CH 279

(T/N: Hello, guys. We had a problem regarding our internet connection so I could not upload or translate anything, so I’m sorry for that. I don’t think I have anything else to say right now except that I got a new bicycle, Hahaha. Well, I hope that have a nice day and thank you for reading.)

“Now, I’ve reviewed the documents, so I have a question about them.”

“Yes.”

Zanbia nodded, showing no signs of impatience, as if he was confident in the document. Basleigh-sensei exhaled and began to speak.

“I’d like to thank you for your efforts. Despite the increase in the number of monsters, the crop harvest is not bad. Even with the Treants outbreaks, the nearby villages are harvesting well.”

“Of course. There is a limit to the amount of crops a town can produce on its own. It’s no wonder we can’t get by without the village. We have a lot of people working in the village, after all.”

“I see, so that’s why we’re falling behind, isn’t it?”

“That’s right.”

Sonia nodded and clasped her hands in a good mood. Basleigh-sensei took one look at her, narrowed her eyes, and then proceeded to ask her one question after another.

“–that’s how it is, Ma’am.”

“I understand. The books seem to be in order, and I think that’s all I have to say as Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.”

“Thank you, Ma’am.”

Zanbia breathed a sigh of relief and Basleigh-sensei finished her question. I glanced at the documents and the numbers look fine.

“So, when you decide on that large scale operation, please let me know. Lars-kun, as Inquisitor Himmel mentioned earlier, will you be joining us?”

“You don’t have to say anything in a formal manner, teacher. I’m also concerned about Lux, but as someone who is involved in the territory, I don’t feel comfortable not doing anything.”

“I was hoping you would say that. Inquisitor, is this the end of our discussion?”

When Basleigh-sensei said this, Himmel-san laughed and stood up to end the conversation.

“That’s right. Then we’ll be at the larger inn, ‘Sweet Sugar’. I’m going to have Minister Basleigh move over there as well, so that’s the plan.”

“I understand.”

We left the reception room and met up with Makina and Fath-san, who was waiting in another room. I tried to talk to them, but Basleigh-sensei interrupted me, and we left the house.

On the way back, we took one carriage just for the people involved, and I started talking to them at a distance.

“I was surprised that Lux had taken the medallion and escaped. They’re going to tear the house down if we don’t something.”

“That’s right. If Lux-kun wasn’t one of their relatives, I would have been able to finish this on my own, but that drunkard son is very dangerous.”

“Well, it’s a good thing we got the information thanks to him, right?”

“No, if they find Lux-kun, they might say he’s guilty of stealing the medallion, so it’s better we find him first.”

Then, Basleigh-sensei, who had been silent for a long time, opened her mouth with an unusually serious expression.

“In the meantime, now that we know that the whole family is suspicious, we’d better be careful about this large-scale operation.”

“What’s the matter? Is something bothering you?”

“Well, when we talked about the data, I mentioned that the harvest in the village was good. After informing them that a Treant outbreak is occurring. Zanbia-san replied that they were able to do this because they were protecting their village and not because they were worried about it.”

Basleigh-sensei raised her index finger to Makina, who had asked her about it. I knew what she meant, and I gave her my answer.

“…… Then it means that the Treants or Qliphoth is not a threat. Or is someone manipulating them like the time with Oriola territory?”

“That is correct, Lars-kun. Unlike in Oriola territory, the village’s harvest is clearly higher. And …… did big brother fight any Treants on your way here?”

“No. Now that you mention it, I haven’t seen any, I guess?”

Himmel-san nodded, and Basleigh-sensei continued as if she were certain.

“It’s very likely that those three, or a third party, are doing it. My dead grandma also said that we should be especially careful with Sonia-san.”

“My grandma is still alive, you know, Basleigh-chan!?”

“Old ladies are stubborn, after all.”

When we heard Fath-san’s indescribable impression, Makina and I looked at each other and smiled. Then Makina says to me with a look of realization on her face.

“So, does this have to do with the ‘Gospel’s Descent’……?”

“Probably. It’s either all of them, or one of them is the mastermind. That means that Birdie and the rest of the clan are likely to be the enemy.”

“Oh ……! So That’s why you said we have to be careful with large scale operations ……”

“That’s how it is. Now, let’s get ready to move out of the inn, shall we? It is good to do it quickly. That’s what my dead grandma said.”

“Did you not get along with grandma that much!?”

As Basleigh-sensei nodded her head, we headed back to the inn.

Now, the battle will be fought at the time of the mission. If there’s a possibility that they’ll set a trap, I guess Ishould think of something too.

As I was thinking that–

“Whoa!”

“Kyaaaaa!? W-What happened!?”

“What are you doing!?”

–Suddenly, the carriage came to a sudden stop and we were jolted around inside the carriage. We looked outside to see what was going on.

◆ 　 ◇ 　 ◆

“How can you let them know you took the medallion! You idiot!”

“Guhe ……!? I-I thought that Lux was going to be punished for this ……”

“Why are you so inconsiderate! Your work is half done, and you sword and magic are not as good as Lux’s. With this, Lux may be better as the next lord.”

“N-No way!?”

Zanbia was furious with Varnish for his failure in the living room. It’s no wonder; at this point, he’s more likely to be deprived than to inherit. He sits deep in the couch, puts his hand on his forehead and groans.

“I never meant to get rid of Naja and Lux in the first place. If you and Sonia hadn’t cornered them …… Lux might have stolen it because of that ……”

“I’ve been listening to you since earlier, and your saying such stupid things. The eldest son has the right first, so there is no problem with varnish, right? The other nobles will laugh at you for having a concubine’s son as your heir.”

“If you hadn’t spoiled Varnish, this might not have happened! He’s easily whining and turns a blind eye to the hard things. It’s not enough to be able to study, you know? Socializing with people also requires bargaining. If you just do what you think straightforwardly, it will hurt you one day.”

“……”

Sonia’s eyes narrowed and he listened to Zanbia’s words without saying a word, her mouth curving into a frown. She takes this as an affirmation and gets up from the couch, heading for the exit.

“W-Where are you going?”

“To rest. Sonia, when the adventurers return, you will be assigned to search for Lux. Now that they know about the medallion, that’s more important than the monsters.”

“…… I understand.”

Zanbia nodded deeply and left the living room, closing the door tightly behind him as he began to walk down the hallway. When the footsteps were no longer heard, Sonia opened her mouth to speak.

“Seriously, what a troublesome husband. He should just let Varnish take over, he’s just giving some reason and saying Lux Lux ……”

“Mother ……, am I a useless man? I’m doing exactly what mother says, and father doesn’t like it.”

“Don’t worry, you’re an excellent boy. Be confident.”

“Yeah ……”

She hugged Varnish and said softly, looking over his shoulder with sharp eyes toward the exit.

(In fact, Lux is a wise man …… At this rate, Varnish will never become a lord …… That’s not good. If we make it look like an accident and get rid of Zanbia, and we can make his stand as a provisional lord since we can’t hold elections right away …… Let’s build a foothold and then fill in the outer moat ……)

It was Sonia who was plotting.

Next, it’s Birdie’s (Albatross) turn ……!

Thank you for reading!

[Afterworrd Theater]

The mastermind is determined, I guess.

“Well, isn’t that pretty much what we expected? But I didn’t think he’d love his idiot son that much.”

The more stupid a child is, the more adorable it is ……