Chapter 12 - I Didn't Know That (5)

I swear, I didn't intend to break the chains the Archmage cast.

Well, I guess I did intend to if you think about it, but I... I obviously thought they wouldn't break. Even if there's no level difference, Binding is supposed to hold for about 2 seconds.

But just how did the remake revamp mage skills for it to end up like this...

"Ahem... Both of you, please calm down."

"But!"

"Inquisitor! Has your anger towards evil blinded you completely?!"

The Archmage's yell made even me snap to my senses. Of course, in keeping with my concept, I glared fiercely in their direction. Though they seemed too busy scolding the Inquisitor to notice.

"Look closely. Did that young man truly kill someone?!"

"Then if he didn't kill them, the blood...! The blood..."

The Inquisitor looked at the thief trembling in the middle of the hall and shut her mouth. It seemed she finally realized her misunderstanding.

"... He didn't die?"

She repeatedly opened and closed her mouth like a goldfish. It was a rather cute sight. It reminded me of the Priest scripts I knew, so it was somewhat endearing, I... guess?

Huh?

I doubted my eyes for a moment. It was because the Inquisitor's face was quite familiar.

It was a familiarity I hadn't noticed during our first meeting because the surroundings were too dark, and earlier because I was too immersed in my concept.

"I-Is he really alive...?"

I quickly scanned the Inquisitor, who seemed to have broken down.

Blazing, bright red hair. Contrasting vivid green eyes. Hair tied loosely and draped forward over one shoulder, famous as the 'doomed mother' hairstyle.

Unless my memory is weird, that's exactly the same as the representative Priest image pushed by the official material. I can be sure since I saw that face dozens of times in the remake's trailer video.

"... Have I not repeatedly told you that you must see the truth for yourself?"

On top of that, the Archmage's face... was identical to the representative mage image as well. The beastly appearance unique to the Shaggy race, and among them, the exceptionally well-designed white lion appearance couldn't be mistaken even if one tried.

However, right. The questionable thing was why characters from other classes were appearing.

Originally, in 'Legend of Heroes', if you chose a class, you only played characters of that class, and other classes didn't appear.

Since it was an online game, you could encounter other gamers' characters, but characters of other classes didn't appear within the story.

Then could this be seen as the effect of the revamped story? Because it's too hard to pass them off as just passing NPCs given their appearances. The fact that the game kept artificially tangling me up with them, too.

True, come to think of it, there were a lot of scenes with all five appearing simultaneously in the trailer. I thought it was to prevent complaints about class discrimination, but it was actually for the story.

But if it's like this, will they become my companions...? Even after getting into such a messy fight with me...?

No, well. Even if I had known, I wouldn't have acted any differently.

"... Please, explain."

Around the time my thoughts concluded, the Archmage asked me. It was a good thing I tended to organize my thoughts quickly.

"Are you demanding an explanation from me right now? From me?"

Even though I realized they could become my companions, I didn't go out of my way to change my attitude.

Of course, seeing how many games I'd cleared without using party members just for the sake of a roleplay concept, there was no reason to hold back my actions now. To me, the fun I was having right now was more important than whatever karma I'd face later.

Ahahak. Concept roleplaying is the best. So fun.

"... I know that neither the Inquisitor nor I have the right to demand an explanation. However, there are other people here as well. Please give them a chance to relieve their anxiety."

Aside from that, I admired the Archmage's eloquence. Is a sage truly a sage, after all? I wanted to learn that kind of wisdom too.

"..."

But that wasn't a reason to let it slide. Glaring fiercely at the mage, I pulled out my sword that was practically lodged into the floor. Then I kicked the trembling attacker bastard.

"You...!"

The Inquisitor tried to say something, but the Archmage was one step faster. The old man, having come down the stairs, covered the Inquisitor's mouth.

"Confess with your own mouth."

"P-Please, spare..."

"Do I have to say it twice?"

Hah, this feeling of becoming the villain even though I'm not a villain—it's thrilling.

"I-I was after his money!"

Fortunately, the robber opened his mouth before the Inquisitor's temper could explode.

"I saw him give a tip to the errand boy and thought he had a lot of money...!"

"..."

The Inquisitor's face turned pale. The Archmage let out a sigh as if he knew this would happen.

Meanwhile, the fact that the cause of the ambush event was a tip was beyond my imagination. I thought it was just the story or that I had bad luck, but that wasn't it?

"What on earth is this commotion...!"

Just then, someone holding a torch came out into the hall, hastily gathering the front of their clothes. It was the innkeeper who had received me when I arrived at the inn earlier.

