How to Catch a Big Fish (2)

It was purely a mistake to call Leonardo "Leo" in front of the bone pit on the third underground level back then. Seeing the eerie scene disturbed me, causing me to make a clumsy mistake I normally wouldn't make.

How much of this world is fictional?

The extras and bit players acted like automatic answering machines. Conveniently placed, they are handled in a way that suits the progression of the scenario in this world, where the entire place is a stage.

'There was a tragedy here.'

The bone pit was filled as a stage prop to simply show that. The thought that I started as an extra just like them and am still a bit player sent chills down my spine.

I don't know what Leonardo's intention was in bringing up the topic of the title, but it's a very uncomfortable subject for me right now. Not only was my agitation at that time exposed, but also all my thoughts at that moment.

I barely managed to smooth out the words that were about to come out angrily, feeling as if my weakness had been exposed

"Young master is still young master. 'Leo' is just an alias. You'll probably need a name for your activities regarding the Viscount Lopez or the Count of Bermont for a while."

Leonardo, who was quietly tidying his hair after almost drying it, asked softly.

"Are you still planning to proceed with the contact with the Count of Bermont?"

"Yeah. I want to make sure I find out who's behind the Count."

"And once you know who's behind it, what are you planning to do?"

"Huh?"

This guy is asking a lot of questions today. Of course, I did lead him in that direction, but still, his curiosity or interest has noticeably increased. They say adults are driven mad by kids asking 'why?' when they first learn it. That's exactly how I feel right now.

Leonardo continued with his questions.

"If you find out who's behind this whole plan, what will you do afterward?"

"I don't have the habit of making rash judgments based on hypothetical situations that haven't even happened yet."

"I'm not asking about details like that. You said you're an information expert, so once you find out the information you've been curious about, you might just let go of this whole thing and stand by, watching, right?"

"Hmm…"

I deliberately dragged out my answer as I gathered my thoughts. Leonardo, using indirect questions isn't a bad tactic, but it's so obvious what he's up to.

What is the point of asking such a question after seeing me continue to show affection for Leovald and trying to become deeply involved in the events surrounding his death and body?

The result may be different, but in the end, it's the same. It's an extension of the question Leonardo asked me back at the harbour. He wants to know why the innkeeper cares so much about matters related to Leovald, and how far I plan to go with this.

So, I decided to give him the answer he was looking for, though in a form that's not at all friendly. That way, he'll stay curious about me and keep sticking around.

Even if Leonardo doesn't approach first, I was planning to cling to him like a leech anyway, but it's better if it happens of his own accord.

"I'm not stopping. I plan to go all the way."

"Why?"

"Because Leovald means that much to me."

He froze.

Leonardo's hand, which had been listlessly hovering around my dry hair, stiffened. I could easily tell what he was thinking. Before he could ask any follow-up questions, I quickly stood up and pulled Leonardo's arm.

"...!"

In the moment of surprise, Leonardo, who tried to brace himself with quick reflexes, relaxed when he saw the playful expression on my face and allowed himself to be pulled along. The chair legs rattled slightly, but I grabbed the backrest to steady it. His face got dangerously close to mine between my outstretched arms.

I almost headbutted him. Still, I managed to prevent an awkward situation by gripping the backrest.

"Now that you're done serving me, it's my turn to take care of you," I said.

"Wait a minute."

He tried to jump up suddenly, but I pressed his shoulder down to keep him seated. The chair scraped loudly on the floor. I playfully scolded him.

"Shh. The kid's sleeping in the next room. Do you want to make a scene in the middle of the night? I already feel bad for waking him up earlier. Just sit quietly."

"I wanted to ask about what you just said…"

"Come on now. Just sit comfortably and wait. I'll take care of everything."

Leonardo, sensing that I wasn't going to answer his questions anymore, shut his mouth with a slightly sulky look on his face.

Since it would be hard to get ice at this hour, I scooped up cold well water, soaked a towel in it, and wrung it out. I wasn't sure if it would work as well without ice.

