Chapter 266 - The Cocky Little Pricks Start Attacking! (2)
Fuck? That fucking monster bastard!? That shitty prick dares to talk like that!? And what the hell is this guy doing, coming here badmouthing me while looking for Seres?
He's asking to die. The only male allowed to call my female that casually is me. A worthless human male dares to?
I wanna charge in and smack him one, but... poor bastard. I'll let this one slide. Even without me, right now...
"...Hee hee hee... Viscount Evid..."
The expression on the face of the Seres you're looking for is no joke. Whoa. And it's not just Seres—everyone's smiling, but the atmosphere is intense. Their eyes are all locked on him like they're ready to pounce...
Ugh. Viscount Evid, huh?
"Hng~. Right now, to the Master..."
"Oh my... a noble?"
"Ah ha♡ That little shit. Looks like he wants to die?"
If it was just me, one slap would've ended it... but ugh! With my yinshuu here, it ain't gonna be that simple! I don't know what he'll go through, but rest in peace in advance, Viscount.
"...Master. I'll be right back."
"Puhuhu. Let's go together. I'm curious what he'll say."
"Hee hee. Understood. Then..."
What kinda bullshit is this noble gonna spout, coming all the way to the adventurer guild to find Seres? I'll hold back my yinshuu so they don't go overboard—go ahead and bark, Viscount.
"What is this rudeness, Viscount? Coming here and causing a scene while looking for me."
"Are you well, Lady Celestia? As I heard, you're here."
"Not at all well. Thanks to a certain viscount with no manners."
After screaming like that, he gives a pretty cultured greeting? Noble upbringing or something? Whatever. Seres, who's pissed as hell, doesn't seem interested in accepting it.
"...Kuh. When Lady Celestia won't grant my request for a meeting, what choice do I have! For some reason I don't understand, you took the lordship title from Lord Albert! And yet you won't stay in the castle...!!"
"It's Seres, Viscount Evid. I officially announced my name change. Call me properly."
"I don't care about whatever reason you changed your name to that countess title! More importantly!"
Whoa. Isn't viscount lower than countess? He's ignoring his superior's name? Screaming like he doesn't care about the adventurers' stares... with that sleazy look. This viscount's got some guts. Why's he so pissed? Did she stiff him on money or something?
"Exactly! Why are you ignoring my authority over the food industry!?"
"Hmm... ignoring?"
"You are! I have authority over all food businesses in Radia! How dare you grant tax exemptions to that monster on your own!"
...Huh? He's the one managing food businesses? Oh yeah... nobles handle permits and taxes by industry... My Horse Hof falls under food service, right? So... ah ha. This viscount's complaining because Seres took over a shop he was supposed to manage.
What a petty little shit. In this huge Radia, how many shops like my Horse Hof are there? And food industry means tons of shops! Can't let go of just one, you cheap noble prick!
"Even as lord, you can't ignore the other nobles living in Radia like this!"
"...Hng... so greedy..."
"Greedy!? I've been fair with food industry taxes! Don't make weird exceptions!"
"Is it so wrong to give a stable income source to the Divine Beast recognized by the royals, who's out hunting Hero Eaters, Viscount?"
"Why do it that way...!"
Sheesh. I was hoping for something big, but it's just noble turf war bullshit. Why'd they split tax authority among nobles anyway? Without that, the lord would basically be king. Then, with our Seres as lord, I'd be Radia's king. I already think Radia's mine, but something still feels off.
"Snatching the lordship from Lord Albert out of nowhere, and after 20 years as an adventurer, pretending to be one again. I can't understand Countess at all."
Tsking like he's annoyed, sighing—the middle-aged noble Viscount Evid grumbled and then glared at me and Seres.
"...Tch...! If you're lord, at least act with dignity... hanging with a monster like that..."
Oh ho? This prick? I can hear you. Think mumbling makes it inaudible?
"Anyway! Stop the low-class adventurer crap! Act like a lord—manage nobles from the castle! Don't steal noble authority for no reason!"
"Low-class?"
"Yes, low-class! People should protect their home and stay inside! The further out you go, the low-class it gets!"
Huh? What?
"Bringing in monsters just increases danger! You know that too, Lady Celest—no, Lady Seres!"
Wait, what?
"Tsk...! How did Radia become some adventurer holy site...!"
