“Gasp, gasp…”
“By now, I guess they won’t chase us anymore, right?”
“Ugh, can’t see. Can’t see. Let’s take a breather.”
“Heh, hah. Feels like my heart’s gonna explode.”
—
The children finally catch their breath knowing the adults aren’t chasing them.
Rushing away in panic, each one collapsed or leaned against piles of rocks and tree trunks.
Gasping for air, they all feel one thing:
Today’s plan has failed.
“Thought we’d be in big trouble if caught…”
“Oh man… did that flash last longer than usual?”
“No, it was just really bright. They must’ve figured out how to counter it after being hit a few times.”
“Looks like it. The adults seemed to catch us super fast today.”
Thinking back, their livers nearly froze.
Never been caught before, but today they were all grabbed by the neck and tied up with ropes.
Lucky escape, or else who knows what they might have gotten into besides the usual beating.
“But who was that person at the end? Looked so different from those men.”
“Hmm… maybe from the same side?”
“Not an aristocrat, right? If so, we’re in big trouble!”
One child shouts amidst this confusion.
“Idiot. How could someone from the Rusmaier merchant carriage act like that.”
“What then! You tell me!”
“Why would an aristocrat ride such a carriage? Doesn’t make sense!”
“Huh… true.”
“More often, there are people who pay for a ride and walk. That’s probably who it was, hiding their appearance. An aristocrat would have worn their uniform proudly!”
“Ah-ha! Got it!”
“Exactly! Saw his face a bit. He was older than those men. When I saw his silhouette under the hood, looked about our age, maybe a year or two older?”
“Lucky we were, I guess.”
In the end, they concluded it was just luck.
“Next time, let’s prepare better. If caught by those men again, who knows what they’d do.”
“Yeah!”
“Then… let’s eat first?”
Even though the plan failed, they secured food for several days.
Just having something to eat makes the kids smile.
Meanwhile,
Perdi stares seriously at the dry ground.
“That face… It’s definitely him.”
Wearing a hood and with a drastically changed physique, Perdi still recognized him instantly.
Carsein Bargrand.
How could he forget?
The man who brought disaster to the land where they lived.
As the main figure behind the great disaster, Perdi could never forget him.
The day Carsein sent the once prosperous Shatren into ruin, Perdi couldn’t forget that either.
And today,
He came back.
Appearing from the Rusmaier merchant carriage.
With no temporary lord declared for two days since the symposium began, it was as if he knew exactly when to show up.
Naturally, he would become the temporary lord of Shatren again, as no other aristocrat had stepped foot there…
“Why did he let us go?”
Helped by someone who paid for a ride on the merchant carriage?
Just pure luck?
“…That’s ridiculous!”
“Perdi?”
Perdi clenched his fist in denial.
“Huh? Perdi? Not eating?”
“We worked hard to get this. Should eat before sharing with others.”
“Yeah. No matter what happens next, eat first. Your share was the biggest.”
“…Forget it. You guys eat.”
“Hey, Perdi!”
“If you don’t eat, we’ll finish your share too?”
Even when called from behind, Perdi didn’t stop.
“This food isn’t important!”
Perdi punched a nearby tree trunk.
“What’s wrong with that kid?”
“Don’t know. Usually, he’d just eat it.”
“Probably got mad after not getting caught for a while and then getting nabbed once.”
“Enough. Let’s give the rest to Trisha.”
If they had reacted, Perdi would’ve been caught first while stealing food and running away.
Carsein, as the lord of Rusmaier, should’ve been the first to be punished severely for attacking a merchant carriage and stealing.
And,
He clearly saw it.
Not a mistake, but intentionally freeing them by untying the ropes.
Yes. We were freed because of him!
Why did he let us go?!
If you do this now…
Now, you’ll drive Shatren away again!
“Besides, it’s too early!”
-Beep beep!
“Perdi’s affinity has increased!”
[Current level: 8%]
***
Though there was a commotion, the Rusmaier merchants remained silent.
As Tascha said, they must’ve been repaying the kindness shown by feeding these children, who needed food.
Thus, they made it clear.
They would allow giving food to the children from now on.
As a result, the reputation of the Rusmaier territory rose, affinity increased, and the carriage headed back to Shatren.
-Beep beep!
“This area is forbidden!”
“Warning! The highest danger level is the most dangerous!”
“A choice may appear, and a minor action could trigger a dead flag. Proceed?”
In the meantime, the status window appeared as the field changed.
This indicated they had arrived at Shatren.
“Entering the forbidden zone: Shatren.”
“The residents of Shatren harbor ill will towards you!”
“Watch out! A dead flag can occur depending on recognition and affinity!”
“As expected.”
Though not a combat zone, the danger level didn’t drop.
Meaning, relying solely on stats wouldn’t suffice to protect oneself.
So, it begins here.
-Beep beep!
“Recognition and affinity with Shatren territory have decreased!”
Immediately after thinking this, recognition dropped.
Since they haven’t entered the territory yet, this message appeared.
Thus, they need to speed up the carriage to pass through quickly and enter the territory.
“Slow down the carriage.”
“Not increase the speed?”
“Yes.”
Now, it’s crucial not to get confused by just one message.
-Beep beep!
“Sub-episode: Starving children of Shatren appear!”
“Warning! This is part of the main episode!”
“Treated as a main episode!”
“No way!”
“Wha-what?!”
A child immediately blocked the path, stretching both arms wide.
If the carriage hadn’t slowed down earlier, it would’ve run over the child.
If news spread, it would’ve led to a bad ending.
