Chapter 110: The Hero's Return (2)
As the top contributor, Yohan could choose the finest of the Hidden Pieces—an AA-rank item.
Since he could raise its rank by one using the Merchant King's Scales, he could effectively obtain an AAA-rank item.
There were three candidates.
『Trainer's Whip』
『Beast Elixir』
『Cerus's Wristguards』
Yohan carefully examined the items displayed in the reward window.
First was the 『Trainer's Whip』.
When fighting a monster for the first time, it had a 30% chance of cutting one of the target's stats in half.
It even worked on boss monsters with a difference of up to +8 Star Ranks.
A Hidden Piece that anyone would covet, even if they weren't a Tamer.
‘If I use the Merchant King's Scales on this, it'll probably gain an additional magic-type effect.’
Its base attack power was excellent, and it was light enough to use as a secondary weapon.
Next...
『Beast Elixir』.
If the user drank a monster's blood, it allowed them to randomly use one of that beast's abilities.
It granted partial transformation, just as Jakan had demonstrated.
The only downside was that there were only six doses, but its effectiveness was unquestionable.
Especially if it allowed him to use the abilities of a magic-type Lich...
‘Just imagining it is exhilarating.’
Black Magic...
A power that normally required tremendous sacrifices and restrictions to learn.
This item would let him use it practically for free.
Lastly...
『Cerus's Wristguards』.
A Hidden Piece and Sacred Relic once used by the Beast Race hero, Cerus.
Its base stats were excellent.
But what truly stood out was its special skill, 『Weakling's Counterattack』.
It increased resistance against debuffs and abnormal status effects inflicted by opponents stronger than the wearer.
And when Health dropped below 10%, it doubled Strength.
Considering Cerus had originally been a Berserker...
It was a perfectly fitting item.
Haa...
So he had to choose just one.
Every option was so good that it was almost impossible to decide.
However...
Considering his current combat style and the Episodes yet to come...
Yes.
This was the best choice.
Yohan finally made his decision.
Ding!
[You have acquired 『Cerus's Wristguards』.]
And now...
[『Merchant King's Scales』 has been activated!]
[Item Rank adjusted: AA → AAA!]
[The Beast Race-related effects and stats have been recalibrated into magic-type effects!]
Whoosh!
The Wristguards and Merchant King's Scales were enveloped in dazzling platinum light.
[Cerus's Wristguards]
Acquisition Difficulty: AAA
Physical Defense: 30
Magic Defense: 35
Resistance +30
Special Effect 『Weakling's Counterattack』: When Health falls below 10%, Magic Power and Casting Speed increase by 100%.
Heh.
Perfect.
The moment he equipped the pristine white wristguards, admiration naturally escaped his lips.
They would become an invaluable asset whenever he fought powerful opponents in the future.
Just as he was imagining that bright future...
“Count Pedro has arrived!”
A booming announcement echoed from the second floor.
Everyone's attention turned upward.
Among the Hestia Empire's population of eighty million, fewer than two thousand nobles possessed hereditary titles.
And among them...
There were only seventy Counts.
A mere handful of sand upon an endless beach.
Step.
A middle-aged man dressed in extravagant attire appeared.
Pedro von Benius.
One of the Empire's true powerhouses.
He slowly descended the staircase covered in a crimson carpet.
Arriving only after the banquet was well underway.
Making his entrance from the second floor.
Every detail had been calculated to draw attention.
Well.
That suited Yohan just fine.
After all...
There was only one destination Pedro was heading toward.
“So you are Kang Yohan.
I've heard much about you.
They say you made the greatest contribution during the expedition.”
Pedro stopped before Yohan's table.
“I greet a member of the Empire who illuminates the Dawn.”
Yohan knelt on one knee.
Then spoke using the proper etiquette befitting the occasion.
“Oh?
You even know the Empire's etiquette?”
Pedro looked genuinely surprised.
Really...
Getting surprised over something like this.
Not only etiquette.
Yohan had memorized every noble's hobbies...
Their family trees...
Everything.
