Regardless, he had to confirm it. The Duke of Magnus wasn’t the kind of man who needed to experience everything firsthand to believe it—especially not someone of his rank, who stood above others. But at the moment, he had no other option.
Nigel had decided to support Kay’s party in order to test Inas’s claims. According to Inas, even if everything seemed to be going smoothly, if the Protagonist’s party died to monsters, time would reset.
He could just kill them outright to test whether Kay was truly the Protagonist, but that wouldn’t prove any of the bizarre details Inas had rattled off like a prophecy. So Nigel opted to do things Inas’s way—helping Kay’s group progress safely, as long as they stayed within the bounds of normalcy.
To begin that quiet support, Nigel broached the subject.
“I heard you helped resolve Count Ludio’s difficult situation. That’s why I invited you here. The young lady you rescued is a distant relative of mine.”
“We were just doing what had to be done.”
“There are plenty of people in the world who don’t do what they should. What you did is commendable. Something to be proud of—and certainly deserving of a reward. It’s not much, but I’d like to offer a small token of thanks.”
The tension visibly left their faces at his friendly attitude, as if they had been preparing for all sorts of unpleasant scenarios. Among them, Kay’s expression softened the most as he shook his head.
“No, really. We were just doing our duty.”
“I heard you turned down the knighthood Count Ludio offered.”
“I wasn’t really aiming to become a knight…”
“I wasn’t planning to make the same offer. I heard you’re on a pilgrimage… I’d simply like to give you a bit of support. Please, accept it.”
At Nigel’s signal, a servant stepped forward and handed them a prepared reward.
Kay, clearly about to refuse again, flinched.
The reward consisted of combat essentials—like weapons and potions. For beginner adventurers like Kay’s group, they were high-quality items, but not so expensive as to seem suspicious or extravagant. Nigel had deliberately chosen things that were just right—valuable, but not excessive—to avoid being rejected outright.
As they hesitated, Nigel gave them a warm, generous smile.
“Go ahead and accept them. Even with a healer in your party, you’ll likely need them in battle.”
“…Then thank you. We’ll accept them.”
The moment Kay answered, Lana jabbed him in the side with her elbow.
“Kay!”
“W-What? It’s not like it’s money. And they’re not that expensive…”
“They’re really not that expensive.”
Nigel chimed in casually, making it awkward to pretend he hadn’t heard. Lana clammed up, clearly embarrassed.
“Of course, I’m not saying they’re cheap trinkets either. These are standard weapons used by the knights of my duchy—they’re not extravagant. I’d like you to use them until you find something better.”
They really weren’t anything impressive.
As the three glanced at each other and hesitated, Nigel opened his Item Window to confirm the contents one more time.
Magnus Duchy Knight’s Sword
(Spare Issue)
A standard sword used by the knights of the Magnus Duchy. Though crafted by a skilled artisan, it contains impurities that slightly reduce its sharpness compared to the original design. As this was not formally issued to a knight, it bears no crest of the Magnus family.
Price: 30 Rubel
…He was certain he’d never given instructions to include impurities, yet there they were. Because of it, the value had dropped significantly. The sword now cost a mere 30 Rubel—absurd, considering the base material alone should have been worth more than that.
He couldn’t imagine why a smith, trusted by the Magnus family, would suddenly start cutting corners. There was no benefit to smuggling materials compared to dutifully doing his job for the ducal house.
Normally, Nigel would’ve hauled in the responsible party for questioning on the spot, but he couldn’t muster the motivation.
After all, if Inas was right, and everything reset anyway, what was the point?
As Nigel silently mulled it over, the three adventurers huddled together in whispered discussion before finally deciding to accept the items.
“Then we’ll use them gratefully.”
“Good. So—when do you plan to depart?”
“We’re hoping to leave tomorrow once we’re ready.”
“Then why not stay here for the night?”
“Ah, well…”
Kay, who’d been smiling all along, now hesitated, perhaps feeling they’d already received too much. Nigel gave him an even gentler, more reassuring smile.
“There are plenty of rooms in the estate. I’m only offering one of them.”
“But we’re on a pilgrimage, so…”
Pilgrimages to the holy sites of Glarus were a rite of passage for aspiring adventurers. They traveled the continent on foot, avoiding luxury and relying only on their own strength—something Nigel could never do. This refusal was expected.
So he pressed the offer again, making it harder to decline. His voice was soft, his smile kind.
“One night won’t break the spirit of the pilgrimage, will it? I’m not in the best health—I can’t travel myself. I’d love to hear tales from the road. Please, don’t make this more complicated than it is.”
“…Th-Thank you.”
