PSW 06

Chapter 6

Tina quickly scribbled on the next page of the notebook. Fernandez followed her hand, reading each word as she wrote.

“This outfit… is… only for the Saintess…”

“But it’s too long. I kept almost tripping over it.”

“You mustn’t do that…”

Ren, pondering how to justify herself, clicked her fingers and said sharply,

“You can’t catch monsters in that. You’d be hunting all night and still get nothing done.”

Tina’s hand froze.

“But… the Ambassador Hatasha will be angry!”

This time Fernandez cried out, on the verge of tears. Only now did he understand the situation.

Ren smiled sweetly.

“I’ll take responsibility alone for this.”

“……”

“You saw it yourselves. You can’t do anything in that dress—not even fight monsters. Whoever started it, if it’s a dress that only one Saintess can wear, shouldn’t it reflect the wearer’s taste?”

Ren whispered softly.

In the end, Tina handed over the scissors, and Fanny passed the fabric.

Spreading the dress on the floor again, Ren fearlessly snipped along the previously cut area. The rustling of scissors continued.

Fernandez, who had been standing with her eyes closed, perked up her ears.

“Look at me, Fernandez.”

Fernandez turned quickly, lowering her hands that had covered her eyes.

Ren appeared, holding the ends of the skirt—now much shorter—in both hands.

She bent her knees gracefully, then spun once, light as a bird.

“How is it?”

“You’re beautiful!”

Tina and Fanny nodded in agreement.

On the floor lay the scraps of fabric she had cut away. Even to the untrained eye, the cloth looked impossibly expensive, but it couldn’t be helped.

What she had learned while being treated was that rotten parts must be removed. Holding on stubbornly only allowed the infection to spread.

“How much do you think we could get for this?”

Ren asked Tina and Fanny.

After a moment of thought, they wrote in a notebook:

[10,000 gold]

Fernandez translated, and Ren asked again.

“How much is that?”

This time Tina wrote, and Fernandez read aloud:

“Enough to buy a hundred horses… wow!”

Fernandez, repeating the words in awe, had grown up in the temple, living only on what the temple provided. She couldn’t truly comprehend such wealth—but buying a hundred horses? That was beyond massive.

“So that’s the total value?”

Muttering to herself, she nodded as if she finally understood. The other three just tilted their heads.

Rix dismounted nimbly from his black horse. Mabel immediately ran over to take the reins.

“Not out yet?”

“No.”

“Hasn’t run off, right?”

“After the meal, she stayed in the room with her attendants the whole time.”

“So far?”

“Yes.”

Mabel replied curtly. He had been standing by the door when Ren entered the dining hall.

Rix shook his head with a smirk.

At that moment, Scarlet approached, bowing slightly.

“All preparations are complete.”

“Is that so? But why hasn’t the Saintess arrived yet?”

“Shall we check the temple?”

Rix looked up. Two silver-hued moons shone brilliantly in the night sky. As he shook his head, a rustling came from the bushes.

All three instinctively placed hands on their waists.

“Are you sure this is the place?”

“This is the entrance.”

Hearing the voices of a woman and a young boy, the trio relaxed. They had an idea who it was.

“What a selfish human. Why make promises without telling the time or place?”

“Saintess, he is His Highness the Crown Prince…”

“I know, but he isn’t here now.”

“Still, always be careful.”

“Got it. What’s said by day, birds hear….”

“…And by night, the mice?”

“Ahh!”

“Waaah!”

Ren and Fernandez screamed, clinging to each other like people encountering ghosts in a haunted house.

Arms crossed, Rix twisted one side of his mouth into a smirk.

“Right. My fault for not specifying the time and place.”

Ren muttered, “My heart’s going to fall out,” and tried to steady herself.

Rix approached her with long strides. In an instant, he loomed over her, tilting his head slightly with a crooked smile.

“You could’ve asked the old lady and known immediately.”

“…Next time, please speak directly if possible.”

Ren stepped back slightly, overwhelmed by how handsome he was up close. Since the fire, she hadn’t been this close to anyone except the doctor.

“What’s with your outfit?”

Rix frowned. Ren glanced down at her dress.

