CH 127

Count Gleisner

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The Second Prince of the Resenburg Kingdom, Bernst, and his younger brother, the Third Prince, Christoph, were staying at the mansion of Count Gleisner in Bamata.

It seemed that they were confining themselves in a luxurious detachment built for the royal family's visits, and have repeated banquets called war councils since daytime.

[ Kent-sama, it seems that Bernst and the others will continue their misbehavior until after midnight, but what kind of procedure will be used to issue a warning? ]

"How are they after the ruckus is over?"

[ They sleep like the dead until the sun rises high. ]

"Well then, let's do it after they fall asleep. Before that, let's see what kind of situation it is."

[ It's a terrible situation ... But, I'll guide you. ]

The room that Basten guided me to by moving in the shadows was filled with smoke from a suspicious incense burner.

"Hee, just by looking at it, I feel like the smoke is getting thicker ..."

[ You're right. It would be impossible to maintain your sanity in this dense Falzala. ]

Normally, when it comes to entertaining a member of the royal family, many waiters would take care of them, but in this room, although there were mountains of food and liquor prepared near the entrance, there was no sign of a waiter that would bring them to the table.

If they're hungry or thirsty, they can eat and drink as they please.

The orgies taking place in the room were worse than in the capital.

No one was wearing anything, and no one was having a decent conversation.

A group of beasts who have no shame and are only interested in satisfying their own desires.

You might be convinced that they are a group of thugs who had hit it big in the mines, but I don't think anyone would believe that there were two Princes of the kingdom mixed in among them.

[ Kent-sama, isn't a warning meaningless to such people? ]

"Yeah, I understand very well what Reinhardt wants to say, but just to make sure, I just want to convince them."

[ Indeed, then there is no need for me to say anything. ]

Since the frenzy was not likely to end anytime soon, I went to see Count Gleisner during this time.

The head of the Count Gleisner family, Zephalos Gleisner, sat around a table with three men and had a bitter expression on his face.(TN: Zephalos could be read as Sephiroth, but I don't want to.)

He was in his fifties and was a well-built man with a magnificent mustache.

He had dark brown hair and triangular ears, Gleisner was said to be of the dog-beast race.

[ Kent-sama, sitting across from Zephalos is his eldest son Walter, next to him is the second son Vincent, and sitting a little further away is Cedric, their Kasai. ]

"What is a Kasai?"(TN:It translates to something like Household Manager.)

[ In a sense, it's the prime minister of a noble house, they take care of various tasks on behalf of the Lord. ]

All the men sitting at the table had sour expressions on their faces.

It seemed that the Princes' misbehavior had exhausted them and they were in a difficult situation.

"Damn, that Calvine idiot. He gave him something like Falzala ..."

"Brother, it can't be helped anymore."

"I know, I know, but this feeling won't be settled even though I know!"

"It's the same for me, but I don't know what to do ... We can't handle it on our own."

The head of the family, Zephalos, listens to the brothers with his arms folded.

Kasai Cedric seems to be observing the facial expressions of Zephalos and his sons while listening to the story.

"Father, are you really going to kill all the inhabitants of Lastock?"

"Walter, what do you think?"

"I am ... I'm against it. Even though Lastock is a land governed by Princess Camilla, who belongs to the First Prince faction, slaughtering and robbing the same Resenburg people will damage the family name in the future."

"Vincent, how about you?"

"I think that if it's an order from Bernst-sama, I should obey it."

"Vincent, you ..."

"Brother, I want you to listen to the end."

Vincent began to speak his thoughts, restraining his older brother, who involuntarily leaned forward.

"We are vassals of the royal family, and we must obey the orders of the royal family. If after being admonished, he still doesn't change his mind, we will only obey. Besides, I hear that whether it's true or not, Camilla has brought in a Maou. Considering the upcoming battle with the First Prince's faction, it's necessary to cut off anxiety about the future."

Zephalos nodded repeatedly while listening to Vincent's opinion.

Seeing his father like that, Walter had a scowl on his face and scratched his head.

After listening to Vincent's opinion, Zephalos closed his eyes and looked up at the ceiling, then opened his eyes after taking a deep breath.

After checking first Walter's, then Vincent's expressions, he slowly opened his mouth.

"Cedric, can you connect with Camilla?"

