C385, 386, 387
Chapter 385: We (4)
Kwaaang-!
The knights stormed in, smashing the front door while I was taking a nap on the sofa.
It felt like a bolt from the blue.
Even in my half-awake state, the knight's words registered in my mind.
"Lihen Schuitz, you are under arrest for colluding with Noark."
Colluding with Noark...
It was probably just an excuse to arrest me. They would investigate me properly once I was in custody.
There were too many suspicious things about me.
'But they came sooner than I expected.'
I had been mentally preparing for this.
I had attracted attention by associating with Erwen and by getting involved with Raven on the battlefield.
It was only a matter of time.
Clank.
The knights quickly secured the living room and surrounded me, drawing their swords.
They weren't underestimating me.
They kept their distance, their gazes fixed on me.
"Lihen Schuitz, drop your weapon."
The knight who seemed to be the leader ordered me.
And in that situation...
'Okay...'
I looked around.
'What should I do?'
There were no mages.
It meant that they had only sent knights to arrest me.
Considering the knights' reputation in PvP, it was overkill... but it was also good news.
It meant I could break out and escape if I had to.
'But then I wouldn't be able to stay in this city...'
It was a last resort.
And it would conflict with my ultimate goal of reclaiming my identity as Bjorn Yandel.
'It's time to enter the tiger's den.'
I would have to contact the royal family eventually to clear my name.
Of course, it would have been better if I knew their intentions beforehand...
But I had learned something.
[...The royal family knows the GM's identity.]
The GM was practically a spiritual leader for the players.
According to SoulQueens' information from the Round Table, the royal family knew his identity.
And not only that...
They had even suppressed the information to protect him.
It meant they weren't indiscriminately killing all evil spirits.
Even if my identity as Bjorn Yandel was exposed, and my status as an evil spirit was revealed... there was still room for negotiation.
But...
'I should at least try to gauge their intentions.'
I made up my mind and spoke.
"I'll cooperate with the investigation, but can I at least tell my companion before I go?"
The reason for this request was simple.
They knew my companion was Erwen.
If they refused, it would be a positive sign.
It would mean they had deliberately waited until Erwen was away, and that they didn't know much about me.
"If you're talking about the Blood Spirit Marquis, there's no need. You can see her when we arrive."
The leader's words stunned me.
"..."
What? They arrested Erwen too?
Then what about Amelia?
No, I had to confirm this first.
"How can I be sure she's there?"
The leader answered without hesitation.
"I swear on the name of the Lafdonia royal family."
Damn it, that means he's not lying...
This is bad.
They even arrested Erwen, whom the fairies treasured?
It meant the royal family had prepared thoroughly. They had a reason to arrest me and Erwen.
'Shit...'
I wanted to resist and run away...
But I couldn't leave Erwen behind.
"This is your last chance. Lihen Schuitz, drop your weapon. Or you will be charged with treason against the royal family."
The leader issued an ultimatum, and a powerful wave of magic energy, easily detectable even with my barbarian senses, pulsed from outside the house.
So there was a mage.
They had just been hiding.
'These bastards are thorough.'
I reluctantly lowered my hammer.
Swoosh.
I had no choice.
I would have to be extra careful from now on.
__________________
Things moved quickly after I surrendered.
I put my weapon away as instructed, and the knights confiscated my subspace ring.
And...
"Your belongings will be returned to you once your charges are cleared."
The leader's voice had softened.
And it wasn't just his tone.
The treatment I received was far from that of a criminal.
"We have a carriage waiting for you."
A carriage awaited me outside.
It wasn't a prisoner transport wagon.
It was a luxurious carriage, fit for a high-ranking noble.
"Get in. We're going to Karnon, the Imperial City."
And there was only one escort, the leader.
The other knights were on horseback, escorting the carriage.
It was a level of treatment I had never received, even as Viscount Yandel.
Clatter, clatter.
The carriage started moving smoothly along the paved road, and I cautiously observed the leader.
"Is something bothering you?"
He asked, and I wanted to say, 'Of course!'
It was an absurd question.
But I couldn't be rude.
I asked cautiously,
"What are my charges?"
