episode_0338

A proposal based on reverse thinking.

The interests of all four people in that place were aligned.

Radiel, Mark, they are the ones who suggested the counter-intuitive idea that I don’t want to be caught and instead hide in the Bagrand dukedom and evade my pursuers.

Harnie is suspected of helping a wanted person, so he must show up at Marquis Teresia’s house as soon as possible to dispel the suspicion.

And I, for my part, must head to the Bagrand Duke’s residence to progress the episode.

There was no objection to changing clothes here to achieve each of their own purposes.

-Clang. Clang.

I checked my condition by moving around with the artifacts that had almost all of their magic power drained and with Mark’s armor instead of my original clothes.

Mark, who had already changed into the clothes available in the inn and handed me the armor, looked over my entire body and smiled happily.

“I was worried that the size I wear might be uncomfortable, but it seems like there was no need to worry about that. You’ve been taking good care of yourself and your muscles are well-built. Haha.”

Actually, there was almost no inconvenience. Our body types are similar, and our heights are not that different. If you wear a helmet on top of that, your face will be covered, so anyone who sees it will think it’s Mark.

Although there was consistent effort, there was also a fair amount of luck on my side.

“Are you experiencing any discomfort in your movements?”

“Hmm. I guess?”

“Thank goodness. There’s still a lot to learn in the future…”

“Are you going to cook it?”

“Starting with the knights’ salute, there are passwords sent to patrols and guards. There are quite a few of them.”

I heard that Arina already knew that I would disguise myself as a knight of the family, so she created a ritual and a secret code.

-Tiring!

▶A secret password event exclusive to the Pursuit Team has occurred.◀

▶You must learn the passwords to use when passing through various emergency missions, key locations, and when meeting certain characters.◀

▶Failure to use the correct password may result in penalties or triggering the chase!◀

Suddenly a status window popped up and I was wondering what it was.

Now I understand it all.

“So that’s why you asked me to change the route on the map earlier?”

“Yes. If you go that route, there will be fewer passwords to learn. So… wouldn’t it be better to change the route now?”

Sure, it would be easier if we changed the route.

Since the characters you encounter have a unified appearance and there are fewer passwords to learn, the risk is reduced.

But, I have never taken this easy path before.

“Then you just have to learn them all, right?”

“Yes? All forty of them?”

“Forty is not that much.”

Mark looked at me like I was crazy, saying, “How could that be so small?” but from my perspective, it was on the small side.

The number of aristocratic etiquette that he has memorized since falling into this world is already well over forty.

And students taking the college entrance exam actually learn more than that.

“Then… I will tell you the ritual when you encounter the head or vice-head of another clan.”

▶I have learned the corresponding password.◀

[ Proficiency: 48% ]

▶You have increased the proficiency of the corresponding password!◀

[ Proficiency: 92% ]

▶Your proficiency in the corresponding password has reached its maximum through repeated learning!◀

[ Proficiency: 100% ]

▶You have increased the proficiency of the corresponding password!◀

[ Proficiency: 100% ]

▶You have increased the proficiency of the corresponding password!◀

[ Proficiency: 100% ]

▶You have increased the proficiency of the corresponding password!◀

[ Proficiency: 100% ]

…

…

Mark then slowly taught me the password and the special salute for this wanted notice.

Each and every person’s response was different.

Sometimes action is required. Sometimes you just have to answer with your mouth. Sometimes the other person asks you the same question, so you have to answer and take action at the same time.

Even in the Bagrand Dukes’ house, the knights’ ranks were divided into several branches, and the way they were treated varied, and the knights belonging to the vassals’ families were also divided into various groups without exception.

In addition, because of Mark’s habits, there were cases where I had to memorize them in a special way… but still, I learned them all without fail.

▶The number of passwords memorized so far◀

[ 50 pieces ]

“Oh… You got them all right.”

Mark, who had raised the question, opened his mouth in bewilderment.

I even muttered in frustration, wondering how on earth I could possibly memorize all of this.

