#036
Each NPC’s house was decorated with distinctive interiors according to their own personalities, and Carlisle’s house, being the wealthiest in the setting and built in 19th-century aristocratic style, reached the peak of splendor. Various chandeliers and other gorgeous lighting fixtures sparkled throughout, while expensive antique furniture and decorations flaunted their elegant magnificence.
But now, none of that luxury could be felt anywhere. The chandelier lights had disappeared, and instead only a couple of low-intensity wall lamps were lit. White sheets covered the furniture as if no one lived in the house, and the fireplace that had always blazed brightly from late autumn onward was dead black. There seemed to be no other heating either, as my breath came out white when I breathed, just like outside.
“I didn’t expect you to come this early.”
I flinched and turned my head at the sudden voice. I hadn’t heard any footsteps, but Carlisle Lightinger was already standing at the top of the stairs.
‘His clothes…’
Carlisle wasn’t wearing his usual razor-sharp suit but loose casual clothes. A turtleneck sweater with comfortable cotton pants, and what looked like fluffy slippers. His bangs were slightly disheveled, flowing down over his forehead, somehow… reminding me of his past appearance.
‘So formal wear is like battle gear, you could say.’
But what did he mean by not expecting me to come this early? As if he knew I would come…
“Not even a day has passed—what could have changed so much that you can repay your debt already?”
‘Ah.’
Now I understood what he meant. I recalled my words about definitely repaying my debt. Well, that… it wasn’t insincere, but it was half social courtesy, wasn’t it? This isn’t a world with lottery tickets, and like you said, how could I possibly repay that debt in just one day?
“Well, the thing is…”
Before I could find an appropriate answer, Carlisle, who had looked me over from head to toe, made the correct judgment with a crooked smile.
“Doesn’t seem like it.”
“Rather than that… something came up that I need to talk about.”
“Hmm…”
Carlisle tilted his head slightly. He just looked at me like that for quite a while. Actually, it was probably just a brief moment, but I felt like it was much longer. Cold sweat began to break out on my scalp. Come to think of it, the butler and master acted exactly the same way.
“Come up.”
Permission was finally granted and I inwardly sighed with relief.
‘What am I, a dog that got a freeze signal from its owner?’
I grumbled internally but didn’t show it, quickly climbing the stairs to follow behind Carlisle. The distance was quite far, so when I finished climbing the stairs, Carlisle’s figure had already disappeared from the corridor, but I could immediately tell where he was thanks to the light flowing from the innermost room at the end of the corridor. It was the study.
Carlisle was waiting for me, leaning against the desk. The study was filled with the desk lamp’s light and a bit of warmth, and through the open-curtained window, the lake could be clearly seen below. Maybe he saw me coming. Even my hesitation at the fork in the road about whether to come up or not.
“So.”
Carlisle spoke first.
“What brings you all the way here, my ex-spouse?”
The corner of his mouth lifted slightly as he spoke. The atmosphere wasn’t as bad as I’d expected, but ex-spouse? The intention behind choosing that particular word was grating. It seemed to say that we weren’t the type to easily visit each other like this, and didn’t I know that his feelings toward me weren’t particularly good?
“You said you didn’t come to repay your debt, so what could it be? You didn’t come to incur more debt, did you?”
I wish he wouldn’t ask in the negative form when he’s already hit the answer exactly.
“…I went to meet the Administrator of the Sacred Tree.”
I wanted to add “as you probably know.” It’s too visible from this window. Seeing how the curtains are wide open, it doesn’t seem like he’s trying to hide that from me either.
“…And?”
Carlisle just tilted his head as if telling me to say more. I didn’t draw out the explanation unnecessarily long.
“I heard about the Fragment of the Sacred Tree. The priest—I mean, the administrator—said they’d like me to find the remaining fragments too, but as you know, that’s not something I… can handle alone.”
As expected, Carlisle didn’t ask back what collecting fragments of the Sacred Tree meant. That meant he knew. It seemed like entering the hidden dungeon was a first for him too, but at least he knew of its existence.
“And?”
But that didn’t mean he’d let it slide easily. I knew I needed to make a good impression, but my face automatically scrunched up. He really wants to hear me say this, doesn’t he.
