I Didn't Know That (5)
Breaking the chains the Archmage had cast was most certainly not my intention. I swear it.
Well—if I had intended it, then yes, I had—but I... I naturally assumed they would never break. Even without a level difference, a binding still held for about two seconds, after all.
But just how had Remepan overhauled the mage skills to leave them in a state like this...?
"Ahem... both of you, please calm yourselves."
"But—!"
"Inquisitor! Has your rage toward evil blinded even your eyes?!"
The Archmage's roar snapped my own mind fully awake. Of course, staying true to my concept, I glared fiercely in his direction. He seemed too busy scolding the Inquisitor to notice.
"Look carefully. Did that young man truly kill anyone?!"
"Then how else could there be so much blood...! The blood..."
The Inquisitor fell silent as she looked at the thief trembling in the middle of the hall. At last she seemed to realize her own misunderstanding.
"...He's not dead?"
She opened and closed her mouth like a goldfish. It was rather cute, in its way. The priest script I knew rose in my mind, warm and familiar—and then...?
Huh?
I briefly doubted my own eyes. The Inquisitor's face felt oddly familiar.
At our first meeting the surroundings had been too dark, and just now I had been too immersed in my concept to register the familiarity.
"Is he... truly alive...?"
I quickly scanned the Inquisitor, who seemed half-broken.
Hair as red as flames. Emerald eyes that stood in vivid contrast. That famous short-cut style, loosely bound and falling over one side of her face.
Unless my memory was playing tricks, she looked exactly like the official representative image for the priest class. I had seen that face dozens of times in the remake trailer; there was no mistaking it.
"...Have I not told you time and again that you must look upon the truth?"
The Archmage's face matched the representative mage image as well. The beast-like features unique to the Shagi, and among them that particularly well-drawn white-lion form, could not be confused even if one tried.
Still... the strange part was why characters from other classes were appearing at all.
Legend of Heroes had originally locked you into a single class; once you chose, only that class's cast appeared. You might run into other players' characters online, but story NPCs of different classes never showed up.
So was this the influence of the reworked story? Their appearances were far too distinctive for mere passing NPCs, and the way the game kept artificially tying us together felt deliberate.
Thinking back, the trailer had shown all five of them appearing together—far too many. I had assumed it was just to avoid class discrimination complaints, but it must have been for the story all along.
Which meant... would they become my companions? After we had fought so messily like this...?
Ah well. Even if I had known, I wouldn't have acted any differently.
"...Please, explain yourself."
Just as my thoughts settled, the Archmage addressed me. I was glad I sorted things quickly.
"You demand an explanation of me? Of me?"
Even after realizing they might become my party members, I made no effort to change my attitude.
After all, how many games had I cleared without ever using party members just to stay in character? There was no reason to hold back now. To me, the fun of the present mattered more than any future consequences.
Ahahaha. Roleplaying is the best. Absolute comedy gold.
"...Neither the Inquisitor nor I have any right to demand an explanation. I know that. But there are other people here, are there not? Grant them a chance to ease their unease."
Separately, I found myself admiring the Archmage's eloquence. A sage truly was a sage, it seemed. I wanted to learn that kind of worldly poise myself someday.
"..."
That did not mean I had any reason to go easy on them. I glared daggers at the mage, then yanked free the sword that had nearly been driven into the floor. With it free, I kicked the still-trembling assailant.
"You...!"
The Inquisitor started to protest, but the Archmage was faster. The old man who had come down the stairs clamped a hand over her mouth.
"Confess with your own mouth."
"S-spare me..."
"Must I say it twice?"
Hah. This feeling of becoming a villain without actually being one—electrifying.
"I-I was after that man's money!"
Fortunately the robber spoke up before the Inquisitor's temper could explode.
"I saw him tip the errand boy and thought he must be loaded...!"
"...!"
The Inquisitor's face went deathly pale. The Archmage sighed as if he had expected exactly this.
And the cause of the attack event had been a tip? Beyond imagination. I had simply assumed it was story-related or that I was unlucky. Turns out neither was true.
"What in the world is all this ruckus...!"
Just then someone holding a torch emerged, hastily adjusting the front of his clothes. It was the innkeeper who had received me when I first arrived.