Seventy Counts?
He even knew when each of them took their daughters out for cake...
When they used the restroom...
And what time they went to bed.
As for Pedro...
He couldn't sleep unless he drank chamomile tea with exactly two ice cubes before bed.
“I happened to have the opportunity to learn.”
Around a thousand opportunities, to be precise.
“Hahaha!
As expected.
I thought you wouldn't be an ordinary man, but I like you even more now.
Thank you.
You've rendered a tremendous service to the Empire.”
“You flatter me.
I merely did what ought to have been done.”
Proper humility always made the rewards even greater.
Yohan steadily continued laying the groundwork to load an entire cart with everything he intended to squeeze out of the Empire.
“Hee.
That demon actually knows how to say something like that.”
“I think Yohan ate something strange.”
“Hooee.
I thought Division Commander Comrade was just a tyrant who respected no one.
How unexpected.”
He heard those wicked comments.
But for now...
He let them slide.
He'd remember every single one of them.
And crush them all one by one later.
He had spoiled them too much lately.
The old saying really was true.
Being overly nice only made people take it for granted.
“I heard there was a minor misunderstanding at Helaim Barony.”
He had been wondering when that topic would come up.
Still...
The situation didn't seem particularly worrying.
Otherwise, Pedro wouldn't have called it a 'minor' misunderstanding.
“After investigating, we discovered that an operative named Riley had behaved quite suspiciously over the past several days.
Just as we were about to interrogate him in detail, he disappeared.
He is now our prime suspect.”
“Thank you for clearing my name.”
“Haha.
For now, eat and drink to recover from your journey.
I'll summon you separately later.
Ah.
This is a personal gift.”
Pedro handed him a ring embedded with a white Mana Stone radiating brilliant light.
This was...
Yohan narrowed his eyes.
[Ring of Divinity]
Description: A ring created for those who share the same conviction.
It is adorned with precious gemstones.
When its magical wavelengths are synchronized, a hidden effect is activated.
“I shall treasure it.”
“Then I'll excuse myself.”
That concluded Yohan's first meeting with Pedro.
Brief...
Yet unforgettable.
The lower-ranking nobles and distinguished guests nearby had watched their entire conversation unfold.
“So that young man was the expedition's greatest contributor?”
“Amazing.
I heard he doesn't even belong to any organization.”
“They say Count Pedro personally came all the way to this city just to meet him.”
Everyone whispered among themselves while repeatedly stealing glances at Yohan.
If someone had attracted a Count's interest...
There was no disadvantage in becoming acquainted with him.
As a result...
The next thirty minutes became absolute chaos.
He practically had to sprint at full speed just to escape the endless stream of introductions and people trying to approach him.
But they said paradise never existed where one fled.
By the time he finally reached a secluded room in one of the annexes...
Someone new was already waiting.
A pitch-black dress.
Tap.
The sound of footsteps upon maple leaves.
The fragrance of flowers.
And...
Light-purple eyes that looked as though gemstones had been set directly into them.
A girl whose appearance was impossible to forget after seeing it even once.
Vivian Astraia.
“Have you been well, Lord Yohan?”
Vivian slowly parted her crimson lips.
Putting aside the question of why she had suddenly appeared here...
What was this feeling?
She was greeting him with her usual expression.
Her usual tone.
Yet...
Even the air itself was different.
A crushing pressure pressed down upon his heart like solid steel.
It reminded him of the very first time he had met Vivian.
＊＊＊
Could a tamed beast truly be considered safe?
If one lived beside it every day...
Fed it.
Played with it.
Built an emotional bond with it...
Could anyone truly guarantee it would never become dangerous?
The answer to that question stood right before him.
Thump!
His heartbeat accelerated.
Wild instinct...
Was one of the most fundamental instincts possessed by all living beings.
A beast could always become a beast once again.
If its circumstances changed.
Or...
If its trust in its master was broken.
It could happen this very instant.
“What brings you here?
If I remember correctly, you said you intended to raise your Rank further so you could become more useful to me.”
