The morning after spending a night in Evia’s rather unusual home.
I was guided to the breakfast table, surrounded by the gazes of the servants, who seemed to be smiling and happy about something.
“What’s with this?”
“No, I just noticed everyone is watching us.”
“Hmph, you know the reason, don’t you?”
I looked at Evia, half happy and half embarrassed that she was so worried about me. She then grabbed my arm, perhaps to hide her embarrassment.
I felt the gaze of others increase, but thankfully, it wasn’t malicious.
However, I did think it was a bit much when someone took out a handkerchief as if to wipe away tears.
I wondered how much they had deduced about last night’s events. It was a little embarrassing, but if it meant we were welcomed, I supposed I could accept it, even if it was a bit awkward.
“? It’s a bit noisy.”
As we approached the dining hall, it seemed to be quite lively.
“Most likely, Nord tried to run away last night.”
“Ah, that makes sense.”
Investigating the source of the commotion, I found that only one person was making noise, while everyone else was quiet. Evia, sensing Nord-kun’s agitated presence, confirmed that his escape attempt from last night had failed.
“Should I give him some proper education soon?”
“That would be a great help to me.”
“It’s beneficial for me too. I won’t hold back.”
“If you say so, I have no worries.”
Without much further concern, we entered the dining hall.
“Nnn-!? Nnnn!? Nnn-!!”
There was Nord-kun, gagged, unable to speak, and bound tightly with special ropes, lying on the floor.
“… Is that treatment appropriate for a noble’s son?”
“It’s fine.”
“I see.”
I felt that Nord-kun’s treatment had become increasingly rough since we came to this house, but I supposed it was the Nordis family’s problem.
“Oh! Jiro-. Did you sleep well last night?”
“Good morning, Kaden-san. Yes, I slept very well.”
The head of the household was there, smiling and completely ignoring Nord-kun.
Thinking that I should also pretend not to notice and just exchange greetings based on that, I greeted him.
“I suppose the butler or a maid must have informed him about last night’s events. Kaden-san and Eve-san were both smiling kindly at me.
“Good morning, Mura-kun too.”
“Yes, good morning.”
“Is your body alright?”
“Yes, you went easy on me, so I have no physical discomfort.”
Mura-kun, who received a somewhat envious glance, also exchanged greetings with me, and Evia and I sat down at the breakfast table.
Up to this point, the consistent policy has been to completely ignore Nord-kun.
It couldn’t be helped.
After all, Nord-kun’s fate of being shipped to the area under my management had been decided in last night’s exchange with Kaden-san.
His will no longer mattered.
All that remained was the fact that he had no more chances.
If Nord-kun couldn’t achieve results with my guidance this time, he would be completely disowned.
He was in this helpless state because he was either going to make a name for himself in his long life and be exiled, or he had to show results under me, his last connection. This meant he still hadn’t fully grasped the current situation.
He probably still held the naive belief that he wouldn’t be abandoned because he was a child.
“? Is something wrong?”
“No, just a little.”
I really wondered what kind of weakness he saw in Nord-kun, even if he were the same gender. There were a certain number of women who liked men who were bad at things… I wondered if Mura-kun was one of them.
During yesterday’s test, Nord-kun had consistently tried to flee. I couldn’t even find a hint that he was hiding his true abilities.
Frankly, if he was hiding his abilities, he would be more capable than a general.
I could definitively say that was not the case.
I had my reasons. Concealing things usually required special training and developing a habit of hiding. If one were to hide their abilities, a certain controlled atmosphere would appear. An atmosphere that conveyed, “This is all I can do.”
Nord-kun lacked that. His total magic power was also within a normal range, as were his martial arts movements. If he could convincingly fake both of these elements, he would have a talent for it.
Looking at Nord-kun thrashing about, I gave a wry smile, thinking that wasn’t the case.
His talent was mediocre, and his personality was indecisive and self-preserving.
I really wondered what he was so smitten with. Honestly, I thought his taste was bad, but romance was a free choice. All I could do was offer a quiet warning in case of any unforeseen circumstances.
As we took our seats, breakfast was served. Nord-kun’s meal was also served, but I thought he wouldn’t be able to eat it. Then, two butlers lifted Nord-kun and seated him in a chair.
“…”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“That’s too much.”
After removing the gag, before he could even complain, bread was shoved into his mouth, and he was forced to chew.
“If you allow him to speak, his mouth will only be used for excuses. I heard his side of the story yesterday. And our butler is excellent. He won’t choke him, bite his tongue, or make a mess like spilling food.”
“Indeed, he’s eating normally…”
I thought it was a new form of torture, but it seemed like they were quite used to it. He didn’t seem to be savoring the food, nor did he appear to be struggling to eat. The only concern was the utter disregard for human rights. Mura-kun watched with concern, pausing his meal.
But.
“Ah, don’t worry about it. It’s his fault for trying to run away last night. I told him I wouldn’t let him set foot on our family’s land again if he ran away. He thought he’d be forgiven, but I’m disciplining his naive heart. This is a parent’s love, after all?”