Eh? What's with this guy? Stay inside the city? Going out is low-class? That's a fresh take. What is he?
"Ah~. Total boomer noble..."
"Radia still has outdated thinking like that?"
"Makes adventurers do all his errands, then talks like that? What a noble."
"Back when there were no demon beasts, maybe—but without hunting monsters, how do we survive..."
"Nobles I've met weren't like that... that uncle's probably an outcast among nobles."
"Does he know how hard it is for wall-less villages to protect themselves~?"
"That's the kinda thinking even hard to find in modern goddess church? What century is he from?"
Oh ho? Adventurers spilling some fun tea. Basically, old-school thinking that you should hole up in the city? To this viscount with that mindset, wandering adventurers look low-class? Puhuhu. Even with that outdated view, saying it where adventurers are? Brainless. And most of all...
"...Viscount Evid."
The Seres right in front of him used to be an adventurer mage. He just insulted my female?
"Saying that in front of me... how rude."
Damn right. Rude enough to kill him and it'd be justified, Seres.
"In front of someone who's lived as an adventurer... what should I do with you?"
"...My apologies, Lady Seres. I spoke too harshly..."
He knows when to bow his head. Otherwise, I'd have smashed him regardless of witnesses. Hmm... still feels unsatisfying to let it go. Can't just accept an apology for insulting my female. Gotta find a classy way to screw him over.
"...How's your wife, Viscount?"
"...? Yes, well... she's fine...?"
"Hee hee. Good. As for your business oversight authority, I'll prepare proper compensation later."
"...Thank you. But the Divine Beast seems to have several more shops... you'll need to consider the nobles involved there too."
"We'll handle that. Now stop causing a scene and go home."
"Mm... appreciated. Then I'll take my leave..."
...What? Seres, you're letting him go? Because of the crowd? Or 'cause he's noble? Either way, feels off to end it like this. Seres is staying quiet, so I can't just beat him. Damn. If the viscount rampaged more, I'd have crushed him. Shame.
"...Gahk!?"
As I turned away feeling a bit disappointed, a choking scream from the departing Viscount Evid stopped me. That was... Cecilia?
"What the— who...!! ...Lady Cecilia?"
"Huh? Oh, it's Viscount Evid."
What the? Did Cecilia just trip him? Puhuhu. When'd she sneak over there?
"Ah~ sorry, Viscount~. Your face is so ugly, I thought you were a monster~."
"!!? L-Lady! What are you...!!"
"Sorry for the mistake~. But monsters can't be in the city, right? Hee hee♡"
"What rude nonsense...!!"
Kukuku... Cecilia's too much. Even if the viscount's got a sleazy face, calling him a monster is just sad. But weird—Radians have flat, unmuscular bodies, but pretty faces. How'd he end up with that sleazy mug, Viscount?
"Can't you act more like a noble, Lady!? This is why noble heirs freak out and run from you!"
"Ah~ hear some boomer whining~"
"Y-You insolent...!! Damn countess and lady...!!"
Kukuku. If Seres hadn't whispered to watch, I'd have joined in and slapped him. Shame.
"...Hee hee... monster..."
"Now that you say it, that face kinda looks goblin-ish..."
"Pfft... hey, he's still a noble. He'll hear."
Adventurers seem pretty satisfied too. Giggling away? Puhuhu. His red face is a sight. Viscount Evid.
"...I won't forget this... Lady."
"Ah ha ha♡ Look at this weakling glaring♡ Begging to get beat♡"
"Guh, grrr...!! Y-You'll see...!!"
Trembling as he stumbles out of the guild management office into the crowd, vanishing. Something refreshing poured over my regret at letting him go. Yeah. Whatever he plans to "see," I'll let it slide for now, Viscount. His limping retreat looks so pathetic—super satisfying. Maybe enjoying it a bit too much, but whatever. For insulting my female, it was cheap payback.
Kukuku... My females held me back today, so I just watched, but next time we meet, I'll handle it personally, Viscount.
"Good job, Cecilia. Perfect."
"Hee hee♡ Thought about breaking his leg, but went easy♡ Mom and sis seem to have something planned♡"
"Kukuku. Kinda feel bad for the viscount?"
Petting her head in praise, she leaned into me with a delighted smile. It was the day a pathetic male bared his teeth at beasts, clueless of his place.