Surviving as a Barbarian in the Game - Episode 448
448angry expansion (1)
Again, again.
An empty library echoing with sound.
“Woman, what is your name??”
“…This is Harin Suebi..”
“The name is as unique as the appearance.?”
In fact, if you look at what I just said, it was no different from a racist remark..
Of course, if it was done by the same person..
‘As expected, I like Barbarian.’
I am one of the barbarians with immunity from discrimination in the industry.
Perhaps that's why Harin also answered without any discomfort..
“It's natural for you to feel unfamiliar. There are not many families in this city like ours that still have strong blood from the Eastern Continent..”
“Were your ancestors from the Eastern Continent??”
“yes. It is said that our ancestors, who were merchants, were lucky enough to enter this city at the time of its destruction, and thanks to that, they were able to survive and avoid the disaster..”
“…Right.”
A concise explanation with nothing more to say.
Rather, it was me who became confused..
I don't think ordinary demons would know this much about their families.…….
‘It might be different if it's a prefecture.’
I didn't erase my doubts and moved on to the next question..
“What is your relationship with Countess Peprock??”
“I'm lucky enough to have you by my side for a while now..”
Yeah, it hasn't been that long..
My heart hurts even more.
but…….
Again.
Unfortunately, we arrived at our destination before further interrogation could be conducted..
“I'll just leave now.”
“Yes, Harin. Thank you every time.”
After finishing the guidance, she politely left the room, and I also ended my doubts at this point and focused on the present..
“…….”
blue eyes blue hair.
Maybe it's because her hair is pulled up to reveal her neckline, but unlike before, she exudes an aristocratic aura from the outside..
but…….
“Long time no see. Bjorn Jandel.”
The way you speak is the same..
Although I felt awkward for a moment due to the unfamiliar appearance, I soon felt welcomed..
“Yeah, it's been a while. Ragna. No, should I call her Countess Peprock now??”
“You're still playful..”
It wasn't a joke, I was just checking..
Well, since he didn't call him Baron, it was possible to infer to some extent what kind of relationship he wanted..
“But you seem to have changed a bit..”
“Is that so……?”
Is it because of the head? Ragna was muttering and lightly touching his head, but in fact, regardless of his changed hairstyle or clothes, he clearly had a more mature aura..
In the past, it was obvious that although he was rough on the outside, he was soft on the inside, which made me feel somewhat uneasy, but now I have to say that people have become much heavier and softer.?
“Anyway, I really had no idea. Yandel, I don't think you'll be alive..”
“I didn't know either. She knew there was a story, but she never thought you were the Prime Minister's daughter..”
“………yes?”
“………huh?”
Ragna stiffened for a moment and frowned at the words thrown out as if he were playing Tiki Taka..
“…What do you mean? I am the daughter of His Excellency the Marquis.?”
“…Wasn't it??”
“no! no? no… If that is true, then the questionable part is somewhat explained.…….”
What on earth is this situation??
***
“First of all, I need to make this clear. Yandel, where did you hear that I am the daughter of the Marquis??”
“uh…….”
“If it is difficult to reveal, please let us know, no matter how certain it is. Please.”
“I thought it was solid information. At least until I meet you.”
“It means it's a trustworthy source of information.…….”
Well, does that happen??
I don't know the deer's face or name..
I was dizzy from the sudden development of the situation, but I asked back as calmly as I could..
“if… If it’s okay, could you tell me your story? After listening to that, I think I might be able to give you some advice on finding the answer to this problem..”
Ragna thought about my request for a moment and then cautiously opened his mouth..
“……All right. It's not something that can be hidden forever..”
“…….”
“Above all, it's not a story that needs to be hidden..”
I could clearly feel Ragnar’s change from those words..
In the past, no matter how many times I tried, he just gave me a sad look and refused to answer..
The source of your mature mood lies within you..
While I was inwardly admiring Ragna's story began..
“When I was young, the nanny who raised me alone always said something. Ragnar, you must live quietly without being noticed by others. It's the only way to repay him.”
“…….”
“As you know, I am not from the Peprock family. My father simply borrowed the name of a fallen family to create an environment for me to live alone..”
“That's right…….”
“I don't know who his father is, but my nanny said he was a nobleman of great standing. And I said that if my existence was revealed, it would be very difficult. Oh, I can't meet him in person due to some circumstances, but he told me that he loves me and is always watching over me..”
“…….”
“I loved my nanny, but I didn't believe her when she said my father loved me. But she decided to follow her advice. She lived quietly and gave up her only hobby, magic. I just enjoyed learning magic, but somehow it kept attracting people's attention..”
