Free Web Novel“Right. If it’s Director Dok Gogyeol, she’ll help me!”
After Dami, at least there’s one more person I can rely on. I beamed and ran up the stairs. Seriously, it’s so good to see her.
“Director!”
“Hmm. Shouldn’t you be calling me Madam?”
“Madam...!”
“Now. Turn your face to the left. Good. And to the right.”
I obediently turned my face as instructed. If I change the makeup and styling, I can definitely fool people.
“So it is you?”
But the voice that followed was ominous.
“A wanted criminal. The owner of ten thousand gold....”
Behind Dok Gogyeol, I could practically see a hallucination of a sack of gold coins floating. I took a step back.
“Meow!”
At that moment, the small cat in Dok Gogyeol’s arms leapt straight into mine.
“Why—”
“...What is this? It feels familiar somehow?”
“Meow.”
The small white cat dug its claws in and eagerly climbed up onto my shoulder.
“That’s strange. My Mini doesn’t just warm up to anyone like that.”
Could it be... Dok Gomin?
“Hm... let’s see... ah. Maybe I should make an investment.... Mini has a good eye.”
Dok Gogyeol frowned slightly, staring at me as if weighing something.
“Meow.”
“Absolutely not!!! There are no free customers in my boutique! Even if a lily saint walks in, no exceptions!”
“Whyyy—.”
“Hey, you there. How much money do you have?”
As if she’d just finished negotiating with the cat, Dok Gogyeol held out her hand to me. I quickly slipped a few coins out of the pouch and handed it over.
‘I need enough left for food.’
She shook the pouch out and looked at me like, you came to my boutique with this little?
“I’m just an ordinary citizen with a mother and younger brother.... As you can see, I ended up wandering because of circumstances... but I miss my family so much. I’m cold, hungry, lonely, scared, and exhausted.”
I launched into my pitiful beggar act again.
“Meeeow!”
“Ah—hey! Mini! I told you not to use your claws! That’s silk! Ahhh! That’s expensive!”
Then the cat on my shoulder—Dok Gomin—started shredding the hem of the dress hanging on a mannequin. Dodging Dok Gogyeol’s frantic hands, she tore through several outfits before Dok Gogyeol finally collapsed to the floor in defeat.
“Okay... it’s a ridiculous price... but just this once....”
And just like that, Dok Gogyeol transformed me into someone new.
“This is... me? I can’t believe it....”
As I stared blankly into the mirror, Dok Gogyeol gently wrapped an arm around my shoulders.
“Don’t joke around. Do it properly.”
“What a shame. That was the cheapest outfit, but you do have an eye.”
“The clothes aren’t the problem—why did you add a mustache?”
“It’s the fastest way to disguise a fugitive.”
In the end, I settled on a tunic-style look—a white blouse with a brown skirt—and finished it off with a camel-colored hooded cloak.
‘How do I pull off even this kind of outfit so well?’
I should include this in a Han Yeoreum season’s greetings set later. Everyone would go crazy.
Me me me please I have to buy it our baby melon bread how can she look like a romance-fantasy heroine like that.... Hehe, everyone, even though the second pre-order for the season’s greetings has sold out, I’ll specially open a third round.... No fighting.... Of course, I’m Han Yeoreum, the one whose Taiwan Ruel <The Great Garland> cover sold out at the speed of light, so I understand you’re anxious, but.... freewēbnoveℓ.com
“By the way, how do I leave the northern region?”
“Best way is to hitch a carriage. There’s going to be a banquet at the imperial palace soon, so everyone’s heading to the capital. Should be easy to catch one.”
Good. First, I need to get as far away from here as possible.
‘If I go to the imperial palace, I feel like Myeong Jeha will be there....’
It’s just... a strange intuition.
I can’t imagine Myeong Jeha living like a commoner. Suddenly, I desperately wanted his help.
“Alright, bye! That outfit is expensive, so make sure you come back and repay me properly!”\
* * *
“Senior. I’m really counting on you.”
“Meow.”
