Family Feud, and the Meddlers (1)
Thus, the arrogant juniors were utterly crushed before the blades of Ligret and Senior Chrome. How wonderful it would have been if the tale had ended with a simple "congratulations, congratulations." Unfortunately, no such thing occurred.
The remaining eight charged in as if they held a personal grudge, and naturally I couldn't just stand there and take it, so I fought back. In the end, it was meaningless. The first-years had calculated that if they were fighting me, the rule against "teammates targeting each other" would keep Ligret from joining in. Ligret simply solved the problem by beating both the first-years and me at the same time. If she couldn't join as part of a team, she would just thrash everyone. It was so refreshing that my head, now thoroughly clubbed, felt like it was about to split open.
"Hey, even if you were bored waiting around, did you really have to beat me up while you were at it?"
When I grumbled, Ligret tilted her head with a look that clearly said, What nonsense is this idiot spouting now?
"No, you were the main target from the start. The others were just extras."
"……."
"You've been skipping training lately and lazing around. When else would an opportunity like this come along?"
"Why is my bodyguard looking for chances to beat up her employer?!"
"There are employers who make their bodyguards do all sorts of odd jobs under the pretext of protection. So why can't a bodyguard look for chances to beat up her employer?"
……When she put it that way, I had nothing to say. Of course, the matter wasn't going to end with a cheerful "The assignment's over, so let's all get along now!" The second-years who had been hunted because of my scheme came leaping over the rooftops aiming for my throat, while the first-year juniors were still trembling at the mere mention of the Midas name. Actually, my kill count wasn't even that high, so why were they only targeting me? Compared to the other second-year members, what I did was downright tame.
The princess had taken down a quarter of the entire first-year cohort and racked up twenty points. Ligret had been similarly busy beating up whoever she could find, but realizing she couldn't outscore the princess—a mage specialized in mass slaughter—she simply dunked the princess instead. After the assignment ended, I ran into the princess. Her face was smiling, but the aura behind her was so menacing that no one dared approach. People were whispering that Ligret's future would be rough after touching the rising star, but that was only because they didn't know the princess well. She had a strong sense of pride, yes, but she was the type to take a direct hit head-on rather than scheme from behind with power plays. She probably intended to focus on training for a rematch, but I doubted it would be easy. When a martial artist and a mage were on equal footing, the former held the advantage in one-on-one combat while the latter excelled in group fights. The princess was such a monster that she could overpower martial artists on her own, but against someone of Ligret's caliber, her odds weren't good.
"By the way, it looks like the class structure is going to change quite a bit from now on. The Academy must be experimenting with various things."
Fiore, who had been listening to our banter from the side, cut in. Just as she said, after the first-year assignment concluded, the Academy issued two announcements. One was the creation of a new subject: Integrated Combat Studies. Despite its simple name, any student from martial arts, magic, or support tracks could apply, though it required a recommendation from their current professor. In short, only those recognized as elites within the Academy could enroll. According to my original-game knowledge—which was becoming increasingly questionable in usefulness—the reason for the restriction was obvious. This class taught how to fight demons. The professor would be the owner of the black butterfly swarm that appeared during the Academy's large-scale events.
The other announcement concerned the twenty second-years who had distinguished themselves: they would be assigned as teaching assistants for the first-year classes.
"The twenty second-years who were specially selected have already learned everything they can from individual subjects, so the plan is to create an advanced class to further hone their skills while also developing their leadership by having them guide their juniors."
There was a tactics elective, but there was a world of difference between issuing correct military orders and actually making people follow them. People weren't chess pieces. Especially for Academy members who often had to operate in small elite units, they needed to know both how to give orders and how to follow them. If internal conflict broke out at a critical moment, it would be the end.
"Well, hanging out with the juniors isn't that different from what we did during the special request period, right? It's just without a separate client."
"Pino seemed pretty worried, though. She wondered if those arrogant nobles would actually listen to a commoner like her."
"She doesn't need to worry. Even if they act cautious at first, after a few times of getting on her nerves she'll snap and start planting arrows in their heads."
Once they experienced her godlike archery—hitting a mana arrow precisely through a five-centimeter gap between trees—they would never dare spout nonsense about commoners again.
