Chapter 100: Councilor Gadum’s Deputy (1)

“G-get out of my way!”

Gadum, who had once marched into the annex with grandiosity and a full escort of guards, now charged out through the very same crowd like a madman.

“…”

Dogal and the guards could only gape as their leader bulldozed past them.

They stood there dazed, watching his enormous backside grow distant.

“…What do we do now, Captain?”

One of the guards eventually turned to Dogal with the most bewildered expression imaginable.

“Fuck if I know…”

Dogal, who’d trained himself to speak with aristocratic decorum as a captain, let slip a gruff curse.

Once a wandering mercenary with no roots, he instinctively knew his time as Guard Captain had come to an end.

His eyes drifted to the young mage standing nearby.

And in a moment of reckless hope, he had a thought.

What if I take this little bastard and offer him up to Gadum…

The position of Guard Captain was just too sweet to let go so easily.

Besides, it seemed doable.

That brat was standing there completely unguarded.

Dogal didn’t think that mage could take on all his men alone.

Nor did he think the boy had any faction powerful enough to reverse the situation.

Dogal’s hand drifted toward the sword on his belt with a calculating look—

“…!”

—but he instantly flinched and stepped back.

“H-holy—!”

“What the hell?!”

The other guards followed suit, startled.

Risir.

Blood suddenly gushed from every orifice on his face.

Had he screamed or shown pain, it might have made sense.

But no. Risir looked utterly composed.

“Heh.”

No, he chuckled, blood trickling down every facial hole, painting an eerie picture.

Combined with Gadum’s earlier retreat, the scene reeked of uncanny dread.

F-Fucking hell. Don’t tell me he’s a black mage or something…

Dogal’s hand remained on his sword, but it no longer carried confidence.

Where it once screamed “Should I strike?”

Now it whimpered “What the hell is going on?”

“Pardon me for a moment.”

Risir casually pulled out a handkerchief and began wiping the blood.

Then he closed his eyes and focused.

A subtle aura began to shimmer around him with his breathing.

“The fuck… a mage—?”

One guard mumbled exactly what Dogal was thinking.

If Risir had known Dogal was even considering attacking him, he would never have revealed such an opening.

Right now, from Dogal’s view, Risir was full of openings.

Completely defenseless.

But Dogal couldn’t bring himself to strike.

A man who bleeds from every hole and then starts channeling mana?

Dogal wasn’t nearly brave enough to charge something like that.

Especially when his mind was already preoccupied with the bizarre phenomenon unfolding before him.

…

…

…

…

Risir thought,

Whoa. What’s this? My breathing feels better than ever. This sensation… maybe I can finally break through to the next phase of Clana-style?

Dogal thought,

What the actual fuck is going on.

He took another step back.

Why?

Because Risir was grinning contentedly while dripping blood like a scene out of a nightmare?

Yes. That was the first reason.

And the second?

“Why’s he… changing?”

Dogal, an accomplished swordsman himself, could see it clearly.

Risir.

His energy and even his physical form were subtly shifting.

Call it transformation.

Or even… evolution.

The mage who had just stood before him had become a swordsman.

Not just any other swordsman either, but a master swordsman.

And the amount of mana he radiated was greater than before.

“…”

Dogal tried to piece things together logically:

1. A mage suddenly starts bleeding from every facial hole.

2. He then casually laughs.

3. Then he becomes a swordsman.

4. Then he becomes a master swordsman.

   “…All done.”

   “GAH!”

   Dogal nearly jumped out of his boots at the sound of Risir’s voice.

   Did he just say “all done” after all that??

   “All done”—as if this were some casual checklist??

   What the hell does he mean ‘done’!? Is he telling me to come at him now?!

   Dogal wracked his brain trying to interpret Risir’s words.

   Was that a warning?

   Like, ‘I can deal with you all using my sword now?’

   Even as the thought occurred to him, Dogal felt ridiculous.

   Who the hell delivers a warning like that?

   And yet… nothing else explained it.

   Let alone the real-time transformation.

   Finally…

   Dogal, as a fellow swordsman, clenched his jaw and made a decision.

   “I was merely following Gadum’s orders!”

   “?”