I whispered secretly to Dok Gomin in my arms. She flicked her tail as if she understood. The moment I set her down, she sprang up onto the wall.
“Ten thousand gold... oh my!”
“A cat!”
The wanted poster with my face on it was shredded to pieces under Dok Gomin’s claws.
“...Phew.”
Well, it’s early morning, so not many people must have seen it yet. That’s a relief.
“There’s going to be an inspection!”
Not a relief at all. The knight order stormed into the village at dawn. The moment I spotted Joo Junseo’s red hair in the distance, I turned the corner and ran.
“Has anyone seen a suspicious individual?!”
But running didn’t help much.
“Right. I smell aggro here. Definitely.”
“The ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) Guild Master!”
“Is a god!”
From the opposite side, Director Ja and the bounty hunter guild were closing in.
‘Ahhh!’
A dead end.
At this rate, I’m done for.
‘What do I do? What do I do?’
No underground prison! I frantically grabbed nearby wooden doors and tried to open them.
Rattle.
Rattle.
Rattle.
‘Why are they all locked?!’
None of them would open.
Step.
Step.
Step.
From the distance, the steady footsteps of the knights grew closer.
‘Please... open...!’
With a desperate push, I tried the last door.
Click.
It opened.
* * *
“Where is this?”
“This is where the J.K merchant group stores their cargo.”
I barely squeezed myself between the carts loaded with goods. From afar, I heard Joo Junseo’s voice. I held my breath.
“J.K Rick, huh....”
I could see his feet from my hiding place. He stopped for a moment, then slowly drew his sword again. The blade caught the morning light, stabbing painfully into my eyes.
‘No way. Wait. No way?’
He raised the sword high—toward where I was.
‘Aaaah!’
Thud. The blade pierced into the spot right beside me. I bit down on my scream and covered my mouth. After a brief pause, Joo Junseo seemed to think for a moment before letting out a quiet laugh.
“Still. There’s no way a state-certified merchant group would hide a fugitive.”
He sheathed his sword and walked away.
“Conduct a thorough gate inspection. Don’t let even a single rat escape.”
I gasped for breath behind my hands.
‘I almost passed out for real....’
Got it....
* * *
When I opened my eyes, I was already moving somewhere. So I really did faint. Through the gaps in the rattling cargo wagon, a new landscape slowly came into view.
‘Where am I...?’
I didn’t know where, but I was definitely out of the northern region.
Clatter.
Right then, the carriage came to a stop. From afar, I heard a whistle signaling a short break.
‘Ugh... my body’s stiff.’
I carefully started moving my cramped limbs when I heard footsteps approaching.
“Meeting the Grand Duke right now may not be the safest option.”
“There will be a banquet at the imperial palace soon. If we secure a private audience with the Crown Prince, the conditions may change.”
It was the SBC director and Jegal Rok. The two had stopped right in front of me, deep in discussion.
“Depending on how the relationship between the Grand Duke and the Crown Prince develops, the future of the merchant group will change. When that time comes, we at J.K will assist in resolving the problems Shubetz faces.”
“That’s quite the elite answer.... Fine.”
I listened carefully.
“I will join you tonight for the meeting with the Grand Duke.”
The short break ended. The cargo wagon began moving again.
‘If it’s the Grand Duke, he’s definitely received reports from the northern knights. If I get caught, it’s over....’
Who even is the Northern Grand Duke? Either way, I barely escaped. I’m not getting caught by the boss.
No time to hesitate.
“Hyah!”
I pushed open the crate lid.
“Ahhh! Help!”
And jumped off the moving wagon. I rolled down a lush green hillside.
* * *
“Experience really does matter.”
Once you’ve fallen once, the second time is easy. The falling techniques I learned at the <If You Do It, It Works> Academy helped a lot. I brushed the grass off my clothes and looked around.
“...Where am I now?”
Just moments ago it was a green field like the Alps—now it felt like a completely different world. As I descended the hill, I saw a dark, ominous cave where sunlight barely reached.
“Excuse me—. Do you need help?”
At that moment, a voice echoed through the cave from somewhere in the distance.
