Wanderer's Handbook Feature: Radar Map
Before taking action, Siegfried had already checked the surrounding area for any hidden variables.
And sure enough, he found a lurker.
On the map, a cluster of blue dots—representing non-hostile villagers—were crowded together in the village square.
But several dozen meters away, inside one of the houses, a glaring red dot symbolizing an enemy flickered conspicuously.
So, he entrusted little Tova with informing the other villagers while he took on the task of diverting the army's attention.
The plan seemed to be proceeding smoothly.
Katarina, meanwhile, was flustered, stammering incoherently.
Her original intention had been to stall Siegfried, buying time for the hidden scout to escape and report back to His Highness.
But she never expected that even the stealthy scout would be captured. This level of skill reminded her of a certain rumor.
The rumor went that every generation of the Melan family was deeply favored by the gods, and each Melan was bestowed a Divine Miracle on the day of their birth.
Among these miracles, "Hawk Eye" was the most iconic—virtually a standard ability for every Melan.
Hawk Eye was said to possess the most powerful reconnaissance capabilities in the world, observing everything with unparalleled clarity. It encompassed nearly all scouting-type magic across the continent, including but not limited to:
Night vision
Long-range sight
Surveillance
Item appraisal
Psychological observation
Blind spot detection
Movement prediction
Barrier dismantling
Magic replication
...and much more. It was practically a Swiss Army knife of abilities.
The most terrifying aspect was that this miracle activated as a spherical field expanding outward from the user, rather than targeting a single object.
To put it simply, if a Melan stood at the center of the royal capital, within a day, they would know everything—from how many dogs Old Man John next door had, to the underground black market's illicit dealings, even down to which concubine the king favored the previous night and how many moles were on her backside.
If the man before her was indeed this generation's Melan, then uncovering a hidden scout was hardly surprising.
(What do I do now?! Beg for mercy? The Melan family is infamous for their capricious temperaments—will he spare us?)
(There's still a chance… He doesn't know the origins of our army yet. As long as I insist we're deserters, His Highness won't be implicated.)
Unaware of Katarina's frantic inner turmoil, Siegfried flipped through the Wanderer's Handbook, searching for information on the dwarf sprawled on the ground.
Name: PopoGender: MaleAge: 36Race: HalflingAlignment: LawfulClass: Scout
A secret agent of the Moen Royal Family, sold into the royal palace by slave traders as a child. Raised as a royal spy, he ostensibly served Princess Kriemhild but was secretly bribed by the Second Prince, Roderick, acting as a mole within the princess's inner circle.
Proposer of this raid plan.
Specialized Skills:
Scouting (69% - Expert)
Acting (51% - Proficient)
Combat Arts:
Presence Concealment
Stats:
Strength: E
Agility: A
Magic: D
Intelligence: C
Luck: C
Leadership: B
Overall Rating: C
Note: Halflings are small in stature but swift and agile, making them natural-born scouts.
"Quite the information dump."
Siegfried's brow twitched as he read.
(This Second Prince is quite the schemer. The order to attack the village must have come from him.)
(Using the princess's forces to raid their own kingdom's villages—destroying any chance of her inheriting the throne. After all, no nation would support a crown princess who robbed her own people.)
A smirk curled at the corner of Siegfried's lips.
This was far more interesting than he'd anticipated.
[Ding! You have successfully repelled the army invading Wind Peach Village. Stage 1 Mission complete.]
[You have obtained a Historical Story Jar, which can be opened after mission settlement.]
A jar gacha?
The oddly familiar mechanic momentarily distracted him. Shaking his head, he refocused on Katarina.
The memory of that tantalizing vision flashed in his mind, and his face instinctively broke into a dazzling grin—one that sent shivers down the knight's spine.
Siegfried turned to the three burly youths nearby and ordered:
"Tie up all these soldiers. As for this woman… take her to my room."
That night, the village cracked open several barrels of ale in celebration.
The occasion? Commemorating Siegfried's first victorious battle as the Hero.
The simple villagers seemed to have completely forgotten that they'd been robbed just hours earlier.
Now, the square was ablaze with bonfire light, the air thick with the scent of alcohol as young men and women danced hand in hand.
The elder village chief even brought out the lute he'd carried during his wandering bard days to accompany the revelry.
(Though, given how off-key both his playing and singing were, it was no wonder he'd returned to being a village chief.)
Siegfried, reeking of alcohol, staggered back to his house, his cheeks flushed from the heavy drinking.
But that didn't hinder his next task.
Inside the dimly lit room, a lone candle struggled to cast its glow into every corner.
Katarina was bound to a chair, her left arm severely injured. Even the flimsy straw ropes that would normally snap with a tug now held her firmly in place.
