Yerina Pierce.
A named character who most likely reached the rank of 5-Star.
As she walked, the distinct muscles of her thighs, clearly visible beneath her short armor, caught the eye.
— Clack. Clack.
The sharp sound of metal boots hitting the ground.
It was those behind her who noticed the fact that she was carrying something.
“Ahhhhhhhhhh-!”
A young lady screamed.
The scream spread like an infection.
“I-Is that a, a person?”
“How could such a heinous thing be here!”
They hadn’t noticed her arrival in advance because it was too shocking. Yerina left behind long bloodstains as she walked.
Drip, drip.
Dragging it along, Yerina Pierce stood before Herman.
After looking around, she spoke.
“What a splendid banquet, brother.”
Her tone was as rough as that of a seasoned soldier who had been through many wars, but her pronunciation of “brother” was dignified.
“Why, why have you come here!”
“The banquet was said to be progressing faster than usual, so I hurried here.”
“You weren’t even invited!”
“Oh, is there a law that says I can’t attend my family’s banquet?”
“Aren’t you supposed to guard the northern border!”
“Ah, yes. I had to rush here to attend Brother’s banquet.”
She tapped her toe and winked at Herman. It was more like a threat than a wink.
“Don’t lie! I know full well how aggressively the barbarians have been encroaching lately!”
“Oh. So you knew.”
Smirk.
“But why hold a banquet on a day like this? While your sibling is busy dealing with the barbarians at the border.”
“T-That’s! Banquets are supposed to be held on good days!”
“Good day, huh. Yeah. The weather’s been a bit chilly lately. That’s right. Yeah. Hehehe.”
Yerina’s shoulders shook with laughter.
Her presence alone was enough to freeze the surroundings.
With a light movement as if tossing a small backpack, she threw what she held in her hand.
— Splat!
The bloodied man fell in front of Herman, convulsing.
“W-What kind of monstrous act is this!”
“It’s just a little scare with a bunch of people.”
“Yerina! Show some respect!”
“Oh. Yes, respect. I’m terribly sorry, everyone.”
Nod.
Yerina bowed her head sternly to the nobles.
And again when she lifted her face.
— Grin
Yerina’s smile, with her teeth showing, was as fierce as that of a beast.
Her red eyes gleamed brightly.
“But you know.”
Yerina grabbed the hair of the man lying on the ground.
— Thud!
She slammed his head onto the floor.
“Gah!”
Groans erupted from the man, who was now covered in blood.
His breathing seemed precarious, as if it could be cut off at any moment.
Small screams and greater fear spread through the banquet hall.
Herman shouted.
“What kind of outrageous behavior is this!”
“Outrageous?”
Ha!
Yerina wiped her head with her hand, which was covered in blood.
The blood stained her hair red.
“You nobles can enjoy such festivities because there are knights and soldiers guarding the borders. Is there anyone among these fancy nobles who can refute that?”
“…”
“But what? Outrageous?”
The banquet hall became deathly quiet.
Yerina, who had mocked, squatted next to the fallen man on the floor.
Then she grabbed the man’s hair once again.
Thud.
Ignoring the man’s screams, Yerina asked.
“Hey. Speak up.”
“Ah, Antigonus is eternal. Our people… for four years…”
“All right, that’s enough.”
— Thud
Yerina’s fist struck fiercely.
—Gurk.
The man’s life was extinguished.
“The onslaught of Antigonus is growing stronger day by day. Herman. If you are truly the eldest of the Pierce family, don’t hide in the family like a rat and hold banquets. Hold your banquets openly at the border.”
Yerina brushed the blood off her fist as she spoke.
“That will be the courage to show the true successor to the Pierce family.”
Herman Pierce blinked rapidly, his face slipping like melting ice, as if he had turned into a goldfish.
The other nobles didn’t look much different.
Amidst the bewildered people, only Yerina smiled.
‘Her demeanor was fierce and ferocious, like a wild beast.’
— Clack, clack.
She continued to walk confidently, following the traces of blood she left behind.
When Yerina’s figure disappeared and her ominous aura finally faded away.
“Ugh!”
Someone exhaled as if they had been holding their breath.
Soon others began to breathe heavily too.
Some young nobles even collapsed in relief.
Of course, Ian was observing the situation calmly, unlike the other nobles.
‘… This scenario is getting quite tricky.’
Although he hadn’t anticipated Yerina’s arrival, he had considered the possibility.
Ian intentionally approached Sharon, who was standing still.
