After finishing our meal, we all gathered in my room to discuss what lay ahead.
Lenis, the most skilled in magic among us, cast a spell to ensure our conversation wouldn’t be overheard.
However, her expression as she wove her magic seemed dazed.
“Lenis, are you okay?”
Elfin tried to comfort her, but it was unclear whether Lenis even heard the words.
“Th-Those troops… They were all mercenaries… Now what am I supposed to do…? They’ll definitely hold me accountable…”
Because her merchant father had bought his noble title with money, Lenis had always tried to maintain a position where others would look up to her.
She was well aware that other nobles in the kingdom didn’t truly see her as one of them, so she was constantly seeking achievements that would silence her detractors.
She forced herself to act sophisticated, adopting an aristocratic manner of speech to appear more refined.
That was why she chose the path of a mage—magic appeared far more elegant and grandiose compared to swordsmanship.
Her spells were all flashy and extravagant, as if designed to make an impression.
But beneath it all, she was a bundle of insecurities, terrified of being looked down upon, burdened with a deep inferiority complex over her origins.
A classic case of someone tough on the outside but fragile within.
Now, hearing that the forces she had proudly led had been nearly wiped out by Liberta’s attack, it was only natural for her to be shaken.
“Lenis, pull yourself together. This might not be something that happened just because of you.”
Her tear-filled eyes turned toward me, clinging to even the smallest hope.
“What… What do you mean?”
“No matter how I think about it, that Baron Vector guy… Something about him is suspicious.”
I explained my suspicions about Baron Vector.
Of course, I left out the fact that, according to the game’s lore, his territory was originally just an empty wasteland.
After hearing me out, Ravi and Elfin organized their thoughts and nodded in agreement.
“It is a bit strange. He didn’t even confirm whether Lenis was dead before pushing the count’s daughter into action and sending mercenaries he personally knew. Why wouldn’t he check her status first?”
“If he was really just trying to ride the coattails of success, wouldn’t it have been easier to first locate Lenis and rescue her? That way, her father would’ve rewarded him generously and supported him politically. The Liberta purge could’ve come after that. The order of things seems off.”
However, Lenis, who had directly interacted with Baron Vector, was reluctant to accept my theory.
“Wait a minute, Alvis… Are you saying that I was…”
“Used.”
“That’s a lie!”
With a distressed expression, she denied my words.
“Then… You’re saying I was just tricked? That I was nothing more than a pawn? What could Baron Vector possibly gain from deceiving me?”
“I don’t know. That’s what we need to figure out. For now, let’s get some rest and head to the baron’s castle first thing tomorrow. Lenis, how long does it take to get there from this city?”
“If we leave in the morning, we’ll arrive around sunset.”
“Alright. It’s not often we get a chance to rest somewhere comfortable. Let’s eat well, sleep soundly, and leave early tomorrow. By the way, we could only get two rooms for the girls.”
“That’s fine! Lenis~♡ You can share with me!”
“Huh? Ahem… Sure, I suppose! I’ll graciously yield the comfort of a private room to Elfin. After all, I am a practitioner of noblesse oblige.”
“Oh, wow. I’m so touched I might cry.”
Elfin replied with narrowed eyes, though there was a smile on her lips.
“This reminds me of our academy dorm days. At first, it was so hard to sleep because of Lenis snoring, but lately, I actually find it strange not hearing it.”
“W-When did I ever snore?! Honestly, Ravi, you’re always trying to slander me!”
Ravi laughed and pulled Lenis into their shared room, while Elfin and I each headed to our own.
Lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, I mulled over what the innkeeper had told me.
‘Baron Vector being suspicious is one thing, but Bryden completely wiping out Liberta? That guy never seemed like the type for a massacre. And if the Goddess’s Sword unit was deployed, wasn’t Celine there too? What was she doing instead of stopping her lover? I should find a chance to meet Bryden.’
In that cursed game, Paladin Bryden NX, some of the worst possible endings revealed that everything the player had done was, in fact, evil.
I had no desire to witness another scenario where the world turned into a reflection of that garbage game.
The next morning, after a quick breakfast, we left the inn and set out for Baron Vector’s castle.
In the original game, at some point in Vector’s domain, there was supposed to be an empty wasteland devoid of monsters, wild animals, or even vegetation.
