Chapter 876: Paradise Island (3)
In truth, I had thought so.
The first victim, whose name was unknown.
No, I know his name now after checking his identification badge, but anyway.
[This man might have tried to harm the 'culprit' first, and the culprit might have fought back in self-defense.] (Ibella Rianelin)
I had predicted there was a high chance that Ibella's hypothesis from a moment ago was correct.
It makes sense, doesn't it?
A tragedy caused by a fight between two explorers who didn't know much about this island.
It was something that could easily happen.
After all, they entered a Rift, only for the portal to close before their companions could follow, leaving them stranded alone in an unfamiliar place.
They probably doubted if the other person was even real.
And even if they were, they wouldn't have been able to trust them.
After learning about this island in the central area, they would have hidden the fact, fearing they might be held responsible for the murder.
But….
“That wasn't it.” (Bjorn Yandel)
The death of John Tehan proves it.
The 'culprit' is clearly harming people with malicious intent.
And…
'It would be right to assume that the culprit knows quite a lot about this island.'
Just as I had roughly organized my thoughts, someone shouted while looking at John Tehan, who had turned into a pool of blood.
“King’s Blood…! It’s King’s Blood!” (Explorer)
King’s Blood.
The name of a poison used for suicide, mainly by the Rose Knights or the Royal Family's secret agents, whose names we don't even know.
However, the surprising thing is that this poison doesn't actually exist.
It’s sort of like America's Area 51, where they're said to torture aliens.
The public's fear and imagination regarding the Royal Family's secret agents created the ghost story of 'King's Blood'.
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“King's Blood…! Don't tell me this man was a henchman of the King?” (Explorer)
“Watch your mouth! There might be other agents nearby!” (Explorer)
Sigh, such ignorant explorers.
That's not something like 'King's Blood'.
Well, the Rafdonia Royal Family might have a similar kind of poison pill, though.
It wouldn't be a poison that turns a person into a pool of blood in an instant.
In the first place, if such a powerful poison existed, why would it be used for suicide?
It would be used for assassination.
And in the first place…
“Everyone, calm down! Why does everyone assume that man committed suicide?” (Explorer)
Right, not all the explorers were idiots.
“Well… he was framed as the culprit, so didn't he have no choice but to conceal the truth with his death?” (Explorer)
“Why would a secret agent of the Royal Family do that? If he had just revealed his identity and said he had a reason for the killing, we wouldn't have been able to say a thing!” (Explorer)
“Uh… but since Viscount Yandel is here…” (Explorer)
“Then what about the expression on John Tehan's face when the identification badge came out of his bag? Didn't you all see it? He had a look on his face like he never imagined this situation!” (Explorer)
“So what are you trying to say?” (Explorer)
“I believe this was an assassination by the culprit! They must have secretly hidden the identification badge in John Tehan's bag, intending to make it look like he committed suicide!” (Explorer)
“Oh…!” (Explorer)
At the man's logical words, the explorers nodded, finding it plausible.
Well, I had no intention of refuting it either.
He was probably right.
The only problem is….
'A poison so potent it looks like the rumored 'King's Blood'…'
Who could the culprit be?
What item, what Essence, what magic could have made that possible?
A few candidates come to mind, but it's too early to determine which one it is exactly.
But there is one thing for certain.
Until now, I'd been enjoying the game, thinking I wasn't in any real danger.
**Thump—!**
Something feels off.
—
The death of John Tehan.
This caused a commotion, but since there was nothing that could be figured out right away, the search of the baggage, which had been suspended, resumed.
Ah, of course, nothing of note was found.
If I had to pick one peculiar thing, it would be a book found in a bag belonging to a member of the Men’s Party.
“It's a book written in an Ancient Language.” (Bjorn Yandel)
At that single remark, the book's owner, without even being asked, hastily confessed the truth.
“I found this book while searching the island. It was hidden under a tree.” (Explorer)
“Is that so?” (Bjorn Yandel)
…Was there a book like this on the island?
I don't think it existed in the game.
If it was just hidden under a tree, the difficulty of obtaining it wouldn't be that high…
“Do you happen to know… what kind of book it is?” (Explorer)
After the book's existence was revealed, the man was flustered for a moment, but soon, a strong sense of anticipation about the book formed on his face.
Heh, just like an explorer.
