I’m finding it hard to believe that bookmark count is approaching twenty thousand.
I’m trying to think of something to commemorate this milestone, but I’m still indecisive about what to do.
Kaden-san said that he regretted severing ties between nobles.
“What do you mean by that?”
Mura-kun, unable to grasp the intent behind his words, asked Kaden-san.
I myself wasn’t quite sure about Kaden-san’s intended meaning.
I tried asking Evia with my gaze, but she didn’t seem to know what conclusion he was aiming for, so she simply shook her head quietly, as if to observe the situation.
“Even if I say marriage, it doesn’t mean we’ll actually get married right away. We are long-lived by nature. So, how about we take a wait-and-see approach?”
“A wait-and-see approach, you mean maintaining the status quo?”
“No, it’s not exactly maintaining the status quo. At the very least, depending on the process and results, it will settle into the form you desire. And that’s a realistic possibility.”
“……”
“You don’t understand, or rather, you can’t quite grasp the atmosphere.”
“……Yes, I apologize for my immaturity.”
“Don’t worry. Compared to my own foolish son, you’re much more capable for thinking and trying to predict. After another fifty years of experience, you’ll probably be able to understand my thinking.”
Kaden-san’s words made me feel like I was being indirectly told that I lacked experience, and it motivated me to improve.
In reality, Evia probably understood Kaden-san’s intentions the best.
The fact that Evia didn’t object meant that it wouldn’t be a disadvantage to us.
Meanwhile, Nord-kun, whose marriage to Mura-kun was hinted at by Kaden-san’s way of speaking, seemed very uneasy, glancing at Kaden-san and then at me, as if asking if I wasn’t going to intervene.
“First, you need results. This means deepening your bond with Nord, and you’ll need results to have that bond publicly recognized.”
“That’s true. But, such convenient results…”
“There are. You’re lucky. Perhaps your arrival on this day was destiny ordained by the gods.”
A LOLI-con god and a self-centered god.
I really don’t like the idea of destiny being decided by such a pair.
In this country, no, in this world, there are quite a few devout people.
This is because they don’t deeply understand the true nature of the gods.
Evia and the instructors, who are close aides to the Demon Lord, have some understanding of the gods’ personalities. So, when they hear about destiny ordained by the gods, they’d likely offer a wry smile or two.
I only know that the Sun God is arrogant, but I’d prefer not to have my destiny decided by a god who suddenly shouts “Yes Loli, No Touch!”
And this so-called destiny seems to involve me, as Kaden-san’s gaze turns towards me, and with that flow, Mura-kun’s gaze also shifts in my direction.
“There’s talk of entrusting Nord to him now. Why don’t you accompany him and try to achieve some results under him?”
Following the direction of their gazes, the pass naturally came to me.
“I believe you know that he is a new general. His forces are expanding, so I think there will be more opportunities for active duty compared to other forces.”
I considered Kaden-san’s words as he asked me.
Honestly, if it’s a question of whether it’s a yes or no, it’s a yes.
Nord-kun’s performance is more unsettling than unknown.
Currently, the only way to make him usable is through Spartan training.
As for Mura-kun, putting aside his preferences, he comes from a renowned family known for their excellence.
“……”
At this point, he looks at me with a girlish expression, having seen the possibility of working with Nord-kun at the same workplace, but I’m already surrounded by beautiful women.
I understand that he’s a man, so my heart isn’t swayed.
After calculating the merits and demerits and roughly assessing the gains and losses.
“If you can agree to two conditions, I’ll accept.”
“And what would those conditions be?”
I looked towards Kaden-san and stated my conditions.
Even if they’re short-handed, I can’t just hire anyone.
I need to assess them, and there are procedures to follow.
“First, I don’t want to make enemies of the Mura family by hiring him here on the spot. I want to report to the family properly and coordinate with them.”
You often hear lines in dramas like “status doesn’t matter before love,” but the organization that accepts such things is the one that suffers.
If a problem arises for any reason, it would be beyond salvage.
“Making prior arrangements is natural.”
“Yes, I will report thoroughly to my father and get his permission.”
Mura-kun, who is trying to do things properly with great spirit, appears to be a good person at first glance, but he comes from a family of demons.
Since it will be presented as a recommendation from the Nordis family, it will be credible on the surface, but I’ll still need to verify it.
“Sorry Muil-san, my work is increasing.”
I apologized inwardly.
I’ll add another condition.
The first condition is from the employer’s perspective, and this one is from the perspective of the employee.
“This concerns Nord-kun as well, so listen carefully.”
“Me too?”
“Do you dislike it? If you don’t want to work, I won’t consider hiring you, but if you don’t work, then probably…”
“Disowned.”
“If you wish to remain an independent, I can take you in as my lover.”
“I’ll work!!”
I felt Kaden-san’s paternal consideration in his words – the offer to see if Nord-kun could work together too.
To acknowledge that, I’ll have Nord-kun state a condition as well.
Nord-kun, who declared he would work under me, standing at attention, had his retreat cut off.
“Yeah, I understand. Then, may I borrow a slightly larger space?”
“A larger space?”
“What exactly are you planning to do?”
“Yes, I’d like you to get a sense of my abilities.”
And if he’s going to be my subordinate, he might attract the attention of instructors in the future, so I need to ensure his safety by having him go through a proper rite of passage.
“You haven’t caught the combat crazed infection from Raidou, have you?”
“Maybe. In fact, I think it’s necessary?”
“Well, it’s true that combat ability is essential in your line of work.”
Excitedly, I took off my jacket again, and Evia reached out her hand as if to ask me to hand it over.
