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098 The
Meeting
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Translator : PolterGlast
I pointed to
Gandarvan, who had raised his hand. "Please speak freely and
honestly," I said. Gandarvan nodded.
"To be frank,
Master, your promotion is what we desire," Gandarvan stated honestly. It
truly was honest. That makes it easier for me to decide, and it helps.
"Master is
already a Baron, permitted to pass your title down to your descendants.
Therefore, Master's promotion would benefit your descendants, and we would also
feel even greater purpose," Gandarvan explained.
"I see... If
there's anything else you wish to say, now's the time. Even if it's about
rewards other than promotion, it's fine. I will decide what is possible or
impossible, good or bad. Say anything you wish. I swear I will not punish you
for anything you say," I promised.
"Thank you,
Master. Since you put it that way, I shall speak my mind without
reservation," Gandarvan replied.
"Y-yeah... but be
gentle, please," I stammered, feeling a little nervous. I haven't been
doing any power harassment or sexual harassment, have I? I think I'm okay on
that front, but I'm not going to stop bathing with Anneliese.
"Master's actions
and thoughts are contradictory," Gandarvan stated.
"Contradictory?"
I asked.
"Master has a
personality that dislikes standing out, but what you do is very noticeable. To
be honest, since you've been doing things so spectacularly, His Excellency the
Duke and Her Royal Highness the Princess have no choice but to bestow
rewards," Gandarvan explained. So it's because of my actions, huh... I
kind of knew that, but hearing it directly is a bit disheartening. So, I've
been causing trouble even though I didn't want to? I wasn't very aware of it,
but now that he says it, many things come to mind...
"So, you're
saying it's only natural for me to accept promotion as a reward, given my
actions?" I asked.
"Precisely so,
Master," Gandarvan affirmed.
"How about the
rest of you?" I prompted. Bath raised his hand.
"Master's
promotion gives us a greater sense of purpose. If possible, we wish for Master
to continue to advance," Bath stated. Everyone agreed with Bath's opinion.
Of course. Being able to call themselves retainers of a Viscount or Count would
certainly carry more prestige than being a Baron's retainer.
"Ah, can I say
something too?" Yamato interjected.
"Wh-what is it,
Yamato?" I wanted to say I hadn't asked him, but since he was present...
"Why not get
territory if you're going to get promoted anyway? That way, you might be used
less by the Duke and Princess," Yamato suggested.
"That is a good
idea. Master would make a good lord," Gandarvan agreed.
"I also
agree," Jojok added. Gandarvan and the others nodded vigorously. It's bad
that everyone is vigorously agreeing, but I'm reluctant to even accept
promotion, so territory is out of the question. What is that, is it tasty? I
didn't make a silly joke, but it seemed like a hassle.
"Having territory
means Master would be like a king in that land," Gandarvan explained. A
Baron or Viscount as a king? Is it okay to say such a thing?
"We, too, would
dedicate our lives to protecting the territory and its people," Gandarvan
added. Thanks to Yamato, Gandarvan's "on" switch had been flipped.
Everyone was nodding vigorously. This meant everyone wanted me to get territory
as a reward...
"This is
unrelated to the reward, but may I ask one more thing?" Gandarvan still
had more to say. If he says too much, I might cry.
"I'm kind of
scared, but... tell me," I replied. I would listen, just listen. I would
just cry into my pillow alone later.
"Allow me to
speak without reservation. We, your retainers, wish for you to formally take
Lady Anneliese as your wife. This is the wish of all your retainers,"
Gandarvan stated.
"O-oh..."
Everyone nodded
vigorously. Is this the place to say that? Well, for retainers, my marriage
might be a matter of considerable interest.
Anneliese was
blushing, looking down. That's right. It's about time I steeled myself and
proposed to Anneliese. I'm a man; when it's time to do it, I have to do it.
"Um, can I say
something too...?" Itsukushima-san asked timidly.
"Oh, sure, go
ahead, Itsukushima-san," I replied.
"I feel like I've
only been helped by Toi-kun and haven't been able to give anything back,"
she said.
"That's not true.
Itsukushima-san takes care of the children without complaint and teaches them.
And you also make potions and other things, don't you?" I countered.