This was the reason why a wizard who was estimated to be at least level 5 at a young age was working as a librarian at a library..
“Again, because I loved her. Enough to give up her small greed.”
“if… Is the nanny's name Litanyel??”
“yes. That's right.”
For some reason, the list only shows him as Count Ragnar Peprok..
That full name wasn't his real name..
“Then what about your mother? I know what happened to her?”
“I heard he died the day he gave birth to me..”
“That's right…….”
After listening to Ragna's story calmly, most of the questions I had were answered..
But what really mattered was from now on..
“So what happened after that??”
What really happened to Ragnar while I was away in the past, so that someone who wanted to live a quiet life suddenly became a count?.
“Yandel, not long after the royal family announced that you were an evil spirit, His Excellency the Marquis of Tercerion came to me and made a suggestion..”
“……Marquis?”
“yes. It was an offer to work under him in order to revive the fallen Peprock family. I accepted the offer.”
The story Ragnar revealed was something I didn't expect at all..
“Why? At that time, I probably didn't even know that the Marquis was my father.?”
“Of course, that's why I refused at first. The nanny was no longer in this world, but since she had spent her whole life hiding, it would have been awkward for her to come out somewhere. but… The Marquis changed her mind when she heard what His Excellency wanted from me..”
“Can you tell me?”
“His Excellency the Marquis wanted me to take the lead in accepting the demons as part of the city..”
“…….”
This was the reason why Ragnar brought up the national incorporation agenda at the royal family meeting..
But there is still something I don't understand.
A very fundamental question that runs through this story..
Let alone why the Marquis made such a suggestion..
“Why did you change your mind after hearing that suggestion??”
For what reason did Ragnar want to join the evil spirit nation?.
Soon her mouth opened.
“Because I know.”
The answer was really simple.
“There are good people even among evil spirits.”
“…….”
“therefore… I didn't want people to remember my friend like that..”
When I couldn't say anything, Ragna avoided my gaze and asked in a low voice..
“also… Is this strange? This is the reason?”
I answered with a sigh that I had been holding in..
“Yeah, it's weird..”
To be honest, Ragnar and I were not at that level of relationship. No, that's exactly how I saw this relationship..
Somewhere between a friend and an acquaintance.
It's nice to meet you, but if we lose contact, we'll naturally grow apart as soon as we lose contact..
Yeah, I guess so.…….
“Ugh, uh… Of course, that kind of fear—”
I quickly opened my mouth before I misunderstood anything further..
“but.”
“……?”
“Thank you, Ragnar. sincerely.”
There was nothing else to say other than this..
***
“…….”
“…….”
How long did the awkward silence last in this spacious library?.
In the end, I spoke first..
“The letter you gave me didn't have the time written on it..”
“ah… that… I was writing this down so quickly that I forgot..”
For some reason, it seemed like that was the case..
I smiled and asked again.
“It looks like you were there a long time ago. Since when have you been waiting??”
“…Don't worry it's not that old.”
Then what?.
Anyway, the next topic naturally led to the closing of the library..
Well, I was a bit surprised too..
Since the name is Count, it may not be impossible to rent the entire library for a day.…….
“I never thought you would do that.”
“There's nothing good about attracting other people's attention..”
“Hmm, then you could have just asked me to meet somewhere else.?”
“But... Still, if we meet again, I thought this would be a good place..”
Actually, I have similar thoughts..
but…….
“So I decided to use my power?”
I said it mischievously, as if teasing me on purpose..
Then, Ragna, who seemed confused at first, surprisingly shamelessly asked the other question..
“yes. do you have a problem? Isn't it okay? Even if I act selfish once in a while…….”
“Ah, uh, um…….”
Then there's nothing left to say.
Afterwards, I relaxed the mood by chatting some more..
The current status of Shavin Emoor, who was a member of the friend group, and things like that..
As we talked, I had to laugh a few times..
But, I slowly got to the point..
“Ragnar, I have something to say..”
Of course, it was different from what I wanted to say when we met today..
Secretly dig up information about the marquis, and if he comes across anything, recruit him as an ally..
Yeah, that was the plan originally..
but…….
“Do you have any intention of giving up your position as a count??”
After hearing the story, I couldn't do that anymore. It helped, but now I just wish Ragnar would at least be left out of this power structure..
Of course, my expectations were immediately dashed..
“I don't know why you're asking that, but no. I don't think so..”
