The Count’s Youngest Son is a Player

Chapter 21

The cleanup didn’t take long. Raul already knew what he had to take from this place and what he had to leave behind. Near the magic circle at the back of the cave, Raul retrieved a piece of black magic stone emitting a dark aura and also took a portable teleportation device with him. While he was examining the black magic stone piece from different angles with curious eyes, Pierce approached him to report.

“We have found most of the important individuals who were kidnapped, including Nakia’s younger brother, Niki. However, some of them…”

“It would have been nice if we could have saved everyone, but it can’t be helped. If there are any personal belongings, make sure to take them. We need to return those to our clients.”

“Understood. Also, Niki’s condition isn’t good.”

Raul nodded, as if he had expected as much.

“Right, let’s hurry. If everything is settled, let’s head out.”

With that, they left the Imperial Hound’s hideout. As they turned away from the cave entrance, Jake grumbled to Raul with a displeased expression.

“Are we really just going to leave everything else behind?”

“Why? Do you regret it?”

“Of course! There were so many useful things left. Especially ‘that thing’ wasn’t something you could just measure in money.”

Raul did feel a bit regretful, to be honest. ‘That thing’ Jake was talking about was the power armor stuck on McDowell. Although it might not be reusable, considering its symbolic value of being research material or proof of capturing an imperial spy, it was hard to give up easily.

‘But it’s a fool’s errand.’

The Imperial Hound was a fearsome organization. There were more than a few players who had to give up the game and start over after being targeted by them, and numerous small and medium-sized nobles silently fell from grace due to their workings.

Starting trouble with them from the get-go would have been problematic. Right now, what Raul needed was time to grow and expand his power.

With a bitter smile, Raul said to Jake, “I have my reasons, so let go of your regrets. And wasn’t it me who took care of ‘that’? What were the knights doing, I wonder.”

“It’s because you, sir, wouldn’t let us do this and that… sigh.”

Despite the excuses, Jake eventually realized Raul was right and awkwardly scratched the back of his head, avoiding eye contact.

Raul chuckled and patted Jake on the shoulder, saying, “You’ve worked hard. I’ll make sure to give you a generous bonus, so take a good rest when we get back.”

“Oh! A bonus and a vacation? You better not take it back later!!”

Jake’s mood suddenly lifted, and with a broad smile, he returned to his original position, humming a tune.

‘Simple or sly….’

Raul, finding it hard to judge, lightly flicked his tongue and asked Pierce, “What about them?”

“As planned, we’re luring them.”

“Make sure everything goes smoothly.”

“Yes!”

Watching Pierce carefully monitor the situation through the guild communication, Raul slightly curled the corners of his mouth.

‘I wonder what choice they will make. Well, it’s pretty obvious without even looking.’

Biting into the poison-laced apple, I had been curious about the expressions they would bear afterwards, but I’ve decided to cut off any further interest. Whether things unfolded as planned or not, it was now out of my hands.

* * *

“How far in have we crawled?? Hey! Guide!! Are we on the right path?” The one shouting was none other than Ramon of the Count Randal’s House. It had only been a week since he had been beaten into a pulp for picking a needless fight. Following that incident, he spent several days recuperating at the temple, requiring even mental therapy.

Having barely recovered, Ramon returned to find himself nearly penniless, and to add insult to injury, the sword he had received from his grandfather was gone. The rage was unbearable, but the terror he had faced that day at the hands of a brat was so extreme that he dared not confront him, left with no choice but to suffer in silence.

As his anger slightly subsided, Ramon realized that their defeat to Raul was due to the cursed nature of this place – the inability to use mana skills within the city limits. Noting that they were twelve official knights and still got pushed back solely for that reason, Ramon thought, ‘How could such a fool ever stand against an expert’s mana blade?’

With only three knights on their side and twelve on theirs, including Commander Jeremy, who was an esteemed Power Armor user, they would have easily won had the battle taken place outside the city. With this realization, Ramon and his two cousins, Jerry and Cale, started tailing Raul, hoping to exact revenge when he left the city at an unguarded hour.

And today, the chance had arrived.

“Right there!!” Led by their guide, the group from Count Randal’s House arrived in front of a sinister-looking cave. Hesitation lasted but a moment before they ventured inside, and after a while, they reemerged. Their hands were full of various magic items and accessories, the heads of wanted criminals, and the shadowy form of ‘that thing’. Greedy smiles were painted unmistakably across their faces.