“So… I was hoping you could help me a bit.”
And I could predict the reaction to these words too. I still had vivid memories of him asking “Why should I?” in the forest. Unexpectedly, Carlisle smiled broadly.
“Of course you’d want that. But what’s in it for me?”
But the content of his words wasn’t much different. He’d just stretched out two words into several sentences with a gentle voice.
“Try to persuade me. I’ll at least listen.”
Persuasion. I swallowed a sigh. It’s not that I don’t understand why Carlisle is acting this way toward me. He must have bad feelings toward me. But isn’t that a personal matter? We’re talking about public business here. Can’t he respond a bit more maturely, befitting his appearance? Besides.
Come to think of it, I was getting subtly angry.
Of course, it was true that I was acting according to my own needs. But let’s properly think about this. If I risked my life to complete quests and reached the proper ending, it wouldn’t just be good for me. I’d be saving this world, wouldn’t I? Until now, I’d been too busy just trying to save my own life to think about it, but ultimately, as the player, I had the role of this world’s savior. And since Carlisle Lightinger was a resident of this world, I would naturally become this man’s savior too!
Once my thoughts reached that point, I felt like I could act shamelessly without any more guilt. Strength began to enter my shoulders, which had only been shrinking endlessly until now. I straightened my neck stiffly and even lifted my chin.
“It’s not just for my benefit—it’s for the village. It’s ultimately good for you too.”
“Does that become a reason for me to help you?”
Carlisle crossed his arms.
“If the fragments of the Sacred Tree need to be collected, then sure, I can just form a team and go exploring myself. Is there a reason I need to include you in my team? Resources are scarce, you can’t even properly do one person’s work, and you get injured to the point of near-death every time. We have to put in extra effort to protect you and waste expensive potions every time—what do you think about that?”
His tone was becoming increasingly caustic. My stiff neck immediately went soft. I desperately racked my brain. Reasons for Carlisle to take me, reasons to help me, reasons to need me…
“But you have to take me—you can’t open the hidden dungeon without me, can you? The fragments of the Sacred Tree can only be obtained from hidden dungeons!”
I finally remembered one important fact. The key to opening the hidden dungeon in the plains hadn’t responded to Carlisle’s hands. I shouted triumphantly, but Carlisle only narrowed his eyes.
“How can you guarantee that only you can open them every time? That one time could have been the first and last.”
“Well, that’s…”
Because I’m the player. I could guarantee it with certainty. But since I couldn’t say that, I was left speechless. I needed a different deal.
“If you go without me and it doesn’t open, then you’d be returning empty-handed.”
Carlisle shrugged.
“Well, going to the desert isn’t such a big deal for me, and the harvest I get while I’m there isn’t small either, so it wouldn’t exactly be empty-handed. And to be honest.”
A subtle expression appeared in his eyes that were looking at the air for a moment. It seemed almost like emptiness.
“Personally, I’m not that desperate for the fragments of the Sacred Tree either.”
His tone was somewhat cynical.
Not desperate for the fragments of the Sacred Tree—I have no idea what he means. Doesn’t he know that when all the fragments are collected, the Sacred Tree will be revived and the pollution will disappear? Or does he not believe that’s true?
‘Ah…’
That could be possible. Unlike me, the player, for the village residents, that story might just be mythology. But if he really thought that way, it would be troublesome. Needing Carlisle’s cooperation desperately, I became anxious.
“If you take me… if I’m not needed, I mean if the hidden dungeon doesn’t open, you can abandon me there and leave. No, if that’s not enough… you can kill me right there.”
To be honest, it’s absolutely not okay, but I threw out a harsh comment. Right now I had to bluff like this. Anyway, if I could just get there, I had 99.99% confidence that the hidden dungeon would only open with my hands as the player.
“And I’ll prepare everything I need myself so I won’t be indebted to you. Food, potions, weapons. Really. I’ve already prepared more than half. It’ll be different from what you saw in the plains. I can absolutely guarantee I’ll do my part. If I do end up indebted, I promise. This time, I’ll properly repay it tenfold. No, I’ll do whatever you tell me to do.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
