19 Investigate(3)

-Afternoon-

The main gate of the grand estate opened, and a horse carriage rolled in, carrying a young girl accompanied by a retinue of guards. The girl's hands were laden with various items, and upon spotting the gate guards, she approached them with a determined stride. "Take the remaining groceries from the carriage and bring them to my room," she instructed, her voice carrying an air of authority.

"Yes, young miss," the guard responded promptly, swiftly summoning his comrades to assist with the task at hand.

The young girl deftly transferred the carriage's cargo and climbed into a specially designated carriage provided by the gatekeeper. With a nod of acknowledgment, she embarked on the journey toward her residence.

Within the confines of the carriage, a gentle breeze played upon the girl's face as she gazed out the window, lost in her own musings. "No matter how many times I lay eyes upon it, the meadow remains a thing of beauty," she murmured, reclining comfortably in her seat.

After a few minutes of traversing the picturesque landscape, the horse-drawn carriage arrived at the majestic castle. The young girl alighted from the carriage and eagerly sprinted towards the main entrance.

The servant stationed by the main door, ready to receive her, greeted her with a warm smile. "Good evening, young miss. How was your journey?"

"Nothing out of the ordinary. We encountered some demi-humans blocking our path, attempting to secure a few coins and loaves of bread. Anyway, have Mom and Dad returned?" The young girl scanned her surroundings, her eyes searching for the familiar pair of boots and carriages.

The servant, hearing her question, could only offer a wry smile. "There has been no word from the Lord or the Lady, but I heard they were conducting inspections in several villages a few days ago."

Upon hearing this, the smile on the young girl's face faded, and she entered the house without uttering a response.

Saddened by the young girl's crestfallen expression, the servant followed her inside, determined to provide comfort.

In the grand foyer, the young girl, who had initially planned to head straight to her room, suddenly halted and turned to address the servant. "What about my little brother?" Her voice quivered with concern, her eyes searching for reassurance.

"Young master Desmond stated that he is in the midst of closed meditation and should not be disturbed," the servant informed Alice, Desmond's older sister. It was during their parents' busy hours that Desmond would accompany Alice in their evening games.

Upon hearing this, Alice's lips curled into a mischievous smile, accompanied by a mysterious laughter. "Closed meditation, huh? Let's see about that."

Observing Alice's reaction, the servant quickly interjected, "I apologize for any impertinence, young miss, but the young master specifically requested not to be disturbed. He mentioned that he wouldn't play with you if he was interrupted."

Alice paused at the servant's words, understanding that Desmond's meditation held significance for him. Despite her inherently curious nature, she knew that certain matters should not be disturbed.

"Did my little brother mention when he would finish his meditation?" Alice inquired, her curiosity piqued.

The servant, relieved that Alice decided against disturbing Desmond, replied, "Young master Desmond only instructed me to prepare dinner for him."

"In that case, I should give my little brother a surprise during dinner," Alice chuckled, already envisioning the surprise she had in store for him. She promptly made her way to check on the item she had recently acquired.

The palace's servants were well aware of Alice's deep affection for Desmond, which only grew stronger when their parents were absent. However, they harbored concerns that Alice's intense attachment might become unhealthy. Her control over Desmond's clothes, behavior, and even friends was a cause for worry. Consequently, Desmond had yet to form any close friendships due to Alice's influence. This could potentially pose challenges for him in finding a partner in the future.

-Underground-

Meanwhile, in the depths beneath the palace, Desmond found himself engaged in a fierce battle, skillfully evading several fireballs hurtling towards him.

Suddenly, a colossal fireball materialized, leaving Desmond with no feasible escape route to the right or the left. As the enormous fireball closed in, Desmond swiftly leaped forward, utilizing the left wall as leverage. In a daring move, he propelled himself upwards, simultaneously slashing at the fireball from above, aiming to counter its devastating impact.

Desmond's head collided with the low ceiling of the hallway as he failed to account for its limited height after the fireball dissipated.

Annoyed and frustrated, Desmond grumbled to himself, expressing his exasperation with the numerous traps that still plagued a room that had long been abandoned. He cursed the walls and floors that seemed to harbor danger at every turn.

While the traps presented an opportunity for Desmond to enhance his agility, he questioned whether it was worth risking his life. His caution grew after inadvertently triggering a fireball trap when he leaned against a wall adorned with strange carvings.

"This room is more complex than I anticipated. I should take a break before confronting Alice later," Desmond muttered, realizing the need to gather his strength.

But before he did, he called for a status update to assess his condition.

[Scanning Host Body...]

[Scan Complete!]

-Status-

Name: Desmond

Gender: Male

Age: 3 years

Race: Human

Class: Swordsman

Occupation: None

Unique Energy: 2.01/5.05

Strength: 7.04

Agility: 0.44

Stamina: 0.50/1.63]

Satisfied with his current state, Desmond resumed his meditation, focusing on healing his injuries. After a few minutes, he opened his eyes, feeling a sense of completion for the day's efforts.

Preparing to leave the dungeon, Desmond made his way towards the exit.

-Night-

In the vicinity behind the palace, the rustling of bushes accompanied the sound of a door being opened. The bushes that concealed the lower part of the castle parted, revealing an open door, and Desmond stood before it.

Having traversed the labyrinthine hallway for a considerable time, Desmond swiftly opened the door leading to the basement exit. As he emerged, he surveyed his surroundings, ever vigilant to ensure his safety.

Desmond requested the system to scan the surrounding area and determine if the grandmaster's subordinates were nearby. The system initiated the task and provided the results.

[System Conclusion: There is no detectable spread of the host's energy in the surrounding area. However, an object is approaching rapidly from a distance.]

Assuming it to be one of the grandmaster's subordinates, possibly changing shifts, Desmond swiftly closed the cellar door and carefully restored the bush to its original position to avoid suspicion.

Knowing that he had approximately three minutes of sufficient energy, Desmond activated his custom spell, "Light Distortion," which rendered his body transparent, making him less visible. He also utilized the "Body Enhancement" skill, grateful for having a spare in case of emergencies. With his body enhanced, Desmond entered the castle through the kitchen's back door and made his way directly to his room, taking care to avoid detection.