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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Lord Fourth
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Ophelia had Alberich summoned through the restaurant manager. Apparently, the restaurant had connections with high-ranking officials.
She also summoned Azar, Elderian, Emily, and Erwin. They were all potential party members. It was better to be honest with them.
Everyone except Owen, who was difficult to contact, responded to the summons. They were probably bored after the conference.
“What is it, Sir Elliot?”
“I have something to tell you.”
Elderian arrived first, followed by Emily, who looked surprised to see Ophelia and me sitting together. The others arrived soon after. Azar, who already knew the situation, and Erwin, who looked annoyed, were the only ones who didn’t seem surprised.
“The Great Forest, the Empire, Auriga, and the Holy City… are we having a summit?”
Erwin asked, looking around the room. I cleared my throat, drawing their attention. I was going to reveal that I was a transmigrator.
How would they react? Would Alberich be angry? Had Elderian also been harmed by transmigrators? What about the Great Forest? Given what happened in Nua Dhil, they might have a negative impression of me.
Ophelia poked me in the side. She grinned, as if to say, “Don’t worry.”
‘Hey, why are you so nervous? If things get messy, we can just run away like we did in the Holy City.’
‘That’s not the problem.’
I remembered our earlier conversation. Her absurd words somehow managed to calm my nerves. I spoke, my voice steady.
“I’ve gathered you all here because… I have something to confess.”
I continued, trying to maintain my composure, “I’m… a transmigrator.”
“…Huh?”
Emily was the first to react. She didn’t know what a transmigrator was and tilted her head in confusion.
Alberich reacted next. His expression hardened, and he removed his glove, placing it on the table. His eyes wavered.
“Elliot… is that… true?”
“Yes.”
“You’re… a transmigrator?”
“That’s right. I observed this world through a… game in another world, and I was brought here. I apologize for not telling you sooner.”
I bowed my head, and Alberich rubbed his temples.
“Huh…”
He was clearly in shock, but there was no anger in his expression. Elderian simply shrugged, and Erwin nodded, as if she finally understood.
“I thought you were unusually strong for a human. Now I understand.”
Erwin muttered, and Alberich stood up. He looked at Azar, who was watching the situation with his arms crossed.
“Golden Lion, you already knew.”
“It’s a memory from a past life.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I thought it was Sir Elliot’s place to tell you. Besides, you’re not the only one who has been harmed by transmigrators. I was simply respecting his wishes.”
“….”
Alberich turned to me.
“Elliot, can we talk outside?”
“…Yes.”
I glanced at Ophelia, and she was scratching her cheek.
“There were five of them.”
Alberich said as soon as we stepped outside the restaurant.
“Five?”
“The knights killed by the transmigrators.”
“….”
“I remember all their names. They weren’t squires. They were full-fledged knights, sworn to protect the Empire.”
Alberich’s expression was grim.
“The transmigrators were after me. They tried to recruit me at first, and when I refused, they tried to eliminate me. I must have been a significant threat to them.”
“Were you attacked?”
“If it was a simple attack, I could have dealt with it. They used a curse. They spread a plague in a village near the capital and cast a death curse. The knights were dispatched to contain the situation, and they all died.”
“….”
“We couldn’t even give them a proper burial. The plague and the curse were too strong. We had to burn their bodies. I can still remember the smell.”
A plague… it was likely the work of Vermina, one of the Demon King’s commanders. According to the information I had gathered in Nua Dhil, there were dozens of transmigrators in the Demon King’s army.
They all used dark magic, enhanced by their stigmas, making them as powerful as high-ranking demons. Ordinary knights wouldn’t stand a chance.
“Were you… close with them?”
That was all I could say. Alberich smiled wryly.
“They were my students.”
“….”
“I was an instructor at the knight academy. I trained them for years.”
The situation was worse than I had imagined. I was speechless. Alberich turned to me.
“Are you a transmigrator?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t forgive transmigrators. I’ve killed seven of them. They all begged for their lives.”
