章 21: The Chasers (1)
That evening, it was time for the family dinner.
A grand banquet was being held in House Reinhafer.
It was a party to celebrate the graduation of Theo's second son, Grine, from Eldain Academy.
With this, House Reinhafer has once again raised the family name to great honor. Graduating from the academy is extremely difficult for as prestigious as the academy is.
Fewer than a thousand first-time students succeed in taking and passing the entrance exams, and only about half of them graduate. ....
It makes me realize that I have a lot of ground to cover.
Shit, maybe I really shouldn't do it....
Anyhow.
All things considered.
The fact that the House used two tickets to produce two graduates is a very good thing.
It's not a common occurrence among the other ducal families, so Theo seems quite pleased with himself.
For the record, the twins did not attend. Their mother, Psylla, is probably still beating them up for not being able to get them into the school.
Plus, they'd be embarrassed to tell their returning older brother that they were defeated by their younger sibling, if that's even possible.
Well, whatever.
Forgetting that it wasn't important now, I listened to the conversation between Grine and Theo.
"Good work, Grine, have we decided on a specific timeline for the mission?"
"Yep. We will depart for the southern Chasers in three days."
Grine inclined his head and spoke with courtesy. Just looking at it, it's almost a shrine.
Well… as anyone who's ever played Inner Lunatic knows, there's a sneaky rascal underneath.
"Chasers… to be there at this time of year, I assume your primary mission is to hunt down demons."
Grine nods quickly at Theo's words.
I recognize the setup.
Chasers.
A neutral territory in the south, just outside of Reinhafer's territory, it was a barren, demon-infested wilderness of the worst kind.
According to the sub-story, Grine was assigned to this area on a mission from the Imperial Family to stop a monster wave.
This is because it is a rule in the Arkheim Empire that in order to become a knight recognized by the imperial family, you must fulfill your first assignment from the empire.
However, it's not all about monster hunting.
The main plot of Chasers isn't just about hunting monsters, there are other intricate threads running through it.
There's also quite a bit of loot to be had in what could hardly be considered a subplot.
Of course, in order to get all of this, I'd have to participate in the Chasers Carnage myself.
I said, "I've got the details. The only problem is getting permission....'
I had it all planned out.
Whether or not Theo would allow my bratty youngest son to see the outside world is another matter, and one I've been struggling with for some time.
No matter how much he'd changed recently.
Nox's reputation is still in tatters.
'After all, it wasn't that long ago that he lost his temper with the family doctor....'
Not only that, but it seems to have had an effect on the maids and butlers who were spreading rumors about him, too.
Now they think I'm totally in love with her. There's even talk of me touching her already.
Damn. Why the hell do I have to listen to this crap?
Even Rona has picked up on this vain rumor and commented.
-Did the Master finally put his hand on Zitri?!
-What the hell is that…
-It's already been rumored! How could Master Nox do such a thing… ah.
Damn it.
Did she think it was natural for me to put my hands on Zitri…!
The story leaked out for a while.
The bottom line was that I had to go to the Chasers now, and I had to convince two people, Theo and Grine, to allow me to go.
I knew I was in for a rough start.
I'd better get my timing right and get in on the action.
With that thought in mind, I focused on the two men as they continued.
"The Chasers are always overrun with monsters in the winter, so it must be in the imperial interest to get a head start on them in a timely manner."
"Certainly… it's a barren land, but what goes down there goes down elsewhere. In any case, don't let the name Reinhafer be attached to it."
"I will keep that in mind, Father."
That was the end of the conversation between Grine and Theo.
The family banquet continued, with maids flying around incessantly.
I tried to think of a way to bring up the subject, but then I caught sight of Grine's grave face as he spoke to me.
I felt a little… dirty, to be honest.
"Nox, I've been hearing a lot about you lately."
Grine begins, a mischievous look on his face.
By rumors, I mean my recent exploits.
And the biggest one is probably about the attack on Mia's forest....
He didn't seem to believe me.
I can't help it.
It's a feat that even those who saw it in person would shake their heads and call bullshit on.
"Is it true that you attacked Mia's Forest with the second daughter of the Steiner family?"
"It is true."
I reply dryly. No amount of platitudes here would make it believable.
Moreover, his tone is unmistakably mocking.
There's no warm glance or eye contact with my youngest sister.
No wonder. It's a fantasy, really, to expect such a thing at Reinhafer.
Grine interrupts with a toothy grin.
"I see. So all those rumors about you defeating your twin brothers, Hartz and Allen, and taking a lowly commoner girl as a maid are true."
"Yes."
I say it again, this time bluntly, and I can feel Grine's eyes slowly moving over me. It's as if he's trying to read something.
He's trying to use his skills.
He's convinced I'm hiding something.
But it's impossible.
There's not even a hint of agitation in my expression.
[As a talent, it can be activated at any time.
