Teir Bamon (3)

"Well then — don't mind if I do!"

Rian licked his lips as he eyed the fried chicken sitting in front of him. The instant I'd offered to cover the meal, he had claimed a seat without the slightest hesitation.

"I only came in because I'd never seen fried chicken before, but it was so expensive I was about to order something else. Haha. Thanks to you, young master, I get to try it after all."

He plucked a drumstick up with his bare hand and dropped it onto his plate. Ashel and Varos's expressions soured at the sight.

That's... actually how you're supposed to eat it.

I would have preferred to do the same, but dignity left me no choice. I reached for a fork. Once I took a drumstick for myself, the other two followed suit and served their own portions.

Ashel seemed put off by the unfamiliar appearance. She sat staring at the thigh she'd taken, then finally sliced off a small piece with her knife and tried it. A flicker of surprise crossed her face, and her pace picked up after that. It seemed to agree with her.

It's good, I'll give it that.

It wasn't quite the flavor I remembered from home, but it had a character of its own. Then again, it was hard to go wrong with fried meat.

We ate in silence for a while, until the proprietor himself appeared with drinks we hadn't ordered.

"Thank you so much for helping my staff. The meal is on the house — please, enjoy."

Even as he said it, a worried look crept into his eyes, and he pressed on.

"Ah, young master. About Lady Denbri, the one you had that altercation with earlier..."

"That's enough. Get back to work."

He'd clearly meant to warn me about her. I had no use for the advice. The proprietor shuffled away, and by then Rian's plate was already piled high with bones.

"But are you sure you'll be all right, young master? The mayor of this city is practically a king in his own right."

"Then why did you step in?"

"Well... I couldn't just stand there and watch someone get beaten like that. And honestly, I had no idea she was the mayor's daughter. I'm not from around here."

"Would you have stayed out of it if you'd known?"

"No, I still would have stepped in. Though I didn't expect to nearly lose a hand over it. Haha."

He laughed it off as if he were talking about someone else entirely. The man was, as you could see, an incurable optimist. In the game, he'd gone to his death with that same smile on his face, right up until the very end.

"Still, that woman didn't seem like the type to let things go. I know it's not my place, but perhaps you ought to leave the city sooner rather than later..."

I changed the subject.

"Judging by your appearance, you seem to be a wanderer."

"Ah, yes. I've been traveling around Calderic of late."

"Why?"

"Why, you ask... Does a wanderer need a reason? I simply have nowhere to settle, so I go wherever my feet take me. Haha."

There was a smile on his lips, but the words rang hollow somehow. I knew exactly what his situation was, and why he'd taken to wandering like this. But it wasn't his past that concerned me at the moment. The reason I was keeping him talking was because there was something I needed to confirm.

That was what Rian — Teir Bamon — had said to the player during the Earthhill Kingdom episode, in the middle of a war with an enemy nation. The wording wasn't exact, but that was the gist of it as I remembered. He was one of the vanishingly few Mystery users on this continent. In other words, he possessed a Mystery of his own, just as I did.

They never gave it a name, but it was a Mystery that vastly amplified the user's senses and reflexes.

Thanks to that ability, he had never once fallen for an enemy surprise attack or ambush throughout the entire war. He'd even defeated enemy commanders far stronger than himself, despite possessing a body that was nothing remarkable.

There was only one thing I needed to confirm. Had the present moment come before he obtained that Mystery — or after?

As I recalled, he had obtained the Mystery in a dungeon marked on that map. I was fairly sure the dialogue had even given a rough idea of where it was, but unfortunately that part had slipped my memory.

And if he hasn't obtained it yet?

Then I would have a chance to claim that Mystery for myself. A Mystery that amplified the senses and reflexes — that would be considerably useful to me. In the past it would have been worthless, since my body couldn't keep up regardless. But I had the Immovable Barrier now. I had a means of answering an ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠opponent's attack, which meant the senses and reflexes to deploy it in time had become critical.

...Now that I think about it, I really do need something like that.

The Orc King's ambush had proven as much. Even from a considerable distance, the thing had closed the gap in the blink of an eye. If I'd been even a fraction of a second slower in raising the Barrier, that massive fist would have blown my body apart. And that was a mere Level 70. What about the monsters far above that? The other Lords? If any of them turned hostile and came at me, I would be dead before I could even raise the Barrier — unless I happened to be standing a very long way off. There was also the danger of a sniper or an ambush from someone hidden, or attacking from extreme range. What good was an absolute defense if your throat was cut before you could use it? Between the speed of this world's superhumans and my own perception, there was a chasm that vast.

Of course, I still had no idea whether Rian had already obtained the Mystery, so all of this was getting ahead of myself. I couldn't ask him outright, so I posed a different question instead, keeping it casual.

"If you've been wandering the continent, have you ever come across a dungeon? Or a place where ruins were hidden, perhaps."

"A dungeon or ruins, you say. I've tried looking, but unfortunately I've never found one. Ah — speaking of which, that reminds me..."

A thought seemed to strike him. Rian reached into his coat and drew something out: a rolled scrap of weathered parchment. He gave a wry laugh.

"This is a map I bought at an antique shop in the last city I visited. The proprietor said it might be a treasure map pointing to a hidden ruin."

"...!"

I hid my surprise and looked at the map. Could it be? The pieces were falling into place so neatly it almost felt like too much of a coincidence.

"It's honestly ridiculous. I made the mistake of unrolling it a little, tore it slightly, and got swindled into buying it for a handful of silver. Still, since I'd already paid for it, I figured I might as well follow it and see. That's where I was headed."

"Mind if I take a look?"

"Be my guest. Look at it ten times if you like."

