The Medieval-Modern Man with a Gamer Mindset

13. Countermeasure Reflection

A life without respect is terribly arduous. The loneliness felt in isolation cannot be escaped, even by nobility.

Miriam Oren Yubas was no exception. Her room had a sentimental and desolate atmosphere, like autumn with layers of red maple leaves. The narrow windows made it difficult for light to enter, making the corners look damp and gloomy.

In a box placed in that shadowy corner, baby clothes clumsily sewn together were mixed with sewing tools. It was a room hard-pressed to find a decent piece of furniture. If there was anything notable, it was the baby’s crib.

At least the crib was placed where the sunlight was ample. The baby, having fussed for a while, seemed to have fallen asleep, clutching a smoothed piece of wood in its tiny hand, breathing softly.

After a brief, awkward silence, Miriam carefully approached the baby’s crib and neatly placed her hands above her belly button. She was desperate to maintain the etiquette of nobility. However, even her warm auburn eyes could not hide the deep signs of fatigue.

I quickly surmised the reason.

Miriam had come as an enemy of our family, whether by her own will or not. We were wary of her, and her accompanying servants were isolated early on due to concerns of collusion. She was exposed to hostility from all sides, with no one to rely on.

Ultimately, Miriam was isolated in the cold treatment, forced to do things she had never done before. From simple sewing to taking care of the baby. This was why, despite her light makeup and efforts to smile, she could not hide the redness around her eyes and the salty tear stains.

When she first arrived, Miriam chose the playful title of ‘little lord’ for me. But as leisure disappeared, all that remained was resignation. Tired, Miriam looked this way with a faint smile.

“Your highness, there’s no reason for you to come looking for me, is there?”

—

But even in downfall, nobility remains nobility. Though Miriam spoke with a polite demeanor and a gentle voice, she did not lose the pride that dwelled within. She was a woman of remarkably strong resolve.

I felt the need to take a detour rather than confront her head-on.

“Miriam, there was no reason for you to come to me. If not for the ambitions of that proud Yubas.”

“…If you’ve come to provoke, please leave, my lord. I have already lost everything, so there is no honor left for me to protect.”

Is this not so? Miriam’s eyebrows twitched slightly. But she showed no more reaction than that. Should I prod further, or should I soften the mood for a moment?

After some thought, I chose the latter.

“Have you decided on a name for the child?”

“…”

“Is there nothing else you need? Taking care of a child is no easy task.”

“…Why really have you come?”

Miriam’s gaze was like the last fierce stand of a dying beast. Even in the bright light of day, it shone intensely. I watched Miriam in silence for a while before giving her the answer she wanted.

“Miriam of the right Yubas. Now that the original plan has failed, I do not know what you are plotting. Whether you wish to live or die, I do not care to know.”

They say you can know the depths of the waters but not the hearts of men. I had no intention of committing the folly of being swayed by beauty and jumping to conclusions. It was not impossible that Miriam had sabotaged the scheme devised by Yubas.

Ambition and greed are such things. Knowing that there are heroines who endure all hardships to wield power even in a woman’s body, I did not let my guard down. Of course, it is Miriam, with her gentle beauty and pitiable plight, who better stirs the compassion and emotions of people.

But I was more confident in my ability to persuade and intimidate others with practical benefits.

“I am merely here to offer you a proposal that would be beneficial to you as well.”

“Beneficial? …To me?”

I nodded slowly, pausing for effect as I began to speak. I resolved to start by discussing a realistic future. I also put effort into my non-verbal expressions.

Hand gestures large and smooth. A smile as confident as possible. Eyes firm and unwavering.

“Understand that the future left to you is not very bright. Shaving your head and joining a convent to live a life of chastity might be the best you can hope for.”

“If joining a convent is the best, what, my lord, do you consider the worst?”

Eyes sometimes speak more than words. To anyone, it was clear that Miriam was cornered. But beneath the resignation in her eyes, something sparkled deep within. A flame that would not be extinguished was targeting me.

I confronted that ominous flame head-on.

“The worst would be if you decide to kill me. Whether you succeed or fail, you die. And the life of the child cannot be guaranteed. Your family, the Yubas, would suffer damage from having to mobilize their army.”

“…”

“To save thousands with the life of one may be a decision that incurs blame. But who would understand or defend the choice to push thousands to their deaths by killing one? There is no cause, no justice, no benefit. That is why it is the worst.”

A deep melancholy cast a shadow over Miriam’s haggard face. In this lonely room, devoid of space to share emotions, the only thing she could look at was the baby sleeping peacefully.

Now was the moment to drive the point home. I dropped the pretense of a smile, stood with my hands behind my back, and looked at Miriam.

“Miriam, lay down the burden your father has given you.”

Miriam did not respond immediately. I understood. Choosing between the family she had trusted and followed all her life and the in-laws who glared at her was naturally a difficult decision. It was a little while later, just as I was beginning to feel a cramp in my leg, that Miriam spoke again.

—

“Not yet.”

“Hm?”

“I haven’t heard a proposal that benefits me yet, sir.”

Miriam was still looking down at her child. I chuckled softly and willingly answered.

“That child, not of my blood but surely of Yubas’ lineage.”

I had mentioned that in Fantasy Monarch, there is a strategy [to send a pregnant daughter to marry and claim land rights through her offspring].

It’s the path of the inhuman strategy, refined through heated discussions among medieval lords within our computers. In fact, this strategy proved to be extremely powerful against AI opponents in single-player.

Even those who found AI opponents too bland and moved on to multiplayer were frequently caught off guard by its impact. It was so influential that alliances through marriage among players became scarce.

