Game Opportunities Become Reality, Episode 64
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Game Opportunities Become Reality, Episode 64
19. Saintess Candidate (3)
Louis Fairmont, the son of the president of the Prius Republic.
When the Revolutionaries asked whether the Opportunity he had acquired was real, my gaze and Arcia's both turned to Lady Otis as well.
Lady Otis hesitated as if deliberating, then, perhaps as repayment for her survival, answered the Revolutionaries' question honestly with her own thoughts.
"The form of the Opportunity was plausible. But the inside of the Opportunity I briefly looked around seemed rather barren."
At such an accurate assessment, my wariness toward the daughter of Count Otis shot up.
Could it be that the Opportunity has a side path I don't know about?
Surely the main body of the Opportunity isn't going to be breached by her too.
Because of that, Arcia's earlier proposal to kill Lady Otis lingered in my mind.
"So there's a good chance it's real, but it's not certain. If so, the Commander's guess that it might be a fake Opportunity created by a real Opportunity Seeker could be right."
But the problem isn't only Lady Otis.
Those Revolutionaries who only seemed mediocre were making fairly accurate deductions too, weren't they.
'Should I kill them all?'
At their words, possibly spoken right in front of the actual person who acquired the Opportunity, hastening their own end, I seriously considered it.
But I soon cast off the murderous intent.
After all, touching them while I still didn't know how large the Revolutionaries were or who was behind them would be dangerous.
If I laid a hand on them and something happened that I couldn't properly clean up, it would be worse than not touching them at all.
'For now, it's better to keep my mouth shut. No one knows I'm an Opportunity Seeker yet.'
And thinking calmly, the chances of Lady Otis breaking through the firewall of the real Opportunity were very low.
A hastily made fake Opportunity is one thing, but an Opportunity made by Grand Duke Lucas couldn't possibly be that flimsy.
"But how did you approach the Opportunity? You didn't break into the Presidential Palace, did you?"
"Ah, that."
While everyone was wary of us in our Pierrot masks and black robes, Lady Otis, who had recognized who I was, answered without hesitation.
"I accessed it online. I thought the Opportunity was more likely hidden in a virtual world rather than reality. That idea paid off this time."
"...."
"When I remotely accessed Louis Fairmont's terminal, I could confirm that it frequently connected to a certain domain, and I thought that was the entrance to the Opportunity."
She really isn't ordinary.
To think someone had dug this deep.
If I hadn't taken it, she might have become the owner of the Opportunity.
And among her words, there was something that drew my interest, and that was this.
"Remotely accessing Louis Fairmont's terminal—you have a peculiar talent."
They call it remote access, but isn't that just hacking?
I'd vaguely heard that such a thing was possible with Hollywood and mana communication, but this was the first time I saw someone actually do it.
"I had a tool procured through an acquaintance. I had no choice if I wanted to verify whether Louis Fairmont's Opportunity was real."
Meaning there's a real hacker separately.
If possible, she's someone I absolutely want to recruit.
Having roughly grasped the situation by now, I spoke to the Aura Master who seemed to be the leader of the Revolutionaries.
"We should be on our way now. The pursuit will be coming soon. We'll take these two with us."
At my words, the Aura Master spoke with a troubled expression.
"Wait a moment. Our business isn't finished yet."
"What business is that?"
"Our Commander has invited these two."
I narrowed my brow, but this wasn't something I could decide.
When I clicked my tongue and looked at Lady Otis and Count Acres, the two hesitated.
They didn't seem eager, but apparently they didn't want to coldly refuse the proposal of their saviors.
In the end, when the two couldn't easily give an answer, I made another suggestion.
"First, moving to a safe place takes priority. We can discuss the rest afterward."
As if there was no disagreement on that, everyone nodded.
"Then she and I will go with you."
The Revolutionaries' Aura Master and a female Vanguard who appeared to hold the next highest rank approached.
I had no choice but to lead them and attempt teleportation.
* * *
A moment later, we arrived at the glacial zone in the northern part of the Prius Republic.
In a place where a blizzard raged, only those who had teleported with me stood in a circle, unaffected by the weather.
Among them, I fixed my gaze on the Revolutionaries' Aura Master.
[Harry Elixson / Aura Master]
Race: Human
Age: 35
Affiliation: Prius Republic Revolutionary Army / 2nd Mobile Strike Squad Leader, Revolutionary Army Headquarters
Talents: Aura (Supreme), Physical Ability (High), Learning Ability (High), Intellect (Medium), Command (Medium), Administration (Medium)
Traits: Devotion, Loyalty
Relation: Interest / Neutral
Status: Observing / Tense
At 35 years old, being an Aura Master means he's a person who fully deserves to be called a genius.
