Chapter 4
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Browsing the Future (1)
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Synopsis.
It was, in other words, a brief summary of the novel's episodes.
I could grasp the details, but the main storyline allowed me to roughly predict the flow.
==
[Episodes 19~32, ‘The Unexpected Traitor’]
Overview: At Karn Banheart's command, Fabian heads to the battlefield alongside Mone as Clay Banheart's servant.
The war, initially flowing in Talua Kingdom's favor, flips in an instant due to an unexpected incident.
Talua Kingdom's army commander-in-chief, Duke Gail, is assassinated at a banquet.
The culprit is revealed to be Tedric Eaton. His servant, Kinzel, is found to have poisoned Duke Gail's food.
At that moment, Fabian learns something unexpected through Mone: that Kinzel was once a servant of the Deolic family long ago.
Having sensed something off about Byan Deolic in the past, Fabian begins investigating him and soon uncovers that he is the true culprit.
In the end, Byan, exposed by Fabian, flees toward a secret passage in the valley...
==
The synopsis was a summary of the original story to come—the future ahead.
With this ability, I could definitely gain a clear advantage over others.
Of course, there was no guarantee the future would unfold exactly as the synopsis described. The protagonist, Fabian, no longer existed.
But.
‘This is enough.’
If I took over the things the protagonist Fabian accomplished.
As long as I could continue the original story that way... this synopsis would become my absolute weapon.
‘And I have to avoid destruction too.’
My father said this world, without its protagonist, had to face destruction to move forward.
And how that destruction would come could be roughly guessed from other episodes in the synopsis.
‘Well, I'll think about that after handling this situation first.’
For now, dealing with the matter at hand came first.
It was originally the protagonist's job, but since he was gone, someone had to step in.
The starting point was visiting Delmore Viscount to secure ‘certain authorities.’
‘The banquet, and Sir Eaton's servant Kinzel...’
If it was a banquet, one came to mind.
The one Delmore Viscount had mentioned just a few days ago.
‘And the host is Duke as well.’
With the war against Kainzel Kingdom dragging on, the troops' morale was visibly plummeting.
To counter this, Commander-in-Chief Duke Gail personally hosted a banquet.
‘The banquet mentioned in the synopsis has to be this one.’
Banquets wouldn't be frequent amid ongoing war. It'd probably be after the war ended before another one.
‘Plus, Kinzel is helping make the dishes for this banquet.’
Kinzel, servant to Tedric Eaton, was famous for his cooking skills. Sir Eaton often bragged about his servant's talent, so everyone in the unit knew.
Thanks to that, Kinzel was preparing the dishes Duke Gail would eat at this banquet.
With all these pieces fitting together, there was no doubt the incident would occur at this banquet.
‘If I know the culprit and the tool, it's simple.’
As I sketched out the rough picture and mulled over the plan, Mone approached and asked.
“Young Master.”
“Yeah?”
“You're not plotting something strange, are you?”
I flinched for a moment at Mone's narrowed eyes staring at me.
No matter how hard I tried to hide it, could she still tell? We'd grown up together since childhood, after all.
But even if I told her, she probably wouldn't believe it, and it might put her in danger instead.
“What's that all of a sudden?”
“Hmm... If not, that's fine, but you've seemed lost in thought lately.”
“Don't worry. I won't do anything dangerous.”
Right. There wouldn't be anything dangerous.
If things went according to my plan.
* * *
Two days later.
A heavier tension than usual hung over the kitchen area.
“Hurry up! With the Duke coming, not a single mistake allowed!”
The tent was thick with sweltering heat.
“Hey there! Don't just stand— Ah!”
Someone bumped my shoulder near the entrance and called out.
He paled upon belatedly recognizing my face, after shouting with a puffed-up expression.
“S-Sorry! I didn't realize it was you, Sir Banheart. My apologies!”
“No, no need to mind. I'm just overseeing, but we're all preparing together. If there's anything I can help with, just say so freely.”
“How could I possibly...”
“Really, it's fine.”
I patted the frozen servant's shoulder and entered the kitchen.
‘I owe Delmore Viscount big time for this.’
My presence here in the kitchen was under the pretext of supervising the banquet preparations.
It was originally someone else's job, but Delmore Viscount used his connections to let me take over.
He handled my minor ‘request’ as if it were his own, with utmost effort. Truly grateful.
“Where could he be...”
Amid the bustling servants, I searched for Kinzel and soon spotted him.
