Reset Life – Chapter 88

Chapter 88: You, Become a Big Shot (5)

After passing the 3rd floor, a more deserted 4th floor appeared. Chief Secretary Dorn dispelled any suspicion about me by telling those he met, ‘This is the Baron’s guest.’

As we passed the 4th-floor stairs and climbed to the 5th floor, he said to me,

“Inspector-nim, I don’t know what you’ve heard, but there seems to be some misunderstanding regarding your visit to our Baron……”

“Whether it’s a misunderstanding or not, I’ll be the judge of that, Chief Secretary Dorn. Your role is to guide me to Duke Ecoshian. Ah, there’s one more thing.”

“One more…… thing? What is it?”

I could sense a slight hint of fear in his upright and experienced demeanor. If he had turned around, he would have seen my sly expression.

I said with an expression no one could see,

“Later, bring some tea to the office.”

“Excuse me? Ah…… Yes. I understand.”

Chief Secretary Dorn, with a voice as if his throat was constricted, seemed unsure whether my words were a joke or serious, as he loosened his tie a little.

Hmm. I shouldn’t tease an older person too much.

It seemed like there were no employees on the 5th floor at all. About half the size of the 4th floor, it consisted of a conference room and the Baron’s office.

Chief Secretary Dorn guided me to the central room and cleared his throat with a cough.

Knock, knock.

“Baron-nim, it’s Mizellansot.”

“Yes. Come in.”

A fairly vigorous old man’s voice could be heard. Not physically vigorous, but mentally vigorous, a voice with a sharp edge to it.

Chief Secretary Dorn opened the door, and I naturally entered through the open door.

The moment I entered, the smell of my father’s study wafted through the air.

Bookshelves filled with countless books lined the walls. Not decorative items intended to project an intellectual image, but real bookshelves from which books could be pulled at any time.

In the center of the office, a sofa and table that could seat six people were prepared. The sofa, seemingly well-used, exuded an air of antiquity.

Opposite the door, in front of a wide window, stood a massive desk piled high with documents. And sitting in the chair, his gaze fixed on the documents, was a stern-looking old man.

Duke Ecoshian spoke, still looking at the documents.

“Jerry, where have you been? My work can’t proceed without you, can it?”

“My apologies, Baron-nim. We have a guest.”

“Hmm? Didn’t all the guests for today already visit?”

He raised his head. The old man, his white hair slicked back, pushed up his square-rimmed glasses.

The three wrinkles etched on his forehead, along with the numerous fine lines that crisscrossed his face, spoke of the relentless passage of time, but also of the experience gained from overcoming various hardships.

This is what a university professor, mainly in economics or literature, would look like in their old age.

Duke Ecoshian asked in a sharp voice,

“Who are you?”

“I cannot tell you my name, but…… I am this kind of person.”

I approached the desk and presented my inspector’s badge. Duke Ecoshian took the badge, adjusted his glasses, and tilted his head.

“I haven’t done anything wrong lately…… Did I get caught stealing the secretaries’ snacks?”

“Then it’s robbery. Grudges related to food are scary.”

“Oh dear. I should have just asked for one. Or taken it secretly. Heh heh heh!”

“Then it’s theft, Your Grace.”

I responded with a joke to the Duke, who was joking without a hint of surprise. Chief Secretary Dorn, unable to keep up with this atmosphere, spoke in a flustered voice.

“Um, I’ll, I’ll prepare the tea.”

“Hmm. Yes. Thank you.”

Footsteps often speak volumes. The footsteps, undoubtedly flustered, disappeared beyond the door, and Duke Ecoshian waved his hand and spoke in a disinterested voice.

“Sit down somewhere. There’s no high or low seat. I’ll be with you shortly after looking at this. You’re not busy, are you?”

“Right. I’m not busy.”

I sat on the left sofa and leaned back.

A short while later, Chief Secretary Dorn prepared the tea, and about three minutes after that, Duke Ecoshian rose from his seat. As he got up just as the tea was perfectly steeped, I poured him a cup.

Duke Ecoshian sat down opposite me and said,

“Hmm. A novice inspector, I see.”

“Can you tell?”

“Experienced ones would come in rough attire and receive treatment without lifting a finger.”

