episode_0057

Sitting in front of the wooden doll, Radiel immediately turned around.

“I-I’m sorry, Master. I didn’t know you were coming…!”

She never expected him to come looking for her.

Or maybe Radiel herself was avoiding him.

Avoiding Carsein. The boy from the past.

Because she was the one who had inflicted an indelible wound on him.

But she had to quickly compose herself.

She couldn’t meet the Master in this disheveled state.

Turning her head sharply, Radiel unfolded her legs that were tucked under her and stood up, wiping away the tear stains with her hands.

She smoothed her throat to prevent any sniffles from being heard.

Then she turned her body back to face him, regaining her composure.

“It’s late… What brings you here, Master?”

Carsein, who had been watching her, continued the short silence.

Clearly, tears were falling.

She seemed dejected, hesitating to sit down.

But as soon as he saw her, within a few seconds, he was smiling again, as if nothing had happened.

As if what he had just seen was a mistake.

“Shall we go inside and have a chat? Oh, it’s nothing special to be training at this hour. It’s just that my body is a bit tired, that’s all.”

Then he tried to change the subject.

Avoiding any comments on her training.

Unprompted, he was answering unasked questions.

“Let’s go inside, Master. I’ll show you some of my skills after a long time.”

Radiel, who seemed to be demonstrating her swordsmanship, was now engaging in a conversation that seemed like she was not talking to herself.

A normal conversation.

If she were the same as before.

– Carsein Trainee. Why did you come looking for me?

Those words might have come out of his mouth.

Even though she seemed fine on the outside, she was actually flustered.

He let out a sigh, breaking the silence.

“You heard me, so why are you acting like that?”

“What?”

“I heard you. Didn’t I?”

Radiel’s lips quivered at his blunt remark.

“Well, I did hear that you came. I didn’t expect you to come, so I was quite surprised.”

“…”

“Let’s go inside first, Master. I’ll show you my skills like before.”

Once again, Carsein made a blunt remark.

“Are you going to keep pretending like you don’t know?”

Though he scolded her, he took a deep breath in the middle.

His actions were also noticed by Carsein, who didn’t miss a beat and pointed it out.

“You know everything. You know who I was captured by today.”

“…”

After those words escaped his lips, Radiel couldn’t bring herself to lift her head and her gaze returned to the ground.

Soon, tears began to well up under her hidden eyes.

“You’re right, Master. I… knew everything. I heard it from Mark since the day I first came to the training grounds.”

Tears falling beneath her covered eyes.

Radiel’s voice began to moisten.

“Although the initiation ritual for newcomers is conducted as a prank, your case is different. It’s not a joke or tradition, it’s malice.”

It was clear malice.

Trying to drive her out of the training grounds again.

Even Carsein himself felt that it was enough to do so.

“I know.”

Radiel suddenly lifted her head.

“You know? But why… aren’t you blaming me? Your reputation in the First Order has been tarnished because of me. It’s all my fault because I couldn’t explain it.”

“…”

“Please, give me an order! Ask for strict punishment for those who dared to confront the Grand Duke Bagrandt, ask for my expulsion because I dared to do such a thing.”

“…”

“Even if it’s an emotionally charged and wrong order, even if you know that, as the Commander, it’s an abuse of power, even if it tarnishes your honor to punish lower knights for past emotions.”

“If I can’t directly condemn them anymore, but if I use the authority of the Commander, revenge is still possible, right?”

She pleads.

“Even if I turn everything upside down, it’s okay. As long as you, who have done nothing wrong, can stand tall here. Please, even if it’s forced, please grant me that…!”

Drive them away, punish them.

Order the condemnation of those who falsely accused you, including Theo Ramstair.

“This is my final wish!”

Radiel, with her face soaked in tears, was now shouting as if pleading.

Knowing the bitter accusation Carsein had faced in the past.

Knowing the whole story, yet unable to defend the innocent Master.

