Chapter 108 : Mastermind

TL:SummerPeanut

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“...”

“Karen? What's wrong? Are you thinking about Gysahl?”

I asked Karen who had been silent since we returned to the inn.

“Yes. I was thinking about what I could do regarding Gysahl. I don't care what happens to that lousy guy... But you don't seem be of the same opinion so that’s why I've been thinking seriously about it too...”

“I'm sorry I got you involved in something weird. But I'm happy that you would give so much thought."

“I've found one sure-fire solution... but I don't know if people are going to buy into this highly political approach...”

Political? What is she talking about?

“Count Mesalius said that you are the only person he can rely on now so if there's any way out of this, it might be better for you to suggest. If you don't mind, could you tell me what sort of solution that is?”

“Yes. You might be a little surprised... I'll make Gysahl my slave... It doesn't have to be me but... anyway, he will be a slave to Duke Fresvald’s household. Being a slave to the House of Fresvald is actually quite a status. Well, it's still a slave in the end but it's far more difficult to become a slave of Fresvald Household than it is to be a commoner."

“To make him a slave… But what's the point of enslaving him?”

“Remember the Marquis of San Marina? Despite the massive problem with San Marina, he didn’t seek other nobles’ help right? What do you think would have happened if he had sought help to solve the issue?"

“Wouldn't he have to give out a lot of money or item?”

“That's part of it, but the most important thing is that the nobles who helped him would send their representatives. Then obviously, the representatives would be able to see the finances of the territory and, most importantly, they will interfere in the governance of the territory. No matter his seniority in the nobility’s society, he can no longer make any decisions on his own anymore."

So that's why the Marquis of San Marina didn't ask for help from other nobles… Sacrificing the lives of commoners over the right to rule...

“I think Count Mesalius is prepared to do that...As he said before, he said he could only rely on Karen now... But if that was the case, is there still a need for enslavement? Why not just be honest and say something like, he is now under the umbrella of the Fresvald Household?"

“Ultimately, the next Count of Mesalius is Gysahl, right? So that would definitely result in Fresvald Household swallowing them…and that is one of the better scenarios…what will happen will be much worse if they are swallowed by Duke of Syrian.

If we are thinking about the Mesalius Household, Gysahl has to change. If that's the case, I thought he could become a slave of the strict Fresvald Household and be re-educated... Of course, I'll cancel my slave contract when I inherit the Count's title."

Seems like she has been thinking quite a bit about it... But there's another question.

“Where are you going to re-educate him? If he is to be your slave, he needs to be nearby.”

“I'll call the slave educator from my household for that. And as Mars said earlier, I'll have Dames help me with that. As expected, if this doesn't cure Gysahl, I'll leave the Count of Mesalius to Ike or the Fresvald will devour them.”

It's starting to sound like a pretty good idea... but there's a problem.

The question is whether Gysahl will go along with this…I guess.

Karen and I finished our discussion, I depleted my MP and then went to bed.

19 August 2030.

When I told Count Mesalius what I discussed with Karen last night, to my surprise he readily accepted. Gysahl was still resisting but Count Mesalius forcefully went with the arrangement.

First, Gysahl's viscount title was returned and he made a commoner, and then Count Mesalius is to go with us to the Academy City of Regan. Of course, Gysahl would also go with us.

Karen's idea was her own and had not been approved by Duke Fresvald so we need the duke’s approval before we would make a contract to make Gysahl Karen's slave.

Without further ado, we decided to head back towards the Academic City of Regan. This time, we couldn't rush the horses by applying Heals with the large group we have so we had to hurry or we wouldn't make it in time.

On the way back to Regan, magic beasts started to appear after we exited Mesalius territory but we, mainly Misha, defeated them. The members of the Red Lotus did not expect Misha to be so strong and they widened their eyes as they watched Misha's battle.

29 August 2030.

We managed to reach the Academy City of Regan. It was a pretty tough military march but not impossible.

We immediately entered the Lister Imperial School, but Count Mesalius, Gysahl, and Dames couldn't get through the gates. That's great security. Even the senior nobles were not allowed to enter the school.

We went to Duke Regan and explained the situation, and Duke Regan came with us to the gate guard.

When Duke Regan walked up to Count Mesalius, Count Mesalius got down on one knee and said.

“Long time no see. Duke Regan. I'm sorry to drag you into all this..."

Count Mesalius's words were interrupted by Duke Regan.

“I heard about the situation from Mars. I will hear the details in the headmaster's office. I’m sure there are some things you don't want to talk about here.”

Saying so, Duke Regan let the three outsiders into the school.

“So, you are fine to have Gysahl as Karen's slave after all?”

Duke Regan, who had been briefed in detail, asked Count Mesalius.

“Yes. I hope to do so. But I haven't informed Duke Fresvald anything yet..."

When Count Mesalius said that much, Duke Regan replied.