"As I said—"
"Don't say colluding with Noark. I wouldn't be treated like this if that was the case."
"..."
The leader fell silent and then frowned.
But he must have realized that I wouldn't stop asking.
"I can't tell you anything right now."
"But—"
"You'll find out when we arrive."
He drew a firm line, ending the conversation.
In the end, I only learned two things.
"What will happen to me?"
"That will be decided by 'him'."
Someone important was waiting for me.
And...
"Was anyone else arrested with Erwen?"
"I heard she was alone."
Amelia was safe.
We continued our journey in silence, and after about an hour, the carriage stopped.
We were at the 7th District military transfer station.
A facility with teleportation magic circles connected to each district.
It was originally built for rapid troop deployment in emergencies, but it was mostly used by nobles for transportation.
This was my first time here.
I had the right to use it after receiving the Viscount title, but the cost was exorbitant.
'I'm using it like this...'
We didn't even have to get out of the carriage.
We were teleported directly to the military transfer station in the Imperial City.
And...
'It's not the royal palace.'
The carriage entered a large mansion near the royal palace. Thanks to that, I could guess who had ordered my arrest.
The family crest was displayed prominently at the entrance.
A shield with a thorny rose.
It was the symbol of the Terserion family, a symbol almost everyone in the city knew.
For over a decade, the King had rarely appeared in public, and the Prime Minister of Lafdonia, Marquis Terserion, had been handling most of the official duties.
'The second most powerful person in the kingdom...'
I had thought it might be a member of the royal family since the knights were wearing the royal family's emblem...
'But this isn't bad either. I'm meeting the second most powerful person in the kingdom.'
I felt a surge of anxiety.
It felt like entering a tiger's den.
High risk, high return.
If I played my cards right, I might be able to solve all my problems with a few words...
But if I made a mistake, it could be disastrous.
"Get out."
The carriage stopped, and I was surrounded by knights. I was escorted inside, receiving their 'respectful' treatment.
Click.
A lavishly decorated reception room.
"...Where's Erwen?"
I quickly scanned the room and asked, and the leader frowned.
"That was a lie."
"...What?"
My head spun.
He swore on the name of the royal family!
I glared at him, and he averted his gaze.
"I had to bring you here quietly."
"You'll be in trouble if they find out you lied about the King."
"I'll be fine as long as they don't."
...This guy is flexible.
I couldn't help but admire him.
"You would have made a good explorer."
"You can mock me all you want. I was just following my lord's orders."
He had a way with words.
'Damn it...'
It was something I had often done.
Using the barbarian stereotype to make false oaths and deceive people.
It was an effective method.
No one would expect a knight, especially one from the Royal Knight Order, to lie about the King.
'But...'
Forget about being deceived.
If Erwen wasn't arrested, it was actually good news.
It meant she was safe.
'And it's something I'll have to face eventually.'
The important thing wasn't dwelling on my mistakes, but figuring out what to do next.
"So, what happens now? Do I just wait here? For that 'him' you mentioned?"
"There's no need."
The knight shook his head and placed a crystal ball on the table.
I didn't have to ask what it was.
It was obvious.
That's why there weren't any other escorts.
They were going to use this to communicate.
"I'll be leaving then."
He told me to activate the crystal ball after he left and then exited the room.
I was alone.
"..."
I quickly scanned the room for any hidden observers and then lifted the carpet.
'Holy shit.'
There was a magic circle underneath.
A complex, geometric pattern, filled with colorful magical circuits.
I felt a chill run down my spine.
'Are they going to blow me up if I try to escape?'
The second most powerful person in the kingdom...
The scale was different.
This entire mansion was practically a giant execution device.
'...Let's just activate the crystal ball.'
I was overwhelmed by their thoroughness, but I followed the knight's instructions and pressed the button on the crystal ball.
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
The crystal ball lit up and started projecting an image.
It was a familiar face.
The Prime Minister of Lafdonia, a high-ranking noble with the title of Marquis.
Ageny Rotten Terserion.
The man who had presided over the title bestowal ceremony in the King's stead.
[It's been a while.]
He greeted me in a deep voice, and I froze.
'...Been a while?'
I felt a pang of unease.
Thump!
Was it just a mind game?
