I Became a Sick Nobleman-Chapter 200: Variables (3)

***

They stepped through the door and found themselves inside a carriage prepared by shadows. Since the carriage was a temporary one, it concealed any hint of ownership. Despite this, Ruel insisted on using the carriage. By riding in it, he could conceal the existence of the door from the Great Man. Furthermore, it was to make him doubt the Red Ash’s intelligence network, which had failed to notice that he had come all the way to the neutral zone.

‘Naturally, there will be confusion in the information.’

And finally, to keep the Great Man’s attention focused on him so that he could buy time to dismantle the magic circle and bring the curtain down on the stage.

“Uncle.”

-Yes, Ruel.

Tyson switched their communication from video to voice as Ruel requested.

“Please signal me when it’s done. I’ll do the same.”

-Understood.

Ruel inhaled Breath as he listened to Tyson’s response. Ruel did not end the communication with Tyson. As he stroked Leo, he thought, ‘All the pieces are moving, and if I take action in this chaotic situation, it would be complete chaos on the Great Man’s part.’

From the Great Man’s perspective, various events were happening almost simultaneously.

“Ruel, the shadows are ready at any time,” Cassion announced. Regardless of the situation, Ruel was always the priority. Ruel explained that the Great Man was not yet ready to take his body. Even Cassion could see that this was right. Ruel’s body would be taken only when the magic circle had been activated.

“Alright.” Ruel nodded. Although he would go to the Beast Forest to become the variable, he knew the real variable was elsewhere.

‘The lifespan of Mayre and the aftermath of the Great Man acquiring a body, those are the real variables, right?’

Ruel had prepared well enough to handle those variables. He hoped that things would turn out as intended. No, he just wished for at least half of the intended effect. As he briefly reflected on his long and short journey, Ruel steeled his resolve.

‘I can do this. I’ll handle it just like before.’

Repeating these words in his mind, a smile graced Ruel’s lips.

“As you know, I will directly confront the Great Man now.” Ruel’s gaze shifted to Aris and Noah, seated opposite him. Noah appeared tense, his anxiety palpable.

Ruel chuckled softly. “As discussed at the Spirits’ house, our end goal is a safe escape to Leponia. Along the way, we may face minor clashes with the Great Man.”

“I’m ready,” Aris affirmed with resolve.

Ruel hesitated momentarily at Aris’s unwavering determination. “I… won’t be able to protect you. I might collapse quickly using the power to control the monsters. So you all must survive on your own.”

“Are you serious?” Noah’s flippant remark made Ruel glare sharply. This was no time for jokes.

“Isn’t it a joke? You’re really telling us to survive on our own? Usually, at times like this, Ruel-nim would say, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.’ Isn’t that right?”

At Noah’s dissatisfied remark, Ruel scoffed.

“How can I?” Seeing Ruel’s pale complexion, Noah lost his words, swallowing the complaint he had been about to make.

“No, I mean, that’s just the way it is. …Ah! Anyway, that’s too much.”

—Ruel, Ruel! Don’t worry! This body will protect you!

A bright smile appeared on Leo’s face, earning a laugh from Ruel.

“Anyway, Cassion, Aris, I entrust the aftermath to you,” Ruel stated, having shared the full plan with them.

“Understood.”

“Yes, leave it to us!” Unlike Cassion’s bland response, Aris’s clenched fist conveyed his commitment more than words could.

Ruel inhaled Breath and looked out the window. Seeing the scenery after a long time, Ruel calmly let his tension subside.

‘I’ll leave the rest to my people, just like before.’

Leo’s eyes rolled around. Although Ruel’s tension was palpable, Leo simply brushed his cheek against his to avoid disrupting his thoughts. Ruel looked at his reflection in the window.

‘Good thing my expression looks the same as usual.’

Given the circumstances, it was too early to relax just because the Great Man seemed unprepared to take his body. If the Great Man sensed something was off and activated the magic circle, it would be over.

Ruel understood the Great Man’s terror better than anybody else, without the need for Cassion or Aris to intervene. However, he was the only one who could capture the Great Man’s attention. The discovery was extremely disappointing, and he nearly resented it. Who doesn’t want to avoid simply sitting back and giving orders?

“Ruel-nim!” Cassion’s interruption as they approached the neutral zone made Ruel’s heart skip a beat. What news did Cassion bring?

Maintaining his composure, Ruel inquired, “What is it?”

“The shadows spotted Prince Treitol, or someone resembling him.”

“What was he doing?”

