How to Survive as a Genius Spy in the Game

Chapter 59: The Knight Who Doesn't Remove His Helmet (2)

The pale dawn woke Carlyn up.

The moon outside the window illuminated the world with a blue light as if brightening everything.

With an early awakening, Carlyn let out a sigh. It was the same dream again. A bird flew by the window.

Carlyn thought of the eagle. The dream seemed to have started from that point.

Could Death Avoidance have the same meaning?

A few days ago, when Carlyn accepted the Dukes mission proposal, the manifestation of Death Avoidance he saw was different from before.

The world that shifted to black and white had a lighter palette than before.

The manifestation of Death Avoidance didnt necessarily indicate imminent death. It was purely a warning.

Thats why this difference puzzled him.

There were several hypotheses.

Maybe it was because the actual event wasnt happening right away, or perhaps the risk of death was lower than before

He couldnt find the answer.

But now, as he thought of the eagle, his thoughts extended in another direction. It wasnt a matter of chance.

Is it like changing an ill omen into a good one?

Carlyn shook his head; it was such an obvious thought, even when thinking to himself.

If he viewed it this way, the warning of Death Avoidance seemed to be meaningless.

However, he didnt reject the proposal. It wasnt because it was difficult to change his words in front of the Duke.

There was too much at stake in the mission.

While his original goal upon coming here hadnt changed, the plans had altered considerably.

He learned and experienced enough to realize that.

If he just remained still, Haisens downfall was a foregone conclusion. If the Chief of Intelligence were to die in the process

There was no guarantee he could prevent Denifs rage.

The princess is no different.

In hindsight, turning the departed princess into an empress within the empire was nearly impossible.

To swallow the empire without a substantial power base was an unrealistic dream.

So, whether he became the killer or the savior, Carlyn had to step up. Even if it meant death in the end.

Anyway, even if his plan went awry, a delayed death awaited him.

I never expected safety when I came to this world.

Carlyn concluded that the time had come for him to stake his life.

In the most straightforward sense, under the Dukes protection, he had lived a much safer life than he expected.

Setting aside the risk of the mission, he might have become a corpse much earlier if he had been wandering alone since he was thirteen.

Of course, that didnt mean he wasnt worried. He was anxious, but he accepted it.

From any perspective, he was the right person for the job.

Mystic, Winds.

There was no one else in the palace who could collect as much information and secretly convey it.

Its essential to know the right people.

The king of Haisen, the Chief of Intelligence, the empires espionage leader under Haisen

Especially Marge, Derek was likely to leak information.

If that happened, it was evident he wouldnt be able to maintain his role as the princesss knight for long.

Perhaps thats why the warning of Death Avoidance existed.

However, it was too late to turn back. The irreversible current had already been set in motion.

In the worst-case scenario, even if Haisen fell, he had to leave a possibility for the princess.

He had confidence in the manifestation of Death Avoidance. It meant something unchanging regardless of what it signified.

If going to the empire signified death, it would have appeared just before he answered.

That statement meant the probability was high, but it also implied that he could handle the variable of death.

In fact, he had a vague idea of what form that crisis might take.

Given the problems that would arise because of the leader, he had imagined several scenarios.

Yet, even in the worst of situations, Carlyn had confidence he could avoid and escape. He hadnt just been lazing around for the past year.

And Ines words.

A nun, who could see snippets of the future, mentioned meeting again. Did that mean hed survive?

Carlyn thought to himself and smirked inwardly.

He seemed a bit more restless than he thought. His early morning contemplation had been quite deep.

Nevertheless, he was relieved in the end to have gained stability.

Because of the early awakening, he got up with a slightly groggier body than usual.

It was two days until departure.

He was going to meet the King of Haisen and travel to the Empire with the princess. The arrangements had already been made with the Haisen royal family.

After all, the Chief of Intelligence couldnt accomplish everything alone.

Maybe the princess doesnt know about it.

In any case, he needed to develop himself, even if only for a short time.

Since Marhan agreed, Carlyn planned to go out first and stretch his body.

Long time no see?

However, the person who appeared on the training ground wasnt Marhan. It was Phiri.

To be fair, it hadnt been that long. Carlyn had met her twice since returning to Haisen.

Phiri often came to the Duke as a vice leader, fulfilling her role.