Kay’s face turned bright red. Such an innocent child.
The moment the three were escorted out by a butler, Inas suddenly appeared in the room. Not through the door—but straight out of thin air.
Nigel considered scolding him for the discourtesy, but stopped short. Inas’s expression wasn’t great.
He strode forward, dropped to one knee before Nigel, and took his hand, pressing a kiss to the back of it—a knight’s pledge.
Oddly enough, it made Nigel’s face flush.
Still holding his hand, Inas turned it over and pressed his lips against the palm. The warmth of his breath tickled, the soft press of his lips sent a shiver down Nigel’s spine.
Startled, Nigel tried to jerk his hand away. But Inas didn’t let go—he kept smiling, clearly in a foul mood but masking it with politeness.
“Don’t smile at me like that. I’m falling for you.”
“…What nonsense are you spouting now?”
“I think a flag’s been triggered.”
A flag?
Nigel tilted his head at the unfamiliar term. He’d never seen that in any of the info windows, despite checking them for days. Inas sighed.
“It means Kay might be falling for you.”
“What?! Don’t be ridiculous.”
Kay was seventeen. Nigel was twenty-three. The age gap alone made it absurd. But Inas’s expression was dead serious.
“No. Kay has fallen for you about a hundred times so far.”
“…Seriously?”
“Yes. Usually, this is when I’d kill him.”
The cold sweat running down Nigel’s back was instinctual. He wasn’t in danger himself, but Inas clearly meant every word.
“Don’t kill him.”
“Understood. For now.”
For now, he says…
Nigel glared at Inas, uneasy with the ominous tone. After all, this was the same Inas who used to be the very image of a loyal knight—someone who seemed like he’d sacrifice his life without hesitation at Nigel’s command. He’d never defied Nigel like this before.
Sure, Inas had occasionally ignored minor orders—like forcing medicine down his throat—but not to this degree.
If he was going to act like his lord’s words were nonsense, maybe he should just hand back his knighthood.
In a normal situation, Nigel would’ve scolded him on the spot. But not now. It was like an ant challenging a human—no, an ant might actually have better odds.
There was nothing to do about it.
The only reason Nigel had been able to say what he wanted all this time was because he held the upper hand. If he was the weaker one, he had to stay quiet.
Maybe it was time for some spiritual growth. Nigel resolved to start cultivating patience.
“…So what if that kid has a crush on me?”
But of course, Nigel couldn’t fully hold back. Even with his sickly image, Nigel was still a Magnus Duke—infamous for his bad temper. If someone was getting stabbed over and over, they at least deserved to know why.
Though his voice was sharp, Inas remained unbothered.
“Isn’t it the knight’s duty to swat away the flies buzzing around his lord?”
Nigel’s lip twitched. He wanted to see Inas get jealous—but that answer wasn’t quite what he’d hoped for.
Instead of snapping, Nigel subtly pulled his hand from Inas’s grasp.
Patience. Deep breaths.
He needed more information to offset the current disadvantage.
“So what exactly is this… ‘flag’ thing?”
“It’s a game term.”
“A game term…?”
Inas paused, struggling to explain a word that came so naturally to him.
“Think of it like a… condition required for romance to happen.”
“Romance?!”
What the hell was he talking about romance for?!
Nigel’s horrified reaction seemed to please Inas, who nodded in satisfaction.
“I agree—it’s absurd. But Kay is the Protagonist. As long as he likes someone and fulfills the right conditions, he can become lovers with anyone at the ending.”
“…What the hell kind of system is that?”
Becoming lovers with a seventeen-year-old who hadn’t even completed his coming-of-age ceremony?
Nigel looked utterly scandalized, and Inas shrugged as if to say told you so.
“Which is why I had no choice but to kill him.”
Well, he was the Protagonist—the axis around which the world revolved.
This “game” Inas spoke of wasn’t a fixed, linear tale. It had branching possibilities, a large frame that could change over time. But to Nigel, who was caught in its current, there was no accepting it so calmly.
He rubbed his arms to get rid of the goosebumps crawling up them.
“…I get what you’re saying, but still. Try not to kill him if you can help it.”
“Yes. Judging by your reaction, it looks like the affection meter won’t reach the threshold. That’s a relief.”
It really was a relief. At least now, he wouldn’t have to watch Inas murder some poor kid.
Nigel had planned to call Kay in for a quiet conversation before they departed—but now it seemed safer not to. That boy might end up dead without a trace.
Just as he was letting out a sigh of relief, a thought struck him. Nigel looked up sharply.
“…Wait, then—has Kay ever had a thing for you?”
In response, Inas’s face instantly twisted into a deep scowl.
