Chapter 325

Chapter 325

"Ugh~"

I let out a groan.

"Ughhhh~"

As I continued to groan and squirm, Evangeline, who was sitting with me in the Lords mansion dining room for a late dinner, furrowed her brows.

"Whats wrong, senior? Is your stomach hurting? Want to go to the restroom?"

"No, its not that..."

"You dont have to be shy. You can go without worrying about me. Weve known each other long enough, havent we? Just go and take care of business."

"No, really, its not that!"

Do I look like a school kid too embarrassed to use the restroom because hes afraid of getting teased by his friends?

Evangeline shrugged her shoulders as she took a bite of her pie.

"Then whats going on? Just spill the beans."

"Ah..."

I finally let it out. Evangeline was someone I could somewhat confide in, after all.

"Im not sure about some things that happened between Lucas and me in the past..."

Just a while ago in the prison, I had interrogated Mason, who had been captured as a spy.

But I couldnt get anything substantial out of him.

All Mason did was repeat the same story, something like Sir Lucas has been serving you, Prince Ash, since he was seven-

Then Evangeline tilted her head.

"If its something between the two of you, why cant you remember it? Oh, is it one of those things? The one who delivers the blow doesnt remember? That kind of incident?"

"No, its not like that... or is it?"

I couldnt say that Im not actually Ash but a soul who has possessed him. Its a dilemma that could drive one mad.

So, I beat around the bush.

"I had a wild phase where I drank a lot, you know. So, my memory is... a bit fuzzy."

"Youre twenty-three this year, right?"

"Yes, why?"

"So youre already getting dementia? Wow, being in your twenties is no joke, huh?"

Evangeline let out a scoffing sound.

This cheeky teenager! Mocking me again! Im still in my prime, you know?!

"If you cant remember, isnt the fastest way to just ask Lucas?"

"..."

Evangeline suddenly made a solid point. I clamped my mouth shut.

"You did the same thing during your last fight, too. Trying to go around in circles. Why not just confront the issue head-on? I can officiate for you!"

"Its not about a fight this time..."

The issue was some unresolved debt between the original Ash and Lucas.

Lucas seemed remorseful about something, but I had no clue what it was.

Hes down in the dumps over there, and Im not even asking for an apology.

Maybe it would just pass if left alone for a few days, but...

Lucas must be carrying a heavy emotional burden about this issue.

If possible, Id like to resolve it this time. Clearing up a subordinates lingering doubts is also a part of a commanders job.

"...Fine."

Nodding my head, I declared resolutely.

"Ill just go ask him directly! Thanks, Evangeline! Youre smarter than I thought!"

"Thank you for the compliment, senior! Sometimes even I surprise myself! Perhaps I learned it from you!"

"Hahaha! You sure know how to sweet-talk, my junior!"

"I learned that from you too! Hehehe!"

We burst into laughter and clinked our glasses.

I hope this sense that were turning into a pair of fools is just in my head...

"You both look so happy laughing~ Would you like me to bring more food?"

Just then, Aider appeared, beaming as he offered to refill our plates.

Evangeline immediately raised her empty meat pie plate and yelled, Refill! Refill!

Arent you getting a bit rounder? Eat in moderation, will you?

Aider came over to me after placing sliced meat pie on Evangelines plate. He gestured to me with a cup, and I poured him some fresh water.

"By the way, are you curious about your past with Lucas?"

"Yeah... I dont know much about that bastard Ashs past."

I scratched my chin and grunted. Aider seemed eager to talk, his face lighting up.

But I didnt pay much attention and continued my thought.

"However, third-party inquiries are done for now. Id rather ask Lucas directly. Its a better path for mutual communication."

"Ah, I see..."

Somehow, Aiders shoulders slumped. But I had no reason to care about this directors mood.

"More importantly, Aider, theres something I need to discuss."

Not totally useless after all, Director!

I grinned happily.

"So, whens the patch date?"

"Ah... that would be, well, ideally around the start of the second year?"

Thud!

I grabbed Aiders collar fiercely once again and growled menacingly at the coughing director.

"Complete it before Stage 15 starts. Better yet, make it usable before this stage starts."

"Ahem, thats a bit, no, definitely impossible..."

"Then put it in as a beta feature! Ill test it and QA it for you! A free tester, its a win-win!"

"This is not a game, its reality, and things cant just be added on a whim..."

"Enough talk! Will you do it, or not?!"

In the end, Aider had to happily nod in agreement to my earnest and moderate suggestion (by pointing a gun at his head).

His eyes were even brimming with tears.

Ah, should have done this sooner! How wonderful for both of us!

"When I look at other games, they relaunch beautifully with a 2.0 title, so I have high hopes! Lets turn this into a legendary game!"

As I energetically shook Aiders arm up and down, he wiped his eyes and managed a strained smile.

"...Yes, Ill do my best."

It was a smile so fragile, like a sand sculpture, that it seemed it would fly away with the wind.

"With the mindset that this is the last challenge."

I blinked in confusion. Isnt life always uncertain?

You get one life. One life coin.

Thats Ironman mode, and thats the essence of this world.

***

The next day.

I visited the forge in Crossroad.

I was planning to test my ultimate skill, "Imperial Edict," in a dungeon. To do that, I needed a special equipment called a flag.

Kellibey was busy upgrading Lucass exclusive equipment, so I thought Id pick up a temporary flag at the Crossroad forge.

So, before lunch, I walked into the forge and found

"Huh?"

There was already a customer.

A towering knight was receiving something from the master of the blacksmith guild.

The familiar black armor, the longsword at his waist...

"Lucas!"

They say you meet your enemies on a narrow path... Ah, no, thats not the right saying here.

Anyway, this was good timing. I greeted Lucas with a hearty slap on his back.

"Hey! How was your vacation? What did you do yesterday, huh?"

I tried to make the atmosphere as natural and light as possible to make it easy for Lucas to rejoin. That was my plan, but...

"...?"

Seeing Lucass face as he slowly turned around, I was taken aback.

Lucas was... well, he was wearing what appeared to be a newly custom-made helmet.

A cylindrical helmet that completely covered his face, as if it were made of scrap metal...

"..."

"..."

A moment of silence passed.

It didnt suit him.

It really, really didnt suit him.

He was decked out in shining SSR-grade armor from the neck down, but had slapped a trash can lid that didnt even look N-grade on his head. The imbalance was ridiculous.

For a moment, I stared at Lucas, mouth agape. Then, trembling, I pointed at his head.

"What... why are you wearing that?"

Lucas tilted his head, or rather, his tin can, and replied in a low voice.

"...Because I dont have a face to show you."

"What?"

"Im too ashamed to face you, my Lord..."

"..."

"So, um..."

Lucas tapped his tin can with his hand.

"Ive decided to cover my face..."

"What the hell are you talking about, you idiot?!"

Unable to contain myself, I smacked the back of Lucass tin-can-covered head.