The battle, which had erupted somewhat suddenly, grew hotter and more frenzied as time passed.
Like wildfire spreading, more knights and soldiers rushed to confront the undead rising from the churned earth, swinging their weapons.
Desperation and brutality spiked sharply, while urgency, crisis, and anxiety gnawed at reason, swirling chaotically in the air like a turbulent wind, lending even the atmosphere an ominous taint.
If I, drinking alone in the safety of the duke's castle, could feel it this keenly, the scene outside must be utter hell.
"Phew..."
In my drunken haze, I fantasized.
Suddenly awakening a possession cheat, gaining unrivaled power, sweeping away all enemies at once, and saving the duke's castle.
"Kuhuhu..."
All I could do was laugh.
Gulp!
Washing away the creeping self-loathing and disgust with strong liquor, I stared blankly at the ceiling.
I felt drowsy and hazy, on the verge of sleep, but given the dire situation, I couldn't afford to stop thinking.
"So..."
Outside, hell had unfolded in full, but it was only just beginning.
According to the setting documents detailing the duke's family's downfall step by step, this battle was merely one part of High Demon Cambello's many schemes.
Brute force wasn't his style, so he was likely plotting something else right now... The problem was, I had no idea what.
Why? Because this situation wasn't supposed to exist in the original history.
"Hmm..."
The most crucial factor was probably whether Starnassila Urtega, the family head and Sword Master, would betray them.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say the duke's family's fate hinged on his mental state.
Where was he right now, and what was he doing?
Out there, leading the battle at the front lines?
Or holed up somewhere, resisting the curse constantly assailing his mind?
Surprisingly, he was said to love his wife, so he might be with Starnassila Pitra.
"Alzen! What are you doing there! This isn't the time to be leisurely drinking!"
"..."
My last assumption was immediately disproven.
Even Mother was no saint.
"O-Older Brother..."
Red hair, red eyes.
The duchess and a high-level mage, she approached with a frantic expression, sweat beading on her brow.
Her right hand gripped tightly to the youngest, Vivian's.
"...What brings you here, Mother? At a time like this."
"That's what I should be asking you! What are you doing there! You really... Haa! Scolding can wait—come with me for now!"
"Come with you? Where to?"
"Somewhere safe, of course! Don't worry! This castle has countless secret passages and hidden rooms! Some even have magic circles I inscribed myself! Let's go there!"
"Hmm... Mother, I'm serious, but that doesn't seem like a good idea."
"What...? What are you saying?"
"Older Brother, you should listen to Mother..."
Seeing the mother and daughter fidget anxiously, I let out a deep sigh.
I wouldn't have felt this way toward someone who despised, hated, or antagonized me, but their genuine worry made it impossible to stay put.
'Kang Han-gil' wasn't that heartless, after all.
"Mother, I assure you... All the secret passages and hidden rooms in the castle have already been compromised by the enemy. Fleeing there would be more dangerous."
"What nonsense...! Many retainers have already evacuated to places they know."
"...They're all doomed. Pray for their souls in advance."
Pitra's face twisted at my words.
But I wasn't speaking carelessly.
From playing Origin World endlessly and scouring side stories and settings, one thing was clear: secret passages and hidden rooms were the most dangerous spots.
Almost without exception.
For clichéd reasons or otherwise, just being a secret passage or room turned them into dens of traps and assassins.
"Mother, stay here with me instead. That would be safer."
"Have you lost your mind from all that drinking? You're saying the strangest things. Hoo... Fine, if you won't come, stay here."
With that, Pitra glared coldly at me and turned to leave, pulling Vivian by the hand.
"Wait. Hold on."
"Hm? What is it? Finally decided to come? Good."
"..."
Struggling to rise with my alcohol-weakened body, I staggered toward her.
"Haa... How much did you drink? You can barely stand... Pathetic."
"...I'm sorry, Mother."
Vivian's eyes widened at my apology.
But Mother showed no reaction.
Once outside, I scanned the hallway left and right.
Fortunately, some of Mother's guard knights and castle defense knights remained.
"...You there, knight. Ternien, right? Are you the highest-ranking among those gathered here?"
I pointed to the knight from the settings, and she nodded lightly with a surprised look.
She was probably shocked I remembered her name.
"Yes. I serve as Pitra's guard knight."
"I see... How..."
Sigh.
"Disappointing. No, disappointing might not faze you, so pathetic fits better."
"Pardon...?"
As her face twisted, I mouthed silently.
-Draw your sword.
"...!?"
The moment she gripped her hilt in panic, I spun and jabbed Pitra's eyes.
"Kyaaak!?"
"Lord Alzen!? What is this!"
Fortunately, the unguarded Mother fell for it easily.
...Which was absurd.
A mage of her caliber wouldn't be unprepared in such an emergency.
Confirmed, I yanked a fistful of her hair and grabbed Vivian's hand, pulling her away.
Normally, Mother wouldn't let go, but she was rubbing her pierced eyes and had released Vivian.
"O-Older Brother...?"
Hugging the frozen Vivian, I ducked behind Ternien, who aimed her sword at me.
The surrounding guards had encircled me.
Before they attacked, I quickly showed the hair I'd pulled.
"Ternien, calm down and look. This is Mother's hair I just pulled."
"So what...!?"
Her eyes bulged mid-shout, body stiffening in shock.
Wriggle, wriggle, wriggle!
It was natural.
The red hair on my fingers writhed like it was alive.
Impossible for a human.
"Behind you."
"...!!"
At my clear, firm words amid her confusion, she instinctively whirled and slashed.
"Kieeeek! Kigaaaaak!"
