Volume 2 Chapter 27: Are You Bored?【The Aristocratic Council Arc】

The venue of the noble council was, as expected, ridiculously spacious and lavish.

Everything adorning the room must be outrageously expensive.

Yes, it’s all a waste.

What’s the point of embellishing these court noble pigs?

Hand over that money to me.

The dais was at the very bottom, with chairs arranged in gradually ascending rows from it.

Each seat was occupied by a court noble, looking down upon the dais.

Hmmm, even here it’s nothing but a display of vanity.

They’d all be better off as livestock.

Besides, the idea of them looking down on me is unthinkable.

It’s an act that even God wouldn’t tolerate.

As I scanned the venue with such thoughts, I noticed empty seats scattered here and there.

As expected, it seems that only those perverted nobles who relish tormenting others have gathered this time.

I wish they’d just die.

“Esteemed court nobles, thank you very much for gathering here today despite your busy schedules.”

The moderator began speaking.

Apparently, he isn’t actually one of the court nobles.

That’s evident from his speech.

“I hereby convene the extraordinary noble council.”

I’m not actually going to convene it.

“Today’s agenda is one thing: the uprising that recently broke out in the Apophis Domain.”

To bring up something like this—are the noble council really that bored?

Give me back the tax money.

“We have called upon the domain lord, Balor Apophis-sama.”

“Thank you for the introduction. I am Balor Apophis.”

We didn’t call him!

He came of his own accord, you idiot.

Without a trace of such thought, he bowed his head in utmost reverence.

Lately, haven’t I been bowing my head too much?

Forcing my head—heavier than gold—to bow so profusely is downright disrespectful.

Everyone here deserves the death penalty.

“Hmm, then let me get right to my questions.”

An old court noble, sitting and looking down at us, said this in a pompous tone.

Who said I’d allow you to ask questions?

Don’t mess with me, pig.

“Why didn’t you report to the noble council immediately? It’s common sense to report issues to those above you.”

Who is “above” anyway, you idiot?

You’re always at the bottom, while I’m always at the top.

Bow down, you trash.

“Yes. Regarding that, I believed that since everyone would review it, I needed to prepare a proper report. That’s why the report was delayed. I have brought the report with me, so I hope you’ll take a look at it.”

I was totally slacking off on preparing the report.

Frankly, the report I just submitted was put together in 30 minutes yesterday.

It was done half-assed.

“Hmm, if that’s the reason, I can understand. Good work.”

The old man who had reviewed it nodded in satisfaction.

“Maybe his eyes are nothing but empty sockets?”

I made that in 30 minutes, you know?
Is that really acceptable?

“Now then, next, from me: regarding the reason the rebellion broke out…”
“Regarding that…”
“And regarding how to bring the situation to a close…”
“Regarding that…”

After that, one question after another flew in.
Every one of them, I answered perfectly with brilliant comebacks.

Hmph, as expected of me.
…These questions are far gentler than I had imagined.

Although hints of an intention to torment me can be seen here and there, these idiots are not smart enough to trouble me.
For someone like me, who has always lived by merely putting on a façade, handling that level is a breeze.
When it comes to words, I’m unbeatable.

“…If there are no further questions, this concludes the extraordinary noble council.”

By casually fielding the idiots’ questions, the room had naturally quieted down.
There might be some muttering from those who couldn’t quite manage to torment me effectively, but since I countered perfectly, none of them dared to press further.
In fact, no one even responded to the moderator’s words.
Hah, what a worthless use of time.

I’ll just go hang around the royal capital and kill time before heading back.
The accumulated work… I’ll offload it onto Nanashi.

While I was thinking such things…

“Ha, this is boring. Did you really come all the way from the Apophis Domain just to talk about this? Don’t you guys have enough brains?”

A woman said that while resting her cheek on her hand.
She was seated in the highest chair.

How unusual.
There shouldn’t have been many female court nobles.

Her words mocked the surrounding court nobles.
Those overly proud ones could never ignore that…
…Huh?
Why doesn’t anyone lose their temper with her?
On the contrary, they all avoid making eye contact.
Hmmm, I have a bad feeling about this.
Hey, it’s not as if you can just come over here, you know.
What is it with this woman?

“Well, I’ll ask.”
Saying that, the woman asked with a friendly smile.
“Tell me, how did it feel to kill your younger brother?”

What is it with this woman?!
She just jumped straight into an extremely sensitive topic!
This person is out of her mind…
The other court nobles had avoided touching that subject, fearing it might provoke a backlash.
Yet she, showing no concern whatsoever, trampled over it without a care.

“So, what is it like? I’ve never experienced it, so I don’t know. What does it feel like to kill someone from your own bloodline… someone related by blood?”
“Si—Silthia-sama…”
Her tone was gleeful and excited. It was deliberate.
It’s not that she can’t read the atmosphere.
She understands perfectly well, yet she still digs in.
What a despicable personality…
Even the moderator’s eyes went wide as he called her name.
Anyway, setting aside the fact that this woman—Silthia—is to be dismissed, I must answer.
…Silthia, she’s one of the four great nobles, after all!
Having already been greatly disliked by Kelphine, I can’t afford to be hated by another.
If two out of the four great nobles end up hating me, I’ll be seriously done for.
I must not make a mistake… I must not make a mistake…
I slumped my shoulders, deeply frowning…

“It is sad, isn’t it…”
“Hmm?”
Meanwhile, she raised her eyebrows.
Since she didn’t seem to intend to interject, she continued further.
“After all, brothers bound by blood—this outcome is not what I desired.”
“Are you regretful?”
There’s no way I am.
I’m excited.
“No, that’s impossible. Marcel—my younger brother—did, even if he had his feelings, commit something that must never be done. The rebellion affects not only me but also the innocent subjects. As a feudal lord, I cannot overlook that. I do not intend to justify killing Marcel, but I do not regret it in the slightest.”

A sigh of impressed admiration could be heard.
Heh, my rating has increased once again.
My worth knows no bounds.
Yet it’s incredible how easily I can spout things I never even thought of.
I’m scary even to myself.

“Even though you killed your younger brother? Even though you killed someone so dear… so dear?”
“Yes.”
Perhaps because I didn’t show the reaction she expected.
Silthia pressed on, further aggravating the wound, but I remained unshaken.
After all, it hasn’t even become a wound.

“…This is boring! That time was much more interesting!”
She puffed out her cheeks and stormed off in anger.
Damn, did I mess up?
I thought so, but it didn’t seem to be genuine anger like Kelphine’s.
…Or rather, when was “that time”?
Have I even had any dealings with you?

“Hmmm…”
“Oh…”
“…………”

The nobles seated at the same level as Silthia murmured.
…No, Kelphine is ignoring it.
That means the remaining two must be among the four great nobles.
…Why on earth are they all participating in the noble council?
Are they bored?

“…If there are no further questions, this concludes the extraordinary noble council.”

Once it became clear that the four great nobles were nothing but a bunch of idlers, the council was adjourned.
I, perfect…
Having navigated everything flawlessly, I wore a beaming smile.