In age and many other regards, his specs are similar to or very slightly higher than the Second Prince of the Kingdom of Rhinehearts.
However, unlike the Second Prince, who runs the gamut of arrogance, his traits are more human.
Just from the information the Myriad Mirror displays, he gives the feeling of being someone trustworthy.
But I can't judge him as an ally based on that alone.
Because I haven't yet figured out their purpose.
"I cannot send these two to a place where safety hasn't been confirmed. I have a duty to return them home safely."
At my blunt remark, the female Vanguard among the two Revolutionary Army members spoke up as if in protest.
"Would we save these two only to throw them into danger?"
"In terms of common sense, that would be the case, but we still don't know each other, do we? We can't just trust blindly."
I mustn't be mistaken into thinking we're allies just because we fought the same enemy. They and we are not on the same side.
'Hm?'
But then, Count Acres looked at me steadily with an expression that said the one I couldn't trust was also you, who was hiding your identity.
Of course, the quick-witted Lady Otis restrained him from saying anything unnecessary, so he didn't voice words that would sow division.
"That's not a wrong statement."
Fortunately, the Revolutionary Army Aura Master named Harry Elixson was someone who could be reasoned with.
He wore a pensive expression for a moment, then, as if there was no choice, made a call to somewhere.
"Yes, it's me. You've been informed of the general situation, right? Yes, that's correct. Yes, yes. What should we do?"
He continued his conversation with the person presumed to be his superior, and before long, he delivered a conclusion.
"If the space we've prepared is unappealing, the Commander says he will come here in person. Would that be acceptable?"
"And how many escorts?"
"Aside from the Commander, two more will come."
I can feel that they're being considerate in many ways.
With an expression asking whether this was good enough, I looked at Lady Otis and Count Acres.
"We should at least convey our gratitude for being saved."
At Lady Otis's words, Count Acres also nodded.
Shortly after the two gave their permission, three figures appeared with the light of teleportation, just as promised.
Two men and one woman.
But after examining their information, I couldn't help but narrow my brow.
[Ian Jeremy / Aura Master]
Age: 49
Affiliation: Prius Republic Revolutionary Army / 1st Mobile Strike Squad Leader, Revolutionary Army Headquarters
[Grace Declan / Aura Master]
Age: 38
Affiliation: Prius Republic Revolutionary Army / 3rd Mobile Strike Squad Leader, Revolutionary Army Headquarters
All of the escorts are Aura Masters.
In other words, that means I've seen three Aura Masters alone from this group calling itself the Revolutionary Army.
Considering that there are many nations with two or fewer Aura Masters, this was an excessively overwhelming force for a shadowy faction like the Revolutionary Army.
But that wasn't all.
[Israel Oscar Prius / 7th Circle Grand Mage]
Race: Human
Age: 27
Affiliation: Prius Republic Revolutionary Army / Revolutionary Army Commander / (Former) Heir to the Prius Royal House
Talents: Mana (Supreme), Intellect (Supreme), Learning Ability (Supreme), Political Skill (High), Administration (High), Command (Medium)
Traits: Schemer of Justice, Artifact Artisan
Relation: Interest / Neutral
Status: Observing / Intrigued
Apart from Arcia, the person I've found to be the greatest monster among those I've examined with the Myriad Mirror is Crown Prince Mikhail of the Linehart royal house.
But the person before me was a monster who didn't fall short of Crown Prince Mikhail in comparison.
A Grand Mage at the age of 27, and the Commander of a Revolutionary Army that includes three Aura Masters.
Having maintained my composure until then, I narrowed my brow and raised my guard.
He approached us escorted by the Aura Masters.
"Wow, I'm from Prius, but this is my first time in the northern glacier region. Unfortunately, the aurora didn't show, did it? I heard the aurora visible in the northern part of the Prius Republic is rainbow-colored, so I was curious, but what a shame."
His appearance was nothing special.
Not handsome, but not ugly either.
His impression wasn't one of kindness—rather, a sharp image that would suit a smirk.
With black hair and black eyes, couldn't he have some Triton Continental blood mixed in?
He approached with playful eyes and a seemingly good-natured smile.
But looking at his smile, instead of feeling reassured, wariness flooded over me.
A peculiar figure in many ways.
"A pleasure. Count Acres, and the Young Lady of Count Otis."
Rambling to himself as he approached, he greeted the Young Lady of Count Otis and Count Acres.
The fact that he identified the two of them and even dispatched a relief unit when we were in crisis meant he had sufficient intelligence-gathering capability.
