The combat test has ended safely. Or has it?
“Never mind,” I say, accepting the results. I change out of my dust-covered clothes and now face Kaden-san one-on-one.
“So, what’s your judgment?”
We’re in the garden under the eaves, to hear the results of the test I just underwent.
After all, I caused quite a ruckus in someone else’s home.
Failing to give my judgment would be impolite.
“I can only say it is as you saw.”
Evia is in another room, accompanying Nord-kun, who has grown, and Mura-kun, who is trying to nurse him.
So, it’s just me, Kaden-san, and the old butler who serves as our attendant in here.
Kaden-san smiles at me as I let out a wry chuckle.
The results of that combat test were, for the most part, exactly as I had predicted.
“The Knights’ Order said it was a valuable experience for Evia. For myself, though newly appointed, being able to spar with a current general is an invaluable experience. For the younger ones as well, this will surely motivate them further.”
“When you say younger ones, they are all much older than me, aren’t they?”
“Hahaha! Indeed, it’s no exaggeration to say that there’s no one younger than you, who was originally human.”
Originally human… In fact, I’ve become something that can only be described as a being in human form now.
It’s not like I’m carrying anything that changes my consciousness, so I don’t need to worry about it.
However, I do think I should be concerned about eventually being the one to see off my friends. But let’s leave that for now.
“Now, regarding Nord and Mura-kun.”
The main issue is the conditions for taking them in.
This practical test was to determine if they met the conditions I set for taking them under my wing.
In that battle, I was assessing whether they could endure as my subordinates…
“Mura-kun is fine, but Nord-kun, unfortunately…”
“I see…”
I couldn’t find any potential in Nord-kun.
Even after Mura-kun withdrew, I relentlessly cornered Nord-kun, and for a long time, I mentally pushed him without inflicting any damage at all.
His armor was scuffed up, and some parts were exposed, but his living body only had minor scrapes from falling when he was blown away.
And finally:
“I projected the illusion of cutting his arm with killing intent, but he lost consciousness there.”
“That idiot. Pathetic for a noble.”
“For a commoner, that reaction would have been fine.”
“That’s if he were a citizen who needed protection. He is not the one to be protected; he is the protector. Protecting the citizens, bringing peace to their lives, and bringing prosperity to the people. That is what being a noble means. That is why they are called the privileged class. He has no self-awareness of that at all.”
“That’s a noble sentiment.”
“Even if I am noble, my son is like that…”
I genuinely unleashed my killing intent and cornered him, but even then, Nord-kun was still tail between his legs, trying to escape until the very end.
If he can’t escape, gets cornered, and then faints, there’s nothing that can be done.
I was not just shrugging my shoulders in exasperation; I was perplexed about what to do.
“At worst, I might have to disown him.”
No prospect.
With my words, my expectations for Nord-kun hit rock bottom, and Kaden-san begins to consider disciplinary action as a noble with a heavy sigh.
“No, if that’s the case, there’s one matter I’d like you to consider.”
“Consider? What is it?”
I put a stop to it.
Frankly, it’s going to be very difficult to help Nord-kun recover from this point.
Or rather, it’s impossible unless there’s a significant shift in his mindset.
“Actually, I would like to have Mura-kun as my subordinate.”
“Mura-kun? Indeed, he seems like a very capable young man from what I’ve seen, and I understand why you want him. However, he is, after all, the son of the Mura family. There’s nothing I can do about it.”
“I understand. So, it’s not a direct approach, but I will take charge of Nord-kun’s education.”
“…So, you’re using Nord as leverage. But will the head of the Mura family agree to that? Even if the person in question agrees, forcing something across faction lines won’t leave a good impression.”
However, if he’s willing to go to any lengths for that mindset change, there’s a possibility of recovery, and more importantly, Mura-kun, who comes along with Nord-kun, is capable.
Considering that I want to expand my influence here, it would be a waste to let him go.
“That depends on the negotiation. It’s not that I’m dissatisfied with just the backing of the Nordis family, but it’s not beneficial to isolate the Nordis family either.”
“…Indeed, while I’m praised for my foresight in marrying Evia to you, more than half of it is jealousy. Many nobles curry favor with us, hoping to gain some profit. The profits you generate are far too great for our faction alone to monopolize.”
“After all, I’ve been directly entrusted with interactions with the otherworld by the Demon Lord himself. While the Demon Lord will be in charge, I will be the one managing it. If I can be flexible with my own people… well, it’s only natural that some jealousy arises.”
I already have many enemies as an upstart. I don’t want to make any more.
Fortunately, more than half of my fellow generals are on my side.
Thanks to that, I’m not isolated.
What’s currently troublesome is the nobles who are trying to curry favor to solidify their foundations and the situation with Isal, which is filled with an unsettling atmosphere.
As I urgently need to establish a support system, I want to build a cooperative relationship with the Mura family, an influential and convenient entity.
“…There’s also a possibility that a marriage proposal from the Mura family might come to you?”
“If it’s a family that doesn’t care about blood ties, that possibility is quite high. I am also aware that refusing it might prevent the establishment of a good relationship.”
