༺ Stormy First Family Meeting (2) ༻
Despite the intensity of the ongoing rivalry between Margrave Kendride’s household and Duke Tristan’s household, it was not as deeply-rooted as one might think.
To be more precise, before Kraut and Gideon became the heads of their respective households, the two families were merely engaged in subtle power struggles to determine who was the Empire’s foremost major noble, with no actual feud to speak of.
However…
After these two took over as family heads in recent times, many assessed that the relationship between the two households had crossed an irreversible threshold.
And this fact was clearly evident within the office of Baron Campbell.
“…”
“…”
“…”
Everyone silently endured this tense atmosphere.
If killing intent could exist in a material form and cause some sort of phenomenon, it wouldn’t have been odd for this small office to explode and fly to the stratosphere.
“So.”
The first one to break the silence was Kraut.
“Why is this shitty dweeb here?”
Gideon’s face contorted.
For someone who rarely showed any change in expression, this was incredibly unprecedented.
And his subsequent actions emphasized this.
“…There’s no reason for me to respond to a bastard no different from a barbarian.”
Unexpectedly, Duke Tristan’s statement seemed to openly mock the Margrave. Kraut’s face also contorted in an instant.
“…Now, why don’t we take it easy, Dweeb?”
However, instead of exploding in anger, Kraut lowered his voice.
“If it was up to me, I would rip your limbs apart and I’m sure you’d like to chop off my head. But this is not the right place.”
Brawling in Baron Campbell’s peaceful territory was not what he wanted.
After all, he was not inclined to cause harm to innocent people; Especially not against a competent noble who managed his territory extremely well.
‘…This guy is still calm even in the midst of all this.’
Seeing Dowd expressionlessly watching the surroundings, he couldn’t help but chuckle in disbelief.
The young man was utterly composed, even in the midst of such a heated exchange.
There was no way that he wasn’t aware that Duke Tristan and himself, two of the most prestigious nobles of the Empire, had gathered just because of him.
“If we fight, this entire territory will be annihilated. I’m sure you’re aware of that as well.”
“…”
Duke Tristan remained silent as he faced Kraut.
For Kraut, he could not help but be inwardly surprised at such a reaction.
‘This fucker is actually agreeing with me?’
Normally, even while knowing it was a valid point, they would have continued to exchange veiled threats with gritted teeth. Everyone in the Empire knew that Kraut and Gideon were openly hostile enough to engage in such mutual displays of animosity.
However, at this moment, Gideon was conveying a non-verbal affirmation with his silence.
It was almost as if he, too, did not wish harm upon this territory.
At this moment, it seemed that the territory and the people in it were more important than the long-standing animosity that they held.
It was highly probable that…
‘…Is this kid really that important to him?’
Kraut’s sharp gaze alternated between Gideon and Dowd as he scrutinized them carefully.
He wasn’t sure what kind of connection existed between these two, but…
If anything, it meant that he could now more confidently demand what he wished for.
“I’m sure that you also know the proper traditions when it comes to the Pilgrimage Homecoming.”
Kraut spoke calmly as he continued.
“Our family visited this guy’s hometown with him. As such, it’s this Dowd guy’s turn to visit our hometown next. While it does seem like your family has tagged along as well, if he promises to visit us first, we will withdraw without any fuss.”
With that, Margrave Kendride glanced at Dowd, who was still nonchalantly listening to the conversation.
‘…This guy… He has potential.’
It wasn’t just because Iliya obviously had feelings for him.
If Kraut considered how much of an impression Dowd Campbell had made on him in such a short period of time, he undoubtedly had ‘investment value’.
Putting aside his own personal feelings, Dowd had already proven his abilities in various ways.
He had managed to survive a fight with Margrave Kendride and was even able to land a blow on him. Moreover, he was merely an academy student.
Even among those who had survived the harsh and turbulent North, there weren’t many who could claim such a feat.
“…”
However, as if rendering such thoughts irrelevant…
Dowd, who had been expressionless until now, began to look increasingly uncertain.
It was because he had already grasped how the situation would unfold.
In essence, this was all about setting his priorities.
Duke Tristan and Margrave Kendride.
Externally, it would seem like a negotiation process on who Dowd would visit first. But internally, the sentiment between the two sides was more along the lines of ‘This guy belongs to us, so fuck off’.
Although the two major noble households favored by the Empire were practically thirsting for him, Dowd’s expression showed no signs of improvement.
That was because…
“…I don’t care about such child’s play.”
Regardless of which side he chose, the other party would not appreciate such a decision. At all.
Gideon spoke with a rigid voice.
