IHDOE Ch 53

Gaining Fame was hardly a bad thing regardless.

[Knight] "Still, we can't leave everything to My Lady alone."

[Knight] "Indeed. We are knights of House Bersabet as well."

I'm fine, though.

She rejected their offers several times, but the knights refused to back down. If others learned they dumped all the work onto her, shame would keep them from showing their faces in public.

After a brief back-and-forth, she reached a conclusion.

It's easier to just give them some random task to get rid of them.

[Satina] "Hmm... Then could you conduct an investigation for me?"

Gathering information about the plague came first. She recalled Tyron's sharp words from earlier.

[Tyron] "The West isn't generous enough to feed and house a noble lady who contributes nothing to battle. If you figure out the plague's identity slower than my investigators, I'm kicking you out of this fortress."

Petty bastard.

Regardless of his vile personality, Satina acknowledged his competence. An illegitimate son once ignored by his own family didn't earn recognition as the rightful heir and took charge of the West Fortress by sheer coincidence. The moment the plague broke out, he undoubtedly deployed investigators.

Fine, let's play. I have AI and game knowledge on my side. Do you really think I'll just leave quietly like you want?

To win, she needed the fortress' exact situation—when the plague began spreading and what symptoms patients displayed.

The information Tyron hid and refuses to tell me. I need that information.

The knights nodded eagerly at her request.

[Knight] "An investigation? Understood."

[Knight] "Leave it to us!"

They departed immediately to gather intel from other soldiers and knights stationed at the West Fortress. The results, however, were disastrous.

[Knight] "We are deeply sorry, My Lady. We learned nothing."

"I-I know nothing!"

"Ahem, well... I don't remember clearly either."

Humiliation washed over the knights' faces for failing such a simple task. If word of this failure reached Sharlan...

[Knight] "We will willingly accept any punishment."

They bowed. Failure to solve their master's assignment could cost them their heads.

Satina offered a gentle smile instead of a scolding.

[Satina] "No, you did well."

I knew they wouldn't bring back proper information anyway.

Having no expectations meant feeling no disappointment. To the knights, however, her reaction carried a completely different meaning.

Is she forgiving us?

Lady Rebecca would have shrieked and hurled curses at us.

Lady Satina really is different.

[Satina] "I'll handle this matter myself, so stand by and take care of your health for now."

[Knight] "Understood!"

Once the knights exited the room, Katan stepped forward.

[Katan] "What will you do now? Shall I attempt the questioning?"

[Satina] "It'd be the same even if you tried."

Tyron had undoubtedly muzzled everyone to prevent any intel from reaching her ears. When it came to tormenting her, his mind worked far too well.

[Katan] "It doesn't matter. I need only make it impossible for them to remain silent."

[Satina] "Are you going to torture them?"

[Katan] "Torture has always been an efficient method for gathering information."

[Satina] "Forget it."

[Katan] "If you dislike seeing blood, other methods exist. Using water allows us to handle it quietly without causing a commotion, so don't worry."

[Satina] "Water...? Like dunking them in and out...?"

Images of noir movies where traitors were dunked in water flashed through her mind.

[Katan] "That method requires a large tank and inevitably creates noise, making it unsuitable for Master's current situation. Placing a wet towel over the face or pouring water into the eyes would be more fitting."

[Satina] "Pouring water into their eyes?"

[Katan] "Yes. It inflicts pain without leaving evidence, and it isn't fatal. I can keep them alive until Master obtains the desired information."

Just imagining it made her eyes sting.

I didn't ask for such detailed torture consultation.

Her slave had clearly lived a far harsher life than she imagined.

[Satina] "Don't tell me you've suffered through that too?"

[Katan] "I have experienced it..."

[Satina] "Have you done it to others?"

He stared at her with his usual stoic expression. Always blunt and articulate, he fell silent for that single moment. After a brief pause, he answered.

[Katan] "I don't wish to lie to Master."

So he has.

[Satina] "Why did you do it...?"

[Katan] "Because it was an order."

She realized too late how foolish her question was. As a slave, he had no other choice. Though unable to wield a sword, he possessed bare-handed combat strength capable of killing a man. For that reason, slave traders had paid a fortune to engrave a spell onto his neck—a ticking time bomb ready to detonate whenever he disobeyed orders.

[Katan] "I am a slave, Master."

He knelt before her, looking up at her.

