Ch.124Chapter 124. No, I Got Caught Too

Naidrian remained unconscious the entire journey to the capital.

She lay motionless like someone asleep, likely due to the small leaf the Elven Council members had placed on her after knocking her out.

Ironically, those esteemed Council members had become prisoners themselves, abandoned in Rowellina by the Imperial Army.

The carriage was completely dark, with even the bars covered, allowing no light to enter.

It was impossible to tell how many days had passed.

Teleportation magic circles were typically not used when transporting criminals.

This was deliberately done to wear down the prisoner’s mental state during the long journey.

For Lin, however, this delay presented a valuable opportunity.

By now, Airan would be gathering soldiers.

Lin’s willing surrender had bought enough time for Airan to assemble sufficient forces and arrive at the capital for the public trial.

Additionally, Airan would be working with the pro-Duke faction in the capital to sway public opinion within the Empire.

The message would likely be something like this:

The Imperial Palace is showing signs of betraying its war heroes.

They’ve arrested and falsely accused a porter who distinguished himself on the demon front, just to pressure Airan and the Hero Luci.

Now that the demon front is stabilizing, the Imperial Palace has clearly begun internal purges.

With such rhetoric, Airan would stir anxiety among the nobles and discontent among the people, building justification for his military action.

But this wasn’t enough.

Of course it wasn’t enough.

Lin hadn’t allowed himself to be captured merely to build such a flimsy pretext.

He wasn’t quietly submitting to arrest just to cause a direct confrontation between Rowellina and the capital, between Airan and the Imperial Princess.

Besides, most people still viewed the porter as merely baggage for the hero’s party.

The final chapter would be the public trial where the porter would receive an overall assessment of his actions.

It would be a place where the world would evaluate him, who had silently fulfilled his duties as a porter.

If Lin received favorable evaluations there, he could use that as a foundation to launch a counterattack, exposing and judging the crimes of Imperial Princess Rinasien and Shield Knight Rainfold before the entire world.

And finally, there was one more crucial reason, beyond human affairs, to summon her completely…

Clunk!

The carriage stopped.

“Pull the elf out first.”

The unpleasant voice of the arrest squad commander was heard.

Suddenly, the carriage door opened and sunlight poured in.

The light was blinding after so long without it.

Urged out by the soldiers, Lin was surprised to find they had arrived at the back gate of the Imperial Palace.

“Take him straight to prison as ordered.”

Naidrian was dragged away, still unconscious.

The Imperial soldiers escorting her, seeing her slender elven beauty, were deliberately touching various parts of her body.

“Stop that nonsense.”

The commander grabbed their shoulders and warned them.

“Though arrested as a criminal, she’s still a member of the hero’s party. If you try anything while she’s unconscious… Never mind. I’ll take her myself.”

The commander sighed and took charge of the archer.

Frustrated with his men, the commander finally shouted at them.

“You idiots! Didn’t I explicitly tell you not to touch her? If even one of your filthy lower hairs touches this woman’s mouth, we could all be flayed alive! She’s an elf! If this escalates into a diplomatic issue, we’ll become sacrifices worse than death!”

It was an unnecessary concern.

Lin had already cast the Chastity Protection skill on Naidrian’s body.

It was a painful skill set to cleanly sever anything inappropriate that might be forced upon her.

“What should we do with this one?”

When a soldier asked, the commander clicked his tongue.

“Take him to that person. They’re waiting in the administrative office.”

That person… Lin could think of two possibilities, but didn’t want to face either of them without his mask.

With his arms firmly held on both sides, he was led through luxurious corridors.

After turning several corners, they arrived at a spacious administrative office.

Despite years with the hero’s party, this was Lin’s first time entering this place.

In fact, the other party members had frequented this location to the point of boredom, except for Lin.

“Lord Rainfold, we’ve brought the criminal.”

“Thank you. We have things to discuss, so would you mind leaving us?”

Of all people, it had to be the most awkward opponent.

