Surviving The Game As A Barbarian Novel 2025 - Chapter 655
Chapter 655: Event (4)
He wasn’t asking if I was an evil spirit or not. He was sure of it. I went to make an excuse, but the marquess didn’t give me the opportunity.
“Of course, you won’t say anything close to admittance here. You may think it is a trap. So just listen to me talk until I finish.”
I kept quiet.
“No matter what you tell me, I believe you are an evil spirit. That is why when you became a noble, I dealt with the internal details without anyone knowing. If it became known that a hero like you was an evil spirit, there would be discord in the minds of the citizens.”
It was a topic I had talked with Amelia about in the past. How was I able to become a noble without any investigation?
“It’s possible the palace knowingly kept quiet. Since you were nothing short of a hero in the city even then.”
So that really was the reason.
“The evil spirits are without question the enemies of all people, and that is the truth. They who strip us so wholly of our lives and futures are more dangerous than any monster in the labyrinth.”
A deep-laid rage seethed just under the surface in his voice.
“When it was declared that you died in the labyrinth, my heart was filled with relief. It was the best scenario in my mind, as someone charged with leading this nation, that you die before you were revealed as an evil spirit.”
I’d known that too. But this “best scenario” that the marquess talked about ended up falling apart later on.
“However, one person kept getting in my way. I expect you to know him as well. A brazen man called Baekho Lee.”
Baekho Lee threatened the marquess into announcing that Bjorn Yandel was an evil spirit, and after that, the latter had to put the Evil Spirit Acceptance Policy on the board. Though with how massive the policy was, it hadn’t been acted on yet.
“He has given me a most painful wound.”
Slowly, I asked, “A painful wound?”
“My son… Eltora Tercerion is already dead. The one possessing the body of my son is some nameless evil spirit.”
I was genuinely surprised at that. Not because I was hearing it for the first time, but because I never expected he would honestly tell me.
“Judging by your reaction, it seems you truly did not know.”
“No… I never expected it.”
“In any case, he threatened me using the identity of my son. Since I couldn’t deal with my son immediately, I had no choice but to accede to his threats.”
So what was the marquess trying to say to me?
I continued to listen to his story, realizing I didn’t know everything he was talking about.
“The Evil Spirit Incorporation Act must never pass. Even if they didn’t plan on being an evil spirit, if we accept them—those fiends who took over the lives of our people—into society… then who will be able to mourn for those who had their bodies stolen?”
During our conversation today, I got the feeling that I was looking into the marquess’s true thoughts for the first time ever.
“When you returned after disappearing, that was the reason I had to immediately craft excuses for you. Paradoxically, to stop the plans of that man, you couldn’t be an evil spirit.”
“…So you’ve already been preparing.”
“That’s right. I created false information from behind the scenes and brought the off-the-books infiltration mission into reality. I prepared so thoroughly that no one would be able to tell that it was fake.”
My questions were finally being answered. I did wonder why Duke Kealunus and other powerful people believed something that seemed like a hastily made-up plan so easily. I never expected that he had been thoroughly planning for all that while I was away.
“Of course, the original plan was to inform everyone that you died while carrying out this plan… But that plan also fell apart when you returned alive.”
Even though I finally understood his intentions, I couldn’t help but clench both my fists. “So is that why…you sent us to Ice Rock?”
The marquess affirmed my question without any change in his expression. “There’s no point trying to hide it at this point. That is right. That is why you were sent there. If you died there before you could regain your name, then I believed no problem would arise from it.”
How could someone be so shameless? I wanted to ignore every honest word he’d spoken and just get up and punch him in the face.
But… I said I would endure it.
I had sworn it atop that cold ice field on that day.
Now wasn’t the time to make my rage known.
“Then tell me…” I demanded as calmly as I could. “What are your reasons for telling me all this?”
It wasn’t like the second-strongest man in the nation was a moron. He wouldn’t have a total change of heart just because I saved him once. Of course, saving him probably did play a small factor in it, not so much that he would tell me all—
“Because I am conflicted.”
…Huh?
“There was no reason for you to save me. In fact, you wished that I died. And you’re not someone who tries to look good in front of me either, no?”
Hmm, that was true.
“Then why did you throw your body in front of mine to protect me? I truly could not understand it. However, after thinking about it for a long time, I realized that it wasn’t just me.”
The marquess looked me over and declared, “In your life, you have saved countless people. However, you didn’t have a reason to save any of those people either. In the end, I was able to conclude— No, I was able to finally admit it.”
“What is it…?”
“Even if you are an evil spirit, you are someone who possesses the traits of a hero.”
A hero…
To be honest, even if he said that, I couldn’t really believe it. All I did was struggle as hard as I could to survive and bring the people around me along with me.
“No matter if you are an evil spirit or not, you are someone who will prove a positive influence on the world.”
Anyway, who cared about what I thought?
I could instinctively tell that what he was about to say next was the real reason he called me here.
“So, I will make you an offer.”
