Chapter : o2
Ari opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was a middle-aged man.
The man had light platinum hair and clear golden eyes. He was a handsome man with a gentle aura, but he didn’t look weak.
He was as solid as the vast land that embraces everything, steadfast like a giant tree, yet at times, there was a chill about him, like frozen winter ground.
And right now, he looked extremely tired and weary.
“I really thought you were dead.”
He couldn’t bring himself to approach Ari and only placed his hand on his forehead. Then he let out a deep sigh.
‘What happened?’
As if answering her question, a system window appeared.
[If you’re asking what happened, it’s only natural that your beloved Vixy will answer! ◟( ˘ ³˘)◞ ♡]
‘Even after dying and coming back, Vixy hasn’t changed.’
Vixy was an AI system Ari herself had created.
Most S-rank hunters had their own systems that assisted them in battle.
But her system, Vixy, was a little different.
Vixy was an AI capable of self-learning and evolving through deep learning. And Ari was the only hunter to have successfully implemented such a system.
Of course, Vixy’s current behavior wasn’t exactly intentional on Ari’s part.
According to Vixy, it was such a unique system that it developed its own personality, unlike other systems.
Well, Ari found that hard to believe.
“Vixy, analyze the current situation.”
[Nyeh, Vixy will get to work! Let’s go, let’s go! ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ]
[Skill ‘Character Search’ activated]
[Collecting surrounding data.]
[Searching for the most relevant individual.]
[Character search complete!]
/Searching database
/Simplification complete
[Explaining only the main details.]
[>Character Profile
/Name: Arisha Hart
/Age: 20
/Height: 169 cm
/Nationality: Pangea Empire
Brief Description
/She is the eldest daughter of the Hart Grand Ducal family, the most powerful family in the empire.
/Unfortunately, she lost her magical power at age nine, which led to overwhelming inferiority complex! Due to various accidents caused by this inferiority, her status within the empire is at rock bottom.
Traits: Fallen Genius
Detailed Physical Stats
[Stamina: Very Low] [Intelligence: Low-Mid] [Strength: Very Low] [Mana: Extremely Low] [Willpower: Extremely High] [Agility: Very Low]
Special Perks
/Even the emperor is beneath the Hart Grand Ducal family. ─ I hold power enough to make even birds fall!
/It never runs out. ─ The inexhaustible wealth!]
[It seems the master has possessed a character from a novel!]
‘Arisha, the Grand Duchess…’
She was the duchess mentioned in the conversation with Kang Su-won just before she had lost her life.
[Searching for the current timeline.]
[/Bookmark ‘Death of the Grand Duchess’ found!]
[Arisha had jumped into a sealed magic cave seeking power and met her death there!]
Ari quickly skimmed through the key points.
She was now in the body of Arisha, who should have died.
‘Then that man must be Duke Hart.’
From a distance, he was clasping his chest.
He seemed deeply relieved that his daughter, who almost died, had survived.
‘Possession…’
Ari looked around the room.
It was quiet and peaceful. Outside the window, birds chirped. No loud alarms, no screams. There wasn’t even the stench of death.
A different body, a different world.
There were no dungeons, disasters, or wars here.
The chains of duty that had bound her for so long had disappeared.
She felt something lift from deep within her chest.
Her insides felt empty, hollow.
[(!) Major change detected.]
[Entering BURNOUT state; willpower significantly reduced.]
[Overall ability range 100% → sharply reduced to 55%]
She didn’t think of anything.
She was exhausted and tired.
‘It’s okay not to work anymore.’
Finally, she felt free.
‘A place where no one dies.’
The only thought filling her mind:
‘Here, I can rest quietly.’
Her life as a hunter, which had started at the mere age of nine, had finally come to an end.
She sat with an empty expression, lost in thought.
Then Duke Hart raised his voice toward Arisha.
“This time, you really almost died, didn’t you!”
He looked at her with worry and fatigue.
Since her decision was already made, all that remained was execution.
“I’m sorry.”
“You can’t just say that and be done with it! …What? What did you say?”
“I said I’m sorry.”
“……”
“As a form of reflection, I’ll stay in my room for a month.”
“…Stay in…?”
“Yes, stay in.”
“……?”
The duke couldn’t easily comprehend the situation.
Normally, Arisha would have thrown a tantrum, breaking furniture and demanding to leave her room.
But now her attitude was completely different, which was disorienting.
‘I want to sleep. I’m tired.’
