Volume 9 Chapter 4 Coup Suppression
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
However, it seemed that Nokin was an exception.
”That woman looks suspicious. Tie her up and hand her over to the Blackdagger camp.”
”For now, let’s tell Lord Blackdagger we’ve captured the enemy’s lady. We can leverage that to demand a bigger reward for ourselves.”
A woman emerged from behind Nokin, and she was also a foxkin like me.
Just seeing her face made me want to click my tongue in annoyance.
”Alonsa! You were involved in this! I heard you made a name for yourself as the Killing Strategist and became Sir Nokin’s wife, but why on earth are you so brazenly standing beside the Garuda Clan Leader as a disgrace to the foxkin?”
I was furious that Alonsa had executed countless heinous schemes during the Gertroud Campaign, jeopardizing the status of the foxkin in the Garuda Clan.
Because of her actions, the foxkin were on the verge of being branded as cowards.
”I’m Nokin’s wife, so it’s not strange for me to stand beside him, is it? You, on the other hand, Lord Gilbert’s wife, being here is what’s truly odd. Maybe you were sent to try and win over Lord Blackdagger, but be careful; he’s not someone to mess with. Though, he might be nicer than Gilbert.”
It seemed Alonsa had seen right through my mission.
”Well then, enough chit-chat. Hurry up and tie her up to hand her over to the Blackdagger brat. We’ve got places to be.”
Thus, I was bound by Nokin’s soldiers and led toward Kent Blackdagger’s location.
* * *
*Kent’s Perspective
Before me stood a woman in her twenties, characterized by an intelligent expression, light blue-dyed fox ears adorned with long hair, and a bushy orange tail. Accompanied by soldiers, she was brought forth.
Apparently, she was the woman captured by Nokin, and due to being tightly tied up, her sizable breasts were putting on quite a display.
According to the report from Nokin’s men, she was the wife of Gilbert, the mastermind behind this coup.
This is way too much of a tease with those beastly features and those outrageous breasts… If she weren’t married, I’d have jumped her instantly, but she’s got a husband…
”Mmm! Mr. Kent, I won’t say this too harshly since Milly isn’t here, but please be careful where you’re looking. After all, she’s a married woman, unlike me! She’s not a widow, you know!”
My mother-in-law chimed in with a warning.
It was true──knowing she was married made me realize that if I didn’t keep my self-control, I would probably find myself taking off my glasses right away.
Seeing my hesitation, my mother-in-law took the lead and offered some advice.
Recently, it seemed that my values had rubbed off on them, and I began to feel uneasy about turning married women into Carriers.
”Ah, ah! I’m fine! I swear, I’ve never made a move on a married woman! Ha, ha, ha!”
”That’s right. You need to be careful, or else you’ll end up converting someone who has a husband or boyfriend into a Carrier and turn the situation into a battlefield, putting yourself in danger!”
My mother-in-law made a valid point.
My ability, if misused, could easily subjugate any woman, and it required meticulous care in how I employed it.
At first, I had shied away from this ability, but after deciding to live in this world with Milly and the others, I realized I had to use it effectively to survive, no matter how unsavory that may be.
”Anyway, let’s set that aside for now. For now, please untie her and remove the gag. It’s hard not to think about it with her dressed like that.”
I instructed the guard beside me to free the bound woman.
As her bindings were released, the fox-type lady crumpled to the ground.
I quickly scooped her up in my arms.
”Whoa, are you okay? I’m sorry my soldier was rough with you. I’m Kent Blackdagger. What’s your name?”
The woman cradled in my arms replied weakly.
”…Marietta… Marietta Browning… As I’ve mentioned before, I’m the second wife of Gilbert Browning.”
She was Gilbert’s wife, but not the legal one──just a concubine.
”So, you’re Lord Browning’s concubine… In that case, as per the customs of the battlefield, you will be taken as a prisoner by my army.”
I had devised a plan to use the captured girl as leverage to demand the safety of my father-in-law from Browning.
While Milly was leading a rescue operation with the shadow guards of the Dream Demon, I thought it would be problematic if it took too long.