How much did he know?
I swallowed my questions.
I had something more important to think about.
What should I say?
I quickly made my decision.
"Are you..."
I spoke cautiously and respectfully.
"Marquis Terserion?"
It was a natural reaction for an explorer who had been suddenly arrested and brought here.
But...
[You haven't forgotten my face already, have you...? You're quite cunning, unlike them.]
The Marquis chuckled and then called my name.
[Viscount Bjorn Yandel.]
It was my full name, a name I hadn't heard in a long time.
--------------------------------------
Chapter 386: We (5)
Viscount Bjorn Yandel.
The Marquis's eyes didn't even flicker as he spoke my name.
If it were Erwen or Amelia looking at me like that, I would have confessed everything before they could get any angrier.
That's how confident he seemed.
But...
The Marquis was different.
He was a seasoned politician, the second most powerful person in the kingdom for decades. It would be naive to believe his act.
"Are you sure you're not mistaken?"
I feigned ignorance, testing the waters.
But the Marquis didn't even acknowledge my question.
[It's strange to hear you use honorifics. I still remember you from the title bestowal ceremony.]
"...Is this all because of Erwen?"
[I understand your situation, so I won't accuse you of lying. But...]
The Marquis leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.
[I need to create a situation where you have no choice but to confess.]
A situation where I have no choice but to confess?
Was he going to use a verification spell or a Numbered Item like 'Distorted Trust'?
Or torture?
I calmly considered all the possibilities, but they were all wrong.
[I'll start by telling you this.]
The Marquis chose 'conversation'.
[Viscount Yandel, don't be alarmed. I'm one of the few people who know you're not an evil spirit.]
He was coming at me strong.
________________________
When my identity was revealed, this was the part that surprised Amelia the most.
How did an evil spirit like me receive a noble title?
[...Come to think of it, the royal family might have known and turned a blind eye. You were a hero in the city back then.]
That was her speculation, and I had considered it a possibility.
But...
'If what the Marquis just said is true, then they really didn't know.'
Of course, he could be lying...
But I decided to listen to him first.
Sometimes, it was better to wait and react than to strike first.
[I won't waste time listing the similarities between Lihen Schuitz and Viscount Bjorn Yandel. You understand, don't you?]
"Yes, I've been mistaken for him a few times..."
I nodded, and the Marquis began listing the evidence that proved my identity.
[It was easy to find out that you weren't Lihen Schuitz. I heard the whole story from the employee who accidentally deleted his records.]
A woman had threatened him and forced him to do it?
That's when I started to get suspicious.
[You know what's most important in administrative work? It's all about the numbers. No matter how logical or convincing a story is, if the numbers don't add up, it's wrong.]
[And that was the case with you.]
Bjorn Yandel is dead.
The Marquis said that once he rejected that premise, all the pieces started falling into place.
[You were too strong to be Lihen Schuitz. But two years and some support would be enough to explain that.]
[And how did you manage to avoid our eyes for so long? It would only make sense if you weren't in the city.]
Where was I then?
The answer was obvious.
[You were in contact with Noark when you disappeared from Parune Island.]
It was too much of a coincidence.
And according to their investigation, I had reappeared two years later at the now-abandoned underground fortress.
The fortress that was rumored to have a passage to the outside world.
[You appeared after the Blood Spirit Marquis visited that place.]
So that's why the knight had accused me of colluding with Noark.
I had thought it was just an excuse.
[Now, tell me your thoughts.]
The Marquis smirked.
It was a convincing story.
It was more plausible than me having traveled back in time.
But...
'...'
I couldn't shake off the feeling that he was being sincere.
'Is he that imaginative? Or that unimaginative?'
He had actually interpreted it that way.
_____________________
I didn't hesitate.
I always prioritized my goals.
My first priority was survival.
My second priority was reclaiming my identity as Bjorn Yandel.
And my third priority was clearing my name as an evil spirit.
So...
"He's quite clever, for a Prime Minister."
I shed my disguise as Lihen Schuitz and revealed my true form.
The reason was simple.
My priority was reclaiming my identity as Bjorn Yandel, not clearing my name as an evil spirit.
Whether he thought I was an evil spirit or a traitor, it didn't matter.
