Chapter 48: Chapter 48

Whichever the case, having something like that attached to her is definitely not good.

Especially since she's a knight, which means she'll primarily be used in combat. And what's the most important thing in battle? It's making precise judgments in the blink of an eye. But if she’s burdened with unnecessary negative emotions like despair, it’s basically like having a debuff. I need to get rid of it, no matter what.

‘Anyway, with absolute loyalty attached, she won’t betray me. Investing in her is like investing in myself.’

Cost isn’t an issue. The problem is how to do it...

If I were a player, I could use the Nine Road to select and remove any unwanted traits, but that’s a method only available to players.

For regular NPCs, like Baek Seol, using the Nine Road would remove a random trait from all the ones they have. There’s a risk that something beneficial to me, like “Absolute Loyalty” or “Subordination,” could disappear, which would defeat the purpose.

‘Wait, hold on. Could I capture a knight, repeatedly feed them Nine Road, and eventually break their subordination? Then I could rebind them with my blood and make them loyal again...’

An idea suddenly popped into my head.

It's an extremely radical method, but it seems possible. I'll have to make a note of this for the future...

Anyway, back to the present. Using the Nine Road to remove "Despair" or "Resignation" from Baek Seol is too risky.

‘Resignation isn’t that powerful of a feeling, so I can put it on the back burner for now… Maybe I should focus on erasing despair first?’

I thought about several items. But none seemed to fit.

Finding something that directly targeted this issue was difficult, and the items I could get my hands on were either not suitable or too vague in their application.

‘Looks like I'll have to talk my way through this.’

I looked at Baek Seol. She was lying down, diligently following my command to “rest.”

‘Even if it’s a trait, despair is still psychological. It means I just need to heal her mind.’

Of course, I don’t think I’m some great orator who can move people’s hearts easily. But Baek Seol is mine, right? Even if I mess up and lower her affection, she’s still my knight. That means I can be more relaxed around her.

It’s like trying something when there’s nothing to lose. She’s already in despair—how much worse could it get?

‘Looks like I’ll need to take some time to work on this.’

"Sua."

"Yes, master."

"Go settle the bill here."

"Settle? What bill?"

"Even though this is a military training center, and they’ll probably handle most of it, I still need to maintain appearances, don’t I? Go distribute some things to the base. Use your discretion."

"Ah! Understood, master."

Sua left the room, leaving only me and Baek Seol.

"...!"

She gulped nervously, her face showing a mix of despair and resignation, as if she knew what was coming next and feared it.

‘I get what's bothering her.’

Well, it’s only natural. If she thinks she has to serve the night of a man she’s never met, it’s no wonder her mind is breaking. In fact, it's the knights who accept that as an honor who are the ones who are strange—clearly brainwashed.

‘Maybe this is the difference that comes with being "Named"? She’s not just an ordinary knight.’

I walked around her room. Judging by the number of wine bottles, she seemed to have a hobby of drinking.

I randomly picked one and uncorked it. Of course, I didn’t just choose any; I grabbed one that was almost empty.

As I poured it into a glass, Baek Seol jolted in surprise.

"I-I should—"

"It seems like you’re dissatisfied."

"Huh? No, of course not! Over something like wine—"

"I’m not talking about the wine."

"??"

"I’m talking about the deeper dissatisfaction I see."

I took a sip and turned to her. Honestly, the wine didn’t taste great.

"Are you dissatisfied with becoming my personal knight?"

"!!"

She widened her eyes, then quickly shook her head. The amusing part was that she stayed lying down, still following my command to rest.

"I would never…"

"Lies are not good. From now on, only speak the truth to me, even if it displeases me."

"..."

She hesitated, likely worried that telling the truth might result in punishment.

But as my knight, my commands are absolute. Soon, she opened up.

"...If I’m being honest, yes."

"Why? Do you dislike me? We’ve only just met."

