STGAAB Novel MTL - Chapter 768
Chapter 768: Clarifying Positions (3)
The fact that these are the hands of a barbarian is something I can prove through the life I’ve lived. I’ve personally fixed the heads of countless people until now with them, and unsurprisingly, this time was no different.
Thud-!
The moment the back of his head was smacked, the vacant eyes of the Marquess, which had resembled the eyes of a dead fish, suddenly sparked with life. Well, to be precise, it was more like a mixture of humiliation and rage than ‘life’…… But in the end, even such negative emotions signify that one is alive, so calling it ‘life’ isn’t entirely wrong.
“Good, that’s much better.”
As I looked at the Marquess, who had regained some liveliness, I couldn’t hide my satisfaction. He slowly raised his head to look up at me. His eyes swirled with complex emotions.
“……”
There was confusion from having been struck by another person. Humiliation from now having to look up at someone he once looked down upon.
And……
“Ragna……”
Love for his daughter, mixed with the self-loathing of having failed to protect her. Of course, I had no reason to pity him. A warrior’s heart isn’t soft enough to sympathize with an enemy. Moreover, I still remember vividly what the Marquess said to me back then.
[In the process, one of your precious comrades is bound to die. No, they will die. I’ll make sure of it.]
[You should feel it too. The pain I felt.]
His curse, filled with genuine malice, came true. I was struck by Thunder and lost consciousness and Rotmiller died while trying to protect me. Though it was a nameless Noark soldier who physically killed Rotmiller, the Marquess was just as responsible.
Yeah, so……
Clench-
I don’t take this man lightly. The weight of the twenty who died at Ice Rock is far too heavy for such human emotions.
“……Marquess, as promised, I’ve brought your daughter. Now, keep your end of the bargain.”
As I silently exchanged glances with the Marquess, the bespectacled man behind me interrupted our reunion.
“Are you talking about the transfer of authority over Thunder?”
“Yes. As per the agreement, your daughter will be protected by Noark to the best of our ability. Oh, but you’re the exception. Baron Yandel demanded you as the price for handing over your daughter.”
“I see… So that’s how it turned out.”
The Marquess nodded as if he finally understood why the bespectacled man and I had come together. He then looked at me again and asked.
“Did you see it?”
The subject was left unspoken, but I didn’t bother to ask for clarification and answered directly.
“I saw it.”
“I see……”
The Marquess trailed off and, after a brief pause, spoke again.
“I’d like to speak with the Baron alone. Could you leave us?”
“……”
“You can keep my daughter with you.”
The bespectacled man hesitated at the Marquess’ request, but it didn’t take long for him to nod in agreement.
“I suppose that can be arranged. But only for a short while.”
“…You must keep your promise.”
Surprisingly, the bespectacled man calmly accepted the request. Once I gave a signal that I was okay with it, Amelia led the others out, following him. Now, only the two of us remained in the room.
“It’s been a while since we’ve had a private conversation like this, hasn’t it?”
“…You seem surprisingly at ease?”
“Fear is an emotion that stems from having something to lose. But look at me now. Do I appear to have anything left to lose?”
“Well, if we take a look at that journal, I’m sure there’s still something.”
When I carefully hinted at Ragna’s existence, the Marquess gave a bitter smile. In a way, the Marquess and I were quite alike. At least in one aspect: our weaknesses were all too clear.
“So, what is it? Why did you suddenly want us to talk alone? Are you going to ask me to take care of your daughter or something?”
I spoke with a sarcastic tone, but the Marquess didn’t offer any rebuttal. Really, he’s going to leave me hanging like this?
“…What’s this? Were you seriously about to say—.”
“How much do you know about the royal family of Rafdonia?”
“…Huh? Where did that come from?”
It caught me a bit off guard, but in truth, it was a subject I would have brought up if the Marquess hadn’t.
The Rafdonian royal family.
If anyone could explain the massive hidden secret they hold, it would be the Marquess. What exactly are they so desperately trying to conceal?
“Well, I know a few things that most people probably don’t…… Why, are you going to tell me something?”
I casually threw out the question, and the Marquess nodded in response.
“Then go on, let’s hear it. Who knows? If the story’s good enough, I might be moved to help Ragna.”
I urged him on, and the Marquess responded with a bombshell right from the start.
“The Immortal King and King New World are the same person.”
“……Huh?”
……What did I just hear?
***
The story of King New World is extremely well-known. At a time when the public was in turmoil because the Immortal King had gone mad and was slaughtering people, King New World seized the throne and ushered in a new era.
The Immortal King was defeated, and a new age began.
King New World abolished many outdated traditions and implemented countless policies for the people, earning the passionate support of the populace. As a result, everyone called him a ‘wise king’. But now, the Marquess is telling me……
“They’re the same person……?”
It was a shocking claim, but instead of freezing up, I first sought to confirm it.
“Is that reliable information?”
