Chapter 63

Emma’s order was surprisingly simple.

To kick Carstein out of the training hall.

No other conditions were given.

How could something this easy be an assignment?

Knights receiving such a request were already daydreaming about what they would do with the money they would get from Emma.

For one or two days, they planned to toy with him appropriately, and on the third day, they even opened a gambling den. From then on, all they cared about was timing their earnings.

However.

After Isabella arrived, things started to go awry.

On the fourth day, Arina showed up, and on the fifth, Claire came.

Thanks to them, Theo found himself in a bind.

Trying to kick Carstein out during the new recruit ceremony, which is treated like a tradition among knights, seemed impossible with the eyes of the Duke’s House’s young ladies glaring at him.

Moreover, Carstein stubbornly continued his training.

Despite collapsing from exhaustion, he managed to carry out his daily schedule every day.

“Ah, damn it. It’s obvious someone else will come tomorrow.”

Theo, heading to the isolation room upon Emma’s call, felt that he was really going to get into serious trouble this time.

Indeed.

From the isolation room, Emma, with a fierce gaze, immediately asked:

“Considering you didn’t report to me for three days, you must have kicked Carstein out, right?”

Theo hesitated before answering in a barely audible voice:

“…Not yet.”

“Huh!”

At the word “not yet,” Emma jumped up in anger.

“What kind of job did you do that you couldn’t kick out a single commoner from the training hall?!”

“…”

There was nothing to say. Theo remained silent as Emma expressed her frustration.

“How can a knight fail to remove a commoner?! How can you be a knight if you can’t punish a guilty party?!”

“Ah, damn it. It’s been less than a week.”

“It’ll be obvious in a week! What if the guy holds on until the seventh day of training?!”

Upon completing the seventh day of training, Carstein would become a probationary knight, able to move freely around the training hall, which is why Emma was so agitated.

“Are you trying to betray me now? Could you still be fine after doing that?!”

“There’s no way I’d do that!”

Theo retorted with annoyance to Emma.

“Wait, Head Maid. Just give it some time. How can I touch him in front of the young ladies? Today, Flora will definitely come, so I can surely kick him out.”

“What?”

“On the third day, the Duchess came, on the fourth day, Arina, and on the fifth day, Claire. Who do you think will come next?”

Theo tried to calm down the agitated Emma, placing a small hope on the presence of Flora.

“Are you sure? Young Lady Flora will go to the training hall.”

“Yes, absolutely. There are rumors all over the Duke’s Mansion that she’s already gone.”

With the young ladies and the mistress around, it was understandable that they couldn’t just kick Carstein out.

That’s why it made sense that he hadn’t been kicked out yet.

“So, how exactly do you plan to handle it?”

Facing Theo’s question, he swallowed hard.

Actually, the situation was quite difficult.

His trusted subordinates had either been driven away by Claire or were in a state of disarray, making him feel more relaxed and thus employing fewer subordinates.

Worse, Bruce couldn’t even trample on Carstein, causing public opinion to waver slightly.

So, he could only stall for time and muddle through.

“On the days with the other two young ladies, I’m not sure, but when Young Lady Flora comes, there’s no telling what we can’t do. She brought a bag when she came, and there’s something precious inside. We might be able to use that somehow.”

“Is that all?”

“That’s enough. It shouldn’t be too hard to excite him and exaggerate the situation.”

Emma, who was already seething with anger from days of accumulated anxiety in the isolation room, wasn’t reassured by this alone.

“No. You need to act first.”

“What?”

“Since you’re expecting Young Lady Flora to come, you should be able to handle it properly. It wouldn’t be difficult to sneak something into the guy’s bag. Handle it there. In the knight’s way, through a duel.”

Realizing what Emma meant, Theo swallowed hard again.

“True, I have plenty of things from Young Lady Flora. I could frame him as a thief, and challenging him to a duel wouldn’t be hard.”

Even if he lost or won, he could still take another chance, and potentially flip public opinion against Carstein.

But the risk was considerable.

Although he could cover his tracks, once it got to a duel, failure would mean the end.

Seeing Theo hesitate, Emma’s anger flared even more.

“If you don’t get rid of him, neither of us will survive. Handle it today. Make him unable to use his limbs or whatever!!”

Theo’s back dripped with cold sweat under Emma’s fierce gaze.

Was it really that urgent? But…

She was serious.

Regardless of what happened to Carstein, they could rely on public opinion to claim a mistake.

But making him unable to use a limb meant there was no turning back. He was cornered.

