Chapter 114
I left Seagull Island and entered the mainland.
“Ohh, you guys were alive.”
“I am glad you returned safely.”
The Starlight Knights welcod their comrades with joy.
They had stayed in the hideout together and shared the pain of losing it.
They easily blended with Adela and Serena, who were strangers, as they too had lost their first haven, the mine.
“What does Sir Rodwell plan to do?”
I finished preparations to enter the castle with Vale and Tania.
I asked if he intended to join us.
“I am not going.”
“Are you not curious about the interior?”
“If we take the castle anyway, I will see enough of it then. More than that, I want to focus on training the children.”
“Understood.”
He turned away.
Leaving him behind, I entered the waterway.
The interior was dark, and a foul stench drifted through.
The corpses of zombies, which I had not seen before, floated on the surface of the water.
During the ten days I had not used this place, it seed Rodwell’s knights had cleared the waterway.
“When we go up, pull the hood of your cloak down low. No matter who looks at you, don't engage.”
I gave a warning to the two following .
Vale nodded silently, and I exchanged glances with Tania.
I climbed the ladder.
I pushed the manhole cover between the buildings with all my strength and stepped outside.
I checked to see if anyone was around.
It was quiet.
Exiting the alley, I glanced at the buildings.
Even though it was night, not a single house had its lights on.
It was strange.
According to the castle rules, the residents should return to their designated lodgings once the sun sets.
“Has so kind of problem occurred?”
“I will have to check from now on.”
Leaving Vale’s question behind, I headed toward the barracks where Lady Lucille’s security forces stayed.
On the way from the city toward the outskirts, I passed through the fields.
Lights were lit on the pillars erected between the paths.
“……Senior.”
Tania pointed sowhere with her hand.
People I thought had disappeared were remaining in the fields, working.
“The people's faces.”
I examined the expressions of the residents.
Their complexions were pale, and the arms holding the farming tools trembled.
While I stopped and watched them, one person collapsed.
“Oh! Old man Jiro.”
Those working with him threw down their tools and ran toward him.
The old man nad Jiro looked to be in poor condition.
I used [Analyze] to check what kind of person he was.
[Jiro]
LV 9
Exclusive Skills: Agriculture (High), Animal Husbandry (Mid)
He is a talented person!
With an Agriculture (High) skill, he was soone who had devoted himself to farming for at least 30 years.
I must save him.
One person like that is a massive help in managing a castle.
“I should go.”
“Huh? But Senior, you said it yourself. Don't engage with anyone.”
“That was for you two, not for .”
I stepped off the path and approached them.
“If it is alright, may I check his condition?”
“Hieeek!”
The residents scread.
“W-We are sorry. We will work right away, so please turn a blind eye just this once.”
They seed to have mistaken for soone else.
Just who did they mistake for to be this terrified?
“I am from the security forces. Rest easy, I did not co to harm you.”
“……Security forces?”
The residents' expressions softened.
“Are you one of Lady Lucille’s people?”
“That is correct.”
As expected of Lady Lucille.
It seed she had a good relationship with the castle residents.
Hearing her na, the residents' faces brightened noticeably.
“Please, have a look.”
As the residents moved aside, I saw the man nad Jiro.
Let's see.
It was not a disease.
The cause was overworking while in a weakened state.
“He worked while putting a burden on his body. The dehydration is severe as well.”
“What should we do?”
“First, give him so water and watch his condition.”
“But we don't have any water.”
I frowned.
Making them work overti and not even giving them water?
No matter how low the social status of a resident was, this was treating them like slaves.
“I have so left.”
I took water from my backpack and gave it to the old man nad Jiro.
The residents nearby wore surprised expressions.
“You all should share so as well.”
“I-Is that alright?”
“No need to decline.”
“We will take it with gratitude!”
They consud the water in the bottle as if they were starving.
“If it is alright, would you like mine too?”
Tania also yielded hers.
Since she had a strong sense of compassion, she likely could not ignore them.
“Water is precious, so is it really okay to share it like this?”
“It will be fine. For this person here, making water is a piece of cake.”
“Ohh!”
Water could be obtained as much as needed.
If I put my mind to it, I could even make the sewage in the waterway drinkable through [Purification].
Not that I particularly wanted to try.
“Thank you! I don't know how we can repay this favor.”
You will have to keep repaying it in the future.
Once I beco the master of the castle, they too would be the family I must look after.
“Don't worry. I will get it back from you sohow.”
When I replied with a smile, the residents trembled.
“For now, let’s move this elder nad Jiro first.”
“Understood.”
They gathered their strength and moved Jiro onto the grass.
Perhaps thanks to drinking the water, his complexion looked much better.
“May I ask you a few questions?”
“If it is a question from Sir, I can even tell you the length of my phallus!”
Just what would I use that information for?
His enthusiasm is a bit excessive.
“Since when did you start working at night as well?”
“I believe it has been about a week.”
“Do you know for what reason such an instruction was given?”
“How would residents like us know the thoughts of those above? If they tell us to do it, we have no choice but to do it.”
I tilted my head.
What was the reason for suddenly increasing the labor of the residents?
“I have a hunch.”
Another resident raised their hand.
It was a boy who looked to be about my age and was tall and lanky.
“Do you know the rumor that people have been disappearing from the city lately?”
“I know.”
I ca here because of that, so there is no way I wouldn't know.
