Maybe I'll Abuse My Power a Little
I decided not to call out Alex for what was basically an act of lèse-majesté. Anyone could see that Count Dunkest was a walking disaster. The man was practically siding with the demon army and terrorizing humanity.
“Humanity is finished. No one can stop the demon army’s advance. This is information only I know—something I heard through the count’s connections… The hero party’s current strength is nowhere near enough to defeat the demon army. The moment the border falls, Lydorphia will be reduced to rubble in the blink of an eye. When that happens, even the nobles will be dragged off as slaves to the demons.”
The count smirked as if none of this had anything to do with him. He looked utterly detestable.
“Um… Werther oppa.”
Vanessa timidly tugged at my sleeve.
“I was debating whether to say anything, but… the name of the count who put a slave brand on Vanessa is…”
“Dunkest?”
I’d already more or less figured it out. Ever since she saw that bastard, Vanessa had been clinging to me like glue, refusing to leave my side.
“In other words, humanity has already lost!”
“That son of a bitch is talking like he’s proud of it.”
Alex ground his teeth, glaring at Count Dunkest with pure hatred. The words were muttered low among the crowd, but if they’d reached the count’s ears, it would have been dangerous enough to get him in serious trouble.
“Hey. Is it really okay to say something like that?”
“I volunteered as a soldier to protect humanity. As a military man, absolute obedience to superiors is a core principle, but Count Dunkest’s motives are highly suspicious. Did he really gather people to root out the demon army? He boasted that he had a way to identify them, yet here he is openly siding with the demons.”
Alex’s concerns proved painfully accurate.
The very next moment, the nonsense Count Dunkest shouted to the entire plaza was more than enough to plunge everyone into fear and bewilderment.
Declaration of Surrender
📍 To the residents of my domain: We shall voluntarily surrender to the demon army.
🎁 Benefit: Not only will we survive, but we have received a covenant granting us dominion over other humans.
📜 Status: As my subjects, you shall stand above outsiders.
“Don’t make me laugh! Count Dunkest! Are you planning to betray humanity and His Majesty?!”
“Who was it that just twisted my profound intentions with such frivolous words?”
“I am Alex Bourbon! Count! By what right does a mere vassal like you offer up the kingdom’s territory on your own?!”
“Oh? So it’s the second son of the Bourbon family, the one with no claim to succession. A fake noble with no real title, and yet you dare…”
“Huh?”
Alex’s righteous outburst produced an unexpected result.
Count Dunkest spotted a woman trembling near Alex. He blinked like a bloated pufferfish, then began waddling over in a frantic hurry. He shoved through the crowd with his hands, swimming toward Vanessa.
Which meant he was charging straight at me.
“Vanessa! Vanessa! Ooooh, my Vanessa! My adorable little songbird! How I’ve regretted losing you! Did you feel ashamed after taking money from your father and suddenly disappearing? I won’t lose you again!”
“W-Werther oppa… help me…”
Vanessa clung tightly to my back, wrapping her arms around me. Come to think of it, Jiwon used to do the same thing—sneaking in a back hug like this whenever she wanted something she knew I wouldn’t agree to. Not that I’m equating Vanessa with Jiwon. Jiwon’s about two hundred times cuter, after all.
“Hahaha, what an adorable little thing you are, Vanessa. Who are you asking for help? I’m your master, aren’t I? The Demon King promised to make me the new king of Lydorphia. When that day comes, I’ll take you as my concubine. Of course, you won’t have any right to refuse. You’ve got my brand on you. If it weren’t for the Guardian Duke’s protection, I would have kidnapped you immediately. Hahaha. I’m so glad I found you. Come to me at once.”
“Vanessa is no longer Your Lordship’s slave. She has new comrades now.”
“Comrades? You mean this beanpole?”
I’m not tall—you’re just short.
“Hahaha. Comrades with a slave? Clearly your education is still lacking. Very well. I’ll retrain you from the beginning. Father treated you far too humanely. I’m much better at slave education than he was. First, I’ll cut off your ears, reattach them, and cut them off again. That torture will break your rebellious spirit.”
“Ouch! Let go of Vanessa’s hair!”
“A slave giving orders to her master?! You ran away from my embrace—by rights I could cut your throat right now and you wouldn’t have a word to say! Know your place! I am a count!!”
“Hey. Get your hands off her.”
