Though he didn’t know where the cavalry had come from, at least holding out until their arrival was the result of his leadership. He couldn’t help but smile with pride at the achievement.
“It’s just that my legs gave out. Please help me sit down.”
“Yes, young master.”
Oswell carefully supported him and helped him sit in the most comfortable spot available. Looking straight ahead, the view outside the walls was clear. The battle on the walls was over, but outside, Schrantz’s knights and the mercenaries were busy moving. They were hunting down the disorganized retreating Greenskins, expanding their victory.
‘We really won.’
A smile formed on Ian’s lips. Even he thought it was an incredible feat. Everyone—himself, the villagers, the soldiers, and the knights—had given their all. Yet, despite their best efforts, they had been pushed to the brink and prepared for death. At that moment, the mercenaries appeared from the Greenskins’ rear. All these elements had come together dramatically, allowing them to barely hold on.
‘But I can’t do this again.’
It felt like he had slept an average of three hours a day since the Greenskins set foot in the territory. Maybe even less. It was no way for a person to live. But Ian knew.
‘An even worse future might be waiting.’
Such was the life of the reckless young lord of Schrantz. He couldn’t guarantee how many more mountains he’d have to climb, but he was certain none of them would be easy.
“Sir Oswell.”
“Yes, young master.”
“Thank you for enduring so much while following my whims.”
“Not at all. I’ve learned a lot from you, young master.”
“If all you’ve learned from me is mischief, that’s a problem.”
They both chuckled softly, neither able to hold back.
“I apologize in advance, as I suspect this kind of thing will happen often.”
“Nonsense. I am always Schrantz’s sword and shield. A sword and shield do not think.”
“That’s reassuring.”
Even to the most unreliable young master, this man offered unwavering loyalty simply because Ian was of Schrantz’s bloodline. Truly, he was the most trustworthy retainer in Schrantz.
“Then I’ll continue to rely on you… from now on…”
“Young master?”
“……”
There was no further response, only Ian’s shallow breathing. Oswell bowed deeply before the exhausted teenage boy who had fallen asleep.
“You’ve truly worked hard, young master.”
“Young master, did you cough?”
As soon as Ian opened his eyes, he saw the face of the maid who had accompanied him from the lord’s castle. Rolling his eyes to check his surroundings, Ian asked, “Where am I?”
“The barracks in Vilcen.”
“Barracks?”
Barracks?
‘Sir Oswell must have sat me down, we talked for a bit, and then I fell asleep without realizing it.’
He remembered the conversation, but his memory faded midway. He cautiously guessed that they must have carried him here, not wanting to wake him.
‘Judging by the looks of it, this isn’t the soldiers’ quarters.’
It seemed to be a single room, likely used by the garrison commander.
‘Well, they wouldn’t just dump the young lord of the territory in the soldiers’ sleeping quarters.’
This was probably the best place in the village, so they brought him here. Ian sat up and looked out the window. It seemed to be morning.
“I must have slept all day.”
“No, you’ve been asleep for two days.”
“……Two days? I slept that long?”
“Yes.”
He had probably never slept that long in his life.
‘I must have been utterly exhausted.’
After fighting for a month with barely any sleep, it wasn’t unreasonable to sleep that much.
“Young master, we’ve prepared a meal. Would you like to eat?”
“Sure. Oh, it might be a bother, but could you bring it here?”
“Yes, of course.”
It didn’t seem like there was an officers’ mess in a place with so few soldiers.
‘If I suddenly showed up in the mess hall, everyone would feel uncomfortable.’
It would be a miracle if he didn’t choke on his food.
“Oh, and there’s someone who wishes to see you, young master.”
“Who is it?”
“A mage from the mercenary group. They said they have something to tell you and asked me to deliver this letter first.”
As Ian received the letter, his face stiffened, and he urgently shouted, “Bring them here at once—no, escort them in!”
The maid tilted her head, puzzled by his sudden change in expression and panic.
‘What’s this about? Did he wrong this mercenary somehow?’
Royal-related quests branch into two paths.
One is the route of forming a friendly relationship with Duke Endran and helping the prince he supports become emperor.
The other is the route of opposing Duke Endran and helping a different prince ascend to the throne.
In the latter case, you inevitably have to kill Duke Endran, and players who go down this path will always encounter a certain event.
While walking down the road.
“Die!”
While hunting monsters.
“Dieee!”
Even while riding a horse.
“Dieeee!”
Even when traveling to another country or continent.
“Dieeeee!!”
You will always face a certain crazy NPC who suddenly shoots magic at you from behind, shouting, “Die!”
This NPC, better known by her nickname “The Stalker of Death” than her real name, is Viola de Endran, Duke Endran’s daughter.
“I am Viola de Endran, the youngest of Duke Endran’s five sons and one daughter.”
She was now standing before Ian, having come to see him.
‘She really came…?’
The letter he received stated that she had come from Duke Endran’s household, introduced herself as Viola, and requested a meeting.
At first, he thought it might be someone impersonating Viola. But no matter how bold someone might be, impersonating the daughter of a great noble was akin to asking for death.