The bisected doppelganger reverted, spilling as amorphous goo onto the floor.
"Wh-what is this...!"
"Can't you tell? A doppelganger. Modified by a high demon to mimic Mother perfectly."
"...!!"
I pulled a strand of Vivian's hair to check—thankfully, it hung limp.
"...!! Everyone, pull hair from nearby knights to confirm they're human!"
Ternien swiftly ordered after seeing me, and the knights frantically checked each other.
Fortunately, no doppelgangers among them.
"Ternien, when did you start escorting the doppelganger posing as Mother?"
"Fr-from Pitra's bedroom...!"
"Hmm, might already be too late."
Gulp!
Ternien flinched as I casually drank.
"...! H-how can you say that so lightly!"
I frowned at her rising voice.
"Ternien, calm down. If you panic, your knights will too."
"...B-but..."
Sighing at her unyielding agitation,
"O-Older Brother... Th-then, where's the real Mother...? N-no way...!"
Vivian, sharp but slow due to youth, clutched my chest desperately.
"Haa... So annoying to move..."
Still, my mind raced.
Instinct told me it was time to act.
Starnassila Pitra's safety was more vital than expected.
The family head Urtega's mental state might depend on her.
"...Ternien, follow me."
"Y-yes? Ah...! S-sorry. I'm Pitra's guard knight, so I must search the castle for her...!"
"We're going to find Mother. I have a guess."
"Really!?"
"Yes, so if you want to hurry, someone carry me and Vivian."
"I'll do it!"
"No! I have the best stamina!"
Muscular brutes hoisted us the moment I spoke.
"..."
I'd preferred a pretty knight... Sigh, whatever fate.
"Lord Alzen, where to?"
Ternien asked urgently, desperately.
"Well, you see..."
Recalling settings and Alzen's memories, I pictured Pitra's behavior and personality, deducing her likely actions.
Gentle and soft, yet decisive when needed.
A rational, logical mage who viewed situations coolly and broadly.
"Hmm..."
Overly yielding to family, but not to the point of ruining the big picture.
Vivian safe with me proved it.
If alive, she'd prioritize something over Vivian.
So, Pitra's most rational choice now was...
"To the study."
"Pardon? The family head's study? If I may, Lord Alzen, we don't have access there..."
"Not that one. The second study."
"Ah! Got it!"
BOOM!
Kicking off, knights shot forward like arrows.
Aura scattered around them—they were sprinting all out, heedless.
Spare a thought for my body...
"Whoaaa...!"
I nearly snapped my neck from inertia.
Glancing at Vivian, she was shielded by mana.
How does one do that?
Damn, this body was trash incarnate.
Really the duke's third son?
"We're here!"
Despite the vast mansion, the second study took under a minute.
Sweat beading on Ternien and the knights showed their sincerity.
"Urgh... Good work. Now follow me."
"Yes!"
The study inside was silent.
Naturally, no one would come here now.
And even as the second study, unqualified couldn't enter.
"Let's see..."
Navigating the heavy, fragrant book scent, I checked shelves, pulling a book diagonally from the third row, sixteenth slot in a corner shelf.
Click! Rumble!
The shelf shifted, floor opened, revealing a secret passage.
"Hmm..."
I really didn't want to go in.
As said, secret passages were demonic realms by nature.
Plus, Cambello's Soul Gears, Pit of Souls, cursed anything alive or not, likely turning the castle into a cursed manor.
"Older Brother, is Mother here...?"
I wanted to ditch the knights, but with me, casualties might lessen.
"Sigh... Yes, she's here. Let's go."
"Yes...!"
Gulp!
Downing more liquor, I led the knights underground.
"Ah~ Ternien, take a reliable knight and lead."
"Pardon? Y-yes..."
"Don't block my view... Any mages? No? Damn... Fine, let's move."
The knights eyed me doubtfully as I took command naturally, but that changed soon.
"Curse on left wall—cut with aura. Magic circle under left wall bricks—rip out the whole section. Trap five steps ahead, probably floor opening. Monster traces on both walls—small, agile ones likely."
Following my orders, they severed curses, neutralized circles, dodged traps, preemptively slew monsters. Ternien stared in astonishment.
"Lord Alzen, how do you know...?"
"Does it matter? I just do. Focus."
"Ah, yes! Sorry!"
Hurrying, I scrutinized the passage.
"Hmm..."
Most wouldn't notice, but with settings memorized and game played countless times, certain info was obvious.
Faint intentional lines on walls, ceiling, floor. Cryptic shapes in corners, sinister impure aura.
The whole passage was a massive black magic circle.
Monsters meant summoning array.
Cambello prioritized castle takeover.
Was he brilliant, or the duke's family inept at security...?
"Kikikik!"
"Kyaak! Kieeek!"
"Kuwooo!"
"Kyaaaa!"
How far had we gone?
Monsters' cries filled the passage.
But something off.
Not too far to miss us, yet they stared blindly ahead, howling madly without advancing—like blocked at a dead end.
"This is...!"
"Lord Alzen!"
"Leave two knights, rest go. Wipe them out."
"Yes!"
"For Starnassila!"
Aura coated the knights' swords.
"Kyaaak!?"
"Kiiiik!"
"Grraaah!"
Undead, ghouls, even lithe chimeras navigating the passage.
Fitting for Cambello, necromancer, curse sorcerer, shaman.
But no match for Pitra's elite guards.
They shredded the monsters in seconds, advancing. Ternien spotted someone and knelt.
"Lady Pitra! Is it really you!?"
"Huff, huff... Ternien, how are you here...?"
There sat a utterly exhausted Starnassila Pitra, slumped with a weary face.