"To think my dear little brother actually defeated the monster causing chaos throughout the kingdom! Oh, how proud I am right now. To think that my brother, who was once a weak boy, has turned into such a brave hero!"
Kayden froze.
'…'
'Wait, they know? Shit!'
He saw Eldric nodding his head, his eyes still somber.
Then Selene patted Kayden's head, wiping a nonexistent tear from her eye and sniffled like she had a runny nose.
"This sister of yours is so proud of you, little brother."
This was a problem. A real problem. These people, especially Eldric, knew about the village and his involvement.
He could play it off as if he was randomly there and saw the black smoke or something, deciding to investigate, but that would drag him and his family into unnecessary trouble.
Kayden's face darkened, but Selene didn't notice, nor did the bystanders.
"H-how long was I out?"
Kayden asked, dropping his head into his hands.
He was sure hours must have gone by and the news must've already spread throughout the kingdom.
'This is a real problem.'
'Tsk, tsk.'
"Twenty minutes, young master."
Eldric replied.
"Oh? Just twenty minutes?"
Eldric nodded his head.
'Does that mean…?'
His face brightened quickly but he quickly darkened it, feigning sadness, preferably because of the village.
He needed to think fast, but Selene's enthusiastic praise and the others' solemn faces left him feeling cornered.
"Have you contacted the authorities yet?"
Kayden asked, hoping there was still time to contain the situation.
Eldric dropped his head, looking ashamed.
"N-no. You...uh...you were the only one alive, and bringing you to safety was my first priority..."
'Wow, such a noble knight.'
Kayden sneered internally.
'But honestly, it is a good thing he found me, or else, whoever found me there would have started a whole lot of headaches.'
"I-I should contact the Thornhill Duchy immediately. The dead should at least have proper burials...I should also contact the Crown...The Gentle Cloaks...th-they are also..."
Eldric was stammering crazily, and it was understandable.
'He must've convinced himself the incident wasn't true at all but after I woke up, he must've came to reality...'
'Tsk, tsk.'
Sometimes when something big happens that's out of the norm, people tend to deny its existence and try to convince themselves it's not real.
But reality can only be run away from for a certain amount of time.
Eldric was feeling it for the second time now. The first was when the love of his life was abducted, a fact he didn't accept at all.
The second was now, when he saw the mangled flesh that was once living, breathing beings.
He was now feeling the truth.
"..."
"..."
The room went silent.
'Now, how shall I deal with these people?'
"You should contact the Crown, Ser Eldric. My sister can inform the Thornhill Duchy through my father."
He looked at both of them, and they nodded in understanding. Even Selene remained silent, aware of the situation's delicacy.
"Th-then I'll be on my way. Young master, may we meet again."
Eldric bowed and was about to leave when he heard Kayden's voice.
"Ser Eldric?"
"Yes, young master?"
Eldric turned around.
"How many people know about this incident?"
"Only the four of us, young master."
"Then I'd like to remove myself from the incident if possible. Can you do that, Ser Eldric?"
"...But..."
"I know, I know... You have many questions for me, but I assure you, the next time we meet, I can answer you. For now, please do not involve me in any way."
Eldric seemed hesitant but then nodded, a determined look on his face.
In his mind, the young master had already asked for his help, but he had refused it, and now an entire village with the heroes of this kingdom lay dead.
All because he thought it was useless to help a rich, delinquent young master while he was searching for the love of his life that may or may not be alive.
'I should hear the young master before deciding to report his involvement to the Crown.'
Eldric thought.
"Of course, young master."
"Thank you, Ser Eldric. May we meet again."
"I hope so, too."
With those words, the tall man disappeared, his footsteps echoing as he walked down the stairs.
Kayden sighed in relief.
There was no way he wanted anyone to know about his involvement in the incident.
Already four people knew he was somehow connected to it.
If word got out, instead of being praised as a hero like Selene and Eldric had done, he'd likely be branded the villain.
Given his reputation, Kayden would more likely be labeled as the man who conspired with the monster to destroy the kingdom rather than the man who fought and defeated it.
