Four months had passed since the news broke that Loria had become Duke Altia.
Only five years remained until the start of the original story.
Winter, which had dyed the entire world white, had passed, and spring was fast approaching, bringing a sense of leisure that bordered on drowsiness to all living things.
"Young Master—no, I suppose I should call you 'Count' now?"
"The formal succession ceremony hasn't been held yet."
Though the official ceremony was still pending, Alon was now able to refer to himself as Count Palatio rather than merely the heir to the earldom.
"But you are effectively the Count, aren't you? Seeing you become the Count brings back so many memories."
"Is that so?"
Alon offered a faint smile. It was a bitter one.
Actually, this wasn't in the plans at all.
Alon's original goal wasn't to become a Count, but simply to use the name of a nobleman to live a life of idle luxury. Unfortunately, because Leo—the one who was supposed to become the Count—had been abruptly assassinated, Alon was the one standing here.
It's different from my original goal, but it's not all bad.
To be honest, he wouldn't have minded a modest life in Roadmill, dabbling in magic and toasting bread. However, the position of Count wasn't without its merits. Being a Count allowed him to enjoy the peaceful noble life he had envisioned, just with more detail and higher quality.
Of course, an increased quality of life came with responsibilities, but having handled minor affairs as the heir for the past six months, he found the work-life balance to be surprisingly good.
I didn't realize being part of a rogue noble family would be this helpful.
Generally, nobles were busy because of the territories they managed, but a much larger portion of their schedule was consumed by politics. In the case of Count Palatio, the family hadn't dipped its toes into politics to begin with, so unless it was an absolute emergency, a relaxed lifestyle was the default.
Furthermore, while the assassins who took out Avalon had certainly done a thorough job, they hadn't touched any of the money the family had accumulated. Unless he indulged in extreme extravagance, the current savings alone were enough to last him five years easily.
"Ah, by the way, did you find any new information?"
"Information? You mean regarding the assassins who killed Leo?"
When Alon nodded, Evan shook his head.
"The Information Guild says this is a first for them, so they seem to be investigating thoroughly, but nothing has come to light yet."
"...Really?"
"Yes."
At Evan's words, Alon clicked his tongue.
He hadn't been continuing the investigation all this time out of a desire for revenge. It was purely because the past was shifting away from what he knew.
The butterfly effect... I suppose. I expected it to some extent.
Alon anticipated that the reason the past was deviating from his original knowledge was due to his own actions. After all, he had interfered in various places to save the Five Sins and preemptively deal with the nuisances that were supposed to occur in the future.
If a butterfly's tiny wingbeat could create a storm, what he had done wasn't just a wingbeat—it was like conjuring a hurricane with his own hands.
It's only natural the past would change... though I honestly don't know why some things changed.
Alon thought of one future that had changed significantly, aside from him officially becoming a Count.
It was Loria. The girl who had become Duke Altia six months ago was originally supposed to have died. Yet, not only had she survived to become a Duke, but she was also rapidly expanding her influence in the underworld.
Alon wondered which of his interferences had meshed with her survival to alter the future, but he soon shrugged his shoulders. He realized that thinking about it was pointless.
Instead, he turned the subject back to Leo's assassins.
"...That's enough. Stop the investigation."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm still curious, but if the Information Guild can't even uncover their identity, there's no point in digging further."
There was one more reason Alon was stopping the investigation he had pursued relentlessly for a year.
In this world, there is knowledge that is better left unknown. And this feels ominous.
In this world, the Information Guild held at least a sliver of information on everything. This was because the owner and Guild Master was the leader of 'Night's End.' As far as Alon knew, there were only a few organizations that could escape the Information Guild's network.
And Alon, who knew some of those organizations from the game's lore, also knew that nothing good would come from learning their names. Even if he worked hard to uncover their identities, all he would get in return was a constant stream of assassins sent to bury the secret.
Ultimately, Alon gave up on finding the information. He had wanted to know just to be prepared for any situation, but there was no need to do something that would only increase the threat the moment he learned it.
Besides, if Leo was attacked by a group the Information Guild can't even name, they probably won't come after me.
Secret societies usually didn't strike unless their identities were compromised or someone was blatantly interfering with their work. They were obsessed with staying hidden beyond all necessity.
"Understood."
Evan nodded and turned to leave the office, but then remembered something and turned back to hand him a letter. It was from Yutia.
"I brought this along with my report."
With a short nod, Alon opened and read the letter.
Her letter contained details of daily life at the orphanage. Lately, reading these letters gave Alon a warm, fuzzy feeling in his chest.
It made sense; Yutia's monthly letters described the daily lives of the Five Sins and the other children at the orphanage in great detail, which was quite heartwarming.
Lately, Deus has been doing puppet shows often, and Seolrang is obsessed with playing games with her friends...
