Volume 1 Chapter 4: W-What? They’re Lashing Out?!

My body had flipped to face the mansion.

I spun around in a swift, circular motion, and my waist creaked loudly.

This was also because those damn brats had clung to me.

I guess I’m doomed…

Alright, there’s paperwork waiting for me at the mansion.
For the sake of my subjects, I’m going to get right to work without a moment’s rest!

“Master, I hear some screams—what’s going on?”

It was Nanashi who called out to me.
She’s an aberration—a being that should not exist in this world.

Th-this one…!
Even though my heart and body are fully back at the mansion…!

It’s blatant!
They blatantly came here to set me up…!

If you put it that way, it seems like not going to help would be the real issue!
The other subjects are still fine.

But someone definitely heard Nanashi’s voice.

“Ah, ah…”
“…………”

Ashvin.
She was near me, so she must have heard Nanashi’s words.

Ashvin remains silent.
Probably, even if I went back, she wouldn’t say a word.

But given her past and circumstances, pretending not to notice here would be a clearly bad idea…!
After all, any average guy might pull that off, but there’s no way I—the super handsome hybrid lord—could just ignore it.

“Of course, I knew. Let’s go.”
“…! Yes!”

Ashvin beams with a smile.
Her goodness is almost too much for me.

She’s such a good kid.
Instead of being kind to others, she should be kind to me.

“Oh dear…”

I shake my head.
Even that gesture is cool.

I really am a handsome guy.
Well, if push comes to shove, I can just use Nanashi as a shield.

Not wanting to get too worked up, I make my way to the source of the commotion.

◆

“S-sorry! I’ll make sure to properly explain it to this kid!”
“Hey, you can’t just brush it off with an apology! I got knocked around, you know?”

At the scene of the commotion, there were already plenty of people gathered aside from us.

Hey… you’re in the way!
You gawkers are in the way!

However, fortunately, since everyone was focused on the commotion, no one seemed to notice me.

Alright, I’ll quietly observe the situation.
If it seems like I can handle it, I’ll step in coolly; if not, I’ll back off.

Looking toward the center of the circular gathering, I see a child sitting on his bottom, accompanied by a woman who appears to be his mother.

And then, looming over them with sadistic grins were some hulking men.

…Now the bad guys are clearly identified.
And it doesn’t look like I can stand up to those bad guys.

I should just give up.

“Those guys went over to hit that kid on their own…”
“Ah, that’s just too much…”

The gawkers start explaining the situation.
Good job.

But earlier, that big guy said he got knocked around.
What kind of adult gets knocked around by a kid anyway…?

“Hey, I can hear you!?”

For a moment, I thought they were talking about what I was thinking, and my heart stopped for a couple of seconds, but it seemed the gawkers, who had been murmuring among themselves, directed that at me.

Good.
They unnecessarily made me jump…

Execution, execution.

“Do you even know who we are? We’re Marcel-sama’s bodyguards!”

How can a bodyguard get knocked around by a brat?
I couldn’t help but snicker at the grinning brute.

Of course, I must make sure no one finds out.
Getting caught would be terrifying.

But Marcel, huh.
It’s been a while since I heard that name.

“Just because you’re the lord’s younger brother doesn’t give you the right to get cocky…!”

The subjects contort their faces in disgust.
Yes, Marcel is my younger brother.

We’re half-siblings—so we aren’t even bound by blood.
I’ve never once considered him family, nor do I feel any affection toward him.

In fact, since he’s trying to jeopardize my position, I think he should just drop dead.
Even though I inherited the Apophis domain, Marcel seems irritated by that and occasionally butts in.

What an idiot he is.
I may hate the work of being a lord, but I love the status it gives me.

It’s basically safe, and my lifestyle is far better than that of the subjects.
That’s why I’ll never hand this position over to Marcel.

…I’m watching all this from the sidelines, but honestly, I don’t want to get involved.
After all, the guy who claims he got knocked around by a brat looks incredibly scary.

I can hardly fight, you know?
I’m an aristocrat, not a soldier.

Normally, no one dares to mess with me, the lord, but Marcel’s gang is different.
We’re on terrible terms, after all.

They’re trying to drag me down and take over as lord.
I will never allow that.

What do they think I’m working so hard for as lord? I’ll knock them all out.

“Master? Why are you trembling like a fawn, shrinking yourself down? It’s your turn!”

I hear Nanashi’s voice in my head.
Creepy.

“It’s not time yet.”
“Then when?”
“Maybe tomorrow.”
“That’s already over!”

Insults fly.
Throughout this exchange, we don’t even make eye contact.

Even so, the fact that we can converse like this is thanks to telepathy—a marvelous magic that lets us talk without speaking aloud.

The only downside is that only people on the same wavelength can use it.
…No, it’s weird that Nanashi and I are on the same wavelength.

This magic is totally bugged.

“Hey, spit it out. We’re Marcel-sama’s bodyguards, aren’t we!?”
“Guh…”

Faced with the men’s outrageous claims, the subjects can’t muster a response.
After all, they’re connected to the lord’s younger brother.

They simply can’t oppose him.
In fact, it’s because he does such stupid things that Marcel is so unpopular and my position remains unchallenged.

Does he really think that if he has enough power he can become lord?
A lord is someone who can’t hold on without the love of the subjects.

Honestly, he’s so clueless that even if I do nothing, my relative standing just keeps rising.
The other nobles are the same—really, it’s best to surround yourself with idiots.

…………

Even so, I watch the commotion.
…Aren’t they hyping me up big time?

Aren’t they giving me the perfect chance to shine?

“Oh? Then, may I say something?”
“Huh?”

Once that was clear, I made my way through the gawkers and called out.

With a deep, commanding tone, I glared—my heart nearly skipped a beat for a moment, but I managed to steady myself.
I am the handsome, cool lord, the handsome, cool lord…

“Y-you are… Balor!?”

The men who saw me widened their eyes in shock.
The gawkers erupted in cheers.

If I step forward now, my reputation will skyrocket…

“Why are you here…?”
“There’s nothing better for a lord than hearing his subjects’ opinions firsthand. That’s why I often walk the streets.”
“Isn’t it just because you hate paperwork that you keep disappearing?”

Shut up.

“Look, back off. If you leave right now, I won’t do anything further.”
I casually wave my hand.
I mean, just get lost.

It’s a nuisance if you linger here and defy me.
I might easily lose to these guys.

“Grr…!”

The men, who act all high and mighty with kids, can’t stand up to me.
Well, not using polite language is already grounds for execution.

They were all acting big because the lord’s younger brother is above them, but if someone higher shows up, they won’t be able to keep that up.
Hey, get lost already—scram while shaking your pathetic asses!

“If you think that behavior is completely safe, then as expected of Master.”

Heh, well, yeah.
I chuckle as I watch them…

“Tch…! Talking down to me like that…! You’re not scary at all!!”

Eeeek!?
Gyaa, reverse rage!!