1-Second Invincible Player in the Game

24. Conference (2)

The first to break the silence was Dacel.

“To think you would behave like a beast even here, big brother, you need to relearn your manners.”

There was a sneer in his sharp voice. He must be satisfied with the current situation. The words I had uttered in front of Tenest’s vassals blatantly exposed my immature behavior.

But, did I have any image left to tarnish?

I looked down at Dacel and chided him.

“Your kin are insulted right in front of you, and you just stand there. Is that what you call manners? It’s pitiful.”

He was silent as if he had eaten honey. He had glared at me as if he wanted to kill me just because I had slighted the hostess, and now he was quiet. It was laughable.

Seemingly coming to their senses, a loud voice came from the spectator seats.

“How dare you, in a public setting like this!”

“I’ve heard rumors, but I never imagined it would be to this extent!”

“Is there really such a scoundrel?”

The outburst of anger reminded me of a bustling marketplace. Amidst the clamor, one of the ministers from Schweik shouted at me.

“Even if you are the son of the Archduke, such rudeness is unforgivable. Apologize at once!”

I opened my eyes lazily and retorted nonchalantly.

“Calling me a brat and a scoundrel, wasn’t it you who was rude first?”

“That’s not our position, it’s what the observers are saying…!”

“How amusing. To bring them all here and then…”

“…”

The shouting died down a bit. They must not have expected a madman to point out the obvious after bringing in the rabble.

Glancing around, I noticed Daycel’s face was contorted with anger, and Mircel was covering his smirk with his hand. And the hostess…

She turned her head and gave a slight, albeit weak, shrug of her shoulders. Surprisingly, she seemed to be holding back laughter.

Bang───!

Suddenly, a dull thud echoed. Heinrich had slammed his heavy fist onto the table.

“…Such an arrogant fellow. You’re exactly like your father.”

His voice was calm yet tinged with anger.

Heinrich looked at me with a weighty gaze. I lifted my chin arrogantly and said,

“Sorry, but this isn’t a family trait; it’s my natural disposition. That’s why my family doesn’t like me much.”

“Don’t think the prestige of being the Archduke’s son will carry any weight outside your mansion, young man.”

“The Count should stop acting superior when his father is not around. My prestige is right here.”

Heinrich’s face, previously relaxed, now twisted with rage. After simmering down for a moment, he leaned back in his chair as if he no longer wished to speak. Then the hostess, with a gentle smile, said to me,

“Hershel? It might be best to start behaving properly.”

…It was quite fun, but I guess this is where it ends.

As the mediator incessantly pounded the gavel and the commotion subsided, I brought up the main point.

“Our stance is firm. We cannot hand over Grandel.”

The crux of the negotiations, as far as I could gather, was roughly this:

The region called Grandel is geographically within the territory of Tenest, but strictly speaking, it is not Tenest’s domain.

Long ago, an ancestor of Tenest granted the Grandel family the land.

But the current owner suddenly died of a heart attack, leaving behind a substantial debt to the Schweik family.

“Hmph, since he died owing me a debt, the ownership of Grandel belongs to Schweik.”

There were no descendants to inherit the debt, nor any other assets to repay it, so Schweik’s claim to take the land seemed somewhat reasonable at first glance.

“Isn’t it a good enough deal to pay back the principal with interest?”

“There’s no reason for Tenest to take on that debt. Who knows, they might just change their tune later. The Grand Duke is known for flipping his stance as easily as one turns over a hand.”

The problem is that the land was originally granted by Tenest, and despite our side offering to repay it, they stubbornly insist on taking the land.

Land that could be ruined without bringing them any benefit at all.

“The moment it falls into your hands, it might become worthless, don’t you think?”

“Ho, let’s hear what you have to say.”

“It’s not our territory, so it’s only natural to impose trade fees and tariffs. Who knows, maybe the tariffs for Grandel will be raised specifically.”

Murmurs of “Hmm?” rippled through the spectator seats, but I paid them no mind and continued.

“There might be droughts or floods. The reservoir is on our side, after all. Of course, it’s not intentional, but the drainage of our land will be adjusted according to the farming season.”

As the veiled threats ended, murmurs laced with disapproval came from the spectator seats.

“He’s not as foolish as the rumors suggested.”

“Did that come from his own head? That woman must have made him memorize it all.”

“……”

Why do they make such a fuss over what I said? It seems that outside, I’m perceived as nothing more than a monkey capable of human speech.

Nevertheless, I thought poking at such a blind spot might change the tide, but Heinrich merely scoffed.

“Hmph, truly a cunning thought worthy of the Grand Duke’s son. But do you know this? A person is defined by their adherence to rules. Those who seek to conquer everything through force are no better than beasts.”

So, the law is on their side, he implies. Heinrich scanned the spectator seats.

“I have the right to choose. I have ample authority to reject the conditions proposed by Tenest.”

His mouth continued to spew verbose speeches. There was no need to listen closely.

In summary, the gathering here was to show the irrationality, that there’s responsibility in being a bystander, and that one must raise their voice against the tyranny of power—it was nothing more than incitement.

Yes, these are provocations.

