The World Mistakes Me for Terminally Ill - Chapter 17

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The World Thinks I’m Terminally Ill Episode 017

“…You have no manners. Touching a lady’s body without permission.”

“I’m sorry. Well, whenever I see you, I keep doing this.”

I hurriedly pulled back and swept the escaped strands of hair behind my ear.

How should I put it. It seems like physical contact has become a bit more casual since visiting Elbanon. Am I imagining things?

He smiled with his eyes. That leisurely attitude was strangely irritating, so I grumbled as I spoke.

“Sit down for now. My neck hurts.”

“Yes.”

Shubel sat on the sofa across from me.

I brewed the tea strong out of slight mischief as I poured it for him.

Since it’s basically bitter leaves, I expected him to frown even a little.

Shubel drank the tea as if nothing was wrong.

“As expected, tea poured by you tastes even better.”

‘Does this guy even have taste buds?’

I couldn’t hide my bewildered expression as I looked at him, then shook my head in disbelief.

Right, it’s not like I’ve been watching Shubel act like this for just a day or two. I’m only wasting my energy for nothing.

“I heard Father is returning.”

“That’s right. A new messenger just arrived and I received the news.”

A few days ago, a messenger arrived at the castle. It was a message announcing the Duke’s return from the border region.

Naturally, the Grand Duke’s Castle was turned upside down, and I, who was already considering the next phase of the North Restoration Project, lit up with interest.

Because I thought it was a golden opportunity to solve the security issues.

“How long will Father stay?”

I recalled the figure I had only glimpsed at the wedding.

The Duke of Runein, the greatest knight and strongest military force in the north.

At the same time, he was also my father-in-law.

‘Jerkhal Runein.’

He had been away since I came to the Grand Duke’s Castle.

To be precise, he spent more than half the year not at the main castle but in the Northern Borderlands.

Even though the Thousand-Year War had ended, the monsters hadn’t completely disappeared.

The Grand Duke’s Castle was so understaffed that even the gatekeepers had to be borrowed from other families, so there was no way the Duke, the strongest military force, would just stay idle on his estate.

Although Bella was acting as the lord’s deputy, only the Duke had the authority to knight someone. So it would be troublesome if Jerkhal stayed too briefly.

‘I need to work hard to butter up Father, then say “I’ll provide the money, so please knight some people for me.”‘

“Well, I think he’ll stay quite long this time. At least three months, I’d say.”

My train of thought came to a halt.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Do you have a reason for thinking that?”

“Well—”

Shubel stared directly at me.

“Because you’re here.”

“What?”

“With such a precious daughter-in-law here, would he just leave as usual?”

I felt goosebumps rising and unconsciously made a disgusted expression.

“…Please stop saying things like that so casually.”

“But it’s the truth.”

“Hah.”

When I sighed, Shubel chuckled softly.

I thought I was pretty cheeky myself, but there was someone even worse right here.

“Anyway, I’ve heard your opinion. I should plan for about a month’s stay for now.”

“You don’t believe what I said.”

When I spoke in a cold tone, Shubel lowered the corners of his eyes as if hurt.

I unconsciously hesitated inwardly, going “Ugh.”

“It’s not that I don’t believe you, it’s just better to make plans as conservatively as possible….”

“Then would you like to make a bet?”

“A bet?”

The way he naturally suggested a bet reminded me of typical noble young masters who squander their fortunes on gambling.

‘Is this guy secretly gambling somewhere behind my back?’

When I looked at him with suspicious eyes, Shubel still spoke with drooping eye corners.

“I think Father will naturally like you since you’re such an amazing person….”

“Ah, fine. Fine! I’ll do it.”

When I threw a fit telling him to please not speak with that expression, Shubel smiled brightly.

I felt like I’d been played, but since he had opened his eyes, I decided to let it slide.

“Then I’ll bet that Father will stay for at least half a year.”

Shubel said.

Three months had somehow become half a year, and his confident attitude was absurd yet made me laugh.

“No ladies first? How disappointing.”

“…Should I let you go first?”

“Never mind. Ah, please stop making that expression like a dog whose gum was stolen.”

“Your comparisons are quite harsh, my lady.”

“Hmph. Then I’ll go with Father staying for three months.”

I was confident I could make that happen with my abilities.

It was also the minimum time needed to select decent military personnel and knight them.

“But what’s the prize? I won’t be motivated without a goal.”

