Episode 130 Karlstein (4)
What does Gaju really want from me?
This part has been a constant question.
I have a guess, but I guess I should say it’s not at a point where I can be sure?
So plan B.
I made a plan to come out in front of everyone.
Because in the current situation, this is the thing that the head of the household would least welcome.
‘Well, originally, restraint was meant to prevent the opponent from doing what he was trying to do.’
Gaju wanted to keep the fact that Misha had succeeded in awakening a secret from both inside and outside. So, before Plan B could come to fruition, she suddenly showed her face.
And as a result of continuing the Bavarian conversation.
I was finally able to hear the unvarnished truth.
“I know you used that thing.”
Frost Spirit Ring.
A number item that allows you to make a definitive contract with the Ice Demon Skadia when activating Hidden Piece.
‘It wouldn’t be strange if you knew that when you became a chief.’
It was a case that had already been in mind from the beginning.
Unless you think she used ‘that thing’, there’s no reason to treat Misha like someone else’s child.
However, the head of the household is not at the stage of certainty either.
“That thing? What are you talking about?”
A twenty-five-year-old Jeokmyo tribe man.
The probability of making a natural contract with Skadia under these conditions would be close to 0%… … .
There is a clear difference between near and zero.
“Hmm.”
So, I guess it’s like this.
Because there is a suspicion, but no confirmation.
“Hey, your acting is awkward?”
What’s the big deal about being clumsy?
How many people have I fooled so far?
“What are you saying? Speak so I can understand.”
“You’re talking about ‘that thing’ that allows you to make a contract with the Iceberg Skadia. You can’t say you don’t know that, can you?”
The head of the household looked at me with eyes telling me not to lie because he knew everything.
Does the Barbarian look like a cripple?
“There was something like that? Then why didn’t you give it to Misha?”
“It’s a very valuable item. I wouldn’t give it to someone who isn’t even my child.”
As soon as I heard that, I inadvertently started checking out Misha.
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As expected, he looked like he was about to cry.
But, let’s put off trying to appease her later.
I continued to act like a barbarian who knew nothing.
“Something valuable? Isn’t that even stranger? How could I have something like that?”
“Well, maybe you got it by chance at that magic tower you frequented.”
What the fuck.
Do you really know everything?
My body froze without me realizing it.
So, in order to make up for my mistake, I decided to just aim for Gaju.
“… … Did you even do a background check on me?”
A barbarian who is simply angry at someone for their over-the-top behavior.
If that’s the case, then the behavior just now wouldn’t have been so awkward—
“I told you, your acting is poor.”
Damn, I believe in my acting skills.
I didn’t move an inch and asked back in annoyance.
“So what is that thing? Why does it keep bothering me like this?”
“I can’t tell you that.”
“what?”
“You keep saying it’s not you. It’s something that shouldn’t be known to the outside world. If you admit it, then I’ll tell you too.”
Huh? What is it?
There was no contradiction in Gaju’s words.
If you’re just floating around, it’s natural that it’s difficult to tell you the name of the object.
but…….
‘Why on earth is it so weird?’
A sense of discomfort permeates the air.
The intuition that defeated the chews who tried to float countless times say that.
“Does that thing really exist? Does it actually have another purpose?”
So I asked again.
And he poured all his nerves into observing the household carefully.
A moment of hesitation, a change in facial muscles. Where the eyes are directed, what is the tone of the voice?
“Of course. What other purpose could there be?”
I’m no expert, but I looked at every moment of that short statement with a suspicious eye.
Then I realized it instinctively.
Gaju is lying right now.
‘Ha, so that’s what it was.’
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Thanks to you, the last question I had was answered.
There might have been other ways to try it out.
“Be honest with me. If you’re keeping quiet because you’re worried about this kid, I’ll take care of that problem.”
Why does Gaju say such contradictory things?
It all makes sense.
If it were said that the object itself, and not Misha, was the goal.
‘Why did you keep saying ‘that thing’?’
Eventually I became convinced.
The owner knew about the Frost Spirit Ring.
Just half of it.
‘You know there’s something like that, but you don’t know what it is.’
The situation is finally starting to take shape.
The owner invited me to his mansion.
It didn’t matter whether Misha was his biological daughter or not.
Because in the first place, he didn’t seem like a very enthusiastic person towards his children.
The original purpose was different.
An item that can definitely be contracted with a soul.
If by any chance I really knew anything about this stuff, I wanted to find out.
Of course, that would have been important information to Sooin that was difficult to convert into value.
So, I brought before my eyes the miserable situation of Misha, whom I judged to be my Achilles heel.
He must have intended to use it for trading or blackmail purposes.
thus…….
“On my honor as a warrior, I know nothing about such a thing.”
Throw away the number of conversions you have been saving.
The Warrior’s Oath, which is the number one reason why the Barbarian I chose is a fraud.
“… … .”
A look of bewilderment is deeply engraved in Gaju’s eyes.
After confirming this, I pushed in one last time before I missed the timing.
