Intermission: A Certain Master and His Vassals Conversation (2/2)
”It's a guy who's a polar opposite of a hero.”
”This man had similar physique and hair and he was confirmed to be present during both uproars. Moreover, the one who was carrying the demon's arm during the rebellion uproar was this guy.”
”Hou? Did he cut the demon's arm and got possessed by it?”
”The possibility exists.”
The consul picks on thin document from the stack he's holding and gives it to the earl.
”A hypothesis has arrived from the elder. 'Wasn't the demon who possessed the man called Uusu different from the demon who attacked the castle?' He said.”
”For two senior demons appeared at the same time, isn't that impossible?”
”Maybe they were demons who were in hiding in hope of creating a labyrinth, he said.”
”And then they fought each other because one intruded another's territory is it?”
”It's written as such in the hypothesis.”
”How much is the truth from what old man thunder said?”
The earl puts one hand on his chin while thinking.
If it was said by someone else then we would laugh at it together, but the elder that the consul refer-- the earl call him the old man thunder, is the leading magician in this territory and even in the kingdom he's among the five most powerful one. Even if what he said seemed absurd, it couldn't be ignored.
”Right then, since there's no evidence I can't say for sure, but if it's the truth then a lot of things would start to make sense.”
”Like the abnormal endurance?”
”Yes. While fist fighting the demon, he received a concentrated attack from 30 magicians and came out unscathed. He couldn't be human.”
It's possible with certain magic tool, but the earl and the consul have no idea about it.
The first three candidates who were mentioned cannot clear this condition too, so they are exempted.
”If he's a demon, then that question is solved huh.”
”The knight leader who was commanding also reported that, 『He was strong without no doubt, but his movement was like an amateur.』.”
”A senior demon who isn't used to fighting huh...”
”Or maybe, it was confused with the difference of the possessed body compared with its real body....”
If the other demons are able to hide themselves, then the threat can't be ignored.
The earl thinks so and translates it into action.
”Alright, arrest all members of Brown Rat guild. Thoroughly investigate everything about this man called Uusu.”
”I understand.”
◇
”Oh yeah, I almost forgot with the last candidate.”
The consul pulls a report from the document stack.
”He's called Satou, a self-proclaimed merchant.”
”Self-proclaimed?”
”Yes, the person introduced himself as a merchant but no one in the merchant guild knew him, and he didn't have any business activity during his visit to Seryuu city.”
The earl who had his interest piqued chimed in.
”Is he a spy from other country?”
”No, his performance was too poor to be a spy. The only things he did after arriving at this city was just sightseeing and doing tryst with women. He seemed to be well-off but he did nothing but wild merrymaking.”
”Sightseeing? In this place... a city with scarce tourist attraction?”
”Yes, it's a good way to check on the city's facilities and road as a way to confirm the nation's power, but it's too conspicuous.”
”That's right, I've never seen anyone who goes on a tour in this Seryuu city.”
The consul continues his talk after clearing his throat.
”This person is like the three earlier, he was present during both uproars, and was a survivor from the labyrinth.”
”Self-proclaimed merchant, but actually an explorer eh?”
The earl finds it quite amusing.
”Well, according to viscount Belton, 『He was excellent at commanding the demi-human slaves, but the actual person himself was mediocre. He's a coward who didn't equip a sword, couldn't use magic, and only stealthily threw stones from behind the demi-human slaves.』, he said.”
”Is that guy acquainted with viscount Belton?”
”Rather than an acquaintance, he's the man who rescued viscount Belton when he was caught by monster.”
”Hou, should we give him some kind of medal?”
”I think it's unnecessary since the viscount himself is giving him rewards...”
The earl nods while getting back to the story.
”Even without fighting strength, he was able to escape from the labyrinth. We should consider that he has some kind of experience.”
”Isn't it just because the demi-human slaves were strong?”
”From the Yamato stone check, they're all level 13, around the level of an average knight.”
The consul reports it plainly. His expression doesn't show if he discriminate against demi-human.
”All of his slaves? It's not just one slave who is at the same level as an average knight?”
”Yes, the three are.”
”That's some battle potentials.”
”Yes, since they're demi-human slaves they're not allowed to have weapons inside the city so there's no problem with the public order, but it's extraordinary for a self-proclaimed merchant's guards.”
The earl is contemplating while the consul waits for his master.
”A son of a noble, or a wealthy merchant's son... No, can't be, someone like that would have humans as their guards. The prince of the lost kingdom...”
”I think you're jumping to conclusion for that one.”
”You're right, it's fun to guess his identity but there's no meaning to it.”
”Yes.”
”Let's scout for people to be put into the inspection team for labyrinth city.”
”Are you serious about that?”
”Write the candidates.”
”I understand.”
◇
”Still, the day after he arrived at Seryuu city, he was at the spot where the demon attacked, moreover, the day after that, he was present during the rebellion, and again, he got dragged into the labyrinth. What an unlucky man.”
”If that man is bringing in demons then we should expel him from this territory...”
”That can't be. Nebinen testified that he stopped the rebellion, found out the mastermind behind it and discerned the demon.”
The earl raises his eyes after hearing the consul's report.
”He's quite an able man. If what Nebinen said isn't a lie...”
”It's not just Nebinen-dono, a magic soldier who was present also testified the same thing.”
”Fumu, a mysterious man huh... I'm interested but I can't get free time to meet him.”
”Yes, since you need to reorganize the territory army, rebuild the destroyed city, the isolation of the labyrinth and other things that keep piling.”
The earl seemingly of doing mischief, grins while crooking his lips.
”About that medal earlier.”
”Are you going to really give him one?”
”No, not medal, let's give him gentleman title.”
”...court rank is it?”
The consul is unusually shaken with the earl's world and his words is mixed with thorn.
”You don't mind right? It's a rank given to 10 people a year. We don't need to give him position or pension either. At most his privileges are being at the lowest seat of nobles and exempted of the tax.”
”To give a person of unknown birth and parentage a rank, this vassal who has served for generations object.”
The earl has anticipated the consul's objection and solemnly states his excuse.
”He saved the oldest member of that vassal, viscount Belton's life, stopped the rebellion, and uncovered the plot of the demon. Aren't those enough for achievements?”
”There is no objection to his achievements but...”
”Furthermore, I'm not giving him viscount or baron rank but a false noble rank of gentleman.”
The consul realizes that the earl isn't serious from his expression.
”Please stop joking. Right now is the important time for the earldom to make rapid progress.”
”Sorry, forgive me. I was having fun imagining how my vassal would look like if I give a vagabond a court rank...”
Admonished by the consul, the earl apologizes.
Having finished letting off the steam with the joke, the earl and his consul move to their next agenda. Their night is long.