met free Episode 271.1
Episode 271.1
Episode 271.1
(EP-271.1) #3
271 – Reconciliation #3
Reinhardt asked me.
What would remain of me if not for the titles the Queen? There was only one answer.
“The truth.”
“The truth? How unabashedly you speak of it. Amusing.”
“......”
I am quite perceptive.
If I weren’t, I would have already stumbled and fallen somewhere along the way. You could say my intuition was sharp.
From what I can tell, everything that has transpired was undoubtedly part of Reinhardt’s plan and design.
He had his people capture me and used the excuse of a strange illness to stick that swab up my nose.
It was a message—a challenge or perhaps a warning.
Something like, ‘I know who you really are. And I can kill you anytime I want.’
It seems that Elga, for some reason and through some process, had revealed my identity to Reinhardt.
Perhaps information was leaked during the process of examining the red magic. Elga wasn’t really good at being sneaky, so it wouldn’t be surprising if she was discovered somewhere along the way.
「You have calmly judged the situation!
You have gained experience points through the talent 《Calm Thinking》.
All job experience +5」
It had been a while since Calm Thinking was triggered.
And it served as a sign that my thoughts were correct. Who would have thought that being exposed by Elga would snowball into something so big?
It was my fault for underestimating Elga’s proactive attitude and suspicions.
I have no one to blame but myself.
At that moment, Reinhardt spoke.
“There is much to be said. But neither of us enjoys long discussions, so let’s keep it brief. Step aside.”
“Step aside, you say?”
“My father and the Lioness expanded our military forces even further, increasing our number of troops. And lastly, the witches of Tarantera...”
He started to say something but then abruptly clamped his lips shut. As I tried to understand what he was about to speak, he continued.
“The Demon King is alive.”
I couldn’t help but laugh from deep within my gut.
“...Lord Reinhardt, do you seriously believe Opal’s nonsense? I never imagined you were such a sentimental person.”
“It’s not nonsense. The Demon King is alive. That’s why we fear his revenge. That’s why we’ve sought power, even through the most forbidden means.”
“Revenge...”
“So, once again, I ask you. You can even call it a plea. Stop poking the hornet’s nest. That path only leads to ruin.”
There was a certain sincerity in Reinhardt’s voice. He was genuinely asking me to quit everything and simply live a peaceful life.
However.
I couldn’t stop now.
“Lord Reinhardt, I truly appreciate your offer, but I want to understand the meaning of my life.”
If there’s an effect, there’s a cause.
I’ve always wanted to know why I’m going through these things.
Should I say that there’s always been this strange feeling? That my being in this position was no mere coincidence.
You could call it childish, like the fantasies of a child.
But this was the very concept and foundation that has driven and sustained me this far. Now that it feels like the end was finally in sight, there’s no way I can stop here.
So I said to Reinhardt.
“At the end of this path, I feel like I might finally understand that meaning. The answer to so many questions.”
“The meaning of life...”
Reinhardt suddenly burst into laughter. It didn’t seem like he was mocking me, but rather, he was reacting as if he had heard something amusing or nostalgic.
“There was a time when I said those exact words to someone. But in the end, he didn’t listen to me. He gave the same answer you just did.”
He finally turned around and grabbed the sword on the desk.
“If it were that Aleister, perhaps... But in the end, trying to persuade someone like this doesn’t suit me. A lion has its ways.”
Schwing—.