Chapter 455
I narrowed my eyes, furrowed my brow, and fell silent for a moment.
Seeing my expression, Fluge and Gato focused on me, sensing something was wrong.
But struggling with how to explain this, I took time choosing my words, forced into a few seconds of silence.
"Captain Fluge. Could I meet this child?"
"This child? You mean Barze? Is there something wrong with him?"
"No, I just thought he might be someone I know."
When I spot a Named character, I can't help but react, recalling what I know about them. At this moment, my gaze might be a little too intense.
"I see. Understood. Please wait a moment."
Sensing my unusual demeanor, Fluge quickly left my side and went over to Priestess Anemone.
"Is there something about him?"
"It might be a case of mistaken identity, or perhaps it's 'not yet' that would be ideal. If he is who I think he is, things could get a little complicated. I just want to confirm, just in case."
Priestess Anemone glanced my way, then back at Fluge, and together they headed toward a carriage further back.
That's where Barze was.
"You say it could get 'a little complicated'?"
"Depending on the situation, 'a little' might be an understatement."
"Hohoho, I feel a chill down my spine."
Barze—if I were to describe this character's portrayal in FBO, he was considered one of the strongest NPCs.
In terms of strength at the time of appearance, he rivaled Claudia. His unique skill was overwhelmingly powerful, and he wreaked havoc among players.
Yes, Barze is a unit that can never become an ally in normal gameplay.
He's a unit on the Heretic Church's side.
"If it comes to it, I'll hold him back with everything I have. In the meantime, please rally the others and evacuate."
"You'll hold him back? You must be expecting quite a formidable person."
Unless you align with the Heretic Church, he never becomes an ally. If he defects from the Heretic Church, his favorability immediately swings to negative—he's that much of a狂热 believer.
He's a unit that plagued us players, enough that I feel cold sweat on my back, and I hope with all my heart that I'm wrong.
There are several troublesome units in FBO that even the hardcore players struggled with.
Compared to them, the ones called the "Three Madmen" could be considered more annoying but relatively easier to handle.
The southern continent's Heretic Church's trump card—no, their ultimate weapon—is only one.
"Well, I won't know if it's really him until I meet him."
"Barze of the Thousand Hands."
That's what we FBO players called him.
A unit with a cheat skill called 'Future Calculation,' a skill unobtainable by players.
A skill said to calculate and foresee a thousand moves ahead, close to future prediction.
A true cheat character.
Some even considered him a bugged character.
If possible, I would have preferred to face him with Claudia present. Holding back a sigh, I was mentally preparing for a worst-case scenario when Priestess Anemone and Fluge returned with a young boy.
There stood a boy with short, beautiful silver-blue hair and a gentle, ephemeral face.
He was much shorter than the Barze in my memory, lacking the eerie presence he had in the game.
He hadn't even reached his original form.
"I've brought him. Is there something wrong with him?"
Seeing this, I relaxed completely.
"No, I was just curious. It's nothing bad. I just have one question for him."
He hasn't fallen yet.
I never thought this fact would bring me such relief.
"For me?"
I faced him directly, looking into his eyes—about the same age as me—and was met with a gaze full of confusion.
"Do you like the flute?"
He tensed, wondering what he was being asked, and I smiled as I posed the question.
Priestess Anemone and Fluge tilted their heads, thinking, "You called him all the way here to ask that?"
Gato, understanding that my response would change depending on the answer, watched us with a grave expression.
"Um, yes. I like it."
He nodded firmly, despite his confusion.
Yes, he nodded.
"I see. In this city, you can play as much as you like. There are many instruments too. How about we play together sometime?"
"Y-yes, sir!"
Hearing that, I was truly relieved.
If Barze had said he didn't care about the flute, honestly, I wouldn't have hesitated to detain him.
"Sorry for calling you out like that. You can go back to your friends now."
"Okay."
The flute is that special to Barze.
Confused, he turned and walked away.
"Did something happen?"
"Yes, I thought he might be an acquaintance... but it was a mistake."
Watching his back intently must have made Priestess Anemone think something was wrong, but I smiled and played it off.
Barze's past is incredibly tragic.
His father was a failed bard, and his mother was a naive young lady who eloped with him.
They couldn't earn enough, their food dwindled day by day, yet they lived on desperately.
His father sang to keep his child from starving, but it was hard to earn a daily wage. His mother tried to work, though she wasn't used to it, but couldn't leave young Barze alone.
"I see. Well then, I'll return to the inspection. Please let me know if anything comes up."
"Sorry for the trouble."
"Not at all."
The three of them huddled together in a cheap inn, living day by day, growing more desperate, yet there was love there.
A small wooden flute given to little Barze.
A clumsy flute his father had made.
Playing with it was little Barze's only joy.
"Have you dispelled the source of your worry?"