"Yes, please leave it to me, Danna-sama."(TN:Danna-sama here means master.)

"The Gleisner family will kill Bernst-sama and Christoph-sama!"

"Father!"

This time, Vincent started to stand, but Zephalos held him down with one hand and calmly sat down again.

"Walter, if you prioritize righteousness, your thinking is correct. But, if you don't have any thoughts beyond that, it's just a decoration. Vincent, if you prioritize profit, your thinking isn't bad. It's not bad, but it's a little unpredictable."

Zephalos moistened his throat with cold tea, then spoke his own thoughts.

"Listen, we nobles need just cause to kill members of the royal family. Conversely, if there is just cause, it is permissible to kill the royal family. Vincent, you said that we should cut off our anxiety of the future in preparation for the battle with the First Prince's faction."

"Yes, Camilla-sama's forces may be few in number, but they are highly skilled, and there remains concern about the behavior of the Maou."

"That's right, you're certainly right. But, Vincent, if we kill Their Highnesses, won't there be no reason to fight with Alphonse-sama in the first place?"

"Hah ... But, if Bernst-sama's backing is lost, there is no guarantee that our territory will be safe, right?"

"If the backing is gone, why not get a new backing?"

"Oh! Camilla-sama ..."

"That's right ... Cedric, pour me some hot tea."

"Understood."

I came to take a look with the feeling of killing time while I was waiting for Bernst's orgy to end, but it seemed that an unexpected story was unfolding.

"Basten, how many soldiers does the Second Prince have?"

[ Yes, there are 500 royal guards for each male member of the royal family. 

"The total military strength was said to be around 20,000, so maybe around 20 to 1 ..."

[ No, Kent-sama, the soldiers of the Second Prince's faction are still gathering, so I don't think they have reached 10,000. ]

"In that case 10 to 1 ... It's still an overwhelming difference in strength, but it won't be easy to defeat the Prince by destroying a crowd of 1,000 people, right?"

[ Zephalos and the others are allies, so it shouldn't be difficult to get close to them. But what will happen after defeating the princes ... ]

"If the knights were to fight each other in a garrison where all the residents of Lastock were gathered, wouldn't there be chaos and considerable casualties?"

[ That's right ... Kent-sama, they seem to be continuing to talk ... ]

After tasting a couple of sips of the tea Cedric had brewed, Zephalos continued to speak.

"Vincent, can you entrust the future of Resenburg to Bernst-sama?"

"No, that's impossible."

"That's right, it's impossible in that state. Walter, who would you entrust the future of Resenburg to?"

"That ... I thought it could only be Alphonse-sama ..."

"Vincent, what do you think?"

"Maybe, is it Diethelm-sama?"

Zephalos slowly sipped his tea and shook his head.

"Listen, I'm entrusting the future of Resenburg to you, Walter."

"M, me? Why me ..."

"I see! Brother, brother is going to marry Camilla-sama."

"I to Camilla-sama ... get married ..."

It seemed that Vincent had figured out what the plan was, but Walter didn't seem to have caught up.

"I will speak in order. Listen carefully."

When Zephalos called out to him, Walter, who was stunned, tightened his expression.

"First of all, contact Camilla-sama and tell her about Bernst-sama's plans. I will continue to persuade him until the end, but if the persuasion doesn't work out, I will tell her that I will kill the Princes and obtain her consent."

After entering Lastock's fortress, Zephalos intended to kill the two Princes before the evacuation drill began.

"I will talk to the commander of the Imperial Guard Knights and draw them to our side. Well, I've already made the preparations, so don't worry."

In other words, the idea seemed to be to create a situation in which persuasion continued until the very last minute, while preventing unnecessary bloodshed by firmly laying the groundwork.

After all, he was a heavyweight of the Second Prince faction, and it seemed that he was not just blinded by greed.

"Listen, it's the height of stupidity for talented knights to shed blood and kill each other in order to kill such fools. If you prepare a cause that everyone can understand, those who have strong feelings for their kingdom become allies."

Vincent cut off his words and asked Zephalos, who was drinking tea.

"Father, earlier you said that you would entrust the future of Resenburg to my older brother, but does that mean that Alphonse-sama will also be killed?"

"Vincent, have you forgotten what I said? What does it take for a nobleman to kill a member of the royal family?"

