Baron Vector
Such a family did not exist in Crusader Bryden NX.
On the day I was possessed, I was expelled from the academy.
Afterward, I spent every spare moment reading newspapers to adapt to this world.
Every noble family in every country existed in the game—except for the Vector family.
The strange thing was that, even though the Vector family should not have existed, the people of this continent recognized it as a noble house that had been around for a long time.
“The Vector Baron family… It has a long history, but I believe it never rose beyond the level of a minor noble house. They must have wanted to rise in status, which is why they tried to ally with Lenis’ family, who had accumulated wealth.”
“Ravi, do you know the Vector Baron family?”
Ravi tilted her head and folded one of her rabbit ears, as if she had just heard a strange question.
“Of course, I know them. The Carat Duchy and the Pratea Kingdom are neighboring countries, separated only by the Presia Mountains. Of course, it’s not like our family had much interaction with them.”
“Aren’t they just a common, weak noble family? What’s this, Alvis? You act like you know everything, but you didn’t know about them?”
Even Elfin’s reaction confirmed that the Vector Baron family was indeed a noble house that had always existed in this world.
And yet, no matter how much I thought about it, something felt off.
I hadn’t been in this world for that long, but every phenomenon that didn’t appear in the game felt strange.
A King Goblin was discovered dead in a place where it shouldn’t have been.
An unknown dark spirit emerged, using the corpse as a medium, in a room filled with curses and sorcery.
The barrier stone of the Presia Mountains was destroyed, and gargoyles appeared in broad daylight—when they shouldn’t exist at all.
Even more strangely, unlike the original setting, the hidden gargoyle cave was now filled with statues of petrified gargoyles.
And then there was Baron Vector’s behavior, which was also suspicious.
If he wanted to climb the social ladder, he should have sought out a marquis or a duke, not Count Valentine.
Why did he specifically approach Lenis?
The way he spoke to Lenis seemed designed to subtly provoke her inferiority complex, manipulating her into action.
Only a handful of people knew that Lenis had an inferiority complex—Ravi, Elfin, Bryden, and Celine.
How could a minor noble from the outskirts have known and made such a perfectly tailored proposal?
Lenis might think she acted entirely of her own volition, but to me, it sounded like a cleverly disguised form of gaslighting.
“Lenis, where is Baron Vector’s territory?”
“Slightly east of the Lavanium Mine… but why do you ask?”
That made things even more suspicious.
In the game, there was a vast empty plain to the east of the Lavanium Mine.
The problem was that this area had no monsters, no collectible resources, and no hidden items—nothing at all.
It was literally just an empty field where not even a single blade of grass grew.
At the time, I wondered why such a space existed, but after seeing the game’s shoddy design, I just thought, Ah, this is a trash game that they never properly finished.
But now, they’re saying that Baron Vector’s territory is there?
The more I learned, the more suspicious it became.
“Ravi, Elfin. I think we need to visit Baron Vector’s territory. Lenis, you’re coming too.”
“Huh? Why all of a sudden…?”
“Do you have a reason for this?”
“Do you remember what Linian said at the Libertà fortune-teller’s shop? About the Underground Worms?”
At the mention of the name of the creatures they feared most, both Ravi and Elfin flinched at the same time.
“Yes… The ones who work in the shadows to manipulate this world.”
“You’re not saying that Baron Vector is connected to them, are you?”
“I am.”
“What’s your basis for that?”
“Just a feeling.”
Elfin crossed her arms, looking utterly dumbfounded by my answer.
“Just a feeling? What are you planning to say when we get to Baron Vector’s territory? ‘Oh, I just had a feeling that you might be an Underground Worm, so I came to check if it’s true’? Your family is already fallen and doesn’t even exist anymore, so it won’t be able to protect you. You do realize you could be executed on the spot for insulting a noble, right?”
Elfin had a point, but I couldn’t ignore this overwhelming suspicion.
If I were completely off track, then fate—ever so dramatic—would have already twisted my gut in agony, but that hadn’t happened.
