The Skeleton Soldier Failed to Defend the Dungeon

Rubia gave me a puzzled look. ”A fake?”

”We’ll have to read it to the end to be sure,” I replied.

The writing style was nearly identical. Even after reading eight of Kevin Ashton’s books thoroughly, I nearly fell for it, but my Wisdom stat didn’t increase. Just to be sure, I stayed in my seat and tried reading another book.

”...”

The result was the same. No system message popped up.

***

I flipped through the pages quickly, thanks to my improved reading speed, likely a result of my previous Wisdom gains. In one sitting, I read four more volumes.

Thud.

When I turned the final page, Rubia was lying on the bed, reading her own book.

”Was that one fake, too?”

”Probably.”

Of course, there was no rule saying every book by Kevin Ashton had to increase my Wisdom. Maybe the books I read before were exceptions. That was the theoretical explanation, at least. However, in practice, the subtle sense of discomfort I felt from each volume was impossible to ignore. It was like watching an impersonator pretending to be someone I knew well.

Rubia looked at me with a guilty expression. ”I guess I wasn’t much help after all... I’m sorry. I really wanted to do something for you.”

She stared at me with downcast eyes, looking dejected.

”Well... I’m not one hundred percent sure they’re fake.”

”No, you’re right. It felt completely different from when you read a real one before. I can tell.”

Seeing Rubia so dispirited made me want to comfort her. Part of me even considered storming over and flipping their mansion upside down.

They trailed us with five spies after giving us a bunch of fake books?

I sank into thought. They lent us books written under Kevin Ashton’s name that heavily insulted the Ivote family.

If these are fakes, then what did the real Ashton books say about the Ivotes?

The marquis definitely knew something about Kevin Ashton. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have reacted so strongly when the name was mentioned. The real question was how to approach him. This was a delicate time, because our main operation was right around the corner. It wasn’t ideal to break into his house and torture him for answers right now.

I knew one other person who was just as obsessed with that name: Isaac. If he were here, I’d ask him.

Where the hell is he when I need him?

Just as I was about to theorize more with Rubia, someone approached from the hallway and knocked on the door.

Knock knock.

”A letter for Lady Gratie.”

”A letter?”

I opened the door. A stranger handed me an envelope sealed with wax.

”Who is it from?”

”From Lady Sisel Ridbaren. Have a good evening.”

The man bowed and stepped back.

”A letter?” Rubia asked.

”Yeah. Hold on.”

Rustle.

I opened the letter. It did not contain any poison or traps, just freshly written ink that still carried a scent.

I handed the letter to Rubia. ”Here, read it.”

Rubia blinked and slowly read it, line by line.

”Hm... It was unfortunate we had to part ways so soon. Are you curious about the political climate in the capital? I’d like to have a more intimate conversation with you. Tonight would be fine. You are welcome to visit me anytime. Sisel Ridbaren. Why would she send me something like this?”

Rubia tilted her head, holding the invitation with a slightly dazed expression.

”Popular, huh? You must’ve made an impression at the tea party.”

I was there myself. Even without being observant, I could tell she made herself known.

Rubia’s cheeks flushed pink. ”T-that’s not it! It’s just strange... she seemed hostile toward Lady Ivote, didn’t she? Maybe she’s trying to pull me to her side now.”

”What are you going to do?”

”Hmm... I’m not sure. I’ll go with whatever you decide.”

”I decide?”

Rubia giggled softly. ”Yup! I’m offloading responsibility.”

I thought for a moment. I hadn’t mentioned it, but of course, I’d been there watching everything from start to finish. Rubia was clearly associated with Lady Ivote at the party. Suddenly accepting an invitation from an open rival like Ridbaren would seem unnatural.

What to do...

I glanced at the remaining fifteen books.

”We’ve still got reading to do. Let’s think it over slowly.”

***

”They were all fake, weren’t they?”

”Yeah.”

Rubia lowered her head, her voice thick with regret. ”I’m so sorry...”

”You really don’t have to react like that.”

Seeing her like this only made my anger rise again.

Ivote, this bastard... Not a single one was real. And the marquis’s daughter?

She spotted Rubia and immediately thought of how to use her. Even though Rubia played along and helped them, her reward was just a stack of fakes.

Bastards.

”They really are terrible people. Should we just go?”

Rubia must’ve picked up on my mood. She waved the invitation again.

”Yeah. What’s the goal?”

”I want to ask about Marquis Ivote.”

That’s a solid plan.

Kevin Ashton aside, the marquis himself was even more suspicious. When I mentioned Ashton, he visibly tensed. There was no way he didn’t know these books were fake. I made sure the spies tailing us saw that we were heading openly to the Ridbaren mansion. Even if they tried anything, I could easily get Rubia out.

The mansion was similar in size, but unlike the Ivote estate, this place was packed with armed guards. My Detection ability picked up countless traps hidden along the walls.

”They must get a lot of break-ins.”

”They’re one of the wealthiest families. I heard the reason he was appointed inquisitor was that only the wealthy can resist temptation.”

It sounded plausible at first, but the logic was ridiculous. Several carriages were lined up at the front gate, probably there to bribe someone.

”You go through the front,” I said to Rubia.

”What about you?”

”I’ll take a look around.”

Since it was enemy territory, it was better to scout it out and make sure I could handle whatever they might throw at us.

