Surviving the Game as a Barbarian – 386



Episode 386: We (5)

Baron Bjorn Jandel.

There was not even a slight tremor in the Marquis’s eyes as he spoke that name.

If Erwen or Amelia had looked at me like this I would have been honest and confessed all my mistakes before they got scolded further.

It was a look full of confidence.

but….

The Marquis and those two are different.

There would be nothing more naive than believing the eyes of a politician who has endured many hardships and held the position of second-in-command in the kingdom for decades.

“Marquis aren’t you misunderstanding something?”

He never ruled out the possibility that he was just watching and consistently maintained an attitude of ignorance.

Of course the Marquis didn’t even listen.

[It’s very awkward listening to the honorific. I still have a clear picture of you on the day you were awarded the title.]

“…Is Erwen the cause of this misunderstanding?”

[I understand your position so I won’t criticize you for lying to me. but….]

The Marquis beyond the crystal ball lifted his back from the chair and placed his elbows on the tabletop.

[If we want to have a proper conversation we have to first create a situation where you have no choice but to admit it.]

A situation where you have no choice but to admit it?

Are you really trying to use number items such as verification magic or broken trust?

Either that or torture?

While maintaining a poker face I checked and rechecked various possibilities in my head but in the end all of those predictions were wrong.

[Let me tell you this first.]

What the Marquis chose was ‘conversation’.

[Baron Yandel don’t let your guard down. I am one of the few people who know that you are not an evil spirit.]

Yes it comes out strong from the beginning.

***

What surprised Amelia the most when my identity was discovered was this not anything else.

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How could I an evil spirit receive a noble title?

[…Hmm now that I think about it the royal family may have knowingly tolerated it. Because at that time you were nothing short of a hero in the city.]

Amelia made that guess at the time and she and I also accepted it with some credence.

but….

‘If what the Marquis just said is true it means that I really didn’t know.’

Of course there is a possibility that the Marquis threw bait knowingly.

However for now I decided to listen in silence to what was being said.

Sometimes going second is more advantageous than going first.

It is not too late to judge and act after listening to everything.

[Riehen Schuitz and Baron Bjorn Yandel. The similarities between these two explorers will not be discussed separately as it would be a waste of time. Are you okay?]

“Yes well I’ve actually been misunderstood like that a few times…”

As I nodded the Marquis explained one by one the reasons why he was convinced that I was a baronet.

[First of all it was easy to find out that you were not Lihen Schuitz. I was able to hear the whole story from the employee who accidentally damaged your materials and caused them to be discarded.]

Some woman came and threatened me?

It was from then on that my suspicions deepened.

[Of course I thought it made no sense at first. But do you know what is most important in administrative work? You’re only looking at numbers. No matter how logical and understandable the story is if the numbers don’t match it’s wrong.]

[That was exactly your case.]

Bjorn Jandel is dead.

The Marquis said that the moment that proposition was denied all the clues began to connect.

[You were too strong to be Baron Bjorn Yandel. However given two years of time and support it was entirely possible.]

[Then how was it possible to hide from our eyes for such a long time? This also makes sense if you didn’t stay in this city.]

If not this city where was it?

It was so obvious.

[I heard there was contact with people from Noark when he went missing on Farune Island right?]

The timing was too odd to be a coincidence.

As a result of the investigation I even reappeared two years later in a now-closed underground fortress.

This fortress is said to have a road leading to the outside of the castle walls.

[You appeared after Hyeolryeong-hu went there.]

Now that I see it the driver didn’t just break down the door of my house and make the accusation of secret conduct.

At the time I thought it was just an excuse.

[Now then would you like to tell me what you think after hearing my story?]

Soon the Marquis looked at me through the crystal ball and grinned.

It was a story that made enough sense to make me feel confident.

Rather this is much more likely than the fact that he time traveled for two years.

but….

‘uh…….’

After listening to the long story I had only one impression.

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Just looking at the cancer it doesn’t seem like he’s saying this as bait but because he sincerely believes it.

‘Should I call this an outstanding imagination or a lack of imagination?…’

You can interpret this like this.

***

The time to worry wasn’t long.

Because I have a habit of always prioritizing when setting goals.

The first priority is our survival.

Second priority is to regain Bjorn Yandel’s identity.

The third priority is to clear the charge of evil spirits.

As I headed here I set my priorities like this.

Therefore…

“He’s definitely smart probably because he’s the Prime Minister.”

He takes off Lihen Schuitz’s mask and reveals his appearance as a barbarian.

The reason is very simple.

As I said before what is more important than clearing the charge of being an evil spirit is getting back the name Bjorn Yandel.

It doesn’t matter whether you think of me as an evil spirit or a traitor.

This was a problem that could be easily overcome through negotiations with the marquis.

‘If I had been going to kill him as a traitor in the first place I wouldn’t have called him here.’

“Yes I am Bjorn Yandel. “It’s been a while Marquis.”

I felt it again but there was power in the words.

