Volume 3 Chapter 73 It Doesn’t Concern Me
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”But if we make Lord Owl mad, the front lines where we fight could fall apart. Then the wild people could come in and hurt a lot of people. We’re kind of lucky that the monsters are keeping the wild people busy until autumn. By then, they won’t be able to keep fighting.”
”I didn’t send Owl just to get lucky and somehow defend the granary region. Regardless of the surrounding situation, I expect to drive back ‘Storm Herd’ with sheer power.”
”Your Excellency, you don’t know the terror of ‘Storm Herd’. If it’s a calculable force, you should include monsters in your calculations too.”
”I don’t know if sending adventurers will really make the front lines collapse. It’s just what Owl is saying~.”
When Maribel spoke, Priscilla muttered, “Hmph, Lord Owl will get his comeuppance,” and flicked her glass.
”…”
The blonde young princess bit her lip.
She turned her gaze towards Kian.
Her eyes were clinging.
”Kian… Master Kian, what do you think? If the front lines collapse, the granary region will be destroyed. On the other hand, if we leave the monsters alone but drive back the barbarians, we can keep the damage to people and crops within acceptable limits. Mankovitch says there’s no problem on paper. …I understand that the numbers alone aren’t an issue. But”
”Indeed. Ms. Lucretia, what are your thoughts?”
”Huh, me!?”
The ‘glasses’ Witch, who had become a silent object, let out a squeaky voice.
Surprised, one side of her glasses had slipped down her cheek.
The maid pouring drinks into Kian’s glass let out a snicker.
Kian continued with a smile.
”Yes, you’ve been making a difficult face since earlier, so I wondered if you had some thoughts.”
”No, I’m…”
”Does Lucretia share the same opinion as Baron Mankovitch?”
Priscilla playfully splashed water at Lucretia, who seemed to have completely withered.
”I… only follow Her Excellency’s judgment.”
”Thank you, Lucretia. You believe in me, don’t you?”
”Of course I do! I owe Her Excellency a great favor, after all.”
Maribel smiled at the Head Magician’s words, but Kian didn’t miss the look of disappointment in her blue eyes.
Lucretia, from a merchant family, was said to have less ability as a magician than Christy.
Maribel had picked her up when she was desperately trying to find a job to leave her family.
She wasn’t someone who could make big decisions, but she would probably side with Maribel to avoid trouble if Maribel fell.
To be honest, she was neither here nor there.
’Lady Christina’s participation can be formally expected.’
(She would be the one who understands Maribel the most and thinks the most about her, wouldn’t she?)
Another person who understood her – Fringilla, the tutor – had been killed during the previous coup.
’Glasses’ asked in a genuinely indifferent voice in his mind.
’So, how do you answer? You’re an outsider just like ‘glasses’ girl. Should you just say you don’t understand?’
(Yeah, that’s right…)
Kian wet his lips with apple juice before speaking calmly.
”It’s a difficult decision. However, we absolutely cannot issue a notice to the Guild saying ‘Do not respond to requests for help.’ Our first priority should be maintaining the status quo. While we keep arguing like this, the Adventurer’s Guild will likely respond to Ramsey’s request for help on their own, so even if the monster isn’t defeated, the damage can be minimized at least.”
”Just leave it all to the Guild, right~?”
”If it’s me, I don’t just throw them away. I let them be free. And while we wait, we find out what kind of monsters are there. Maybe we can use the monsters to hurt only the enemy. If the monsters are too dangerous, we can make a truce by making a common enemy with the enemy who is suffering from the monsters. We need to gather information. ──How many Adventurers are the Adventurer Guild sending to help?”
Maribel put down her glass and looked at Lucretia.
Lucretia opened her mouth right away.
”I think it’s 4 parties. All of them are advanced-rank or higher parties.”
”Hmm? Only 4 parties?”
”Ms. Priscilla, Adventurers don’t move without profit. Parties that are safe just taking guard quests from nobles rarely accept dangerous quests.”
Robert said before, even high-rank parties, taking only Rank 4 or Rank 3 advanced-rank quests is like suicide.
