No, yeah, I did say that, didn't I?
You can come and say hi anytime.
But what is this all about?
Why is this happening in front of such a mass audience?
... No, I don't have any proof at all, but my body specs are telling me out loud.
After the spirits communicated to each of the kings, each of the kings consulted with each other in a random manner and decided, oh, then we should all go see him. In addition, it seems like there are a lot of humans gathered there right now, so let's have a big celebration! That's what happened, huh? Something like that.
If that's the case, it’s highly likely that it was my fault for not specifying the date and time.
Uhm, I totally deserved it!
What should I do, it's not funny at all.
Woah, I'm so screwed... I don't know the probability of me surely getting into trouble tomorrow, but whatever the case it will be an amplified do-n¹!! Something like that …….
No way! I hate it!
But I also have a feeling that it might have been ignored even if I had specified a date and time.
The other party is a spirit.
It's like yokai² in Japan.
I don't know if it's the same, but I think it's the closest thing if seen through a common person’s eyes.
No, I don't really understand yokai either.
Anyway, it's an existence that Augusto-san doesn't have any knowledge of, so there are too many uncertainties and it's unclear what will happen.
I guess it’s like, something trustworthy, but that I can’t rely on.
What? The other way around? Oh well, it's a pain in the ass anyway.
However, now that it's come to this, I have no choice but to work hard.
I have to rebuild relationships, rebuild finances, and rebuild trust with the people in the territory, and now I have to do more work to take care of the problems, this is just overworking me, damn it.
In order to escape from the reality of the situation, while thinking such a thing, for the time being, I face the six lights floating in the air and do the knight's salute, or something like that, which was ingrained in Augusto-san's body.
The reason why it's vague is because I don't really know what kind of bow I did, because my head is in panic.
But as soon as I thanked them, I sensed something like gasps from all around.
In the midst of all this, out of the corner of my eye, I saw the king sitting on a chair that was probably made for him, looking at me with eyes that made me feel very sorry for him. I think I'm going to grip the king's face when this is over.
Speaking of, I had wanted to see Augusto-san doing his knight's salute from a distance, if anything.
I mean, he looks really cool right now, doesn't he?
No, he might look like the general of an evil organization, but when a man gets old, it's really cool to look a little evil.
Uhm, in Augusto-san's case, it may be more than a little, but that's okay.
At any rate, I'll say it again and again, why is this me, damn it, I'm so disappointed.
After a moment of contemplation, I looked at the lights and the others and announced in a dignified manner.
"It is a great pleasure to receive the blessings of the Spirit Kings and to even have them come to such a noisy place.
Although I am still inexperienced, I wish for a long life of friendship and peace."
I thought of a few lines to improvise, but I took the one I thought was the safest and coolest.
Uhm, it's cool.
‘Aye'
'We, the King of Spirits, do not wish to antagonize the Wise either.'
The red and blue light that floats in the air tells me happily and somewhat proudly.
I mean, when I looked at that light, it started to look more and more like a human figure, but what is this?
I can see something different from the little spirits, something closer to substance.
The blue light is a blue, bob-haired… How to call it, elegant? Graceful? Magnificent? Well it's a style like that, a beautiful blue-haired onee-san, wearing a gorgeous Chinese dress that looks like something people who are well off would have worn in ancient China.
The red one is a stocky built muscular onii-san with short red hair.
He had, well, a handsome face, but I wondered why he was wearing only a tank top and pants.
Anyway, I saw the two of them looking smug with their respective colored lights in their hands.
What the hell is this?
Ah, by the way, people appeared with the six colored lights as center points.
Uhm, I don't get it.
As if to escape from reality, if I just turn my vision to the other lights.
'I promise you long-lasting friendship and peace.'
He had long black hair tied up at the nape of his neck, an eye patch, a leather jacket, bandages, spiked leather gloves, and he looked like an old band member.
Uhm.
Let me explain again.
There was an Ossan dressed like an old fashioned band member.
Uhm, let's see, alright.
Let's leave it for now, let's leave it, leave it.
In the midst of all this, a beautiful blonde onee-san with blonde hair, who to use the simplest analogy looked like an angel, smiled happily.
'Blessings to the rebirth of a new wiseman.'
Right after that, a very cute little girl with twin-tailed green hair and a simple light green dress followed happily.
‘May happiness follow Augusto Werstein.'
Only the brown-haired, expressionless, slick back haired onii-san with the orange light wasn't saying anything at all, but he was nodding his head, so he seems to be agreeing.
Uhm, well, okay.
Let’s stop thinking about it.
Because it's already a pain in the ass.
I can't afford it.
It’s impossible, impossible, I'm tired already.
I'm full.
