Episode 10
Jaerett’s quarters were the largest within the excavation team’s base camp.
A space that felt too luxurious and lavish to be called temporary, clearly crafted with care.
Jaerett wore an expression full of discontent, as if demanding an explanation.
“Do you think that makes any sense right now?”
“I’m just telling you what happened, whether it makes sense or not.”
“Who do you take for a fool?”
“I’m not a fool either.”
“Deacon! Show some more respect!”
“My lady, what am I supposed to do if you won’t believe me even when I tell the truth?”
When I found Jaerett’s tent, she was in the middle of a heated argument with Deacon.
From what I could overhear, it was easy to guess.
She must not believe Deacon’s report.
Sure enough.
Unable to contain her frustration, Jaerett threw a crumpled ball of paper and shouted.
“You fail at the excavation! And all you have to report is that a Giant Imp, which hadn’t shown its face all this time, suddenly appeared?”
The paper fluttered to the ground at Deacon’s feet, but Deacon didn’t seem to care much.
“My lady, ask the other members. They’ll all tell you the same thing.”
His attitude was like dealing with a child.
“We hadn’t even been at the ruins for half a day when the imps attacked as if they were waiting. There was even a Giant Imp; it was a situation where the excavation team could have been annihilated and it wouldn’t have been strange.”
After explaining the situation for a while, Deacon turned his head upon sensing my presence.
“Ah, perfect timing. Lady Jaerett, if it weren’t for Allen, we wouldn’t have made it back.”
“You are… the one Ethan brought?”
“Yes. I heard you called for me.”
When our eyes met, I could see her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Shaking her red hair and narrowing her eyes, Jaerett slowly continued.
“Is Deacon telling the truth?”
“I don’t know exactly what you discussed, but it’s probably correct.”
“You encountered not only the collapse of the ruins but also a Giant Imp, and instead managed to slay it and return?”
“This is insane…”
Nodding at the accurate description, Jaerett grabbed her temples and sighed.
“My lady, maintain your decorum. The daughter of Serendia should not be so frivolous.”
“Butler! That’s not the point…”
“Never forgetting your nobility. That is the spirit the ruler of Serendia must never forget.”
The old man beside Jaerett pointed out her tone.
He stood so still he could be mistaken for a decoration.
But at his words, Jaerett hesitated.
“First, we should express gratitude to the person who safely brought our members back.”
“Ahem… Allen, was it? Thank you. It’s hard to believe such an unbelievable story, but since the members say you saved them…”
“My lady.”
“No, Butler! Is that so important right now? What am I going to do now!”
Seeing the previously haughty Jaerett fidgeting beside her butler was quite amusing.
In a way, I could understand Jaerett’s feelings too.
She must have made considerable preparations for this excavation, and now it had all gone to waste.
Well, not that it’s my concern.
“I boasted to Lord Jordaine that I’d bring the Black Stone…”
“Lord Jordaine is not one to blame you for a mere setback.”
“But he’ll definitely be disappointed! I hate that.”
Then, a name that sparked my memory was mentioned in their conversation.
‘Jordaine…’
Jordaine Ducasse.
He was the most important NPC in Serendia, to which Jaerett belonged, and a unique character where story branches diverged based on player choices.
Although he was ultimately a being defeated by the player, whether he chose the path of self-destruction or became an even more troublesome greater evil.
He was also an NPC who left a strong impression because he was doomed to die regardless of the chosen path.
‘He’s the kind of NPC who becomes more troublesome the longer you leave him, but there’s no choice.’
Given the current situation, our confrontation would be later…
But then.
“Right, I have a great idea!”
Jaerett jumped up from her seat and shouted.
“You! No, Allen, was it? You don’t have an affiliation yet?”
“Huh?”
“Become my escort. I’ll make sure the treatment is generous.”
It was a truly unconventional offer.
“My lady! You cannot choose a personal escort without proper procedures!”
The butler, shocked by the statement, protested, but Jaerett was adamant.
“Can you find an escort capable of facing a Giant Imp alone by following procedures?”
“Well, no, but my lady, this person’s identity is still unknown.”
“We can find that out later. An escort just needs to fight well, right? See, even the butler can’t easily answer.”
“My lady, while Allen’s martial prowess is indeed remarkable, you already have excellent knights by your side…”
“Ah, I don’t care! I’m taking him! I couldn’t find the Black Stone, the ruins collapsed, how am I supposed to face Lord Jordaine now!”
“My lady, maintain your dignity!”
“That’s why I’m taking him! At least this man seems useful! Lord Jordaine was also looking for strong fighters, so he’ll like him.”
My opinion wasn’t even considered as she proceeded arbitrarily…
Listening to Jaerett’s tantrum made me think highly of Jordaine for having tamed such a wild horse.
“Allen! Consider it an honor. I, Jaerett of Serendia, will recruit you despite the opposition.”
Even after showing her true colors, Jaerett shamelessly declared.
Well, it was still a somewhat appealing offer.
Jaerett was the descendant of a fallen kingdom and the lord’s daughter.
One of the few noble bloodlines in this world.
Even if in decline, growing with the resources and infrastructure of a territory would allow for rapid advancement.
“Are you speechless with joy? Well, that’s understandable. Serving me is a tremendous honor…”
“No, I must decline.”
“Alright, good think… What?”
But I refused.
Because Jaerett’s offer also had clear drawbacks.
‘Facing Jordaine now would mean getting swept away and dying.’
Even if it’s good to face Jordaine quickly, at this stage, it’s a sure path to death.
