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“Huh?”

“I said give it a try. I’m curious to see what happens.”

“No, really… I just told you. The Duke won’t let you off. You’ll lose your inheritance rights. Don’t you understand that?”

“Will you even be able to say anything?”

Aria clamped her mouth shut, as if daring him to speak more.

“Your family’s secret might leak, you know.”

Even though the current timeline couldn’t be seen by a player, I knew Aria’s weak spot. Why was she making dangerous deals with someone like Hersel to secretly buy iron ore? There was a line in Aria’s previous dialogue log that went like this:

– I bought it with the money I earned by hoarding before the announcement.

“Aren’t you hiding something? Like the Dungeon Tower.”

The Dungeon Tower, which, once discovered, brings prosperity to the surrounding area.

According to the timeline, it will be publicly announced a year from now. The lore of Dellerger started from the bustling Dungeon Tower, just like an amusement park that had just opened.

Currently, they were hiding the existence of the Dungeon Tower discovered in the barren land of their territory. Once announced, adventurers would flock there, and the demand for weapons and armor would surge, causing the price of iron ore to skyrocket several times over.

Orbella, who had a keen nose for money, wouldn’t stay idle. She would have seized this opportunity to stockpile iron ore at current prices and sell it at high prices a year later for immense profit.

“If I start blabbing, wouldn’t it be difficult for you to hoard?”

If it became known that a noblewoman from a trading family like Aria was secretly buying up iron ore, wouldn’t the leeches smell it and swarm?

This was why Aria had chosen an easy-to-handle fool like Hersel and was secretly hoarding a large quantity of iron ore. I looked into Aria’s eyes and ignited the ‘Noble Blood’s Embers’ to the maximum.

“Go ahead, speak up. It might be fun to die together.”

Aria was in a similar predicament. If the secret leaked, her position within the family would be greatly shaken.

“Or should I speak for you?”

Aria bit her lip hard.

***

Just as he said, the family was hoarding iron ore.

Quietly buying it up below the surface, waiting for demand to spike, and then selling it at the right time would generate massive profits. If the demand was due to the Dungeon Tower, the financial value would be immeasurable.

‘How did he know? Was there a clue in what I said?’

It might just be a guess. He had simply attached a plausible reason to the unnatural purchase of iron ore, and it happened to be correct. But for that drunken fool to come up with such a deduction…

It was like discovering that the town idiot was actually a genius and that everything had been an act. That was exactly how Aria felt.

“You’re making wild assumptions. How could something as big as a Dungeon Tower be hidden? That’s not possible.”

She brought up realistic grounds to deny Hersel’s conjecture, but his smile didn’t fade.

“It’s possible if it’s in a barren area. Isn’t there an abandoned mountain range in the southwest of Orbella’s territory?”

Aria’s eyes wavered.

As Hersel said, the Dungeon Tower had appeared in a worthless mountain range with no usable resources and shrouded in thick fog where people seldom went. She had to admit that the man in front of her knew everything.

‘So, it wasn’t a guess… The location is even precise. Where did he get the information from?’

Questions could come later. The important point was that the other side held the upper hand. If the secret was exposed, Hersel might be pushed down the succession line, but he would still retain his noble status.

However, Aria would lose everything. She had complex circumstances.

“Just so you know, I’m not trying to gain the upper hand in negotiations or extort something from you. I genuinely want to end this deal.”

Aria sighed deeply, sounding as if she had given up.

“It seems you’ve gathered all the money you needed. Fine. This deal is over.”

Fwoosh.

Aria burned the contract with a candle. It was a pity, but she could find another route. More urgently, she had to silence him.

“But you must answer one thing. Where did you get the information about the Dungeon Tower?”

“You wouldn’t believe it even if I told you.”

“What kind of answer is that…”

“Let me ask you something. How did you know I was gathering money?”

“What do you mean?”

As Aria tilted her head, Hersel hesitantly spoke with an embarrassed face.

“Well… I mean the money from the rebates. Isn’t it common to think that a scoundrel like me would spend it all frivolously instead of saving it?”

“You have quite a clear view of yourself.”

“Shut up and answer.”

For Aria, it was an unpleasant question.

Who does he think he’s treating like a fool?