All the clues were pointing toward Baron Vector’s territory.
Even though Ravi and Elfin had heard Linian’s warning firsthand, they didn’t seem entirely convinced.
Lenis, who hadn’t even met Linian, was even more skeptical.
“Alvis, are you insulting our country’s nobility right now? Unlike perverted deviants like you, our nobles take pride in their status! Sure, they have issues with accepting new nobles, but still—how dare you compare them to insects?! If you don’t take that back immediately, I’ll report this to Baron Vector as soon as we return!”
“Lenis, before you start worrying about that, maybe you should think about how you’re going to take responsibility for leading your soldiers to their deaths.”
“That’s just your assumption!”
“Then we’ll find out once we reach the nearest city. But for now, you’re staying with us. We’ve already stirred up Libertà , which means those guys are definitely after your head. It’ll take over a week to reach any other city, so you’re coming with us.”
“Why the hell do you get to decide that—”
Ravi stepped in to calm Lenis down before she could protest further.
“Lenis, for now, it’s best to go along with this. The strange presence I felt in Libertà was definitely real.”
“Tch… Agreeing with this guy makes me feel like I’m losing, but I have to admit, he’s right about one thing. Lenis, you were in serious danger back there. I know listening to Alvis pisses you off, but let’s stick together for now. If you really want to insult him, I’ll help you.”
“Ugh… Even you two are saying this? Why are you even traveling with someone like him in the first place…? Haah… Fine. But nothing is going to happen, so once we reach the city, I’m going straight back to my family. And Alvis, you’d better be ready to pay the price for insulting our nobles!”
“Let’s worry about that after we confirm that nothing happens.”
—
Lenis tilted her head slightly, noticing something different about Alvis.
More than anything, she couldn’t understand why Ravi—who wasn’t particularly fond of Alvis—and Elfin—who outright despised him—were traveling with him in the first place.
And now this guy, who she kidnapped, was ordering her to accompany him? Where did he learn that kind of etiquette?
Lenis scoffed to herself.
Hmph.
I don’t know what kind of ridiculous act he’s putting on, but in the end, Alvis is still Alvis.
Once I get back home, I should let Bryden and Celine know that this guy is dragging them around doing who knows what.
The Kingdom of Pratea in Turmoil
The Kingdom of Pratea was in complete upheaval following the urgent report that had arrived at the royal castle.
“Those damned scum…!”
“The victims may have been mercenaries, but this is still an act of outright rebellion against a noble!”
“The Valentine County may have bought their title with money, but nominally speaking, they are still nobles. Even if they’re nobles in name only, they are still part of the aristocracy. What Liberta did this time crossed the line—far beyond what we can ignore.”
“However, this situation is closer to an individual incident caused by the reckless actions of the Valentine daughter. The damage may be severe, but it remains an act of personal misconduct. There is no reason for the kingdom to bleed for the sake of cleaning up the mess she made.”
Lenis Valentine had marched into Libertà with several hundred mercenaries, boldly declaring a “purification operation.”
However, the result was catastrophic—Lenis had gone missing, and nearly all the mercenaries had been annihilated, with only four or five survivors left.
Now, the king and the nobles of Pratea were engaged in heated discussions: should they treat this incident as a rebellion against the kingdom’s nobility, or simply as the result of an individual’s reckless blunder and cut their losses?
Meanwhile, Count Valentine, his face pale, anxiously searched for news of his daughter.
“L-Lenis…! Has her whereabouts still not been confirmed?! Is she alive?!”
“Compose yourself, Count. Act like a noble.”
“How can you talk about composure when my daughter is missing—”
“From the moment she gathered mercenaries and recklessly stormed into Libertà , she assumed responsibility for her own fate. You’re a merchant by birth, so you should know better than anyone not to step into danger thoughtlessly. Didn’t you teach your daughter that, Count Valentine?”
“You…!”
“This discussion is going in circles. Let’s all take a moment to calm down and hear what I have to say.”