“If it gets out that the money was Carstein’s, it’s all over. No room for leniency. Remember this, Theo Lamstair.”

“…Understood.”

Theo replied tersely, wiping his face, and left the isolation room.

“Aaaah! Because of that damn commoner!!!”

-Crash!

Emma screamed, smashing a glass cup in the room. The shards flew, grazing her face, blood trickling down diagonally.

But the injury and blood weren’t the problem.

-Gwaak.

A small memo clutched in her hand pushed Emma to the edge.

“I must handle this for sure. Definitely…”

***

The day ended on the fifth day.

It was a pretty tiring day.

Though somewhat accustomed, the intense training was still too much for Carstein’s body, and to make matters worse, he had a bout with Bruce.

After finishing the last task, his body was drenched in sweat, panting heavily.

Yet, he didn’t feel particularly exhausted.

“…”

He spread his palms to check.

Carstein’s hands were marked with tiny calluses.

Even though it was brief, it showed how hard he had swung his sword back then.

But that feeling…

was also mine.

“…Probably because I haven’t held one in a while.”

Looking at those calloused hands made him think of his past self.

I used to go to the dojo too.

I used to grip a sword like this, getting calluses.

That’s why, rather than feeling tired…

No.

It’s beyond that level.

“Why do these similarities feel so familiar?”

It’s not just Carstein. There was a time when I was foolish and ran away from home.

It rained that day.

A woman approached, offering an umbrella, asking what I was doing here.

She led me into the dojo.

I ate my fill, warmed up, and didn’t want to go home.

I lied, saying I wanted to learn swordsmanship.

Holding a sword reminded me of that time.

Sighing deeply, I looked up at the sky, muttering,

“Thank you, Hyunseong hyung. Yunji noona.”

Coldly judging, I owe my ability to not lose to Bruce to the sword skills I learned from those two.

“Still, I didn’t lose. I definitely crushed that guy.”

Hyunseong hyung, who always said never to lose to scoundrels, and Yunji noona, who taught me legal techniques whenever she had free time.

I don’t know where they are now, but I finally express my gratitude.

Those two. When they visited, along with my mother and firstborn, refusing a thick wallet they offered, they never came back.

Control was imposed so I couldn’t visit them.

I was told I beat up a scoundrel at school and went to learn boxing.

Without a dojo, I put down my sword for quite some time.

But…

“…Here, I can keep holding a sword.”

Holding a sword again, it feels bittersweet.

Though it’s not the same sword, just a game’s, it feels real.

But in this world, no one can stop me from learning swordsmanship.

And it could protect myself.

There’s no reason to worry.

Even after this episode, I need to be strong enough to protect myself.

-Ding!

▶You’ve overcome all the dangers of Day 5!◀

▶You’ve successfully triggered results beyond choices!◀

■Rewards

[Training Hall’s area danger levels decrease by one stage!]

[High Risk → Caution, Caution → Normal]

▶Condition met! Fragmented Wing Episode splits into two!◀

▶Episode V. Fragmented Wing (Upper) completed! Episode V. Fragmented Wing (Lower) starts!◀

▶Caution! Hidden threats lurk!◀

▶Specific individuals’ threat levels rise to Warning, Danger!◀

[Warning: Theo Lamstair, Bruce Ivan]

[Danger: Emma Urnen]

As Day 5 ended, Theo saw various messages pop up in his vision.

Even though he was unfamiliar with the Fragmented Wing episode, he was fortunate that it didn’t deviate too much from what he knew.

Or perhaps, since there were almost no changes, he could apply his previous strategies directly.

Despite the intense training compared to Carstein’s body, not giving up and completing the tasks increased the affinity with the regular knights, changing their perception.

Significant changes occurred.

In the match against Bruce, those who noticed his passion turned white boxes, previously negative, into positive ones, as he overcame difficulties and achieved an upset.

Having seized a favorable position at a specific point, despite holding a sword for the first time in a long while, he defeated Bruce, leaving only one choice remaining.

▶Where would you like to go?

[1. Mark’s office]

[2. Regular knight Glen’s quarters]

[3. Dining hall]

[4. Training arena]

[5. Radiel’s training ground]

[6. Carstein’s quarters]

Deciding how to wrap up Day 5, the system gave Carstein a choice to find a character and prepare for the next event.

Given the rising threat levels of Bruce, Theo, and Emma, it was clear the player needed to prepare accordingly.

But something felt off.

Why choose one place to meet? Wouldn’t meeting a helper require interacting with people?

