Chapter 448: Expanding (1)

Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 448: Expanding (1)

Step, step.

Our footsteps echoed through the empty library.

"Woman, what is your name?"

"...I am Harin Savy."

"Your name is as unique as you look." Anyone listening would consider that comment borderline racist. Of course, that was only if the speaker were a regular person.

Being a barbarian sure is great.

My fellow barbarians and I had complete immunity when it came to being seen as discriminatory.

Perhaps that was why Harin answered me without taking any apparent offense. "You're not the first to think my name and appearance are unique. There aren't many people in the city who have blood from the East Continent as thick as mine."

"Your ancestors were from the East Continent?"

"Yes. My ancestors were merchants who were lucky enough to be in this city when the calamity began. Thanks to that, they were able to survive and avoid the devastation."

"...I see."

It was a concise explanation that left me no room to ask questions and all the more puzzled for it. Normally, evil spirits wouldn't have this much knowledge about their families and ancestors...

But if she's Hyeonbyeol, that rule of thumb might not apply.

Still suspicious, I proceeded with my next question. "What is your relationship to Countess Peprok?"

"I've been lucky enough to be by her side for a little while now."

So she hadn't been with her that long. I was starting to grow even more convinced, but we unfortunately arrived at our destination before I had time to interrogate her any further.

"I will be taking my leave now."

"All right. Thank you, Harin."

With that, she politely left.

I set my suspicions about her identity aside for now and focused on the present, where I was met with a familiar figure with blue eyes and blue hair. Unlike before, however, she had a distinctly noble air about her. Maybe it was the way her hair was twisted into a flowy updo, revealing her neckline.

"It's been a while, Bjorn Yandel."

The way she talked was the same. Her unusual appearance threw me off for a moment, but it didn't take long for a sense of familiarity to settle in. "Yeah, it's been a while, Ragna. No, I guess I should be calling you Countess Peprok now?"

"I see you're still making jokes like always."

I wasn't trying to make a joke, though. I was seriously asking. Well, given how she didn't address me as Baron Yandel, I had a feeling I knew what kind of relationship she was after. "And you've changed a bit."

"Is that so...?"

Was it because of the hair?

Ragna spoke the words in a mumble as she fiddled with her hair. Even taking her new hairstyle and outfit out of consideration, she still had a more mature vibe about her than before. She'd always seemed somewhat anxious back then, with an abrasive exterior that hid a soft side underneath. But now... how could I put it? She seemed much more approachable, yet somehow more serious at the same time.

"I never believed it was possible. I can't believe you're really alive, Yandel."

"I couldn't believe it when I heard about you either. I knew you had some story or another, but I never imagined you would turn out to be the daughter of the prime minister."

"...What?"

"...Hm?"

Ragna's face froze for a moment, and then she frowned. "What are you talking about? I'm the prime minister's daughter?"

"...You're not?"

"No! I mean, I don't think so. Unless... Well, that would answer some of the questions that I have."

What the hell was going on here?

***

"First, let's set things straight. Yandel, where did you hear that I am the marquess's daughter?"

"Um..."

"If you're worried about revealing your source, at least tell me how certain you are that it's true. I beg of you."

"I was certain it was true, at least until right now."

"That means the information came from a reliable source."

Hm? Was that how she saw it? But I didn't even know Deer's real name or face.

Though I was a bit taken aback by this sudden plot twist, I tried to stay calm. "If possible... do you mind telling me your story? Then I might be able to offer you some advice."

Ragna took a moment to think over my request but cautiously began to speak soon after. "All right. It's not like I can hide it forever. More importantly, it isn't something I feel needs to be kept hidden."

Those words alone were enough to prove just how much Ragna had changed. In the past, no matter how many times I asked, she would refuse to talk about her backstory, looking glum all the while. It was clear that she had matured quite a bit since the last time I saw her.