I need sufficient preparation before that.
Of course, Jaerett, unaware of this, widened her eyes as if completely taken aback.
“What? Butler, did I hear wrong?”
“No, my lady. Sir Allen has declined.”
“No! I know that too! Why? Why are you refusing?”
“As the butler said, Jaerett, you don’t need me.”
I explained indirectly.
After all, Jordaine is an inevitable encounter in the story’s progression.
No, he is related to those who bring about the ruin.
If anything, becoming stronger myself should come before hastening the meeting with Jordaine.
“I will go where my help is needed.”
“What are you talking about? Where do you think such a place is?”
“Right here, as it happens!”
Just as it was becoming difficult to disentangle myself from a flustered Jaerett, Deacon intervened.
“Allen, I was just about to ask! Perfect timing! I was secretly hoping you’d decline our lady’s offer.”
“What?”
“Our lady grew up too spoiled and isn’t used to being refused. Please try to understand.”
Brushing off Jaerett’s words, Deacon continued.
“Our guard unit is short-handed every day… Moreover, with the monsters causing trouble, we need help.”
If this were a game, this would probably be a branching point.
Follow Jaerett.
Or accept Deacon’s request.
The answer was already decided.
-Thump!
Having refused Jaerett’s request, I tore off a page from the memo pad Ethan had given me and handed it to her.
“What’s this?”
“It’s a memo pad, my lady. It appears to be a magical tool.”
“No! I know that too! Why do you keep stating the obvious?”
“You can contact me with this. If you need my help, call.”
This was a precaution for unforeseen situations.
In a game, you could never choose outside the given options, but this is reality.
Even if I refuse the offer, I can leave room like this.
“Hmph, so you still feel regretful, huh? Fine, I’ll keep this.”
“Then I’ll take my leave now.”
“Jaerett, I’ll send my regards to the Captain. That you’re as lively as ever.”
I don’t know how she interpreted the memo pad, but after bidding farewell to a faintly smiling Jaerett, we immediately prepared to leave.
The Western Guard Camp exists to keep bandits and monsters running rampant near Balenos in check.
A harsh place where battles occur daily at this strategic point, close to the Serendian capital despite being on the frontier.
But there’s no sign of the dire conditions improving.
The moment I set foot in the Western Guard Camp with Deacon, the game’s description came to mind.
Tents full of holes, decayed, and patched numerous times.
A shabby wooden palisade with broken gaps crudely mended with old planks.
More than half of the spears stuck in the moat surrounding the palisade were broken, rendering the trap useless.
Could they even hold out if monsters or bandits attacked immediately?
To the point that Jaerett’s temporary camp felt more comfortable.
The Western Guard Camp was in a wretched state.
The only reason they could barely maintain the front line in such conditions was undoubtedly because of the Captain, Cliff.
“Greetings. I am Cliff.”
The term ‘veteran of a hundred battles’ probably refers to someone like this.
That was my first thought upon meeting Cliff.
A mane of white hair yet a physique that didn’t look old at all, tall and imposing.
His sharp eyes exuded an unusual charisma, and his meticulously maintained armor overflowed with dignity.
“Deacon told me about your skills. Said you played with the Giant Imp like a toy.”
“Captain! No, that was because I let my guard down…”
“Hoho… So you’re saying if you don’t let your guard down, you can even defeat a Giant Imp?”
“Ah, no, that’s not what I meant…”
“Hmm, I’ll look forward to good news, soldier.”
On the other hand, his casual conversations with the soldiers seemed unassuming.
By all accounts, he seemed like an extraordinary figure out of place in a small guard unit.
Well, that’s accurate. Cliff was originally Serendia’s war hero and a great general.
“Thank you for coming here… but the situation is urgent, so let’s get straight to the point.”
Cliff promptly set the tone and began.
“As you know, the imps’ movements have become strange over the past year.”
Simultaneously, light seeped from the map on the table.
“They are encroaching on other monsters’ territories, expanding their own, and indiscriminately attacking people. It’s unlike their original nature.”
The light gradually took shape, projecting a hologram-like image of an imp.
“The scale is the same. From armored Iron Imps to shamans, crossbowmen, and Giants—their level is already akin to an army.”
Probably a magical tool recording where imps were sighted.
Like Ethan’s memo pad, it was a wondrous item not in my memory.
“To move an army of this scale in perfect unison, there must be a highly intelligent and powerful commander.”
Just as I was focusing my gaze on the intriguing map,
“Our scouts discovered this in the meantime.”
Cliff tapped the map, and all the light gathered in the center.
Then, another imp appeared within it.
No, can that even be called an imp?
An overwhelming size that made even the Giant Imp look like a child.
A creature with a red nose occupying half its face was randomly swinging its fists, laying waste to its surroundings.
“Codename Red Nose. The imp that has become the king of the Balenos region.”
Cliff spoke with a grave look.
“Your mission is to find the location of this Red Nose. I’ll be frank. It will undoubtedly be dangerous.”
Cliff’s request was excessively dangerous to entrust to an adventurer he’d just met.
Finding the location of Red Nose, who reigns like a king, could mean infiltrating the heart of the monster horde.
“If you wish to refuse the request, do so now.”
Cliff added that he would understand even if I refused.
But I answered without a moment’s hesitation.
“I’ll do it.”
In truth, my choice was decided the moment I chose Deacon.
The Western Guard Camp request.
In other words, the Red Nose subjugation was the first boss raid no gamer could simply pass by.
