After hearing my detailed story, Duke Lieb not only suggested the establishment of an investigation team but also invited me to join it.
Doing nothing wasn’t an option, as various regions, including Arboness, were already preparing for potential emergencies.
The evidence of a high-difficulty dungeon being cleared was right in front of them, and his own daughter had testified to it, so it couldn’t simply be dismissed as baseless rumors.
However, making too much of a fuss about it could provoke the Empire, which was already displeased by the fact that Bryden’s sacred sword had lost its glow.
Thus, the best option for the Dutchy of Carat was to recruit me, someone who had the necessary information.
“Miss Elfin is already here as an envoy from Arboness, and my daughter has experienced the same thing as you. Wouldn’t it be better for our countries to join forces and form a strategy together rather than struggle alone? What do you think, Miss Elfin?”
“Ugh…”
Elfin made a disgusted face at the idea of working with me.
However, as an envoy representing Arboness, she couldn’t reject the king’s proposal purely based on personal feelings.
She turned to me with an expression that screamed, “Refuse this right now!”
But I already had a rough understanding of what this world expected from me.
If I ignored the problems people were facing, I would be deemed incapable of changing fate and suffer backlash damage.
When I had tried to console Ravi after she was heartbroken, and when I encountered the “false existence” in that strange dungeon, this world had always demanded a head-on confrontation from me.
That meant there was only one choice I could make.
“I understand your proposal. I am willing to assist the Dutchy of Carat—”
Boom.
▶ As a result of choosing to directly assist the Dutchy of Carat, you have received Stage 1 backlash damage.
“Damn it… Now I get punished for helping?”
A sudden stomachache hit me, and I cursed internally.
Before, I was penalized for avoiding problems instead of solving them.
But now, when I try to face things head-on, I still get backlash?
Was this really about resisting fate, or was this world just out to mess with me?
I wanted to ignore it all and just do things my way, but I had never suffered a real loss by following these directives.
And more than anything, my stomach hurt too much to fight back.
“I would love to help, but I cannot recklessly get involved in this matter—”
Boom!
▶ As a result of choosing not to assist in investigating the mysterious event, you have received backlash damage. You have made two consecutive incorrect choices and have now received Stage 2 backlash damage.
“What the hell?! This is ridiculous.”
Whether I helped or not, I got punished either way.
So what the hell was I supposed to do?
A pain far worse than before spread across my upper body, and cold sweat dripped down my face.
Elfin, being an elf, didn’t fully understand, but Ravi and Duke Lieb could tell from the smell that I was in severe pain.
Especially Ravi, who already knew about my chronic illness, looked completely horrified.
If neither choice worked, then what exactly was I supposed to do?
I had to find an answer quickly if I wanted to escape this pain.
At that moment, I noticed something strange about the initial message.
“As a result of choosing to ‘directly’ assist the Dutchy of Carat…”
A situation where both choices led to inevitable failure? That couldn’t be right.
This trashy game-like world always used sneaky wordplay to mess with people.
So if I found a way to help without “directly” assisting, maybe I could escape this trap.
I quickly came up with a scenario—one where I wouldn’t run away from the problem, where I could avoid the backlash penalty, and where I could still guide Ravi and Elfin toward a better future.
“Are you alright? You don’t look well—”
“I… I’m fine, Your Highness, huff… However, if I were to recklessly intervene in this matter… huff… it would place a heavy burden on everyone involved.”
“What do you mean?”
*=”Because of the rumors that the Holy Sword of the Crusader no longer shines, the Empire must be extremely on edge. If they hear that neighboring countries are discussing countermeasures in response, what do you think will happen?
Arboness may be strong enough to endure the consequences, but the Dutchy of Carat will face severe repercussions. The Empire considers Carat to be under its control.”
“Hmm…”
Even the prince of Carat couldn’t deny that reality.
Carat couldn’t afford to provoke the Empire, so they had to endure numerous unfair treatments.
“If it becomes known that the Dutchy of Carat has recruited me, an Imperial citizen, and officially assigned me to this investigation, it won’t just put me at risk—it will also put the entire principality in the Empire’s bad graces. That’s why I cannot accept any official support. However—”
“However?”
“There’s no harm in forming the team as Your Highness suggested. What I witnessed inside that goblin camp is beyond what I can handle alone.
So, rather than having any official involvement with the Dutchy of Carat, Ravi, Elfin, and I will conduct our own investigation—without any external support and without any ties to Carat.”
“The Dutchy of Carat has nothing to do with this matter. We are simply moving together because our individual interests align, and any information we obtain is merely reported by each member to their respective homeland. There’s no way to link us together. We’re just another ordinary adventuring party.”
“Are you just trying to cover things up? From our perspective, that would certainly make it easier to deny involvement if things go south, but wouldn’t it be disadvantageous for you?”
Duke Lieb’s rabbit-like ears twitched slightly in doubt.
“Not necessarily. If we were an official organization under the Dutchy of Carat, every minor piece of information we gathered and even small spoils of war would all belong to Carat. But in this case, that’s not true.
