How to Catch a Big Fish (1)

I was extremely hungry, but neither Leonardo nor I were in a condition to go into the kitchen right away. I was drenched in sweat, and Leonardo was covered in their blood and reeked of sewage.

At that moment, Vittorio quickly suggested,

"Then wait here. I'll heat up the stew."

Before I could stop him, Vittorio dashed off to the kitchen. Wasn't he worried about burning his hand while lighting the stove? As I peered into the kitchen entrance, I noticed Leonardo awkwardly standing there, so I gave him a light tap on the back.

"Go to the bathroom first and get some water. You need to wash up right after eating."

We can have a late-night snack while the water's boiling. Leonardo nodded with a "Got it" and headed upstairs.

"Firewood…"

Contrary to my worries, Vittorio quickly got the fire going and busied himself moving around the kitchen. Soon, the tomato stew was bubbling away, and I crouched near the kitchen door, offering advice only when Vittorio needed it.

"One spoonful of dried paprika powder from the small jar next to you. It adds a subtle spicy flavour, so don't put in too much."

"Mm-hmm."

"Good. Now crack three eggs in and mix them in. You're doing well."

After simmering the remaining tomato stew and adding a few more ingredients, the shakshuka was ready.

The tomato stew's broth, now thickened, mixed with the paprika powder, releasing a savoury and spicy steam into the air. The partially-cooked eggs, nestled in the stew, glistened with their runny yolks. It was originally a much spicier dish, but considering we had been fasting for 24 hours, this was a milder version.

Just then, Leonardo came down after lighting the bathwater. We sliced up some large rye bread and put it on our plates, dipping the bread in the broth, soaking up the vegetables and eggs in the stew before taking a big bite.

"Is this your first time cooking? It's amazing!"

The eggs were rich and creamy, the broth slightly spicy, and the flavours from the vegetables and meat blended together so well, creating a deeply satisfying taste.

Smiling widely, I showered Vittorio with praise, and he blushed, trying hard to hide his expression. I could also sense the pride and relief in his response.

Somehow, I could understand that feeling. Even while relying on others, there's that sense of relief mixed with the anxiety of contributing at least one's share. Being dependent on others isn't easy.

Instead of praising the food with rich vocabulary or emotional words, Leonardo showed his approval by diligently emptying his plate and nodding in agreement several times each time I complimented Vittorio.

Leonardo, who managed to finish off a whole loaf of rye bread larger than a human face by himself, finally had a look of satisfaction on his face. It was true that he had worked hard in the underground labyrinth.

Today, I didn't even feel like teasing him for eating so much. Instead, he even seemed pitiful.

"Kid, go up and sleep now. You need to sleep well to grow tall. And thanks for the meal."

"It was delicious."

After Leonardo and I took turns thanking Vittorio, it was finally the long-awaited bath time.

Although it was inconvenient to have to boil water vigorously and adjust the water temperature manually, fortunately, the concept of bathing itself was quite widespread in this world.

I speculated that perhaps it was because various ceremonies in the church were based on holy water, spreading the notion among the public that 'contact with water = good.' But this was just a guess.

"Hah…"

Thanks to Leonardo, who diligently carried out his tasks and even heated my share of the water, I was able to immerse myself and soothe my tired body with a languid feeling. The damp smell of the underground waterway or the forced labour there…

All the lingering unpleasant feelings were washed away.

With my stomach somewhat full and the warm water relieving my tension, my previously cluttered mind finally began to function a bit.

There are about three urgent matters I need to deal with.

The shimmering water made my skin glisten. I raised my right arm and looked at the wound. Due to its frequent use for mental alertness in the underground, the condition of the injury wasn't very good.

'First, I need to find out more about this person named Orlie.'

I placed the book, made from the clothes of the dead retrieved from the prison on the third underground level, on the desk.

'Second, I need to learn more about that.'

Lastly, I tilted my head back and immersed my hair in the water while recalling the schedule for the scenario notes. There is ample waiting time until the next scenario. By now, the tomb raider leader is probably reporting to Viscount Lopez about Leonardo's hair and the events that took place underground.

'Third, I need to use Viscount Lopez to uncover the mastermind behind Count Bermont.'

"I'm so busy…."

I grumbled needlessly as I sank my chin into the warm water. Since all these tasks were for survival, I couldn't afford to relax with any single action.

As I sat in the bathtub, lazily lounging and passing the time, I faintly heard a knock from outside. Even though I was lying naked in the bathtub, I thought it wouldn't matter much if I just covered the wound on my arm, so I told them to come in.

"Who is it?"

"It's me."

It was Leonardo. His footsteps had a disciplined precision, making them easily distinguishable from Vittorio's light and agile steps.

"Just a moment. I'll be right out."

"Did I interrupt?"

"No, I was just about to finish anyway."

I stood up from the bathtub, roughly dried off the wetness, and headed to the room. Leonardo was standing there, looking a bit lost.

