The Villain Wants to Change Genres

Chapter 32

“Boss! We must eliminate that noble brat! Otherwise, we’ll die! We’ll be wiped out!” Dicky cried out indignantly.

“If this young master is really the lord’s son, killing him would be just as bad, you idiot.”

“I’ll say it was my doing alone, Boss!”

“Enough. Someone shut his mouth.”

The boss spoke with a sigh. It seems it was a choice born out of loyalty, in its own way.

Dicky was led away behind the haystack by his comrades. The muffled sounds of “mmph” could still be heard, but at a level that could be ignored.

“So, young master. You say you’ve come to save our lives?”

“You see, the First Prince has been enthusiastic about monster subjugation lately.”

His gaze fixed on me. It must have seemed like an abrupt topic, but his expression was serious.

‘Of course. He must know why I brought this up.’

Thinking it would be easier to persuade him if I showed how much I knew, rather than getting straight to the point, I continued carefully:

“He’s been consistently going on subjugation missions, right? Mobilizing the personal knight orders of the nobles. Today was our family’s turn. But his love for the Empire’s people doesn’t stop at just subjugating monsters. He’s also wiping out the Kans gang that’s been troubling the people, while he’s at it.”

I heard groans from around us. What good is the boss’s excellent poker face when his subordinates can’t hide their emotions?

“Tsk.”

In the end, even the boss clicked his tongue and sighed. Well, shall I show off my knowledge again?

“You received an offer, didn’t you? To steal the seal from Duke Vinter’s office while he’s away for the subjugation today.”

“Gasp… How did you know? Who told you?”

“Hey, you stupid idiot!”

There was a slapping sound as someone hit a head. Now the boss covered his face with one hand and sighed deeply. One of the Kans members who realized the mistake covered his mouth with both hands and gasped, but it was too late.

“They probably said they’d release the village women and children they’ve captured if you steal the seal. And they’d give you a large sum of money so you wouldn’t need to plunder anymore.”

I looked straight at the boss.

“Boss, you don’t believe their offer, but you had to move because of the hostages, right? Hoping that maybe you could save them.”

“I don’t know how you found out, but you’re right. So I need to steal the seal. Even if it means keeping you here.”

“You know, a family seal is only valuable when it’s with the bloodline. Without our family, it’s just a pretty stamp.”

Of course, it’s not that it has no material value, being a family heirloom. The family seal is also proof of being the ‘owner’ of that family.

But Irene and I are the only heirs to the Vinter duchy. Even if the seal is lost, we can just make a new one if I don’t make a fuss about it. Who’s going to argue if we siblings insist it’s the real one?

“The actual value of that item doesn’t matter to us. We just want to deliver what they want and get our people back.”

“Why doesn’t it matter? When they ask you to steal something worthless, there’s a reason.”

Don’t you understand what I’m saying?

“The reason they’re sending you to my father’s office tonight.”

I explained kindly, but the boss still seemed to not understand well. Or maybe he’s refusing to understand. The stakes need to be higher.

I waited for the boss to come to a conclusion. He needs to understand and realize their situation clearly on his own, then he’ll be tempted by the sweet offer I’m extending.

Just as it was starting to get boring, the boss spoke with a gulp:

“…It’s a trap.”

“Correct.”

“Hah.”

Now that he’s realized it’s a trap, it’s time to explain what kind of trap it is. As I opened my mouth, the boss listened with a fairly serious attitude.

“Originally, my father shouldn’t be at the mansion tonight. But he returned because he wasn’t feeling well. There must be someone at the imperial palace who knows this.”

The First Prince would have explained why the Duke, who should have been on the subjugation mission, returned to the mansion. He might have even created witnesses.

“You’ll probably discover my father’s corpse in the Duke’s office. And you’ll become suspects.”

“…”

“Moreover, you have no acquaintances in the capital. You’re strong enough to live in the mountains dealing with monsters, so it’s believable that you could kill the captain of the imperial guard who’s in poor health. Plus, even if you’re wiped out, no one will protest.”