We have full control over when and how to use the information we gather, and we can choose where to go next. That means we can enter regions that have poor relations with Carat, or even places that Arboness has issues with.”
I then gestured toward Ravi and Elfin.
“Each of us also has the freedom to decide where to send the information we acquire. Whether it goes to Carat or Arboness will be entirely up to us. Since the information is obtained through an ‘unofficial channel,’ the Empire won’t have grounds to question it.”
As soon as I finished speaking, my stomachache subsided, and my breathing returned to normal.
Did this ridiculous wordplay actually work?
At the end of the day, wasn’t this basically the same as directly helping them?
I felt an urge to lash out in frustration, but getting angry at intangible words wouldn’t change anything.
Duke Lieb turned his attention to Elfin, seeking her opinion.
“Miss Elfin, what is Arboness’s stance on this? The Dutchy of Carat finds this young man’s proposal quite appealing, but if it conflicts with Arboness’s views, we will need to consider another course of action.”
Elfin looked between me, Duke Lieb, and Ravi, her expression shifting with each glance.
When she looked at me, she seemed annoyed.
When she looked at Duke Lieb and Ravi, she appeared conflicted.
Why am I the only one getting that look?
After a long moment of contemplation, Elfin finally gave her response.
“Arboness also supports the Dutchy of Carat’s stance on this matter.”
Duke Lieb’s face brightened as he welcomed her decision.
“R-Really?!”
“Yes. Arboness also understands that if we probe too obviously into this matter, we might provoke the Empire’s ire. There’s no guarantee that discussing this with other nations will keep the information secret, and each country will likely be hesitant to risk drawing the Empire’s attention. Given the circumstances, it’s best to operate as an independent, unrelated party. Of course…”
Elfin shot me a glance.
“That doesn’t mean the team will always be composed of people who see eye to eye.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
I understood why Elfin hated Alvis—there were plenty of reasons.
But it still felt unfair to be despised for something I didn’t even do.
I made a mental note to have an honest conversation with Elfin someday.
For now, I decided to focus on the positive aspects of the situation.
Out of the three “defeated heroines,” I had managed to keep two by my side.
Given that I was now forced to bear the fate of changing this world, investigating the anomalies was inevitable—if only to avoid dying from stomach pain.
Thinking back to how the “defeated heroines” ended up in most routes of Crusader Bryden NX, keeping Ravi and Elfin on the same team was crucial.
Every small choice would shape the outcome of the terrible future ahead.
“Arboness agrees to send an investigation team to look into the situation. As an envoy acting on behalf of the Elders, I, Elfin, will be the sole representative from Arboness.”
After Elfin formally announced Arboness’s stance, Ravi spoke up.
“Then, I’ll go as Carat’s representative! Dad, let me be the one to join this investigation team.”
“Are you sure about this?! You barely avoided danger in that dungeon just a short while ago—”
“That’s exactly why I have to go. You know I’m pretty skilled, right?”
Unable to overrule his daughter’s firm resolve, Duke Lieb hesitated before reluctantly nodding, his face filled with concern.
Ravi raised her hand enthusiastically.
“Then, the Dutchy of Carat will also send a member to the investigation team! Our representative will be me—Ravi! Elfin, we’re teaming up again so soon after graduating from the academy. Let’s take care of each other.”
“Yeah, I’m happy about it. Ravi is a reliable and trustworthy friend.”
“Ahem. Looks like we need one more member for this team.”
As I spoke up, Elfin’s eyes narrowed.
“Tsk…”
“Since I’m the one who proposed this idea, it’s only natural that I join the investigation team as well. While I may be from the Empire, I have no real allegiance to it—just consider me a wandering drifter.”
“You still have that same careless attitude, just like back in the academy. Not that I expected you to change in a few days.”
Despite Elfin’s objections, the investigation team was officially formed—comprising me, Ravi, and Elfin.
At least on the surface, it had no ties to Carat or Arboness.
Later, Ravi and I handed over all the supplies we had retrieved from the dungeon to the Dutchy of Carat.
Duke Lieb was astonished and adamantly refused to accept everything, but I insisted.
I had no immediate use for the supplies, so I might as well use them to build goodwill with Carat and Ravi.
Receiving such valuable resources was a huge benefit for a small, under-equipped nation.
As a token of gratitude, Duke Lieb promised to provide me with the finest accommodations during my stay.
That was all well and good, but there was one pressing issue with the investigation team…
“By the way, Alvis, what exactly are we supposed to do now?”
As the conversation wound down, Ravi suddenly asked the crucial question.
“Good question. Well, first—”
I was about to say we should disband and get some rest when—
“Your Highness! Urgent news—”
The door to the reception room burst open, and a palace guard entered.
After saluting, he hurried to Duke Lieb and whispered something in his ear.
Dismissing the guard, Duke Lieb’s face darkened with concern.
“A large number of monsters have been spotted in the northern Precia Mountains, near the Empire’s borders. Their numbers are abnormally high. Could this also be…”
Seizing the moment, I jumped in.
“That’s exactly what we need to investigate. Your Highness, allow us to look into this matter.”
Thus, on the very day our investigation team was formed, we were immediately given our first mission.
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