“Why? Because the Marquis could be the father.?”
“It's irrelevant. The truth is, anyway, I will be strangers to that person for the rest of my life..”
“Then why do you continue to be a count? I'm back and all the misunderstandings have been cleared up, so there's no need for you.?”
“Because that is the most valuable thing. Of all the things I can do.”
“……I don't understand.”
“In the meantime, we have encountered and analyzed a variety of cases in order to pass this agenda. To prove that not all evil spirits are evil..”
“…So you're saying you were sincere about that issue, regardless of me??”
“yes. In short, yes.”
At first glance, it didn't seem like he was just saying it in vain..
Ragnar is serious now..
“Phew…….”
Therefore, the direction of persuasion changed..
“Then, how about getting out of the marquis’s grip? The Marquis didn't seem to have any intention of passing the agenda anyway..”
“…what does that mean?”
“heard. I heard that when the agenda was first mentioned at the last royal family meeting, it was the marquis who opposed it most strongly.?”
“that… This is something I found strange too. However, His Excellency the Marquis explained that the basis for the policy I brought was weak, so he took the initiative before other nobles attacked..”
“…what?”
“He said that if I came up with a supplementary policy that could convince other nobles in the future, he would support me with all his might..”
“Do you believe that??”
“So is there any reason not to believe it? That was the reason His Excellency the Marquis called me in the first place..”
“that…….”
Yes, on the surface it is..
Actually, I tried to break things off, but I still don't know the Marquis's intentions..
Why did you bring Ragna, who was living well, and why did you first propose the national incorporation agenda to such a child?—
“Yandel, you seem to dislike the Marquis.?”
Then Ragna asked me.
Unlike before, the voice was a bit blunt..
‘……They said I would be a stranger forever. Still, this is because he might be my father.?’
Well, blood ties are not something that can be easily broken just because you want to break them..
Tsk, things got a little complicated..
“It's not that I particularly dislike the Marquis. only… I just think the intention behind approaching you is a little suspicious..”
Before my relationship with Ragnar soured, I hurriedly gave an explanation that was not an explanation..
Fortunately, Ragna seemed to believe it..
“okay. Yandel, I understand your concerns. but… Don't worry too much. Because now I can take care of myself..”
It was such an enviable thing to say.
‘It's a front cover…….’
Well, I'm still not good at that..
***
It was just around noon when I parted ways with Ragna and left the library. While she was in the middle of chatting, Ragnar received a call..
“Harin, His Excellency the Marquis is calling me.……?”
“yes. I'll tell you more details when I meet you..”
“……Why are you looking at me? There's nothing to be sorry about. Anyway, I was hungry so I tried to get up..”
“I will contact you again later..”
“Yes, as I asked you earlier, don't tell the Marquis that you met me..”
“of course. I also do not want His Excellency the Marquis to use my friendship with you politically. Oh, Harin also has a big mouth, so don’t worry..”
So Ragna left, following Harin, his secretary from an Eastern Continent family, and I watched him leave for a long time..
‘It's Harin…….’
While chatting with Ragna, I also obtained quite a bit of information about ‘Harin’..
The two met about a year ago.
The place was the library where I was just a moment ago..
Even after quitting his job as a librarian, Ragna visited often to research data for the national incorporation policy. He met Harin here and became close friends with her..
and…….
‘I liked this woman named Harin, and she was more capable than I thought, so I recently revealed her identity and recruited her for a position like a secretary and manager..’
This is all that happened between them.
‘Harin... It must be a good thing after all.’
First of all, it is almost certain that Harin is Hyeonbyeol..
Given the circumstances, should we say that there are no other candidates??
In the first place, there is no one other than Harin who can be called a vassal to Ragna..
However, the problem here is…….
‘First of all, if you were a Hyeonbyeol, you would definitely have known. Just by looking at the clothes, you can tell that he is a nobleman. I'm sure he made a deliberate approach to build goodwill and become friends..’
After figuring out the whole situation, I am worried about one thing..
[I caught a pretty high line recently..]
The ‘high-ranking person’ that Hyeonbyeol spoke of at that time was.
[I will use that strength to push my brother..]
Did he really mean Ragnar??
Tuk, Tuk.
If not…….
‘……no. He didn't seem to be faking it when he asked who he worked for..’
Soon I shook my head..
I am confident that I know Hyeonbyeol well. Rather than saying that Hyeonbyeol deceived me, it is more reasonable to think this way..
‘Ragnar Litanyel Peprok has a secret..’
There's some big secret I don't know yet.
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