The moment Siegfried entered, she blurted out:
"Sir Melan, we truly meant no harm! The soldiers were simply starving—we had no choice but to resort to this. We never intended to hurt the villagers! We only took enough food to survive, not enough to leave them destitute. I swear on my honor as a knight, every word I speak is true!"
Her voice was nearly hysterical, the pride of a knight utterly shattered.
She was terrified. The Melan family's heroes throughout history were infamous for their eccentricities—many were bloodthirsty or lecherous.
While heroes were inherently kind by nature, that kindness was reserved for allies. Against enemies, they showed no mercy.
Who knew what twisted preferences this Melan might have? Given that he'd spared them, he probably wasn't bloodthirsty… so that left lust.
Sure enough, Siegfried ignored her explanation and began unfastening her armor.
"Ah!"
Katarina let out a girlish shriek, her refined face flushing crimson.
She struggled against the ropes, but Siegfried shoved her back into the chair.
"N-No… please…"
Her lips trembled, amber eyes glistening with tears.
For the first time in her life, the proud knight uttered words of surrender.
Had her soldiers seen their usually iron-willed captain reduced to such a pitiful state, they'd have thought they were dreaming.
But Siegfried paid no heed to her pleas, clumsily removing her breastplate.
The moment it came off, a pair of voluptuous peaks nearly bounced into his face.
(Hiss… That vision wasn't lying. They're huge!)
Just as Shannon's projection had shown, Katarina wore a tight white undershirt beneath her armor, accentuating her breathtaking curves.
The fabric clung to her toned abs, well-defined waistline, and slender yet muscular frame—a warrior's body, radiating both strength and allure.
He glanced at her mithril greaves. If she were truly wearing thigh-high stockings underneath, it'd be the ultimate knockout.
Suppressing his wandering thoughts, he continued dismantling her armor.
When he showed no signs of stopping, Katarina shut her eyes in despair…
But even as the tears at the corners of her eyes dried up, the violation she feared never came.
Cracking an eye open, she saw the terrifying man applying medicinal ointment to a bandage.
"..."
Smirking, Siegfried stepped beside her and began treating the wound on her left arm.
"You… can't have your cake and eat it too. If you're not evil, you're just stupid. Lucky for you, I'm the only one who knows you're genuinely dumb."
(Intelligence: D—no wonder she spouts nonsense and makes dumb decisions.)
"The village priest refused to heal you with divine magic, so we'll have to make do with traditional methods. Bear with it."
Katarina's face flushed red. Her lady was fond of reading those… particular knight-captive novels, and after years of exposure, Katarina had absorbed more than she'd admit.
Relieved, she quickly thanked him:
"Thank you, Sir Melan. You truly live up to the Hero's lineage."
Siegfried nodded slightly.
The Melan identity would bring him immense benefits—which was why he'd gone so far as to break the Holy Sword to showcase his power. A member of the Hero's family couldn't possibly be a weakling with a C-rank rating.
And this knight, who had witnessed his "strength," would become the best proof of his identity.
"Introduce yourself, knight. I'm sure you've got stories to share."
As he expertly applied the medicine, he began his interrogation.
Katarina brightened—finally, a chance to communicate.
"I am Katarina, a knight from the royal capital. As you likely know, half a year ago, the kingdom was plunged into civil war. My liege was killed by the rebels, and I fled with the few remaining soldiers. After months of wandering, we arrived here today. We—"
She smoothly recited the fabricated backstory—half-truths, half-lies.
Had Siegfried not had the Wanderer's Handbook, he might've been fooled.
"Where is Kriemhild?"
"Huh?"
"Kriemhild Ludwig. First Princess of Moen, first in line for the throne. She's your master, isn't she? Where is she?"
"Sir… I-I don't understand. We're just deserters… We—"
Siegfried stared straight into her eyes, his dark pupils like bottomless pits, freezing her thoughts.
Her carefully crafted lies were useless—this man seemed to know everything.
When she continued stammering, Siegfried cut in:
"It's not hard to deduce. Just investigate which forces fled the capital during the coup. Nobles residing in the royal palace, escorted by high-ranking knights—it's obvious who they'd be."
"But fine, don't answer. I'll find her myself."
His gaze bore into her face as he mused aloud:
"Your hideout must be nearby. East or west? No, don't speak—your expression says it all. East."
(Mind reading!?)
Her pupils contracted in shock, and she immediately lowered her head.
Siegfried's Cold Reading skill was at 73% proficiency—at that level, even a poker face couldn't hide the truth from him.
Katarina, unfamiliar with such techniques, attributed this impossible feat to the Melan family's Hawk Eye.
Siegfried lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.
"Where in the east? The woods? No… Not there. Then it must be a cave. The only large cavern in the east capable of hiding troops is…"
"Whispering Wind Cavern."