“Hmm, shall we go with something classic?”

“Classic?”

“Granting a wish.”

It really was classic.

I looked at him as if wondering whether this guy had really incurred gambling debts somewhere.

Because I couldn’t think of anything he’d want from me other than money.

“Is there something you want to extort from me that badly?”

“The word ‘extort’ is a bit….”

Shubel made a troubled expression.

“But it is something only you could do for me.”

“Well, do whatever you want.”

I didn’t particularly want anything from Shubel, but having him owe me a favor might be useful somewhere.

After that, we discussed what to do when Jerkhal returned.

Preparing the banquet, servant attire and hall interior, checking sleeping arrangements were natural tasks. We also had to think about the portion for the knights who would return with the Duke.

Sorry to Father, but the main characters of this affair weren’t Father but them.

While discussing the knight quarters and training grounds that had been half torn down when renovating the Grand Duke’s Castle, and the newly ordered weapons and armor, this topic came up.

“You’ve been to the border region before?”

“Yes. It’s natural for someone from the north.”

This was his answer when I asked if he had connections with the Gray Wolf Knights.

I was surprised to hear that he had served at a fortress in the border region for quite a long time.

“Now I have to guard the capital city, but that was also several years ago.”

Well, it wouldn’t make sense for the heir who would inherit Lunein to never experience the front lines.

‘Still, it’s somehow hard to imagine.’

Shubel on the battlefield.

I couldn’t imagine Shubel covered in monster blood, rummaging through ruin-like battlefields.

Somehow this man had the image of a refined noble young master who seemed like he needed to be taken care of.

‘Though Shubel in the original work was different.’

I now thought of the original Shubel, whom I was beginning to perceive as a being half-different from the real Shubel.

The being who had literally shattered the Imperial Capital with a single spell.

“You mainly use magic, right?”

“Did you hear from Mother? Yes, that’s right. I can use a sword too… but lately I’m more interested in magic.”

Right, of course. He was a cheat character who picked up an iron sword used by soldiers and cut down the Imperial Knights’ commander in just a few exchanges.

Of course, that would be if things went according to the original route. The current Shubel, who hadn’t yet experienced his awakening event, probably wasn’t at that level.

‘…Right?’

When I gave him a suspicious look, Shubel innocently blinked and asked.

“What’s wrong, my lady?”

I thought to myself ‘Right, there’s no way that person would be like that’ and continued speaking.

“Anyway, you can use magic.”

“Yes.”

“How well can you use it?”

“Well…”

Shubel somehow drew out his words as if gauging my reaction.

“Moderately… I can use it. I’m probably around A-rank mage level.”

A-rank was just below S-rank, which was among the strongest tier.

Of course, the original Shubel was a monster who transcended even that S-rank.

‘Moderately, he says. It’s not like he’s teasing ordinary people.’

I glanced at him sideways and asked.

“Can you dig frozen ground, create wind, or control temperature?”

“Of course.”

Good, now that I’ve gotten his official confirmation, I should put him to good use from now on.

There are already many places that need fixing, so I can’t let free labor go to waste. Especially since Shubel seems bored and keeps following me around anyway.

‘I might as well take him along and put him to work.’

Since it’s work fixing his own home and estate, he should be satisfied too.

I was pleased at the thought of using a precious combat asset like a mage as an excavator, artificial windmill, and portable heater.

“Oh, but.”

We finished our discussion on this topic and drank our tea.

Something suddenly occurred to me, so I asked.

“Is it okay to make this kind of bet about Father?”

It was perfectly innocent content about how long Father would stay at the Grand Duke’s Castle, but a bet was still a bet, wasn’t it.

Shubel elegantly drank the bitter tea with no change in expression as always, then opened his mouth.

“It’s for the sake of marital affection, so Father will understand.”

“…As long as you don’t tell him.”

When he smiled, I made a disgusted expression.

Really, what a strange man.

One week later. At the entrance to Runein Duchy.

“The castle is visible, Your Highness.”

The roaring wolf banner symbolizing the Duchy flutters in the wind.

Knights who all possessed sharp, fierce auras.

And at the front was an overwhelming presence who erased the existence of all the others.

“Go.”

A heavy, low voice was heard.

The end of the Northern Tundra. Where angry winter slept. The master of the frozen land.

Finally, it was the moment when the Duke of Runein returned.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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