As always, Gilbert was silently standing guard behind him.
Realizing this, Isaac tensed instinctively.
Could Gilbert have seen him place the book into his inventory earlier?
Gilbert was so stoic and expressionless that Isaac couldn’t even bring himself to ask.
Trying to shake off his nerves, he turned his head.
“Your Grace.”
“……!”
Isaac flinched at Gilbert’s calm voice calling him.
He turned to meet Gilbert’s unreadable gaze.
“What is it?”
“…….”
Gilbert silently observed him, his expression betraying nothing.
Just as Isaac’s carefully maintained facade began to falter, Gilbert finally spoke again.
“Your Grace… Are you also a transmigrator?”
“W-what?”
Isaac couldn’t hide his shock.
It was only natural.
Of all people, Gilbert was the last person he expected to hear the word “transmigrator” from.
His surprise left him wide-eyed before he managed to mask his expression and turn away.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. A transmigrator, you say?”
“There’s no need to hide it from me.”
“…….”
“His Majesty being a transmigrator is something I am already aware of.”
“……!”
Gilbert knew Maximilian was a transmigrator?
Isaac stared at him in disbelief, his composure cracking.
Yet Gilbert’s face remained as expressionless as ever.
In the original story, Maximilian never revealed that he was a transmigrator to anyone—not until the novel’s conclusion, at least.
Unless… a side story was released where Maximilian confided in someone close to him?
But considering the main story had only recently ended, that seemed unlikely.
‘There are differences between the original and this world beyond just Isaac surviving.’
Isaac clenched his lips tightly.
Not only had his survival deviated from the original plot, but now Gilbert knew about Maximilian being a transmigrator.
Could this even be considered the same ‘The Destruction of Empire’?
“Did His Majesty tell you himself?”
“Yes.”
“Then… does he also know that I’m a transmigrator?”
“No, not yet.”
“……!”
Not yet?
That implied Maximilian would find out eventually.
He was already suspicious of Isaac being a transmigrator.
“I figured it out because the book Your Grace touched earlier disappeared. His Majesty transmigrates the same ability.”
“Ha…”
Isaac sighed quietly.
He should have been more cautious when using his inventory ability.
Knowing the original novel was here, he should’ve waited and acquired it later, after shaking Gilbert off.
Isaac pressed his fingers against his throbbing temple.
“So His Majesty will know soon enough that I’m a transmigrator.”
“No.”
“What?”
“I will not inform His Majesty.”
“……!”
Isaac frowned at Gilbert’s calm declaration.
He couldn’t grasp what Gilbert was thinking.
“You’ve sworn loyalty to His Majesty, have you not?”
“I have.”
“Then why? Wasn’t your task to monitor me because His Majesty suspected I was a transmigrator?”
“That is correct.”
“Then why…?”
The more they spoke, the less Isaac understood Gilbert’s motives.
If Maximilian suspected Isaac of being a fellow transmigrator, Gilbert, his most loyal and steadfast retainer, should logically report it.
“Because it would trouble Your Grace.”
“…….”
“And… there is something I wish to ask you.”
“…What is it?”
Isaac’s body tensed.
Every word Gilbert spoke felt like it carried Isaac’s fate.
“When Samuel was kidnapped, were you there?”
“…….”
The sensitive question made Isaac grimace.
At this point, lying to Gilbert would be futile.
Isaac reluctantly answered truthfully.
“I wasn’t the one who kidnapped Samuel, but… yes, I was with him at the time.”
“I thought as much.”
“…….”
Gilbert nodded as though he’d already anticipated the answer.
“That’s when you began impersonating Duke Drake, correct?”
“Well… yes.”
Resigned, Isaac admitted it.
Though Gilbert claimed he wouldn’t tell Maximilian, Isaac found it impossible to trust him completely.
He suppressed a heavy sigh when suddenly:
[Congratulations!
You’ve shared a secret with a candidate match, earning BL points!
Current BL Points: 36
Keep earning more points!]
“……!”
Isaac was startled by the unexpected notification.
