Insurance and Walls

The original plan was this.

“In the early stages, attract as little attention as possible.”

The PC (Player Character) had an overwhelming stat gap compared to the other leading candidates.

So rather than rashly pushing forward, it was better to stay in the shadows and gather whatever I could.

“Quietly.”

In other words, move in secret.

Then, after living as if I didn’t exist, when the time came—bam.

“I think that’s all wrong, darling.”

Push forward in one sweep—

“I said it’s all wrong.”

“…….”

“Darling?”

I slapped away Caliburn’s hand, which was waving lazily in front of my eyes.

“Hahaha, ow ow ow, that hurts.”

“Pick one. Is it hahaha or ow ow, bastard.”

But I already knew without hearing it.

I grabbed my wrist and suppressed a groan.

I was the one who hit him, yet my wrist throbbed.

“What is he, a rock?!”

That damn strength-mage.

I seriously want to see his stats.

Is his STR higher than his INT?

“So how did it end up like that?”

Caliburn, now snugly at my side with an arm around my shoulders, asked.

I considered pushing his arm away but gave up.

Honestly, it wouldn’t budge.

“I didn’t do anything.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“Then why did it happen?”

“That’s what I want to know!”

I swear, I was innocent.

“All I did was dig dirt. That’s it!”

“Current Item List.

Bamboo Tube ×37.

Frozen Soil (North) ×50.

Frozen Vines (North) ×40.

??? Molt ×48.

Dried Thread ×50.

Half-White Half-Black Hide ×1.

…

(Open).”

Doesn’t this item list prove my innocence?

For the past half day, I had been extremely busy preparing for the next quest.

“For upcoming quests, bamboo tubes are essential.”

And they needed filling.

With soil.

More precisely, as many different types of soil as possible.

Daytime soil.

Moonlit soil.

Soft soil from several meters deep.

Soil just beneath ice.

Soil from the far eastern edge.

“The dirt in my inventory proves how diligently I was digging.”

“Hahaha.”

As I struggled, Caliburn must have grown bored and removed his arm from my shoulders.

“Really?”

No, he only pretended to.

His head dropped onto the crown of mine.

“Move your head—.”

“Really only dirt? Nothing happened during that process? For example, meeting the landowner while digging?”

“…No?”

“You know, lying to the Arbiter might cost you points.”

I flinched.

Really?

“So there was?”

“It was brief.”

“Hmm.”

“It really was brief, and nothing happened.”

“Who were you fooling around with behind my back?”

“Fooling around? You wish.”

“Count Seol?”

I jolted and leapt away from Caliburn.

“Are you spying on me?”

“Hahahahaha, when would I have the time, darling?”

True.

He’d been busy just earlier with his electronic darling—no, maybe not electronic.

Anyway.

“If you ran into someone and returned this unscathed, there are only one or two possibilities.”

I conceded the logic.

And sighed.

“What’s wrong with the world that every so-called leading candidate has such a rotten temper?”

“The world’s already ruined.”

That’s true.

“Anyway, you ran into Count Seol?”

“More like he found me.

By the time I noticed, it was too late to run.

Running would’ve looked more suspicious.”

Like being caught burying a cursed doll.

“Mm, and you don’t have the ability to run anyway.”

“Unauthorized deboning without consent may result in sanctions from the National Livestock Association.”

Caliburn hummed thoughtfully.

“And then?”

“That’s it.”

“And yet not only Seolya’s route opened, but all five?”

“Seolya Route is now open.

Imok Route is now open.

Jeog-o Route is now open.

Benchel Route is now open.

OZ Route is now open.”

Damn it.

Still the same.

“Yes. That’s why I rushed here.”

The next quest would open soon.

Time was critical.

Knowing the future meant more to prepare.

“Did you trigger something wrong?”

I asked bluntly.

Maybe I hoped he’d say yes.

“Nothing malfunctioned.”

“Nothing? Then why would I—.”