==
<Kinzel>
Age: 26
Gender: Male
Role in Story: Servant of the Eaton Marquis family (Extra)
Abilities: Eastern Cuisine
Notes: Became a servant of the Deolic family after Byan Deolic saved his life as a child.
Later, on Byan Deolic's recommendation, became a servant of the Eaton family and earned Tedric Eaton's trust.
While quietly lying in wait, he prepares to poison Duke Gail's food on Byan's orders.
Carries a poison vial disguised as spices in his right pocket.
==
‘One shot.’
No room for mistakes.
I took a deep breath and strode forward boldly.
Thud!
Crash!
“Gah!”
I slammed hard into Kinzel, who was focused on preparing the dishes right in front of me.
Kinzel tumbled over, and potatoes from the basket along with various utensils scattered, turning the area into chaos in an instant.
“Wh-What the— Huh?!”
Kinzel's eyes widened upon spotting me pinning him down.
“S-Sir Banheart!”
“Ugh. Sorry about that, Kinzel. I was trying to help with unfamiliar work and slipped... You okay? Hurt anywhere?”
I apologized with a genuinely sorry face while quickly patting him down.
Kinzel tried to say something in panic, but I spoke faster.
“Hold on, what's this lump? You can't get hurt when you're making the Duke's food!”
“N-No, I'm fine.”
“Yeah?”
I grinned and pulled away as Kinzel flailed his hands in flustered denial.
Then, while scooping the spilled potatoes back into the basket, I said.
“Good to hear. If you need help later, just let me know anytime.”
Kinzel just stared at me with a stiff face as I chattered quickly and finished gathering the potatoes before leaving.
‘Easy.’
I smirked, eyeing the small spice vial glinting inside the potato basket.
* * *
‘W-Where'd it go?’
Kinzel frantically patted himself down. The poison vial he'd had moments ago was gone.
Cold sweat trickled down his forehead.
If someone mistook it for spices and used it in other food, the plan would be ruined.
‘Did it fall when that guy bumped me earlier?’
He suddenly recalled the man who'd collided with him just as cooking started.
Clay Banheart. Heir to the fallen Banheart Count family.
Just thinking of him made his teeth grind.
If not for that guy, this wouldn't have happened.
‘Where the hell did it go?’
He searched the floor, thinking it might have dropped, but nothing.
“Kinzel?”
Then, a familiar voice came from above as he scoured the ground.
“What are you doing down there?”
He looked up to see the very man who'd bumped into him earlier.
‘Because of that bastard...’
No hard proof, but it felt like he was the culprit from that collision.
But he was just a mere servant. He couldn't confront a noble's son.
“I lost something and was looking for it.”
Clay rummaged in his pocket as if suddenly remembering, and pulled something out.
“This, maybe?”
It was a vial filled with pitch-black liquid.
Undoubtedly Kinzel's missing spice vial.
“Y-Yes! That's it!”
“It was in the basket. Guess I accidentally tossed it in while gathering the potatoes.”
“I-I see. What luck. Phew...”
Clay patted Kinzel's shoulder, then quietly observed from a spot out of his sight.
Only after seeing Kinzel sneak a glance around and sprinkle the vial's contents onto the food did he turn away.
‘Byan Deolic...’
Now, that servant would die as the assassin of Duke Gail. And he'd frame Sir Eaton as the mastermind.
‘If it followed the original story.’
But that wouldn't happen now.
I'd swapped the poison in the spice vial with ‘something else.’
‘Karma’s a bitch.’
Clay intended to teach Byan that from here on.
* * *
Tables stretched across the wide clearing, neatly laden with various dishes.
Even simplified for the battlefield, the banquet felt grand enough.
“This war drags on due to the petty Kainzel Kingdom's actions. The longer it goes, the worse for them, yet our young soldiers grow weary. That's why I've arranged this gathering.”
The old man shouting from the podium now.
He was Duke Gail, one of Talua Kingdom's three great dukes.
“Enjoy yourselves today.”
As Duke Gail stepped down, thunderous applause erupted from the banquet attendees.
“Young Master.”
Mone tugged my sleeve as we watched.
“Why aren't you joining the banquet? Seems like a good chance to talk with the other nobles.”
“Well, it is a good opportunity.”
The old me would've dived in without hesitation. Connections were key to reviving the family.
Especially a rare chance to speak with Duke Gail.
But now, no need.
“Banquets come naturally anyway.”
“Huh?”
Mone looked puzzled, my words coming out of nowhere.
Rather than explain in detail, I turned my gaze forward.
A entertaining drama was about to begin soon.