“However, it’s unsettling to send a man of such caliber to a backward land with nothing but ice.”
“…”
“After all, isn’t the North the gathering place of losers and runaways?”
Kraut chuckled.
However, in contrast to such a reaction, a blue aura had enveloped his entire body.
It was none other than the combat stance of Holy Knights specialized in Unarmed Combat: ‘Fortitude’.
After all, the sentence Gideon had just uttered was something that could not be ignored, given the history of the Margrave of the North’s household.
“…I was going to go easy on this motherfucker, but he keep chirp–”
“How about this?”
Suddenly, such words fell, interrupting the gradually hostile atmosphere.
It was Dowd Campbell, who had remained silent until now.
“Regardless of which side I choose, it seems the other side will only end up displeased. So, let’s provide a fair reason that the other side can accept.”
“…What are you saying? Are you suggesting we duel or something? If you set up a suitable place, I would honestly welcome it with open a–”
“Don’t involve my family in your fight. It will create opportunities for other nobles to prey on us in whatever way possible.”
“…”
“I don’t care about whatever you do with me, but don’t drag my family into it. Do you understand?”
Dowd’s appearance, as he spoke in that calm tone, was akin to a catastrophic display from the nobility etiquette’s perspective. In normal cases, it wouldn’t be strange if the two of them move to sever his neck.
But this time, both of them kept their silence.
It was partially because they didn’t wish for this man to be disappointed in them…
But more importantly…
From this man, who spoke to the two that were about to cause harm to his ‘family’…
They felt a strange pressure, making it impossible to interrupt or intervene.
‘…I really like this part of him.’
Even Kraut couldn’t help but think like such while smirking because…
The gap between his usual stupid and dull appearance, especially the ridiculous look he showed when it came to romantic relationships, and his current appearance was like night and day.
It was to the extent that Kraut wanted to ask such a question.
“Are you ignoring other people’s feelings because you really don’t know?”
“…Excuse me?”
And the stupid response he received instantly lowered the favorability levels that had just gone up.
While Kraut sighed inwardly, Dowd cleared his throat again before continuing.
“Anyway, let’s settle this amicably without a fight. That’s what I’m trying to say.”
With that, Dowd took a moment to choose his words carefully.
It seemed he was pondering how to package it in a way that it would be well-received.
Of course, his conclusion did not take long to pop out.
Such a thing was impossible in the first place.
“I’ll give each of you a task and I’ll go visit the hometown of the one who does it more properly.”
“…”
“Both of you, make an effort to please me.”
“…”
His words left Kraut in deep admiration.
‘What a lad.’
The favorability level that had dropped earlier was quickly skyrocketing once again.
“…Dowd.”
“…”
To others, I probably looked like a lunatic.
As I saw my pale-faced father call out to me, I decided to approach him for now.
“I know you said it’s fine, but is this really okay…?”
“Yes.”
When I replied briefly, my father scrutinized me skeptically from head to toe.
Well, it made sense for him to react this way. After all, it wasn’t the Baron himself, but his successor that squared up with two major nobles who were known as the pillars of the Empire. Who could just casually move on from something like that?
“…It’s really okay, Father.”
However, this move was actually a lot safer.
System Message
[ Margrave Kendride admires your manly spirit! ]
[ The favorability level of target ‘Kraut’ has increased to ‘Interest Level 1’! ]
[ Reward has been reduced due to the Good disposition of the target! ]
“…”
You know, there was something I had always felt.
This game had way too many weirdos.
Even after I retorted in such a rude manner, instead of acting all hostile, this weirdo’s favorability level increased instead… And he was supposed to be the second highest authority among the nobles of the Empire.
‘To be fair, I knew what he was like before deciding to act as such.’
Kraut was more likely to willingly accept if I provoked him like this. Additionally, in the first place, Gideon was unlikely to refuse due to our master-disciple relationship.
“…”
And there was more to it than just that.
It was obvious just by looking at the windows in front of me.
< Gift-Related Character Alert >
♥ Eleanor Elinalise La Tristan
[ Love Level 2 ]
[ Related Event Occurs in D-1 ]
▼ Iliya Krisanax
[ Trust Level 1 ]
[ Related Event Occurs in D-1 ]
▼ Gideon Galestead La Tristan
[ Interest Level 4 ]
[ Rewards Available! ]
[ Related Event Occurs in D-1 ]
▼ Kraut Bellium La Kendride
[ Interest Level 1 ]
[ Rewards Available! ]
[ Related Event Occurs in D-1 ]
“…”
How… Dazzling…
All of these windows were created right after Gideon and Kraut met.
