Ch.29She laughed. (Part 1 Episode Complete)

Nepy woke up at an altar located at the end of the Great Cavern. Charle was lying neatly on the structure, which seemed designed for some kind of ritual.

“If I’d had something like this when I was imprisoned, I could’ve used it as a bed. What were you doing instead of making this, old man?” Nepy asked.

[I was asleep until you were summoned to this world.]

“Good thing you’re immortal. Otherwise, you might have had back pain right after possession.”

[Is that all?]

“What?”

[Is that all you’re curious about?]

“Haha.”

How Netionpis summoned me to this world? Or why? Netionpis’s purpose? Whatever it meant, I had decided on my answer long ago.

“I don’t care.”

[If that answer stems from pride, I’m deeply disappointed.]

“Pride? A disgraced noble like me has no such thing.”

When I first met Netionpis in the mental realm, my answer had honestly been based on pride. The hostility from our struggle for control over this body had played a part too.

But now?

“I just feel like I’ve found a purpose in this world.”

The novel and pleasant feeling of exploring a game world had faded within two months.

Every moment of seeing, touching, and hearing had become my reality and daily life. The mansion staff and the friendly emperor had become completely familiar.

Among them, the one who occupied the largest share of my memories was a prim white-and-blue female knight.

Irefi Justitia.

“I think changing a future where many people become unhappy might be why I was summoned here, regardless of your intentions.”

In the future where Irefi becomes the Destroyer, these current memories don’t exist. Familiar scenery would all be slashed apart, and the bright street lights would no longer illuminate the world.

Irefi’s prim face and porcelain skin would be hidden beneath pitch-black armor, never to be revealed to the world again.

“Yes, I just realized it again. I want to save Irefi. Like the emperor said, I want to see Irefi smile sincerely.”

[Have you developed feelings for the white girl?]

“Pfft?!”

This old… has Netionpis really gone senile? There are things you can say and things you shouldn’t—he has no filter at all.

“I just thought it would be nice if Irefi were happy.”

[My, there’s an untimely spring breeze in the mental realm. Thanks to that, the golden chain has turned pink.]

“Shut up!”

After fuming for a while, I realized I’d been caught up in Netionpis’s pace.

I quickly regained my composure and counterattacked.

“Hey, old man. What about you? You seem to have had no wife or children for 500 years. Have you ever been in love? Or did you become immortal to fix being impotent?”

[Your thoughts haven’t progressed beyond those of a teenager. Do you know what I did before meeting Astel?]

“What, you were some noble young master, I guess.”

[I was a male prostitute.]

I couldn’t help but be greatly shocked by Netionpis’s bombshell statement.

“Uh, umm…? A male prostitute? The one I’m thinking of? Or is there a place called South Brothel here?”

[It’s exactly what you’re thinking.]

“Ummmm?”

For the first time in both my past and current lives, I experienced a major cognitive dissonance.

Wait, from male prostitute to founding noble? That’s too dramatic a life story! Though they say in my previous life that anyone could become successful…

Above all, I can’t believe someone with such an arrogant personality sold his body.

Perhaps they had SM play here too…

[Stop your vulgar imagination. At any rate, this proves I’m not physically deficient.]

“…What about marriage? As a founding noble, you could have had a harem and no one would have complained.”

[What a pathetically typical idea from you. The woman I loved was someone I couldn’t marry. That’s all.]

From Netionpis’s answer, I could immediately guess who it was.

“Lorian Feita?”

[…]

Netionpis answered with silence.

“If she was a woman a founding noble couldn’t marry, it’s obvious. Even the four ducal families are forbidden from marrying each other, so how much more restricted would a founding noble be?”

Since Lorian Feita was the only woman among them, it was easy to deduce.

“So you couldn’t date because you were watching out for the imperial family?”

This is getting interesting.

Nothing is as enjoyable as hearing about someone else’s love story, regardless of the era.

[I just didn’t marry. The imperial family turned a blind eye to that much.]

“So you were in a common-law relationship… I’m surprised the imperial family overlooked it.”

[It was possible because I had no private property, territory, or private army.]

“Huh? That sounds like an honorary title only.”

[I was given privileges instead. There were five rights, including the immunity you know about. Though now, only one is of any use.]

“Hmm. Still, if you had a child together, I don’t think the imperial family would have stood by and…”

Netionpis naturally cut off my words.

[Enough idle talk. Check on the girl. Her condition doesn’t look good.]

“Ah, I forgot while we were talking.”

As I approached the altar, Charle’s features became clearly visible. She looked gaunt and pale, as if she hadn’t eaten at all for days.

