Chapter 129
Chapter 129
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 129
Chapter Title: The Iron-Blooded Fairy
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"Well, since things have come to this, shall I accept a position under the Valderian family?"
"Oh? Does that mean... you wish to formally become a retainer?"
"Yes. That would be the idea."
At Beonald's confident reply, the Valderian family head's eyes gleamed.
In these troubled times, talent was extremely precious. Any noble with common sense naturally desired to employ anyone with even a single talent to prosper their family and territory.
"That is welcome news indeed. Hahaha, my heart feels much more at ease. So, what position do you desire?"
"Simply the position of a 'knight' of the Valderian family would suffice. A territory would be even better, of course."
"Hahaha! Shameless to a truly astonishing degree."
"I'm not asking for it immediately. It can be granted after a suitable pretext and situation arise. I leave the decision of which specific place to grant entirely to your discretion, Family Head."
"Hmm... Very well."
As he listened to Beonald's words, the Valderian family head felt a strange sense of incongruity.
His own position was clearly superior, yet he felt an inexplicable pressure to comply with the young man's suggestions.
Of course, it was true this youth was a rare talent. He had dealt a blow to that detestable Kmel family, earned high favor, recovered his family's artifact, and even revealed the location of the ruins. He should be the one bestowing praise, yet he found himself merely agreeing. It was a peculiar feeling.
"Then, I shall take my leave now to make preparations."
"Do so. Ahem!"
Thud!
With that, Beonald paid his respects with proper etiquette and departed. The Valderian family head and Kedron exchanged glances, both clearly thinking the same thing, and opened their mouths.
"...He's a truly fascinating fellow the more you see him. He clearly acts with unparalleled rudeness, yet strangely, I don't dislike it. You feel the same, don't you?"
"Yes. It was as if... I felt like I'd known him for a long time. Strangely so. But Father, one question has arisen. Is it... easy to recall this crest based on our current family's crest?"
Kedron took out the badge of three swords he wore and compared it to the sword-bearing three-headed Cerberus crest on the table.
The current Kedron family crest was three swords placed vertically, while the Cerberus on this badge held swords sideways in their mouths.
Normally, one wouldn't think this badge and the Valderian family crest were similar... He had made a guess earlier, but it was delivered with half-certainty.
"Well, he seems like a friend knowledgeable in archaeology or history... His guess must have simply been correct."
"I suppose so."
"Anyway, I must also consider which territory and position to grant him."
The Valderian family head dismissed the matter lightly and took the territory map away again. Left alone, Kedron continued to stare at his badge, still troubled by lingering doubts.
Upon returning from the Valderian family mansion, Beonald first began swiftly appraising the antiques.
As he appraised, Besia deftly disassembled them, leaving behind parts with magical formulas that could be reused as components, making the work proceed smoothly. Even while working, Beonald continued to ponder something.
'Hmm... Things have gotten quite tangled.'
He never imagined the religious order would interfere with his affairs.
Excluding his own thoughts, seeing that it even took the form of a 'Holy Nation,' he should have reconsidered its considerable influence on the continent.
On top of that, the existence of secret cultists... Troublesome problems were piling up.
'Hmm... Thinking about it now, what did the Goddess say to me? She definitely told me to 'aid the Hero,' right?'
Preoccupied with his own survival, he hadn't paid proper attention. Having not gone near a temple since his childhood baptism, he had forgotten the fact for a while.
Remembering once more that the reason he came to this world was to prepare for and resist a great threat, he began to honestly consider whether he should capture the cultists in advance.
'Hmm, the existence of a Hero means there's a Demon King. The problem is that this is a troubled age. That's why I need to seize power... But I need power to enter my ruins, so these goals overlap.'
A tangled mess of threads was knotted in Beonald's mind.
He tried hard to unravel it, but with many numbers and equations still unfilled, finding an easy solution was difficult.
Ultimately, he was still just an individual with no power.
And he needed a war or some situation to occur somewhere to make his mark, but the current world was deceptively peaceful, which was also a problem.
'Countries are divided, but a delicate balance maintains peace. Or perhaps they are secretly preparing for a greater war, but it's quiet for now. Well, but... the time will come eventually.'
The Goddess had forewarned him, and since he descended for that purpose... a crisis would inevitably come to this world.
Therefore, gathering people, finding his legacy, raising his status, and preparing to assist the 'Hero' who would someday appear was the best he could do.
South of the Calleum Empire, the Barony of Vanilo.
Baron Vanilo, in his forties, was the sole heir of his family and had inherited the baronial title. With an ugly appearance and excessive tastes regarding women, he had lived as a lifelong bachelor, unable to marry.
Of course, as a high noble, he could easily force a marriage alliance by threatening a noble family under him. But he had pride as a noble, and his standards for women were exceedingly high.
"His Majesty still hasn't found the Princess? You're taking me for a fool! My bride! My brideee!"
"His Majesty is... s-still trying his best......"
"How much... how much loyalty have I shown to His Majesty the Emperor! How can he do this to me!"
With his toad-like, corpulent body thrashing about, Baron Vanilo was venting his rage at the Emperor's messenger.