As I was admiring her growth, Ragna slowly began to tell me her story. "When I was a child, there was one thing my governess used to tell me all the time: 'Ragna, you must live a quiet life out of the public eye. That is the only way you can repay him.' As you know, I'm not actually from the House of Peprok. My father simply had me borrow the name of a fallen house so I could live a quiet, independent life."

"I see..."

"I don't know who my father is, but my governess told me he is an extremely powerful noble, so if people knew I existed, it would lead to a lot of trouble. Ah, and she said that even though he couldn't meet me in person because of that, he still loved me and was watching over me. I loved my governess, but I never believed her when she told me that he loved me. Even so, I still chose to listen to her. I lived a quiet, unobtrusive life and gave up on pursuing magic as anything more than a hobby. I had a lot of fun learning magic, but for some reason, I kept drawing other people's attention when I used it."

So that was why a wizard of her caliber, whose magic was rank-five or higher at such a young age, had been working at a mere library.

"I really did love her. I was willing to make some sacrifices to heed her advice."

"Is the governess you're talking about... named Litaniel?"

"Yes, that's right."

No wonder she was only listed under the name Countess Ragna Peprok. Her full name wasn't actually her real name.

"Then what about your mother? Do you know what happened to her?"

"I heard she died the day she gave birth to me."

"I see..." After quietly taking in Ragna's story, most of the questions I had about her were answered. However, the thing of real importance here wasn't the past but here on out. "So what happened after that?"

"...What?"

"...Hm?"

Ragna's face froze for a moment, and then she frowned. "What are you talking about? I'm the prime minister's daughter?"

"...You're not?"

"No! I mean, I don't think so. Unless... Well, that would answer some of the questions that I have."

What the hell was going on here?

***

"First, let's set things straight. Yandel, where did you hear that I am the marquess's daughter?"

"Um..."

"If you're worried about revealing your source, at least tell me how certain you are that it's true. I beg of you."

"I was certain it was true, at least until right now."

"That means the information came from a reliable source."

Hm? Was that how she saw it? But I didn't even know Deer's real name or face.

Though I was a bit taken aback by this sudden plot twist, I tried to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠stay calm. "If possible... do you mind telling me your story? Then I might be able to offer you some advice."

Ragna took a moment to think over my request but cautiously began to speak soon after. "All right. It's not like I can hide it forever. More importantly, it isn't something I feel needs to be kept hidden."

Those words alone were enough to prove just how much Ragna had changed. In the past, no matter how many times I asked, she would refuse to talk about her backstory, looking glum all the while. It was clear that she had matured quite a bit since the last time I saw her.

As I was admiring her growth, Ragna slowly began to tell me her story. "When I was a child, there was one thing my governess used to tell me all the time: 'Ragna, you must live a quiet life out of the public eye. That is the only way you can repay him.' As you know, I'm not actually from the House of Peprok. My father simply had me borrow the name of a fallen house so I could live a quiet, independent life."

"I see..."

"I don't know who my father is, but my governess told me he is an extremely powerful noble, so if people knew I existed, it would lead to a lot of trouble. Ah, and she said that even though he couldn't meet me in person because of that, he still loved me and was watching over me. I loved my governess, but I never believed her when she told me that he loved me. Even so, I still chose to listen to her. I lived a quiet, unobtrusive life and gave up on pursuing magic as anything more than a hobby. I had a lot of fun learning magic, but for some reason, I kept drawing other people's attention when I used it."

So that was why a wizard of her caliber, whose magic was rank-five or higher at such a young age, had been working at a mere library.

"I really did love her. I was willing to make some sacrifices to heed her advice."

"Is the governess you're talking about... named Litaniel?"

"Yes, that's right."

No wonder she was only listed under the name Countess Ragna Peprok. Her full name wasn't actually her real name.

"Then what about your mother? Do you know what happened to her?"

"I heard she died the day she gave birth to me."

"I see..." After quietly taking in Ragna's story, most of the questions I had about her were answered. However, the thing of real importance here wasn't the past but here on out. "So what happened after that?"

