Infiltrating the Lord's Castle
“Ugh... we’ve finally arrived at Rimhold, Sir Evan.”
As Rapi said, the city gates came into view.
“I’m exhausted... Let’s report to the Adventurer’s Guild right away and get some rest.”
It had been rough. Rapi and I had been out cold for over a full day.
Dealing with that Abyss seed had drained Rapi’s mana completely, and my condition was even worse. Then we faced that death magic, and before we could do anything, our consciousnesses just snapped off like a plug pulled from the wall.
By the time we woke up, it was all over. The Abyss seed that had been pierced by the reaper sword was nowhere to be seen. It had probably been annihilated on the spot.
More importantly, that death magic. I’d thought it was Hayes for sure, but the one wielding the reaper sword was someone else.
“...Sir Evan. What was that entity? Just looking at it terrified me... way more than the Abyss itself, somehow.”
As we drew closer to Rimhold, the quiet Rapi finally spoke up.
The entity she meant was probably the Death Knight.
“In Adenia, only one being wields death magic. The Death Knight must be something Hayes summoned.”
“...Death Knight... an undead... So the Dark Lord really is in the Shadow Forest.”
I remembered different ones existing 50 years ago, but Hayes must have summoned a new one after I vanished.
I’d been thrilled thinking it was Hayes when the reaper sword pierced the maggot, but it turned out to be the Death Knight instead. What a letdown.
I decided to think positive. I hadn’t even figured out what to say to Hayes if I met her yet.
Suddenly, I wondered how Hayes felt about me disappearing for 50 years.
Come to think of it, I’d been so focused on finding her that I hadn’t considered how she saw me.
Maybe she felt relieved that the annoying guy was gone. Or after traveling together so long, she might miss me a bit. Or hate my guts.
Recalling Hayes’s personality, she might just burst into tears, but who knew. 50 years was a long time.
Her hatred might have festered more than any longing, and the moment she saw me, she could swing that scythe of finality.
“Hmm... no idea.”
I’d only know once I met her.
“Sir Evan, can I ask you something?”
“No.”
“Eeng!? Why not! We barely survived that ordeal together!! You can’t just refuse to tell me!?”
As Rimhold loomed nearer, Rapi grew chattier. I almost missed the quiet version suppressed by the death magic in the Shadow Forest.
“Why!? Why!? Whyyy!! I’m gonna ask anyway!!! Tell me, Sir Evan!!”
With my hearing still recovering, her chatter made my head spin. This brat wouldn’t quit since I ignored her.
“Sigh... what is it?”
“Ehehehe. Ahem... What’s your relationship with the Dark Lord? You say her name so casually, and you were prying about her from me and Guildmaster... Can’t you just tell me?”
Rapi unleashed her words like a machine gun. She’d clearly been dying to ask.
My relationship with the Dark Lord, Hayes... Well, we were companions, at least. Friends, maybe. Lovers...? Not sure.
At the end of our journey with the others, before facing the final boss, no amount of prep eased my nerves. I couldn’t do it alone, so I recruited the boss-fated ones.
Even then, victory against that abyssal bastard seemed impossible. Desperate to gather power, Hayes suddenly made a weird proposal.
Some soul marriage ceremony? It would amplify her death powers.
I’d never heard of it even after clearing Star of Adenia. Thought she was lying at first and refused.
She begged me to believe her, sobbing and clinging, so I figured what the hell—might as well try.
Hayes, if you’re bullshitting, your hand’s coming off. Nah, you’re a companion, so I’ll settle for drinks as punishment.
...Believe me... It’s real... We have to... mar... ry... for more power...
And damn, her death powers really did amp up. After the soul marriage, Hayes called me her mate.
Felt weird, but with the final boss breathing down our necks, I tabled it.
“Sir Evan! Why won’t you answer!!! You said you would!!”
Smack!
“Eek—! That hurts!!”
“My hand hurts more. Why’s your head so damn hard?”
“Ugh—! Tell me quick!! Before I use this future archmage’s head to give you a beating!”
Rapi flailing with her fists was pathetic, but that boulder head was another story. Now she was bargaining with it.
Should a mage really weaponize her skull like that?
“Sigh... Hayes and I are friends. Circumstances kept us apart till now, but I finally have time.”
“Ooooh!! Friends with the Dark Lord...! As expected of you, Sir Evan!! You wielded an Aura Blade, after all...! Are you a Gold-rank adventurer!?”
The old Adventurer’s Guild gave me a black medal. Never got Gold.
I let Rapi’s solo babble flow in one ear and out the other. Before I knew it, we’d reached the gate checkpoint.
There was a guard who’d glared at me last time I came with Rapi.
“Papers, please.”
I showed my medal to the monotone guard.
“Verified. You may enter. Oh, before that. Ahem... Miss Mage, the city’s been chaotic lately. Be careful, just in case.”
“Huh? What happened in Rimhold? I’ve been on a Shadow Forest quest and out of the loop.”
“Nothing major... but since you’re a mage. I’ll tell you specially...”
The guard trailed off at Rapi’s question. What was with all the suspense?
Glancing around warily, he leaned in, gesturing for us to come closer so no one overheard. Then he glared at me.
His attitude hadn’t improved since we first met.
“... Someone broke into the lord’s manor. Don’t know details...”
“Whaaat!?”
Rapi’s voice spiked despite listening quietly.
“Shh! Quiet, Miss Mage! It’s just rumors for now. Still, the captain said something feels off.”
“Gasp—! Y-Yes... I won’t tell a soul...!”
