Became the Escort Knight That the Princesses Were Obsessed With - Chapter 338



338. Security Operation (6)

“Who’s the most recent recruit among our bodyguards?”

Rosanna had arrived at the gym.

Some of her bodyguards and attending secretaries brought a folding chair for her.

“It’s Derrick. He was the first-place winner at the audition in Minnesota.”

However, the president of AR Plaza didn’t even glance at the chair.

She only looked out at the wide sparring area, leaning elegantly on a separate railing.

“Minnesota, so that’s up north, huh? You’re on the slim side for someone from that area.”

“Yeah, but I took second place in the city boxing tournament and my total score was the highest that year.”

Allen explained, as if used to her kind of questions.

Rosanna was notorious for judging everything about a person by metrics and stats.

Even I, who’d barely seen her, knew that much.

“Then, what about that employee over there?”

“Hanbaeil is…”

Allen checked the resume he’d received from AR Korea on his phone.

He must have requested info on me and Miya even before I arrived here.

“He graduated from Yong-an University with degrees in Taekwondo and Security. Top of his class.”

“Yong-an, is that a famous place in Korea? I only know Seoul National.”

Not all of her direct employees came from prestigious universities.

But, as far as rough estimates of a person’s capabilities went, there wasn’t a better standard than their academic background.

“It seems to be a pretty famous place for Taekwondo.”

“Hmm-. A clash of Eastern martial arts and boxing. Should be interesting.”

Rosanna seemed to regard this spar as just another amusing variety show.

Her attitude, the opposite of Miya’s nervousness, came across as rather arrogant.

“Are you ready?”

“Yeah, let’s start.”

Unlike the apathetic CEO, I was secretly more than a little excited.

Back to ten years ago.

This is the first time in a while I’ve had a physical collision with someone.

Sure, I was plenty young at thirty, but after all those incidents my body was slowly falling apart.

By the time I became Chief Secretary, my disc was acting up, and I was getting ready to step back from field work.

And now, I’m back, completely unscathed, a fresh twenty-year-old.

‘How lively will I be…?’

I instinctively had trouble hiding the smirk playing on my lips.

Seeing my face, Derrick, the guy opposite me, frowned.

“You’re awfully relaxed.”

“……”

A somewhat displeased expression.

His features are so defined that even the slightest furrow in his brow makes him look angry.

“Not at all, I’m just happy to get guidance from a senior from headquarters.”

“A senior from headquarters…?”

At my words, Derrick’s brow, which had been so tightly furrowed, completely smoothed out.

“Yes, at AR Korea, we always looked up to the security personnel working at headquarters.”

It’s true.

It’s only natural to admire regular employees of the global headquarters more than those at the affiliates.

Plus, the guy opposite me is just a low-ranking employee, called here for some grunt work.

“Just sparring with them like this, there’s so much to learn.”

“Well, if that’s the reason…”

From noble mtl dot com

Always hearing orders and nagging, to hear this kind of respect…

“Alright, good to work with you, junior.”

It was only natural for my mood to improve.

“There aren’t any particular rules. The goal is to confirm each other’s skills, so proceed autonomously.”

Allen didn’t seem particularly interested in this sparring match either.

The difference in skill between headquarters and affiliate employees was obvious anyway.

A security guard from the world’s 3rd largest company headquarters versus a security guard from a much smaller Korean branch.

“Derek, go easy on him. He’s the one Director Valderian cherishes.”

“Yes, I understand!”

He was only worried that I, favored by Valderian, would get hurt and their relationship would be damaged.

――――――.

“Begin.”

The moment Allen signaled the start.

The headquarters guard, Derek, who had spoken kindly, turned expressionless.

The atmosphere of the ordinary factory gym froze in an instant.

“Let’s see what you’ve got.”

Rosanna relishes such suffocating atmospheres.

She rested the back of her hand on her sharp jaw, beginning her observation.

“Whether you’re someone worth keeping around.”

“……Bae Il.”

Miya swallowed hard, both fists clenched tight, like a cat standing next to a massive lioness.

Please, let him just take it, not too painfully, and hold on.

‘He’s definitely the kind of opponent who makes predicting my loss easy.’

Big build, boxing type.

The textbook way to deal with this style is to drag him to the ground and take him down with a joint lock.

Whoosh―――!!

In that instant, while her mind was still sorting through thoughts.

His massive fist came hurtling forward with dizzying speed, throwing a jab.

‘Just as I thought, fast and with flashy footwork…!’

A speed that no measly 21-year-old college student could ever match.

If it were me in my past life, I’d already have a fist planted in my face, staring blankly up at the floor.

But, why is it?

I welcome this brutal sound slicing through the air.

I like the sensation of the fine hairs at the tip of my nose twitching as they react to his fist.

Unlike that moment when I was drowning in the water…

This whole moment, the fact that I’m alive and fighting someone again, it’s just too thrilling.

“……!!!”

I quickly took a backstep, wary of his long reach.

Then, he smirked and instantly began closing the distance again.

Like he was looking at me with the eyes of a boxer facing an opponent who couldn’t even walk the ground.

But, I didn’t give a damn about his gaze.

From the start, I had no intention of fighting the way he wanted, following the textbook of a match, slugging it out honorably.

“Are you seriously trying to stand and strike against a boxer?”

Miya stared blankly at me, not lowering his knees, taking the same boxing stance.

Rosanna, intrigued as well, parted her red lips slightly.

Just looking at weight classes, there was a difference of over 20KG.