It was something I could negotiate with the Marquis.
'He wouldn't have called me here if he was planning to execute me.'
"Yes, I'm Bjorn Yandel. It's been a while, Marquis."
My voice was filled with confidence.
I wouldn't be this bold if I wasn't sure I could handle the situation.
Whew, it feels good to be back.
[Haha, I'm glad you confessed. It would have been troublesome if you denied it here.]
The Marquis chuckled, and I smirked.
'Troublesome...'
That's why I had revealed my identity.
I knew what would happen next. He would use 'something' to verify my claims.
And if that 'something' didn't work on me... it would only make him suspicious.
Erwen, Amelia, Raven.
If they investigated them thoroughly, they would eventually find out about my past.
It was better to come clean and move on to the main issue.
I had become quite good at deceiving people, after all.
[Now, let's get to the real issue.]
The Marquis ended the small talk and lowered his voice.
[Viscount Yandel, why did you join Noark?]
"Does it matter?"
[That's not a cooperative attitude. You're a smart man, aren't you?]
"I didn't join them. I was just there for my own purposes."
[...]
He stared at me, a strange look in his eyes.
But I held my ground.
I wasn't lying.
I had stayed in Noark for six months.
And I even killed the Lord.
[...You're not lying, are you?]
"Hiccup."
[...]
"Ah, sorry. I had some air in my stomach."
It seemed like the sudden hiccup had changed the mood.
The Marquis didn't press me further.
[You must have been nervous.]
"So, can I assume you're no longer with them?"
"Of course."
[I still find it hard to believe... Why did you hide your identity if you weren't a traitor?]
"The royal family declared me an evil spirit, didn't they? I wanted to find out why."
[You were suspicious of us... I see, that's a possibility.]
The Marquis nodded slightly, and it was my turn to ask a question.
Give and take.
"So, why did you make that announcement? You must know the reason."
[I can't tell you the details. Just think of it as a political move. And besides, we didn't know you were alive back then.]
Damn, I missed the most important part.
"Then tell me this. What do you want from me? You would have assassinated me if you really thought I was a traitor."
[The royal family doesn't handle things that way.]
Bullshit.
The royal palace was practically a den of vipers.
"So you're saying you don't need anything from me?"
[We were planning to use you in the war, if you were a traitor.]
See? He just admitted it.
"Too bad then."
[Well, it's not that bad. I'm quite satisfied with the current situation.]
"Satisfied?"
[Every war needs a hero.]
He was going to use me, even though they had declared me an evil spirit?
The audacity of this guy...
[Viscount Bjorn Yandel, return to the royal family.]
"Why should I?"
[We can help you.]
"I don't see how."
I played hard to get, and the Marquis finally revealed his true intentions.
[Whether you've cut ties with them or not, you were associated with Noark. It's a crime punishable by death.]
"So you're saying you'll let it slide if I join you?"
[Not just let it slide. We'll help you reclaim your title and your name.]
"What about the evil spirit announcement?"
[We can come up with a story. People will believe it.]
He seemed to have it all planned out...
[You said you were just there for your own purposes, didn't you? If you're uncomfortable with the idea of joining us, think of it as a deal.]
It felt strange.
Or rather, unsettling.
It was all going too smoothly.
I had expected a much more difficult situation...
'...'
[Viscount, have you made your decision?]
I didn't have many options.
Even if they were scheming something... I had no choice but to accept.
"Alright. Tell me more. How are you going to reinstate my title? And what do you want in return?"
The Marquis nodded, satisfied.
But as he was about to speak...
Boom!
A loud explosion came from the garden.
'What was that?'
I wondered what was going on, and the Marquis explained.
[Damn, she came after all. I didn't expect her to be this reckless.]
It was Erwen.
[We'll continue our conversation later. Calm her down before things get out of hand.]
"...Okay."
And that was the end of our conversation.
-------------------------------------
Chapter 387: Wild Horse (1)
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
I soaked my head in hot water and scrubbed my skin with soap, as if trying to wash away the grime of the past few months.
And after some time...
I stepped out of the shower and changed into comfortable clothes.
It finally felt like I was home.
Thud, thud.
