episode_0337

The two knights walked along with heavy steps.

Those steps were filled with complex emotions.

For the two knights, the joy was only momentary.

Footsteps followed, burdened with helplessness and guilt.

It was a step filled with sorrow and regret, seeing him looking slightly thinner than when he left.

There was a cautious side to it, wondering if it might be an unreasonable approach, and there was also a sense of bewilderment in my head as to how I could persuade him.

But the weight of these two complex feet was quickly relieved.

Because the two knights saw Carcein standing still and staring.

Didn’t run away.

Didn’t leave that spot.

Even though the knight of Bagrand was approaching, and even though there was a possibility that he would be pursued and pressured right here and now.

He didn’t move an inch from his spot.

Very calmly.

If you’ve given up or are just tired of it…

That doesn’t mean you’re tired or have given up.

Rather, it seemed like he was waiting.

It seemed like they were confident that they wouldn’t pursue.

I thought he had noticed a while ago that, unlike the other knights, he had no intention of pursuing me.

That alone made my heart swell with excitement.

‘We were so helpless…’

‘Your Majesty, do you trust me?’

Before I knew it, I was walking and arrived in front of Karsine.

Karsine never took a single step away from them until the very end. No, there was not even a hint of that.

A pair of knights, a man and a woman, approached right in front of them. Radiel and Mark immediately bowed their heads.

““Thank you for trusting me, Master.””

Karsine replied briefly.

“Hey, I’m not your master anymore… Ha. No. Anyway, it has the Claire Boutique logo engraved on it. That’s why I understood… Huh. No. This isn’t the time to be talking about this. Let’s move first. ”

However, I reluctantly answered because someone was poking me right next to him and telling me to answer quickly.

As a knight serving his lord.

This was the best answer.

It was enough for the two of them to just be trustworthy to their master.

…however.

-slap!

Suddenly, a snapping sound was heard. Then, a sigh was heard saying, ““Oh my.”.”

“Ah. Why are you hitting me? All of a sudden.”

“There’s no need to say it so formally.”

“No, then what should I say…”

“Oh my. Really!”

-slap!

“billion.”

“I guess I’ll go first. Seriously…”

“…?”

Radiel and Mark with bewildered eyes.

The two people were momentarily lost in this strange scene of Karsain and Harnier bickering.

As Karsine took the first sip, Harnie sighed again and muttered something as if she was very dissatisfied.

“Honestly, just say thank you. Why are you being so stiff?”

“…”

“…”

“Don’t you think so too? Karsane always seems to be convinced that no one else can help him.”

In fact, it was common for Carcein to appear so stiff.

If you think about how he, who had endured even the slightest beating without any change in expression, approached things as a knight without even showing his status… you will come to know it.

Doesn’t seem like anyone else will help?

Perhaps that was a natural attitude. Even the Bagrand Dukes, who were Karsain’s family, had turned their backs on him.

It’s almost a miracle that someone like Karsene trusted someone like he did now.

Without trying to depend on others.

Always trying to solve things on my own.

Because it was Karshen who carried all the burden on his own and moved forward.

So, there must have been a huge change in the trust given to the two who were once just escort knights.

and.

The cause of this change is.

‘It’s because of Youngae.’

‘It’s because of Young-ae.’

Could it be because of Harnie?

I felt that way.

***

Either way, if there were people listening or watching, it would be difficult for both parties, so moving seats was essential.

“No one followed.”

“There aren’t many people who doubt it.”

After making room for that, I was finally able to get to the introduction.

“First of all, I have something to tell you, Your Majesty. We…”

“You don’t have to tell me who sent it. I already know.”

“Yes?”

“Isn’t that Claire?”

Radiel opened his eyes wide in surprise.

“Anyway, that’s enough explanation.”

After waving their hands like that, the two of them didn’t ask any more questions.

Radiel got down to business, joking.

“The reason we came here is because we have something to tell you first.”

As Radiel nodded to Mark, Mark handed me something.

“…Is this my wanted poster?”

A person’s face is drawn like a portrait, and the wanted amount is written underneath.

A paper that literally says a person is wanted.

I know a little about this.

It’s a story from a long time ago, but there was a time when people used this to catch wanted criminals and earn money. Sometimes, it was also done as a sub-episode to increase intimacy within the dukedom or territory.

So it wasn’t exactly the first time I’d seen it. It was a bit awkward for my face to be in this place, but… I kind of expected it anyway, given the circumstances.

Of course, that wanted poster was created because of the game system. So there was no need to feel wronged.

However, things seemed to be progressing a bit differently than I expected.

“Your Majesty. This is not a typical wanted poster.”

“What?”

“When a wanted notice is spread, the name of the wanted person is written on the paper in this format, and a simple description is posted along with a bounty. However, even if it looks like the same wanted person, there are differences depending on the stage.”

Another wanted poster appeared right next to it.

At first glance, the shape looked very different.

Harnie took the paper with an unusual expression on his face, and his hands began to tremble.