And here I was, initiating a striking match…?

That’s right.

“Got some spirit, rookie?”

Derek smirked, looking at me, who wasn’t backing down.

At the same time, he extended his large elbow from a jab and threw a straight.

Speed so fast, it shook my bangs.

The moment the fist arrived at the tip of my nose was almost 0.5 seconds.

Just as the senior’s massive fist loomed over my face.

Whoosh―――!!

With my eyes wide open, I tilted my neck, dodging the blow.

Following that, before he could pull his fist back, I thrust my left arm out, aiming for Derek’s jaw.

“Hff…!”

A fighter instinctively always guards their chin.

That’s why the b*stard bolted back right away.

While he was making that big straight motion, I’d just thrown a jab with my left.

The timing I was after was *right now*.

While he was recovering his stance, moving back.

I launched my right, slamming it straight into his solar plexus.

*Thwack!!*

“Kuh……!!”

As expected of a former athlete, he didn’t go down from one shot to the gut.

He gritted his teeth, enduring the pain.

But.

The opening had been there for a long time now.

The instant the big guy faltered minutely, a hook to the side followed.

“!!!”

As his body bent like a rice cake, I relentlessly bored into his already caved-in solar plexus.

“You little shit!!”

Losing his balance, he reached out his arms, trying to grab me.

A skilled athlete’s maneuver to block any follow-up strikes.

*Crack!!*

The old me would’ve panicked, struggling to break free while being held.

But, the current me was completely unfazed.

I was almost glad for the sharp, exhilarating grip of my opponent’s hands on my arms.

“You’re quick on the uptake, huh?”

I praised the guy, some higher-up from headquarters.

Like I used to do as a section chief.

Because right now, I’ve got the mind of Korea’s top security director.

And the body of my healthiest 21-year-old self.

I focused every nerve on my solid thighs.

And then, without hesitation…

“Kuh-haak…!!”

I drove my knee, with all my might, up into his already-bruised solar plexus.

Once.

Twice.

“Uugh….”

Until the guy collapsed, three final times.

When his legs finally buckled beneath him.

*Thwack!*

I finally landed a punch right on his jaw, the same spot I’d aimed for initially.

“……”

Derrick’s eyes lost focus after taking a hit on a boxer’s biggest weakness.

He couldn’t make another sound, just slumped to his knees on the soft training mat.

Kuuung!!

A man nearing 190cm collapsed with a thud, causing Rosanna’s eyebrow, previously relaxed, to twitch minutely.

Her gaze was blankly fixed on the taut fabric of my dress pants.

The movement of my knee, rising with maniacal speed.

Her lips parted slightly at the outcome, so utterly different from what she expected.

However, Mia, who’d clenched her fist in triumph, made her quickly snap them shut again.

“Nice, newbie!!”

An involuntary cheer nearly escaped, and she clapped her hands over her mouth to stifle it.

Then, a quick glance at Rosanna’s reaction.

“He’s definitely worth Valderian’s recommendation.”

Relief washed over her at the sight of Rosanna, not offended or displeased, fortunately.

Rumor had it, Rosanna would fly into a rage if things didn’t go her way.

“Lightly subduing a senior, a top graduate in his class who’s had two years of rigorous training and combat experience.”

Her anger was directed elsewhere.

Towards Allen, who trained Derek.

“Looks like the training schedule was a bit too lax, Director?”

“I-I apologize, Madam President… I’ll ensure he’s trained more rigorously next time.”

The head of the security department from the main office stammered, apologizing repeatedly.

Rosanna let out a deep sigh and then, her eyes turned to me once again.

“……”

I lightly shook out my sweat-stained dress shirt, it had been a while.

At the same time, I pushed back my bangs, tidying up my face.

That’s when I made eye contact with her.

“Well, considering you had some definite ‘savvy’, I’ll let it slide just for today.”

Rosanna, flushed from the sweltering gym, elegantly swept her own bangs back.

Tucking her platinum blonde hair behind her ear, she crossed her arms again, alone.

“Alright, Roger. I’ll make sure your name is on tomorrow’s security detail.”

“Thank you, Director!!”

I bowed deeply, a full folder-style greeting.

After that, before reporting to Valderian, I first took care of Derrick, still slumped on the ground.

“Senior, are you alright?”

“Junior… you really did hone in on one spot, didn’t you…?”

He didn’t seem particularly frustrated or displeased despite the loss.

Maybe because I’d given him a heads-up, he actually said it was a good match and offered me a handshake.

“I’m sorry. I thought that was the only way I could possibly stand a chance against you, Senior.”

“Humble, aren’t you… It was clearly a difference in skill. The outcome came because you were much stronger.”

Derrick, even after losing, laughed coolly and patted my shoulder.

I offered a sheepish smile and helped him down from the training ring.

“Thank you so much for saying that.”

Rosanna watched the two men descend, their faces bright despite the rather intense fight they’d just had.

Even though it was clearly a rookie fight, the atmosphere was as relaxed as if they’d watched a drawn-out match between department heads.

As was typical of her picky nature, she noticed this and narrowed her sharp eyes into thin slits.

Then, she muttered to herself, inaudible to anyone else.

“He’s more mature than he looks.”

She handed her handbag to Allen.

And, as if she hadn’t paid him any attention at all, she returned to her nonchalant expression and left the gymnasium.

“Have that child. Assigned to my inner circle’s escort vehicle tomorrow.”

As if she intended to re-evaluate his skills in a real-world setting.