Swaaaaaaaaaa!
I soaked my head in hot water and scrubbed my skin with soap, as if trying to wash away the gri of the past few months.
And after so ti...
I stepped out of the shower and changed into comfortable clothes.
It finally felt like I was ho.
Thud, thud.
I dried my hair with a towel and went downstairs. Alia and Erwen were waiting for in the living room.
"That took a while."
Alia frowned, looking at .
I sat down on the sofa across from them and asked,
"So, you didn't find anything?"
"No, we couldn't find any listening devices."
That was a relief.
I was worried they might have planted sothing when they raided the house...
"Except for the ones that were already there."
"What do you an 'already there'?"
"Didn't you know? There's a recording crystal ball in the living room."
It was news to .
But I could guess who was responsible...
"Erwen?"
I looked at her, and she flinched, avoiding my gaze.
"W-well... just in case..."
"..."
"I-if it wasn't for this, we wouldn't have been able to find you so quickly..."
...I couldn't argue with that.
She even said that the recording crystal balls were only in the living room and the entrance. It was a reasonable security asure for a hoowner.
'That's how she knew I was at the Marquis's mansion.'
I brought up a question I had been wondering about during the carriage ride back from the Marquis's mansion.
"By the way, Erwen, how did you know I was there?"
"How could I not know?! He ca here himself!"
"He?"
"You didn't know? The knight who arrested you was Eltora Terserion, the Pri Minister's son!"
"What? He's the one who beca the new Corps Commander?"
Is the Marquis insane?
Sending his own son on a dangerous mission like that?
What if I had smashed his head?
'Well, I guess he wouldn't have sent him if he actually cared about his son...'
The Marquis's parenting style seed a bit Spartan, but it wasn't my place to judge.
"Anyway, Schuitz, what happened at the Marquis's mansion?"
"Yeah, tell us! We were so worried when we ca back and found the door broken!"
I explained the Marquis's misunderstanding and the deal he had offered.
Their reactions were completely different.
"Really? He's going to reinstate your title? That's amazing!"
Erwen was happy about it.
"The Pri Minister is a good backer, but I still feel uneasy about this."
Alia, on the other hand, was wary of the situation.
"What else could we have done? If you had refused, it would have only made things worse."
"...I'll look into the Pri Minister."
"I'll leave it to you."
"What about ?"
"Of course, you too, Erwen."
I could only rely on my companions.
This world was too harsh to survive alone.
_______________________
Tap, tap.
I was lost in thought, tapping my fingers on the table, when...
The door opened, and a man entered.
"You called for , father?"
Eltora Terserion.
The Marquis's only son and heir to his legacy.
But the Marquis looked at him coldly.
"You know what happened. What do you think?"
"Honestly... I was surprised. I never expected Viscount Yandel to be alive."
"Is that all?"
The Marquis's tone was filled with disappointnt.
"Is that all you can see?"
He glared at his son with a look of disgust.
Eltora lowered his head and sighed inwardly.
'What's wrong with him lately?'
His father had never been kind, but it was never this bad.
It had gotten worse in the past two years, to the point where he felt like an emotional punching bag.
'And that strange woman he brought in... could he be suspicious of ?'
It was unsettling.
The Marquis had been distant lately. He rarely called for him, and he didn't share any information.
It was the sa with this incident.
"Father."
"Speak."
"I didn't know Viscount Yandel was an evil spirit. Why did you keep it from ?"
He cautiously asked, trying to gauge his father's intentions, and the Marquis responded coldly.
"You sound like you expect to support you forever."
"...That's not what I ant. I just thought I could have been more helpful if I knew..."
"You're wrong to even assu he's not an evil spirit."
"What? But you said..."
"Enough. It's a waste of breath to explain it to you."
It was a harsh statent, even for a father.
Eltora closed his mouth, and the Marquis, ignoring his son's silence, stated his reason for calling him.
"Go see Yandel tomorrow. Tell him about the morial service. And tell him I want to continue our conversation."
"When should I schedule the morial service?"
"The 15th of this month."
In the evening.
______________________
On the afternoon of the 15th.
"Be careful!"
Erwen saw off at the door, and the carriage that was waiting outside opened its door.
"It's been a while."
"You're not using honorifics anymore?"
"You're the Marquis's son, right? Then you know who I am."
