RGS Volume 5 Part 16

The next morning, the screams of the maids echoed through the Marquis’ mansion. Although no noise had been heard throughout the night, there had been an intruder inside the mansion. However, instead of stealing anything, the intruder had done something strange. They had simply changed the positions of all the items. Nothing was broken or knocked over, everything had just been moved.

What was even more bizarre was the Marquis’ reaction. Instead of getting angry, he merely gave a cold order to restore everything to its original place. Despite his calm expression, his mind was in turmoil.

Who could have done this?

Truyde, who promised to join hands?

Or Norhox, who was probably getting desperate by now?

There were only three days left until they would receive the next gift from the emperor. However, as the world became completely bright, this curiosity only grew. Someone came to see him.

“You need to join forces with me.”

Norhox whispered to the Marquis, looking nervous and anxious.

“Truyde has chosen you as the next victim.”

⊹˚. ♡.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ⊹˚. ♡.𖥔 ݁ ˖

When the Commander of the Royal Guards heard that Norhox was the guest who came to see the Marquis early in the morning, he knew that Erei would contact him. Sure enough, a servant hurriedly called him and took him to a place that looked like a warehouse. There, Erei, who was standing anxiously, grabbed his arm as soon as he saw the Commander of the Royal Guards.

“Alright. I’ll tell you whatever you want to know. Just give it to me. Please?”

The once fierce atmosphere had subsided, and he looked at the Commander of the Royal Guards with pleading eyes.

“I’m in a hurry right now. There’s someone I mustn’t meet in this state. Ask what you want. I’ll tell you everything. Really.”

Erei clung to the Commander of the Royal Guards, his eyes welling up with tears. Then, he subtly pressed his body against his lower half and opened his eyes wide. With his large eyes fixed on him, he made a pitiful expression.

This puppy-like appearance always worked. Whenever he acted like this, he could always get what he wanted. That’s why this had been ingrained in his body. No matter who the other person was, this expression would naturally appear on its own. So much so that it would appear even in a state where he was losing his sanity due to an unknown thirst.

“Huh? What do you want me to tell you?”

Erei pressed his body against him even more. However, the Commander of the Royal Guards only looked down at him with indifferent eyes. Instead, he grabbed Erei’s shoulder and shoved him away. Erei stumbled back, lifting his eyes in confusion.

Why wasn’t it working?

In response to his questioning gaze, the Commander of the Royal Guards finally opened his mouth.

“Step back because it’s unpleasant.”

“What?”

“I said it’s unpleasant.”

The Commander of the Royal Guards repeated as he brushed off his clothes with his hand. Erei bit his lower lip tightly in embarrassment. Normally, he would have erupted in anger and even raised his nails at him, but his thirst dominated his mind completely.

“Then, what should I do?”

“The room that Marquis Yan does not allow anyone to enter. Have you been inside?”

Erei hesitated for a long time before nodding and hastily added.

“B-But I couldn’t figure out what was important. That room was only filled with expensive decorations and small sculptures.”

“……”

“It’s true. Believe me.”

This time, it wasn’t an act. Erei felt truly desperate, and he looked like he was about to cry.

Without even realizing that his lips were bleeding from biting them, he looked at the Commander of the Royal Guards, who slowly moved his hand. Then, he took out a piece of dried meat. Erei rushed forward like a hungry beast, trying to snatch it away. However, as if he had predicted it, the Commander of the Royal Guards held his hand up high, preventing him from grabbing it.

“Back off.”

At his command, Erei became frightened and stepped back.

“It’s true. I didn’t find anything.”

“Has the Marquis not tested whether you are the real Regas yet?”

Nod.

After Erei’s response, the Commander of the Royal Guards remained silent for a moment, as if contemplating, before opening his mouth.

“When the Marquis tests you, do as I say. Then, I’ll give you this right now.”

“What, what do I need to do?”

“If he tries to test you by giving you items from that room, say that none of them are it. And tell him this. Could it be somewhere related to trees?”

⊹˚. ♡.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ⊹˚. ♡.𖥔 ݁ ˖

The Marquis watched Norhox’s passionate speech from the beginning.

“Think about it. Of all the people left, you are the greatest threat to Duke Truyde. So, naturally, he’ll try to get rid of you first! The only way you can survive is by joining forces with me.”

Only then did the Marquis ask his first question.

“You want me to join forces with you and make the duke the next victim?”

No, Norhox shook his head and sat down in front of the Marquis.

“The first victim must be the war profiteer. Truyde can’t be defeated in one blow. We can’t kill him without securing the raw materials for the black potion first. So, this time, the war profiteer must be the victim. He’s become Truyde’s lackey, acting like his puppet. We need to get rid of him first. That fool even gave Truyde a gold-like salt mine in order to join the King’s Heart. He’ll do anything Truyde orders, so killing him quickly will benefit us.”

“…”

Norhox, filled with anxiety, shouted at the silent Marquis.

“What are you hesitating about? It’s a simple matter! Let’s frame the useless war profiteer as the victim!”

“Or we can make you the victim.”

This time, it was Norhox who fell silent. But his silence was different from the Marquis’. With bloodshot eyes and clenched teeth, his eyes were filled with venom as he glared at the Marquis.

“Did the Duke say that? That I’ll become the next victim.”

“Who knows.”

The Marquis answered dryly, but Norhox instantly realized it was the truth at once. Clenching his fists so tightly that his veins bulged, he lowered his voice.

“Don’t be fooled. That’s a lie Truyde told you to reassure you. Trust me.”

“Why should I trust you?”

“D*mn it, because I’m the only one on your side!”

“That’s what the duke said as well.”

“…”

“Convince me more.”

