Chapter 363 - Responsibility (1)

Finally free of the cell, we moved to the officers' room at the center of the ship. After all, what we were about to discuss needed to stay confidential.

"You can speak freely here. This room was designed for confidential discussions in the first place."

Oh, in that case.

"First, I'd like to hear about the battle. How did the ambush turn out?"

I decided to start with the information I'd been most curious about during our imprisonment, and had been completely cut off from: what had become of Orculus's attack?

"Lesser Count Ramleond was killed in action. The Traitor, Ricardo Luhenpraha, got him during the retreat."

My heart sank at the news that none other than our corps commander had been assassinated, but once I heard the details, the military situation itself wasn't all that urgent. Apparently, the offensive had stopped as soon as our forces dug in, using the dozens of ships on the lake as a fortress. Things had remained that way for two hours.

"Command suspects the purpose of the ambush was to assassinate key figures amid the confusion."

Assassinating key figures...

"That certainly seems likely."

After all, the Blood Knight had muttered something along those lines the moment he saw us.

["The Mage of Gold, Allua Raven."]

["One of the targets, to be killed."]

Raven must have been one of the important figures on their kill list, too. A rough picture of the strategy behind the attack took shape in my head.

'The Corpse Collector scattered undead over a wide area, then used them to locate the assassination targets and share their positions.'

Sure enough, the number of undead around us had surged after we engaged the Blood Knight, and three reinforcements had arrived not long afterward.

"Anyway, the situation isn't that urgent right now. So let's discuss that first. What are you planning to do next, Mr. Jandel?"

Hmm, a plan...

'That's something I need to start thinking about now...'

I'd never expected the gift that old geezer gave me to work like this, either. Thanks to that, my own head was a mess—

"Um, and..."

Raven trailed off, looking at me.

"Let me make this clear in advance. I only helped you this once because I couldn't do otherwise. I can't keep doing this."

... Huh?

Weren't we companions again now...?

When I gave her a betrayed look, Raven averted her eyes.

"Looking at me like that won't help. I think I've taken enough of a risk just by letting this pass without reporting it. As far as I'm concerned, I've done my duty to you."

It left a bitter taste, but I could understand. She hadn't reported me because she couldn't just let me die, but that didn't mean she was prepared to fall into the abyss with me.

That was what helping an evil spirit meant in this world. The moment you were caught, your ruin was guaranteed.

And so...

"Raven, I'm not going to blame you, so don't look like that. I'm grateful you helped me even this once. I'll do my best to keep your name out of it if anything goes wrong later."

I gave her a barbarian grin and patted her little shoulder. But what was this?

THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!

Normally, this was when Raven would shriek that it hurt and glare at me. This time, she didn't. She only worried at her lip and lowered her gaze.

"Mr. Jandel... how can you, even in a situation like this..."

Sheesh, was that bothering her now? Getting all emotional for no reason. I'd told her I understood.

"You tried to help me even knowing everything. That's already enough for me."

If anything, I felt guilty. She'd been living a perfectly good life with a bright future ahead of her, and because of me, she'd had to risk losing it all.

"..."

"..."

An awkward silence followed for a while. Once Raven had regained some composure, she returned to the original subject with a sheepish look.

"Anyway... what are you going to do next?"

"Well, I think you're better off not hearing that."

"...?"

"If you hear it and get even more involved with me, it'll be hard to get out later. You said this was the last time you'd help me anyway, didn't you?"

Raven flinched when I drew the line this time. But apparently, she had something to say in return.

"... You said you'd try to keep my name out of it, Mr. Jandel, but we don't know how things will turn out."

"That's true."

"For now, the best thing is not to get caught. And if that's what it takes..."

"... What it takes?"

"I'm willing to help, too. To some extent..."

What? So she was going to help after all.

When I grinned, Raven shot me a vaguely irritated look.

"Never mind that. Just tell me what you're going to do now. You must have had something in mind to come all the way to a battlefield while hiding your identity. You knew you'd inevitably attract attention."

At Raven's question, I considered my answer, then spoke with a barbarian's frankness.

"Nothing. For now."

"... What?"

She could look at me like that all she wanted, but I couldn't produce what I didn't have. I'd genuinely never imagined Auriel Gabis's gift would work this way. I'd come because I needed quick money, but I'd intended to avoid drawing attention as much as possible.

Had that answer never even occurred to her?

"... By nothing, you mean... you don't have any plan at all?"

Raven was practically stumbling over her words as she asked again. Once more, I owned up to it like a man.

"Yes."

"... Really? If anyone finds out I helped you, Mr. Jandel, I won't just be fired from the military. I could be expelled from the Magic Tower, too."

Wow, she could get expelled from the Magic Tower? I'd wondered, but she'd really taken that big a risk?

Feeling grateful for her resolve all over again, I changed the subject.

"... By the way, being locked up for so long has made me hungry. Would you mind if I got out some jerky—"

"Don't change the subject!"

"I-I'm not. I'm actually hungry—"

"What are you talking about?! You're not even a real barbarian!!"

Huh. Come to think of it, that wouldn't work on her anymore.

"..."

Somehow... it felt bittersweet.

* * *

"Haa..."

A sigh echoed through the silent officers' room. In that uncomfortable atmosphere, I carefully chewed on some jerky I'd sneaked out.

"Are you... eating something?"

Look, I really was hungry. This was still a barbarian's body, wasn't it? I had to keep feeding it nutrients all the time.

"... Want some?"

"No, thank you."

"..."

"Ha. How was I supposed to know you were an evil spirit when you act like this all the time...?"

Raven heaved another deep sigh, but I chose to take that as praise for how thorough I'd been.

I chewed away.

Whew, getting some food into me was finally bringing back a little strength.

"Raven, did you know something, though?"