Otherwise the moment you take off your human mask there is no way you would be so confident that you can overcome anything.

I think I’ll buy something now.

[Haha thank goodness. If I had denied it here too it would have been really annoying.]

I chuckled at the Marquis’ bone-headed words.

‘It almost got annoying…’

In fact this was the reason why I obediently revealed my identity at this point. From now on ‘objects’ will be used instead of ‘conversations’.

If I found out that that ‘thing’ didn’t work for me it was clear where the arrow would go.

Erwen Amelia Raven.

Anyway if they are investigated thoroughly it will only be a matter of time before the truth of that absurd misunderstanding is revealed.

In that case I decided it would be better to admit it coolly and move on to the main topic.

Somehow deceiving others became my specialty.

[Now then let’s get to the point.]

Soon the Marquis finished chatting and lowered his voice.

[What is the reason for joining Baron Yandel Noark?]

“Well does it matter?”

[That kind of uncooperative attitude is not good. Aren’t you a smart friend?]

“There is no need to say that it stuck. “I only stayed for a moment for my own purposes.”

[….]

The Marquis looked silently at my answer with strange eyes.

But the more I did that the more proudly I straightened my shoulders.

Well I didn’t say something completely wrong.

I actually went back and stayed in Noark.

And that for as long as 6 months.

They even smashed the head of Seongju at the end.

[…I don’t think you’re lying—]

“Kkeok.”

[…?]

“Oh I’m sorry. “There is air inside.”

It really wasn’t intentional.

Actually I’ve been feeling bloated since before.

[I guess you were nervous too.]

But is it because the atmosphere changed slightly due to a sudden hiccup?

The Marquis also moved on without inquiring further.

[Anyway can I understand this to mean that I am not with them now?]

“Of course.”

[Even if I say that I still don’t understand it. If you are not Sejak why did you hide your identity?]

“Didn’t the royal family first announce that I was an evil spirit? “I planned to find out what the intention was before clearing my name.”

[They said they were wary of us… That could be true.]

Soon the Marquis nodded and now it was my turn.

The best way to ask questions is to exchange them right?

“So now that we’re talking about it why did you make such an announcement? “Marquis I’m sure you know the reason.”

[I can’t tell you in detail about that. Just assume there was a political reason. Besides at that time we didn’t even know you were alive.]

I was most curious about this part but I didn’t hear the most important thing.

It would be a lie if I said I wasn’t disappointed but I didn’t have any regrets and moved on.

“Then tell me this quietly. What do you want from me? “If you really thought he was a traitor it would have been better to assassinate him instead of bringing him in like this.”

[The royal family doesn’t handle things that way.]

Damn it don’t handle it that way.

When you bring it to the palace all kinds of stinky smells get mixed up and all over your body.

“So does that mean you don’t want anything from me?”

[Actually if you said you were Sejak I was planning to persuade you and use you in the war.]

Look at this it comes out as soon as I say it.

“Then it’s too bad.”

[Well isn’t there something to be sad about? I think the current situation is not that bad.]

“It’s not bad?”

[Because war always needs heroes.]

When do you announce that you are an evil spirit?

It was absurd to see him say such shameless things without even changing his expression but he must have risen to that position because he is that kind of person.

[Please return Baron Bjorn Yandel to the royal family.]

“Why should that be?”

[Because you need us.]

“Well I’m not sure.”

When I bounced once more the Marquis revealed his true intentions.

[Whether you broke up with Noark or not isn’t it true that you joined hands with them? There is no problem with summary execution.]

“To put it simply if I hold your hand will you make it like nothing happened?”

[Is it just something that never happened? I will help you regain not only your noble title but also your original name.]

“What about being declared an evil spirit?”

[If there is a suitable story it will be quite understandable.]

From the looks of it the Marquis already had a picture in his head of how to execute this…

[Didn’t you say that you stayed in Noark for a while for a purpose? If it’s something you’re emotionally reluctant to do think of it as a deal.]

I felt a little strange.

No should I say it more accurately?

That’s right I assumed the worst and came with the feeling of entering a tiger’s den.

‘Is it possible for things to be resolved this smoothly…?’

Things are progressing so steadily in my favor that my heart beats quickly and I feel anxious.

but….

[If you have decided to become a baronet will you please answer soon?]

The options available right away were limited.

Even if the marquis and the royal family are plotting something shady together what else can be done here?

I’ll just say yes here and figure it out later on my own.

“good night. So let’s talk about it in detail. “How will I return my title and what do I want in return?”

When he immediately expressed his consent the Marquis lowered his head as if he was satisfied.

Just as I was about to open my mouth to say something.

Quaaaaang-!

A loud tremor came from the garden.

I wondered what the fuss was about but I soon heard the reason from the Marquis’ mouth.

[It looks like she came. I didn’t know she would act so carelessly.]

It must be Erwen.

[Let her continue what she wanted to say today later and let her calm down before she gets more noisy.]

“…Sure.”

That’s how the day’s conversation ended.