Chapter 109
“I-I did as I was told!”
Melor grimaced.
Bleeding continued from the back of his stabbed hand.
He felt his consciousness fading as time passed.
“Yes, you worked hard.”
The boy drew his dagger.
Upon seeing that, Melor suppressed his dizziness and opened his mouth.
“W-Wait a minute! You just said you were going to take over the castle, didn't you?”
“Yes.”
“Don't do that, let's go meet the Countess with me. If you are a capable human like yourself, she will definitely like you.”
“I have no intention of working under someone else.”
“You fool! Think realistically.”
Melor struggled while muttering curses.
“There are over a hundred armed soldiers in the castle. Most of them have no dissatisfaction with the Countess. She isn't a fool either, so she knows who to favor more.”
Joshua shrugged his shoulders.
Soldiers were simpler beings than one would think.
Loyalty was a bonus that followed as long as their safety was guaranteed.
“It means that even if you cause trouble, there is no one to help you. Even Lady Lucille would probably hesitate.”
“Is that all you have to say?”
Melor swallowed hard.
The boy was looking at him with sleepy eyes as if he were bored.
“How frustrating! Do you think anyone would acknowledge you even if you rose to that position? No matter how severe your desire for success is, think logically!”
Melor shouted at the top of his lungs just in case.
However, no one came to find him after hearing his voice.
“This area near the lion statue is a secluded place where people do not pass even during the day. It’s better not to harbor futile thoughts.”
It felt as if a cold chill brushed past the back of his neck.
The boy seemed to be saying that this was also part of the plan.
“That’s a pity.”
“What?”
“I might have considered it if it were a proposal from someone helping me, but I can't accept surrendering without even trying.”
Joshua stabbed his neck with the dagger.
He felt the body, which had been struggling and convulsing, slowly growing cold.
“Are you alright?”
Luna had returned to her girl form at some point and was guarding his side.
“Yes.”
He leaned over and rummaged through the clothes of the dead Melor.
He picked up a note and a mask from the pocket.
“What is it used for?”
“The note has the location where the spies will meet next written on it. The mask is a means to prove that one is a spy.”
“Do they meet while wearing masks?”
“Yes. It’s done so that even the spies cannot recognize who is who. Even if this method looks simple, it is effective for security.”
“You’re planning to go, aren't you?”
Luna asked in a worried voice.
“Melor has a similar build to mine. This is also why I chose the security unit.”
“You have to be careful. Be sure to call me if anything happens!”
“Yeah, got it.”
I stood up.
“I should clean up. Let's bury the body in a nearby field. Covering the blood with earth should be enough.”
“I’ll help too.”
“Thanks.”
* * *
When the next morning came, Lucille called me to her room.
It was to ask about Melor's whereabouts.
“You have to answer honestly to what I say from now on, Joshua. Otherwise, it will be hard to protect you.”
“Okay.”
“What did you do with Melor?”
Lucille focused as if she wouldn't miss a single emotion revealed on my face.
“I killed him.”
I had no intention of making up excuses.
The tail would be caught if she decided to investigate the patrol route.
“……There is no way you would kill a person for no reason. Why did you do it?”
She didn't get angry.
It seemed she had inwardly thought it would turn out this way ever since the time they were setting the duty hours last night.
“He was a spy.”
“Evidence?”
I showed her the note I had taken from Melor's body.
After reading the note, Lucille groaned while placing her hand on her forehead.
“Why didn't you tell me from the beginning?”
“I didn't have certainty.”
“Liar! Does it make sense for such a human to say he’ll work from the first day and want to work with someone he’s never met before?”
Lucille shouted abruptly.
“Your voice is loud. People outside will hear you.”
Lucille bit her teeth while her body trembled.
She seemed to be getting up from the chair, then walked around the desk and stood before me.
Her face was flushed with a pouting expression.
“You thought I wouldn't be able to solve it even if you told me, didn't you?”
“The thought wasn't entirely absent.”
I could have left it to Lucille.
If things went well, it might have been an opportunity for her to break out of her shell.
However, I did not give her the chance.
Unlike me, she was a human who crumbled the more weight she carried.
“Joshua, the reason I'm annoyed isn't because you handled the matter independently. It’s about why you don't lean on me even a little bit.”
“Lady Lucille is already helping me.”
“Are you flattering me?”
“You know I don't have that kind of personality.”
She calmed her excitement.
Then she showed a pitying smile and stroked my back.
“You aren't hurt?”
“As you can see, I'm perfectly fine.”
“From now on, if there is a problem like this, consult with me, the adult.”
“I think I'm much more mature than Lady Lucille, though?”
“……Ha.”
Lucille could not rebut and let out a long sigh.
“You did well with Melor's matter. If I had known he was a spy sent by the Countess, I would have punished him in the same way too.”
“Yes.”
“I'm sorry.”
“About what?”
“Because I feel like I've passed the blood that should have been on my hands to you.”
I let out a breath.
Even if it was a world where life was held lightly, it wasn't a world without a sense of guilt.
“There is no need to take it so heavily.”
“Those aren't words you made up to comfort me, are they?”
“Why would I go that far for Lady Lucille?”
Lucille bit her lip firmly.
“So, what are you planning to do from now on?”
“I'm thinking of going to meet the Countess once.”
“Isn't it dangerous?”
“Nothing much will happen.”
“If you say so, I'm relieved, but.”
“Lady Lucille, please make it so that people in other units don't feel Melor's absence while I'm gone.”
“Don't worry about that. I’ll be thorough so it doesn't leak out of the unit.”
“And I’ll ask you to look after Luna while I'm gone.”
“I'm confident when it comes to taking care of a young sister.”
I showed a light smile and came outside.
