Volume 2 Chapter 28: What’s Going On!?【The Aristocratic Council Arc】

“Hmmm……”

The noble council has ended, and Balor Apophis—the main target this time—has also departed.

At that spot, Yoldak sighed.

In the noble council, numbers are everything.
No, not just in the council—in any situation, the more allies one has, the better.

That’s why, if the opportunity arose, he tried to recruit Balor—even though he wasn’t a court noble—into his faction.

Because of Yoldak’s way of thinking, his faction boasts the largest numbers.
You could say they are the most powerful nobles in the country.

“But, it seems a bit difficult……”

Balor had brilliantly countered the sarcastic questions from the court nobles—especially in his exchange with Silthia.
From that alone, one could get a rough idea of what kind of man he was.
Having amassed numbers and incorporated many individuals into his faction, Yoldak’s observational skills had reached a high level.
With those keen skills, Yoldak regarded Balor, and his reaction was……

“I don’t think he matches the color of my faction.”

He decided not to recruit Balor.

Balor is far too fastidious.
He did not regret having killed his family, though he felt sorrow about it.
It was all solely for the sake of the subjects’ peace.

Even fastidious nobles were part of Yoldak’s faction.
It isn’t as if they engaged only in sordid deeds.
However, while they certainly did such things too, it was precisely those who could accept both the pure and the impure that gathered in Yoldak’s faction.
No, one could even sway them.
In fact, there are nobles who once held lofty ideals but have now transformed into those who relish both purity and impurity.
Nevertheless, Yoldak concluded that it would be difficult to mold Balor in that way.

“Well, I don’t dislike youngsters like that. A young man struggling for his ideals isn’t a bad thing.”

Though he wouldn’t recruit him, Yoldak himself did not dislike someone like Balor.
He wouldn’t bring him into his faction, but he wouldn’t attack him either.
That was the stance of Yoldak’s faction.

“Quite an intriguing young man.”

On the other hand, it was Resk who held a favorable opinion of Balor.
Unlike conservative Yoldak, Resk belonged to the reformist camp.
Fond of change, he felt positively even toward the upright noble Balor.
All for the sake of the people.

Resk is fighting to build an even better country.
Balor, who thought of the people and was capable of making agonizing decisions, appeared to him as an admirable noble.

“I don’t know if he’ll join my faction, but I should recruit him.”

That was the decision Resk made.

“Oh dear, that wasn’t very interesting.”

It was Silthia—puffing out her cheeks as she said it.
Perhaps being dropped from a high place made her feel that way even more.
She had been listening to the conversation between Kelphine and Balor.
That noble who dared pick a fight with the four great nobles—he surely wasn’t foolish enough not to understand what that meant in this country.
Knowing it all too well, he still maintained that attitude.
Just a maid… and to top it off, the kind of woman with an impeccably pure appearance who is supposed to be shunned.

“I thought he was an exceptional talent, though.”

Even as a woman, Silthia found his response quite admirable.
No, in terms of the future it might be problematic, but it’s far better than a man who simply endures insults without reacting.

“It was exhilarating to have made that sullen guy angry.”

Kelphine rarely speaks during the noble council.
Not even at the gatherings of the four great nobles.
Silthia didn’t care for his pretentious attitude, so his truly angry outburst was quite amusing.
And yet……

“Who would’ve thought he was such a good kid……”

She doesn’t like goody-two-shoes.
He’s the type who would likely get along with Resk.
In other words, he wouldn’t click with Silthia.
At this point, it wouldn’t be surprising if she lost interest……

“But he did put up an interesting response to Kelphine, after all…”

That sight of him telling off the four great nobles for the sake of the maid was truly amusing.
So……

“Let’s wait and see.”

Surprisingly, Silthia reached the same conclusion as Yoldak.

“…………”

Then, Kelphine said nothing.
However, inside, flames of anger and hatred were raging……

Thus began the meeting between Balor Apophis and the four great nobles.

◆

“Huff, that was quite a job, wasn’t it?”

“You didn’t do anything, did you?”

I glared at Nanashi, who was giving off an air of having done all the work.

After all, I was the one who dealt with those troublesome court nobles, wasn’t I?

“You were just on standby.”

Right now, we’ve left the noble council and are staying at an inn provided for this occasion.

It’s a very high-class establishment.

Well, I am a noble, after all.

I can’t stay in a place meant for ordinary commoners.

…Well, the noble council that arranged this didn’t book a high-end place thinking of me; they just didn’t want to spread the rumor that the council provided something shabby.

It’s all for their own sake.

“Lord Balor, amazing!”

“Hahaha!”

Izun clung to me.

I have no idea what’s so amazing, but being complimented always makes me feel good.

I want to be praised unconditionally.

“Now then, starting tomorrow, why don’t we stay here for a bit and do some sightseeing? Opportunities like this don’t come around often.”

“Yeah! But is that okay? What about work, though…”

“Hahaha!”

『Master, you’ve recently learned to just laugh off things, haven’t you?』

Don’t worry, don’t worry.

We still have Ashvin, and she’ll handle things somehow.