Chapter 2

He looked at the hot cup in his hand.

It was a heavy, large, and old cup, even somewhat grimy.

Though his head hurt, he couldn't bring himself to drink it, not knowing what was inside.

While he was being dragged to what seemed like a kitchen and staring blankly at the cup, the brown-haired man and the black-haired man stood before him.

They didn't seem like they would leave unless he drank it.

"So, where is this place exactly?"

"This is the castle of the Hartmann Duchy, Your Grace."

I'm not Your Grace, and this doesn't seem to be my home...

But he swallowed his words, not knowing how the two would react if he said that.

Moreover, the name Hartmann.

Unlike the unfamiliar scenery, that name was something he knew well.

The Hartmann Ducal family.

"And Then There Were None," a free web novel with a total rating of 2.8 stars.

It was a novel that generally claimed to be horror and cosmic horror, but was infamous among web novel readers because the characters would go mad and troll whenever they tried to do anything.

To make matters worse, the author didn't even finish the novel and put it on hiatus right when the tension had reached its peak...

Perhaps he was the only one who stubbornly gave it a 5-star rating.

Hartmann was the name of a family that appeared in that novel.

But the only character with the Hartmann name was the ill-fated heir, Arenheit Hartmann.

He thought for a moment.

If he was Duke Hartmann, then was this inside that novel?

'Not bad, I suppose.'

It wasn't just "not bad."

It was rather good.

For a second chance given to someone who was trying to die, it was more than generous.

This warmth, this sensation.

The cup in his hand made his palm burn.

There was no way this could be fake.

As he kept his mouth shut for a while, the brown-haired man carefully asked.

"Young Mas-, no. While it is a cause for celebration that Your Grace has received the rightful ownership of the castle and territory."

"Yes. That's right."

"I am concerned about the days ahead."

The man who loyally reported to him was certainly Arndt, the servant who had assisted Arenheit.

People with brown hair and green eyes weren't that common.

Then the identity of the person standing next to him was easy to guess.

"Though Your Grace has returned, I believe you will have to bear a heavy responsibility to bring glory to the family."

Sharp eyes and a cold impression.

Overall, his distinct, dark outline was deeply etched into one's vision.

But as time passed, he seemed like someone whose cold atmosphere would linger longer than his appearance.

Plus, that solid, broad body that proved years of training.

The knight described in the novel as the most outstanding among humanity.

Leandros.

Though he was a free knight without a family name, he was a rare figure who had volunteered to escort the former Duchess and had protected her child, Arenheit, until the end.

'He looks even more handsome than in the illustrations.'

Seeing him in person, his charisma was no joke.

But all said and done, he was just a character from a novel.

"It certainly seems like a big task."

"Although the restoration was promised at the royal palace, as you can see..."

"I get the general idea."

A dirty cup, and two people who looked like they had gone through considerable hardship.

He could only imagine, but his face probably didn't look good either.

Seeing their poor condition, he doubted they had been eating properly.

【I don't really have any preference, you can eat first, brother. I'm really not hungry! I'm fine.】

A voice he hadn't recalled for a long time flashed through his mind.

He absolutely did not have the habit of starving people.

He casually took off the cloak that sat heavily on his shoulders and put it down.

"Have we eaten yet?"

"Eat...? If I may be so bold, what do you mean by 'eaten,' Your Grace?"

"Food, I mean. Have we had meals?"

"Ah."

At the sudden change of topic, Arndt and Leandros looked at each other.

Leaving the two with their lips sealed tight, he took the initiative to search the kitchen.

But there was no gain.

Despite the kitchen being several times larger than his studio apartment, all he could scrape together was a handful of unidentifiable grains and a bundle of dried weeds.

Ah, this was a bit severe.

"Is this all the food we have?"

"I-I'll check the basement storage."

Arndt, seemingly having regained his senses, darted off somewhere.