He first needed to know the reason.
Why had Vivian come here?
Only then could he respond appropriately.
“My Rank has been progressing smoothly.
I've now reached the Fifth Star of the Beautiful Moon Rank.”
Fifth Star of the Beautiful Moon.
Seriously.
Someone else struggled to the brink of death just to climb a single stage in the Second Moon...
While she advanced so effortlessly.
Jealousy nearly reached his throat.
But he forcibly swallowed it.
Instead...
“You've finally become somewhat useful.”
Yohan deliberately showed satisfaction with her achievement.
Normally...
Receiving praise like that would make Vivian happier than if she'd gained the whole world.
But...
“……”
There wasn't the slightest reaction on her face.
Damn it.
That ominous feeling was steadily turning into certainty.
Something had gone wrong.
Very wrong.
“Lord Yohan.”
“Speak.”
“Is there...
Anything you're hiding from me?
Or...
Have you ever deceived me?”
Her eyes slowly grew clouded.
Madness that had lost its direction recognized neither friend nor foe.
He should've just stayed quietly inside the banquet hall.
He never imagined he'd actually miss those nobles endlessly boasting about themselves.
Still...
With everything he'd learned so far...
He could roughly piece together what had happened.
“There is no better way to sow discord than planting doubt between people.
Was it Samuel who told you?
That someone received a revelation concerning both you and me?”
There was only one person capable of plotting something like this.
Samuel.
The one who had also experienced the Forbidden Book.
Vivian froze.
“That's...
Right.”
“He is someone who knows this world's secrets just as I do.
He must have concluded that the relationship between us interfered with his objective.
So he resorted to this scheme.”
“Even so...
He showed me the revelation itself.”
Vivian took a scroll from within her clothes.
[The Witch of the Maple Tree shall suffer a great wound from the one she trusts most, and she shall discover that part of what he said was false. (11)]
It was genuine.
Not a forgery.
However...
Only people like the Heavenly Scribe...
Or those experienced in handling revelations...
Could recognize that.
“First of all, I'm not convinced this is authentic.
It certainly looks convincing.
But it ought to be appraised.”
Whenever unfavorable evidence appeared...
The first step was always to question its authenticity.
“Besides...
What exactly does it mean by 'suffer a wound'?”
Revelations like these allowed for countless interpretations.
“It never specifically says betrayal.
For example...
Perhaps I disappear for an extended period without explanation after encountering a dangerous enemy.
Or maybe I simply tell you that the maple leaf tea you made tastes bitter and awful.
In either situation...
I could conceal the truth.
Or tell a white lie.”
It was certainly a clever move.
But...
Against someone who had spent one thousand playthroughs dealing with thousands of prophecies and revelations...
This wasn't enough.
Still...
Why was she genuinely making such a sad face over the example of the maple leaf tea tasting bad?
Was that really the most shocking possibility?
“That certainly...
Makes sense.”
The madness gradually subsided.
However...
It hadn't completely disappeared.
After all...
He had merely interpreted the revelation in a way favorable to himself.
Vivian knew that as well.
Which was why she hadn't entirely withdrawn her madness.
Therefore...
This was precisely the moment to press harder.
Gaslighting worked best when the other person stood confused between black and white.
“Vivian Astraia.”
Yohan spoke with a slightly cold expression.
“To think you would allow an enemy's words to sway you into doubting my intentions.”
This absolutely wasn't petty revenge.
Or payback.
“I'm disappointed.”
It was simply a small performance necessary to remain faithful to his current persona.
The effect was immediate.
“……!!”
Vivian looked as though she were about to burst into tears.
“He's disappointed.
That can't happen.
What do I do?
What do I do?
What do I do?
What do I do?
Should I have killed that man after all?”
She muttered to herself for a while.
Then...
As though reaching a decision.
Vivian bit her lip.
For the moment...
The suspicion had been sealed away.
But not forever.
Once a wound had opened...
Even the smallest trigger could cause it to reopen at any time.
He needed to prepare for that.
To prevent the worst imaginable outcome.