Chapter 49

49. Ant Nest (9)

I spoke to Caron, who still wore a dissatisfied expression.

"Hehe, do you still not believe me?"

"......Of course not."

"I see. But this is a problem that can be solved very simply if you just change your perspective a little."

"What is it?"

"Believing that what I say is true. Wouldn't that prove my existence simply?"

A child who dreamed of becoming a palace rat of the Lester family.

Renia made a mysterious deal with that boy and taught him the family's secret techniques.

One day, the Lester family was wiped out, and everything was in chaos.

If it were a being who lived for revenge?

"......There's no evidence, is there?"

His tone suggested that he could not accept it.

But there was clear evidence.

Evidence that Caron could not deny.

"Hehe, didn't you see Ilseum? Do you need a more convincing proof than that?"

Ilseum, who was far superior to Luna.

There was no other explanation except that he had received direct instruction.

After a moment, Caron spoke.

"......Barely passed."

"Excuse me?"

"I knew you were related to the Lester family long ago. I was just testing whether you could bear the weight of it."

That was what Caron said, but to me, it seemed like he was just trying to act cool.

'Barely passed? ... You resorted to violence because you had no other choice.'

Anyway, the first battle between the old rat and the empire's palace rat ended with the old rat's perfect victory.

But I wasn't going to stop here.

"Let's make a deal."

"A deal?"

"Yes, exchanging the information we each have. Preferably something that will be mutually beneficial."

"What? Hahaha!!"

Caron started laughing, his lips twisting.

It was a clear mockery. Why?

"Do you think the level of information you have will be of any help to me?"

The value of information.

And the gap in the information we each possessed.

The value of the information held by Caron, who operates in the shadows of the empire, and a mere fifteen-year-old like me.

There is a huge gap between the two.

If I weren't an old rat, that is.

"Hasn't there been a leak in the sewer recently?"

He paused.

The smile vanished from Caron's face.

He must have been shocked, not even trying to hide his expression.

The sewer.

A place where information, like food waste, is mixed and palace rats constantly come and go.

It was a euphemism for the empire's intelligence department, which Caron manages.

'You dare to act superior in front of an old rat?'

Especially with information?

If I revealed all the information I know, Caron would be stunned.

The information an old rat possesses is terrifying.

"......I don't understand what you're saying."

Hmm~ Are you going to play it that way?

I muttered as I passed by Caron.

"Then I have no choice. I'll have to discard this information......"

"......Go ahead and spill it. It's probably just a rough fabrication anyway."

Caron grabbed me.

The leak in the sewer means there is a rat stealing information among the palace rats.

A rat in the intelligence department, the empire's intelligence department?

If a traitor cannot be expelled, it will lead to a major disaster.

"It's Huse. He's been providing information to the black mages."

Caron frowned.

Not only because the recipient of the information is not good,

But more so because I know the name of the secret agent, which is a highly confidential piece of information.

'Even at that time, Caron had already noticed that there was a leak.'

He just hadn't identified who it was.

In the game, he finds out around the end of the first chapter, so telling him now won't cause any major problems.

'And he won't take action until he finds concrete evidence of Huse's betrayal.'

Caron must have his own list of suspects.

I'm just giving a hand.

There shouldn't be a significant butterfly effect that changes the future.

"Where did you get this information from?"

Of course.

"Hehe, it's a secret."

"......"

Caron didn't get angry.

Not revealing the source of information is a basic rule for intelligence agents.

This was probably also a way to gauge my level.

"A deal......"

Caron muttered.

My request to trade the information we each have.

At first, he thought it was a boring joke, but upon closer inspection, it turned out to be quite valuable.

It's not unreasonable for him to be hesitant.

Information can vary in value from worthless to priceless.

But sometimes, information can be more valuable than life itself.

'He must be hesitating because he understands this value.'

Because he doesn't know what kind of butterfly effect trading information might cause.

It's not good for the hesitation to drag on.

I decided to help him out.

To build a relationship of trust, I needed to know Caron's secrets.

"Hehe, I'll give this information as a service."

"......Service?"

"Yes, it's something you can't do without in a business relationship. Especially for the first deal."

After all, from Caron's perspective, it's not certain that my information is genuine.

This much is enough to gain his trust.

Only then did Caron nod.

"It would be wise not to think of running away."

He means that I didn't spread false information to get out of a crisis.

Of course, he seems to think the probability of that is low.

Moreover,

"Hehe, I have confidence in my information, so I won't run. You'll keep an eye on me anyway, right?"

Having someone keep an eye on me.

Was it that obvious to me?

Caron didn't even pretend to be surprised.

Instead,

He chuckled.

A genuine laugh, not an act.

It was unbelievable. Caron, laughing.