"A just cause."

"Do we have just cause to kill Alphonse-sama right now?"

"No, we don't."

"Then, that's what it means. This time, we will kill Bernst-sama and Christoph-sama under the pretext of protecting innocent people. The primary purpose is to build a good relationship with Camilla-sama by promising to support her and protect her territory. On top of that, it would be even better if Walter and Camilla-sama could get married. Whether or not to eliminate Alphonse-sama is still a long way off."

"But, you have to think about it ..."

"Of course, I'm not saying don't think about it. If you set it in haste, you will suffer severe damage. Vincent, don't take the existence of royalty lightly."

"Yes, I'm sorry."

Zephalos, who scolded Vincent with a stern expression, softened his expression when he saw Vincent bowing his head obediently.

"Cedric, another cup of tea, please."

"Would you prepare a drink for me too?"

I put out a shield of darkness a little way away from the table, stepped forward, and raised my hands to show that I didn't mean any harm.

"You! Who are you!"

"Where did you come from!"

Walter and Vincent kicked away their chairs and stood between me and Zephalos.

"Yes, sit down, the two of you. Cedric, add one more tea."

"Father ..."

"Yes, sit down ... Ahh, you two should sit over there."

Zephalos instructed Walter and Vincent to change seats, and he smiled and gave me a seat in front of him.

"I apologize for the impolite visit."

"Hmm, are you the Maou?"

"It seems that's what I'm called in Lastock."

"Fumu ... It's the first time I've seen a dark-attribute user."

Zephalos' gaze showed he didn't let down his vigilance, but he also had a feeling of uncontrollable curiosity.

"Let me introduce myself again, I'm Kent Kokubu. I'm a person from another world summoned by Camilla Resenburg."

"What, is that true?"

Vincent was about to say something, but Zephalos just raised his hand and he shut his mouth.

"But, isn't it strange? if you were summoned, wouldn't you be a Hero instead of a Demon King?"

"I thought so too, but apparently not."

When I told him the truth about the Hero and the Demon King passed down in the royal family, Zephalos nodded his head many times with great interest.

"I see, then I can understand why it's Maou. So, what does that Maou want with us?"

"Yes, I was wondering if we could build a cooperative relationship, so I disturbed you."

"Hou, even if you say cooperation, what are we going to cooperate on?"

"of course, it's what everyone was talking about until just a moment ago."

A heavy silence drifted through the room, and this time Zephalos stopped Cedric from moving.

"Does that mean that you will do what we were trying to do instead?"

"No, it's not that, I'm thinking of having everyone do what you were thinking of doing."

"Hou ..."

Zephalos erased the smile that had been on his face until then, and began to evaluate me with a cold gaze.

I don't know if there's a difference between dog-beast people like dog breeds, but compared to Gilik, he has a loose figure that seems to have no fighting ability.

However, that gaze is thoughtful and even tries to read my inner thoughts.

"May I ask you a question?"

"Yes, what is it."

"Why did you ... Why did you think about doing this? Camilla-sama's orders?"

"I'll tell you this, but I'm not Camilla's vassal."

"You, to call Camilla-sama by name ..."

"Walter, sit down!"

I was thinking of telling them about Camilla's pledge of allegiance to me, but with this reaction at just dropping her name, it seems better to just deny that I'm her vassal.

"If you are not a vassal, then why are you cooperating with Camilla-sama?"

"Well ... It would be too long to explain in detail, so I will omit it, but after I was summoned, I was treated horribly and almost died. At first, I was only hostile to Camilla."

"Fumu, then did you change your mind partway through?"

"Even now, I think that Camilla's decision to summon us was a mistake, but I sympathize with her desire to save the people suffering from desertification in the western Resenburg."

"I see, that's why you're acting upon Camilla-sama's request."

"No, I'm not. I'm acting on my own judgment."

When I immediately denied it, Zephalos twisted his neck suspiciously.

"Fumu, I don't understand. If it wasn't for Camilla-sama's request, why would you kill a Prince of a kingdom?"

"I can list all kinds of reasons, but in the end I don't like it."

"You don't like it ...?"

"Are you in favor of a Prince that slaughters innocent people?"

Zephalos looked dumbfounded for a moment before his shoulders began to shake.

"Fufufu ..."

"Father ...?"

