episode_0116

When I got out of the carriage after seeing Harnier’s notice, the scenery had already changed drastically.

Perhaps while he was arguing with her, the carriage had almost reached the Marquis of Ipheros.

A desolate yet serene feeling. Here, along with a bit of heavy pressure, you can even feel dryness.

It wasn’t just my feelings, there was this condition at stake.

▶Abnormal condition: Dipheshan syndrome◀

[This syndrome is a Western region only condition. ]

Dipeshan syndrome.

It is more than a condition that is created when you first set foot in the western region.

It is a device to let Karsein, who has lived only in the city, know that this place has a different vibe.

The setting was that this was literally a place where a war was fought against demonic beasts, and as a result, the demonic energy was encroaching, so this syndrome occurred.

But, how can this game be so easy?

Even though it is a setting, it is not something to just overlook.

Land invaded by demon energy varies depending on the degree of encroachment, but is generally harmful to humans, and those affected by this syndrome permanently lose their powers.

As a result, stat loss.

This was the real penalty of Dipeshan Syndrome.

If you are strong enough, you may not be affected by this penalty, but the only people with that level of power are those who have lived in the West for a long time.

Even Karsein, who once lived in a slum, cannot withstand the energy that comes from this rough and barren land. Even if you train every day, it won’t change much.

Therefore, the longer you stay here, the more stats you will lose.

but.

It’s true that this game has no conscience, but it doesn’t recklessly reduce your hard-earned stats just because you step into it.

▶This area is a warning area!◀

▶The longer you stay, the lower all stats will be by a certain amount!◀

[Time remaining until next drop: 5 hours]

This is because the risk level is indicated and a warning window is issued.

In other words, it is like this.

Until all the time displayed on the timer disappears, Karssein can meet with the Marquis of Iferos, sign a trade contract, and then return to Rusmire.

Although it seemed difficult, it was something that could be done within time.

‘It’s right there.’

[ Pollux Tutulum ]

[Intimacy: 12%]

Isn’t the level of intimacy skyrocketing?

It wouldn’t be that difficult to conduct a transaction with that man who was looking at the distant mountains with his back to me.

As he approached Pollux, he noticed his presence and covered his mouth with his hand.

“Hmm.”

The subsequent coughing and avoiding eye contact.

It seemed awkward.

Why are you doing this?

As I tilted my head, Pollux cleared his throat again.

“Hmm. Sorry to disturb you. As expected, I thought the two of them looked good together… No, that’s not the case. It wasn’t intentional. I apologize again.”

“…What are you talking about out of nowhere?”

“Hmm? Ah, I see. haha. okay. That could be possible.”

When I asked him what he was talking about, he looked puzzled and then tapped my shoulder.

“Yes. Some people are ashamed of such things when they are young. Hiding it isn’t strange either. I understand.”

What do you understand?

I wish you could at least explain why…

no. It would be better to just ask.

“Pollux. I don’t understand what you’re talking about? I just want you to explain in detail.”

“Uh, huh?”

“I’m saying this because I have no idea. In the past, we only talked about things that only the two of us knew, and if we did this, I think the listener might feel bad.”

cancer cancer. Anyway.

People who are left out naturally feel bad when they talk about things that only they know.

…I was always alienated, but that was the case with everyone around me.

“Well, the details… Hmm. Hmm.”

Then Pollux kept clearing his throat as if he was embarrassed.

“How can I get the story of these two people out of my mouth? Don’t do that.”

“Two people? Now that I think about it, I think I said it was two people earlier. Are you talking about me and Harnier?”

“No, that’s it… Hmm. I didn’t see it.”

Then, naturally, I will tell you what happened in the carriage.

I think it refers to the time when I hit my head hard and fell to the point of fainting with a small amount of HP loss.

Since I couldn’t see it, there must have been something going on.

“Hey. Don’t do that, just tell me. What’s going on?”

Then Pollux breaks into a cold sweat.

“Huh! I don’t know. Well, there is a fiancée behind me, so how can I do that… Hmm.”

“Behind me?”

When I turned my head, Harnier was standing there.

…But for some reason, I feel a sense of discomfort in Harnier’s expression.