Their arguments are valid, but those present here have also climbed to their positions by imposing irrationality on others.

How fitting for those who are only generous to themselves.

The empty discourse continued. No matter what was said, they would draw a line of refusal. Even if we raised the level of our compensation proposal, they wouldn’t even pretend to listen.

“……My will is firm. Even if wealth is piled up like mountains, I will not bow down to the Grand Duke’s oppression and tyranny! For that is the greater cause─!”

Clap, clap, clap!

As the audience applauded Heinrich’s speech, I half-listened and muttered to myself.

“That man, he’s been bringing up his father at every turn—could it be personal feelings?”

I didn’t expect a response, but the hostess answered.

“It’s an old connection. The count once joined the archduke in subduing the Black Swan of vengeance. During that time, the count suffered a severe injury and has since blamed the archduke, harboring resentment to this day.”

Now that I think about it, Mirsel mentioned something similar. Who would have thought it was that gentleman? Perhaps he’s set on this course out of sheer spite…

But for such a reason alone, I can’t comprehend how he’s garnered the support of his close associates.

Why would the head of a family, driven by personal feelings, forsake immediate gains? What does it have to do with them? It seems excessive just to show loyalty.

Frustrated, I asked the hostess amidst the ongoing commotion.

“What do you want from me?”

“What are you talking about?”

“This isn’t a matter that can be settled by agreement. I don’t have the right to offer more in negotiations, and even if I did, they’re not willing to listen.”

I pointed at Heinrich, who was taking turns speaking with the delegates, only saying what he needed to. It’s not like he’s filibustering…

“Well, I don’t recall ever saying that you should come to an agreement.”

“You didn’t put me forward just to be made a fool of, did you?”

When I glared sharply, the hostess gave a sly smile.

“Think about it. There must be something Hursel can do.”

Something I can do?

I racked my brain over this sudden riddle.

“…”

First, what does Schweik want?

Grandel is nothing more than ordinary farmland. It would be beneficial to simply take the money and step back. Yet, there must be a hidden agenda behind their desire for it.

So, what will they do if we refuse to give it up?

In an era where territorial claims mean nothing without effective control, Grandel lies within Tenest’s territory, and to occupy it, they would have to invade our lands. Ultimately, this could only lead to confrontation…

Suddenly, an idea came to me, and I blurted it out.

“…Does Schweik want war?”

The room fell into a hushed silence. With newfound certainty, I glared at Heinrich.

“Requesting Grandel is a pretext for war. You’re after dominion.”

“That’s speculation. We value this mediation provided by the empire and wish for both families to reach a harmonious agreement.”

Heinrich spoke indifferently, then suddenly let out a scornful laugh.

“But if Tenest continues to be uncooperative, we won’t shy away from war.”

There was no significant reaction from the Schweik observers, as if this was already a shared understanding.

Only then did I grasp what the hostess meant. Schweik had other intentions, making negotiation impossible. The meeting was doomed to fail from the start.

Then, the thing I could do that she mentioned earlier…

Ah, so that was the sound.

“Heh.”

I let out a sneer. As if it was so ridiculous, I couldn’t bear it. The silence of the conference room made my laughter spread in all directions.

“In the absence of a tiger, the fox becomes king,” they say. It’s just like that.

“What?”

“It seems you tried to play the part of a ruler while the father was away, but too bad for you.”

I kicked my chair back and stood up. Then, I took out the letter I had received from the hostess earlier and tucked away.

“If it’s war, you’d better hurry. There are only 7 days left.”

The observers’ eyes were fixed on the letter. Seeing their curious faces, I decided to answer them myself.

“Oh, this? It’s a letter saying that father will return after finishing the subjugation. So, if you’re going to do something, do it quickly, okay? Let’s see, if you give horses to all your troops and march through the night for 7 days, maybe it’s possible?”

It would take at least 10 days for them to lead their forces here. Of course, this also assumes the ridiculous premise that they would have to capture all the horses in the country and supply them to the soldiers.

I grinned as I scrutinized the faces of those who had been slandering me as a ruffian.

“The guy with the mustache. The one with the slit eyes. The one with the quadruple chin. You were all talking big just a moment ago, weren’t you? And there, the one with the big head…”

Each time I pinpointed their features, they all bowed their heads, either covering their embarrassed faces or hiding behind the person in front of them. The person in front was shaking their upper body continuously, betraying those hiding behind them.

Finally, a voice trembling like ripples on the water’s surface spread throughout the hall.

“How could he be back from the capital so soon…?”

“The, the duke is coming back this quickly? I hadn’t heard. We only thought war was feasible because that man was absent. I’m out of here.”

“Let’s pretend this conversation never happened.”

As the news of the tiger’s return spread, the rabbits began to rise from their seats one by one. Counting the marked men, I let out a deep sigh.

“Phew, there are so many, it’s hard to remember them all. It’s better to just hold everyone accountable. I should be able to access the list of attendees today, right?”

I said this while looking at the mediator. The observers who were trying to flee stopped in their tracks, their eyes wide as they looked at me.

“What’s with those faces? Why? Should I erase some names from the list I’ll give to father?”

Many nodded as if they had seen a lifeline from heaven. They kept glancing back and forth between Heinrich and me.