"Actually, I'm the one who should be worried. Scattering Attribute Stones to calm things down only works so many times. Without relying on items, I'm at best mid-tier in a real fight."
"Brother, you won't have to worry about commoner talk soon anyway. You'll be receiving a baron's title shortly. Nobles and their heirs are in a different category, after all."
Well, even if a baron was the lowest noble rank, there was a meaningful difference between an active noble and their successor. The handover of the territory was nearly complete, so I would soon become a real noble. If only the name Andvari or whatever it was didn't sound so ominous, I might have been happier. In any case, actual management would only begin after graduation, so there was no need to worry yet.
……
"Why are you suddenly staring at the communication device?"
"No reason. It just feels like I've been hit with similar patterns a lot lately."
Ligret looked puzzled but didn't press further. Whew, thank goodness. Lately, whenever I thought "it should be fine since it's like this," something related would blow up, so I seemed to have developed a case of paranoia. Just as I thought there wouldn't be any issues with the territory, the device let out a shrill ring, as if delivering some incident. How contrived would that be? The world couldn't possibly be that unreasonable—
—Brrring!
"……"
"Not going to answer?"
"Isn't it important sometimes to step away from cold communication devices and appreciate the value of face-to-face conversation?"
"Did I hit your head too hard? Maybe one more would fix it."
Did she think I was some broken TV that would work again if smacked? In the end, with a reluctant expression, Fiore took the call in my place.
"Theo? What's going on?"
Fiore's face had been perfectly composed at first, but as the conversation dragged on, her expression grew increasingly dark. When the call ended, she spoke with a face mixed with bewilderment and confusion.
"……They say the head of the family has gone missing."
Ah, well. At least it wasn't related to the territory. Now it was veering off into a completely different direction. Damn it.
Looking down at the scenery spread out below the cliff, the man thought. Where had it all gone wrong?
Should he have accepted Theo Midas's suggestion to stop exploiting the commoners and cease attacking the old royal family? That had been impossible. The moment he accepted it, he would have become a powerless relic, relegated to the back room as an old man.
Should he have supported his other son instead of trying to oust him to become the successor, even if it meant becoming an external puppet? That too had been impossible. That blade had been aimed not only at Theo but at him, the head of the family, as well.
He had known this day would come eventually. He was only human, and no amount of gold or treasure could be taken beyond death. In the end, the wealth he had built and the family he had raised were things that had to be passed on. But this was far too soon. A little slower, a little later, even much later would have been fine. It wouldn't have been too late even after he had enjoyed everything and could no longer move. Of course, that might have been somewhat stifling and frustrating for those waiting, but what did it matter? It was his, not anyone else's.
"Chrome."
Yes, in the end, Theo Midas was nothing more than a sideshow. The one who had driven him this far, the one who had brought him to stand before this cliff, was ultimately that brat. A child who had once possessed no presence at all. Just one among many children. Blinded by the vast wealth and enormous profits that brat brought, he had failed to recognize the true danger.
"Sending him to the Academy was a mistake."
He should never have let him loose. He should never have given him freedom. If only he had kept him thoroughly bound and used him solely as a tool—
"……That brat wouldn't have stayed quiet even then."
The man, Bern Midas, clicked his tongue. Whether the emotion in his chest was irritation, displeasure, or a reluctant acknowledgment of Chrome, even he couldn't tell. In any case, it was time to end this.
"I'll go first. Do as you please with the rest."
At those excessively indifferent parting words, the silver-haired attendant behind him trembled.
"You're giving up far too quickly. You could still do more."
"There's no chance for a reversal. The moment the New Royal Family nobles withdrew their hands, all that remained was dragging things out. I have no hobby of continuing a battle whose defeat is already certain."
"They are your children. Even if the outcome is decided, they won't take your life."
"They'll take everything except my life. Rather than see that, I'll end it here."
He had been a villain and an outsider, but even trash had its own kind of pride. Sensing Bern Midas's firm resolve, no further words came from behind. Without hesitation, he stepped forward.
Thus, a man's life came to an end.
—My apologies, but that won't do. You still have much left to do.
It should have ended. If the demon hadn't forcibly reached out its hand.