All it takes is the right amount of concentration.
__________________
[Basic Info]
Name: Grine von Reinhaber
Gender: Male
Age: 18
Race: Human
Primary Element: Darkness
Achievements: -.
[Traits].
Affirmations: [Quick Recognition]
Neutral: [meticulous calculation]
Negatives: [Hypocrisy] / [Contempt] / [Aristocracy] [Opportunism]
[Stats]
Physique: 12
Mana: 11
Luck: 4
Will: 3
Charm: 16
[Skills].
Passive Skills: -.
Active Skills: [Sensitive Perception].
__________________
Grine's skill is [Sensitive Perception].
It's a skill that allows him to quickly read people's moods, and he can read the reactions of people with lower stats than him.
In other words, it's a skill that makes him a master of manipulation.
"Hmm…."
Grine furrowed his brow and was about to say something more, but I beat him to it.
"You said you were going to the Chasers?"
"Yeah."
I followed up quickly, taking advantage of Grine's nonchalant response.
"Would you mind taking me with you?"
"...What's that supposed to mean?"
Shit.
I tried to make it sound casual, but the response I got back was less than pleasant. Maybe it's because Grine and Nox don't get along.
These assholes are both assholes and don't interact with each other.
I read elsewhere that they are playing with each other....
Either way, Nox has never been helpful.
"Do you even know what the Chasers are like?"
"I've heard that it's a neutral zone with occasional raids by demons, and a place where bandits secretly grow in power and size."
"And you know that and now you're asking me to take you on a mission, Nox! There are limits to how far you've come in your recent rise to prominence! This is no joke, this is a life-or-death mission!"
"I know."
I replied, this time calmly.
Grine crossed his arms in thought, as if to say, "Try this."
"Perhaps the recent victory over the twins. That, coupled with our reputation starting to improve with the maze capture, must have driven the youngest one insane.
Grine looked convinced.
'Sure.
It's the Chasers, not anywhere else.
Famous for people dying. I mean, it's one of the worst places in the world, with desert all around.
And Nox, who had just come of age, was going with them?
At first, Grine doesn't believe all the rumors about his youngest.
He remembers what Nox used to be like.
A sickly, bedridden scum whose only skill was to snarl at others.
As such, he didn't believe the news of Nox's progress.
From the beginning, Nox was an asshole. An asshole, a third-rate actor. It's nothing more than a role to make himself look good!
"…That's probably what he thinks.
Grine's thoughts are unscripted.
" Ha...."
Grine said, realizing that he was in front of their father and barely keeping his anger in check.
"You have not even been admitted to Eldain yet, and you cannot accompany me on my mission. I don't want to have to clean up your corpse with my own hands."
I respond to Grine's sarcasm with as much ease as I can muster.
If you back down here, you're a sewer.
"I can be of assistance in your mission. Of course, I'm sure you'll do fine in the Chasers without me, but as a newcomer to Eldain, I'd like to watch your swordplay from the sidelines and help in any way I can."
"You'll only be a burden."
"No."
Grine was about to shake his head emphatically when Theo abruptly interrupted, glancing back and forth between Grine and me.
"I think I can vouch for the fact that Knox will not be a burden."
"…Father?"
"I command you. Grine. In the name of the head of House Reinhafer, you are to take your brother, Knox von Reinhafer, and lead him in the fight against the Chasers."
"But!"
Grine was taken aback by this unexpected development.
Neither was I.
Why is Theo suddenly taking my side here?
I never thought this would happen…
"However, I, too, am in the position of sending my sons into the barrens. Both of you, I will see to it that your respective families are provided with the necessary supplies."
Grine's face crumpled as if he'd chewed on a worm.
No wonder he was burdened.
As for me, I couldn't have asked for a better outcome.
I had somehow succeeded in achieving my goal.
After Theo finished speaking.
I was the first to get up from my seat and return to the guest room.
At that moment, after a moment of lingering silence.
Grine looked at me and gritted his teeth.
"Nox. What the hell are you doing, have you lost your mind?"
"Crazy, but not as crazy as the man I once was."
"What kind of pun…!"
Grine exclaimed angrily, and tried to grab at my forehead.
"Whoops!"
Zitri, who had been waiting nearby, suddenly leaned toward me, then lost his balance and fell, spilling wine on the tablecloth.
It soaks into my white shirt and begins to stain it black.
" My apologies, Young Master, I'll get you cleaned up in no time, please go to your room!"
"Brother, I'm sorry, but my maid must have made a mistake."
I smiled sheepishly as I rose from my seat.
"The day we go to take on the Chasers, then. I'll see you in three days."
With that, I turned and walked down the empty hallway, smiling weakly.
Zitri was right beside me.
"I see you're still good at acting. Thank you. You've saved me a lot of trouble."
"…Whatever. You're really good at making things happen."
A slightly sarcastic Zitri glanced at me and added.
