I Am a Ruined Noble of a Ruined Kingdom

Chapter 14: Protagonist (3)

"Charles... No way!"

Iruealfi raised her voice, her face a mask of panic. She immediately extended her senses, enveloping the outside world.

The result was clear without needing to be spoken. Iruealfi's trembling hands conveyed it all.

"Charles is gone. How could this happen? Charles' secret should have been concealed for a long time!"

"You're telling me. That's what I'm wondering, damn it."

Charles Milote was a person even I, with my omniscient player perspective, didn't know existed.

'Is that why, perhaps?'

I prided myself on knowing everything about . Perhaps that very thought was a grave delusion.

Looking back, this world was full of things I didn't know. The Emperor's special ability, the golden chain model at the main gate of the Imperial Palace – all these were new to me.

I didn't even know that Iruealfi possessed the sensibilities of an ordinary woman.

'I may know a lot that the inhabitants of this world don't, but I'm ignorant of what they take for granted.'

In the same vein, it's not strange for someone to unearth information that I didn't know. Like Charles' secret of birth, for example.

'Iruealfi becoming a Destroyer in the main story should happen later. Is this an episode that resolves itself without my intervention? I don't remember altering the main story's scenario.'

The reason for targeting Charles was obvious. They intended to agitate the Empress through her. A plan to make the Emperor betray Iruealfi at the Empress's urging.

At that point, I realized something odd.

'Does that make sense? They'd have to know in advance that Iruealfi would devastate the Empire to make this plan.'

In other words, it's a plan only possible for someone who perfectly understands Iruealfi's prowess and even Miren Yustiha's value. I know the future as a player, but others don't.

I decided to verify the facts with Iruealfi first.

"Iruealfi, how much does the Empress cherish Charles? From what I saw briefly, their relationship doesn't seem that great."

"That's..."

Iruealfi's words trailed off. It was because the Empress was approaching Iruealfi with a desperate expression on her face. The Empress's green eyes, like Charles', were trembling greatly.

"You… did you just say Charles?"

The Empress asked with a cracked voice. The Empress saw Iruealfi's troubled expression and began to ramble incoherently.

"Charles is gone? What does that mean, Marquis? Are you saying that child is still inside the banquet hall?"

"Your Majesty."

I stopped the Empress, who was coming towards Iruealfi as if to grab and shake her. The Empress stumbled back as if pushing me away, but she didn't have enough divine power to do so.

"Charles is the target, that can't be. It shouldn't be! You can take my life instead, but not Charles."

"Please calm down, Your Majesty. Charles is still alive."

"How can you be so sure! If anything happens to that child... I won't be able to face that person..."

At that moment, the Emperor approached the pleading Empress.

"Calm down, Empress!"

"You know too! How Charles..."

"How could I not know? But recklessly bursting out with emotions is not good for you either. The Marquises must continue to find a solution."

The Emperor gently embraced the Empress, stepped back, and soothed her. Iruealfi looked at me as if she was tired. She seemed to be trying to hide it indifferently, but there was a subtle hint of revulsion.

"You saw it. I don't know about Charles, but the Empress cherishes Charles. She can't show it because of her position."

"It seems so. We need to start the pursuit, but can you break that barrier?"

I pointed to the red dome with a nod. I deliberately avoided mentioning the Blood of Spirits. Iruealfi hesitated for a moment and then shook her head.

"Breaking it is easy. The problem is that the people trapped inside will be severely injured. Some of my attack will be reflected back as rebound force."

"That wouldn't do."

If it was a part of the attack Iruealfi launched, it would be a disaster for ordinary people. Among the people here, only I and the trained knights would be able to withstand it.

"Even if I break it, it's still a problem. I can't follow the pursuit, leaving the imperial family behind."

"Besides, what tricks did they play, there are no guards, and all there is are the conflicting Fayta soldiers. Unbelievable."

"Yes. I'm completely tied up. The red dome will disappear over time, but by then Charles will be completely..."

Iruealfi's face was serious. A stalemate where she can't do anything. It's a situation where she has no choice. If the Fayta soldiers showed even a sliver of hostility, Iruealfi could use that as an excuse to wipe them all out.

But if the culprits' goal is really just Charles, it's obvious they won't give her any justification. Iruealfi will be stuck here until their purpose is fulfilled.

However, that was only Iruealfi's situation. Her choices are unrelated to me. If what they were wary of was Iruealfi's single force, there are still alternatives left.

I opened my mouth as calmly as possible.

"Then I'll go find her."

"Nephi?"

"Why, can't I?"

"Can't you? Well, Nephi is..."

"Is it because I'm a target of surveillance? Because if I get out of sight, I might cause an uncontrollable accident?"

"Frankly, yes."

Iruealfi said with a stern expression.

It was disappointing, but it was an expected answer. Considering my notoriety, it would have been strange if trust had been built in a short period.

There is a gap that cannot be filled even if you talk casually and act together normally. My existence itself was like that.

The atrocious past committed by Netionpies is not the kind of thing that can be forgotten even after time passes. Even the Emperor believes in his own favor towards me, but he doesn't believe in Netionpies.

If I hadn't been a reincarnator, it would have been just a foolish act of releasing a tiger to chase away a wolf.

"I understand that you can't trust me."

I had to use my mouth carefully.

It's not persuasive to talk about the enemy's true purpose being Miren Yustiha. Rather, only questions about how I knew Miren would follow.

In the worst case, she might believe it. It is impossible to know how Iruealfi, who has lost her reason, will find the criminals. Her great power is justice only when it contains reason. When I thought of Iruealfi in the future who had lost her justice, I felt goosebumps all over.

'I have to do it. If I can get out of here somehow, there will be a way.'