I dried my hair with a towel and went downstairs. Amelia and Erwen were waiting for me in the living room.
"That took a while."
Amelia frowned, looking at me.
I sat down on the sofa across from them and asked,
"So, you didn't find anything?"
"No, we couldn't find any listening devices."
That was a relief.
I was worried they might have planted something when they raided the house...
"Except for the ones that were already there."
"What do you mean 'already there'?"
"Didn't you know? There's a recording crystal ball in the living room."
It was news to me.
But I could guess who was responsible...
"Erwen?"
I looked at her, and she flinched, avoiding my gaze.
"W-well... just in case..."
"..."
"I-if it wasn't for this, we wouldn't have been able to find you so quickly..."
...I couldn't argue with that.
She even said that the recording crystal balls were only in the living room and the entrance. It was a reasonable security measure for a homeowner.
'That's how she knew I was at the Marquis's mansion.'
I brought up a question I had been wondering about during the carriage ride back from the Marquis's mansion.
"By the way, Erwen, how did you know I was there?"
"How could I not know?! He came here himself!"
"He?"
"You didn't know? The knight who arrested you was Eltora Terserion, the Prime Minister's son!"
"What? He's the one who became the new Corps Commander?"
Is the Marquis insane?
Sending his own son on a dangerous mission like that?
What if I had smashed his head?
'Well, I guess he wouldn't have sent him if he actually cared about his son...'
The Marquis's parenting style seemed a bit Spartan, but it wasn't my place to judge.
"Anyway, Schuitz, what happened at the Marquis's mansion?"
"Yeah, tell us! We were so worried when we came back and found the door broken!"
I explained the Marquis's misunderstanding and the deal he had offered.
Their reactions were completely different.
"Really? He's going to reinstate your title? That's amazing!"
Erwen was happy about it.
"The Prime Minister is a good backer, but I still feel uneasy about this."
Amelia, on the other hand, was wary of the situation.
"What else could we have done? If you had refused, it would have only made things worse."
"...I'll look into the Prime Minister."
"I'll leave it to you."
"What about me?"
"Of course, you too, Erwen."
I could only rely on my companions.
This world was too harsh to survive alone.
_______________________
Tap, tap.
I was lost in thought, tapping my fingers on the table, when...
The door opened, and a man entered.
"You called for me, father?"
Eltora Terserion.
The Marquis's only son and heir to his legacy.
But the Marquis looked at him coldly.
"You know what happened. What do you think?"
"Honestly... I was surprised. I never expected Viscount Yandel to be alive."
"Is that all?"
The Marquis's tone was filled with disappointment.
"Is that all you can see?"
He glared at his son with a look of disgust.
Eltora lowered his head and sighed inwardly.
'What's wrong with him lately?'
His father had never been kind, but it was never this bad.
It had gotten worse in the past two years, to the point where he felt like an emotional punching bag.
'And that strange woman he brought in... could he be suspicious of me?'
It was unsettling.
The Marquis had been distant lately. He rarely called for him, and he didn't share any information.
It was the same with this incident.
"Father."
"Speak."
"I didn't know Viscount Yandel was an evil spirit. Why did you keep it from me?"
He cautiously asked, trying to gauge his father's intentions, and the Marquis responded coldly.
"You sound like you expect me to support you forever."
"...That's not what I meant. I just thought I could have been more helpful if I knew..."
"You're wrong to even assume he's not an evil spirit."
"What? But you said..."
"Enough. It's a waste of breath to explain it to you."
It was a harsh statement, even for a father.
Eltora closed his mouth, and the Marquis, ignoring his son's silence, stated his reason for calling him.
"Go see Yandel tomorrow. Tell him about the memorial service. And tell him I want to continue our conversation."
"When should I schedule the memorial service?"
"The 15th of this month."
In the evening.
______________________
On the afternoon of the 15th.
"Be careful!"
Erwen saw me off at the door, and the carriage that was waiting outside opened its door.
"It's been a while."
"You're not using honorifics anymore?"
"You're the Marquis's son, right? Then you know who I am."
"Well, that's true, but..."
The Marquis's son trailed off, a bitter look on his face. I didn't care.
"Let's just go."
