Bjorn Yandel the Barbarian

Skin as smooth and white as silk.

Lips that look like they were tightly sewn with red silk thread.

“….”

“….”

It is not even a luxurious real-life doll made by craftsmen pouring sweat and time into it.

A cheap plush doll that children from ordinary families would have played with as children, with only the ribbon on the right forehead indicating that the doll was female.

“So… does this mean that Baron Yandel… feels love for the doll?”

The moment Ragna carefully asked her a question, her shame was clearly felt and blood rushed to her head.

It felt as if her hair was falling out in real time.

‘…I want to die.’

It’s such a strange thing.

Even in the Goblin Forest and Ice Rock. No matter what adversity I faced, I never thought like this.

“Yes.”

When I nodded my head and agreed, another noble muttered to himself as if in admiration.

“no wonder! “Even with so many women around, there wasn’t much to talk about…!”

He seemed to truly believe that the reason I wasn’t married yet was because of this doll.

Well… fortunately(?) such people were a minority.

“Be quiet.”

The nobleman next to the person who innocently said such a thing scolded him and told him to be more careful.

This is why I didn’t bring a luxurious doll.

If a real craftsman had brought in something that was made stitch by stitch, there would have been more nobles who would have reacted like that.

Oh, of course, the most important thing now was the Marquis’ reaction.

“….”

Soon, he held the small doll tightly in one hand and looked towards the Marquis.

The Marquis, who seemed as dizzy at first as the other nobles, soon regained his composure…

“I love dolls….”

The Marquis looked at the doll and me alternately and muttered something meaningful.

“If it’s you… it’s you.”

When I said I loved dolls, I didn’t mean that it was me. I guess I just thought it was me to come up with a solution like this.

‘…How am I going to get out now?’

It doesn’t matter whether the Marquis believes me or not.

No, I didn’t do it because I thought I would believe it in the first place.

Just as Duke Kealunus and Marquis Terserion exchanged words as if reading a script earlier.

Every statement is subject to political calculation.

And my statement a little while ago was also like that.

The will not to marry anyone was indirectly expressed in this way.

“Hmm….”

The question is whether that effort worked for the Marquis…

As I waited in silence for an answer, the Marquis, who seemed to have finished organizing his thoughts, gave an answer.

“Your confession that you love dolls was very shocking and embarrassing to me. “But I think each person has a different way of loving.”

“…so?”

“I will respect your choice.”

When I first heard what was said on the surface, it was a very positive response, but as expected, it was different. Immediately following are words filled with bones.

“You are not the kind of person who would talk nonsense at a gathering of ministers who are planning the future of the country. “I believe you know what responsibility comes with the words you say.”

Simply put, it means that if I don’t keep what I said, I will be held accountable in some way.

“But since you showed so much sincerity, it would be right for me as an adult to support your choice.”

However, the Marquis seemed to think that it would not be a good idea to push me into a corner too much, so he proposed a mediation plan.

“But as the Prime Minister of the kingdom, I ask you to have children someday when the time comes. “It is a great loss for this country, not only for the successor to your family, but also for a talented person like you to leave without leaving a legacy.”

Someday, when the time comes.

“It looks like there are some true female warriors.”

I will allow you to marry someone of your own race and have children.

I responded to the marquis’ suggestion.

“…I will think about it.”

Although that was what he said, he actually meant that he understood.

After all, it’s funny to suddenly say OK here, isn’t it?

“Okay then, let’s end this story here… You’ve all been waiting a long time. From now on, we will continue with the ninth agenda.”

First of all, it seems like I got through it well this time.

***

Actually, to be honest, I had no plans at all to declare my singleness like this.

It’s just that I won’t marry anyone.

This choice was never made out of fear of conflict with the Marquis.

Should I say that it is both a business and a business?

The moment I finished talking with Mr. Yong, I made a decision.

‘What kind of marriage am I….’

It may be a decision that feels like a betrayal of the position I have built in this city and the people who follow me.

But so what?

Some might say that I still have a long way to go as a modern person.

At least for me, marriage is something very sacred.

You can’t make a covenant to be together for the rest of your life without knowing how you feel, much less give birth to children.

‘In the first place, I don’t know when I might die.’

Oh, of course, that doesn’t mean I made this decision solely for emotional reasons.

I’m going to focus on surviving.

Perhaps ‘marriage’ could be helpful in this process, but after repeated calculations, I made the final decision.

‘Anyway, there are as many disadvantages as gains.’

It may seem good at first glance to randomly marry someone who will help you politically, but in the end, you will inevitably create enemies.

The fact that I can receive help means that I can also help.

“Then, with this, we will end this meeting. “Thank you all so much for taking this precious step.”

As I was thinking about this and that, the ninth item on the agenda was quickly completed and the royal meeting ended.

and….

‘Why is it in reverse order again this time?’

Rather than leaving all at once, people exit the venue one by one in the order in which they sit closest to the head of the table.

And that too, every two minutes.

‘…They really discriminate against everyone based on strange things.’

What’s really strange is that after experiencing this kind of discrimination, I feel like I want to move up the ranks of the royal council, which I had no interest in.

Hmm, in that sense, is it a well-made tradition?

