As morning came, the sound of military boots echoed from all directions.
The Border Guard, moving in small squads, patrolled Novosibir without rest.
It was only natural. If word got out that Hendrick, who had been exiled to the Imperial Capital, had escaped, the head of the Border Guard commander would be on the chopping block.
Unlike the noisy streets, the inside of the inn was quiet.
Til had gone to the Demon Tribe’s sector, and Blaiher and Joseph had taken Hendrick to a place beyond the patrol’s reach.
Just for today, the entire inn belonged solely to me.
I was leisurely flipping through Stunner’s Astonishing Travelogue while seated comfortably in a first-floor armchair—until the door slammed open and a man-sized burlap sack was thrown across the floor.
As the sack wriggled violently, I untied its mouth, and someone’s face popped out.
With a gag in his mouth and his limbs bound, the figure looked comically absurd.
The person in question, however, was far from amused.
“Are you Mr. Stunner Morrison?”
“Mmgh!”
Stunner moved his lips, trying to say something.
I gently removed the spit-soaked gag with Mana Grasp.
“Are you Mr. Stunner Morrison?”
“W-What is this? This is clearly a crime! Abducting a person in broad daylight—Uwaaah?!”
Now suspended in midair by Mana Grasp, Stunner’s pale face turned even whiter.
“Mister. Stunner. Are you?”
“…Yes, I’m Stunner Morrison.”
Only after receiving confirmation did I cut the ropes that bound his hands and feet.
Stunner rolled his eyes furiously while rubbing the red marks left behind.
“I’m innocent! I’ve never investigated the shady operations of Baron Gangdo! Never criticized the tourist scams in popular spots! And I certainly have no interest in Lord Cesare! Please, just spare my life—mmph!”
The noise annoyed me, so I shoved the gag back in.
“Now, deep breath, Mr. Stunner. You’re not here because you did something wrong.”
“Mmmf wmm mmmf….”
Couldn’t make that out, so I removed the gag again.
After a deep breath, Stunner asked in a trembling voice.
“Then… why did you bring me…?”
“It’s nothing serious.”
I held Stunner’s Astonishing Travelogue right in front of his face.
“I just have a few questions. I’m a big fan of your book.”
“Uh… May I ask what sparked your curiosity…?”
Leaning his head back, Stunner spoke in a timid whisper.
I smiled gently to reassure him.
“I’m curious about the saintess with orange hair. If you want to walk out of here in one piece, it’d be best to answer honestly.”
Hiccup.
Stunner’s hiccup echoed through the silent inn.
***
“What’s the situation outside, Your Highness?”
“Not great.”
Blaiher gave a bitter smile as he removed his coat.
It had been a day since they took shelter in the house Cesare had arranged.
Originally, the plan was to flee Novosibir with Hendrick depending on the situation, but the Border Guard reacted faster than expected.
“They must think we’re still inside Novosibir.”
Joseph said, glancing out the window.
“Wouldn’t it be better to push through rather than wait around? At this rate, we’ve got no hope.”
Hendrick muttered with a gloomy expression.
By now, a messenger horse to the Imperial Capital had surely already departed.
While it was just the Border Guard for now, if they dawdled, the Imperial Army might come next.
“There’s no need to rush yet. To avoid blame, they’ll try to handle it at their level without informing higher-ups.”
As if reading Hendrick’s thoughts, Joseph spoke calmly.
The fact that the Border Guard was still scouring the city meant they hadn’t reported upward yet.
“Any word from Count Valheit?”
“He told us to wait. Said he had some investigating to do.”
They whispered, careful not to let the pacing Hendrick hear.
They were keeping Valheit’s involvement hidden for a reason—they knew how Hendrick would react.
“No other measures taken?”
“None.”
Joseph answered firmly.
Of course, Valheit would’ve made preparations, but relying solely on the Count was not ideal.
“So it’s up to us now….”
Blaiher folded his arms and lowered his gaze.
Seeing his thoughtful expression, Joseph remained silent and watched the street.
“There is one way.”
“There’s one way.”
Blaiher and Joseph spoke at almost the same time.
The word “way” made Hendrick perk up.
“What is it? Whatever it is, it’s better than doing nothing. Go ahead.”
“…We use the Demon Tribe.”
Exchanging glances with Joseph, Blaiher presented the idea.
Joseph nodded in agreement.
As Hendrick blinked and processed the meaning, a smile crept onto his lips.
“You mean pin it on them.”
“In Novosibir, the most suspicious group from the Guard’s perspective would be the Demon Tribe. A bit of evidence is enough to shift focus onto them.”
“Not bad. The guards always mutter about cracking down on the demons when bored anyway.”
But… was this right?
The Demon Tribe I saw yesterday just wanted to help others.
Could we really frame people like that?
“Don’t hesitate. Aren’t you the one who said you’d be the next Emperor?”
Hendrick patted Blaiher’s shoulder.
There was pride in the gesture.