Then, apparently satisfied with what they had to say, they melted the light in their hands into the air, shaking it fluffily.
… No … They're still here, though?
The quiet hall remained still for about three seconds, probably because everyone was stunned, but suddenly voices rose from everywhere.
"What a surprise! I never thought I'd be able to hear the voices of the Spirit Kings!"
"I saw the light too! A beautiful six-colored light…!"
The voices of the nobles echoed from all over the hall, discussing their impressions without realizing that they were still there.
Apparently, I was the only one who could see them still remaining.
The six of them, who looked satisfied and smug, began to go around the hall.
They seemed to be listening to the voices praising them.
Uhm, it's a pain in the ass, so let's just ignore it.
"… Chichiue, I'm sorry to interrupt, but… you've become a wiseman?"
I was a little surprised to hear such a question from musuko-san, who suddenly appeared in a panic, but as expected I didn’t show it, and calmly looked back at him.
"......... Michaelis."
"... Yes?"
For now when I called his name, he suddenly got really nervous, I wonder why.
Ah, uhm, I'm sorry, Augusto-san's face is scary right, it can’t be helped.
In a slight shocked state while still hesitating a bit, I try my best to keep a calm attitude and open my mouth.
In the corridor leading to the carriage house, at the bottom of the stairs, in front of the door to the basement, a nobleman was pressing his head against the wall in a dark place where no one would approach.
"Why, what’s the reason, what have did i get wrong?"
The man who asks himself these questions while mumbling in a small, muffled voice which seemed to even be carrying all of his exhaustion, impatience, and despair.
"This must be some kind of mistake, that’s right, of course that’s right."
The man was alone, muttering to himself in a place where no one would come.
Now it was dark because of night, but otherwise it was so dark that even the servants and maids did not want to go near it.
Even while the sun was still up, the place was so dimly lit that no one would pay attentionn to it it even during the rush hour to get home.
No one would even notice that there was a man in such a place.
“I, I just, thought it was dangerous."
The man who was sweating profusely and desperately telling himself that, was the nobleman who had been kicked out of the venue for his rude and delusional remarks to the Duke at today's soiree, the Senior Count Nord Rhodriess.
“I’m not wrong, not wrong!"
The man who was so distraught that he could have been taken for a madman, consoled himself loudly because he thought no one would be there.
However, his words were met with an unexpected response.
“Yes, you’re right, it's not your fault."
The man looked back at the words spoken in a gentle, soothing voice that would have calmed anyone.
"Who is it?"
His eyes were bloodshot with indignation at being seen in such a disgraceful state, impatience, and an unquenchable sense of despair.
"I'm sorry if I startled you."
The person who apologized with a gentle expression and voice was a person that the man had never expected to see, a person that he had never met before, a person that he could not reach with his hands or voice.
“Ah, Reinbach- koshaku-sama! Why are you here?"
The third highest-ranking person in the country, the position of Prime Minister, and at this point an existence ranking above the clouds to the man.
"No, I was just worried about you being condemned like that."
Labeled as a saintly man who is known for his compassion and ability to reach out to anyone, Ragsdew Reinbach- koshaku.
As a devout follower of Lunamilia, the Marquis wore a formal white with silver trimmings, vestment of kind.
The man's heart slowly calmed down at the realization that the person with the gentle expression that seemed to make him feel at ease just by looking at him was looking at him with some concern.
"Oh... Ohh... How merciful of you to do this for someone like me…!"
The man shouted in admiration, tears welling up in the corners of his eyes from relief and emotion.
What a wonderful person, even for a dirty aristocrat like me who is full of shady things, to take the trouble to visit such a place out of concern.
The man had never had any feelings for the Reinbach- koshaku until now.
However, towards the marquis, who spoke kindly to him, as if to heal his battered and bruised heart, he felt something akin to adoration.
The Marquis suddenly opened his mouth somewhat anxiously, though his words were slurred.
"However, I was surprised to learn that the Duke of Werstein had become a wise man."
"Yes, I hadn't heard that before."
When I nodded my head in agreement, for some reason the Marquis' expression became even more distorted with anxiety.
“… but i wonder, is this truly the truth ……"
"What do you mean?"
The words of the Marquis were muttered to me.
When I asked him what he really meant, the Marquis smiled at me with a gentle expression on his face and looked away anxiously.
"... No, it's just that I'm a little worried.
I wondered if all of that was done just to establish position…"
The words from the Marquis made the man jump.
“Or perhaps, that indeed was not the Duke himself, after all!?"
If that's the case, then I wasn't wrong.
In fact, at that moment, I may have realized a fact that no one else had noticed.
That's right, that's why I was condemned like that!