“I can’t keep being controlled by choices.”

So, he waited at a crossroads where he could choose any of the six places.

Predictably, the warning message didn’t appear after some time, nor did the timer.

As soon as two figures appeared in his field of vision, the choices vanished.

“Looks like there’s someone… Radiel.”

“Young Master? Could it be, Young Master Carstein?”

Mark and Radiel rushed over frantically.

Yes. One person doesn’t need to hear this.

Just like the troublemaker in the training hall, the information gap between Mark and Radiel could prevent any misunderstandings.

“I assume you won’t doubt that some sort of mission was carried out in the training hall after my match with Bruce. Mark, what do you think?”

“I agree. But, there’s still something I’m unsure about.”

“What?”

“Though you said you were confident this time, I’m not sure how you plan to clear your name.”

Radiel seemed to have explained well.

They needed to move quickly.

“We should probably move somewhere else to talk.”

Both nodded.

***

Carstein suggested moving places, and Mark followed.

If this information spread within the unit, it would cause a commotion like before. It was best to discuss in a place where no one would overhear.

But.

Every time he followed, he couldn’t help but tilt his head.

“I figured the Duke’s secret had something to do with this. But…”

This place wasn’t suitable for discussion.

Mark whispered to Radiel:

“Radiel, did you hear anything?”

“Huh?”

“Did Young Master mention this separately?”

Radiel shook her head.

She hadn’t heard anything either.

“But this place, it’s clearly…”

An old warehouse, abandoned due to the shift in primary usage and the expansion of the internal buildings of the knight order.

Carstein walked towards the old warehouse.

It seemed Mark was right; Carstein stopped in front of the old warehouse and inserted a key into the door.

-Klunk!

The door, poorly maintained and creaky, opened.

Carstein turned and looked at the two knights alternately.

“Radiel, wait here.”

He gave a somewhat confusing instruction.

“Why, Young Master?”

“Your composure might not hold up.”

“…What?”

“Inside are documents Emma Urnen has been hiding. How would you react if you got your hands on them?”

“Of course, I would present them to the Duchess or Young Lady Arina!”

“Right. That’s why I’m telling you to wait.”

Radiel tilted her head.

“You can’t get rid of Emma with just that. You know it too. How they fabricated artificial evidence.”

“…”

“Radiel.”

Mark placed a light hand on Radiel’s shoulder, whose lips were pressed tightly.

“Now, Young Master is right. Not just recently. Whenever Young Master is mentioned, you change.”

“How did my expression change?”

“…You looked ready to kill anyone. Like you wanted to storm the Duke’s mansion and start something!”

Mark had seen Radiel alone once, when she was out.

That day, Mark saw Emma passing by near the Duke’s mansion, and Radiel, with a murderous gaze, he watched silently.

Radiel was impatient and fierce.

She might have wanted to cut someone’s throat right away.

Persuaded by Mark, Radiel reluctantly stepped back.

“Alright. I’ll wait outside, Young Master.”

“…Thank you, Radiel. You’re the hardest to deal with right now.”

“It’s fine. Go ahead, Young Master. And Young Master, you’ll explain everything later, right?”

“Yes.”

▶Radiel’s unease is resolved!◀

▶You perfectly avoided the Dead Flag!◀

Checking his status window, Carstein finally felt relieved and entered the old warehouse.

Reaching the interior soon.

Crouching amidst the clutter, Carstein carefully examined the floor and tore open a spot.

“This…!”

Hidden beneath the floor were expensive items and large bags of gold coins.

“The hardest part to prove in that verdict was whether they accepted the request. If there were such material evidence, the judgment could have been overturned.”

“Then, these must be…!”

“Even if they accepted the request, anyone would find it suspicious if they received such a large sum at once. Given the limited activity range of knights, they had no choice but to hide it like this.”

Of course, suspicions existed. But no one could have imagined the location was under the old training hall.

Who would expect the darkest corner to be right under the lamp?

Mark’s fist trembled.

Understanding why he didn’t bring Radiel became clear.

“But, Young Master. This alone might not be enough. There’s a possibility it could endanger us if used as evidence.”

Coldly analyzed, it would result in demotion or punishment.

There were plenty of excuses available.

“Right. So, we need to create our own evidence.”

“What?”

“Tomorrow, Flora will come. To those who witnessed the trial, Flora will be a solid ally.”

“You don’t mean… Young Master!”

He grinned.

“Mark, I’ll tell you what to do tomorrow.”

Preparations for the immature brat were already complete.