“I doubt you showed them any mercy.”
“No. I killed them all. They deserved it.”
Alberich’s expression was detached.
“But you… you’re the hero. Your blade is pointed at the Demon King.”
“I can guarantee that. I intend to kill the Demon King. That’s my destiny.”
“A transmigrator becoming the hero… it’s unheard of.”
“Those transmigrators killed the boy who was supposed to be the hero.”
Alberich’s expression darkened.
“So, you hid your identity as the hero because…”
“The transmigrators would have tried to kill me.”
“I see.”
Alberich nodded.
“I can help you.”
I said, my voice firm.
“The transmigrators who killed your comrades… they were probably working for the Plague Lord.”
“The Plague Lord?”
“One of the Demon King’s commanders. She’s based in the corrupted lands north of the Ice Palace.”
“And you know this because… you’re a transmigrator.”
“Yes.”
I nodded. Now that my identity was revealed, I had to use my knowledge to my advantage.
“Let’s work together. We can defeat the Plague Lord, the Black Ogre, the Chimera Mage, the One-Eyed Knight, and the Archduke of Hell.”
“Are those the five commanders of the Demon King’s army?”
“Yes.”
The Demon King was a powerful being in the game, but the final battle was more of a scripted event.
The real challenge was defeating his five commanders. And I knew their strategies and weaknesses better than anyone in this world.
Of course, I couldn’t be sure that the commanders in this world were the same as in the game. But it was better than going in blind.
“Just follow my lead. You’ll get your revenge, and we’ll save the world.”
I said confidently. Alberich closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again, his expression determined.
“Honestly, I’m surprised. I never would have guessed you were a transmigrator.”
“Do I fit in that well?”
“Because you’re a knight.”
I frowned, confused, and Alberich explained, “Most transmigrators use dark magic, empowered by their stigmas. They’re afraid of physical combat. All the transmigrators I’ve met were like that.”
Alberich extended his bare hand.
“But you’re a knight. An honorable one. I’m not going to turn my back on you now.”
“Thank you.”
“No, thank you. You didn’t have to tell me, but you did, for my sake.”
“Trust is important in a partnership.”
Alberich smiled and shook my hand. Ophelia was right. It was better to clear up misunderstandings sooner rather than later. I should thank her when I got back.
“Let’s go back inside. We need to discuss our plans.”
Alberich said, and we returned to the restaurant. But the room was in chaos.
“Say that again, you bitch.”
“My, my, I don’t know what you’re talking about. Is it so difficult to speak politely? Did you grow up in a barn?”
It was a mess. The food was overturned, and Ophelia was glaring at Erwin, her middle finger raised.
“Lord Elderian… what’s going on?”
“…Well, it’s a long story, but… they had a disagreement.”
“What kind of disagreement?”
“That’s…”
Ophelia yelled, “That bitch told me to watch my language!”
“….”
I understood. Ophelia, with her usual… lack of manners, had spoken informally to Erwin. And Erwin, a centuries-old elf, had taken offense. Ophelia, of course, had responded with anger.
It was a childish argument.
“Elliot, how did you raise the Saintess to be like this? Is she incapable of learning?”
“What? Did you just call me a child?”
“My, my, for someone with such a short tongue, you have sharp ears.”
Erwin said with a sneer. Ophelia trembled, then lowered her head.
“Oh, little girl, are you crying? Crying won’t solve anything. Say you’re sorry to your big sister.”
Most people would have backed down when confronted by someone of Erwin’s stature. But not Ophelia. The nickname “Mad Dog” suited her more than me.
“Big sister? You’re an old hag.”
“…Excuse me?”
“Not just an old hag, a decrepit old hag. You’re practically a great-grandmother.”
Ophelia chuckled.
“Get lost, you old bat. You stink.”
“….”
Erwin’s expression hardened. The table flipped. (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻
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I like these characters, very well-written in my opinion.
Lmao table flipping