Chapter 375: Chapter 375

Luna and Rezé gasped.

It was a shocking story, so their reaction was only natural.

In contrast, Granny Peggy remained calm. Her widened eyes had already returned to normal.

“They killed the woodcutter. What do you mean by that?”

“The woodcutter probably never even made it out of the mine. The Count must have killed him.”

That’s right. This was the hidden truth behind the Trash Hero’s tale.

Even now, but especially hundreds of years ago, a Count was like a king of the region.

There was no need to beg someone who defeated a monster to become a knight, or to pay him off to keep quiet.

They would’ve simply ended the matter by taking his head.

He was from the same village, but just a lowly woodcutter.

They would’ve shut their eyes, ears, and mouths to preserve their own necks.

Well, maybe a few people resisted…

“They would’ve been taken care of on the spot too.”

I stared at Granny Peggy. She let out a small, defeated sigh and smiled softly.

“You’re right. That’s the correct answer. Impressive. How did you figure it out?”

“You said it at the beginning, didn’t you? That it was a story faithful to human desire.”

“And you figured it out from just that?”

Of course, it wasn’t just that. I had heard it tens of thousands of times in the game, and after thousands of attempts, the players had finally discovered the answer.

But I couldn’t say that.

I forced a somber expression and replied.

“Keke, if you look at my face… you can tell I know better than anyone how ugly human desire can be.”

“That makes sense. It is a horrible face. Life must’ve been hard for you. But don’t be too sad. Life isn’t all about looks.”

Wait, aren’t you supposed to comfort someone at this point?

And coming from a kind old lady, too. Just how do people in this world see my face?

“Then you must know the lesson hidden in this story too.”

Granny Peggy’s eyes went cold. As if she was starting to doubt her judgment.

Of course, I knew. But I was just being a little petty. Saying I knew everything might’ve made the conversation messy.

With a small sigh, Granny Peggy spoke again.

“The hidden lesson… is that the price of courage doesn’t always lead to a good outcome.”

“A realistic lesson.”

That’s right. Courage isn’t always the right answer.

Whistleblowers, reformers, loyal subjects…

Sometimes they’re criticized even when they act bravely. No—often, in fact.

“The price of courage often comes back as a disadvantage.”

But if someone still acts courageously, knowing full well the harm it could bring…

“Then stand by their side.”

As people gather one by one, before you know it, you’ll find yourself becoming a wave.

A wave of courage that can change the world. That’s the real lesson of this story.

“Well, it’s something that takes tremendous courage.”

“Exactly. It’s a very hard thing. Folks like me, just commoners, could never even dream of it.”

Granny Peggy gave a self-deprecating smile.

She seemed to think that as a powerless old lady living in a small countryside village, she neither had the opportunity nor the strength, nor the right to show courage.

Maybe something had piqued her curiosity. Luna raised her hand to ask a question.

“Then who wrote that letter?”

Granny Peggy quietly nodded.

That’s right. The letter passed down only through the hands of the village elder.

It was a knight’s confession, and a journal recording that day’s events.

“Right after he returned to the village, he was filled with regret.”

For not protecting the woodcutter, for taking away his honor, for not opposing the Count’s unjust decision.

“He regretted it, over and over.”

But he only recorded those facts in his journal, never telling anyone.

Maybe he was ashamed to reveal his disgrace, or maybe the Count was still alive at the time—who knows.

“He couldn’t confess the truth even at the very end. So just before he died, he made a small request to a friend.”

To leave a letter recording the truth of that day. And to give a small gift to whoever someday discovered the truth of this shameful tale.

“But even until that friend’s death, no one got the right answer. Eventually, he passed the letter to another friend.”

A friend gave it to another friend.

That friend passed it to a younger sibling.

The sibling gave it to their friend.

“And after passing through many hands, it ended up with me. Though today will be the last time, I imagine.”

Granny Peggy stood from her chair and headed to an old cabinet.

From the innermost drawer, she pulled out something wrapped in a handkerchief.

“There was a line: ‘Give this gift to the one who uncovers the story’s secret.’ This is that gift.”

[You have acquired the ‘Lucky Wood Fragment.’]

[Lucky Wood Fragment : E]

A fragment from an unknown object.

It seems to contain strong luck.

I finally obtained it. The last puzzle piece needed to hunt the mad lion.

‘Originally, it’s something Alex’s party acquires before leaving the village, after solving the mystery…’

But it’s an item that can’t even be used on the first playthrough. There’s no problem with me taking it.

Well, I would’ve taken it even if there was.

“What is this? A wood fragment?”

“I-I feel a strong sense of unease. C-Could it be… a Mystery!?”

Rezé clung to the wall, trembling. It was probably the furthest place from any kind of Mystery.

Among the Mysteries, there are some that have negative effects, so Rezé’s reaction made perfect sense.

Luna swung it, tossed it, and even tried to roast it (?).

After examining it from all angles, she scratched her head.

“Hmm… It doesn’t seem dangerous, but I have no idea how to use it.”

“Others were curious too, and tried all sorts of things. But in the end, no one figured it out.”

“Well, that’s not really important. A Mystery… Are you sure it’s okay to give this to us?”

Mysteries are items that, no matter how trivial their abilities, trade for a significant price.

If the item’s identity remains unknown, its value only increases.

So when Granny offered to give such a thing to us freely, Luna’s question was only natural.

“It’s alright. Isn’t it written in the letter? That it should be given to the one who solves the mystery.”

