Chapter 200
Chapter 200
‘…To think Camilla would ever harbor feelings of affection for me. I never expected that.’
With how openly she was showing goodwill, how could I not notice?That only made it more bewildering.
‘In the original story, she never had this kind of image.’
She was the second Iron-Blooded Duke.A ruthless woman who mercilessly crushed criminals.A cold-hearted duchess who made the western prisoner-management system even harsher.
And now that same Camilla was smiling at a con artist and thief like me?I couldn’t get used to it.
“…I’ll say this much in advance. You shouldn’t expect every action of yours to be rewarded.”
I had things I had to do.
I had to save my favorite character, Luciana, from her destined downfall.And I had to eliminate every final boss who might destroy Luciana’s future.
But romance?When my own neck was barely above water? Impossible.
“I’m too busy a man to be tied down.”“Heh. So you’ve decided to stop pretending to be ignorant?”
Even when I refused indirectly, she didn’t stop.
Placing her hand on my shoulder, she leaned to my ear, showing me a side she had never revealed before.
“Who knows? Do you know what I might propose to you?”“…Whatever it is, it won’t change my mind. There are urgent matters at hand.”“Hehe. I don’t expect to win you over easily. That’s why…”
Placing her hand on her chest, she proudly declared:
“When I ascend to the ducal seat, the source of infinite power itself, then we can talk again.”“……”
…I had no objection to her determination to become a duchess.But with her coming at me like this, it was starting to give me a different kind of headache.
“…Well, good luck with that.”
I’d already warned her. If she didn’t heed it, that was her responsibility.
As for me, I would simply use her goodwill.The same way I used my little sister’s.
“Ughhh….”
Right, I still had an interrogation to finish.
I approached the man groaning while clutching the stump where his right arm used to be—Jack.
“Your Imaginal Barrier is still holding, I see. Do you want to lose your other arm as well?”“You lunatic….”
Hearing that from a lunatic whose insane thoughts manifested into a Unique Skill and an Imaginal Barrier? Not exactly convincing.
“Arghhh!”“Your mouth is filthy. Should I test if your patience is just as bad?”“You’re skilled at torture.”“I’m from the West.”
For western nobles trained as prison overseers, torture was basic education.And thanks to Hans Byron’s memories, I had no trouble applying it.
“That’s not what I meant. The clueless fools think torture means just inflicting physical pain. But you…”“No need to flatter me. I still need information from you. Keeping a prisoner alive while maximizing pain is child’s play.”
The trick was to keep him alive while making him suffer.So, after stopping the bleeding with a potion, I gently scraped at the exposed bone.
“Hans. No… should I call you by your other name, Frostmane?”
While evaluating my torture methods, Camilla suddenly spoke up.
“…Hans is fine.”“Surprising. I thought you’d want me to call you by your original name at a time like this.”
There were no ears here but ours, so it hardly mattered.
“You don’t get it. That name is for my thief self, my demonic self. Overusing it just cheapens the image.”“Hah. Cryptic as ever. Well, that’s part of your charm.”
Camilla, uncharacteristically, paused a moment before speaking again.
“…That skill of yours. You really do belong in the West.”“…Excuse me?”
She was being far too forward.To the point it was making me uncomfortable.
“As a noble, you should learn the art of subtle persuasion. If you keep yanking at talents you find, you’ll have too many difficulties ruling as duchess.”“I’ll take your advice to heart. But exceptions always exist.”
It wasn’t hard to guess who she meant by “exception.”
“What… what are you two talking about?!”
A harsh voice broke in, panting.
“D-demons? Camilla Roberc, I heard it all! Colluding with demons—you’ve forfeited your right as heir!”“That’s enough noise out of you.”
Jack? A corpse doesn’t count as a person.He’d end up with just his head left anyway, so letting him hear didn’t matter.
“You don’t need to know the details. Just undo your Imaginal Barrier. Our companions must be waiting outside, worried sick.”“Gaaaahhh!”
As expected of a professional assassin.Even under torture, he still tried to squeeze out scraps of information.
“…Ughhh.”“Persistent, aren’t you?”
After about an hour of torture, the pain of scraping bone finally broke his will. He dropped the Imaginal Barrier.
“Hans!”
The mist dissolved, and the first to enter my sight was the long-eared woman with hair like flowing nature itself.
“Freesia. Long time no see.”“What happened?! What about that murderer?”“As you can see.”
I tilted my head, gesturing at the limp man and the hook in my hand.
“…What on earth happened inside that mist?”“Didn’t you see back with the slavers? I used a little magic to make him spill his guts.”
No mana involved.Just my grim sense of humor. It made Freesia sweat cold.
“…Hans, this isn’t the time to relax.”
Elizabeth, who had been observing quietly, stepped forward with a sigh.
“While you two were stuck in that mist, things outside got worse.”“Worse? What do you mean?”“Wolves drawn by the scent of blood have gathered.”
So, bandit packs had come.
“It won’t matter how many. Whoever they are, they’re bold.”
Even if Camilla and I had been isolated, we still had a high elf, a saintess, and a seasoned northern mage.If anyone was going to get hunted, it was the fools rushing in.
