Chapter 34
“Because I was the one who failed to keep the agreement and just did something rude to you, I can’t do that.”
“For a merchant group, trust with customers is the most important thing. If I need to erase your memories, it will take all of them to do so. This also includes the fact that you made a commission to us, but I don’t want to do that.”
I frowned at the sound of having to erase memories.
I was almost about to be tied up reporting to various dances in order to find Winter.
“So, what do you want to say to me?”
“Please keep what you saw there today a secret.”
“In consideration, I will give you any information about the man you are trying to find free of charge.”
I was surprised at his supposed price.
How important was that place to make him pay so much?
“Why are the children who are there so important? Are they the offspring of one of those traitors?”
“They are orphans who were rescued after being imprisoned and abused by anti-magic groups.”
‘Anti-magic groups?’
‘Is there such a deep setting in the game?’
Even if I searched my memory, I don’t remember anything like that at all.
Winter explained in a certain bitter voice.
“During the period when magic was gradually being used, those who pretended to be pious began to persecute magicians forcefully. Claiming that these dubious black magics completely contradicted their teachings and intended to confuse the world.”
“…….”
“Now the royal family is also associating orthodoxy with faith in God, and treating wizards more and more meanly.”
Winter paused at this point in his speech, then continued.
“There are also radical groups that propagate false ideas.”
“Only when all those who practiced evil sorcery disappeared would the true emperor chosen by the gods be born.”
“…….”
“Miss should know that the remnants of the Leila Divine Kingdom are causing a lot of trouble these days, right? It’s the same country that was defeated not too long ago by the Imperial Crown Prince leading the troops.”
“Of course.”
Of course I don’t know.
Even so, I nodded my head and pretended I knew it well.
“It’s only right that no one should believe in such a stupid theory, but it’s surprising that there are many nobles who agree with it.”
“Nobles ……? Why would they ……?”
“Usually those nobles are running the business of selling magic props. They do utilize magicians in order to create magic props, but in order to monopolize the entire market, they also need to erase the existence of magicians in order to do so.”
As I wandered around, I didn’t actually understand why Winter was hiding his identity as a wizard.
‘I thought it was just an author setting ……”
Didn’t realize there was such a reason hidden behind it.
I thought it was nothing more than a simple story setting, but the Crown Prince and Winter have the same background setting, and everything is there for a reason.
The longer I stay in this world, the more I feel that there’s a difference from the game I perceived.
“Please, miss!”
As she asked again, Winter bowed her head as well.
“The children’s whole lives depend on this.”
As he worried about the children, the [Favorability 6%] above his head also shone uncertainly.
I immediately realized it.
Whether Winter’s favorability goes up or down depends on how I answer him now.
I was about to open my mouth and say I’ll keep it a secret.
Wait ……”
Suddenly noticing what was wrong.
‘Why would the favorability have anything to do with this?’
Too many unexpected things today. Especially that hidden quest.
‘First of all, entrusting to the White Rabbit Merchant Guild, this thing didn’t happen in the game ……’
With a brilliant light in my eyes, I realized that there was a big blind spot in my thinking.
So far my knowledge of the story setting had come from the normal mode.
‘…… I don’t recognize Winter from the hard mode.’
Wynter is a decent and good character a man in the game. Not only would he give a helping hand to the poor, he would also take care of orphans.”
[The magician walks around to help the first people in the First People’s Cave and meets the daughter of a real duke who was adopted and raised by a poor commoner’s family. The kind-hearted heroine was able to return to her real family with his help, so she generously donated what she had and took care of the children by his side].
Thinking about the story setting, a question arose from the heart.
‘Why would Winter, who is both generous and kind, take the heroine to Penelope’s bar mitzvah?’
At a time when the daughter of a fake duke would attract the most attention.
“Miss ……?”
I hadn’t answered, and Winter called out to me as if he felt strange. All of a sudden there was a subtle feeling surrounding me.
The sudden appearance of the hidden quest and the matter of Winter’s goodwill dropping.
I didn’t really know much about the story line of the hard mode. All this time I’ve also changed the original story line in order to avoid the death ending.
. …… But what if the actions I did were actually originally included in the difficult mode a your route, just that I didn’t realize it in the slightest?”
I gripped my trembling hand tightly and opened the “Options Bar” that I had closed for some time.
‘…… Open the options bar.’
I have to confirm it now.
A white box instantly appeared in front of me.
[Yes]/[No]
I clicked [Yes]. The option bar then appeared in front of me.
1.Why am I doing this?
2.I don’t think …… I don’t think this is a good deal. Don’t you have any rare jewelry?
3. so if I spill the beans about the kids here? What would you do?
‘Ah…”
I can’t hide my heartfelt sigh. Why is it that my intuition about bad things is always right?
This situation was everywhere in Penelope’s life. Throw was also someone who was hated by all the raidable characters in normal mode.
I shakily clicked the third option.
“…… So if I reveal what happened to the kids here? What would you do?”
My mouth opened automatically after a long time.
The aura emanating from my body was also very different from a moment ago.
“Then, dear guest, your insignificant noble status would also be in danger.”
He aggravated his tone seemingly on purpose when mentioning his status.
It didn’t feel like he was requesting it anymore, and he shook his head as he spoke. It was a warning.
‘So he knows.’
And no wonder. I’ve already told him that I received the bunny he dispatched, there’s no way he doesn’t know who I am.
Penelope in normal mode ignored Winter’s warning and blithely divulged everything.
‘Turn off the options bar.’
I turned off the options and responded sincerely this time.
“…… I’ll make sure to keep my mouth shut.”
Upon hearing my reply, the murderous aura from his body then disappeared without a trace.
Subsequently.
[Favorable Sense 8%]
The favorability that had fallen also returned to about the same state as before.
I felt miserable for actually feeling relieved.
I got up from my chair.
“Can we almost finish our conversation? It’s getting late, so I guess I have to leave first.”
This conversation seemed to be hosting a hookup masquerade of its own, and it was so mind-numbingly exhausting.
If I had known this was going to happen beforehand, I would never have come here wearing a mask.
Winter got up and followed me, looking at me curiously.
“Then the information …… about the person you are trying to find, miss?”
“I don’t need it.”
I raised my hand to stop his words. I had already made my choice in a very short time, so my tone was indifferent.
“I already know who he is through other informants.”
Subconsciously, he froze. It was probably an unexpected response for him.
But I wouldn’t be surprised by that reaction anymore.
He was considered fairly normal compared to other raidable characters. But my plan to boost his favorability just in case was ruined a while ago.
Thanks to that damn system, I had no choice but to learn his secret.
Furthermore, in the future, Winter will quickly discover the normal mode heroine, right?
Every week he would meet that loveable girl in the slums, and a mad dog from a duke’s family who held a hold on him.
Now I can no longer aim for Wynter’s ‘amiability’ as I had hoped before.
‘ I’d also rather raid the other raidable characters who never were or those few who won’t meet the heroine for a while yet.’
I had given up caring about how he saw me. While walking past him, I faintly ignore [Favorability 8%].
“Ah.”
I suddenly remembered what I had haphazardly brought before I came here.
“If I remember correctly, you guys said you would provide messages as a price for secrecy.”
I paced back again and pulled the item out of my skirt’s pocket.
“I don’t need the information anymore, but in lieu of that, please give this to the man. After all, I came here to delegate things as well.”
I placed the white handjuan along with the classical style swan box next to the tea poison.
“Is there any message that needs to be delivered together?”
“All he needs to know is that it’s a thank you gift.”
Those navy blue eyes widened slightly.
This instant.
[Favorability 13%]