Chapter 146 – Grand Duke’s Council (7)

The wizards of Dube Magic Tower, who had come to clean up the communication crystals in the spacious conference room, were busy moving around.
As Darling said, real-time communication is so inefficient that you have to replace the magic stones one by one?

I couldn’t get up until the last of them left.
Instead, I looked at the corner of the table with nothing on it and thought about something else.

“… “Do you know what you have done now?”

They say that the knotholes represent the lifespan of the tree.
No, were those tree rings?
When I think about it, from a human perspective, the two may not be very different.
When you split a tree, does it matter what you see inside?

“How hard was it for me to persuade two people while I was away, and you’re taking it back!?”

This can also be said to be the reason why symbiosis between demons and humans is impossible.
They never feel guilty about killing humans.
Is that all? If you’re hungry, even if what’s in front of you is the corpse of a person with a pair of arms and legs, it’s something you’ll chew on with your appetite.

On the other hand, how noble are humans?
At least, there is no such thing as touching a demon’s corpse unless it is on the verge of starvation.
Maybe it’s a monster.
Karma turned into a poison and she suffered a lot, but she wasn’t incapable of eating.
It could be expressed as the feeling of disgust that an ordinary person who has only eaten chicken doritang his whole life would feel when he picks up the turtle hand in Yongbongtang with chopsticks.

“Lewis, are you listening to me?”

So, even a three-year-old child would know how important it is to bring down the country that joined hands with them.
However, the archdukes are all missing screws and are shouting their opposition like parrots, which is just deplorable.
Tsk, tsk, the devil needs to be resurrected to come to his senses.
It really might be soon.
No matter how you think about it, there is no other reason for that bitch Antiope to join hands with the Holy Kingdom——

“Louis–!!!”
“Yes yes!?”

Erzsebet’s shouting brought me back to the real world while fiddling with the table.
Adela and Liv were being reprimanded for being angry because they spent too much time with Esther.
As the future of the kingdom depended on the outcome of this meeting, the Princess of Fenheim was quite sharp.
The pretty Ami is frowning heavily.

“Why did you bring me here and then interfere with me at every turn? “If I think about it, it’s been that way since I entered the academy.”
“What… ?”
“You’re interfering with my entry into the student council! I almost lost him in the election! Even during field training, my grade was lowered because of you… !”

No, wasn’t the last one the aftermath of the fight between Adela and Liv?
But in the end, the reason they fought was because of me, so that was half true.
If I hadn’t taught Adela ‘that speech’ during the election, there would never have been a revolutionary army in Farencia.

“You convinced Esther.”
“Instead, we lost two votes. “And it’s the vote of the Academy’s greatest genius and my best friend!”
“I just have to convince you again.”
“By what means?”

That’s a trade secret.
I shrugged her shoulders and she ordered the pole shade on my shoulder as if she couldn’t take it anymore.

“Bite Louis!”
“If you bite, you will die to me.”
“If you attack me again this time, it will be over for good!”
“The moi you ate this morning could be your last dinner.”
“Phee—!?”

Is it because he has now acquired an iron soldier and solidified his position as the successor?
Piyi did not easily betray her master.
We were fighting over a bird for a bit, but without even thinking about who would go first, we clicked our tongues and turned our heads.
He doesn’t even have the dignity and respect of a godfather.

“Anyway, I’ll take care of everything, so don’t worry about it.”
“That will have to do. “Take all the materials here!”
“What are you doing, princess?”

When I asked Erzé Bet while packing her luggage, she glared at me and said,

“We have to convince the other archdukes.”
“…”
“Don’t even think about coming back until you both get consent.”

With those words, she was kicked out of the conference room.
She came out and saw Esther leaning against the wall, and then her eyes met mine.

“Are you all scolded?”
“I wasn’t scolded.”
“It’s natural for the princess to be angry. “Isn’t it a decline in national prestige that the decision-making of the meeting of Penheim’s best wizards is influenced by the power of four women?”
“I said I wasn’t scolded. Instead, take this.”

I gave Esther a gift I bought at Rushopard some time ago.
This time, it was a blue moon-shaped necklace with the first-level magic, 〈 Blue Light 〉.
I heard it has the effect of repelling mosquitoes?
I don’t know how many of her mosquitoes there are in the North Sea – – I don’t know if they’ll even be able to stick to her, but it’s better than nothing.

“It’s truly amazing that he goes straight to meet another woman and gives her a gift.”

As I expected, Esther received the gift with great joy.
Although the pitch was slightly lower than usual.
I was relieved that she didn’t throw away the artifact even though it was at a level she didn’t need.

“Who are you going to go to next? Aren’t there two of them?”
“Did you know?”
“I knew it since vacation. They are both wearing rings at this meeting, so there is no need to notice. So what is the answer?”
“Fantasy ball. “I’m going to see Baron Liv.”

Without hesitating for long, I answered.
She seemed curious about that and asked me again.

“Hmm, I can’t believe I’m putting off a member of Rochear. “Is there a reason?”
“Because Adela has you.”
“…”

In other words, Liv has no one.
No one.

I don’t know if it was meant to be teasing, but Esther pursed her lips as if she hadn’t expected this answer.
I never decided where to go because I favored one of the two more.

“Take this opportunity to have a conversation with your family. “If we go back to the North Sea, we won’t meet again.”

