Reunion (2)

[Due to the change in rank (Minor Character → Supporting Character), special abilities have been unlocked.]

[Special ability unlocked: is included in the information access.][Viewing information.]

Special Ability: Persona

「A talented actor knows how to wear various masks and portray different lives. An immersed actor even forgets their own life and name beneath the mask. On stage, the mask influences your self-identity.」

Based on the analysis of 'Act 1: The Chapter of Sinistra,' your stage has been added. Each mask possesses unique abilities and keywords.

'…Persona?'

[Currently available options are being retrieved.]

1. Informant (Immersion: 45%)

2. Disguised Lover (Immersion: 9%)

3. Apostle (Immersion: 5%)

Informant, Disguised Lover, Apostle.

A mask depicting a hand over the mouth, a lavish festival mask adorned with roses, and a mask with a white stigmata on the forehead and tears in the eyes twirled in the air.

It wasn't difficult to grasp the meaning of each . Since arriving in this world, I had sometimes been the Informant, occasionally caused a bizarre misunderstanding of being a lover with Leonardo, and had been called an Apostle. Those masks were a testament to my actions in the previous scenario.

As I instinctively gazed long at the mask, the other masks sank away, leaving only the Informant's mask behind.

[ Persona has been selected.]

Keywords – #Suspicious, #Hidden Agenda, #Mysticism

Unique Ability – Role – Informant Isaac

"Are you not going to answer my question about who you are?"

"Oh, I apologize. I never expected someone like the Count's son to engage in conversation with someone like me. I was just being foolish."

I tore my gaze away from the text and calmly replied to Ferdinand's words.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. I was just an ordinary person running a small inn in Sinistra, but unfortunately, I lost my inn and have come to El Dante to make a fresh start."

"What is your relationship with my brother? I've been told that Leonardo has a companion and that child is the companion's child."

He hasn't explained properly about me and Leonardo?

Glancing at Baron Roald, I noticed he was twitching his mustache, showing a look that indicated he was feeling a bit uncomfortable.

Why didn't he do something so simple?

Well, I can't blame him too much. From Baron Roald's perspective, the past few days must have been anything but easy.

From the monster attacks to losing the young lord once again, he would have had a lot on his mind. In the chaos of trying to find him, it's understandable that he wouldn't have the capacity to go into detail about someone like me, a minor character.

I tried to channel the emotions of someone who had been rescued from distress, as well as those of an innkeeper speaking to a friend's brother and the heir of a noble family.

"I consider him a friend. To be more specific, Leo has been a bit rude. I shouldn't be addressing you like this. It's just that it's become a habit. I took in Leo when he was drunk in the alley of Sinistra, and we spent some time together. He worked as a labourer at my inn."

"A labourer?"

The anger etched on Ferdinand's face drained away, replaced by incredulity and distrust. He looked back and forth between Leonardo and me, his voice laden with disbelief as if the world had turned upside down.

"Leonardo, you? You actually bent your will to someone else and did some work?"

"…Yeah."

"Not because you emptied all the drinks at the inn or got into fights with the guests and ended up in a heap, right?"

He looked as if he couldn't believe it, repeatedly confirming what I had just said. Not a single sentence from our conversation seemed to register with him.

'You don't believe me?'

It was true that the actions of the real "Leonardo Ertinez" and the current Leonardo were entirely different. There was an insurmountable gulf between the image of the troublemaker who often got drunk and caused a scene, and my rather unenergetic, sluggish Leonardo.

"Leo has been a very diligent worker during his time. He hasn't caused any trouble at all."

"What on earth happened…?"

"Haha, everyone has their wandering phase. But now Leo has turned over a new leaf, right, Leo?"

Leonardo, his expression somewhat vacant, nodded as if he found comfort in being among people instead of monsters.

"Um. You're right."

'Wow. That was so devoid of his true self.'

He looked tired, so it seemed urgent to properly feed him, treat his wounds, and let him rest comfortably.

A deathly silence fell upon Ferdinand as he gazed at Leonardo. He closed his eyes for a moment, then spoke to Baron Roald.