In the meantime, Harnie and Radiel opened the door and came out of the room next door, having finished preparing.

‘Oh. It looks like Harnie’s size is about right.’

But… why is the reaction so strange?

“It’s dangerous… This is really dangerous. How. How is this size… Sigh.”

Harni is wearing a helmet, so we can’t really see his expression. But, why is Radiel so serious?

While I was looking at the two alternately like that.

Radiel came up to me slowly and placed his hands on both my shoulders.

“Your Majesty. Listen carefully.”

“Huh, huh? Huh, huh.”

“Never ask Harnie Youngae for her password.”

“What?”

“Never, never do that. Never!”

“Ra, Sir Radiel…?! Just say that much. Just say that much!”

“You’re making a promise to me. You must never do this!!! It’s dangerous!!!!”

“Radiel Sir…! Jebaal…”

Radiel is also asking me for advice.

Harni desperately intervenes to cut off Radiel’s remarks.

The reason Harnie is being so rude… is it because there’s something he doesn’t want to be found out about…?

‘Is it because you didn’t learn the password properly?’

Of course, there’s nothing else to talk about. Mark and I were just talking about it and focusing on learning the moves.

But… this is also strange. The Harnie I know had trouble in a place like this?

If you study noble etiquette well, there’s no way you wouldn’t be able to master that.

He was a good dancer, so there’s no way he’d get hurt.

There’s no way a merchant, who treats others more naturally than anyone else, wouldn’t be able to memorize these movements.

When I was about to ask what was going on because I thought it was strange, Radiel opened his eyes wide and asked.

“Do. Lien. Nim?”

“Huh. Huh…?”

“My request. Will you please keep it?”

I felt a strange sense of crisis as I heard that voice, which even cut off the staccato sound.

“Uh, uh… yeah…”

Since Radiel had never done anything like this before, he answered in a bewildered manner that he would do so.

If it’s Mark, wouldn’t he know something?

Let’s take a quick look in that direction…

“Huh, huh! It looks like you both have changed, but wouldn’t it be better to go out now…?”

Mark suddenly felt someone’s gaze on him, flinched, and quickly stopped talking, trailing off.

“Time, isn’t time a waste? Let’s get moving. Ha, haha…!”

“…”

what.

Why on earth are you doing that?

***

No matter how you look at them, they are definitely Radiel and Mark. Since they even memorized the password separately, the owners of the armor could put aside their worries.

However, the two knights still have work to do.

“… went?”

“Yeah. Luckily, you didn’t notice Harnie because her eyes were drawn to Youngae’s clothes.”

The two knights nodded at each other and went back into the inn.

Inside the inn, there was evidence left behind by Karsain and Harnier.

An artifact used for camouflage and hiding.

A magical garment with similar functions.

Radiel and Mark told them not to worry, as they would burn the evidence with their own hands, and sent them off.

but…

His actions were different from his words.

A warrant issued by the Bagrand Dukes.

A wanted person who goes back to that dukedom.

It could have easily been like walking into a tiger’s den, but it was a possible operation because we had the strongest supporters.

But there is one prerequisite to that.

That was… someone had to buy time to prevent the dukedom from being raided.

“I ended up lying to you in the end.”

“That’s right. I never thought you’d be someone who could fool people.”

The two knights had changed into the clothes of Karsain and Harnier.

A noble determination can be seen in their eyes.

“Mark. Do you know what this is doing to the Duke?”

“Of course.”

“Aren’t you answering too firmly?”

Radiel chuckled.

That’s why I had to ask again in an even more serious tone.

“I might have to give up everything I have. I don’t know what will happen to my life as a knight and my life after that. In the worst case scenario, I might have to go do something hard.”

“…”

“No. It’s not a difficult task, but I have to think about what kind of punishment I will receive in Bagrand. If it were Miss Arina now, I’m sure… she would give me a terrible punishment. I might even lose my head.”

“So, you want me to let go now?”

“Yeah. Before you regret it.”

