episode_0130

The training ground I visited for the first time in a while was quiet.

As time goes by, the training session has already ended, and since the children of the nobles have to attend the Eastern Noble Meeting, some may have applied for leave and returned.

I started cantering quietly and sweated.

The sound of footsteps is only mine. I tried to empty my mind, which was filled with distracting thoughts, without being disturbed.

It’s not okay to keep thinking about old family members.

As a result, time passes by quickly.

I thought I might get tired of just cantering, so I tried other ways to warm up.

By the time I realized that the sun had set and the training ground had entered darkness, I was holding a wooden sword.

“…I lost track of time.”

After putting the wooden sword back in its place, I turned towards my dorm and suddenly remembered the next episode.

“Now that I think about it, wouldn’t it be okay to meet Radiel and Mark now?”

Something to always remember.

Chapter 2 starts with a sub-episode and progresses to the main episode.

It is definitely the player who runs this sub-episode.

And when should we proceed?

“Yes. I can decide, right?”

Of course, the player can decide.

If you can specify the time exactly like now, you can take care of it a little earlier.

In Episode III, I have already proven my qualifications as a lord as Ruthmayer, but if Ruthmayer is to remain intact after that, he must not return to the duchy as quickly as he did now.

Isn’t this Ruthmeyer, whom the nobles colluded together to isolate?

There’s no way they could stay still after seeing that.

Not only that, we have to explain various things about the aggregate trade with the Marquis of Aiferos, but the nobles can make excuses and ask why the Yarik people are here.

In fact, it was like that in the game as well.

In a word, it is customary for me, as the lord, to observe the situation further, solve the problem myself, and then return…

That can’t be possible.

Since you have already returned to the duchy and are proceeding with the next branch, there is no way to go back to Rusmire.

Instead, you just need someone else to help you solve this problem.

I immediately changed my destination from my hotel to another location.

For Carcein, there is no one who can solve the situation for her, but there is someone who can do her favor.

That was all I had to ask the knights of this training hall.

Among them, it would be perfect to choose the person with the highest level of intimacy.

-smart.

“Radiel. Is it inside?”

When I lightly knocked on the door, I heard a crashing sound from inside.

what. Radiel wouldn’t have been such a noisy person.

Not long after asking the question, the door opened.

“Do you, master? What’s going on?”

Radiel, who seems to have come out in a hurry, asks with an awkward smile.

Feeling sorry for no reason, I scratched my cheek and closed the door again.

“…Did you come out in a hurry because of me? I’m sorry.”

“Yes, yes…?”

“Get dressed and come out slowly. You have now pushed the buttons up one space at a time.”

“Gasp!”

thud.

Radiel is also a person. That can happen if you rush out.

I deliberately moved away from the room and turned my back to Radiel so that he could slowly change his clothes.

Even though we gave him enough time, it wasn’t long before Radiel opened the door again and came out.

“Ah, ahaha… I’m sorry. Master.”

Then he scratched his cheek shyly.

This time I came out dressed properly…

“Hmm…”

“…Mark, when did you come?”

Mark was clearing his throat right next to me.

The two people were silent for a moment, looked at each other and smiled empty-handed.

“Yes. There’s no way you would do that…”

“We thought too much.”

“…Mark!”

“What do you mean?”

What kind of nonsense are you talking about again?

‘no. it’s okay. It’s better if there are both of them anyway.’

I checked once more the intimacy between the two people who were talking inexplicably.

[Radiel Grupain]

[Intimacy: 65%]

[Mark Redeltine]

[Intimacy: 65%]

As expected, the intimacy level was maintained without any problems.

“Do you two have separate schedules for tomorrow?”

“Um… If you’re talking about the Eastern Noble Council, I don’t have one. Unlike Radiel, I come from a commoner background.”

“Actually, there is no major problem on my part either. This is not a family that would want to be tested by the imperial family.”

Is that so?

I immediately took out a letter from my pocket and handed it to the two people.

“Then, I want you to go to Rusmire tomorrow and show this to a guy named Chief Barak.”

“Are you Ruthmeier?”

“I am the lord there, but I am not in a position to go right now.”

I explained the current situation to the two men and women who were tilting their heads in confusion.

