Chapter 78
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Exciting Picnic
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Approximately one month had passed since I proposed the creation of the 5th Knight Order to Mother and the new main quest scenario began.
"Young Master~! You're so gallant today too!"
"You look like a proper teenage boy now~?"
"For someone who just turned ten! Hehe."
As I walked down the mansion corridor, listening to the chatter from the three acting head maids who were trailing behind me in place of Schwarz—who had been assigned to an external mission for the past month—I quietly frowned and sank into thought.
'This won't do.'
A month. It was a period that felt short if short, long if long, but even so, quite a few events had unfolded in Belverk.
The biggest change of all was none other than the fact that my faction, Kairen's, had finally begun to take shape.
"Alright, enough. Stop following me."
About a month ago, Mother had officially granted me 'personnel authority' over the servants during the vassal meeting.
Surprisingly, even Lilien didn't possess that authority. Apparently, it was a privilege tacitly given to Belverk's prospective heirs as they began building their own factions.
And what that signified was a declaration—and acknowledgment—that a new variable had emerged in Belverk's longstanding three-way battle for the next family head.
To put it more simply: Belverk's people who wanted to back me as the next head no longer had to glance nervously at Mother; they could now openly join my side.
"Young Master~! Don't be like that—let's play!"
"Hide-and-seek like last time?"
"And just so you know, you're 'it' again!"
For instance, the three acting head maids doggedly following me right now were the very first servants to defect to the 'Kairen faction.'
And they weren't the only ones. Before long, most of the maids—excluding those uninterested in internal politics—had joined my faction.
'Honestly, I can only chalk it up to luck.'
Not to boast, but Lilien sis had a temperament that made her a bit too prickly to support as family head.
And Uriel sis—one of the top candidates—still showed no signs of reclaiming the command authority over her knight order that she'd delegated to me.
In the blink of an eye, Belverk's succession landscape had split into the Kairen faction—with me at the helm—and the Eldest Daughter faction.
As a result, a structure had naturally formed where anyone who didn't favor the Eldest Daughter had no choice but to side with me, reliable or not.
That's why I knew full well: this wasn't a faction built purely on my own prestige and abilities. It was the product of coincidence, luck, and Mother's assistance.
And since I had no intention of settling for that, I couldn't afford to rest on my laurels. It was time to start seriously cultivating my own true confidants...
"Whine... Young Master's been so cold lately."
"Yeah! He's been acting weird! Though he's still cute..."
"No way it's puberty already...?"
I was walking with a grave expression when the acting trio suddenly started ruffling my hair wildly, causing me to pout and come to a halt.
'I'm a legitimate contender for family head now, so why does the treatment feel exactly the same?'
Come to think of it, the members of my faction that I'd identified so far were mostly maid sisters.
Could it be these people... no, these demons... hadn't joined due to intricate political calculations or inevitable currents? What if they'd simply enlisted so they could pet me without restraint?
"...Of course that's exactly it."
I was entertaining that somewhat chilling notion and taking a step forward when a cold mutter drifted from ahead.
"In that state, even smiling must feel like an ordeal, like chewing dirt..."
I paused momentarily and spotted Artel muttering something incomprehensible as usual. Smiling, I waved.
"Ah, Lady Artel."
A month prior, Lady Sigrune—who had sworn to repay her debt to me—and Lady Ranya—who had begged me not to tell her teacher—had both left Belverk.
But surprisingly, Lady Artel alone had insisted on staying in the mansion to receive knight training here in Belverk.
"How's the apprentice knight training going?"
"......"
"You have the skills to serve in the 1st Knight Order right away, yet you're going through the apprentice process anyway..."
Of course, most had initially viewed her with suspicion. But now, after a month, more and more were sensing her sincerity and coming around.
I mean, even I'd probably shake my head if someone with real talent told me to start from the absolute bottom.
Yet Lady Artel—who had declared her intent to become my knight that day—had made exactly that her goal, true to her word.
"Young Master, don't smile!"
"Your smile will wear out!"
I was smiling warmly for a moment when the maid trio frantically covered my eyes and mouth with their hands, raising their voices.
"...You don't have to put on such a strained act in front of me."
And amid that scene, Artel quietly passed by my side, murmuring to herself.
"But if that's your choice..."
"...?"
"...I'll stand by your side, just like that."
She muttered it without meeting my eyes, her face a picture of misery, before bowing her head and heading toward the training grounds.
'Now she's got me worried...'
She seemed to be hiding something, but right now, there was somewhere I needed to hurry to even more.
'...Though the more pressing matter is right in front of me anyway.'
For some reason, a summons had gone out simultaneously to me, my sisters, and all the mansion servants.
'Did she find a lead on the black curtain? Or...'
Entertaining such hopes, I cautiously opened the door to the office.
'...Huh?'
For some reason, the first thing I saw upon entering was Schwarz, who had been away on external duty for the past month or so.
"Schwarz sis. When did you get back?"
I greeted her happily, but then Mother's chilling voice came from ahead.
"Kairen. Take your seat."
"...Ah, yes."
"Save the chit-chat for later."
Her tone was as gentle as ever, but for some reason, Mother's voice carried an uncharacteristic sticky murderous intent.
"Rookie, get over here quick."
"Sorry, but the situation's a bit serious right now?"
Realizing that, I shrank back involuntarily. Lilien and Uriel sis—who sat flanking Mother with grave expressions—gestured urgently for me to come.
"What's going on that everyone's so serious?"
I swiftly dashed to my seat beside Mother and posed the question. Schwarz, standing before us, bowed her head and spoke.