   Just moments ago, Dogal had been glaring at Gadum like he was insane.

   Now, he wore the exact same look on his own face.

   But he didn’t bolt like Gadum had.

   Because Dogal knew, running from something this unknowable wouldn’t get him anywhere.

   “May I… have your permission to withdraw?”

   Risir didn’t know why Gadum had come to the annex with his guards.

   And not knowing the reason they came, he couldn’t understand the reason they were leaving, either.

   Do I need to give permission? What’s even happening right now?

   His puzzled expression said it all.

   Shit…

   Dogal despaired at that look.

   “Did you really think that explanation would satisfy me?”, that was what he imagined this incomprehensible man was saying.

   “I-I will absolutely not disappoint you!”

   Risir just shrugged nonchalantly.

   And with that, Dogal beamed, bowed, and led his troops away.

   Now alone, Risir furrowed his brows.

   “Wait, did Verdandes do something…?”

   The thought progressed—

   “…No way. Did I do something?”

   It was the moment the incomprehensible existence became aware of his own influence.

   The city nobles had gathered near the hall’s window.

   From there, they had watched the bizarre event unfold in the annex garden.

   Risir.

   Singlehandedly facing off Gadum and the entire guard… and sending them back.

   Shortly after, Risir returned to the hall.

   “There you are.”

   Risir felt a strange shift in how Lan and the others received him.

   …Feels like… they’re way more familiar all of a sudden?

   Before he’d left the hall, there had been clear distance between Lan and the other nobles.

   Now, that distance was gone.

   Worse, he could feel… camaraderie.

   Like a tight-knit alliance.

   “Risir. What happened with Gadum?”

   “He issued an eviction order. Told us to leave his estate immediately.”

   Oooooh!

   The nobles exchanged celebratory glances.

   Lan looked at him with eyes full of admiration.

   “As expected. I believed in you.”

   “Uh…”

   Believed what? What did I even do?

   Risir suddenly felt left out.

   Like everyone had thrown him a birthday party—but forgotten to invite him.

   Something had clearly happened, but he was the only one who didn’t know what.

   “Risir. You’ve done your part. No, it was far more than anyone could ask for. From here on, leave the rest to us.”

   Lan grasped his hands tightly.

   “Risir. My name is Morun. Please remember it.”

   “I am Bellas.”

   “I’m—”

   One by one, the nobles introduced themselves with solemn bows.

   “Risir. Once everything is over, we will reach out to you.”

   With that, they all followed Lan to her estate.

   “…”

   Wait… my luggage is still in the room.

   Risir followed them back, a step behind, still trapped in confused awkwardness.

   [Fate activated]

   [Event activated]

   [Event activated]

   [Event activated]

   [Event activated]

   ***
   Title: Guys wtf this text is brokenㅠㅠ

   Post: I cleared Gadum’s Fate quest but—

   Now all these Fate and event quests are flooding in ㅠㅠ

   The word Non-’ is missing everywhere ㅠㅠ

   Must be a translation bug ㅠㅠ

   **

   **

   • : It’s not a bug, apparently ㅠㅠ

   • : No need to swear ㅠㅠ

   • OP: Then wtf is this ㅠㅠ

   • : Gadum was the balancing force. Now the back-alley criminals are going wild and regular citizens are fucked.

   • OP: Wait… is this a “actually he was a good guy” plotline? ㅠㅠ

   • : Nah, he was always a piece of shit.

   • : Devs just wanted to mess with us, apparently ㅠㅠ

   • : “Good intentions don’t always lead to good outcomes” blah blah blah ㅠㅠ…

   • : Why are you all taking this so seriously? ㅠㅠ

   • : If you don’t get it, just feel it ㅠㅠ

   • OP: Ah fuck ㅋㅋ this is it

   They’re showing a meeting of the underworld bosses now and it’s so annoying how they’re all doing power plays now that Gadum’s gone

   Why can’t I just find that place and wipe them all out?

   • : If you can, go for it ㅇㅇ ㅠㅠ

   • : Location of underworld boss meetings = only underworld bosses know

   • OP: But I killed Gadum. Doesn’t that make me an underworld boss too now? ㅠㅠ

   • : He died before he could pass on his title to you ㅠㅠ

   **

   **

   ***

   They said they’d contact me once everything is over. Guess I just have to wait at the Mage Tower.