'I don't want a scandal involving my name.'
'Tsk, tsk.'
But a problem would arise if he didn't provide a convincing story for Eldric.
'Darn it. What a mess.'
Kayden shook his head, feeling exhausted.
He looked at the people surrounding him. Rose and her father, Jack, were looking at him expectantly, waiting for him to speak. The white-haired, blue-eyed woman sitting beside him was smiling—a smile that was both familiar and strange to him. She slowly stood up, leaned in for a quick hug, and whispered in his ear.
"I know what type of man you are, dear brother."
'...'
Kayden was silent, the words resonating deeply. That statement was powerful.
"Heroism? Saving the world? What? We are not heroes. We are humans who just want to live wealthy and happy. We don't care about the villagers or anything at all. We only care about our family, that's all, right?"
Kayden was beginning to like this girl. Despite being rowdy and loud, her head was clear, and she understood the real world.
'Ah, someone with at least a semblance of brains in a fantasy novel like this... She's a proper noble indeed.'
'Good work, author.'
Kayden gave a thumbs-up in his heart before patting her shoulder and saying,
"Indeed, sister. Indeed."
"Hehe. But I want answers, brother, which I will get one way or another. But later, of course."
Selene pulled back from the hug and looked into her younger brother's eyes for a moment, smiling.
It seemed like she was searching for something in his crimson eyes.
"Take care of yourself, little brother. Don't worry about the village or the monster. None will know about your involvement. I promise."
Kayden could only nod. Selene's words were filled with assurance, as if she was confident nobody would ever know about his connection to the incident.
"Right, Mr. Father and Ms. Daughter?"
Selene addressed the duo behind her, sparing them only a glance. The duo nodded vigorously.
Kayden was amused to see the grumpy old Captain Jack acting so submissively, almost like a puppy in front of Selene.
'Is this woman even the daughter of the Ashbournes with this rowdy personality? Well, it's a good thing, anyway.'
Selene then walked out of the room. She was heading straight to Castle Ashbourne to inform the authorities about the incident.
Since it didn't affect her directly, Kayden was sure his new older sister would take her sweet time to arrive at the castle and report the matter.
How will she present it?
Well, nobody has the guts to question her about it.
If she says she has her sources, then the others are forced to believe she indeed has a source and are not to question her at all.
After Selene left, Captain Peg Leg Jack gnashed his teeth and grumpily sat on Kayden's bed.
"What the hell is happening, brat, huh?"
The retired man demanded, pointing a meaty finger at Kayden.
Kayden found it amusing; Jack's dwarven lineage was quite evident in his finger's size.
The aloof young master raised an eyebrow.
"You— That man who just left here is the Morning Star, the infamous knight of the king. Do ya have any idea what would happen to us if he knows this tavern is run by criminals, eh, boy?"
Kayden frowned and looked at the woman leaning casually against the wall. She had her arms crossed and was smiling, watching the scene.
She was undeniably beautiful, albeit a bit crazy in the head.
But then again, you can't be a charming dancer without being an attractive woman first.
"What would've happened if he found out I was the legendary and infamous and the most powerful and wealthiest pirate, Captain Peg Leg Jack, huh? That we were the ones that abdu—"
"Jack..."
Kayden interrupted, done with hearing Jack's self-praise.
Jack looked at Kayden angrily, not used to being cut off.
"What, brat?"
"Shut up."
Kayden simply said.
The grumpy captain's mouth opened wide before shutting up with a few mumblings.
Rose giggled from behind, and Jack cast an angry look at her, which she countered with a sneer.
"He knows, Jack. Eldric knows this tavern is full of criminals."
Both father and daughter's eyes widened in shock.
"You think a knight like Eldric cannot identify petty criminals? He can figure out what type of crimes you committed just by looking at your facial expressions. That's the kind of man he is."
"Th-then why didn't he kill us?"
Jack stammered.
Kayden frowned at Jack's wording.
'Why would he kill you? Were you the one who abducted his wife?'