Conquest Complete, So Why Is the Affection Dropping? - Chapter 23
Inventory sharing is a function permitted within the game. The system wouldn’t try to restrict me for using it. This means I’m not suffering because I violated any game rules.
‘Besides, they imprisoned Hexion, not me. There must be a reason why Hexion is being falsely accused of being a traitor.’
Games have numerous events, and these events require specific conditions to trigger. In novel terms, it would be like causality.
So if this incident is functioning as an in-game ‘event,’ the trigger condition must have been my act of putting demon items in the shared inventory.
‘Then what’s the clear condition for this event?’
I need to clear Hexion’s false charges, but the system blocks my inventory statements. That’s not to tease me but to indicate that this approach won’t work.
‘Why did this event trigger in the first place?’
Deep in thought, I called up Hexion’s profile window.
Name: Hexion Age: 27 Height: 196cm A temple knight. Possesses exceptional swordsmanship and abundant holy power. While expected to become the next Knight Commander, he faces envy and jealousy from his peers. Affection: 88
Reading the profile carefully, one phrase particularly caught my eye. Faces envy and jealousy from his peers.
‘That’s it!’
The reason this ‘event’ of Hexion being falsely accused occurred was because I put Marvis’s belongings in the shared inventory, but the reason he was ‘framed’ is separate.
Because ‘someone’ who discovered the demon items transferred to Hexion’s room through the inventory suspected him.
‘Someone who wants to check Hexion framed him.’
This explains why my explanations about the inventory didn’t work. There’s someone else behind the false accusations.
‘Who could it be? Venom?’
Venom is Hexion’s peer who previously slandered him, claiming Hexion was keeping others in check.
Plus, as soon as Hexion stepped down, Venom became my guard and mentioned he’d always wanted to serve by my side.
‘And Priest Baal was the one who recommended Venom.’
One’s named after a demon and the other’s named after a Villain – maybe these weren’t random names but foreshadowing.
“Shin Joo, I’ve brought your meal.”
Speaking of the devil, Venom arrived at the perfect timing.
“You’ve lost weight due to recent stress. All the more reason to eat properly, Shin Joo.”
If you’re worried about me, you shouldn’t have framed Hexion.
No, maybe he framed the top guard Hexion because he wanted my favor, but I’m a cold woman toward men who aren’t romance targets.
“Venom. I have a question.”
“Please ask, Shin Joo.”
“Who first discovered the demon items in Hexion’s room?”
“…Pardon?”
“Was it you?”
My question made Venom’s expression harden. Seems he really is the villain. The hint was right there in his name, but I was slow to notice.
“Something seems strange. I understand demon items were found in Hexion’s room, but Hexion spent those ten days searching for me while I was gone, right? He wouldn’t have left such items openly in his room during such a long absence.”
“Not just me, but other knights discovered them together.”
So you led them there, you mean.
“You only found items in his room. Someone could have placed them there while Hexion was absent.”
Like me, for instance.
“Shin Joo. Do you still trust Hexion?”
“We shouldn’t suspect people without clear evidence.”
“Then, what grounds do you have for trusting Hexion?”
“What?”
“Do you have any basis for being certain he would never betray you?”
“….”
I do have grounds.
‘It makes no sense story-wise.’
It’s not just because Hexion is a devout knight character.
I know. The cliché where a seemingly good character is revealed to be evil in a late-game twist is age-old.
The twist where the knight who served closest to the Divine Master turns out to be a traitor in league with demons – it could work. It’s quite an appealing setup, even to me.
But it’s not appropriate in this situation.
‘There’s nothing between Hexion and me yet.’
Such devastating twists should come after the romance route is locked in, affection is maxed out, and most love events are cleared – when you think you’re heading smoothly toward the ending.
That’s when the tension rises in the relaxed relationship, making you wonder how it will end.
‘Regardless of affection points, Hexion and I haven’t even entered romance mode yet.’
Although we did have pseudo-s****l activity in the prayer room, that stemmed from loyalty and duty, so it barely qualified as flirting.
A sudden betrayal twist with demons before we’ve built a relationship deep enough to cry “Why did you deceive me!” and feel resentment?
Even the indie game I made in high school didn’t mess up episode placement this badly.
Even if we generously assume the developers got too caught up in subverting clichés and accidentally misplaced it early, for it to be real, I should have discovered the evidence of betrayal myself at minimum.
‘I didn’t do anything, wasn’t even suspicious, yet you suddenly thrust evidence at me.’
If I had grown suspicious of Hexion’s behavior and investigated to find clues of betrayal, maybe. But there’s zero chance that items I put in the inventory, brought out of nowhere by supporting characters, would serve as decisive evidence for a betrayal event. This isn’t multiple personality disorder.
“Then, Shin Joo, do you think someone deliberately planted demon items to frame Hexion?”
No, since I’m the one who shared them through the inventory.
“I didn’t say that much. I’m just saying we shouldn’t jump to conclusions about Hexion being a ‘traitor’ just because demon items were found in his room.”
“What’s the difference?”
“The difference is how clear the intent is.”
Venom’s expression darkened. He seems quite displeased with my trust in Hexion.
Of course, I somewhat understand Venom’s feelings. He was already jealous of Hexion, and then evidence of betrayal is found in the room of someone he dislikes? It’s natural to want to resolve inferiority complexes under the pretext of justice.
Since I was the one who brought Marvis’s belongings, I couldn’t completely blame this incident on Venom.
‘Still, even if I had found demon items I didn’t transfer in Hexion’s room, I would have believed in him.’
Having reached that conclusion, I was about to eat when Venom quietly added:
“Shin Joo. It would be better not to trust Hexion too much.”
“Why?”
“Because the greater the trust, the greater the pain when betrayed.”
“Yeah, thanks for the advice.”
Too tired to seriously argue, I decided to brush it off. Venom probably doesn’t have ill intentions toward me specifically. Let’s just eat.
However, I soon realized I shouldn’t have dismissed it so easily.
“…What is this?”
“The most definitive evidence proving Hexion’s intent.”
Priest Baal handed me a piece of parchment.
The parchment had a demon’s crest and content encouraging an attack when the portal opens in the temple sky. There was even blood on it.
“Please read what’s written on this parchment. This is undeniable evidence of collusion that anyone can see!”
“Whose handwriting is this?”
“It’s unmistakably Hexion’s handwriting. Surely you won’t consider this a frame-up.”
I’m not sure if it’s really Hexion’s handwriting, but the firm, large strokes did look like his style. I twisted my lips into a smirk.
‘This wasn’t something I put in the inventory.’
Look at these guys.
Because I won’t believe them, now they’re openly trying to fabricate evidence?
