novelraw Chapter 168 : Chapter 168
Chapter 168 : Chapter 168
Chapter 168. The Mask Called Evan Lafard
“I was, in fact, not Duke Evan Lafard… no, not the Young Count.”
At Evan's heavy and serious voice, the party, excluding Jack, couldn't quite grasp the meaning at first.
“Evan, what are you talking about right now?”
Anton asked with a puzzled expression.
“What do you mean you're not the Young Count…? What does that mean?”
A look of bewilderment was also evident on Jaina's face.
“…….”
However, Mei, as if she had already caught on, was silently gazing at Evan with her lips firmly shut.
Evan no longer beat around the bush and directly confessed the truth he had been harboring.
“Originally, I was someone who played his double because my appearance was a perfect match for Young Count Evan Lafard. Then, the Young Count died in an accident, and I took his empty place.”
Before the shocking truth that was finally revealed, everyone froze.
No one could easily speak.
Inside the tent, only Evan's calm voice filled the air.
“To be honest, I don't even know my own real name. I was just a commoner struggling to survive on the streets. Then, by a chance opportunity, I gained an undeserved status and met precious companions to come this far, but… I've decided that I can no longer continue with you all while deceiving you.”
And Evan quietly bowed his head.
“I'm sorry for deceiving you. Although there was no malice, that would only be my excuse.”
Breaking the heavy silence, Jaina let out a long, deep sigh.
“Why bring that up now of all times? No one here has ever taken issue with your identity.”
“That is… because the task I must undertake from now on is extremely dangerous. I cannot simply tell you all to follow me based on the name Evan Lafard alone.”
Everyone's expression hardened in an instant.
The people here thought they had already experienced more than enough dangerous and dizzying situations.
Yet, for Evan himself to warn them so seriously and solemnly that it was ‘dangerous’, it meant a level of danger beyond imagination, something they would never want to experience again.
“Therefore, even if you decide to leave me, I will not stop you.”
After a moment of silence, Anton calmly began to speak.
“Her Highness the Princess ordered me to safely escort Duke Evan Lafard back to the kingdom. I also think that with the Empire currently at war, it's a situation where our safety could be threatened at any moment. Despite that, do you truly have no intention of returning to the kingdom with us?”
To Anton's question, Evan answered resolutely.
“Yes, I cannot return like this.”
“What is the reason?”
“If I return to the kingdom as things are… the Empire will eventually extend its evil grasp to the kingdom as well. Haven't you already realized that painfully through the war with the Kandahr?”
They had indirectly intervened in the war by handing over the Empire's designs to the Kandahr.
This was a fact that everyone here knew, and there was no guarantee the Empire wouldn't pull another trick someday.
Furthermore, wasn't their ostensible purpose for coming here in the first place a visit of protest regarding that very matter?
“The Empire will continue to reveal its ambition to swallow the kingdom.”
At that, Anton shook his head heavily and said.
“That is a problem for the entire kingdom to solve. We cannot let individuals bear such a heavy responsibility. Her Highness probably thinks the same.”
In truth, no one had demanded that Evan stop the Empire's ambitions alone.
Their thought was that if the Empire attacked, they would all fight back together to stop it.
However, Evan's thoughts were different from the others.
“By then, it will be too late. But if I step forward now, not only the kingdom but also the other nations of the continent can avoid shedding meaningless blood.”
It was a resolve born from the regrets and mistakes of his past.
Now that he had been given a chance to live a new life, Evan even wondered if he had perhaps been given the mission to eliminate the being known as Tarkin.
Of course, even if he had no such mission, as long as Tarkin was still breathing on this land, Evan intended to end him with his own hands.
“I will not ask for your help.”
Evan bowed his head with a heavy heart.
He had said everything he could.
Now, all that remained was the party's choice.
Even if everyone chose to leave, he was prepared to accept it.
However.
“Hey! Why are you suddenly using formal speech? You've been speaking informally all this time. And I don't care if you're real or fake. What's important is the time we've spent together until now.”
Jaina grumbled, breaking the awkward atmosphere.
“That's right. My background isn't that great either, so why would I fuss about something like that now? As long as you pay me properly, that's all that matters.”
Mei laughed lightly, raised her cup, and downed it in one go.
Watching her, Anton let out a small, incredulous laugh.
“You seem to be mistaken, but excluding the young lady here, everyone is a self-made person. Background doesn't matter.”
Hearing that, Jaina scowled and retorted.
“Excuse me, Sir Knight. I may have been raised preciously, but I don't really care about things like background, you know? That's why I went to Lansed Academy.”
Anton shrugged and retorted.
“I see. I forgot that the young lady also graduated from that beggar-like place.”
“Ah! Come to think of it, Sir Anton was also from Lansed, wasn't he?”
“In the end, it seems we are all united under the name of Lansed.”
As Anton laughed lightly, Mei quickly countered.
