The Strongest Villain Sets Out: Reincarnated into a Merit-Based Clan, I Become the World's Strongest Swordsman - Chapter 78: Salvatore Full of Bad Reputation

Several days had passed since the tournament ended.

After fully recovering from fatigue and everyone achieving their level-ups, I was heading to the director’s office with Lucia.

“You… are you really going to see my aunt?”

Lucia, walking beside me down the long corridor, spoke up.

“Yeah. If I don’t tell at least the director, my grades will drop, right? I have absolutely no intention of losing to those idiots.”

“Even so… I don’t think my aunt will simply nod along.”

“Because of Morgan and Salvatore?”

“Yes. You and I get along reasonably well, but that doesn’t matter to my aunt.”

“Heh, so you’re aware that you get along well with me?”

“Tch!”

Lucia’s face turned bright red.

This girl was usually prickly, but she was actually a lonely person at heart. The fact that she always picked fights with me was proof of that.

“What… got a problem with that⁉”

“Not really~ I think of you as a friend too.”

I showed her a slight smile.

Lucia’s face was still red, but she gave an unusually meek response.

“~~~~! Th-thank you…”

“Huh? You’re saying thanks… will there be a storm tomorrow? That’s bad luck when we’re about to travel.”

“I’ll kill you.”

“I’m joking.”

Since real killing intent was directed at me, I laughed sheepishly.

Lucia was interesting to tease, but too much teasing made her violent, which was troublesome. Cornelia didn’t respond to teasing, but she’d blindly believe anything I said, making her easy to— I mean, manageable.

Sheila was about halfway between Cornelia and Lucia. She both doubted and believed. The fact that she didn’t get violent showed she’d had better upbringing than Lucia.

“Anyway, that’s the director’s office over there. Try not to make too much noise.”

“Whose fault is that!”

While calming down the snarling Lucia, I calmly opened the door in front of us.

Inside the room sat the head of the Morgan family’s sister, who somewhat resembled Lucia, in a chair.

She chuckled upon seeing me.

“Good afternoon, young lion of the Salvatore Ducal House.”

“It’s been a while, Director. I’ve come today with a request.”

“How direct. A little chat wouldn’t be so bad, would it?”

“I’d love to, but I have plans. I want to quickly get leave permission and head to the Zora Federation.”

There was no point hiding from her. She’d find out once I went to the Zora Federation anyway.

“The Zora Federation? I’ve heard it’s a country created by demi-humans… what exactly are you going to do there?”

“I’m going to get involved in a little coup.”

“Luka⁉ What are you saying!”

Lucia was making noise behind me, but I ignored her. I was talking to the director right now.

She nodded without changing her cool expression.

“…Very well. I’ll grant permission. Please be careful not to overdo it too much. The Zora Federation is different from our empire.”

“Aunt⁉ Is it really okay to give permission so easily?”

Even Lucia was surprised. I was somewhat shocked too, not expecting permission to be granted so readily.

“I actually have many things I’d like to ask and feelings of wanting to stop you. But…”

There the director paused and looked out the window resentfully.

“Luka Salvatore. Your sister spoke to me quite persistently. If I refuse Luka’s request, she’ll kill me. If I interfere with Luka, she’ll kill me.”

“Norn-nee-san…”

When had she threatened the director… Honestly, it was helpful so I wouldn’t complain.

“You’re saying you’re following orders because you were threatened by Norn Salvatore⁉ We’re the Morgan Ducal House!”

“Lucia, you don’t know. Just how insane Norn Salvatore is.”

“No… I do know that… yes…”

Lucia, who had once been beaten by Norn-nee-san, turned pale and looked away.

The director couldn’t help but smile wryly at this.

“If you know, then this is simple. Once Norn Salvatore says she’ll kill me, that woman will definitely do it. Power, aftermath, repercussions, turmoil—none of that matters to her. The Salvatore Ducal House is a den of such mad people.”

“…………”

I wondered whether I should complain about being lumped in with them, or accept it as recognition of just how terrible the Salvatore Ducal House’s reputation was.

Since I also thought the Salvatore Ducal House was a garbage dump, I accepted her words without particular objection.

Either way, I just needed to get to the Zora Federation.

I turned on my heel and finally thanked the director.

“Anyway, thank you for the permission, Director. You’d better be careful of Norn-nee-san.”

“Yes. You be careful on your journey too.”

Waving, Lucia and I left the director’s office.

Now… things would get more interesting from here. Treasures, experience points—everything would be mine. I’d take it all from those demi-humans. Hehehe.

While chuckling internally, I quickly began preparations for departure.