Chapter 11
“Second floor, Your Highness!”
“Sir Max. Please wait a moment.”
Yeniel’s complexion was pale, but she explained to the group.
“This dungeon is where a demon-worshiper sacrificed ninety-nine victims. Before the hundredth sacrifice, His Majesty the First Emperor, the Four Founding Heroes, and the Grand Mage exterminated them. We are following their traces.”
She quoted from the records:
‘At the entrance of the dungeon, we met a boy.’
(That was the mechanical doll.)
‘The spiders were helplessly burned by the Grand Mage’s flames.’
(That was the spiders.)
“The problem is…”
“If this dungeon follows the account in the founding chronicles, then above us lie the cultists and the demon.”
Sian picked up her words.
‘Yeniel never says things that make others uncomfortable.’
Even when she talks of grim matters, she softens them. That’s how a mere baron’s daughter became a close aide to the crown prince.
“The chronicles describe the dungeon’s strange layout and say: ‘On the second floor of the temple, we slew the cultists.’ This appears in the 78th and 132nd revised editions, lines four to eight.”
“Why would you memorize that…?” the crown prince muttered.
Sian calmly answered, “Lady Yeniel probably remembers it even better than I.”
“Top graduates of the Imperial Academy are truly something.”
But suddenly, Max flared up.
“Lord Isengrif!”
“…What is it.”
“You knew this, yet stayed silent?”
Max shouted, face red.
“We ran away instead of fighting! The records said to defeat them! That’s why His Highness was bitten by the spider! It all went wrong because we didn’t follow the original!”
“Max… my head hurts.” The crown prince rubbed his temple in fatigue.
“It’s all your fault! You’re the one who insisted on coming here! I said to head to the city! Acting like you’re smart, yet ruining everything!”
I realized why I’d never hated Max much in the game: I always skipped his dialogue.
‘In horror stories, there’s always a hypocritical villain who nitpicks everyone but himself.’
Max lunged at Sian, but—
“Hmm?”
I tilted my head, staring at him.
“Are friends fighting again?”
I glanced at his head, flexing my hand like I might pluck it off.
“…”
The roaring Max instantly went quiet.
They say: the mad grow silent before the truly mad.
“Sir Max? Sir Sian?”
“Friends shouldn’t fight, right?”
[Sian’s Affection has increased.]
The crown prince suddenly covered his mouth.
“Khmm. Hmm. Hmm.”
He wasn’t suppressing laughter—he was openly chuckling. Even poisoned by spider venom, he couldn’t stop. Yeniel and Sian surely noticed.
[Crown Prince Azeph’s Affection has greatly increased!]
Feigning seriousness again, the prince said:
“Lady April—khm—does the Sharon family usually mediate quarrels by pulling hair?”
“April doesn’t do that.”
I pull.
It reminded me of my brother’s strange tastes.
“Sir Max? Why aren’t you answering?”
I stepped toward him, hand outstretched.
Flinching, Max seemed ready to bolt.
“…We’re not fighting. Please calm yourself, Lady.”
Sian blocked me and quickly redirected attention.
“Sir Max is right. We didn’t follow the chronicles. But thanks to Lady April, I realized something important. Your Highness, may I share good news?”
For the first time, Sian addressed me as “Lady April.” It was a title of respect.
“What is it, Sir Sian?”
“Equivalent Exchange.”
At once, Yeniel and the crown prince leaned in.
“This world is built on the basic principle of black magic—equivalent exchange.”
Even Max shut up at that.
I nodded seriously, interested for once, since I’d skipped these lines in the game.
Then, a cold metallic chime echoed—my system message.
[People suspect April Sharon of being too coherent and understanding.]
Suspicion +5%
Current Suspicion: 5%
‘Now even listening raises suspicion? Absurd.’
But in this game, the desperate always lose. I sighed inwardly and raised my hand.
“Equivalent exchange? What’s that, Sir Sian? April wants to know!”
I looked at him with wide, innocent eyes.
“That is… simply put, trading equal values… Lady Yeniel will explain instead.”
“…Lord Isengrif?”
Betrayed, Yeniel stared at him, but he only gestured.
Reluctantly, she explained.
“Equivalent exchange means only equal values can be traded. Imagine an apple—it can only be exchanged for another apple. Though the definition of value depends on black magic.”
“But why trade if they’re the same?” I asked innocently.
“…It’s hypothetical. Perhaps they aren’t exactly the same. Same weight, but different variety, shape, taste.”
She added gently, “If there’s a sour green apple and a sweet red one of the same weight, which would you choose, Lady April?”
“The sweet red one! But… if it’s tastier, why trade at all?”
“….”
[People realize April Sharon speaks the same language but makes no sense.]
[All earlier suspicions are dismissed as coincidence.]
Suspicion –8%
Current Suspicion: –3%
So, negative suspicion was possible after all.
This is hilarious 😂😂😂