“Hm? What the—ugh…”
Count Dunkest, with his stupidly protruding belly and a body that clearly never saw exercise, twisted pathetically the moment I grabbed his wrist. I had no intention of playing hero, but for now Vanessa was a member of my party until we found the Rune of Resurrection. Besides, what this bastard was doing was disgusting to anyone with eyes.
“You bastard… how dare you lay a hand on me? Do you even know who I am?!”
“You’re the traitor trying to sell out humanity to the demon army. Yeah, I know exactly who you are.”
“Heh heh… I’m also the count who rules this entire region.”
“Whatever. Vanessa has paid a fair price and is now a free woman. Stop drooling and get lost. Before I beat the shit out of you.”
“What? Beat the shit out of me? Heh heh… kuhahaha!! Puhahahahaha!!!”
What a vulgar laugh.
“This is why ignorant commoners are so—! Have you ever heard of the Eagle Knights?”
When Dunkest lifted a pocket watch engraved with an eagle, the crowd shrank back in terror. Even Alex took a step back. That was how powerful its effect was.
“As long as I have this, every imperial soldier must obey my commands!”
“Are you stupid? Who the hell would follow orders from a traitor selling out humanity?”
“You’re the stupid one. This pocket watch isn’t just a political tool—it’s a kind of gear enchanted with the highest level of magic. Soldiers of lower rank than the Eagle Knight Commander have no choice but to obey, regardless of their own will. For example, that insolent Alex over there…”
Dunkest shoved the watch toward Alex with a sneer that perfectly matched his ugly face.
“Kneel, Alex Bourbon!”
“D-Damn it…!”
Alex seemed to resist for a moment, but in the end he bowed before the count like a proper knight. It really did have a compulsion effect.
“Apologize to me for your insolent drivel.”
“I-I’m sorry… Y-Your Lordship… ugh!!”
“Kuhahahahaha!!!”
Everyone present witnessed the miserable sight of a handsome young noble kneeling before a decrepit old count. Most of them were nobles who had come to the resort. If they all turned traitor, humanity would suffer a devastating blow.
Count Dunkest raised the pocket watch high toward the sky and shouted so everyone could hear.
“Hiiik! Vanessa worked desperately to save money because she hated that toad-faced count so much!”
The soldiers drew their swords in unison and began threatening innocent citizens. They weren’t doing it willingly. It was as if they were marionettes being controlled by a puppeteer, moving against their will.
“P-Please stop! I’ll do whatever you say, just put the swords away!”
“I-I will also obey the count’s words! I am a marquis of the Aurelia Kingdom! D-Don’t kill me!”
“The children have nothing to do with this!”
Nobles who were used to being protected quickly surrendered in the face of immediate violence.
“Kuhahaha!! This is why you need to be quick on the uptake! You have to read the direction of power if you want to survive. Hey, beanpole. Have you finally figured out the situation? Aren’t you sorry for twisting my wrist?”
“Not even a little.”
“Khh. Last bit of bravado? Or are you just too stupid to understand the situation? Can’t you see this pocket watch? This is power itself! The eagle emblem engraved here is the symbol of the ruling class! With a single word from me, trash like you can disappear without a trace!!”
“Hmm, is that so?”
“Heh heh. If you want forgiveness, hand Vanessa over immediately, lick my feet, and shake your ass. Make your apology as pathetic as possible. If you entertain me with some clownish antics, I might spare your life.”
“That’s not going to happen, Dunkest. I’m not in the mood to forgive you that easily.”
“What? Who’s forgiving who? What kind of nonsense are you—…”
Dunkest’s gaze—and the eyes of every noble and soldier in the plaza—locked onto the Lydorphia imperial crest. The pocket watch I had taken out from my coat instantly seized control of the entire atmosphere.
“…Guh… ugh…”
The count’s pig-like squeal was a bit irritating, but I opened the watch’s cover and showed everyone the Guardian Duke’s mark engraved on the back.
The count’s mouth fell open so wide his jaw looked ready to hit the ground. I could see Jack, the hotel counter clerk, among the crowd. His face had gone deathly pale, as if he’d seen a ghost. He looked like he was about to faint.
Ah. So this is what power feels like.
The way people look at me has changed completely.
“Hey, Dunkest. What do you think you need to do to earn my forgiveness?”
“Th-The Guardian Duke’s mark… w-why does s-someone like you, a p-pauper… n-no, how could you possibly possess that symbol?”
It was far too late to start acting polite now.
Time to see for myself just how sweet the taste of power really is.