The Villain Wants to Change Genres

Chapter 25

“Young master! Are you ready?”

Luwen’s face, peeking out from outside my dressing room, was flushed with anticipation.

“Yes. Let’s go.”

When I extended my hand, Luwen grasped it tightly.

‘They say his hit rate has been good lately. He won’t be like this when he grows up, so I should hold his hand a lot while he’s young. This will all become memories.’

As we passed through the first-floor lobby and opened the front door, a piercing wind penetrated through the layers of my cloak. How on earth did it manage to get through? I suddenly missed the padded jackets of modern times.

“Luwen… Won’t you be cold?”

“No!”

Unlike me, who hesitated slightly in the fierce cold, Luwen was energetic.

Does being a sword genius mean you don’t feel the cold? The wind was so strong it was scary to go outside. Even the servants passing through the lobby glanced at me. Their looks seemed to say, ‘Young master, are you going out? It’s cold outside. It’s going to be freezing.’

“Alright, let’s go.”

What else could I do? Luwen wanted to go out. He can’t go a day without holding a sword. What if I let him go alone and he gets hurt from the cold stiffening his body?

‘Let’s endure for just three more years. By then, he’ll be skilled enough to practice alone.’

Above all, it was important to get past the day of the attack. In the original story, Luwen was already injured by then. So if we safely pass that time, the original content of him getting hurt while practicing swordsmanship alone would change.

Confirming this result was a very important issue for me. It would be the first case where I could verify whether Luwen’s future would change due to my actions.

When we arrived at the training ground, Luwen started with warm-up exercises, followed by strength training in a set order. At first, he struggled and took quite a while, but now he does it with ease. It was admirable to see him handling it effortlessly even as the intensity increased.

After finishing the strength training, Luwen immediately grabbed his sword.

Throughout this time, I stood still, watching Luwen. Thanks to the servants sweeping the snow, the surroundings except for the training ground were all white. In that setting, only Luwen was full of life and dynamic.

Luwen’s black hair fluttered with his movements, and the white snow that gently landed on his round head quickly melted away. Whether taking in the whole scene or examining each detail, there wasn’t a single aspect that wasn’t beautiful.

But a problem arose. Even though I was standing still, my vision kept shaking, which was not a good sign.

‘I wonder if I can hold out until Luwen finishes his sword practice.’

I should let him know I’m not feeling well and return to the mansion. That’s the right decision, but when I tried to speak up, I didn’t want to cut short the excited child’s training.

…It should be fine. I’m just standing still.

Let’s endure until Luwen’s training is over. Then I can go straight back to the mansion, take medicine, and rest.

Just then, Luwen glanced at me. It was to check if his posture was correct. I smiled as usual and nodded.

His posture was perfect. When a genius puts in effort too, it would be strange if it wasn’t perfect.

Luwen’s movements quickened as he smiled brightly. He seemed to be practicing combination moves. The blade that was slashing horizontally twisted and thrust upward. The sword moved smoothly as Luwen desired. There were still a few awkward movements, but soon it would be perfect enough to be used as a textbook.

The more Luwen sweated, the more I felt oppressed by the season. My body grew heavier, and fever rose. I could feel the heat of my breath as it escaped my lips.

This is no joke. I’m even feeling chills.

It seems my condition was worse than I thought. The strength drained from my body in an instant. I felt so dizzy it was as if the ground had suddenly surged up. With a thud, a chill rushed through my entire body.

Oh no. I shouldn’t collapse now…

I couldn’t see well. My head hurt… I felt dizzy… and hot. My rough breathing bothered me, but soon I couldn’t hear anything.

My thoughts abruptly cut off.

* * *

Luwen loved the sensation of slicing through the cold air with his sword. His body, which had been cooped up in the mansion all day, seemed to breathe life in this space where it could move freely. The air was clear, and the winter, which had grown considerably colder, immediately cooled his flowing sweat, making him feel refreshed.