Rian handed the parchment over without a fuss and turned his attention back ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to the chicken. I unrolled it slowly and examined it. It was a crude, clumsy map — so slapdash it was hard to believe the contents could be genuine. The location it marked sat between the Fifth and Fourth Lords' territories, and some kind of bizarre cipher was scrawled across it as well.

...Is this actually the real thing?

No matter how I looked at it, it resembled nothing so much as someone's garbage doodle. I studied the map a moment longer, then shifted my gaze back to Rian. If this was, as I remembered, a map leading to a hidden Mystery — and if I obtained that Mystery — I would be snatching away the very power he was destined to find in the future.

"I'll buy this map from you. Would you be willing to sell?"

"...Pardon?"

Rian stared at me, startled. Then he waved both hands in refusal.

"Oh, no, no. If you're interested, just take it. You've already done me a kindness — I couldn't possibly charge you."

"...You don't think this might actually be a map to some ancient relic?"

"Then so be it. If you really do find some ancient magical artifact, I hope you'll put it to good use, young master. Haha."

He didn't seem to believe for a second that it was a real treasure map. ...Even so, he was being so generous about it that I felt a twinge of guilt. But I was in no position to be precious about such things. If I were going to start splitting hairs over every little moral compromise, exploiting my knowledge of the future was already unforgivable enough.

I took the map, finished the meal, and exchanged farewells with him in front of the shop.

"Well then, thank you, young master. I'll be on my way."

I watched his back as he turned and started walking, and for a moment I hesitated. Was I really going to let this meeting end here? The war that would erupt among the Neutral States was an event that would significantly reshape the balance of power between Calderic and Seintea. There was nothing I could do to interfere with it right now — and frankly, I had more than enough of my own problems to worry about without finding the time...

"..."

In the end, I spoke. From the moment I had been dropped into this game — from the moment I had become a Lord of Calderic — disorder had been accumulating in the future without pause. There was no reason to remain bound to the game's story. In the end, the choice was mine.

At my words, Rian's steps came to an abrupt halt. He turned his head slowly and stared at me, thoroughly bewildered.

"Running away forever won't solve a thing. The sooner you return to your kingdom, the better."

"...Wait. How do you—"

At the sudden revelation of my identity, Ashel and Varos, standing off to the side, both flinched and turned to look at me. Rian — Teir — cycled through a series of expressions, as if he couldn't make sense of what he'd just heard, before finally managing a reply.

"Just now... what did you...?"

"You already know the situation among the Neutral States is growing unstable. Go back where you belong, before it's too late."

"..."

"And if a moment ever comes that you truly cannot handle on your own, send a messenger to the Seventh Lord's territory. Depending on the circumstances, I may be able to aid Earthhill."

I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠left him standing there, frozen and dazed, and turned away. Ashel and Varos fell in behind me.

I don't know if that alone will be enough to send him back to his kingdom...

I had at least established a thread of connection. The rest was up to him.

Back at the inn, I examined the map again. The location was a stretch of forest between the Fifth and Fourth Lords' territories, so it wouldn't take us off our route.

I wonder how long this one will take to find...

Gaining another Mystery was a welcome development, but the thought of how much extra trouble it would bring was already making me tired. I tidied up, ready to sleep, and was about to lie down when a commotion broke out outside.

A knock sounded at the door.

"Come in."

Varos opened the door carefully, his expression grim. He glanced toward the hallway as he spoke.

"The mayor's knights have arrived in the hall, my lord."

I understood the situation at once. Footsteps climbed the stairs, and a line of knights appeared behind him. Ashel stepped forward to bar their path. The knight at the head of the group frowned at her, then shifted his gaze to me.

"Are you the young master who insulted Lady Denbri?"

"..."

"I'll take that as a yes. The mayor has ordered us to bring you in. I trust you'll come along quietly."

I grasped the situation immediately and let out a dry laugh. I'd been planning to pay them a visit come morning anyway. They'd saved me the trouble of going to them.

"Lead the way."

Let's see how far they take this. I gave a slight nod as I spoke.

"They're in the manor hall now, Mayor."

"Understood."

Having received the report that the ruffian who had insulted his daughter had been brought in, Colton nodded. Lady Denbri, seated beside him, sprang to her feet in delight. Watching her, Administrator Lyca clicked his tongue inwardly and turned to Colton.

"Mind if I come along and watch?"

"As you like."

They made their way to the manor hall, where three figures stood waiting at its center. Lady Denbri spotted the man in the middle and her lips curled into a grin. The man spotted her in turn, and their eyes met. She smiled a wicked little smile.

"We meet again so soon. I told you you'd pay for this, didn't I?"

Colton was just about to open his mouth as he looked over the man and the two people standing at his sides.

"You... my daughter..."

A sudden, sharp intake of breath from ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠beside him made him turn his head. Lyca was staring at the three of them as if he had seen a ghost, his entire body trembling as though a chill had seized him. Then he dropped to his knees so hard they should have shattered against the floor, and pressed his forehead to the ground.

"I present myself before the Lord!"

...What?

Colton's mind went blank. He couldn't begin to process what the man had just said. Lady Denbri, who had been cheerfully contemplating what manner of hell to visit upon the wretched bastard, went equally slack-jawed.

"...Huh?"

A terrible silence settled over the hall. The elf frowned, glancing down at Lyca with his head pressed to the floor, then spoke carefully to the man beside him.

"That is Lyca, administrator of the Seventh Lord's Castle. It would appear he was in this city on official business."

The man — the Seventh Lord — nodded, walked over to one of the chairs set out in the hall, and sat down.

"You called me here because you had something to say, I assume."

He looked over Colton and the others, still standing frozen in place, and spoke.

"I've come as summoned. Speak."