All she could do was become a pawn in the present.

Listening to Radiel’s plea until the end, Carsein finally spoke.

“If you’re going to say such foolish things, don’t even bother. Radiel Grupain.”

***

It was because of a sub-episode, but Radiel’s intimacy box was completely covered as soon as she was first seen.

Instead, this was floating there.

▶The individual is feeling guilty towards Carsein.

[Radiel Grupain]

[Intimacy: ???]

The phrase “feeling guilty” was displayed.

She was the only one in the Order who felt guilty towards Carsein.

Thanks to that, the intimacy box was not gray but white.

It was an obvious fact that she harbored goodwill, but for some reason, it was hidden now.

The key to completing this sub-quest is finding Radiel, but after that, it’s simple.

Just choose the sub-episode-specific options.

[1. If you’re going to say such foolish things, don’t even bother. Radiel Grupain.]

[2. You haven’t changed. When did I ever ask for that?]

[3. You’re suffering. But, your outburst is just a momentary venting.]

It’s as if these options just appeared now.

All three choices show a consistent attitude of not approaching Radiel.

And in the second choice, the player gains the freedom to choose.

Whether to just prevent Radiel from acting or to scold her and amplify her guilt.

After initially persuading her, the player can resolve the situation in the main episode.

When playing the game, I took the hint of her guilt and chose the option that would amplify it.

By doing so, I could continue the episode without any penalties, avoiding any restrictions on my activities within the Order and ending the conversation with Radiel here. It was relatively easy in terms of difficulty.

If I scolded Radiel and amplified her guilt, the same situation as in the game would unfold. After confronting Radiel, I could go look for the memorial now that she was gone, but…

‘That choice will bring a dead end. It’s unavoidable.’

With her guilt amplified, Radiel would commit suicide during the main episode, leading to Carsein’s death at the hands of a vengeful Mark.

In other words, this sub-episode, and Radiel’s death, was the dead trigger of this episode.

The hints were her guilt, the false accusation Carsein had faced in the past, and revenge.

The best way to prevent Radiel from taking any action is to block her from doing so through these three keywords.

“If you’re going to say such foolish things, don’t even bother. Radiel Grupain.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“I didn’t come back to this training ground to force you to seek revenge.”

She retorted, unable to understand.

“Are you not blaming me, Your Grace? It’s all because of me! Then, what about me…!”

“So, stop. In your current state, you won’t even be able to properly seek revenge against them.”

“…Pardon?”

Radyel asked, as if doubting what she had just heard.

I repeated it clearly to her.

“You just watch. I’ll crush them myself. They won’t be able to rise again.”

Radyel’s method of revenge is wrong, even though the target remains the same.

Therefore, I firmly state it here.

“It’s not you, it’s me who will do it. So, stay out of it, Radyel.”

▶Sub Episode. Cleared Mark and Radyel.◀

▶Radyel’s interference disappears, and Mark’s intimacy freeze is lifted.◀

With a softer expression, Radyel watched me, and the sub-episode was cleared.

The point is to reduce Radyel’s guilt.

By reducing the guilt now in the main episode, the plan can proceed smoothly.

It’s time to go back.

Given the freedom to act, I needed to find the memorial.

This freedom time was quite urgent.

I had to find a memorial quickly as I needed to return on time, or I might encounter trouble with Bruce or Theo Paggery.

As I turned around,

“Wait a moment, Your Grace!”

Radyel hurriedly blocked my path.

“I can help too!”

“What?”

“There must be something you want me to do in that revenge. There must be!”

Karceine leaves without any further conversation after clearing this sub-episode.

And then, the player’s perspective shifts, and freedom to act is granted…

But Radyel follows and blocks the way?

This is an unprecedented scene.

It’s like the skipped scenes in the main episodes.

This additional variable is not good.

It needed to be stopped.

“You already know how I was treated at the Marquisate and endured it. In fact, that alone greatly reduced the damage. That should be enough. You don’t need to step in any further.”

