The One and Only Guide - Chapter 16
This woman, known as a guest of the Duke, was famous for aimlessly wandering around the estate without any particular duties. In other words, she was a guest. If it weren’t for the Duke’s specific instructions to prevent any attempt to leave the castle while treating her with utmost care and protection, she would have been ignored as if she were a barking dog.
Above all, this might not just be an ordinary situation of monsters gathering and descending. Monsters from beyond the northern ice mountains had crossed over, annihilating five nearby villages and swarming right up to the Odergen territory.
There isn’t a person in the duchy who isn’t busy, and the maid is probably busier than anyone else. To approach her at a moment like this and demand belongings was exceptionally unpleasant.
‘What am I even doing right now?’
Despite the imminent need to join the battle, Harold found himself stuck with the task of escorting such a person. The position of deputy commander of the Northern Knights was no small matter. Why did the Duke entrust him with the protection of this woman?
“Does it have to be right now?”
Harold scolded, but Jian’s determination didn’t waver.
“I was considering helping out of goodwill, but you’re making it difficult. The situation is chaotic, even in my eyes. So, lead me. Immediately.”
With an unwavering gaze, Jian’s insistence left Harold clicking his tongue. Judging by her demeanor, she seemed to be from some high noble family.
“Follow me, then.”
Following behind Harold, Jian inwardly grumbled to herself. The knight was able to control his expression, but his eyes betrayed a gaze that saw her as pathetic.
In truth, Jian didn’t want to do this. She had paid a considerable sum—the survival emergency kit that couldn’t be easily replaced. She wanted to save it for the unknown challenges that might lay ahead. She didn’t want to expend it for others like this.
However, just standing idly by while people died and got hurt in front of her felt too heartless. She didn’t want to resort to the excuse of inevitability.
Enduring the rude person leading her, Jian followed Harold to find the head maid. The head maid, dressed in a blood-stained apron, was busy directing the maids while appearing preoccupied with bandaging a wounded soldier herself.
Pointing at her, Harold remarked,
“If you had eyes, you’d see how busy the head maid is right now.”
Jian flinched at the condescending tone. Pushing her buttons?
No, there was no need to go that far. Just by observing the surroundings, it was clear. The knight was simply tense. The situation was chaotic when the Gate incident first occurred in Seoul. If you were a human, especially if you were a human, becoming more sensitive was inevitable. Wasn’t the mere existence of monsters something to be feared by ordinary people?
Exercising her patience, Jian ignored Harold’s words and focused on her original request.
“I want my belongings back.”
The head maid, busy wrapping bandages, paused for a moment. Instead of inquiring about which family member had died or urging the next wounded soldier’s treatment, someone was asking about their luggage. Who would make such a thoughtless comment? Amidst everyone shouting and crying, there was a solitary, calm voice.
The head maid, raising her head, confirmed the owner of the voice, stopped bandaging, and stood up. If it were someone else, she might have ignored them and continued with the uproar, but the owner of the voice was the guest whom the Duke had left her to attend to.
A mysterious woman with an exotic appearance, whose identity and status were unknown. And she was a ‘Guide’.
While the people in the mansion regarded her as an ordinary guest, Head Maid Joans and Gerard, the Butler, knew that Jian was a Guide. Due to their long service to the previous Duke, they were among the very few who knew about the tragedy that had befallen the Duke’s family.
In particular, Head Maid Joans knew better than anyone how important Jian was to the Duke. Although making such a request during such a chaotic time felt suspicious, if it was just clothes and belongings, it wouldn’t be impossible to comply. After all, they had already finished investigating what was inside.
Most of the contents were things whose purpose was unclear, and she wasn’t inclined to readily give them away. With two knights keeping watch, Jian didn’t seem capable of doing anything on her own, regardless of what was inside. Having made up her mind, Joans wiped her bloodied hands on her apron and extended the key.
“We’ve stored it in the warehouse. If you ask the knights, they’ll tell you the location.”
“Thank you.”
“After finding your belongings, you must return the key to me immediately.”
They would have to come back here anyway to treat the wounded. Jian could return the key at that time.
Nodding, Jian turned to Harold and said,
“Where is the warehouse? Lead me there, please.”