I frowned as I carefully lifted Charle.

“There’s something strange here. Is this powder?”

[It’s residue from the Chainlich Phenomenon.]

“Can you tell what they were trying to do?”

To my question, Netionpis fell silent for a moment, then responded with an unexpected question.

[…This child, didn’t you say she was the empress’s illegitimate child, not the emperor’s?]

“That’s what Irefi said.”

[She is undoubtedly of imperial blood. I can’t guess the circumstances, but…]

“What…?”

I was about to say more but closed my mouth.

“Sigh, questioning the emperor or empress will reveal the truth. For now, we should head back. Judging by the communication stone’s reaction earlier, Irefi’s side seems fine too.”

The priority was to restore Charle’s energy.

I decided to spend the night in Citris Village with Charle on my back.

‘Ah, but first I should retrieve Irefi’s ring from that pile of corpses.’

After rummaging through the blood-soaked demonic realm for a while, I finally managed to get out of the Great Cavern.

◇

After about three weeks of travel, we were greeted at the isthmus by members of the Nelfrugia Knights. For some reason, knights rather than the usual guards were stationed at the checkpoint.

They chatted amicably for a few words and then gladly let our carriage pass.

“Ah, it seems arrangements have already been made. The lady is sleeping, so please keep quiet.”

“Yes, understood.”

Charle was sleeping soundly, having regained her health. Her face, expressing gratitude with her dishonest temperament, was quite a sight to see.

After regaining some energy, she asked various questions about Zikharun.

She said she felt as if she’d heard an apology that made her heart ache, though she wasn’t sure if it was a dream.

I dismissed the possibility, but considering how the original story had already been distorted, I thought it might not be entirely impossible.

While I was lost in thought, a Nelfrugia knight asked me:

“By the way, may I ask Marquess Alteon something?”

“Me? What are you curious about?”

“Well… could you show us your left hand?”

“Oh, sure. Here it is.”

As soon as I extended my left hand out the carriage window, knights swarmed around like a pack of dogs.

…Where did they all come from? Did they collectively develop a hand fetish?

“Oh… this is it!”

“Was it true?!”

“My goodness, finally…!”

What’s with these guys? Did the old man take such good care of his hands?

Bewildered, I quickly withdrew my hand back into the carriage. Then one or two knights pressed their faces uncomfortably close and spoke with serious expressions.

“Marquess, please take good care of our captain!”

“You’re the only one who can handle our captain now.”

Well… physically speaking, I might be the only one who can handle Irefi…

But what’s with these strange reactions?

I thought they might have collectively lost their minds and brushed it off.

“Ah, well. Sure.”

“Ooooh!”

Just as thunderous cheers were about to erupt, I put my finger to my lips, pointing at Charle.

Thankfully, everyone immediately fell silent, and I signaled the carriage to depart.

‘Did they all take some drug or something?’

They seemed like people who could find joy in the smallest things.

The carriage sped toward the imperial palace. Charle, who had just woken up, burst into tears at the sight of the isthmus.

“I thought… I’d never see it again. Thank you once more, Marquess Alteon. You really are an amazing person.”

“Amazing? Please. Charle, you’ll be seeing the imperial palace more often than the streets of the isthmus from now on.”

“What do you mean?”

I smiled and announced unilaterally:

“Because you’re going to become imperial royalty.”

“…… What?”

Charle showed a textbook reaction. She listened blankly and then began to doubt her ears—a typical template.

“Keep that in mind and say your goodbyes to the Millote family in advance.”

“But…! Do you perhaps know the secret of my birth, Marquess Alteon?”

“That your mother is the empress? I’ve known for a while, but that’s not why.”

“…I demand an explanation, Marquess Alteon.”

“Request denied, Princess Charle.”

I giggled and dismissed Charle’s irritated protests. Meanwhile, the carriage entered the imperial palace and approached the main palace.

In front of the main palace, the emperor, empress, and Irefi had personally come out to welcome our return.

“Welcome back, Marquess Alteon!”

The emperor shook my shoulders with trembling hands. He seemed to be in such a good mood that my neck wobbled and the world shook.

When Charle descended from the carriage with my escort, the empress’s eyes filled with moisture.

“…My child.”

One step, then another. Walking slowly at first, she seemed to reach the limit of her patience and suddenly rushed forward to embrace Charle.

“I… this foolish mother… I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Charle, my child. If I truly wanted to protect you, I shouldn’t have done this. Everything… all of it was my fault.”

“…”

Momentarily bewildered by the empress’s unexpected intense reaction.

Charle released the words she had wanted to say all her life from her burning throat.

“…Mother. Mom…!”