Apparently, Gilbert was also a potential match, allowing Isaac to earn points with him—though far fewer than with the primary candidate, Luinael.
Still, every point mattered in his current predicament.
Feeling somewhat relieved, Isaac glanced at Gilbert with newfound consideration.
“Can I trust you to keep your word about not telling His Majesty?”
“Of course.”
“Could you at least explain why?”
“…….”
Gilbert remained silent for a moment.
Perhaps explaining his reason was too difficult?
Isaac didn’t press further, simply hoping Maximilian would remain unaware for as long as possible.
“I…”
“Isaac!”
Just as Gilbert’s lips parted slightly, Luinael returned, calling Isaac’s name brightly.
Isaac’s gaze shifted to Luinael.
“Have you finished?”
“Yes, it seems they’ll send the books to the mansion a little later.”
“I see.”
The sheer number of borrowed books must have prompted the library to offer a delivery service.
Well, with their current group, it would be difficult to carry them all back anyway.
Nodding in understanding, Isaac cast a sidelong glance at Gilbert, who stood silently nearby.
It seemed like he had been about to say something earlier…
“Sir Gilbert, was there something you wanted to say just now?”
“…It was nothing.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Isaac wanted to press him further, but Gilbert firmly shook his head.
The man was steadfast, never one to go back on a decision once made.
No matter how much Isaac prodded, he knew it would be futile to get an answer now.
At any rate, he’d gained some points and could probably trust Gilbert not to tell Maximilian.
Gilbert wasn’t the type to go back on his word.
In fact, it might even be better this way—he wouldn’t have to constantly feel the weight of Gilbert’s watchful gaze anymore.
Thus, for the first time, Isaac had revealed his identity as a transmigrator to someone else.
Strangely enough, a sense of relief filled a corner of his heart.
“Is there anything else you’d like to do, Isaac?”
“Well… let me think.”
Since they were already outside, he did feel like exploring a bit more.
However, having Luinael by his side made any outing troublesome.
His radiant appearance was so dazzling that even in the middle of the night, it seemed like he could light up the darkness.
At first, people were stunned silent, just as Isaac had been when they first met.
But once they got over the initial shock, they would try to approach him, wanting to strike up a conversation.
Wherever they went, people would hover around, eager to talk to Luinael—even in the library, a place meant to be quiet.
Staying inside would only cause more disruption.
It seemed like they had no choice but to leave the library for now and figure out what to do next.
“Hmm, maybe we could check out a nearby restaurant since we’re probably getting hungry…”
Just as Isaac opened his mouth to voice his thoughts, it happened.
Bang!
“…!”
A deafening explosion echoed through the air.
Startled, Isaac and everyone else turned their heads toward the sound.
It came from the plaza where the costume shop was located, the very place they had visited earlier.
“What was that?”
“An explosion this loud…?”
“In the capital, no less…”
People around them murmured anxiously.
The gentle smile on Luinael’s face vanished, replaced by a steely expression.
“Isaac, it might be dangerous. You should return to the mansion immediately.”
“But…”
“Listen to me. Hurry.”
“…”
Luinael spoke with an unusually firm tone.
It was the first time Isaac had seen him like this, and it caught him off guard.
‘Wow, he’s unexpectedly manly at times like these.’
Perhaps it was because he was used to Luinael’s soft demeanor, but Isaac had almost forgotten that the man had spent five years as a knight on the battlefield.
Swayed by his commanding presence, Isaac reluctantly nodded.
“Understood. But if anything seems off, please promise me you’ll return as well…”
Isaac was prepared to follow Luinael’s instructions.
After all, with his lower level, he might only get in the way.
Besides, he was thoroughly sick of chaotic events like this suddenly erupting.
‘The villain scenarios were already a pain.’
Kidnapping innocent people, assaulting them, killing them—the endless string of misfortunes from Isaac’s storyline had left him yearning for peace.
Now that he was finally out of that violent cycle, he wanted nothing more than to steer clear of trouble.
But of course, Isaac’s wishes were never easily granted.
[A quest has been triggered!]
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