For a moment, his appearance reminded me of the eerie look he had in the underground, causing me to flinch, but it wasn't too much of a problem. He seemed much cleaner now, indicating he had also washed up.

"What's up?"

"First… sit down."

Leonardo's gaze lingered on my wet hair. Seeing the dark marks left on the shirt from the water droplets dripping from my hair, he urged me to sit. Then, he took a towel from his hand.

I was swept along and sat down, and he stood behind me, gently drying my hair with the towel.

It seemed like not drying my hair properly was bothering him quite a bit. Typical of a commander who liked everything to be meticulous and precise. I never imagined he would go so far as to serve me like this.

As Leonardo silently moved his hands with the towel, he brought up the matter in a calm tone.

"I came to discuss what happened in the underground."

I expected that.

His hand slowly moved down to the nape of my neck. I could feel Leonardo's hand wrap around my neck, gathering the hair that clung to my skin from the water.

The hand that gathered the strands stuck to my skin from the water was the same hand that had been overworked today, with cracked skin and prominent veins.

Being held by his large hand around my neck made me feel like prey caught in a trap. His hand felt unusually cool, as if he had washed with cold water instead of hot.

That sensation felt somewhat unsettling.

However, I hid my discomfort and, pretending to enjoy his service, I lightly closed my eyes and asked,

"What do you want to know?"

"I always seem to have questions about you, but there's one thing I want to clarify."

"Go ahead."

I slightly opened my eyes. Without a mirror in front of me, I couldn't tell if that was fortunate or unfortunate. I had no idea what kind of expression Leonardo had on his face behind me.

"When you confronted the shape-shifter in the underground, how did you reveal its true form?"

He was getting to the heart of the matter.

I still don't know what "subject of the great empire" signifies. However, the assimilated Grave Robber #6 was frantically trying to devour me. I knew that a vague explanation wouldn't cut it.

Leonardo's thumb brushed down the back of my neck, a simple gesture to wipe away the water droplets. The sensation of his touch felt strangely new.

When I sharply tilted my head back, I met his dark eyes staring down at me. His voice and expression were the same as usual, making it hard to tell if he was doing this intentionally or if it was just an unconscious habit.

Given that Leovald was a field commander, he likely had experience interrogating people in this manner. But I also prided myself on my ability to act and disguise.

I didn't back down and kept a confident smile on my lips. I calculated how I must look to him now. I'm used to assessing how I appear to others and adjusting my behaviour accordingly.

"Didn't I tell you that I sell information for money?"

"…You did."

Leonardo quietly lowered his gaze. Then, perhaps to gauge my intentions or to get a closer look, he tilted his head slightly, scrutinizing me more intently—

I met his gaze steadily, keeping my smile intact. The silence between us grew thicker, charged with unspoken tension. Leonardo's eyes seemed to search for something beneath my facade, trying to peel away the layers of my composed exterior.

After a moment, he spoke again, his voice low and measured.

"Then tell me, how much would it cost to learn what you know about that creature?"

I chuckled softly, appreciating the directness of his question.

"Depends on how much you value the information," I replied. "But let's just say it won't come cheap."

Leonardo's expression remained inscrutable, but his eyes conveyed a hint of acknowledgment. He straightened up, breaking the intense gaze, and took a step back, giving me some space.

"I see," he said simply. "We'll discuss this further when the time is right."

As he turned to leave, I couldn't help but feel a mix of relief and curiosity. Leonardo was not someone to be easily fooled or swayed. The game we were playing was a dangerous one, but for now, the pieces were still in place, and the stakes were higher than ever.

[Scenario Weight 12.01%]

"You're a bit too close," I said, tilting my head back and gently pushing his forehead with my finger. Despite being strong enough to resist, he willingly stepped back. I looked at him and added, 

"Then you understand. I'm not going to just give you the information."

"True. But didn't you also say that information can be exchanged for information? Aren't you curious about me? If you want, I could share some details."

So now you want to trade information? No, I already have a pretty good idea without you saying anything. I know you're actually Leovald, the wild and reckless young master who suddenly started acting more aware of his surroundings. It's all thanks to your protagonist-like abilities that you can sense and discern those things.

And if I let Leonardo have all the information I know, it would completely shatter my concept, and there's a high probability that my scenario weight would be crushed as well. In this world, losing scenario weight means death.

Didn't I already experience early on that scenario weight can drop, not just rise? Despite the life-threatening tension making me break out in a cold sweat, I busily scrambled to come up with excuses.

"Well, it seems you don't have any information that would pique my interest. I think it would be more fun for me to discover things about you myself. Besides, we can't have a significant exchange without mutual trust, right? Let's take our time to build that trust. Be patient, okay?"

"..."

Seeing that I had managed to calm Leonardo down with some coaxing, I let out a sigh of relief. But before I could fully relax, he suddenly asked a surprising question.

"By the way, aren't you going to call me Leo anymore?"

Seriously? Is that what you're concerned about right now?