Chapter 25

In any creative work, if there is a protagonist, there are usually villains or trials that hinder the protagonist.

Such obstacles often serve as the foundation for the protagonist's growth and as stepping stones for the protagonist's ultimate goal.

"And Then There Were None" was no exception.

A story centered around Leandros, the free knight, designed to eliminate Yurik, the villain.

Leandros, who existed as Yurik's counterpart, might be injured to the point of death but would never die.

Because the protagonist cannot die.

If such a Leandros were to protect him wholeheartedly?

Wouldn't the odds of surviving from Yurik's clutches also increase?

'First, I need to lay a solid foundation for that.'

He needed to make it so Yurik couldn't touch them recklessly.

Whether by gaining authority, becoming wealthy, or having power. The method didn't matter.

Of course, even with such thoughts, realistically, there wasn't much he could do as the person involved.

An extra is an extra.

They were inevitably 'dolls' moving within limited information.

But having died once in this world, he thought a little differently.

Even if he was a powerless character without special powers or talents, couldn't he do something with this information moving in the novel?

The merpeople, the black pit, the words Yurik spat out just before he died.

All stories that didn't appear in the original work.

There was even more information he didn't know about beneath the surface of this world.

If he could find that out?

And if he could combine it with the information he knew as a reader?

He might be able to survive even in this hardcore novel.

At least his head would remain attached until he returned to his original world.

He looked at one side of the wall where he had written down and organized Leandros's confession.

His lie about wanting to avenge his parents had been effective.

Leandros had looked at him with rare wavering eyes, and in the end, seemed to have given up.

-After coming to the ducal residence following Your Grace's birth, there's much I cannot clearly know. ...What's certain is that the Ducal family and the Royal family had been cultivating discord for much longer than is publicly known.

-Discord?

-The discord between the Royal family and the Ducal family is famous. As is the fact that despite this, the Ducal family did not bow.

-Did it explode by the time of Crown Prince Yurik?

-One could think so.

-But what on earth was it that reduced the Ducal family to this state?

-All I can surmise is that it was something quite important. Not just a simple jewel or artifact. It wouldn't have been a demand for land either. It might be related to the very foundation of the Hartmann Ducal family.

...Well, roughly that kind of conversation.

Even though he was the protagonist, Leandros was still clearly a character living in this world.

He didn't know what was beyond his vision, and could only recognize what was within his possible range.

If that was the case...

'In the end, I'm the one who needs to put in the legwork.'

Hartmann was a family that didn't have many mentions to begin with.

To obtain information about Hartmann, he had no choice but to find the character who had the most contact with them.

After much deliberation, there was only one method.

Squeeze Arndt for information.

* * *

"What did you just say...?"

"Tell me the names of all the people you remember working at the mansion."

"Your Grace, I regret to inform you that I don't possess such a rare talent."

It was the day after Leandros's visit.

Arndt was so overjoyed to see him out and about that he looked like he might faint.

But when he asked Arndt to "tell him about everyone who worked at the ducal residence," Arndt's expression rapidly soured.

"No, don't you remember roughly?"

"Do you know how many people served at the ducal residence?"

"You must remember some people."

"During Your Grace's time as the young Duke, I recall there were over 30 attendants just by Your Grace's side."

"Just 30 people? Then you should remember all of them. Tell me."

"How are 30 people just a few names?"

Arndt, who was tugging at his brown hair in full distress, shot a pleading look at Leandros standing beside him.

Leandros looked at him once, then shook his head at Arndt.

"Give up."

"What? What is it?"

Arndt still didn't know what conversation had passed between them.

He patted the shoulder of the crying Arndt, who was asking if he expected him to remember things from years ago.

"It would be nice if there were an employee registry, but it's been lost. So the only one I can trust is you."

"What if I don't remember anyone, Your Grace?"

"Really none? Not a single one?"

"Yes."

When he smiled as if it couldn't be helped, Arndt brightened a bit.

"That's unfortunate. Then let's stay up all night together and try to recall."

"What?"

"No, I'm just saying. It's not like I'm going to go and harm them; I just want to see the people who used to work at the castle. Is that so strange?"

"Normally, it would be considered strange!"

"No, it's not. Since I'm no longer on the wanted list, it's all above board. If we stay up for about four nights, you'll remember."

"Whaaaat?"

"Don't worry about me. Staying up all night isn't that hard. You just feel like vomiting, have a headache, feel like collapsing, ears ringing, and see strange visions."

Arndt's wail echoed through the empty castle.

That night, they were able to extract about five employee names from Arndt.

After spitting out the names, Arndt continued to dissuade him.

What was the purpose of meeting former employees, what was the reason for going to such trouble?

"They won't even meet you! They might shut the door right in Your Grace's face!"

"That's okay."

"Your Grace should also maintain decorum!"

"Is there any decorum to maintain in a castle like this?"

"What I'm saying is, why should you go elsewhere to be disrespected!"

Arndt behaved as if he had staked his life on honor, befitting a servant of a noble family.

Ignoring the flailing Arndt, he wrote the names of the employees in a corner of the bedroom wall.

Arndt's claim of not knowing much was half-sincere.