“Your sister is quite audacious…”
— Clack.
Like a bug, Sharon brushed past Ian and followed the red carpet left by Yerina.
Ian fell into deep thought.
As one progresses through Act 2, various branching paths become apparent.
One significant branching point is the ‘Yerina’s Banquet Confrontation’ scene.
Although it’s a rare event, if triggered, it escalates the conflict within the Pierce family to its peak.
‘I anticipated Sharon’s sudden appearance, but…’
The conflict between the first and second children of the Pierce dukedom alone significantly raises the stakes in the story.
‘But there’s also an increased possibility of resolution.’
Ian surveyed the banquet hall.
With the nobles in disarray and Herman standing tall in the distance, there seemed to be nothing more to gain here.
Ian headed towards the third door of the banquet hall…
Of course, the destination was obvious.
◆
In fact, the scenario in Act 2 progresses under the assumption that the player has unlocked the talents of the heroine, Sharon Pierce.
In other words, the conventional strategy is to raise Sharon Pierce to the rank of 5-Star through various in-game purchases and level-ups, and then have her enter the Pierce family’s succession race.
Of course, the Northern Grand Duke has no intention of handing over his position, so the ‘succession fight’ itself does not have much meaning, but the key to the strategy is to unite one’s side in the process.
However, as the Grand Duke of the North has no intention of relinquishing his position, the ‘succession battle’ itself holds little significance. But rallying one’s faction during the process is crucial.
“…It’s the conventional strategy, but…”
The heroine Sharon Pierce, who was supposed to flourish and lead the way with her 5-Star status, is currently in no state to be utilized, nor does she have the intention.
“The third child is completely out of the question.”
Since the third child of the Pierce family has never made an appearance, Ian decided to dismiss her presence with some discomfort.
In a way, it’s the worst-case scenario, but Yerina’s appearance in the story is a stroke of luck.
It signals the beginning of a real fight between Herman and Yerina.
“Whether the shrimp fights the whale or not…”
For the shrimp to survive, it must engage in a fight with the whale.
Ian resolved to become the bait himself.
“…Where did she go?”
Ian followed after Yerina.
Fortunately, her footprints were still visible in the snow, making it easy to follow.
It seemed to be a forest created for walks within the mansion grounds.
‘They must have a lot of money…’
Following the footprints in the snow for a while,
“Huh?”
Suddenly, the footprints disappeared.
Panic-stricken, Ian looked around.
— Swish.
He felt a sensation like a blade slicing through his neck.
‘Something warm is soaking my throat.’
When he lowered his head, he saw a small branch.
“Who are you? Ah, the Third Princess’s plaything.”
As Ian turned towards the voice, Yerina was standing there.
Her red eyes, like burning flames.
For a moment, she furrowed her brows, then picked up the branch and licked it lightly.
‘Can she cut skin with such a thin branch?’
If Ian had confirmed that his neck had been sliced perfectly straight at the same depth, he would have been even more astonished, but for now, this was enough.
Swallowing his saliva and hiding his tension, Ian spoke up.
“… Not quite a plaything, though.”
“People were whispering about you though.”
“I’m Ian. Ian Blackangers.”
“Hehe. Quite bold and funny guy you are.”
Yerina, who had been laughing, wiped the expression off her face.
“So Ian, what brings you here? Just so you know, I’m not easily satisfied with ordinary playthings. You seem rather mediocre.”
A chill ran down his spine.
Maintaining composure against the overwhelming difference in status, Ian opened his mouth.
“I didn’t come here to be a plaything.”
“Then why did you follow me?”
Yerina, who had been somewhat wary of him to begin with, asked.
Her voice grew harsher.
Her hidden aggression had risen to the surface.
Ian had a gut feeling.
Yerina might be under the misconception that he was affiliated with Herman.
Just playing along while waiting for an opportunity.
‘If she were to land a punch, I’d turn to dust.’
There would be no need to clean up the body.
The difference between a 5-Star and a non-5-Star, it’s like the difference between a human and an ant.
In short, it’s the worst-case scenario.
He hadn’t intended to encounter her in this manner, being followed and cornered.
He had planned to meet her as if by chance during a stroll.
‘… Damn.’
Anyway.
A response.
A proper response was necessary.
Yerina’s eyebrows twitched as if she couldn’t endure any longer.
Seeing her fist clenched slightly, Ian opened his mouth.
“I am in love with you, Lady Yerina.”
“…What?”
Her piercing eyes crumpled into a blank stare.
