Chapter 19 – Escape (2)
[Translator – Peptobismol]
Chapter 19 – Escape (2)
Time in the carriage felt like an eternity.
Even the fleeting moments of admiring the scenery outside were scarce.
The seat that rocked at every opportunity, the chilling cold that intensified at night, and the suffocating silence.
It was truly a time of patience that seemed to deplete one’s lifespan.
I couldn’t help but ponder whether I should turn back and take a train instead, numerous times during the journey.
As my subconscious and rationality endlessly walked the tightrope, lost in contemplation,
Creak—
The carriage slowed down.
“Um, Young Master. We’ve arrived.”
The coachman announced as he opened the door.
I held Diana’s hand and stepped out first, scanning the surroundings.
Cleanly paved wide streets, bustling markets, and lined-up storefronts.
It was the all too familiar Imperial capital.
I handed a reasonable amount of *Ruplan to the coachman.
[*”Rupee” has been changed to “Ruplan”.]
Confirming the amount, the coachman’s eyes widened, then he expressed gratitude and quickly left.
“Do you have another destination in mind?”
Diana asked casually.
I looked at her calm face, devoid of any signs of exhaustion, and clicked my tongue.
“Yeah, come with me for now.”
I couldn’t shake off the image of Luna watching the departing carriage in despair, her forlorn figure sitting on the ground.
Considering Luna’s twisted personality, she wouldn’t just let me leave the mansion quietly.
She’d probably mobilize people to track me down.
‘I need a new identity.’
The most immediate necessity was a forged identity.
The idea of forging an identity itself was a risky proposition, but it wasn’t an impossible task.
This is, after all, a world within a game.
It wasn’t that difficult to obtain a new identity in a world like this.
As far as I can remember, there were even chapters in the main scenario where you blatantly played as a second identity.
Thud, thud—
Walking forward in a trance, I finally spotted the building I was looking for.
It was a building made of old bricks, exuding a quaint yet gloomy atmosphere.
“Is this the place?”
“Uh-huh, no need to be on guard. It’s just an ordinary shop.”
It was indeed a shop.
Just a shop that bought and sold underworld goods.
While it was nothing more than a shop that dealt with underworld items, it was still a shop.
Rattle— The door opened.
Passing through the dim entrance, the interior of the shop emanated a somber atmosphere.
The shelves were filled with books and miscellaneous items that bore the marks of time.
As I explored deeper into the shop for a moment,
“What brings you here?”
A gruff voice fell coldly.
Turning my head slowly, I met the gaze of a woman sitting on the couch in the corner.
“Did you come to see something? I’m sorry, but we’re closed for business today, so please leave.”
Her purple hair cascading over her shoulders, and her calm green pupils gleaming under the red lights.
It’s an appearance I clearly remember.
The information merchant of the Empire, Emily.
And.
“Merlin Trivia.”
The fallen clergy, Merlin Trivia.
“Do you have a business with me?”
Merlin’s eyes narrowed.
It was a face trying to gauge the sincerity hidden in my words.
‘I’ve come to the right place.’
Merlin Trivia.
Once a devout clergy, she eventually came to hate the world, and even more so, the god who created this world.
I don’t know the details.
I only vaguely remember seeing Merlin’s life summarized with a single word, ‘tragedy,’ in a lore book I happened to read.
I, too, am meeting Merlin in person for the first time.
There was no chance to meet her in the previous run, and at a certain turning point, Merlin disappeared without a trace, leaving no traces behind.
Most of all, it’s a dangerous gamble.
The reason being.
“Hmm.”
Merlin can smell the soul.
“That’s strange.”
The expression vanished from Merlin’s face.
“I’ve never smelled something like this before.”
She slowly rose from her seat.
“What on earth is this smell?”?”
One step.
Then another.
The air inside the shop became noticeably heavier.
“Who are you, really?”
Merlin’s sharp gaze swept up and down my body.
I replied nonchalantly.
“Kyle Winfred.”
“You know that I’m not asking for your name right now, right?”
“Well, I’m not entirely sure myself.”
Merlin’s face, stern and compassionate, was a stark contrast.
Feeling momentarily uncomfortable with the two contrasting expressions, Merlin began to search for answers.
“The smell isn’t there.”
The human soul has a stench that cannot be hidden.
A line that would pop up when you click on Merlin in the game.