“Well, let's have a look first.” (Bjorn Yandel)
I flipped through the book, but it was so badly damaged that many parts were impossible to read.
Only a very small portion was legible.
I returned to the first page and quickly checked the parts that were readable.
This book was someone's diary.
> [Day 14, the Empire’s pursuers did not come for us today either. Just as … said, they probably don't have the strength anymore. We can rest easy now…….]
> [Day 28, it was just as …… said. The anxiety is gone. There is no more pain. Everyone's faces are filled with joy and happiness…….]
> [Day 44, everyone agreed. This is a meaningless act, but it is also more meaningful than anything else. We have decided to call this island ‘Paradise’.]
> [Day …, the atmosphere on the island has not been good since Henry and Gael had a big fight. They're going to spend the rest of their lives together, I wish they would reconcile even a day sooner….]
> [Day 219, Henry died. I still don't understand. Why did something like this have to happen? Poor Henry. Gael, if I catch and kill that bastard, will your soul also find peace?]
> [Day …, while searching the island for Gael, I discovered a mysterious cave. Traces of Gael were left at the entrance. It was late, so we decided to search the inside of the cave together tomorrow morning.]
After they entered the cave to search, the damage was so severe that there was almost nothing left to read, and this continued until the last page.
> […Day …, th… is not paradise ……………]
That was about all I could decipher from the last page.
Nevertheless, it's quite an interesting diary.
A sort of guidebook, you could say.
This diary, with its stories of a cave and internal conflict, felt like a device meant to reveal the hidden elements of Paradise Island.
You know the type.
In games, when they naturally reveal the story or world-building through someone's journal or something similar.
In fact, you can easily find such devices when playing **[Dungeon & Stone]**.
The only problem is… ‘it's a book that wasn't in the game.'
I felt a very strong sense of **déjà vu** looking at this diary.
The diary I saw in the hut.
That diary was just like this.
Come to think of it, there are more similarities besides the diary format.
The fact that it's in an Ancient Language and heavily damaged.
The fact that I never saw it when playing the game.
The fact that the location is part of the Fifth Floor, the Great Demon Realm.
Of course, there are differences too.
The diary in the hut waited for the 'Empire’s rescue team,' while this diary here is wary of the 'Empire’s pursuers'.
'Is this a story about deserters escaping to an island or something like that?'
It was then that I found myself frowning, lost deep in thought.
“Hah, what on earth could it say that…” (Explorer)
The book owner's words snapped me out of my thoughts.
“Please tell me! What in the world is written in that book?” (Explorer)
He asked as if he was dying of curiosity, and I answered.
“I don't know.” (Bjorn Yandel)
“What…? But didn't you just read it so intently…?” (Explorer)
That's true.
But it's too much of a bother to translate it for him.
And the diary itself doesn't really contain what he's hoping for.
“I only took a look because I said I would. How would I know what it says when it's written in an Ancient Language?” (Bjorn Yandel)
“Go show it to a Mage. Not a Barbarian like me.” (Bjorn Yandel)
When I tossed the book to him, the man received it with a noticeably brighter face.
It seems he was worried he wouldn't get it back.
Tsk, what do they take the hero, Bjorn Yandel, for?
“Um…” (Explorer)
Once the search was completely over, a female explorer approached me and, with a slightly flushed face, carefully asked.
“What are you going to do with the dead explorer's equipment.” (Explorer)
“Hmm?” (Bjorn Yandel)
“It doesn't seem like there's anyone who can claim ownership… He doesn't have any companions around either.” (Explorer)
“Ah.” (Bjorn Yandel)
Simply put, she was asking if we should split the belongings of the first and second victims amongst ourselves.
From a modern person's perspective, it's a very psychopathic thing to say, but in reality, this is just how a typical explorer thinks.
Of course, according to regulations, the right thing to do is to deliver their equipment to the bereaved families in the city and receive a typical 50% reward, but…
'Who would actually do that in the Labyrinth?'
99% of explorers treat the corpses of their fellow explorers like treasure chests.
Even at the Guild, if you say you found a corpse when asked about the source, they just accept it.
It's just a recommendation that's too vague to be called a rule in the first place.
There's no punishment for breaking it.
'They're no better than hyenas.'
Is it because of their greed for extra income?