“I see. It would be a pain if a claim from nobles came in when the Duke’s family had plans coming up soon. They say there are even Yarik people there…”

“I understand. However, there is a possibility that the other side may not trust us, so it seems better to make sure to take something like the master’s token to resolve that issue.”

“I agree with what Mark said. It would be okay for the people of Ruthmire territory to follow the master’s words, but the people in the western region are very suspicious.”

“That would be a good idea. Um… but…”

There is one problem.

Karssein has almost no personal belongings.

As is usual with Karssein’s background, he didn’t have anything.

Since I had nothing else to bring with me in a situation where I had to let them know that they had followed my orders, I was at a loss as to what to show them as proof.

Right then.

▶You have cleared the hidden episode!◀

“Take these cufflinks with you.”

The window opened and a familiar voice came from behind.

Sure enough, when I turn my head, my pink hair is clearly visible even at night.

It was Claire.

***

“The clothes you are wearing are made in my boutique, so they are bound to have spare buttons like these. It also has the Bagland Dukedom emblem, so you won’t be able to mess around with it, and men’s clothing like this would be perfect because you can quickly prove that it’s you.”

Radiel and Mark also agreed.

“Definitely… It’s just as Lady Claire said. young master. The button with the emblem of the Duke of Bagland is engraved with the image of the boutique, so it would be difficult for nobles to get caught.”

“Even if it is not yours, there is only one man in the Bagland duchy. Because these cufflinks are for men, their persuasiveness is greatly increased.”

That was an extremely reasonable proof.

Peace of mind to the residents of the territory who may be agitated.

Have deep trust in the Yarik people who are upset after hearing harsh words from nobles.

And it was a sign that would become a sharp sword for nobles who deliberately tried to cause trouble.

But why Claire?

Why are you helping me?

-Tiring!

▶Cufflinks are a reward for hidden episodes!◀

‘Is that something like that?’

but. I guess so.

It didn’t make sense if it wasn’t in this form of compensation.

But that reward shouldn’t be the only thing you focus on.

The reason Claire came to see me was because it was an inevitable branch selection process for the next episode.

“Mark. Radiel.”

““Yes. Master.””

The two people receive a signal to leave and move out of the way.

When we were alone together, Claire immediately made a request to me.

“…Can I change my seat?”

Move your seat first.

Well, it didn’t matter where we talked.

All you have to do is take care of the starting point of the sub-episode.

“Take the lead where you want to go. I will follow you.”

Then Claire silently turned and took the lead.

however.

Is it because of my mood?

Through the brief flash of light, it seemed like there was a trace of something hard sticking to Claire’s cheek.

‘…tear? Claire?’

Nonsense.

Common sense tells us that it cannot be so.

Is there any way that Claire would shed tears even if she heard something from Arcien?

It makes even more sense since the two are best friends.

But, those traces are clearly…

I know this well too.

chuck.

Suddenly, Claire stopped walking.

Ironically, the place Claire headed when she wanted to move was my dorm.

“Let’s talk in my room?”

“…Can’t you do that?”

“No. Well… there’s nothing that can’t be done.”

Rather, it is a good case.

If I were to conduct a sub-episode in my room, no other variables would arise.

That’s why I’m a little puzzled.

I was wondering if it would go over so easily.

I thought there might be some kind of problem, but…

“Then give me a glass of water. I’m thirsty, so I’ll just drink that and say what I want to say.”

When I saw him say that, an extremely correct sub-episode line popped out.

If you do this, there is no need to worry that there will be any problems.

Because the sub-episode will begin immediately.

‘what. Still, you never know. ‘Because Claire is exactly like the second child.’

I went to the kitchen and opened the shelf.

Shouldn’t we be able to show how we treat our customers, even if it’s superficial?

The tea cup and teapot that Radiel brought me to use in case any unexpected guests arrive.

The car that Mark prepared for me, saying that Radiel’s words were 100% correct.

And I don’t know why, but there were a lot of refreshments that arrived under my name.

When I put this on a plate instead of water and handed it out, Claire’s lips twitched.

“…you really.”

“What?”

I couldn’t hear what she was muttering, but in the meantime, Claire picked up her tea cup and quenched her thirst.

“It’s nothing. Rather… Are you okay?”