Your tired face remains unchanged.

What brings you here?

What else? I came because youre heading to the Empire.

Are you that free?

Phiri furrowed her brow.

You dont look happy at all.

Why wouldnt I be? Nice to see you.

Ugh, whatever.

Phiri sighed. Carlyn had a vague idea of why she had come.

An important mission. While communication through writing was possible, a face-to-face meeting would be better for finalizing details.

Having finished chatting, Carlyn shrugged.

When will you be back?

Tonight. I arrived in the early morning, and Im dead tired.

Maybe you should rest a bit.

It was a sincere remark.

Phiri wasnt one to lounge around, and given the nature of the task, it was probably a taxing journey.

I dont think Ill be able to meet you openly if I go to the Empire, so I just want to see your face.

Seemingly in a good mood, Carlyn momentarily lost his words. It was, so to speak, a sense of purity that he hadnt felt in a while.

With so many worries at the moment, it felt even more unfamiliar.

Shall we go out?

Pardon?

If youre going to be guarding the princess, you wont get to rest. We should have some fun before you leave.

Carlyn pressed his lips together. He wanted to train. If that was the case, he should have asked Marhan

Phiri intercepted Carlyns expression.

Just

Listen to me. You havent rested properly since you came back to Haisen. If it were up to me, I would have made you rest a while ago.

Phiri made fun of the Duke. It wasnt that Carlyn hadnt rested at all, but he kept her mouth shut.

Working hard is good, but if you overdo it, youll burn out. You need to take a break.

Was she worried about burnout?

Carlyn simply nodded. Refusing wouldnt have helped, and it would only be for a short time anyway.

It was probably half to relieve tension.

Good leaders consider the mental well-being of their subordinates. Didnt she consider the specialized agents on the field?

Lets go.

Phiri placed her hand on Carlyns shoulder.

* * *

The Dukes plan was simple.

It was just that the Empress was bringing the princesss bodyguard from Haisen, their homeland.

The founding emperor was closer to the typical strong and valiant man. A person with a winner-takes-all philosophy.

Six months ago, there was a person who openly declared that the one who won among the children would be the emperor.

Therefore, the war of the princes had already begun. Real-time clashes were underway.

As far as I knew, the princess wasnt interested in this quarrel, but others might see it differently.

Considering Haisen alone, hes probably planning to use the princess.

So, this situation wasnt odd.

I would soon accompany Princess Haisen to the upcoming banquet and become the princesss bodyguard.

Subsequent events would be determined by my judgment and orders.

However, no matter the superficial reasons, there would undoubtedly be suspicious looks directed at me.

Even if it wasnt from Haisen and they brought me from elsewhere, it would probably have been the same.

After all, the struggle for the emperors throne was ongoing.

But thats not my concern.

I could eavesdrop on conversations without anyone noticing and deliver messages without getting caught.

The probability of getting caught was extremely slim, as long as it wasnt an internal disclosure.

Even the past wouldnt be a problem. When three people gather, they can create a story, even if theres no tiger (+)^[1]TLN: This means that when three people come together, they can create something that doesnt really exist, just like making up a story about a tiger that isnt actually there. Its like saying that when people talk or work together, they can make things seem bigger or more important than they really are. So, its a way of showing how people can exaggerate things when theyre in a group.

Furthermore, the person who spent the effort to create this history was the Chief of Intelligence of a kingdom.

Even I knew about this knight. I didnt know that it would be my role, though.

Starting as a mercenary and then rising through the ranks in territorial wars, he had become a renowned knight.

Defeating several famous knights in duels, his fame reached the kings ears.

Its a bit amusing.

The reason such a disguise was possible was that this knight had never taken off his helmet, not even once.

The cause of the duel he fought was mostly also due to that helmet.

The reason the Duke said I could refuse was also because of that helmet.

But considering he even matched my height and build, he probably didnt think I would refuse.

Anyway, officially, I had responded to the kings summons, so I stood before the king.

I placed the tip of the drawn sword on the ground and knelt on one knee.

Greetings. Knight Karl Schurtapen humbly greets the illustrious King of Haisen.

Glad to meet you! Ive heard a lot about you.

The noble who made me a knight was the kings in-law, so this was a little playacting.

