Rumours (9)

The thugs were handed over to the city's security forces, while the gamblers went straight to the church's tribunal. 

Although I didn't get my hands dirty directly, through the records in the ledger, the bad elements of El Dante's back alley were swiftly swept away. Even the gambling addicts, whose names were written down, had to face the consequences and were taken to their respective authorities.

Watching the alley clean up thanks to the power of the authorities, I discreetly lent a hand by taking down the debt collectors and the thugs who might have been a challenge for the church or the security forces to handle.

With the pressure coming from both sides, those guys were left utterly helpless, unable to fight back as they were swiftly beaten and subdued. Word is, there was some infighting among them as well.

Thud.

Leonardo stretched, looking down at the debt collector he had just knocked out cleanly with a well-placed blow to the head.

That's it. With that, I had wiped the slate clean. The ones who once wielded power in the back alleys were now either headed for the church's tribunal, the security force's detention cells, or the underground prison. Either way, the power structure had a gaping hole left wide open.

By spreading the rumour that the tavern I'm running is a legitimate, above-board business, free from the scrutiny of the church or the security forces, I can subtly create the image of being outside their reach. This will allow it to become the new focal point in the back alley. Moreover, this tavern and other businesses will not only serve as a shelter for those struggling in the alley but also establish a covert network of surveillance throughout the area. 

Whereas in Sinistra, the vagrants and guests of the inn were my primary sources of information, now the circle will expand. I'll widen my network, drawing in a broader range of people, making it more effective and less likely to be noticed by the authorities.

[The persona casually shrugs their shoulders as if it was no big deal.]

"Wow, expanding the business is really a hassle~!"

I muttered as I moved around the thugs sprawled on the floor, and Leonardo responded quietly.

"You seemed to be really enjoying it…"

"Huh?"

"Never mind."

Leonardo, pretending like he hadn't said anything, kicked the thugs aside with his foot.

"It's been a while since I had a good hand-to-hand fight. This should help with training," he muttered.

The main objective was to rebuild an information network, gather rumours about King Godric and the capital, investigate if there were any other noble families that had been taken down in a similar fashion, and find out where Leovald's subordinates were hiding and what they were up to… But for now, it felt more like I was just procuring a sparring partner for Leonardo to relieve some stress.

I approached Leonardo, who was grabbing the ankles of the fallen men and tossing them into the corner, and wiped his cheek. The stains on it, either dust or soot, were bothering me. It wasn't a fight with the intent to kill, so it wasn't one where blood was splattering, but the alleyways, even the hideouts where these thugs lived, were filled with the dust of neglect.

"We should wash up properly when we get back."

"Yeah, both of us."

I smiled as I watched Leonardo agree, letting me wipe his cheek, and we headed back to the castle.

***

The next morning.

Unlike the ongoing major purge in the back alleys, the fortress was peaceful. 

I let out a long yawn and stepped outside, where Leonardo was tending to his sword, wrapping a cloth around the hilt to conceal the noticeable decoration. Next to him, Vittorio sat, polishing the scabbard with an oiled cloth.

Vittorio seemed to have become more comfortable approaching Leonardo again, now that it was clear there were no changes in his behaviour over the past few days. However, he still showed signs of caution when it came to the 'pre-amnesia Leonardo.' It was an unfortunate situation for Leonardo, who had been wrongly accused.

"Good morning."

There was no longer a need to go to the gambling house regularly, and after reclaiming my nights, I had slept in and woken up with a sore throat. Vittorio quickly brought over some lukewarm tea.

Recently, I had successfully learned proper tea-making from Celestina, and now, even Vittorio's tea had improved in flavour. Compared to Leonardo's bitter concoctions or my own weak tea with a hint of leaves, it was of much better quality.

"Thanks."

As I gently patted his head, Vittorio smiled softly. He used to be shy and unfamiliar with affection, but it seemed he was slowly getting used to it, which I was glad about. Now that I think about it, Celestina had been visiting often since then.

'It's been a while since we heard any news from Ferdinand after he went on the hunt.'

I wondered if his limbs were still intact. I'd heard that he took after the Count and was supposed to be quite capable, but from what I could tell, he looked like a soldier with a stern face, yet his usual behaviour seemed rather sloppy…

And then, the answer to my question appeared. Just as I had been waiting, words materialized in the air.

Take 1. Near the Mountains of El Dante (Day/Outside). Ferdinand, the Young Count, looks at a fallen horde of monsters after completing his subjugation.

Ferdinand: "(Weary) Is this the last of them?"

Knight 1: "Yes!"