"... About what?"

"It seemed like you had a reason to suspect me besides the royal family's proclamation."

"Oh, that..."

Raven's expression darkened instantly. But perhaps she decided there was no reason to hide it.

"The magic device containing a conversation between Hans Krissen and a dwarf from Noark."

Oh, so that had ended up with her. But what about that recorder?

When I gave her a questioning look, Raven slowly continued her explanation.

"Maybe because it used a cheap core, there was a limit to how many times the recording could be played."

"... And?"

"It could be played a hundred times, and there were only two left. That's when I first wondered why you'd listened to it over and over so much, Mr. Jandel."

"... I see."

Who would've thought that would become a clue? I'd never imagined—

"Actually... something else was much more decisive than that..."

Huh?

"Misha came to my laboratory. About fifty days after you died."

"... What did she say?"

"She told me rumors would start spreading that you were an evil spirit."

Was it because we were talking about Misha? Suddenly, I felt my heart go cold.

"And?"

"Between that and the magic device, something bothered me, so I asked her. Whether it was actually more than just a rumor."

Misha had avoided answering at the time. Ironically, though, that had been a clearer answer than anything else.

"... Wait. Then you're saying the one who spread the rumor was that beas... no, that woman?"

Erwin, who had been listening quietly, cut in. Raven glanced at her with a slightly uncomfortable look, then nodded.

"Probably. Though I don't know what circumstances Misha was in."

At Raven's confirmation, Erwin ground her teeth.

"Circumstances, my ass. That woman... I knew she'd do something like this someday..."

"Calm down, Erwin. None of us knows what situation Misha is in yet."

"But...! No matter what the situation was, I would never have done that! Aren't you angry, Mister? It's practically a betrayal!"

"And I'm telling you, we don't know that yet."

Honestly, I was more worried than angry. There was also what I'd heard at the Round Table.

Misha was with Lee Baekho.

And...

["Lee Baekho has the Stone of Resurrection."]

Maybe she'd made some kind of deal with him to save me. Well, that was only my guess, and even if it were true, it wouldn't change the fact that her choice had ended up hurting me.

Seriously, where was she, and what the hell was she doing?

"Honestly! Mister... why do you have to be so stupidly kind?!"

What was she talking about?

"Never mind that. Raven... you don't know why the royal family acknowledged the rumor and made that proclamation, then?"

"No. But... Commander Pevrosk did say something to me."

"What did he say?"

"He came to see me as soon as the proclamation was made and said you were already dead, and that no one could know the truth anymore. Of course, at the time I thought he was just trying to comfort me because he assumed I'd be shocked..."

"..."

"Looking back, though, there was something odd about his tone. As if he knew what the truth was, I suppose? Looking into that might turn up something."

"... Could you look into it when you get back to the city?"

"Yes, that much I can do..."

Contrary to my worries, Raven readily nodded. Thankfully, a request like this seemed to fall within 'to some extent.'

* * *

Afterward, we all discussed our plans for the future, and soon reached a conclusion.

"Then you should keep your identity hidden for the time being."

Now that we knew how verification with Broken Trust worked, we decided I needed to be even more careful about revealing my identity.

"But... why didn't Broken Trust work on you alone, Mr. Jandel?"

I simply made an excuse rather than explain Auriel Gabis's gift.

"I'm not sure, either. Maybe it has something to do with the Stone Fragment of Records."

It was still deception, but I had no choice. I was the only one immune to things like Broken Trust.

It might seem pointless now that they all knew I was an evil spirit, but no one knew how things would turn out in the future. That was also why I hadn't told even Amelia yet.

'Besides, explaining that would inevitably mean talking about Auriel Gabis.'

Auriel Gabis was an enemy of the royal family. What if they learned I was an evil spirit who'd even received a 'gift' from him? I'd undoubtedly find myself in an even worse position.

In other words, I'd lose any room I might have to negotiate as an evil spirit.

"Still... that's something to be thankful for, at least. If this wasn't a one-time occurrence, and it won't work on you in the future either, that means you're a little safer."

"Yes, I think so, too."

"But... Mister, do you really have to reveal your identity? I'm happy with you just the way you are now..."

Erwin offered that suggestion, but I wasn't changing my ultimate goal of clearing my name(?) and reclaiming my original identity.

"Then I'd never be able to get a Spirit Seal, would I?"

Why did she think I'd chosen to build a barbarian, of all things? A Spirit Seal was essential if I wanted more synergy with the Essences I'd absorbed.

But perhaps Erwin couldn't relate to how I felt.

"You could... just not get it."

With a trace of sadness in her voice, Erwin asked,

"Mister... why are you so obsessed with getting stronger...?"

Everyone turned to me at that question.

"Come to think of it, you've always been like that, Mr. Jandel... Only interested in climbing the tower..."

While Raven's eyes held a hint of unease...

"I've heard this before. There's a rumor that if you reach the end of the Labyrinth, you can return to your original world, isn't there?"

Amelia calmly understood my position. But I wasn't particularly grateful. Put that way, it was bound to cause a misunderstanding.

"Don't tell me that's why you, too, Mister...?"

"... So you have a reason to go back, even if it means going that far. Well, it is your home..."

"Mister... can't you just live here...? I-I'll do better... I won't cause any trouble..."

Oh, seriously, what were they talking about?

"Erwin, calm down. There seems to be a misunderstanding."

Returning home?

That had never been my top priority, and it still wasn't. My number-one goal had always been survival.

But now, after meeting people, exploring, and going through so much, that top priority had changed a little.

Not just me.

All of us surviving together.

Yes, so...

"Why am I so obsessed with getting stronger?"

Without the slightest hesitation, I continued.

"Because that's how I can protect you."

My own body was no longer the only thing this shield had to protect.