“But… we should at least pay you something…”

“If I did that, I’d have no face to show the ones before you. They all could’ve sold it at any time, but they didn’t, did they?”

A bright smile appeared on Granny Peggy’s face.

Maybe it was because she’d upheld an old promise. Or perhaps because she had passed on the knight’s heartfelt message.

Either way, she looked rather relieved.

“If there’s one regret… it’s that we don’t know what power that Mystery holds. With so many guarding it all this time, I hope it’s truly worth something. Though honestly, what help could that little thing really offer…”

As I said earlier, Mysteries are immensely valuable.

The fact that such an item has been passed down for centuries is impressive in itself.

It wouldn’t be right to call it a reward, but I decided to show her how it’s used.

After all, this is a “hidden piece.”

“I’ve got a rough idea.”

“I know how to use it.”

I rummaged through my belongings and pulled something from my Pocket Dimension.

[Fragment of the Hourglass : E]

A shard from the hourglass used by the god Draupnir.

It contains an unknown power.

A Mystery recovered by Scarlet right after the Battle of Carpathia.

With the [Lucky Wood Fragment] in one hand and the [Fragment of the Hourglass] in the other, I brought them together.

A brilliant light burst from my hands as the two items merged into one.

“It’s… it’s gonna blow! It’s definitely gonna explodeeeee!”

Just as Rezé tried to carry Luna and escape—only to get crushed beneath her due to the weight—

I opened my joined hands, and a single item floated gently into the air.

[Lucky Hourglass : S]

An hourglass imbued with the power of Tyche, goddess of fortune, and Draupnir, god of probability.

It holds incredible luck that not even the gods can interfere with.

Upon use, for one time only, sets all probabilities to 100%.

Perhaps it’s meant to hint that it grants luck only once.

Unlike an ordinary hourglass, this one contained a single large grain of sand.

It emitted a radiant light, and that glowing grain of sand orbited gently around it.

Granny Peggy stared at the hourglass for a long time, then murmured.

“I see. So you’re the one… the one to create that wave.”

The wave of courage that could change the world. The one who started it.

From Granny Peggy’s perspective, I must have looked like that person.

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“Unfortunately, I’m not the first.”

It may seem like all they had to do was deliver the letter, but it wasn’t that simple.

They had to evade the Count’s eyes and resist the temptation to hoard the Mystery for themselves.

They had to pass down the fabricated tale of the “Trash’s Hero” created by the Count, while preserving the truth.

They had to do all that—and if they couldn’t find the right person—they had to find a successor and pass on the letter.

“That’s right. The wave of courage started hundreds of years ago.”

Granny Peggy, who passed the letter to me.

The village chief who passed the letter to Granny Peggy.

Whoever passed it to the chief.

Even the knight who first wrote the letter to convey the truth of that day.

“They were all part of the wave of courage. I’m simply the one standing at its end. Though I too will eventually be pushed forward.”

Someone will continue the wave after me.

It doesn’t end in Trash. The wave of courage that began in Trash will spread across the Empire, across the entire continent.

“The wave of courage you all have protected until now—we’ll carry it forward. So please…”

Granny Peggy said nothing. She simply—

Silently, so very silently, let tears fall.

Standing atop the wave of courage.

“She tried to dress it up, but that knight was still a coward, wasn’t he?”

As soon as we stepped outside, Luna grumbled.

Well, she wasn’t wrong. He never confessed to his crimes, and those sins lived on for centuries.

“Trash’s Knights… they’re the same now as they were back then. Not a fan.”

“Keke, who knows? Maybe this time, he won’t do something he’ll regret.”

“He already caused a massive disaster! Even if he regrets it, the people who died won’t come back!”

She was right again. Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

“Keke, being on par with a broken clock… Miss Luna, you truly are something.”

“Right?! Just trust me and follow my lead!”

Did she think I was praising her? Luna puffed up with pride.

Luna, being a broken clock is basically the same as being trash. You’re not supposed to like that!

But she looked so pleased, I let it slide. If I told her the truth, I’d only get bitten.

A sudden sound made me turn around. Rezé was crouched down, scribbling something in her notebook.

What is she writing…? Let’s see…

“Today’s first insult: compared to a broken clock. Truly demonic behavior. Must be passed on to future generations.”

I swiftly snatched her notebook. Dodging Rezé’s flailing hands, I glanced at the title.

[Records of the Archdemon Zero]

What the—? Why am I the archdemon? I’m the nicest person around!

“Keke, what is this?”

“I-It’s my diary! Give it back!”

Diary? More like a full-blown accusation list! Did she get inspired by that story just now?

An indictment to pass down to future generations? This rabbit is dangerous!

Just as I grabbed Rezé by the temples and lifted her into the air—

“So what are you planning to do with that Mystery? Gonna trade it for the Proof Token?”

As I said earlier, Mysteries are high-value items in this world.

I could try trading it, as Luna suggested. But I had something else in mind.

“I’m going to use it to defeat Lady Lowell.”

Luna’s eyes sparkled.

“Is that even possible?”

“It is. But—I’ll be fighting alone.”

“That sounds like you’re at least letting us watch?”

I hadn’t originally planned to allow even that.

But seeing how much Luna trusted me, I changed my mind. Well, it was thanks to her that I even came up with this plan in the first place.

“Keke, I won’t stop you. It’ll be a good learning experience for you too, Miss Luna.”

Luna’s grin stretched from ear to ear.

Whether it was the thought of Lowell being defeated or simply watching it happen that made her happy, I couldn’t say.

‘Alright then. Let’s do this.’

The mad lion of the Lucid family.

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