“Seo, no way… this is…”

“…Yes. Wanted.”

Mark closed his eyes tightly and opened them again, continuing to speak in a complicated voice.

Even at first glance, you could tell that the atmosphere was not good.

“Explain. Mark.”

“…Yes. As you can see, the wanted amount has increased, but it means that the level goes up when it exceeds a certain amount. And if we estimate based on the current bounty on the young master’s body…”

Mark closed his eyes tightly and opened them again as he continued speaking.

“Wanted stage. In other words, it has reached a stage where it does not matter how the wanted person is captured, so it has reached a stage where excessive force is not necessary. If this happens… those who are after the young master’s head will be filled with even more dangerous people.”

“…”

-Tiring!

▶I learned new information.◀

▶Information related to the player’s reputation decline has been confirmed.◀

[Your recognition rank has dropped to infamy due to the wanted notice.]

▶When reaching the Notorious rank, a penalty is given to the player!◀

▶Warning! From now on, there will be no notifications for battle events.◀

▶You are more likely to encounter more dangerous entities.◀

▶Be careful not to lose your life.◀

The red light flashed several times, indicating that the ability to detect and alert me of danger had disappeared.

Now even the warning window doesn’t pop up?

I had a vague idea why this had happened.

“It looks like Arina has raised the wanted level?”

“…Yes.”

“The encirclement will close in even faster. Those chasing me will be more vicious and dangerous. Those authors who have a lot of money and are eyeing my neck will hire all kinds of contractors and mercenaries.”

“…”

Radiel, whose lips were quivering, couldn’t bring himself to deny it.

“But I didn’t mean to bring only this kind of news, Your Majesty.”

“Yes, there is definitely a way out.”

“That’s what we came here to tell you.”

“What are you going to do?”

-Clang. Clang.

Mark took off his armor and handed it to me.

“…Your Majesty is wearing this and heading to the Bagrand Duke’s residence.”

“What?”

“You could escape by staying in various territories. If we occasionally find the master and meet him at the meeting place, it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to support him. However, this method eventually has its limits.”

“If you’re lucky, you can last a few days. No, even a week. But if someone follows you even once… then you’ll be caught right away.”

“That’s why I came to this conclusion. If I’m going to be caught after just waiting outside, I’d rather sneak into the dukedom where they have a hard time getting in. It’s literally like not knowing the darkness under the lamp.”

Sure, that makes sense.

It was lucky during the time of Rusmeyer and Chatren, but if you wander outside and go around the town, there are bound to be people who become suspicious.

Considering the cost of the magic stones that go into the artifact, there was a clear limit, and it was impossible to have Harnie cover all of the expenses forever.

In that case, it would be better to completely infiltrate the Bagrand Duchy.

If you wear the clothes of Mark, the knight of Bagrand, and go in without anyone knowing.

At least the chances of being caught by outsiders are significantly reduced.

When you think about it objectively, it was the best option. Plus, you might get the treasure you need to open the portal to the Bagrand Duke’s house.

‘Yes. This is the correct answer.’

If you follow Mark’s advice and go straight to the Bagrand Duchy and reach the duke’s residence, that would be the best option.

And for that.

I had something to say.

I turned around.

He spoke to her, silently picking up the wanted poster.

“…Now, you can go back. Harnie.”

Thank you for helping me so far, but you don’t have to follow me from here on out. No, you shouldn’t follow me.

“You probably already know about the wanted list… so there’s no need to follow me anymore.”

Wanted. Even in the wanted stage, you have entered the most dangerous stage.

If you help me, you never know what might happen. The tower you’ve worked so hard to build up could really collapse, and you could even lose the title of Marquis that you’ve worked so hard to obtain, leading to a miserable downfall.

I didn’t want Harnie to meet that fate.

but…

Things don’t always go as planned.

“Master Karsain. I’m sorry, but I think it would be better for you to come with Young-ae. No. I think it’s necessary.”

“What?”

“…Already, Young-ae has also been listed as a wanted person. There are suspicions that she is secretly helping the master.”

Radiel handed over another wanted poster.

Harnie Theresia.

The name was clearly written on a regular wanted poster.

“If you show up at the Marquis Teresia’s house, the suspicions will probably be dispelled. The question is, how do you get there?”

“…”

Distance to Marquis Teresia.

The countless people you will meet in the meantime.

It would be… almost impossible for these people to come to light that they did not help me.

“But there is a way. Young-ae’s height is… similar to mine. Her body is more prominent on one side, but I think the armor will hide it well.”

“No way… to Harnie too?”

The two knights laughed in satisfaction at that guess.

“If you want to find a way out, this is easier, my lord.”

“I also often went around with Radiel. Wouldn’t it be better for Youngae to avoid suspicion?”

“That’s right? Carcein.”

A pair of knights, a man and a woman.

A pair of runaways, a man and a woman.

The strategy of ‘it’s dark under the lamp’.

The solution to the equation that I had never been able to figure out before suddenly appeared so clearly.