“My body?”

“Dipheshan syndrome.”

ah. That’s it.

“No big problem. I haven’t been sick since.”

“Really?”

“Shaden probably treated you well. You came and lit a fire in the fireplace. It probably won’t hurt any more.”

It wasn’t just speculation; a message appeared on the status window saying that I had completely overcome Dipheshan Syndrome.

In addition to this, the status abnormality has completely disappeared, so there is no chance of it happening again.

Of course, even if something like that could happen, you would have to hide it from Claire if you didn’t want her to nag you.

Then Claire held out a glass bottle.

It was a glass bottle containing indigo oral medicine.

“Still, take this and eat it. They said I have to eat for a while.”

what. If it were normal, I would have nagged you and said, “You have medicine you need to take, but what are you talking about for skipping it?!”.

it’s okay. It would have been better to just take that and eat it to prevent anything that might happen.

Anyway, I didn’t come here just to talk about that.

After waiting for a while, Claire took another sip of tea, downed the tea cup, and got to the point.

“Mom caught me and asked me to go on an outing. A day to change portraits. That day, I heard that everything from the main hall of the Peacock House to the picture frames will be completely destroyed, so come back around then.”

How long should I stay here and stop by the Duke’s house?

What clothes do you wear and what is your schedule for the day?

And the schedule of the Eastern Noble Conference was explained one by one.

The game scenario I knew was going on the same way.

however…

Something is strange.

No, is Claire like this?

There’s no way it could end this coldly.

They told me not to come back on the appointed day, but to come back quickly so my mom wouldn’t worry.

Before Arina nags, he tells her to come into the Duke’s house on her own.

It is normal to threaten that if you feel that your health is getting even slightly worse, you will be taken to the Duke’s house right away.

“…is that the end?”

I asked that just in case, but Claire nodded and stood up without any reaction.

I was prepared that the story might be long, but it all ended with a one-time explanation of the next episode.

Maybe it’s not over?

▶Sub episode. The return date is in progress.◀

▶I set a return date and return home.◀

Would you ever doubt something like this floating in front of you?

If it says that a sub-episode is in progress, that’s really the end.

Then suddenly, Claire grabbed the doorknob from the front door and asked me.

“Can I send a letter to the Earl of Lilpeten saying that there was a misunderstanding on my part?”

“What?”

As the sound came out of nowhere, I was so dumbfounded that I couldn’t help but react.

“We will no longer block transactions with nobles. However, I gave the wrong response to Count Lilpeten.”

“…”

“If anything, it could help build bridges with other nobles.”

It’s a deal with the nobles of the Earl of Lilpeten. This is a story related to when the Shatren territory was destroyed. It was also a limitation that came to Karssein afterward.

I don’t know why this is being said now…

“What do I believe in you?”

First, we decided to draw a line.

Then Claire smiled bitterly and opened the door.

“Yes. Then please pretend I didn’t hear what you just said. I said something nonsense again.”

– Sweet.

There’s something strange about the reaction until the end.

what?

-Tiring!

▶Claire’s intimacy has increased!◀

[Current figure: 78%]

“…78%?”

I wasn’t that deeply interested in Claire’s level of intimacy, but I remember one thing.

The last digit I saw of Claire’s intimacy was clearly 5.

***

Claire, who came out of Karssein’s dormitory, opened her mouth only after she could no longer hear the noise.

“Cough, Cough!”

A dry cough came out of his deeply depressed voice.

It was because I was trying not to show that I cried in front of Karssein.

Claire lets out a dry cough and glances back with closed eyes.

Before I know it, my eyes have turned red again and there is a deep sadness in them.

“…You treat me as if I were a guest.”

He obviously only asked for water.

Then tea was served, and not even cold tea, but warm tea.

They even handed me refreshments and treated me like a real guest.

Actually, I didn’t even treat you like a proper younger brother.

So the inside of my chest felt very tight.

This unpleasant, uncomfortable feeling did not go away at all.

still.

Claire collects herself and returns to the Duke’s residence as if nothing had happened.

My sister might be suspicious.

Mom can also ask what happened.

Flora… she’ll be fine, but she’ll have some doubts.

To Karssein, I had to do that so I wouldn’t be disturbed anymore.