The Woman Found the Will I Wrote

2 – Favorability

The irredeemable trash of the Lerche family.

That was the first description I came across of the character ‘Derun’ I was now possessing in the novel.

‘Based on the fact that the author described him as not just merely trash, but irredeemable trash, it’s like declaring that the character won’t be redeemed.’

Even the author had portrayed Derun as a complete villain, showing signs of irredeemability time and again.

One of the prime examples was his actions towards the female lead.

‘When Derun fails to seduce the female lead, Lumie, he begins to torment her at the academy to an obsessive extent.

Ideally, there should have been someone to stop him or report him.

But everyone in the classroom ignored Lumie out of fear of the aura of the family Derun was carrying on his back.]

Although the descriptions weren’t detailed, it could be inferred from the fact that new wounds continually formed on Lumie’s body before the old ones healed, that Derun’s violence persisted every day.

‘Disgusting, vile’

Even when I had read it in the novel, it felt wrong, but facing this reality now was even more repulsive.

Sighing, I looked at Lumie who was crouched in the very front seat of the classroom, listening to the lecture.

‘Anyway, the important question now is how to live.’

This was a real worry, not a philosophical one, about how to actually live.

In reality, there would be no need to think about such matters as the path would have already been determined.

However, having been possessed by a character who carries a family with great wealth and power, the choices were infinite.

‘So at least some decision on how to live this life has to be made… it’s quite challenging.’

On Earth, I was struggled with overtime work and poverty, so should I live a bit recklessly here?

Or perhaps I should work hard to wash away the frustration of never being able to escape the bottom rung, and try to pave the path to success?

“‘Or else …’

Reluctantly, there exists the choice to make an effort to return home.

‘To be honest, I don’t really want to go home.’

Still, not knowing how it will turn out, I decide to leave it as a choice.

The happy dilemma of choosing between recklessness and success, was just this morning …

*

“Whatever you do doesn’t matter. Everything surrounding this world is purely Lercheaga’s. Hence, whether you do something that deserves condemnation or violate the rules, it doesn’t matter… if you can’t prove your ability as a person of Lercheaga, the story changes.”

Upon returning from the academy, all plans were shattered by Damian, Darren’s father and the current head of the Lercheaga family.

“So prove it. Whether you take it in your own hand, or borrow the power of the family, use everything you can to prove your ability.”

I smirked at hearing him say it was okay to commit a crime as long as the result was good.

In the novel, it was simply written,

‘[The people of Lercheaga use every method to produce results]’

I thought it merely meant they did their best to get results, but having experienced it, I realized that it wasn’t an exaggeration, but a truth that had to be accepted exactly as it is.

At first, it felt alien because it was such an abnormal request.

‘In order to live here comfortably, the power of the family is needed, regardless.’

Instead of needlessly getting on bad terms with the family, it was better to use them, was the conclusion I came to, and I nodded.

At my reaction, the patriarch impassively nodded back and withdrew his gaze.

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“Then go.”

“Yes.”

I made a hasty greeting and quickly slipped out of the office.

*

Once I slipped out of the office, a butler who had been waiting nearby greeted me.

His overly polite behavior was quite burdensome.

If it had been Darren, he would have accepted such behavior as a matter of course, so I tried to endure it and nodded.

“What’s the matter?”

In a short, arrogant tone.

Mimicking Darren’s tone of voice, I looked at the butler.

The butler, still in a polite pose, opened his mouth.

“The head of the family wants you to achieve first place in this exam.”

“… What?”

“Every member of the Lercheaga family maintained the top spot throughout their school days. It seems you are also expected to prove the same.”

“……”

“Regrettably, you were second in the entrance exam to a common woman named Lumira. But don’t worry too much, as the family’s support will be there for the first round of exams.”

At that moment, I had the feeling that the scattered puzzle pieces were starting to fit together.

‘So that’s why.’

I realised why Darren had been so persistent in tormenting Lumira, even to the point of attempting to rape her and it evoked a bitter laugh.

‘Because of the exam scores.’

He had to be first, but some unknown commoner woman suddenly took the top spot, so he sought revenge in anger.

‘Or maybe it wasn’t about revenge, but about giving her an indelible scar so she wouldn’t be able to concentrate on the next exam.’

As Master Demian had said, I chose to do what I had done, believing that I could cover it up with the power of my family.

What I didn’t quite understand here was why he had chosen to lower her grades by such an inefficient method as rape.

‘Wouldn’t it have been better to simply threaten or murder her, rather than do such a thing?’

Such a question sprang up.

But as soon as Lumi’s face appeared in my mind, all the questions that had arisen were resolved.

Anyway, I turned around, thinking that the more I delve into Dern, the more disgusting he seemed.

* * *

I returned to my room immediately and fell into thought.

‘So the important thing now is to secure the top spot and continue receiving support from the family.’

The problem was that I didn’t have the confidence to do well in the exam.

‘I know the story of the novel, but I don’t know how to use magic, or swordplay, or even the theory study.’

In other words, I was blank, unable to do anything.

I lightly pressed my forehead, thinking that the situation had become overly headache-inducing.

‘So I need to learn things like magic, swordsmanship, and basic theory…’

I doubted whether I could accomplish all that in a few weeks.

I paced around the room, chewing my nails, and on a whim, asked the housekeeper about the ‘worst case scenario.’

“Regarding your question about what would happen if, in addition to not achieving the top spot, your grades also fall into the lower rung, it’s difficult for me to answer as there are no previous cases.”

The housekeeper gave an absurd answer, all the while keeping a calm expression.

“There are accounts of family members who have disgraced the face of Lerche having been sent to the ice prison, trapped there for life.”

“Ice prison?”

“Yes. The ice prison located on the frozen mountain range.”

Though it seems unimaginable, just for failing an exam, to be sent to an ice prison where they resort to eating their own children and making clothes from the remaining flesh.

One thing was certain, even if they aren’t sent to such a place, those who fail to meet the standard are quickly discarded by the family.

‘It’s a headache.’

I sighed and stared at the ceiling, then closed my eyes and lost myself in thought.

‘Regardless of developing my abilities, I can’t avoid being entangled with the female protagonist, completely against my intentions.’

I tensed my eyes, recalling the many frustrating elements that appeared in the novel at this point.

‘There’s no other way. It can’t be helped.’

Nevertheless, I decided to start training while making a resolution to avoid being involved with the female lead as much as possible.

*

‘So how do I train in magic?’

Not only have I never used magic, I don’t even know how to use mana because I’ve only ever imagined such a world.

In the novel, it was said that a viscous liquid clinging to the body can be used as though being drawn out.

However, throughout my life, I’ve only done something similar with a white liquid, which brings on some conflict.

‘I don’t know. If I keep doing it, something will happen.’

If it really doesn’t work, I can always ask a magician in the family for private lessons.

I tried to exert force while recalling the description in the novel, but as I expected, nothing….

– Whooosh!

Before I could finish my sentence, a yellow flame ignited from my palm.

Although the explanation was not written, I could intuitively understand what it was.

‘Mana.’

Specifically, mana of the lightning element, reputed to be the most potent.

I couldn’t help but be perplexed by such a fact.

‘Why is it so easy?’

I seem to recall reading that manifesting mana requires at least a few years of training.

Yet, it seemed peculiar that I could manifest mana easily, as if merely drawing it forth.

I wondered if per chance I was using Dern’s powers, since I inhabited Dern’s body.

‘Dern was ice attribute, not lightning. Considering that it’s impossible to use lightning mana…’

It seemed only right to consider this magical ability as my own unique skill.

The realization sparked the notion that achieving top honors might not be as difficult as I’d imagined.