[Something Strange in the Barrow Duke Family]
[It seems something peculiar is happening in the Barrow Duke family.]
[Please verify the details.]
[Reward: ???]
[Failure: GAME OVER]
[Time Limit: Before the end of the second semester of the academy]
The moment I read the quest given by the unrefined prankster, a memory flashed in my mind of a story I heard while talking separately with the Duke of Partlan.
There had been a plea for help from the Barrow Duke family, and when I rushed there, I found that there were no issues at all.
When I heard that story from the duke, I didn't think much of it. He was the greatest wizard in the kingdom and was called the pride of the realm.
I believed that if there had been a significant problem, he wouldn’t have missed it, so I thought it must have been a mistake and moved on.
That was a mistake. He was a definite variable.
Had there been any issues with the Barrow family during the first semester break?
Was there any explanation, even as a background detail?
No. There had never been such a thing.
While there might be significant problems in one of the territories managed by the Barrow Duke family, that would occur two years after the game started.
At the very least, it would mean that nothing problematic would happen until I became a third-year student.
So, the current Barrow family should be at peace, despite some noise, but here I am, facing a problem.
A variable had arisen.
At that time, I didn’t deeply consider the meaning of this variable. I didn't want to think about it.
What a foolish girl.
I might have been tired after the events in the duke's house, but I should have checked once I rested. If I had, I might have...
“Ha.”
As I ground my teeth, I realized that lamenting wouldn’t change anything, so I brushed my hair back.
Calm down. First, I need to hear about the problem regarding Karia.
‘What’s going on?’
“Hey, old maid. Stop chatting and just explain calmly. What’s the matter?”
“I’ve heard that the Barrow Duke has fallen gravely ill. That’s why the Second Queen visited there.”
The Barrow Duke's critical condition.
He was unable to get out of bed.
His condition was so serious that even others were not allowed to visit.
Currently, the family’s doctor was treating him at the mansion, but it seems his condition wasn’t improving much.
“The Barrow Prince is also staying there to take care of his father.”
I nodded as I processed Karia’s story.
Is there any reason for the Barrow Duke's poor health?
Assuming he has no issues, aside from the mental illness caused by the sudden death of his son in an accident years ago, he shouldn’t have any problems.
Of course, in the game’s storyline, there had been issues arising due to the Barrow Duke's health.
Could there really be any problems with a man who personally leads and trains his knight order?
So, this situation was a significant deviation from what I knew.
Let’s think about it. The possibility that the Barrow Duke has become ill enough that he cannot get out of bed.
First, it’s possible that some variable caused the Barrow Duke to truly fall ill.
In that case, there would be no problem.
I could find a miracle remedy and throw it at him, or bring someone called a divine being.
However, if this were not the case, and if he had fallen ill due to someone else’s conspiracy or if he were pretending to be ill...
Either way, it was clear that verification was necessary.
With that conclusion, I looked up to see Karia smiling.
“You want me to verify it, right?”
‘Yes.’
“Does the number of wrinkles correspond to perception? You’re quite sharp.”
“Where on my face are there any wrinkles?! ...Ha. Seriously. I’ll look into it, but it’ll take some time.”
‘Will it take long?’
“What? Are your legs too weak because you’re old? Why will it take so long?”
“This is a very complicated task, Master.”
Karia explained that many were interested in uncovering the current situation inside the Barrow Duke family, but there wasn’t much meaningful information circulating.
Given how tightly the Barrow family was keeping things under wraps, it would be difficult to find information, and that meant it would take a long time, which made me uneasy.
Karia’s abilities are impressive, but I don’t think “a long time” means several months. Since the deadline is still generous, I can wait that long.
Still, I didn’t have a good feeling about it.
Look at the case of Menestale. The time limit given by the unrefined prankster was a countdown to disaster.
If the Barrow Duke family is facing such problems, then I must find a solution as quickly as possible.
The longer I delay, the closer I get to disaster, and in the worst-case scenario, I might end up with a problem that I can’t resolve with my current abilities.
“It seems urgent.”
