Ch.188188. Well, Shall We Go to the Pandera Domain?

“Berik is from a long time ago so I’m not entirely sure, but he was about this big and had a large mole next to his right nostril. Just by seeing that, you should be able to recognize him as Berik.”

“A large mole on the right side… and?”

“He was also the friend who was most sad when I left my hometown with Wortman, whom I mentioned earlier. In particular, he’s one of the few mages in Pandera territory who enjoys drinking and can use magic.”

“Hmm, who’s the next key person?”

While I was scribbling on paper with a pen, Jawill Wilson, who had been explaining, let out a heavy sigh.

“…Young master, would you please reconsider?”

I put the pen down on the table and assumed a slouched posture.

“I’m going because I have no choice. If you’re that uncomfortable, it’s not too late for you to go to Pandera territory yourself.”

“What if you get caught? Last time, when we switched identities at the Imperial Palace, didn’t we get found out right away?”

“That was because our faces didn’t actually change, so the Emperor caught on.”

“Even if I use transformation leather for my face, my friends will figure it out after just a few conversations.”

I smirked as I looked at Jawill Wilson’s worried expression.

“Don’t worry, I can imitate you pretty well.”

“Me?”

“Yes, and besides, you’ve been away from your hometown for quite a while. They’ll probably think your personality changed from living elsewhere rather than being suspicious.”

“That may be true, but…”

“It’s fine, and what about that Lulurala you mentioned earlier?”

“…It’s Clara.”

“Right, Clara. I’ll try not to run into her and just get the Devil’s Herb and come back quickly.”

Jawill Wilson still wore a doubtful expression.

Unable to believe this situation, he slapped his face a few times with both palms before speaking.

“Young master, may I say one thing?”

“What is it?”

“I admit I’ve caused trouble a few times, but honestly, you’re no better, are you?”

“How so?”

“Wherever you go to other territories, you always bring trouble—fighting with people, causing friction, creating incidents.”

I rested my chin on my palm with a disinterested expression.

“That’s because those guys picked fights with me first.”

“Pandera is a very small territory. If even a minor incident occurs, everyone knows about it instantly.”

“Didn’t you say you never plan to return to your hometown anyway? There’s no need to leave a good impression, is there?”

Jawill Wilson continued with a slightly flustered expression.

“B-but I’ve built up a certain image since I was young. I already feel bad about breaking my promise to Clara, and if you cause trouble on top of that…”

“You’re not breaking your promise to Clara.”

“…Clara won’t see it that way, will she?”

“As long as you can be proud when you ask yourself, that’s all that matters.”

Jawill Wilson shook his head.

“Anyway, please just go quietly and collect the Devil’s Herb. And try not to run into any of my acquaintances.”

“How many times are you going to say that?”

“I have to say it hundreds or thousands of times because you never listen.”

“I thought you said you were going to trust me from now on, but here we go again.”

“That’s when you’re completely yourself. This time you’re moving around with my face, aren’t you?”

I leaned back in my chair and continued.

“I’ll behave myself. Besides, you said it’s such a small territory that any incident would immediately become gossip, so no one will pick fights with me anyway.”

Jawill Wilson’s expression hardened before he quickly adjusted his posture.

“…If someone does pick a fight, I hope you’ll just endure it.”

There was something in Jawill Wilson’s eyes that suggested a hidden story.

It doesn’t seem to be about Clara, his first love, so what else could it be?

Feeling I should reassure him, I closed my eyes briefly before opening them again.

“Alright, I’ll just get the Devil’s Herb and leave. I have no other business in Pandera territory anyway.”

Jawill Wilson, who had been looking miserable, suddenly brightened as if struck by an idea.

“Come to think of it, if we’re using my transformation leather to go to Pandera territory, couldn’t we send someone else?”

“Am I that untrustworthy?”

“It’s not exactly that, but I’d feel more at ease if someone other than you went to Pandera territory…”

“I’m afraid I can’t grant that request. I have to go to Pandera territory myself.”

Jawill Wilson tilted his head at my words.

