Guard Corps (1)
"The Second Prince's book! Or the state of the kingdom! Or perhaps a massive reward? Name your price!"
Rodri shouted loudly.
His desperate bluff seemed to work—the killing intent from the hidden female assassin's presence softened.
It worked?
Rodri smirked inwardly with satisfaction.
He was reminded once again just how lucky he was.
On the day the black mage had stormed the abandoned mine.
That day had been the same.
All his subordinates had been slaughtered by the black mage, and he himself had been moments from having his throat slit.
In a bid for survival, the words he'd blurted out had piqued the black mage's interest, allowing him to live this long.
In truth, he did know about the Second Prince's book.
A month before the Second Prince had slain the First Prince.
During a meeting in the royal palace, Rodri had happened to be holed up in a room and caught sight of the Second Prince's haggard face.
And the book in his hand.
Four letters etched clearly into the cover: Book of the Apocalypse!
It hadn't taken long to learn that this was the very tome the black mages were desperately seeking.
He had no idea why the prince was hiding it even from the black mages who followed him... but such things were beneath Rodri's concern.
He'd forgotten about it for a long time after that, but on the verge of death at the black mage's hands, it had suddenly resurfaced in his mind.
And by piquing the curiosity of the black mage Gerald about the book, he'd bought himself more time to live.
Rodri quickly assessed the situation.
A black mage might have been different, but these two in front of him were uncertain... and the sharp incoming attacks had halted.
Rodri continued slowly, a smile spreading across his face.
"Escort me safely back to the kingdom! I'm a victim of the black mage too—the one who ran this place was that black mage you killed!"
Rodri spun the lie without batting an eye.
It didn't matter. As long as he made it back to the kingdom unscathed, the worst-case scenario would be averted.
Even as a corrupt viscount, Rodri was still the head of his noble house.
He had connections in abundance, and above all, he was a noble of the kingdom.
Once inside the kingdom's borders, they wouldn't be able to kill him easily—not with all the eyes that would be watching.
Running the revolutionaries? He could just pin that on the black mage.
Everything would be resolved the moment he reached the kingdom.
Rodri opened his mouth, another smug smile hidden in his heart.
"I was imprisoned here under threat from the black mage! You've saved me, so the moment we reach the kingdom, I'll grant you a grand reward!"
"... Is that true?"
Rodri whipped around at the woman's voice from behind.
"Of course! I swear it on my name!"
He widened his eyes, feigning utter sincerity.
Once they reached the kingdom, even if he broke his promise, there'd be nothing they could do.
He might even have them killed in turn.
If he could just survive this moment... a hundred more lies like that were nothing.
"There's not a shred of deceit in my words!"
"Is that so? Fine then."
Yes!
The woman's voice from behind sounded like assent.
Rodri cheered inwardly.
Idiots! Once I reach Viscount Breushpel, you lot are...
He kept his true thoughts buried deep as he took a step toward the mine's exit.
Puk!
Something pierced straight through his heart.
Before he could grasp what was happening amid the sudden shift.
"... A lie after all."
Shuk!
His upper body split cleanly in two.
Beth flicked the blood off her dagger with a casual shake.
Rodri's corpse crumpled forward at her feet.
The Blood Oath Dagger.
The artifact for detecting lies that she'd used on me before.
If any falsehood was spoken during the conversation within its effective time, it inflicted fatal damage.
But it required the target's consent to use, and if they spoke only truth, the blade would bend, rendering it unusable.
The one she'd used on me must have bent, so she'd gotten a new one.
"Didn't need to hear the rest of his story, huh."
"What story? The political situation? Or the book?"
Beth pointed at Rodri's corpse as she spoke.
I nodded, and she grinned.
"I don't trust scum like this. I'll investigate myself. And..."
Beth tucked the Blood Oath Dagger back into her bosom.
Then she took the house lord's seal Rodri had been wearing.
"He had to die anyway. Plenty of people want him dead."
Fair enough.
Rodri had more than enough karma piled up.
He'd done every rotten thing a corrupt viscount could.
I was curious what "the Second Prince's book" meant... but whatever.
He wouldn't have told the truth anyway.
After that, we split up to finish searching the mine's interior and headed for the nearest exit.
As we walked out, another apprentice knight passed us by.
