Lafdonia is a ruthless city.
Even more so when the target is a Wraith.
Here, Wraiths who awakened in completely unknown bodies had to flail desperately to survive, and even then, countless died simply because they were unlucky.
But Eltora was different.
It wasn't that he was especially clever, or that he had any remarkable talent, but he had something that surpassed all of that.
The fact that his surname was "Tertherion."
In fact, there was no need for any kind of modifier or explanation here.
The name "Tertherion" meant that his father was the second most powerful person in the nation, and that was enough to change the story he was about to live from a "survival tale" to a "life in another world."
Well, it's not like he didn't have his own struggles.
But compared to other Wraiths who had to survive desperately from the bottom, his story was, quite literally, the ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) tale of someone well-fed.
However…
'…Fucking Marquis bastard.'
The moment the Marquis suddenly lost his mind and joined hands with Noark, drawing his sword against the royal family, he too ended up at the same starting line as all the other Wraiths.
He began to worry about survival just like the others, and so even when he heard—after the incident—that the Marquis had led his forces to side with Noark, he obeyed without question.
Of course he did.
On Earth, collective punishment had disappeared, but this was a medieval-style other world.
There was no need to explain what happened to the bloodline of a failed traitor.
In simple terms, siding with the Marquis was his only option…
But thinking about it now, it was the one thing he regretted most.
'I never imagined there was such a secret…'
After joining Noark, unable to shake the unease in his heart, he quietly continued his own investigations, and as a result, he discovered a shocking secret hidden within the Marquis's household.
A massive secret that explained all the questions and feelings of incongruity he'd always had.
That secret was—
퍼억-!
At that moment, Ainard smacked him square in the back, forcibly snapping Eltora out of his thoughts.
"Ugh…! What the hell was that for all of a sudden!"
"Just felt like it?"
"Ghh…"
Looking at the barbarian's shameless expression made him feel like coughing up blood over how things had come to this, but Eltora gathered his wits.
After all, these people were his only lifeline.
'If Baron Yandel testifies later that I betrayed the Marquis and played a major role in taking him down… then I can survive.'
It wasn't even a hope—it was a certainty.
He was the most famous hero in this city.
With just a single word from him, the son of a traitor would instantly become a comrade who stabbed his own father for the sake of justice—
"Urgh…!"
Even as pain burst from the back of his head, Eltora didn't bother asking why.
He already knew she'd just say she felt like hitting him.
"Stop grinning like that."
"…"
"If you smile like that again, I'll have no choice but to assume there's something wrong with your head."
This damned barbarian bitch…!
How the hell was Yandel working with such a savage woman?
That thought crossed his mind for a moment…
'Ah, he's a barbarian too.'
He quickly accepted it and ended his petty protest with a silent glare.
"Enough, Ainard."
Fortunately, thanks to Yandel's "official partner candidate," who still had normal reasoning skills, the humiliation ended there.
"If you act like that again, I'll have no choice but to respond in kind."
"…Ah, fine! I'll stop hitting him, okay!"
"Sorry. She has a childish side."
"Haha… It's fine. We've got more important things to do. There's no time to worry about petty things. That said… what do we do now?"
"First… I need to inform Yandel of this news. If he charges in here recklessly, it could be a disaster."
"No need to worry about that. The Chancellor's plan was to leak the information about the divine spear being here only after all the traps were ready. There's no chance Yandel would come here yet."
"'No chance'… Still, we should be prepared for the unexpected."
"Haha… Truly, the lady is wise. I see now why he depends on you."
"…"
Seeing Amelia purse her lips at the word "lady," Eltora smiled inwardly.
Now he was sure about it.
She's weak to this kind of talk…!
So he should casually drop these lines here and there to raise favorability, so she could later say nice things to Yandel—
"Behell—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
Suddenly, a battle cry rang out.
Not from inside the vault, but from outside.
So loud it echoed clearly even through that thick door.
"Bjorrrrrrn!! That cry is Bjorn's…!!"
The barbarian warrior woman immediately recognized the owner of the voice using her racial instinct and began letting out war cries of her own, eyes gleaming with emotion.
As if those were rescue signals.
"Uh…"
Eltora met Amelia's eyes.
"Didn't you say there was absolutely no chance?"
To that short question, Eltora had no answer.
He couldn't understand it at all.
The Marquis had fallen, and the "trap operation using the divine spear" hadn't even taken its first step properly yet.
"Behell—laaaaaaaaaaaaa!!"
…How the hell did he know to come?
***
While Rabigion and Kommelbi were being destroyed, the Royal Army, which had until now silently devoted itself only to defending the Imperial Capital, finally ended its "stationing" and launched a full-scale assault.
It wasn't because they couldn't stand injustice anymore.
It wasn't because the time had finally come to draw the sword of resolution.
Nothing that grand…
It was just because I told them to.
Well, to be precise, it would be more accurate to say it was thanks to the amazing authority granted by the title "Royal Knight"…
But still, I was the one who moved her.
"[…As long as it's just to draw attention.]"
Astarotta's power was truly astonishing.
She just showed up without warning, said a few words to the commander, and the stubborn Karnaon regulars—who had been adamant about "Our duty is to defend the capital!" even as District 4 was completely overtaken by Noark—changed their stance.
Though it wasn't exactly a "full-scale assault," more like pretending to launch one…
Suddenly, I got curious.
If this is the kind of authority a 'Royal Knight' holds, then just how overwhelming must the power of the 'King' be?
"Hm…"
The more I thought about it, the more depressing it got, so I decided to focus on the present.
While the Royal Army was drawing attention, I had secretly entered District 4 and was now standing in front of the main entrance to the "Alminus Bank."
No, to be precise, I was still thinking it over.
Main entrance, back door, climb the wall.
Which route would ensure Ainard's safe rescue?
The deliberation didn't last long.
Main entrance.
I had two reasons.
With this body, I'd be spotted quickly no matter which route I chose.
And the main entrance had the shortest path to the underground vault.
Right, so in that case…
"Behell—laaaaaaaaa!!"
I activated the power of the barbarian, charging straight for the two yawning guards standing at the front door.
「The character has cast [Swing].」
「The destructive power of blunt weapons greatly increases in proportion to Strength.」
The barbarian's power specialized in breaking, smashing, and shattering.
"Hey, it's Baron Yandel…!"
"Stop him…!!"
"Why are you telling me to stop him and running away yourself?!"
"Run!!"
As soon as the barbarian's power descended upon Alminus Bank, the Noark soldiers guarding the entrance fled in a complete panic, not even thinking about resisting.
Which wasn't strange at all.
That's what small fry were for. Soon, the real ones who'd noticed the commotion would show up to stop me—
Wait, why isn't anyone coming out?
Smashing through the front doors and stepping inside, I immediately headed for the basement.
I say "immediately," but by now a fair bit of time had passed.
Even so, the "real" enemies I was expecting never showed themselves.
"…"
Is it really because the trap wasn't ready yet…?
Well, that was the opening I was banking on. That's why I dropped everything and rushed in alone…
But still, this was too much.
…This is way too easy.
I couldn't make sense of it.
But the more that happened, the more I recalled past experiences.
It's at times like this that things get truly dangerous.
The moment the taut wire suddenly goes slack—
That's when everything goes to hell.
So…
No way…
I assumed the worst.
The trap is already complete…?
The enemy had predicted everything.
They pretended the preparations weren't done to lure me in alone, and only deployed small fry to make me let my guard down.
And if I were to assume the absolute worst, it would mean Ainard was already dead, and I was on my way to find her corpse…
But in the end, that wasn't the case.
"Behell—!"
"Behell—laaaaaaaaaaaaa!!"
While destroying everything in sight and heading deeper underground, I heard Ainard's battle cry with both ears.
It was the echo of survival—and a signpost.
"Behell—laaaaaaaa!!"
When I shouted,
"Behell—laaaaaaaa!!"
Ainard's shout answered from below.
It sounded like she had heard my cry and was letting me know where she was…
"Behell—laaaaaaaaa!!"
"Behell—laaaaaaaaa!!"
In a way, it was like using returning sonar to map out the terrain like a bat… though maybe that's not the right analogy.
We kept shouting like a pair of resonating relics, growing louder as we drew closer.
And then—
"Bjorrrrrrrn!!!"
Thanks to that, even in this unfamiliar underground vault layout, I was able to follow the optimal path straight to Ainard.
