Is It Bad That the Main Character’s a Roleplayer?
chapter-119

Is It Bad That the Main Character’s a Roleplayer

Chapter 119 If I Could Leave (1)

“Just as the Western Sea has the Sea Dragon, the Great Forest of Chiria has the Land Turtle.”

After telling me we needed to go to the Vigabol Tribe’s territory, the Archmage exchanged a few more words with the Vigabol chief.

He then began explaining things to me.

“It’s one of the Primordial Beasts. According to literature, it looks like a turtle intertwined with a snake. Of course, it has disappeared and not been seen since.”

When I heard it was a land turtle, I thought it was some type of demonic beast, but it turned out not to be. And a turtle intertwined with a snake definitely sounded like the Black Tortoise.

“However, even if the Land Turtle is gone, there is still a creature that inherited its blood. That is the Mountain Lord. It’s the being that the residents of the Great Forest revere and worship.”

At that moment, I got a pretty ominous feeling. The Sea Dragon—since they were blue, I could probably call them the Azure Dragon—and now the appearance of the Black Tortoise probably meant the Primordial Beasts were designed after the Four Symbols.

The problem was with the regions they were in.

No way. Isn’t it obvious that the Black Tortoise should be in the North? The setting was completely messed up. It wasn’t like they’d just put this in during some later patch or something, so why did they put the Black Tortoise in the South?

Of course, the Azure Dragon, or Sea Dragon, was also in the wrong area.

“The Mountain Lord is known to lay eggs and die every fifty years, and when the next Mountain Lord hatches from their egg, they will eat its parent’s flesh to inherit its power.”

Also, that breeding method seemed strangely familiar. Did all Primordial Beasts pass down their power like this?

Their reproductive strategy was seriously excellent for ending their bloodlines.

“Because of this, the Mountain Lord’s power varies little between individuals… but this particular Mountain Lord has developed the unique ability to ‘consume Arcane Power’.”

My mind was going all over the place as I listened, but his last words made me stop.

So, that’s why he suddenly changed his mind. It was because of that.

“Moreover, when the current Mountain Lord was born… It seems similar to the phenomenon we’re dealing with right now.”

The Archmage was trying carefully to convey this message without directly mentioning words like ‘Demon’ or ‘Demonic Beast’.

Even though we’d gone back inside the building we’d been in before to continue the conversation—the chiefs were still busy dealing with the aftermath of the rebellion—there remained a risk of information getting leaked. He was being considerate of the fact that the residents of this place worshiped this Mountain Lord.

“We need to verify the truth of that claim, but if it really is true, we can’t afford to back down.”

However, I wasn’t so dense that I couldn’t understand what he was hinting at, albeit in a roundabout way.

“Of course, considering there was a traitor in this delegation, it’s possible a rebellion is already brewing in the Vigabol’s territory… But for now, we have legitimacy on our side. Even considering that we’ll need to help the chief suppress the rebellion, having legitimate means to meet the Mountain Lord through the tribe’s chief is a significant advantage.”

As the Archmage said, there was no benefit from missing this opportunity.

Contacting the Magic Tower again, helping suppress the rebellion, meeting the Mountain Lord to investigate further… It seemed our return to Hudelen was becoming a distant dream.

The Magic Tower would handle any of the party’s suspicions, and it was clearly more efficient for us to focus on what only we could do. Although the mission’s scope just kept expanding… at least the other side was offering us fair compensation.

“The cause of the rebellion.”

However, no matter how great of an opportunity this was, this still needed to be clarified.

Sure, the rebels attacked me first, but how could I know if that was just one person making a mistake or the stance of the entire group?

Based on my life experience, rather than raging about in such situations, saying stuff like ‘Those guys did it!’, it would be better to quickly assess whether the person who targeted me went crazy or if the whole group was like that.

That way, I could avoid missing valuable opportunities or learn what I should avoid in advance.

“Hm? Aah. I only said that legitimacy was on our side but didn’t tell you the reason for this, didn’t I?”

Yeah. So please do tell me.

