"Hurry up and agree, Lord Sath! He'll go! So let me go! Come on, let me go!!"

Willis had overheard our conversation. He was so pumped up, like he'd been injected with pure adrenaline, that the soldiers behind him nearly lost their grip.

"...No. Same question as before. My life for his freedom. Deal?"

"You bastard!!! Karl! What are you dying for? Are you insane? As long as you live, I live too!! Aaah!"

I didn't get it either. Just like Willis said—if he switched sides, he wouldn't have to die, and Willis would walk free.

"Well, sit down."

Before I could move, Karl grabbed a chair and sat himself.

I had no choice but to join him.

"Really not considering it?"

"Won't go."

Karl shook his head with a faint smile.

"Let me tell you a story."

A commoner once spent his family's savings on books.

The more he read, the more he saw the world's flaws.

The clearer it became, the angrier he grew.

But anger changed nothing.

He was just a nobody.

Starving was routine.

Fainting from hunger happened often.

One day, he collapsed on the road.

Willis saw him.

For some reason, Willis was in a great mood.

He gave the commoner a full meal.

Endless gratitude flooded the man's heart.

He risked a beating from Willis's guards to offer his service.

Normally, Willis ignored such pleas.

But that day, Willis was overjoyed—he'd just gained new dancers.

So he agreed on the spot.

The commoner served Willis faithfully.

From minor clerk to trusted minister.

He governed Stanki with perfect order.

Soon, he was called Stanki's top strategist.

Even though Willis was lazy, incompetent, and arrogant.

The man stayed devoted.

Insulted by Willis. Whipped by Willis.

He remained.

To him, Willis's flaws didn't matter.

He always found something good in him.

He truly believed Willis could be a great lord.

Right until the end.

Karl told his own tale like an outsider.

That's what serving a true patron meant...

Even if Willis never thought of it that way.

He'd opened a window for Karl.

But I had to say it:

Blind loyalty.

Utterly blind.

Yet I couldn't look down on him.

He knew better than anyone how useless Willis was.

But he believed in him more than anyone.

Foolish beyond cure, Karl the scholar.

No one else could be this foolish. No one understood.

I didn't understand either.

"Am I stupid?"

"Yep."

"If I switched sides... I'd probably find Willis again soon after."

"Probably."

Even if he ran away, he'd track down Willis to rebuild his power.

"But I know he's useless to the world."

"...".

"Calling him trash isn't wrong."

"You bastard!!! Did you forget who gave you this position?! Ungrateful wretch!!"

"I never forgot. That's why I'm here."

He took a deep breath, clearing his head. The room's scent bothered him.

"I'll kill myself. Then free Willis."

For me, this brought no gain...

But must everything be about gain?

"I accept."

"Thank you."

Karl knew this meant nothing for me.

My agreement was kindness enough.

He was escaping too.

Too tired—torn between loyalty and watching that fat fool waste everything.

If you asked Karl if he ever wanted to punch Willis...

He'd say yes.

A conflicted heart.

He thought himself strange. Death might bring peace.

"Got any poison?"

"...Yes."

Military stores held potent toxins.

Poisoned arrows, for emergencies.

But supplies were low.

"If you need it... it'll take time."

"Doesn't matter. I'll wait. Poison's a cleaner death."

I signaled a soldier to fetch it.

"Is Herates dead?"

"Maybe dead. Maybe alive."

"His fate's unknown?"

"Yeah."

"Herates... it ends like this."

Karl believed he'd fallen in battle.

"That man—you met him, right? Truly admirable."

"Yeah."

A man who commanded respect effortlessly.

"I hope to see him again in the next world."

I stayed silent.

"I'm dying soon. Ask anything. I'll answer what I know."

He admired this young man. Maybe he could still help him.

"So... how do I govern Baha Balm well?"

"Haha, such a broad question."

I felt awkward. It was vague.

"I've studied Baha Balm. Honestly, I'm amazed it runs despite empty coffers."

"Just tricks. Won't last."

"But enough to see your plan through, right?"

"!?"

"Don't be shocked... Massive irrigation projects. Hoarding grain. No plan would be weird."

"I see..."

"You already have a solid vision. I bet you struggle with details."

"Yes... I have a big plan, but executing it feels impossible."

"Haha, take it slow. You're young. Don't lose heart."

"Sigh. I admit my limits."

"I get your worry. But a full plan is the hardest part—you've nailed that."

"R-really?!"

"Yeah. You just need people to handle the specifics."

"Sigh. Baha Balm has one administrator already."

"Not nearly enough. Piling it on one person breaks them."

Was Doria that exhausted? Why didn't she say anything?

Regret and guilt tore at me.

"If you need help, I know someone."

"Please tell me."

"Near Hohaton, in a village called Kakasi, find a man named Moo. My friend. He's brilliant at this."

"Why didn't he help you here?"

"I refused. Willis's mess? I won't drag my friend into that."

"...I see."

"But he always rants about making his mark. Begs to join me. He'll jump at your offer."

He touched his neck, unclasping a chain.

"Take this. He'll listen to every word you say."

As I opened my mouth to thank him, the soldier returned with the poison.

"Hah. Guess our chat ends here."

Karl took the vial.

"I always loved wine."

He walked to the table where Willis's untouched wine sat.

Smiling, he poured a small cup and mixed in the poison.

He stared at the tainted drink.

Hesitated for a split second.

Then glanced at Willis, gagged and thrashing.

He sighed.

Slowly, he drank the poison and sat back down.

Cold sweat soon beaded on his forehead. Pain hit hard.

He didn't cry out. Didn't show agony.

Eyes closed, he endured the suffocating ache.

His heart clenched like a fist. Pain shot to his back. Numbness spread.

"Argh!"

He couldn't hold back the cry. The pain was too fierce.

But it didn't last long.

Consciousness faded fast.

I watched Karl die sitting upright.

His face stayed calm till the end.

Breathing stopped.

He was gone.

"Release that fat man."

"Thank you! Thank you for your mercy!"

Willis kowtowed twice in a rush, then scrambled away on all fours. Fled with no direction.

One foolish man lived. One foolish man died.