As I remembered, didn't that NPC treat me like a very honored guest after hearing the words passed on by the errand boy?

Saying that the adventurer tag I brought back when I cleaned the sewer belonged to his friend's child, he even gave me half off the inn fee out of gratitude for resolving his friend's lingering regrets.

Then this is great. With this, the misunderstanding is completely over.

"My! Sir Knight, why in the middle of the night, no, what is this..."

"You'd better pay more attention to security from now on."

"Pardon?"

"Take care of that rat yourself. And..."

I needlessly cast my gaze toward the Archmage and the Inquisitor.

"I'll only impose on your hospitality up to here."

Ah, this is so fun. Is it okay for a game to be this fun? It was so amazing that my thoughts of wanting to quit the game were instantly forgotten.

"Pardon?"

The innkeeper was flustered, but I didn't give him any time. Conveniently, I didn't have any luggage to pack either. I was holding my sword in my hand, and my bag was securely slung over my shoulder.

Because I had been so tired that I fell asleep without even taking off my shoes—the soul of a Korean screamed the moment I realized it—there was nothing to go back and get in the first place.

Thanks to that, I left the inn without making a single trip upstairs. The innkeeper followed me out with a silent scream.

"Y-You're leaving just like this. Adventurer."

He desperately pleaded for me to return, but I didn't even pretend to listen. The torchlight coming up from the inn gradually illuminated the street.

"Wait, you there!"

She seemed to have snapped back to reality just now. The Inquisitor hastily ran out as well. I needed to react to this one a bit.

"It seems my words mean nothing to you. Right, you're a *n-o-b-l-e* priest, so I suppose you don't want to hear the words of some demon bastard?"

I smoothly turned my body and raised my sword. Reflected in the Inquisitor's vision, my face was probably so full of anger that I looked like I was laughing in sheer disbelief.

You know, they say people even laugh when they get too angry. Though in reality, I was laughing because I was having fun. Wahahak.

"My leniency ends here."

"... I, I wanted to apolo..."

"Is there any reason for me to tolerate your insolence any longer? My patience is not long. And you're the one who completely wore it out."

At my sharp shout, the Inquisitor squeezed her eyes shut and trembled. From the perspective of my true self rather than my concept, it was a rather pitiful sight.

After all, the Priest I knew was originally supposed to have just been dispatched from the temple to help people. It meant she had only received teachings in a place isolated from society—the temple—and had been unceremoniously pushed out into the world just because the time had come.

In such a situation, how could she not follow the principles and rules she had been taught? Since she hadn't experienced anything else, she wouldn't have the leeway to loosely handle things by weighing the circumstances.

For that reason, I wasn't really all that angry at her actions. I know it firsthand, but people with no experience can become rigid and inflexible beyond imagination.

"If I rip out your tongue, you won't be able to spout anymore nonsense."

But even if I understood, the concept I chose couldn't understand that.

"... You are right."

I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I'm this old and still love this kind of roleplay concept.

But I'm only doing this because you're an NPC, I wouldn't do this in reality... so just endure it.

"A-Adventurer..."

Regardless of whatever the innkeeper was babbling about, I stared at the Inquisitor with an angry face.

As if sensing that gaze, the Inquisitor opened her eyes with a determined look. Her legs bent.

"..."

If I hadn't been tensing my facial expression, my eyes probably would have become as big as saucers by now.

No, no, why is the Priest doing this?

"Inquisitor..."

Even the Archmage, who had followed out belatedly, wore a surprised expression. He then looked back and forth at me, and I wanted to ask him too. Why was she acting like that?

"The insult I have inflicted upon you can no longer be repented with words. Rip it out. If even that is not enough... you may take my life."

... Wait, there are things you should and shouldn't say, what is this NPC talking about? This is driving me crazy. I didn't think she would actually agree to having her tongue ripped out.

I did like this kind of strict and steadfast character, and because I actually liked this personality, the Priest was my favorite character, but still, this was not it. I only said that assuming she would obviously refuse...!

"..."

But I couldn't just give up on my concept either. While I was agonizing over whether I actually had to do it, someone urgently ran over and blocked my path. It was the Archmage.

"Please, show some mercy."

"Archmage, please do not do this."

"She is someone who has only just left the temple. She doesn't know the world yet."

"It is my fault."

"If there is any fault, it lies with me for failing to stop her in time. So if you are to punish someone, punish this old man instead."

Eventually, even the Archmage tried to get down on his knees. I reflexively gripped the longsword at my waist.