“But I will definitely find out what that thing is. So just wait.”
I checked the expression on Gaju’s face as I muttered, suppressing my anger.
There was a deep disappointment in his eyes.
Yeah, you’re the worst at acting.
***
“Forget everything we talked about today.”
After hearing the notice from the head of the household, I left the Karlstein mansion. Misha had a blank expression on her face since a while ago, and I didn’t bother to speak to her.
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Because I had something to think about anyway.
‘Whew, it’s not that bad.’
When I heard Karlstein’s invitation, I readily accepted for two reasons.
1. Misha’s escape.
If the head of the household was trying to bring Misha into a large clan, he should have stopped her. After Erwen and Ainar, how could Misha, who he had barely raised, leave?
Isn’t it a terrible thing to even think about?
2. Avoid suspicion of evil spirits.
If the head of the household knew the secret behind Misha’s awakening, it would be necessary to visit at least once to properly explain it.
I never thought you’d call me because you only knew half of it.
Squeak.
As we passed through the garden, the gatekeeper who recognized us opened the gate wide. It was a face I had never seen before, as if the old man had gone to rest after receiving treatment.
But did they recognize me?
“Oh, goodbye.”
When our eyes meet, he gives a short nod and even sees me off.
The mansion where Misha lived from childhood until she became an adult.
The manicured gardens were splendid, and the fountains sparkled with magnificent sprays of water.
The mansion wasn’t much different either.
Unlike the inn I was staying at, the building had an old-fashioned and grand charm.
but…….
The dark malice surrounding the mansion remained unchanged.
When I first saw this place, it felt like I was looking at a dungeon full of monsters.
I realized it once again.
Yeah, he survived here.
For such a long time.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
When I patted her on the back and spoke to her, Misha came to her senses and shook her head.
“Oh, no. You did all the hard work… … .”
Well, that’s not what I meant.
“But wasn’t it you who had the hardest time?”
I chuckled and slapped him on the back again.
“Ouch! It hurts!”
Yeah, it’s starting to feel a bit more normal now.
“If you’ve come to your senses, then go ahead. I don’t know the way back.”
“Ha, really… … What are you going to do without me?”
“You wouldn’t have come to a place you didn’t know the way to.”
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“… … That’s right.”
We walked along the streets of Suin, having pointless conversations.
Harmonious scenes were seen here and there.
“Dad, that’s the Barbarian over there!”
A group of people walking around, laughing and chatting happily as if they were on an outing with their family.
“Bjorn, we should eat that too.”
“Why are you eating out?”
“Umm, well… … because you had a hard time today?”
Soon, I stopped by a street vendor with Misha to buy some snacks and sat on a bench in the square. It wouldn’t be a problem to eat while walking, but…
It wouldn’t be a bad idea to take a break and go.
“Yes, Bjorn.”
“Speak.”
“Why don’t you ever ask?”
“What?”
I took a moment to rest quietly while watching the people coming and going.
Misha asked me a question.
“Aren’t you curious?”
“So what.”
“Is… … I really, am I my father’s child… … .”
I was wondering what was going on and this is what it was.
I looked at Misha with a smirk.
Misha, who had done nothing wrong but was the one asking the question, had her head down and was looking at the floor.
“I’m not curious.”
“Really? Not even one?”
“Yeah, so what’s the big deal?”
“Wow, you really don’t care about me… … .”
What is this kid saying?
I was about to hit his back, but then stopped.
‘I told you not to say you were sick.’
I thought about messing up my hair like in the cartoons, but I gave up because it was too embarrassing.
The hand that lost its way and came back up onto the knee.
I also looked elsewhere and spoke to Misha.
Since we are colleagues, shouldn’t we clear up any misunderstandings?
“It’s not that I’m not interested, it’s just that it’s not really important.”
“huh?”
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“7th-grade explorer Misha Karlstein. That’s you. It doesn’t matter who your parents are. You are a comrade whose back you can trust.”
“Wow… … .”
Misha opened her mouth wide as if she had heard something strange.
And then he looked at me, smiling faintly.
“How did you come up with that?”
“… …Are you trying to fight?”
If so, that’s good.
Now that I’ve had enough rest, I was about to get up when Misha grabbed my sleeve.
“Bjorn.”
“why?”
“This is a secret, but I’m telling you only?”
“Okay, tell me quickly.”
“I… … Actually, it’s half-penny. My mother told me that. Before she passed away. She said she was truly sorry.”
Oh, uh, um… … .
I was wondering how to react, but decided to just nod.
“… … I see.”
“What? Why aren’t you surprised?”
Well, I already knew that.
I didn’t know these detailed circumstances either.
“It’s not that important, is it?”
“Oh my, you emotionless Bavarian!”
Soon we got up from our seats.
And then we left the Holy Land and entered the city, arriving at a public platform.
Just when I was waiting for the carriage after buying a ticket.
“Oh, right. What happened? You swore an oath in front of your father earlier. That was definitely… .”
Misha trails off.
