Repeat Vice - The Villainous Noble Doesn't Want to Die, So He Swore to Not Die As One of The Four Heavenly Kings - Chapter 100: The Southern Overlord

Chapter 100: The Southern Overlord

In the kingdom, there are several noble families that possess vast territories.

The Northern Marchioness of Steria, the Duke of Galeon in the west, and the Marquis of Lightless in the east.

Each of them is a prestigious family known as great nobles who possess extensive lands.

Among those counted as great nobles is the Count Gimlet’s family.

The nickname given to them is “The Southern Overlord.”

However, unlike the other three families, the Gimlet family does not possess vast lands.

The southern region of the kingdom is divided into many territories, each ruled by numerous nobles.

The Gimlet Count’s domain is one of those noble families, and they do not have an exceptionally large territory.

Nevertheless, the reason they are called “overlord” is that the Gimlet family serves as a unifying force for the southern nobles, possessing significant influence and power that extend beyond their own domain.

In fact, many of the southern nobles receive advice—more like instructions in name only—from the Gimlet Count regarding estate management and dutifully carry them out.

This structure is akin to a lord issuing instructions to local officials and governing, despite the territories being divided, it would not be an exaggeration to say that the Gimlet family essentially manages the southern region.

Hence, the overlord.

Though the title is that of a count, their influence is practically on par with or even surpasses that of the marquises—so much so that even the royal family cannot ignore it.

In both name and reality, the Gimlet family stands shoulder to shoulder with Lightless, Steria, and Galeon as one of the great noble families.

—

The cold rain falls steadily.

Ignoring it, a man adjusts his goatee with a hand mirror in hand.

With meticulous care, he shapes the tip of his beard, adjusting it by millimeters.

This attention to detail is inherent to him.

As the clock strikes eleven, the pendulum clock chimes.

Simultaneously, the door opens.

A well-dressed, slightly overweight man enters, escorted by a servant.

“It is I, Talon. I have arrived as per your summons, Count Gimlet.”

He chuckles amiably, bowing his head, introducing himself as Talon, the slightly overweight man.

The man adjusting his beard—Count Gimlet—fixes his sharp, fox-like gaze upon Talon.

“…You needn’t flatter, Lord Talon. You’re precisely five minutes late.”

“F-five minutes…? But the appointment was supposed to be at eleven…”

“Being five minutes early is the basic principle of punctuality.”

Under the sharp gaze of Count Gimlet, Talon bows his head.

“My apologies. But last time I came five minutes early, and you said it was too soon, urging me to arrive on time.”

“Today, I felt like being five minutes early.”

To anyone else, it sounded like an incredibly self-centered and unreasonable argument.

Yet, Talon bows his head again, accustomed to the routine.

“Very well. I shall be more mindful from now on.”

“Yes, please do. Next time, be here five minutes early.”

“Y-Yes, certainly.”

This exchange occurs every time.

Talon muses that next time he’ll surely be told he’s too early, but once promised, he must arrive five minutes early, so he quietly exhales.

Count Gimlet’s caprice is nothing new.

Ever since they met, Talon has been at his mercy.

“Lord Talon, did you bring it?”

“Yes, of course. Here it is.”

Talon retrieves documents from his pocket and offers them to Count Gimlet.

Taking them, Count Gimlet examines them closely, then, as if reconsidering, pushes them back.

“Hmm, these are not right… Once more.”

“Y-Yes… Here.”

Returned the documents, Talon offers them again with a vague response.

Count Gimlet accepts them once more, nodding in satisfaction.

“Excellent.”

“As fastidious as ever…”

Apparently, Count Gimlet wasn’t satisfied with how he received the documents.

Count Gimlet always insists on redoing things until he’s satisfied.

Regardless of how trivial the matter may be, he does so unreservedly.

An excessive adherence to detail, an unparalleled perfectionism.

That is Bernard Guisea Gimlet, the current head of the Gimlet family.

“The Southern Overlord” doesn’t refer to the Gimlet family as a whole but to Bernard personally, a nickname.

In just one generation, he managed to unite many of the nobles in the southern part of the kingdom, earning him the reputation of an undisputed genius.

Count Gimlet, thus, begins to review the documents he received from Talon.

They contain detailed information on the management of the southern nobles’ territories, an immense amount of data.

Count Gimlet quickly skims through them, flipping pages at an astonishing speed.

Then, he stops at the documents of a certain noble.

A man who, despite his recent ennoblement, used to be a knight, manages the estate.

From the documents, it appears that the estate is flourishing, with thriving commerce and higher tax revenue compared to other territories.

However, Count Gimlet does not overlook the underlying unnaturalness.

“…Lord Talon, this noble who governs this estate—Baron Handley, if I recall correctly— a self-made man.”

“Ah, yes. What about Baron Handley?”

“He seems to be doing quite well for himself. There wasn’t any particular specialty product in his territory. Or perhaps he’s exploring new industries? I haven’t received any reports of such.”

Talon furrowed his brows as he pondered, while Gimlet frowned.

“Well… Even in my investigations, I didn’t notice any such activity. They haven’t imposed taxes significant enough to violate kingdom laws either.”

“…So, despite not raising taxes, the revenue is increasing, you say? That’s peculiar. And how is the increased tax being utilized?”

“Um, the Handley estate… Yes.”

Talon retrieved a thick stack of documents from his pocket, thicker than the ones he handed to Gimlet, and flipped through them.