Rapi clamped her mouth with both hands and nodded frantically. The guard nodded back with a pleased smile.
“...”
Watching the village skit, Rapi suddenly jumped and grabbed my collar.
“Eek—! Sir Evan, you heard that too...! We have to keep it secret!”
“Got it. Let’s head in.”
The lord’s manor break-in wasn’t my priority. With the quest done, getting info on Hayes from Spilvena came first.
“Huh... Okay—! Hurry, let’s report to the guild and rest, Sir Evan!”
Rapi dashed ahead into the city. The energetic brat waved for me to follow.
I’d wrecked my body forcing an Aura Blade, but Rapi had just depleted her mana—fair enough. Still, her recovery speed was ridiculous. Were all kids like this?
“Hey. You heard that, right?”
As I passed the guard to enter, he called out.
“Heard what.”
“Tch... How the hell did a punk like you end up with Miss Mage...!”
What’s this asshole’s problem now.
“Anyway. Don’t go causing trouble in the city right now. Especially not as Miss Mage’s companion...!”
I kindly flipped him off as he clenched his fist and glared.
“Watch your back at night, punk.”
“...! You damn bastard... If I weren’t on duty, I’d smash you...!”
I brushed off the guard’s cute tantrum and entered the city.
“Sorry, but the guildmaster is out right now.”
“...Fuck.”
Nothing went right.
“Bear... er, when’s Spilvena coming back?”
Meeting Spilvena was top priority. Info on Hayes. And the Abyss.
That Abyss seed using Swallower’s power had absurdly bloated mana. Probably been hiding in Rimhold, devouring people.
Even if adventurers lived hand-to-mouth, a guildmaster would sense something off. Plus, Spilvena was a nature-wielding druid with sharp instincts. She had to know about Hayes and the Abyss.
But the bear was nowhere to be found.
“Sorry, I don’t know the details.”
“Then where’d she go?”
“...Well...”
The receptionist trailed off. Did everyone in Rimhold love beating around the bush?
“Ahem... Could you maybe tell just me a little?”
Rapi, who’d been watching quietly, chimed in.
Right—Spilvena openly doted on her. Good job, Rapi. I gave her a thumbs-up, and she beamed.
Rapi stared at the receptionist intensely. The poor girl fidgeted, sweat beading faintly. A bit more pressure, and she’d crack.
“Miss Receptionist... You know Spilvena adores Rapi, right? And Rapi’s mentor... she’s a grand mage, friends with Spilvena...”
“...”
“Oh...! Rapi, you weren’t gonna tell Spilvena someone was rude, were you?”
“...Huh? No, not to that extent— Mmph—!”
I clamped Rapi’s mouth as she tried to deny it. The receptionist paled.
After a beat, she spoke.
“...Guildmaster’s at the lord’s manor right now. No idea when she’ll return.”
Lord’s manor—probably tied to the break-in the guard mentioned. Why call a guildmaster for that?
“Hmm... Thanks anyway. I’ll tell Spilvena there’s a nice lady here, Rapi.”
“Mmph—! Mmph—!”
I dragged Rapi out of the guild.
“Pha—! Sir Evan!! You can’t just cover someone’s mouth like that!!”
“...”
I ignored Rapi’s complaints, pondering next moves. My condition was shit, even being polite.
Waiting for Spilvena while healing wasn’t bad. But did I need to wait?
Saving the world taught me one thing: passive plans sucked.
This real-turned world didn’t follow scripts—full of variables. Old game knowledge was toilet paper now; plans often imploded.
After countless fails, I learned: sometimes improv saves the day.
Recruiting bosses as companions? Total improv.
Decision made.
“...”
“Sir Evan!! Are you listening!? That’s so rude! Even for you!! Make it up with chewy cookies!!”
“Fine. Let’s go now.”
Plenty of time till night. Might as well cheer her up... and scout the terrain.
“Yay!! Really!? Didn’t think you’d agree—Sir Evan’s the best! Eek—! Your head’s messed up, Sir Evan...!”
I ruffled the brat’s hair, refining my plan. This might just work.
Hans. A common name anywhere, but Hans took pride in it. Becoming a guard in this border city wasn’t ordinary.
He recalled the daytime incident. Cute Miss Mage and that cocky adventurer punk. He’d even given advice as a Rimhold guard, yet the guy flipped him off.
“Evan, was it... Off duty now—if I catch you on the street, my sword’ll—”
Hans drew his new sword and swung. He’d saved two years’ pay for it—a master blacksmith from the Clockwork City.
Bookings always full; needed connections for a commission.
“That captain... how much bribes does he take... Sigh...”
But the bribes paid off with this gem.
“If I were captain... I’d root out every damn corrupt practice!!”
Hans raised the sword high, making empty vows.
Thud!
“Guhk—!”
A sudden dull impact overwhelmed him. In fading consciousness, a familiar voice whispered.
“Hey, I told you to watch your back at night.”
Evan. He dragged the unconscious Hans to a corner, stripped him, and donned the guard uniform. His own clothes went into inventory.
As he turned to leave, he spotted the sword in Hans’s hand.
Evan lifted it and flicked the blade.
Hummm—!
The clear mana resonance widened Evan’s eyes slightly.
“Where’d you get this trash? A starving orc’s axe would be better.”
Dismissing the useless thing, he returned the sword.
Quickly adjusting himself, Evan looked up. The lord’s manor loomed in the distance, lights blazing despite the night.
Time to execute his improv plan: sneak into the lord’s manor.