If I remembered correctly, this NPC had treated me like an honored guest after hearing the errand boy's message.
The adventurer badge I had brought back while cleaning the sewers had belonged to his friend's child; grateful that I had laid his friend's regret to rest, he had even halved the lodging fee.
Perfect. With this, the misunderstanding would be completely cleared up.
"Oh! Sir Knight, what brings you out at this hour of night—wait, what is the meaning of—"
"You would do well to pay more attention to security from now on."
"Pardon?"
"Deal with that rat as you see fit. And..."
I deliberately cast a glance toward the Archmage and the Inquisitor.
"My debt ends here."
Ah, this is far too much fun. Is a game allowed to be this enjoyable? Any thought of quitting vanished in an instant; it was simply the best.
"Pardon?"
The innkeeper looked flustered, but I gave him no time. Luckily I had nothing to pack. My sword was already in hand, my bag still slung over my shoulder.
I had been so exhausted I had fallen asleep without even removing my shoes—my Korean soul had screamed the moment I realized it—so there was nothing left upstairs to fetch.
Thus I left the inn without once returning to the upper floor. The innkeeper followed, letting out a silent scream.
"Y-you're leaving just like this, Sir Adventurer?"
He pleaded desperately for me to stay, but I did not so much as pretend to listen. Torchlight rising from the inn gradually lit the street behind me.
"Wait, you!"
Only now did she seem to come to her senses. The Inquisitor came dashing out after me. This one required a response.
"My words carry no weight, it seems. So, O most exalted holy lady, you find even a demon whelp's speech too distasteful to hear?"
I turned smoothly and raised my sword. The face reflected in the Inquisitor's eyes was probably filled past the point of rage, twisted into a disbelieving smile.
You know how people sometimes laugh when they get too angry? In truth I was laughing because it was fun. Wahaha.
"I have overlooked enough."
"...I—I was going to apologize..."
"What reason do I have to tolerate your insolence any longer? My patience is not long. And you are the one who wore it completely away."
At my rebuke the Inquisitor squeezed her eyes shut and trembled. From the perspective of my real self, the sight was rather pitiful.
After all, the priest I knew had been sent out from the temple as a newly dispatched helper. Raised in isolation— the temple—she had received only teachings, then been suddenly cast out once the time was deemed right.
Under those circumstances, could she possibly fail to follow the principles and rules she had been taught? With no experience of the world, she would have no leeway to weigh circumstances and handle things loosely.
For that reason I was not truly angry at her actions. I knew from experience that people without experience could become rigid and dogmatic beyond imagination.
"If I tear out your tongue, you will no longer be able to spout such nonsense."
But even if I understood, the concept I had chosen did not.
"...Your words are just."
Sorry. Even at my age, I still enjoy this kind of roleplay.
Still, I only do this because you're an NPC. I wouldn't in real life... so just bear with it.
"S-Sir Adventurer..."
Whatever the innkeeper was babbling, I fixed the Inquisitor with a furious gaze.
As if sensing that stare, she opened her eyes with the look of one who had made a resolve. Her legs bent.
"...!"
If I hadn't been carefully controlling my expression, my eyes would have bulged like saucers by now.
No, wait—why is a priest doing that?
"Inquisitor..."
Even the Archmage, who had followed late, wore a startled face. He looked back and forth between us; I wanted to ask the same thing. Why is she like this?
"The insult I inflicted upon you can no longer be atoned for with words alone. Cut it out. And if that is still not enough... you may take my life as well."
...Hold on. There are things one may say and things one may not. What is this NPC going on about? I'm going crazy. I never expected her to accept the tongue-cutting talk so readily.
I do like strict, unyielding characters, and I genuinely adore the priest class because of that personality—but even so, this is too much. I had only said it assuming she would refuse...!
"..."
Yet abandoning the concept was equally impossible. While I was fretting over whether I actually had to go through with it, someone rushed forward and blocked my path. The Archmage.
"I beg you, show mercy."
"Archmage, please do not."
"She has only just left the temple. She still knows nothing of the world."
"The fault is mine."
"If there is fault, it lies with me for failing to stop her in time. If you must punish someone, then punish this old man instead."
