Chapter 97

In place of the collapsed Holy Tree Temple, the council meeting of the seven great nobles of the Republic, now led by the Respina family, was being held in the school's conference room.

Leria, the shaman, served as the chairperson, with Clemen standing behind her.

"Let's begin the meeting. The first agenda item is—"

In this meeting, a man slammed his fist on the table.

He is Yugo Touara Droy, the younger brother of Fernand.

He is a senior by one year to Leria, who is known for her long blonde hair.

He was to be the next head of the Fernand family.

"Why is this scum here? My brother died because of this guy!"

Yugo pointed at—Serge.

Serge, the new head of the Laurot family, became the head only because Alberk took all the blame.

All of Serge's other relatives had fled.

That's because there was nothing left in the Laurot family.

All that remained was a huge debt and the disgrace that Alberk had to bear.

Serge remained silent.

"Senior Yugo, we shouldn't be talking about this now," Leria, as the chairperson, warned.

"This is important! How many people have died because of this guy? How many noble families have been affected? How many of the Droy family's subjects have died? And look at this place—there are only five of us here despite the seven great noble families being revived! Whose fault is that?"

The revival of the Respina family.

However, the heads of the Feve and Prevan families were absent.

Narcissus, the teacher who became the head of the Grandjean family, was hiding his face with one hand.

"I suppose, by the time I became the head, there was a shortage of people everywhere."

And in the seat of the head of the Bariel family—Erik was there.

His father was severely injured.

The remaining relatives fled, unable to bear the position of head.

To get through this crisis, the vassals convinced Erik, who had sided with the kingdom during the war, to be here.

Erik was looking at some documents.

"There are nobles who want to sit in the two vacant seats, but there are also merchants who seek noble status in return for aid."

Among the nobles, there were those who loudly proclaimed that the old six great noble families were not fit to rule.

Yugo was laughing.

"That's fine. We can quickly make up the numbers. Just the numbers!"

Leria was flustered.

"S-so, we need to have a proper discussion."

"Discussion? Are you kidding us! After all the chaos you've caused, you're talking about a discussion now?!"

Yugo, who had lost his respected brother, couldn't forgive Serge and the others.

He grabbed Serge by the collar and started punching him.

"It's because of you! It's because of you that the earl got angry! Can't you even choose who to pick a fight with? You should have been the one to die!"

"Ugh!"

Serge just took the punches.

He didn't resist.

Leria looked around for help, but Narcissus didn't intervene.

"—Sorry. I've lost a lot of family too. I even lost my newly married wife. —I don't have the luxury."

Yugo continued to beat Serge until he was exhausted, and then only the sound of his heavy breathing could be heard.

After a moment of silence, Erik took control of the situation.

"Yugo, are you done? We're wasting time if we don't start the meeting soon."

"Tch! You have it easy. You're close to the Earl of Baltfort, so your position is different from ours."

Erik closed his eyes.

"—Chairperson, please start."

The current state of the Republic, where even a temporary head couldn't be gathered, was evident in this meeting.

Erik recalled his farewell with Marie.

◇

It was the day Erik was welcomed back by the vassals.

At the entrance of the mansion, Erik clung to Marie.

"Sis! What did I do wrong?!"

Marie told Erik to go back home.

To Erik, it felt like he was being abandoned.

"You're not perfect, but I'd give you a 70. You've worked hard, and I haven't given up on you."

"But! If that's the case, why tell me to 'go back'? I'm going to the kingdom too!"

Marie shrugged.

"Look at the faces of the vassals who came to get you. They look like they're about to cry."

Turning around, Erik saw the vassals on the verge of tears at his pitiful state.

"I don't care! After abandoning me, what nerve do they have to come and get me now?"

Marie punched Erik.

"You idiot!"

"Ahh, Sis!"

With teary eyes, Erik heard Marie raise her voice.

"You have a home to return to. You have a family waiting for you. What's the point of complaining? I can't even go back to my own family."