I looked straight into Iruealfi's blue eyes and continued.

"Iruealfi, I know well enough how much you care about the peace of the people. I've experienced your strength and personality firsthand for almost half a year. So, I understand the wariness towards me that comes with it. Yes, I understand everything and still ask you this."

"...”

I bowed politely. Iruealfi's flustered gestures were felt nearby. Her face was not visible, and only the well-cut grass swaying in the night wind faced me.

Iruealfi did not answer. No, it would be more accurate to say that she could not answer. For Iruealfi, it would be a choice between succumbing to the devil's whisper or not.

Still, the situation demanded urgency. There was no time to waste. I took the risk and urged her to make a decision.

"I'll say it clearly. I'm going to find Charles and save her. I swear that nothing you're worried about will happen in the process."

"Nephi."

I heard Iruealfi's agonizing call. Now there was nothing else I could say. No matter how wonderful and reasonable rhetoric I added, I wouldn't be able to captivate her.

Therefore, I straightened my back and declared imposingly.

"Iruealfi. From now on, I will ignore all your opinions and go save Charles. If you believe me, just let me go. But if you don't believe me... stop me yourself."

"Nephi, what are you talking about!"

"This is all I have to say. I'm going now. Any more wasting time is dangerous."

"Nephi!"

She shouted, but I ignored her and moved my feet. I walked past Iruealfi's back with an unwavering momentum. The destination was the entrance to the Fayta Duke's banquet hall.

At the same time, I squeezed my eyes shut. It wouldn't be strange if Iruealfi's sword strike turned me into mincemeat from behind.

The small amount of trust built up in a short period of time. The notoriety passed down for hundreds of years. And an urgent situation where even a dog's help would be appreciated.

It wouldn't be strange no matter what Iruealfi chose.

'It reminds me of that time.'

I said in a private conversation with the Emperor.

[If a major incident occurs that can be seen as a turning point in fate, then trust me at that time. In return, I will definitely present you with a happy ending.]

It was a very confident declaration. An arrogant admonition as if there was nothing that I couldn't do with my knowledge of the original work and Netionpies' body. I wouldn't have said it if I had known I would feel my limits so quickly.

'I should have told Iruealfi instead.'

But it would have been dismissed as nonsense not worth listening to.

While I was berating my pathetic self, I heard a metallic sound engraved in my mind.

Sreung-

It was the familiar sound of Iruealfi's silver-white sword appearing from its scabbard. But I didn't look back, and I didn't stop walking. I endured the pain in my left limbs and waist while i could.

I let go of everything and went forward, only hoping for Iruealfi's hands to not come.

'Hoo.'

Had my prayers been answered? Until I completely entered the banquet hall, Iruealfi did nothing in the end.

The emergency situation of Charles' kidnapping seemed to tilt the scales of trust and notoriety to the former. If I missed this opportunity that Iruealfi allowed, I would never be able to show my face again.

I immediately started the chase.

"I never thought I'd use it so soon..."

The encounter with Netionpies in the Mental World was like a welcome stroke of luck for me. I hate to admit it, but he was much greater than me and knew a lot.

Before we parted, Netionpies gave me a fragment of knowledge. Thanks to that, I tasted unprecedented pain, but there was a great gain.

One of them was how to use the body.

"Sense Activation."

Netionpies' senses were already in an inhuman realm even in normal times. If you stimulate the bodily organs and activate their functions on top of that, you can temporarily gain performance that is several times higher.

It was one of the ways to use the body that Netionpies had planted in my mind.

Now I could feel everything from the swaying of the grass to the movement of the bugs.

'There's a slight disturbance felt underground. After all, they couldn't have escaped the red dome in that short amount of time.'

Above all, even if the red dome covered the Duke's residence, it couldn't have spread its roots deep underground. That's why I felt the presence after returning to the banquet hall.

Even just placing the fingertips on the floor, I could feel it very well. Charles' frightened groans and the four or five people moving busily. It must be the Fayta mansion's secret passage.

"Duke Troff Fayta. I expect an explanation later!"

I gritted my teeth and headed towards the rear of the Duke's residence.

Even with super-senses, it was impossible to know the secret passage of the Duke's residence. So, I took a straight route without any complexity.

"Hoo, is this where the bottom is empty?"

I tapped the ground to confirm. Charles was quite far away from where I was standing now.

If I was in the north of the Duke's residence, Charles was closer to the west. I moved that way on purpose. I didn't want Charles to get caught up in my actions.

I unleashed the terrifying strength that vibrated the Great Cavern without reservation.

"Hap!"

With a shout, I stepped firmly with all my might. With a huge roar, the ground sank deeply. The aftermath of the step was so great that screams were heard from the opposite direction. It was where Iruealfi was.

I didn't care about the people's agitation.

Because Iruealfi was there. If she's there, it will be easily resolved whether a demon king appears or whatever comes. This was the small amount of trust in Iruealfi that I had built up since my previous life.

"One more time!"

Kuuuuung!

I took another firm step from the center of the sunken area. This time, I felt the floor collapsing with a more spectacular sound than the first attempt.

With a strange sense of floating, I fell into the deep underground. I didn't even land properly because I wasn't good at sports even if I handled my body a little.

I groaned loudly as I fell spread-eagled.

"Kkeueueueueup! S, Sense blocking, Sense blocking!"

I had fallen into a pile of stones with a delicate sense of touch that even detected the vibrations of the deep underground, so the pain I felt was extraordinary.

"Keuheuk... ha... I lack experience."

When I blocked my senses, not only did the pain disappear, but even the feeling of touching something disappeared. I had to waste some time adjusting the sensory levels in detail.

"I'll make you pay for making me suffer. You bastards."

Cursing, I headed to the place where I felt Charles' presence.