Her flowing purple short hair and elegant appearance, which didn’t match her fearsome title, confirmed that she was indeed Viola.
“…….”
Ian silently observed her.
Though he had seen her in a friendly light during multiple playthroughs of the game…
His first impression of her during his initial playthrough, when he knew nothing, was so intense that it had left a lasting trauma.
‘She’s the kind of woman who’ll cause a headache if I say the wrong thing.’
Moreover, this wasn’t a game where he could restart—this was reality, so he had to be even more cautious.
“It seems you still don’t believe me.”
Misinterpreting Ian’s silence as suspicion, Viola took something out and placed it in front of him.
“Will this convince you?”
What she placed before him was an emblem bearing the crest of the Endran Ducal House.
Unable to remain silent any longer, Ian decided to play along.
“I am Ian von Schrantz, the eldest son of the Schrantz Count family. Are you truly Lady Viola de Endran?”
“If even after seeing the emblem, you still cannot believe me, then I have no way to prove myself to you at this moment.”
Ian knew she was the real Viola, but since they were supposed to be meeting for the first time, he had to pretend not to know.
“Please forgive my rudeness. The emblem is proof enough, but it was hard to believe that a lady of the ducal house would be among a mercenary group.”
“They are not mercenaries. They are knights and soldiers of the Endran Ducal House.”
“Knights and soldiers? So you disguised yourselves as a mercenary group?”
“Are you aware that the Erce Count family has set up checkpoints to prevent reinforcements from reaching Schrantz?”
“……”
Ian’s expression immediately darkened.
To travel from Schrantz to the Endran Ducal House, one had to pass through the Erce County.
‘They must have sent people separately, fearing interception or interference, rather than relying on messengers.’
Still, he thought they would be discovered.
‘I never imagined a vassal family would dare obstruct reinforcements sent by their liege lord.’
It became clear just how much they despised Schrantz.
“I see. But with the power of the Endran Ducal House, you could have just forced your way through the checkpoints, couldn’t you?”
“We could have used force, but the Erce Count would not have taken kindly to such an open display of force.”
“So that’s why you disguised yourselves as a mercenary group.”
“Exactly.”
Even a ducal house has its own struggles.
‘I can fully understand the Endran Ducal House’s position.’
Having played as the lord of a ducal house in another country, Ian knew these struggles better than anyone.
If you don’t treat your vassal families well, they might betray you at the first opportunity.
Using force might work temporarily, but from the Erce Count’s perspective, it could seem like the Endran Ducal House was siding with Schrantz.
They would likely perceive this as a crisis.
‘For the Endran Ducal House, currently in conflict with the Eaton Ducal House, this would be the worst possible scenario.’
While busy dealing with the Eaton Ducal House, they wouldn’t want internal divisions to arise.
That’s why they took such a roundabout route.
“I understand. It seems I’ve caused unnecessary trouble.”
“Yes, so now you must give me the answer to the letter you sent to my father. My father told me to relay this: If you were merely trying to escape the crisis with your words, you should prepare to offer your head… he said.”
“……”
“……”
The surroundings fell silent, and Ian gulped dryly.
Hearing this from the Stalker of Death sent a chill down his spine.
‘Thank goodness.’
It seemed he wouldn’t have to offer his head after all.
Unlike with Sera’s father, this time he was certain about the story.
Viola first verified the contents of the letter Ian had sent.
The letter suggested that the events in the royal palace were not coincidental but part of someone’s scheme.
She wanted to confirm whether this idea had come from his own mind or someone else’s.
“You wrote in the letter as if you knew who the culprit was.”
“Not at all. It was merely a figment of my imagination.”
I actually know! …was what he wanted to say, but…
‘Explaining how I know all this would be too much trouble.’
“Let’s put that aside for now. If we assume that these events are the result of someone’s scheme, who do you think the culprit is?”
It would be improper to outright name the culprit, so he decided to tread carefully.
“The most likely suspect would be someone who is outwardly seen as having no ambition but has secured a degree of legitimacy.”
“Why do you think that?”
“These events occurred amidst a power struggle within the royal family. It’s safe to assume that anyone who has shown even a hint of desire for the throne has already been thoroughly investigated. The people of the royal family are no fools.”
“……”
Viola remained silent, but inwardly, she was quite surprised.
‘His thoughts are remarkably similar to mine. No, he’s making even more predictions than I did.’
Ian, having experienced all routes of the royal quest, naturally had insights and predictions that she hadn’t considered.
‘What’s with that expression? Did I say something wrong?’
Meanwhile, Ian was growing uneasy at Viola’s continued silence.
“If such a situation arises, whose side do you think would be best to take?”
“Hmm… the most trustworthy person, I suppose.”
“Anyone could say that. Specifically, what kind of person?”
Ian thought for a moment before answering.
“Someone who, despite being seen as ambitious, openly declares their convictions and is willing to embrace talent to the end.”
“……And if that person loses the power struggle?”
“That’s something for families who need to pray to the gods for the outcome of the struggle to worry about. The Endran Ducal House should focus less on the outcome of the struggle and more on the situation that will follow.”
Surprisingly, the person Ian named as the culprit and the person whose side they should take both existed within the royal family.
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