Chapter 237 Bad Rumors
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Rumors had begun to swirl through the city.
People whispered that Ayumu, Lord of Keldan, had secretly joined the Emperor’s Assassin Guild, or that he had been preying on young women under his command.
”Hey… did you hear? The Lord’s part of the Emperor’s own assassins…”
”Shhh! Keep your voice down… that’s scary stuff.”
The townsfolk, who had once seen Ayumu as a man of virtue, now muttered with unease. But before the tension could grow, a herald arrived with bell and trumpet, bringing news.
”Citizens, hear this! His Excellency, Special Honorary Count Sanai, is deeply saddened by the false rumors spreading through Keldan! Where another Lord might have answered with rage and martial law, our merciful Lord has declared instead that hardship drives people to believe baseless gossip. Therefore—”
The herald’s voice rose.
”For two days only, there shall be a fifteen percent tax reduction! Public fees suspended! And at all state-run shops for food and daily goods, a ten percent discount!”
The square erupted.
”Long live the Lord! Long live Keldan!”
”…Only two days?”
”Well, better than nothing, I guess…”
Grumbling lingered, but soon the rumors were forgotten in the relief of lowered costs.
Later, new whispers spread—that the women Ayumu “took” were half-elves or from despised castes. The common folk reacted coldly. If it was just those people, then who cares? Their empathy stretched no further than their own skins.
Ayumu had survived the storm of rumors, but another problem soon cornered him…
In the Lord’s mansion, a shrill cry echoed.
”Stop the violence already, Ms. Sashimaaa!”
Ayumu, chased into a corner of the parlor, flailed and begged. Hiyori Sashima, long at her limit with his wandering eyes, had finally snapped and raised her hand.
”You liar! Admit it—you’re the one at fault!”
Her palm struck his cheek again and again.
”Violence is wrong!” he wailed, stumbling away.
(Seriously… violent heroines are out of style!)
The girls who once followed Kiritani sipped their drinks, sighing at the all-too-familiar scene. But the mood shifted in a flash—Ayumu’s blood boiled.
”Don’t push your luck, you witch!”
His own hand lashed across Hiyori’s cheek.
”Ah!” Her small scream cut the air.
For a moment, Ayumu felt triumphant—until Hiyori burst into tears.
”He hit meee!”
The girls leapt up, rushing to her side.
”Are you okay, Sashima?”
”You monster! To raise your hand against a girl!”
”You’re the worst!”
”What?!” Ayumu barked. “You saw it all! She slapped me first, again and again!”
But the chorus rose against him.
”Excuses!”
”You had it coming, Sanai!”
”Fine to get slapped, but to hit back? Unforgivable!”
The voices overlapped perfectly, as if rehearsed:
”A girl’s violence has reason! A man’s violence is just cruelty!”
Ayumu staggered under their judgment.
(What?! Since when were they all such good friends? Back in our world, you weren’t this close!)
Even as he tried to argue, the jeers only grew. Inside, he clenched his teeth.
(No way… I won’t let anyone get in the way of my otherworld lifestyle!)
Out loud, he could only stammer, retreating step by step.
”Wait, so it’s really all my fault…?”
But the girls shouted him down, and he fled in humiliation.
Ayumu had learned—violence alone couldn’t solve everything.
Even so, no trace of true reflection clouded his heart.
Only bitterness, and the thought of survival for the next scheme.
Notes:
• Sashima – Family name of Hiyori. A quiet classmate summoned to the other world, she used barriers and storage magic to aid Misaki and Fuuka. After class betrayal, she left with Ayumu Sanai to the Valend Cave Kingdom.
• Hiyori – A quiet classmate summoned to the other world, she used barriers and storage magic to aid Misaki and Fuuka. After class betrayal, she left with Ayumu Sanai to the Valend Cave Kingdom
• Hiyori Sashima – A quiet, caring girl from the library committee, empathetic toward Sanai.
• Kiritani – The class president who takes leadership and questions their situation. A smooth operator, laid-back and calm. The handsome one. And the one who sell the girls.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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