Camilla was the only person around me who would listen to these questions, so I said this to her.

If a person is smiling but feels scared, what kind of sign is this?

Then Camilla tilted her head, saying she had no idea.

okay. It would be right to think that it is strange based on common sense.

How can people feel scary when they are smiling?

however…

It’s right in front of me.

“I clearly told you not to say anything… but you disobeyed that?”

Suddenly.

uh…? My arm was grabbed.

After my arm was grabbed, a sense of crisis began to creep in.

Somehow I felt confident that I couldn’t avoid it today.

I tried to take my foot back, but…

-Wow!

“Profit!”

“Ugh!”

Red palm prints had already formed on my back.

***

While the heat was rising from his back, Pollux, who had left the room while looking the other way, called his servants to show him to the Marquis of Aiferus.

In the box marked in gray, an alarm appeared in the status window with a value of -5%, which is the basic intimacy of this area.

-Tiring!

▶Episode III. Certification as a lord is in progress!◀

▶Go to the Marquis of Apherus and proceed with the transaction with Pollux Tutulum!◀

▶The amount of Ruthmeyer’s funds is determined depending on the level of transaction!◀

It’s not much different.

This deal must be completed in order to revive Ruthmire, which only has a rocky mountain called Mount Waglu.

That was before Dipeshan Syndrome kicked in.

So, I was planning to go to the Marquis of Ipheros and propose a deal.

‘This place… was like that. That’s why these words came out.’

The writer who arrived after being guided was in an extremely shabby state.

However, I couldn’t bear to say that it was shabby.

“Why is the reaction so boring? I thought people would ask if this was a mansion.”

“…It’s definitely not a mansion. This will be the last wall to fight against the demonic beasts.”

“Huh. Did you recognize right away that that was a castle wall just because other nobles didn’t say anything?”

Pollux laughed as if he were astonished.

-Tiring!

▶Choose a choice and solve Pollux’s doubts.

[ 1. Because it has the form of a castle wall blocking the inside from the outside. So I was just able to notice it. Could you explain more than that? ]

[ 2. (Looking around the situation a little more) It looks like you have the materials? It seems a bit lacking. Who did you deal with? ]

[ 3. I already know that materials were received from the imperial family. I also know that the amount is very small. So make a deal with me. ]

A choice appeared at the expected timing.

The first option is to approach the main topic most carefully.

The second option is to pretend not to know and approach slowly while asking about contact with the imperial family.

The third option is to point out Marquis Ipheros’s situation as facts and move straight to the transaction.

Each option affects time reduction, intimacy management, and local recognition.

Originally, I would have chosen the first option.

Basically, the Marquis of Iferos is very wary.

This was my reaction after meeting Pollux beforehand, but I was more wary in the game.

Didn’t a stranger suddenly barge in?

Even the target is nobility. This is Karssein of the Bagland Dukedom.

In a situation like this, if you try to make a deal instead of letting down your guard, your intimacy will be greatly reduced, and you will have to take a more difficult path in dealing with the Marquis.

So I had to approach slowly.

In the process, I had to gently unravel what I knew, restore intimacy, and even reach the point of discussing a transaction.

‘Of course, the end was a clash of swords.’

But you don’t have to do that now.

I have already made contact with Pollux and have already introduced myself.

Although I realized late that the Yarik people were being ostracized by the people of the empire.

[ Pollux Tutulum ]

[Intimacy: 12%]

Having raised that level of intimacy in advance, there was a high possibility that it would be a very easy path.

[ 3. I already know that materials were received from the imperial family. I also know that the amount is very small. So make a deal with me. ]☑

“I already know that I received materials from the imperial family. I also know that the amount is very small.”

“…keep talking.”

As expected, Pollux does not appear alert.

I felt relieved and continued to the end.

“So do business with me. As the lords of Ruthmire, we will support that aggregate.”

“Wait a minute. Saying that you are the lord of Ruthmire… does that mean that the Rusmire territory will provide support for the aggregate?”

“Yes. Mount Waglu is a rock mountain. After the transaction, the Yarik people can put it on the wagon and take it away.”

Hearing those words, Pollux smiles mysteriously.