The Marquis leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs leisurely, indicating he could wait. Norhox, instead of shouting, quietly warned him.

“Come to your senses. Without me, you’ll be isolated. Truyde is making me the next victim? What happens after I’m gone? Are you going to find the real Regas on your own? It’s useless to just hold the candy in your hand. You have to put it in your mouth. Do you want me to tell you the best method?”

Norhox’s voice grew quieter.

“Share that candy right now. Even if Truyde kills you, someone else can make use of it. You believe I’m the next victim, right? Then it doesn’t matter. Just tell me about the object, and if I die, you can use it yourself.”

“If you’re going to die anyway, there’s no need for precautions.”

Thud!

Unable to contain his anger any longer, Norhox stood up, knocking over the chair. Seeing him unable to control his anger, the Marquis threw him the best offer he could.

“Bring me something within that will change my mind in three days. If you can prove you’re useful before I receive the gift from the Emperor, I will share it as you said. I’ll show you what the object is. But first, as evidence of my sincerity, I’ll test that seemingly useless Regas you sent. So, don’t ever think of turning my house upside down to find the object again.”

“Turning your house upside down? What do you…?”

Norhox, who was speaking, stopped abruptly as if something had occurred to him. The Marquis didn’t miss it and gave him a cold stare.

“If you really want my help, stop doing things secretly.”

“Wait, that is probably my Regas.”

“The conversation is over.”

The Marquis cut off Norhox’s words and pointed to the door with his hand.

“Get out of my sight.”

⊹˚. ♡.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ⊹˚. ♡.𖥔 ݁ ˖

A steady hand. Just like how his heart had stabilized after eating the dried meat given by the knight, his hand no longer trembled. His current physical condition felt strange, but there was no time to worry about it. There was someone he had to meet, even when he felt that he had barely returned to normal.

Erei had had high hopes when coming here. He thought he would meet Marquis Yan immediately and find what Norhox wanted from him. Pretending to be the real Regas wasn’t difficult. However, the Marquis had only glanced at him on the first day and had ignored him ever since. Moreover, due to his strange physical condition, he hadn’t even thought of approaching the Marquis first. All he had done was sneak into the room that no one was allowed to enter.

Strangely, the door had opened easily, but Erei hadn’t had the mental clarity to be suspicious. Now that he would meet Norhox, he was eager to exaggerate this incident and boast about what a great thing he had done while lying in bed. However, the first thing Norhox did when he came to see Erei wasn’t to lust after his body.

Smack!

Erei’s body shook like a fallen leaf and rolled on the floor as Norhox swung his palm at him with all his might. His lips tore and blood flowed from them due to the force of the blow.

“Wh-why are you doing this, ugh!”

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Instead of answering, Norhox kicked him repeatedly in the abdomen.

“Ugh! *Cough, cough.*”

Erei curled up, groaning and coughing heavily. The blows were so severe that he couldn’t lift his head, his body trembling violently. Saliva mixed with blood dribbled from his mouth as he struggled to breathe. Norhox glared down at him with bloodshot, crazed eyes.

“Useless fool. You couldn’t even win over the Marquis? And if you were going to do something, you should have been careful!”

Thud! Thud!

Still unsatisfied, Norhox began to stomp on Erei’s body with his feet. Only when his breathing became heavy as he beat him did he finally retreat. Then he ordered Erei, who lay motionless as if unconscious.

“The Marquis will test you soon. I’ll give you three days. Find some useful information by then. Otherwise, I’ll make sure you wish you were dead.”

Norhox words were right. Erei, who had been lying in bed all day, received a summons from the Marquis late at night. Despite his body being too battered to move even a finger, he gritted his teeth and got up. He felt a strong sense that he couldn’t miss this opportunity.

With every step towards the place the Marquis had told him, his insides churned with a mix of fear and resolve. He was terrified of Norhox. However, what scared him even more was the knight who wouldn’t give him the dried meat. He couldn’t afford to be dismissed without saying a word.

He had to make the Marquis take an interest in him.

Muttering as if under a spell, Erei entered the room he had once sneaked into. Most of the fairly large room was occupied by a display cabinet that covered an entire wall. Like a bookshelf, you could see all the contents inside, revealing hundreds of palm-sized ornaments, sculptures, and medals.

Everything was lavishly decorated with gold and jewels. The last time he had entered, the room had been completely empty, except for those items. But now, there was a table in the middle of the room. On it were a candle and about ten items from the display cabinet.

Is the real one among those? Is the test to find the real one among them?

Erei, tense, couldn’t take his eyes off the items. In the dark room, the objects on the table under the candlelight sparkled more vividly.

I must find the real one.

He examined them, each with a different shape, hoping that they might give him some kind of hint. The Marquis, meanwhile, cast a cold gaze at him. From the moment he entered, his steps had been slightly limping. His cheek was swollen, and his lips were scabbed.

There was no need to call a servant to confirm who had hit him. It was obvious. It must have been Norhox. This was also evidence that Erei was not the real Regas. The real one wouldn’t be treated like this. The Marquis, clicking his tongue at Norhox’s foolishness, finally spoke.

“One of these is a treasure passed down since the age of dragons. It can only display its magic in the hands of the real Regas.”

“M-Magic?”

“Yes.”

“What kind of magic?”

Erei swallowed hard and asked, but only received a cold response.

“You can find out for yourself if you are truly the real Regas.”

Erei lowered his gaze to the objects again.

What should I do? How can I identify the real one among these?

While he was worried, he also had a small hope.

Who knows? Perhaps I am the real Regas. Then, if I touch it, perhaps I might really be able to use magic.

Erei’s eyes hardened with determination.

I will definitely find it.