Volume 2 Chapter 39: I’m Always Cool【The Aristocratic Council Arc】

“So… Izun, do your best……”

“Haa, haa……”

I laid the sleep-talking Izun back onto the bed and breathed heavily.

If it were up to me, I’d just toss her aside!

This girl got overheated in the bath while rambling about her past.

Of course, I could have just ignored her… but I haven’t put her to use as a meat shield yet.

Or rather, isn’t this something Nanashi should be doing? Making me go through all this trouble…!

Servants should clean each other’s asses!

“Do you think that with these slender arms of mine, I can carry Izun?”

It isn’t a matter of whether I can or can’t—it’s simply a question of whether I do it or not.

“Black…”

There’s probably no employer as “white” as I am. When push comes to shove, I serve as a shield—and I provide complete food, clothing, and shelter as a super capable, kind master.

“You get her to put on some simple clothes.”

“Yes.”

As expected, Nanashi didn’t object here. A man changing an unconscious woman’s clothes is, well… if it doesn’t bother me, I’ll do it. I feel no lust whatsoever. Her big breasts just look like fat to me. I’m so disinterested that I’m confident I can change her clothes without a care.

“Perhaps you should train yourself to be able to easily lift a single girl, Master.”

“I never planned on using my muscles that way.”

“Then what exactly did you have in mind?”

“For show, I guess.”

“Hmm, this…”

While efficiently dressing Izun, Nanashi kept pricking me with her words. What the heck is with this maid…?

“But to think there was such a connection with Kelphine…”

It was probably unexpected even for Nanashi. Frankly, I never bothered to pry into their pasts—I really couldn’t care less.

That’s why all I knew about Izun was… that she was a 【Cursed Child】. It was clear she hadn’t led a proper life, but honestly, that past means nothing to me. What matters is whether she’s useful to me. If she isn’t, no amount of noble blood or illustrious birth will change that. Not even royalty is needed.

“Maybe the reason that guy was so hostile toward me was because of Izun.”

What comes to mind is Kelphine, who pestered me relentlessly on the way to the Noble Council. Well, that was probably also because Izun wouldn’t yield. Was it just rebelliousness? My heart tightened—and I swore never to do that again.

“So, what do we do? Shall we cut ties with Izun right now?”

“There’s no way I’d do that.”

I answered as I was being dragged along by Nanashi, who spoke in an expressionless, unbelievably cold tone. Does she not have a heart…?

Sure, Kelphine singling me out probably had a lot to do with Izun. But even if I were to cut her off now, would that help me? Not really.

Anyway, it’s already too late. To begin with, since they’ve already sent assassins, whether Izun is around or not, we’re doomed.

So, I’ll just do it before I get killed. I absolutely don’t want to pick a fight with the four great nobles, but if they’re the ones starting it, I have no choice. I just hope that guy doesn’t end up dying by relying on divine intervention.

“After all, I was the one who picked her up. I’ll take responsibility until the very end.” And make sure you repay your debt properly—I haven’t received anything back yet. Looking at Izun, that’s what I thought.

“…What you’re saying sounds pretty cool, Master.”

“I’m always cool.”

“That’s not true.”

“!?”

◆

“Mmm…?”

Izun opened her eyes and sat up.
Her head was still fuzzy.

She had been so excited that Balor would know about her that she kept on talking in a daze. Although her past was harsh enough that she wouldn’t want to share it with anyone, Izun wasn’t particularly bound by it.

Ashvin, on the other hand, was obsessed with the past for the sake of revenge. But Izun had no desire for vengeance.

She wasn’t really interested in the past. She didn’t even feel anger toward Kelphine.

It really didn’t matter. She had been reborn when Balor saved her, and nothing before that was important.

So whether Kelphine saw her as a child, sold her off as a slave, or ridiculed her as a spectacle… it was all meaningless.

“Good mornin'”

That voice spoke to her while she was lost in thought. It wasn’t Balor or Nanashi.

Looking that way, a colleague was standing there with a sly, mischievous smile. Her wavy, unkempt black hair gave her a wild look.

A pair of cat ears sprouting from the top of her head revealed that she wasn’t an ordinary human. She was Artemis, clad in a long apron dress—practically the uniform of the Apophis household maids.

She was a maid of the Apophis family.

“Good mornin’?”
“Since it isn’t morning, it’s ‘good mornin’,'” she replied.
“Hehe! Artemis, you’re so funny!”
“Is that so?”

Even though I had intended to tease her a bit, her genuinely joyful laugh left me with an indescribable feeling. I secretly thought, “I really can’t stand this woman.”

I find it hard to tolerate people who don’t react as I expect.

“So, what’s up?”
“I’m worried about Master—his tanned boobs aren’t coming home, so I sent Mya along.”

I shook my head in resignation. After all, Artemis wasn’t exactly active.

Of course, she’d go all out for her own sake, but normally she just likes to lounge around. Among the maids, except for Nanashi, she quietly obeyed Ashvin—the eldest’s authority—but she was already taking plenty of detours.

“Tanned boobs?”
“I meant Ashvin’s.”
“Hehehe! How funny!”
“Those white hairs are a riot…”

I almost blurted out “tanned boobs” even in front of Ashvin herself, so Artemis felt a bit nervous. Her punishment is terrifying, and I’d rather not go through that.

“By the way, what caused such a delay?”
“Kelphine.”
“…Now that’s a big shot. Master is in serious trouble.”

Of course, we know the names of the four great nobles. They are the superpowers ruling this country.

A mere noble ruling over a single territory wouldn’t dare defy them.

“Don’t worry, alright? Izun will kill them.”
Izun said, tilting her head slightly.
Her nonchalant claim of killing the four great nobles gave a glimpse of her abnormal nature.

Also, Artemis didn’t seem in the least perturbed, which only confirmed how abnormal the Apophis household maids are.

“That’s reassuring. But it seems the tanned boobs aren’t content with just that.”
“…?”
“They say they want Master’s influence to extend even into the Noble Council. I wonder how far that guy wants to climb.”

The court nobles, who can participate in the Noble Council, accept the major disadvantage of not having their own territories; that’s why they have rights. If one holds Apophis territory yet still tries to influence the Noble Council, that would be an unprecedented move.

In that case, the court nobles would surely rebel with all their might. Then, we too…

It’s only natural to think so. However, Ashvin wants to make it happen.

I can’t help but feel exasperated.

“God?”
“Ha, hahahahaha! That’s hilarious!”

Artemis burst into laughter, clutching her stomach. I see.

If it were Ashvin, it wouldn’t be surprising if she truly wished for Balor to meet that fate, given her blind devotion.

“Mmm… is she serious…?”
“Ah, this one is as dangerous as tanned boobs…”

Both Ashvin and Izun risk being killed for even jokingly making fun of Balor in front of them. Fighting to the death with the Apophis household maids is such a hassle, so I want to avoid it as much as possible.

“Besides, it would be terrible if Master lost his job.”

Normally, I prefer to laze around, but if Balor is in danger, there’s no helping it. There’s no workplace as pristine as this.

I’ll do everything in my power to protect this environment.

“So, what do you plan to do? Kill them?”
“Well, my murderous intent is pretty strong…”

I could only offer a wry smile at Izun’s overwhelming anger toward Kelphine. And Artemis wasn’t exactly saying she wouldn’t kill.

If necessary, they’ll kill. In fact, it’s already decided.

Anyone who dares to destroy my pristine environment has no right to live. But Ashvin seems to want to go even further than just killing.

“They say the Noble Council isn’t a place you can control with brute force alone… so…”
Her eyes glinted with a brilliant golden shine.
“We’re gonna make tools that we can use.”