For some reason, she wasn't locked inside the vault but was already outside, perfectly fine…
Amelia and… Auyen…?
And there were even two familiar and welcome faces next to her.
Well, though there was also one less-welcome one among them.
"Eltora Tertherion…?"
"Haha, long time no see… Baron Yandel…"
…Why the hell is this guy here?
***
It didn't take long to understand the full situation.
"So you decided to side with me because you're doomed whether you stick with the Marquis or not? Like some bat flitting between sides."
"…R–rather than that—"
"If you start talking about righteousness or some cause, I'm not buying it."
"That's right."
Should've said that from the start.
Anyway, the Marquis's son falling into my hands was a very good thing.
Though I'd still need to think about how best to use him, for now…
"Amelia, I'm glad you're safe."
"…You too."
Exchanging a brief greeting with Amelia, thankfully reunited, I turned to look at Auyen.
It was a strange feeling.
"…You did well. You achieved something neither the royal family nor I could."
"P–please, don't say that! I–I was just lucky! And besides, that essence you gave me was the only reason I could—"
"I'm not talking about the essence or luck. I'm talking about the fact that you made that 'choice' in that situation."
"…"
"Most people—gather a hundred of them, and not one could make the same choice in your place."
That wasn't flattery—it was the truth.
But maybe it was too much for Auyen to handle, because Amelia stepped in.
"That's enough. Auyen Rockrove is a proud member of the Anabada Clan."
"…"
"So of course he's different from ordinary people, isn't he?"
"Ah…"
I thought she was telling me to quit gushing, but no—it turned out she just wanted to praise him too.
"Ugh…"
Whether from embarrassment or emotion, Auyen twisted and squirmed and lowered his head for a long while.
Okay, that's enough praise time.
"Bjorrrrrrn! I'm glad you're safe! Praise me too! If it weren't for me, Rotmiller wouldn't have been able to guide you all the way there!"
"…"
"Oh! Come to think of it, what happened to Rotmiller? Did you leave him behind on purpose this time?"
"Ah…"
So she doesn't know.
-x-X-x-
Rotmiller is dead.
They said he jumped off the cart while trying to bring me to the Capital, because the enemy pursuit got too intense?
Astarotta was kind enough to add that the Noark bastards even took Rotmiller's head with them as a trophy.
But…
'I guess they don't know yet.'
From the looks of it, not just Ainard, but also Amelia and Auyen seemed completely unaware of that story.
Well, the only one who did seem to know was that bastard Eltora.
"..."
The moment Rotmiller was mentioned, he froze up and just silently looked around, gauging the mood.
'What should I do?'
I hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to talk about Rotmiller or not.
Because the one I'd be telling was Ainard.
There was more than a 0% chance she might snap and do something reckless out of shock…
'But isn't that the case whether she's shocked or not?'
That thought suddenly crossed my mind and ended the brief hesitation.
Yeah, I'll just say it.
"Rotmiller is dead."
I said it like a true barbarian—cutting straight to the point.
No talk about him jumping off the cart, or how his head was taken as a trophy by greedy bastards.
None of that changes anything anyway.
Rotmiller is dead.
He left me with a short, urgent final message.
The only thing I need to remember is that one fact.
"...Huh?"
Ainard flinched.
She must've assumed that Rotmiller had crossed into the Capital safely with me and was living happily.
Unfortunately, that story didn't end in a happy ending.
But contrary to what I feared…
"I see… so he's dead…"
Ainard reacted with surprising calm.
Though, thinking about it, maybe "surprising" isn't the right word.
Sure, they lived together in the Sanctuary and were on good terms…
'But that's pretty much it.'
Ainard quickly befriends other barbarians and other people without hesitation, and she has dozens of closer friends than Rotmiller.
And because of that…
"May his soul be guided to the place he believed in."
Ainard offered a short moment of mourning, and that was that.
For her, "death" isn't some special event.
Barbarians are a people who, upon reaching adulthood, are immediately thrown into the brutal world of survival.
'…Though you don't even have to be a barbarian for that.'
This damned city, filled with every kind of injustice, at least has one form of equality.
In this city, no matter who you are, it's all the same.
Death is always by your side.
"…He was a good man, rare to find in this day and age. It's a shame."
That was the end of Ainard's mourning.
Auyen, who wasn't close to Rotmiller, didn't react much.
The one who showed a stronger response was Amelia.
"Brown Rotmiller is dead…? He died trying to save you?"
She muttered in disbelief.
Her pupils, which rarely showed emotion, dilated wide, and for some reason, her shoulders seemed to tremble slightly.
The reason was simple.
"You… are you okay…?"
Amelia looked at me as if I were someone about to make an extreme decision, and I shrugged casually.
"I'm fine. Don't worry."
Amelia gave me a suspicious look, as if to say, 'There's no way,' but she didn't press further.
And it's not like I was lying.
I really am fine.
At least for now.
There are too many things I have to deal with immediately, and solving them one by one comes first.
Looking backward and tripping forward—Rotmiller wouldn't want that either.
Yeah, so…
꽈악—
Facing Rotmiller's death will come after all this is over.
After informing the people who loved him.
After holding his funeral, and finishing my thoughts on how I should accept the heavy final message he left me—only then will I fully realize what I've lost.
And then there'll be a few sleepless nights.
So damn annoying.
As always.
"…Don't overdo it, Yandel."
Amelia's concerned words went in one ear and out the other. I appreciated the sentiment, but now was the time to look forward.
"Hmph…"
I looked Eltora up and down like I was evaluating a piece of merchandise.
How should I use this card—the son of the Marquis—to squeeze out every last drop?
As I was mulling it over, Eltora stepped forward with his own PR.
"Currently, the Noark forces are divided into three main factions: Noark proper, Orkulis, and our Marquis's house. However, since my father collapsed, command ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) of the Marquis's forces has temporarily passed to me."
"So?"
"Just say the word. Until my father regains consciousness, I have the power to make anything you want happen."
Eltora spoke like a cursed sword whispering into the ear of a protagonist in crisis, and I, like someone entranced, stated my wish.
"Then can I have a private audience with the Marquis? While holding a hammer?"
"Ah, that's a bit…"
"…Tch."
Tch. I figured.
He talked so big, I thought maybe it was actually possible.
But of course I can't just snatch the Marquis like that.
As I glared slightly at Eltora, who'd gotten my hopes up for a moment, he quickly flinched and added,
"St–still, it's not like there's no way!"
Either there is or there isn't.
"What the hell does 'not no way' even mean?"
I tossed the words at him, and Eltora, having just thought of a method, cautiously explained it with plenty of hedging, saying he wasn't sure it would work.
I listened without much hope.
But by the time I'd fully grasped the plan—
"…It might actually work."
The moment I reached that conclusion, I made my decision.
So…
Kuuung—!Kuuung—!
With dignified steps, I climbed the stairs leading to the lobby, heading for the front entrance.
The shattered front gate.
As I stepped through it, warm sunlight streamed down, and the street ahead was filled with Noark soldiers.
'Kinda reminds me of the old days.'
More precisely, the adventures I had back when all I had were corpse golems and vampire essence.
Kuuung—!
As I stepped fully outside, all eyes turned to me.
No need for talk. I was a seasoned veteran.
With the mindset of Moses parting the Red Sea, I hoisted Eltora up.
And then—
"…Lord Tertherion has been taken hostage!"
Without another word, I clearly conveyed my intent to everyone.
***
Kuuung—!Kuuung—!
I walk through the streets, still maintaining [Giant Form].
Amelia and Auyen are riding on my shoulders…
"Ooh!"
While Ainard is trotting behind me like a giant dog.
I could've lifted Ainard too if I wanted…
But she said she'd rather not.
"No need! I'm more comfortable walking on my own two feet!"
Yeah, that's our barbarian.
Anyway.
Kuuung—!Kuuung—!
As I stride forward, Ainard follows.
And behind her, over a hundred Noark soldiers trail us with anxious expressions, like dogs that really need to pee.
"…Shouldn't we do something?"
"If the only son dies, will you take responsibility?"
"So we're just going to keep following?"
"Command has been informed. Let's just wait for orders."
Now and then someone suggested taking action, but the mainstream opinion was to just wait for instructions from above.
"I see a few Orkulis members too. I'll list their appearances and known essences—memorize them."
According to Amelia, the forces here weren't just the Marquis's troops.
But even they didn't act rashly.
After all, their situation wasn't any different.