* * *

It had been a while since sunset, deep past midnight, when they finally left the forest and neared the city. A group of people holding torches congregated by the city’s outskirts. Recognizing Raul’s approach, several figures hurried towards him and bowed.

“Sir, you’ve had a hard day. As ordered, we’ve cleared the bandit hideout in the eastern forest and rescued about twenty citizens.”

“We’ve wiped out the northern forest bandit lair and recovered the goods from the warehouse.”

“The western forest bandit…”

These reporting figures were Raul’s squires and first guild members. After a month of relentless questing, hunting, and training, all six squires had exceeded the barrier to expert level. Additionally, about ten swordsmanship trainees reached the pinnacle of advanced sword users, ready to become experts at any moment.

The attendants, originally common soldiers, also stepped into the realm of sword users capable of utilizing mana, holding the potential to become knights in time. Following Raul’s orders, these first guild members were divided into three groups last night and successfully cleared the predetermined bandit hideouts. Given their ability to use mana, training in high-level swordsmanship from the Count of Ashton, and skills acquired from the skillbooks Raul provided, ordinary bandits stood no chance against them.

Joining the unharmed members from other tasks, the group’s size quickly surpassed a hundred. Their large party arrived at the city gates, where the guards grew tense, but the captain of the guard, forewarned, personally welcomed them. Despite the late hour, news of family members being rescued brought some citizens out to greet the group, among them the unfortunate alchemist ‘Nakia’ from Mira.

“Niki!! Niki!!” Nakia ran to Raul, weeping as she saw her unconscious sister in his arms. Holding Niki in her arms, she sobbed with gratitude.

To her, Raul spoke, “Though I’ve rescued her, your sister’s condition isn’t good. Let’s move her to the mansion for now and start her treatment. Bernard?”

“Yes, I have already arranged for a cleric to stay at the mansion. This way, please.”

Following Bernard’s lead, Raul watched Nakia step into the carriage with Niki and fell into deep thought. Today, he had saved the life of a child who was supposed to die. He had also changed the future of an alchemist, a woman who would have borne a grudge against the empire due to her brother’s death. Raul had no idea what consequences his decisions today would bring forth. Perhaps Nakia might never reach the heights of alchemy that could shake the world. The many potions, items, and weapons she could have developed might never see the light of day.

Additionally, the empire might have eliminated a potential threat without lifting a finger. Yet, Raul was unconcerned.

‘For the future of the county, her power is absolutely necessary. Even if history twists because of this, I don’t mind. Since I’ve returned to the past, everything will be rewritten. Even if it means stealing someone’s future and trampling over it, I won’t regret it.’

He did not consider himself a good person. Had he been one, he would not have stood by knowing Niki would be kidnapped, and he would have acted sooner to save those who were abducted. Perhaps he could have saved more lives. But Raul acted on cold calculation and rational thought.

He turned a blind eye to their suffering in order to solve as many quests as possible and to win Nakia’s favor. As a result, in just one night, he managed to save many citizens and completed dozens of quests simultaneously. The activities of spies and thieves near Mira would certainly decrease, ensuring better public safety for a while. The rescued and their families thanked him profusely, and the guards and soldiers praised Raul’s group for their outstanding achievements. Come morning, even the mayor would extend his gratitude with generous rewards. But…

“Something feels unsettling.”

There was an unresolved feeling in his heart. Inadvertently turning his head, Raul noticed people amongst the cheering crowd who seemed out of place. Among them, he inadvertently locked eyes with an old woman, tears filled with sorrow and despair.

She clutched a single glove, likely belonging to her son, and sobbed in silence. Indeed, among those gathered, while some celebrated finding their families, others still yearned for news of family members yet to return. Some despaired upon receiving the personal belongings of their family, while others considered it a relief to have no news and continued the long wait.

Most of them were marginalized people—those without assets or status, ignored because they had nothing to offer for the ‘quests.’ Suddenly, Raul reflected on his past month in Mira, reviewing the quests he had undertaken.

‘I’ve been so busy, but…’

His actions and movements had been solely dictated by quests and leveling up. He had never set foot in places irrelevant to quests or deemed meaningless. Nor had he ever exchanged words with ordinary citizens not involved in quests or deemed important. Though he had sworn to live a ‘real’ life after being revived in the world of the game, what was the reality?

‘I was merely playing the game known as Connect!’

A chilling realization washed over Raul, leaving a cold sensation to sweep through his mind.

(To be continued)