What happened to Ragna while I was stuck in the past? Why had the woman who wanted to live a quiet life away from prying eyes suddenly become a countess?

"Not long after you were declared an evil spirit, Marquess Tercerion approached me with an offer."

"...The marquess did?"

"Yes. He offered me the chance to revive the fallen House of Peprok if I worked for him. I went and accepted his offer."

That was completely unexpected. "Why would you do that? You didn't even realize he might be your father at that point."

"I, of course, refused him at first. Even though my governess had already passed away, I still wasn't comfortable entering the public eye so openly, but... I changed my mind after hearing what the marquess wanted from me."

"Can you tell me what that is?"

"He wanted me to step into the limelight so that we could begin the process of accepting evil spirits as regular members of society."

For a moment, I found myself unable to respond. So that was why Ragna had revived the National Incorporation Bill. Still, there was a critical thing about this that didn't make sense—why would the marquess suddenly make such an offer in the first place? And...

"Why did you change your mind after hearing what he wanted?"

Why would Ragna suddenly want evil spirits to be accepted? It didn't take long for her to explain.

"It's because I know." Her answer was simple. "I know that there are also good people who are evil spirits... and I didn't want my friend to be remembered in that way." As I stared at her, struck speechless, Ragna avoided my eyes, her voice growing smaller. "Is that really so strange?"

I heaved out the sigh I'd been holding in and finally replied, "Yeah, that's strange."

To be blunt, Ragna and I weren't all that close. We were something in between acquaintances and friends—nothing more, nothing less. We were happy to see each other when we had a chance to, but it wouldn't have been strange for us to drift apart and lose contact entirely.

Right, that should have been the case...

"I-I see... Then maybe I was—"

Before she could misunderstand me any further, I blurted out, "But thank you, Ragna. I mean it."

There was nothing else I could say to her.

***

We sat in awkward silence for an untold number of minutes. Eventually, I took the plunge and broke it.

"The letter you gave me. It didn't have a time written down."

"Oh... well... I forgot to write one down because I was in a hurry."

Just as I thought. I smiled as I asked her another question. "Come to think of it, it seems you've been waiting here for a while. When did you get here?"

"...I didn't wait that long. Don't worry."

Well, if she said so. In any case, the topic meandered to the closure of the library today. I was shocked to see that the entire library was closed. It wasn't completely absurd to imagine that a countess might be able to rent the library for a whole day, but still...

"I didn't expect you to do something like this."

"No good comes from attracting unnecessary attention."

"Hmm, then you could have just asked to meet me somewhere else."

"That's true... but I thought it would be nice if we could meet here again."

What happened to Ragna while I was stuck in the past? Why had the woman who wanted to live a quiet life away from prying eyes suddenly become a countess?

"Not long after you were declared an evil spirit, Marquess Tercerion approached me with an offer."

"...The marquess did?"

"Yes. He offered me the chance to revive the fallen House of Peprok if I worked for him. I went and accepted his offer."

That was completely unexpected. "Why would you do that? You didn't even realize he might be your father at that point."

"I, of course, refused him at first. Even though my governess had already passed away, I still wasn't comfortable entering the public eye so openly, but... I changed my mind after hearing what the marquess wanted from me."

"Can you tell me what that is?"

"He wanted me to step into the limelight so that we could begin the process of accepting evil spirits as regular members of society."

For a moment, I found myself unable to respond. So that was why Ragna had revived the National Incorporation Bill. Still, there was a critical thing about this that didn't make sense—why would the marquess suddenly make such an offer in the first place? And...

"Why did you change your mind after hearing what he wanted?"

Why would Ragna suddenly want evil spirits to be accepted? It didn't take long for her to explain.

"It's because I know." Her answer was simple. "I know that there are also good people who are evil spirits... and I didn't want my friend to be remembered in that way." As I stared at her, struck speechless, Ragna avoided my eyes, her voice growing smaller. "Is that really so strange?"

