1-Second Invincible Player in the Game

32. The Curtain Falls (2)

The first thing I saw when the door opened was a bouquet of flowers.

“Out of place as it is, have you come for a sick visit?”

The landlady smiled faintly and approached the empty bottle to place the bouquet.

“Unfortunately, it’s not a get-well bouquet.”

I could have just given it without a word, but I frowned at the thorny words.

Because the expression of regret sounded only like a lament for a wreath not meant for condolences.

In the midst of my fierce glare, the landlady parted her lips.

“Congratulations, Hershel. You’ve won.”

…Was the bouquet a wreath?

It was all the same, a flaunt of victory, so I didn’t soften my expression.

“I didn’t let you in to receive congratulations from you. First, take a seat?”

As the landlady sat down, I recalled the things I had been pondering alone.

Topics that had been put on the back burner while surviving the disaster.

I wanted to hear a clear answer about who had released the monster and where the key had come from.

The plausible guesses were over, and while it was highly likely, I needed to ask to confirm.

“The Black Swan of Grudge. Who released that monster?”

“…”

The landlady silently met my gaze.

That alone was a sufficient answer, and I uttered the name of the culprit who caused this situation.

“Daisell, I presume.”

“Why do you think so?”

“The only ones who could pull off such a feat are you or Daisell, and the twins were here. It couldn’t have been you, right?”

“……”

Silence again.

This woman is not answering because there’s nothing beneficial for her son in this.

She must have disposed of all the evidence while I was down.

“Well, never mind that. What I’m curious about is how the monster was released. Where did the key come from? You seem like you would know. Am I wrong?”

“If it’s about that.”

The hostess lifted her head, and the source of the key she revealed was somewhat unexpected.

“It’s from the Schweik family. Something about their overconfidence seemed suspicious, so after some investigation, I managed to get my hands on it.”

Naturally, I had assumed the source of the key to be the ‘Guardians of the Shadows,’ the enemies of the player characters.

After all, the key used by the Guardians of the Shadows was a duplicate, so it wouldn’t be strange if there was another counterfeit.

“The pieces are falling into place. Originally, it was meant to be discarded. But then various things happened, and the key ended up in Daisell’s hands……”

As I spoke, I realized with a shiver that I had obtained the key from Heinrich.

He was prepared for war; he wouldn’t have handed it over so easily.

I don’t know what means he used.

But the process must have involved exceptional skill, and it certainly wasn’t ordinary.

Eager to sever ties with this woman as soon as possible, I brought up the words I had prepared in a calm tone.

“Let’s stop the questioning here. How about we propose a good agreement to each other now, what do you say?”

“An agreement……?”

The hostess chuckled.

“That’s why I find Hassel amusing. There’s always something interestingly different about your reactions.”

“If you’re going to mock me, then don’t.”

“Mock you? Surely not. Alright, let’s hear it then.”

As the hostess leaned in, I took a deep breath and said,

“I have no intention of taking the head’s seat. Let your brilliant son have it or do whatever he wants with it.”

For a moment, the hostess’s eyes flickered.

It must have been an unexpected declaration.

Before I entered this body, it was clear that Hershel would have been desperate for the position of clan leader.

Suddenly, he wants to step down?

Even I would be momentarily brain-dead at such news.

“Why do you say such things so easily?”

“Well.”

Hershel had survived under this woman since his childhood.

This lends credibility to the assumption that the reason for the assassination wasn’t personal vendetta.

It’s simply to remove any obstacles in his son’s path from now on.

If so, taking away my motive to target him would suffice.

“Let’s be honest. You could have killed me by now, couldn’t you? Yet you didn’t. Seeing how relaxed you are, it seems you’ll continue to be a nuisance. Right? But I don’t want to deal with each and every one personally.”

And because sitting in that position would be useless for survival in the future.

“There are many reasons. In fact, I wanted that position to gain the power to punish you. But as I grew older, I realized it’s impossible.”

I had a vague suspicion before, but now I’m certain.

I can’t imagine executing a woman who can toy with even Schweik at will.

“Even if it were possible, I wouldn’t want to. I don’t want to see the twins whining about not having a mother. It would be too noisy.”

The resentment of the little ones was too much to bear.

“So it’s just a bothersome affair. I never wanted that position just to take on menial tasks.”

Asares is not some estate cultivation game.

In my position, needing to ensure the scenario flows well, the position of clan leader is merely a shackle that ties me to one place.

“To put it briefly, it’s meaningless, so I’ll step down.”

There might have been some embellishment, but those words were sincere.

However, the situation is so sudden that this woman will find it hard to believe.

From now on, my task is to add credibility to my claim.

“It sounds plausible, but it’s a bit hard to believe.”

“You would think so. But do you know? Words are fascinating. Depending on the timing, their weight changes.”

“…”

The hostess blinked, perhaps understanding my meaning.

Had I said this before, it would have been dismissed as flattery, mere nonsense. But now, after the festival, it sounds different.

“Think of it simply. I’m stepping off the racehorse, right at the finish line. Of course, I don’t plan to hand it over just like that.”

I didn’t stop there; to drive the point home, I grabbed the paper and pen on the desk.

And so, with a flourish, I boldly wrote down the number.

It wasn’t out of selfish greed, but rather to add credibility to my argument. Certainly not out of any dark desire.

With pure sincerity.

Staking my endlessly clear soul.

“Hmm.”