Yet, someone saw an opportunity amidst such a detestable scheme.

The downfall of this strategy was an unforeseen flaw: a terrifying plan to kill all the landowner’s heirs and inherit everything.

“Miriam, I will give Yubas to you and your child.”

-Instead of bursting with rage, someone changed their thinking.

[If I can kill the opposing family faster than my own dies, can’t I eventually take over their land?] they thought.

Of course, if it had remained just a thought, it would have ended as a mere speculation.

But the user who conceived this revolutionary method didn’t stop at thinking; they acted. As a result, the user who tried to gain land through cunning tricks quickly faced the destruction of their lineage.

Their heirs died one after another, and ironically, the daughter they had married off inherited everything.

At this point, the tables turned. Even if you deny it, it’s still my seed, it’s still born from my heart, they insisted, leaving no choice. They lost all their territories and faced game over.

Even if it’s not discovered, the moment one of my family dies, I’ll kill all of yours, they threatened, leading to mutual destruction.

Some even changed the inheritance laws, preferring to give it to another player rather than you.

After this fatal failure became known, the strategy essentially became a concept for entertainment play. The risk was simply too great compared to the effort involved.

It’s such a simple method, yet reaching such a thought is difficult. Everyone was appalled by this cruel absurdity, yet they used it wisely. It’s why alliances through marriage among players became popular again.

If things seemed to go wrong, they’d just give up and help each other out. People immersed in computer games were shocked when they first heard it, but what about the locals?

Miriam’s eyes widened, and she lifted her neatly folded hands from her belly to cover her mouth, trembling as she did.

“Really. That’s a truly terrifying idea.”

But this felt unfair. Yubas intended to annihilate an entire family, and now I’m the terrifying one? No, it’s more than unfair. My words were sharp because of this.

“Why? It was fine when it was against our family, but now that the blade points at you, you finally realize how vile the plan was?”

She seemed to know shame. With her face flushed red, Miriam hung her head and couldn’t meet my eyes again. I extended my right hand, palm showing, and struck a pose of supreme arrogance.

“After all, the only way for you to return to Yubas is through my proposal. You must be feeling what life is like for a woman without power. Choose. Will you live and die as a daughter of Yubas.”

“…”

“Or will you return as the master of Yubas?”

Miriam felt a great deal. Although she couldn’t see her face with her head bowed, the slight trembling of her hair and shoulders showed she harbored heavy emotions. Soon after, a loud clanging noise struck the floor.

Looking down, a dagger and a glass bottle filled with ominous colors were rolling on the ground. Plan C. As expected. Miriam was the last assassin prepared by Yubas for any unforeseen circumstances.

Miriam was to either kill me or commit suicide. If not either, then she was arranged to be the one to kill the child and ignite the fuse of war. Such was Miriam, now kneeling and kissing my hand.

“Miriam of the right hand of Yubas. Live quietly in seclusion until I possess the rightful power and status. I will call upon you when needed.”

“As you wish, my lord.”

***

As soon as the private meeting ended and I stepped out, what awaited me was Edwina’s sharp gaze, as if she was reproaching me. I couldn’t help but wear a bitter smile.

“I’m sure I told you to keep your distance and not eavesdrop on the conversation.”

“Your Highness, shall I call the soldiers now?”

“To protect Miriam?”

“Your Highness!”

It was the first time Edwina raised her voice like this. I pretended to cover my ears and frowned, then burst into a hearty laugh. There was no need to be too harsh on Edwina, who was concerned about my well-being.

“There’s also a purpose to monitor and guard her. But now that Miriam has changed her heart, it’s true that she’s in danger too, so she must be escorted. I will ask my father to assign trustworthy soldiers.”

“You once said she wasn’t worth winning over.”

“When did you ever tell me to pity Miriam?”

“I never did. I just suggested it might not be bad to persuade her.”

I straightened my clothes with a stiff expression, looking at Edwina grumbling honestly.

“It’s the same now. It’s not Miriam I pity, but that child.”

“Miriam is beautiful. Isn’t that reason enough?”

“A fool is one who cuts himself with a beautiful sword he holds.”

That’s the feeling. There’s a woman who spells trouble if embraced. Miriam was a prime example of such a woman. What trust could there be to keep an assassin who was ready to stab me at any moment by my side?

Some might find thrill and betrayal in that, but I’m someone who feels pain when stabbed by a knife, so I couldn’t possibly do that. I gestured to John by the distant brook and continued.

“My thoughts remain the same. She’s not worth winning over.”

“Really? But…”

“She’s not a woman who would accept unmerited kindness.”

Even if Miriam was just an attempted murderer, the child born was in danger of dying before even reaching an orphanage. The death of just one child would disturb my sleep, let alone the fact that their death could spark a war.

One of the things I said to Miriam was a word filled with my genuine heart. To kill one to prevent future conflicts, only to stir up unrest if the truth is known, and to kill for war?

There’s no chance for redemption. I clicked my tongue and left Miriam’s room behind.

“Well. Perhaps she’ll be of use someday.”

“…”

“Regardless, the possibility of Miriam escaping with Yubas’ help or conversely being murdered was prevented in advance. The act that could ignite the war has been averted. Now, I can finally go to the monastery with peace of mind.”

At last, the final safety check was complete. It was a moment of light-hearted relief, smiling broadly, when I noticed John approaching with a grave expression on his face.

“Sir, Sir! Lord Terbear is looking for you!”

“…Who?”

“Lord Terbear! Your brother, sir!!!”