“The Eslick Empire may tolerate the Demon Tribe, but it's still a human nation. You have to be ruthless when necessary—just like my brother, your father.”
“…….”
It was meant to encourage, but it only intensified the guilt.
Still, no better option came to mind.
“If there’s a witness saying the Demon Tribe took a human into their sector, that alone will be enough. We can escape while attention shifts that way.”
“…Yes. That should be enough.”
Blaiher reluctantly nodded.
He made a silent vow to repay the Demon Tribe someday.
“Good. But who do we send? I obviously can’t go, and your faces were seen yesterday.”
“You don’t need to worry about that.”
Blaiher raised his voice, shaking off any hesitation.
For now, they had to focus on the task at hand.
“I happen to know a fine businessman.”
A businessman covered in tattoos and wearing a fedora flashed through his mind.
***
As Cesare pulled out a cigarette, his subordinate quickly lit a match.
Pale smoke wafted through the inn.
“Would you like one?”
“No, thank you.”
I would’ve liked one, but I kept repeating to myself, I am Valheit, and held back.
Beside me, Stunner Morrison hunched over like a pill bug, darting his eyes around.
“Done with him, sir?”
“He’s more entertaining than I thought, so I might keep him a bit longer.”
Stunner’s face went pale at my words.
It was almost pitiful how he forced a smile when Cesare glanced his way.
“It’s probably better for him, too. There are at least fifteen barons out for his head.”
“Fifteen?! When did the number go up again?!”
“Ever since you published From the Bottom to a Baron: Life of a Noble in the Federation. A pseudonym doesn’t fool anyone.”
Cesare laughed as smoke trailed from his lips.
Stunner shrank even smaller, mumbling I’m so screwed over and over.
“I’ll keep him for now. I can find a use for him.”
“Fine by me. We’ll take good care of his orphaned royalties.”
“Now then, let’s change the topic. Blaiher’s made a move, you said?”
“Yes. He told the Border Guard to report that the Demon Tribe was seen taking someone away.”
As expected. He’s planning to use the Demon Tribe as bait for escape.
Noah’s group would have a rough time ahead.
They were originally a team, after all.
It was almost fate—an emperor who needed power to escape his puppet strings, and the Demon Tribe who wanted to stand as equals to humans.
If Valheit hadn’t eliminated Blaiher in the end, perhaps discrimination against demons would’ve lessened in the Eslick Empire.
Noah vowed to kill Valheit after Blaiher’s death, so that moment heavily contributed to Valheit’s own demise.
Thanks to how I twisted the story, two major causes of Valheit’s death were now gone.
Blaiher has joined my side, and Noah has no reason to target Valheit anymore. But…
Why is my Death Probability still at 72%?
The number on the floating scroll-like Status Window beside me didn’t budge.
[TIMER]
▶ Death Probability for Valheit: 72.6%
Blaiher’s rise to the throne wasn’t the wrong path.
Then did something else cause my death risk to rise?
“Are you listening?”
“Ah, my apologies. I was lost in thought….”
“…You did hear that the goblins contacted my lower ranks?”
“Yes, I heard.”
I hadn’t, but pretended I had.
“They’re causing a fuss, saying an outsider wants war.”
“You mean the Demon Tribe from outside?”
“That’s right. If the Border Guard can suppress them, no problem. But…”
Cesare ground his cigarette out and looked at me seriously.
“If the Border Guard gets pushed back, the Imperial Army will have to step in.”
“True enough.”
This was an unexpected problem.
Originally, Noah, Karl, and the rest of the Demon Tribe from outside Novosibir were supposed to cross into the Northern Federation to track human traffickers.
But since that issue got resolved, they naturally stayed in Novosibir.
If it were just a clash of “get lost” vs “we’ll leave in time,” it’d be fine—but if they’re accused of kidnapping an exiled imperial official, it’s a whole different matter.
“Understood. I’ll come up with a countermeasure. Tell Blaiher and Joseph to proceed as planned.”
“Understood.”
How should I resolve this?
Should I block all conflict beforehand or let it escalate a bit?
The safest route would be to stick to the original plot and send Noah’s group to the Northern Federation.
But I had already discarded the “Falsh” persona, so approaching the Demon Tribe wouldn’t be easy.
And Til said she wouldn’t be moving much for a while due to the aftereffects of the Hendrick rescue.
“Um, may I return to the room now? I don’t think this conversation involves me! Not that I’m bored, I just… don’t think I’m cut out for this….”
When I turned to look, Stunner forced a grin, his face stretched unnaturally.
Right. There was that method.
“Mr. Stunner.”
“Y-Yes!”
“Have you ever made propaganda pamphlets?”
“Uh… That’s kind of a gray area. I guess you could say I have, or haven’t, depending on how you look at it…”
“Good. Then let’s get started.”
“Pardon?”
I smiled kindly at the sweat-soaked Stunner.
More sweat poured down his face.
“Think of it as a donation of talent for world peace.”