After the execution of the doctor and his aides, we began to search for useful items in this research city that has become distasteful to even look at.
As we plan to leave this city soon.
During this process, there was a suggestion to occupy this ownerless place, but…
“It’s not a very wise idea.”
“I agree.”
Due to the opposition of myself and Rex, the idea fell through.
For both Rex and I, our goal is to find A, the solitary neighbor from the detention cell who vanished elsewhere.
We should not settle here.
There was more than one reason for that.
[If the lord attacks, shall we really have the reason to defend this city?]
What would we gain by occupying this city?
This city is nothing more than a part of a territory the size of South Korea.
Moreover, once the lord realizes that someone he hasn’t appointed is governing this city, he will send an army.
That means we would have to fight to defend it…
‘I question its worth.’
Rex clearly said that.
‘I doubt there’s reason to do it.’
There’s no issue in terms of combat power.
I could stop the lord’s army alone, objectively speaking.
The real problem is that there’s no value in doing so.
This city exists solely for research. It lacks advantageous trade routes, resources like mines, convenient facilities, and even has supply issues like drinking water…
If we listed the downsides, we’d run out of fingers to count them on.
More importantly, there’s no emotional desire to protect it.
All things considered, settling here made no sense.
And there was one more reason unknown to the others.
‘Rex doesn’t seem ready to lead us yet.’
Rex wasn’t in the right state of mind yet.
The sound of Rex’s thoughts could still be heard, desiring carefree pleasures without responsibility.
He probably planned to abandon us here after leading us for a while.
Evidence of that lies in his choice of the most irresponsible temporary contract when we signed all those contracts.
‘Hmph.’
Of course, I have no intention of letting him go.
‘A man destined to be an emperor should have a broader perspective.’
He might not want it, but what can I do?
Responsibility and power that one doesn’t seek are the fate of false protagonists.
‘You didn’t choose this position. Just tough it out.’
I tidied up my thoughts and sought Rex who was celebrating victory with the soldiers.
“Long live Lord Rex!!”
“Thank you, I will never forget this grace!”
Amidst the soldiers’ cheers, Rex’s social anxiety worsened, shaking his whole body.
If this were a gag manga, he might be melting into nearly slime due to the pressure.
But he was someone who enjoyed attention despite being embarrassed by it.
While twisting in discomfort, he was basking in the satisfaction of his ego with a slightly stretched smile.
‘Tsk…’
He doesn’t want responsibility but craves acknowledgment,
Wants wealth but dislikes bad attention,
Fears loneliness but is scared of meeting people.
A typical self-centered outsider.
I approached our incomplete leader.
“Lord Rex, it’s time to move.”
“Ah.”
Noticing me, Rex started typing hastily.
[By the way, I have something to say related to it.]
“Speak.”
[Since I can’t be responsible for these people, could we send them back to their hometowns with a share of the doctor’s assets?]
Of course not.
These people, except for me, all lack a place to go.
Since Rex was sold to the doctor after being hit in the back of the head, they likely have similar pasts.
I opened my mouth to inform him of that fact.
But before I could finish, Rex continued typing.
[Oh, and for a while, we will be going our separate ways.]
…What’s that supposed to mean, Rex?
Are you a Yoo Ji-sik? Hiring someone and then abandoning them.
My face stiffened, perhaps noticeably so.
Under my questioning gaze, Ji… no, Rex explained his rationale.
[Since there is no one but Duke to handle sending these people back to their hometowns.]
Upon hearing that, I nodded.
“Hmm, that’s true.”
Striking words.
Could they break my spine? Where’s the trickery?
Of course, I didn’t act on it.
Because I’ve fully mastered how to handle this still immature individual, I could control my intense emotions.
‘Alright, let’s do this.’
As I devised a plan in my mind, I opened my mouth.
*
<Rex's perspective>
Rex looked up at Duke, the knight much taller than himself.
Then he glanced over the experimental subject soldiers following him.
And immediately, he nodded with resolution.
‘No doubt, it’s too much.’
Rex lacked the confidence to form a divine contract with them.
They had formed a temporary contract in the lab due to urgency, but that was a casual contract akin to hiring mercenaries.
A full divine contract would be much heavier with far greater responsibilities.
And Rex didn’t have the confidence to handle all these people.
‘Especially Duke.’
More particularly, Rex lacked confidence to formally contract with Duke.
Though Rex, as a gamer, coveted the hero Duke, his gaming experience also made him realize why he couldn’t incorporate Duke.
In games, when a subordinate’s level or stats are too high compared to the lord’s, the probability of executing orders decreases and the chance of rebellion increases.
Duke has an attribute <Loyalty (Inactive)>, but it only reduces the likelihood of rebellion; it doesn’t eliminate it.
And in Duke’s case…
‘30% command refusal rate, 80% rebellion probability.’
Although it wasn’t displayed in the system yet since they hadn’t formed a divine contract, Rex estimated based on thousands of hours of gaming experience that it wouldn’t be far off.
Even if he didn’t rebel, Duke’s high charisma could turn Rex into a figurehead.
Of course, now that reality had manifested, Rex understood that personal character, belief, and interests could change things.
However, it was also scary to disregard the game system that governed their lives.
Besides…
‘<Madness S+>‘
It felt like having a time bomb waiting to explode.
Currently, Rex judged Duke’s state as being suppressed with <Noble>, <Passion>, and <Indomitable>.