“Just the two of you with the criminal, sir?”

“What’s wrong with that? It’s just a conversation between fellow hero party members.”

Fellow hero party members… Lin felt overwhelmed with emotion at finally being acknowledged.

Unable to withstand the Shield Knight’s pressure, the soldiers exchanged glances and left the administrative office.

After closing the door himself, Rainfold stood before Lin with a broad smile.

His handsome smiling face was so irritating it made Lin’s blood boil.

“It’s been a while since we’ve talked like this, Lin. I never dreamed that scrawny boy from back then would be you.”

Ah, so he already knows my name.

Lin had known his identity was revealed when the arrest squad commander recited his full name.

“This is the first time I’ve spoken directly with you, Rainfold.”

Momentarily stiffening at the sudden informal speech, the Shield Knight maintained his smile, believing himself to be in the superior position.

Instead, he massaged Lin’s shoulders with a sympathetic expression.

“Even so, we have something in common, don’t we?”

“We do?”

“We’ve both been or are being obsessed over by the same woman.”

So he meant Luci.

“I know how difficult it is. She imposes her feelings without any consideration for the other person. Though I’ve only seen you briefly in the Zramun Islands and here at the palace, seeing you controlled by the hero made even me feel sorry for you…”

“No. No. Rainfold, don’t speak as if we’re the same kind.”

Cutting him off, Lin sneered with a twisted smile.

“You’re the object of deadly obsession because you wronged Luci, while I’m the object of desperate obsession because I’ve helped her. Though it seems the opposite was true in the past. Life is truly unpredictable, isn’t it?”

“…You speak better than I expected. And quite impudently at that.”

Ironically, that assessment matched what Luci had said to Lin earlier.

“When I saw you in that filthy place, Gutter Alley or whatever, I thought you were just an innocent country boy.”

“How could someone raised in a filthy place be an innocent country boy? You’ve never lived in such places, have you?”

Lin was only kind to two types of people: those who were his comrades or those who were useful.

Though his range was quite broad, allowing him to show a gentle side until now, when facing someone he recognized as an enemy, Lin could be relentlessly caustic without limits.

“You lowborn…”

“Even lowborns don’t betray, Rainfold. Did you think I wouldn’t know you’ve forsaken humanity?”

“…How did you know?”

“How could I not know?”

Though Lin was playing with words like a Zen riddle, Rainfold was becoming increasingly amused.

No one had ever responded to him this way.

It was beyond unpleasant—he found it entertaining and interesting.

“How much do you know?”

“Well, that you’re a delusional patient desperately trying to fit cogs together?”

“I aspire to be the world’s guardian.”

When Lin mocked his dream, Rainfold finally became serious.

But the Shield Knight’s seriousness was merely joy and amusement to Lin.

“Balance is achieved, not something you can adjust yourself.”

But soon Lin felt bitter as well.

Not something you can adjust yourself…

He was in no position to say that.

“It’s the opposite. All the misfortunes from the first hero until now have occurred because balance wasn’t maintained.”

“So that’s why you sided with the Demon God?”

“I’ll use whatever is necessary for balance.”

“That damn balance, balance—what exactly is balance?”

Though Lin expressed disgust, Rainfold smiled brightly.

It was truly delightful to hear this question from Lin, something even the Demon God hadn’t asked.

“It refers to all forces in this world existing in symmetry. The Demon God and the Goddess, demons and humans, the Empire and other nations. Including relationships between individuals. When all relationships and powers achieve symmetry, no conflict will occur in this world and peace will be established.”

Rainfold proudly expounded his theory with outstretched arms.

And watching him, Lin’s mouth fell wide open.

“You madman! You talk about symmetry in relationships and power, but you’re just planning to hoard all the power and manipulate everything as you please!!”

“That’s how it is now! But once I eliminate those who refuse to relinquish their power and try to subjugate others, I will gladly surrender my power to achieve balance.”

“Would you really?”

“Of course I would.”

