Ch.273EP.61 – The Knight Fear People More Than Ghosts 2(3)

The gray-haired boy shook his head, ruffling his hair like a whimpering puppy.

“Modred, hmm, that was definitely Team Leader 2’s responsibility…?”

The boy, Derrick, looked embarrassed.

He clearly remembered boldly declaring to his instructor that there was nothing in this world he didn’t know…

‘I guess people really should be humble.’

He had to readily admit that there was a vast amount of things he didn’t know.

‘Creating such an expansive world-building is the problem…’

That’s how games are.

Even in development, everyone has their own part, and even the planning team is subdivided with each person focusing on specific areas.

Especially for games aiming to be AAA-tier, the number of side stories stemming from the world-building had to be enormous, requiring dozens, no, hundreds of people working on it.

In that sense, it was only natural that his knowledge was limited as just one of hundreds of planning team members, so blaming himself was merely a contradictory act.

It was actually remarkable that one person knew so much information.

However, despite knowing this fact…

‘It’s quite pathetic that I can’t be of any help.’

Not being able to help someone he considered his benefactor.

It was inevitable to feel worthless about himself.

He wanted to help directly if he could, but.

‘I can’t leave my position right now either…’

As he was in the middle of a quest—no, an incredibly important operation—Derrick was in no position to leave to help him.

And for good reason, as opportunities like this come only once.

‘A chance to obtain a Unique-grade item, <Fragment of the Holy Grail>, doesn’t come twice.’

The special side story <Memories of the Autumn Fairy>.

If you satisfy the avatar left by the autumn fairy, you can obtain a fragment of the Holy Grail that the avatar carries like a hairpin.

However, to meet the item acquisition conditions, he had to “entertain” the avatar for 24 days without boring it, which is why Derrick had been playing the role of a clown for 15 days, sleeping only 2-3 hours a day.

…It was a terrible process that arose because fairies, even avatars, don’t sleep.

A truly extreme situation.

Therefore, Derrick couldn’t leave his position now, if only to not waste all his efforts so far.

So the only way he could help was…

‘Should I send what information I know?’

Specifically, information about Team Leader 2, who was in charge of the Modred-related side stories.

While he didn’t know everything, Derrick knew how most of the planning that person was responsible for ended, and he judged that Modred’s story might also have [that tendency].

‘That person is a bit twisted, no…’

To put it bluntly, he was a “pervert.”

To clarify, by “pervert” he meant someone with perverted aspects in game development, not someone who does something socially wrong.

…However, players who have played games that Team Leader 2 was involved in would probably want to kill him.

‘He’s definitely skilled, and a senior I respect in some ways, but that person…’

Team Leader 2—most of the game endings he was involved with were…

‘…[Annihilation Endings] or [Devastation Endings].’

Hmm, what did he say again?

Certainly…

– No, it’s the best! I was expecting some catharsis, but endings where everyone dies or becomes devastated no matter what you do! Users getting irritated and angry…! Wow, just imagining it gives me so much dopamine! This is why I have to keep developing games, kuhehehe!!

“…So he really is a pervert?”

Upon reflection, Derrick realized that Team Leader 2 was indeed a pervert not worthy of respect.

*

*

*

[Woong. Woowoo, wooowooo.]

“…?”

[Wooowooo. Wooowoong, woowoo.]

“…What’s wrong with these things?”

He frowned with a disgruntled expression.

It felt like experiencing a “ghost sound sleep ASMR” recording right in front of him.

It was like listening to a glass harp performance—not irritating to hear, but that didn’t mean…

[Woowoo, wooowoong.]

“…Don’t cling to me.”

The existence itself was still bothersome.

Wraiths. The ones Ihan had defeated and others subdued elsewhere were now hovering around Ihan.

‘And why did their appearance change like this?’

One of the reasons they were bothersome was precisely because of their change in appearance.

During their first encounter, they had red eyes and emitted ominous energy like thorns all over their bodies, but now they had become incredibly docile and somehow adorably cute.

Originally they looked like creatures from a horror game, but suddenly they transformed into characters that might appear in a healing game?

“Weren’t you all different before?”

[Woeoeo?]

“Your voices used to sound like nails on a chalkboard…”

[Woeo, woeoeo.]

“…Why is this so annoying?”

They were clearly magical beasts that had threatened him, so he couldn’t be friendly toward them, but their appearance and sound had suddenly changed 180 degrees—or rather, transformed—into something that wouldn’t look out of place as a regional mascot.

But cute is cute, and throughout his life, Ihan had never spared any magical beast that threatened him.

So he desperately wanted to eliminate them right away, but.

“I, I like them be-because they’re cu-cute!”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes! They’re cool and smooth to touch, it feels refreshing! So cool…”

“…I’m glad you like them.”

“Yes!! I really like them! Thank you, Santa!”

“……”

Because of this delighted young lady, he couldn’t bring himself to touch them.

