The Dagger of Jealousy
Bound to me.
I figured she had every reason to find my changed behavior strange. But when people notice a shift like that, they usually stop at thinking someone's personality has changed. They don't jump to concluding it's a completely different person.
Was this her assassin's instinct at work? I couldn't pin down what had first made her start doubting me.
My changed attitude toward the Hero, maybe?
He's not even hitting on me today. Something's different.
The old Alvin had a thing for women. Not that I don't like them myself — but Alvin had been the type to practically live in women's arms. There was no way a man like that would have left Faran alone. He'd probably been coming on to her every single day.
Harassing an assassin and living to tell the tale. He was lucky to have survived this long.
The silver lining was that she didn't seem fully convinced yet. Suspicious, yes — but not certain.
You have acquired Relation Points.
Points: 3
Whether it was the questions she was turning over or simple curiosity, it had earned me Relation Points.
The moment I acquired the points, a Relation Level that had been sitting dormant flickered to life.
In accordance with Relation Level, Faran's heart becomes bound to Alvin.
Bound?
I had no idea what it actually meant for Faran's heart to become subordinate to me. But it might just be a way to turn this situation around. I could only hope the effect would ease her suspicion, even a little.
"What about you, Faran? Are you interested in the Hero?"
She looked at me with that same indifferent gaze. The moment our eyes met, it felt like she was staring straight through me.
Hmm... I'll have to keep watching him.
Even so, her demeanor was gradually shifting. The Relation Level increase was already having an effect.
I'd started to think the silence meant she wasn't going to answer at all when Faran finally looked away and spoke.
"Yes. I am, after all, a member of this household."
"Then I suppose you're looking forward to meeting the Hero?"
"Yes."
That was the end of it. We continued on our way, and the thought of what lay ahead made my steps toward my room feel heavier.
My first instinct had been to find out just how many NPCs I'd modified or created — the same way I'd found Faran. I'd poured something of myself into every one of them, and more importantly, they all had high stats and unique abilities. If I played the knowledge I already had correctly, they might even stand with me.
I'd been planning to head straight to the information guild and start asking around. But I needed to rethink that. In my current position, I couldn't afford to move carelessly.
Still, the way her attitude toward me had shifted as her Relation Level rose... if I used that well, I might have another way forward.
A few ideas I wanted to test had already started taking shape.
The next day, I decided Faran and I would leave the house together.
Faran was still a problem I'd have to keep watching. She'd keep testing me, reading my reactions. But that was fine. I'd found a solution — one that only I could pull off.
Just like yesterday: earn Relation Points with Faran and raise her Relation Level.
Gain Relation Points as your relationship with a specific target grows closer. Relation Points can be used to strengthen the target. As the Relation Level rises, the target develops affection.
This was the moment for what people called an affection grind.
If I left things as they were, her suspicion would never go away. Better to buy her affection and make her mine than to exhaust myself trying to erase her doubts. I had the skill — I might as well use it.
I didn't know how powerful the binding effect really was. But if it was strong enough to give my words weight, I could turn her to my side.
First, I'd prepare a gift for Faran.
Today's destination was a weapon shop in the capital of the Kingdom of Agnes, not far from the estate. It wasn't an ordinary shop. I'd remodeled it myself for an event.
In a regular weapon shop, special weapons appeared at abysmal rates. I'd cranked those odds way up. At that shop, you could get just about any weapon you wanted. I'd built it for myself — I'd never been a fan of grinding.
I still didn't know how many of my events and NPCs had actually manifested in this world. But I was certain this particular shop existed. It was where Faran's exclusive weapon lay sleeping. As long as Faran existed, the place designed for her event had to exist too.
And it wasn't just her weapon I needed. With a monster subjugation coming up, I needed something for myself as well.
Two birds, one stone.
"This is the place."
We arrived at a building that looked as rundown as they came. Hidden, shabby buildings for special locations — that was just the law of the genre.
I opened the door. The interior was the complete opposite of the exterior: neatly organized, almost like we'd stepped into a different building entirely. Even Faran, who rarely showed emotion, let out a small sound of admiration at the contrast.
"Welcome."
The shopkeeper came over to greet us.
"Shopkeep, mind showing us some weapons we could actually use?"
"Of course. You've come to the right place."
He led us to a wall lined with weapons. Even at a glance, they were razor-sharp and meticulously maintained. You could feel the owner's love for his craft just looking at them.
But what I was looking for wasn't among them.
"These are excellent, shopkeep. I like what I see. But do you have anything else? Something besides these?"
"Something else? I do, actually. Were you looking for anything in particular?"
"I'd like to take a look at your used stock, if that's all right."
"Of course."
The shopkeeper led us back without a fuss. The used weapons weren't quite as impressive as the ones out front, but they were still well organized. When I'd set up the event, I'd mixed the special pieces in among the secondhand goods.
