RATBA 35

Chapter 35

I didn’t expect the spirit to be so shocked it would fall backward.

But I at least thought it would respond.

If I said I wasn’t from this world, shouldn’t the normal reaction be to ask, “Then where are you from?”

‘Did it not understand?’

I added more details to make it clearer.

“…I come from a completely different world. The language, the culture, the people—everything is different.”

Still no reaction.

The spirit just kept staring at me with that same icy indifference.

‘If it understood… does it not believe me?’

To prove I was worthy of being its contractor, I had to make it trust me.

At the same time, I needed to say something shocking enough to catch its attention.

‘I shouldn’t mention that this is a game world. It would definitely take that badly.’

Telling someone they’re just a fictional game character would piss anyone off.

So I stuck to describing my original world.

“The people there have a much more advanced civilization than here. They don’t use bows or swords in war. They don’t write letters to communicate. Everything can be done with just a single finger.”

I could feel its focus sharpen. Taking that as a good sign, I smiled.

“So if you want a special contractor, you should pick me.”

Most importantly, I had chosen “Spirit Contractor” as my class when starting the game.

That meant no one in this world was more suited to be a spirit contractor than me.

<An interesting story… but can you prove it?>

“Prove it?”

<Do you have evidence that you’re such an anomalous existence?>

Of course, I had no such proof.

While I was racking my brain for a solution, I made a bold decision.

“I’ve heard water spirits can glimpse into people’s memories.”

It didn’t resist when I took its hand.

Suppressing a shiver at its cold, damp touch, I pressed its palm to my forehead.

“Use that ability to see my past memories.”

---

Once the search for Claudia was decided, everyone sprang into action.

Nathan assigned only the bare minimum crew to guard the ship, sending everyone else to join the search party.

There was no risk of Luke stealing the ship—he was still lying unconscious from the beating.

Nathan was doing a final weapons check before leaving when—

Knock knock.

Someone rapped on his cabin door.

“Enter.”

He permitted entry absentmindedly, assuming it was a subordinate coming to report.

But he was wrong.

“Thank you for your time. There’s something I must tell you.”

“…?”

Only belatedly did Nathan look up from his weapon to see his visitor.

“Something to tell me?”

The unexpected guest—Naila—nodded.

“Yes. Something very important.”

Though irritated, Nathan didn’t throw her out immediately.

Turning away a woman—especially a noblewoman, not some commoner—could lead to unnecessary complications.

Suppressing his annoyance, he asked,

“Is this about the expedition? Or the Ruvellhess heir?”

“No. Neither.”

Naila shook her head firmly.

Her green eyes gleamed like a beast’s.

“I’m here to tell you the truth about my sister.”

“…”

He set down the sword he’d been polishing and faced her.

If this was about Claudia, he couldn’t dismiss it lightly.

“The truth about Claudia…?”

“Your Highness doesn’t know my sister’s true nature.”

Just as Nathan reacted to her provocative words—

Naila’s eyes reddened, and clear tears streamed down her cheeks.

“…?”

Nathan was taken aback.

If anyone walked in now, they’d assume he had made her cry.

“Why the tears all of a sudden?”

“Please… look at this.”

With that, Naila turned her back to him.

Then, she untied the laces holding her dress tightly closed.

“Wait, stop—!”

Nathan’s sharp command went unheeded.

Soon, her pale neck and back were exposed.

Thankfully, her chest remained covered since she faced away.

But the deep burn scars etched into her back were unmistakable.

Nathan, who’d been about to forcibly eject her, froze in shock.

“Those scars on your back…”

Naila trembled as if ashamed of her exposed body, then refastened her dress.

“As you may know, I was adopted into the family as a child. And my sister… resented my sudden arrival. So whenever Father or my brothers weren’t looking, she would call me aside. Because…”

“Cut to the chase. Are you saying Claudia gave you those scars?”

She nodded with a sorrowful expression.

At that moment, Nathan recalled something Claudia had said long ago:

[What His Highness Regis truly loves is my sister, Naila. And I… wasn’t kind to her. She wasn’t my real sister, after all.]

Claudia had admitted she hadn’t treated Naila kindly.

But she’d never mentioned branding her with burns.

“Hmm…”

Nathan showed no visible reaction.

Assuming he was listening, Naila continued.

“You likely never saw this side of her. My sister is exceptionally skilled at hiding her true self behind a façade.”

“…”

“That’s why I had to come, even at the risk of being rude. If I stayed silent, Your Highness would exhaust yourself searching for her, unaware— Why are you laughing?”

Naila cut herself off mid-sentence.

The man she thought was listening had instead been chuckling derisively at her.

Stunned, she fell silent.

Nathan’s next words only deepened her confusion.

“A bit cliché, don’t you think? Couldn’t you come up with something more creative?”

“…What?”

“If you want to deceive someone, put in more effort.”

Naila’s face paled.

Realizing what he meant, she cried out indignantly.

“It’s not a lie! How can you doubt me after seeing these scars? My sister—Claudia ordered her maid to ruin my back!”

She truly believed it.

That Claudia was responsible for the scars on her back.

Her voice trembled with genuine anguish.

“The maid pretended it was an accident, pressing a hot iron to my skin! And she kept it there even as I screamed! If this wasn’t intentional, what was it?!”

Nathan studied her frantic expression, then countered coldly.

“Proof that Claudia ordered it? Even if the maid acted deliberately, where’s the evidence linking it to Claudia? Ever consider the maid might’ve acted alone?”

“…Looking for proof is pointless. Nothing like that would leave evidence. But I’ve seen enough over the years to know it was her doing.”

Despite her insistence, Nathan’s mocking smile didn’t fade.

“So you’re condemning Claudia based solely on conjecture. And based on that conjecture, you’re here to sabotage your sister’s engagement? Impressive.”

“…”

“If you’re going to manipulate people with such flimsy lies, at least try harder. Just because I hunt monsters doesn’t mean my brain is made of muscle.”

He opened his desk drawer.

Then pulled something out and showed it to Naila.

“Do you know what this is?”