If they acted now and the Marquis's heir died?
It would explode into massive political consequences.
And so…
Kuuung—!Kuuung—!
This strange procession continued.
From a distance, it might've looked like the Olympic torch relay.
Except the "torch" wasn't fire, but Eltora's neck clutched in my hand, held high, with hundreds trailing behind.
And since the Olympic flame symbolizes peace, the similarities between Eltora and the torch only grew.
"Ghhh… P–please… be gentler…"
Well, the torch himself seemed to be suffering every time a step sent shock through his spine.
But peace always comes at someone's expense.
Kuuung—!Kuuung—!
With that thought, I was practically running now.
If I walked, it'd take hours to reach the destination.
"…T–that's where the Marquis is!"
"Baron Yandel is heading toward the Marquis with Lord Tertherion as a hostage!"
They were finally catching on to where I was going and why—but no one moved to stop me yet.
I had expected this, but it still felt surreal.
So this is actually working.
The one who suggested this idea was the symbol of peace himself, Eltora.
The structural flaw in Noark's coalition command: three command groups like a coalition army, without strong bonds between them.
Add to that basic human self-preservation, especially heightened in Noark's culture…
When you put it all together, the chance that no one would stop me if I just charged in was actually pretty high—and that prediction turned out right.
[Baron Yandel is targeting the Marquis!]
[That bastard! How dare he! We must receive orders immediately—!]
[The Marquis is unconscious and cannot issue orders!]
[There must be an acting authority!]
[That hostage is the acting authority.]
[...!!]
[Well, if you want to act unilaterally, no one's stopping you. But you'll be held responsible.]
[...]
That's roughly how the conversation must've gone, and that's how we ended up with this ridiculous situation.
Oh, and the chaos caused by the Royal Army's "massive assault" helped too—
"…Hm?"
I was charging through the city streets at high speed when my destination finally came into view.
"..."
Someone blocked the road ahead.
And normally, no matter who it was, I would've just smashed through them with the momentum I'd built…
But unfortunately, this time I couldn't.
The group was just too impressive.
Roland Banossant, the Evil Eye, had arrived in person.
The deputy commander of Orkulis.
And not alone—he'd brought dozens of members who looked like the real deal.
"..."
Without a word, the Evil Eye blocked my path.
And I, without a word, came to a stop.
Then…
Seuuk.
I raised the symbol of peace higher for better visibility.
Because this symbol also had a "dialogue" function.
"W–what are you doing?! Everyone, move aside…!"
The human symbol cried out for peace as promised, but unfortunately, the ones blocking our way didn't care at all.
"Why should we?"
The one who spoke in place of the commander and deputy looked like a man whose hobbies were reading and whose specialty was rhetoric.
"W–we're going to fight each other? I hold full authority over the Marquis's forces! One word from me, and you'll be fighting everyone behind me!"
"Well, I wonder about that…"
"…What?"
"The Noark coalition has determined that although Eltora Tertherion does clearly possess acting authority, that authority was forfeited when he was captured by the enemy and became a hostage. According to the agreed protocol…"
Gulp—
"As of now, Eltora Tertherion is stripped of his acting authority, and until the Marquis regains consciousness, command is fully delegated to the coalition."
The spectacled man continued in a businesslike tone, then glanced at Eltora and asked:
"By the way, this is just personal curiosity… Are you really a hostage? Or did you just switch sides?"
"..."
"Oh, never mind. Doesn't matter either way."
The symbol of peace looked utterly shocked by his words.
But I wasn't surprised at all.
I simply tossed aside the now-useless symbol and pulled out a new one.
Ssssshhk.
In the end, peace belongs to whoever has the bigger stick.
-x-X-x-
The Evil Eye, Roland Banossant.
Under the law of Orkulis, where strength determines rank, he killed the previous deputy commander in a single blow and claimed the position for himself. A top-tier psychic.
I've heard dozens of stories about this guy's career—too many to recount—but if I had to name the most recent one:
The defeat of Ainard Prnelin, the New Spear.
It feels strange to say this, but Ainard was the strongest of my early comrades after Elwen. Even back when she was called the Violent Spear, she was one of the Seven Peaks. That says it all.
Ainard is objectively very strong.
But that bastard beat her.
Without suffering even minor injuries himself.
More than that—he captured Ainard alive.
Even one of those feats would've marked a massive power gap. But both? The answer is simple.
He's very, very strong.
Maybe that's to be expected, given he's Orkulis's deputy commander. Still, I didn't see it coming.
In my memory, the guy was making a dumbstruck face, getting his skull smashed in by a hammer as he died.
Sure, I had the element of surprise back then, but still.
Now to hear that the same guy wiped the floor with Ainard? That's enough to break my sense of reality.
"Yandel… be careful. He uses some really strange abilities…"
I chuckled when I heard Ainard's advice.
'…So she can talk like that when she's scared, huh.'
Well, she probably doesn't know what kind of Essence that bastard has.
To her, it really would've seemed like "some strange ability."
'Even if I take care of the Evil Eye… can Amelia and Ainard handle the rest? While dragging those two burdens?'
Tsk… this might be tough.
Just as those thoughts were forming—
"Ahem!"
The bespectacled man, who'd previously shattered the (former) symbol of peace's mental composure, cleared his throat and boldly stepped forward.
Well, not too close. He was still quite a distance away…
"Baron Yandel! Hear me!"
'…Huh?'
Me, this time?
"You are already surrounded! If you're still hoping the Imperial Army will save you, abandon that hope immediately. The Royal Army is currently in retreat!"
"…So?"
"To someone whose fate is already foretold, I present a proposal. Lay down your arms and surrender. I cannot speak of the details here, but the Lord wishes to meet you."
I stayed quiet out of curiosity. It seemed like a recruitment attempt. I glanced at Amelia, silently asking who the hell is this guy? She answered:
"He's one of the Lord's people. Doesn't have a fixed post. They just call him in whenever they need something done."
It was a vague concept, but easy enough to understand.
I'd heard Amelia herself used to occupy that very role.
In short, this guy held the same position Amelia once did…
'No wonder I didn't recognize his face.'
Still, it was kind of funny.
Here we were, facing the elite forces of Orkulis, yet the one trying to win me over was the "Lord."
"Well then, what say you? I won't wait long. Decide here and now."
The glasses-wearer looked absolutely certain that I wouldn't refuse. But after hearing his offer, my only impression was:
'What a completely half-assed, shitshow family.'
My answer was already decided.
"I refuse."
"…Excuse me?"
"Is there something wrong with your ears? I said I refuse."
I mean, the marquis is just up ahead.
And once I take him down, my mission's complete.
That was the one task the king gave me.
Capture the marquis, and my companions and I avoid the wrath of the royal family.
But surrender now?
'Are you stupid?'
Even if the marquis wasn't nearby, my answer wouldn't have changed.
Barbarians only kneel when they're crouching to build momentum.
And right now, every instinct I have tells me—
There's no momentum in that offer.
"Tch."
The bespectacled man looked confused, and the Evil Eye clicked his tongue and spoke.
"I told you, didn't I? He's not someone that kind of offer would ever work on."
Apparently, he'd been sure from the start that I wouldn't accept. Maybe it's because he's had his head smashed once before?
"What a waste of time."
With an annoyed expression, the Evil Eye stepped ahead of the glasses-wearer, who reluctantly backed off.
And then—
"There's no point in talking when both sides walk parallel paths."
"Parallel? Stop using fancy words."
I tilted my head with mock confusion as the color of the Evil Eye's irises slowly began to change.
That subtle shift in the air—only felt right before a fight.
I tightened my grip on the new symbol of peace.
And just then—
"Fweeeet—!"
A ridiculous whistle cut through the tension like a knife, reminding me again of just how unpredictable humans can be.
"Hey, Deputy Commander!"
The Evil Eye turned toward the sound, and I followed his gaze.
And I saw him.
"..."
Platinum blond hair slicked back with pomade.
Skin pale as if it had never seen sunlight, with cold, sharp features.
A mischievous grin that didn't suit the rest of his face.
"Aha! This humble one has arrived!"
A walking wildcard—Ibaekho.
***
Ibaekho appeared on the roof of a three-story inn—and he wasn't alone.
Behind him, sitting casually at the edge of the roof, were familiar figures.
Rek Aures. Jaina, the disciple of Karui. The Destruction Old Man.
And…
'Who the hell are those guys?'