One might wonder if it was proper to act this way towards the Emperor's messenger, but from Baron Vanilo's perspective, he had ample reason to be angry. He had squeezed his territory's finances dry to pay hefty taxes for the promise of marriage with the Princess, sent troops when needed, knights when requested, and had licked boots all along... only to be betrayed.
"Baron, as mentioned before, there are other imperial granddaughters. You need not fixate solely on Her Highness Princess Zelcy......"
"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! I want to marry Princess Zelcy! I felt it was fate the moment I saw her!"
'...Grrr!'
Baron Vanilo's tantrum, like a spoiled child, was utterly repulsive, but the messenger had to manage his expression and suppress his boiling anger.
Foolish as he was, he was the lord of the empire's southern largest granary region, a legitimate high noble whose word could mobilize an army of 100,000.
While the current Baron Vanilo might be incompetent, thanks to the capable ministers cultivated by his predecessors, the Vanilo Barony maintained its ruling power and strength as a high noble house.
"Anyway... if this continues, I can't endure it any longer! I've waited this long, so I've shown all due courtesy to His Majesty the Emperor!"
"B-Baron! J-Just a little more time......"
"Enough! I have no more expectations of His Majesty! I'll use other means, so get out!"
"Baron! Baron!"
The Emperor's messenger was finally dragged out by the barony's guards.
As he was being dragged away, someone else entered to have an audience with Baron Vanilo.
"Ooh! You've finally arrived! I was just about to send for someone!"
Click... click......
The sound of boot heels echoed as a woman revealed herself.
She had long, glossy blue-black hair that shone in the sunlight, sharp eyes, and wore a dark green uniform with a coat draped like a cloak. Arms crossed, she arrogantly raised her chin, looking at the Baron as she approached.
Her beauty was dignified and bewitching, but her gaze held a sharpness like a blade. Unusually, she had long, slightly blunt-tipped ears.
"Given the importance of my relationship with the Baron, I waited discreetly outside. Hearing the Baron's voice, you seemed quite urgent."
"Hahaha! As expected of a half-elf, your understanding of humans is commendable. Anyway, welcome. Iron-Blooded Fairy, Prime Minister Neumel, one of the pillars of the Garkan Republic. I didn't expect you to come in person......"
East of the Vanilo Barony's territory in the southern empire lay the Garkan Republic. Commonly called the land of the Ains, it was a nation founded by beastmen, elves, orcs, lizardmen, and other demi-humans. It operated a parliamentary system where representatives of each race formed a council to govern, with councilors and the prime minister elected by vote, hence called a republic.
And that prime minister was this half-elf, Prime Minister Neumel.
"The matter was too significant, so I came personally. Have you... perhaps been rejected?"
In an instant, her sharp gaze vanished, replaced by a sorrowful look as she gave the Baron a troubled gesture. Her sensual figure swayed, blending with her exceptional beauty to produce a coquettish charm that could melt even a stone-hearted man. Baron Vanilo flailed his arms and shook his head.
"How could that be! No! No, no! For Prime Minister Neumel, I would have gone out personally to welcome you!"
"Your words alone are truly appreciated. Anyway... you said you were seeking a wife? An elf, at that."
"That's right! That's right. *Pant pant*... And... and preferably......"
"Yes, I have prepared an elf who is the petite, cute girl type, who will remain a girl eternally, until the moment the Baron passes away. A clean silver-haired one at that. But since there are slight differences in facial features, it would be best for you to see and choose in person."
"*Pant pant*! As expected of Prime Minister Neumel!"
"Please follow me."
A bizarre conversation ensued, but the retainers and knights watched the two calmly, as if it were a familiar affair.
Prime Minister Neumel, bearing the peculiar title 'Iron-Blooded Fairy,' was currently the Prime Minister of the Garkan Republic. Though a half-elf, she reigned as the representative and leader of the elves. For the safety of her race and the prosperity of the Garkan Republic, she did not hesitate to use any means or method.
"Now, how are they? I've brought about ten for now."
"Ohohohohohoho! They're all perfectly my type! C-can I... take them all?"
"Hehe, such a greedy man~ If you pay the price, you may take them... but please consider your health."
"Hehe... Hehehe~ R-right? Then I must choose very carefully? Hehehe!"
Where she led Baron Vanilo, young elf girls dressed in beautiful dresses and finely adorned stood in a row.
They were slender girls tailored to the Baron's perverse tastes. Seemingly satisfied, with a drooling face, he meticulously examined each facial feature to choose the girl that perfectly matched his preferences, touching here and there.
"Eek... Ugh......"
"Hehe... Hehehe... Very good. *Slurp*... Indeed... elves are better than humans... Hehehehe... *Slurp! Slurp!*"
Watching the young girls of her own race endure the disgusting touches and humiliating molestation, Prime Minister Neumel's complexion didn't change; instead, her eyes held a pleased glint.
It might seem like selling out her own people, but she was the legitimate representative and leader of the Garkan Republic's elves. In other words, she had gained the support of the majority of her race, and these girls had been brought here with their consent, told it was for the sake of their people.
Beyond this, for the sake of her race and the Garkan Republic, she did not hesitate to employ all manner of ruthless policies and methods, bloodless and tearless. Thus, she earned the epithet 'Iron-Blooded,' a byword for mercilessness. Since a half-elf is still a fairy, she ultimately gained the nickname 'Iron-Blooded Fairy.'