Erik looked down, and Marie yelled at the vassals in front of her.

"Why are you all looking so sad about Erik? Don't you realize how pitiful you are? You came here to ask for Erik's help, yet you're being so presumptuous. I'll have you all beaten up by my brother!"

The vassals and knights straightened their backs.

"I-I'm sorry!"

"You probably thought that by bringing back Erik, who is close to my brother, you'd be favored. But that's not going to happen. However, if you mistreat Erik, my brother will be angry. —Probably."

The vassals turned pale at the mention of Leon's name.

"T-That's not the case. We want Erik to return as the head of the Bariel family. This is also the head's wish."

"—Your intentions are too obvious. I'm very sensitive to such things."

Marie, who usually had ulterior motives, saw right through them.

Marie whispered to Erik.

"If it really doesn't work out, just say so. I'll talk to my brother for you."

"Sis, but I want to be with you."

"I'll see you whenever you want once you become a proper man. Can you abandon everyone here and live a leisurely life in the kingdom?"

Erik shook his head, and Marie patted his shoulder.

"Good! I'll acknowledge you. You're better than those five. —Do your best."

With tears in his eyes, Erik parted ways with Marie.

◇

—In the meeting.

Erik was thinking about Marie.

(Sis, watch over me. I'll become a man you can be proud of.)

Unaware of Erik's thoughts, Leria explained the agenda.

"S-so, about the quantity and price of magic stones. The amount of magic stones we have in the Republic won't last a year if we only consider domestic consumption. The energy from the Holy Tree is too little to cover everything, experts say—"

New saplings can't replace the Holy Tree.

Even in ten or twenty years, it won't change much.

Narcissus, looking at the documents, said,

"We can last about six months if we don't sell, but I'm concerned about how the neighboring countries will react."

Yugo turned away.

"What will we do after those six months? Where will we buy magic stones from?"

Leria was troubled.

"W-we'll have to buy them from outside."

"Yeah, that's right. We can't produce enough magic stones domestically, so we have to buy them. —But where will we get the money?"

Not only the compensation but also the funds for reconstruction were needed.

The Republic was in a very difficult situation.

"U-um—"

"Hey, Serge. What do you think? Got any ideas?"

Yugo turned to Serge, who was struggling.

"I think we have no choice but to sell the two vacant seats."

Yugo was delighted with Serge's answer.

"Right! Sell them to merchants and get the money. —And then we'll be sitting alongside those who have no history or achievements. Selling noble seats for money—what do you think about that?"

Serge, who was being targeted by Yugo, couldn't say anything.

Narcissus came to his aid.

"It would have been nice if we could have prepared a seat for the Earl of Baltfort, but he firmly refused."

Leria looked down.

"H-how about welcoming them as honorary nobles?"

Yugo looked at Leria.

"There's a better way. The only ones not married here are Serge, Erik— and you, shaman. It's tough on Narcissus, who just lost his wife, but you two are free. If you marry the children of merchants, you can get money from five merchants, combining the vacant seats. If you say you'll be the shaman's husband, the merchants will surely pile up the money. The wealthy old men will be overjoyed!"

Serge stood up.

"T-that—"

But he remembered he was in a position where he couldn't say anything and clenched his teeth.

"—I'll take it. I'll accept it."

Yugo didn't flinch.

"Will one person be enough? Listen, we have nothing left to sell! Thanks to some people!"

Serge, flustered and unable to respond, was helped by Erik.

"—We don't have to limit it to seven seats. We can increase the number of seats if we prepare a council. There are other ways. Also, the consumption of magic stones can last a few years if we conserve. We shouldn't waste energy like before."

Erik, who had learned to live frugally under Marie, was the most sensible in the room.

Leria nodded happily.

"T-that's right! Let's discuss that too."

Leria, relieved to have a solution, agreed with Erik's proposal.

However, Erik wasn't optimistic.

(Even if we do everything we can, it might not be enough. The key is the actions of the neighboring countries.)