"...Then, allow me to report once more."
Surprisingly, even Schwarz wore an uncharacteristically serious expression and tone, suggesting this was no trivial matter...
"Lady Edelrasia has entered Belverk territory."
"...!"
"Accompanied by all northern forces."
I gulped dryly amid such thoughts, then widened my eyes at her shocking follow-up.
'I haven't even prepared for rebellion, let alone solidified my faction?'
Thanks to System sis's warning, I'd anticipated some rebellion or equivalent upheaval targeting Belverk soon.
But that was just a rough guess from fragmented info. I hadn't expected the Eldest Daughter's faction to move this quickly. What a disaster.
"Was this coordinated with the Harkfrit family?"
"No. Confirmed as a unilateral treaty violation."
"...I see."
As I broke into a cold sweat with those thoughts, Mother posed a cold question to Schwarz—then her eyes suddenly flushed red.
"In that case, there's only one possible objective for the march."
By then, the office's sunken atmosphere was so thick with killing intent that no one would believe this was a gathering of people who usually treated me kindly.
"All present, listen well."
In that menacing air, Mother slowly scanned the room before issuing a low declaration.
"As of this moment, Belverk enters a wartime footing."
With those words, Belverk's brief peace shattered, swept once more into turbulent waves.
About an hour later. Mist Forest, near Belverk territory.
"Hey. Bones."
"...Bones?"
"Hehehe. Take a good look."
The 2nd Knight Captain—standing at the forest entrance, which Astridje had nearly turned into a wasteland during Kairen's runaway incident—jabbed the 3rd Knight Captain beside him and spoke up.
"5, 4... BUUUUURP!"
"Fuck. At it again?"
"Uahaha. Orc-style belch. Whaddya think?"
The 2nd Knight Captain laughed heartily after venting his gas refreshingly, while the 3rd spat curses in utter revulsion.
"If you're gonna do that, why count down...? Never mind."
The 3rd shook his head with a sigh before sharpening his gaze ahead.
"More importantly, we should focus on what's coming."
And sure enough, just as he said—human presences suddenly emanated from beyond the entrance.
"3rd Knight Order. Assume alert posture."
"Eh? Uh... Comrades! Time to fight!"
"Are you insane? Just have them arm up."
The 3rd Knight Captain smoothly commanded his unit as if expecting this, then leaped to his feet at the order from beside him, raising his voice.
"Please. This is the critical part."
"...Is it?"
"Yes. These intruders are surely scouts probing for intel."
As he glared at the barely calmed orc unit and murmured lowly while eyeing the approaching intruders...
"We must avoid rash combat, of course—but depending on circumstances, force may be unavoidable..."
"...Hey there!"
A rather youthful voice suddenly rang out from the entrance.
"2nd and 3rd Knight Orders—listen up!"
The two captains raised their heads at the boyish voice, recognized the youth leading the group, and promptly broke into cold sweats.
"So, uh..."
"...that's what you say."
Meanwhile, Kairen—glaring at them with the fiercest expression he could muster—stuttered briefly before receiving a prompt from Uriel beside him.
"State your reason for marching without permission, or face punishment!"
Finally squeezing his eyes shut and blurting it out defiantly, he lifted his chin proudly toward the army before him.
"Heard that? You problem children."
"Your words and actions here could label you traitors on the spot?"
And from Kairen's flanks, Lilien and Uriel—quietly reddening their eyes—issued chilling threats almost in unison.
"Well... no helping it, then."
In the brief silence following those words, the 3rd Knight Captain sighed softly and whispered lowly to the dazed 2nd beside him.
"Looks like we need to fetch our liege."
"Ah, got it!"
The 2nd Knight Captain nodded frantically before turning his back toward the forest's heart—where Belverk's Eldest Daughter and their liege awaited.
"Wait. But. Liege right now. In excited state. Right?"
"...Please."
"U, uuh..."
Of course, even for a sturdy orc like her, there was no guarantee of returning alive from the monstrous Eldest Daughter unscathed—but given the situation, it was unavoidable.
- BAM! BAM! BAM!
How much time had passed?
"L-Liege...!"
The 2nd Knight Captain—who had sprinted to the forest's heart using every ounce of strength—finally spotted the Eldest Daughter and panted out in a strained voice.
"A p-problem's ar...!"
But just then, something slammed into the ground near the Eldest Daughter.
"...Huh?"
In the next instant, a massive tree stump grazed past her cheek.
- KABOOOM!!!
The forest filled with a massive roar. The 2nd Knight Captain—standing there stunned—turned ashen despite her bulk and began to stammer.
"S-So, sorr-sorry for interrupting! B-But...!"
"......"
"C-Come. Over. H-Here. We n-need to t-talk!"
She barely finished while caressing the bruise—that had pierced even tough orc hide—left by the grazing stump.
"...Kuiik!"
As the Eldest Daughter lowered her stance and slowly rose amid an eerie aura, the 2nd Knight Captain finally shrieked in terror and bolted in the opposite direction.
"......"
In the ensuing silence, the Eldest Daughter—who had stood motionless in icy quiet—finally turned her head.
"Mmph?"
She set down the hammer in her hand and tilted her head blankly, mouth gagged.
"...Me?"
She spat out the gag in her mouth, pointed at herself, and asked in bewilderment—but the 2nd Knight Captain was already fleeing far away, no chance to reply.
"...?"
She scratched her head briefly before happily resuming her hammering on the picnic tent foundation she'd left behind—and trotted after the 2nd Knight Captain.