episode_0019

The time in the carriage seemed like an eternity.

It is also a moment to enjoy the open scenery outside the window.

The seats that rattle every time, the chill that hits you at night, and the suffocating silence.

It was a time of patience where it felt like one’s lifespan was being cut short.

I couldn’t bear it any longer and thought several times about turning back to the station and taking the train.

It was a time when the unconscious and reason were walking an endless tightrope.

Squeak—

The carriage slowed down.

“Hey, master. Arrived.”

We arrived at our destination and the coachman opened the door.

I held Diana’s hand as she got off first and looked around.

Wide, neatly paved streets, bustling markets, and rows of commercial districts.

And people in various outfits walking the streets.

It was the capital of an empire that I had grown tired of seeing.

I gave the driver an appropriate amount of loopran.

After checking the amount, the coachman’s eyes widened and he left, saying thank you again and again.

“Do you have a separate destination?”

I looked at Diana who asked calmly.

I stuck my tongue out at the peaceful face that showed no sign of fatigue.

“Okay, just follow me.”

The image of Luna sitting on the floor, watching the carriage leave in vain, does not go away from my eyes.

Due to Luna’s twisted personality, there is no way she would just leave me alone after leaving the mansion.

They will release people and track them down without even looking at them.

‘I need identification.’

The first thing you need is a fake identity.

Forging one’s identity is itself a dangerous idea, but it is not impossible.

This is, after all, a world within a game.

This means that it’s not a world where it’s that difficult to find one’s identity.

From what I remember, there was an episode in the main scenario where I was openly playing as a second identity.

Jumble-jump-

I was walking straight in a trance and only after a while did I find the building I was looking for.

It was a building made of old bricks that gave off an old-fashioned yet gloomy atmosphere.

“Is this this place?”

“Uh, no need to be on guard. Because it’s just an ordinary store.”

It’s a store, right?

It’s just a store that buys and sells shady things.

Clang—the door opened.

Entering the store through the dark entrance, the interior had a somewhat gloomy atmosphere.

The shelves were full of books and miscellaneous items showing signs of age.

It was a moment when I was taking a closer look inside the store.

“What business is it?”

A grumpy voice fell coldly.

As I slowly turned my head, a woman sitting on the sofa in the corner gave me a blank look.

“Did you come to see something? I’m sorry. Business is already over today, so would you please leave?”

Subtle purple hair flowed down and wrapped around her shoulders, and her calmly lowered green pupils glowed mysteriously under the red light.

It’s an appearance I clearly remember.

Emily, an imperial information merchant.

and.

“Merlin Trivia.”

Corrupt Priest, Merlin Trivia.

“The business lies with you.”

Merlin’s eyes narrowed.

It was a face that seemed to gauge the true meaning behind my words.

‘You’ve come to the right place.’

Merlin Trivia.

She was once a more devout priest than anyone else, but one day she began to hate the world and, by extension, the God who created this world.

I don’t know the detailed circumstances.

I only have a vague memory of seeing Merlin’s life story summarized in one word, ‘tragedy’, in a book of settings I happened to read.

This is also my first time meeting Merlin in person.

Not only did they not have a chance to meet in the previous episode, but at a certain turning point, Merlin disappeared without any trace.

Above all, it is a risky gamble.

The reason is that.

“Hmm.”

Because Merlin can smell the soul.

“It’s strange.”

The expression was erased from Merlin’s face.

“This is my first time smelling like this.”

She slowly got up from her seat.

“What on earth does this smell like?”

One step.

Another step.

The air inside the store suddenly became heavy.

“What are you?”

Merlin’s sharp eyes swept up and down my entire body.

I threw it away in a calm voice.

“Kyle Winfred.”

“You know that I’m not asking for your name or anything like that, right?”

“Well, I’m not sure.”

Merlin’s fiercely angry face was sensitive and benevolent.

For a moment, I felt a sense of discomfort at the two contrasting appearances.

Merlin began to find the answer.

“No bad smell.”

The human soul has a stench that cannot be hidden.

It was a one-line message that played when you clicked on Merlin in the game.

Of course it won’t stink.

That’s because my soul came from another world.