"…I think it's best to tie him up."

"…..?"

Then Ferdinand began to take out a thick rope, like a binding strap, but Baron Roald quickly stopped him.

"Please, just calm down for a moment…"

"It seems that it's definitely 'that,' my lord. We need to take him to the checkpoint or show him to the priest of the church."

"Your Grace, you can't just tie up your brother and drag him around! There's holy water! We have holy water, don't we?"

'This is insane.'

***

After the commotion, the conclusion reached was as follows.

Since there is a checkpoint where a priest is on standby to verify whether or not it is the case before entering El Dante, it was concluded that it would suffice to keep an eye on the three of us until we arrived there.

With so many knights around, it was reasonable to assume that the surveillance time would not be wasted. The one most suspected, after all, was Leonardo.

"Ah, can I grab a few things before we leave the mountain?" 

"Things?"

"Yes. The wagon we brought along has been left broken over there by the riverbank, and I need to grab a few things from it."

Regardless of everything else, the body of Leovald was important. However, the concern about how to quietly retrieve that heavy burden… wasn't as great as I expected.

[The persona has been selected.]

Unique Ability –

Pop. A stone appears and disappears beneath my hand repeatedly.

While Baron Roald is confirming our identities and negotiating with Ferdinand, I decided to test the unique ability associated with the mask. It turns out that functions like an inventory in a game.

True to its name, is a small hidden space that can only hold one item at a time. 

It remains uncertain whether a coffin for Leovald can fit inside, but after hiding an item, I don't feel any weight or mass associated with it, so I hold onto the hope that it might be possible if it's treated as an item and counts as a single entity.

And from what I've observed so far, this system and the writers have provided just the necessary abilities to assist the main character, Leonardo. The viewing function and the mapping function are examples of this.

Surrounded by four knights who are watching us, we headed toward the place where the debris had collapsed. After all, it was a wrecked wagon. A blanket was haphazardly laid on the floor, and it appeared that there was nothing else hidden but the shabby remains.

While Leonardo cleverly shielded the debris of the wagon and the coffin with his back, I reached out my hand.

[Activating unique ability, .]

'It worked!'

The coffin vanished in an instant. As the troublesome issue of transporting the body was resolved, I felt a sense of clarity.

Next, I casually handed the tattered blanket to Leonardo and wrapped up Leovald's sword in it. Although it was dirty and muddy, and everyone was in a state of chaos so it might not have been noticed, that was no longer the case. I gathered up the remaining items and rejoined the young count and the baron's party.

Ferdinand provided a small wagon that had been used for transporting relief supplies. After gently coaxing and calming the donkeys, I harnessed them again, and the little creatures pranced happily, finding the wagon much lighter than before.

We three sat down, lower than the tall knights mounted on their horses, and finally managed to take a break under the watchful eyes of the guards.

As we left the dense forested mountains and headed toward El Dante, I noticed Leonardo's hair, clearly matted with fatigue, cascading down. I pushed it back for him and looked for a space where he could rest comfortably.

While the wagon was cramped, I managed to arrange the space so that there was room to lie down. Leonardo laid his head on my lap; it was a bit heavy and my thigh was warm, but considering how he had protected me during the landslide and rolled around with me, I thought this was something I could endure.

"Get some sleep until we arrive. You too, kid. Your eyes look so hollow."

"You should also catch some sleep."

"It wouldn't be right for all three of us to fall asleep while traveling with the knights, right? I'll just rest later."

"It's not good for your health— ugh."

"Shh. Sleep tight."

After almost forcefully laying Leonardo down and patting Vittorio rhythmically, I made a canopy with my hands to shield them from the morning sun, fearing it might wake them up.

And as I subtly lifted my head, the knights around me suddenly turned their heads sharply.

I overheard Roald's knight whispering to the Count's knight, "See?" as I gazed at the approaching city. That afternoon, we finally entered El Dante.

[Entering scenario zone: Intermission ends.]

[Act 2: begins.][A new scenario note has been assigned!]