At last the Archmage himself prepared to kneel. Reflexively I gripped the longsword at my waist.
"Archmage!"
"I know I have no right to speak. But please..."
"No, the fault is mine alone! The Archmage has nothing to do with this!"
Mushrooms of guilt sprouted inside my heart, yet the situation was not entirely bad. Thanks to it, an escape hatch had appeared.
Honestly, even if I could dismiss the guilt because they were NPCs, cutting out another person's tongue—since I couldn't exactly cut a neck instead—was still far too nauseating.
To cut it I would have to grab the tongue and slice, and knowing this game it would probably simulate the saliva as well. No, I was certain of it. Spit would definitely get involved.
From that standpoint I... had no desire to get someone else's saliva on my hands. Or on my sword. It was disgusting and filthy.
"I clearly gave you a chance. Choosing punishment anyway was your decision."
I spoke as coldly as possible and stepped toward them. I heard the innkeeper hold his breath; both of their shoulders twitched faintly.
"The Archmage is without sin. Everything stems from my own foolishness. Do not lay a hand upon him."
"No, upon this old man..."
At this rate I felt like I had become one of the Great Demons. Maybe for the next concept I should try a proper personality wreck?
But if I already felt this much guilt, it might be difficult. The NPCs being so realistic was exhausting in its own way. When they only repeated the same lines, you clearly felt they were just data made of zeros and ones and could harm them without trouble.
I stood before the kneeling Inquisitor. The Archmage bowed his head with a sigh, and she clenched her teeth.
Her brow was deeply furrowed—the kind of wrinkles that appear when you force open eyes that want to shut in fear.
"..."
Don't make that face. Uncle... no, at her age it's more like uncle. Either way, this uncle's heart is weakening.
Shing.
I drew the longsword and, gritting my teeth, seized the Inquisitor by her hair and yanked her upright. Because she had bound it into a single lock, gathering it was easy.
"Ugh!"
I may have pulled too high. Even while voicing her pain she carefully parted her lips. Pointless consideration.
I was no dental hygienist; I had no hobby of peering into other people's mouths.
Slash!
I cleanly severed the red thing.
I had been anxious about whether the game would even implement cutting at that location... but luck was with me. Success.
Thud.
I dropped the cut hair onto the ground. The crimson locks spread across the dirt like a rose in bloom.
Separately, because I had cut it while pulling upward, the remaining hairstyle looked rather strange...
Well, considering it was the price of her life, that much was fine. She had even escaped the short-cut look, in a way.
Moving on.
"...?"
The youth staring up at me with wide round eyes looked terribly pitiful and rather cute. Though I could not show it.
"Next time it will be your neck, so look upon your hair and learn to guard your tongue."
Ah, come to think of it, didn't the Demon Knight family have an older sister around that age?
It had flashed by too quickly for me to be sure. Still, she used a mace the same way.
Then let's say I softened because I thought of my sister at the last moment. I hadn't planned it, but half of any setting is just retroactively attached later. Perfectly complete.
Now all I had to do was leave like this for a clean finish. Good. The wandering knight vibe was strong.
"You're... leaving just like this...?"
"Ah, O heavens..."
Behind me a hollow voice and a voice thick with relief crossed. I felt a little proud that the dissonance of my concept-breaking was not being detected.
"You!"
Eek, eek. Don't call me. Holy lady, you just escaped death. If the mage hadn't knelt at the last second, your tongue really would have been cut out or your head would have rolled.
You must not ignore a hardcore roleplayer. Guilt and roleplaying are separate things, okay?
"Inquisitor..."
Good job, Archmage.
With the Archmage's voice restraining the Inquisitor as background music, I strolled leisurely away from that street. As the inn's torchlight receded, only darkness welcomed me.
...All right.
So where do I go now?
A minor problem had come up, but it was nothing major.
They had made the city map this wide; surely they hadn't put only one inn. In a pinch I could simply leave the city and night-hunt.
More importantly, once I started wondering how the deep-sea pearl of the next story would clean things up—how the NPCs would cover for it—something as trivial as an inn hardly mattered.
This game is way too enjoyable. Uwahaha.