Episode 448 Expansion (1)
Again, Again.
An empty library with echoes.
“Girl, what’s your name?”
“…This is Harin Sueby.”
“Your name is as unique as your appearance, isn’t it?”
In fact, what I just said was tantamount to a racist remark.
Of course, if the same person did it.
‘As expected, I like Barbarians.’
I am a member of the Barbarian with immunity in the discrimination industry.
Maybe that’s why Harin answered without any discomfort.
“It’s no wonder that you feel unfamiliar. There aren’t many families in this city where the blood of the East Continent is still as strong as ours.”
“Were your ancestors from the East?”
“Yes. It is said that our ancestors, who were merchants, were lucky enough to be in this city at the time of destruction and were able to survive and escape the catastrophe thanks to that.”
“…Right.”
A concise explanation that leaves nothing more to ask.
Rather, it was me who was bewildered.
I don’t think normal demons would know this much about the family…
‘Hyeonbyeol might be different.’
Without clearing my doubts, I moved on to the next question.
“What is your relationship with Countess Peprok?”
“I’m lucky I’ve been serving you by your side for a while now.”
yeah it wasn’t that long ago
The heartache gets bigger.
But…
again.
Unfortunately, I reached my destination before further interrogation.
“I’ll just step back.”
“Yes, Harin. Thank you every time.”
After the guide was over, she politely moved away, and I also put an end to my doubts and focused on the present.
“…….”
Blue eyes and blue hair.
Unlike before, the unique atmosphere of aristocrats comes out from the outside, perhaps because the hair is pulled up to reveal the neckline.
But…
“It’s been a while. Bjorn Yandel.”
The way you speak is the same.
I felt awkward for a while at the unfamiliar appearance, but I soon felt welcome.
“Yes, it’s been a while. Ragnar. Should I call you Countess Peprok now?”
“You’re still playful.”
Not kidding, just checked.
Well, it was possible to infer what kind of relationship he wanted from the part where he was not called a baron.
“You seem to have changed a bit.”
“Is that so……?”
Is it because of the head? Although Ragnar muttered and touched his hair slightly, in fact, regardless of the changed hairstyle or outfit, a more mature atmosphere was evident.
In the past, if you felt insecure because you could clearly see that you were rough on the outside but weak on the inside, should I say that now you have become much heavier and softer?
“Anyway, I really never dreamed that you, Yandel, would be alive.”
“I didn’t know either. I knew there was a story, but I never thought you were the daughter of the prime minister.”
“………yes?”
“………huh?”
Ragnar stiffened for a moment at the words thrown as if he were playing Tiki-Taka, then frowned.
“…What do you mean? I’m the daughter of the Marquis?”
“…wasn’t it?”
“No! No? No… If that statement is true, the questionable part is somewhat explained…”
What the hell is this situation?
***
“First of all, I need to make this clear. Yandel, where did you hear that I am the daughter of the Marquis?”
“Uh……”
“If it’s difficult to reveal, please let me know how certain you are. Please.”
“I thought it was solid information. At least until I met you.”
“It means you’re a credible informant…”
Well, is that so?
I don’t know the face or name of the antlers.
My head went blank at the sudden development of the situation, but I asked as calmly as possible.
“Could you… if you don’t mind, could you tell me your story? After hearing that, I think I might be able to give you some advice on finding the answer to this problem.”
Ragnar took some time to think about my request, and then carefully opened his mouth.
“…I understand. It’s not something that can be hidden forever.”
“…….”
“Above all, it won’t be a story you have to hide.”
From those words, Ragnar’s change was evident.
No matter how many times I opened it in the past, I just refused to answer with sad eyes.
The source of the mature atmosphere must have been inside.
While admiring the inside, the story of Ragnar began.
“When I was a child, there was something the nanny who raised me alone always said. Ragnar, you should live quietly and not be seen by others. That’s the only way to repay you for him.”
“…….”
“As you know, I’m not from the Peprok family. It’s just that my father borrowed the name of a fallen family to create an environment for me to live alone.”
“I see…”
“I don’t know who my father is, but the nanny said he was a nobleman with a great position. And he said that if my existence were revealed, it would be very difficult. He said he loves me and is always watching over me.”
“…….”
