Chapter 2

Episode 2

“Something nice,” she says.

Coming from the ‘mastermind’ of this world, those words piqued my curiosity.

I immediately activated ‘Mind’s Eye’.

*Whoosh!*

I usually avoided using it on Lucia. Given her role as the mastermind, I figured she might possess some unique ability.

But this was a crucial turning point.

I needed to know what I was dealing with, to prepare for what lay ahead.

‘Purple?’

It meant I couldn’t determine the truth or falsehood of her words.

While I didn’t expect the truth, even a lie would have been better than this ambiguity.

Of course, this was just my own interpretation. I had no idea if it was part of the game system or not, just something I’d learned through experience.

Perhaps there were invisible ‘levels’ in this world, and I hadn’t reached the required level to read her.

This wasn’t just another fantasy world it was a game world, so levels were a given.

“I am eternally grateful for your grace, my Lady. Please rest well. We shall depart immediately.”

Though my questions remained unanswered, I left the room with Selendis.

The awkward atmosphere intensified. We were once an assistant and a knight, similar in rank, but now our relationship had shifted to master and servant.

I decided to break the silence.

“Lady Selendis, I understand this might be an unexpected turn of events. However, it is the Lady’s direct order, so we must avoid any discord. Therefore…”

Selendis abruptly stopped walking.

*Clang!*

She drew her sword. I hadn’t anticipated this development.

“I pledge my loyalty to you, Master.”

Selendis presented her drawn sword, holding it horizontally. Her posture was flawless, impeccable.

“I am now your sword, Master. I will live and die by your command.”

In the past year, I had encountered many knights, but none as upright as her.

Following proper etiquette, I took hold of the blade and lightly struck her shoulder with the flat side.

‘Mind’s Eye’ confirmed that her loyalty was genuine.

“I look forward to working with you, Lady Selendis.”

“Please, Master, there’s no need for formalities. I only ask that you not make me a disloyal knight.”

“…Very well.”

This kind of one-sided relationship wasn’t my style, but I had no choice.

‘But true trust isn’t built on orders alone.’

It would take time.

True comradeship is forged through shared experiences, overcoming challenges side-by-side.

Selendis’ loyalty was unquestionable.

But there was no guarantee she would remain loyal forever. My ability only revealed the answer to the question at hand.

‘I have no idea when I’ll see the Lady again. She could very well order Selendis to turn on me, and it wouldn’t be strange. The key is understanding the Lady’s intentions. Does she intend to use me as her attack dog? Or…’

We stepped outside to find two horses prepared for us.

I had hoped to live a comfortable and peaceful life after being transported here.

It seemed that dream would have to wait.

***

The gift Lucia had prepared was indeed “nice.”

At first glance, it appeared to be an ordinary house in the old town. But after locating a hidden room and venturing inside, we found ourselves surrounded by all manner of weapons and assassination tools.

Antidotes were neatly arranged on a shelf, alongside the obligatory healing potions.

There were also numerous books, all dedicated to the arts of assassination and survival. It made me wonder if she truly intended to send us on dangerous missions or if this was merely for show.

“Did the Lady tell you anything beforehand? About the Inspection Unit?”

“No, Master.”

I moved towards a plush sofa in the corner. The table was laden with fine liquor and snacks like thinly sliced cheese.

“Have a seat. I believe finding this hidden room was our mission for today.”

Selendis unbuckled her sword and sat down.

Despite wearing heavy plate armor, she didn’t seem uncomfortable, even with the exposed areas.

There was a running joke in Korean games that the more exposed skin a character had in their armor, the higher their defense. I supposed I had nothing to worry about.

“How did you find this place, Master?”

“You look for inconsistencies in the overall layout. Like a game of spot the difference.”

“What’s ‘spot the difference’?”

“It’s a game we play back home. You have two seemingly identical pictures side-by-side, and you have to find the subtle differences between them. Besides, I doubt the Lady would expect us to use that cramped space as our headquarters.”

She looked at me blankly, clearly not understanding.

I uncorked the bottle and filled Selendis’ glass.

“I used to be a detective before becoming an assistant. It’s not difficult for me to sniff out suspicious places.”

Before I was transported here, I worked at a fairly reputable detective agency. Of course, being a detective agency in this day and age didn’t involve much actual detective work.

With the advent of forensic science, the romantic image of a detective had all but vanished.

These days, it was mostly background checks and civil cases.

As someone who grew up on a steady diet of mystery novels, it was a bitter pill to swallow. But a man’s gotta eat. Still, I had my fair share of successes.

“Enough about me. I’m curious to hear your story. We’ll be busy from tomorrow, so…” I paused. “Where are you from?”

“Savion, Master.”

“Savion?”

I drew a blank.

“Is that a country or a region?”

“It was a country. A small one. It no longer exists.”

“I see.”

She seemed reluctant to elaborate.

I noticed her golden hair and golden eyes. In most games, that combination signified royalty. I wondered if it held the same meaning in this world.

I decided to save personal questions for later.

“How did you come to serve the Lady?”

“She helped me when I was in trouble.”

“If it’s that troublesome, I won’t pry.”

“…My apologies, Master.”

I could have pressed her for information, reminding her of our current dynamic.

But that would be a mistake.

Right now, gaining Selendis’ complete trust was paramount. I needed more than just an oath of loyalty I needed a bond.

“No need to apologize. I was just curious. It’s good to know a little something about each other, considering what we might be facing. Don’t feel pressured to answer.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Aren’t you curious about me at all?”

