Chapter 17 – Episode 16 – Player (1)

Episode 16 – Player (1)

The next day. We finally had Grampo, our destination, in sight.

Grampo, the northernmost city in the Iruph Lowlands.

Known for its prosperity, the Iruph Lowlands, and this city, with its largest commercial port, had lost its usual vibrancy.

Normally, the streets should be bustling with people and numerous ships, showcasing its prosperity.

“Is this Grampo?”

A heavy silence enveloped the group at the sight of Grampo’s decline, a city considered one of the largest in the lowlands. Having witnessed the region’s prosperity firsthand while passing through several cities, they seemed even more shocked by Grampo’s appearance.

Deputy Mayor McKellen, who had personally gone to Hespote to request support for the city, was also visibly dismayed by the current state. He just stared blankly at the city, his lips moving silently. It seemed that, whatever the situation was before he left, it was at least better than this.

I feel a bit sorry. The city will become even more desolate as the quest progresses. It’s already on the verge of collapse now, but if I told them what the city would look like later, wouldn’t they faint?

The group’s mood was heavier than I expected, but I had anticipated this to some extent. The game had depicted Grampo’s appearance in considerable detail. In particular, it contrasted the prosperous state with the rapid decline after the incident, vividly portraying the fall of this great city.

“We will enter the city. Holy Knights, organize the formation.”

Under the guidance of the seasoned Sir Jacob, the group, which had become disorganized from the long journey, regained its discipline. Diana’s carriage was at the center, surrounded by guardians and attending priests. Holy Knights surrounded them, and finally, the priests of the Apostle Church followed at the rear.

The group’s tension increased as they approached the city. What on earth had happened to paralyze this great city? Someone sighed as they saw the city up close.

“Is there an epidemic? Unless a deadly epidemic spread simultaneously, it wouldn’t be like this…”

Looking over, it was an elderly priest. People seemed to think it was a lament born from experience, but surprisingly, it was a spot-on observation.

An epidemic.

A deadly epidemic was sweeping through the city.

And it was an epidemic that turned people into monsters.

The city’s functions were not completely paralyzed yet.

When the white knights, with their pure white armor, cloaks, and even white horses, approached with the Order’s flag held high, the city’s influential figures rushed out to greet them.

“Oh, God! Finally, the Order… the Order has arrived!”

“Save us from this hell!”

Those who would normally be influential figures of a great city, as haughty as any noble, were praising God and shedding tears. One old man even prostrated himself on the ground, crying out for salvation. Diana, unable to bear it, got out of the carriage and helped the old man up herself.

“My goodness… the Saintess herself has come. Thank you… thank you so much.”

While Diana was flustered by the old man’s fervent welcome, who was crying like a faucet had been turned on, it was my job to accept the greetings and calm the influential figures who had swarmed in like a pack of dogs.

Only after managing to calm them down, with the imposing presence of the Holy Knights in their gleaming white armor as a backdrop, were we able to unpack our belongings at the city hall.

“What on earth happened? It wasn’t this serious before I left.”

At Deputy Mayor McKellen’s question, a middle-aged man with a haggard face spoke.

“I am Grunhildt, the mayor of Grampo. I will explain. After traces of demons were discovered, and a few days after you left for the Order, strange things began to happen. People started collapsing as if they were sick. We thought it was just a simple illness, but… it was not an illness at all.”

He shuddered as if recalling something, and then lowered his voice, as if afraid of being overheard, and continued.

“It is… clearly the work of demons. Horrifying things, too terrible to speak of, are happening in this city, turning normal people into monsters.”

“Turning people into monsters? Grunhildt, what kind of absurd nonsense is that? Are you mistaken? It’s natural for people to look haggard when they’re sick.”

Deputy Mayor McKellen shook his head, looking into Grunhildt’s eyes, which seemed to border on madness. He couldn’t believe it. How could there be a disease that turns people into monsters?

“It’s true. It’s true! People… they’ve turned into monsters.”

“Man, get a grip. Aren’t you just delirious from being sick and looking haggard?”

“No, it’s not. It was… really a monster.”

McKellen’s face showed his bewilderment at the sight of Grunhildt trembling and muttering. He first checked the expressions of the Order’s people, relieved that they didn’t seem ready to scold him for spouting nonsense.

Feeling reassured, McKellen’s gaze widened to take in the city’s influential figures. He was furious that the mayor was in such a state. Shouldn’t they, who were always so haughty, step up?

But that was only for a moment.

McKellen stopped abruptly when he saw the expressions of the influential figures.

‘Their expressions… why?’

Why did they all look so afraid? Could that absurd story be true?

McKellen’s gaze returned to Grunhildt.

“I have only spoken the truth. This city… is cursed.”

* * *

The place known as the first outbreak site was the slum on the outskirts of the city.

Any disease tends to occur in places where it’s dirty, damp, and full of weak people. If this can even be called a disease.

‘Demon sickness. That’s what it was called in the game. Should this even be called a disease?’

It’s so annoying, wandering around the slums and investigating.

It’s not like accurate epidemiological investigations are possible in this world, and the fact that this is the first outbreak site is just a rumor, so I doubt anything will come of this.

The slum, where even the vagrants had fled in fear, was a garbage dump. It was a dirty place to begin with, but now that the vagrants had thrown away all their belongings (disguised as trash) as they fled, it was a complete mess. What kind of investigation can be done in a place like this?

