It was a startling statement.
This meant that the excavation of the ruins was a plot by this handsome man!
And the surprises didn't stop there.
The answer came from within the crystal ball.
-All is proceeding according to Your Highness's plan. Archduke Berard.
Archduke Berard!
He was the mastermind of this plot, the man who practically ruled the kingdom of Droton on behalf of the young king.
It wasn't the only plot.
The previous assassination plot of Odin, the plague in the Bay District.
They were all his plots.
"Pfft, if the Royal Knights are wiped out, the Kingdom of Houston will fall apart."
-Yes, it would be a shock.
"Is there any chance they'll succeed in their quest?"
-No way, because even the strongest knights would be as good as dead the moment they came face to face with that 'thing'.
The 'thing'.
It was a trap they had laid. Archduke Berard was certain that the royal knights would be annihilated, for it was such a great beast.
'We were lucky. I stumbled upon the hidden ruins of the Kingdom of Houston on a pre-war expedition.'
Upon discovering the ruins, Berard immediately set a trap.
He dispatched a warlock to summon a powerful creature from deep within the ruins.
And just in time to spread the word.
"If the Royal Knights are wiped out, the upcoming National Foundation Festival is going to be a mess."
-Yes, it will be, and I will definitely take that opportunity to poison Marquis Langham, the emissary of the Peninsula Kingdom.
"Yes, don't forget. Our real purpose is not the lives of a few royal knights."
It was a chilling tale.
The Kingdom of Houston was currently requesting financial support from the neighboring Kingdom of Peninsula in preparation for a war with them and the Kingdom of Droton.
If the envoy were to die a screaming death at a banquet, that story would be ruined.
'And if we go through with the 'final plot', the Kingdom of Houston will be a shambles, and that's before there's even been a war.'
Archduke Berard smiled wickedly.
All these plots have one destination.
Victory in war!
'Ignorant contests of strength are for dumb knights.'
Archduke Berard was a self-proclaimed genius strategist.
He preferred to win before he fought, and he planned to wreak havoc on the Kingdom of Houston before the war through a series of plots.
'... That was the plan, but now it's gone terribly wrong. Because of Baronet Penin, that lowly bastard.'
Archduke Berard frowned.
The capital of the Kingdom of Houston should be in great turmoil by now.
Public sentiment was running high, and yet?
'... Far from being confused by Baronet Penin, the public sentiment is also coincidental.'
Baronet Penin had thwarted their plot in the Bay District and had the overwhelming support of the commoners of the Kingdom's capital.
'Our Prince Raymond is the best!'
You couldn't get enough of this in the capital of the Kingdom of Houston.
The problem is, he was the son of King Odin.
He was a bastard that no one recognized, but thanks to him, the royal family's popularity was slowly rising.
"Whatever you do, make sure it's done. Failure is not an option now."
-Yes, Your Highness, I'll make sure we succeed!
That was before the crystal ball went off.
"Wait, Black."
'Black' was the codename of the man in the crystal ball.
-Yes, Your Highness?
"... Nothing. Be well."
Archduke Berard shook his head, though he received a questioning glance from across the crystal ball.
He realized that what he was about to ask was too sensitive.
'Is Raymond joining them on this expedition to the ruins?'
Berard smirked as he remembered the question.
'I wouldn't mind Raymond joining them. No matter how bizarre his healing techniques are, he won't be able to overcome the demonic curse.'
The creature they had summoned to the ruins was no mere demon.
It was a terrible curse.
A death curse that no healer could cure.
'I wish he'd joined, so they could be annihilated together.'
Unless his cure could bring a patient back from the brink of death, he'd be helpless.
Berard was very sure.
***
When he arrived at the appointment, a message popped up.
[A quest has occurred!]
[Protect the moths from jumping into the fire!]
(Medicine Quest)
[Medicine Rank: One-Half Scalpel
Difficulty: High
Quest Description: You are about to explore an extremely dangerous place. Protect the lives of the exploration team!
Conditions to clear: Minimize victims
Reward: Depends on the achievement
Perks: Someone's Favor]
'Achievement dependent?'
He questioned, and this additional explanation popped up.
[Clear Achievements]
[A-Returning Allies Unharmed
: Level up x 3, 50 skill points
B- Fewer than half die
: Level up x 2, 30 skill points
C- More than a majority die
: Failed. No reward]
"..."
Raymond remained silent. Fewer than half, more than the majority dead? That sounded cheap.
'What, is this a dangerous place? Aren't these ruins supposed to be safe?'
The quest title was also frightening.
'Defend the moths from jumping into the fire!' with a difficulty rating of 'high'?
There was even an additional message.
[Due to the difficulty of this quest, bonus perks will be dropped!]