Off to fetch the knight captain sleeping in the underground passage, it seemed.
The moment we emerged outside.
"You're late."
"One left inside."
Diren greeted us.
At the entrance, the five pieces of the fleeing black mage Gerald's corpse had been gathered together.
They'd taken him down without missing a single fragment.
Beth pulled out Rodri's seal and handed it to Diren.
"Where's the body."
"Inside on the first floor."
Diren nodded at Beth's explanation and signaled to the knights beside him. They headed into the mine to retrieve the corpse.
Then Diren issued brief orders to the knights.
"Mages. Good work today. You and Beth can head back to the city first."
He sent us off ahead.
As we descended to the village in front of the mine, a familiar carriage came into view.
"Ah, sis."
Beth's brother, Bail.
He stood in front of the carriage, welcoming us.
"Everything done?"
"Yeah."
With her curt reply, Beth boarded the carriage.
I followed her in, and Bail took the reins.
"Then, we're off."
As the carriage set out, Beth stood and slipped over to sit beside me.
"......"
"... What."
As I watched, Beth tossed out a casual remark.
I shook my head slightly and closed my eyes.
Running around so much had left me exhausted.
Then.
Thud.
A weight settled on my shoulder.
I opened my eyes to find Beth leaning her head against it.
She looked up at me from there.
"What."
"... Heavy."
Beth ignored me, keeping her head rested as she closed her eyes.
I pondered what to do, but fatigue won out, so I shut my eyes again.
"Awake?"
"... Where are we."
"Almost there."
Beth pointed outside as she spoke.
The carriage had already reached the outskirts of Labyrinth City.
Beth got up and returned to her original seat across from me.
"What now?"
"Climbing the dungeon for a while."
My leveling had slowed while I'd been out and about.
Time to grind experience again.
"Yeah? Oh, remember that mage we met before?"
"I do."
Luiel, the imperial mage from the Empire.
She'd asked me to verify the rumors of the kingdom preparing for war.
And to find who was spreading them.
"Sent those two to the kingdom via the guild first. I'll let you know once the investigation's done."
I nodded lightly in response.
Leaving it to Beth meant no worries.
"Where you from."
As we neared Labyrinth City, a guard approached the carriage.
He exchanged brief words with Bail at the reins, then came around to the back.
More guards followed behind him.
... What's this?
"Are you Rain Astria?"
"... Yes."
The approaching guard singled me out.
"Elder Gehan of the Guard Corps requests your presence. Can you come with us now?"
Right.
The Guard Corps had been looking for me.
I was about to say okay when I sensed something off.
"... Mind telling me what it's about."
"We weren't informed."
"Then, care to explain what's in your hand."
I pointed at the guard standing behind, staring at me.
In his hand was... a red stone wriggling like it was alive.
Dungeon Deep Stone.
A stone found from the fifth underground floor onward in the Labyrinth Dungeon's depths.
Within its effect range, it blocked the use of return scrolls, as if you were deep in the dungeon.
Usually used in Labyrinth City to prevent criminals from escaping.
Embed it in prison walls or handcuffs, and it sealed return scrolls.
Of course, meaningless to me with my Designated Return Scroll... but bringing it meant.
"Does that mean I've committed a crime."
"Sorry if it's causing misunderstanding."
The guard bowed slightly at my words.
"We didn't get details either. Would you come with us first?"
The guard smiled faintly as he spoke.
A brief silence fell inside the carriage.
As I mulled it over, Beth nudged my foot.
I looked up to see Beth and Bail signaling me with their eyes.
"What'll you do?"
"......"
"Want me to help you bolt?"
Beth whispered just low enough for others not to hear.
Bail nodded silently too.
No thought of abandoning me, huh.
A bit touching.
"I'll see how it plays out first."
With that, I stepped out of the carriage.
The three guards surrounding it tensed as they confirmed my face.
Seemed like low-rankers.
"Tell Elder Gehan I'll come see him myself."
I said with a smile.
If they were treating me like a criminal outright, I wasn't going to play nice.
I gestured for the guard to step aside.
"......"
"......"
The guards hesitated, faces flustered, but eventually parted slightly, having no choice.
"... We'll relay your words as is."
One guard said stiffly.
"Sure."
I replied curtly, telling them to do as they pleased.