“What’s the problem? We can just cut through them. Why panic—”“This isn’t something to take lightly. I saw the Shackles crest, the Scorpion crest, and even the Tower of Magic. The elite soldiers of the Western noble houses are here.”
…What?Western troops searching the Sahel Region?A place that was hard to traverse without guides?
“And if it’s the Shackles crest…”
I glanced at Camilla.Her face had gone pale.
“…Hahaha! You’re rats in a trap now!”
At the same time, Jack, barely conscious, screamed with glee.
“That sluggish duke finally made his move! None of you are leaving here alive!”
He knew he was finished, so he spat curses with all his remaining strength.
“Hans.”“Yes. With his own mouth, he’s tied himself to the duke. He’s clearly at his limits. Of course, I’ve already recorded it. It’s plenty of justification to move against the duke…”
But it didn’t add up.The Western nobles rising up in open rebellion at this point?That shouldn’t be happening yet.
“Quiet.”“Ha! Torture me all you want—I’ve got nothing else to spill! Die without knowing why!”
That’s just what you think.
[Long-term contact, conditions met.][You have used the racial-exclusive skill: Emotion Absorption!][You glimpse the memories of the subdued target.]
And in my head, the scene of the killer conversing directly with the duke unfolded.
—Duke. Did I hear you right?—Of course.—Bold words. Do you even have a chance of victory?
His emotions: shock, fear, and… anticipation.
—If I thought it was impossible, I wouldn’t dare.—…Heh. Just keep your promise.—Don’t think it’s impossible. That’s the authority of an emperor. Granting you a title is nothing.
The Iron-Blooded Duke.Nominally a supporter of the Emperor, but inside, a cunning rebel.
—Hahaha! At least you’re bold. I like that!
To have the duke himself—possibly the future emperor—promise him a title.No wonder his heart blazed with hope.
—But first, complete your mission.—I understand. Still, ordering me to assassinate your own daughter… you’re cold.—The contact in the central region is dead. Camilla must have learned the truth about her mother’s death. Perhaps even the Grand Design itself.
Any sprout of suspicion had to be cut off.Even if it was blood.
For one seeking the throne, sentiment was meaningless.
“…The situation just got a lot more complicated.”
The Iron-Blooded Duke’s rebellion was supposed to come much later.But it had started far sooner than I expected.
“Brother, don’t tell me… is this a Faction War?!”
As I read through Jack’s memories, Rene also seemed to catch a system message.She whispered in my ear.
Only a reincarnator could know the word:
“…Unfortunately. Yes.”
Normally, a dungeon progressed with clearing mobs and then moving to the boss.But certain events were different.
Faction versus faction.Favorability with key characters, their growth, the faction’s influence—all measured.
Large-scale clashes where “war” was no exaggeration.Content even harder than hidden quests.
“W-what do we do? We don’t even have the forces to participate in a Faction War!”
Just five of us.Yes, one elite here could crush hundreds of ordinary soldiers.Freesia and the others could easily manage that.
‘…But so can the enemy.’
The Iron-Blooded Duke was naturally powerful.And with the Western counts, the Tower researchers, hidden criminals—The enemy outnumbered and outpowered us.
‘Damn it. What do we do? If it’s the duke… he won’t let us live. Not with future threats to consider.’
Rene’s holy authority?Freesia’s inter-racial symbolism?Elizabeth’s northern standing?
Would any of that matter to someone clawing for the throne?
‘How can I turn this around, negotiate even a little?’My head throbbed.
“No need to overthink.”
My reflection was cut short—Because Jack’s neck twisted grotesquely and snapped.
“The soldiers have arrived to meet us. We just need to present his head.”“…No. Lady Roberc knows too, doesn’t she?”
Those troops weren’t here to arrest Jack.They were here to kill us—and especially Camilla.
Her downcast, shaken face was proof enough.
“We need to escape. If we can get out of the West and into the Academy…”“You think you can hide from my father in the West?”
…She was right.The only one who had ever managed that was the legendary thief Sand Mole.
Breaking free from the duke’s soldiers and criminals? Impossible.
“Only I need to stay.”“What?!”“My father’s main target is me. The Tower researchers can silence you however they like.”
It was a calculation—That as emperor, for political balance, he wouldn’t kill them.
I’d thought of it, yes.But it required Camilla’s sacrifice.
“…That won’t do.”“This is the only way!”
For my own safety, it was the best option.Safe and certain.Plenty of ways to stop him later.
‘…But how could I?’
Camilla, who had grown and learned so much.Who had just awakened her Unique Magic, Telepathy.How could I abandon her now?
No.
“…I don’t throw away my people. I’m greedy like that.”“…Tch.”“So just follow my lead. You just vowed to be a duchess—don’t start talking about sacrificing yourself already.”
It wasn’t hopeless.Risky, yes.
But it was better than letting her die.
“Everyone, follow me.”“…And how do you plan to break through this encirclement?”
Elizabeth’s eyes still held doubt.So I gave her the answer.
“Unlike your houses, my family bonds run strong.”
First, we had to escape this trap the duke’s dagger had laid for us.