Chapter 27: Chero

The evening was cloaked in twilight.

I received the meal from Lucard and placed it on the table in our room, waiting for the others to return.

“Why are they so late?”

Karls and Thomson had gone out to procure some supplies on my instructions.

Of course, considering that we’re now proper ‘Escapees’, I made sure to plan their route so they wouldn’t run into the City Guard.

They were to move only through the back alleys and hit the shops without crossing paths with patrols.

Even if they did run into someone, it would only be Black Society Underlings at most.

Those are the type Karls could just smack around a few times and be done with.

“But still, they’re taking oddly long, aren’t they?”

They should have been back before dinner.

What’s going on?

Just then, the door to the room swung open and Tirvaen walked in.

“Whew, I finally got to wash up and rest for a change. My body feels refreshed.”

She strolled over at a leisurely pace and plopped down in front of the table.

“Master, I—… Oh!”

I looked up without thinking, then hastily averted my gaze.

The little witch was sitting cross-legged on the worn-out chair, awkwardly draped in nothing but a shower gown.

Of course, she must have something on underneath.

“Mm? What’s wrong? Is there something on the floor?”

Of course not! Please, at least dress properly in front of your disciple!”

Even though she looked like an old witch, she was still a woman, and she was showing off her legs so openly—I couldn’t help but feel flustered.

Especially since I knew that witch’s real body was still a minor!

“Kekekeke, why? Are you embarrassed? After all this time?”

“It’s not embarrassment!”

“Not embarrassed?”

No, it’s—clank, clank!

What the heck is this brat thinking?

“Ugh, whatever. Karls will be back soon anyway. You can’t just sit around like that forever, right?”

“Oh, right, Sir Silion will be here soon!”

Tirvaen hurriedly fixed her gown and disappeared into her room.

…This feels strangely unpleasant.

So it’s fine to show up in a gown in front of me, but not in front of Karls?

‘Guess I’m not even considered a man.’

Truly tragic, so tragic.

Well, from Tirvaen’s perspective, Gilloshian is probably nothing more than a troublesome disciple.

Especially for a witch who carries the memories of all previous Tirvaens and had each as her disciple, I must be quite the worry.

‘Not that it matters, really.’

Anyway.

“Karls, what is this kid doing, not coming back at this hour? Did he fall into the sewers or something?”

As I grumbled at the cooling food,

“S-sorry, sir!”

“We’re back. Huff, huff.”

Karls and Thomson finally showed up, out of breath.

“Hey, you two…!”

I was about to scold them when I paused.

“What happened? Why are you… Why did you come running?”

Both of them were sweating buckets.

The climate here in Aurax is dry and cold, so there’s rarely a reason to sweat like that.

But they were panting as if they’d sprinted the whole way.

This can’t be good.

I sat them down, handed each a glass of water, and asked seriously,

“Don’t tell me you got into a fight? With the City Guard?”

Karls and Thomson gulped down the water and shook their heads.

“That’s not it. But it almost happened.”

“Ugh, we turned a corner in an alley and ran straight into the City Guard, can you believe it?”

“…?”

That caught me off guard.

If they followed the route I gave, that shouldn’t have happened.

I had them loop around the Guard Posts where the patrols are stationed.

Even if it took a little longer, they shouldn’t have run into any guards.

“Did you take the wrong route?”

“No, sir!”

“We really only went where you told us, but it still happened.”

I double-checked.

But their next answer was even more baffling.

“We definitely followed the route you gave us. But the City Guards were out patrolling with our Wanted Poster in hand.”

“So I changed the route and took us even farther around, through the Black Society’s side alleys where the City Guard never goes.”

“And then?”

“Well, believe it or not, even those alleys had City Guards patrolling! We had a hell of a time dodging them all the way back.”

“…Even the Black Society’s side alleys are being patrolled?”

Hearing that, I started to get a sense of what was happening.

This must mean a ‘Reinforced Security Protocol’ has been put into effect across all of Aurax.

The City Guard, who usually stick to regular patrols and fixed posts, must have changed their behavior to move irregularly for only one reason.

But what could it be?

I had no idea why the security was being tightened.

Why?

‘Did I cause some huge incident without realizing it?’

I quietly reviewed the recent events in my head.

‘The first thing I got after dropping here was the Escapee Quest. Then the Rescuer Quest was immediately linked.’

And then…

‘I fleeced the Black Society a bit in the Shadow Market minigame, escaped, and came to this Bar. That’s all.’

Nothing that should be a problem.

‘Reinforced Security Protocol’ is only issued when a Player Character from the Imperial Army shows up in the middle of the city and causes chaos.

It doesn’t get triggered just to catch a few petty Escapees like us…

Wait, hold on.

‘Imperial Army Player?’

A sudden chill ran down my spine.

Right after we first fell into Aurax and got thrown into the Underground Prison,

Varmilo High Priest had secretly visited Karls and Tirvaen, telling us the Titan Special Task Force had labeled us as ‘Enemy Combatants’ and planned to exile or execute us.

In other words, to every other Revolutionary Army faction except the Eolem Grand Church, we were considered ‘Enemy Army’ from the Empire.