But indulging too much tends to disrupt one’s posture, so he would look at Fei every now and then. Standing with perfect posture, Fei would nod or offer advice.

It was the same now. Seeing him nod with a gentle smile that seemed to soothe his heart, Luwen became excited and focused on his practice as usual.

But suddenly there was a thud. As soon as he realized it came from where Fei was standing, Luwen quickly turned his head.

“…Young master?”

It was a strange sight. The person who always stood in the same place, in the same posture, smiling whenever their eyes met, was now lying in the snow-white field. His face, which was usually just pale, looked flushed, which was different from usual.

“Young master?”

Clang!

The wooden sword he was holding fell to the frozen ground. Startled by the sharp sound, Luwen rushed over. The young master, who liked everything neat, was lying on the ground without moving.

“Young master!”

There was no response even when he grabbed his shoulders and shook him. The person who always answered “Yes” whenever Luwen called.

“St-stop joking! Get up!”

Wh-what should I do? The panicked Luwen put his arms under Fei’s armpits and tried to lift him. His arms trembled.

He managed to lift him halfway, but immediately fell forward. He couldn’t carry him on his back. Despite being thin, Fei was still an adult and too heavy for Luwen to lift.

Luwen looked reproachfully at his own small hands. Then, as if scolding his insensitively trembling arms, he clenched his fists tightly and gritted his teeth.

“Young master, please wait a moment. I’ll go call someone.”

Luwen muttered, after taking off all the clothes he could and covering Fei with them. All he had left was underwear so thin it might as well not have been there. The fierce wind whirled around as if it had been waiting, but he didn’t feel the cold.

Now he needed to run out and call for help, but he hesitated, unable to leave Fei. The snow, which had lost its intensity, began to pick up again. Luwen’s face suddenly contorted.

‘It’s because of me…’

Guilt washed over him. Luwen knew that every time they went to the training ground, Fei would wear several layers of cloaks, and after training, he would rush straight to hot water, shivering.

Yet he hadn’t thought deeply about it. Rather, he even looked forward to the time after training when they would playfully bathe together in the large bathtub.

Moreover, because Fei was the ‘young master’. He thought he wasn’t someone who would push himself for a servant. In Luwen’s common sense, it was unthinkable for any master to overwork themselves for a servant. Even if that young master showed kindness. He thought it didn’t mean it was more important than himself.

So he just thought, maybe he’s a bit cold, and left it at that.

‘What… What is this, young master… Why on earth…’

He felt like he was about to burst into tears. I knew he was a weak person. I should have been more careful.

Luwen’s severely contorted face was stained with self-reproach. He moved quickly before the snowfall intensified. He could receive scolding or punishment later. Right now, he needed an adult who could move Fei to a warm place.

Luwen headed straight for the Duke Vinter’s knights’ quarters. It was closer than the mansion as it was near the training ground.

As he ran hurriedly, he looked back several times, causing him to roll clumsily on the slippery snow. His knees were scraped, and his palms were bleeding, but he didn’t feel the pain. He didn’t even realize he was injured. He just kept looking back as he heard a voice calling him repeatedly.

‘Luwen.’

The voice was clear, but the scenery he saw remained unchanged. Only the amount of snow piled on top of Fei had increased slightly. Luwen bit his lip hard and increased his speed.

A gentle smile, a fragrant scent, a kind warmth that seemed to embrace everything – these memories came to him one after another.

Then he suddenly became scared. What if he never sees him again? He had promised to pick flowers for him when spring came. The image of Fei looking happy while receiving his clumsy bouquet kept flashing in his mind.

Should I not have asked to come out? How did the young master look today? Was there anything different from usual? Why did he suddenly collapse? What did I miss? I…

Luwen rubbed his eyes and increased his speed. Soon, the knights’ quarters building came into view. He ran straight to the entrance and frantically pounded on the wooden door.