Eve-san, with an intimidating aura of “I am angry,” smiled and addressed Mura-kun. Mura-kun said nothing more.
In that case, I wouldn’t say anything more either.
“By the way, Evia, how long are you scheduled to stay?”
“We plan to stay until evening.”
“I see. Well, you and Jiro- are both busy people and have taken time out for us. I won’t ask you to overstay your welcome, but please relax during that time.”
“Yes.”
Today’s agenda after breakfast was not decided. We were scheduled to return in the evening, but until then, we were free. Preparations for Nord-kun’s shipment, or rather, his escort, were complete. Regarding the matter of reporting our marriage to Kaden-san and establishing future cooperation, that was completed yesterday. So, it was a rare opportunity for rest. A completely unscheduled break had arrived.
“What about you, Mura-kun?”
However, there was one problem: Mura-kun, our guest. He had come here believing he had an appointment. But in reality, there was no appointment, leaving him in a state of uncertainty. Naturally, his plans for today would have changed.
“I…”
While interactions with Evia were important, they were ultimately private matters. If I was to act as a general, contact with him was also crucial. Evia understood this and silently watched the unfolding events. Every time he glanced at Nord-kun, his cheeks would flush red. Well, whenever Mura-kun’s cheeks turned red, Nord-kun’s complexion turned pale. Whenever Mura-kun looked at Nord-kun, Nord-kun would turn his gaze to me as if seeking help.
I let out a sigh, wondering what this situation was. If I left Mura-kun and Nord-kun alone, it would hinder Nord-kun’s persuasion and education, and also affect my connection with the Mura family.
“If you have some time, could you spare a moment? I became interested in your abilities during yesterday’s test.”
In that case, I would focus on scouting him in the morning and have a date with Evia in the afternoon. Sensing this, Evia tapped near my knee, a signal that she would accompany me.
“Me? But I couldn’t put up any resistance yesterday…”
“I am still a general, you know. In fact, if you could easily counter me, it would tarnish my reputation.”
The evaluation was solely mine. And I was saying it was fine. Although I strongly wished to spend time with Nord-kun, I couldn’t disregard my own scouting efforts. After a moment’s hesitation…
“If that’s the case, I’d be happy to.”
He took it positively and agreed to the interview.
“Don’t worry, it won’t be a bad deal for you.”
In that case, we were short on time. I motioned to Kaden-san to proceed with the conversation immediately, and he nodded, agreeing to join us. Eve-san would take care of Nord-kun.
From there, time passed uneventfully. Well, there was one person wriggling like a grub, but the general policy was to ignore him.
“Well then, I have something to discuss with this child, so I’ll excuse myself.”
After breakfast and a cup of post-meal tea, Eve-san left with a smile, lightly hoisting Nord-kun onto her shoulder with a strength I wouldn’t have expected from her slender frame. I thought to myself that I was no longer surprised by the sight of a slender woman casually carrying an adult man, and we moved to the lounge.
The members gathered were me, Evia, Kaden-san, and Mura-kun – a group unthinkable in the original plan. I truly realized how much my plans became uncertain after joining my current company. As we sat at a round table where the butler had prepared more tea, Mura-kun hesitantly broke the silence, asking, “Um, so, what is this regarding?” It wasn’t the kind of atmosphere for small talk. After all, he was the one summoned because I had something to discuss. There was no problem with getting straight to the point.
“Indeed, we don’t have much time. Let’s get straight to it.”
I regretted that the prepared tea would get cold, but without touching it, I proceeded with the conversation.
“Are you aware that the Demon Lord’s Army is preparing for war at the moment?”
“Yes, preparations are underway at my family’s place as well, so I expect a major battle to occur soon.”
“And the opponent?”
“…The Isal Army, led by the Hero.”
“OK, if you know that much, this will be easier. Currently, the Demon Lord’s Army is short two generals, and I’ve finally been added as a new recruit. We’re not in as strong a position as we were a few years ago.”
The approach was to discuss the current situation of the Demon Lord’s Army and their war preparations. While I said “straight to the point,” it was a roundabout way of speaking. However, from a general’s perspective, this was direct. Mura-kun was still an outsider; I couldn’t just say, “Our army is short-handed, so become my subordinate.” Well, after revealing so much, it might seem like stating the obvious.
“Therefore, honestly, there isn’t enough time to train Nord-kun from scratch, and based on his test results, he’s a complete failure. In other words, the condition I mentioned earlier, about hiring Nord-kun along with you, cannot be met.”
“That is, indeed, the case.”
From his perspective, it would be more convenient for Nord-kun to be on his own. However, I understood that working with Nord-kun under me would make him feel more connected. But given Nord-kun’s complete blunder, I knew he understood my words.
“Then why are you talking to me?”
If he were a failure, I should have told him on the spot. But the fact that I had arranged a meeting with Mura-kun meant he already sensed the direction of the conversation, and he stared intently into my eyes.
“Ah, so at this point, I have one proposal, or rather, a request for you.”
Responding to him, I made a request at that moment.
Today’s word:
If you see a turning point, it is the beginning of the next task.
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