Chapter 12
The warlocks of Agrio-s borrow the eyes and ears of their dominated targets.
They could even see when the dominated target's eyes were closed, and naturally, they could hear even when their ears were covered.
He didn't know the principle behind it.
In the first place, that was nothing more than a simple game setting.
But for the current Reinhardt, this place was reality.
“I see. So even this place is under Paganoa's….”
“Wait!”
Reinhardt practically threw himself forward and clamped his hand over the man's mouth. In that state, he stared into the man's vacant pupils with desperate eyes.
“Just shut up for a moment. Don't say anything, and listen to what I have to say first. Don't open your mouth. I warned you.”
“Mmph, mmph….”
“Just nod your head. If you understood. Don't speak.”
Nod.
Only after the response came did Reinhardt slowly, very carefully, remove the hand that had been covering the man's mouth.
But the next moment.
“This is ridiculous… Mmmph!”
As soon as the man's mouth opened, Reinhardt freaked out and pressed his thick hand down again. He did, however, leave the nostrils exposed so he could breathe.
The man started making choking sounds. The being beyond was surely smirking.
“Shut up and listen to me first. If you understood, just nod your head again. I warn you for the last time, there won't be a next time. You will miss a great opportunity.”
Reinhardt spoke with his voice lowered, but full of force.
His startled heart was pounding relentlessly.
It was the first life-threatening crisis he had faced since falling into this world.
If the word ‘Black Magic’ or anything similar came out of the man's mouth, Reinhardt's obsession with justice would surely reach its highest level immediately.
‘I have to deal with these crazy bastards.’
Warlocks usually had a completely different way of thinking from ordinary people. They were always obsessed with strange things and would get angry at odd points during conversations.
Nod.
The response came again. Slower than the first time, Reinhardt removed his hand.
The man was just looking at Reinhardt with intrigued eyes.
Fortunately, he seemed to be a warlock with at least some common sense.
“Good. Let me explain first. I don't know who you are. And I don't want to know. The name Agrio-s is the name of a traditional liquor I used to drink back home. It's made by fermenting rice.”
After speaking, Reinhardt waited for a moment.
Despite his cautious observation, the man still kept his mouth shut.
‘No penalty so far.’
The part Reinhardt needed to be concerned about right now wasn't just the warlock.
To avoid getting a penalty on his [Justice] buff, he had to thoroughly control his words and actions.
The moment he engaged in a friendly conversation with a warlock, Reinhardt's justice would inevitably be diminished.
So, it meant that as long as this body didn't realize the opponent was a warlock, it wouldn't matter.
“What I'm about to say is a monologue. I'm just mumbling to the empty air about what I went through today. If someone happens to overhear, it's merely a coincidence.”
Reinhardt tested the other party again.
Still, no answer came, and there was no penalty to [Justice].
From now on, he had to walk a dangerous tightrope.
With his body tensed to react to any situation, Reinhardt opened his mouth.
“A knight of Paganoa is in Serigel. He has discovered traces of Black Magic and plans to start tracking it from noon tomorrow. Since the Paganoa Knights are famous for hunting down warlocks well….”
“Just for that, mmph! Mmmph!”
“...If they find out, they'll quickly cut their losses and run. That is, if they don't want their necks cut by a knight's sword. The search will be very strict! Thorough! And meticulous!”
Reinhardt spouted his words with his eyes wide open while covering the man's mouth. He didn't forget to emphasize the necessary parts to make the opponent feel pressured.
“React if you understood.”
The man nodded. He wasn't smiling anymore. He seemed to be taking Reinhardt's words quite seriously.
And Reinhardt paused for a moment.
After waiting for about a minute and confirming there was no change, he continued.
“The knights of Paganoa are relentlessly persistent when it comes to certain issues. As a knight, it's very respectable. But from the perspective of their opponent, it would be a dreadful and troublesome affair.”
“Hmm.”
The man replied while his mouth was still covered.
However, it wasn't to annoy Reinhardt, but just an unconscious reaction of agreement.
“But our goal isn't that specific. If we find and eliminate the traces of Black Magic, that is, if we achieve a satisfactory result, we'll stop the pursuit.”
“I see. No, wait! I understand. Damn it, stop covering my mouth!”
“Carefully.”
“I'll be careful, so get away from me! You damn bastard. I said I understand what kind of situation you're in. I don't know why you're doing this, though!”
Reinhardt finally pulled back the hand that was about to cover his mouth.
However, he didn't look at the man, instead staring blankly into the air. As if he had no interest in what he was saying.
“To the right of the square, in the alchemists' street, find Ben.”
“No, I do not follow the instructions of an unknown person. I'm not talking to anyone either.”
“You damn bastard….”
The man muttered, then rephrased his words.
“It seems something good will happen if someone looks for an alchemist named Ben. I would do so if I were them.”