“It's all right. I assure you. Karen's proposal will be approved by Duke Fresvald, so sign the slave contract. I will see to it and report back to Duke Fresvald."

Everyone looked at each other with a scowling faces. Is it really acceptable to make such a decision so easily?

This made me suspect that it was Duke Fresvard and Duke Regan who hired Phantom...

“Then I will bring the slavers tomorrow...”

“I have already called them. Come in."

Duke Regan interrupted Count Mesalius again, saying. You knew in advance, didn't you... Did Dames fly with a fast horse?

When Gysahl was brought before Duke Regan.

“Help me, please. Duke Regan! I have done nothing wrong! Listen to me! He's the one who's...that brat!”

Gysahl looked at me and cried out to Duke Regan.

“Is that so... you still don't see what a fool you are? Mars has no motive to set you up. I hoped you would change a bit after graduating from this school... It's also the fault of our education. I am sorry. Gysahl."

At first, the words were strong but they gradually became that of someone pitying the other, and then Duke Regan looked at Gysahl. She used her Charm Eyes.

“Come, Karen. Please come here. Gysahl cannot resist. Sign a slave contract while you still can.”

Karen enslaved Gysahl through a slaver.

Apparently, Karen also realized Duke Regan's intentions along the way.

“Well, I guess this settles the matter, doesn't it? We will now have a return party for Red Lotus and Reimei. I know everyone is tired but please hang in there a little longer. We'll also accept your quest completion reports then."

It seems that Count Mesalius, Dames, and Gysahl are unable to participate. Duke Regan called Sasha to lead the three of them elsewhere. When Dames found Sasha, his face was completely changed.

We followed Duke Regan to the first place we set our foot in the Lister Imperial School.

It was Duke Regan's mansion, although we had always seen it from a distance.

The Duke of Regan's mansion is inside the Imperial School of Lister, and from a distance, I thought the security would be lax.

But that was not the case.

It is true that there are few guards but when I entered the grounds of Duke Regan's mansion, I felt a sense of discomfort.

Is this barrier magic? I looked around with my Mana Eyes and didn't see anything out of the ordinary... I fell into my own thoughts...

“I knew Mars would notice.”

Apparently, Duke Regan had been observing me the whole time. The others didn't seem to understand what he was saying.

“No... I just felt something strange...”

“It's enough to be able to feel there’s something."

She answered with a smile. She did not tell me what it was in the end.

For some reason, I felt at ease when I entered Duke Regan's mansion. Perhaps it was because, unlike other aristocratic residences, there were no ornate decorations, antiques, or other luxury items.

When I was led into the living room and dining room, dishes and drinks were served one after another, but they were homier than the dishes served at the residence of the Marquis of San Marina and the residence of the Count of Mesalius.

But in case you're wondering, even though this is Duke Regan's mansion, it's still inside the school... I feel like drinking alcohol inside the school is kind of bad...

“Well then, cheers to the return of Red Lotus and Reimei and to the completion of their quest!”

Since I have already had many banquets with the members of Red Lotus many times, I have gotten to know all the members quite well not counting Ike and glasses senior. While we were having a good time, Karen was called by Duke Regan first.

Karen is talking to Duke Regan in a nice atmosphere, though sometimes a difficult look showed up on her face.

After she finished talking with Karen, she called me and Ike next.

“You guys did a really good job. Red Lotus has thinned out the labyrinth, and the Reimei has saved San Marina from a tight spot. We received an amazing donation from the Marquis of San Marina."

Ike said when Duke Regan said that.

“We, Red Lotus, only dived into the labyrinth for half a day. It was Mars and the others of Reimei who destroyed the dungeon core. We were beaten up by a party called Phantom but Mars and the others Reimei came and saved our lives."

Ike intentionally named the party Phantom...

“Eh? You guys were attacked by Phantom? Why?"

“I think it was to disrupt logistics and human flow in the Mesalius territory, but does Duke Regan have any idea what for? Incidentally, it wasn't just us Red Lotus that was attacked but also Mars and the others of Reimei..."

Ike said as he looked at me and I too chipped in.

“I was stabbed in the stomach. It was by a man called Guster. I would have possibly died at that moment but when the names of Fresvald and Regan Households were mentioned, he called a Holy magic user called Russe who then for unknown reason healed my wounds."

Duke Regan looked incredulous the whole time.

“I am sorry... I know who sent the quest to the Phantom. I believe that person did not intend to harm you at all."

“Who sent the quest to the Phantom? Will Gysahl's enslavement to Karen stop the interference in Count Mesalius's territory?"

My question was answered by Duke Regan.

“I cannot tell you who sent the quest to Phantom but you will know that it was someone who is on my and Duke Fresvald’s side. Our interference in Count Mesalius' territory is now at an end. Depending on Gysahl, Phantom will have more work to do, though."