“It would be great if I could get aggregate from Stony Mountain… but I also know where Ruthmire is. It will take a long time to get here, right?”

That is correct.

It’s not just that it’s far, it’s very far because you have to reach the west.

“Let’s say you transport the amount needed to repair the castle wall at least once and then make a round trip. How long will it take? Considering the way back, it would take a week at best. At that level, the number of people guarding this place has been reduced too much. It’s impossible.”

“You don’t have to worry about that.”

“…What?”

I confidently pointed my thumb at my body.

“I am busy preparing for the Eastern Noble Meeting, so why did I arrive here so quickly?”

“…!”

okay. It’s definitely going to be weird.

Even though it was an empty carriage, it had only been a few days since I met him.

But I was so excited that I visited this place.

“A passage has been created in Mount Waglu. Because the locals drilled it themselves, there is no longer any need to go back to that mountain.”

“The passage… was opened.”

“Rusmire was originally a village of engravers.”

“Sculptors… I see. Is it possible for those who worked not only on simple decorations but also on architecture to create a passage in a stone mountain?”

-Tiring!

▶Pollux’s doubts completely disappear.◀

▶Achievement level: 99%◀

99%? If this level of achievement has been achieved, the future is as clear as day.

After this, we will write a contract and close the deal.

“Take it. The contract has been prepared in advance, so please read it carefully.”

All that remains is penalty management.

“Pollux. As you know, I’m quite busy with the Eastern Noble Conference. So, I want you to write a transaction agreement within today. What do you think?”

“Hmm… I need time to discuss that too. Isn’t this my own land?”

With a gesture of his chin, he points to those who were in charge of guidance.

There were people living in this mansion, which was almost like a castle wall.

“This place is said to have been entrusted to me in the imperial style, but it is originally the land of the Yarik people. So, would it be okay to come and talk to the Yarik people?”

“Any amount.”

This will give you plenty of time to think.

No matter how much it costs, this transaction will be completed without a single stabbing.

Pollux, who had said he would come after consulting with the Yarik people, soon appeared in front of me.

“Good. Let’s make a deal.”

A line saying that he would accept the deal also appeared.

however.

No matter how long I waited, the episode completion window did not appear.

“But I would like to place one condition.”

“…condition?”

A sense of discomfort suddenly arose at the word condition.

And that sense of discomfort.

“I want to cross swords with you. With a real sword, not a wooden sword.”

I headed towards the direction I was sure would not cause an outbreak.

-Tiring!

▶Episode III. Certification as a lord is in progress!◀

▶As a final condition to complete the transaction, you need to spar with Pollux.◀

***

“I don’t think we have a hostile relationship with each other. Pollux. Was that just my idea?”

Karssein asked as if he was dissatisfied with the last condition.

“Likewise, I have no intention of being hostile towards you.”

“Then why? Why do you want to compete with me with a real sword?”

“…I can’t tell you that right away. However, if you avoid this match, I will give up the idea of doing business with you.”

Upon hearing those words, Karssein rubbed his face with his palm in frustration.

“I understand. Then let’s spar right away. I can’t stay long because I have Dipeshan syndrome.”

“Hmm. If that’s the case, there’s no problem. If you take the herbs grown here in a special way, Dipheshan syndrome will be resolved without any problems.”

“Hey…!”

Pollux swallowed the words in his heart.

‘What the Plesian supremacist said was true.’

-Perhaps… could you let Karssein stay here for a day to rest?

At first, I wondered why I was asking such a strange request.

Even with just a quick look, I could tell Karssein’s condition.

It looks fine on the outside, but… well. What is it really like on the inside?

The reason I want to spar with Karssein is to figure this out.

“Don’t think too badly about it. Because I want to compete properly with you. But what does it mean if you are in bad condition? Please rest well for a day. Wouldn’t that make it taste better?”

Pollux said as he lightly tapped Carcein on the shoulder.

Pollux, who passed by Carcein, sighs briefly at the lie directed at him.

‘You have to lie and say you’re going to break up a deal that was going to happen anyway… Tsk. I feel sorry for no reason.’

A small feeling of guilt about lying arose, but a small sense of relief also followed.

At this rate, Harnier would strongly advise him to rest for at least a day.