All things in this world exist in relativity. Where there is prosperity and light, correspondingly, there will also be shadowy darkness that breeds beneath.
For Belland, a colossal city that ranks among the largest on the continent, the shadows festering in secret had long since reached a terrifying scale. The underground black market, where it was said "anything can be bought," served as a stark testament to this.
This had become a grotesque form of unchecked expansion.
Due to someone's indulgence—or perhaps tacit approval—in recent years, these shadows had not only failed to recede but even showed signs of encroaching upon the surface, attempting to infringe on the bright side.
However, shadows are still shadows. They cannot endure the light. While they may grow unrestrained in the darkness, the moment they catch the eye of the supreme authority of this nation—none other than the "Emperor Himself"—they are destined for annihilation.
"I remember, there was a similar event in the original story."
"The catalyst was someone placing a bounty on the life of the Emperor’s most beloved consort in the black market. And shockingly, someone actually accepted the bounty and succeeded in the assassination."
"The infuriated Emperor commanded the Royal Knights to completely eradicate Belland’s underground world. The brutal crackdown lasted for three entire months, killing so many people that the sewers of the royal capital ran red with blood. That was why it was called the Blood River Incident!"
"After that event, the protagonist even joked that for a long time, there wasn’t a single thief left in the royal capital!"
"But that should have been an event two years later!"
Thinking about this, Moen's face turned pale:
"That means, somehow, just because I gave my housemaid two days off, a major event crucial to the protagonist in the original story has now been brought forward by a full two years!"
"Damn it, what kind of butterfly effect is this?!"
Moen couldn’t help but curse under his breath.
"Hm? Butterfly what?"
At his side, Ann gave him a puzzled look.
"N-no, it’s nothing—what I meant was, uh, the butterflies this year are really beautiful. Yes, that’s it, absolutely stunning."
"Heh heh."
Moen hastily brushed off Ann’s query, then fell back into deep thought.
"But, on second thought, maybe it doesn’t count as being pushed forward. After all, this time can’t compare to the original Blood River Incident. The assassination wasn’t successful, so this is most likely just a warning to set an example."
"Even so, Belland’s underground world will probably stay subdued for quite some time, at least not daring to commit something as outrageous as attempting to assassinate the royal family again!"
"In other words, the consort assassination that should happen two years later might not occur at all."
"If the consort doesn’t die, the true Blood River Incident won’t happen."
"But in the original story, the Blood River Incident was an event in the middle arcs that played a crucial role in shaping the protagonist!"
"Dragged into the conflict between the Royal Knights and the underground world while attending an underground black market auction, the protagonist ends up in several life-or-death predicaments. It’s during these crises that the protagonist, guided by her destiny, experiences rapid growth in power!"
"Arguably, the Blood River Incident is the turning point that transitions the protagonist from the Academy Arc to the later Salvation Arc."
"But now… it’s gone. Just because I, Moen Campbell, gave my housemaid two days off!"
"This is bad… Could this mean that my actions will eventually affect the protagonist’s later efforts to save the world?"
Moen felt a deep sense of dread.
If the protagonist couldn’t defeat the final boss—the Demon God that was unsealed—the entire world would be doomed!
And all because he gave his housemaid two days off!
"No, no, no. That’s not right at all. This is nothing more than overthinking. The world can’t possibly be that fragile!"
"Even if the Blood River Incident really doesn’t happen, there will surely be other opportunities for the protagonist to grow!"
"Besides, the Blood River Incident isn’t gone for sure; it’s all just my conjecture!"
"I don’t need to worry so much at all. The protagonist has their protagonist-level hacks and doesn’t need my concern!"
Moen repeatedly consoled himself, eventually regaining some peace of mind.
In truth, it was the previous minor deviation where the plot didn’t follow the original path, leading to the assassination of Celicia, which had left Moen psychologically scarred. He now feared that with another flap of his butterfly wings, some monumental event would spiral out of control again.
"At any rate, I should just trust the protagonist!" Moen shook his head, deciding to stop dwelling on it.
…
"Well then, Young Master, do rest well. I shall take my leave for now," Ann said with a bow, noticing it was getting late.
"Mm, okay."
"Oh, right, Young Master. You have a letter," Ann said, handing Moen an envelope.
"A letter?"
Moen flipped over the envelope, only to find that it bore no postmark or sender’s name.
"Who’s it from?"
"It’s from Princess Celicia," Ann replied respectfully.
"She handed it in my hand and asked me to ensure I put it in yours."
"… It’s from her?"
Moen was a bit surprised but didn’t say much. He had Ann retire for the evening and turned his attention back to the envelope, staring at its pristine white surface for some time.
"It’s probably just an angry scolding."
Moen chuckled at himself with a wry smile.
For a proud princess like Celicia, who valued chastity above life itself, there was no way she would write to thank him for saving her, especially after what he had done to her.
"Hopefully, the scolding won’t be too harsh."
Moen opened the envelope.
To his surprise, the contents weren’t scolding at all.
Instead, written in elegant, neat handwriting was a simple sentence—a statement so vague upon first glance that it made no sense:
[Let's just say you're half a man, Moen Campbell.]
Half a man?
Can men be divided into halves?
Moen was utterly baffled.
But soon enough, he figured out the reason for Celicia’s phrasing.
It stemmed from something he had said earlier:
[Now… do I seem like a man? My Princess.]
That was what he had said when shielding Celicia from the stab, trying to act cool.
If he had actually died because of it, then that line might have become an iconic one-liner, permanently etched in Celicia’s memory.
But… he didn’t die!
And since he was alive, that line now came off unbearably cringey!
It was practically like something straight out of a cheesy romance novel, where the domineering CEO hooks his finger under the heroine’s chin and smirks devilishly:
"Do you think I’m manly enough, woman?"
Arghhhhh!
So embarrassing!
Could he please reincarnate just so he could go back in time and slap his past self across the face?!
Seriously, if you were going to die heroically, why did you have to act so pretentious before doing it?!
And so awkwardly at that!
Even the princess herself couldn’t bear it, taking time out of her day to send a letter ridiculing you!
"I can’t handle this!"
Moen hastily shredded the envelope, cocooned himself in blankets, and squirmed like a worm out of sheer shame.
…
"Half a man?"
Outside Moen’s room, Ann stared intently at the door, murmuring to herself,
"So, Princess, does that mean Young Master Moen still has the potential to become a complete man in your eyes?"
"And if he becomes a man… would you fall in love with him?"
"No. That can’t happen at all. Young Master Moen cannot possibly accept the love of any woman other than me."
Ann’s gaze grew increasingly cold.
"Apparently, something has to be expedited."