Dozens of cloaked figures, radiating an ominous presence, standing behind him.
Since when did Ibaekho have ★ 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ his own private army?
It was suspicious, but the Evil Eye didn't even glance at the ones behind. He only stared at Ibaekho and asked:
"What brings you here…?"
Something in his tone made me feel oddly sympathetic.
Because clearly, even this deputy commander knew—
How utterly unpredictable Ibaekho was.
"Oh, just here to watch."
The Evil Eye didn't reply.
He simply stared at Ibaekho, like he was trying to read the truth from his expression.
And then—
'Shit.'
I suddenly became extremely tense.
Because the last time I saw Ibaekho had been a disaster.
Sure, exploring outside the walls together had been fine. But in the end, things went south and his group jumped me. I held out as long as I could, and when my comrades came out looking for me… they saw everything.
In a final standoff, he dropped to his knees before me.
[I deeply… apologize… for threatening… the Baron…]
The shame and humiliation he must've felt then—probably unimaginable.
He definitely holds a grudge against me now.
Which means, in this situation, he should be classified as a negative variable—
"That's a lie."
Suddenly the Evil Eye muttered something, and Ibaekho grinned.
"Correct!"
"…Explain your business."
"I was just watching and thought it looked boring."
"Boring…?"
Naturally, the deputy commander didn't understand the slang. And instead of clarifying, Ibaekho cut straight to the point.
"But with these numbers, a gang fight won't be balanced, right?"
"What are you trying to say?"
"Just go one-on-one."
Completely unconnected logic—no beginning, no buildup, no justification. Classic Ibaekho.
But because it was so primal, its meaning hit harder than anything else.
"If you refuse, we'll side with Baron Yandel."
"You mean to break the pact?"
"Yup!"
The deputy commander was stunned by the cheerful reply. And Ibaekho, embodying pure chaos, didn't miss the opportunity.
"What, you really trust a piece of paper? I didn't know our deputy commander was such a romantic."
Infuriating taunts, delivered in a childish tone—designed to provoke.
The Evil Eye clenched his teeth.
"This is why you don't trust stray dogs that bite anyone they see…"
"Whoa now, that's harsh. Why 'dog'?"
Despite the provocations, the deputy commander quickly regained his composure.
"So this… 'one-on-one.' What does it mean?"
"Oh! Right, I should explain. It's like, a duel… no, not quite. So…"
Ibaekho lowered his voice, suddenly serious.
As if to prove he wasn't joking.
"You two fight. One-on-one."
His tone almost sounded like a threat.
The Evil Eye calmly asked just one thing.
"Why?"
"Gang fights with unbalanced numbers are boring."
The conversation paused there.
The deputy commander fell silent, calculating his options. And I wasn't doing much better—my head was spinning.
Is Ibaekho a positive variable?
Or the opposite?
There was no easy answer.
Ibaekho's "boring" excuse was obviously a lie.
He had an agenda.
But…
'For now, maybe it's actually positive…'
I reached that conclusion.
Because honestly, if Ibaekho had joined the enemy right now, I'd be screwed. The fact that he wasn't taking an openly hostile stance—that alone was a positive.
Whatever this leads to.
Anyway—
"Ah! Come to think of it, I didn't ask Baron Yandel if he was okay with it! Baron, is one-on-one fine with you?"
"I don't care."
"Kya! As expected, barbarians are real men!"
I made my choice.
And Ibaekho, thrilled, turned back to the Evil Eye.
"How about our deputy commander?"
"No answer?"
"Don't tell me… scared…?"
"Wow, he's totally scared!"
The insults kept coming. Finally, the Evil Eye spoke.
"…If I accept this 'one-on-one,' can you promise not to interfere?"
"Huh… promise?"
Ibaekho tilted his head.
Didn't expect the guy to bring up promises again after mocking them so thoroughly.
But—
"Sure! I promise! A hundred times if you want!"
"…Very well. I accept."
"Oh, really?"
I don't know what logic brought him to that decision. But the deputy commander agreed to the duel.
It's not like he believes Ibaekho's promise.
'Then what's he thinking?'
The answer came soon after, in his own words.
"You are to watch them closely. No matter what happens, do not assist me. Just focus on preventing interference from the others. Understood?"
"Yes, sir."
And in that moment, it hit me.
I let out a small sound without meaning to.
"Ah."
He really thinks… he can beat me.
At first, I felt insulted.
But soon, a smile crept across my face.
"How amusing."
There's nothing more fun than shattering someone's beliefs.
Especially when their head is full of flowers.
-x-X-x-
The stage came together shockingly fast.
As people stepped back, a circular arena formed, and a few final touches were added by some spectators with special talents.
「Reit Nymon has cast 4th-tier defensive magic [Barrier of Flowing Water].」
「Kelde Rius has cast 4th-tier black magic [Wall of the Dead].」
「Murta Elverita has cast [Skyward Guardian Seal]…」
Dozens of layers of overlapping barriers, as mages and psychics activated their skills.
Some skills obstructed the view, but those were swiftly removed thanks to complaints from the audience.
"Hey! Are you kidding me? I can't see because of that corpse wall!"
"If it's not transparent, don't cast it at all!"
"Ah, I mean… everyone else was doing it, so I thought… it's safer this way…"
"Cut it out! If anything breaks through the barrier, you're getting your ass beat!"
Some would-be show-offs looked visibly deflated after being shut down, but the market's law is ruthless.
Others quickly took their place.
"Rise forth! [Veil of Twilight]!"
"Oh! Bit yellowish, but way better than the last one!"
"But why'd you say 'rise'? Looks more like fog gathering…"
"…Difficult question."
Regardless, the impromptu duel arena that emerged was surprisingly high quality.
Well, minus the barriers, it looked no different from a village market square.
"Ooooooooh!"
"Deputy Commander! Show them your power!!"
"I'm finally seeing the 'Evil Eye' with my own eyes!"
Cheers erupted from beyond the barrier.
Some were for me, too.
Just one person, actually.
…Maybe two?
"BJOOOOOORN! GREAT WARRIOR!!! Auyen! What are you doing?! Yell already!"
"I-I support you, Commander…!"
Auyen seemed to say something, but it was hard to hear clearly through the barrier and Ainard's thunderous voice.
Not that it mattered.
'Slip.'
I turned my head slightly to glance at Amelia.
When I stared at her with a look that clearly asked Why aren't you cheering?, she sighed and muttered something quietly.
Reading her lips, it looked like: Do your best.
'Really, she's fun to tease.'
I gave a faint chuckle in response, then tilted my head up to check the rooftop of the three-story building.
The moment our eyes met, he grinned and shouted:
"What are you waiting for?! Fight already!"
He looked exactly like one of those punk kids who pit two quiet classmates against each other just to watch the drama.
In hindsight, it was pretty ridiculous.
Deputy Commander of Orkulis vs. me.
And this fight had turned into street entertainment thanks to some chaos agent.
'Seriously, what a goddamn wildcard…'
At a glance, he might seem childish, but I never underestimate him. Because I know his childishness is calculated.
It's not unlike when I deliberately act like a brain-dead barbarian to get what I want.
If something's more efficient, you do it—no hesitation.
'Problem is, I have no clue what he's trying to gain here, and it's driving me nuts.'
I looked away from Ibaekho, who was lounging on the roof chewing on jerky like he was at a movie theater.
Thinking about it wouldn't help. Not right now.
So I left that problem to my future self and—
'Focus.'
I decided to pour all my attention into the immediate issue.
Roland Banossant, the Evil Eye.
Not much is known about him publicly, except that his class is "Psychic."
And…
'Taurobrude.'
He possesses a Tier-1 Essence.
***
Taurobrude.
This monster is similar to a "Doppelgänger" in some ways.
Not in ability, but because it doesn't appear in regular fields—it only spawns in specific rifts.
'Hell Fortress.'
Taurobrude is the guardian of one of the ninth-floor rifts, the "Hell Fortress." In other words, like the doppelgänger, it only exists as a "guardian essence."
So how the hell did he get it?
Didn't matter.
'So this is why people keep hyping up the 'Golden Generation'…'
Just a few decades ago, there were clans in this city that routinely explored the eighth… even the ninth floors.
Back then, leveling was easier. High-tier Essences were cheaper too.
I mean, it was a time when punks like the "Dragon Slayer" could hit level nine.
Of course, one dimensional collapse wiped out the whole generation.
Anyway.
"You look calm, but I can tell you've been driven into a corner."