If so many characters were getting involved simultaneously, there was only one possibility.
‘Something big is coming…!’
With that, I swiped to the next window.
< Quest Info >
Side Quest: Disturbance!
End of Quest: D-1
Description: It seems that Count Chester continues to incite conflicts in the surrounding territories. Find out the reason and resolve it!
Reward: 1 Intermediate-Grade Artifact
Huh, all of these events happened to coincide with the time that this quest ends…
‘…The timing of this quest is a bit fast though.’
If it was a Side Quest related to Count Chester that gave an artifact and had such a number of entangled events…
There was nothing else it could point to besides that.
An event that formed a ‘positive’ branching route in the relationship between Eleanor and Gideon.
“…”
When I recalled the ‘contents’ of such an event, I couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh. It wasn’t a walk in the park to achieve it after all.
Still, the fact that I could achieve it so early on was a significant merit of itself.
That was why I went out of my way to express it as ‘giving a task’ to Gideon and Kraut. If I couldn’t manipulate those two as my puppets, it was almost impossible to get the desired results.
After all, it was a branching route that would heavily influence the Exclusive Quest related to Eleanor’s household.
“Coachman. How much longer until we reach the Chester County?”
“We’re almost there!”
I was currently moving with this many people to Chester County precisely because of that as well.
As the saying goes, strike while the iron is hot. After all, it was only human nature to immediately resolve it when something this important comes up.
“But, Son.”
While I was pondering such things inside the rattling carriage, across from me, my father asked a question with a worried expression.
“…Are you sure there aren’t any others coming to our territory now?”
“…”
“Is it possible that there are more women that you have unintentionally made a pass at…?”
Father… How is it possible for a man to seduce women without knowing it himself?
< Gift-Related Character Alert >
▼ Lucia Greyhounder
[ Interest Level 1.5 ]
[ Related Event Occurs in D-1 ]
▼ Yuria Greyhounder
[ Interest Level 4 ]
[ Related Event Occurs in D-1 ]
[ 1 Skill Copy Ticket Available! ]
“…”
This one wasn’t caused by me flirting or whatever, okay?
But it seemed like there would be more people coming.
Unfortunately.
“How ridiculous.”
Count Chester spat those words with noticeable annoyance.
“Margrave Kendride? Duke Tristan? Say something that makes more sense. Why would such people involve themselves in the affairs of a mere Baron?”
“B-But, Margrave Kendride really was there.”
“You must have seen wrong. Maybe it’s some lunatic impersonating Margrave Kendride.”
“…”
“The last time that person left the North was ten years ago. He has not come down to the secular world ever since Duke Tristan’s wedding. Why would such a person come to some backwater countryside…?”
‘No, that wasn’t it…’
The Head Chamberlain was pale as he recalled his memories.
The manly strength, spirit, and even the looks. All of it was identical to the information about Margrave Kendride.
However, it was clear that Count Chester did not even have an ounce of intention to believe what he said.
To be fair, it was incomprehensible for such individuals to be here after all.
“Stop concerning yourself with something unnecessary and quickly seize more land from the surrounding territories instead. If we don’t do that, we are all dead. Do you understand?”
The Head Chamberlain readily agreed. He swallowed hard in fear and anxiety.
Currently, Count Chester was devoting all his resources into forcefully acquiring ‘land’ from neighboring territories.
It was because of the ‘monster’ he had found within his own territory.
Though it was only at the hatching stage, given more time, it would inevitably become a calamity capable of devouring the entire territory.
As he recalled such information, a voice suddenly echoed from the distance.
“My Lord! My Looord—!”
It was one of the knights. His face was incredibly pale as if he had seen a ghost. Count Chester tilted his head before responding.
“What’s wrong? Why do you look like that?”
“Another noble is visiting. You have to go see them quickly, My Lord!”
“…Visiting? There shouldn’t be anything arranged though. Who is it?”
Realistically, it was an incredible discourtesy to visit without notifying him in advance.
As such, if it was someone who was lower in rank, Count Chester intended to give quite a severe treatment as punishment.
“It’s Baron Campbell!”
A Baron? He had no idea who it was.
If that was the case, he could likely drive them away after giving significant humiliation. As Count Chester was about to voice such thoughts, the knight continued.
“He is being escorted by Margrave Kendride and Duke Tristan!”
“…”
Count Chester’s face looked like a fat question mark had been embedded onto it.
After all…
It was a sentence that was utterly incomprehensible to him.
“…Margrave Kendride and Duke Tristan are escorting a Baron?”
“…Yes!”
“…”
A deep silence fell.
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