…Imperial Army Player.

‘Enemy Combatants from the Empire…’

That was us.

Right now, the entire city is crawling with patrols to catch the Imperial Army Escapees.

I pressed my forehead and let out a sigh.

‘Damn it. I should have factored in that I’m not a Player Character, but the Third Prince Gilloshian.’

I was too focused on the Original story.

I let my guard down, thinking I knew all the city’s security arrangements by heart, and nearly got Karls and Thomson killed for nothing.

“Sir? I’m really hungry, can I eat first?”

“Hey! There’s a proper order for these things!”

“Ugh, but this isn’t cold water, it’s hot soup!”

Seeing them bicker over food, completely unaware of their close call, made me feel incredibly guilty.

“…Eat, go ahead. Eat mine too. Want me to order more?”

“Thank you, sir!”

“Then, I’ll dig in first.”

Apparently starving, the two of them started eating two servings each.

Just then, Tirvaen returned in her usual clothes.

“Oh, Sir Silion! Hm?”

She was about to greet Karls with a bright face, but then noticed my grim expression and blinked.

“What’s wrong?”

There’s no reason to hide this.

“The factions opposing the Eolem Church are moving more aggressively than I expected. They’ve tightened security across all of Aurax to catch us.”

“And?”

“We’ll have to move much more carefully. I don’t want to end up under the guillotine.”

Karls’ face hardened as he picked up a salad, and Tirvaen swallowed dryly.

I gave a wry smile.

“But there’s no need to worry too much. We have these.”

“Hm?”

“Here, take these.”

I handed them the Forged ID Cards that old Varmilo had gotten for us.

“These are…?”

“These are the identities we’ll use until this incident blows over. Memorize your names and ages so you don’t get confused if you get stopped.”

Karls and Tirvaen examined the Forged ID Cards with fascination.

Hiccup.

“…?”

“S-sir! I didn’t see anything!”

Thomson, who was dipping bread in his soup, started waving his hands, face pale.

Karls and Tirvaen, confused for a moment, quickly caught on and smiled.

“Did you get scared, Thomson?”

“Tsk tsk, not very manly to be so frightened.”

“…Hiccup!”

I also let out a small laugh.

Thomson probably thought we were just small-time swindlers on the run.

Or maybe a real gang.

But now, with the anti-Eolem Church factions showing up, the whole city’s security being tightened because of us, and me handing out Forged ID Cards…

‘He must be thinking he’s gotten into something way bigger than he thought.’

But in my plan, this guy actually had a very safe role.

Time to get started.

“Thomson, don’t you want to try being a City Guard?”

“Eh?”

“Don’t you want to join the City Guard?”

“Uh, of course I do! Becoming a City Guard has been my dream since I was a kid!”

Good.

This guy didn’t need a Forged ID Card.

At least, not in my plan.

A miracle—an underling from the back alleys becomes a City Guard.

“Just do as I say. I’ll make you a City Guard.”

“How do you mean, sir?”

“You’re about to achieve something really great. Oh, by the way, you know how to pickpocket, right?”

“I… yes.”

……

Catching Card Swindler Chero was really no big deal.

That guy was set up as a weak NPC that anyone could subdue.

‘Whether you’re a melee fighter or a rear guard mage, anyone can easily catch him and learn about the Destiny Card.’

But, strangely, he was also immortal.

For a similar reason.

‘Even if one NPC dies, you can’t remove the Destiny Card’s features.’

So, even if you killed him, he’d reappear, and you’d find him in every city looking the same.

It was downright creepy if you thought about it.

So, in a way, Chero was practically a godlike being.

‘There are a few odd, hidden aspects to Chero, like a Hidden Piece or Easter Egg in Godsoft’s games.’

‘If something that completely screws over the Player counts as a Hidden Piece, then that’s what it is.’

I’m sure this is something Godsoft intended.

No matter how hard Players tried, the Destiny Card was ultimately a ‘random draw’.

Anyway, I planned to use that now.

“Ready, Thomson?”

“Yes, sir…”

With Karls and Tirvaen still asleep in the early dawn,

I took Thomson out and hid in an alley.

From our hiding spot, we watched an old drunk sprawled out on the ground.

That was Card Swindler Chero.

Still the same as ever.

Thomson swallowed nervously beside me.

“What do I do now, sir?”

“It’s simple.”

My plan was as follows.

“Follow that old man around all day, and keep putting Silver Coins into his pocket.”

“…Huh? Haha, I think I misheard you.”

Thomson scratched his ear and asked again.

“You mean, take the Silver Coins out, not put them in, right?”

But no.

“You heard me right. I’ll give you 50 Silver Coins to start with, so keep putting them in his pocket. If you run out, let me know.”

“Why… Why do I have to do something so pointless? Can’t I just keep them?”

“Try keeping them and you’ll never become a City Guard.”

“Ugh…”

I handed Thomson a pouch of Silver Coins.

He clicked his tongue but pocketed it.

Alright, we’re ready.

‘Time to get that card.’

Card Swindler Chero hated Silver Coins like a vampire hates garlic.

But what if mysterious Silver Coins kept showing up in his pockets?

What would he do then?