The Evil Eye spoke from a short distance away.
"To accept this duel despite knowing it's unfavorable… you must've had no other choice."
"…Huh?"
Took me a moment to understand what he meant.
But…
'He actually believes that.'
Makes sense, in his position.
This guy is a veteran, one of the top elites from the legendary Golden Generation. No matter how well-known I am now, to him I probably still look like some rookie who hasn't even touched the ninth floor.
'And yeah, there's also the class matchup problem.'
Tanks suck in 1v1s.
Sure, you can build for PvP, but at that point, what's the point of being a tank?
Tanks exist for team play. Their strength shines when backed by allies.
That's common knowledge—well, old knowledge, anyway.
So…
"Well then, shall we begin—"
Before that ancient boomer psychic could finish—
"BEHELL—RAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!"
I charged in with a roar.
Boom—!
After activating [Giant Form], my massive body surged forward in giant strides, closing the distance in seconds.
Then—
「Character has used [Swing].」
Like a boxer tossing out a jab in round one, I threw a basic attack.
"There are things that cannot be overcome by sheer will."
Of course, the hit didn't land.
「Roland Banossant has used [Green Evil Eye].」
His eyes turned green.
Ka-boom—!
A translucent green wall materialized between us, blocking the hammer.
Then—
「Roland Banossant has used [Red Evil Eye].」
The moment his irises turned red—
Like a mutant in a sci-fi movie, he shot a crimson laser from his eyes.
Fweeeen—!
Didn't hurt too bad.
Felt like getting zapped by one of those toy stun guns you'd find in a stationery store.
Still, it stung on bare skin, so I raised my shield and guarded.
"UWOOOOOO—!!!"
I barreled forward, shield raised, and his eye color changed again.
「Roland Banossant has used [Blue Evil Eye].」
The moment they turned blue, a swirling aura wrapped around his skin like a vortex.
And then—
Whoosh—!
He vanished from sight.
But not far—
Behind me.
Zzzzzzt—!
Sensing a presence, I turned and saw him frying me with his red laser eyes.
"You cannot defeat me."
Says the guy who's barely been fighting for two minutes.
I wanted to smash that mouth shut, but instead I focused silently, blocking with my shield.
'It really is a broken Essence.'
Taurobrude's Essence is unique.
It has no passive skills—but seven active ones.
[Green Evil Eye] for defense, [Red] for offense, [Blue] for movement. Basically, it covers offense, defense, and utility all in one.
'What did he pair it with…?'
Dungeon & Stone isn't a game where you can coast by with just one Essence.
The real key lies in what secondary Essences you equip.
Taurobrude's is just top-tier raw material.
He could've stacked attack buffs for [Red Evil Eye], or focused on [Green] to boost survivability.
So what did this guy do?
"Tough shield, just as they say."
He muttered, and his red eyes glowed brighter.
I knew instantly what it was.
「Roland Banossant has used [Light Refraction].」
A tier-3 conversion skill that turns projectiles into light, allowing them to curve instead of traveling in straight lines.
If the projectile is already made of light? Damage increases significantly.
Fweeeen—!
Just like a homing missile in a game, the curved red laser avoided my shield and hit my body.
And I realized—
'I'm already under its effect.'
Actually, I already had a rough idea of his Essence setup.
Ainard had told me a little.
That red eye wasn't real.
It just looked red to me.
In reality…
「Roland Banossant has used [White Evil Eye].」
…it was white.
It casts "hallucinations" on everyone within line of sight.
Of course, since it's a tier-1 Essence, this isn't just any illusion.
「Accumulated damage has exceeded a set threshold.」
Unless I break out of the hallucination, all the damage I take here is real.
And the worst part?
'He can use skills endlessly until I break free.'
Unlimited—not in terms of cooldowns or mana, but in mechanics.
In the game, once hallucination is active, he can freely use up to nine tier-3-or-lower skills without cost.
「Roland Banossant has used [Light Refraction].」
So those curving lasers?
They're not real skills—just illusions powered by his setup.
He probably used the same trick to one-shot the last deputy commander.
Anyway, the important part is—this guy min-maxed his sub-Essences perfectly.
Even I didn't realize I was under a hallucination until I'd taken damage—and my mental resistance is high.
'If he's a true illusionist, he'd have [Reality Escape] slotted for sure… plus a few debuffs to reduce mental resistance.'
Most people wouldn't even get the chance to fight back before dying.
There are ways to counter it, but they're hard.
1. Overwhelm the illusion with raw power.
2. Survive until his MP runs out.
3. Break the illusion manually.
I knew exactly which option I'd go with.
「Accumulated damage has exceeded a set threshold.」
Take hits.
Fweeen—!
And take more.
Fwoosh—!
Sometimes I screamed and charged with meaningless hammer swings so he wouldn't suspect anything.
「Accumulated damage has exceeded a set threshold.」
Took another hit.
If I'd still ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) had [Aegis Dragon Scale] stacks left from when I got hit by Urae, I wouldn't need to do this. But those fade over time.
It had been hours since then.
So…
「Accumulated damage has exceeded a set threshold.」
I kept stacking it up.
Until—
'Okay. That should do it.'
The moment I reached the target threshold.
"I must admit, no one has lasted this long—"
What's this junkie talking about?
"Is that your last words?"
Instead of responding, I reached into my subspace inventory and pulled out a piece of gear.
Put it on my head.
"...?"
He still didn't get what I was doing.
How careless.
Dungeon & Stone values gear just as much as Essences.
「Character has equipped No.???? – Crown of Anguish.」
「Character gains bonus: Mental Immunity.」
My mind, as clear as a sky after a storm.
I looked ahead—and there he was, eyes glowing white, still staring at me.
'Ugh, creepy.'
Like an alien.
Disgusted by the uncanny valley, I immediately activated the second item's effect.
「Character has used [Aegis Dragon Scale].」
「Accrued damage is reflected.」
-x-X-x-
Ibaekho was watching the duel with gleaming eyes.
Lips tightly shut, neck craning forward, completely focused.
Rek Aures found the sight deeply unfamiliar.
"Baekho, who do you think is going to win?"
But Ibaekho, in his deep-focus trance, gave no reply—as if he hadn't even heard the question. Thinking he'd been ignored, Rek Aures repeated himself.
And then—
Slip.
As if he'd just now registered the words, Ibaekho snapped out of it and slowly turned to look at him.
But his eyes were… odd.
Like he was staring at him thinking, What's this idiot's problem…?
"…Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Just wondering if you seriously don't know."
"Well, I'm not a god. How would I know who's going to win?"
"You don't need to be a god. How's he supposed to beat someone we couldn't kill even with a gang-up?"
"H-he's the Evil Eye, though…"
"I was Ibaekho, wasn't I? That old man was the Scholar of Ruin."
"Well, enduring is different from winning… and you never know what might happen."
He genuinely seemed to believe that, and Ibaekho clicked his tongue in disgust.
"Yeah, don't ever do sports betting."
"Sports… betting…?"
"Forget it. Don't talk to me."
Cutting him off with ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) all the annoyance of a cat swatting a fly, Ibaekho turned his gaze back to the duel.
Time passed.
Eventually, Rek Aures couldn't hold his curiosity any longer and timidly spoke again.
"Uh… Baekho?"
Still staring straight ahead, Ibaekho answered flatly.
"What. Make it quick."
"Why are you watching so closely? You said you already believe Baron Yandel's going to win."
Rek Aures thought this question might stump him, make him feel the contradiction.
But—
"Exactly why I'm watching. Wouldn't you? What if our baron's still got some hidden card I don't know about?"
"Ah… w-well, I guess…"
There was nothing more to say after that. Because Ibaekho was right—he did play a hidden card.
"A circlet…?! Was there an item like that? Escaping the illusion the moment he wore it… it's gotta be a mental-resist item…"
Eyes sparkling, Ibaekho whipped out a notebook and furiously began scribbling.
His pen hand moved like lightning. He was so excited, ragged breaths came through his nose—huuu, huuu. At one point, he even licked his lips like he'd just seen a gourmet dish.
Watching him, Rek Aures couldn't help but think—
'No… it's not right to talk bad about your comrades…'
…But he really felt sorry for Baron Yandel.
***
Watching a man's expression change is a source of great amusement.
Even more so when it's your enemy—and their expression is breaking.
Grin.
I savored the look on his face.