“It’s nothing major. The old faction, who oppose opening their community to interact with the outside world, tried to kill the young chief before those ideas could spread any further.”

Ah, an ideological conflict.

“In that sense, it’d be worth helping them out even if we hadn’t been granted the opportunity to meet the Mountain Lord. The Great Forest has been too isolated for far too long. We have respected their attitude, but who knows what the future may hold? I understand their desire to preserve tradition, but there’s no harm in minimal exchanges of technology and knowledge. To uphold traditions, one needs strength.”

True, one must know what’s happening around them to prepare. Some countries had suffered greatly due to maintaining isolation, while others advanced far ahead in many fields.

However, it was also true that once change began, tradition could easily be lost…

But still, trying to persuade someone with force instead of arguments and evidence was a bit too much. I suppose it was inevitable in this world where human rights weren’t very well developed…

Hmm. Hm.

Ah, I didn’t know anymore. Maybe it was because I was young, but I felt it was better to have an open attitude, though I couldn’t be sure this would remain so in the future, as well.

In that case, should a third party, that is, an outsider, even intervene in these ideological issues?

However, it would also be pretty problematic if I just stood by and let harm befall others…

Besides, I was already entangled in this situation. Ideological conflicts were an essential and inevitable part of history.

“None of my business.”

On a separate note, it really pissed me off that I had no choice in being stuck in this situation.

“True, it isn’t.”

“What if the Mountain Lord is a Demon?”

I chose to turn my attention away from the discomfort of being involved in an ideological conflict and focused on something else.

This was also fairly important.

Not only did it consume Arcane Power, but its birth was also similar to that of the Demon that hatched at the Magic Tower, you know? That implied the current Mountain Lord might be a Demon.

Even if it was a local deity, if it was corrupted, there was no way my character would accept this. I deliberately ignored the Archmage’s efforts to change the subject and silently glared at him.

“…It would depend on the situation.”

That wouldn’t be a satisfactory response for my character. ‘Let’s kill it’ and ‘Let’s decide based on the situation’ clearly had different meanings, right?

“Are you joking?”

“No, I’m serious.”

“Are you saying you’re tolerating the existence of a Demon—!”

“It’s just the way it was born. Isn’t it too cruel to decide it must die for that?”

Oh, a moral statement.

“…Hah, did you decide to become a Saint now? Even having pity on Demons?”

However, that statement went against this world’s view.

If he was going to say something like that, he should have done so sooner. Until now, he’d clearly been of the mindset that Demons deserved to die, so why was he saying things like this now…?

“We clearly—”

“If one deserves to die just because they were born with Demonic Energy, then should I kill you, too?”

“…!”

I was at a loss for words. That statement perfectly targeted the Demon Knight’s settings, so how could I say anything against that?

“Demons should be killed. Yes, that certainly is true. But if everything possessing Demonic Energy is deemed a Demon, then not only would the Mountain Lord be one, but you, as well.”

Moreover, the Archmage even went so far as to glance at my right arm as he spoke. I instinctively pulled my right shoulder back.

“But none of us who’ve been with you until now consider you a Demon. Because you are walking on the right path without being swayed by the Demonic Energy.”

Indeed… What he said was true. So, what he meant was…

“What I mean to say is, if the Mountain Lord is clearly corrupted and harming those around them, they’re a problem we must take care of, just like we did with the Sea Dragon. But from what I’ve heard, the current Mountain Lord rules the land with reason, like the previous Mountain Lord.”

Right. He wanted to confirm the possibility of coexistence before making a decision.

“So, it wouldn’t be wrong to check whether coexistence is possible before making a decision.”

This wasn’t just about my character setting but also a point the original setting didn’t consider. Since all the characters who’d appeared before us and emitted Demonic Energy were enemies, I unconsciously developed a certain bias.

I naturally thought the current Mountain Lord would be this area’s boss mob.

But… Hmm. This meant there was a clear possibility they weren’t. No, rather, wasn’t it more likely that they’d turn out to be an ally?