Other stories—like how Line was still quietly reading books and making things, or how Ladan had developed a taste for landscaping—brought an involuntary "dad smile" to his face.
Of course, he hadn't fathered the Five Sins, nor had he even seen their faces, but after sponsoring them for nearly five years and watching them grow, he couldn't help but feel that way. Meanwhile...
It's probably time to send them out.
Alon was starting to think about letting the Five Sins leave the orphanage.
"Evan."
"Yes, Count."
"The Five... no, how old is Yutia now?"
"Hmm... she should be nineteen now."
"And the others?"
"Most of those you personally ordered to be brought in are around that age. Line is seventeen, and Ladan is twenty. But why do you ask about their ages all of a sudden?"
"I think it's time to send them out into the world."
"...Those children? Well, it is certainly a bit late for them to still be staying at an orphanage at that age."
Unlike the modern world, in this world, sixteen was effectively considered adulthood—the time to start acting as a member of society.
Evan nodded in understanding, then asked, "But didn't you gather them there on purpose?"
"Well... yes, but I didn't plan on keeping them there forever."
The reason Alon had gathered them was to prevent them from awakening as the Five Sins who would destroy numerous kingdoms in the future. In other words, once they were sufficiently cared for, there was no reason to keep them tied to the orphanage.
Besides, if I place them in the right spots, they all have enough talent to hold significant positions.
Alon recalled the talents each of the Five Sins possessed—the typical narrations used to hype up a boss's strength when facing them.
...Yutia has faith, Deus has the sword, Line has inquiry...
Recalling the descriptions that Seolrang had the talent of a fighter and Ladan that of an apostle, he didn't hesitate to pull out some stationery and begin writing.
Actually, the game only said they 'had talent' and didn't specify exactly how much, so I don't know for sure. But they should be more than capable of taking care of themselves.
As he wrote the letters, Alon decided to give each of the Five Sins a gift as they headed out into the world.
I was going to give them these eventually anyway.
After a long time spent writing individual letters for all five, Alon sealed them and handed them to Evan.
If they do well later, maybe I can reap some of the benefits too.
He smiled quietly at Evan's retreating back as he left to deliver the letters, feeling quite at ease.
*
A few weeks later. The basement of the eastern orphanage.
This time was an exception; all five of them had received individual letters from Alon.
Deus, who was the first to finish reading, spoke up.
"...The Great Moon commands me to head to 'Calliban,' the land of knights."
"I'm going to 'Colony' in the desert... Ugh, I hate the desert..."
"...I'm going to the Labyrinth City, 'Lartania.'"
"I'm off to the entertainment city, Laxas."
Starting with Deus, Seolrang, Line, and Ladan each muttered the destinations written in their letters.
And then.
"...The Holy Kingdom of Rosario..."
As Yutia whispered her destination, Deus spoke up with a slightly confused expression.
"With what intention is he sending us?"
"Huh? It's not written in yours, Deus?"
"...He told me to go to Calliban and become a knight... but honestly, I don't know why he wants me to be a knight."
Deus muttered, unable to understand Seolrang's innocent question.
"I believe I've told you before, Deus. Judgment is not required. We only need to follow."
At Yutia's subsequent words, he nodded.
"Besides, you'll understand the reason once you get there. It's written for everyone, isn't it? What the first thing you should do is."
At Yutia's prompt, they all looked at their letters. Just as she said, the letters contained not only instructions on what profession to pursue but also a promise of continued sponsorship and the location of a 'gift' from the Great Moon.
Therefore.
"You'll know once you go there yourself."
Following Yutia's final words...
"And everyone, keep this in mind: do not speak of the Blue Moon anywhere. Not unless he speaks of it first."
The five who were meant to be the Five Sins, but were now members of the Blue Moon, departed to follow the commands written in Alon's letters.
And three months later.
"Count, have you heard? Deus has been knighted in Calliban."
"Really?"
Alon, who had been researching the phrases of Babiloia, heard the first rumors of Deus from Evan.
And another three months after that.
"Count."
"Hmm? What is it?"
"I heard Deus has formed a knight order?"
"...A knight order?"
"Yes."
"...Hasn't it only been two months since he was knighted? And don't you need to be at least an Expert to form a knight order?"
"That's right."
"...He's overflowing with talent."
"I think so too. The rumors have spread all the way here instantly, so it must be quite a stir in Calliban. People are saying that if he keeps this up, he might become the fifth Master Knight within ten years."
Alon nodded in admiration at Evan's words.
And six months after that.
"...Count?"
"What now?"
"...I heard Deus has become a Master Knight, one of only five in Calliban???"
"Just now?"
"Yes."
"???"
Alon stared blankly at Evan.
It had been only one year since the Five Sins had left the orphanage.