Damned System

Chapter 91. Compounding Interest (1)

After coming to Bihar, the symbol that appeared could not be removed no matter what I did.

Even attempting to cloak it with Invisibility had no effect.

My figure could be hidden, but the symbol still floated prominently, asserting its presence.

That assured me.

It served as proof that I was under the protection of the 7 Gods, a brand marking me as someone not of this world, and a shackle limiting my choices.

Perhaps it was likely designed to supervise any misuse of me being an Outsider for crimes.

‘If I caused trouble here and fled back to Earth, they’d have no way to catch me.’

Imposing some restrictions was only reasonable.

If I caused trouble while the temple symbol was visible, tracking me would become much easier.

‘It seems they’ve ensured my identity remains unhidden, preventing any mishap.’

As a result, Invisibility lost its effectiveness in Bihar because of that symbol.

‘At least it doesn’t show up on Earth, so I’m relieved.’

It was confirmed by the reviews of other players.

Thanks to that, my Invisibility wasn’t entirely rendered useless. That’s a relief, at least.

Being unable to hide the symbol was inconvenient in many ways.

However, that doesn’t mean it couldn’t be obscured.

By using Invisibility in conjunction with my surroundings, hiding was not impossible.

Extending branches, half-open window frames, even shadows cast by buildings and trees could help.

‘Places with less light are surprisingly hard to notice.’

Humans also have a tendency to instinctively overlook things that defy common sense.

Making sure no one saw the floating symbol in the dark wasn’t too difficult.

Thanks to hiding the symbol, I easily caught their trail.

“Do it properly.”

As I uttered a word, those who were about to deliver horse manure for the stable gulped simultaneously.

Both had their heads pressed against the dirt floor, hands behind their backs.

Watching them, I sat on the edge of a flowerbed that rose to knee height.

Then, crossing my legs naturally, I spoke.

“Just so you know, for every time you lose your posture or let your waist down, you’ll eat a spoonful of manure.”

Exactly what they intended to do to me.

If they didn’t want to eat, they’d better hold out well.

After giving them advice with a hint of warning, I made a beckoning gesture to the attendant next to me.

“These are the ones who threatened you?”

He nodded vigorously.

“I understand. You may go.”

“Uh, um, please don’t tell the butler…”

Though he didn’t finish his plea before I waved him away, the attendant remained pale-faced, fixed in place.

It seemed he intended to stay until he got the answer he wanted.

From my perspective, his actions didn’t sit well.

‘He knows he did something wrong, yet doesn’t want to face the consequence?’

Claiming that he was compelled to act under threat?

Such naive and selfish thinking.

Thinking you could be forgiven for anything under duress was a misconception.

‘It was just minor harassment.’

But that didn’t change the nature of his actions.

The attendant failed to resist threats directed at him and found a scapegoat to take his place.

‘And that scapegoat was me.’

Therefore, that attendant wasn’t just a victim but had become an aggressor.

‘There were always such cases in school.’

Those who would justify participating in school bullying because delinquent kids made them do it, those fools existed in every school.

By falsely believing they could shield themselves, they were mistaken, and so was the attendant with his misguided notions.

Annoyed by the attendant’s attitude, I lifted my eyebrows and spoke.

“Unless you’re going to join them with your head on the ground, just leave.”

Perhaps due to my lowered voice or scowled expression, the attendant promptly left the area.

But not without casting a fierce glare at the two buried in the ground.

Watching him, I chuckled softly.

‘It’s always someone else’s fault.’

Placing blame on those who pushed him to do wrong and those pointing out the wrongdoing instead of acknowledging his own faults.

I utterly despised that type.

Transferring all responsibility to others while pretending to be a victim.

Refusing to acknowledge one’s role in a wronged situation is truly trash.

That said, his carelessness is why I could easily catch them.

‘These two hardly have the brains for this.’

I reconsidered the words I’d overheard just a moment ago as I stared at the backs of the two with their heads down.

– What would happen to us if we get caught doing this?

Anxious tremors in their voices indicated they didn’t want to engage in this.

“Sigh.”

I wondered how many hands the bungling harassment had to pass through.

After exhaling a long sigh, I stared at the backs of the two being disciplined.

To be honest, they hadn’t caused me significant harm.

It was all a meager annoyance, just enough to get on my nerves.

With one leg crossed and gently shaking, I watched them.

When both began trembling, apparently at their limit, I decided it was time to speak.

“Who put you up to this?”

Jeremy, a boy with light brown hair and blue eyes, spoke hastily.

“Ah, sir Allens!”

“And who is that?”

“He’s the one who supervises our training and etiquette…”

“Oh, I see.”

Apparently, here knights take their squires along, training and teaching them etiquette.

I heard that being knighted requires a senior knight’s endorsement.

According to the common knowledge I’d learned from my conversations with Rashar, who I had dined with and shared insights, anyway.

“Get up.”

When I clicked my tongue and uttered the command, they hesitantly rose to their feet.

Their faces beet red from blood rushing, still young and immature. They couldn’t be more than sixteen, maybe younger.

