a problem? A knight of the Royal Guard must be fairly strong."
"W-well, Dame Hildear is strong, but..."
Sharperia's eyes darted around. Was there any reason to refuse Si-woo? No. In fact, it would benefit the kingdom. Even if Palania was the nation that summoned him, heroes officially belonged to no country. They typically operated in nations that treated them better or where their companions originated. To have a Palanian knight as a companion was a stroke of incredible luck.
The queen barely suppressed a twitching smile as she asked him.
"Are you certain? If Dame Hildear causes another incident..."
"It's fine. I can handle it."
"Ah, how magnanimous..."
Sharperia gushed as if looking at the kingdom's savior. Soon, she cleared her throat and continued.
"Very well. I shall transfer Dame Hildear to your service. However, you must inform me if anything happens."
"Of course."
Han Si-woo beamed, matching Sharperia's smile. The queen showered him with praise, calling him truly remarkable and extraordinary. It was enough to make anyone blush, but he just kept smiling.
But his inner thoughts were nothing like the magnanimous image she imagined.
"A legal slave—fucking sweet."
Hildear was a talented young knight, beautiful and skilled. She could easily reach Master Class in the future. Even in a Reversed World, talent was talent.
"Hildear's worth a spot in the party."
"I... I truly thank you, Hero..."
Hildear was already on her feet, tears streaming down her face. That face somehow reminded him of her expression when she'd been struggling not to gag while sucking his glans, and his lower half grew stiff again.
"Ah, fuck. What the hell? Why's my sex drive so high? Was I really this healthy back then?"
Just then, Geum Tae-yang Kim Jung-kyung, who'd been watching from the sidelines, approached Si-woo.
"Whoa, awesome. Dude, you're pretty badass, huh?"
"Huh? Well, I guess."
"Who the fuck does this guy think he is, acting friendly."
Kim Jung-kyung was already an annoying, disgusting bastard etched into his mind. They'd never been close in the First Round—just constant conflicts. Starting the Second Round with that negative impression, Si-woo couldn't like him even if he wanted to. Especially since he was Geum Tae-yang—a blonde, tanned delinquent. As a normal guy, his natural wariness made him hostile.
"So what'd she do that was bad enough to make a knight into a slave? Huh? Tell me too. Gotta share the good stuff."
"What the fuck is this lunatic saying."
His way of talking was irritating enough, but calling her a slave right in front of Hildear? She kept a straight face, but Si-woo himself was pissed.
"Hey."
"I'll tell you this and that... Huh? Hey? This bastard's crazy..."
"Why don't you shut the fuck up? And who said she's a slave?"
"Huh? Shut the fuck up? You stone-headed bastard... And that blue-haired knight bitch next to you. If she's not a slave, what is she, you prick."
Si-woo's shoulders trembled. Kim Jung-kyung flinched, thinking Si-woo was about to throw a punch, and raised his arms in defense.
But Si-woo's arms went not for Kim Jung-kyung, but for Hildear.
"Eek?!"
He grabbed Hildear's shoulders, yanked her close, and shouted.
"Hildear isn't a slave—she's my companion."
"W-what?"
"Ah..."
The two showed completely different reactions to the same words. Geum Tae-yang looked at him like he was insane, but Si-woo didn't give a damn. All that mattered to him was Hildear. She was a woman. He couldn't care less what some guy blabbered or thought about him.
Besides, while the queen had left, other guards, watchmen, and maids were still around. How would they interpret this? Even if they didn't like Si-woo, Geum Tae-yang's image would definitely plummet.
"The First Round is a future that can never happen now, but that's not my problem."
It was petty revenge for a future that never came to pass, and a man's scheme to eliminate a rival.
All Hildear had done was perform fellatio and drink his seed, and people thought she'd raped him—but Geum Tae-yang Kim Jung-kyung didn't know that, leaving him utterly baffled.
"No, fuck. A bitch who committed a huge fucking crime and was about to get dismissed..."
Kim Jung-kyung raised his voice in anger, but a lady-in-waiting who appeared beside him cut him off.
"Candidates. The queen is waiting. I shall escort you to the dining hall."
"...Tch."
"Understood."
Clicking his tongue, Geum Tae-yang tapped Si-woo's shoulder and headed for the dining hall first. He'd been waiting there before Si-woo and already knew the way.
Si-woo also knew where the dining hall was thanks to his First Round experience, but he saw no need to rush ahead. Why walk alone when a beautiful lady-in-waiting was right there? The lady-in-waiting was clearly different from a maid, from her appearance to her attire. Unlike maids who were commoners, ladies-in-waiting were nobles—so it was only natural.
"Where is the dining hall, my lady?"
"Oh my, 'my lady'... P-please, speak comfortably."
With just a few words, Si-woo won the lady's favor. After bidding Hildear farewell, he chatted amiably with the lady-in-waiting as they followed Geum Tae-yang.
In truth, she'd already liked him even before this. The way she'd lingered and intervened just as Geum Tae-yang raised his voice made it obvious, and Si-woo knew it.
"Damn, Second Round life is fucking great."
Somehow, life in the Second Round seemed far easier and more enjoyable than he'd expected.
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