   Returning to Lan’s estate, Risir immediately began preparing to head back to the Mage Tower.

   Though to be honest, there wasn’t much to prepare.

   Just pack up the belongings he’d left in his room and say goodbye to a few people and done.

   “All packed?”

   Luggage, check.

   Now just the farewells.

   He gathered everything on the bed, then stepped out and headed to Valrod’s room.

   “He’s not here?”

   “Yes. He’s currently attending a meeting in Lady Lan’s office.”

   “Ah…”

   “And, should you come by during his absence, Lord Valrod left a message for you.”

   “What did he say?”

   “I’ll relay it as-is. ‘I respect your efforts. Leave the remaining matters to us. For now, rest easy and await the outcome.’”

   “…”

   What… was this strange exclusion wrapped in kindness and respect?

   The fact that Risir didn’t even know what exact deed had earned him such high regard only added to his confusion.

   Later, he experienced the exact same thing with Shakan and Maldad.

   After he returned to his room…

   The timing’s weird, and I’ve got nowhere else to stay tonight anyway. Might as well crash here for the night and properly say my goodbyes tomorrow. I doubt they’ll mind me staying one more day.

   With that, Risir picked up the blue lotus he had left on the bed and stepped out into the garden.

   Actually, this works out. I’ve been meaning to take some time to organize that sensation I felt back then.

   Hoo.

   He steadied his breath.

   Having finished the same stance-shift that once terrified a certain captain, he was about to resume his sword training—

   “Hm?”

   His eyes turned to the garden wall.

   A white dove sat perched there, watching him.

   Risir felt an unexplainable familiarity from the dove.

   “C-coo, coo roo coo…?”

   Risir attempted to speak to it!

   —What are you doing?

   A familiar voice flowed from the dove’s beak.

   “C-coo rooo cooo… coo!?”

   —Please. Just speak human.

   “Fienne…! What happened to you? how’d you turn into a dove?!”

   —Ugh…

   The dove sighed with its beak slightly agape.

   Risir could practically feel the pounding headache in that voice.

   —Forget that. Get back to the Mage Tower right now. We need to talk.

   “Huh? A quiet, one-on-one chat with you? That’s music to my ears, honestly. But sorry, can’t do it right now. Things aren’t quite wrapped up yet.”

   —What things? Swinging your sword alone in the garden? What are you even doing with that thing?

   “Oh, I’m learning swordsmanship now.”

   —?

   “?”

   —What have you been up to behind my back…? Wait. What’s going on.

   “Fienne?”

   There was no reply.

   Coo?

   The dove glanced around, then spread its wings and flew off somewhere.

   “…?”

   A disruption in the spell had garbled the dove’s pronunciation midway.

   Because of that, Risir only caught fragmented words—“I’m in the middle of—what? Gadum is…”—and couldn’t make out the rest.

   As soon as this is over, I need to go find Fienne. What’s she been up to lately anyway? Same for Rona.

   Risir resumed his sword training quite a bit later.

   ***

   “Huh?”

   Knock knock knock!

   A hasty knock in the dead of night.

   Having finished his training and now lying on the bed to rest, Risir rose and opened the door.

   A maid was waiting outside.

   It was not his usual attendant.

   “Apologies for the late hour, Lord Risir. Someone has requested a meeting with you.”

   “Someone?”

   “It’s Lord Dogal.”

   “…”

   Dogal?

   Captain of the Guard, Dogal?

   Why him?

   Well… if he was going to pull anything, he’d have done it back at Gadum’s estate. Should be fine.

   Still puzzled, Risir followed the maid.

   They took a carriage to a certain building.

   “Mmph! Mmmph!!”

   Inside, a fat man was bound and gagged, a cloth bag over his head.

   …His silhouette looks oddly familiar.

   Dogal approached and declared with a grin,

   “Deputy Councilor Risir! We’ve apprehended the target attempting to flee the city in secret!”

   “…”

   Risir blinked in disbelief.

   Deputy… what now?

   ***
   **The target has been appointed as party leader**

   Target: Risir