I thought that such a thing would never happen, but just in case, I decided to ask the Shadow.
“Am I crazy?”
The answer that came back was, of course, the expected one.
The Shadow was not as skilled in swordsmanship as I was and was not the type to directly swing a sword to kill people, but even so, he was someone who slept only briefly.
He could stay awake for several days without much trouble.
Information sometimes changes very quickly, and there are times when you have to snatch it up in the moment.
For that reason, there are many times when you have to keep your eyes open even at night.
Still, the Shadow’s forehead had a slight wrinkle, as if he was a bit displeased that I had called him to the forest.
“If anything, I should be the one asking. Weren’t you supposed to keep your identity hidden after that?
If the information hadn’t leaked from the marquis’ house, no one could have imagined this.”
“That’s right. The fact that my fate changed means that, at least in appearance, I became a completely different person.”
The witch chimed in from the side.
“Speaking of that topic.”
Hearing the witch’s words, I decided to resolve a question I had been holding onto for a long time.
“Why didn’t the color of my eyes change?”
“Is eye color that important?”
“It is important. Recently, Lady Ayla has been staring into my eyes and falling deep into thought more and more often.”
“Well, that eye color isn’t something you see every day.”
The Shadow, sitting on a chair made from a cut tree stump, spoke.
He seemed at least a little interested.
At this point, it was almost impossible to reproduce such magic, but the principle behind it was still ‘information’ in a way.
“It’s because the magic changes not the person, but the person’s fate.”
The witch looked at me and said.
“As a child grows up, their development is determined by fate.
Even if both parents are outstanding in appearance, an ordinary child can be born.
Conversely, even if the parents have plain looks, an incredibly beautiful child can be born.
Your appearance-related fate was readjusted by rewinding it to its earliest point.
That’s why a man can become a woman—since even gender is a part of a person’s fate.”
“So, the fact that my eye color remained the same is just a coincidence?”
“Exactly. It’s simply one of the traits you inherited from your parents.”
“…….”
“Why? Is the Empress the type to care about such things?
She seems surprisingly delicate.”
As I was lost in thought after hearing the witch’s response, the Shadow asked.
“I’m not sure.”
I shook my head.
“You two each think based on your own ‘logic.’
Lady Ayla relies on information, while my master relies on his research so far.
The standards are different, but both of you think logically according to the rules you have set for yourselves.”
“So, are you saying the Empress is different?”
“Not exactly… but at the same time, she does rely on intuition to make decisions quite often.”
“Intuition?”
The wrinkles on the Shadow’s forehead deepened.
Of course.
The word ‘intuition’ was what the Shadow hated most.
Those who deal with information must be cautious.
Even the smallest piece of information can provoke someone and cause bloodshed.
On the other hand, something that seems critically important may not be as significant to certain people.
That’s why, before using information, you must gather more about the target, cross-check it, and construct the most objective model possible.
That was the Shadow’s method.
The witch, being a more impulsive person, showed some interest even after hearing about the Empress’s approach.
But seeing the Shadow’s expression, I felt the need to provide more explanation.
“But the Empress’s intuition is quite accurate.
Even though she doesn’t organize it into writing and logic, I believe the reason she can reach conclusions based on her ‘intuition’ is because of her experience and knowledge.
It’s like a person who writes down the correct answer in mental math but can’t immediately explain the formula when asked.”
To be more precise, she doesn’t even think about explaining it.
“So, she moved based on your previous actions?”
“Have you ever mentioned Ayla in front of the Empress?”
“Probably. She brought it up so many times in front of me, after all.
Day after day, Ayla, Ayla, Ayla.
I mean, she even came to meet me in the first place just to save Ayla.
She was already completely twisted from the start.”
“I see. You even became my disciple just to save Ayla.
And then you went and found some absurd mythical magic, asking about materials as if it were nothing.
And you actually went and got them, too.”
“……”
“So, what exactly did you say in front of the Empress?”
“I didn’t say much.”
“Witch, is there any way someone else can use that choker’s command?”
“Of course not. Otherwise, wearing it would be meaningless.”
“Seriously, you’re such a pervert.
You never forgot a single word from a woman who left a message when you were a child, and you chased after her your whole life.
And now you’ve practically handed over your life to her.”
I had nothing to say to that.
“……After hunting the dragon, I refused when they offered me a noble title.”
“Well, that was a good decision.
If you had accepted, you would have been tied to the Empire forever.”
“To be precise, I was imprisoned until I accepted the title, but I escaped.”
By breaking through the castle wall.
Luckily, I had the dragon’s heart.
“…….”
“Of course, I left behind all the dragon’s remains that I had originally offered in the deal.
I only took what I needed and ran.
Naturally, I also left behind the royal sword.”
“Wait, wait, hold on a second.”
The Shadow waved his hand, interrupting me.
“There’s too much information all at once. My brain can’t process it fast enough.
So, let me get this straight.
The Empress tried to grant you a title, but when you refused, she locked you up to force it on you?”
“That’s correct.”
“And then you used the dragon’s heart to blow a hole in the castle wall and escape from prison?”
“That’s right.”
“Wait, hold on.”
The witch cut into the conversation.
“The royal sword?
Are you talking about the first Emperor’s sword?
The one that was forged during the mythical age and is now impossible to replicate?”
“Yes. That legendary sword, said to be crafted by the ancient elves.
It cut very well.”
“‘Cut very well’?
Your impression of a national treasure infused with the souls of elven ancestors is just ‘cut very well’?”
For once, the witch looked completely dumbfounded.
Unfortunately, that was my honest assessment.
Of course, compared to a regular sword, it was absurdly sharp.
The magic on the blade allowed it to literally cut through anything.
But that was all.
If you couldn’t get close to a dragon, you couldn’t cut its hide.
And if you were skilled enough to get close, you could probably cut through it with any decent sword.
Of course, it made things more convenient, but to me, the witch’s potions were far more useful than a sword.
The witch and the Shadow exchanged glances.
Then they looked back at me.
“So, you betrayed someone who tried to make you a royal knight, lent you a national treasure, and even tried to grant you a noble title?”
“First of all, the Empress betrayed me first.
She promised to let me go after I hunted the dragon, but as soon as it was done, she locked me up.”
“……”
“Anyway, before I became like this, there were no issues.
The Empress never even sent people after me.”
“Of course… because if word got out that someone like you existed… it would cause all sorts of problems…”
“Now that the Marquis’ family no longer serves as your shield, the Empress might finally make her move.”
“…….”
For the first time, I turned to look at the black-clad man who had been silently listening.
“Don’t look at me, brother.”
My younger brother said.
“If the Empress comes to this territory, I can’t take your side.
You’ll have to face the consequences.”
Wait, why am I being treated like the villain here?
She was the one who locked me up first!