“I heard you learned basic martial arts for two years.”

Why the sudden interest?

“But from what I saw, those were not movements one could master in such a short time. You must have learned a named sword style, not just basic martial arts.”

“Were you there as well?”

“Yes, I was with the Lady.”

That blasted Thomson! I shouldn’t have dragged him off for a beating.

“I’ve never learned any sword style. Just basic self-defense, as I said. Enough to protect myself.”

Selendis’ expression remained unchanged. She didn’t believe me.

She was chosen by the mastermind at a young age.

That meant she possessed considerable strength herself. I wondered what her background was…

“Regardless, I can handle myself, so don’t worry too much.”

“It’s best not to be careless, Master. I heard this was a long time in the making for the Lady. Which means it’s bound to be dangerous.”

We didn’t speak much after that, simply enjoying our drinks as the hours passed.

Suddenly, Selendis’ eyes sharpened.

“We have intruders.”

…Impossible. This was a safe house prepared by the mastermind herself. How could anyone find us?

She stood up, reaching for the longsword resting beside her. At that moment, the hidden door swung open, and a young man stepped inside.

But his face was far too kind for an intruder.

“Ah, you’re both here! It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Jericho, and I’ll be serving as the clerk for the Lucius Inspection Unit. You’ve already started without me? I hope you like the drinks. The Lady specifically asked me to prepare well, hahaha!”

He seemed like a cheerful fellow.

More importantly, he was a familiar face. He was one of the butlers who served under Lady Lucia until recently.

I thought he might have been purged when he suddenly disappeared. It seemed he was alive and well.

As a butler, he outranked me when I was just an assistant.

But now that I was an inspector, we were on equal footing, perhaps even higher. Unless the position of clerk held more weight than I assumed.

“Now then, if you’ll excuse me. I could really use a drink. I’ve been running around all day, getting the headquarters ready. Ah, fill it to the brim, please.”

I filled his glass, and Jericho raised it in a toast.

“To a successful partnership! Cheers!”

Selendis and I clinked our glasses with his.

Jericho was practically vibrating with excitement.

“I’ve heard a lot about you, Mr. O’Brien. Ah, I suppose I can’t call you ‘Mister’ anymore, can I? You’re an esteemed Inspector now.”

“What rank is an Inspector, exactly?”

“I heard it’s equivalent to a knight. But that’s neither here nor there. Please, just speak comfortably.”

“Hmm.”

As if he had anticipated my question, Jericho pulled out a stack of papers from his bag.

“These are administrative documents pertaining to the Lucius Inspection Unit. I believe you’ll find them helpful.”

The title at the top read: “Proclamation of the Kalisto Dukedom.” I had read enough documents to last a lifetime, so I quickly skimmed through the contents.

“Are you telling me the Inspection Unit is being established by decree?”

“Indeed. It reflects the Lady’s desire to ensure the well-being of our family and our territory. The Duke himself was overjoyed and declared that he would announce it far and wide.”

This was unexpected.

If she was the mastermind, she should be operating in secrecy. Why reveal the existence of her secret organization to the world?

Her true motives remained a mystery.

Then again, I suppose that’s what made her the mastermind.

“Is something bothering you, Master?”

“No, it’s just… sudden, that’s all. I only just learned that an Inspector holds the rank of a knight. It feels like things are moving too quickly.”

“Well, the Duke adores the Lady. He must have been impressed. It’s not every day that someone completely uninvolved in the line of succession expresses such concern for the family and the territory. Don’t you agree?”

He was right. It wasn’t something just anyone could do.

But there was something he didn’t know. The Lady couldn’t care less about the family. She had her sights set on something far greater, something that encompassed the entire continent.

“Jericho, what are you good at, besides paperwork? The Lady wouldn’t have sent you here unless you possessed a particular set of skills.”

“I majored in medicine at the Kalisto Academy. I’m quite confident in my medical expertise. I was top of my class, you see.”

“Medicine, you say.”

The pieces were starting to fall into place. The assassination tools and antidotes weren’t just for show.

“Can you manipulate mana?”

“I’m not a mage, but I’m proficient in healing magic. As I said, top of my class.”

“And yet you were working as a butler? Wouldn’t a top graduate from the Kalisto Academy be recruited as a government official?”

“Being a butler was merely a cover. I’ve been serving Lady Lucia ever since I graduated. In a way, it’s no different from being a government official.”

I immediately activated ‘Mind’s Eye’.

He was telling the truth.

“Hm? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“It’s nothing.”

The puzzle was finally coming together.

I didn’t know who else would join the Inspection Unit, but one thing was certain: This was the culmination of the Lady’s meticulous planning.

“Please accept this. You’ll need it starting tomorrow.”

Jericho handed me a silver emblem. It bore the image of a lion, the symbol of the Kalisto family.

“Show them this, and things should go smoothly.”

“If things were going to be that easy, I doubt she would have assigned you to me, Lady Selendis.”

“Hahaha, as sharp as ever, Master. You’re right, of course. There will be resistance.”

“What’s our first mission?”

“We’ll be investigating Baron Gerard for suspected tax evasion.”

The document he unfolded displayed a sketch of a man named Roman, the head of the Gerard family. A list of accusations followed.

Investigating tax evasion might seem straightforward.

But perhaps it was the opposite.

After all, all evil stemmed from the pursuit of wealth.