Witnessing the touching reunion between mother and daughter, I had a slight question.

‘What happened to Charle in the original story? Since the timeline of the work was already after the empire’s fall, I can’t know.’

While I was pondering this meaningless speculation, a woman’s voice, cool as a summer cave, came from behind me.

“Nepy.”

“Irefi.”

Her white hair, reaching down to her waist, fluttered in the wind. Her lake-like eyes, reflecting the sunlight, curved like crescent moons as she faced me.

It was the ordinary Irefi Justitia.

“It’s been a while.”

“It has been a while.”

We awkwardly greeted each other. Perhaps because it had been so long since we’d seen each other, an awkward atmosphere hung between us.

“…”

“Um…”

I cursed Netionpis inwardly.

‘This is all because the old man said unnecessary things!’

He had said in the Great Cavern:

[Have you developed feelings for the white girl?]

Feelings, my foot. I’d rather be hit by Irefi with a tool.

‘It’s completely absurd…’

I avoided her still-clear eyes.

‘Why is she pretty? No, no. I knew that from before, but somehow it feels a bit different…?’

While I was troubled by the unintended silence, the emperor, who had finally shaken off the joy of reunion, asked Irefi:

“Come to think of it, Marquess Justitia, didn’t you say there was something you wanted to show Marquess Alteon when he returned?”

“Ah, yes. I wanted to show Miren to Nepy.”

Irefi’s younger sister! I had been curious since I’d never actually seen her.

At that moment, Charle’s eyes lit up through her tear-and-snot-covered face.

“What? Elfi’s younger sister? I want to see too! I’ve only heard rumors but never seen her!”

“Charle. Even your mother can’t decide that freely.”

Was Irefi’s younger sister a more significant matter to Charle than her emotional reunion with her mother?

Despite the empress’s embarrassment, Irefi calmly gave permission.

“Yes, Charle can come too.”

“Then let’s all go together. That seems best.”

When the emperor made the decision, Irefi also expressed her agreement.

‘Irefi’s younger sister… the child who holds the key to the Destroyer. I wonder what she looks like.’

◇

As we descended a dark spiral staircase, we encountered a magnificent door not unlike other structures in the imperial palace.

When Irefi slowly opened the door, light poured out, illuminating the surroundings.

In the corner was an uncomfortably large bed, where the silhouette of a small child was clearly visible.

“Miren.”

As Irefi lifted the curtain covering the bed, the veiled appearance of Miren Justitia was revealed.

“How can this be…!”

“Hmm.”

Charle covered her mouth with pitiful eyes, and I let out a low sound at the unexpected sight.

Miren’s body was withered, with no sign of vitality. She was miserably bound by golden chains like a criminal.

“Irefi, you…”

I was about to offer words of comfort but closed my mouth. I knew it would only hurt Irefi more.

At that moment, I felt as if I heard Netionpis muttering in my mind.

[So it’s this child.]

“…Huh?”

When I came to my senses, I found myself approaching Miren and placing my hand on the golden chains.

The moment I felt the firm, warm sensation with delicate touch, the golden chains emitted a mysterious light that engulfed the room.

“N-Nepy? What are you doing?!”

Woong-! Woong-!

The golden chains stirred and cried out.

As time passed, the sun-like intense light gradually turned to twilight.

The brilliant bright light hid itself like the natural phenomenon of the sun setting beyond the horizon, and gently subsided as if falling asleep.

As soon as I carefully removed my hand, the chains that had tightly bound Miren’s body crumbled into pieces like water-soaked biscuits.

Irefi’s frantic questioning pierced my ears sharply.

“Nepy, if you don’t explain properly, I’ll…!”

“Ugh… mmm…”

Irefi, who had been approaching fiercely as if about to grab my collar, froze at the faint moaning sound.

It couldn’t be helped.

It was the voice of her younger sister, which Irefi must have recited hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of times.

“…Miren?”

“Sister?”

Miren called her name with her eyes still closed.

“Elfi sister, are you there?”

“Yes… I’m here. Miren. I’m right here.”

Irefi answered as calmly as possible. Still, it was impossible to hide her trembling voice.

“Sister. It’s hard for me to open my eyes.”

“That’s because you’ve been asleep for so long. I’ll help you.”

Irefi carefully lifted Miren and positioned her to lean against a cushion.

With gentle, affectionate hands, she covered Miren’s eyes with her palm and said:

“Now, let’s try opening them slowly. Tell me if it’s too bright.”

“Okay. I understand.”

‘It would be tactless to watch their reunion like animals in a zoo.’

With that thought, I quietly headed outside and began climbing the spiral staircase.