“You’ll accept?”
“No, that’s what Nord-kun is for.”
The sticking point is the relationship.
The relationship between the Nordis family and myself, although I’m adopted, is built on a political marriage by my engagement to Evia, a daughter of the Nordis family.
Even though it’s a political marriage, we have a good relationship now, and my relationship with Suella and the others is also good.
The political aspect has become mere pretense.
Therefore, the Mura family, which has a status comparable, if not equal, to mine, will likely demand equivalent treatment.
In that case, the options are either that they adopt someone and give me a wife, or they offer a son who wants to marry me.
Well, if I were inclined, that would be an option, but I’m not. And with Suella and the others already in my life, an environment has been created where such rumors won’t spread.
Therefore, I believe Kaden-san’s worry has a low probability.
“Do you think Nord will be a shield? At first glance, he might seem like a good prospect to connect the Mura family and you. But in reality, he doesn’t possess the necessary qualities. He’ll be seen through quickly and treated carelessly. Isn’t relying too much on our son too dangerous?”
Kaden-san surmises my proposal – making Nord-kun his direct subordinate and thereby indirectly connecting him to me through Mura-kun – and shows his displeasure.
As Kaden-san says, at first glance, it seems like a good deal: connecting Nord-kun and Mura-kun creates a relationship between the Nordis family and the Mura family.
Furthermore, if Nord-kun becomes my subordinate, it establishes a connection with a general of a new force, which sounds like excellent terms. However, if Nord-kun, who is supposed to bridge these terms, is as he is, the flaws will show, and he’ll only be destined for unhappiness.
If you say I’m expecting too much, you’re right.
“I will guide him… but I imagine you still have concerns.”
“Indeed. Forgive me for saying so, but he has a reputation, for better or worse, precisely because he is my son. It has become clear through this incident that I have concerns about entrusting him, as a noble and as a father, to someone else. At this point, I truly feel that disowning him and letting him live as a commoner would be for Nord’s own good. He is not capable of the great responsibility you are considering.”
And I am still young.
Although I call him Nord-kun, I am much younger than him.
Because I am engaged to Evia, I have a relationship with him as a brother-in-law.
In such a situation, it’s understandable that my guidance might not be enough to make Nord-kun a useful person.
Kaden-san is also giving up, believing his son is finished as a noble, given that he ran for self-preservation even when cornered.
If things continue like this, he’ll face a life of house arrest living as a commoner in a remote part of the territory.
He won’t be allowed to have offspring, and he’ll live a simple life with appropriate living expenses.
Well, in the world of nobles, there are cases where they are disposed of under external reasons such as accidental death or death from illness, so it’s still better than that.
He mentions disownment, but he won’t place him outside his supervision.
This is his last act of parental compassion.
If Nord causes any more trouble, disownment will truly be on the table.
Really, it’s a troublesome situation.
From here, it’s up to my negotiation.
Negotiating with the Mura family, at worst, could be done with just my brand. However, that would likely lead to the marriage proposal Kaden-san mentioned earlier.
The other party is a great noble.
They possess the power and status to demand treatment equal to that of the Nordis family.
No matter how much of a general I am, or rather, precisely because I am a general, they will plot to incorporate me.
To proceed with things to my advantage, the relationship between Mura-kun and Nord-kun is extremely valuable.
However, Nord-kun, at present, is the eldest son bearing the name of the Nordis family.
If, hypothetically, he were to be sent out as my subordinate here, any failure would affect the Nordis family.
Kaden-san probably thinks that judging by emotion is too risky.
I understand his feelings, and the risks involved are significant.
However, I had a plan.
“Kaden-san, I have just one question. Do you think I could train him if I had the time?”
That would be Valse, the spirit I contracted with.
As a high-ranking spirit who presides over time and space, if I can provide enough mana, she can provide extensive training. Moreover, as a demon, he could overlook a slight reduction in lifespan.
“… If you had the time to train him for a hundred years, or even two hundred years, I suppose it would be possible… but can you do that…!”
“Yes, I can. I can.”
Even someone who appears utterly incompetent can become somewhat useful with intense, long-term training.
And there are many kinds of spirits, and it’s said there are spirits of manners among them.
If the bottleneck is time, I can solve that time problem, and I can prepare the teaching materials.
“We won’t attempt it immediately. How about we first observe the results of the training? Also, a word in your ear.”
“What?”
Furthermore, I have other potential instructors besides spirits.
What follows is something that’s a bit difficult to let others hear, so as I speak in a low whisper, Kaden-san’s eyes widen further.
“Is that!?”
“What do you think?”
“No, certainly that’s possible. Or rather, but…”
“In his case, I believe he won’t show any improvement unless we go to such lengths.”
“… It can only be described as a drastic, brute-force method, but it seems necessary.”
“In that case.”
“I suppose I have no choice. I can conceal Nord’s whereabouts for about a month.”
“You don’t need to go that far. A week is more than enough.”
“Understood. Then I’ll prepare immediately.”
He agreed to my negotiations.
Today’s thought:
Plans always change.
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