Chapter 116
Chapter 116
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 115
Chapter Title: Variables Are Familiar (3)
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On the way, moving with Nuada.
The surroundings were already brimming with festival energy.
“Beer will be provided from our fairy haven!”
“We’ll serve it for free at our Viking tavern too. Just grab a mug and come running!!”
Tavern owners were throwing open their doors, shouting for people to take the beer.
Folks rushed over with mugs in hand, snatching up the brew without a second thought.
The prepared food kept getting replenished, ensuring no one went hungry.
People savored all sorts of fruits, meats, and booze, basking in the victory of the western front.
‘It was one of the rare rowdy festivals even in DAT.’
You could enjoy all sorts of mini-games here that were normally only available in the black market.
And if luck was on your side, you might even stumble on a rare item.
For gamers, it was an event packed with ways to exploit depending on your goals.
‘Though it hides some political motives too.’
It was one of the parts Regin had enjoyed digging into while messing around in DAT.
Who would guess that this happy vibe was a ploy to naturally draw in the hidden explorers lurking in the west?
‘And that’s not all…’
As he followed Nuada, Regin quickly scanned the surroundings.
There were people emitting alien mana.
At a glance, they looked like ordinary westerners enjoying the festival, but they weren’t.
No civilian would cast detection magic like that.
Even Regin might not have noticed without hints from DAT—the mana was flowing so subtly through the air.
‘Dylan and the kingdom were monitoring and identifying everyone at this festival.’
Honestly, back when he was just playing the game, he’d thought it was something like a census.
A chance to gather all the westerners in one place, so why not take stock of everyone?
But now that he’d grasped the kingdom’s intelligence capabilities through Zeke, he knew it wasn’t just that.
‘…They’re trying to root out Verdante spies.’
If they’d known about it from before, it all made sense.
It felt like the puzzle pieces were finally clicking together.
Why the kingdom had thrown such a massive festival just to profile people.
They wanted to ferret out any lackeys of Ignatius Olivian who might be hiding somewhere.
‘Which means Dylan has no choice but to bite the bait I’m dangling.’
With conviction, he strode forward.
Ahead stood Marquis Dylan, chatting with various people.
In normal circumstances, getting a word in with Dylan would’ve been tough, but not now.
“Long time no see, Sir Dylan.”
It was because Nuada was there.
“Lord Nuada. It’s been too long.”
Dylan greeted him with a bright smile.
The knights around them stepped aside respectfully.
After all, his face alone confirmed who he was.
No need for introductions.
“And these must be your disciples?”
“That’s right. They’ve just inherited their magic and started adventuring.”
“Haha, welcome to both of you.”
They exchanged light greetings.
Regin nodded and accepted Dylan’s handshake.
“Manannan Lir.”
“Regin Petritchio.”
“Hm?”
Dylan tilted his head for a moment before smiling again.
“Fine names. Regin.”
“Thank you.”
“You just started adventuring recently?”
“Yes. I only returned from the Tower yesterday.”
“Perfect timing. So you saw the strategy team return too?”
“That’s right.”
“You shared in that glorious moment. Enjoy the day.”
As expected, Dylan stuck to polite small talk.
Being Nuada’s disciple granted entry to a conversation, but not much more.
Something else was needed to go deeper.
‘It was the same in DAT.’
The first windows that popped up when facing Dylan were exactly two.
— How far did you climb?
— Pleased to meet you. Enjoy the day.
Even to get that far question, your fame had to be high.
You needed solid achievements in the Tower before the festival to unlock it.
“Ah, so you two are the ones who reported spotting the lycanthrope.”
“Indeed. Not just saying this because they’re my disciples—it was impressive. They faced a lycanthrope and lived to tell the tale bravely.”
The good news was Regin had racked up more achievements than expected.
He hadn’t chased fame deliberately, but the naturally accumulated feats gave them a reason to keep talking.
“Come to think of it, the names do ring a bell. Especially Regin…”
“Regin Petritchio.”
“Right, Regin Petritchio.”
Dylan pondered briefly before asking Regin.
“Do you happen to know a mage named Alice? She was the leader of the investigation team dispatched right after the lycanthrope incident.”
“She was the one who went into the rabbit hole with me, and yes, she led the investigation team.”
“Ah. I see.”
An unexpected connection.
It seemed Dylan knew Alice personally.
“Marquis Dylan.”
“Yes.”
“If it’s not too much trouble, could you spare a moment to speak with my disciple Regin alone?”
Nuada, who’d been watching the exchange, spoke up.
Perfect timing.
Dylan clearly recognized Regin’s name too.
‘Time to drive it home.’
Regin didn’t hesitate and spoke.
He already had the bait for the fish swimming right up to his nose.
“Moonlight.”
A back-alley code, one used specifically by Verdante.
“Beauty.”
If the kingdom knew Verdante’s intel by now, Dylan would understand.
“Dance.”
The moment the final word left his lips, Dylan’s eyes trembled.
Meeting that gaze, Regin was certain.
“I met someone who said this.”
It was the perfect bait for him.
Dylan fixed Regin with a cold stare and spoke.
