After graduating from the academy, Lenis fell into deep despair upon realizing that Bryden had rejected her.
She spent her days in a state of depression.
Locked in her room, drowning in sorrow, she kept wondering why she hadn’t been chosen over Celine.
Eventually, she reached one conclusion.
It was her origins that had been the problem all along.
Bryden had always been a promising talent from a young age.
Not only was he handsome, but he also had a strong sense of sacrifice, always stepping forward to protect others.
His strict self-discipline ensured he never engaged in any behavior that could tarnish his reputation, setting an example for others.
He possessed outstanding martial skills, never neglected his studies—believing that strength alone wasn’t enough to lead—and had deep faith in the goddess.
He was, by all accounts, the perfect man, excelling in both intellect and combat.
Celine was just as exceptional.
As the legitimate daughter of a renowned knight family, she possessed immense martial prowess.
She upheld the pride and honor of a knight, and she was far from a simple-minded soldier—she had the insight and wisdom to assess battlefield situations and strategic advantages.
She was the only one in the academy capable of crossing swords with Bryden.
Moreover, her natural beauty was striking, and she was incredibly disciplined, maintaining a perfectly toned physique without an ounce of unnecessary fat.
And herself?
She was considered fairly attractive, and her family had a strong background as a count’s house in the Kingdom of Fratea.
However, apart from her good looks, everything else about her was fake.
Her family had originally been one of the most successful merchant dynasties, not just in the kingdom but across the entire continent.
Her parents, with their sharp business acumen, had accumulated more wealth than anyone else on the continent, but they had no ties to political power.
Because of this, they had to pay exorbitant taxes and tributes to local lords and powerful figures, always needing to have bribes ready just in case.
Her father, deeply insecure about his merchant origins and lack of power, eventually bought a noble title—becoming the Count of Valentine in the Kingdom of Fratea.
After acquiring the noble title, he poured an enormous amount of money into their estate, building a grand castle more opulent than that of most dukes, creating vast gardens and lakes, and decorating the interior with expensive paintings, sculptures, and bonsai trees.
Lenis forced herself to learn noble etiquette that never quite suited her, trying to blend into aristocratic society, but neither she nor the House of Valentine was ever truly accepted.
“A commoner pretending to be a noble with money,”
“Low-born merchants who think they’re high-class just because they decorate themselves with luxury,”
“Tradesmen who would sell their souls for profit.”
This was how the kingdom’s aristocrats saw her father, Count Valentine, and by extension, herself.
Of course, whenever they needed money, they would approach her with smiling faces, but Lenis knew that everything—her appearance, the people drawn to her—was all fake.
Determined to overturn this perception and prove her real worth, she enrolled in the academy, awakened her magical talents, and found true friends in Ravi, Elfin, and Celine.
She also developed feelings for Bryden.
But in the end, even Bryden chose Celine, a true knight, over her, a false noble.
Realizing that no matter how much she built upon a foundation of wealth, she could never outshine someone like Celine, Lenis began searching for something she could accomplish with her own strength.
At a royal banquet held shortly after graduation, she inquired about the Kingdom of Fratea’s long-standing ambitions.
“Hah, ambitions? Those aren’t things that can be achieved with money alone. But if you’re so determined, why don’t you try succeeding in the Liberta Purification Project?”
A noble sneered at her.
Taking this as a challenge, Lenis resolved to accomplish the Liberta Purification Project herself.
If she could achieve something that money alone couldn’t buy, it would be the perfect opportunity to prove her true worth—and perhaps even make Bryden look at her again.
As she was coming up with ideas for the Liberta Purification Project, a noble approached her.
“The esteemed daughter of the Valentine Count family seems to be seriously considering the Liberta Purification Project.”
“Who are you?”
“Ah, I apologize for the late introduction. I am Hyron, head of the Vector Baron family. You can simply call me Baron Vector.”
“What brings you to me?”