“Think simply, darling.”

“Simply?”

“It means the other four recognize you too.”

I shut my mouth reflexively.

“They each have their own thoughts about you.

Perhaps they’ve even been observing you.”

“…….”

“Secretly.”

A chill ran through me.

Of course each of the Five Stars was exceptional.

Observing me unnoticed would be trivial.

“But why?”

Caliburn shrugged.

“How would I know?”

His tone was light.

Detached.

It truly had nothing to do with him.

I glanced at the floating script.

[R: The candidates preparing for DAY 3 appeared somewhat unsettled. It was understandable, as they had no idea when the next quest would appear or what it would entail.]

That eased my unease a little.

Right.

No need to be too serious.

It’s not reality.

[R: However, it was reasonable to assume it might relate to the results of DAY 2. Otherwise, there would be no need to differentiate ‘territories.’]

A modified script has been detected, revising.

[N/S: It had little to do with me, who belonged to no faction. And since I already knew what DAY 3 would be, I had no time to rest.]

My mind worked coldly.

Even if the others were watching me, at this stage there was no real danger.

I wasn’t noteworthy yet.

The only one with shared history was Jeog-o.

Seolya didn’t seem overly cautious either.

Benchel barely appeared.

Imokgun was temperamental, but manageable.

And lastly—

That was when Caliburn said casually.

“But the more insurance, the better.”

“That’s true.”

I replied without stopping my thoughts.

“Haha. Sounds like you have insurance in mind?”

Of course.

“I’ll need a new face.”

A new face to put forward instead of me.

“Young Master.”

Someone called Jeog-o.

Without turning, he said,

“Found him? That bastard.”

“Well…….”

“If you called without finding him, you must have a death wish.”

Jeog-o curled his fingers as if gripping something.

Red energy flickered in his palm.

A vicious aura.

“Damn bastard.”

He muttered through clenched teeth.

“I’ll crush his limbs when I catch him.

He dared mock me?”

“Young Master.”

Ignoring the voice, Jeog-o raked his hand through his hair.

Even the wind ruffling stray strands irritated him.

“Young Master.”

This time his aide.

Jeog-o turned.

“You should hear this.”

His gaze looked ready to explode, but the aide remained calm.

He had served Jeog-o long enough to know him well.

“…What.”

“Walls are forming along the territorial borders.”

Jeog-o’s brow furrowed.

“Walls? Imokgun building them?”

Their territories bordered each other.

It was logical.

“Territory, damn it.”

His mind darkened.

He imagined his emotions thick and viscous.

“Territory? What nonsense!”

Fury surged.

“How is this my territory?”

“Second Region. Fire-Wheel Red Western Count’s Domain.”

The words appeared and vanished wherever he looked.

This land was his.

But how could something he hadn’t gained with his own power be his?

Especially.

“I will transfer my share to Young Master Seo.”

If that bastard’s hand had touched it, he hated it.

Even if it benefited him.

“I’ll catch him and kill him.”

His voice trembled with near-madness.

Yet he knew it was futile.

“Rat bastard.”

Since DAY 2, Jeog-o had searched like a madman.

Not even a trace.

His hand froze mid-motion.

He stared at the vast frozen land through his fingers.

Childish land-grab.

Yet his territory stretched endlessly.

He was its lord.

But someone else had placed it in his hands.

“I don’t understand.”

The words slipped out.

Not shameful.

Simply true.

“How did that bastard do it?”

Jeog-o had gained 11%.

That bastard, 13%.

“He must have used some dirty trick.”

That thought never changed.

Jeog-o knew him better than anyone.

Inside Bran.

Outside as well.

“No.”

He had changed before DAY 2.

From DAY 1 already.

“That’s not it.”

Jeog-o looked at his aide.

“If not Imokgun, then who?”

The scout who had checked the border looked pale as a ghost.

The aide spoke.

“In our domain.

And at Imokgun’s border as well.

Walls are rising on their own.”