“Oh my. What regrets.”

Mark snorted.

“…I was already as good as dead that day. My life as a knight would have ended then, but since the master gave me back my life, I lived longer. Even though I’m doing some hard work now, I was happy during that time. And you know.”

-Ouch.

Mark continued speaking, his hands clasped together.

“I can’t leave you alone. Now, Radiel, I can’t be happy without you.”

“Pfft.”

“…Ugh. Are you ogling?”

“No. Because it’s like you, Mark.”

“What is that? ”

Both of them burst into laughter at the same time.

It was a very satisfying laugh.

“Let’s go. For the young master.”

“Yeah.”

***

-Chuck, chuck, chuck. Chuck.

-Chuck, chuck. Chuck, chuck.

-Nod.

▶You have entered the password correctly.◀

▶Free from doubt.◀

‘…This is the road to hell right in front of us.’

As soon as I entered the outpost, a knight waiting at the guard post came out and gave me the password.

If Radiel, Mark hadn’t told me… what would have happened?

‘No. That’s not it.’

To be exact…

If Claire hadn’t sent those two people.

So, my mind becomes even more complicated.

Claire had already touched the checkpoints of the two territories I ruled before sending them away. Arina was clearly trying to capture me, but she was going against it.

It cannot be denied that there was a conflict of opinion within the dukedom, as Flora opposed this opinion…

Claire, is that really true?

I couldn’t help but wonder about this.

‘…We have to move first.’

What I have to do now is to head to the Bagrand Duke’s residence.

Claire had to go ahead with my episode anyway.

After that, I tried to clear my suspicions by using the password several times.

After passing the Duke’s Command, it wasn’t so daunting.

Even though they were checking Karsane’s entry and exit like an iron wall on the outskirts of the dukedom, there was no way to find out once he entered. Furthermore, since Mark and Radiel had served as vice-captains and captains within the duke’s first knight division, the suspicion was even weaker.

The most ideal and shortest route to reach the Duke’s house.

I was able to get here.

‘Finally. The Duke.’

The destination was right in front of us.

Oddly enough, there are quite a few soldiers stationed at the Duke’s residence, so you’ll have to use your head, but it shouldn’t be impossible to infiltrate.

Moreover, it would be difficult for Radiel and Mark to recognize us disguised as such.

When you feel like your worries are relieved.

-Clang. Clang. Clang.

Right next to him, Harnie tapped the armor with his fist.

“Harnie? Why is that?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

…That’s what they say though.

I’m out of breath.

If you look at the location where it was hit earlier, it was close to the chest.

“I’m fine. Keep going. The Duke’s just around the corner.”

…okay.

It wouldn’t be too late to go inside and judge for now.

Let’s go into the duke’s house.

After entering, you can see Harnie’s condition at that time.

Finally, I showed the password to the soldiers guarding the duke’s mansion and proved it, and the path opened up right away.

I quickly entered the mansion, made sure there were no eyes around, and went into an empty room, where I immediately tried to check on Harnie’s condition.

“What’s wrong? Is the size wrong?”

“Oh, no. That, that… How should I explain it…?”

“…”

“I think I wore it wrong, so I just need to adjust the position. Um, so… can’t you just let me do it myself…?”

“Speaking of sensible things… I can’t solve this alone. In the first place, Radiel helped me when I put it on.”

“Still, still, I’ll do it myself…”

At that moment, Harnie was waving his hand, causing an earthquake in his pupils.

…an emergency situation arose.

-Thud. Boom.

A part of the armor fell off.

Of course it’s not mine.

But it’s not mine…

-Thud. Thud.

Another piece of armor falls, unable to withstand the pressure.

That’s why Radiel told me not to do anything.

He was wearing armor, but he couldn’t cover his chest, so he had to take off his top.

That’s what I meant when I told you to minimize your movements several times after that.

It was only then that I finally understood everything.

“…I told you. Do whatever you want.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Turn around. Don’t say anything.”

“Yes, yes…”