“Surely there aren’t five inspectors visiting today, including myself?”

“The number of times I’ve stolen snacks is about that much.”

“That would be habitual robbery.”

I said politely, and Duke Ecoshian chuckled, letting out a laugh characteristic of an old man.

He lifted his teacup, inhaled the aroma, took a sip, and then swirled the tea in his mouth to savor its flavor. It was a splendid posture. I did the same.

The aroma of black tea spreading in my mouth was fragrant.

“So, Inspector, what brings you to this old Baron? Let’s skip the silly jokes about robbery. I haven’t done anything to warrant an inspector’s visit. Arisein Pen Bre Herduke.”

My name naturally flowed from his lips.

An ordinary person would have been flustered, but I maintained a composed expression. Since I was the only inspector who had become the Emperor’s Eye in the past year, I was the only one who could be called a novice.

Even though the identity of the Emperor’s Eye is kept secret, considering the person in front of me is a Duke, he would have figured that much out.

I said,

“As you might have guessed, I haven’t come here as an inspector. Ah, both of your parents are doing well, and the recent weather in the Imperial Capital has been clear.”

“Oh dear. Telling me before I even asked. You’re a mischievous young man. Then, have you come as a Viscount, or as a Knight? Or perhaps as a member of the Duke’s family?”

“None of the three.”

“Then what?”

I looked into the Duke’s eyes.

As people age, they become good at hiding their emotions, and as they become elderly, it becomes natural, but his eyes showed no sign of trying to hide anything.

His eyes held only the composure that people of his age possess, and a slight boredom that comes from living a long life.

I put down my teacup.

“Your Grace, if you are who I suspect you are, then I am who you suspect I am.”

“That’s difficult to understand. Speak plainly.”

“Is there a need for that?”

I looked at him with a meaningful expression.

Of course, if he wasn’t someone who had experienced a Reset, I had an excuse prepared.

But he was definitely someone who had experienced a Reset.

And for quite a long time.

Duke Ecoshian looked at me with an indifferent expression and leaned back on the sofa. As the somewhat small old man’s body leaned against the soft sofa, it looked as if he was sinking into it.

He opened his mouth, sounding somewhat tired.

“After 20 years…… has someone who understands me finally appeared? There was a time when I thought I was going crazy. Heh heh. Hearing rumors about you, I wondered if you were the same. Arisein ‘Ka’ Herduke.”

He brought up the title I received before my death. I suddenly remembered that he was present at my knighting ceremony.

“Hmm, if my memory serves me right, you definitely died in the war against the Azot Kingdom in the year 382. Correct?”

“That’s correct.”

“Indeed. The second son of the Salain Dukedom also died then. Sometimes my memories of the future are unclear. After all, it’s been 40 years since I’ve traveled back.”

40 years?!

I couldn’t help but look dumbfounded.

What? So that means I died at least 20 years in the future?

Duke Ecoshian chuckled at my expression.

He asked,

“What year are you from?”

“10 years.”

“Then it’s 372. Ah, that’s right. The diplomatic mission. I understand. You’re trying to prevent the war?”

“That’s right.”

“Of course you would be. But why did you handle things so poorly?”

“Excuse me?”

His tone suddenly sharpened. I couldn’t help but look dumbfounded again.

Duke Ecoshian clicked his tongue and scolded me.

“If you were trying to prevent the war, you should have quickly taken the Azot Princess. Were you trying to act all manly? As the saying goes, a man who can’t even eat the food set before him is a fool.”

“There were circumstances.”

“Hmm. I don’t know how significant those circumstances are, but unless it’s a blood-related connection, a promise between nations is nothing more than a sandcastle. Tsk. Well, I suppose you had your own reasons. However, judging by the position you’ve attained to be able to come here now, those efforts will soon be in vain. The person who’s trying to prevent the war is wandering around outside.”

It’s not something I haven’t considered.

For the past two years, I’ve been dealing with nobles in the Imperial Capital and promoting the Azot Kingdom. And last year, a diplomatic mission from Azot came and successfully established friendly relations.

The Imperial nobles have come to realize that Azot is not as bad a country as they thought. For now, I believe this is enough to deter war.

Above all, I have a wild card.