"Don't overdo it for now."

Tap.

When the towel touched his cheek, where the burst blood vessels were, Leonardo reflexively closed one eye. The hero winked, huh? A wink.

My body, exhausted and craving some energy, found amusement in even the smallest things. I couldn't hold back a chuckle, and as I let it slip, I could feel his eyes fixed on me. Embarrassed, I pressed his cheek a little harder for no reason.

He spoke up, his cheek comically squished, as he hesitated.

"Aren't you worried, not knowing who's behind this?"

Ah, so he's switching the topic, perhaps because he thought I wouldn't answer about Leovald. Or maybe he's genuinely worried about the innkeeper. 

Well, about that, I wanted to reassure him.

"What's there to worry about? Even if the person trying to slander the deceased is a high-ranking noble, so what?"

Even if the king is behind it, we're bound to face it together. I subtly let that fact slip and added,

"When you have nothing to lose, there's no reason to be afraid. In that sense, I've got nothing to fear. This inn is all I have."

Whether it's wealth, relationships with extras or minor roles, or the reputation I've built in this city—it never really felt like something I owned. I knew it could easily come and go, depending on the convenience of the script. So no matter what I gain here, it's unlikely I'll ever truly think of it as something I possess.

I held up three fingers with my free hand.

"Should I include you and the kid here, even if it's temporary? Since I've taken you in, I should take responsibility while you're around. Losing you by accident halfway through would be pretty frustrating, you know. Look, I already have three things at stake. That's a lot."

The fingers that lightly fluttered back and forth showed exactly the weight that minor roles carry in the world of this story. The innkeeper might be a minor character, but there's something suspiciously off about him.

The innkeeper—an outsider from Sinistra who almost went through a major ordeal ten years ago. A spy who acts as though he knows all the secrets that others don't. A man who claims he has nothing, and therefore nothing to lose.

The backstory attached to the character of the innkeeper keeps growing, like a snowball, but there's no helping it. Eventually, Leonardo will head to a different region of the script, and if I appear too closely tied to the inn or the city, it'll complicate things later when I need to follow him.

Despite what he seems, I'm more sentimental than I let on. With Leonardo, especially, I need to shed my usual carefree attitude and actively engage, so later on, I'll have an excuse and a plausible reason to follow him around.

Leonardo had been listening intently the whole time, but when I extended three fingers, he wrapped his hand around mine and gently pulled them down. It seemed the fluttering in front of him was a bit distracting. After a pause, he spoke in a calm tone.

"Then let's make sure we don't lose even those few things."

"Should I thank you for your thoughtful decision? Well, I guess. While you're under my care, you're my employee and my property, so I'll take good care of you. I can't promise you'll get a lot of rest, though, since I'll be busy with all sorts of things."

I said that with a relaxed bravado, but inside, my mind was working quickly.

We've successfully secured Leovald's body, but now the real challenge begins: I need to find out who's behind the Count and what they plan to do with the body. I need to carefully plan my next steps.

I didn't bother hiding my thoughts, and as soon as I did, Leonardo's expression changed to one of curiosity—he seemed ready to start asking questions. Before he could, I pressed my hand over his mouth as if I was just giving him a simple compress, effectively sealing his lips.

Noticing my intent to dismiss his questions from the very beginning, Leonardo pulled a slightly sulky face. He probably knew I wouldn't be answering him.

If I keep entertaining him like this, it'll never end.

After finishing the cold compress, I wiped the remaining water from his cheek with my sleeve. Pushing him gently on the back, I urged him to go to sleep. Reluctantly, he obeyed, offering a quiet farewell.

"Good night."

"Yeah, sweet dreams."

I leaned against the closed door, listening to the sound of Leonardo's footsteps fading, and fell into thought.

It seems like this silence strategy won't last much longer…

I can't keep going like this. It seems that Leonardo's curiosity about me is growing day by day. I need to quickly raise my profile and secure a role as a supporting character, along with the corresponding script that comes with it. To do that, I have to handle the immediate issues that have already come knocking.