[Katan] "So if necessary, Master may order me to do anything. I exist for that very purpose."

Then what about you? Is that what you want?

His pale face stared blankly up at her, devoid of emotion as always.

[Satina] "...Anything?"

[Katan] "Yes."

[Satina] "Without knowing what I might order?"

[Katan] "It doesn't matter. Executing Master's orders... that alone gives my existence meaning."

Lie. Had it been true, he never would have betrayed the heroine in the game.

The slave trader said Katan became a fool after suffering a high fever.

If he hadn't seemed brain-damaged, buying him would have cost ten times more.

Then again, maybe feigning brain damage from fever was his scheme all along.

A scheme to escape the slave trader. Indeed, after leaving the trader, Katan exhibited behavior far from that of a fool. He remained skilled in combat and communicated fluently.

He was someone who desperately craved freedom enough to pretend to lose his mind. His obsession with freedom was formidable. In the game, when the heroine—who treated him well—faced fatal danger, He abandoned her and fled, blinded by the chance at freedom.

Satina cupped his cheek, forcing him to meet her gaze. She recalled the day she first met him, slaughtering his opponent.

He wore this exact face back then.

She stroked his tightly set lips—rigid, unfeeling, devoid of emotion. Suddenly, she wanted to see this face break, animated with uninhibited emotion—crying or laughing as overwhelming feelings welled up inside him.

I need to raise his Affection score anyway.

[Satina] "Katan."

[Katan] "Yes."

[Satina] "This assignment is extremely dangerous. One misstep and you might die."

[Katan] "I will follow Master regardless."

[Satina] "You might suffer from the disease and end up buried on that hill over there."

[Katan] "It doesn't matter. Master is my highest priority."

[Satina] "So if we wrap this up successfully, I'll reward you."

[Katan] "A reward...?"

He was a slave who lacked even a proper name. Used to punishment for failures, he had likely never received a reward.

[Satina] "Shall I give you gold coins? Or perhaps jewels?"

Once he becomes a knight and a free man after the summer, he can use it for rent.

[Satina] "Even if it isn't money, as long as it's something I can grant, feel free to ask for anything."

[Katan] "Then... may I speak of it later?"

[Satina] "Later? Sure."

She nodded willingly. What he wanted right now was obvious—freedom from slavery.

His Affection isn't high enough yet, so he must be cautious about asking.

[Katan] "Then whom should I kidnap?"

[Satina] "Huh?"

[Katan] "You mentioned needing information. Designate a target, and I will bring them to you before the day ends."

[Satina] "No, I'm not doing that. I have a far more effective way to gather information."

[Katan] "Will you seek aid from the rat beastkin? This fortress is secluded, so that may prove difficult."

[Satina] "No, we don't need to go looking. The ones holding the information will come to us first."

Right on cue, a cautious knock sounded at the door. A broad smirk spread across Satina's lips.

[Satina] "Open it."

Katan opened the door to reveal a man wearing a low-slung hat concealing his face. As if terrified someone might spot him, he rushed into her room the instant the door opened.

[Steels] "You are Lady Satina Bersabet... correct?"

[Satina] "Yes. And who are you?"

[Steels] "I am a guard in charge of the North Gate."

[Satina] "Aha. What brings a guard to see me?"

[Steels] "Well, you see..."

At that moment, another knock echoed. Satina gestured with her eyes.

[Steels] "Wait a moment...!"

Ignoring the knight's plea, Katan opened the door.

Dressed in the exact same attire as the first knight, a woman hurried inside as if on cue. Spotting the knight who arrived before her, she gasped.

[Woman] "Steels! What are you doing here?!"

[Steels] "Shh! Someone might hear! Keep it down!"

While the two bickered, another knock sounded—marking the arrival of a third person.

Stepping inside hesitantly, the third figure froze upon seeing the first two, bowing awkwardly in greeting. Though not close, they seemed to recognize one another from passing by.

Connecting the dots, the woman spoke up.

[Woman] "Don't tell me you two..."

Clapping her hands, Satina drew the attention of all three.

[Satina] "Now, I'm sure everyone has urgent business, so let's cut the small talk."

She leaned back comfortably.

[Satina] "Since you all know who I am, why don't we start with introductions?"

---

Requested by readers—hope you enjoy it! If you do, feel free to leave a rating or review on KakaoPage, Naver Series, Ridi, and Novel Updates.