Ferdinand: "The population certainly grew excessively. Even a species we've never seen before… There must be some anomaly. I'll report this to my father. (Shouting) Hey, collect a few of the corpses!"

The bodies of the monsters, still twitching ominously, are left behind as Ferdinand and the knights leave.

Take 2. Lilium Fortress (Day/Outside). A servant delivers news of Ferdinand's safe return.

Servant 1: "Young Master, we've received word that the Young Count has returned safely. And the Count has given special permission for you to go out to greet him on his return."

Take 3. Courtyard of Ertinez Castle (Day/Outside). The gates of the castle open, and a covered cart is drawn as Ferdinand the Young Count returns. Count Ertinez greets him coldly.

Knight 2: "Ugh!"

Servant 2: "Ahh! The monster's alive!"

The knight guarding the cart falls, and chaos erupts in the courtyard. At this moment, Leonardo steps in to restore order. 

Main Characters: Leonardo, Count Ertinez, Ferdinand the Young Count 

Scenario Completion Condition: Leonardo gains new reputation inside Ertinez Castle through his efforts in restoring order (Minimum required score: 1,000 points).

The title of the scenario… 

Gulp.

I sip my tea, skimming through the plot with a bewildered feeling. It seems like the biggest secret of the Ertinez family is almost uncovered, and now we're heading into a new phase. In the end, it looks like it's going to be another battle situation. I glance at Leonardo.

The existence of the monster, and in this story, what ultimately elevates him as the protagonist, is the endless battle. Defeat, kill, win, and win again. Until the story comes to an end, one must keep their sharp focus. 

But a person cannot live by fighting alone. Once all the battles, revenge, and struggles are over, will you finally grasp peace? 

I, an outsider who has suddenly found myself in the middle of a drama, find myself both a partner and an observer, gazing at Leonardo. 

As if watching the protagonist's tale unfold, I wonder, 'Will you receive a good ending?'

Then, the sound of a drawbridge lowering fills my ears. I already knew, so I wasn't surprised, and I gave Leonardo a signal, asking if he would go out. He put down his sword and headed outside. Murmurs could be heard from outside. I smiled faintly at Vittorio. 

"It's been a while since the three of us went out together. We won't be going far, though."

The destination is the courtyard of the castle.

We dressed in clean clothes and finished our preparations. The long sound of a horn announced the arrival of Ferdinand and his party. In time with the sound, we headed outside.

Although we'd been sneaking around back alleys and tunnels during the night, constantly sneaking out without permission, it had been a long time since the three of us proudly stepped outside the fortress together in broad daylight.

In fact, it had been quite a while since we'd been out during the day. Recently, due to the affairs of the gambling den and the back alleys, our nights had been busy, so during the day we kept to ourselves inside the fortress, quietly going about unnoticed. Had it been three or four days since then…?

The busy nights, which only we knew about, made it seem like a long period of seclusion to anyone else. Especially since I had spent almost every day after arriving here chatting with the servants or going around trying to build rapport, it must have seemed like I was constantly busy. But, with the Count's orders and the busy period, I had to pause for a while.

As I walked with Vittorio, holding his hand lightly and swinging it, the eyes of the workers subtly met ours.

Perhaps because Count Ertinez had issued the 'No Approach and No Conversation Orders,' our immediate surroundings felt strangely empty. However, if you look at someone like that, banning access or talking becomes meaningless. Had the rumours not died down yet?

Ah, the rumours, like how Leonardo set the inn on fire and kidnapped me here, or how I'm sticking to Leonardo for the money, enduring his cruel treatment. Vittorio, clearly uncomfortable with the looks, subtly hid behind Leonardo and me.

Then, I spot a familiar face. Baron Roald notices us—perhaps seeing how uncomfortable Vittorio was, he cleared his throat loudly and subtly signalled to the onlookers.

The gazes that had been openly staring at us settle down a little. I give him a slight smile as a silent thanks, and the Baron waves his hand dismissively, signaling it's no big deal.

I catch a whispering sound near me.

"They've been holed up in the fortress for days, and now look at their faces… all glowing."

"There's a child, too? Oh, how embarrassing…"

Hmm? What does that mean?

Then, Baron Roald, who had been glancing at us, suddenly places his hand on his forehead, looking somewhat defeated.

"Why did I even get involved… what am I doing at this age…"

His quiet muttering continued, but it sounded like he was cursing under his breath. As I flinched and took a step back, the horn sounded again, long and clear, and the fortress gates opened wide.

[A sub-quest has been triggered upon encountering the designated target.]