The Shield Knight’s smile deepened as their conversation continued.

But all beginnings have endings; Rainfold checked his watch and expressed regret.

“Unfortunately, it’s time for me to see the Imperial Princess. How surprising. I thought you were just a lowborn who had clawed your way up, but you have an unexpected charm that draws people in.”

“Just go see Rinasien, will you?”

“Rinasien?”

Click. Rainfold closed his pocket watch.

“Ah, you mean the former Imperial Princess.”

“What? Former Imperial Princess?”

“Rinasien Karrun was utterly unsuited for the important position of Imperial Princess. We had no choice but to depose her.”

“Then who is the current Imperial Princess? As far as I know, there are no more imperial bloodlines left?”

“Why not? There’s exactly one more. Unfortunately, you don’t seem to know that much.”

He didn’t know.

Another child of the Emperor? This was a character who hadn’t appeared in either the original Arrogant Saga or its DLC.

Lin was shocked by this completely unexpected fact.

However, compared to his own plans about to unfold, the Emperor’s hidden child was hardly significant.

Based on the memories of his previous life, Lin had his own variables.

“You men, confine this criminal Lin to that room.”

“By ‘that room,’ you mean…?”

“Don’t make me repeat myself.”

Rainfold summoned the soldiers and instructed them to confine Lin in a room within the palace rather than a prison.

This was treatment typically reserved only for royalty or nobles of high status.

Even Naidrian was locked in the underground prison, so Lin couldn’t understand why he, a commoner among commoners, was receiving special treatment.

“I have a gift for you. You’ll see when you get there.”

“A gift?”

“Hmm.”

Rainfold patted Lin’s shoulder and signaled the soldiers to take him away.

“Rather than a gift… it’s more accurate to say I’m returning something that was wrongfully taken.”

Before Lin could ask more, he was led by the soldiers through the maze-like palace corridors.

He tried to memorize the path just in case, but gave up after passing through so many identical-looking corridors.

If worst came to worst, he could always break through walls until he reached the outside.

“It’s here.”

Strangely, though they had arrived at the room where the criminal would be confined, the soldiers didn’t open the door and enter.

They just opened the door and gestured for Lin to go in.

“You want me to go in by myself?”

“Or would you prefer to be beaten before going in?”

It was common sense to hold a prisoner’s arms until inside the prison or room to prevent escape, but the soldiers were reluctant to enter.

Rainfold had called it a gift.

That meant there was likely something quite uncomfortable or threatening to safety inside.

Well, whatever it was, Lin as an Item Master wouldn’t be in danger.

Unless it was the Demon God.

…It couldn’t be the Demon God, right?

As he obediently entered as instructed, the door immediately closed behind him.

It was quite a large room.

But while Lin thought it was large compared to his previous room in the palace, he didn’t know it was actually considered small by palace standards.

As he slowly looked around, Lin paused when he saw her crouched against the middle of the wall.

A purple dress of good quality but torn in places.

Tangled hair that hadn’t been properly brushed.

“Rina?”

A startled movement.

A face slowly revealed.

It was indeed Rinasien.

“…Lee?”

Lin couldn’t help but laugh wryly.

It was natural that she recognized his face since he wasn’t wearing his mask, but addressing him by his surname rather than his first name?

“How are you here…?”

Her puzzled face gradually brightened.

But Lin flinched when he saw Rinasien’s face, one side of which was severely swollen with dark red bruising.

“You came to rescue me, didn’t you? Right? You heard I was in danger and came to save me! Yes! Lee, you’ve always been the only man who takes care of me! Unlike that brute who hits women, you always…”

“Wait, wait a minute.”

“Why…? Oh! Right. This isn’t the time for this. Every second counts if we’re going to escape. I’m sorry, I’m just not thinking clearly…”

“No, that’s not it.”

“It’s not?”

“Rina, listen carefully.”

After taking a deep breath, Lin raised his handcuffed arms.

“I’ve been captured too.”