“I loved my babysitter, but I didn’t believe her when she said that my father loved me. But I decided to follow her words. I lived in silence and gave up my only hobby of magic. I just enjoyed learning magic, but for some reason it kept attracting people’s attention.”
This was the reason why the wizard, who was estimated to be at least level 5 at a young age, was working as a librarian at the library.
“Again, I loved her. Enough to give up even a small greed.”
“Could it be… is the nanny’s name Ritaniel?”
“Yes that’s right.”
For some reason, the list only listed him as Count Ragnar Peprok.
That full name wasn’t his real name.
“And mother? Do you know what happened?”
“I heard that he died the day he gave birth to me.”
“That’s right…”
After hearing Ragnar’s story calmly spit out, most of the questions he had had so far were resolved.
But the real important thing was from now on.
“So what happened after that?”
While I was away in the past, what really happened to Ragnar made the person who wanted to live a quiet life suddenly become a count?
“Not long after the royal family announced that Yandel was an evil spirit, His Excellency the Marquis of Tercerion came to me and made a proposal.”
“……Marquis?”
“Yes. It was an offer to work under him in order to resurrect the fallen Peprok family. I accepted the offer.”
The story Ragnar revealed was completely unexpected to me.
“Why on earth? It must have been when you didn’t even know that the Marquis was your father?”
“Of course, so I refused at first. I don’t have a nanny anymore, but I’ve been hiding my whole life, so it was awkward for me to go somewhere. But… I changed my mind after hearing what the Marquis wanted from me.”
“Can you tell me?”
“His Excellency the Marquis wanted me to come forward to accept the demons as part of the city.”
“…….”
This was the reason why Ragnar brought up the issue of ethnic incorporation at the royal family meeting.
However, there are still things I don’t understand.
A very fundamental question that runs through this story.
Regardless of why the Marquis made such a proposal.
“Why did you change your mind after hearing that suggestion?”
Why did Ragnar want the evil spirits to be incorporated into the nation?
Soon, her mouth opened.
“Because I know.”
The answer was really simple.
“There are good people even among evil spirits.”
“…….”
“So… I didn’t want my friend to be remembered as that kind of person.”
When I didn’t say anything, Ragnar avoided my gaze and asked in a low voice.
“As expected… is it strange? Is this the reason?”
I sighed and replied.
“Yeah, that’s weird.”
To be honest, Ragnar and I didn’t have that kind of relationship. No, that’s exactly how I saw this relationship.
Somewhere between friends and acquaintances.
It’s nice to meet you, but if you lose contact, you’ll naturally drift away as soon as you lose contact.
Yes, it should have been…
“Ahhh… I’m sure that’s scary—”
Before I misunderstood something further, I quickly opened my mouth.
“but.”
“……?”
“Thank you Ragnar. Seriously.”
There was nothing else to say other than this.
***
“…….”
“…….”
How long had it passed since the awkward silence fell over this spacious library.
Eventually, I spoke first.
“The time was not written in the letter you gave me.”
“Ah… that’s… I forgot to write it down in a hurry.”
Somehow it seemed like that.
I smiled and asked again.
“Looking at it, it looks like you’ve been here for a long time. Since when have you been waiting?”
“…it hasn’t been that long, so don’t worry.”
if so what
Anyway, the topic naturally led to the closing of the library.
Yeah, I was a bit surprised too.
As the name of the count is, it’s not impossible to borrow a whole day from the library…
“I didn’t know you would.”
“Anyway, there’s nothing good about attracting people’s attention.”
“Hmm, then it would have been okay if I had asked to meet you somewhere else?”
“That’s true… But if we meet again, I thought this place would be good.”
Actually, I have the same thoughts.
But…
“So you decided to use the power?”
He said it in a playful way, as if on purpose.
Then, Ragnar, who seemed to be taken aback at first, asked the opposite in a surprisingly brazen way. “Yes. Is there a problem? Isn’t it okay?
Even
if you act selfish once in a while…
”
After that, I relaxed the atmosphere by chatting some more.
The current situation of Shabin Emour, who was a member of the group of friends, and things like that.
As we talked, we had a few laughs.
But I slowly got to the point.
“Ragna has something to say.”
Of course, it was different from what I was going to say today.
Secretly digging up information on the successor family and enlisting them as allies if they find out.
Yes, that was the original plan.
But…
“Are you thinking of giving up the position of count?”
