episode_0009

Rattling.

Inside the carriage that takes you to the Gray Duke’s residence after being sold at auction.

I felt like my back was covered in calluses from riding in low-class carriages for so long. The straw covering my feet and buttocks felt familiar and soft.

“Oh shit!”

“Drive properly, you little coachman!”

Complaints and grumbling can be heard all around.

Several boys about Lloyd’s age were riding in the carriage.

They seemed not to understand that they were being treated like slaves.

It doesn’t matter.

Lloyd bowed his head.

Swaying straws.

I needed time to think about it.

The Gray Dukes are a family that is truly ‘evil’. And they are a family that will cause a very big problem.

As I was trying to think of my plans for the future, my thoughts suddenly stopped.

— Clap clap clap clap clap!

The constant sound of applause echoing through Lloyd’s mind, and the dark whisper of ‘let’s destroy the world’, were disrupting Lloyd’s mind.

I feel empty.

Why am I suffering in this world I don’t even know?

When it seemed like I was going to be caught, I would have run away even if it meant tearing my body apart.

No, I would rather not attack the Demon King.

…. If we add such thoughts, we can reach one conclusion.

The beginning of this tragedy was the possession of another world.

— rustling

Lloyd thought as he picked up the paper dangling from his feet.

* * *

When I came to my senses, I was in another world.

When I first opened my eyes in a medieval European fantasy town, I thought it was a hidden camera.

After witnessing a fire-breathing lizard, a broomstick-riding, and a couple of reckless wizards, and a duel where someone was killed without a care in the world, I was finally convinced that this was another world.

It was confusing.

That makes sense, I’ve never read a game or novel with a background like this.

Moreover, it was not a gentle worldview. The guards roamed around brutally, and sometimes people were executed by guillotine in the square, and sometimes they were burned at the stake as witches.

It was uncivilized.

Enough to make me think that I need to come to my senses in order to survive.

Lee Han ran to the library. He read every book he could get his hands on. He had to figure out what kind of worldview it was. Continents. Empires. Kingships. Religion. Economy. He read every book he could get his hands on.

The last bookshelf I reached.

In a place full of dust, I found a book.

[Strategy Guide for Icebreakers]

— This book was written for those who think this is another world. Since it’s in Korean, it’s easy to understand, right?

A book written in a frivolous tone, unlike the archaic letters.

Lee Han ran straight to the librarian with the book in his hand.

— “Oh, this is an old book. It’s written in an unknown language, so I can’t… Of course you can borrow it. Do you like the occult? ”

Lloyd nodded without understanding what the librarian was saying. He ran back to his room and opened the book.

“Fuck.”

The pages were flying off in some places.

No. There were very few proper pages.

Most of them were blown away in one piece, and the few remaining pages were torn or illegible.

I gathered all the remaining information.

The Demon King who will destroy the world. And the hero who must keep the Demon King in check. The composition of the hero party. And fate, items. Background knowledge that must be familiarized.

That alone helped me understand this world better than hundreds of books.

It was all that information that led Lee Han to join the warrior party.

And the page wasn’t lost.

* I have prepared the minimum devices to meet the [probability] condition of the future prophecy. Look around carefully. Then you will be able to find the [diary] that fits the situation. Remember, the will to find it is important. Then it will pop out from nowhere. The Akashic is not easy to handle.

As written on the last page of the book, [the journal] was scattered all over the place.

It’s like when you find [ Castaway’s Journal II ] in an open world game, you can read the related story.

and.

The floor of a carriage covered with straw.

— Rustle.

Lloyd lifted the paper that was at the tip of his foot with his toes, struggling to lift it.

【 The Gray Duke (II) 】

*Opening Conditions: If you are captured by the Gray Dukes as a test subject or someone of similar status, this journal will be opened.

As always, the diary was written in Korean. It didn’t feel awkward that it was the second diary related to the Duke’s family. I had already read 【The Gray Duke (I)】.

‘I said that the Gray Dukes are definitely a family that needs to be careful and cautious.’

A family whose plot is unknown. Always beware of the Duchess of Grey. She can sometimes cause chaos in the world. If you get involved, be sure to state the conditions for her release.

Lloyd pulled out the memory he had been keeping in his head.

Usually, the first series of the journal was a possible memory because there were no open conditions.

However, the opening condition for this (II) is a status equivalent to that of a test subject.

‘It must have meaning.’

Lloyd read the remainder of the second journal.

— If you did not specify the conditions for liberation as advised by 【Gray Duke (I)】, you do not need to read the two items below.

— I will do my best to fulfill the conditions of liberation. Any other actions are of little significance.