“Don’t look so stern. I was just asking.”

I spoke casually, and the observers wiped the sweat from their foreheads as if they had aged ten years. Perhaps they appreciated that I hadn’t pushed too hard. The hostess, who had been watching, offered her praise.

“You’ve exceeded expectations, Hershel.”

From the beginning, the hostess’s goal was the dissolution of the vassals bound by Heinrich like chains.

Even if they showed hostility, it wasn’t something that could be dealt with harshly. So, I struck and withdrew appropriately, leaving room for reconsideration.

If I really became the tyrant they claimed, then Tenerest would be isolated.

However, if they still chose to rebel despite being given a chance, then the story would be different. It would give our side a reason to execute them.

I sneered at the hostess.

“Hmph, it seems you’ve tried to test me. Are you satisfied now?”

“Why would you think that, Hershel? It was just a call for help.”

“Don’t play dumb. You would have managed fine without me, whatever your methods.”

The hostess’s eyes gradually widened. Was she surprised that I had caught on to her having some trick up her sleeve? Yet, the corners of her mouth were slightly raised in satisfaction.

“So, entering Edel Christ wasn’t just a stroke of luck? You seem to have quite the eye for things.”

In truth, it wasn’t anything remarkable.

Hershel would have been dead, and there would have been no war, something I was well aware of.

Knowing the predetermined future, it was natural for me to realize that the hostess would have managed well without me.

It was irksome, nonetheless.

Perhaps she had heard of my entry into Edel Christ and that had piqued her curiosity?

“I’m pulling out now. I have no intention of being played by you any longer. The rest is up to you.”

“Fine, you’ve already done more than enough of what I had hoped for.”

At the end of the conversation, the hostess relaxed her indifferent expression and looked at Heinrich. His face was quite stiff, as if he hadn’t anticipated this situation.

She shrugged her shoulders and stood up, saying,

“Well then, it seems our negotiation has broken down. We shall take our leave, Count Heinrich.”

“……We’ll meet again soon.”

“Perhaps sooner than you think, Count.”

With a polite farewell from the hostess, we turned our backs and left the conference room.

* * *

Swoosh───

The carriage wheels cut through the rain. The drizzle that had started when we set out to return to the palace after the conference had turned into a downpour by dawn.

The thick mist made it impossible to see anything clearly, but Heinrich sighed damply as he looked out the carriage window.

The inquiries to withdraw the promised reinforcements flooded in. The cause was that rascal who had dared to cross his archenemy.

-Where there’s no tiger, the fox is king, indeed.

That arrogant tone and haughty expression. There was nothing that didn’t remind him of him.

……Still, for all his lawlessness and shamelessness, he had a mind and knew how to handle his innate spirit.

In that regard, he wished his son would take after him……

“Ugh!”

Suddenly gripped by pain, Heinrich clutched his lower abdomen. The long-destroyed core seemed to be lashing him, reminding him of whose son that rascal was.

“Aiol… Yes, that detestable man’s bloodline… Soon, he will meet the same fate as his father.”

Heinrich ground his teeth in anger. The image of a man looking down on him was still vivid in his eyes.

Years ago, when the village of Melbra was attacked by the black swan of vengeance. A punitive force centered around the Schwabek and Tenest families was formed to stop that disaster-like monster.

The matter was urgent, and since the Schwabek family was nearby, it was decided that their forces would lead the charge. However, Tenest did not appear.

Even as the twilight fled from the resounding cheers, and the moonlight bathed the warriors’ red blood, the flag of Tenest was nowhere to be seen.

It was only at dawn, when annihilation was imminent, that he appeared.

Aiol and his troops coldly passed through the rubble of Schwabek, easily beheading the weary black swan.

The latecomer offered no excuses. He simply looked down with indifferent eyes at his own ridiculous figure sprawled on the ground.

Surely, he must have been trying to check the power of the neighboring Schwabek. Though he could no longer wield a sword, Heinrich had been sharpening the blade of revenge since that day.

And the right time had come. Aiol had left his domain empty due to the demon subjugation.

To create a pretext, he tricked the lord of Grandel into debt and disguised it as a sudden death. He gathered forces in secret and issued a mobilization order to his vassals.

“In seven days… No, it’s past midnight, so six days now.”

There were setbacks in the war preparations, but it didn’t matter.

The ‘key’ to turning Aiol’s domain into ruins would soon arrive before Aiol could return.

“He will be holding the corpses of his family, weeping. Aiol…”

Before long, the carriage passed the outer castle and arrived in front of the inner gate. Heinrich shook off the rainwater from his coat and approached, and as always, the door began to open from the inside.

As the vertical gap in the door widened, Heinrich’s shoulder twitched. It was because of the familiar crimson eyes that flashed inside.

“You, you are…”

Heinrich’s mind was filled with questions, and he stepped back without realizing it.

Why was this woman here? How did she arrive before him, and why did his subjects not stop her and let her in?

He could not solve any of these questions.

“Didn’t I tell you?”

A quiet and seductive voice. The lady of Tenest, Ahille Ben Tenest, smiled.

“You might see me sooner than you think.”