[You can use one secondary skill without restriction for 24 hours!]
'What the hell?'
Raymond swallowed hard.
'Aren't these bonuses usually given out when the quest difficulty is really hard?'
He was just here for the treasure, but something about this didn't feel right from the start.
'Should I drop it?'
Raymond's number one rule was safety first.
If he doesn't get hurt, if he's healthy, he'll get rich!
'I don't care about a fortune. Health is everything!'
It was the moment he thought.
He heard a high-pitched voice.
"Are you Baronet Penin?"
It was a young man with short cropped hair.
He had an arrogant air about him as if he looked down on the world at his feet.
"My name is Mason, a Royal Healer, and I've been assigned the responsibility of Support on this expedition."
"...!"
Raymond's eyes widened in surprise.
Mason!
A famous man!
An A-list healer!
"In the future, I expect you to follow my instructions, of course."
Mason looked Raymond up and down.
The contempt was clear in his gaze.
"I won't ask you to do too much, because it won't be of any help."
"...!"
The other healer beside him chuckled.
"What's the harm, we could have him carry your stuff, Mr. Mason."
"I've thought about that, but I don't like the idea of having my precious luggage tainted by the hands of mere low blood. If you're not going to be of any use anyway, why bother."
Raymond raised an eyebrow.
He had a deep sense of abuse, so he didn't take offense at this level of mockery.
Instead, he saw it as an opportunity.
"I hear you, Mr. Mason, and since you put it that way, I will withdraw from the expedition."
"... what?"
Raymond shrugged.
"You said you didn't need me, and you insulted me."
"..."
The unexpected precipitation silenced the healers, including Mason.
Raymond raised his voice even higher.
[The 'Silver Tongue' skill is activated!]
It wasn't just that.
[The opponent is a 'jerk.']
[The opponent's Jerk Power is 'Medium'!]
[The 'Jerk Coping Mechanism' skill is manifested!]
With the help of several skills, words flowed like oil on his tongue.
"The only reason I wanted to participate in this expedition was for the sake of any patients that might come along. However, it appears that I may have offended Healer Mason, so I must return."
"...No, Baronet Penin. Just a moment..."
If Raymond went around like this, it would put the healers here in a difficult position.
This is because he was forced out.
But Raymond remained stubborn.
"You have insulted me. Bow down and formally apologize. Otherwise, I will leave."
As he watched Mason's face turn red, Raymond hummed to himself.
'There's no way this stubborn little shit is going to apologize. I'm going back to that excuse, and let the good ol' A-list healer take care of himself!'
He wasn't sure how he was going to get out of it otherwise, so he was grateful for the excuse.
"I'm sorry to hear that, I was hoping to be of service to any patients I might have, but I'm afraid I can't, so I'll leave you to it."
At that point, an unexpected character interjected.
"I think this is Healer Mason's fault."
"Why don't you apologize?"
They were knights of the Royal Knights, and they didn't want to cause trouble before the expedition had even begun.
They also secretly admired Raymond's "in it for the patient" attitude.
Grind.
When Raymond saw Mason grind his teeth, he felt a rush of panic.
His face was so red, he thought he might apologize.
'Don't apologize! Just let me go! You're a coward!'
Raymond provoked Mason.
"You don't have to talk to him like that. Healer Mason was just speaking his mind, and since he's an A-list healer, it's understandable that he would look down on a healer like me."
In other words, Mason was being arrogant. Mason's face turned even redder.
But Raymond's words had the unintended effect of making the knights' stares even sharper.
They all cast accusing glances at Mason.
"If I had heard that, I would have challenged him to a duel."
"Yes, and I don't think it's right to insult you like that, especially since you're here to serve us, Baronet Penin."
Raymond's insides burned as the knights unexpectedly took his side.
'No, just side with him!'
But.
Against Raymond's wishes, Mason capitulated.
"... I'm sorry. I slipped up."
And with that, it was Raymond's turn to be embarrassed.
Raymond was furious.
"You don't have to apologize if you don't mean it. It's uncomfortable for me to listen to it."
Apologize sincerely, or I'll go back.
Raymond wanted Mason to lose his temper, and sure enough, Mason's fists were shaking.
It was almost pathetic.
Unfortunately for Raymond, Mason held back his anger.
In the distance, the piercing eyes of Lord Valton, the head of the expedition, stared back.
Lord Valton was the highest-ranking knight in the Royal Household, a position to which Mason would have to bow.
"...I-I apologize for the offense. Please accept my sincere apology."
Mason bowed his head in apology.
'Shit!'
'Shit!'
Mason and Raymond cursed simultaneously.
Mason was furious, and Raymond had been forced to join the expedition.