Searching in the Dark (2)

Baron Roald's manor was located on the outskirts of Sinistra, far away from the city. I had heard it was used more like a villa, a kind of retreat from the bustling town.

Drunken guests used to ramble on about everything, from trivial matters to things I wondered if I should even hear. But, thanks to that, I had accumulated a lot of miscellaneous knowledge about the world in this setting.

Cutting through the cool night air, Leonardo and I moved forward silently. The streets were as quiet and deserted as they had been the night I had watched the world solidify its shape. The only difference now was that I had company by my side.

We moved without stopping, and soon the white walls of the manor, its signature fence, appeared in the distance. Bathed in moonlight and swaying gently in the breeze, it seemed almost ethereal, as if the walls themselves were emitting light.

Leonardo and I had no trouble bypassing the fence. Though there was a guard posted at the main gate, we managed to avoid him without issue.

[The Baron is a good man, but the guy on guard duty isn't. He's not a proper knight, and whenever he gets the chance, he excuses himself to pee or sneak off for a drink…]

All we had to do was wait for a gap in the guard's attention.

As soon as the opening came, Leonardo nimbly scaled the wall. He slipped in without even brushing the hem of his cloak and gave a quick signal for me to follow, flicking his fingers.

I too easily vaulted over the wall. The cloak fluttered in the air before settling snugly around me.

When guests visited the Baron's manor, they were usually given rooms on the second floor. The light spilling from the room's windows cast shadows that flickered across the balcony, the curtains swaying slightly in the breeze.

Leonardo and I crouched between the rose bushes nearby. The thick cloak shielded us from the sharp thorns, making it easy to stay concealed.

Our target, Viscount Lopez, seemed to be drifting off to sleep. We couldn't attempt our infiltration while he was still in the light sleep stage, so we had no choice but to wait a couple of hours. That was the hard part, the waiting.

Time passed, and soon the moon had shifted significantly in the sky. I stretched my aching legs and stood, massaging my stiff joints. This time, unlike when I had climbed the wall, Leonardo made a platform with his hands, letting me step on them to reach the balcony first.

Once I had safely climbed over, Leonardo gave a few quick leaps, easily propelling himself off the wall and landing with silent precision. It was a flawless entry.

From inside, I could hear the soft sound of the Viscount's snoring.

Leonardo moved silently. The guest bedroom and study were connected, separated by a heavy door. As he carefully turned the doorknob, it clicked, refusing to open. Clicking his tongue in frustration, I pulled out the dagger I had brought along as a precaution and used it to unlock the door.

I never imagined that my experience breaking into the supply room, which had been malfunctioning for years and was often locked, would come in handy like this.

While I could have searched for a key nearby, I didn't have the luxury of time. Fortunately, the difficulty of unlocking this modern lock wasn't much different from what I was used to.

I opened the door wide with a smile, and Leonardo, looking as though he had a lot to say, shifted his gaze between the dagger in my hand and the door. I ignored his questioning look and casually walked toward the bed. We had already divided up our roles before coming here.

[There should be a letter in the study drawer. Check that first. While you search the study, I'll keep an eye on Viscount Lopez.]

[How can you be so sure there's a clue in the drawer?]

[There's always a way.]

I had already dropped plenty of hints, of course. Smiling lazily, I twirled the tip of the dagger in my fingers. Above all, I had a strong feeling that this would work out.

Viscount Lopez—a flat character with little depth, more of a disposable antagonist who serves his purpose early on before being replaced. In this scenario note, with the focus shifting to the "Count of Bermont," Lopez is reduced to a mere passing villain.

In the story, characters like him are often referred to as "supporting roles." Sadly, my own rank and level are the same right now.

'But at least I can still use my insight.'

I directed the innkeeper's keen sense toward Viscount Lopez.

[Viewing information.]

Rank: Minor Character (Scenario weight 4.90%)

Role: Viscount Lopez

Script:

[Third son of the Count of Bermont. He harbours feelings of inferiority toward his older brother, who inherited the headship of the family, and despises commoners.] 

[Visits Sinistra City with the goal of retrieving the corpse of Leonardo Ertinez.] 

[Provides Baron Roald with a clue regarding the whereabouts of 'Leonardo Ertinez'.] 

[Uses the joint investment in the trading port as an excuse to secretly send his subordinates to search the underground waterways.] 

