Episode 13
I stepped inside cautiously and stood before the sofa. Derek, who was leaning back comfortably, looked like a scene straight out of a photoshoot. His slender physique and long, outstretched legs naturally drew the eye.
Above all, with his hood pushed back as if he no longer needed to hide, his neat black hair and piercing blue eyes completely captivated my attention.
"……."
"……."
'Ah, is it okay for me to sit?'
Even though I retained memories of the modern world and knew this place was just a game, I still understood how dangerous it was for a commoner to sit face-to-face with a noble.
When I hesitated, Derek gestured with his chin.
"Take a seat."
"...Yes."
His arrogant demeanor still felt completely at odds with his polite speech.
As I quietly sat on the sofa, he pulled something from his coat and tossed it toward me. With a heavy clinking sound, an elegant leather pouch landed on the table.
"What is this?"
A glint of gold from the slightly open pouch caught my eye. It looked even bulkier than the one my father had received earlier.
"It is the payment for disposing of the spoils we discussed earlier."
"I-is it really this much?"
I hadn't opened it yet, but it was visibly a massive amount. Don't tell me it's all gold coins? If it was, I could build a whole second inn right next door.
"It seems it was a rather rare poison."
"Ah..."
The poison Derek had extracted was something that practically had no cure. It was an item anyone would covet, but because it was so dangerous, I doubted he had actually sold it.
'I-it should be fine, right?'
I just hoped he wouldn't use it. If he ended up using it on the protagonist, things would get incredibly complicated.
"I didn't expect you to come all the way here just for this. Thank you."
Not knowing the proper etiquette for addressing a noble, I simply bowed my head deeply to express my gratitude. Derek didn't nod in satisfaction, nor did he look annoyed. He just sat there, staring at me in silence.
It's always uncomfortable when someone stares at you point-blank. It's even worse when that person possesses an otherworldly sort of beauty. Like someone who had forgotten how to breathe, even the simple act of inhaling and exhaling felt awkward. My chest felt tight, but I couldn't dare show it in this situation.
"Ahem, well then... If your business is concluded, I should probably..."
I finally managed to regulate my breathing and tried to stand up. However, I couldn't lift myself off the sofa even an inch.
Just as I was about to rise, Derek's hand moved onto the table. He didn't say anything or physically grab me. But that single movement was enough to suppress my actions entirely.
'...They say not just anyone can be a noble.'
I was so hyper-aware of his every little movement.
"Are you a healer?"
The question came out of nowhere. I blinked, then immediately answered him.
"Excuse me?! A-no, I am not."
"You're not?"
"I am not."
"……."
The abrupt questioning stopped just as abruptly. I sat there in an awkward posture, fidgeting nervously. In my panic, I had given short, blunt answers. I should have just told him the potion itself was simply that good.
'No, wait... If I did that, he might ask where I got it.'
Would it be okay for me to reveal the existence of an item unknown to the world? I didn't even know who sold it in the first place. Furthermore, Derek was a character positioned against the protagonist.
If I told him the whereabouts of such a potion, the difficulty level of this game would completely change.
'It would probably jump to Hell mode.'
Some players might welcome that kind of challenge, but reality is different.
While I was lost in thought, he moved again. His hand returned from the table, and Derek crossed his arms, leaning back lazily into the sofa. It was a bit frustrating how even a simple gesture like that could completely command a person's attention.
I almost wanted to copy him just to see if I could give off that same aura. Though, if I actually tried it right now, I'd probably find a cold steel blade at my throat.
"If that's the case..."
He began slowly. It seemed he was continuing his previous line of questioning.
"You have a good sense for combat. Do you have any desire to become a knight?"
"...Pardon?"
This time, I genuinely couldn't form a proper response. I was utterly speechless. A knight, all of a sudden?
Becoming a knight was no easy feat. For a commoner like me, it was practically impossible. It would be a different story if I had trained with a sword since childhood and possessed master-level skills.
I hadn't swung a sword once in my entire life. I knew how to shoot a bow, but it was purely for practical survival, not something I had formally learned. Plus, I didn't know the first thing about the etiquette a knight was supposed to have.
'Combat sense, my foot...'
I just happened to remember the game's mechanics. I looked at Derek.
"……."
He was quietly waiting for my answer. The cold glint in his eyes confirmed that he wasn't joking.
"I don't know how to use a sword."
"There are knights who use bows."
'I-is that true?'
I immediately suppressed my sudden temptation. I had almost blurted out, 'Could I try it out, then?' If I showed even a hint of positive interest, there was no way it would end as just a "trial."
Clearing my throat, I spoke as politely as I possibly could.
"I have to inherit this inn. Since I have no other siblings, I'm afraid that won't be possible."