I heaved out the sigh I'd been holding in and finally replied, "Yeah, that's strange."

To be blunt, Ragna and I weren't all that close. We were something in between acquaintances and friends—nothing more, nothing less. We were happy to see each other when we had a chance to, but it wouldn't have been strange for us to drift apart and lose contact entirely.

Right, that should have been the case...

"I-I see... Then maybe I was—"

Before she could misunderstand me any further, I blurted out, "But thank you, Ragna. I mean it."

There was nothing else I could say to her.

***

We sat in awkward silence for an untold number of minutes. Eventually, I took the plunge and broke it.

"The letter you gave me. It didn't have a time written down."

"Oh... well... I forgot to write one down because I was in a hurry."

Just as I thought. I smiled as I asked her another question. "Come to think of it, it seems you've been waiting here for a while. When did you get here?"

"...I didn't wait that long. Don't worry."

Well, if she said so. In any case, the topic meandered to the closure of the library today. I was shocked to see that the entire library was closed. It wasn't completely absurd to imagine that a countess might be able to rent the library for a whole day, but still...

"I didn't expect you to do something like this."

"No good comes from attracting unnecessary attention."

"Hmm, then you could have just asked to meet me somewhere else."

"That's true... but I thought it would be nice if we could meet here again."

Truthfully, I felt the same way. "So you decided to pull some strings?"

I'd said it with deliberate levity to tease her, but Ragna merely looked confused at my question and, surprisingly, brazenly fired back. "Yeah. Is there a problem? It's fine, isn't it, to act selfishly like this at least once in a while?"

"Oh, uh, yeah..." I was left speechless again.

It didn't take long for the tension to ease up once more as we continued exchanging small ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠talk. We even talked about Shavin Emoor, a mutual friend of ours. After laughing and having a good time together for a while, we eventually returned to more serious topics.

"Ragna, I have something to ask." To be honest, I hadn't come here today intending to ask her this. At first, I wanted to recruit her to our side so I could use her to get more information on the marquess. But... "Have you ever considered giving up your position as a countess?"

After hearing her story, I couldn't bring myself to ask her that. All I wanted now was to help Ragna escape this power struggle.

Of course, my hopes were dashed right away. "I don't know why you're asking me that, but no. I have no intention of giving up my position."

"What makes you say that? Because the marquess could be your father?"

"That's irrelevant to me. I will now spend the rest of my life irrevocably tied to that man regardless."

"That doesn't explain why you insist on being a countess. I've returned and cleared myself of any suspicion. There's no reason to go this far anymore, right?"

"Yes, there is, because this is the most important thing I could do."

"...I don't understand."

"I've spent all this time combing through countless cases, all to help prove that evil spirits aren't inherently evil."

"...So you're saying that whether or not I'm in the equation, you're serious about this goal of yours?"

"You could think of it that way, yes."

I'd never thought Ragna was doing all of this on a mere whim, but now, I could see just how serious she was about it. I sighed. I needed to change my approach. "Then why don't you distance yourself from the marquess, at least? He doesn't seem to have any intention of passing the agenda you are pushing, anyway."

"...What do you mean?"

"I heard that when you brought it up at the royal assembly, the marquess was the one who was most opposed to the bill."

"I... can admit that I found that odd too. However, he later explained to me that the foundation of my policy was too weak. If I tried to push it any further, the other nobles would attack me instead."

"...What?"

"If I can come up with a better policy in the future that can also persuade some of the other nobles, he said he would openly support me."

"And you believe that?"

"Why should I not? This was the reason the marquess approached me in the first place."

"But..." Sure, that was how it looked from the outside, but no one could tell what the marquess's real angle was. Ragna had been doing fine on her own, so why would he suddenly approach her with a proposal to accept evil spirits under the National Incorporation bill?

"Yandel, you seem to hate the marquess. Is that the case?" Ragna's question was sudden, but unlike before, it carried a hint of scathing disapproval beneath the surface.