I was seriously worried.

Should I speak honestly and get help?

If not, should I come up with a loose excuse and deceive her?

“It is not the smell of someone who committed massacre, nor is it the smell of someone who has transcended class… ”

Surprisingly, it’s all nonsense.

I tapped the floor with my toe and waited for the reasoning to end.

‘I don’t think I even noticed.’

The reason I came to Merlin is quite complex.

A forged identity is an identity, but the ultimate goal is the whereabouts of the relics.

If you obtain the relic, you can open the door to the dimension.

Although it is something that is only mentioned infrequently in the game, it is highly unlikely that it is false as it has been certified in the official setting book.

And above all.

‘Merlin was the only one who mentioned the relic.’

Something of unknown identity that has never even been seen in real life.

Only Merlin had mentioned such a mythical artifact.

It is not known why or through what route the information was obtained.

Because Merlin Trivia wasn’t a very important character to begin with.

What is important is that Merlin knows the whereabouts of the relic.

And, I am desperate for that information.

“… ”

Merlin’s gaze slowly became uncomfortable.

I got to the point with a polite face.

“I came to buy information.”

“Information? What information?”

Merlin tilted his head and asked again as if it was no big deal.

I cautiously told Merlin about my business.

“Do you know any information about holy relics?”

It was then.

“Ha.”

A laugh escaped Merlin’s mouth.

and.

“Your soul.”

A deep smile appeared on Merlin’s lips.

“You were kidnapped?”

****

Growling—

The empty cup was filled with steaming tea.

The maid who was pouring tea finished setting the table for tea time, bowed her head once, and left.

“… ”

“… ”

Luna lifted the filled cup and sipped tea.

Isabel frowned as she looked at Luna.

‘Why is that woman here…? ‘

Luna Winfred.

The eldest daughter of the Winfred family and Kyle’s half-sister.

Isabelle knew a lot about Luna.

Starting from the information I heard from Kyle before returning, to the information I obtained personally.

The result of combining the fragmented information like a puzzle…

‘… ‘You crazy bitch.’

… Luna was one of the people Kyle hated.

Isabelle, including herself.

“Luna Winfred.”

Isabelle frowned and glared at the unwelcome guest.

“Just say your business quickly.”

“Don’t you think her speaking style is quite extreme for Lady Justia?”

“The radical thing is that you came to the mansion without an invitation.”

Isabelle’s annoyed expression was clearly visible on her face.

Luna smiled brightly as she looked at Isabelle.

“Kyle left.”

“… What?”

“He left. Without a word or rumor. In an instant.”

“Well, what is that… ”

Isabel’s pupils shook violently.

Luna smiled and raised her voice.

“Lady Isabel.”

There was a sneer in Luna’s voice.

“It’s because of you.”

“… ”

“Kyle left. It’s all because of you. If it were me, I probably would have made the same choice. How miserable must it have been to have a woman you fucking hate cling to you so terribly. Are you saying that holding on until now is brave?”

“… Have you finished what you said?”

“I hate you.”

“… ”

“It’s not that I just don’t like it. I hate it so much. To the point where I wish you would just die like this.”

Isabel burst into laughter.

To hear such abusive language, almost like a curse, from the mouth of the woman who pushed Kyle’s life to the brink.

I felt like pouring the hot tea from the teacup onto Luna’s face.

I gritted my teeth in seething anger.

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

“Oh my?”

“Are you afraid that I don’t know that you have been consistently insulting Kyle by using your authority?”

“… ”

“It is the duty to keep the animals you raise at least from starving. Did you think Kyle was worse than an animal to you?”

An electric current jumped between the two gazes that collided.

A frost-like wind passed by my skin.

“… ”

“… ”

There was an eerie silence.

After a while, Luna smiled and continued speaking.

“Your mouth is harsher than I thought? Lady Isabel.”

“Shut that mouth.”

“Puh. Well, okay. I didn’t come here to grab you and your bitch.

Luna nodded and stared at Isabelle.

A meaningful smile appeared on her lips.

“Perhaps. you also… ”

The bright blue eyes sparkled in the sunlight.

“Are you back in the past?”