In any case, I had no choice but to acknowledge that opinion.

“Who knows? Maybe there’s even a way to remove… that energy from the Mountain Lord. And if there really is one, it might also help you.”

The only problem was my character settings.

If I said something like ‘We still have to kill it’, I should be the first to get killed, and if I said ‘I agree’, I would be breaking character.

“…I understand this might be difficult for you to accept. But please understand, it was you who first proved to me that this possibility even exists… Please don’t be too hostile toward the Mountain Lord.”

Ah, this was really bad. What should I do?

“You… you dare…”

I huffed as if seething with anger, unable to decide which reaction I should have. What a dilemma.

Knock, knock.

【Erm, the chief has invited you to dinner…】

Luckily, the Goddess of Fortune was smiling upon me. She provided me with an opportunity to leave this conversation without having to answer.

I didn’t know what that person said, though.

【I’ll come.】

The Archmage lightly replied to the voice coming through the door before turning to me.

“It seems quite some time has passed by already. It’s time for dinner.”

His sky-blue eyes reflected my frustrated self.

“…The chiefs have invited us to dinner, but if you prefer, you can just eat here. I will go in your stead.”

Ah, erm. I didn’t really want to be alone, though.

I let out a sharp sigh over his words. He was obviously trying to ‘Give me time to think’. I had nothing to think over, though, since I would be breaking character no matter what I did.

“Then, let's do that.”

Whatever. I should just eat quickly and get some sleep.

The Archmage left the building alone.

* * *

* * *

White Wind sighed deeply after receiving the Archmage’s message.

He wasn't complaining about being asked to retrieve the Arcane Power-consuming snakes since they weren't currently in a position to deliver them to him.

It seemed they’d found additional matters that needed investigating, making it impossible for them to return to the city. He also wasn’t complaining about that. Actually, it would only be right to pay them more for it.

But to think they would discover a being that not only consumed Arcane Power but was also born similarly to the Demon that had hatched here?

“Gather information about the Great Forest. Especially about the Mountain Lord.”

Of all things, it had to be the Mountain Lord. The damn Mountain Lord.

“The Mountain Lord?”

“Yes.”

If one thought about it positively, like the Archmage had mentioned—that it might be like the Demon Knight, who still possessed reason and could act justly—then this couldn't be any better. The Mountain Lord could communicate with people, and it was so much easier to investigate something that could talk to you.

But what if it wasn't like that? What if it wasn't like that at all?

“Looks like we might end up losing all the trading partners we just managed to secure.”

How many of their ingredients could only be found in the Great Forest? Misfortune always seemed to come all at once.

It wasn't just about the ingredients. It wouldn't do them any good to antagonize the residents of the Great Forest when they might get into conflict with the Temple.

“We've reached the limit of what we can keep from the Hero.”

They had been stalling while helping her develop new techniques using Divine Power, but that could only last them so long.

The disappearance of these two left the Hero's party increasingly suspicious. He was sure that by tomorrow, they would be demanding to know where the two were.

“So, what do we do now?”

He turned to speak into the communicator he’d momentarily set aside.

– …What do you mean? Just tell them. –

– You want to give the Temple justification to interfere more than they are already?! I'm against this!! –

– No secret lasts forever. Even now, there are people making use of these beings. Do you think it isn’t happening elsewhere, as well? We can't solve this by hiding the truth. –

– I agree with Destroying Hoe. It's better to speak up now and prove our innocence in the matter. –

Is that so? White Wind narrowed his eyes.

The vegetation that had been growing around the Magic Tower had been mostly cleared out, and they’d also dealt with the nest the Demon had hatched out of, so the Hudelen branch's mistakes—though it was still doubtful whether something resulting from years of wear could be called their mistake—could be buried easily.

If they just brought up the situation with the Great Forest's Mountain Lord, the Temple would remain none the wiser about what they were hiding. As for why the Demon Knight and the Archmage went into the Great Forest, they could simply claim that the two had been sent there to gather ingredients.