It had to be here.
"We'll browse for a bit."
"Take your time."
With that, the shopkeeper stepped aside, giving us room to look around at our leisure.
"Faran, don't you need a weapon too?"
"M-me, sir?"
She'd been fully convinced we were here for my weapon, and the question caught her off guard. These weren't the kind of blades you'd carry for self-defense. Why would a simple maid need something like this?
That's right. A simple maid wouldn't.
I knew she was hiding her power as an assassin.
She waved the offer off.
"It's a gift from the heart, Faran — same as always. Think of it as a token of my regard and just accept it. I'll buy it for you."
The old Alvin had given her gifts like this. Not weapons, though.
"See anything you like?"
"..."
Does he know I'm an assassin?
Her suspicion spiked. But earning Relation Points from her mattered more than that.
"Let's see... how about this one?"
I already knew exactly where it was. I picked up the weapon I'd been looking for and held it out to her.
"Ah... y-yes."
Unable to refuse my insistence, she took it. She'd been looking at it with no particular expectation — then her eyes went wide, and she couldn't hide her surprise.
Of course she liked it.
In the game, visiting this shop with Faran triggered an event. At first she couldn't pick anything she liked. But among the weapons was one that called to her — the very one she was holding now.
I knew it would give her a small stat boost and awaken a few skills.
The weapon permitted only to Faran: the Dagger of Jealousy.
From the outside, it just looked like she was holding a blade. But something had already passed between Faran and the weapon — some exchange I couldn't see.
"Looks like you've taken a liking to it. We'll go with that one, then."
I found the weapon I'd been looking for myself and picked it up as well.
"Shopkeep, we'll take these two."
"Yes, sir. Thank you very much."
I took the purchased weapons from him, handed Faran the dagger I'd chosen for her, and we left the shop.
On the walk home, Faran held the dagger I'd given her carefully in both hands, cradling it against her chest. I hadn't expected her to like it this much.
"Glad it suits you."
"Thank you."
A modest thanks compared to how happy she looked. But her heart, at least, was honest.
Faran's heart grows more tightly bound to Alvin.
You have acquired Relation Points.
Current Relation Points: 20
A considerable haul. I'd gained a total of seventeen points from this outing. I could use them later to strengthen Faran's stats and skills. I'd have to check that when I got the chance.
"Hearing that puts me in a good mood too."
The Relation Level increase, of course.
I couldn't let my guard down. But this was a real win.
We were walking along in high spirits when a group of women spotted me, called out cheerfully, and came over.
"Young Master Alvin! Hello!"
Running into them on the street like this was unexpected, but their clothes told me who they were.
"You'll come by tonight too, won't you, Young Master?"
One of them took my hand and laced her fingers through mine.
The original Alvin would have said yes on the spot and gone with them. I wasn't thrilled about it, but if I turned them down too bluntly, Faran might find it strange.
If I can play it safe, I should.
"Tonight won't work, I'm afraid. As you can see, I'm on my way home."
I pressed a light kiss to the back of the hand I was holding.
"A shame. I'll pay another visit soon."
"Hehe. I'll be waiting."
She kissed me on the cheek like it was the most natural thing in the world, then left with the others, a lingering smile in her eyes. They vanished, leaving only the heavy scent of perfume behind.
The fact that neither Faran nor the women seemed the least bit uncomfortable with each other told me this had been one of the old Alvin's regular establishments. Or that he'd been even worse than I'd imagined.
The old Alvin's past was catching up with me, one piece at a time. That was not a comforting thought.
When I got home, I left Faran behind and headed straight for the training grounds. Father had told me to stop by sometime today.
The moment I stepped in, every gaze in the place turned toward me. Quiet murmuring followed.
"Young Master. You've arrived. We've been waiting."
The captain of House Gilbert's knight order approached and greeted me with formal courtesy. He'd served my father, the head of the house, for a long time — a man of such loyalty that he set a fine example for every knight in the family.
"Right, Sir Emond. I assume the lord of the house has already spoken with you?"
"Of course. I was told you'd be training with us in preparation for the coming subjugation."
"I'll be in your care, then."
"And I in yours, Young Master. Why don't you observe for a moment first?"
I followed him up onto the training ground platform. But the atmosphere as I passed through was anything but welcoming. From a distance they looked like they were training hard, but I could feel the intensity of certain knights' stares — the kind of looks that could kill a man.
Glaring at me like that, right out in the open.
I glanced at the captain. He didn't seem particularly concerned. He was probably looking the other way.
Yeah, well. That's on me, I guess.
Let's see what they're actually thinking.
I decided to check the knights' psychological states.
Why the fuck is that psycho showing up here?
Ah... damn it.
Just what the hell had Alvin been doing?