Trapped in a Game That Flopped

Chapter 39

Episode 39

"Watch your mouth. Who do you think you are, a mere apothecary, to run your mouth so recklessly?"

Adam burst into a rage at me.

A killing intent so strong it made me tremble poured out.

But I just shrugged my shoulders and answered calmly.

"It's just a hypothetical, Count. Nothing has happened yet, has it?"

In other words, it means it can still be resolved before it becomes an issue.

In reality, Kassel wasn't that angry about the unfair treatment.

"...A prisoner's lot is the same everywhere, I suppose."

"Toying with food is nothing compared to torture."

He threw a fit whenever he had the chance, saying "The likes of you...", but he seemed to be well aware of his own situation.

Of course, that was only as long as he was a 'prisoner.'

Honestly, considering his dog-like personality, it was amazing he didn't annihilate the Hailey family after his reinstatement.

I was starting to understand the things that weren't explicitly shown in the game.

The two men, who both held animosity toward the Emperor and the high-ranking nobles, had aligning interests, and the user's persuasion just acted as a proper cushion.

'But whether the seal breaks or the disaster arrives, I'm the only one who's going to suffer.'

Was there really a need to be a gentle cushion for Adam, who just brought Kassel here and neglected him?

'So get your act together now, and suck up to him a little on your own.'

'If Kassel says to go to the Imperial Palace, go without complaint.'

I looked at Adam coldly, embedding that meaning in my gaze.

"You..."

Finally understanding the meaning of my words, Adam slowly regained his composure.

"Do you think there's a chance of stopping the disaster, should it arrive?"

It sounded like a question, but it was tantamount to a notice that Kassel's chance of reinstatement was almost zero.

"Yes, of course we have to stop it. Whatever it takes."

For the sake of my escape from this game, that was an unacceptable outcome.

"Didn't you say that as the lord of this place, you would remain until the end and protect it?"

"..."

Adam's expression stiffened when I asked seriously, "Weren't those your words?"

Belatedly realizing I had overstepped my bounds as a mere apothecary, I quickly returned to my original, groveling tone.

"T-to do that, I will do my best to make potions."

Adam stared at me blankly for a while.

Then, he suddenly took something from his breast pocket and handed it to me.

"Take this."

"What... is this?"

On his palm lay a flat, round object engraved with an ornate magic circle.

S-Grade Defense Artifact

"It's an artifact engraved with defense magic. Its defense range is quite wide, so it shouldn't be inconvenient to move with."

I knew it was an artifact.

But I couldn't figure out his intention in suddenly handing it to me.

If it was a reward, I had already received it.

"Why this..."

"If, as you said, the worst-case scenario unfolds..."

At my voice, which was full of puzzlement, Adam let out a deep sigh and slowly spoke.

"I'm entrusting him and Serina to you."

"...Pardon?"

"It would be best if I went and settled things with him myself, but I'll be pressed for time as I have to lead the knights myself to patrol the western border and the monster appearance zones, starting tonight."

"..."

"If the worst-case scenario unfolds as you said, take him and Serina, escape the estate, and go to the capital."

"Count."

I gaped at Adam's sudden order.

I had never seen a situation like this in the communities.

But Adam continued speaking without hesitation.

"As long as you survive, Serina will surely reward you after she inherits the title and estate. Hailey does not forget a debt of gratitude."

I was extremely flustered, but honestly, I was also a little touched.

I hadn't put any special effort into rapport-building, but maybe Adam had developed trust in my outstanding abilities?

Checking to see if a system window had popped up, I soon asked cautiously.

"Are you... trusting me?"

"No."

"Eng."

At the firm denial, a sulky sound escaped me before I knew it.

"Then why are you entrusting me with such a heavy responsibility?"

"I don't particularly trust you, but it's an unchanging law that those crazy for money will stop at nothing."

"I am not that crazy for money."

"..."

He silently stared at me and the bundle of money in my hand.

I felt wronged. This was a fair wage for my labor.

"Honestly..."

It was at that moment.

Kugugugugugung.

Suddenly, an ominous roar sounded as the earth shook.

It was a vibration so strong that everyone in the estate, including Adam and me, momentarily staggered.

"Wh-what is it!"

"U-uaargh!"

Fortunately, the vibration vanished as quickly as it came.

Looking at the startled faces of the people, I muttered blankly.

"An earthquake...?"

"It's a phenomenon occurring because the seal is weakening."

The answer to the sudden earthquake came from Adam.

"Count!"

"I must be going. Hurry and take it."

Just then, the Knight Commander was running into the estate with a dark expression.

At Adam's urging, I reluctantly accepted the artifact and tucked it away with the bundle of money.

It was then.

Ding! Dong!

Suddenly, a roar louder than the one from the brief earthquake just moments ago struck my ears.

GM Jinu is paging you.

I barely held back a scream at the system window that immediately popped up.

Ding! Dong! Ding! Dong!

At the continuous, ear-splitting ringing, I forgot I was in front of Adam and snapped open the chat window.

GM Jinu: Nim. Get to the Tower now. You're screwed.

"...Crazy, what is this?"