So, I was considering using her as a hostage to negotiate with Gilbert.
”Lord Blackdagger… I have a means to securely release Mr. Arbalest, your father-in-law. Would you care to hear it?”
Marietta whispered into my ear as if it were a secret.
The sight of her, so tantalizingly seductive, made my strained self-control groan under the pressure.
Ugh, this is so sexy, damn it!
”Mmh…! Lady Marietta, wasn’t Lord Browning supposed to hate my father-in-law enough to want him dead? The only way to ensure his safe release would be to use you as a hostage for negotiations, wouldn’t it?”
Marietta curled her fingers around mine.
”No, that’s not the case. My husband, Gilbert, has stated that as long as our son-in-law, Lord Blackdagger, lends his aid, he has no objections to handing Lord Arbalest over.”
”Son-in-law… You mean Sarah? She abandoned her family name and chose to be my wife as an individual. She’s not part of the Browning family anymore.”
I never expected Marietta to know about Sarah.
After all, I had always been told by Sarah that she was merely adopted by the Browning family and had no blood ties to them.
”But my husband does not see it that way. He still considers Sarah to be a daughter of the Browning family, and society would likely agree. Therefore, we wish to have your assistance in my husband’s noble cause.”
Saying that, Marietta took my hand and pressed it against her chest.
”Mr. Kent! You must not listen to her! There is no justification for Lord Gilbert’s actions!”
My mother-in-law scolded me, worried that I might fall for Marietta’s charm.
Yet, I was starting to develop feelings for the beautiful woman right in front of me.
Even though she’s married… to think she would tempt me like this… what a wicked woman… damn it, I can’t resist!
”If Lord Blackdagger is willing to help, my husband has said he would be alright with giving me over to you. Don’t you want me?”
Those words from Marietta snapped me back to reality.
She remained composed, even though she was being treated like an object, her anger restrained.
I shook off her hand, the one she had been gripping tightly.
”Sorry, but I absolutely despise people who treat women like tools. I’ve been helped by many women, and I respect every single one of them. Not once have I ever considered them as objects. I really can’t forgive Gilbert for what he’s done. My father-in-law will save himself, so let’s forget about our earlier conversation. I’m going to make sure Gilbert pays for seriously ticking me off.”
Marietta looked at me in shock after hearing my words.
”W–Wait, Lord Blackdagger really doesn’t see women as tools?”
”Yeah, they’re all my important partners who elevate me, my beloved wives. Some might call it hypocrisy, but I owe them a huge debt. I’m going to do my best to fulfill their wishes.”
”Mr. Kent can stay as he is. He saved me, a dying old succubus. If I hadn’t met Mr. Kent, I wouldn’t even be alive right now. There are many girls in Mr. Kent’s harem who share similar stories.”
My mother-in-law chimed in to support my words as she spoke to Marietta.
”That’s a lie! Noble men are selfish! They see women only as a means to relieve their desires or as tools to produce offspring! All the men I’ve met were like that. They only see me as an object, never treating me as a human being!”
Marietta’s face twisted in distress as she began to shout.
”What a poor girl… You never received love from your husband or your parents, did you?”
”No! I’m not some pitiful thing! Keep your sympathy! If you want to kill me, then just go ahead! Just toss aside any tools that can’t be used!”
I gripped Marietta’s shoulders tightly as she teetered on the edge of despair.
I couldn’t just leave her there, consumed by her own sorrow.
”I’ll defeat Gilbert and free you from his binds! Then you can live as just Marietta, not Marietta Browning!”
”…Just Marietta… Can I really live freely without considering my family or anything?”
”Yeah, you have that right. Live as just Marietta anew!”
Marietta trembled at my words.
”…That’s impossible. I can’t just become an ordinary woman now…”
”Nope, you’re plenty charming as a lady. Now, I’m off to kick Gilbert’s ass, so wait for me at the palace.”
”Lord Blackdagger…”
I instruct the guards to escort Marietta back to the palace.