“Diana, let’s go. It’s impossible to find anything here.”

“…Should we?”

Even our esteemed Saintess seemed tired of the state of this place, which resembled a garbage dump, and just stared blankly around.

“If this is the outbreak site… there should be some kind of clue.”

She muttered as if disappointed, glancing at me, as if urging me to quickly find a clue. Am I imagining things?

“Let’s search over there.”

“…Again? Diana, let’s stop now. Okay? It’s been several times already.”

“No. There must be a clue.”

Why does she keep glancing at me while saying that! I’m going crazy.

This cunning Saintess must have noticed that I know something, and she keeps pressuring me. What should I do? According to the game’s story, the plot unfolds with the protagonist, the player, appearing after a period of fruitless searching.

And then, you get involved with the Saintess and open a route to recruit her as a companion. What if I step in and solve it quickly? …Come to think of it, is there even a player in this world? If there is, who is the player, and if there isn’t, how is the story supposed to progress?

“Yurian~ Let’s look here too.”

‘I’m going crazy. Is there even a player? Could I be the player…? No, if it were me, why would the story be progressing on its own? …No. Let’s change my thinking. I’ve even possessed a game, so I can’t rule out any possibilities. What if I really am the player?’

If that’s the case, this frustrating situation will just repeat until I step in. Because if there’s no player, no clues will be found.

Of course, this is just the game’s story. In reality, if you invest time in investigating, you might be able to figure it out.

But what if… if someone else is the player, what am I? An NPC? That would be a real pain in the ass.

“Diana, stop. Moving around like this won’t help. It’s almost evening, so let’s go back to the city hall and think. We can’t search this entire city.”

“…Okay.”

After calming Diana down, where did she go again?

The red-haired tsundere knight, who always followed Diana around, was nowhere to be seen, so I looked around. His distinctive, high-saturation red hair was so noticeable that I could spot him from afar.

“What is he doing over there?”

His once gleaming white armor was now covered in dust, and he was diligently rummaging through the garbage dump. It was so pathetic. I asked Diana, and she answered nonchalantly.

“I asked Ian to help too.”

“…Huh. He’s doing that because you asked him to help?”

“Yeah. Why?”

Her innocent expression as she tilted her head was cute, but there was no way this cunning girl was really asking because she didn’t know. She really knows how to use her good brain.

If she asked Irian, who would do anything for her, to help, he would obviously do his best to search this garbage dump.

I was deeply impressed by the Saintess’s ability to exploit even the feelings of those who liked her. …You evil woman. Even if it’s for a good cause, how can she use someone who likes her like that?

“Ian! That’s enough, come here!”

I couldn’t bear to watch him squatting and rummaging through the trash any longer, so I called out to him. He glanced at me and then turned his head away. Then he started digging through the trash even more diligently. …Oh, that idiot.

“Sir Ian! That’s enough, please come here!”

At Diana’s words, he finally got up and pretended to wipe away non-existent sweat as he approached. He’s a monster when it comes to physical ability, so he wouldn’t sweat easily, but he’s acting like he’s sweating from digging through the garbage dump. His clumsy acting is so obvious.

“Whew. Is it all over, Saintess?”

“Yes. Sir Ian helped so diligently… but it seems we didn’t find anything.”

“It’s alright! If it’s to help the Saintess. I’m a passionate person who doesn’t slack off like some people.”

Oh, please. What a joke.

Seeing him glance at me while saying that made me want to tease him. He’s such an attention seeker. If he just stayed quiet, I would have felt sorry for him and taken care of him.

“Thanks to Sir Ian’s hard work on my behalf, I was able to have a comfortable conversation with the Saintess. Oh, thank you.”

“……”

What. Why.

I snorted at his glare.

After finishing the garbage dump search, we returned to the city hall. Everyone had worked hard, and the once pure white Holy Knights and priests were now covered in grime… I was the only one who was clean, which made me feel self-conscious.

Seriously. People need to be more flexible. Did they really rummage through the garbage dump?

“Yurian. You look particularly clean today. Well… you’re always so meticulous about cleanliness, so I guess it’s no surprise.”

Irian, who had been waiting for an opportunity, muttered to himself, as if for everyone to hear. Was that really a mutter?

“Ah, this is a new set of clothes. The clothes I was wearing… I covered the bodies I found while searching a house. Unfortunately, they seemed to be a young son and his mother…”

The group, who had been glancing at me, nodded in agreement.

Irian’s face, which had been grinning at me, twisted in annoyance. It was funny.

“Lies. When did you pack extra clothes…”

“Oh? It seems something has happened over there.”

To stop that devil’s mouth from rambling again, I pointed to where people were gathered. What’s with all the people? In the midst of a monster-turning epidemic, everyone should be hiding.

“People from the Empire have arrived.”

“The Empire? Why from the Empire?”

Something feels off.

As I approached, I saw a group of dozens of people lined up in front of the city hall. Judging by the unique attire and armor of the Empire, they were indeed from the Empire. At the head of the group was a person with a hood pulled over their face.

‘What is he, a wizard? What’s with the hood?’

But it looks quite expensive. Both the material and the ornate geometric patterns are impressive.

…It looks kind of cool. Should I get one too?

Hiding his face with a hood while wearing a lavishly embroidered robe to attract attention. Suspicious, suspicious.

Should I open his status window?

The moment I opened his status window, a strange system message appeared.

【Requesting to open the status window of the player.】

Huh?