Turning Point (4)

Leonardo, or rather "Leovald," is described as ruthless, although there is some unreliable information mixed in… Nevertheless, it's certain that Natalie was part of the First Field Army.

In the end, it seems that the commander mentioned in this journal is indeed Leovald. It's good to find clues about companions who will be a great help to the protagonist.

'The number of monsters has increased… because they were terrified and fled into human territories?'

Could it be that they were conducting experiments to become nameless entities again? Or is there something else?

Lost in thought, I unconsciously clenched my hand, crumpling the paper. Realizing it, I loosened my grip, but the paper remained crumpled and gradually lost its form.

[Notice: Recording in the archive.]

The stage props scattered into particles and rejoined the system. This made it easier for me to check on things secretly, so it was a welcome change.

Just then, I heard the footsteps of Vittorio and Leonardo returning, drenched in sweat, likely from finishing their workout. Vittorio, with his flushed face, gulped down some cold water and, panting, spoke with a hint of uncertainty.

"I'm not very strong except for being small and tough. Is it really okay if all I do is run…?"

Leonardo calmly offered his advice.

"At your age, that's perfectly normal. It's true that you're smaller than your peers. Children who grow up on the streets usually are. But you can turn even that into an advantage."

"Being weak is an advantage?"

"Not weak, agile. Focus on having a light and swift body, and aim to be the fastest and sharpest sword, not the strongest one."

"The sharpest sword…"

"And as you grow, your body will naturally change. You'll get taller and heavier. I was quite thin at your age, too. It's best not to make hasty conclusions."

"Yeah, but… didn't you say you grew up in a castle? Why were you thin when you were young? Did you perhaps…"

At Vittorio's reasonable question, Leonardo's back stiffened slightly.

Oh, I knew this would happen. I naturally interrupted the conversation and approached them.

"Wow, both of you are so warm today! I guess I won't be cold in winter with two human heaters around."

Vittorio waved his hand, and Leonardo's face brightened as if he'd found a lifeline.

See? Completely unguarded.

…Maybe this Paulo mentioned in the journal isn't good at judging people. Or perhaps he misunderstood Leovald's character by judging only by appearances.

Leovald's actual body is large, with scars on his hands that look like cuts and stabs, and his tightly shut lips and stern face make him seem like a rigid and severe knight. But that's because he's a corpse. If you look closely, his expressions are quite varied. It's almost entertaining to watch. Far from being harsh, he seems more like a simple, heroic young man with a bit of a soft side. Just look at his face light up, relieved that I showed up when he couldn't even resolve one of Vittorio's questions.

'Hmm. Is it because this is a classic heroic tale? Maybe the perception around him is slightly distorted to maintain the noble protagonist image.'

Lost in such thoughts, I approached them, and they naturally made space for me to sit between them.

"So, how was today's training?" I asked Vittorio to change the subject. The boy responded with a simple "Ah."

"There were so many people today…"

"Hmm?"

I turned my head to Leonardo to get an explanation. He explained calmly.

"We were running lightly near the fortress as usual, but a bunch of employees came out from the main castle, sneaking glances at us."

"Ah, could it be because of what happened yesterday?"

"Probably."

Well, it happened in the courtyard of the castle. With the source of the rumour right there, it wouldn't take long for the story to spread.

"What were they saying? Hm?"

The turnaround charisma of a rascal—such a familiar cliché. Prompting Leonardo, who had good ears, with curiosity and anticipation, he paused to choose his words and then recited,

"There's talk that while I was away, I personally trained under Sir Orlie, and that all my running away from sword training as a child was actually a strategic move for survival as a second son, and then…"

"And?"

The tale of a hidden strength in a rascal is fascinating, but it's unfortunate that the original Leonardo is suddenly suspected of being a swordsmanship prodigy. Still, it's quite entertaining to listen to. Enjoying the rare display of a rogue's true potential, I was taken aback when Leonardo dropped a bombshell.

"There's also a rumour that you, Isaac, have a hidden connection with Leovald. They say that after Leovald's death, the rascal approached to gain favour by mimicking the deceased hero."

"What?"

"They think that my sudden change in temperament and sword skills is all part of this act."

Why on earth are such absurd rumours circulating? 