When I broke out of the hallucination and stared into those white eyes with the help of the "Crown of Anguish"…
His face said it all: Denial.
'…You broke out? No, you must be confused or mistaken…'
It was obvious.
Though, reality hit him pretty fast.
"…What is this…?!"
Roland had the brains to understand the connection between the circlet and my breaking the illusion.
And that's what made him furious.
He'd devoured countless Essences just to specialize in the [White Evil Eye]—sacrificed so much—and I shattered it with a single item?
He must've felt utterly cheated.
But—
「Character has used [Aegis Dragon Scale].」
「Reflected accumulated damage.」
The moment the Dragon Scale effect activated.
A towering ethereal warrior raised its greatsword high—its head nearly scraping the mage-cast barriers—and instead of losing his temper, Roland composed himself.
Because, of course, survival takes priority.
「Roland Banossant has used [Green Evil Eye].」
Panic-casting a defensive shield.
Craaaack—!
But when that shield shattered like paper, his eyes turned blue as he hastily triggered his mobility skill.
Did he really think I was a dumb brute?
「Roland Banossant has used [Blue Evil Eye].」
[Blue Evil Eye] was a blink-type skill, capable of short-range instant movement. Cast time: less than a second.
But it has a fatal flaw.
It cannot be activated while the caster is in a restricted state.
Sure, I don't have any direct crowd control abilities.
But I've played this game long enough to know that "restricted" includes more than just stuns and roots.
「Character has used [Transcendence].」
「Character has used [Eye of the Storm].」
This combo applies a temporary restriction during the grab animation.
In simple terms—
「Roland Banossant is immobilized.」
「[Blue Evil Eye] casting cancelled.」
Evade skill? Cancelled.
"...?"
Trapped before a massive spirit warrior's descending greatsword, fear finally flickered in his eyes.
And I found that hilarious.
"Evil Eye," huh?
In the end, his eyes were just regular human eyes.
Fwoooosh—!
The greatsword tore through the air toward him.
The last expression he made?
A smile.
No—more like…
"Heh."
A dry laugh. As if he couldn't believe it.
That was the end.
BOOOOOOM—!
The explosion kicked up a dust cloud as violent as a collapsing building, shattering the surrounding magical barriers like windows in an earthquake.
Half the remaining defenses were blown out just by the shock traveling through the ground—
Fssssshhhhh—
Wind swept through the gaps where the barriers used to be. Dust began to settle.
And then—
"..."
Everyone saw it.
The unmoving, crushed remains of what used to be the Deputy Commander.
"UOOOOOOH!!"
Ainard broke the silence with brutal clarity.
"Bjorn Yandel crushed the Evil Eye!! He's the strongest warrior on the surface now…!!!"
That was the trigger.
"A-a-attack!!"
One of the higher-ranking Noark officers screamed the order.
The Orkulis and Noark forces swarmed forward—and the mass brawl began.
It was expected.
After all, in war, a one-on-one duel's true purpose is to kill the enemy's best officer and boost your own army's morale.
'That must've been the Evil Eye's plan, too.'
He thought he'd beat me in a duel—thanks to Ibaekho's stage—and then carry that momentum into a full assault.
But once he lost the duel, the plan was meaningless.
"Let's go!!"
As Orkulis elites and Noark soldiers surged from all directions, Ibaekho finally jumped down from the rooftop.
And then—
"Been a while?"
Landing beside me, he greeted me like we were old friends.
"…What the hell are you scheming?"
"Scheming? That's kinda rude to say to someone who came to help."
Yeah right. Like I'd believe that.
"But more importantly, he's probably not dead yet."
"…What?"
"Oh, you don't know his Essence?"
I didn't.
When I was locked in the dungeon, one of the royal knights mentioned that some people could survive even with their heads caved in, thanks to their Essence. But I never got specifics.
I assumed it was a survival-type Essence with a long cooldown—one he wouldn't be able to use again yet.
But then—
"He's got the Hellase Essence."
And with that, it all made sense.
'Ah… so it's that one.'
Hellase's passive skill is a bizarre survival mechanic.
It doesn't boost defense. It doesn't boost healing.
「Roland Banossant's HP is at 0%.」
「[Grace Period] activated.」
「Countdown set to 900 seconds.」
「All self-healing effects disabled during countdown.」
That passive doesn't make you invincible—it just prevents you from dying for 15 minutes.
Like a last-second death cancel.
But even that only matters if you have allies to heal or revive you.
'…And this guy isn't even a tank. Why the hell did he pick a survival Essence?'
Now I was starting to get a feel for this Evil Eye guy's personality.
'All flash, no spine. One of those types…'
If it were me, I'd rather bring offensive Essences to avoid ever needing a survival skill in the first place—
"Oh hey, look. They're carrying him off."
Ibaekho nodded toward the Orkulis soldiers quickly retrieving what was left of the Deputy Commander.
The evac team looked like lightweight mage-types—far too nimble for me to chase down.
So I looked at Ibaekho.
"What? Me? Why?"
"I didn't even say anything yet."
"But you were gonna."
"..."
God, if you're gonna help, do it properly.
While I silently fumed and smashed a Noark skull in with my hammer, Amelia arrived with Elthora slung over one shoulder.
Ainard was nearby too, carrying Auyen.
"Yandel."
Okay, looks like we've gathered everyone—
"Hey, long time no see?"
Ibaekho tried greeting Amelia, too, but she didn't even look at him.
"Let's go. Leave this place to them."
"…Huh? You're just leaving us here? Hello?"
Ibaekho grumbled, but Amelia ignored him again.
As did I.
"Yeah, let's go. Get on."
Once everyone was on my [Giant Form] shoulders, Ibaekho clicked his tongue.
"Tch. God, these selfish bastards… How did my life turn out like this…"
When I stared at him, Ibaekho just chuckled.
"Fine, don't say thanks. Just go. We'll wrap things up here and vanish—"
"I wasn't planning on thanking you."
"…Eh?"
I gave him a cold glare that said I'll be watching, so don't pull anything, and left the battlefield.
Then—
Thud—! Thud—!
Using Elthora's navigation, we reached our destination.
And I froze.
No guards. No troops.
'Of course… it's the marquis's recovery building. Why was it so empty?'
'…Shit.'
The marquis had already fled.
Makes sense. I wasted so much time in the duel with the Evil Eye—it'd be stranger if he were still here.
But I still had one card to play.
"…Hey."
I turned to Elthora.
"Where'd your old man go?"
"Uh, well… I wonder? Hmm… where could he have gone?"
"Don't joke."
"M-maybe while we were delayed, he moved somewhere else…?"
Like I didn't know that already.
"Think hard. Where would your father go? This might be your last chance to prove your worth."
A gentle reminder that failure meant abandonment.
She quickly answered.
"Ah! I—I think I know a place…!"
The location she mentioned wasn't far, so we immediately changed course and dashed over.
And there—
"...Huh?"
I ran into someone I never expected.
"Been a while, Baron Yandel."
Harin Suevi.
My ex-girlfriend.
-x-X-x-
Is "easy" just not written anywhere in my fate?
After wrapping up an unplanned duel and encounter with the Evil Eye, the building we arrived at was completely empty. Turns out the Marquis had already been taken away while I was fighting that damn thing…
"There's a villa! A villa not too far from here!"
When I was advised to think carefully about where the Marquis might've hidden, Elthora pointed to a "villa."
"A villa…?"
"A secret villa that only the Marquis knows! It's within District 4!"
"If you know about it, it's not exactly secret, is it?"
"It's a place so hidden no one else knows! I—I only know because I visited when I was young! Not even anyone in the family knows about it!"
"When you were young…?"
I frowned, and Elthora, perhaps realizing I was misunderstanding something, quickly clarified.
"I mean when the original owner of this body was young. There was a diary in my room, written by the original owner, and it talked about the secret villa."
Wow, so this bastard was born as the Chancellor's son and started off with a diary from the body's former owner?
I had to worry about getting axed in the face the moment I opened my eyes.
"My father took me to the villa… There was a beautifully blooming garden, and I was surprised to see my father tending to the flowers himself… That's the kind of entry it was."
"Hm?"
"Anyway, later, when I was trying not to get found out as a revenant, I secretly tried to figure out where the villa was. But even after digging through all of the Marquisate's properties, there wasn't a single trace."
"Oh? So how'd you end up finding it?"