Even I have a desire to move up the hierarchy, but what about those power monsters?

Tuk.

Soon everyone leaves and the venue is empty.

I got up and left the venue, feeling somewhat sad.

And now it’s time to drive home.

“…wait a minute.”

Someone is calling me from behind.

“Rag….”

Well, someone might see it, so it’s better to keep your distance, right?

“Are you gone yet? “Countess Peprock.”

“No one is nearby, so you can call me by name as usual.”

“Still, it’s better to be careful about things like this, Countess.”

“….”

Well, I don’t know when or where I might make a mistake, so I still call Amelia Emily.

“But… is that why you kept waiting for me?”

“Yes, I guess I have something to tell you.”

“Is there anything you want to say?”

“That doll from earlier.”

Ragna mentioned the doll with a somewhat displeased look in his eyes, and then she continued her words.

“Oh, of course, I don’t believe what I said earlier, so don’t worry. I almost misunderstood it at first, but… I heard it from my father… no, I heard it from the Marquis of Tercerion. “I guess I still lack a lot in terms of politics.”

“Anyway, what are you trying to say?”

“that….”

Ragna hesitated for a long time, trailing off, then closed his eyes tightly and opened his mouth, just like when I came out.

“Baron… do you hate me?”

“what…?”

“I asked him if he hated me enough to refuse and endure such a humiliating experience.”

uh….

She is a little embarrassed to be suddenly asked this question.

But let me answer honestly.

“I think I misunderstood something, but it’s definitely not that I don’t like you.”

Of course, if you ask whether your relationship is worthy of marriage, you can firmly say no.

but….

“The biggest reason for refusing marriage talks with the Marquis is political issues.”

“Politics… you mean?”

“okay. “If we get married, will other nobles be quiet?”

The Marquis faction is already standing tall in Lapdonian politics.

But in the middle of this, I’m joining?

The forces of Duke Kealunus, the noble alliance centered around the Kaislan family, and the Count Arminus family, which advocates neutrality, will not sit back and watch.

They will try to protect themselves by forming alliances or something like that.

“Something like that… we can stop it.”

“Well, that could be possible. “But I don’t want to get caught up in such a conflict of interest and give myself a headache in the first place.”

“Is that so….”

“I guess you understand.”

“yes. understand. Doesn’t that mean that I had no choice but to refuse because of my current status?”

Uh… could it be interpreted that way again?

There seems to be a bit of a strange nuance, but when I look at it in detail, it doesn’t seem to be particularly wrong…

“Then I’ll just go. “Bjorn Jandel, you must be tired, so go back and rest.”

“Yes, it was nice to meet you. “I’ll see you later.”

“yes.”

After that, we briefly said goodbye and parted ways.

And it was time to leave the palace and head to the carriage platform.

“…huh?”

Suddenly, I looked into the alley and saw an unknown person standing quietly in the dark shadows.

Height appears to be around 170cm.

Slim physique.

However, his hands are also wearing gloves and he wears a thick robe, so there is no exposed skin from head to toe.

Because of that, I thought for a moment that someone had sent an assassin, but when I actually think about it, it doesn’t make sense.

Not anywhere else, but in Karnon, the ecliptic.

There’s no way a crazy person would send an assassin to do something to me.

‘What are you doing this late at night?’

It looked quite suspicious, but I thought it had nothing to do with me and was about to continue on my way.

Again.

The unidentified monster takes a step toward me and gets a little closer to the lights illuminating the street.

And at the same time.

Slurp.

The robe that was covering my face was pulled back, and I had no choice but to stop walking again.

A black mask with no special features.

However, the shape, curves, and atmosphere the person gives off perfectly match something in my head.

‘…Black Mask.’

However, since I am currently Bjorn Yandel, not a community investigator or Lee Han-soo, I kept my poker face as much as possible and narrowed my eyebrows.

“What are you? “Are you an assassin?”

The most natural reaction I could think of in a split second.

However, in response to my question, the unidentified masked person shook his head to the side.

and….

“That can’t be right.”

With the voice of a ‘woman’ that is somehow familiar to my ears.

Sigh.

The mask is removed and the monster’s face is seen with the naked eye.

Black hair and black eyes.

And facial features and skin that are close to Asian.

“Harin suevu.”

No, to be exact, the evil spirit that hijacked Harin Suevi’s body.

Kang Hyeon-byeol, a Korean.

She looks at me and smiles silently.

For some reason, a chill ran down my spine, and I asked as quietly as I could.

“Why were you doing that here? “Did Ragna send you?”

“no?”

“Then why on earth…”

“I told you last time. I will do whatever I want from now on. So, let’s meet outside.”

Of course, I know that Hyeonbyeol sent such a note at the end.

But first, like a habit.

“What on earth does that mean—”

—?

The moment I was about to ask that.

“Ah, back then I didn’t know I would have to wait this long.”

Hyeonbyeol interrupted me and took off her thick robe that covered her entire body as if she felt uncomfortable.

and….

“Still, I wish I could have seen it.”

Take a step closer using your long legs.

‘For some reason, it seemed like he was taller than when I saw him before.’

Again.

“Bjorn Jandel.”

Again.

“No, Hansoo oppa.”

How on earth did he know?