Thanks to meeting Duke in time, Rex thought he managed to avoid Duke’s route toward becoming a Demon King, but that didn’t mean Rex could keep him by his side.
‘It feels like having dynamite under your bed.’
Rex didn’t have the confidence to monitor and stop Duke like other protagonists.
So, with regret, Rex prepared to part.
[If fate brings us together again…]
At that moment, Duke approached, interrupting Rex’s words.
“I’ve been pondering this as we journeyed here.”
“Huh?”
“All my life, I have swung my sword for an ideal.”
Rex was puzzled about why Duke was suddenly saying this.
But given the serious tone, Rex couldn’t interrupt. (Certainly not because he was terrified by Duke’s social anxiety.)
As if interpreting Rex’s silence as consent, Duke continued speaking.
“My ideal has always been one. From birth to now, it has never changed, not even for hundreds of years.”
It was genuine.
At least, Duke had lived for that ideal.
Although it wasn’t the “ideal” that the listeners may have imagined.
Still, he was sincere.
As a result…
“Indeed, it’s heartfelt.”
“It’s no lie.”
Some of the experimental subjects with the ability to discern sincerity confirmed Duke’s words amid the soldiers.
With the soldiers’ support, Duke began his speech on his noble(?) goal.
“I believed that by swinging my sword, I would eventually reach my ideal. However, my sword can only judge evil, not bring happiness to people.”
[Not so. Thanks to your dedication, countless people have been saved…]
“Of course, I take pride in saving many people, but being saved doesn’t necessarily mean becoming happy.”
Duke pulled out his plain sword from his waist and stared at it sorrowfully.
“Happiness comes from daily life, not from cutting people down with a sword, I believe. When I cut someone down, the innkeeper happily prepares food with his kitchen knife. I ask, how much happiness has my sword created compared to a kitchen knife?”
[…]
“I can cut someone down to save them, but I don’t know how to make people happy by ruling over them.”
Indeed.
Though he was good at fighting, Duke was atrocious at governance.
Giving him governance duties would most certainly destabilize the region’s economy.
“Lord Rex, please allow me the honor to become a sword protecting your journey.”
Duke knelt down.
“I wish to watch by your side as you create the future. Be the master of my sword, please.”
Duke’s speech moved the audience.
Even the observing experiment subject soldiers knelt before Rex following Duke.
“Please become our lord!/We beseech you!”
Witnessing this grand spectacle, Rex…
‘Why are these people like this???’
He couldn’t understand at all.
Because while the world’s value was about finding someone to serve as a noble aspiration and source of pride, Rex’s value still rested in the 22nd century of South Korea.
‘Why do they keep wanting to serve someone else??’
In a world that values ‘equality’, bending one’s head to truly serve someone else was unimaginable.
At least unless it was for money or realistic reasons. There was no way anyone would sincerely wish to serve another.
Therefore, Rex found the actions of these people bewildering.
On one hand, he was also glad.
‘Haha… I’m appreciated.’
Even though he was a man, Rex was capable of feeling the joy of being appreciated.
And…
‘At least Duke isn’t fully corrupted yet.’
He sighed in relief that his friend D hadn’t degraded to that extent.
However, that joy was short-lived. Responsibility brought him back to reality.
After much deliberation, Rex shook his head.
‘This responsibility is far too great.’
Rex hadn’t forgotten his goal.
He merely wanted to be a moderate strategist living a peaceful harem life in a moderate city.
Intuitively, he felt that accepting these people would drag him into various troubles.
They didn’t fit into the peaceful life Rex desired.
‘Surely, it’s not because I’m scared of Duke’s <Madness S+>, which could explode anytime.’
Repeatedly rationalizing to himself, Rex refused politely.
“Your evaluation is greatly appreciated, but it’s too much for me.”
Not planning for complete separation.
If they part ways now, once Rex grows and builds a large city, maintaining an acquaintance level would be sufficient.
To that, Duke calmly nodded.
“I understand.”
“Thank you for your understanding…”
SLURS
[???]
Duke suddenly drew his sword.
Pointing the blade at his stomach, he stated…
“What meaning does a masterless sword have now!!!”
He attempted seppuku.
And craziness is contagious.
“Ah! Our lord says we are unnecessary to him!!”
The soldiers also drew their weapons en masse.
Of course, half were genuine, half were staged.
To be precise, it was similar to the “Please kill us!” plea from historical dramas.
An act that originated from the empire a hundred years ago.
It was rarely practiced because it had largely faded from use.
Thus, it was somewhat foreign to Rex, who was only 30 years old.
‘You crazy Harakiri bastards!!!’
Rex panicked and tried to stop them.
“Ah! I’ll do the contract! Just put down your weapons!”
So agitated he could even speak.
Rex, who would surely develop a lifelong trauma if he watched many people disembowel themselves right in front of him.
Only then did Duke and the soldiers lower their weapons and bow their heads.
“We swear our loyalty, my lord!”
And so, Rex became the lord of many people by accident.
Amidst the overwhelming sense of fatigue, he thought.
‘Damn this <Madness S+>…’
It was a miscalculation to think that madness was merely suppressed by the threefold set of <Noble>, <Passion>, <Indomitable>.
He never imagined that those three could mingle with <Madness>.
‘Damn this world. Not once has it gone as I planned.’
Cursing the world, Rex surrendered under the influence of the contagious madness.