...Why did she say she would be with him forever? Is that because he might be her father?

Blood ties weren't always so easy to sever, even when done willingly. Damn, this made things even more complicated.

"It's not that I hate the marquess. It's just that... I think his reasons for approaching you seem a bit suspicious." I hurriedly tried to offer some sort of explanation before my relationship with Ragna fell apart.

Fortunately, Ragna seemed to believe me. "I see. I know all too well what you're worried about... but don't worry. I can take care of myself now."

I was jealous that she could say that.

I should worry about myself first...

After all, I couldn't say the same for myself yet.

***

It was just barely noon when I parted ways with Ragna and left the library. We had been busy chatting when she was suddenly pulled aside.

"Harin, did the marquess call for me?"

"Yes. He said he will explain why when you meet."

"...Why are you looking at me?" I asked. "Don't apologize. I was going to leave soon anyway since I was getting hungry."

"I'll be in touch soon, then."

"All right. Like I said earlier, don't tell the marquess that you met with me."

"Of course. I don't want the marquess to use our relationship for political gain. Oh, and don't worry. Harin is also good at keeping her lips sealed."

With that, Ragna left with Harin, the secretary whose ancestors hailed from the East Continent. I watched as the two of them slowly walked away.

Harin...

While talking with Ragna, I also acquired quite a bit of information about the woman named Harin. The two of them met about a year ago at this very library. Even after quitting her job as the librarian, Ragna frequently visited to do research for the National Incorporation bill. That was how she ended up meeting Harin and growing close to her.

"The more I got to know Harin, the more I started to like her. I realized she was even more talented than I first thought, so I hired her to be my secretary."

That was the story Ragna told me of how the pair came to be.

Harin... Just as I suspected, she must be Hyeonbyeol.

I was now certain that Harin was Hyeonbyeol. Well, strictly speaking, there was no one else it could be since Ragna had no other assistants aside from Harin. The problem was...

She would definitely have realized that Ragna was a noble from her outfit and the air she gave off. Hyeonbyeol must've intentionally approached Ragna to get close to her.

Having pieced together what was going on, one thing still worried me.

"Recently, I've made a connection with a powerful person. I can use that to support you."

This "powerful person" that Hyeonbyeol mentioned the other day...

Tap, tap.

Was she really referring to Ragna, or...?

...No. I don't think she was lying when I asked who she was working under.

I shook my head. I was confident that I knew Hyeonbyeol well. Instead of assuming she was trying to deceive me, the more reasonable assumption to make was this:

Ragna Litaniel Peprok has a secret.

A massive secret that I didn't know yet.

Truthfully, I felt the same way. "So you decided to pull some strings?"

I'd said it with deliberate levity to tease her, but Ragna merely looked confused at my question and, surprisingly, brazenly fired back. "Yeah. Is there a problem? It's fine, isn't it, to act selfishly like this at least once in a while?"

"Oh, uh, yeah..." I was left speechless again.

It didn't take long for the tension to ease up once more as we continued exchanging small talk. We even talked about Shavin Emoor, a mutual friend of ours. After laughing and having a good time together for a while, we eventually returned to more serious topics.

"Ragna, I have something to ask." To be honest, I hadn't come here today intending to ask her this. At first, I wanted to recruit her to our side so I could use her to get more information on the marquess. But... "Have you ever considered giving up your position as a countess?"

After hearing her story, I couldn't bring myself to ask her that. All I wanted now was to help Ragna escape this power struggle.

Of course, my hopes were dashed right away. "I don't know why you're asking me that, but no. I have no intention of giving up my position."

"What makes you say that? Because the marquess could be your father?"

"That's irrelevant to me. I will now spend the rest of my life irrevocably tied to that man regardless."

"That doesn't explain why you insist on being a countess. I've returned and cleared myself of any suspicion. There's no reason to go this far anymore, right?"

"Yes, there is, because this is the most important thing I could do."

