The Count’s Youngest Son Is A Player - Chapter 21

Episode 21

Cleaning up didn’t take long.

Because Raoul already knew what to take from this place and what to leave behind.

Raoul retrieved a piece of black magic stone emitting dark energy near the magic circle at the back of the cave and also took a simple teleportation device.

While I was turning the piece of black magic stone around with strange eyes, Pierce approached me and reported.

“We have found Miss Nakia’s younger brother Nikki and most of the other important people who were kidnapped. However, some…”

“I wish I could have saved them all, but I can’t help it. If you have any keepsakes, be sure to take them with you. “I have to return that to my clients.”

“All right. And Nicky’s condition is not good.”

Raoul nodded as if he had expected it.

“Okay, we should hurry. “If it’s all sorted out, let’s leave.”

That’s how they left the Imperial Hound’s hideout.

Jake looked back at the cave entrance and grumbled to Raoul with a dissatisfied expression.

“But are you really going to leave me behind?”

“why? Such a waste??”

“sure! “There were so many useful things… especially since ‘things’ are not things that can simply be valued for money, right?”

To be honest, Raoul was also a bit of a waste.

The ‘thing’ Jake is talking about is the power armor that stuck to McDowell.

Although it may be difficult to recycle, it was an item that could not be easily given up considering its symbolic value for capturing research materials or imperial spies.

‘But it’s a bright apricot.’

The Empire’s spy agency, the Imperial Hounds, was a fearsome group.

There were more than one player who gave up on the game and started over again after being picked on by them, and when small and medium-sized nobles fell without a word, it was often their work.

It would have been difficult if something bothersome happened to them for no reason from the beginning. What Raoul needed now was time to grow and increase his power.

Raoul said to Jake with a bitter smile.

“It’s all because you have your own thoughts, so throw away your regrets. And wasn’t it me who took care of ‘that’?? “I don’t know what the escort drivers did.”

“That’s because Confucius forbids me to do this or that… ugh.”

I made excuses, but in the end, Raoul was right. Jake, who was embarrassed for no reason, scratched the back of his head in embarrassment and averted his eyes.

Raoul smiled and patted Jake on the shoulder.

“great job. “I’ll give you a generous bonus, so you can rest for a few days when I get back.”

“Oh! Bonuses and vacations? “You can’t buy it later!!”

Jake’s expression brightened as if he suddenly felt better, and he even hummed and returned to his original position.

‘Is it simple or clever?…’

Raoul clicked his tongue as if it was difficult to judge, and asked Pierce.

“What about them?”

“We are manning according to plan.”

“Let it proceed without a hitch.”

“yes!”

Raoul slightly closed his eyes and raised the corners of his mouth as he looked at Pierce, who was checking the situation through guild communication.

‘I wonder what choice you will make. It’s obvious even if you don’t look at it though.’

I wondered what their facial expressions would be like after biting into a poisonous apple, but I stopped paying attention anymore.

Whether it works out as he expected or not is now out of his hands.

* * *

“Where on earth did you crawl into?? hey! Guide!! “Are we going the right way?”

The person who shouted was none other than Ramon of Count Randall.

It’s already been a week since I got into a bloody fight for no reason. Afterwards, he had to recuperate at a temple for several days and even receive psychotherapy.

When I finally came to my senses and came back, I found that I had almost no money left and even the sword I had personally received from my grandfather had been taken away.

I was mad as hell, but the fear I felt from the kid that day was so extreme that I couldn’t even dare to go and argue with him, so I couldn’t help but whine…

After my anger cooled down and I thought about it, I realized that the reason they were treated by Raoul was because of the characteristics of this cursed place.

Mana skills cannot be used inside the city.

There were twelve official articles, but I thought that was the only reason I was behind.

‘Even if my bastard goes on a rampage, how can I block the Expert’s Mana Blade?’

There were only three knights on that side, and there were twelve on this side. And Jeremy, the guard leader, is a power armor user!! If the fight had been fought outside the city, it was clear that this side would have won easily.

Realizing that fact, the three cousins of Ramon, Jerry Cale, and others followed Raul from that day on.

The plan was to follow Raoul and get revenge if he left the city during a less crowded time.

And just today. The opportunity has arrived.

“It’s right there!!”

A black cave opened its mouth in front of Count Randall and his party, who arrived under the guidance of a guide.

I hesitated for a moment. They entered the cave and reappeared only after a long time.

In their hands were various magical items and accessories that seemed to be worth a lot of money, as well as the heads of wanted criminals. And ‘it’ also has a black shape.

The faces of the three were filled with greedy smiles that could not be hidden.

* * *

The sun had long since set and it was well past midnight. As we left the forest and approached the city, a group of people gathered with torches.