Seeing him go towards the stairs he had noticed when coming to the kitchen, it seemed the basement storage was beneath them.

However, considering the state of the kitchen, the basement storage probably wouldn't be much different.

"Sir Leandros?"

"Yes, Your Grace. Command me."

"It's nothing grand. I was just wondering, when the royal army invaded the castle in the past, did they clean out the kitchen too?"

At the mention of the old incident, Leandros's brow twitched.

But, as if he had no intention of arguing, he answered compliantly.

"I believe they did."

"What's left probably isn't even edible."

"That's likely the case."

The novel didn't provide detailed descriptions of how Hartmann had been humiliated.

But even in the brief sentences, there was content that suggested the downfall of the Hartmann Ducal family.(additional)

When the former Duke and Duchess were captured at the Hartmann residence, not only the ducal couple but also their family members and retainers were taken away.

And to 'examine' whether they had accumulated wealth through unjust means, important documents and treasures were confiscated, and whatever remained was secretly pilfered...so it was written.

We have taken our place in the empty shell of the past.

Oh my.

The start wasn't so good.

But from the moment he realized this was the Hartmann family, he had anticipated all of this.

If you've read a novel that went on hiatus at chapter 95 n times, of course you'd expect it.

He turned to look at Leandros.

"I have a question."

"Yes."

"Are you good at hunting?"

"Pardon?"

"I asked if you're good at it."

Leandros seemed to malfunction. He grinned at the perplexed face.

If there's no food, they just have to make it.

* * *

Swoosh!

This wasn't the sound of an arrow flying.

Naturally, with all the family assets looted, there was no way there would be arrows or a bow.

It was the sound of a stone thrown by Leandros's sling.

Thwack!

That was the sound of the fiercely thrown stone hitting its target.

Thinking it would be impossible to kill running prey with a sword, he had temporarily made a sling.

And it was working better than expected.

"Sir Leandros catches them extremely well."

"You said you had never done it before, but you're actually quite good at it."

"Sir Leandros is good at anything physical."

"He must be good at fighting too."

Arndt dumped the dry branches he was carrying beside him.

The idea that they could gather supplies from outside if there was nothing to eat amusingly stemmed from Hartmann's downfall.

While the manors near the Hartmann castle had long been emptied as people fled, the land wasn't completely barren.

More precisely, things other than humans made the land flourish.

The hunting ground attached to the manor was such a case.

A hunting ground filled with delicious and easy-to-catch herbivores.

Of course, no matter how abundant the game, it would be difficult without hunters, but watching Leandros, that didn't seem to be a concern.

"It seems like you've caught enough?"

"I think if we catch more, it will be hard to store them. I'll go tell him."

Arndt darted off like a new employee who had just been hired a month ago.

Even from a distance, he could see the two meeting.

Hartmann's primary hunting ground was small and cozy.

This was in comparison to full-fledged hunting grounds, but perhaps because of that, there were more safe creatures like rabbits and birds than hoofed beasts.

It was his idea to all come out together to check the hunting ground's geography, but somehow his body felt heavy with fatigue.

"Your Grace, Sir Leandros says he will come after he's finished dressing the game at a distant location."

"Dressing? He said he could do that too?"

"There's a small stream nearby, so it shouldn't be difficult to wash away the blood smell."

He just asked if he could do the field dressing.

But he didn't want to chide Arndt, who was explaining with such enthusiasm.

As he watched Arndt make a small fireplace by building a fire, Leandros approached not long after.

"Are you finished?"

"Yes. But since your hands might get dirty, we'll handle it."

Leandros and Arndt cut the meat into pieces among themselves and skewered them on sharpened twigs.

The meat pieces, grilled crisp over a small fire, were plainer than expected but quite decent.

Probably because this body had been starving for a long time.

Even after the three of them ate to their satisfaction, there was still some ungrilled meat left.

Just how many animals did they catch?

"How about we grill this in advance and dry it?"