Because it wasn't convenient for him to be found out right then and there!
That's what the man thought.
It was a convenient escape route for him, unaware of the fact that it had no basis in fact and was just a guess.
The Marquis replied to such a man with a somewhat troubled expression.
"I'm sure the form and figure was the duke, but whether it was real or not... I can't judge.
But that light, that much I think even a sorcerer around here can do."
He could make the light appear and disappear, and he could change the sound of his voice to tell all the people who were there with his magic.
"... So you're saying that the duke is a false wise man?"
"No, I can't say for sure.
But the possibility of this has made me uneasy."
In response to the man's confirming question, the Marquis chuckled as he answered anxiously.
"No, I understand, I completely understand."
The man who nodded his head with a serious face, assuming that his idea, which was just a convenient guess for him, was true, was ridiculous to those who knew the truth.
"The easiest way would be to rob the eggs and leave them in the Duke's territory, but that's not very practical."
“That’s right, it would be difficult to find the nest of a Ancient Dragon."
"Dragon's nests are everywhere in the mountains that cover the country."
The Marquis laughed at that.
The man thought about those words.
If there are so many of them, why don't we just prepare quantity rather than quality? He thought.
"Oh, I'm sorry, it's time to go.
There may not be much I can do, but if you have any problems, I'm here to help."
"Oh, thank you very much…!"
"No, no, I'll be going now."
The man looked at the Marquis’ back as he left, feeling his respect and adoration for the Marquis who had spoken kindly to him and even offered him advice.
When he came back to himself, he hurriedly left the place, as if he couldn't stay in place anymore.
The man leaving, with his footsteps clattering rudely, doesn’t notice.
That there was another person there.
Behind the door to the basement, a boy was crouched there.
"I've heard a great conversation…!"
The boy muttered in a small voice and exhaled while holding a small hand over his heart to calm himself down.
A secret meeting between vassals concerned about the country in how to deal with corruption.
Perhaps it was because of his impression of the thoroughly calm Marquis, but that was all he heard.
The image that came to his mind was of a well-fed cattle-like man, large both horizontally and vertically, with a lowly smile on his face.
"You, Duke of Werstein... As the first prince of the Kingdom of Lunamilia, I won't let you do whatever you please…!"
He clenched his fists tightly and stood up with renewed determination.
The first prince Ludwig Sheva Lunamilia.
He was reputed to be intelligent despite his age of 12, and the reason why he was here was because he hid in this place to annoy the adults around him a little in order to make up for not being able to attend the founding party due to his age.
He was intelligent, but even so he was still a kid.
As a result, he had heard their conversation from the beginning.
Meanwhile, when the snow-like nobleman appeared, he was really scared, and as a result of being unable to make even the slightest movements, and so reached present without him being noticed, but he himself didn't mind it, so let's leave it alone.
Leaving aside the prince, the problem is the marquis.
The old man walked along the corridor that led to the path back to the venue, in the opposite direction from the carriage stop, with a gentle smile on his face murmured in a quiet voice.
“Um, a wiseman, he says? What kind of trick did that damn duke use?"
Then a girl appeared.
She was probably seventeen or eight years old, about to change from a girl to a woman, and was at her most gorgeous.
Her long, pink-blonde, gently wavy hair was tied up in a single thick braid, and she wore a light blue princess-line dress decorated with pearls, and she had the kind of good looks that people often talk about.
Her gentle, serene expression and appearance, which ten people would agree was beautiful, captivated many people.
Some praised her as a goddess, others as a saint.
Among them, she is often referred to as the "White Saint".
The reason why she is called "white" is because in this world, a saint is usually a black-haired girl summoned from another world, but let's leave that aside for now.
She is an example of a noblewoman who is kind-hearted, beautiful, and does not discriminate against anyone.
She smiled and called out to the Marquis.
“Oh my, up to mischief again? Grandfather."
As if it were a normal thing, she said lightly.
"Oh, Julietta, a mischief you say how scandalous."
"What else would grandfather do but mischief?"
“Fufu, that's harsh."
Having Marquess Ragsdew Reinbach, the Prime Minister of the country, as her grandfather is Marchioness Julietta Reinbach, known as the White Saint to the general public.
The reason she is a Marchioness is because her parents died in an accident when she was a child, and her "kind-hearted" grandfather took her in, but the truth of this is unknown.
She had a gentle smile on her face, as befits a saint, and in a lovely voice like a ringing bell, she spoke words that would make her admirers swoon if they heard them.
"So, what are you going to use those little fries for now?"
“Phm, I wonder if it will be useful, that thing."
The Marquis also responded with harsh words with a gentle expression and tone of voice befitting a saint.