A group that has the ability to kill a noble, even if by chance, and can be dealt with without any consequences. The Kans group led by this man fulfilled all these conditions.

Upon discovering the Duke’s body and falling into panic, they encounter Irene and attack her in confusion. They don’t end up killing her, but… Hm? Could it have been Dicky who attacked Irene?

‘Considering how he lunged at me to kill me, it might be right. Well, it won’t happen this time, so it doesn’t matter.’

Anyway, in the original story, all the subordinates except the Kans boss die. He barely escapes, but just before the Second Prince finds him, unfortunately, the First Prince gets to him first and he dies. With the boss’s death, all witnesses who could testify about tonight’s events die.

But this time will be different. You won’t die, and you’ll become the foundation for bringing down the First Prince.

“Then shouldn’t we be going to save the young master’s father instead of being here?”

“It’s too late. He’s been poisoned. The ambush is to cover up that fact, and you were chosen as sacrifices to quickly identify the culprit and close the case. So even if you go back now without doing anything, you won’t be safe.”

The fact that the Kans invaded the Duke’s residence can be testified by the mercenaries pretending to be ordinary knights. Evidence can be fabricated easily.

For a moment, it seemed like fire lit up in the boss’s eyes. It was probably just the reflection of the torch, but still.

It was fortunate. He doesn’t seem to be a complete idiot.

“I see. So that’s how it is.”

The boss lifted his axe and rested it on his shoulder, then approached me with heavy steps. Even without saying it, his attitude and gaze were enough to convey that he would chop me if things went wrong.

“Why so scary? I told you, I came to save your lives.”

“I’m stupid, so explain it in a way I can understand.”

His patience seemed to be wearing thin. The boss brought his face close to mine and growled.

Feeling a bit uncomfortable, I pulled my face back and said:

“Shall I start by telling you who the mastermind is? The one who trapped you is the eldest son of the highest person in the Empire.”

“Damn it, shit.”

The Kans members who had become like wallpaper repeated ‘Boss’ in pitiful voices. It seems they’ve just now realized the gravity of the situation.

“Then, to be safe, can’t you guess whose help you need?”

“Don’t know. Tell me right now since I don’t know.”

“The only person fighting against the First Prince. The person who would benefit from helping you. Isn’t there just one person you can think of? Anyone in the Empire should know.”

As if he had heard something absurd and ridiculous, the boss clicked his tongue and said “Huh.”

“I know. You’re wondering how to get help from such a high-ranking person. I’ll take care of that, so you don’t need to worry about it. Just come alone to the corridor of my father’s office around 2 AM, and start by taking me hostage.”

That’s how they’ll become witnesses. I’ll be the witness who can testify that it wasn’t the Kans who killed my father. Well, do you have to actually see something to be a witness? You can be a witness even if you’ve just read about it in a book. What’s important is information that only a witness could know, and I know that.

“And then?”

“Then you need to escape with me. Once we evacuate to a safe place, I’ll send a message to my sister. That will be able to move the Second Prince.”

Facing the boss who was frowning as if he couldn’t believe my words, I smiled confidently.

Over the past three years, it’s not just my relationship with Luwen that has changed. The relationship between my sister and the Second Prince has also changed a lot. Irene still looks at him with suspicious eyes, but it’s around the time when the Second Prince should have realized his own feelings. So if I give my sister a hint, it will definitely reach the Second Prince’s ears.

If he realizes how important the Kans are as witnesses, he’s the type who would come personally even if I didn’t ask him to. It’s on a different level from the trivial things he’s been gathering. It’s an opportunity to land a decisive blow, after all.

He’ll move quickly, knowing that it’s over if the First Prince cleans up while he’s dallying.

But I couldn’t be bothered to explain to them in detail why the Second Prince is coming. I can gloss over it.

“He’ll come because you’ve taken me hostage. He’s kind of dating my sister.”

“…What’s ‘dating’?”

“Ah. Um. It just means he’s close to my sister. Anyway, when the Second Prince comes, you’ll be under his protection. If you do as I say, you can all survive.”

Did I only talk about things that are favorable to the Kans? The boss looked me over very suspiciously.