Meanwhile, as Miren slowly opened her eyes, Irefi couldn’t help but be greatly surprised by the change.

“Miren, your eyes…!”

However, Miren set aside Irefi’s shock and asked calmly:

“Sister, why does the person who just left have two souls?”

“What are you talking about, Miren…”

Irefi’s words couldn’t continue. It was because the emperor, who was equally shocked, exclaimed momentarily:

“How did you know that?!”

“Your Majesty?”

In the chaotic room where everyone was unable to grasp the situation for their own reasons, only Miren’s golden eyes shone distinctively.

◇

I was strolling through the imperial palace garden, recalling the incident in Miren’s room.

“That movement on its own—it was your doing, wasn’t it, old man?”

There was no answer.

It had been a week since we safely rescued Charle, and Netionpis hadn’t spoken in my mind. I didn’t know why, but it was both comfortable and frustrating.

So I decided to talk to myself.

“I don’t know why you bothered to help. But… I think I understand one thing. You’re not actually aiming to take over my body, are you?”

I should have deduced it from Netionpis’s mental realm earlier.

The first emperor Astelnerca and the first heads of the four ducal families. Even the posture of kneeling as if being honored.

‘It must be a scene depicting the founding moment of the Eld Empire.’

The meaning of a landscape that hasn’t faded even after 400 years is clear.

“Old man, you actually love the empire. The empire founded by the first emperor and the first heads of the four ducal families working together. This place where traces of Lorian Feita remain…”

Despite his boasting about turning the empire into ruins, when the chance came, he stepped back.

This time too. It wouldn’t have been difficult to completely drive me out when I hit rock bottom after defeating Zikharun.

Moreover, seeing how he performed Miren’s treatment without permission, he can still hold the body’s initiative.

“I’m curious about your purpose now, but I still won’t ask. I’ll listen to your trivial love story with Lorian Feita though.”

What interrupted my soliloquy was the sound of urgent footsteps.

Someone was approaching in a straight line from the main palace in the distance.

Tap, tap, tap, tap.

The owner of the running steps soon revealed their identity.

“Nepy.”

When I turned my head, there was Irefi, unusually out of breath.

The white hair stuck to her ears due to her running looked cute.

“Irefi? What about your sister?”

Ignoring my words, she came close and declared unilaterally:

“Nepy, I’m going to ask a really, really easy question now. You just need to answer.”

“Huh? Oh, sure…”

I got caught up in her inexplicable attitude without knowing the full story.

“Question one. What privilege did you receive from the first emperor?”

“Immunity, right?”

“There should be more.”

“…”

Netionpis had said he received five privileges. I didn’t ask specifically because I didn’t need to know…

As I avoided her eyes awkwardly, she posed the next question.

“Question two. The first heads of the four ducal families each had different special talents. Please tell me what they were.”

“…”

I had no way of knowing. I knew that Bartlant Chester was in charge of military power, but nothing beyond that.

Confirming my silence, Irefi asked one last question:

“Final question. This is really simple, almost common sense medical knowledge. Why do you rub an egg on a bruise?”

“Uh, that, well…”

Wait, isn’t that a folk remedy without medical basis? Was I wrong about that?

As I stammered, Irefi suddenly threw herself into my arms.

Shiver!

“Wh-what? Irefi? What are you doing?!”

“Why… why didn’t you tell me all this time? And I… misunderstood Nepy… was wary… treated you coldly…”

Her voice was cracking like drought-stricken soil.

Irefi’s fist tightly gripped my clothes, creating distinct wrinkles.

Her snow-white hair veiled her face like a curtain.

So I couldn’t see what expression she was making at all.

A warm, moist sensation spread across my chest. Tears flowed from her as she sobbed in my arms.

I had a suspicion.

“Irefi. Don’t tell me you heard?”

“If you’re asking if I heard that Nepy isn’t a founding noble, then yes.”

“Did His Majesty tell you? Do you believe it?”

Irefi didn’t hesitate. She answered with a voice full of conviction, over and over:

“Yes, I believe it. I do believe it. Because I have to.”

Her answer implied unconditional trust.

I staggered slightly at the result that was hard to believe.

“…I see. So you… believe me. Haha. Ha…”

I let out a hollow laugh.

Although it dissipated uselessly under the clear sky, it was refreshing like pressing cold water against my chest.

After organizing her tears in my arms for a while, she revealed her reddened eyes. The sunlight reflected off her moist eyes, creating a small sparkling lake.

It was a small lake that seemed like I would fall deeply into it if I looked carelessly.

