9 – Episode 9: Monster
＜Episode 9: Monster＞
Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding.
Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding.
I woke up to the loud ringing of the bells.
Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding.
Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding.
“You finally came.”
I grabbed my sword and went outside.
Unlike the first time, I wasn’t flustered.
When I arrived at the farm,
I saw black goblins surrounding the watchtower.
The slaves attacked the goblins with crossbows from the tower.
The battle ended in an instant as the villagers joined in.
“The numbers are much higher than before.”
It was three times more than the initial count.
If they hadn’t prepared beforehand, the A cultivation area would have suffered considerable damage.
“You were right. If it weren’t for the surveillance tower and the slaves, we would have ruined the barley crop.”
“Grandfather, is it just a coincidence, not once but twice?”
“… Are you suspecting the militia members?”
“For now, let’s go there and see.”
Grandfather led the villagers towards the bridge.
As more people appeared, the militia members guarding the bridge became tense.
“H-How did you get here?”
“You idiots! Didn’t you see the monsters passing by?!”
Grandfather shouted angrily.
The militia members lowered their heads.
“What the hell happened?! Why did something that hasn’t happened in years occur twice?!”
“Well, you see, I was a bit sleepy…”
One of the militia members on duty offered an excuse.
At that moment,
I called upon the slaves I had hidden in advance.
“These are slaves I gave separate orders to. We suspected the militia members, so we had them under surveillance.”
The slaves spoke of what they had witnessed.
Dark night.
A member of the vigilante crossed the bridge.
After a while, he lured a large number of black goblins.
“It’s a lie!! We never had such enemies!!”
“Enough!! Quiet, all of you!!”
The grandfather calmed the commotion,
And the slaves explained.
When the vigilante lured the black goblins,
Other members guarding the bridge opened the way.
Even after crossing the bridge, the vigilante continued to lure the black goblins.
Towards the farm.
“Sir Campbell! You surely don’t believe the slaves’ words, right? We didn’t do that!”
The grandfather forcefully pushed the upper body of the vigilante.
“Why on earth are you doing this! Our long-cherished dream is coming true. We’re going to farm on Monster Island! Our descendants will live more comfortably than us! But why! Why on earth are you doing this!!”
Amidst the uproar, the vigilante members wore expressions of guilt.
But that didn’t stop the justifications.
“We’re sorry. But… it was a mistake.”
This won’t solve the problem.
The words of the slave and the vigilante who had lived together for decades.
Whom would the people of the River believe?
They too will harbor suspicions. But what if there is no confirmation?
His mind quickly raced.
This opportunity must be seized.
The culprit must be found.
If not, the farm will remain in peril.
‘How can I find more evidence here?’
Constructing surveillance towers,
teaching slaves how to use crossbows,
commanding swift slaves to monitor the surroundings.
Yet, it’s not enough.
One more step must be taken.
For a definite resolution.
He pondered continuously, but there was no sign of evidence.
As my thoughts extended,
the atmosphere around me gradually changed.
Arms folding inward.
In the end, an atmosphere enveloping the companions I’ve been with emerged.
Among them are family, relatives, and friends.
‘If evidence cannot be found, then perhaps another method…’
At that moment,
The game theory that I used to draw diagrams in college came to mind.
Especially the Prisoner’s Dilemma.
The Prisoner’s Dilemma.
When two prisoners can choose between confession and silence,
the sentence each prisoner receives is determined by the choices of both.
With two prisoners and two choices each, there are a total of four possible scenarios.
What’s crucial here is that the prisoners’ choices vary depending on how much sentence is assigned in each situation.
“Grandfather, I’ll take care of it.”
The grandfather who had been imposingly pushing the members of the vigilante group stepped back.
“Miss So Young-joo, I apologize. It was a mistake.”
“Miss So Young-joo, please forgive us.”
Swoosh.
Thud.
He drew his sword and thrust it into the ground.
For everyone to see.
“I am Elwin Frontier. As the lord of the Frontier Territory, I have the right and duty to resolve this issue.”
As I mentioned my full name and the title of the lord of the Frontier Territory,
the atmosphere around became heavy.
“I will give you another chance.”
“Thank you!”
“Thank you very much, Lord So-yeong.”
I pulled out my sword, filled with anger, and thrust it even harder.
“Be quiet and listen to me.”
I made eye contact with each member of the militia.
“You have failed in guarding the bridge. Therefore, I am issuing an order of exile from the River Village.”
“Lord So-yeong!!!”
“No!!! Where will we go if we leave here?!”
“But, if you confess today’s crimes, I will forgive you by making you work as slaves on the farm for three years. During that period, you will receive the same wages as the slaves.”
This time, none of the militia members opened their mouths.
They just exchanged glances with each other.
“If anyone confesses and still refuses to cooperate until the end, not only will they be banished, but their families as well!”
Originally, the prisoner’s dilemma is not about such extreme sentencing.
Rather, it is a model to demonstrate that the individual’s best choice may not be the society’s best choice.
And this result is very important economically.
But there is no need to think about that right now.
So, they did not adjust the sentencing appropriately, like in the prisoner’s dilemma.
What is important is the confession.
“Grandfather, take one person and investigate.”
“One will come with me, and the last one… you, the administrator, will take them.”