"Alright."
The carriage sped along the wide, paved road.
We soon arrived at the military transfer station, and just like before, we were teleported to the Imperial City.
"It only takes an hour to get to the Imperial City. It's convenient. How much does it cost per trip?"
"About a million stones per person. Assuming you don't have a carriage."
"...I'd rather just use a carriage then."
"You should. Most nobles only use this for urgent matters. It's too expensive."
We chatted idly, and the carriage soon arrived at its destination.
It was a massive mansion.
I wondered how much it cost to own this much land in the expensive Imperial City.
"Come on, my father is waiting."
"So we're not using the crystal ball this time?"
"He wants to have dinner with you."
He said that... but I had expected a video call.
Creak.
The Marquis's son led me to a dining room on the 4th floor.
One wall was lined with large windows, offering a view of the garden and the royal palace in the distance.
But I didn't have time to admire the view.
"You're here."
The Marquis greeted me from his seat at the head of the table.
"It's been a while, Marquis Terserion."
"Welcome. Have a seat, Viscount Yandel. Eltora, you can leave now."
"...Enjoy your meal."
The Marquis's son left, and the already empty dining room felt even more spacious.
But it was perfect for a private conversation.
Thud.
I sat down across from him.
The table was already laden with food, presumably to prevent interruptions from the servants during the meal.
There was five times more food in front of me than in front of the Marquis.
He must have taken my barbarian appetite into consideration.
"Make yourself at home. I won't expect you to follow the usual etiquette."
"...Thank you."
The Marquis picked up his knife and fork and started cutting his steak. I watched him for a moment and then grabbed a chicken leg.
And...
"How's the food?"
"It's good."
"I'm glad you like it."
We continued eating and then started our conversation.
It was against Lafdonia etiquette to discuss business during a meal... but I was a barbarian.
I didn't have to follow those rules.
"Marquis, the food is great, but I'd like to hear about your plan."
"About reinstating your title?"
"Yes. It won't be easy to convince everyone that I'm back from the dead."
The Marquis didn't seem bothered by my bluntness.
"Before I explain, I have a question for you. How many people in Noark knew your true identity?"
"None. I was in hiding."
"Then this will be much easier."
He then explained his plan.
"We'll make it seem like you were on a secret mission for the royal family. You infiltrated Noark two and a half years ago, and now you've returned after completing your mission. How does that sound?"
It was a simple scenario.
But it didn't matter if it was convincing or not.
The Marquis had the power to make it happen.
"It's not bad."
"Of course, it will take some time. We have to fabricate the necessary documents."
"What about the evil spirit announcement?"
"Don't worry. We can say it was part of your cover."
I liked the scenario.
I could return to my old life if it worked.
But there was one problem...
"What do you want in return?"
What would I have to give up to gain this?
The Marquis put down his knife and fork and raised two fingers.
"Two things."
"Tell me."
"We'll create a special forces unit led by you. You'll lead them in the war."
"For how long?"
"Until the war ends."
He was practically asking me to be his slave.
"Until the war ends? That's a bit much."
"Then let's say three years. If the war ends before then, the deal is off. And of course, you'll be rewarded for your achievements."
It wasn't a bad offer.
Most explorers were participating in the war to earn money anyway.
"And the second thing?"
"The second thing..."
The Marquis trailed off and then put down his fork.
"I'll tell you tomorrow morning. It will be easier to explain then. You can stay here tonight, there are plenty of rooms."
This is like a cliffhanger.
________________________
After dinner, I was escorted to my room.
I wanted to go home and rest, but...
'This is suspicious.'
The timing of the invitation, the dinner, the offer to stay the night...
It felt like a setup.
So I asked them to let me contact Erwen, and then I agreed to stay the night.
Sometimes, a crisis could be an opportunity.
"Phew..."
The room was too spacious and luxurious for one person.
Click, click.
I lay down on the bed, checking the time on the clock.
Then I turned off the bedside lamp and placed the clock on the nightstand.
Click, click, click.
The ticking of the second hand echoed through the silent room.
Click, click.
After ten ticks...
「Character's soul resonates and is drawn to a specific world.」
I immediately sat up.
I had to hurry this time.