Something or Other, the Southern Viscount
Something or Other, the Southern Viscount
I was reincarnated.
No, should I call it possession?
"Hmm."
It's not like I left a 5,700-character comment for a web novel author.
I didn't get hit by a truck.
I didn't make a wish to a god, either.
I just went to sleep and woke up in some fantasy world.
"The Silberg Family, huh."
The fortunate thing is.
It's not a world I'm completely unfamiliar with.
Familiar family names and locations.
After examining various circumstances, I realized that this place I possessed was the world of a novel I had known before.
The title was probably 'Tactics of the Northern Grand Duke in a Romance Fantasy', right?
I didn't know it in great detail, but I remember it being a romance fantasy novel where the protagonist, a Northern Grand Duke, and the heroine, a hero, were all lovey-dovey.
Since I read it a few years ago, I couldn't remember the specifics, but thanks to having read it to the end, I remembered the general flow.
"It was a novel that felt average—not a masterpiece, but not a disaster either."
And 'Leon Silberg', whom I possessed, was a character who briefly passed through the middle of the novel.
His entire existence was just playing the role of someone who obediently lends money to the letters sent by the protagonist, the Northern Grand Duke, and the hero to borrow war funds.
Even then.
If it weren't for the fact that his face was drawn on the corner of the main cover and he had the strong characteristic of being a 'slit-eyed character', he would be a person whose description would end at 'Ah, that something-or-other Viscount from the South who lent money in that novel back then'.
In other words.
He's an extra who can't even be called a supporting character.
But it wasn't bad.
No,
"Actually, this is great!"
The original novel was quite hardcore, unlike a typical romance fantasy.
Blood-splattering descriptions were standard, and even the protagonist often had his limbs cut off.
The heroine, a hero, was even rolled through the mud, captured by Northern barbarians, had her limbs cut off, and was only saved by the male lead right before being ravished.
Just reading the text was enough to make one feel devastated.
Experience that firsthand?
No way.
In that sense, becoming an extra in this world was actually lucky.
In my previous life, I also pursued peace rather than fierce conflict.
Moreover, the Silberg Family's territory was located in the South, the exact opposite side of the North, and on top of that, the title was a low-ranking Viscountcy.
Not a Duke, Marquess, or Count.
It's the kind of noble rank that fits perfectly for a character who just passes by in most novels.
Because of that, the Silberg Family was far from power struggles.
"And in the midst of that, I'm the only one in the family."
To top it off.
Because most of the blood relatives died out due to internal strife in the past, I was the only one in the family using the name Silberg.
There was no one to say anything to me.
In other words, it's the optimal environment to pursue peace.
So I decided.
If things go according to the original work anyway, the protagonists will solve all the big events.
"I'll live comfortably, so you guys handle the North yourselves. If you need anything, I'll just lend you some money."
For extreme peace.
I will do nothing!
...That's what I decided.
A few months have passed since the possession.
And now, I am....
"I'm bored."
I was feeling extreme boredom.
Well, just because I pursued peace didn't mean I didn't do anything.
I still dug through books to find out what kind of place this world was, and I tried things like horseback riding or swordsmanship, which were hard to do in my previous life.
But maybe because they weren't my original hobbies, they weren't fun at all.
After that, I just played.
Since it's a wealthy family, there was quite a lot of money, so there was no problem with indulging in luxury.
In the first place, there was no one to say anything even if I did.
I drank and gambled.
Like a typical romance fantasy, most card games weren't much different from my previous life, so it wasn't difficult to fit in.
But how should I put it.
Whether it's because Leon Silberg's luck is good.
Or because it's a game against a noble family, so other players are going easy on me, I don't know, but since I kept winning too easily, I lost interest.
The problem is, there should at least be the fun of earning money.
Since it's a game against commoners, the stakes are low, so this also became boring.
Only then could I understand why those who possess bodies in web novels do all sorts of stupid things.
"It's fucking boring."
Write a novel.
Go on an adventure.
If that doesn't work, invent something.
I guess it's because they feel like they'll go crazy if they don't do something, so that's how it ends up.
But I have no intention of doing that.
In fact, there was no need to.
In this romance fantasy world, most amenities were already equipped under the name of magic, and I didn't have the ability to develop anything.
And what if I started something and it interfered with the main story?
Since I was harboring such thoughts, I naturally didn't have the courage to do anything.
'Let's stay quiet until the main story ends' was my motto.
I didn't want to unnecessarily deviate from that and make things complicated.
However.
"I'm bored...."
It was so boring I felt like I was going crazy.
Rolling around is only possible for a day or two, but repeating it every day made me feel like I was losing my mind.
I needed dopamine, even if it was something small.
But then.
"Master, an invitation to a party from the Lugner Earldom has arrived, what should I do?"
"Another invitation? Hmm...."
A maid came to find me with an invitation.
A nearby territory.