I was genuinely embarrassed.
I didn’t even think about it, whether it was because he was too comfortable or because he had a lot to think about in front of his family.
“That… was a lie, wasn’t it?”
I sighed and nodded.
What would you hide if you already know everything?
All we can do is just learn to deal with it well.
“Yes, that was a lie. You are more important than the honor of a warrior.”
“… …Is that really true?”
“okay.”
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Misha didn’t say anything for a long time after that.
A time filled with such impatience followed.
“… … .”
“… … .”
Surely you’re not thinking anything strange?
It was a moment when I thought that I should be the first to say something since it was so suffocating.
“ah!”
Misha jumped up.
And then he started spitting out words that I didn’t understand.
“I left something at home, so I’m going out!”
“… … What? The carriage will be here soon—”
“You ride first!”
It disappeared in a flash.
……what?
Oh no, am I fucked?
***
Swish, swish.
Albrecht Karlstein.
Sitting in his study, he turned the pages of a book with somewhat hasty gestures.
And finally I found what I was looking for.
[No… … ]
… … … … … … … … … … … … … You can make a contract with the city’s ice magician, Skadia.
A description that was completely torn apart, leaving only one sentence readable.
All doubts started with this book.
[Relics Total Record VI]
This book contains descriptions of hundreds of number items.
And the important thing here is that this explanation is absolutely correct.
The book called Total Record is that kind of book.
A book of truth whose value is meaningless to even discuss.
‘If I hadn’t known this, I could have been purely happy.’
When the child said he had awakened.
To be honest, I was happy.
Because I thought there was no need to hide my family’s shame anymore.
[It’s the Glacier Water, Skadia.]
The number of souls contracted was the problem.
Could this really be a coincidence?
I couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease that I couldn’t explain.
So I tried to leave the kid a few times and soon came to a conclusion.
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The child did not awaken naturally.
If my prediction was correct, I got some help.
Perhaps to that barbarian named Bjorn Jandel.
[I can’t talk about anything related to B, Bjorn. I swore an oath to the guardian deity… ]
However, the child refused to engage in the conversation, citing the guardian angel’s oath.
There is no such thing as compulsion, and in these days when tradition has faded, it has no meaning.
A child who had never been able to properly rebel once lied and made excuses for the first time.
It will be difficult to hear a proper answer like this.
[I’d rather dig up that barbarian.]
He changed the direction of pursuit.
Then, suspicious circumstances continued to emerge.
The barbarian was friendly with the wizard of the Artemion school.
Arua Raven.
Coincidentally, it was the person he remembered.
Because he was a competitor I met while wandering around trying to get another ‘total record’.
At that time, a hypothesis was born.
What if the wizard had obtained the ‘Relic Collection’?
So what if you saw that and told the Barbarian?
[That makes a lot more sense.]
Rather than the brash young wizard, I decided to target the barbarian. From my research, it seemed like they were almost like a married couple, so it would be much easier to use that child.
but…….
‘I really thought it was a natural awakening.’
I don’t believe in things like oaths.
The barbarian wasn’t acting.
It was a truly ignorant expression, and I could sense that he was lamenting his own ignorance for the sake of the child.
‘That’s funny. Even that lowly blood has talent.’
As my thoughts reached that point, there was a knock on the door.
It was the aide Veros.
“Misha Karlstein requests to see you, my lord.”
“That kid? Let him in.”
Let’s wait a moment, the aide left and the child came in.
“I… I have something I couldn’t say earlier—”
“Oh, don’t worry about that. I will keep my promise. No one will ever think of you as not a member of our family again.”
Strangely, the child did not respond.
I thought you’d be a little happier.
He added a word while he was at it.
“Now you are my daughter.”
The words that the child who felt a lack and a mixture of love and hate would have wished for the most.
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But this time it was the same.
“… …Why aren’t you saying anything?”
“That’s not what I came for… … !”
“what?”
I found myself embarrassed by the rude tone.
What on earth is this change?
Before he could even adjust, the child faced him head-on.
“Father. No, not even father. You know? In fact, we don’t share a single drop of blood.”
“what?”
He was genuinely embarrassed.
It’s not that I didn’t know that, but I never expected that to come out of this kid’s mouth.
“Before my mother passed away, she told me that I am not actually of the Karlstein bloodline. I came here to tell you this. I hate you… … but I also feel sorry for you.”
Is it because it’s something I’ve never imagined before?
I wasn’t even angry at those rude words.
I was just curious.
“Why on earth are you doing that?”
He knows who Misha’s biological father is.
I thought that if I died in the labyrinth, all my problems would be solved.
but…….
“If you hadn’t said that, I would have really accepted you as a member of the family.”
Why does this child reject what he so desperately wanted?
“Why? Why am I throwing away this opportunity with my own hands?”
The child turned around and headed toward the door, as if it wasn’t worth answering.
But was there a change of heart at the end?
I just turned my head and spoke to him.
“I just… … wanted to do that!”
It was something he couldn’t understand at all.