"You dreamed of being a palace rat...... But you're at least a baby rat."

A baby rat?

A rat smaller than a rat?

Well, it seems I passed the test.

"We've wasted too much time. I'll hurry back."

"Hehe, I don't know if the children are okay. Isn't that right, Mr. Caron?"

"......Stop grinning. The term 'Mr. Caron' gives me the creeps. When did you start using it?"

Did I?

The psychological battle was too intense, and I don't even remember.

Well, it was probably the result of the [Ograt tone] spitting out appropriate words for the situation.

"Hehe, it's a misunderstanding."

"......"

"Then what should I call you? You? Palace rat? Or...... Respected senior?"

"......"

"I see. Senior is better. I'm a baby rat recognized by a senior, after all."

Caron's expression darkened.

"If you call me senior one more time, I'll break your neck."

"Then Sir Caron?"

Thud!

Crash!

Caron's sudden kick.

Strangely, it didn't hurt. It meant he didn't intend to injure me.

Caron said to me, who was pinned to the wall.

"Roll more."

"Excuse me?"

"That side just had a fierce battle, didn't it? If your clothes are clean, it will raise unnecessary suspicion."

We need to pretend we were in the tunnel from the beginning.

For that, we need to disguise ourselves.

-That was Caron's thought.

The problem is, it's not a sufficient reason for the kick?

I raised my thumb.

"Is that so? You are indeed a senior."

"......This time, I'll help you specially."

Then he started rolling me around.

With his feet, not his hands. Very meticulously.

'What did I do wrong?'

Did I torment Luna?

Did I lie?

Did I threaten anyone?

Did I not treat you with senior respect?

All four?

That's a misunderstanding.

A pure person like me couldn't have done such bad things.

"Your face is too clean."

Caron smeared mud on my face.

Is he laughing?

"Hehe, you look like you're enjoying it."

"It's a misunderstanding."

Ah, I see.

A misunderstanding.

Indeed, this guy is the root of all evil.

* * *

I returned to the tunnel with Caron.

Timing the exit from the illusionary magic circle was easy.

Caron provided the appropriate timing.

A perfect timing that even the instructors didn't notice.

"Move the seriously injured this way!"

"Move the moderately injured this way!"

The instructors and children were busy moving the injured.

The battle seemed to be over.

The bodies of ants scattered throughout the tunnel testified to the fierce battle.

"Be careful not to draw attention. Act like a palace rat."

"But I'm a baby rat, right?"

"......"

I could feel Caron's glare.

Yeah, if you don't look, it's fine~.

What can you do in a place with so many people?

"And one more thing......"

I strained to listen, but the rest of his words didn't reach me.

What is it? A new type of phishing to make me turn my head?

I tried hard not to turn my head.

But I couldn't help it.

Because shocking words came out of Caron's mouth.

"Don't get too close to Luna."

"......?"

Is that your taste? What's the age difference?

I looked at Caron with a disdainful gaze.

My disappointment in the character of Caron grew.

"......It seems you're misunderstanding something."

"......It's a misunderstanding."

Swoosh.

But my body was honest.

My body moved away from Caron.

"......It's a real misunderstanding."

"Clarify it in the noble court. It seems to be a mess already."

"We made a deal! I also made a deal with Renia!"

Caron shouted desperately.

A deal with the head of the Lester family?

"What kind of deal?"

"......It's a secret."

Wow, you're using my tone?

This guy is really shameless.

"Zero!!"

Just as I was about to corner Caron.

Luna appeared and shouted.

If it wasn't for her voice, I wouldn't have noticed it was Luna.

Her hair was a mess.

Her face was covered with dried tears and snot.

Her body was stained with green fluid.

"Zero!"

Luna... no, the green monster, ran over and hugged me.

Yeah, that's right. I'm supposed to become a green monster too?

"This idiot! Where were you!"

"Hehe, I was struggling to survive. But it seems I've come this far."

"Are there any ants left? Where? Where?"

You've become a green monster, haven't you?

And even if you hadn't, I feel like I'm going to die, Luna.

Gleam.

Caron's eyes seemed to be trying to kill me.

"You idiot! Fool! Clumsy! Haaaaa!"

But Luna didn't move an inch away from me.

She just hugged me tightly and cried.

"Sir Caron! There are three seriously injured!"

"Tsk! Wait. I'll check them myself."

Caron left us, clicking his tongue.

But his head was still turned towards us.

What is that monster? Can assassins bend their necks 180 degrees?

"Miss Luna, could you please let go......"

"No! You idiot!"

The children were whispering that it was a good time.

The worst situation, having been marked by Caron.

But still, the fact that someone was worried about me.

Wasn't a bad feeling.