"Were you just talking to me?"

I was looking at the chat, but the voice from in front of me snapped me to my senses, and I closed the chat window.

Because of that damn page sound, I momentarily forgot I was in front of Adam.

"Pardon? I, ah, I didn't say anything."

I denied it first, and he let out another deep sigh.

Adam Hailey doubts your intelligence.

"I'll speak to the Head Maid, so if you're lacking any potion ingredients, you can always ask her..."

Dingdong! Ding! Dong!

Seeing the developers raise such a fuss, I couldn't delay any longer.

"Thank you for your concern. I'm sorry, but something urgent came up, so I have to go!"

Adam was saying something in front of me, but I barely listened, gave a quick bow, and started running.

'What on earth is going on! If this turns out to be nothing, you're all dead!'

As I dashed breathlessly toward the Tower, I prayed it was nothing serious.

Of course, I wanted to stop the disaster...

'This page-terrorism. I'll get my revenge. Definitely.'

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Adam, who was staring in disbelief at the suddenly empty space, spotted the Head Maid passing by.

"Madam Lena."

At his call, the Head Maid immediately trotted over.

She smiled warmly, watching the small figure hurrying away toward the entrance.

"That young lady always seems so busy."

"...Young lady?"

"Yes. Her way of speaking, her voice, she clearly seems like a young lady, doesn't she?"

"..."

Adam did not agree with those words, so he remained silent.

And he immediately stated why he had called the Head Maid.

"Prepare an outer garment suitable for an adult male. And if the apothecary needs any supplies, give them to her freely at any time."

"Yes, I understand, Count."

"And if there's any sign of suspicion, immediately..."

Adam, having spoken that far, suddenly shut his mouth.

She was suspicious to no end, but considering the matter of the parasitic monsters from earlier, she was, in her own way, a benefactor to the family.

It wasn't right to openly order his subordinates to watch her when everyone had witnessed it.

'When this urgent matter is over, I'll have to investigate separately.'

Completely unaware of her master's thoughts, the Head Maid chatted softly.

"That young lady went through so much today, Count. She went all the way to the swamp to catch Moonlight-fires, and she looked just like a mud monster! And my, the awful smell... I thought an outhouse ghost had come."

"...Is that so."

She had asked for permission to go out. That must have been the reason.

Adam had to admit, the apothecary's ingenious plan and thorough preparation were impressive.

"Thanks to her, we've passed the crisis safely, and it's such a relief that Lady Serina can be cured. Don't you think we should treat her as the estate's benefactor?"

"Benefactor? Hardly."

Adam scoffed coldly at her words.

"She demanded money for everything that happened today, including the Moonlight-fires, tacking on all sorts of names like outside-work pay and life-risk pay."

At that, the Head Maid's eyes widened in admiration.

"Oh my, she won't be getting cheated anywhere. What a sharp young lady."

"Sharp? Did you not see her threatening me earlier?"

The more he thought about it, the more absurd it was.

He didn't know how she'd found out the true identity of the prisoner in the Tower, but her skill in subtly applying pressure using the prisoner's treatment as leverage was quite high-level.

"In that case, if the prisoner ceases to be a prisoner, what happens to the Hailey family, which failed to serve him properly?"

If she was a young wench as the Head Maid said, wasn't that all the more impudent?

Fortunately, she hadn't demanded anything specific...

'Come to think of it... that person acts as if the Crown Prince's reinstatement is a foregone conclusion.'

The disaster hadn't been stopped yet.

According to the Grand Temple's prophecy, seven nights after the prisoner's confinement.

It was said that the disaster could only be prevented if the prisoner was kept from sleeping until exactly midnight tomorrow night.

He honestly didn't care much for the dethroned Crown Prince.

To be more honest, he already believed Hailey was facing its ruin.

He had tried so hard to stop it, but the Emperor had sent his own wizard to announce the Tower's seal had weakened, and he'd been saddled with the troublesome Crown Prince.

When the situation became like that, he was in a state of half-resignation.

"Yes, of course we have to stop it. Whatever it takes."

But that woman, the apothecary, had looked at him with fierce eyes and said it.

In the end, he and his knights would be the ones doing the fighting.

Yet she spoke as if she would stop the disaster, whatever it took.

Even though her face was hidden by the hood and not visible at all, that will was clearly felt.

"...It's been a truly long time since I've seen you make such varied expressions while dealing with someone, Count, not since your late parents passed away."

The Head Maid's irrelevant remark, heard belatedly, snapped Adam from his reminiscence.

The Head Maid, who had been Adam's nanny and the late former Countess's dedicated maid, was looking at him with slightly misty eyes.

"...Nonsense. You may leave."

He muttered coldly and immediately turned his back, exiting the estate's entrance.

Quickly, the beggar-like robe could be seen in the distance, already on the path to the Tower.

Suddenly, a belated question occurred to him as well.

In such a short time, had there ever been another being who had provoked him, angered him...

And even aroused a faint curiosity?

Adam Hailey now holds clear affection for you.

Behind Shari, who was dashing away, a line from a system window she hadn't seen popped up.