"Thanks to Countess Peproc. After she appeared, I started digging around just in case. Turns out she owned a plot of land—even though she didn't even know she owned it. When I went to check it out, there was a villa with only one old gardener employed. When I talked to him, he didn't even know the Marquis was the one who hired him."
Huh. That does sound suspicious.
Except for one contradiction.
"If it's that secret a place, how did the Marquis escape there? He's unconscious right now."
When I pointed that out, Elthora let out a little "Ah!"—an indirect way of telling me he hadn't thought about that part at all.
But maybe he didn't want to give up.
"Still… among his closest aides, there might be one who knows, no?"
Elthora tossed it out while glancing at me, but I just stared at him. Eventually, even he averted his gaze, knowing how weak that logic was.
But still…
"Fine. Let's go check it out."
"…Seriously?"
"Yeah. Better to do something than just stand around."
So I decided we'd head to the "secret villa" Elthora mentioned.
The Chancellor had known this bastard was a revenant. Maybe someone among his inner circle did know about the villa and took the Marquis there.
Not that it seemed likely.
'Still, a place like that might yield some other kind of gain.'
Even if it turned out to be a wasted trip, confirming the Marquis's secret villa would still be worth it.
There might be secrets there I don't know about yet—like that hidden room we found before.
"Alright, tell me. Where exactly is this villa?"
"Not far from here!"
I entered the new destination into the navigation, and soon we arrived. High walls surrounded the place, and the building itself was modest—about two stories tall.
The moment I saw it, I couldn't help but be reminded of that house, the one I used to stay in with Elwen.
As we climbed over the wall and entered the garden, just like Elthora said, we were greeted by a beautifully manicured landscape.
"…It's been maintained."
Amelia, who had descended into the garden, gently brushed the flowers and commented as she looked around.
"That means someone's been tending to it—could be as recent as yesterday, or two days at most."
Right… I can't tell if something's recently been tended or not, no matter how much I look.
But if Amelia says so, she's probably right.
"Still, I have a bad feeling this is a dead lead… But just in case, let's investigate the building. There could be a hidden room inside—and the Marquis might be in it."
"Sounds good."
Just as we were about to begin the villa sweep, per Amelia's suggestion—
"..."
Suddenly, Amelia whipped her head toward the building and signaled to me with her eyes.
Seemed like she'd sensed a presence inside.
Step. Step.
No need to even concentrate—someone was walking around inside the building.
One person.
Maybe it was the old caretaker Elthora had mentioned?
"…Huh?"
But the figure that emerged… was the last person I expected.
"It's been a while, Baron Yandel."
The one who greeted me politely, with perfect decorum, was a woman.
Elthora reacted first.
"Harin Suevi…? Why are you here?"
"Good to see you again, Prince Tertherion. You were just here not too long ago, weren't you?"
"Not too long ago? Wait, don't tell me… back then too…?"
"Yes. I was hiding and watching. From the moment you started rummaging through the villa, right up until you uncovered the secret."
Elthora's face hardened at Hyeonbyeol's candid response.
And then—
"What the hell are you plotting, you bit— Ow!"
He got smacked and shut up real quick.
"Don't act up. Sit still."
"…Fine."
Geez. Calling your ex-girlfriend a bitch?
With Elthora now quiet, I picked up the conversation.
"Harin Suevi. Why are you here?"
Yeah, let's start there.
Why the hell is Hyeonbyeol at the Marquis's secret villa?
"…Huh?"
"I'll ask again. Why are you here?"
I asked firmly, making it clear I expected a proper answer. Hyeonbyeol replied:
"Oh… You didn't already know?"
"Huh?"
"I sent word, remember? Told you to come here. On that paper."
Ah, the love note…
"You… didn't read it?"
Uh… I didn't exactly have time.
I awkwardly cleared my throat, and Hyeonbyeol shook her head with a sigh.
"It's fine. Doesn't matter how—we're here now. That makes it feel even more like fate."
"…Fate?"
That wasn't me—it was Amelia mumbling under her breath. But Hyeonbyeol caught it anyway and shrugged.
"Yeah. No matter how twisted or delayed, people who are meant to meet always do."
"Interesting thing to say."
"Glad you think so. It's nice to meet you, Amel— Oh, sorry, Emily Raines, right?"
Hyeonbyeol faltered slightly during her introduction.
Looked like a slip-up, but to me… it felt deliberate.
A subtle way of saying: I know your real name.
'…Not sure why she'd show her hand like that, though.'
Anyway.
"Yeah. Nice to meet you too, Harin Suevi."
After the short greeting, Hyeonbyeol turned her attention back to me.
"So you asked why I'm here?"
"That's right."
"Come on in. Let's talk inside."
And so, we entered the villa.
***
The interior was incredibly modest.
If you looked closely, it was clearly an expensive interior job—but it didn't have the flashy, ostentatious feel of a "secret Marquis villa."
The vibe didn't suit the Marquis at all.
It felt warm, homey… like a wealthy but affectionate family's house.
"I'm sorry, but could the others give us a moment? I have something sensitive to discuss with just him. There's a great room for resting in the back—"
"Rejected."
Amelia shut that down immediately.
Hyeonbyeol silently glanced my way.
Sigh…
I let out an inner sigh and turned to Amelia.
"Sorry, but could you give us a moment? Let's hear what she has to say first."
"…Fine."
Amelia took the others with her and left for the back room Hyeonbyeol mentioned. I sat down on the couch, feeling a vague sense of discomfort.
"Ah, wait a second."
Hyeonbyeol pressed a button on a small device that looked like a recorder and placed it on the table.
It wasn't a recorder, though—it was a magic device that prevented sounds from leaking outside its radius.
"Still the same, huh."
"Hmm? What do you mean?"
"The one with control isn't the one who chooses, but the one who creates the options. That was your favorite line, wasn't it?"
"You're still using that stiff tone?"
"Ah, it feels weird speaking in this body. Anyway, start talking. What's this villa?"
I switched to Lee Hansu's voice as best I could, and Hyeonbyeol gave a satisfied smile.
"Let's see… Simply put, it's the Duke Tertherion's memory box."
"Memory box…?"
"You know, a box where people store precious things from the past. Don't you have one?"
"Nope…"
"What about the letters I gave you before…?"
…I threw them out.
Didn't want to cling to old feelings.
I didn't say that out loud, but Hyeonbyeol seemed to get the message and nodded.
"No wonder I couldn't find anything in your room."
"…This topic's kind of veering off, don't you think?"
"Oh, right… Anyway, this place is a memory box. Whenever things got hard, the Marquis came here to hide."
"Okay, but why are you here?"
"Because the Marquis sent me."
"What do you mean by that? Can you just skip to the point?"
"There's a bunker beneath this villa. Countess Peproc is sleeping there. The Marquis told me to stay here and look after her."
"So the Marquis isn't here?"
"No… he's not."
"You don't know where he is either?"
"Nope. How would I know that?"
"…I figured. You're the one who arranged Ainard's execution."
"Oh, that? That was a coincidence. The Marquis stopped by briefly then. Asked me how the war was going, and we ended up chatting—just like old times."
"…You chatted with the Marquis?"
"He's surprisingly gentle. Quite the romantic too. Lonely, for his age."
I don't know about that.
But I guess everyone has unexpected sides.
"He really loves his daughter. Which is probably why he sees me—her friend and right hand—as so dear."
"That so…"
"Oh, don't brush me off like that! The whole reason he started this war was because of his daughter, you know."
"…What?"
I flinched and looked up. Hyeonbyeol shrugged and pulled out a book.
I gave her a questioning look, but she just gestured for me to read it.
'Shff.'
As I opened to the first page and began reading from the top, I quickly realized what the book was.
[There is a rumor surrounding the Palace of Glory. On the night of a /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ grand ball, when the evening is in full bloom, a nameless girl is said to appear somewhere within the hall.]
[Witnesses say she is small and beautiful, with pure eyes and a bright voice.]
[But when nobles, enchanted by her, approach and ask her name, she smiles and chats happily—until, without answering, she vanishes like a ghost.]
[When I first heard the story, I laughed it off. But amazingly, the tale was true.]
[On July 16, in the height of summer, when even the night winds could not cool the heat, I attended the royal ball with my father…]
…it was the Marquis's diary.
-x-X-x-
Before diving fully into the Marquis's diary, I asked Hyeonbyeol a question.
"Where'd you get this?"
This wasn't my first time seeing something like the Marquis's diary.
Well, to be precise, it was likely a book of undecipherable codes assumed to be his diary, but still.