“He was sitting calmly, drinking tea.”

“Alone?”

“Yes, he is completely alone. He’s been there for an hour, according to the latest report.”

‘Someone couldn’t eat because they were so worried, but you can drink tea well because you feel like everything will be in your hands soon, don’t you?’

Ruel snorted in disbelief.

“Alright. Instruct the shadows to keep a close watch.”

“Understood.”

“Ruel-nim.” Aris spoke.

“Yes, speak.”

“A small amount of mana is needed for communication, but if it accumulates, it could become significant. I can connect with Tyson on your behalf.”

“No, this is fine. We don’t know how the Great Man will appear, so you should conserve your mana.”

Ruel turned his gaze towards Noah, who seemed anxious under his scrutiny. “Why so jittery?”

“Your expression suggests you’re about to assign me a task.”

“Correct. You caught on,” Ruel affirmed, finding a task suitable for Noah.

“Cassion and Aris may not have the time to look around due to their concern for me. But you, on the other hand…”

“W-what do you mean? If something happens to you, it affects me too. I worry a lot about you, Ruel-nim…”

“People don’t change that quickly,” Ruel interrupted Noah’s words.

Noah’s voice stiffened, betraying his attempt to deceive. Leo couldn’t help but giggle at the

exchange.

“If Prince Treitol appears, your task is to attack him,” Ruel commanded, causing Noah to break into a cold sweat at the daunting assignment.

“Ruel-nim, although I may be stronger than you, I lack the ability to handle such a task.”

“Who said you had to fight him?”

“Then what am I supposed to do?”

“We need to experiment. Cassion, do you have the powder?”

“I do,” Cassion confirmed, taking out two pouches—one belonging to the warlock and the other a new creation by Tyson. Despite being a devotee of darkness and a mutant who controlled death, he was, in the end, dead. Perhaps these powders would be effective.

Ruel signaled for Cassion to pass those pouches to Noah, who looked puzzled.

“Cassion will protect you. Use these for shooting,” Ruel instructed.

“Seriously? Just shoot it?”

“Yes. That’s your specialty.”

“Cassion-nim…” Noah contorted his expression to the point of looking pitiful as he glanced at Cassion.

“I can’t guarantee anything. But I’ll keep you alive.”

The enemy’s strength was undetermined. Thus, Cassion did not make any guarantees. But Noah smiled brightly. As long as he stayed alive, that was enough.

“But remember, Noah, prioritize your own safety. If things get tough, retreat,” Ruel emphasized.

“Understood. I’ll safeguard my life at all costs,” Noah affirmed.

“Excellent mindset,” Ruel commended with a satisfied smile before inhaled Breath.

***

“Stop,” Ruel ordered, halting the carriage instantly.

The monsters were seen gathering and moving somewhere. Their behavior was systematic, as if they were following orders.

‘That path the monsters are heading towards might be where Setiria is.’

Ruel continued to observe the monsters as he got out of the carriage. The Beast Forest looked even more eerie today.

“We move,” Ruel directed, prompting Cassion, Aris, and Noah to follow.

“This is my first time in the Beast Forest. It’s as strange as I heard, and I hope to never return,” Noah remarked, looking disdainful at the peculiar plants around them.

—This body is no longer afraid.

Leo was in Ruel’s arms but, unlike before, he didn’t tremble and pricked up his ears, watching his surroundings like a guard. Only Aris was nervous.

“Look, a watcher has appeared.” Ruel remarked with a smile.

The monsters seemed to notice their presence and circled around them. Ruel deliberately instructed Cassion not to chase the monsters away. The monsters who saw them would report to Setiria who controlled them, and that report would soon reach the ears of the Great Man.

“I want to eliminate them now,” Cassion said, frustrated with the hostile monsters despite their distance.

“Endure it. They’re going to report to their master now.”

Three corpses of Setiria had been dug up. There was a high possibility that all three were in the Beast Forest in Leponia. Even if one of them was Ruel Setiria’s father, there was no reason for Ruel to hesitate. He simply wanted the Great Man’s connection severed, making it easier if they were all gathered in one place.

“Let’s follow them,” Ruel directed as the monsters moved, signaling their departure.

***

Thud.

Treitol set down his teacup as he listened to the words of the Setirias being relayed to him.

‘Ruel Setiria in the Beast Forest?’

Treitol’s face hardened. A variable had emerged. Ruel, a persistent thorn in his side, had now emerged as a significant variable.

‘Doesn’t Ruel hold the reins of the three countries now?’