‘She really likes them, huh.’

They weren’t cats or dogs, just magical beasts that only looked cute on the outside, yet somehow…

“They’re so cute.”

“I want to adopt one.”

“Yeah…”

…Or was it just him?

‘Am I the only one who doesn’t like them?’

Ihan could hear the whispers around him, and he couldn’t help but laugh hollowly.

Simply because it was so absurd.

…Then suddenly.

[Woeoeo…]

The wraiths gathered around Louise in an instant.

“Wow!”

The wraiths formed a circle around the child as if blessing her, creating a magnificent scene that almost looked like a performance.

It was such a spectacular sight that it resembled a circus troupe with strange appearances singing and dancing.

“My goodness…”

“Wow!”

Everyone was amazed, and Louise’s eyes sparkled with delight, making it seem like a heartwarming scene, but to Ihan’s eyes, it somehow looked like…

‘…Worship?’

It seemed like the wraiths were treating the small child like royalty.

Their worshipful submission reminded him of ancient Egyptians who worshipped the pharaoh as the representative of the sun god.

And this was not a particularly pleasant sight.

“Why are they acting like that toward a child?”

Expectations that a child doesn’t want are not “responsibility” but “coercion.”

This was Ihan’s principle, and it made him uncomfortable, as it seemed like a sign that the child’s fate might not be smooth.

“…Am I overthinking this?”

“No. You simply think that way because you are a ‘proper adult.'”

“Pardon?”

“You understand an adult’s duty—not to admire or think of exploiting a child’s abilities. You are an admirable person.”

“Th-thank you, e-elder?”

“Hoho, just call me an old woman. Important people often do.”

“At least I can’t do that. It would make me uncomfortable.”

“Ohoho, you’re quite the gentleman.”

“……”

…He had missed the presence.

Ihan, whose hearing could detect even a falling leaf within a 100-meter radius when focused, and whose sense of smell rivaled or perhaps exceeded that of a dog.

…Yet he hadn’t even noticed this person’s presence.

Ihan’s expression tensed, and he remained vigilant toward the elderly woman who had appeared from nowhere.

“Don’t be so tense. I’m just a powerless old woman who can’t even walk without this cane.”

“…Do you have mind-reading abilities? You seem to read my thoughts too well, just like before…”

“Your expressions are so easy to read, what need is there for mind reading?”

“……”

“You’ve heard that often, haven’t you?”

“Is my expression that simple…”

“Puha!”

The old woman burst into laughter, covering her mouth as she did so.

As if thoroughly amused.

* * *

She introduced herself as a “maid.”

“To be precise, I retired 50 years ago, so it’s embarrassing to introduce myself as a maid now.”

“Um, elder, if I may ask, how old are you?”

“I’m 103 this year. I’ve lived quite long, haven’t I?”

“…I thought you were at most in your 70s?”

“Why flatter an old woman? It feels nice, though.”

“No, I’m being sincere…”

The maid elder seemed remarkably spry for someone over a hundred, and Ihan scratched his cheek.

But surprise aside, Ihan offered her a seat and served tea.

“You even serve uninvited guests like this?”

“If it were an uninvited guest with bad intentions, I might not, but you don’t seem like a bad person.”

“Based on what?”

“You don’t have an unpleasant smell.”

“…?”

“Rather, you smell strongly of herbs. I detect a hint of blood, but with the scent of medicinal alcohol, which suggests you’re dealing with blood for treatment purposes. So I’m guessing your profession is a pharmacist, healer, or perhaps an alchemist.”

“……”

“What’s wrong?”

“…I’m surprised. At my age, I thought there was little left that could surprise me, but that was arrogant thinking. Indeed, Pendragon keeps producing excellent knights.”

“You flatter me…”

“It’s not flattery. Honestly, I thought you might be a criminal since you’re hiding your ‘true appearance,’ but that doesn’t seem to be the case.”

“……”

“Your original appearance seems much more attractive and handsome, so I wonder why you’re disguising yourself. May I ask why?”

“…Before that, would you mind telling me who you are?”

Ihan’s heart pounded.

She was clearly no ordinary person.

Tension rose again as he faced the old woman who had seen through his methods for the first time, but seemingly unaware of his tension, she made an expression of sudden realization.

“Ah, this old woman has been rude. Of course I should introduce myself first. Please understand. When you’ve lived as long as I have, you tend to ramble on about various things when excited to have someone to talk to.”

“……”

“Let’s see, I can’t keep wasting your precious time, so what should I tell you first…”

“……”

“Ah, I should tell you this first. In four days, when the full moon rises, Wales will be ‘destroyed.'”

“What?”

“Take the outsiders and flee immediately. The natives have already made a ‘contract,’ so there’s nothing to be done about them, but those who can live should live.”

“……”

“The ‘sacrifice’ cannot escape their fate.”

“…Excuse me.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“That’s…”

You’re moving too fast, ma’am…