She said:

“It’s late, but. Even if my efforts have faded. I’d like to get to know Nepy from now on. If it’s okay… would you allow me?”

It seemed shy at first glance, but it was a polite request tinged with guilt.

I answered readily:

“I should be the one saying that. Though it’s sudden, I look forward to it.”

Irefi’s lips curved into a smile. Her eyes, filled with joy, looked directly at me.

It was a dazzling smile that inflated possessiveness like foam.

I could feel the happiness emanating from the depths of her heart, wrapping around her like a rainbow.

She asked:

“Will you tell me your real age if I ask?”

“Ask me anything. My age is roughly…”

After hearing my answer, Irefi showed a strange reaction and pulled my hand.

Her white hair occasionally brushed against my forearm, tickling me.

The sensation of something deeper than my heart fluttering must be because of that.

She looked back and smiled dazzlingly once more.

Episode: The Ordinary Girl’s Awakening (End)

◇

Trudge, trudge.

In the dead of night, with only moonlight as a guide, two men were walking. One was Zikharun, unconscious and being supported, and the other was a man with an eye patch helping him.

“Ugh… ack.”

Just then, a groan escaped Zikharun’s lips.

“Oh my, are you awake, friend? You fainted after losing so much spirit blood.”

“…It’s you.”

Zikharun asked:

“Why did you save me?”

“Did you hit your head?”

“The operation using the disposable portal failed. It was the only chance to bind Irefi’s feet. And now we don’t even have any stock left.”

He laughed self-deprecatingly.

“I’m a failure. Duke Feita’s house that was sponsoring me is also in decline, so my lip service about destroying the empire is just a hollow dream. There’s no reason for you to save me when I’ve turned your sacrifices into bubbles.”

“Hahaha, this is the first time you’re showing weakness. But let me firmly deny one thing.”

The man with the eye patch stared directly into Zikharun’s eyes with a chilling gaze.

“Feita in decline? Dogs would laugh. People say: military power is Chester, financial power is Estern, intellectual power is Meoric. What do you think Feita is?”

“…”

Zikharun’s answer was difficult. In reality, Feita had a relatively low presence among the four ducal families, so no descriptive phrase came to mind.

“No one knows. Lorian Feita’s deep darkness… her fierce hatred for the empire! The Feita that appears above the surface is merely a puppet in a shadow play.”

The man with the eye patch boldly opened the door of a building they had finally reached. As dazzling light drove away the deep darkness, Zikharun was astonished at what he saw inside.

The densely gathered people knelt on one knee as one body.

“We greet the family head.”

“We greet the family head.”

“We greet the family head.”

“You…?”

Zikharun finally noticed the discomfort he had felt from the man with the eye patch.

The man, who had always skillfully avoided his gaze, was now staring directly with ruby-like eyes.

He said:

“Let me introduce myself again. I am Troph Feita. Let’s get along well from now on, friend.”

“Ha… I see. So this was Feita’s true identity. You’ve hidden this well.”

Zikharun looked around at the kneeling figures. They were all familiar faces, keeping their gazes fixed on the ground in reverent postures.

They were the owners of guilds spread throughout the empire. The owners of organizations that wielded powerful military and financial power, starting as merchant associations…

The owners of guilds, whose very unification was designated as illegal, were kneeling before the man with the eye patch.

The implication was simple:

“So the fundamental organization of guilds was part of Feita from the beginning…”

“Hahaha, you catch on quickly. By now, the other Troph who was captured and taken to the imperial palace would have committed suicide. Now, shall we go meet the survivor?”

“Survivor?”

“What the white knight did was beyond imagination. He’s completely ruined. It was good that we sent him to the middle of the battlefield with a disposable portal, but… her behavior was beyond imagination.”

He clicked his tongue vigorously and continued:

“Moreover, somehow the Chester bastards supported the isthmus, making the white knight’s absence useless. This isn’t something to blame on one friend.”

“Is… that so? What do you mean by Irefi Justitia’s bizarre behavior?”

“She smiled, they say.”

“What?”

“She personally harvested all life on the battlefield and smiled with joy… that’s the survivor’s testimony. We even sent assassination teams to eliminate her during the chaotic battle, but they all perished.”

He let out a self-deprecating laugh full of futility.

“After pushing her that far and draining her strength, I wonder just how far that damned female knight’s limit is.”

“The Destroyer…”

Zikharun muttered in a low tone. His soliloquy scattered emptily into the air, so Troph couldn’t hear it properly.

“Hmm? What did you say?”

“No, nothing.”

As Zikharun’s evasive words withered away, their silhouettes were gradually enveloped by the darkness of the basement, concealing their presence.