Though it might be pointless, I asked the Marquess to verify the authenticity of his claim. In response to my question, the Marquess asked me back.
“You’re not asking how that’s possible, so it seems you already know quite a bit about the royal family.”
…He hit the mark. After all, exploring places like Basement Floor One, which never even appeared in the game, and venturing beyond the walls had taught me much about the royal family.
[Ah, did you not know? Whenever the Immortal King had a child, he would steal the child’s body in order to continue his rule. That is also why the Immortal was known for always wearing a mask.]
This was the hidden story of Rafdonia that I learned from an ancient hero, the village chief. At the time, I assumed that King New World must have staged a coup because of that secret. There’s no more pressing or clear motivation than survival, after all. But if that’s the case……
“Just answer the question. Are you sure this information is reliable?”
To be honest, it was hard to believe. Of course, I knew the Marquess’ claim wasn’t impossible in theory, but……
[I vowed to myself that I would be different from him. That I would live as a human and die as a human.]
The words King New World had spoken in the past didn’t feel like an act at all. Was it all just a lie? For me to believe that……
“If you’re asking for evidence… I don’t have any. The Rafdonian royal family isn’t so careless as to leave behind proof. But I’ve investigated the royal family for a long time, and I’ve come to the final conclusion that the two are most likely the same person.”
Listening to the Marquess, I unconsciously exhaled a long breath.
“Haa……”
So there’s no evidence, just a hunch. I got all worked up for nothing.
‘Well, whether they’re the same person or not doesn’t really matter to me anyway……’
“So, is that all you had to tell me? That the Immortal King and King New World are probably the same person?”
“Of course not. I only mentioned that to set up the real conversation.”
“Then go on. This will be your last chance to talk.”
“Do you know about the Heart of Karui?”
The Heart of Karui.
An artifact imbued with the power of the evil god, Karui, that allows the user to steal another’s body. The Immortal King used this artifact to possess the bodies of his children like an ‘evil spirit’, continuing his immortality.
“I know of it.”
“Then this should be quick. The Immortal King lost the last ‘Heart of Karui’ during the process of taking over King New World’s body.”
Wait, hold on.
“……The last one?”
“Seems like despite your frequent trips to the library, you haven’t studied ancient mythology. The scriptures of the Three Gods Cult mention that two artifacts were once embedded in the hearts of the evil god.”
“……I’m not interested in a history lesson. So, to put it simply, you’re saying there is a second ‘Heart of Karui’?”
“That’s right.”
Finally, things were starting to make sense. I had always wondered how immortality was possible after the village chief ran off with the ancient artifact.
“Alright, go on.”
“After losing the last heart, time passed, and the body of King New World also reached its limit. By all rights, he should’ve died long ago. But……”
“But he’s still alive. Though, he’s been sleeping more often.”
The Marquess looked at me with a curious gaze as I calmly continued the conversation.
“…I didn’t expect you to know that much.”
“My fate is just full of twists and turns.”
I was just trying to survive, but I kept getting caught up in these sorts of incidents.
“Go on, then. What is it you’re trying to say?”
“…The royal family has been searching for the ‘Heart of Karui’ ever since. And recently, the artifact reappeared in the world. Fortunately, the king doesn’t seem to know its exact location yet……”
“And?”
“It’s only a matter of time before they find it. Knowing this, I had no choice but to commit the reckless act of treason.”
“You were afraid the king would take Ragna’s body?”
“That’s right. There was no other way to protect my daughter.”
So that was it. I had suspected there might be some deeper reason, but I hadn’t expected it would be this kind of story. I mean, he had lost his beloved wife, lost his son, and now even his daughter was at risk. How could he possibly stand by and do nothing? Though, one question remained.
“Does it have to be Ragna?”
Why was the Marquess so sure that the king would target Ragna’s body?
“The king has always taken over the bodies of his own bloodline. There must be a reason for it.”
“No, that’s not what I meant… If I were King New World, I’d have had many children. Couldn’t you have convinced him to take someone else instead of your daughter?”
The Marquess smiled bitterly at my question.
“As you said, that was once the case. King New World fathered numerous descendants and kept them ‘in reserve’. However… there was a mysterious group that relentlessly targeted those children.”
“A mysterious group?”
“Heerkmuta. They wear black wolf masks and follow the Last Great Sage. Whatever their purpose, they hunted the children while the king slept. Now, none remain.”
I recall hearing that the leader of the Rose Knights died during that time. That incident happened when I was still a complete novice. But that’s not the important part……
“Do you understand what this means?”
“Ragna is the last remaining heir of the king’s bloodline.”
Hearing my response, the Marquess silently closed his eyes and then opened them again.
And……
“Now, I’ll make one final proposal.”
The Marquess spoke.
“Would you like to become king?”
I couldn’t call this the cunning whisper of a devil. The Marquess’ expression was far too pitiful and desperate for that.
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