"...I don't understand."

"I've spent all this time combing through countless cases, all to help prove that evil spirits aren't inherently evil."

"...So you're saying that whether or not I'm in the equation, you're serious about this ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠goal of yours?"

"You could think of it that way, yes."

I'd never thought Ragna was doing all of this on a mere whim, but now, I could see just how serious she was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠about it. I sighed. I needed to change my approach. "Then why don't you distance yourself from the marquess, at least? He doesn't seem to have any intention of passing the agenda you are pushing, anyway."

"...What do you mean?"

"I heard that when you brought it up at the royal assembly, the marquess was the one who was most opposed to the bill."

"I... can admit that I found that odd too. However, he later explained to me that the foundation of my policy was too weak. If I tried to push it any further, the other nobles would attack me instead."

"...What?"

"If I can come up with a better policy in the future that can also persuade some of the other nobles, he said he would openly support me."

"And you believe that?"

"Why should I not? This was the reason the marquess approached me in the first place."

"But..." Sure, that was how it looked from the outside, but no one could tell what the marquess's real angle was. Ragna had been doing fine on her own, so why would he suddenly approach her with a proposal to accept evil spirits under the National Incorporation bill?

"Yandel, you seem to hate the marquess. Is that the case?" Ragna's question was sudden, but unlike before, it carried a hint of scathing disapproval beneath the surface.

...Why did she say she would be with him forever? Is that because he might be her father?

Blood ties weren't always so easy to sever, even when done willingly. Damn, this made things even more complicated.

"It's not that I hate the marquess. It's just that... I think his reasons for approaching you seem a bit suspicious." I hurriedly tried to offer some sort of explanation before my relationship with Ragna fell apart.

Fortunately, Ragna seemed to believe me. "I see. I know all too well what you're worried about... but don't worry. I can take care of myself now."

I was jealous that she could say that.

I should worry about myself first...

After all, I couldn't say the same for myself yet.

***

It was just barely noon when I parted ways with Ragna and left the library. We had been busy chatting when she was suddenly pulled aside.

"Harin, did the marquess call for me?"

"Yes. He said he will explain why when you meet."

"...Why are you looking at me?" I asked. "Don't apologize. I was going to leave soon anyway since I was getting hungry."

"I'll be in touch soon, then."

"All right. Like I said earlier, don't tell the marquess that you met with me."

"Of course. I don't want the marquess to use our relationship for political gain. Oh, and don't worry. Harin is also good at keeping her lips sealed."

With that, Ragna left with Harin, the secretary whose ancestors hailed from the East Continent. I watched as the two of them slowly walked away.

Harin...

While talking with Ragna, I also acquired quite a bit of information about the woman named Harin. The two of them met about a year ago at this very library. Even after quitting her job as the librarian, Ragna frequently visited to do research for the National Incorporation bill. That was how she ended up meeting Harin and growing close to her.

"The more I got to know Harin, the more I started to like her. I realized she was even more talented than I first thought, so I hired her to be my secretary."

That was the story Ragna told me of how the pair came to be.

Harin... Just as I suspected, she must be Hyeonbyeol.

I was now certain that Harin was Hyeonbyeol. Well, strictly speaking, there was no one else it could be since Ragna had no other assistants aside from Harin. The problem was...

She would definitely have realized that Ragna was a noble from her outfit and the air she gave off. Hyeonbyeol must've intentionally approached Ragna to get close to her.

Having pieced together what was going on, one thing still worried me.

"Recently, I've made a connection with a powerful person. I can use that to support you."

This "powerful person" that Hyeonbyeol mentioned the other day...

Tap, tap.

Was she really referring to Ragna, or...?

...No. I don't think she was lying when I asked who she was working under.

I shook my head. I was confident that I knew Hyeonbyeol well. Instead of assuming she was trying to deceive me, the more reasonable assumption to make was this:

Ragna Litaniel Peprok has a secret.

A massive secret that I didn't know yet.