River Village Administrator.
A figure sent down from the ranks of frontier writers to become a bureaucrat.
But that doesn’t mean they won’t surround themselves with vigilante members.
And so, the three who were guarding the bridge scattered.
Farmland.
Near the surveillance tower.
“You must know the situation on Monster Island.”
“…”
“You must also know how valuable food is.”
“…”
On the mainland, if there were beggars, they would be given food.
But here, such cases are rare.
Because food prices are very expensive.
“If you get expelled, do you have anywhere to go? Will you wander around Monster Island and die? Or will you be captured by slave hunters and live as a slave?”
“…”
“Think carefully. If you stay silent and someone else confesses, not only you but your family will also be expelled from River Village. This is what I, as a Frontier Lord, have said, and it will be strictly enforced.”
I calmly explained the reality.
I had already designed it so that they would confess.
If the other vigilante members don’t confess, it is advantageous for him to confess.
If he confesses, he just has to do three years of farming. And he’ll receive wages.
If he doesn’t, he will be expelled.
Even if other self-defense members confess, it is advantageous for him to confess.
If he confesses, he just needs to endure three years of farming.
If he doesn’t, he will be expelled along with his family.
In any situation, it is advantageous for him to confess.
While the self-defense member continued to ponder,
Isaac approached.
Then handed over a piece of paper.
I pretended to receive the paper and read it.
“It’s over. Will you speak now? If you’re going to continue to be silent, then stand up now.”
As if everything were already concluded.
Acting as if someone else had confessed.
“No!! I’ll speak too!”
Here is the inside story of the incident.
One day, an administrator came to the self-defense members.
Then instructed them to lure monsters to the farmland.
Of course, the self-defense members refused.
However, he insisted, saying it was Blylda’s command and they must do it.
“The administrator said. Anyway, Lady… Soryeongju is going to be expelled, and Gibson Doyeondi will inherit the position of Soryeongju. If you don’t obey the order, he threatened that no one would be able to protect us at that time. I’m truly sorry, Soryeongju.”
As expected, Blylda was behind them.
‘Brilda must have learned about the situation with the farmland.’
Although the barley had not been harvested yet,
there had been an incident where the villagers ate insufficiently grown barley.
At the time, it was an action taken to reassure the people.
‘Brilda must have received that news. The person who informed her must be the administrator.’
Can we attack Brilda because of this?
Her head shook.
Brilda will cut ties.
She will claim that she has nothing to do with the administrator.
Then there is no way.
The situation with Brilda is already attached to the Frontier.
‘And Father will remain neutral this time too.’
It’s called neutrality. Letting Brilda spread her wings.
From a very young age.
Elwin and Elena, who lost their mother when they were just learning to walk.
It was almost impossible for these two to confront Brilda.
If two children and an adult woman fight and the father remains neutral.
Is that really neutrality?
In any case, this matter must be resolved by dealing with the administrator.
If it comes to a full-on battle with Brilda, it will be a loss for me.
It seems like the extent of my power is limited to farming land, slaves, and my great-grandfather.
After a sufficient amount of time passed,
I stood up from my seat.
“I will go back to the mansion.”
Many people had gathered at the mansion.
My great-grandfather and the administrator had also arrived.
I first asked the administrator.
“Did the members of the militia confess?”
“There was no confession. It was a perfect mistake.”
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I looked at the militia member standing behind the administrator.
“Is that the truth? I will give you another chance. If you confess now, I will treat you the same as if you had confessed.”
Originally, I had no intention of giving him another chance.
However, that militia member had bad luck. He went with the main culprit, the administrator.
He couldn’t reveal all the facts to him.
“This is the last lifeline I’m giving you. Catch it. I will give you one last chance to confess.”
“…”
In the end, the militia member did not say a word.
This time, I turned to my great-grandfather.
“Great-grandfather, what happened?”
My great-grandfather slowly walked towards the center.
Then, like a surge, he rushed towards the administrator.
Striking the administrator’s neck,
when he bent his neck and lowered his waist,
he whipped his back.
Thwack.
“Cough, hahahahaha.”
Even without hearing the words, I could tell.
That grandpa had confessed too.
While everyone was astonished,
I moved to the center.
The gazes of people gathered on me.
“Two out of the three self-defense members have confessed.”
I explained the situation.
What the slaves witnessed was true,
and I said that the administrator was the one who instigated the self-defense members.
And I omitted the story of Brilda.
“The situation has been clearly revealed. Therefore, we will now deliver the final verdict to them.”
I called the two self-defense members who confessed.
“You will cultivate the fields with the slaves for three years.”
“Understood.”
“Thank you. Lady So-yeong.”
“And those who do not confess will be banished from the river with their families.”
“Please forgive us, Lady So-yeong!!”
The member of the militia crawled up to my feet.
“Lady So-yeong! I have done wrong. Just once. Please give me one more chance.”
I ignored his words.
Forgiveness?
It’s a positive word.
But forgiveness is not always a good thing.
We must distinguish between those who confess and those who do not.
Moreover, he declared it in front of the public, even revealing his full name.
He said that those who do not confess will be banished.
“Lady So-yeong!! Please… If we are banished, how will our families survive?”
Thud. Thud.
Ignoring the member of the militia,
I stood next to the administrator.