Then, turning to the soldiers around me, I shout out loud.
”As you’ve heard, the traitor Gilbert Browning has even used his own wife as a mere tool, and he’s plotting to seize the True Demon Kingdom. I can’t turn a blind eye to this situation! We must crush the rebellion immediately!”
The soldiers cheered.
They too seemed to harbor anger towards Gilbert’s actions.
Thus, we began our march towards the 4th gate of the castle to corner the mastermind of the coup, Gilbert.
~New Character~
Marietta Browning
- Clan: Garuda
- Race: Fox
- Age: 26
- Height: 167 cm
- Weight: 55 kg
- Measurements: B101 / W57 / H94 (Cup: L)
- Hair Color: Light blue
- Eye Color: Blue
- Skin Tone: Fair
- Hairstyle: Long
- Personal Pronoun: 私 (watashi)
~Character Description~
Marietta originally lived as an ordinary citizen, but her life took a drastic turn when she was drawn into the Arcright Count family through a card game. Adopted as a tool to attract and entertain guests in exchange for favors, she became both a clerk and a pawn in their schemes.
The reason I hold both the Cavalry Commander and Accountant positions is that they serve as decorative scapegoats, making it harder for the Lord to be criticized. They also function as backline support—responsible for military supplies, morale boosts, and suppressing crime and discontent within the territory.
I was trained in Dance and Etiquette so that when the time came to send me off to another noble household, I could be transferred under favorable conditions.
When Gilbert Browning arrived at the Arclight Count household, he recognized both my appearance and my abilities. As a result of negotiations, I was given to Gilbert as his second wife, taking on the roles of both an object for his desires and the manager of financial affairs, overseeing my subordinates.
Having been plucked from my peaceful life and used as a convenient tool by the lords of two families—without any affection—and looked down upon by nobles, I’ve had my fair share of misfortunes. My experiences with the Kingdom’s aristocracy have been anything but pleasant.
Because of this, I began discreetly falsifying financial documents. With the help of accomplices, I secretly funneled part of the funds back to the citizens—ensuring my actions remained unnoticed.
～Card Information～
Marietta Browning
Race: Garuda Clan (Fox)
Age: 26
Card Color: [Purple] 12/24
HR: N/A
Remaining Skill Points: 82
Combat Jobs:
- Warrior: Level 15
- Swordsman: Level 15
General Jobs:
- Citizen: Level 26
- Middle Management: Level 20
- Maid: Level 20
- Clerk: Level 30
- Accountant: Level 38
- Teacher: Level 25
- Cheatster: Level 20
- Cavalry Commander: Level 37
- Strategist: Level 32
- Dancer: Level 24
Modifier Skills:
- Swordsmanship II: Level 10
- Strength Increase III: Level 20
- Desk Command: Level 10
Combat Skills:
- Treat: Level 10
- Ironman: Level 10
General Skills:
- Stage Mastery III
- Gift Education III: Level 20
- History Knowledge III: Level 20
- Etiquette III: Level 20
- Document Creation III: Level 15
- Dance III: Level 15
- Keen: Level 10
- Swindle: Level 10
- Situation Awareness: Level 10
- Controlling Subordinates: Level 10
- Housework III: Level 20
- General Tasks: Level 10
- Logistics III: Level 20
Equipment:
- Right Hand: Rapier
- Left Hand: None
- Armor: None
- Accessory: None
Languages:
- Ghost Language
- Western Language
- Dragon Language
- Beast Language
Reading Comprehension:
- Ghost Language
- Western Language
- Dragon Language
- Beast Language
Titles:
- None
Stage Mastery (Combat Skill)
- I (Cost: 5 SP) – Influence how up to 10 people perceive you through words and actions.
- II (Cost: 10 SP) – Influence how up to 100 people perceive those around you.
- III (Cost: 20 SP) – Influence how up to 1,000 people perceive those around you.
Limitations:
- Lower success rate if targets are wary of you.
- More targets = lower overall success rate.
- Success is checked individually, so some may resist.
- Affects even Skill users.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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