Staring at Leonardo in disbelief, he lightly shook his head and added,

"Didn't the atmosphere get a bit heated in the Count's office the other day? It seems part of the conversation leaked outside, and someone overheard and spread the word."

"…Is this okay?"

"….."

Both Leonardo and I fell silent. To our amazement, the system seemed to treat even such absurd rumours as a form of reputation.

[Current reputation score of Leonardo within Ertinez Castle: 550 points]

[A comment from one of the employees: "There's no way that ill-tempered rascal could be like this?!"]

It's a moment that made me realize anew just how desperate for excitement medieval people could be.

***

After the monster disturbance was subdued, the atmosphere quickly became turbulent. Not only had the perception of Leonardo changed, but news about the monsters' movements had also begun to spread quietly.

The people here are survivors of the calamity from ten years ago. Seeing ominous signs again, their anxiety started to rise, and the atmosphere grew uneasy. The Count made a decision to prevent the spread of chaos. The news was that he would once again send soldiers to exterminate the monsters around the castle walls.

"But isn't the Young Count supposed to be on strict bed rest for a while?"

I served Celestina and Ferdinand generous portions of meatballs for today's lunch and asked back.

The meatballs were made from lean meat finely chopped with shallots, egg yolk, and seasoned with salt, then kneaded until sticky and fried in oil. Simmering them in tomato sauce makes them meatballs, while coating the mixture in egg and pan-frying it flat turns them into Korean-style patties called donggeurangttaeng.

Today's menu was meatballs simmered in tomato sauce, onion soup, and garlic bread topped with cheese, tailored to the tastes of the Ertinez siblings. The garlic bread, placed like a lid on the onion soup, absorbed the moisture, making the inside chewy while the outside remained crisp and golden.

Celestina took her plate and responded.

"That's right. Big Brother needs to rest for a while, so he's excused from this extermination mission."

Ferdinand echoed in a somber tone.

"It's because I wasn't good enough. I disappointed Father…"

"Don't blame yourself too much, Big Brother. Who would have known that monster was still alive? Anyway, everyone thinks Father will personally fill in the gaps for this expedition."

"The Count is going out himself? …That's not easy. But thanks to that, El Dante will be safe. Ah, Leo, let's eat."

I made sure to remember the information Celestina shared and then turned to call Leo to the dining table.

Leonardo and I share similar tastes, so we preferred the ones dipped in egg wash and pan-fried. Thanks to this, Leonardo, who had been busy frying pancakes in the kitchen for quite a while, walked over with a mountain of donggeurangttaeng piled high on his plate.

Celestina still wore a look of disbelief at how much Leonardo could eat, but she didn't question his appetite. Several plates of delicious food were laid out on the shabby table in the crumbling fortress.

'Oh? When did this all become so natural?'

It was strange to think that the Ertinez siblings were finally gathered together in this humble, aging Lilium Fortress. A subtle irony washed over me as I sat down at the table.

It almost felt like the Ertinez family from the —a family that never quite existed—was being recreated in a similar form, overcoming all its past discrepancies. Though, the original Leonardo was present only in physical form, not as a soul. 

I thought to myself how odd it all felt as I chewed on the meatball, when suddenly, I heard the sound of a drawbridge being lowered from outside. I had become so accustomed to the sound, now almost like an alternative doorbell, and turned my head. Vittorio, who hadn't yet picked up his utensils, stood up, saying he would go check. And then, a moment later…

Vittorio returned with an awkward expression, and behind him stood… Count Ertinez.

"Eh?"

"Ah."

"Why is everyone gathered here…?"

Celestina and Ferdinand, who had disobeyed their father's orders and secretly brought lunch into the fortress, looked around in confusion, and even the Count wore an expression of rare disbelief. The sudden family reunion made the air in the fortress thick and tense.

'Come to think of it, this is the gathering place.'

"Welcome, Count. Would you like to join us for lunch?"

I asked with a tone that tried to break the awkward silence, and the Count, still looking surprised, cleared his throat.

"I… no, I'll pass. But Leonardo, there's something urgent I need to discuss with you. Come outside for a moment."

Leonardo, who had been silently devouring the pancakes, looked up as the Count addressed him. The two of them left the fortress, but I knew I could still catch the conversation.

After all, I had just received a notification.

Main Objective: Survive (0/1)

That was a rather unsettling notification.