‘I heard they’re considered adults here at sixteen.’

Still, in my eyes, they were just kids.

At eighteen, losing my parents, I still thought I was too young, let alone dealing with anyone younger.

I sighed deeply, watching these young fools.

‘Such naive brats, acting recklessly.’

What were they thinking, messing with an employer’s guest and potentially getting themselves thrown out?

‘How should I handle such fools?’

I was a guest of Rashar, the owner of this estate and a direct descendant of one of the few great aristocrat lineages in Ferrell.

Though my identity was unclear, even that was warranted by the 7 Gods, leaving no room for criticism.

My place here was definitely not small. Even Chandler, a relative within the noble family’s branch, treated me with respect.

So, involvement in harassing me means they can’t avoid punishment once it’s known.

‘Well… So, I can’t just let it slide entirely.’

It was Rashar, the mansion’s manager, who had to decide on the matter.

For me, as a guest, to step out of line would challenge her authority.

Thus, I had no intention of overstepping my bounds.

Of course, that didn’t mean I’d do nothing at all.

‘I could at least ask her to delay any decisions.’

Once Rashar decided on a course of action, those who led this nuisance would face limited repercussions.

They might face some suitable punishment or, at worst, be kicked out quietly.

Those methods were discreet and clean, but they didn’t satisfy me personally.

‘You touched me, after all.’

At the very least, they deserved a payback satisfying enough to relieve my frustration.

To do so, I needed some time to prepare. Also, gathering some intel on them wouldn’t hurt.

The saying “know thyself, know thy enemy; a hundred battles, a hundred victories” exists for a reason.

“What made you participate in such an act?”

Once I began questioning earnestly, jeremy rubbed his hands desperately and confessed to everything.

“I-I’m sorry. They said they’d throw us out… If we get kicked out at our age, no other knights would take us in!”

On the contrary, Walter, with black hair and green eyes, remained silent.

His lips were sealed tight, unwilling to lift his head.

While I watched Walter, I continued asking Jeremy various things.

By gathering information on this Allens character, about twenty minutes elapsed.

After squeezing them for all they had, I waved them away, telling them to leave.

Jeremy quickly hurried off, but Walter rose slowly.

I wondered why he lingered without moving, until he spoke up.

“… I’m sorry.”

Before leaving, Walter gave a small nod and apologized.

Despite being coerced, he acknowledged his wrongdoing and didn’t intend to deny it.

True, he hadn’t spoken until everything was over, leaving his intentions ambiguous up to that point.

With nothing but a well-mannered apology, I snickered slightly and spoke.

“Do you think that’ll make you feel better?”

Walter’s shoulders flinched.

Facing his stiffened gaze, I added a few more words.

“If you wanted to live comfortably, you should have remained a victim until the end.”

Had they done nothing to me and left quietly, they might at least have a reason to feel unjustly treated.

But by conspiring to harm others for personal reasons, they lost their innocence.

The moment they failed to resist injustice and instead complied, their claim of innocence vanishes.

There was no difference between the attendant and Walter.

The only distinction was whether they apologized or not.

However, I didn’t consider that point of great importance.

‘It’s better than not apologizing, I suppose.’

But an apology doesn’t resolve everything.

If the incident had involved, say, more than mere harassment but actual poisoning, a murder case?

Would a mere apology suffice to resolve everything then?

‘Saying it was unavoidable doesn’t absolve you.’

Mistakes differ from intentional wrongs.

What happened due to ignorance can be a mistake, but what Walter, jeremy, and the attendant did was not a mistake.

They knowingly made a bad decision, understanding the implications.

‘It’s the same reasoning that leads me to align with the System for my purposes.’

When I requested changes to the main scenario, aiming to inspire more players.

At that moment, I became complicit with the System.

‘Even if there wasn’t a way to eliminate the System back then.’

That my decision didn’t affect the System in any way doesn’t matter.

What matters is that I chose to align myself with it, thus not being innocent.

I have never once forgotten that fact.

So that’s why I spoke to the young lad in such cold terms.

“Don’t you dare romanticize yourself with the excuse that you had no choice.”

Walter lowered his gaze silently after that before turning away.

I frowned slightly as I watched his figure grow distant.

Jeremy had said it’s challenging for anyone in their late teens to find another knight willing to take them as squires.

That knowledge sometimes led knights to make unreasonable demands.

Allens was that exact case.

‘The ceremonies usually happen at the start of the new year… not even a month left.’

Surprisingly, what I learned over the few days indicated it was currently December in this world, the year’s end.

‘I have confirmed that each of the 12 months is the same.’

Though general solar calendar dates differ, the concept of seasons and dates exists here.

Winter being the year’s end is consistent, too.

Nevertheless, the weather here feels merely like a chilly autumn because Habon is situated in the continent’s south.

The reality being, Loborre is slightly colder, while the northern Viceta is said to be covered in a blanket of snow.

Walter and the other squires were due to be knighted in about a month, as the new year dawned.

With a short, internal click of my tongue, I called out as Walter drifted further away.

Damned System.