"...For the time being, I suppose."
Such family happiness didn't last long.
The fact that he was sent to an orphanage is proof enough.
What happened to his parents? That's the problem.
"You don't fully trust him yet?"
"When he learns the truth, his reaction will be the problem."
When Priestess Anemone and Fluge escorted him back to his carriage, he seemed ordinary.
And he said he liked the flute.
"The truth... Liberta-kun, you said you didn't know him earlier. But he really is someone you know, isn't he?"
"Yes, there's no doubt."
He said he liked the flute that his father—who, feeling the limits of their extreme poverty, sold his mother back to her family—had given him.
Barze still trusts his father.
He believes he'll come back for him and his mother someday.
But his father likely took the money from his mother's family and ran off somewhere.
His mother, seen as a stain on the family, is probably under house arrest, or worse.
"I'll have to put Judeus and the others to work again."
The chance, if there is one, would be to rescue his mother and reunite the family to stabilize his mental state.
If his mother is already gone, Barze's psyche could collapse instantly.
One might argue that as long as he doesn't come into contact with the Heretic Church, it's fine. But the question is, when did Barze awaken to his unique skill?
Barze said only one thing: that the skill was granted by a god.
I can easily recall Barze's words: "Use this skill to destroy the world."
The current Barze is a ticking time bomb.
"If I break my promise about their time off, they'll probably be angry."
"Upper management always has its reasons. And it's not like you're slacking off. They'll understand. What matters is how you compensate them afterwards."
"I wish some capable people would just fall into my lap."
Depending on the trigger, it might remain dormant and fizzle out, but a harsh shock could cause it to explode.
If left alone, I'll have to face that mad enemy.
Fighting strong opponents in battle is interesting, but dealing with troublesome enemies is a pain.
At his peak within the Heretic Church, Barze was the type who would stop at nothing to slay the enemies of the gods.
How ruthless was he? Barze was undoubtedly a superior version of the Mad Clown.
In cruelty, strength, and madness, he surpassed the Mad Clown in every way.
"Hohoho, such convenient people don't exist."
"I suppose not."
If I'm to prevent the birth of such a unit, I might have to consider getting involved myself.
"Sigh, I just want to focus on running the academy peacefully."
"The world doesn't work that way. My dream remains just a dream, after all."
"It's a harsh world."
Considering the worst-case scenario, a thought flashed through my mind—eliminating him while he's still innocent—but I dismissed it.
What I know is only the future version of Barze.
The current him is just an orphan who knows nothing.
From the perspective of those who know, he's a ticking time bomb that cannot be ignored.
Sighing at the pile of work stacking up in my mind, I scrutinized the roster, eyes wide, looking for other troublesome individuals.
With three hundred names, it's quite a lot.
Are there any promising Named characters waiting to be discovered, rather than those who would take a dark turn?
Named characters in FBO often have troubled pasts.
Their high abilities are a natural consequence of that.
"...The others seem fine."
"If you say it's fine, I trust your judgment."
"For now, anyway. Who knows what will happen once they start learning."
But all I found were ticking bombs, no hidden treasures.
I suppose it's too much to expect conveniently useful Named characters to be among them.
Perhaps it's rare to meet them at all, in an era before the original story, not knowing what the Named characters are up to.
"Our job is to guide them down the right path. I promise not to lead them to misfortune."
"I really appreciate that. Seriously."
"Hohoho, that's a heavy responsibility."
And I suppose capable, trustworthy people who can contribute immediately don't just become allies that easily.
"...Should I risk it and go there?"
The future is bright, but the present is cloudy.
Labor shortages are a universal problem.
Solving such a problem requires extraordinary measures.
But that doesn't mean there aren't any.
"If you're going to do something dangerous, make sure you discuss it with everyone first, okay?"
"Yes, I won't go without telling anyone."
I'm just avoiding it because going now would mean dealing with a whole host of麻烦.
But if I avoid it and Judeus and the others collapse from overwork, it defeats the purpose. There are ways to do it; the only question is my resolve.
"You should be more aware of your position as the head of this city. I understand you're trying to accomplish things out of a sense of responsibility, but you also need to understand that if you left, this city would fall apart."
"I understand that."
"I feel there's a discrepancy between your understanding and mine."
I understand what Gato is saying.
The leader shouldn't actively seek out tasks that require taking risks. I understand that logic, and considering the worst-case scenario, it's wiser not to do it.
"I understand, but I'll say it anyway. This is who I am, and everyone trusts and follows this version of me. Isn't that the same for you, Gato-san? Would you rather see a passive me who doesn't take risks, or a me who gets things done?"
But that wouldn't be me.
I flash Gato a mischievous grin.
"Right?"
Seeking agreement, Gato shrugs, as if conceding defeat, and nods.