Volume 4 Chapter 73: I Hate It…【Final Volume: Balor and Nanashi Arc】

“Die.”

“That’s quite an outrageous remark all of a sudden, Master. And aimed at the Four Great Nobles, as expected.”

Inside the carriage, I muttered with dead, lifeless eyes.

Inside, there’s only Nanashi.

There’s no need to be considerate of anyone.

I always seethe with venom inside, but unless I put it into words like this, it hardly relieves my stress.

So, I want to say it now—over and over.

Just drop dead.

“You talk about the Four Great Nobles, but that’s just because your ancestors were amazing back in the day, isn’t it? What are those guys doing now? The only thing that happened was that I nearly got killed, though?”

“In this country, hardly anyone can openly criticize them except you, Master. Please, do it in the square.”

“You’ll get killed, you know…”

I glared at Nanashi with a scowling stare.

I can only badmouth the Four Great Nobles like this because I’m never in public.

Nanashi doesn’t even count as “people” in my eyes…

If I were to openly vent my dissatisfaction in front of others, it wouldn’t be surprising if word got out and I ended up thrown into jail.

Damn it. If it were Silthia, I was planning to come up with some excuse and refuse, but…

“She’s been calling on me like crazy. One might even say she really likes it.”

One of the Four Great Nobles.

Silthia, the woman belonging to the reformist faction.

Ever since that whole mess with Kelphine, she’s been summoning me to her mansion non-stop.

Don’t mess with me…!

Do they even know how damn annoying it is to have to show up in the royal capital every single time…!?

Having no good memories of it makes my mood plummet.

And if I try to refuse, she starts pestering me with those prickly threats.

Really, it’s the worst.

“I guess everything I do turns out to be entertaining—like I’m some kind of sideshow. It really pisses me off…”

“But you’re the one laughing while turning someone else’s blunder into a spectacle, aren’t you?”

It’s fine if I laugh, but being laughed at is something else.

If Silthia were to expose her pathetic side, I’d be thrilled to watch.

I wish she’d mess up something big.

“Even so, it’s unusual, isn’t it? Being summoned by Yoldak.”

“It really is… which is exactly why I’m scared to refuse…”

I sighed deeply.

That’s right—it wasn’t Silthia who summoned me, but Yoldak.

One of the Four Great Nobles and a stalwart of the conservative faction.

Having been the head of his house longer than anyone else, he’s one of the veterans among the Four Great Nobles.

That alone shows he’s survived endless power struggles.

In short, an old fox.

He’s someone I absolutely don’t want to get involved with.

I just have the feeling I’ll end up being dragged into his schemes somehow.

If it were Silthia, I could just chat casually.

If it were Resk, I’d simply let his ideals wash over me.

That would be manageable—but Yoldak is different.

He’s the one who least involves himself with me.

Ughhhh! I really don’t want to go!

“Isn’t it that they say I must be granted the wealth of the Apophis family?”

“That guy is a die-hard conservative. There’s no way he’d ever agree to hand over a noble family’s fortune to a maid who’s just a nobody.”

“To think of someone as a nobody right before my eyes… As expected of you, Master, you have not the slightest bit of consideration or tact.”

I sighed once again and looked at Nanashi sitting in front of me.

Her eyes—so dark and utterly devoid of light—are fixed on me.

Stop it, don’t look at me.

This one is absurdly positive no matter where she is.

Well, she probably thinks it’s none of her business anyway.

After all, I was summoned, not that maid.

“Well, you’ll understand once we go. I don’t think she’ll offload any troublesome business on us like Silthia does.”

“Indeed.”

Yoldak isn’t some hedonist like Silthia, nor is he one to despise boredom.

That’s why Silthia seeks change and belongs to the reformists.

Meanwhile, Yoldak is conservative. He doesn’t like change.

So, things shouldn’t take an overly bizarre turn… or so I hope.

I have no choice but to believe so.

“If push comes to shove, I could use you as bait and make a run for it.”

“That is… could it be that the reason you brought me along is…”

Isn’t it obvious?

“Alright, let’s go.”

“Wait a minute—your phrasing sounds off…”

“Alright, let’s go.”

“It hasn’t changed…”

Nanashi sinks her shoulders in quiet despair.

Well done, Nanashi.

For the first time, the moment has come when you’ll be of use to me.

◆

Yoldak’s mansion had invited Balor and Nanashi.
Well, technically, I was the one invited—Nanashi was just brought along as a meat shield.

Yoldak’s mansion is unbelievably large.
Frankly, it almost seems no different from the royal castle.

Even among the Four Great Nobles, it’s in a league of its own.
…It really pisses me off.

What? Are you showing it off?
What do you plan to do with such a huge house?

It’s pointless.
Tch.

“I’m sorry for calling you over, Balor. Normally, it would be proper for me to come myself…”

Yoldak said with a cheerful smile.
Really.

Who does he think he is, summoning me like this?
Even a god would have to come on their own if they had business…

Ever since I saw that gigantic mansion, my opinion of Yoldak has plummeted.
Ah, I just want to go home already.

“The tea and sweets I had prepared—though they don’t atone for anything—are of the highest quality. I hope they suit your palate…”
“I humbly accept.”
『As expected of Master. You perked up in an instant.』

Wonderful, isn’t it?
As expected of the Four Great Nobles.

Man, having someone like Yoldak around makes the kingdom happy!
I shoot a venomous look at Nanashi, who just tossed in a sly remark.

…I can’t believe you’re already stuffing your face. And that’s supposed to be my share!?

“…You seem to have a rather unique maid. Not exactly to my liking.”

Yoldak’s gaze falls on Nanashi, and she stiffens.
……Buhuhu! You’re scared, huh!

Yoldak is a conservative sort.
He’s determined to uphold the distinction between nobles and everyone else.
Since you blatantly broke that rule, it’s only natural you get glared at.

“She does occasionally show a good side, though it’s exceedingly rare. Please forgive her.”
『Occasionally… exceedingly rare… I see, three outs then.』

What’s there to understand?
If I hadn’t covered for you, you’d have been in serious trouble.
Be grateful.
Get naked, spin around three times, and say “woof.”

『And what’s the meaning of that? Some perverted implication?』
Well, it takes a rather unusual person to get aroused by that…
And even if I saw your pathetic naked self, I doubt it would excite me in the slightest.

“Well, if that’s acceptable to you, I won’t say any more. My apologies.”
“Not at all. Please, say more. If it’s Yoldak-sama’s words, I’ll gratefully accept them.”

Poke me with your prickly remarks until I go bald from stress.
Not that I plan to chat with Yoldak too often—such chances are few.
But if it means you’ll tease Nanashi, I’ll come by every day.

“Now then, let me explain why I specifically called you here.”

Ah, right.
I still don’t know the main point.

Well, just getting Nanashi riled up is enough for today.
I can wait for Yoldak’s words with a surprisingly calm mood…

“I want you to exterminate the monster that is currently threatening the kingdom.”

I hate it…