“We should talk quietly.”
Now that was a face Regin liked.
No time for mere festival pleasantries.
It seemed Dylan had finally realized this conversation was necessary for him too.
* * *
Creak—
They entered the western city hall near the square.
Only two staff remained to manage it.
Even during a festival, they couldn’t abandon everything.
“You two, go enjoy the festival.”
“…Pardon?”
“I’ve already spoken to the director. Take it easy. These folks will handle the hall while you’re gone.”
“Ah, understood. Thank you.”
It was Marquis Dylan’s word, no less.
In this west, no one outranked him.
Unless the emperor called personally.
‘One word, and the director and staff move… Dylan’s influence is no joke.’
The staff soon vacated, and Dylan’s guards took up positions at the front.
Then Dylan selected a suitable room and entered.
“Didn’t want the whole city hall, but this is important, so I borrowed it for now.”
“…”
Dylan wasn’t one to revel in authority, but he wielded power when needed.
Confirming that matched DAT perfectly, Dylan tore a scroll.
“Silence magic. It blocks sound in the area.”
“Ah.”
“If what you said is true, better it doesn’t leak out. Plus, with the racket outside, this makes it easier for you to speak too, Regin.”
“Agreed.”
A mana barrier formed.
Perfect for secretive talks.
Confirming the outside noise fully blocked, Dylan continued.
“Regin.”
“Yes.”
Dylan’s gaze sharpened, scanning him.
“From now on, speak truthfully.”
His voice was ice-cold.
No room for error, and he couldn’t predict what came next.
‘Moonlight, beauty, dance. One of Verdante’s codes.’
He had to choose his words carefully.
One slip, and he’d be mistaken for a Verdante lackey.
‘The good thing is, no truth-detection magic tool on him.’
Two main ways to verify truth: magic tools or rare items.
Neither applied to Dylan.
With the talk so sudden, he hadn’t prepared.
‘But he’ll judge based on what he sees and hears.’
Dylan stared intently, drawing on honed instincts to weigh Regin’s words.
“I stopped by the Portrait Room on the 8th Floor and met a man.”
That was fortunate.
“He wore a black coat. We fought once, and I confirmed it growing from his head.”
From here, not a shred of falsehood.
“Horns grew from his head?”
“Yes.”
The confident Dylan began to falter slightly.
“How did you hear the code phrase?”
“I overheard them communicating via magic.”
Of course, a bit mixed with game memories.
But it was real experience, even if old.
“…What happened to the man?”
“My party and I combined forces and took his life.”
“How did you handle the body?”
“I’d seen it in Master Nuada’s study. Demon corpses retain mana and…”
“Revive from death.”
“Luckily, I had a Mana Burn scroll. Used it to purge the mana from the body.”
“Mana Burn scroll… Heard there’s a spellcrafter developing it, but already in practical use?”
“Got a prototype by chance.”
Dylan fell into thought.
Few grounds for doubt.
More likely, new questions piling up.
“Let’s say that was the code phrase. Do you know the full version?”
“Didn’t hear it clearly.”
“Hmm.”
“Why tell it to me?”
“I hear you hold significant sway even in the royal court.”
“The position I hold carries weight.”
“When it comes to demons, I figured it should go to someone like you.”
“…”
“One more concern.”
Regin spoke candidly.
“If there are more demons who know of me, adventuring ahead will get tough.”
He’d handled that one cleanly, so no immediate pursuit worry.
But variables always cropped up.
Couldn’t ignore Verdante’s moves.
‘Not scared, but time to stay sharp. They’re no pushovers.’
Dylan nodded after deliberating.
“You know Alice already.”
“Yes.”
“Then this’ll be quick.”
“Pardon?”
“The one you encountered likely belongs to Verdante, among the back-alley groups.”
Dylan’s mind raced.
He’d doggedly tracked Verdante for years.
Thrown this festival to surveil westerners and snag Verdante leads.
“A select few, including Alice, are already pursuing that Verdante organization.”
Regin, this sudden mage, was a golden opportunity for Dylan.
An adventurer who’d barely reached the 8th Floor for now.
But worth leveraging.
“I’ll summon you to the capital soon. Help us chase Verdante, and we’ll help you.”
“Help me?”
“Yes.”
A chessboard began forming in Dylan’s mind.
His many pieces already in play.
Now adding the Regin piece.
“So you won’t suffer one-sidedly from Verdante encounters. We’ll back you.”
Give a little, use Regin to hunt Verdante.
A no-lose move.
“Understood.”
But Dylan overlooked something.
‘New quest type. But his goal’s probably one thing: chase Verdante, even at a cost.’
Regin had started as a pawn yet seen the endgame.
Beheld this world’s finale, ascended to queen, and checkmated.
No matter the start or position, Regin always reached the end.
“I’ll await your contact.”
Spotting the shifting board, Regin swiftly sorted his thoughts.
First such offer from Dylan, but no panic.
As a DAT veteran, variables were old hat.
‘Anticipated variables aren’t variables.’
As always, Regin pondered his next move.
What he needed to do following this offer.