"Why? You think I slipped you a fake book or something?"
"No. That's the problem. If this is real, it doesn't make sense. How the hell did you get your hands on the Marquis's diary?"
"Are you mocking me for being incompetent now?"
"Uh…? No, that's not what I meant…"
"I'm joking. It's not something I got because I'm capable anyway."
She laughed while watching me squirm, clearly enjoying herself, and then barreled forward before I could even react.
"He gave it to me."
"…What?"
"He gave it to me. After locking Countess Peproc up and putting her into forced sleep, he just handed it over."
She said it as casually as tossing a stone, but that didn't make it any easier to understand.
"Wait… he just gave you his personal diary?"
"Well, not just like that. Marquis Tertherion sensed his end approaching and was instinctively searching for someone who might understand at least fragments of his life."
"And… that person was you?"
"Technically, it was Countess Peproc. No matter how things turned out, he wanted her to have the diary when she woke up. If he couldn't give it to her himself, he said I should burn it."
"But he let you read it too? That's suspicious…"
"That's why I said he was a lonely man. I asked him if it was okay if I read it, and he said if I wanted to, go ahead."
"..."
"The kingdom's second-in-command. The Iron-Blooded Chancellor. Lord of the Tertherion house… Whatever people say about him outside, and no matter how he looked to you, to me he was just a man who loved his daughter. Even the parts he normally couldn't express."
The more she spoke, the more it felt like the Marquis Hyeonbyeol knew was a completely different person from the one I knew.
But…
'Guess that's only natural.'
After all, the way he treated me and the way he treated Hyeonbyeol weren't the same.
Everyone has unexpected sides. It's just that which side you get to see depends on your relationship.
"So… you're not gonna read it?"
"I will. When else will I get to peek into the secret diary of the Marquis? Even if it's not the first time."
"It's probably not the second time either."
"…What?"
"Elthora Tertherion. He came by a few days ago, poking around. I tossed the book somewhere it'd be easy for him to find."
"…What?"
"Oh, this is the original. I used a magical transcription tool we use for paperwork to copy just a few parts and made a duplicate."
Ugh…
My twitch wasn't from wondering which was the original—it was from something else entirely.
"You showed it to him? Why?"
I tilted my head, and she answered as if it were obvious.
"Because once Elthora Tertherion learned what the Marquis was really thinking, I knew he'd turn on him. And that helps you, right?"
"…Uh…"
I was momentarily speechless.
She was right. And that's exactly what happened.
But still…
"Didn't you just say the Marquis was a lonely man?"
With a tone of disbelief, I shot back. Hyeonbyeol, in turn, looked at me like I didn't make sense.
"Yeah. And I'm lonely too."
Huh… seriously, how do you win a debate with someone like this?
As I gave a small, helpless chuckle, she asked slyly:
"I did good, right?"
I answered.
"You did."
Alright. Time to read that diary.
***
It didn't take long into reading the Marquis's diary before one thing stood out:
The dates were all over the place.
July 16, August 27, September 22…
Gaps between entries.
It wasn't that he only wrote during school breaks, or that he was too lazy to keep a regular diary.
This diary was simply—
"A collage."
A compilation of fragments clipped from daily entries, gathered together like selected newspaper clippings.
"Can we stop questioning the format and just finish reading it already?"
"Alright."
Chastened by Hyeonbyeol's gentle scolding, I kept reading.
Its genre was clearly an essay. But if you looked past the format and just followed the story, the genre of the diary was… romance.
With a dash of paranormal thriller.
[At the royal ball I attended with Father, I met the nameless girl.]
The story begins with the Marquis seeing the girl from the palace ghost story with his own eyes.
He ran straight to her and asked if she was the girl from the tale. The girl, perhaps startled, vanished like mist.
Back home, unsure whether he'd imagined her, he decided to search for her again.
[August 27. The end of summer, when night's chill began to seep in.]
[In a maze garden filled with slumbering flowers, I found the nameless girl.]
[At last, again.]
He saw her once more.
This time, instead of running up, he approached cautiously from a distance.
He kept space, lowered her guard, and used conversation techniques he'd studied from basic negotiation texts, gradually deepening the interaction.
[The more we spoke, the more the nameless girl seemed… off. She lacked common sense, and our conversations often went nowhere. But her pure, curious gaze told me everything.]
[She wasn't a ghost.]
[The question that haunted me for a month was answered. But a new question took its place. Who was this girl? What strange story lay behind her odd behavior?]
[At dawn, she vanished again without a word. I returned home, dazed like a man under a spell, and only when I stood in front of a mirror did I realize—]
[My eyes were just like hers.]
Growing more curious than ever, the Marquis kept making excuses to visit the palace.
Eventually…
[September 22. Our third meeting.]
He finally met her again.
The conversation wasn't deep.
Mostly, she asked questions and he answered. He never asked her anything.
He didn't dare. He was afraid she'd vanish again like smoke.
He didn't ask—not once.
And only when it was nearly dawn and time to part did he ask his very first question.
[At the time, there was one question more important than her name.]
[Can I see you again?]
[I asked. She looked surprised, thought about it for a while, then stammered—]
[Maybe.]
That's when Hyeonbyeol spoke up.
"Sweet, right?"
"Eh? All I can picture is the Marquis's creepy old face, so not really."
"Then look at the table. That young man in the portrait—that's the Marquis in his youth."
"…You're kidding."
He was absurdly handsome.
No wonder the ghost girl blushed at the thought of meeting again.
"Anyway, I'll stop interrupting. Keep reading. The real story starts soon."
Her tone carried a strange sense of unease.
Almost like: Now it's your turn to suffer.
I couldn't quite place it, but I didn't press. I just resumed reading.
Summer passed into fall, winter, spring…
Seasons changed, and their meetings continued. Their relationship deepened.
[She sat at the fountain's edge and spoke. I could barely hear her over the water…]
From opposite ends of the garden to the fountain's edge.
From the fountain's edge, a little closer.
The distance between them gradually closed.
[See you next time.]
Eventually, meeting again became a given.
[During General Arkan's inauguration, I'll probably only be able to come out at dawn…]
They even began scheduling their meetings.
The gaps between entries grew shorter.
Still, the Marquis knew nothing.
Not her name. Not her age. Not her story…
He didn't care.
Those moments were so peaceful and precious, he never dared ask first.
He figured she'd tell him when she was ready.
That was the plan.
But then—
[July 19.]
A full year later, in the heart of summer—
[She disappeared.]
He arrived early in the royal garden where they always met and waited until sunrise.
Maybe something came up, he thought.
After that, he visited whenever there were official palace events, hoping to catch her again.
She never appeared.
[I once read that all emotions stem from loss. That true awareness of one's feelings comes only in the face of absence. I didn't understand it back then. Why not just appreciate things while they're still around? I figured people were just stupid.]
[Yeah. That was me back then.]
Only after she vanished did the Marquis realize his own feelings.
He asked around to see if anyone knew who she was, kept making excuses to visit the palace—but she was nowhere to be found.
And then—
"Do they meet again?"
"Wouldn't be a story if they didn't, right?"
Makes sense. The book still had a good number of pages left.
It ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ reminded me of that old balance game I once saw online:
What's scarier—when the story isn't finished but only a few pages remain, or when the story seems over but a ton of pages are left?
Personally, I think the latter is more terrifying.
If there are too many pages left, it means a whole new genre is about to begin.
Just like now.
[When I finally saw her again, she was no longer a girl, nor even a maiden. She had grown into a woman—just as I had imagined in my dreams.]
[But more than joy, the weight of those years crushed my chest.]
[Six years… It had been six years since we last met.]
Six years had passed.
And finally, the Marquis was reunited with the girl—now a woman.
[I had imagined this moment countless times. I would tell her how I felt, ask her name. In my dreams, she would cry and embrace me.]
[Then, she'd confess some unimaginably tragic story. When she asked if I could handle it, I'd say it was nothing—that I could endure anything…]
[I imagined that scene a thousand times. But when we met again that day, I didn't ask her a single thing.]
[Because I had a pregnant wife.]
The moment I read the last line of that page, I muttered aloud without thinking.
"…You son of a bitch."
Looks like we need to add one more genre to this tale.
"…So it's a goddamn affair drama."
At my muttered complaint, Hyeonbyeol shook her head.
"Nope. It's a tragedy."
…Somehow, I suddenly became afraid to turn the page.