“The increased revenue seems to be primarily used for commercial purposes. Additionally, there are expenses for socializing with neighboring lords and defense costs within the territory… There doesn’t seem to be anything particularly suspicious.”

“Commerce and neighboring lords… I see.”

After hearing the information, Gimlet sighed deeply.

“…On the day Baron Handley sought my advice, I believe I told him—’Don’t do anything unnecessary.'”

A tense atmosphere enveloped them. Despite the calm tone, Talon sensed Gimlet’s unmistakable irritation and stiffened his expression.

“Y-yes, indeed… But, the management of the estate seems to be going well, and it might be overlooked…”

While Talon agreed with Gimlet’s words, he also extended some help to Baron Handley.

Adjacent lord to Gimlet’s estate, now known as Gimlet’s close confidant, Talon had received secret support from Baron Handley.

However, Talon’s words seemed to aggravate Gimlet even further.

“What’s wrong is that you don’t understand what’s wrong, Talon. Merely apologizing without understanding what’s wrong doesn’t mean anything.”

“My apologies for my lack of understanding… Please forgive me…”

Talon bowed deeply as he apologized to Gimlet.

“It’s your lack of understanding that’s the problem, Talon.”

Despite Talon’s attempts to shift the conversation,Gimlet continued to scrutinize him coldly.

“… People in positions of power—nobles must be flawless. Failure is not tolerated even once. Therefore, he who has failed has no right to be a noble. Soon, there will be a vacancy in the barony. Let’s hope the next one is someone worthy of being called a noble.”

While saying so, Gimlet continued to adjust his beard.

Talon cleared his throat, trying to change the subject.

“Lord Gimlet, you seem particularly focused on grooming your beard today… Are you going somewhere?”

“There are no plans to go anywhere at the moment. But, I’m putting extra effort into being perfect today because—there’s a visitor coming soon.”

“A visitor?”

“It’s not just any guest, you see. It’s a perfect noble.”

“Perfect, you say…”

Talon tilted his head in wonder, wondering what kind of noble would be considered perfect.

Just as he did, the clock struck five minutes to twelve—11:55.

At that moment, there was a knock on the door, and the servant announced, “The guest has arrived.”

Gimlet smiled pleasantly, raising the corners of his mouth, and stretched out his mustache, which he had been grooming.

“Very well, show them in.”

Talon felt a bit uneasy.

“U-um, should I leave the room, Lord Gimlet?”

“No, stay. It’s an opportunity. You should be here too. Is it fine? The one coming now is—a perfect noble.”

“Perfect, you say…”

Talon wondered if such a noble truly existed.

Shortly after, the door opened, and a nobleman entered, escorted by a servant.

He was young, barely an adult, with black hair and black clothes, giving off an aura of darkness.

Amongst this darkness, his emerald left eye sparkled mysteriously.

Seeing his entrance, Talon’s legs trembled.

He knew that presence, although he had never seen him directly, he had heard enough about his distinctive features.

One of the kingdom’s foremost warriors.

A major noble who ruled the vast lands in the eastern part of the kingdom.

He had thought that as a minor noble, he would never have any dealings with such an elite figure.

Yet here he was, right in front of Talon’s eyes.

Lord Gimlet smiled defiantly, spreading his arms and opening his mouth to speak.

“Welcome to my estate. Despite the unfavorable weather, you’ve come quite willingly—Lord Rofus Ray Lightless.”

As Lord Gimlet moved to approach Rofus in a welcoming manner, he abruptly froze in place.

“…That’s not it. I apologize, let me try again. Ah, just stay as you are, Lord Rofus… Don’t move! Just like that…”

Leaving Rofus standing there, Gimlet stopped his movements and spread his arms again, beginning to adjust their angle.

Talon, unable to bear watching Gimlet doing the same with the Lightless family, covered his face with both hands.

“Welcome… No, that’s not it. Please come in… No, that’s not it either…”

Muttering something incomprehensible, Gimlet repeatedly opened and closed his arms.

Finally,  Gimlet nodded in satisfaction, wearing a wicked smile as he started over.

“Welcome to my estate. Despite the unfavorable weather, you’ve come quite willingly—Lord Rofus Ray Lightless.”

The same lines, the same posture as before, were presented by  Gimlet.

Rofus, who had witnessed this strange farce upon his arrival, could only furrow his brows in confusion, muttering, “What’s wrong with this guy…”

As the clock struck five minutes to twelve, the door was knocked once again.

The servant’s voice rang out, “The guest has arrived.”

Gimlet raised his corners of the mouth, looking pleased, and adjusted his mustache one final time.

“Very well, let them in.”

Talon, feeling a sense of foreboding, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief and directed his gaze toward the door.

The door opened, and the nobleman, escorted by a servant, stepped into the room.

He was young, seemingly just an adult.

With black hair and attire as dark as the night itself.

Among this darkness, his left eye, shining mysteriously like an emerald.

Seeing his entrance, Talon’s legs trembled.

He knew that figure, though he had never seen him directly; he had heard enough about his distinctive features.

A leading martial artist in the kingdom.

A major noble who ruled vast lands in the east of the kingdom.

He had thought that as a minor noble, he would never have any dealings with such an elite figure.

Yet here he was, standing right in front of Talon.

Gimlet smiled defiantly, spreading his arms and opening his mouth to speak.

“Welcome to my estate. Despite the unfavorable weather, you’ve come quite willingly—Lord Rofus Ray Lightless.”