As if they had seen that Raoul’s group was approaching, several people hurriedly ran out and bowed their heads in front of him.

“Confucius, you have worked hard. As you instructed, we cleared out the bandits’ hideout in the eastern forest and rescued about 20 citizens.”

“We have cleared out a den of thieves in the northern forest and recovered the goods from the warehouse.”

“The bandits of the western forest…”

The characters report one after another. These were trainee knights under Raoul and members of the First Guild.

All six of the trainee knights, who grew through constant quests and hunting training for a month, surpassed the expert level.

Additionally, about a dozen knight trainees had reached the highest level of sword users and were ready to become experts at any time.

Since attendants who were ordinary soldiers had also stepped into the realm of sword users who could use mana, there was a good chance that they too could become knights over time.

And last night, under Raoul’s order, these First Guild members, who were divided into three groups, succeeded in clearing out the thieves’ hideout that had been decided in advance.

All of them could use mana, had learned the advanced sword techniques of Count Ashton, and had even learned the skill book handed down by Raoul, so there was no way ordinary thieves could deal with them.

As other subordinates joined in, completing the mission safely without any serious injuries, the size of the group soon exceeded one hundred.

When a fairly large group arrived in front of the castle gate, the guards were nervous, but the guard captain, who had heard the news in advance, personally welcomed the group.

And even though it was late at night, some citizens who heard the news of the family’s rescue welcomed the group, and among them was Mira’s unfortunate alchemist ‘Nakia’.

“Nikki!! “It’s Nikki!!”

Nakia shed tears after seeing her unconscious sister in Raoul’s arms.

Raoul said to Nikki as she cried, holding her in his arms and saying thank you.

“I saved her, but her condition is not that good. First, let’s move to the mansion and receive treatment. “Bernard?”

“Yes, we already have a priest in the mansion. “Please come this way.”

Raoul was lost in thought as he watched Nakia getting into the carriage with Nikki following Bernard’s guidance.

Today I saved the life of a child who should have died. And it also changed the future of the alchemist woman, who would have a grudge against the empire due to her brother’s death.

Raoul didn’t know what consequences this decision today would have in the future.

Perhaps Nakia would never reach the level of alchemy that shook the world.

The numerous potions and item weapons she would develop may never see the light of day.

Additionally, the Empire may have eliminated a single potential enemy that could threaten them without a single hand.

But Raoul didn’t care.

‘Her power is essential for the future of the Countess. I don’t care if history is distorted because of this. Anyway, once I return to the past, everything will be rewritten. Even if I have to take away and trample on someone’s future for that, I won’t regret it.’

He didn’t think of himself as a good person.

If that were the case, he wouldn’t have stood by and watched Nikki knowing she would be kidnapped. And I would have gone a little faster to rescue those who were kidnapped.

Perhaps more people’s lives could have been saved.

However, Raoul made rational moves based on thorough calculation.

In order to solve as many quests as possible and gain Nakia’s favor, I closed my eyes to their suffering.

And the result.

In just one night, he was able to save countless citizens and solve dozens of quests at once.

It was clear that for the time being, the activities of spies and thieves would decrease near Mira, and security would become much more stable.

Those who were rescued and their families repeatedly expressed their gratitude, and the garrison commander and soldiers praised Raoul and his group, saying it was a great achievement. When the sun rises, the mayor will also send his thanks and a generous reward.

But…

“It’s really uncomfortable.”

I felt something in my chest that was not refreshing.

Feeling incomprehensible, I turned my head without realizing it and was able to find people with a strange feeling among the cheering crowd.

Among them, the eyes of an old woman I happened to meet were full of tears filled with feelings of sadness and despair. She was sobbing silently while holding in her arms a glove that she assumed belonged to her son.

It was like that.

Among those who came to this event, there were some who found their families and cheered, but there were also others who were anxious to hear the news of their families who had not yet returned.

Some people were devastated after receiving their family’s belongings, while others might have been glad that there was no news and continued to wait for a long time.

And most of them were marginalized.

Lower class people who have nothing and have nothing to show for it. People who have ignored even ‘quests’ because they have nothing to pay in return.

Suddenly, Raoul looked back on the month he spent in Mira. And I looked back on the quests he had received and solved.

‘It was really busy. But…’

All of Raoul’s actions and movements were focused solely on quests and leveling up.

I have never set foot in a place where there are no quests or where they are meaningless.

I have never exchanged a single word with ordinary citizens who are not related to the quest or important people.

Although he came back to life in the game world, he vowed to live in ‘reality’. But what is it like in reality?

‘I was still playing a game called Connect!!’

A cold feeling passed through Raoul’s head, as if he had been doused with cold water.

(Continued in the next part)