[Ding! You have successfully located Princess Kriemhild's whereabouts. All stage missions complete. You may choose to return to reality and settle rewards at any time.]
[You have obtained a Historical Story Jar, which can be opened after mission settlement.]
[Wanderer, I am utterly convinced—you are perfectly suited for this world.]
Siegfried didn't return immediately. He needed to lay the groundwork for the next mission.
Katarina was horrified. Now she understood why this Melan hadn't killed her immediately—his true target had always been her lady.
"Sir Melan, the raid was entirely our own doing. Her Highness knew nothing of it. Please, do not hold her accountable!"
"It was that halfling Popo's idea, wasn't it?"
Katarina blinked. "How did you—?"
Siegfried sighed. This woman's Intelligence: D rating was well-earned.
"He's a spy. Have you never wondered why your pursuers always find you no matter where you flee? Why, after half a year of relentless hunting, they suddenly stopped here?"
"If you'd truly robbed your own people today, do you think your princess would ever be able to reclaim the throne?"
"Mark my words—by tomorrow, every nearby lord's army would be marching under the banner of 'justice' to crush you as bandits."
Cold sweat drenched Katarina's forehead. As a knight, she'd never dabbled in politics or dirty schemes—she'd only acted to protect her lady.
She never imagined her actions could push Kriemhild into an abyss.
"How could this… This has nothing to do with Her Highness! She didn't know… I—"
The knight was on the verge of panic. If not for the ropes, she might've drawn her sword and fallen on it right then.
"Calm down. That's what I'm here for. Not a whisper of today's events will leave this village. But on one condition—"
Siegfried twirled a lock of her light brown hair between his fingers, smirking.
"You take me to meet your princess."
Katarina's momentary relief vanished.
"May I ask why?"
She didn't want this dangerous man anywhere near her lady.
Siegfried's grin widened. His fingers trailed down her hair, grazing the smooth skin of her neck before brushing lightly over the soft swell of her chest.
"To ask if she's willing to give you to me."
Katarina shuddered, her face burning.
So he IS lustful!
But this time, her resistance was far weaker. Blushing furiously, she spoke with unexpected resolve:
"If my body can secure Her Highness's future, then I am yours. There's no need to see her—from this moment, Katarina belongs to you, my lord. Do with me as you will."
Surrendering to a man stronger and smarter than herself—one who might even become the next Hero…
Huh. That doesn't sound so bad.
Siegfried nearly laughed aloud. This knight was far more straightforward than he'd expected. Maybe he should take her up on the offer?
(No, no. I'm a Melan, a future Hero. I can't stoop to such beastly behavior.)
Unfortunately, Siegfried didn't yet know what the Melan family was truly like—otherwise, he'd have indulged without hesitation.
Shaking off his wicked thoughts, he straightened and said solemnly:
"Just joking—don't take it seriously. The truth is, I've grown fond of this place. Since they dared attack my village, they'll pay the price. Take me to the princess, and I'll help her out of this predicament. In exchange, if she ever ascends the throne, she must punish the mastermind behind this attack."
For a moment, the room's temperature seemed to drop.
Siegfried's expression was icy, his words righteous—but his true motives were purely pragmatic.
He knew reclaiming the kingdom's lost territories and unifying the realm wasn't something he could achieve alone.
He wasn't a true Melan, nor was he the Hero. To correct this history, he needed to ally with a faction and use their power for his goals.
He could already guess the next stage mission—likely something like "Form an alliance with a faction."
Whether it was the First Prince, the Second Prince, or the Princess, it didn't matter. His objective remained the same.
Hearing that this Melan was willing to help Kriemhild, Katarina brightened instantly, her pain forgotten.
The Melan family had never involved themselves in political struggles before—this lord must've been truly angered.
With a Hero at her side, the princess wouldn't just reclaim the throne—she could demand the empire return the territories they'd seized, and they wouldn't dare refuse.
Overcome with excitement, Katarina eagerly agreed. They'd depart at dawn to meet Her Highness.
"Um… Lord Melan, could you untie me now?"
Amidst their lively discussion, Siegfried had nearly forgotten she was still bound.
"Right. You'll stay in my room tonight. The villagers are still furious."
"…Okay."
Her voice was barely a whisper, her ears tinged pink again.
With great reluctance, Siegfried undid the ropes.
Those thigh-high stockings… He never did confirm whether the legs encased in mithril greaves held the fantasy he'd imagined.
Just then, Shannon's ethereal voice echoed in his mind once more:
[Wanderer, do you wish to return to reality and settle your rewards?]
[Alternatively, you may proceed directly to the next stage mission for greater rewards upon future completion.]
"Obviously—return now!"
His vision blacked out instantly, and he collapsed straight onto Katarina.
(Tch. No warning?)
The last thing he registered before unconsciousness took him was his face pressing against something impossibly soft and fragrant.