The board he had set up was being shaken significantly. All because of the mere existence of Ruel Setiria. But he had come to the Beast Forest. If he really wanted to break the board he had created, he should have gone to the base of the mad warlock instead of the Beast Forest right now.

There, he should have created evidence to further endanger Kran and made it appear that Cyronian and the mad warlock were colluding, causing Leponia to break the alliance with both countries. Wasn’t he wasting this great opportunity?

‘Why?’

Why did he come here at this time?

Treitol mused, his fingers toying with the cup.

‘Did he find out that my body is in the Beast Forest?’

No way. He already knew Ruel was monitoring him. That was why he had set a trap using Mayre before proceeding with his plans. But Ruel hadn’t moved.

‘He held back?’

That was nonsense. If he had met the king and heard all the facts, it would be all the more ridiculous. Knowing what would happen if he found even one of his bodies. Since the rest were thought to be safely sealed in Leponia, the biggest variable for Ruel was his body sealed in the Beast Forest. Conversely, that body was like a task that he must obtain.

‘But he’s holding back?’

No matter how many times he thought about it, it didn’t make sense.

Tap. Tap.

Treitol’s hand, which had been lightly tapping the table, came to a stop. Treitol realized after a moment of thought that there was no wizard strong enough to use Warp by his side. Ruel had not met the ‘King,’ and even if he had, it wouldn’t change the inevitable outcome that Treitol had planned for.

‘He tried to shake me, but he failed.’

-What should I do?

The voice of the Setiria under his control echoed in his head.

“Just watch. Observe what happens and report back.”

-Understood.

Treitol smiled wryly and rolled up his sleeves. All the spots disappeared. It seemed Ruel had somehow gathered every last ounce of power he had scattered. Now his body was perfect. It was ripe for the taking.

‘How long have I waited for this?’

Is it a problem if the board is shaken in this situation? After all, all the preparations are complete. Hadn’t Ruel come to the Beast Forest on his own? Now he would return to his homeland, Setiria, and begin the ‘purification’ he hadn’t been able to carry out in the past. Treitol took another sip of tea. Slowly closing his eyes, he savored the bitter taste of the tea on his tongue.

‘This is nice. It would be just right to drink this tea when everything is over.’

Heroes were fleeting existences that existed when there was evil. For the sake of peace, they fought through any pain, even if it meant losing their arms or being cut down. But when evil disappeared, he was left not as a hero but as a potential evil. They were afraid of his power, which had surpassed even the demons who were meant to destroy the world.

“Please, I beg you. I will do anything, just leave this country.”

Despite the king’s past support during times of need, he now faced expulsion instead of gratitude.

“Why is it just you who survived? Why are you the only one unharmed?!”

His survival was a torment for someone who had lost their family.

“Lord Declin, I understand the injustices you face. But you must always act with integrity. Your influence now extends far beyond that of a mere hero.”

He couldn’t even go outside freely, let alone be cautious around those close to him.

“Son, how about living quietly in hiding until the world forgets you?”

Why should he stay in hiding? Why was he treated like a criminal after saving the world? Of course, not everyone viewed him in that light. However, once rage erupted, it would never subside.

In that moment, he forgot his purpose and the reason he became a hero. The pain endured through cycles of life and death paled in comparison. If the peace he had fought for was deemed unjust, perhaps it did not deserve to be preserved. If they labelled him as evil, then evil he would become. Treitol opened his eyes, a soft chuckle escaping his lips.

‘So much time has passed, yet the memories feel so vivid.’

The frustration and deep sense of betrayal he had felt then had already buried itself in time. But the anger. Only anger became the driving force that moved him. This peace was his achievement; this tranquility was the result of his sacrifices. If the world had cast him aside, shouldn’t he reclaim what he had given? Treitol savored his tea leisurely.

***

‘Woa.’

Ruel held his breath as soon as he caught sight of the figure he presumed to be Trino Setiria.

‘Is that Trino Setiria?’

Ruel wiped the blood from his nose.

-Ruel.

At the gentle voice echoing in his head, Ruel knew who it was.

‘I severed the connection with two of them, but…’

For once, he felt unsure of himself. Ruel had manipulated the monsters to find out the location of the Setirias. He had sprinkled the powder from the Black Wayfinder to sever the connection with the two Setirias whose names he did not know.

But unlike before, the Beast Forest hadn’t changed even a little bit. He was curious about the reason, and the answer was right in front of him. Only Trino Setiria had used the black water. He was the core that had corrupted the Beast Forest in Leponia.

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