“You don’t have to be so wary. Unlike the other nobles of the kingdom, I highly appreciate your mindset in overcoming the complexities of your origins.”
“I see. Even if it’s just words, I appreciate it.”
“Haha, this isn’t just empty talk. To express my sincerity, I would like to offer you some assistance with the Liberta Purification Project. Would you be interested?”
“My father once told me that the people you should be most wary of are those who offer kindness without reason.”
Baron Vector let out a hearty laugh.
“Hahaha, that’s absolutely right. As expected, someone who has dealt with people for so long has a sharp eye. To be honest, my kindness isn’t without reason. If I may be blunt, I also want to attach my name to the Valentine Count family’s achievements, which is why I’m shamelessly making this proposal.”
“Are you suggesting we share the credit?”
“To put it bluntly, yes. At my age, I’m still just a baron. I’d like to achieve something noteworthy, but with the world being so peaceful these days, there aren’t many opportunities for military merit. Eventually, I set my sights on Liberta. However, I don’t have the financial resources to take it on alone.”
Lenis crossed her arms and asked,
“So, Baron Vector, what exactly are you offering as assistance?”
“I will lend you my soldiers.”
“We already have more than enough soldiers from our own family. Why should I use yours?”
“Of course, that would be the easiest route. But even if you succeed that way, do you think people will drop their prejudices against you?”
“……”
Lenis fell silent because he was speaking the truth.
“They would say, ‘She bought her title, she bought her soldiers, and now she has achieved something through the power of her family’s backing.’ They would be quick to dismiss your achievements. But I doubt you got involved in the Liberta Purification Project just to receive such hollow praise. However, if my troops are involved, the story changes. Managing soldiers from another noble house will be a test of your leadership and influence. If you succeed with a mixed force, it will be difficult for anyone to undermine your accomplishments. Even though I’m just a lowly baron, the Vector family is an established noble house with deep roots in the kingdom. If the Valentine family and the Vector family achieve something together, no noble would dare belittle it—doing so would be like spitting on their own legacy.”
“I see. In short, you’ll provide me with legitimacy and military support, while we cover the financial costs and share the credit.”
“You understand perfectly. This isn’t some suspicious, altruistic favor. It’s a fair trade where both of us stand to gain. What do you think?”
After a moment of contemplation, Lenis nodded and extended her hand.
“Alright. I accept the deal. I, Lenis Valentine, the élite of the Valentine family, will ensure the success of the Liberta Purification Project!”
“I will support your success from the shadows.”
Following this, Lenis repeatedly merged her family’s troops with the Vector family’s forces and marched towards Liberta, persistently demanding their evacuation.
Of course, Liberta refused.
After multiple visits, Lenis delivered an ultimatum—prepared to use force if necessary—and made her final visit.
Just as she was about to issue her command, a powerful light erupted in front of her.
“…That’s what happened. But… I’ve never heard rumors about strong individuals hiding in Liberta… Alvis, do you think I don’t know you’re mocking me right now? There’s no way all of them are dead! Do you know how many there were…?”
Unaware of the existence of the Shadow Mercenaries, Lenis didn’t realize that sheer numbers were meaningless against such an elite force.
But there was something far more important.
Crusader Bryden NX was a garbage game.
But out of sheer love for the original web novel Loveholic, I endured that garbage until the bitter end.
After all, the game had revealed many hidden aspects of the world that weren’t covered in the novel.
I played that awful game so much that I could describe every country, every location, and every hidden detail with my eyes closed.
And because of that, I noticed something very strange about what Lenis had just said.
“Lenis. The person who told you that—what was their name again?”
“You mean Baron Vector? He said his name was Hyron Vector.”
“He specifically said he was from the ‘Vector Baron family’ and that his name was Hyron Vector?”
“…What did you just realize?”
Lenis confirmed the information.
But the question wouldn’t leave my mind.
Because in the world of Crusader Bryden NX, the Vector family didn’t exist.