"That's a good idea. I'll store it in the castle."

Arndt diligently answered and finished the cooking.

Judging by the number of skewers piled up in front, both Arndt and Leandros seemed to be big eaters.

Seeing that, he could only sigh deeply.

How was he going to feed these guys in the future?

【I still enjoy eating with you the most, brother.】

He recalled what his younger brother had once said.

It seemed like he had been trying hard to eat together all this time because he liked those words.

Now that there was no need for that anymore, falling into this novel was truly fortunate.

"And Then There Were None."

A failed novel that went on hiatus 5 years ago.

The novel he’d entered was the first and last web novel written by his missing younger brother.

Was this an opportunity given to him by his brother?

Or conversely, a condemnation directed at him?

Considering the genre of the novel, it might even be a condemnation or a threat.

Like saying, "Now it's your turn to take care of the characters I've created, brother."

Of course, it was just his speculation.

"...race? Are you alright, Your Grace?"

"Ah. I was just thinking of something else. What did you say just now?"

"I think we should head back soon. It gets colder here faster than below."

Hartmann Castle was located near a mountain range.

Using the geographical advantage, they could defend against external threats and take advantageous positions.

Expecting a considerable temperature difference between day and night, he dusted himself off and stood up.

Arndt and Leandros picked up a few stones they had used for the fireplace as they cleaned up.

"What's that for? Are you taking it back?"

"I noticed earlier that the area near the kitchen hearth had collapsed, so I thought I'd try to repair it."

"Hmm, then let me carry that."

"What?"

"Your hands are full, aren't they?"

"What are you saying, Your Grace!"

Arndt stopped him in alarm as he was selecting stones.

"Even if we are in this situation, Hartmann is still Hartmann! Your Grace is not someone who should soil your hands with soot!"

"I'm just carrying a few stones."

"Sir Leandros and I can handle it. I sincerely hope Your Grace doesn't overexert yourself with menial tasks."

Anyone watching would think he was offering a life-threatening counsel.

But it was embarrassing since all he had done so far was eat.

He felt disconnected from being called "Your Grace" repeatedly.

"Just give me three stones. I need some exercise to help with digestion."

"Are you feeling unwell? It must be from what you just ate. Perhaps it was undercooked or overcooked..."

"Ah, enough! Just give them to me! Why are you talking so much?"

He snatched a couple of heavy stones from Arndt's hands.

They weren't that big and didn't have much soot on them, yet Arndt was making such a fuss.

As he started walking, Arndt immediately stuck close and began chattering incessantly.

About how he was worried, how the Duke's body was still weak, and how as a loyal servant of Hartmann, he couldn't overlook such things.

Of course, all the whining went in one ear and out the other.

"I won't die from carrying this."

"That's not the issue! It's a matter of dignity!"

"What dignity? There's only the three of us."

"Your Grace!"

He didn't know Arndt had such a good voice.

Indeed, a character with three exclamation marks after his dialogue.

They returned to the castle, amicably bickering as they walked the mountain path that took over 40 minutes.

By the time they arrived, the sun had almost set, and instead, two moons and unnamed stars were faintly hanging over the castle.

Seeing that, his steps halted as he entered the courtyard.

"Ah."

Truly, this wasn't Korea.

I've drifted into a completely different world.

As he gazed up at the chilly evening sky for a while, his head felt slightly dizzy.

"Young Master?"

"Yes?"

As he lowered his head, something trickled down from his philtrum.

Damn. Was it a runny nose?

He hurriedly wiped it, worried someone might see, but his hand was strangely red.

Had he been injured?

With a puzzled face, he looked ahead and saw that Arndt and Leandros, who had been walking in front, had turned pale.

"Wait, why is this..."

Why is it like this?

Before he could finish his words, his limbs suddenly became heavy, and as he staggered, his eyes closed.

In the final moment, Arndt's urgent scream vividly struck his ears as it passed by.