“Since it happened consecutively after the orchard incident, it seems the anxiety of the people in the castle has grown. I heard that the people who worked in the east fled during the moonlit night.”
Fled the castle?
I have played this ga several tis, but I have never seen such a situation.
If you left the castle, there were zombies.
It ant they left even while enduring such danger.
“To think she is trying to ruin a land that would run well on its own if left alone in less than half a year.”
I gnashed my teeth.
They say a rich man lasts three generations even if he goes bankrupt.
But this damn castle is trying to return to the primitive age in just half a year.
“Actually, we were also thinking of fleeing because it is hard to endure.”
The boy lowered his head with an embarrassed face.
Just how hard must it be for that innocent-looking kid to say he couldn't endure it?
“Ah! Please keep this a secret. If we are caught, we are dead n.”
“Rest easy. I will not tell anyone.”
“T-Thank you.”
“In return, I have one favor.”
“Please speak.”
“I would like you to postpone that plan for just a mont.”
“That is not difficult.”
I rose from my spot.
I have to hurry.
At this rate, the Countess is going to make a ss of the place where I will stay.
* * *
When I reached the security forces, a problem had occurred there as well.
The Knights of Red had co there.
Owain was with them as well.
“……Why is that man here at this hour?”
Vale was terrified.
When he was abandoned by the castle.
I heard that Owain also helped the Countess.
“Tania, take Sir Vale and hide nearby. I will find out what the situation is.”
“Got it.”
Even with the place where her sister was right in front of her, the girl turned away.
I confird they had moved away and approached.
“Hmm?”
The Knights of Red, feeling a presence, looked this way.
Red cloaks glistened under the lamps hanging from the ceiling.
“Who are you?”
“I am from this unit. I am on my way back after finishing a scouting mission; what brings the Knights of Red here?”
“It is none of the business of a low-ranking person like you.”
By unit rank, this side was lower.
But there was a feeling that they were treating a person from another unit too poorly.
“Then please just let pass. I want to go into the barracks and rest.”
“Do you not see the captains talking in front right now?”
“No matter who you are, is it right to co at this hour and block the entrance of soone else's unit and act like a bully?”
“What?”
The knight in front of flared up.
He moved his hand to the sword at his waist.
He lost his cool because he was agitated.
There is no good in the units clashing in an already chaotic situation.
Whether he knew that or not, the knight drew his sword.
“Are you going to swing it? If you do, your neck will fly off.”
“The one flying off will be your neck, you bastard.”
The knight swung his sword.
I used [Shield] to deflect the sword.
The knight could not withstand the impact and crashed into the wall behind him.
“What is going on?”
At that mont, Owain’s voice was heard.
The Knights of Red backed away from their spots while breaking into a cold sweat.
In that gap, I locked eyes with Owain.
“A person belonging to the security forces attacked us.”
These bastards are talking nonsense that won't even be believed.
Even with just a bit of scrutiny, one could quickly tell whose fault it was.
“Attacked first, you say?”
Owain looked at the subordinate who had been blown away.
He had fainted while holding the sword in his grip.
On the other hand, there was nothing in my hands.
Anyone could see that the one who committed the fault was the Knight of Red.
“…….”
A shadow fell over Owain’s expression.
I can guess the reason he ca here.
He must have chosen the security forces as prey for the soured public opinion.
However, the knight’s action just now threw cold water on his plan.
“Sir Owain! What is the aning of this?”
A familiar voice shouted in a furious and irritable manner.
It was Lady Lucille.
“No matter how high the rank of a Knight of Red is, this is not how one treats a person from the sa group.”
Owain wiped his face.
He glared at the fallen knight as if he were going to kill him.
“Surely, you don't an to say that what just happened is unrelated to you?”
Lucille also pressed him, sensing that now was the ti.
The atmosphere quickly tilted.
It was a matter that would end if he apologized, but Owain could not do so.
Because nobles hate apologizing to the point of death.
“Why don't you say sothing, Sir Owain.”
Lucille tried hard to maintain the flow.
I let out an inward exclamation.
By skill, he was an opponent two levels above her.
She might be afraid.
But prying into every detail is no ordinary feat.
“I will take my leave for today.”
He likely had nothing to say.
Even if he did, it would only be an excuse.
At his signal, the knights rushed over and carried away the fallen knight on their backs.
While Owain was returning, he stopped in front of .
“……You are?”
He acted as if he knew .
I had t him once at the eting.
Because I wore a mask, he did not know my face, but he could guess by things like my presence.
“I thought you were a clever child. I did not know you would disappoint in this way.”
As expected, he recognized .
It was an eerily sharp sense.
“It seems there is a misunderstanding.”
“A misunderstanding, you say. What have I misunderstood?”
“I had no intention of interfering. The one who picked a fight first was Sir’s subordinate. In this case, I think the responsibility should be placed on that fallen knight rather than .”
“Are you trying to lecture right now?”
I let out a sigh.
It was too late to lecture and fix him for use.
A stone that is wedged in must be removed.
Before the festering part spreads further.
“How could I possibly lecture you? If you were offended, I apologize.”
“……Don't forget your role. If Lucille harbors any foolish thoughts, you must report to imdiately.”
“I will do so.”
Owain moved further away.
I wore a cold smile on my lips.
The one who will knock you from that spot is not Lucille.
It is .
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