Otherwise, how could he only remember one person besides the head butler, assistant head butler, head maid, and head attendant?

That name did not appear in the novel.

Perhaps that was natural, as they were merely mobs belonging to an extra's family.

But that's why it was important.

"Which one here is the head butler?"

"The second name you wrote."

"Then my late parents must have trusted him a lot. There must be a lot to talk about."

Arndt asked, as if he couldn't believe it.

"Are you really going?"

"Would I be joking?"

"Do you know where they live? As I said before, tracking the whereabouts of people who fled would be difficult!"

"Arndt. Have you ever eaten meat at the ducal residence in the past?"

At this sudden out-of-nowhere question, Arndt responded incredulously.

"I don't exclusively stick to vegetarianism."

"Was it delicious?"

"I don't remember clearly, but I think it was."

"How would you feel if you could eat meat every day?"

Arndt was speechless with bewilderment.

"How would I feel... It would be nice, of course."

"Do you think you'd get tired of eating it every day?"

"I don't know who would get tired of meat. I also can't imagine why you're asking this."

Dried meat, while somewhat expensive, wasn't something that couldn't be obtained.

Even commoners ate eggs commonly, and on festive days, they slaughtered chickens or ducks.

But the meat he was referring to was fresh meat.

Beef and pork that could be cooked while still fresh, with juices dripping, properly stored.

The breast of a pheasant, the thigh of a chicken, greasy and crispy roasted pork.

Fresh meat was a privilege of the nobility.

Even someone who raised cattle themselves, as long as they were tenants, only ate the internal organs, hooves, and horns.

The tender flesh all went to the lord.

"Then, if you've been eating only meat and suddenly from one day you're told to eat only porridge or grass, how would you feel?"

"What? All of a sudden? I couldn't."

"You think you couldn't eat it?"

"I could eat it, but I don't think I could adapt."

That was the crux of the story.

Can a person accustomed to luxury suddenly return to a simple life?

Leandros muttered.

"The head butler often comes from a noble family, so they do receive different treatment from ordinary employees..."

"That's usually the case. But what if they're suddenly about to be expelled from the castle where they worked?"

When he turned around, Arndt was looking at him with wide eyes.

After tilting his head for a moment, Arndt went "Ah" and said.

"...Would they be heartbroken?"

This guy.

"Well, I suppose they would be."

"Having overseen and managed the residence of a family that committed treason, if there were suspicions of involvement, they would have been punished together. If they fled instead, they would have returned to their own family."

Leandros's answer made him nod involuntarily.

"But were there any others executed along with Hartmann?"

"As Your Grace would have seen... I believe there were none."

"Wouldn't they normally be punished? Especially someone like the head butler."

"They might have been."

"Then why weren't they killed? Why haven't we even heard news of their death? If it were me, I wouldn't leave a traitor's close associate unpunished. Even if they spared his life, I don't think such a person would be a head butler elsewhere."

"Are you saying..."

Before Leandros could say anything, Arndt cut in first.

"What Your Grace says is very reasonable and makes sense, but if we consider that, they might have simply returned to their family home."

"Is that so?"

"As you said, they would bear great dishonor, so other noble families wouldn't readily accept them. In the end, what other option did they have but to return?"

"That could be the case."

When he nodded readily, Arndt subtly suggested again.

"So visiting those people would be..."

"But, it's been quite some time. Where do you think those people are now?"

"What? Well..."

Arndt looked at him with a face that seemed to say, what are you talking about?

He smiled cryptically.

"I don't really think they would be quietly staying at home."

"...Did you hear something? Or is there a rumor that those people are somehow connected to the current situation?"

"No, I don't know either. That's why we need to go check from now on."

He wasn't certain either.

But it was definitely suspicious.

They too could have been considered close associates and executed or given painful punishments, but there was no mention of this in the original work.

There was one thing that could be inferred here.

That they had received some sort of 'indulgence' from Yurik.

Otherwise, they wouldn't be alive and quiet like this.

It seemed good to start step by step from here.

Arndt seemed to understand that he couldn't break his stubbornness.

He kept sending pleading glances to Leandros, but Leandros ignored them admirably.

Suddenly becoming isolated, Arndt eventually stomped his feet.

"You're going in person? You haven't even recovered yet! Moreover, we can't even secure travel expenses right away, what will you do!"

Ah. Travel expenses.

How long did it take to get to the nearest town? He thought they had camped outdoors at that time.

He assumed it would take two days, including one night spent outdoors. Then they planned to sell their hair there.

That would have given them this much money. Since they didn't know the destination yet, they wanted to secure as much as possible...

"Then in the end, the Vormi..."

"What?"

"Ah, nothing. It's nothing."

It was a thought that had slipped out.

Only he knew what had happened during the Vormi hunt.

The accident itself was unavoidable. Even if he died, it was due to his own carelessness.

But he didn't want to do the things he had done while being resurrected.

He was not a monster.

It was a miracle that he had returned to the present, where the memories of the two had been cleanly erased.

From now on, he really had to be careful.

If they were to ever see him like that again...

His heart began to beat ominously.

He pressed his chest firmly and said.

"Arndt, you remember the banquet hall being closed, right? Have you been there?"