“Oh my, I'm not from Lansed, you know? Are you trying to leave me out this time?”
As the conversation flowed in this manner, Evan's heartfelt confession, which he had revealed so grimly just moments before, was now completely buried.
Rather, it was Evan who was flustered by the atmosphere.
“Wait a minute! I just said I've been hiding my identity all this time, and you're all just brushing it off so casually?”
At that, Jaina shot Evan a dismissive glare.
“Then what do you want us to do? Should we curse you out? Or did you really want us to leave?”
“……What?”
Jaina shook her head in disbelief.
“I told you earlier. What's important isn't the past you, but the you right now. To be honest, I'm actually more relieved that you're not the real Evan, you know?”
Then Jack also added with sincerity.
“To be honest, the original young master was someone who couldn't even be compared to the current young master. At least to me. I have never once doubted the current young master.”
At Jack's words, Evan could only stand there blankly, unable to find anything more to say.
Even after he revealed his true identity, they didn't treat Evan any differently.
Rather, seeing them accept it so calmly, as if to render the years he spent wearing the mask of ‘Evan Lafard’ meaningless, Evan felt an indescribable sense of relief and reassurance.
“But, I have a question.”
Just then, Mei raised her hand and asked.
“If you're not the Young Count, and not a real member of the Lafard family, then why were you so intent on eliminating the collateral branches of the Lafard family?”
Mei's question was perfectly reasonable.
Because there was no reason for a stranger with no vested interests to handle the Lafard family's affairs as if they were his own.
“That was… partly to avenge the grudge of the real, deceased Young Count Evan Lafard, but also because those collateral family members were an actual threat to me. My life was in danger several times because of them.”
“Ah……. So that's what it was.”
As Mei nodded in understanding, Anton continued with another question, his face serious again.
“I can understand the Lafard family issue since it was a direct threat to you, but what about the Empire? I have yet to hear the reason why you are so obsessed with the Empire's affairs. Is it really for the greater good?”
To explain the issue with the Empire and Emperor Tarkin, he would have to explain even his past life.
However, it was a story too complicated and hard to believe to bring up entirely right now.
So, Evan spun a slightly modified story based on his recent experience visiting the Coast of the Dead.
“I met a being in the Coast of the Dead, a world where the souls of the dead gather.”
He confessed that there, he heard a story about Tarkin I, and that he was plotting to defy the natural order, gain eternal life, and conquer the world.
‘Well, it's not a complete lie. It started with hearing the story from the wife of that Emperor bastard's physician at that tavern.’
Hearing Evan's slightly twisted version of the truth, the party members looked at each other with grave expressions.
“If such a man is truly trying to obtain eternal life through something called Soul-Separation….”
“This is serious…….”
The atmosphere instantly grew heavier.
“Of course, if the entire kingdom joins forces, we might be able to stop him. But it will be too late after Tarkin already has the entire continent in his grasp. It's useless to make a move then.”
Anton pointed out a practical problem.
“Is there a concrete way to stop him right now?”
“That's something we'll have to find step by step from now on. But there will surely be a way.”
Although he said this, Evan also knew well that the situation was not easy.
Because amidst the chaos of war, Tarkin would protect himself even more thoroughly.
‘Still, if not now, there might not be another chance. It might even be the best chance.’
Like this, while Evan himself had a strong motive and grudge tied to the Emperor, his companions had no such personal motivation.
That's why he had resolved not to resent them even if they didn't stay with him until the end.
“We can find a way, I suppose, but I have no idea where to even start solving this.”
“Wait a minute. If it's assassinating the Emperor, the pay doesn't add up. How much would we need to get just to break even?”
Completely contrary to Evan's expectations, the party was already in an atmosphere of naturally joining his plan.
“Everyone… are you really going to come with me?”
The party members nodded as if it were a matter of course and spoke.
“I will always follow you, young master!”
Jack replied with a bright smile.
“Well, it's not surprising anymore. Ultimately, it's for the sake of the Vaberin family too.”
Jaina smiled leisurely.
“I think the same as the young lady. If it's something that must be done for the kingdom, I must willingly step up.”
Anton nodded resolutely.
“Just make sure I get a bonus. I don't really care about the rest.”
Mei smiled and raised her cup.
As everyone readily expressed their intention to join him, Evan felt an emotion welling up from deep within his chest.
At the same time, the image of the Detachment members who had followed him to their deaths in the past overlapped in his mind.
“Thank you, everyone……. Let's all be sure to return alive.”
In that spot, Evan once again, firmly vowed not to repeat his past mistakes.
‘Even if my body is torn to shreds, this time, I will definitely save them. And Tarkin, I will kill you no matter what.’
Watching Evan's expression harden with resolve, Jack raised his cup as if to lighten the mood.
“Well then, let's all have a toast to our united spirit!”
“Cheers!!”