“You received gold bars. If you intended to spend it immediately, you would have taken notes instead.”

Insisting on high-value gold with low volume clearly indicated it was meant for hoarding. It was an obvious deduction and answer, but Hersel seemed to be lost in thought after hearing it.

Finally, Hersel spoke.

“Aria. How long are you planning to stay here?”

“I planned to leave as soon as the deal was done, but…”

“It would be a shame to leave empty-handed, right? Wait until tomorrow morning. Let’s make a new deal.”

Scrape.

The sound of the chair being pushed as Hersel stood up.

“W-wait a minute. You have to answer about the Dungeon Tower! Where are you going?”

Aria called out urgently as he exited the room, but Hersel only left a brief remark.

“To find treasure.”

***

I went straight to the person in charge. In the cafeteria of the dormitory where the workers stayed, he was leisurely drinking alone, likely because it was working hours.

The person in charge greeted me with a displeased face as I approached.

“Welcome, young master. Did the deal go smoothly?”

“Where is it?”

The abrupt question left him bewildered, but I didn’t care.

“The place where I hid my slush fund. You must know it.”

“W-what? Oh, my, young master. What are you talking about? My share is enough for me!”

It was a simple question, but the person in charge kept bowing and trembling, seemingly afraid I suspected him of coveting my slush fund.

But he didn’t deny knowing. Shall I push a bit further?

I put on a fierce expression and twisted my face. I let the embers flare up as well. I felt a bit sorry but grabbed the overseer by the collar.

“Stop pretending and tell me. Do you think it makes sense that the person in charge here wouldn’t know?”

“A- no, not at all! I know the young master visits the abandoned mine every night, but I never had such thoughts!”

“The abandoned mine?”

“I warned the miners to stay away from it because it’s dangerous. It’s true!”

As expected, Hersel hid his slush fund in the abandoned mine. He wouldn’t have been able to bring the hidden money to the mansion.

But why did a rich young master like him gather a slush fund? He solved his needs for alcohol and women with family money, so what was his purpose?

Though it was likely for something nefarious, I couldn’t guess it at the moment.

I let go of the overseer’s collar and wiped my face to clear my mind. The slush fund was a physical evidence and a ticking time bomb that could explode at any moment.

Yes… a bomb that could kill me.

I couldn’t calm down.

What choice did I have?

Luckily, Aria, my bomb disposal squad, was here. I had to find it quickly and use it beneficially.

Though I genuinely disliked using slush funds as a decent member of society, I had no choice.

“Did something good happen?”

Selly asked, looking appalled. Ah, was I smiling without realizing it?

“Nothing. I need to look around the mine a bit. Where are the guards?”

“Those two? They’re already drunk and wobbling around.”

They left their posts not long ago, and they’re already drunk? I felt a headache coming on.

“And the coachman?”

“He went straight to his room, but when I went to give him a snack, he wasn’t there.”

Not good. Who knows what dangers lurk in the abandoned mine, and my guards are drunk. I can’t bring this little girl to such a secluded place…

What should I do?

“Is the treasure hunt over?”

Aria’s voice came from behind.

She must have been searching for me, as her forehead was sweaty.

“This is more of a hide-and-seek than a treasure hunt.”

She mumbled as if it were bothersome.

Aria suddenly grabbed my sleeve.

“Whatever the deal is, I’m not letting go until you explain!”

Oh?

Then so be it.

There wasn’t any proper lighting in the mine, but we each had lamps, so moving wasn’t an issue.

Only the sound of four people’s footsteps echoed through the mine when Aria grumbled.

“Why did you come in here? There was a no entry sign…”

“You’re the one who insisted on following.”

“I said I’d leave once you tell me how you knew.”

That’s not happening. Even if she didn’t believe it, I couldn’t leave after showing everything. This was more about Dellerger than Aria.

“Young master, the lady is quite stubborn. Just answer her. It’ll be better for both of you.”

Dellerger yawned lazily as he spoke. His expression showed he wasn’t loyal but merely wanted convenience for himself.

I knew his character from the game, but meeting him in reality was peculiar.

[Dellerger Radis]

• Blessing

King of Laziness Atapate’s Blessing

– The quicker you finish, the more you can rest.

– Stats grow at twice the speed.

– He always falls into a languid state for 10 hours daily.