"Well, that's true, but..."
The Marquis's son trailed off, a bitter look on his face. I didn't care.
"Let's just go."
"Alright."
The carriage sped along the wide, paved road.
We soon arrived at the military transfer station, and just like before, we were teleported to the Imperial City.
"It only takes an hour to get to the Imperial City. It's convenient. How much does it cost per trip?"
"About a million stones per person. Assuming you don't have a carriage."
"...I'd rather just use a carriage then."
"You should. Most nobles only use this for urgent matters. It's too expensive."
We chatted idly, and the carriage soon arrived at its destination.
It was a massive mansion.
I wondered how much it cost to own this much land in the expensive Imperial City.
"Co on, my father is waiting."
"So we're not using the crystal ball this ti?"
"He wants to have dinner with you."
He said that... but I had expected a video call.
Creak.
The Marquis's son led to a dining room on the 4th floor.
One wall was lined with large windows, offering a view of the garden and the royal palace in the distance.
But I didn't have ti to admire the view.
"You're here."
The Marquis greeted from his seat at the head of the table.
"It's been a while, Marquis Terserion."
"Welco. Have a seat, Viscount Yandel. Eltora, you can leave now."
"...Enjoy your al."
The Marquis's son left, and the already empty dining room felt even more spacious.
But it was perfect for a private conversation.
Thud.
I sat down across from him.
The table was already laden with food, presumably to prevent interruptions from the servants during the al.
There was five tis more food in front of than in front of the Marquis.
He must have taken my barbarian appetite into consideration.
"Make yourself at ho. I won't expect you to follow the usual etiquette."
"...Thank you."
The Marquis picked up his knife and fork and started cutting his steak. I watched him for a mont and then grabbed a chicken leg.
And...
"How's the food?"
"It's good."
"I'm glad you like it."
We continued eating and then started our conversation.
It was against Lafdonia etiquette to discuss business during a al... but I was a barbarian.
I didn't have to follow those rules.
"Marquis, the food is great, but I'd like to hear about your plan."
"About reinstating your title?"
"Yes. It won't be easy to convince everyone that I'm back from the dead."
The Marquis didn't seem bothered by my bluntness.
"Before I explain, I have a question for you. How many people in Noark knew your true identity?"
"None. I was in hiding."
"Then this will be much easier."
He then explained his plan.
"We'll make it seem like you were on a secret mission for the royal family. You infiltrated Noark two and a half years ago, and now you've returned after completing your mission. How does that sound?"
It was a simple scenario.
But it didn't matter if it was convincing or not.
The Marquis had the power to make it happen.
"It's not bad."
"Of course, it will take so ti. We have to fabricate the necessary docunts."
"What about the evil spirit announcent?"
"Don't worry. We can say it was part of your cover."
I liked the scenario.
I could return to my old life if it worked.
But there was one problem...
"What do you want in return?"
What would I have to give up to gain this?
The Marquis put down his knife and fork and raised two fingers.
"Two things."
"Tell ."
"We'll create a special forces unit led by you. You'll lead them in the war."
"For how long?"
"Until the war ends."
He was practically asking to be his slave.
"Until the war ends? That's a bit much."
"Then let's say three years. If the war ends before then, the deal is off. And of course, you'll be rewarded for your achievents."
It wasn't a bad offer.
Most explorers were participating in the war to earn money anyway.
"And the second thing?"
"The second thing..."
The Marquis trailed off and then put down his fork.
"I'll tell you tomorrow morning. It will be easier to explain then. You can stay here tonight, there are plenty of rooms."
This is like a cliffhanger.
________________________
After dinner, I was escorted to my room.
I wanted to go ho and rest, but...
'This is suspicious.'
The timing of the invitation, the dinner, the offer to stay the night...
It felt like a setup.
So I asked them to let contact Erwen, and then I agreed to stay the night.
Sotis, a crisis could be an opportunity.
"Phew..."
The room was too spacious and luxurious for one person.
Click, click.
I lay down on the bed, checking the ti on the clock.
Then I turned off the bedside lamp and placed the clock on the nightstand.
Click, click, click.
The ticking of the second hand echoed through the silent room.
Click, click.
After ten ticks...
「Character's soul resonates and is drawn to a specific world.」
I imdiately sat up.
I had to hurry this ti.
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