Volume 1 Chapter 22: Heh, too easy

Killing my younger brother.

It’s something that’s even more reviled than ordinary murder.

After all, it means killing your own family.
Rumors become incredibly vicious.

Even though I’ve built a reputation so rock-solid that even a few negative rumors wouldn’t budge it, they don’t work to my advantage.
That said, this time is a special case.

First, he rose up against me, the feudal lord.
Frankly, that alone is plenty of reason to kill.

Just planning it would have meant execution if discovered.
Actually carrying it out could have led to the entire clan being wiped out.

…Well, since the clan is essentially just me, that was never going to happen.
On top of that, Marcel had absolutely no popularity among the people.

For instance, if even a few residents had cared for him, their support for me would have faltered.
I don’t think that’s the case, but there might even be those who’d seek vengeance for the late Marcel… or something like that.

But that idiot really did whatever he wanted, living solely by his desires—so naturally, no one would ever adore him.

「(Seriously, what an idiot.)」

Desires are something meant to be indulged in secretly.
No one wants to see someone else indulging in their desires and wallowing in pleasure.

Happiness should never be flaunted in front of others.
It only breeds jealousy, envy, and even hatred from those truly suffering.

Besides, his desire was to see others suffer under his torment—a thoroughly deranged nature.
No wonder he was so despised.

For these two reasons, there’s no way I’d be ousted from my position as feudal lord, nor would my reputation suffer.
But that would leave things at plus-minus zero.

Someone of my caliber can always manage to add a little extra.

「Kuh…! Honestly, I never wanted to do this… Even if he was a foolish younger brother, he was still family. But if he continued to hurt the residents and disturb the Apophis territory any further, I couldn’t just stand by… You can hate me if you want. Rest in peace…」

These were the words I delivered to Marcel at the memorial service after the incident.
It was held to console those who died in the uprising, and many residents attended.

Then came the following remarks:

「Feudal Lord… Even if he was a stupid younger brother, he was still family…」
「For our sake, he… sacrificed his family…」
「Considering his position… it makes my heart ache」
「Yeah. That’s exactly why our feudal lord is nothing but Balor-sama」
「That’s right!」

Heh, they’re so easy to sway.
In truth, I had already decided to punish Marcel—who had been mistreating the residents paying taxes to me—even if he hadn’t rebelled.

I was planning to send him off to the mines, so his rebellion ended up working in my favor.
Not everything he said was entirely wrong.

In this country that places such importance on blood, it’s undeniable that I, 【who have no blood relation to the former lord】, am an anomaly.
Well, whatever.

And so, Apophis territory became mine in both name and reality.
Alright, time to start secluding myself.

All that’s left is to find capable people who can manage the territory while taking care of me, and that’s that.
Heh, life’s such a breeze.

◆

It’s a victory celebration.

I open the sake I’ve been saving and drink it down.

I can’t be too extravagant. After all, it’s been made to look like I executed my younger brother—and if I were to throw a raucous party, people would question my humanity.

So I quietly enjoy myself inside the mansion. Present are only me, Nanashi, and Ashvin.

I really wanted to drink slowly by myself, but with Marcel removed from the scene, my mood was soaring. Though I would never normally do this, I invited the two for a drinking bout.

And for a while, I enjoyed some fine sake…

“Nfufufu~. Balor-sama…”
“…………”

A maid clings to me—her tanned skin and white hair unmistakable.

Even through her maid uniform, her ample, soft curves are unabashedly pressed against me. Ashvin is hugging me.

…Annoying!
She’s undeniably attractive, and I wouldn’t normally mind her fine figure—

…but it’s irritating. Human warmth feels suffocating.

Anyone who doesn’t support me has no right to touch my body.

“This sake is so delicious. I had sworn not to drink until avenging my younger brother, but I never imagined it could be this exquisite!”

Come to think of it, Ashvin never used to drink. Did she ever realize she’d get like this?

“Hey, Nanashi. Do something about her. There’s nothing more annoying than this clingy drinking.”
“Master, I’m so drunk I can’t do anything—I’m all wobbly.”
“You’re such a lightweight.”

Nanashi gulps down the sake in one long draught.
“Hey! That stuff is expensive!”
“That’s not how this sake is meant to be drunk! Ugh!”

I never thought that Ashvin—so annoyingly clingy—was actually a lightweight… I shouldn’t have gotten carried away with the sake after eliminating the threat that was Marcel.

Ashvin had refused, but I forced her to drink a bit. I won’t ever do that again.

I’m more than enough to savor the fine sake on my own. And Nanashi—I never offered you any!

“Balor-sama… I am truly grateful, from the bottom of my heart…”

Pressed close, Ashvin gazes up at me. Thanks to the sake, her cheeks are flushed and her eyes glisten.

She is incredibly seductive, but since she isn’t the type to support me, it doesn’t affect me in the slightest. Huh?

Do I really have to listen to this? It’s so annoying—I just want her to get off me already.

“Avenge my younger brother… I could never have accomplished it on my own. Without you, Marcel would still be laughing, hurting, and killing someone. It’s all thanks to you, Balor-sama.”
“Hahaha.”
“You don’t deny it, Master.”

I don’t mind being praised.

“For saving me, for assisting me… and for kindly accepting such an ugly, foreign avenger…”
Well, not exactly accepting me, though…

“Ugh, I love you so much!”
“Gah!?”

Suddenly, she hugs me tight! Her full, ample bosom presses against my face.

It’s soft, but I can’t breathe! Is she trying to kill me!?

“I will serve you—and only you—from now on. Please cherish this foreign maid until the very end.”

After managing to break free, Ashvin smiles and says those words. For her, avenging Marcel had been a major pillar in her life.

Now that it’s been accomplished, all that remains is her gratitude toward me. That makes her an incredibly useful pawn.

I want her to serve as my limbs and work as hard as she can.

“…………”

But… am I really going to dote on Ashvin?
No—shouldn’t she support me? I’ll grant you feudal lordship, so support me.

『That is an outrageous proposal, Master. Please, do say it to me.』