“Is there a special reason why you personally need to go to Pandera territory?”

“To enter Pandera territory, you have to pass through a narrow, steep path, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“What if the person guarding the entrance is an acquaintance of yours and your identity is exposed? What do you think would happen?”

After thinking for a while, Jawill Wilson let out a short sigh.

“I could die a miserable death.”

“Exactly, that’s why I’m going. Even if my identity is revealed, I have the ability to escape alive.”

“When you put it that way, you’re right. It’s been a long time since I left my hometown, so Pandera territory might be different from what I remember.”

The situation seemed to be resolved.

I picked up the pen I had put down on the table and grinned.

“Then, shall we talk about the village chief next?”

*

“It took exactly three days.”

“Thanks for your hard work.”

“Not at all. I can fulfill such small requests anytime.”

I stared at the transformation leather I received from the Poison Lady and spoke.

“Small request? I know transformation leather isn’t cheap.”

“No matter how expensive it is, it can’t compare to the value of my brother’s life that Lord Selden Alphonse saved.”

She had lived desperately to save her brother Ariella.

Now that I’ve saved him with the Thousand-Year Herb, her life will be different from the original story.

This might prevent friction with the protagonist.

Therefore.

I felt it wouldn’t be a bad idea to employ the Poison Lady as my personal informant if the situation arose where I had to hand over Riden Solis to the protagonist.

After all, she was a villain, not a monster.

Even if she was a villain in the original story, in this world, the ‘Poison Lady’ who committed evil acts for her brother no longer exists.

So, there would be no punishment to face.

She was quite suitable as an ally.

“You wouldn’t accept money even if I offered it, would you?”

The Poison Lady smiled gently at my words.

“It’s fine. Instead, would you meet with my Ariella sometime later?”

“Ariella? Why, is she unwell again?”

“No, it’s just that Ariella wants to see Lord Selden Alphonse.”

“She’s doing well, right?”

“Yes, she’s healthy enough to run around now.”

She must see me as her life’s benefactor.

Well, since I’m similar in age to Lucien outwardly, we could go shopping together or something.

“Sure, she can visit Lake territory anytime.”

“Thank you. I’ll let my sister know. Would you like to try the transformation leather now?”

At the Poison Lady’s suggestion, I spread the transformation leather on my palm.

Having used it before, it felt somewhat familiar now.

After carefully rubbing it into my skin with my fingertips, I turned my gaze to the mirror.

“Wow…”

The moment I looked in the mirror, goosebumps rose all over my body, and I couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

Honestly, although I didn’t show it, I had been worried while preparing the transformation leather.

In terms of build, Jawill Wilson was about 1.5 times larger than me.

But.

It had been reborn to fit my frame.

The craftsmanship was so precise that even the facial fat distribution seemed meticulously adjusted.

How should I put it—like Jawill Wilson’s face with reduced muscle and fat?

No wonder that old man had stared so intently at my face too…

As I showed a satisfied expression while looking in the mirror, Jawill Wilson, who had been silently observing my conversation with the Poison Lady, couldn’t hide his amazement.

“Wow… Did I really look this sleek?”

“You would if you reduced your muscle mass a bit.”

“Ha, I should lose some weight then.”

Despite it being an identical face to his own, rather than feeling uncomfortable…

He seemed to find the current situation simply fascinating, staring with his mouth wide open.

I cleared my throat in embarrassment.

“By the way, was there ever a time when you were thinner?”

“…Huh? Well, I wasn’t born with this build, was I?”

“No, I mean, what was your build like before you left your hometown?”

“I think I was a bit heavier than now. That was before I received systematic sword training. And back then, I thought strength was more important than agility.”

At Jawill Wilson’s words, I looked in the mirror with a worried expression.

“They won’t be suspicious seeing my face?”

“No, seeing how even the small scar under the eyebrow is identical, it looks exactly like a thinner version of me, just as you said.”

Having received confirmation from the person himself.

With a confident expression, I stood up.

“Well then, shall we head to Pandera territory?”