“It was uncomfortable moving around, so I shortened it. Is that weird?”

Rix said nothing, stroking his chin. Meanwhile, Mabel brought his black horse from behind. Against the black coat and black horse, his red hair and golden eyes stood out.

“Much better.”

He muttered to himself and mounted the horse quickly. Scarlet approached Ren, asking,

“Do you know how to ride?”

“No.”

“Then take the carriage.”

Scarlet guided her and Fernandez to the carriage. Ren followed in a daze.

As she mounted, a thought struck her:

How does the Crown Prince know a Korean proverb?

Were there similar sayings here? Ren pondered even as the carriage jolted along the rough road.

“Fernandez…”

She called him. Fernandez, slumped in a corner, weakly replied, “Yes…” already having swallowed the rising nausea.

“‘What’s said by day, birds hear…’”

Fernandez tilted his head, puzzled.

Then the carriage jolted, sending both of them bouncing up and down. Fernandez groaned in pain.

“What are you talking about?”

“A proverb. Don’t you know it?”

“I… don’t know… ugh.”

Fernandez covered his mouth.

The carriage gained speed, rolling like a roller coaster. Ren held her stomach and mouth to prevent herself from vomiting.

Fernandez finally lost it. Pale-faced, he cried, “Saintess, help me!” but all she could say was, “Endure it.”

After a while, the carriage stopped.

In the pitch-black forest, Ren and Fernandez stared at each other, exhausted.

Scarlet opened the door. Both rushed into opposite bushes to vomit.

“Pathetic…”

Ren wanted to grab Rix by the collar, but she had no strength to argue.

Rix dismounted and handed Ren a gun—the same one he had used yesterday.

“This forest is famous for monsters.”

Said as if discussing what to eat for dinner. Rix looked down at her, grinning playfully.

“Shall we make it interesting?”

“A bet?”

Has he gone mad?

Ren frowned; Rix grinned slyly.

“Who can kill more monsters.”

Kill? Not vanish? Rix seemed to read her mind.

“You do know how to, right?”

Ren glanced aside, thinking. How did it go in “Saintess’s Dilemma”? The Crown Prince and Saintess went hunting together… almost kissed in the secluded forest…

“Well… first the head…”

“The head?”

Ren swallowed hard. Narrowing his eyes, he said:

“Pierce the skull, separate neck and body, then burn it entirely.”

“Oh, right!”

She remembered just in time.

Rix still looked doubtful.

“Shooting with a gun to vanish it? That’s your special case.”

Ah, so she could vanish monsters instantly, but others had to go through a secondary process. Ren nodded.

In the novel, the romance between the Crown Prince and Saintess took center stage, so she hadn’t paid attention to the details of monster hunting.

Still, a bet.

Nothing wrong with that. Ren wanted to test how synchronized her body had become with Minsuji after regaining full mobility.

“Fine.”

“What shall we bet?”

Rix hummed, surveying the area. Ren scanned around and smiled.

“That horse.”

“The horse?”

“That one—give me that horse.”

Ren pointed to Rix’s mount. Even she could tell at a glance it was a top-tier steed: glossy black fur, massive build, capable of crushing a man with a single step. Other horses didn’t compare.

Rix raised an eyebrow, impressed.

“Only that one?”

“Yes. I’ll ride it down myself. I can’t ride the carriage anymore.”

Another reason she wanted the horse: when she slightly opened the carriage window earlier, it had been the most stable ride. Also, if she took his horse, he’d either have to walk or take the carriage—a small advantage.

Ren smiled slyly. Rix stroked his chin, pondering.

“That one doesn’t take just anyone.”

“It’s fine.”

“You can ride it?”

“I’ll try.”

Ren felt her nerves and confidence returning. Not perfectly like a professional rider, but good enough.

Rix’s eyebrow twitched. Scarlet and Mabel noticed his faint smile. Goosebumps ran down their spines.

“One of its hind hooves might hit you.”

“I’m the Saintess. You won’t let me die, right?”

Ren said nonchalantly. Rix laughed heartily.

Behind her, Mabel and Scarlet formed an X with their bodies, opposing her, but when Ren glanced back, they pretended not to care.

Rix nodded slightly, as if relenting.