I headed toward the city's underground pub mentioned in the note.
As I entered the street, wooden houses with a medieval atmosphere continued for a long stretch.
No presence of people was felt.
It seemed some buildings weren't used at all, as their doors were locked with chains.
I entered an alleyway.
A gloomy energy emanated from the shadows created by the buildings.
I put on the mask I had taken from Melor.
As I entered, there was a small side door, and I pushed it slowly with my hand.
Dust clouds scattered as if welcoming me.
Before I could feel the narrow passage was stifling, I soon arrived at a wide room.
“……Hm.”
The people who had arrived first felt my presence and looked back at me.
However, that was all.
They didn't speak to act friendly, nor was there even a procedure to check who it was.
They didn't know who each other were either.
The only one who had a connection with them was the Countess, and her alone.
As I mingled among them, I counted how many had gathered in order.
There were 24 people.
With this many, the calculation was that at least one spy was definitely hidden in each unit.
Creeeeak!
The door at the front opened, and a sound like a ghost crying flowed out.
Unlike the people gathered here, he appeared in an outfit other than a mask and a robe.
He was wearing pitch black plate armor and a uniquely shaped helmet with horns on the head.
Owain Ventis.
He was the boss of the Saint Stalia scenario I would play this time.
“Everyone worked hard to gather.”
It was a voice that was grave yet full of dignity.
“The reason for gathering here today is to wrap up the commotion that happened at the orchard.”
As he stepped aside, a woman walked in slowly.
It was Countess Chloe Glover.
Exclamations of admiration erupted from here and there.
The story that the deceased Count decided on remarriage after seeing her beauty came to mind.
“Hello. As Sir Owain also said, thank you for coming all this way despite being busy.”
It was a soft and gentle voice.
It felt as if mana was embedded in the voice itself.
“Sir Everett, who died at the orchard, was a person harboring a different heart toward the Lord. He tried to drag the Lord down from the position by joining forces with people of the same mind. Fortunately, we were able to subdue him with your help before things broke out. Now, people who follow the vanished Sir Vale will no longer appear.”
It meant she had succeeded in creating an atmosphere of fear.
Since she killed over 100 people, it would be strange if she didn't.
“Even so, we must not be relieved. Because those might not be the only humans targeting this castle.”
There is one right in front of you too.
“You should continue to infiltrate each unit and gather information. And if there is a person harboring impure feelings toward the Lord, you must tell me or Sir Owain immediately.”
Everyone nodded.
They seemed filled with a sense of mission as if they had become a secret society.
“I have prepared a small gift for you today.”
As she signaled Owain with her eyes, the Knights of Red who were hiding outside appeared carrying boxes.
“Food and supplies are inside, so please use them without getting caught by others if possible.”
“Ooh!”
I also joined the crowd shouting cheers.
I was essentially spying and taking supplies for free.
Regardless of the order, the spies were busy rushing out and picking up boxes as they pleased.
I observed the Countess and Sir Owain.
Their faces looked as if they were looking at livestock, utterly pathetic.
“……Hm.”
To me, they were equally as bone-headed.
I waited for the situation to be settled from my spot.
“Could you go out and wait for me?”
Owain whispered softly to the Countess and then approached me.
My expression inside the mask hardened.
Why is this human doing something he never used to do?
Before I knew it, he was standing in front of me and looking down at me.
“What’s the matter?”
“To think Sir Owain would stand in front of someone.”
The spies who were picking up boxes stopped their actions and looked this way.
“Don't be too afraid. I didn't find you to do harm.”
“Yes.”
“What is your affiliation?”
“It’s the security unit.”
There was no need to be scared.
Owain also didn't know who the spy was.
“You were a person working under Lady Lucille. As far as I know, she seemed very angry about not being allowed to investigate the orchard.”
“Yes, she was raging after she returned.”
“It must have been hard for her to accept. Is there any possibility she might investigate by force?”
“There was no sign of that.”
“What is your judgment?”
“I think personal opinions aren't of any help, though.”
A chuckling laugh was heard from inside Owain's helmet.
“An interesting friend you are.”
“Thank you.”
“The reason I showed interest in you is none other than this. You are a mage, aren't you?”
My eyebrows twitched.
I was always making sure that mana didn't leak outward.
Despite that, being seen through meant Owain's intuition was excellent.
As expected of a General (Grade 4).
It felt as if I were dealing with Rodwell.
“That is correct.”
“It seems you are deliberately hiding your skill, do you have any intention of working under me if you want?”
It was something to be surprised about.
I visited Saint Stalia a total of five times when I played the game.
And I met Owain in all those rounds.
There were times I was treated like trash by him, but there was never a time I received a proposal.
He was that much of a fastidious human.
“To think Sir Owain would make a proposal?”
“He must have felt something from that person.”
The spies whispered.
Everyone watched with interest to see what kind of reaction I would show.
“Entering the Knights of Red is a glorious thing. One can also assist the Lord from up close.”
“Oho, you don't say you assist the Countess huh.”
“I should be careful with my mouth when talking outside.”
“I'm liking you more and more.”
Hmm, I'm just speaking as I always do, so why do I keep gaining points?
It’s troublesome.
He was a human who would be a hindrance to my survival.
What use would it be to build intimacy with a human I have to kill before long?
[Clever] suggested trying to win him over.
This bastard is determined to kill his master.
“You will also need time to think. Let's talk about this again at the next meeting.”
“Understood.”
Owain retreated.
Laughing was heard from inside the helmet.
I also laughed inside the mask.
He approached me in a form he had never shown once in the game.
The conclusion was one.
Among the numerous rounds I had experienced.
It meant the me of this moment was the strongest.
“It was worth rolling like crazy.”
I muttered to myself and approached the one box remaining in the room.