“That’s not entirely true. There was someone on the other side who thought the same way I did. He will soon become King.”

“You mean Crown Prince Lymant? Hmm, indeed. He seemed to be someone like you or me. I couldn’t confirm it openly, but I thought so. But think about it. Who provided the cause of the war? Have you met the person who caused it?”

The Emperor’s sons.

The ones who gang-raped Daisy, who had married into the Imperial family, and drove her to suicide, the absolute worst scum on Earth, far surpassing anyone else in my memory.

“I have met them.”

“Meeting them isn’t enough. You should have changed their minds. They…… sigh, let’s leave it at that. After all, what can an old man, content with reality, say to a young man trying to shape the present?”

Duke Ecoshian, who had been offering elderly advice, shook his head. He continued,

“Don’t take it personally. This is what happens when you get old. Besides, I’m over 100 years old now, considering the accumulated years. Living for another 20 years after death only increases my anxieties. I have no right to say anything, having done nothing in politics. You’ve put in the effort. Besides, although it might be disappointing for you, I have no thoughts about the war. During the war with Azot, after you died, the Southern Army replaced the Eastern Army and defended Orknesia.”

“Orknesia? Then where did the Eastern Army go?”

“They went to Azot with the Western Army……? Hmm? Didn’t the Crown Prince mention anything about the war?”

“This is the first I’ve heard of it.”

I didn’t want to ask about people’s deaths, and since I was certain that Azot had perished after my death, I didn’t ask Lime-hyung anything.

I don’t want to reopen people’s wounds.

Duke Ecoshian nodded.

“Let me explain briefly. The Western Army, initially deployed to the front lines, was utterly crushed by the Azot Kingdom Army due to their foolish and persistent tactics. The Emperor, in line with their stupidity, criticized them harshly and asked if anyone was willing to go to Azot. That’s when your father stepped forward.”

“That’s unexpected.”

“Indeed. It was unexpected for me too. He guaranteed victory if the Eastern Army, hardened by battles against the Gray Forest, was sent to Azot. He said it would be possible if the Southern Army could replace the Eastern Army in the meantime. Coincidentally, discord arose between the Ruery Three Kingdoms, allowing us to sign a non-aggression pact and mobilize the Southern Army. Eventually, the 500,000-strong Eastern Army assembled and headed towards Azot under the command of Duke Ecaledon. The result, as expected, was a landslide victory. The Azot Kingdom crumbled in less than a year.”

“I see. So that’s what my father did……”

I nodded.

The Eastern Army is not only large in number but also the strongest in the Empire in terms of training.

Some units consider one-to-one-hundred battles to be child’s play, and most of the rest consider one-to-ten battles to be too insignificant. If such forces were to launch an invasion, Azot wouldn’t stand a chance.

Up to this point, it wasn’t that surprising. It was just unfamiliar because it was something I didn’t know.

What truly surprised me was what came next.

“At that time, Duke Ecaledon said he would avenge you, if I remember correctly.”

“What?!”

“You died, didn’t you? It’s not a memory that’s been forgotten due to the passage of time, and it must have been an unforgettable memory, right? He said he would avenge you.”

Lies.

My father, who sent me to the front lines to die, said he would avenge me?

It’s absurd. It’s like saying Lucy has become a model citizen.

Perhaps my father thought he had gained an opportunity to build his achievements by using my death as an excuse. The image of a father personally avenging his child’s death is quite human and powerful.

I let out a bitter laugh, then quickly changed to an expressionless face.

“I see. That’s what he would have said.”

“Hmm, anyway, the Empire’s territory expanded after that. The postwar process took about five years, and eliminating the resistance took another five years. I died about three years after that.”

Judging by his bitter smile, death isn’t that great. I nodded. I understand how he feels.

“You must have seen a lot. About the future.”

“I saw a lot.”

He told me various stories with a gaze that looked back on the past.

Although they were all events of the future, I, possessing memories of the future as the past, could fully understand his feelings.

The story of the Empire suffering from succession issues after the war, the story of the 3rd Prince being assassinated, the story of a new Dukedom being established where Azot once stood, and the appearance of the fourth Duke.

I heard about the future I couldn’t see after my death.

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