The marquess then looked at me with fire in his eyes.
“Stand on our side and truly become a citizen of this world. Use your power to maintain the balance and peace of this world.”
All that buildup led to a passionate declaration, spoken directly to me as he faced me head-on. The marquess truly had a talent for drawing people in with his words.
However, I knew. When dealing with people like him, one needed to keep both eyes open.
Whoa, I nearly fell for that.
There were two kinds of people in the world. The first were those who, when hearing an offer, only thought about the good parts of it, the ones who thought positively about it. And the second were the ones who did the opposite.
I was always the latter kind of person.
“Use my power for the world? What an odd thing to say. I’m already doing that,” I said offhandedly. Then, I asked the marquess to show more of the cards up his sleeve. “Forget about this evil spirit or whatever nonsense I can’t understand. How about you just tell me openly what you want from me?”
The marquess wasn’t caught off guard at my request. He only let out a dry chuckle, as if he expected all this to happen.
“Haha,” he laughed nonchalantly. “It’s true. I do want something from you.”
“Then tell me.”
“Even if we hold hands and work together now, I have no proof that I can trust you. I require proof.”
How long ago was it that you decided I was a “good” evil spirit?
The old man really liked to just flip-flop on everything—
“Baekho Lee.”
The air in the room froze for a split second.
“That man, who only thinks to disturb the balance of this world. Kill that man.”
Right, so that was his real goal.
“Then I believe I will be able to trust you fully.”
Maybe I should’ve expected it. There was no way this old man would act nice just because I saved him once.
***
A moment of silence passed.
In an attempt to convince me, the marquess added, “If this is making you uncomfortable, just think of it as a deal. If you eliminate Baekho Lee, then I will support you fully while you live in this world.”
Well, if he kept his word, I would be able to live a pretty good life. The marquess had enough power that even if I personally went around shouting that I was an evil spirit, nothing would happen to me.
However, that was why it all confused me even more. The reason the marquess wanted to kill Baekho Lee was obvious, so it wasn’t because of that. However…
“Why am I the one you’re asking to do this?”
Why wasn’t the marquess personally trying to deal with him, and asking me instead?
“Because you’re the only one capable of it.”
The answer the marquess gave me was something I could’ve never expected.
“To be honest, I have already tried countless methods, and they have all failed. It is not easy for us to even meet that man. But you… You may be different. For some reason, he’s taken quite an interest in you.”
I didn’t respond.
“Of course, you don’t need to decide on this right here, and you don’t need to tell me your decision either. Just remember. The day you cut off that man’s head and bring it to me, you won’t need to worry about anything in the world.” He paused. “Please make the right decision. You love this world, unlike the other evil spirits.”
With that as his final answer, the marquess sipped his tea that had long gone cold, and our conversation paused for a moment. He spent the time doing nothing in particular and gave no indication that he would continue talking, only complicating my thoughts even more.
How should I answer him? Or what else should I try to ask him?
Those questions weren’t important.
No matter the answer I gave him, the marquess’s thoughts wouldn’t change, and no matter what answer I received from him, I wouldn’t be able to trust him 100 percent. Just like what happened with the Research Center Overseer I met on the underground floor.
[Trust is the only method to ascertain the truth of another. As such, attempting to explain everything to you is merely a waste of time. That is why I asked for a deal. Is it important who I am? You need only make a decision based on whether you wish to accept my offer. That is much more effective.]
At the end of the day, my decision was the most important thing.
Still, he only said I had to keep it in mind…
I could just consider this a side quest. I wouldn’t get into any trouble for not completing it, right?
“I’ll think about your offer. Ah, of course, I’m not anything like an evil spirit or whatever.”
I broke the long silence with that. The marquess just wore a neutral expression as he nodded.
“Do as you wish. Still, receiving an answer does relieve me a little.”
“…What do you mean? I only said I would think about it.”
“I’m someone who can’t sleep well at night unless I pay back the good graces I have received.”
“Ah, you’re talking about the District 7 recon—”
“I am not talking about that.”
The marquess continued with a slight shrug, “Providing the right path to you. That is my repayment for you saving me… Though, I do not know if you will trust me on that or not.”
Tsk, this guy really was talented in making people feel terrible. “…I’ll be going now.”
“How about you and I share a meal here? I’ll be ill at ease just sending you off like this.”
“I’m not too hungry today.”
My head felt like it would explode if I stayed and ate with the marquess, so I left the mansion as if fleeing and got on the carriage he had prepared for me. On our way to the station, I clenched my eyes shut.
Today was draining on my mind, for multiple reasons.
Rattle, rattle…
The wheels of the carriage rolled along the road. I used it as background noise to empty my head, and soon, sleep came to—
“Bro.”
…Huh?
Was I hallucinating?
“Why did you save the marquess?”
My eyes flashed open when I clearly heard that voice. Then, I looked out the window.
“How come? Do you want to be friends with the marquess or something?”
Wow, what the hell? Why was this guy here?