"Archmage!"

"I know I have no right to say this. But please..."

"No, it is my fault! The Archmage has nothing to do with it!"

Although mushrooms were sprouting in the corner of my mind, this situation still wasn't too bad. Thanks to him, I had a loophole to let things slide.

To be honest, yeah. Even if I could lessen the guilt because they were NPCs, cutting someone else's tongue—and I couldn't just cut off her head, either—was just too sickening.

Naturally so, since to cut it, I would definitely have to grab the tongue and slice it, and if it were this game, they probably even implemented saliva. No, I'm certain of it. I'd definitely get spit on me.

In that regard, I... didn't really want to get someone else's spit on my hands. I hated the thought of getting it on my sword, too. It was awful and dirty.

"I clearly gave you a chance. Yet you were the ones who chose the penalty."

I spat out the words as coldly as possible and approached them. I could hear the innkeeper holding his breath, and the shoulders of the two flinched slightly.

"The Archmage is innocent. This is all something my foolishness brought upon itself. Please do not lay a hand on him."

"No, on this old man..."

Doing this is making me feel like I've become a Great Demon or something. Should I try a proper ruined-personality concept for my next one?

But seeing how guilty I feel even now, that might be a bit difficult. It was also exhausting that the NPCs were so realistic. If they just repeated the same lines over and over, I'd clearly feel they were just bits of data made up of 0s and 1s, and I could harm them without any difficulty.

I stood in front of the kneeling Inquisitor. The Archmage let out a sigh and lowered his head, and she clenched her jaw.

Her brow was full of wrinkles, which seemed to be caused by forcibly keeping her eyes open when they wanted to shut tight out of fear.

"..."

Don't make a face like that. This mister... wait, for someone her age, I'd be an uncle, right? Anyway, this uncle's heart is softening.

SHING.

I drew my longsword and, with clenched teeth, grabbed the Inquisitor by the hair and yanked her up. Thanks to her tying it in a single bundle herself, it was easy to gather up and grab.

"Ugh!"

Did I pull it too high? The Inquisitor complained of the pain, yet still gingerly opened her mouth. It was a useless consideration.

I'm not a dental hygienist, and I don't have a hobby of looking inside other people's mouths.

SLICE!

I effortlessly sliced the red thing off.

I was a bit anxious about whether this was also implemented as a severable part... but I was lucky. I succeeded.

DROP.

I let the severed hair fall to the floor. The way the red hair spread out on the dirt ground made it feel just like looking at a rose.

Separately, since I cut it while pulling it upwards, her remaining hairstyle ended up looking quite strange, but...

Well, I figured that much was fine for the price of her life. She also managed to break away from her doomed hairstyle, after all.

Let's move on.

"...?"

Meanwhile, the young woman looking up with widened eyes was quite pitiful, and fairly cute. Even if I couldn't show it.

"Your neck will be next, so you'd better look back at your hair and watch your mouth."

Ah, come to think of it, wasn't the older sister in the Demon Knight's family around that age?

It passed by too fast, so I can't be sure. Still, the fact that they both wield a mace is the same.

Then let's go with the idea that I softened up at the end because she reminded me of my older sister. I didn't exactly aim for it, but slapping on the backstory later is half of what makes a setting anyway. It's plenty perfect.

Now, if I just leave like this, it'll be a perfect wrap-up. Great. It gives off strong wandering knight vibes.

"Like this... you're leaving like this...?"

"Ah, heavens..."

From behind, a voice full of dejection and a voice steeped in relief intersected. I felt a bit proud at the fact that I couldn't detect any bewilderment over a broken character concept.

"You!"

Shoo, shoo. Don't call out to me. Miss Priest, you practically just came back from the dead. If the mage hadn't kneeled at the last second, you really would have had your tongue cut out or your neck sliced clean off.

You shouldn't ignore someone obsessed with their concept. Feelings of guilt and concept roleplaying are two separate things, you know?

"Inquisitor..."

That's right, good job, Archmage.

I leisurely left that street, using the sound of the Archmage stopping the Inquisitor as background noise. As I distanced myself from the inn's torchlight, only darkness welcomed me.

... Great.

So, where do I go now?

Although a somewhat trivial problem had been discovered, it still wasn't a major issue.

They made the city map this huge, so there's no way they only made one inn. If I'm really in a rush, I could just leave the city and go night hunting anyway.

Above all, when I thought about how Deep Sea Pearl would handle the story after this—meaning, how the NPCs would cover for this—something like an inn didn't matter at all.

This game is so much fun. Euhahak.