After hearing the story, I couldn’t do that at all. It was helpful, so now I just want Ragnar to get out of this power structure.
Of course, my expectations were immediately dashed.
“I don’t know why you’re asking that, but no. I don’t mean to.”
“What’s the reason? Because the Marquis could be the father?”
“It’s irrelevant. The truth is, I’ll be with him for the rest of my life anyway.”
“Then why would you continue to be the Countess? Now that I’m back and all my misunderstandings have been cleared, there’s no need for you to do that, right?”
“That’s the most valuable thing. Of all the things I can do.”
“……I don’t understand.
” To prove that not all demons are evil.”
“…So you’re sincere about the matter, regardless of me?”
“Yes. If you shorten it, it is.”
At
first glance, it didn’t seem like an empty statement.
Now, Ragnar is
sincere
. The Marquis doesn’t seem to have any intention of passing the agenda anyway.”
“…What does that mean?”
“I heard. I heard that the Marquis was the one who opposed the most fiercely when he first mentioned the issue at the last royal meeting?” ”
That… I also found it strange. However, His Excellency the Marquis explained that the basis for the policy I brought was poor, so he acted first before the other nobles attacked.” “…
What ?”
He said he would give full support at that time.”
“Do you believe that?”
“Then is there any reason not to believe it? That’s why His Excellency the Marquis called me in the first place.”
“That’s…”
Yes, on the surface it seems so.
In fact, I tried to stir up a difference, but I still don’t know what the Marquis really is.
Ragna, who was living well , Why did you bring him here and why did you propose the issue of incorporation into the nation in the first place—
“Yandel, you seem to hate the Marquis?”
Ragnar then asked me
.
“They say he’ll be a stranger forever. But is it because he might be his father?”
Well, blood ties aren’t easily cut off just because you want to
break them
. It’s just… I think the intention of approaching you is a little suspicious.”
He hurriedly spit out an explanation, not an explanation, before his relationship with Ragnar turned sour.
Fortunately, Ragnar seemed to believe it.
“I see. Yandel I know what you’re worried about. But…don’t worry too much. I can take care of my own business now.
”
It was a very
enviable
remark
. In the midst of chatting, a call came in from
Ragnar
. Let’s meet and talk about the details.”
“…… Why are you looking at me? I have nothing to be sorry for. I was hungry anyway, so I was about to wake up soon.”
“I’ll contact
you later.” “Yeah, as I asked before, don’t tell the Marquis that you met.” ”
Of course. I do not want the Marquis to use your friendship with me for political purposes. Ah, don’t worry, Harin is also heavy-mouthed.”
So Ragnar followed Harin, a secretary from the East Continent family, and I watched as he left for a long time.
‘It’s
Harin …’ I also acquired quite a bit of information about ‘Harin.
The two met about a year ago.
The place was the library where I had just been.
Ragnar, who often visited after quitting his job as a librarian to research materials for the national integration policy, was here at Harin. I met and became close with…
and…
‘I liked a woman named Harin and her abilities were better than I thought, so I revealed her identity a while ago and recruited her in a position like secretary and bookkeeper.’
This is all that happened between the two
.
First of all, it is almost certain that Harin is Hyeonbyeol.
Should I say that there is no other candidate under the circumstances?
In the first place, there is no one other than Harin who can be said to be a vassal to Ragnar. However, the
problem here is…
He must have known. Just by looking at his clothes, he could tell he was an aristocrat. He must have intentionally approached him to build goodwill and become close with him.’
After figuring out the whole situation, I’m worried about one thing.
[Recently, I took the rope of a pretty tall person.]
The ‘high person’ that Hyunbyeol said at that time.
[I’ll use that power to push my brother.]
Really really Did he mean Ragnar?
Tuk-tuk.
If not…
‘……No. I wasn’t cheating when I asked who I was working for.’
Soon after, I shook my head.
I’m the type of person who prides myself on knowing Hyunbyeol well. Rather than saying that Hyunbyeol lied to me, it’s more reasonable to think like this:
‘Rag or Litanyel Peprok has a secret.’
There’s a huge secret that I don’t know yet.
![Arcane Sniper [Matan’s Shooter]](https://cpunovel.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/arcane-sniper.jpg "Arcane Sniper [Matan’s Shooter]")