I vaulted over the wall.

Thud.

All the traps were visible in my Detection range. With my skills, I could weave through them easily.

Sprint.

I darted through the premises. Even when passing just a few feet behind the guards, not one noticed me.

Just scarecrows, huh...

As I watched Rubia walk in with the invitation at the front, a strange feeling crept in. This was the imperial capital, home to the strongest of the strong, and this was the mansion of a very influential noble. There were guards posted at every angle, enough to rival a full knight order. Yet not a single one noticed me.

Hmm...

There was definitely something off about the ghosts, and even more so at Erast. The internal affairs officer stationed there made no sense. It’s not that I was weak and the world was strong. Something else was going on. Something felt distorted. I recalled a conversation I’d had with the internal affairs director before he was killed.

***

”Why are powerful people like you stationed in a backwater like this?” ”All candidates for director must serve a year in Erast. If anything suspicious appears, eliminate it cleanly. No questions. No hesitation.”

***

If that ghost unit of internal affairs deployed, a count’s manor like this would be wiped out in under an hour. The distribution of power seemed wrong. The Ridbaren count’s mansion felt like a cheap imitation, a replica mimicking something grand.

True power seemed concentrated in the hands of a select few, hidden and silent. The nobles, in comparison, were like ornamental feathers. If anything, the aura exuded by Marquess Ivote, who did not have any visible guards, seemed far more authentic.

While I was lost in thought, two butlers guided Rubia through the front gates.

Lady Ridbaren greeted Rubia with delight. ”Oh my, you came! That was a wise decision.”

A wise decision?

I could clearly see what kind of conversation this would be. She was the type of girl whose motives were far too easy to read.

Once they were in the drawing room, Sisel Ridbaren got straight to the point. ”The Ivote family is finished.”

Rubia tilted her head slightly. ”They’re... finished?”

Her act of innocence wasn’t half bad.

”Yes. What kind of noble worries only about tea sets and garden decoration?” Sisel added a few pompous coughs for effect. ”Even if they’re a founding noble house, it doesn’t matter. The younger ones just haven’t caught on yet... But tell me, did you see the carriages lining up at the front gate?”

Rubia nodded. ”Yes.”

Sisel smiled. ”You’re new to the capital, right, Lady Gratie? That’s why I wanted to give you a chance. A real opportunity to pick the right side. You have to align yourself with the right people. That’s how you make life work.”

Sisel didn’t notice it, but Rubia’s expression briefly tightened. Sisel was probably thinking of the retainers in Erast as those who had chosen the wrong side.

”What an insufferable brat.”

”I agree.”

Rubia agreeing that quickly to gossip was rare.

”Let’s see if she knows anything useful.”

As Rubia began to ask questions, Sisel eagerly spilled more details. Now that Rubia had come all the way here, she seemed convinced the girl was going to join her side.

”The Ivote family has already fallen out of favor with His Majesty. They’re refusing to cooperate with war preparations.”

”War?”

”Oh, goodness. You really don’t know anything, do you? Listen carefully, I’ll explain...”

In the end, there was nothing useful. Thanks to all the information I’d been getting from Isaac and Rena, Sisel’s supposedly important statements just felt like petty gossip.

”Seems like she doesn’t know much.”

”I wasn’t expecting much, but still... she really doesn’t know anything.”

At this point, it’d be more productive to ask Rena directly.

Rubia looked disappointed. ”Thank you for the enlightening conversation. Then, I’ll take my leave...”

”No. I think you need to give me a clear answer before you go.”

Sisel blocked Rubia’s path.

Well, this is new.

Rubia didn’t seem to have anticipated this either. ”Excuse me?”

”Did you think you could just get information and leave? That’s what you do at an information shop if you’re paying. It’s obvious which side is winning, so why are you acting like you’re just weighing your options?”

”Want me to take her out?”

”No, I’ll hear her out.”

Rubia calmly said, ”Let’s say I do choose your side. What’s in it for me?”

”Your life, for starters. And a connection to our family who will be at the top after the war. Isn’t that enough compensation?”

”What the hell is she saying?”

”She means she’ll let me live.”

”And what exactly do you want from me in return?”

”It’s simple. Just give some unfavorable testimony about the Ivote family.”

Ridiculous. Count Ridbaren might be a skilled manipulator, but his daughter is a mess.

”I’m not good at lying.”

Maybe not the kinds of lies she didn’t want to tell.

Rubia could skillfully mimic Lady Gratie, but it was still a clear refusal.

”What?! Are you mocking House Ridbaren right now?”

Her tantrum made the whole thing feel like some childish roleplay. A sense of artificiality radiated throughout the entire space.

”Let’s get out of here.”

There was no reason to keep entertaining these fakes.

To get to the truth, we’ll need to go ahead with Rena’s plan to steal the Lurium.

Rubia said to Sisel, ”Perhaps we’ll meet again.”

”Wait!” Sisel shouted.

Clink!

Two large maids entered the room.

”You called, my lady?”

Sisel ordered the maids. ”Seize her.”

They moved without hesitation, clearly used to this kind of order. I was about to step in to help when Rubia grabbed the maids’ outstretched arms and twisted them sideways.

Crack!

”Aaagh!”

Both maids were flung aside in an instant.

What did I just witness?