— No matter what you hear, pretend not to know what’s going on underground. There is no basement in the mansion.

Gulp.

Lloyd swallowed.

With just a little thought, it was clear how dangerous this place was.

Above all else.

‘That’s half-assed.’

It is said that the more specific the journal is written, and the more important the event, the more [probability] is consumed. Therefore, the person who developed this journal system always said important things indirectly. In order to convey as much information as possible to Lloyd.

‘It means that it is a very dangerous and important place at the same time.’

At first glance, it appears to be just a mansion where a widowed duchess lives.

But there was definitely something hidden here.

at that time.

— Thump

The paper Lloyd was holding falls from his hand.

A scarred hand caught it as it fell, fluttering.

Lloyd was confused.

Whoever it was, it seemed like they had taken off the handcuffs. That wouldn’t be a good choice, would it?

As I raised my head with that thought, a boy with a fierce expression who looked to be about seventeen or eighteen years old was looking down at me.

“This kid has been banging his head down since a while ago.”

“… … .”

“What is this?”

The guy unfolded the paper and read it.

There was no way I could read it.

“What is this text?”

“… … .”

“What kind of unreadable text are you reading? You must be crazy.”

Toouk.

He crumpled up the paper and threw it.

“…….”

He’s still a boy, after all.

Even if you try to act tough, it’s just a joke at that age.

It was clear that the fear caused by the suddenly changed environment was being relieved through violence.

The temper that had been causing trouble for the groom earlier had simply spread to this person. Lloyd did not bother to get involved in the trouble.

I wonder if he didn’t like that calmness.

“This kid is ignoring me… … !”

The moment the guy strode towards Lloyd.

— Rumble!

The carriage shook violently. The guy was thrown to the ground.

“Cough!”

And then he let out a groan.

— Rumble!

The scenery beyond the carriage changes.

A huge mansion comes into view, and the door opens with a creaking noise.

“Get down!”

The guy who had been picking a fight got up and it was obvious who he would take his anger out on. Lloyd was the first to get out of the carriage. A pitch-black, huge mansion opened up before his eyes.

The grand mansion of the Gray Dukes.

It may not be just because the sky is covered with dark clouds that it looks gloomy and dreary.

— Caw, caw!

A crow cries as if welcoming a guest.

The sound of crows heard around the mountain.

The shadows of the early evening also deepened into the mansion.

Everything seemed to symbolize ominousness.

Sloppy.

I carefully step on the sticky mud, perhaps because of the rain that fell all day. I am not the type to be neat and tidy. However, I am not sure when I will be given the chance to wash, as I am no different from a slave. I want to be as clean as possible…

— Thud!

As my vision darkens, the black dirt that had been covering my eyes starts to flow down. The grains of dirt that enter my open mouth are bitter.

“Kekekekeke! Look at this!”

“Look forward to the future. You.”

Mud smeared on the face.

Lloyd tried to wipe it away with his hand.

But there was no way. My hands were already tied.

Phew.

All I do is spit out the dirt that got in my mouth.

“If you ignore Hector again… … !”

That guy from before is whining.

— ‘Are you going to leave it alone?’

A voice ringing in my head.

Of course, I can’t just sit still.

It wasn’t because of his voice. He wasn’t the type of person to get beaten up like a fool.

Kkukkuk.

For a moment, Lloyd’s weight pushed away the mud on the floor.

— Phew!

Hector’s neck turned.

Lloyd was confused.

Because it wasn’t something I did.

A rough, hairy fist.

“You bastards don’t even understand the topic.”

He, who seemed to be a soldier of the Gray Mansion, grabbed the boy’s hair and started walking away, still in a dazed state.

“Everyone, follow me.”

Was it only then that he realized the situation?

The children who had been blinking their eyes blankly followed them one by one, trembling. Lloyd also started walking. That is, until a hand suddenly appeared from behind and grabbed his shoulder.

“You come this way. The Duchess will see you.”

Clank.

The restraints that bound my hands are released.

Lloyd looked up at his opponent.

He was a priest with a thin body and pale skin.

‘Why is there a priest in a place like this?’

The priest walked ahead without giving me time to tilt my head.

It was already obvious from Hector’s case how they would be treated here. Lloyd quickly followed behind him.

It didn’t matter if it was right, but I had to be careful not to get angry as a result. Even if I had even the slightest desire for revenge, I felt like I would be consumed by the voice that was constantly whispering inside me.

— Thud, thud.

As he passed the main gate of the mansion, Lloyd turned his head to the side.

The rest of the children were being dragged into the basement of the mansion.