The girl gave a surprised look to her grandfather.
"Well, Grandfather.
You used it without knowing whether it would work or not?"
If you hadn't heard the content of the conversation, I would have thought they were just chatting peacefully.
The Marquis smiles softly with a gentle expression that is heartwarming almost in every way.
"It's just a little test."
Without knowing the other’s abilities, there’s no way to take any counter measures.
With this in mind that the Marquis had instigated a terrible crime that would possibly have caused great turmoil in the country.
“Oh my, so Augusto Werstein -kosahaku-sama is next, right?"
"It's best to take out anyone who might get in the way as soon as possible, right?"
The Marquis' eyes were not smiling at all as he simply responded to the girl who asked him to confirm.
But this is the same as always for the girl.
She didn't seem to mind at all, and with the same adorable smile on her face, she tilted her head, stiffly.
"Then why don't you give me the duke before you destroy him completely?"
The Marquis's expression changed to one of wonder, as if he had not expected to see his granddaughter begging for him with the innocence of a child who had found a new toy.
“Uhm? Why?"
"I'd love to see that cold beauty twisted in anguish. Pain, anguish, grief, every expression would be wonderful…"
The girl who exhaled, her cheeks flushed like a maiden in love, said these words as if yearning for him, disturbing and evil no matter how you heard them.
The Marquis did not seem to be bothered at all by such a granddaughter, and shrugged his shoulders.
"Another bad habit of Julietta’s."
"Well, that's all right, a noblewoman has few freedoms.
You know? Please, Grandfather.
The way she begged, tilting her head in an adorable way, was so dainty that not only the men around her, but even her own gender, would be roped by her.
Whether her grandfather, the Marquis, was also roped by her, or if he simply doesn't care what happens to her as long as the Duke disappears from the stage.
It isn’t certain, but the Marquis nodded with a troubled smile.
“It can’t be helped, I seem to have a soft spot for my grandchildren."
"Yes! That's my grandfather! I love you so much!"
“That’s my granddaughter"
The two who laughed in that manner, from anyone’s perspective, would be nothing but a family that got along well.
"Oh, I can't wait to see him...! I can't wait to hear what he's going to sound like…!"
As long as they didn’t hear the context.
Somehow, I suddenly felt an unpleasant feeling.
“Hm...?
I didn't know what it meant, so I looked around for confirmation, but there was nothing in particular.
Eh, what was that?
But I feel like I've felt the same creepy feeling somewhere before.
I thought about it as I got off the carriage and headed for the office.
Where was that again, I wondered.
“Dan’na-sama, what's wrong?"
When Shitsuji-san noticed my change and called out to me as if to check, I suddenly remembered.
"No, I just felt like some unpleasant emotion was directed at me."
It was the same feeling as to when the pervert huffed and puffed at me.
Augusto-san's senses are so far removed from normal people that he probably sensed that someone had perverted feelings towards him.
I don't think it's necessary to guess.
I guess it's a side effect of having too high specs.
I'll just ignore it.
"Where from? I’ll go smash it."
“Ah, wait, me too, me too."
No, let's just ignore it.
"... It's too much trouble. Drop it."
Why bother trying to get involved with perverts, stop it, don’t increase the perverts any more than this.
"Why is that? Those who think ill of Dan’na-sama should be crushed."
"That's right, Dan’na-sama, we should just kill everyone in the area."
Uhm, wait a minute.
Why are you so intent on mass murder? It'll be a big deal, okay?
"... It's too much trouble to clean up. We'll let them swim for now."
“Eh, that's too bad."
"You have something in mind I see. Well, then, Cinza, we'll just have to hold it in for now."
“Yees."
No, no, no, no, why do you look so disappointed, stop it, you're scaring me.
Oh no, it's no good. Let's pretend I didn't think of that.
Alright, I’ll ignore it.
I arrived at the office while thinking seriously about such things.
As I open the door without even thinking about it.
'Ah, he's back.'
'Welcome back.'
'You're back surprisingly early'
The six people who were supposed to be loitering in the hall were relaxing as they please.
Uhm, I'd like to say something.
Why the hell?
A/n: I’m here to inform you that this time too there are no female characters who are decent fellows. (｀・ω・´)
//Melki: The Prime Minister is the fakest b**** out there and Hagechira is the dumbest. Got to love these damn Spirit Kings lounging in Augusto's office though.
[1] : ドーン - SFX for an explosion
[2] : 妖怪 - Japanese apparition/folklore monsters, there are many, some you might know are:
Tofu-kozo
Yuki Onna
and Nurarihyon.
And here are some more authentic, original designs of the myths:
Spirit kings coming through! Thanks for the chapter.
first~