Judging by the expression, it seems acceptable.

Let’s add just one more zero.

“The inheritance should be about this much. You can give it when your oh-so-great son takes his place.”

“Hershel.”

…Was ten times too much?

At the sharp call, I almost erased a number, but then the lady of the house looked into my eyes as if peering deep within.

“What on earth happened to you?”

“…”

It’s disconcerting to be asked so abruptly.

Especially since this woman seemed to faintly sense that the essence within this body wasn’t truly Hershel.

Yet, I smirked, using the words I’d heard in the past as an excuse.

-They say people don’t change, but I don’t believe that. Especially men, who can change so much in just three days that it’s remarkable. Compared to that, acquiring a taste for tomatoes you never liked or changing your preference in tea are just minor changes.

“You said I’ve changed. As you can see.”

With that, a flicker of intrigue crossed the lady’s housekeeper’s eyes.

“But you’re still greedy for money. It would have been nice if that had changed too…”

…Is it just me, or did that sound like she’s calling me Hershel?

* * *

The doctor said my leg would fully heal within a week.

Two days later, able to walk, I limped out of the annex.

I had only wanted to get some fresh air, but the smell of gunpowder was so strong it made me cough.

“Cough!”

Where the blast had swept through, the flames had melted everything into a plain.

The grand mansion, and even the art gallery the lady of the house cherished, were all reduced to mere ashes.

Still, my own residence was unharmed, so I suppose I was lucky.

Or was I, really?

For the time being, Aol, who had nowhere to go, and the landlady decided to stay in the annex where I was staying, along with her children.

“Young master.”

“Hmm?”

“You planned this, didn’t you?”

“What are you talking about.”

“The annex is perfectly fine.”

I shook my head at Selly’s baseless accusation.

In reality, my private annex was the last place I had bought time.

To think they dared to see me, who was prepared to sacrifice it all, as such a petty person.

“Quiet. We’re short on hands as it is, why don’t you go and help out?”

“I was just about to, considering the looks I was getting.”

Rolling up her sleeves, Selly ran towards the group of servants clearing the debris.

I aimlessly wandered the pitifully ruined grounds and then sat down on a suitable rock.

And once again, I went over the things that had been settled.

The agreement with the landlady went smoothly.

Except for one demand she insisted on, nothing else had changed.

The added clause was that if I changed my word midway, everything would revert to as if it never happened.

It was a wait-and-see approach.

Still, I said it was smooth because my decision would not change.

“Anyway, I’ve secured the retirement funds.”

What’s left is to prepare for the academy.

It didn’t take long to decide whether to focus on the sword or magic for my career path.

“…After all, magic is the only thing I need to learn.”

Preferences and whatnot, there was no inclination or choice.

The core of my being is in a broken state.

There was never a choice to begin with.

It wasn’t a decision, but a compulsion, yet Donatan seemed displeased with the vision I had painted.

‘It’s hard to accept. You are the incarnation of the Wall Thunder, and you’ve made a pact with me, who served the Sword Saint. And yet, you intend to learn mere trifles?’

‘If you’re dissatisfied, why don’t you fix the core?’

‘That’s an impossibility.’

Tired of hearing such talk without an alternative, I decided to ignore it, but Donatan persisted annoyingly.

“So, how about grooming your physique? Even if becoming an Aura Knight is too much, you could wipe out all those beneath. I’ll make sure of it.”

“Are you suggesting I become a worm’s head?”

“At least aim to be a snake’s head.”

Enough, let’s not talk anymore.

I stopped the meaningless conversation and looked up at the sky.

While admiring the moment of sunset, I turned my head towards the sound of footsteps.

Mirsel and Niasel were limping towards me.

“Brother, what are you doing there? Dad’s looking for you.”

“Looking for me? What for?”

“I don’t know the details. Anyway, let’s go back together.”

Somehow, I felt uneasy.

No, ‘uncomfortable’ would be the more accurate term.

Suddenly finding myself possessed by this body.

Even knowing who Aol is, I couldn’t bring myself to call someone I have no memories of raising me ‘father’.

That was also the reason I wandered around with a body not yet healed.

“Alright, let’s go back together.”

Once again, without a choice, I led Mirsel and Niasel back to the annex.

The servants working in between looked at us and whispered.

It seems the sight of all three of us limping was quite a spectacle.

* * *

“Eruzel. Carry me.”

In front of the annex stairs.

It was to the passing mythical steed, Eruzel, that I had spoken.

“Brother, please climb up yourself. What kind of unbecoming behavior for a noble are you suggesting?”

He defended himself as if the idea was preposterous.

I, who had initiated the challenge, attacked him point by point.

“My ankle hurts. So, carry me up.”

“No!”

Eruzel resisted once again.

But with just a bit more pressure, it seems it would crumble.

“Just squatting in my house and you can’t even do that, you’re truly useless.”

“If that’s the case, the soldiers…”

“The soldiers are outside breaking their backs clearing debris, and you think they should keep you fed while you do nothing?”

Erusel twitched his facial muscles and sweated.

I ignited the mental attack ‘Noble Remnant of Blood’ and looked down on him like trash.

He soon sighed and raised the white flag.

“Ah, stop talking. Just carry me.”

“The destination is the reception room where my father is said to be.”

“Ugh, it’s the top floor. You beast…”

“What did you say?”

“I didn’t say anything.”

I mounted the noble steed Erusel and headed towards the new gateway.