Karia, as usual, read my expression and thought for a moment before continuing.
“I’ll do my best, but don’t get your hopes up. My connections have been largely severed, and I’ve lost most of my strength.”
‘...Is that so.’
“Ha. Don’t worry. What can you expect from an incompetent old maid?”
“Then if the situation is urgent, try to utilize your connections, Master. If you ask the people around you now, you should be able to accomplish most tasks.”
The word “connections” was something distant from me.
In my past life, I was someone who didn’t even have parents, and after coming to this world, I only fought with those around me due to my past karma, never having obtained anything through connections.
The only time I received help was during the incident with the Partlan Duke family, but I hadn’t asked for help first, right?
Given the circumstances, even when told to utilize connections, my mind was still confused.
I had no idea how to use them.
<What are you talking about? When you were tackling the Menestale dungeon, you managed to draw in those around you.>
‘That was a dungeon.’
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The Menestale issue was related to a dungeon.
As the rotten water of Soul Academy, I excel in solving dungeon-related problems.
I know better than anyone how to lead work in that area.
But now, it’s different.
The Barrow Duke family’s issues are not related to a dungeon at all.
I’m not confident in that area. So, I also don’t know how to solve the problems.
After I expressed my thoughts, the old man snorted.
<Ha. I was wondering what you were saying. Then think of it this way. There’s a dungeon called the Barrow family, and you’re trying to enter it.>
‘What do you mean by that?’
<Think about it. What you need to do now is confirm the anomalies in the Barrow family.>
‘That’s right?’
<The easiest way to do that is to gather information. However, as Karia said, it seems difficult to obtain information from others, and even if you do, it’s questionable whether that information can be trusted.>
The old man was right. If there was any way to gather information, Karia wouldn’t have said it would take a long time.
So, the information currently circulating must not be reliable.
<Then what should you do? You need to confirm the Barrow Duke family with your own eyes.>
‘...With my own eyes?’
<Yes. If you can’t trust others’ eyes, then you have to rely on your own.>
With my own eyes. So that means I would head to the Barrow family myself. I’d go there and check the anomalies.
<So think of it like this. There’s a dungeon called the Barrow family, and you’re figuring out how to open the door to that dungeon.>
Define the Barrow family as a dungeon and figure out how to enter it.
From the moment I shifted my goal to this, my overloaded brain began to turn again.
The first thing I need to consider is whether I can confirm the problems if I head to the Barrow family.
If I can’t identify the anomalies, there’s no point in entering the dungeon.
There was no need to worry about this. I am the rotten water of Soul Academy. If there is something unusual, there’s no way I wouldn’t notice.
Especially if it’s related to a dungeon.
Then comes the next issue. Is it possible for me to visit the Barrow family directly?
Can I meet the entry requirements for the dungeon?
Karia said that the Barrow Duke family is refusing all visits due to the duke’s illness.
Even if I express my intention to visit, it wouldn’t make much difference. Would they even care that a nobody like me, a wayward noble, is asking about their health?
So, what if someone other than me requests a visit and I tag along?
What if I positioned myself next to someone of a rank that would make it difficult for the Barrow Duke family to refuse?
Arthur? No, that’s too weak. A prince who is far from the succession and has no backing can’t exert pressure on the Barrow Duke family.
Faybi? She might have some potential, but asking her for help would involve the church. That would complicate things.
Benedict? I need to check on this. I don’t know if Benedict has any connections to the Barrow Duke family.
And then...
Ah.
Yes.
While I was deep in thought, I remembered the reward that the Duke of Partlan had offered me last time.
At that time, I thought I had nothing to receive, so I obtained the right to ask the Duke of Partlan for something in the future.
If I use him...
If I can accompany the Duke of Partlan to visit the Barrow Duke family and face the duke himself...
Actually, I don’t even need to meet the duke.
As long as I can enter the Barrow Duke family, confirming the anomalies won’t be difficult at all.
<Did something come to mind?>
‘Yes.’
<Then take action. If you have something to report or seek advice about, let me know.>