• Traits

◇ Crescent Slash ◇

◇ Cat’s Footsteps ◇

◇ Killing Intent Detection ◇

There were bizarre blessings from lunatics like Atapate, who only gave peculiar blessings.

Dellerger, whose personality was also affected by such blessings, was one of those victims.

Due to his unique growth background, he starts as a fully developed character from the beginning of the scenario.

He wasn’t a preferred character in the game due to his many behavioral restrictions, but at this moment, he was a reliable ally.

“Hmm…?”

As we passed a large cave and reached a fork, I saw a wooden box among the piled materials.

Could it be? No, it’s too obvious…

I approached and opened the box to find something wrapped in paper. Unwrapping the paper, I found several fist-sized spherical objects.

Aria came up behind me and spoke.

“It looks like blasting explosives. What are these for?”

Explosives?

Are they used to expand the mine?

It wasn’t the slush fund I was looking for, but I had a good idea.

“How do we set this off?”

Aria picked up a fuse from inside the box.

“Attach it here and light it up, and it will explode.”

“…You didn’t bring me here for some weird hobby of yours, did you?”

Did she think I was some mad bomber?

Well, this wasn’t the first time Selly treated me like this, so I ignored her and stood up.

I noticed Dellerger looking back towards the entrance we came from. There was no light, but his dark eyes were quietly staring at something.

He murmured softly.

“A treasure hunt, you say.”

He must have sensed something with his killing intent detection. Without answering, I quickened my pace, and Dellerger whispered in my ear.

“If you think about using me, don’t. I don’t like troublesome things.”

His sinister voice sent chills down my spine.

But it didn’t matter. Dellerger’s presence was enough to exert pressure.

Besides, if push comes to shove, I had a trump card to use this lazy guy as my defense.

I just shrugged in response.

We walked through several paths, encountering dead ends and returning to forks to choose different paths. Eventually, Selly, leading the way, spoke.

“Young master, this path is blocked.”

“Hmm?”

Instead of a dead end, we found a tunnel blocked by planks.

It looked like it was blocked for a reason, but…

I approached and peeked inside. Though empty, there was a suspicious-looking blanket spread on the floor.

Hersel, you hid it in such a crude place.

What should I do now?

I couldn’t let the mistress discover the slush fund, so I needed to distract her. But Dellerger seemed to be on guard, showing no sign of revealing himself.

I have to take some risks. I have a trump card that can be used now.

I turned and spoke to the group.

“Let’s return to the quarters.”

“What? After dragging us here…”

“I’ll explain the source of the information tomorrow morning. Let’s go back now.”

Though dissatisfied, Aria clicked her tongue and turned away, knowing it was pointless to argue.

“Dellerger.”

I called Dellerger, who was about to follow, and whispered something in his ear.

“Who… are you?”

His always sleepy eyes widened like lanterns. His dark eyes were devoid of laziness.

“Hope you’re not joking, young master.”

Late at night, I returned to the abandoned mine to continue the operation.

Carefully tying the explosives with rope, attaching them to the concave walls, and placing the charges.

‘Slowly, carefully.’

I muttered as if hypnotizing myself, and Donatan asked.

-What are you doing, Hersel?

I must have inadvertently spoken to him. After the contract, I could differentiate between monologues and conversations through practice, but…

I still made mistakes occasionally.

‘Setting traps. Why? Want to help?’

-I refuse to sully my honor with such trivial tasks.

Why interfere then?

You can’t help anyway.

Though not a time-consuming task, I hurried and ended up sweating.

After finishing, I waited for a while.

Step, step.

I heard heavy footsteps, likely from an adult man.

I brought the lamp forward and saw a familiar middle-aged man walking slowly toward me.

“Finally alone.”

“I made sure to be alone.”

“You don’t seem surprised.”

The coachman took out some jerky and chewed on it naturally, as if having a snack while doing chores.

“I saw it when Selly handed over that thing. Your hands were too clean for holding reins.”

“Ah… it seems my disguise was a bit sloppy. I’ll keep that in mind for next time.”

He brought his hand to his chin and peeled off his face, revealing another face underneath.

It was expected, so I wasn’t surprised.

“Will there even be a next time?”

I tightened my grip on the lamp.