Rookies and veterans are the same.
If they get hit by a monster’s claws, they die. If they fight strong enemies over and over, their minds get sick and die.
But, if Ramsey is about to become a sea of blood, the stable parties will start to move because of their sense of duty.
Also, the Dominia of the Western Church, who are experts in hunting heretics, will come to the front lines.
When it gets to that point, any monster will be defeated quickly.
Kian looked at Lucretia.
”‘Lion’s Companion’ Rean? He came back to East End, right?”
”Lord Friedrich didn’t answer. He only said that he sent 4 parties.”
”It seems no Adventurers are heading from Izerland fortress to Ramsey. For now, Liam said everyone goes out hunting but comes back the same day.”
”Then the army should send someone trustworthy there. Someone who doesn’t fear Lord Owl, skilled in stealth and investigation. Give them the power to act alone. If possible, secretly contact the Adventurer party ahead to share information.”
”But there’s a big barrier stopping teleportation nearby. Owl’s familiars hide in the wild too, so facing him can’t be avoided. Whoever takes this tough job must be──”
”Kukuku, Lord Kian is the best fit, right?”
For some reason, Priscilla looked at him with sparkling eyes.
Kian shook his head.
”Please pick someone from Your Excellency’s subordinates. I’m an independent Adventurer.”
”Huh?”
”I understand. You can’t be relied on for everything, after all.”
”Good luck, Your Excellency.”
”‘Good luck’… Lord Kian, are you really not motivated?”
”I’m not doing Adventuring as charity. Even if I got the title Master Knight, I’m not a subordinate of Your Excellency.”
”────”
At the edge of his sight, Maribel frowned sadly, but climbing up was the priority.
Until he reaches intermediate rank, he would raise his rank here and move the base to Ramsey when war heats up.
Meanwhile, he would also train Serena’s skills.
Since she’s the same genius type as Natra, Nakash’s group would surely make her stronger with special education.
As Kian thought coldly, Priscilla kept giving him a dissatisfied look.
”Lord Kian, seriously? You’re throwing away a chance yourself?”
”I’m not looking for trouble or suffering.”
”Hmph… oh well.”
The Dragon Witch’s dark eyes reflected a faint hint of disappointment.
Maribel, who had been sulking, hurriedly picked up her glass.
”Master Knight, your accurate advice was helpful. The rest is our problem~. ────Anyway, we mustn’t let the food get cold. Please, enjoy your meal. Someone, get Lord Kian a refill.”
The maids asked if they should serve something other than apple juice to drink.
Kian requested the same red wine as Priscilla, to pair with the venison.
”Your Excellency, the almond rice earlier was exquisite. I think I’ll have the Châtillon chef make it as well.”
”Is that so? I’ll have the recipe prepared for you.”
The pair, who had a tense atmosphere moments before, started conversing as usual.
Kian wasn’t fond of the overpowering flavor of the almond rice, but it seemed to be a hit with them.
Both Priscilla and Maribel were savoring it.
”Phew. I feel like I’m getting warm.”
”Oh my, was the apple juice alcoholic?”
”Certainly not. Perhaps the alcohol from the wine used in the almond rice didn’t fully evaporate.”
”It’s important to get used to it from a young age so you don’t get drunk after growing up.”
The white-haired Witch said this, then curled her red-painted lips into a crescent moon and slightly lifted her wine glass to show it off.
The serious topics ended there, and the latter half of the meal was filled with casual conversation.
Around 10:30 PM, a tart made with marrow and fruit was served as the final dessert.
Maribel suggested, “Shall we call it a night?” and stood up from her seat.
Kian and Priscilla also rose and decided to return to their rooms to change into their nightclothes.
Kian thought he wouldn’t be able to sleep until his stomach digested the meal, but after taking off his ‘glasses’ and throwing himself onto the plush, luxurious bed, he was hit with an unprecedented sleepiness due to his progressing vampire transformation.
He felt like he faintly heard the sound of ‘glasses,’ but in the next moment, his consciousness went completely dark.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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