"Thank you for saving us. I will never forget this kindness for the rest of my life."
"I truly thank you."
It was Arcia and I who ultimately drove off the enemies, but without their help, our lives would have been long lost.
It was only natural to offer such words of gratitude.
"Ah, wouldn't this just be what any human ought to do?"
Not out of duty—but because of some hidden agenda.
Then, the gaze of the Revolutionary Army Commander named Israel turned to Arcia and me.
"I get to see such a famously renowned person in a place like this. Marquis Adrian Lawrence, and Countess Arcia Klein."
"Huh..."
"Ah, sorry for startling you. For the record, the Marquis Lawrence and I follow each other. Haha!"
I never expected my name to come out of his mouth.
This can only be described as something beyond mere information-gathering ability.
"Huh? Marquis Lawrence and Countess Arcia? Really?"
Count Acres, who was more surprised than anyone at this gathering by our identities, asked the Young Lady of Otis if it was true, and she had no choice but to force an awkward smile at the Count, who was acting foolishly beyond his years.
"Uncle, shh."
I shrugged and took off my mask and robe.
There was no point hiding my face when everything was already exposed.
"Why would someone from the Second Prince's faction be here?"
"Uncle, is that what matters right now?"
Count Acres, who had been spouting oblivious remarks, finally got his side pinched by the Young Lady of Otis.
Since my identity was exposed, Arcia also threw off her mask and robe.
Perhaps because of Arcia's overly beautiful appearance, one you'd only expect to see on broadcasts, soft exclamations slipped from the Revolutionary Army Commander Israel and his male Aura Master subordinates.
"How did you figure it out?"
"Trade secret."
His playful demeanor was just like the Pierrot mask I had been wearing until a moment ago.
In other words, his speech and expressions were all an act to hide his true self.
He'd taken off one mask, but he was still wearing another—the trade didn't balance.
So I cast a spell to strip his mask away.
"His Highness Israel Oscar Prius is quite the mischievous one, isn't he?"
-Flinch.
His expression shifted in an instant.
The playfulness vanished from his face, and the corners of his eyes, once curved in a smile, sharpened as they lifted.
He was the legitimate son of the old royal house, barely holding onto its last breath.
"You've surprised me greatly. How do you know me?"
"Trade secret."
Paying back in kind.
He let out a wry laugh, and his guards, flustered that I'd revealed his identity, belatedly drew their swords.
As if to say, now that his identity was known, they couldn't let us live.
But we had nothing to lose either.
Arcia drew her sword, and Count Acres also drew his blade toward the Revolutionary Army, saying he should support me for now.
A truly pointless standoff.
If a battle broke out like this, both forces would gain nothing and only suffer losses.
"Alright, alright, calm down."
With that, Commander Israel pacified his subordinates and settled the situation.
Then, letting out a deep sigh, he pulled several chairs out of his subspace.
"Let's sit down first."
Having become the guardian of Count Acres and the Young Lady of Otis, I grew curious about what this man's business was.
So without a word, I sat down across from him, and the others also took their seats at their own discretion.
"Figuring out your identities was purely a hunch. A male Grand Mage and female Aura Master pair. I was just probing based on things like your young voices."
Did that mean I'd fallen for his bluff like a fool?
I let out a hollow laugh at the absurdity.
"Then would you care to tell me how you figured out my identity?"
"I've always had a great deal of interest in the Prius Republic. And in your Revolutionary Army as well."
They had never once called themselves the Revolutionary Army.
So my words implied that I knew them completely.
'Of course, it's a bluff.'
But the bluff worked well, and the Revolutionary Army officers swallowed dryly, staring at me as if I were a dangerous person.
"Then let's drop the war of nerves and get to the point."
I had no obligation to convince them.
So I cleanly ignored their curiosity.
At that, Commander Israel of the Revolutionary Army shrugged with a defeated expression.
"I can't gauge the depth of the cards the Marquis holds. You're someone I'd never want to make an enemy of."
"If you haven't wronged me, there's no reason to become my enemy."
"Yes, I'll be careful."
Then Commander Israel revealed the true purpose of calling this meeting.
"Young Lady of Otis."
"Yes, Commander."
With a profoundly serious expression, he asked the Young Lady of Otis.
"You copied Grand Duke Lucas's research data from the Opportunity you connected to, didn't you?"
Though they called it a fake Opportunity, I had copied a considerable amount of the Opportunity's contents and handed them to Lewis Fairmont to avoid suspicion.
Most of it was low-importance material, but even so, it was data left by Grand Duke Lucas.
Its value could never be ignored.