The Guide Played Her Role as a Stand-in a Little Too Well - Chapter 3
I found myself in a new world. As the villainess from a fantasy novel I used to read before my death.
It was a book my friend had gifted me, titled《The Guide’s Situation》, and the cover design was exceptionally beautiful.
The cover was vibrant, and the content was a collection of trendy clichés.
The novel revolved around a main female character with a rare summoning ability, actively participating in the world between guides and esper male leads.
Those with abilities surpassing human strength were named “espers” and held a special status.
They cleared dungeons protecting people that bestowed status, power, and wealth in the process.
However, even these seemingly invincible individuals before monsters had their weaknesses.
Espers suffered mental damage proportional to the use of their abilities. The more their minds corrupted, the more they spiraled into madness.
Guides possessed a unique healing ability through contact, capable of purifying corrupted minds.
The main male lead, Hedonia, was the top-tier S-class guide, boasting the highest compatibility rate with all espers.
However, Hedonia faced penalties as significant as his exceptional abilities—his awakening and awakening fatigue were abnormally slow.
‘It’s the trial that those with strong power have to endure.’
he male lead, Hedonia, needed to overcome the awakening sickness by drinking the blood of a Guide of the same class.
The extra for this scene was none other than me, Karina.
However, in the original work, Karina, intoxicated by the wealth and fame she gained while providing blood to Hedonia, turned into a corrupted antagonist, separate from her munchkin abilities.
In desire to replace him, she attempted assassination.
‘But this is an opportunity.’
If I don’t just follow the original work, I won’t get an opportunity as good as this.
The crucial point is clear.
I just need to play my supporting role within my limits.
Enter the dukedom, enjoy my time there, watch the kids flirt.
Don’t step on toes—nothing goes wrong if you know your place from the beginning.
‘At the same time, my safety is guaranteed.’
An extra raised on the streets needed a safety net.
The prestigious Apharantes dukedom was the perfect place to fulfill that role.
‘Finally, the day has come.’
Having completed my preparations, I stealthily peered through the alleyways. Today was the day the Apharantes Duke would visit Meiman to buy medicine for Hedonia.
The renowned Meiman apothecary, known for his courage in the capital, surprisingly existed close to the impoverished areas.
Meiman, an angel of charity who volunteered to help the children in the slums on weekends, even though he wasn’t an esper or a guide, was widely praised for his kindness.
He might not be an esper or a guide, but he was so kind that his reputation spread far and wide.
If it weren’t for him, I would have succumbed to guide awakening fatigue and died by now.
And the fact that I was a guide might have become widely known.
‘…Just thinking about it makes me dizzy.’
I waited for the Apharantes Duke to appear.
Rumors about him had spread even to the alley where I lived, but I had yet to see him in person. It would be more accurate to say that I purposely avoided crossing paths with him.
Considering that the Apharantes dukedom had produced guides for generations, I could well imagine how ragged the duke’s mind must be.
Until the awakening fatigue appeared, Hedonia was just an ordinary existence, not a guide or an esper.
If my existence had been revealed to the Apharantes Duke before Hedonia’s awakening, I would have faced a cruel fate at the hands of the duke.
He would have been furious at the fact that a child from the slums became a guide for an esper.
I waited for this moment, as now was the opportune time when Hedonia needed me.
‘That’s why life is all about timing.’
Trembling, I recalled the appearance of the Apharantes Duke once again.
A middle-aged man with platinum blonde hair gracefully blending with the white strands that began to appear due to age, and warm, greenish eyes that made you think of the gentle nature of nature.
Like any character in a fantasy novel, he was handsome.
‘But, Hedonia didn’t really like his father.’
As I lost myself in thought for a moment, someone appeared in my line of sight.
With just the small amount of information that came into my eyes, it was enough to recognize the Apharantes Duke.
The Apharantes Duke swiftly climbed onto the carriage.
I clenched my teeth and dashed towards it.
Hastily emerging from the alley, I stood in the way of the carriage.
The reason I had vigorously washed my face with cold water today was to gain momentum for this moment!
With arms outstretched, I locked eyes with the coachman sitting in front of the carriage, holding the reins.
The coachman, taken aback by my sudden appearance, widened his eyes and quickly waved his hand.
“Hey, what’s this? Get lost quickly! Do you even know who’s in this carriage?”
“Yes, I know very well.”
“Then get out.”
“I don’t want to.”
“You’re crazy. If you don’t come out, you might end up crushed under this carriage.”
Despite the coachman’s repeated threats and attempts to chase me away, I remained unmoved.
Verbal threats held no intimidation for me.
“I have something to say to the Duke.”