So hiding these matters itself was no longer the problem…

– Erm… I don't mind telling the Temple about this matter anymore, but… if we leave an internal record of this in the Magic Tower… wouldn't that be a bit risky…? –

– Why? We have to announce it somehow to prepare. –

– Ah, I get it. Can we trust our people, though? –

– Ah. –

“So, everyone's worried about the same thing.”

That was the problem.

The moment this matter became known in the Magic Tower, someone would definitely start experimenting—not to prepare, but to satisfy their personal curiosity.

– That's why we didn't call a whole assembly but just held a meeting with a few of us. –

– That was the reason? –

– …Repentant Fairy, you need to think more deeply about the reason for people's behavior. You've lived for such a long time, yet your ability to infer is still on the level of a child. –

– You want to die? Come here, you punk. –

– You come over here. –

– You #@$#@#- –

“Take your fights to a private line.”

Was that all? There was also a possibility, no, a guarantee, that there were Demon worshipers within the Tower.

They didn't know whether the Demons were aware of this matter, but the moment this was announced, those guys would definitely relay that information to them. Just the thought of Demons exploiting this process was terrifying.

– Damn it. If Arcane Power is concentrated in one spot for too long, it'll create Demons? How is this any different from Demonization? It's already difficult enough to experiment underwater. –

– Demonization, huh? That's an interesting thought. Isn't it likely that Demons are also created in this way? –

– If that’s true, we could uncover the principles of Demonization. –

– Oh? –

Moreover, there was one thing he hadn’t yet informed them of.

“I need to tell you something in advance. I delayed mentioning this matter because it’s not yet confirmed, but it seems that beings born from concentrated Arcane Power have the ability to consume it.”

– Seriously? –

They didn’t know how that Arcane Power-eating serpent was born, nor were they certain what the place where the Mountain Lord had been born looked like.

However, one could say there was a high probability that… beings born from Arcane Power were able to consume it.

“As well as the ability to disguise themselves by converting their Demonic Energy into Arcane Power.”

– Damn it. We never had a choice to begin with! –

Haha. We’re doomed.

White Wind laughed heartily while listening to the screams of these Great Sages. He had already gone through this stage after hearing the news from the Archmage, so this was simply amusing to him now.

“Erm, Great Sage. The Inquisitor has requested to speak to you. She’s asking if you know the whereabouts of the Archmage and the Demon Knight… What should we do?”

However, he couldn’t laugh at that piece of news.

“…The inevitable has come.”

─ What do you mean? The price for teasing us like that? –

“I need to step out for a moment. Please come up with a plan in my stead.”

– Y-You punk— –

Click.

White Wind severed the connection before standing up.

No matter whether they decided to inform the Temple, it was now time to admit the truth to the Hero.

Since they’d already informed the Archmage and requested that he bring those things back, there was no way to hide this any longer.

* * *

After being fully sated, I placed the completely empty, used bowls by the entrance. I had been told to put them there once I was done, so this should suffice. Probably.

After that, well.

While leaning against a wall, I wondered whether I should go to sleep. Although it was said that sleeping right after eating wasn’t good for your health, I didn’t care. By that logic, sleeping while sitting up wasn’t good for my health, either.

「 ▲ 1 Hour 00 Minutes Sleep ▼ 」

But I desperately needed sleep right now. Although I wasn’t as exhausted as last time when sleep overcame me just from closing my eyes, I still needed sleep badly.

There are moments in life when you just want to sleep, regardless of how tired you are. Considering the system that could instantly put me to sleep was still functional, I felt lucky, reassuring myself.

And the moment I decided on the amount of sleep I wanted and confirmed.

Darkness spread before my eyes like paint, completely covering my vision.

‘Why are you ignoring it?’

The whole world was submerged in darkness.

‘You already know that the time when the system started malfunctioning weirdly coincides with exactly when you began wearing the seal.’

Darkness… enveloped me.

Inside the darkness that covered all my wandering thoughts.

‘It’s almost at its limit.’

Ah, I couldn’t help but miss the bed that accompanied me through my thirties. Right?