[Delivers the body of Leovald to the Count of Bermont.] 

[Fails to burn the Count of Bermont's confidential letter and, instead, keeps it hidden. He is eventually caught and killed by the Count, his death ruled as an accident.]

Dialogue: "Mm…"

Is the script just mumbling in his sleep?

The fact that the weight of the one-use villain was the same as mine irritated me, but I ignored it, thinking that if I worked harder, I could surpass it.

Anyway, the answer to how to handle Viscount Lopez was clear.

Somehow, the script had me skip even the basic step of burning the confidential letter that ordered the secret task, only to have Leonardo discover everything immediately. It seemed like Viscount Lopez had built up quite a bit of resentment toward his brother, the current Count of Bermont.

Leonardo, who had disappeared into the study, came back holding a stack of thin letters, quite layered and dense. I thought I heard something cracking, maybe he broke something? 

Anyway, with the props and the background ready for the play, all that was left was the lead's entrance.

I gave Leonardo a subtle nod and moved toward the fireplace. Drawing a line with a match to light the fire, the dark room instantly brightened.

As the light spread, Viscount Lopez' eyelids, which had been firmly shut, twitched and moved.

"...!"

Viscount Lopez slowly opened his eyes, and upon seeing Leonardo, cloaked in black, standing under the bed, he almost screamed. But in a flash, Leonardo shoved the mattress into the Viscount's mouth, muffling the scream.

Mmm, good. Nice assist, Leonardo.

Originally, the script probably had me checking only the letters and then making a quick exit from the Baron's mansion. But, if the script is flexible, I have no intention of following it exactly.

Watching the squirming Viscount, I leisurely walked over to the bed. As I sat down with some weight, the bed shifted slightly. I gave a light wave of my hand in a mocking gesture to taunt the Viscount.

"Awake?"

Dialogue cleared.

The line I was supposed to say when Lopez fidgeted and nervously responded probably meant I was supposed to sound like a confused intruder in the middle of the night. But now, it had transformed into a more sinister threat.

It's all in the nuance, you see.

I smiled slyly, bringing my hand to my lips.

"Calm down. If you make too much noise, all this trouble of sneaking in will be wasted. Keep resisting, and I'll paralyze you, you know?"

I slowly waved the dagger I had brought for show, threatening the Viscount. Of course, I didn't have any real paralyzing poison, so it was 100% bluff.

Originally, it's all about the atmosphere. As soon as the dagger moved close to the Viscount's face, he stiffened and shrank back, his throat dry like a lizard's. 

I acted like I was controlling the situation with ease, but a lot went into setting this scene up. I had to consider things like whether a nobleman like him might have personal guards nearby. 

However, as it happened, the Viscount's underlings were away, busy searching the underground passages at this hour. There was no numbering of his subordinates like "number one" or "number two," meaning there was only one lackey. The Viscount was at his most vulnerable, which is why I had chosen this moment.

"See? It's so much easier when you behave. Let's talk like civilized people, shall we?"

I reached out and waved the letter that Leonardo had brought from the study in front of the Viscount's face. His pupils dilated, and his reaction was full of tension. Good. Let him know that I already know everything about his schemes. I relished his response, pretending to be nonchalant while tightening the pressure on him.

"Your poor older brother, huh? Your brother entrusted you with something important, and this is how you handle it? Did you really think you could blackmail him with just a few letters? You didn't think about how you'd lose your position as Viscount, did you?"

The Viscount's breath became ragged. It was clear he had imagined what would happen if his betrayal were discovered. Or perhaps, he had already assumed Leonardo and I were agents sent by the Count. 

Seeing him tremble like this… it seems even the Count of Bermont isn't easy to deal with. From what I've already seen in the script, his ruthless nature, even willing to kill his own brother, tells me a lot.

As I kept the Count of Bermont in mind, I took another step closer to the Viscount.

"Don't worry. We're not from your brother's side. If that was the case, I would have cut off your head a long time ago."

I extended my index finger and lightly traced a vertical line across the Viscount's neck. Even this harmless, simple motion made him tremble in terror.

The neck is inherently tied to one's life, so his reaction wasn't unexpected. It was a primal defense, a reflex to protect his most vulnerable spot. It worked perfectly.

I lowered my voice, adopting a gentle tone as I whispered.

"I'm here to make you an offer you might find enticing."

Of course, it would be a win-win proposal for both of us.