It was an invitation to a party from the Lugner Earldom, one of the influential families in the South.
"It doesn't even say what the purpose of the party is."
Actually, I had received invitations often since the possession.
Things like the social debut of that family's young lady.
Or VIP invitations related to territory festivals.
At first, I tried to go to all of them.
Even if I was clumsy with noble manners, new experiences weren't bad.
Plus, since boring days continued, I also thought I needed some other stimulation.
But I had never responded to such invitations until now.
The reason was simple.
"It's written similarly this time too."
An invitation written in long-winded noble language.
The problem was that the last sentence always made me reluctant to choose.
「We are concerned that we might cause you inconvenience due to insufficient preparation for the event. Nevertheless, we would be grateful if you could spare the time to come, but as we do not intend to cause any shortcomings, we would be grateful if you could carefully decide on your attendance and send us your response.」
Twisted here and there, and unnecessarily long sentences.
At first, I had to look it up because I wondered what this meant.
And the truth I found out.
It's an expression often used in invitations sent out of courtesy by people who don't want the other person to visit.
In other words, writing it like that on the invitation meant.
"It means don't come."
That was it.
"Then I will reply with an intention not to attend."
"...Yeah."
Because of that, whenever such invitations came until now... I just sent a reply saying I wouldn't attend.
So I was going to do that this time too.
"Wait a minute."
"Yes?"
But thinking about it, I wondered if there was a need to do that.
Anyway, sending an invitation in that way meant.
From the perspective of the Lugner Earldom, I wasn't someone worth worrying about that much.
Plus, unlike the previous various invitations sent by nobles with similar ranks.
It was an invitation from a Count.
A Count is above a Viscount.
If it's a nearby territory, in terms of jurisdiction, it's effectively a higher-ranking area.
"I'll attend."
"...Yes? Really?"
"Yeah. So send a reply saying I'll go."
"Seriously... ah, no. You must have your reasons. Understood."
"?"
So, going to say hello once.
It wouldn't be bad.
Rather, if a nearby lower-ranking noble politely greets him, couldn't he leave a good impression on the Count?
It's good to get along with neighbors.
While I'm at it, I can blow away this boredom too.
Hehe.
Yeah. Should I go get some fresh air while I'm at it?
Meanwhile, at the Lugner Earldom.
"What did you say just now?"
The head of the family.
Theo Lugner was standing in the middle of his office.
He had a bewildered expression.
The reason was simple.
"...Viscount Silberg says he will come to the party."
It was because shocking news had been delivered.
Theo picked his ear, wondering if he had misheard.
As if he had heard something he shouldn't have.
He even repeatedly ran his hand through his hair.
But soon,
after seeing the letter delivered by his subordinate, he had to accept that what he heard was true.
"Why...! Did you hear the reason?"
"No. I only heard the news that he would attend, I didn't hear the reason."
"You should have heard it somehow!!"
Theo rebuked his subordinate with a shout.
But he also knew.
The current situation must have been something the subordinate couldn't have anticipated either.
"...I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault... I didn't think for a second that the Silberg Viscountcy would show an intention to attend either. Perhaps... we didn't send the invitation to the wrong person, did we?"
"No... it's not. The invitation I sent with the reply came back, and I rechecked, but I sent it with the same phrases we usually send."
"...Yeah. I suppose so. I write the letters sent to the Silberg Family myself, and you guys are supposed to review them several times... so there wouldn't have been such a mistake. I understand. You may leave...."
Realizing that getting angry now was just a waste of time and wouldn't be an alternative, the Count hurriedly sent his subordinate out.
At the same time, he ordered.
"So, check again. There's no way Viscount Silberg would just attend. Examine everything from the beginning, down to the smallest detail regarding the party! And inform His Highness!"
"How should I inform him?"
"...Just tell him as it is. That Viscount Silberg is attending the party we are hosting! Hurry! Send a wyvern or whatever it takes to inform him as soon as possible!"
"Yes. Understood!"
The back of the subordinate running away.
Following this, his daughter, who had been waiting in front of the door, entered Theo's office with a worried expression.
"Father...."
"...Sonia."
As if she had heard the shouting from outside.
Seeing his daughter's dark expression, Theo had no choice but to drop his head with a bitter expression.
Watching her father like that.
Sonia approached him with a forced smile.
"It's okay. It's that 'Silberg Family'. The party isn't important right now. So don't worry about it."
"I'm sorry, Sonia. I just wanted to throw a small party for your birthday... why would the Silberg Family... sigh...."
"It's okay, Dad. It's really okay. So... you don't have to be sorry."
The father and daughter comforted each other's hearts with concern for one another.
At the same time, they put their heads together and agonized.
Why.
They had to know why the Silberg Family wanted to attend the party.
The reason was simple.
"Because... it's the 'Silberg Family'."
"Yes. Definitely. It won't be for no reason!"
It was because of the meaning the Silberg Family held.