But even after walking for half a day, we were still surrounded by lush forests and trees.
As Lenis had predicted, the sun had already set by the time we reached Baron Vector’s castle.
The surroundings were still not the vast open field I remembered, but just an ordinary landscape.
‘Has the world changed slightly because of my presence?’
The guards stationed in front of the baron’s castle raised their hands, signaling us to stop as we approached.
As soon as we halted, they stepped forward and questioned our purpose.
“This is the castle of Baron Vector. State your identity and your business.”
As planned, we had Elfin step forward to speak on our behalf.
A wanderer like me, with no home or title, wouldn’t be in any position to request an audience with a baron.
“I am Elfin, granddaughter of the elven elder of Arbones. I have heard that Baron Vector actively led the purification project of Liberta and displayed outstanding command. I have come to learn more about the events of that day. These individuals are my attendants.”
Elfin took out an ornament that served as proof of her identity.
After briefly scrutinizing both her and us, the ‘attendants,’ the guards stepped aside and opened the gate.
“If you follow the path straight ahead, you will reach the castle where the baron resides.”
‘…They’re letting us in just like that, without even reporting to the baron first?’
Once suspicion took root, everything about the guards’ behavior began to seem strange.
Elfin, as the granddaughter of the elder of Arbones, held significant political importance.
If such a person arrived unannounced, the first course of action should have been to rush to the baron and report it.
But these mere gatekeepers were making the decision to let us in on their own?
Moreover, even though we were supposedly attendants, our faces were hidden beneath deep hoods, and they hadn’t properly verified our identities.
With growing doubts, we proceeded toward the castle.
At that moment—
“My, if it isn’t the granddaughter of Arbones’ elder. What brings you all this way?”
A middle-aged man with slicked-back black hair appeared in the garden and addressed us.
Even Lavina Elfin, with her heightened senses, hadn’t noticed the baron’s presence, and she flinched at his voice, stopping in her tracks.
However, she quickly composed herself, gave a slight nod, and greeted him.
“I apologize for visiting so suddenly without prior notice, Baron Vector.”
“Not at all. Someone of your stature, practically a princess of Arbones, gracing my humble castle is an honor.”
“Thank you for your kind words, Baron Vector. I recently heard of a significant event in the kingdom. The kingdom’s tumor, Liberta, was purified by fire, and I was told that you personally led the effort.
“Hahaha, what could a lowly man like me possibly have done? The credit belongs to the crusaders and the warriors of the Goddess’ Blade.”
“I have come to learn about what happened that day and how the aftermath was handled. If you have time, would you be willing to share some details?”
“It’s not a particularly exciting tale, but if you insist…”
Saying this, Baron Vector took a step toward us.
At the exact moment he stepped closer—
â–¶ Level ??? Field Dungeon: “The Deceiver’s Domain” has been detected. â—€
â–¶ This field dungeon distorts all senses, blurring the line between truth and falsehood. Only those who “resist fate” can uncover its secrets, but the moment they do, the master of this domain will become aware of their presence. â—€
‘…!!! Use it!’
The moment I saw the message, a strong instinct of danger surged within me, and I activated the “Eyes of Truth.”
I had a bad feeling that a single use of this ability wouldn’t be enough, so I decided to expend all my remaining uses for the day.
â–¶ All uses of “Eyes of Truth” have been consumed at once, sustaining the ability for 10 minutes. In exchange, you will be unable to use this ability for the next three days. â—€
â–¶ The true identity of Baron Hyron Vector has been revealed. â—€
â–¶ Level 84 “Deceiver” Vector: A being from the beyond, a shadow lurking in darkness, a usurper, a subterranean parasite. Known by many names over the ages, these entities have amassed enough power to maintain their existence even in this world. They are directly tied to the darkest secrets of the world, and they never allow those who discover their truth to live. â—€
At the same time, Baron Vector’s true, repulsive form was revealed to my eyes.
A subterranean parasite.
The very entity that the Azure Dragon Linian loathed and sought to destroy.
“A subterranean parasite!?”
At the same time, Baron Vector’s eyes widened, and he turned his head sharply toward me.
“What did you just say…?! Who are you!?”