Will they attack or just observe? The movements of the neighboring countries are still unclear.

◇

The day of departure for the kingdom.

At the port, a ship from the kingdom was waiting.

One of them was the family's airship.

There were also airships from the ducal families.

Ricolune was also docking.

"Huh? Dad's here? He said he hated foreign countries. And what happened to his eye?"

Dad's eye had a painful-looking bruise.

I thought maybe he had a fight with Mom, but then—

"—Leon, if you have an excuse, I'll listen. Tell me why you lied about having a secret child."

I remembered that conversation.

The reason Anje and Rivia suspected I had a sister was because they heard Marie calling me 'brother.'

In the end, Erik, who called Marie 'Sis' and me 'brother,' misunderstood it.

—Thanks, Erik.

I'll reduce the interest on the debt a bit.

"Yeah, that was a misunderstanding. Sorry, sorry."

As I apologized, Dad's punch came down, and it really hurt.

"Thanks to you, there's a war at home! When you get back, you better explain to Mom! Got it, absolutely!"

Holding the place where I was hit,

"O-Okay—sorry."

As I endured the pain, Dad's expression turned serious.

"Also—how are you doing?"

"What do you mean?"

"Sometimes it hits you later. You act carefree, but you secretly worry, which is why I'm concerned."

—Some people kill and worry later.

I've heard that.

Even trained soldiers find it tough, they say.

I received counseling from Luxion and Claire, but—has it been effective? I wake up less often in the middle of the night.

"I'm not fine, but I'm managing."

"Got it—don't go to war for a while. Enjoy your school life. You can only have fun now."

I should be praised more for working so hard during this important student life.

"It's not my fault, but troubles keep coming to me."

"Look at my face, which you made a mess of. Say that again."

"It's not my fault, but troubles keep coming to me."

Dad's face turned red, and I got another punch.

Then, Anje and Rivia came down from the docked Ricolune.

"Leon!"

"Mr. Leon!"

"You two look good."

As I smiled, Dad muttered, "Why do I have to be suspected of cheating when this guy is the one who cheated?"

Hey, that's not fair!

—I didn't cheat.

◇

Near the noisy Leon and the others.

Marie was sitting on her travel bag.

Swinging her legs,

"It was a tough study abroad. Actually, I feel like I only worked in the second half."

Looking back, the six months in the Republic of Alzer were more about trouble than studying.

Especially this month, I was busy taking care of the busy Leon and the others.

Carla also looked tired.

"But, Marie-sama, you're returning at an awkward time."

"Yeah. I'm worried about failing a year. Oh, if I fail, I can stay another year at school!"

Kairu brought her back to reality.

"No, you'll be confined when you return. After all, you were exiled for your studies."

"—Oh."

Marie, remembering that, held her head as Erik ran over.

"Sis!"

Marie, with a sigh, went to Erik.

Erik was crying without caring about the surroundings, so Marie was comforting him.

"I worked hard today too!"

"Good, good, keep it up."

Carla sighed.

"Erik-kun, I thought you'd stay on this side, but you're going back home."

Kairu, with his hands on his hips, looked disappointed but said,

"At least you can go home. I don't have a home."

I can't return to the elf village.

As I thought that—

"Ah, Kairu! Finally, I can see you!"

An elf woman jumped on Kairu.

Yumelia, the maid employed by Leon's family.

"Mom!"

The small, fluffy elf woman was happy to see Kairu.

"Kairu, are you well?"

"Why are you here! What about your work!?"

Yumelia put her hands on her hips and puffed out her chest.

Her large chest jiggled.

"Hehe! This time, I was told by the lord to work on the airship! And I came to deliver a message to the earl!"

She was proudly showing off her work.

Kairu, blushing, said, "S-so."

"The earl is over there."

Pointing to Leon, who was being hugged by Rivia and Anje, Yumelia blushed.

"I didn't want to be a bother."

"That's true."

She seemed to be being considerate of Leon.

Near Leon, a young man was also being considerate.

—Jean.