Well, the masterminds are almost certainly Duke Regan and Duke Fresvald. Especially since Duke Regan doesn't seem to have any intention of hiding it.

“By the way, the report I received is a little different and I would like to confirm, was the thinning of the labyrinth really done by Reimei and not Red Lotus? Ike said that you broke the dungeon core, didn't he?”

“Yes. We of Reimei destroyed the dungeon core. I brought the chimera and the orc king magic stones as proof.”

When I handed the chimera and the orc king magic stones to Duke Regan, she said.

“It looks real... Was this one defeated by just Reimei?”

“Yes. It was quite a struggle but I managed to defeat it.”

Then Duke Regan began to stare at the bag from which I had taken out the magic stone.

Ah... she’s appraising the magic stones bag...

“...So... a struggle, is it? Am I correct in assuming that you got several of them out at once?"

She counted the number of magic stones...

“No, no... We've been having a lot of fun defeating them a few times, as well as training.”

“Well, that's alright. You can be praised for what you've done but not blamed."

Duke Regan let me off with that.

After the conversation between me and Ike, Duke Regan went to everyone's place and congratulated us.

“Thank you all for your hard work on this expedition quest. It's not all good in the end but I am really satisfied with the results. I feel very sorry for Edean but this is for the sake of the Lister Confederacy, and by extension, for the Count of Mesalius. Let's talk slowly next time. There are things I can only talk to you about."

To think that she boldly revealed that she’s the mastermind. I’m not sure whether to call her graceful or arrogant... The atmosphere in the room became a little suspicious but...

“Thank you for your consideration. As long as I am in the Mesalius Household, I will do my best for the household."

The air in the place became a little lighter when the glasses senior bowed her head.

“Even so, Reimei is capable enough of destroying the dungeon core... I'm looking forward to this year's Warrior Gods Festival.”

The dwarf Garl said while touching his beard.

“The Warrior Gods Festival?”

I let out my voice unconsciously.

“The 'Warrior Gods Festival' is an all-school competition that takes place in October. It's a tournament to determine the strongest of the Lister Imperial School, with martial arts, magic, and everything.”

Ike explained it properly. What kind of scale is an all-schools tournament with...2500 students?

“Is that all in a day's work?”

I asked Ike, and Duke Regan answered my question.

“We start the qualifying rounds in September. Only the best eight will appear on the day of the Warrior Gods Festival. It is no exaggeration to say that the winner of the Warrior Gods Festival is the strongest of this generation. Dozens or hundreds of the winners of the Warrior Gods Festival in the past have become A-rank adventurers. And those who reached the top ranks, even if they did not win first place, are still A-rank adventurers. Mars. You may think it’ll be an easy win but it would be best if you don't underestimate it. Ike has been competing since the first year and still hasn't won anything."

Eh? Is there anyone in this school other than Reimei who is stronger than Ike? Then Ike smiled bitterly and said

“Mars, have you ever seen anyone from the fifth years A class at this school?”

He asked me that, and I was honest.

“... no... no, I haven't.”

“When you're in the fifth year, you're basically flying all over the Lister Confederation to do quests. Especially for S and A classes. And the quests that are given to the S and A classes are not errand quests. They're through and through magic beasts slaying and labyrinth-thinning quests. Try doing that until October, and the difference in level between them and the fourth years is obvious. The top fifth-year students will easily exceed level 30 again this year. Some of the great seniors are over 40. So you can't let your guard down. Mars, you should prepare well too."

The members of Red Lotus nodded as Ike said with force.

“How are the pairings decided? I don't want to fight with Reimei members and my sister-in-law more than the fifth years.”

The one who reacted sensitively to my words was Duke Regan.

“Mars! What do you mean, sister-in-law!?”

Huh? Hasn't it been reported? Come to think of it, she didn't even know we entered the labyrinth. If that's the case, did the spies return to Duke Regan at an early stage?

“I and Ede are comrades who have pledged our future to each other. When Phantom attacked this time and Ede was seriously injured, that time I had the opportunity to think about what is important to me..."

Ike said while holding the hand of the glasses senior, and senior also nodded with a blush on her cheeks.

“I-I see...I'm glad you were able to contribute a little...congratulations to both of you.”

Duke Regan said in a surprised or somewhat disappointed tone.

Hm? Duke Regan to Ike... though it's not that there’s no hint...

“My target is the top eight!”

The runaway elf suddenly shouted. The next thing, you know, everyone started shouting about their goals, like the best 16 or the best 4. After that, the party continued happily until midnight. Tomorrow we'll take it easy and start school the day after tomorrow.

This is how our long summer holiday(?) ended.

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Author’s note:

It's kind of a tight ending but it's the end of vol 6.

Sorry for the long hiatus this time.

If you feel the series is even a bit interesting and are curious about the story’s continuation, please consider giving ★★★★★ and bookmark as it will really help with my motivation. m(__)m

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