Naturally, there wouldn’t be any smell.
After all, my soul came from a different world.
It became a serious concern.
Should I be honest and seek help?
If not, should I come up with some vague excuses to deceive her?
“It’s neither the smell of someone who has committed murder, nor is it the smell of someone transcending their status…”
Surprisingly, it was all nonsense.
I tapped the floor with my toe, waiting for her deduction to end.
‘She doesn’t seem to have noticed.’
The reason for visiting Merlin is quite complex.
While obtaining a forged identity is one thing, the ultimate goal is, of course, the whereabouts of the Relic.
Obtaining the Relic would open the dimensional gate.
Though it was only sporadically mentioned in the game, since it’s officially confirmed in the lore book, the possibility of its falsehood is slim.
[Translator – Peptobismol]
And above all.
‘Merlin was the only one who mentioned the Relic.’
Something with an unknown identity that I haven’t even seen in person.
Such a mythical artifact was only ever mentioned by Merlin.
It’s unclear how, or through what means, she obtained the information.
Merlin Trivia wasn’t even that significant of a character to begin with.
What’s important is that Merlin knows about the Relic.
And I desperately need that information.
“… ”
Merlin’s gaze gradually became uncomfortable.
I brought up the main point with a composed expression.
“I came to buy information.”
“Information? What kind of information?”
Merlin raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.
Carefully, I brought up the reason for my visit to Merlin.
“Do you know anything about the Relic?”
That’s when it happened.
“Hah.”
A hollow laughter escaped from Merlin’s lips.
And then.
“Your soul.”
A thick smile spread across Merlin’s lips.
“You’ve been kidnapped, haven’t you?”
****
Pour—
The empty cup was filled with steaming tea.
The maid, who poured the tea, finished setting up the table for teatime and bowed once before leaving.
“…”
“…”
Luna lifted the filled cup and sipped the tea.
Isabel frowned at Luna’s demeanor.
‘Why is that woman here…’
Luna Winfred.
The eldest daughter of the Winfred family and Kyle’s half-sister.
Isabel knew a lot about Luna.
Starting from the information she heard from Kyle before her regression, to the information she acquired personally.
Piecing together fragmentary information like a puzzle…
‘…Crazy bitch.’
…Luna was one of the humans Kyle hated endlessly.
Including Isabel, herself.
“Luna Winfred.”
Isabel glared at the unwelcome guest with a stern expression.
“Just get to the point quickly.”
“For a lady of Yustia, your manner of speech seems rather aggressive, doesn’t it?”
“Aggressive? You’re the one who came to the mansion without an invitation.”
Isabel’s face revealed her irritation clearly.
Luna looked at Isabel with a smirk.
“Kyle’s gone.”
“…What?”
“He’s gone. Without a sound. In an instant.”
“Th-that…”
Isabel’s pupils shook violently.
Luna raised her voice with a sneer.
“Lady Isabel.”
There was a mocking tone in Luna’s voice.
“It’s because of you.”
“…”
“Kyle left because of you. Probably, even I would have made the same choice. How miserable it must have been to have such a detestable woman clinging onto him. How much patience he must have had to endure until now?”
“…Are you done talking now?”
“I hate you.”
“…”
“Not just hate. I hate you to the core. To the point where I wish you would just drop dead.”
Isabel let out a bitter laugh.
Hearing such curses from the woman whose words pushed Kyle’s life to the edge.
She was boiling with anger, wanting to pour the hot tea in the cup onto Luna’s face.
She gritted her teeth in boiling anger.
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
“Oh?”
“You’ve constantly insulted Kyle using your authority. Do you think I wouldn’t know?”
“…”
“Even domesticated animals deserve to be fed. Was Kyle less than a beast to you?”
Electricity sparked between their clashed gazes.
A chilly wind brushed past their skin.
“…”
“…”
An eerie silence descended.
After a moment, Luna let out a sarcastic laughter and spoke.
“Your mouth is harsher than I thought? Lady Isabel.”
“Shut your mouth.”
“Heh. Fine. I didn’t come here to squabble with you over Kyle.”
Luna stared at Isabel with narrowed eyes.
A meaningful smile spread across her lips.
“By any chance… did you also…”
Her azure pupils sparkled in the sunlight.
“Return to the past?”
[Translator – Peptobismol]
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