I Possessed a Game Where I Die If I Don’t Clear the Tower - Chapter 38
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 38. Confession of Truth
Netanel Fragma, who had been summoned late to treat the swelling in Camilia’s wrist, posed his question with a somewhat serious tone.
“My lord, I’m asking just to be certain, but if you were to pass away and be reincarnated during our contract period, the contract would still remain valid, correct?”
That won’t do. If I die, the world ends.
Unable to say such a thing aloud, Camilia answered by feigning ignorance instead.
As Netanel Fragma sighed and withdrew, Zehar Al Rashid, who had been watching from beside her, grew restless and examined her carefully.
“Is there nowhere else that troubles you? Are you truly certain it’s alright to get up?”
“I’m fine now.”
For the past two weeks, her inability to leave the bed had been due to a system patch.
Frail
(Netanel Fragma’s buff essential)
Now that she had returned as a lord, there was no reason to remain bedridden.
“There are far too many urgent matters to attend to. I cannot afford to lie about any longer.”
Thanks to the patch, my plan to survive by any means necessary had become twice as demanding.
There was an enormous amount of work to be done.
“Above all, there is something I must tell all of you.”
All of my companions had gathered in the Reception Room.
Rohengreen Ashen, Zehar Al Rashid, Netanel Fragma, and Nashu Shumel—merely four in total, so I wasn’t even certain if calling this a gathering was appropriate.
‘Even if it’s only been a month since the beginning, can the number of companions really be this small…?’
Had I played normally, I would have recruited adventurers through the Adventurer Guild and commanded at least ten or more.
But if Camilia had recklessly recruited companions in such a manner, I would have been stabbed at least ten more times by now.
In that sense, I couldn’t simply dismiss the ticket reward as entirely unfavorable.
I desperately needed many new companions.
‘Though the Quest window never closing is infuriating.’
Camilia dismissed the special Quest window hovering beside her with a glance, then opened her mouth to speak.
“Zehar Al Rashid already knows this, but there is something I have not yet told the rest of you.”
Zehar Al Rashid’s expression hardened. He had sensed what she was about to say.
Camilia had deliberated whether it was right to reveal this, but there was no choice.
‘To complete the conquest within three years, my other companions must also understand the lord’s true condition.’
Accurate information was essential for formulating a flawless strategy.
‘Rohengreen Ashen and Nashu Shumel would never betray me.’
Camilia trusted in Rohengreen Ashen’s loyalty, which had reached eighty, and Nashu Shumel’s loyalty, which had instantly filled to one hundred.
Though Netanel Fragma’s loyalty fell somewhat short, the contract I had made with him was also trustworthy.
“…During the last reincarnation ceremony, a calamity beast attacked. Because of that, the ceremony could not be completed properly.”
Camilia continued.
As a result of that incident, she had lost most of the power she possessed, and her memories were also incomplete.
The one most shocked by her bombshell revelation was Nashu Shumel.
“Huh!? W-w-wait, my lord, you’ve been in pain? You’ve been suffering all this time!?”
She had cried out in alarm, nearly jumping to her feet, then hastily covered her mouth, realizing others might hear.
“I-I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have spoken so loudly about something like this…”
Camilia reassured her with a gentle touch, as if there were nothing to worry about.
“Rest assured, there’s no risk of secrets leaking out. Zehar Al Rashid has cast a soundproofing spell.”
“B-but still… I mean, someone like me shouldn’t be told such things, should I…?”
Camilia ran her fingers through her pink hair, which had grown lustrous and vibrant from proper rest and nourishment, as she spoke.
“Nonsense. If I cannot trust the one who will become my knight, whom else could I trust?”
Nashu Shumel’s eyes trembled like rippling water.
“M-my lord…”
[Nashu Shumel’s affection has increased.]
‘I’m glad she’s moved, but Shusu, please don’t raise her affection too much. The mastermind will use this against me.’