"Are you okay, by the way?"
Zitri was speaking with concern for me.
Earlier, she had deliberately spilled wine on me.
To get me out of my seat and to prevent Grine and I from fighting unnecessarily.
It was a skillful maneuver, the genius of a counselor.
"It's okay, don't worry."
I blurted out.
I was in the best mood I'd ever been in.
[Slay the Chasers].
I'd finally gotten to participate in the most rewarding of the subquests. And with the support of the Rinehafer Family's patriarch!
'This is bound to feel good.'
My dramatic facial expression changes.
Zitri only let out a small sigh and trailed behind me.
* * *
"Young Master, have you lost your mind!"
Rona's voice rings in my ears as soon as I return to the room.
No, but has she stopped honoring me altogether now?
I can't believe she's so easily accused me of insanity…
I can only wonder where my authority as a master has gone.
"…For once, I'm on the same page as Senior Rona. The 'Chasers' area is dangerous no matter what, the number of demons and bandits gathering there alone is said to be in the dozens."
"It's okay, I've thought of everything."
Rona still looks disbelieving, and Zitri looks worried, even though she believes me.
I don't have a problem with that either.
I appreciate the concern, but it's really not something I can control.
Even at this moment, my lifespan is dwindling.
To survive.
And if I'm going to make it to Eldain Academy, I need to extend my life as much as possible.
If I don't buy myself a few months of life ahead of time, there's a good chance I won't be able to keep up with the Academy's murderous curriculum.
For now, I must squeeze every last ounce of efficiency out of the time I have left.
"I'll be the only one going on this extermination, so Rona and Zitri can stay here...."
"I'm sorry, but I can't do that."
Unlike Rona, who was pleased with my words, Zitri's head snapped up, showing her discomfort. She looked slightly angry.
I wondered what was wrong with her all of a sudden.
"As his exclusive maid, I am obligated to accompany Young Master Nox wherever he goes, so I must go with him."
Her words were clearly sophistry.
Even a nobleman would rarely take a maid with him in a wartime situation like this unless they were the most lecherous or promiscuous.
"You might get hurt."
"Yes, but it could also hurt you."
"...."
What the hell.
I hope she's not trying to argue with me.
I paused, trying to read her intentions.
Then Zitri saw an opening and jumped in.
"Young Master Nox, I understand from Rona that you are very ill. Do you think you'll be able to travel that far without me? You often forget things… and your clothes need to be cleaned, do you think you'll be able to do that alone?"
"...."
This is definitely outside of my expectations.
It's the kind of thing that I've never bothered with in games because I've just moved on to God.
But it's definitely something that would have bothered me.
Obviously, it would be much better with a Zitri.
Still....
'She almost sacrificed herself for me once, can I take her into battle again?
It's me, and I have no choice but to take on the stronger beast here or die.
But she's not.
She can live.
Just by staying here....
I paused for a moment at that thought and smiled wryly.
No, that's not true.
"'Zitri has lost her family and serves only me. And I hear there are factions among the maids.
I wondered what her future would be if I were to die in the Chasers' war of attrition.
She'd be exiled and end up committing suicide, just like the first time.
Better that I take her with me.
I concluded, then shook my head as if I couldn't do it.
"Instead, you will follow me. And learn to borrow Carl's back."
"Okay, besides... I'm already pretty close with Carl."
"What! You're getting friendly with Carl?! Zitri, how the hell did you do that!"
Rona exclaimed, jumping up and down.
Zitri smiled awkwardly.
"Well… I took half of my paycheck and bought him the finest quality cane sugar for horses, and in no time at all...."
I flushed at that.
Of course, Zitri had been carrying a knife a lot lately.
But I hadn't realized she'd spent so much money on it....
Like your master, you're a big eater.
I looked toward the stall where the knives were and muttered in a low voice.
"Anyway, Rona, stay behind, and Zitri, assist me. Make sure you help me get there."
"Understood, Young Master."
I smile at the curt reply.
Only Rona is left out in the cold, trusting conversation.
" Carl… you bastard... haystack wasn't even food? You think it's best to buy him a treat that fits his mouth…? Yeah. You were an animal too, just like your master...."
That's it!
I once again placed the beetle on the back of her head.
It's a mild prescription.
These days, Rona has a habit of coming out of the woodwork, only to come back in again.
Hawks are the medicine.
With that thought, I began my preparations for the Chasers annihilation in earnest.
All that's left is about three days....
Knock.
Suddenly, I hear Rodwell's voice knocking on the door.
Sure enough, it was Rodwell.
"Young Master, the Lord says he has something for you."
Theo has something for me…?
I felt my heart pound with the words.
A gamer's certainty filled my head that it must be something useful.
I immediately dressed neatly.
This time, I made sure my shirt was clean and my coat was well packed.
Items are supposed to be sacred and untainted.
Then....
Let's go!
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