Just as Count Valentine was about to explode with anger, a voice cut through the tense air, quieting the gathered nobles.
“Speak, Baron Vector.”
“We could frame this as a personal accident and place all responsibility on Count Valentine’s family. However, let’s look at the facts. The Valentine daughter had not even launched an attack—she had only issued a demand for the evacuation of Libertà . And yet, it was the vagrants of Libertà who were the first to draw their swords and engage in violence.”
“Hrm…”
“According to the testimonies of the survivors, a bright flash of light erupted, and the Valentine daughter was kidnapped. Almost immediately after that, Libertà launched their assault, as if they had been waiting for that very moment. My guess is that they separated her first to ensure she didn’t die in the initial chaos—they likely intend to hold her for ransom.
If Count Valentine agrees to pay, or if he refuses and she is executed, either way, this will be a humiliation for the kingdom. The public will scorn us, saying we can’t even control the lawless zones within our own borders. What an utter disgrace that would be.”
“Then, Baron Vector, are you suggesting that we mobilize the royal army to resolve this matter?”
“If it were that simple, it would have been done long ago. But Libertà has long been a festering wound to this kingdom. If they notice a large-scale military deployment, the vagrants will scatter like cockroaches and hide, only to return once the situation calms down. This has happened many times before.”
Hearing this, the nobles in the room clicked their tongues in frustration.
Libertà had always been an eyesore to the kingdom.
“That is why sending a conventional army will not be effective. Instead, I propose… requesting the deployment of the Crusaders.”
“You want to ask the Andras Empire for help?”
“Are you out of your mind, Baron Vector? How can we ask a foreign power for assistance with a domestic issue?!”
The nobles erupted in outrage, but Baron Vector remained calm.
“Not their soldiers. I am only suggesting that we call upon the ‘Crusaders and their direct subordinates.’ While it’s true that the Andras Empire appoints Crusaders and provides them with a place to reside, they do not serve the empire. It’s merely that the Crusaders have been based there for so long that people assume they are imperial troops.
However, according to doctrine, anyone on this continent may request aid from the Crusaders, and if they deem the request just, they have the authority to mobilize without requiring the empire’s approval.”
King Pratea immediately summoned the royal clergy.
Upon hearing the details, the priests confirmed Baron Vector’s statement.
“Baron Vector’s words are accurate. Over time, both the empire and other nations have come to view the Crusaders as an extension of the empire’s military. However, by doctrine, the Crusaders are ‘the Goddess’s warriors,’ not the ‘Empire’s warriors.’ They are an independent force, and the empire has no right to interfere with or restrict their movements.”
With this confirmation, Baron Vector smiled and continued.
“The current Crusader, as I understand, was quite close to the Valentine daughter during their time at the academy.
Do you think a Crusader would turn a blind eye when their friend has been attacked and taken hostage?
Since the empire has no authority over the Crusaders, this wouldn’t be considered foreign interference. Additionally, the Crusaders operate with a small, elite force, making it unlikely that they’d be detected before launching their attack.
With the Crusaders’ power, they could easily eradicate the vagrants in Liberta.
Count Valentine would be able to rescue his daughter, and the kingdom would finally rid itself of an age-old infestation.
On top of that, since the Libertà rebels were the first to draw their blades, we have the perfect justification for our actions.
There is no better opportunity than this.”
At these words, Count Valentine fell to his knees before the king, pleading.
“Your Majesty! Baron Vector’s proposal is absolutely correct! I beg you as well! My foolish daughter has caused a disaster, but she is still my only child! I will personally cover all costs required to deploy the Crusaders. I seek no reward or recognition—just please, let me save my daughter!”
Recognizing the validity of Baron Vector’s plan, the nobles slowly began voicing their agreement, urging the king to seize this chance to finally eliminate Libertà .
After a moment of contemplation, the king declared that he would secretly send an envoy to request the Crusaders’ deployment.
At that moment, Baron Vector smiled widely—so much so that his teeth showed.
Yet, in the heat of the discussion, no one in the chamber noticed.