She looked at the duke and spoke softly.
“May I rest now? I’m a little tired.”
“……”
She naturally gave her final greeting to the speechless duke.
“Then, I’ll take my leave.”
She slipped into the soft bedding and closed her eyes.
“Huh?”
The duke finally regained his senses.
‘She’s sleeping? Really?’
The daughter who would normally go berserk at the sight of him was now quietly reflecting in her room.
And indeed, she was silent.
“…Sleeping, huh.”
It was like a message from an ex-boyfriend at 2 a.m.
There was nothing more he could do.
The duke closed the door with a dazed expression and left Arisha’s room.
Arisha Hart, Grand Duchess.
She was the eldest daughter of the Hart Grand Ducal family, wielding unrivaled power in the empire.
The reason the Hart family couldn’t even be touched by the royal family was clear: all military power of the empire belonged to them.
The Hart Grand Ducal family originated from Leon King Hart, who founded the Pangea Empire long ago.
He was the first emperor, unifying the continent where small states had once ruled.
With magical power so immense it was almost unbelievable, he unified the entire continent alone.
He then entrusted everything to his loyal subordinate and stepped down to the position of duke. That subordinate became the emperor of the empire.
But soon, conflict arose. The emperor lacked strong military power. He knew how to govern, but not how to command a battlefield.
In the end, he made a decision: military power of the empire would be handed back to Duke Hart.
Thus, a family that had produced the first emperor and now controlled the empire’s military came into existence. The Hart Grand Ducal family held absolute power.
Two weeks had passed since Ari possessed the body of the Grand Duchess.
She was thoroughly enjoying her “vacation,” disguised as self-reflection.
It was perfect, just as she had imagined.
Though being confined to her room might feel stifling, it didn’t at all.
The duchess’s room was unlike any room Ari had known.
Though there was a main living space, the entire building could be considered her room.
The first floor extended to an endless garden.
Having a whole building at her disposal, she never felt trapped.
Meals were always prepared to the highest standard, and everything—from clothing to bedding—was perfect.
She even received enough money to buy a large estate in the empire each month.
Experiencing the Hart family’s influence firsthand proved it was even greater than in books.
No one could treat her disrespectfully.
It was truly a family of a different class.
[Thaaat’s right! The Grand Ducal family is the best!]
[Master’s life has become a dream, woohoo!!]
[(〜^∇^)〜 Celebration time~ ╰(^∇^)╮ Celebration time~! (〜^∇^)〜]
Ignoring Vixy’s joyous dance, Arisha spoke to her personal maid, Anna.
“Anna, what’s for dinner tonight?”
“Thinly sliced veal steak with a fragrant seasonal salad, prepared for you.”
“Good, I like that. Bring it in now.”
Anna felt slightly confused by the sudden change in her mistress’s behavior.
She paused with an unreadable expression, then quickly masked her feelings and left the room.
Arisha picked up the cutlery to eat the steak Anna brought. Her grip felt unfamiliar.
Unlike Ari’s hands, worn from countless incidents, Arisha’s were pale and flawless.
Her platinum hair shone with a natural luster, and her golden eyes glimmered softly.
Objectively, Arisha was beautiful, though her expression seemed somewhat indifferent.
Vixy muttered that it was likely because the soul inside was different.
Just as Arisha took a big bite of veal steak, the door opened. Duke Hart entered, wearing a serious expression.
“Daughter, may we talk?”
Arisha chewed her steak and wiped her mouth.
“Go ahead.”
“I’m honestly worried.”
The duke continued with a stern expression.
“I fear you might be having negative thoughts these days.”
“Would you believe me if I said I wasn’t?”
“……”
The duke remained silent, still suspicious.
“I just wanted to rest. Get some sleep.”
“You’re not having any strange thoughts, right?”
“……Not at all.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“……Truly?”
“Yes, really.”
Despite Arisha’s reassurances, the duke’s suspicion didn’t fade.
She ignored his gaze and continued eating. Anna then brought dessert.
“I just want this cake right now.”
Arisha took a small bite. The chocolate cake was bitter yet sweet—a perfect taste.
In the past, nothing gave Ari any sensation, but now it was different.
“That’s enough.”
The duke quietly observed her. She didn’t avoid his gaze.
Finally, he hid his complicated emotions and smiled.
“Alright, just tell me what you need. Your father will provide it all.”
Arisha didn’t respond and took a sip of tea.
The aroma was exquisite.