Indulging her kindness, I entrusted my jacket to her hand. She said I was starting to resemble the instructors with a look of exasperation, and I smiled, a little pleased, and she accepted it with a wry smile.
The butler led us to a rather rugged training ground, where the ground was unadorned, packed earth that had been compressed.
“This is the place where my family’s guards train. The walls and the ground are reinforced with magic, so they won’t break easily.”
“Hmm, nostalgic. I used to swing my sword here often too.”
“Nostalgic indeed. General Raidou and General Nōraifu often trained you here.”
“Oh, really?”
As this was a training ground Evia had also used, I casually tried out some footwork to check the feel of the ground.
“Yeah, it’s not bad.”
“As expected of someone who’s about to become a general. I probably wouldn’t stand a chance against you.”
“That’s true. Even for me, if I fought with all my might, my win rate would be below sixty percent. The fact that he’s reached this level of skill in such a short time is entirely due to his efforts.”
“If Evia praises him, it must be true.”
With just my footwork, Kaden-san could glimpse my abilities, and with his daughter Evia’s affirmation, there was no room for doubt, so Kaden-san became cheerful.
However, contrary to Kaden-san’s good mood.
“Stop it!? Let go!? Are you crazy to fight a serving general!? You guys!? The eldest son of this house might die, you know!? Why are you so calm!?”
Several butlers, like bearers carrying a palanquin, grabbed Nord-kun by his limbs and torso and carried him away.
Nord-kun, being carried like a palanquin, seemed to be screaming and shouting, but in terms of strength, Nord-kun was the weaker one and didn’t move an inch.
“I’ve been thinking since we entered the mansion, but the butlers of this house also undergo combat training, don’t they?”
“Ah, yes. Just like the soldiers who guard the exterior, all the staff within the mansion are elite. An average soldier could handle thirty of them alone.”
“Wow, they seem to have high magic aptitude too. Can we scout them for our organization?”
“Hahaha! That’s a request I can’t grant. I can’t afford to lose these individuals who have served for so long. However, Jiro-kun has a good eye.”
“That’s regrettable. Honestly, I’d love to have someone with that level of skill.”
Their movements, their core balance, and even their magic weaving were all maintained at a high level.
If they were to fight, they would be formidable.
I subtly asked Evia with my eyes if I could fight them later.
“If they can fight a serving general, they’d be happy to. Just lend them your strength.”
“That’s a welcome offer!!”
She gave me the go-ahead with a look of exasperation. Perhaps it was the instructor’s influence, but when I see skilled individuals, my instinct is to test them rather than be intimidated.
Kaden-san also saw this as a good opportunity to have him fight a general and softly whispered a few words to his personal maid, who then departed.
I assumed she’d gone to recruit volunteers, and then increasingly noisy voices approached.
While I thought they should give up, I looked at Nord-kun being carried.
“Oh, Mithril magical armor. Light and sturdy, the joints… are they Wyvern? No, judging by the magic, it’s wind dragon wing membrane.”
Clad in silver armor from head to toe, I couldn’t help but exclaim with admiration as I recognized the type of armor.
As expected of the esteemed Nordis family.
That armor alone could buy two luxury cars.
The weapons the maids were holding were also top-class.
Put together, they could build a rather luxurious house.
“It was originally made as a singular item for Nord, but it’s been kept in the family vault. Well, it’s been maintained, so its performance is unquestionable.”
“It’s a waste of treasure. And with your slash attack, isn’t that kind of armor as fragile as paper?”
“It’s an item that can withstand a fire dragon’s breath.”
Nord-kun, clad in such luxurious attire, was brought before us. As soon as the butlers forced him to stand, his equipment was forcibly attached.
A round shield, a longsword, and a mantle to defend against magic.
From the outside, he looked like a hero.
No one would suspect that a demon resided within.
However, despite the magnificent armor, his legs were trembling and his stance was shaky, which was utterly pathetic.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
Unlike Nord-kun, who was forcibly brought here, Mura-kun arrived on his own two feet.
“My apologies, it took some time to prepare the equipment.”
“You’re dressed as expected.”
“No, this is better equipment than what I usually use.”
In contrast to Nord-kun’s full armor, Mura-kun’s outfit was much lighter.
Although he used some metal components, it was primarily leather, prioritizing mobility.
“Is that… perhaps Behemoth-like skin?”
“You recognize it?”
“I’ve fought it several times.”
The leather primarily used in that equipment is from a magic beast called a Behemoth-like.
Among the monsters in the dungeon, they are found in the upper and lower levels.
I fought them in the Lunaria dungeon.
In terms of strength for a dragon species, they are comparable to a Wyvern.
Although they resemble Behemoths, they are considered a weaker version.
But even a weaker version is still similar to a Behemoth.
Its combat power is remarkably high, its defense is high, and it has an immunity to magic.
With Mura-kun, clad in such excellent leather armor, and Nord-kun ready, the preparations were complete.
“Now, about the second condition…”
I walked to the center of the training ground, holding the wooden sword I had borrowed.
“My work often requires courage.”
I then stopped in the center and shouldered the wooden sword.
As I often deal with rather dangerous beings, this is a bit of a test of courage.
I thrust the wooden sword forward.
“For a while, I will attack the two of you. However, I won’t hit you, so try not to get knocked out.”
With a gentle swing, a vacuum slash was created, scorching a line on the ground.
“Do your best.”
And with a crescent smile inherited from the instructor, I faced them.
Today’s word:
Influence is received by anyone.
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Pandora Pandemic Panic. The Pandora’s Box has been opened again, but we’re fighting back with various means in our secret base!!
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