“If it's information I came across by chance, it might be worth checking. I don't think I need to stay here any longer. It would be good if that guy doesn't say anything unnecessary. Oh, and.”
Lastly, Reinhardt added one more thing.
“Among the liquors I enjoyed back home, there was one named Gractar. I liked it so much I'd call it a friend.”
“...Gractar?”
“It's the name of a liquor.”
Of course, it was nonsense.
In Reinhardt's memory, Gractar was one of the high-ranking warlocks of the Agrio-s school.
Reinhardt had said it as a warning, but his intention was not properly conveyed.
“What a surprising coincidence. I know a kid with the name Gractar too. Of course, he is human.”
A kid?
While Reinhardt was blinking his eyes, the man continued.
“So that cheeky newcomer was pulling his own little tricks. Understood. Of course, this is also a monologue.”
The man grinned. Then, he lost consciousness and his head dropped limply.
‘A newcomer?’
Only then did Reinhardt realize his mistake.
Back when he was playing the game, he was a high-ranking executive, but the current Gractar was just a rookie who had just set foot in that industry.
The timeline was different.
The current Reinhardt was living in a past far more distant than the world he had faced in the game.
‘He's going to be in a pretty pathetic state.’
He could picture the face of a warlock pleading with tears and snot all over his face.
He didn't feel sorry for him since he was a bad guy anyway, but the fact that the official history had been twisted gave Reinhardt a faint sense of crisis.
‘I'll have to be careful from now on. If this kind of incident repeats, the central axis of the story might be shaken.’
The story must flow as destined.
The only person to deviate from it had to be Reinhardt himself.
The rest had to faithfully fulfill their roles and face their given end.
Only then would this world be saved. Evil would be pushed away, and a brilliant light would take its place.
“……”
Reinhardt watched the unconscious man for a little longer.
Only after confirming that there was nothing wrong after a long while did he let out a deep sigh of relief.
‘That puts out the immediate fire.’
He had formed a mutually beneficial relationship with a psychopathic warlock.
However, Reinhardt's body did not realize this fact. A crude trick was enough to deceive his body.
‘They're guys who can't even crawl out into the light anyway. Even if they were to gossip about me, it would have no power.’
Reinhardt had his own calculations.
He had weighed the risks and had moved because he judged it was worth doing.
“Sir Reinhardt. Was there any progress?”
Just then, the interrogator returned with Guard Hans.
He had an expectant look, but Reinhardt shook his head with a regretful expression.
“He's not waking up. I apologize if you're disappointed.”
“Apologize! There's no need for that. I've tried various methods myself. From now on, it's time for me to show off my own specialty.”
The interrogator chuckled grimly. Finding the sight grotesque, Reinhardt just nodded and left the place.
He expressed his gratitude to Guard Hans appropriately, adding that he would come back later to explain to the Guard Captain himself.
‘He said the alchemists' street. He wouldn't have lied even in this situation.’
Warlocks were terrible beings, but even such beings had natural enemies.
The Paganoa Knights.
The moment that name was heard, even the most vicious warlock would be busy tucking their tail, at most just trying to save face like a moment ago.
Therefore, the alchemist Ben had to be a person deeply related to Black Magic. Without a doubt, for sure.
“I've come to find an alchemist named Ben. Is he here?”
Reinhardt said as he entered one of the workshops on the street.
At that, a man with a half-bald head shone with innocent eyes.
“That's me. What can I do for you?”
He couldn't feel any sign of Black Magic.
If he pressed him and failed to find evidence, it would be a very troublesome situation, but Reinhardt drew his sword without hesitation.
“If you say another word from now on, I will cut you down. If you move even a fingertip, I will cut you down. You will be guaranteed a chance to defend yourself, but if you do not follow my instructions, no chance will be given.”
Between the warlock and Reinhardt, there was a common goal of wanting to get away from Paganoa.
***
Evangeline was staying with the Taton Knights.
Ethan Taton seemed ready to offer up his own quarters without hesitation, but she declined, saying a room used by a regular member would be sufficient.
‘Knight Reinhardt.’
Evangeline replayed the image she had seen in the past day.
The knight she saw in the Knight Commander's office and the knight she happened to witness in the dining hall looked like completely different people.
For a knight of Paganoa, one could gauge their skill just by looking at their movements.
And the disparity between those two appearances was clearly difficult to explain with common sense.
‘It can't be.’
She was suspicious, but Evangeline hoped it wasn't true.
It was rare to find a knight like that.
It was a world swarming with those who were knights in name only.
It was not easy to find someone like Reinhardt who faithfully followed chivalry.
It was at that moment.
“Dame Evangeline.”
The door burst open and the attendant entered with a serious expression.
To the puzzled Evangeline, the attendant reported with undisguised bewilderment.
“Sir Reinhardt has captured a Minion of evil.”