A glint of greed could be seen in the eyes of the remaining survivors.
It made me feel skeptical about the explorer profession, but I decided to just think of it as them being faithful to their own desires.
Just like me.
“I will take their belongings, return to the city, and deliver them to their families through the Guild.” (Bjorn Yandel)
“… What?” (Explorer)
“Is there a problem?” (Bjorn Yandel)
At my question, the explorers' gazes toward me turned slightly hostile.
Then again, even a dog will bare its teeth if you touch its food bowl.
“…If you're thinking of taking the reward, you should acknowledge our share of it.” (Explorer)
Unable to outright ask what kind of nonsense that was, the explorers timidly asserted their claim.
“There are no shares. I don't plan on taking the reward. I'll hand everything over to the Guild as soon as I get back to the city, so if you're suspicious, you can check with the Guild.” (Bjorn Yandel)
“Why do you get to decide that on your own, Viscount? Our pockets aren't as deep as yours.” (Explorer)
“… If you really want a share, I'll pay you out of my own pocket.” (Bjorn Yandel)
“Oh, in that case—” (Explorer)
“But if anything happens to those who take a share on this island, I will do nothing.” (Bjorn Yandel)
After I said that cuttingly, an awkward silence fell for a moment.
The one who broke the silence was the woman who had first spoken to me earlier.
“… Why are you going that far?” (Explorer)
Well.
How should I put this.
It was such a complex concept that I just condensed it into a single sentence.
“Because I just feel like it.” (Bjorn Yandel)
Naturally, they didn't understand.
—
I could hear mumbling from all over.
Saying I must be planning to take it all for myself behind their backs.
Or that I'm putting on an act for fame.
Or that I'm talking nonsense because I'm rich, and that I'd never say such things if I were in their shoes.
If I listened closely, I could hear them badmouthing me.
It was closer to a delusion than courage.
That was the atmosphere.
Because they thought it would be acceptable if they said it while hidden in a group.
'This is why those who don't know Barbarians are…'
Things would quiet down if I just grabbed one or two of them and gave them a good knock on the head.
Just as I was about to choose a winner with that in mind.
“Wow, isn't this actually a good thing?” (Ibella Rianelin)
Ibella stepped forward with a cheerful tone that didn't match the mood.
“A good thing? What do you mean?” (Explorer)
“Because this is who the Viscount is. Doesn't that mean we can be more at ease? That's how I feel. Because if I die, what I have will go to my family. Not to the person who killed me.” (Ibella Rianelin)
“…Well, I suppose that's true.” (Explorer)
“Now then, Viscount! May I ask what you plan to do now? Seeing you step up like this, you must have a wise opinion…” (Ibella Rianelin)
At Ibella's question, I quietly looked at her.
She seems to like taking the lead, unlike how she looks.
Well, it's convenient for me if there's someone to do the legwork.
“Now that two people have died, I can no longer just watch this situation. Therefore, I will find the culprit right now.” (Bjorn Yandel)
“What? Do you happen to know who the culprit is?” (Ibella Rianelin)
“Of course.” (Bjorn Yandel)
As I nodded without the slightest hesitation, Ibella's eyes widened in surprise.
“Who on earth is the culprit?” (Ibella Rianelin)
Before answering, I chuckled and glanced around.
And….
“The culprit is among us.” (Bjorn Yandel)
“What? Ah, yes… that's right?” (Ibella Rianelin)
“That's right. Ibella, from now on, control the personnel and have them come before me one by one, in order.” (Bjorn Yandel)
“What? What on earth are you planning to do…?” (Ibella Rianelin)
“I have to catch the culprit.” (Bjorn Yandel)
“… What?” (Ibella Rianelin)
“As I said before, the culprit is among us.” (Bjorn Yandel)
“?” (Ibella Rianelin)
Ibella tilted her head as if she didn't understand at all, but I didn't bother to explain in detail.
It might be a very difficult concept for her, a human and a Mage.
'Why doesn't she understand something so simple?'
The culprit is among us.
In other words, if I take down everyone, the culprit will be caught too.
Right, so….
**Shhhhk.**
I slowly raised my hammer and said to everyone.
“Don't even think about running. Anyone who runs will be judged as the culprit.” (Bjorn Yandel)
The bastard is already a rat in a trap.
—