"It’s not that I dislike you, my lord. It’s just… My reality feels hopeless. After all, I’m essentially a slave, unlike others."

"So, in other words, you’re saying that while others enjoy freedom, you’re trapped in slavery, and that’s what’s making you despair?"

"..."

It seemed she felt the same way I did when I first looked at her. But as the person directly involved, perhaps she felt it even more intensely.

Even if people around her praise her as a knight or a general, the essence of her role lies in loyalty. As much as she wields great power, she’s also tightly bound by that leash, preventing her from ever defying her master.

Especially since Baek Seol is now a personal knight, it’s even worse. Feeling like a slave isn’t wrong at all.

But... is it really that different for ordinary people?

"You’ve got it completely wrong."

"Huh?"

"You’re mistaken, Baek Seol."

"...What do you mean?"

"By serving me, you’ve gained true freedom."

"??"

She looked at me like I was spouting nonsense.

"You seem to think the people outside are free, but that’s far from the truth. If you can find me one person who can defy my word, bring them to me."@@novelbin@@

"..."

"If you’re talking about the right to refuse, then consider this: Do you think anyone who defied me would survive to see the next morning?"

"That’s—"

"Everything—every person, every piece of land, and every sky—exists for the Go Group. There is no such thing as freedom in this world. If anyone thinks there is, they’re mistaken. Only the owners of the Go Group, and their bloodline, are truly free."

I put down my glass and walked toward her. She flinched.

"You saw the girl who just left, right? She’s with me 24 hours a day, doing all sorts of tasks. She’s my most trusted aide. But she’s always anxious. Do you know why?"

I climbed onto the bed, covering Baek Seol’s body with mine. Her eyes trembled with unease.

"She knows that she’s only with me because of money, and that’s not a very reliable foundation, is it? Every moment is a test to prove herself. If she makes even one mistake, it could be the end for her."

I moved my face closer, so close that our noses almost touched. I could see her pupils dilating.

"Ah…"

She let out a soft sigh, slightly parting her lips.

"But you’re different. You’re my knight, and you will never betray me."

"!"

"Whatever you say, I’ll accept it without any misinterpretation. Why? Because you’re my knight."

"My… lord…"

"No matter what you do, I will trust you completely. Why? Because you’re my knight."

I whispered into her ear.

"That is true freedom, Baek Seol."

"Ngh…!"

"Freedom from the need to prove yourself. You are free, while others are slaves. Don’t confuse that."

"Ah…!"

I observed her face once again. Her pupils trembled violently, lost in complete confusion. The despair that had been evident in her expression seemed to have lessened a bit, but it wasn’t entirely gone.

‘I didn’t expect a few words to solve everything.’

It’s likely going to take some time. The heart doesn’t settle easily or quickly.

Anyway, enough talking. Now it’s time for action.

‘Time to deeply imprint my genes. Over and over again.’

I stroked Baek Seol’s face, admiring her sharp, beautiful features, and pressed my thumb against her lips.

"Open your mouth. And accept me, Baek Seol."

"Ah… My lord…"

"It’s time to become truly free."

Still filled with unease, she opened her mouth. Her small, red lips parted slightly, and I bit into them.

"Mmph! Mmff!"

I played with her soft lips, teasing the wet entrance, and released my saliva into her mouth. She gulped it down nervously, her tongue intertwining with mine.

Hot breaths mingled between us. I forgot everything around me, focusing solely on the taste of her lips.

Before I knew it, I had already spread her legs, positioning myself between them. My hard erection pressed against her mound, lightly rubbing against the bulge of her pussy through her panties.

I pulled back. Baek Seol, breathing heavily, stuck out her tongue.

Whether it was an instinctive move or an attempt to show me something, her bright red tongue looked incredibly erotic.

I lightly bit and sucked on it before returning to kiss her deeply.

Moving more eagerly now, I began undressing her while devouring her lips. She moaned lightly, not resisting.

"Haa, ahh…"

When I pulled away again, both of us were naked.