But given the eyes watching, several people had gathered.

Of course, it was only natural, but the gazes directed at me werent pleasant. A knight from mercenary origins.

Surpassing ranks meant accepting such gazes. Not taking off the helmet added to it.

Even during gaming, this annoyed me many times. Be it a character or a subordinate.

Now, those memories seemed distant. Dull words were exchanged.

Lets finish this quickly.

Listening to things I hadnt done was a trial. Eventually, the climax of the story was approaching.

Formally sending me as the princesss bodyguard only intensified the atmosphere.

A mercenary-born knight was sent to guard the princess. The nobles who didnt know the inside story were probably uncomfortable with the kingdoms dignity.

Such humiliation would probably occur even in the empire. Well, overcoming it with skill would settle it.

I thank you for trusting me, a humble person, with this honorable position. I will fulfill this duty with honor.

Are you sure about this? I know youre quite stubborn, but in the Empire, you wont be able to wear the helmet.

I bowed deeply.

I apologize for any rudeness. Wearing the helmet is not important. I started wearing it due to the biases people have against me.

I lifted my head again and met the kings gaze.

Since Your Majesty approves, I can remove it right away.

And now, it was time to remove the helmet. As I was about to lift my arm, the princess suddenly intervened.

Father.

Why is that?

Aunt mentioned that skill is important. Will it be alright? Even if you defeated Sir Bern, there are better knights in the palace. It might be considered disrespectful

This was an unexpected situation. The capriciousness of the princess. Her eyes showed that she disapproved of me.

Perhaps there were rumors that the helmet was due to its grim appearance.

The king didnt seem surprised and calmly smiled. His gaze scanned the audience, briefly lingering on me.

I nodded lightly.

Very well. Judging from this, there are many doubters. Shall we see, Schurtafen?

Yes.

It was a sudden situation, but I had no worries. I felt confident about going to the Empire, and I believed I had the skills to match.

After all, if I had been completely powerless, the Duke wouldnt have called me.

The kings face brightened. He might even think its a fortunate turn of events. Suppressing internal dissatisfaction.

Who will step forward?

I will.

A middle-aged knight who had been standing on one side of the arena walked forward. Bodon Takulf. He was quite a decent knight.

The faces in the audience brightened slightly.

Very well. If its you, Bodon, you wont disappoint. Just ensure neither of you gets hurt.

Yes.

Both the knight and I replied. The audience moved away, creating a spacious area in the center of the arena.

I held the sword in my hand and brought it to my left chest.

I am Carl Schurtafen.

Bodon Takulf.

After exchanging greetings, the duel would start three seconds later. I assumed a stance and tensed my muscles.

It would end quickly.

I stamped the ground. Despite intentionally slowing down, because we were both running toward each other, we were only a breath away in a split second.

I chose to wait, and Bodon chose to thrust. The sharp point of his sword was aimed at my helmet.

We had agreed to avoid hurting each other, hadnt we?

What is this helmet?

It seemed like the veiled mercenary-turned-knight didnt leave a good impression on others.

The agent who had built up my record instead of me must have felt some stress. I decided to just go along with it.

I slightly wet my head and turned my wrist. The two swords clashed smoothly, almost brushing each other.

The slightly deflected sword pressed against the edge of my helmet. I could feel the shock of it being forcefully removed.

My breathing became easier, and my hair regained its freedom. In the silence, the knight averted his gaze.

Im defeated.

My sword was at Bodons throat.

The middle-aged knight had tried to block my sword with his gauntleted left hand, but I was faster.

However, the arena was filled with silence.

Eyes, larger than ever, were fixed on me. Amidst those gazes, my eyes met the princess.

I wondered what faces they had imagined beneath this helmet.

Although I was saying these words, my usual disguise was also meant to hide my appearance.

Once seen, it was an unforgettable face. According to Phiri, it was even more noble.

Even the king was looking at me with astonished eyes. The king stammered and asked,

Are you, by any chance, a secret child of a noble family?

It was an unbelievably impolite question.

• 1. TLN: This means that when three people come together, they can create something that doesnt really exist, just like making up a story about a tiger that isnt actually there. Its like saying that when people talk or work together, they can make things seem bigger or more important than they really are. So, its a way of showing how people can exaggerate things when theyre in a group.