"If you become my direct subordinate, you can enter immediately without any restrictions."
'Listen to what I'm saying!'
I replayed my own words in my head. No matter how I looked at it, it was a refusal. A firm refusal leaving absolutely no room for interpretation.
"N-no! I'm the only heir to the inn!"
I ended up tossing politeness out the window.
I needed to stay here and wait for the protagonist. Even if my official sub-quest was gone, I was still the one giving out the quest anyway. I just had to give them something. Even if the reward was ridiculously overpowered compared to the task, that was entirely up to me.
"This is my territory, is it not?"
"...Gasp?!"
For a moment, I felt all the blood drain from my body.
He was right. This village belonged to the territory governed by Count Parvin. With a single word from him, this inn, and my family, could vanish without a trace.
The fact that this was my home and my livelihood wouldn't save me at all.
'But still... If I become Derek's subordinate, I might end up having to fight the protagonist.'
Antagonizing the protagonist was a far bigger issue than failing to hand over a quest or a potion. It was essentially booking a one-way ticket to my doom.
"……."
If I refused now, my life would be in immediate danger. I was caught at a crossroads where neither option was viable. I clenched my fists tightly and swallowed hard.
"I am joking."
I snapped my head up at the sudden words. Derek, still staring intently at me, slowly opened his mouth again.
"A joke."
"...Pardon?"
At first, the word didn't even process in my brain. Derek had just made a joke. My mind clearly recognized that something absurd had just happened. It also recognized that this was completely different from any "joke" I knew.
"……."
The terrifying part was that his expression hadn't brightened in the slightest for someone making a joke.
"Ah... haha... ha."
I pulled my lips into an awkward, forced smile. If he said it was a joke, I had to laugh.
"Th-that's quite a harsh joke."
I sneakily reached out and grabbed the leather pouch, shooting glances at Derek. He remained still, simply watching me as if observing an experiment.
"Then, please excuse me!"
Seizing the opportunity, I quickly stood up. Knowing full well how dangerous it was to leave without a noble's permission, I practically fled the room.
I didn't hear him try to stop me until the door clicked shut behind me.
"Phew…."
Only after stepping out of the room could I breathe normally again. Yet, a chilling sensation wrapped around my entire body. It felt like my body temperature had plummeted. The hands I had been clenching so tightly were drenched in sweat, and my legs trembled with every step I took.
I walked slowly down the hallway to the first floor. His words echoed in my mind. It felt suffocating, as if reality was violently shoving my own powerlessness in my face all over again.
If those words hadn't been a joke... what choice would I have had to make?
***
The next day. Because I came out later than usual, the first floor was already packed with guests eating their meals.
"Cecil! You're late!"
"...I had a nightmare."
"What?"
My father shot me a pathetic look. In my dreams, I had watched my ordinary, happy life crumble multiple times. I'd wake up, only to realize I was still in another dream. I was physically and mentally exhausted from wandering through that endless loop of nightmares.
"...What about our VIP guest from yesterday?"
"He already left. Ah, come to think of it, he asked me to pass a message to you."
"Wh-what message?"
I was relieved I didn't have to face Derek in my current state, but to think he left a message for me.
I gulped, waiting for my father's next words.
He didn't spout all that nonsense about making me a knight to my dad, did he? Since it was the word of a noble, my father would definitely take it seriously.
"He said he'll come again next time."
"...I-is that so?"
Thankfully, there were no alarming details. But coming back again? It was clear he was the type who never gave up and had a sky-high ego.
"Cecil. Don't tell me, you..."
My father fidgeted, his face turning pale. His trembling lips moved silently several times before he barely managed to speak.
"You didn't do anything to offend him, did you?"
"No! Absolutely not!"
"R-really? Are you sure? Are you certain?"
"I'm certain."
"Well, that's a relief."
It wasn't a relief at all. For better or for worse, I had thoroughly caught the attention of a noble.
Coo coo~
"Huh?"
"A carrier pigeon?"
Just then, a pigeon flew inside through the inn's window. It clearly wasn't a wild pigeon that wandered in by chance; it flew straight to the counter with practiced wingbeats and landed on my father's shoulder.
"Let's see..."
My father familiarly untied the small note strapped to the bird's leg.
"Hmm."
My father's expression grew serious as he read the message. It didn't seem long; he finished it in a flash, neatly folded it, and slipped it back into his pocket.
"Cecil."
"Yeah?"
"Could you run over to the neighboring village for a bit?"
"What? The neighboring village?"
I had already made up my mind to visit the neighboring village anyway. I just couldn't neglect my work at the inn, so I had been waiting for the right opportunity.
And that opportunity had arrived far sooner than I expected.
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