"Well, I certainly don't like it. If innocent people like that were killed together with those fools, the kingdom wouldn't exist. Right now, you're on our side, but if we're hostile, the same treatment might be directed at us. I don't like it, I don't like it at all ... but."

Zephalos, who erased his smile, turned a sharp gaze at me.

"But, do you think that someone who tries to kill a Prince just because he doesn't like him can be trusted?"

"I don't think that's possible. I don't think you can trust me that easily. But, regardless of whether I do it or not, aren't you in a situation where you have no choice but to do it?"

I personally want to protect the people of Lastock, but I'm not obligated to do so.

However, if the Count Gleisner Family misses this opportunity, they will need to find another cause.

Above all, even though they followed the Princes' instructions, they will be labeled as complicit in the massacre.

"Fumu ... That's certainly true."

"Besides, if I were to act, I would do so on the way to Lastock, in other words, in the territory of Count Gleisner. Wouldn't that be inconvenient for Count Gleisner?"

No matter how many royal guard knights were attached to the escort, if the Prince's life was taken by an unknown person in his territory, it would hurt his honor as a noble.

"So, you're trying to get us to do the work you were supposed to do, and pretend to be an unconcerned spectator?"

"No, as expected, I'd feel guilty about that, so I'll do the work myself."

"Oh, what are you going to do?"

"How about giving a warning to keep Margrave Calvine from going out of control?"

"How are you going to give a warning?"

"That is ..."

In front of Zephalos, I took out a rope noose that I planned to use for tonight's warning from the shadow storage.

"Put this around their necks while they sleep, if they go out of control, I'll have him follow after the Princes ... I'll add a message saying such."

"Can you go in and out freely anywhere?"

"As long as I can see it, and if it's a place that me or my genus have been to, I can enter and move instantly."

"Then, how is it, can you go to Lastock and come back right now?"

"It's possible."

"Could you get Camilla-sama's signature?"

"If you wish ..."

"Cedric, prepare a piece of paper."

"Yes, right away ..."

"You called yourself Kent. Then, please get Camilla-sama's signature on the bottom of the paper I will prepare in a moment. If you can do that, I will accept your offer of cooperation."

"Understood, then please wait for a while."

I took the paper that Cedric brought and returned to Lastock.

On the paper was a crest that seemed to belong to the Count Gleisner Family.

When I returned to Camilla's office, the lights were out unfortunately.

When I moved to Camilla's room, she seemed to be taking a bath.

Seriously, while I'm running around for Lastock, it's outrageous!

Since circumstances won't let me turn back to Bamata, helplessly, I have no choice but to enter the bathroom.

I called out to Camilla, who was soaking in the hot water from a shield of darkness beside the tub.

"Haa ... Maou-sama ..."

"Camilla, I'm sorry, but could you give me your signature?"

"Eh ... M, Maou-sama?"

"Hey, it's bad if the paper gets wet, so wipe your hands with this towel ..."

"Yes, umm ..."

"Here, take the pen."

"Ah, eh ..."

"It's a signature for official documents ..."

"Ah, yes, where ..."

"Isn't it good anywhere?"

"Yes ... Um, this is ..."

"Yeah, I'm negotiating with Zephalos Gleisner, so I'll see you later ..."

"Ahh, yes ... ehh ... I, iyaaaaaaaaaaa ..."

When I returned to the shadow realm, I heard Camilla's screams as she regained her senses.

When I returned to Count Gleisner's living room, Walter and Vincent, who seemed to have had a heated argument, stood up.

Seeing my appearance, Zephalos also showed a startled expression.

"No way ... are you saying you've already been to Lastock?"

"Yes, I got her signature here."

"Certainly, it looks like Camilla-sama's signature, but ... To think that you would come back earlier than Cedric, who I had sent to pick up the document ..."

I see, so you tried to confirm using Camilla's signature whether I really went to Lastock.

After that, Zephalos nodded his head, comparing it with the signature on the document Cedric brought, and held out his right hand towards me.

"I don't completely trust you, but our interests are the same regarding this matter. Let's cooperate."

"Thank you very much. Well then, I would like to talk a little more in detail, is that alright?"

"I don't mind. I don't dislike men who are enthusiastic about their work."

After a firm handshake, Count Zephalos Gleisner smiled satisfactorily.