“No, I… I…!”

-Ding!

▶Error Occurred!◀

▶It is not the time to intervene in this branch.◀

▶Initiating alternative event…◀

…

…

▶Turning off the choices and entering a forced event.◀

▶The conditions for clearing Mark and Radyel episodes have changed.◀

▶Sub-episode is changed to the main episode.◀

▶Re-deciding the branch!◀

▶Results pending…◀

‘…What? Wait a minute!’

This sudden change was completely unexpected.

It’s a huge variable.

The sub-episode was just a device to prevent a dead trigger.

If it suddenly escalates to the main episode, it becomes something that must be done. Even without any information.

A few words would have been enough.

If I could calm Radyel, who is filled with dead triggers, the fire wouldn’t grow any further.

But my body wouldn’t move.

The red warning light came on, and time in this world seemed to freeze like back then.

‘Damn it!’

When I vented my frustration in my mind.

▶Branch selection complete.◀

▶Progressing to the main episode, ‘The Troublemaker of the Hall of Shadows.’◀

Time was flowing differently, completely beyond my control.

▶Episode V. ‘The Troublemaker of the Hall of Shadows’ in progress!◀

▶Radyel’s intimacy status is revealed!◀

[ Radyel Grupain ]

[ Guilt: 92% ]

The white box of Radyel’s intimacy now displayed the word ‘guilt’ in brown, with the question mark gone, clearly showing her guilt.

And then.

▶Reduce the guilt of the individual to restore it to intimacy!◀

[ Failure results in death! ]

The status window presented me with a new goal.

The long paragraphs of the status window disappeared, and control of my body returned.

I had to stay sharp.

The message ‘Failure results in death’ was displayed. Once I entered this branch, the episode would start, and there was no turning back.

I had to think quickly.

When the guilt increased by 2%, I became anxious. What else should I recall?

‘Do I need to find something I did differently when playing the game today?’

The only possible time frame was today, of course.

When Arina defeated Bruce and returned with the key to the warehouse, I met Radyel and progressed through the sub-episode.

…Something else?

Where could that be?

“My arm was the price of my negligence and ignorance. So please, I beg you. Please, please!”

▶Reduce the guilt of the individual to restore it to intimacy!◀

[ Failure results in death! ]

[ Guilt: 94% ]

Damn it, the guilt increased by another 2%.

I had to think of something else. What else should I recall?

‘Do I need to find something I did differently this time?’

The only possible time was today.

Today, Arina’s return after defeating Bruce made a difference.

I obtained the warehouse key, met Radyel, and progressed through the sub-episode.

…Something else?

Where could that be?

“My arm was the price of my negligence and ignorance. So please, I beg you. Please, please!”

▶Reduce the guilt of the individual to restore it to intimacy!◀

[ Failure results in death! ]

[ Guilt: 96% ]

The guilt increased by another 2%.

I had to stop it here. Two more chances left. I had to stop it here.

“I’m here because of my negligence and ignorance. Carrying this burden would be a great shame…!”

▶Reduce the guilt of the individual to restore it to intimacy!◀

[ Failure results in death! ]

[ Guilt: 98% ]

Her guilt increased again.

No, this wasn’t right.

Just saying the right words wouldn’t solve it.

I had to completely convince her.

It was my last chance.

I had a few seconds to think.

When my head was about to explode with heat, I found one difference.

“Emma Urnen.”

“…!”

“All the knights who move for bribes are following Lady Emma’s orders.”

-Ding!

▶Condition achieved!◀

▶Reduce the guilt of the individual!◀

[ Guilt: 68% ]

▶Achieved the condition to reduce guilt to intimacy!◀

[ Intimacy: 35% ]

That was another truth that Radyel might have already realized.

The presence of Emma.

“How could you… how could you deal with that person…?”

The explanation wouldn’t be difficult.

But.

-Thud.

Another guest arrived.