Chapter 18

Early morning.

Thanks to my maid’s dedication, I barely managed to open my eyes.

“…Next time, if I don’t wake up when you call me, try waking me up with a louder voice.”

“Yes…”

While dark elves might have a culture of tickling someone awake, I don’t particularly like it when someone touches my body without permission.

The person I hate the most once sought to covet my body, so whenever someone touches me without permission, it brings back dirty memories.

Especially if the one touching me isn’t even human.

“It’s my fault for not explaining beforehand, so don’t cry.”

“Sniff…”

It seemed that when this child tickled me, I unconsciously cursed due to the strange sensation, which caused the tears.

“…If there’s ever a situation where you must touch my body, I’ll give you permission.”

I could tolerate a dark elf. Even though we met as enemies on the battlefield, there was no direct animosity between us.

A dark elf would only cause discomfort akin to a snake coiling around my body.

“Sorry… I thought we were close… so I tried playing a little joke…”

“……”

I like children, but I’m still awkward at handling them. Just like liking dogs and liking to raise dogs are two different things.

“…I’ll buy some candy on the way back, so stop crying.”

“Yay~!”

It seemed my maid was an extremely simple creature.

The other dark elves I know are either cunning or incomprehensible monsters.

This was a new discovery, and it slightly lifted my gloomy mood.

“Then, I’ll be off.”

“Ah, Lord Raul, aren’t you going to eat?”

“I’ll eat outside.”

This way, the child will have my share of the meal, serving as a small reward for her mood improvement.

As I walked towards the Adventurer Guild, I sensed a somewhat chaotic atmosphere.

The cause seemed to be the people whispering worriedly around the guild building.

I approached them and quietly asked, “Is something going on?”

“L-Lord, it’s…!”

“I don’t like repeating my questions.”

“It’s… there’s a fortress not far from this village…”

To summarize the woman’s words:

There’s an Imperial fortress not far from the village, and the officer in charge has been frequently making advances towards Cecilia.

The problem is that his advances aren’t just simple flirtations. Moreover, since he’s a noble, proper countermeasures are difficult.

“…I see.”

“I heard he’s also connected to Duke Argos. Even you, Lord…”

Something felt off.

That violent Camilla or her cold-blooded brother wouldn’t keep such a person around.

Even my master, who lacks human decency, would distinguish those who rely on the Duke’s prestige.

“I need to check this out.”

“Lord, it’s dangerous…!”

Ignoring the villagers’ pleas, I entered the guild building.

As soon as I opened the door, a rather disgusting scene greeted me.

“Lord…!”

Men who seemed to be hired thugs were pointing spears at the village adventurers.

And a rather young nobleman was holding Cecilia’s cheek, glaring at me.

“…Who are you?”

“I’m the village representative.”

“Ah, so you’re the kite with a broken string in the center?”

“Call me whatever you want, but you don’t need to hold that woman. It’s against etiquette…”

I adjusted my cane.

“I detest actions that go against etiquette.”

“Ha!”

He disdainfully threw Cecilia aside. Yet, instead of getting angry, Cecilia was giving me a look urging me to flee.

But this matter concerned my friend’s honor, so I couldn’t back down.

“Hey, you, a kite with a broken string, what makes you so bold?”

“…I ask. Are those pointing spears at the adventurers Imperial soldiers? Or your private soldiers?”

“Hey, I asked first!”

He seemed quite frivolous.

Losing composure over such a trivial matter, he didn’t seem fit for a high position.

“I ignored it because I didn’t expect an answer. I ask again. Are they Imperial soldiers?”

“What? Why would I bring such weaklings? They’re all top mercenaries I hired. The salary alone…!”

“I see.”

“Don’t interrupt me, you brat!!!”

His quick temper suggested he didn’t belong in the military.

Commanders who react emotionally and can’t control their anger are bound to cause trouble.

“You damn kite with a broken string, as a fellow noble, I’ll respect you if you stay quiet…!”

“State your business.”

“Listen when someone’s talking, damn it!!!”

“Turn around and leave now. And I recommend you never approach that woman again.”

He began to frown grotesquely.

His right eye narrowed to a slit, while his left eye bulged disturbingly.

“Did you lick that too?”

“We’ve been to the river together, but I don’t recall exchanging bodily fluids.”

“What?”

I merely stated a fact, but his grotesque face twisted further.

“Hey, break this brat’s limbs and throw him in the river.”

“…You’d kill someone for such a reason?”

“Yeah. You should’ve known your place. Those without power or backing should be punished for offending their superiors.”

Power and backing.

What we fought to protect on the battlefield wasn’t just that.

“Village chief, sir. We’re just following orders, so don’t hold it against us.”

The mercenary grabbing my collar seemed to be a half-orc.

“…I warn you. I don’t like being touched.”

“Ha! What are you gonna do about it! Just a kite with a broken string…!”

I tapped his wrist with a resonating hand blade.

“Huh…?”

“This is possible.”

“AAAAAHHHH!!!!”

He screamed, clutching his severed wrist.

I don’t particularly like such screams, but it was the most effective way to subdue him.

“This brat’s a mage! I knew something was off with that cane!”

“Overwhelm him with numbers! Mages are helpless against numbers!”

“Kill him without hesitation!”

Unlike Her Majesty the Empress, I can’t use magic.

And contrary to popular belief, proper mages don’t carry canes.

But there was no reason to inform them of that.

“…I don’t like fighting.”

But I don’t hesitate to use violence to protect myself.

“And I dislike even more when someone touches my people.”

I swung my resonating cane, bursting one of their hands or feet.

Knowing they were just following orders, I didn’t take their lives. Following a villain’s orders isn’t a capital offense.

But they felt no shame for their evil deeds. That warranted taking their hands and feet.

“T-This can’t be…! These are the elite of the elite among the mercenaries I brought from my family…!!!”

“…They seem a bit lacking for elite mercenaries.”

They were only slightly stronger than average Imperial soldiers.

I almost felt sorry for him, paying a hefty sum for such mercenaries.

“Who the hell are you…! Do you think you’ll get away with this…?!!!”

“Foolish question.”

I shook the blood off my cane and took a step towards him.

“I merely wielded a weapon to protect myself.”

Another step towards him.

“And I was just stronger than them. If it were the opposite, I’d be the one lying there.”

“Y-You crazy bastard, cutting off people’s hands and feet…!!!”

“You ordered my limbs to be broken. What’s the difference between your order and my action?”

I merely asked a question, but he began to step back.

“To quote you, shouldn’t those without power be punished for offending their superiors?”

“D-Don’t come any closer, damn it!!!”

“It’s the same action you spoke of. Do you enjoy this sight? Or at least find it desirable?”

He collapsed, wetting his pants with urine.

“At least I detest such actions.”

In the end, he never answered my question.

He fled, spewing incomprehensible curses, and I saw no need to chase him.

“…Lord.”

Cecilia was the first to approach, checking my condition.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Unfortunately, no.”

“That’s a relief. But why did you step in? That bastard’s backing is strong…!”

“…I couldn’t just leave you be.”

“Huh?”

For a moment, Cecilia’s cheeks seemed to flush.

“You’re the one who accepted what I had piled up.”

She was the one who accepted my questions and negative residues without rejection.

“Even though that day was somewhat dangerous, you didn’t get angry at me.”

It was entirely my fault for taking her to the river, where we encountered a beast.

“If there’s any trouble, I’ll take full responsibility.”

I intended to handle the fallout from confronting that noble youth alone.

“Lord, why are you saying such things…!”

For some reason, the adventurers watching us also began to blush.

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