“It’s still treated as a main episode. Gotta handle it quickly.”
But the moment I stepped off the carriage, I sensed something was very different.
“You can’t enter. Absolutely not!”
The voice sounded unusually high.
Assuming it was normal for a child, the voice wasn’t male.
“That child… isn’t Perdi, it’s Trisha!”
Normally, Perdi would block the way after stealing food and fleeing.
But now, Trisha stood in front.
“What? What’s going on?”
I followed the episode correctly.
There shouldn’t be any variables this time.
“No. There must be something. I need to find out what.”
Since the eastern nobles’ meeting?
Or from the symposium entrance?
From the moment Shatren was chosen?
No. If it were those, the variable wouldn’t reach Shatren.
Needed a more fundamental basis.
Something that could overturn the game entirely.
Perdi appears when he realizes I became the lord of Rusmaier.
His line then:
“Why are you here in Shatren?”
Yes. That’s it.
Perdi shows hostility immediately upon entering the territory.
Rebelling against me, who ruined Shatren, starting the episode, spreading the word that I became the lord.
In short, a character who automatically informs others I’m here.
But why isn’t he showing up now?
Why is Trisha replacing him?
“Please… don’t… go…”
During this, Trisha, who blocked the path with her arms, started wobbling.
“Damn it. This isn’t the time to think about it!”
I jumped off the carriage and ran.
*Thud.*
As if sensing the unease,
Trisha wobbled and fainted when I arrived.
She would’ve fallen to the ground if I had been a moment slower.
But it seems it’s not time to relax yet.
“Trisha has fainted in front of you!”
“Achievement level varies based on the current condition of the character.”
“If Trisha dies, the episode fails, and recognition in Shatren drops dramatically!”
Of course.
Nothing comes easy.
“Camilia!”
“Yes, young master!”
“Make a bed for her here. And once I’m on the carriage, head to Shatren territory!”
“Yes, yes!”
*Click!*
“Young master! Here!”
Once I got on the carriage, Camilia pointed to a makeshift bed she made.
I laid Trisha down and checked her condition properly.
Her disheveled appearance wasn’t the problem.
“I need to take her to the council member! How long until we arrive?”
“Shatren has limited council members…! It will take at least 10 minutes!”
“10 minutes.”
“You must recover Trisha within the time limit, or she will die.”
[Time limit: 7 minutes 28 seconds]
Waiting for that would mean Trisha dies first.
And I’d follow soon after.
“Displaying Trisha’s current condition. Choose a treatment option!”
“…”
“Young master?”
Her temperature was like a burning coal.
Breathing and pulse were unstable and weak.
Other familiar symptoms.
But those weren’t the problems.
Not knowing when she got hurt, pus flowed from near her shoulder. Without proper emergency care, it hadn’t healed.
This must be the cause of Trisha’s life-threatening condition.
I know these symptoms well.
Once, I underestimated a minor cut and suffered greatly.
“Stop the carriage here!”
“Yes!”
*Whinny!*
“Camilia. Boil some water.”
“Huh?”
“Boil hot water and prepare the easiest-to-digest food available right now.”
I’m not a doctor.
But I know best how to solve starvation-related illnesses.
“If she doesn’t have the energy to even eat, no medicine will help.”
[3. Feed her slowly while draining the pus.]
***
-Beep beep!
“Trisha has recovered.”
“Completed the sub-episode ‘Starving children of Shatren.'”
[Remaining time: 1 minute 49 seconds]
The timer stopped around 10 minutes ago.
After a while, Trisha, groaning on Camilia’s lap, gradually recovered and fell asleep peacefully. The carriage contained various medicines, including painkillers, which were useful.
Although following the given choices would solve the problem, one of them likely contained a dead flag.
For example, choosing to clean the wound with a sword.
Not eating properly for years, I never thought it would be helpful here, but at least I avoided a critical situation.
“But, I can’t relax yet.”
“Entering Shatren territory!”
“Now, Shatren is filled with resentment towards outsiders!”
“I understand the merchant carriage, but can we conduct trade outside the territory?”
“I’m sorry, but due to internal conditions, the residents of Shatren aren’t friendly towards outsiders. Could you please leave after completing the trade?”
“Our circumstances don’t allow us to provide lodging to merchants. Sorry.”
The real Shatren episode starts here.
I need to declare myself the temporary lord to the residents. If they don’t accept it, we’re out of here.
Also, this time,
“Inside… Huh? Trisha?!”
“What did you do to our village child… Trisha?!”
Saving the recovering child led to a misunderstanding.
In the meantime,
Cruelly, options appeared for me.
-Beep beep!
[1. (Indifferently) I am Carsein, assigned to manage Shatren at this symposium. Pleased to meet you.]
[2. I hope you don’t misunderstand. I didn’t take on the role because I wanted to.]
[3. (Shouting) Didn’t you listen to me?! You didn’t even hear my story, and you dare say such things?!”
[4. (Pulling out a sword) You bastards…! Have the nerve to talk to me, the new lord?! Say another word!]
…
…
Terrifying dead flags clearly appeared, but my meticulous preparations revealed the correct answer.
*Ssshhh.*
“That can’t be…!”
“Is it… young master Carsein?”
“Why? Why?!”
“After leaving such a debt… Are you coming back to this place again?!”
“If you want to repay the debt, leave this territory now!”
[14. The debt should be repaid by Rusmaier, who owes you.]
“Debt? Laughable. After receiving countless supports from the Rusmaier merchant carriages, you expect me to repay a debt?”
It’s always been this way.
I intended to enter legally.
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