"That's just
doing what's expected to live in this mansion. And I enjoy taking care of the
children... But I'm being protected by Toi-kun, yet I haven't repaid anything.
So, I want you to give me something I can do, some work," she insisted. I
thought taking care of children was very difficult. So Itsukushima-san was
contributing enough. She taught Lilith and Sodon, and the other children, so
that alone was truly sufficient. But she probably didn't think so. I hoped her
earnest personality wasn't pushing herself too hard.
"I'll think about
your work, Itsukushima-san. And Yamato, you too."
"Eh? Me
too?" Yamato asked.
"You've been
playing around more, haven't you?" I teased.
"That's mean!
I've been working so hard!" Yamato protested.
"Ignore Yamato.
I'll think about Itsukushima-san's work," I stated.
"Okay. Thank
you," Itsukushima-san replied.
"Ignoring me is
mean!" Yamato complained.
Now, leaving Itsukushima-san's
work for later, should I accept territory as a reward...? My acquiring
territory would give my retainers a sense of purpose. I hadn't faced such
things before, but perhaps I needed to seriously consider it. And then... about
Anneliese too.
***
I dismissed everyone,
and I was left alone. I wanted to think slowly, by myself. Acquiring territory
meant I couldn't escape this country. That meant it wouldn't be good for my
true identity to be exposed.
"Did that
appraiser not report my job to the Princess? Did he report it, but the Princess
is feigning ignorance? I don't understand why the Princess would feign
ignorance, but I also don't understand why the appraiser wouldn't report my
job. What does it mean?"
He reported my unique
skills, didn't he? Then why didn't he report my job? Could it be that
Reincarnated Hero isn't that important? Am I overreacting, and Reincarnated
Hero isn't a big deal to the Princess? If I think about it that way, I can
understand the Princess's response... Is that really true?
After receiving
territory, I couldn't very well run away. Ah, but... I'm already leading many
retainers and slaves, so in terms of situation, accepting territory wouldn't
change much?
"If I receive
territory, Gandarvan and the others will be happy..." I imagined
everyone's happy faces. The flow seemed to be towards receiving territory.
Alright, I'm a man!
Let's receive some territory! And since Gandarvan and the others wanted
territory, I'll make them work hard!
"Regarding the
reward, it will be promotion and territory. If asked for anything else, I have
no idea how to answer."
The responsibility
towards my retainers, huh? I'd just been rushing through things without
thinking much about that. How should I deal with it? I'm struggling to get my thoughts
together.
I'll change my mood
and think about Anneliese. I want to propose, but I never had the
opportunity... no, the courage. This time, I'll summon my courage and ask her
to be my wife! The next step is where and in what situation to propose... I
have no idea. I've always been unrelated to romance.
Who should I ask about
this kind of thing? Gandarvan? He'd probably just say, "With guts!"
Jojok and Bath aren't
married yet, and I've never heard them talk about women.
Rosalina is a
muscle-brain.
Lin and Solidia...
asking women for advice is a high hurdle for me.
Itsukushima-san is out
for the same reason.
Then there's Yamato...
no way. Absolutely not Yamato.
I wish I could ask
Anneliese, but she's the person I want to propose to. I can't possibly ask her.
It's not something I
can discuss with the Princess or the Duke either, so I surprisingly only have a
few people I can consult with. No, no, it's just about romance. Otherwise,
Gandarvan and the others would be happy to give me advice.
Knock, knock, knock. A
knock sounded.
"Come in," I
said.
"Excuse me,"
Enrique replied, entering. He still had a yakuza-like face.
"What's
wrong?" I asked.
"It seemed Master
was troubled," Enrique said.
"..." That's
right. I am troubled. What about it?
"If I may be so
bold, I believe it would be best to honestly convey your feelings to Lady
Anneliese. I believe she desires it," Enrique suggested.
"!" I
exclaimed.
"Forgive my
impertinence," Enrique apologized.
"No... no, not at
all. Thanks to you, I've resolved myself. I'm grateful," I replied.
"If I could be of
even a little assistance, I am delighted," Enrique said, bowing and
exiting the room. I never thought Enrique would be the one to give me advice. I
had a good butler. I had no words to convey my gratitude to Enrique.
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