Even as I thought this, I continued to stroke the girl’s head gently before turning to face Rohengreen Ashen.
His complexion had noticeably paled as well.
Well, Rohengreen Ashen had every reason to be shocked.
‘He must have been uncertain whether something went wrong from the Ceremony Location onward.’
He likely never imagined the situation would be this grave.
“Are you surprised?”
When Camilia asked, Rohengreen Ashen snapped back to attention and replied.
“My apologies, my lord. I was discourteous.”
“There’s no need to apologize. I don’t consider it discourteous at all. Surprise is only natural. However, your loyalty must not waver.”
Rohengreen Ashen hesitated briefly before bowing his head with a resolute expression.
“…Of course. It is my duty to remain loyal to you, the lord of these lands.”
It was the answer I had anticipated.
Satisfied, I finally turned my gaze to Netanel Fragma.
Unsurprisingly, the half-elf priest was hardly shocked at all. How could a High Priest of his standing not know of my current condition?
“Hmm… I suspected as much, but I didn’t realize you’d lost your memories as well. Isn’t that rather dangerous?”
“Don’t concern yourself. I haven’t forgotten anything regarding The Tower.”
“I see.”
Netanel Fragma rubbed his chin with his index finger before asking.
“Will there be complications with our contract if your memories return?”
“No.”
“Will you break the contract I made with you or my Merchant Guild?”
“No.”
“Do you require a confidentiality oath regarding this information?”
“That will be necessary.”
Netanel Fragma formed a circle with his thumb and index finger.
“Then I’ll take three gold coins more. As a lump sum.”
Three gold coins meant nothing to Netanel Fragma.
Yet he insisted on receiving compensation anyway—it was to formalize the contract.
As an apostle of the Golden Scales, he would never betray a contract under any circumstances.
“Zehar Al Rashid.”
“…Yes, my lord.”
Zehar Al Rashid exhaled deeply as he withdrew a coin purse from his sleeve and handed over three gold coins.
Netanel Fragma accepted them eagerly, grinning as he replied.
“Excellent! We have ourselves a contract. Now then, shall we proceed to the main discussion? You’ve shared a secret of this magnitude—surely there’s a profitable matter worth discussing in return?”
True to his nature as a seasoned merchant, Netanel Fragma seemed to have already discerned why Camilia had broached this subject.
This saved considerable effort in explanation.
“Following the failure of the Ceremony of Rebirth, The Tower’s seals have begun to deteriorate as well. Left unchecked, they will collapse entirely within ten years at most.”
“…The Tower will collapse?”
“My lord, what do you mean…!”
The moment Camilia cut to the heart of the matter, not only Netanel Fragma but Rohengreen Ashen widened their eyes in shock.
Zehar Al Rashid’s expression shifted to surprise as well—though his was merely feigned.
Only Nashu Shumel remained composed.
Camilia regarded the bewildered girl with affectionate eyes.
‘My dear Shusu doesn’t understand any of this, does she?’
That was fine. Being kind and strong was enough.
Camilia continued in a measured tone.
“The Tower and I are bound together. If something happens to my body, The Tower will inevitably be affected.”
Netanel Fragma murmured as though understanding something.
“So the Pantheon’s apostles attacked The Tower because…?”
It wasn’t an entirely incorrect deduction.
The Pantheon had assaulted The Tower precisely because they had sensed the weakening of its barriers.
‘The timing of their discovery is oddly swift, but considering their final boss, it doesn’t quite break the established lore.’
Camilia nodded lightly.
“Your words ring true. And the more who know this secret, the more it spreads—never fewer.”
“This is certainly difficult to believe, yet in another sense, it makes perfect sense. No matter how extraordinary the circumstances, you would never break a thousand-year-old taboo without cause of this magnitude.”
Netanel Fragma, who had earlier grumbled about hiring a priest, set aside his agitation and posed another question instead.
“So then—what is the solution?”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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