Even if there are no emotions, thoughts change.
I knew very well that Esther would not be happy with our current relationship.

***

The island where Liv, the second of the five archdukes, was staying had quite a colorful landscape.
There was literally ‘and’.

As soon as I got off the dock, I was surrounded by a thick forest, and after a while, I heard a loud sound of water.
As I followed the sound, a familiar wave like the ocean greeted me.

“Grand Canal…”

How could I forget that strong torrent?
Only then did I realize that this place, which resembled a greenwood forest, was an environment created by Liv’s magic.

As we walked a little further toward the center of the island, several buildings similar to the academy’s style appeared.
I entered the three-story wooden building located in the very center as if I was fascinated.

“Baron… ?”

From nails sticking out of outdoor tables to flower pots with hidden keys.
The exterior was exactly the same as my store, but the inside of the glass window was not visible.
When I went inside, it was another world.

“Here is…”

Skandal—— No, a library that looks like a miniature version of the Great Library of Uzet.
The books packed tightly on the bookshelf have letters written on every page.
All of this is a treasure trove of knowledge embodied in Liv’s head.
I was almost speechless at the overwhelming genius.

“Boss~!”
“Live… “No, Baron Lev?”

Lev, with a smile on his face, approached me while I was preoccupied with the mysterious movement of space.

“Boss, we’re in big trouble~. “Liv was so sulky~.”
“Where are you now?”
“If you go around the corner and go up the stairs, there’s a small room. “I’m reading a book there.”
“Thank you.”

After stroking her head she headed towards the stairs.
2nd floor of store.
Location-wise, it was supposed to be my room, but even the design of the door handle was different.

Smart.
After carefully knocking and opening the door, I saw Liv’s back, writing something with her pen.
She didn’t turn around even though I came, and when I called her name, she straightened her back and turned her chair.

“Baron.”
“Hello, boss.”

A small room surrounded by bookshelves.
A cool breeze blows in from outside the open window.
Liv, with a pouty expression, asked me about her business without even putting down the pen in her hand.

“Why did you come?”
“Um, that’s…”
“I told you that I was definitely against it.”
“Hmm, but listen to everything and think about it.”

I stood behind Liv, holding the paper I had given her from Erzébet, like a salesman, and tucked a strand of her ebony hair behind her ear.
Then, as if trying to persuade her, she let out a small hum! She made a noise and turned her head.

“First of all, I will never call you Baron from now on. “As soon as the meeting ends, we will announce the birth of a new grand duke in the name of the royal family.”

Perhaps Liv will become a count.
The same goes for Adela.
Of course, she is already a countess, but she will officially receive the status of Grand Duke of the Kingdom of Fenheim.

“You don’t have to worry about war. “The Baron will not go directly to the front lines, and the only things that will be mobilized are the technology of the Pecda Magic Tower and some areas of Greenwood Forest.”

Greenwood Forest, which includes the Grand Canal, is a fierce battlefield in the lower Ravier Mountains, as it was during the Great War.
Since you have to defend the place even with the help of the alliance, you will need permission from Reeve, Earl of Greenwood, to station troops.

“The reward for that is… “I understand you have discussed it thoroughly with the princess.”

The reason I didn’t continue speaking was because what was written on the paper was difficult to put into words.
Re-examination of the truth about the Second Battle of Labière Hill, where Paris Greenwood was killed.
Erzsebet’s opinion stated that ‘testimony of the relevant person’ was necessary.

The reason that testimony has not been released until now is because our existence has been erased from the entire kingdom.
Because we went into hiding.

‘And the reason I had no choice but to do that was…’ …’
“… Joy.”

While I was lost in thought for a moment, I heard Liv’s answer.

“I still don’t like it.”
“…”

Looks completely offended.
There is no other reason for her to be this stubborn, as she makes all her decisions as rationally as Esther.
In the end, I also took out the last card.
If nothing else, this is the final way to get a ‘yes’ answer from Liv.

“I’m going to rub my stomach.”
“Tsk… !”

She twisted her waist reflexively, but my hand was faster.
A hand reached out from behind her chair and gently pressed Liv’s lower abdomen.
However, despite her breathing becoming heavier, Liv also did not take it easy this time.

“Well, there’s no use doing something like that… !”
“Yes?”
“If you think that I will always listen to you just by pressing my stomach, you are mistaken! “I’m not happy at all.”
“…”

I promised last time that I wouldn’t lie anymore.
I can’t tolerate this much either.

“Why are you lying again?”
“You’re lying… !?”
“You said touching your stomach feels good. “I said everything in front of Lev.”
“Well, when am I? “There’s no way he’s such a pervert.”

Liv suddenly turns her head away.
Bright red ears are revealed beneath the hair that was swept aside a moment ago.
I can’t believe it returns to its original state just because I neglected to knead it for a while.
I felt sorry for my past efforts.

“No, Baron pervert, that’s right.”

As many times as I could, I just told the truth.
The conversation has gone to a strange place, but there is no stopping it now.

“Oh, no! Why did I… !!”
“He’s the most perverted person I’ve ever seen. “How can someone go away just by touching their stomach?”
“Go, go, go, go…” … !! Absolutely not!! “There’s never been anything like that before!!”
“Then are you confident? “If you don’t mind me touching it for an hour, can we do it now?”
“Well, that’s… !”

Liv suddenly closes her legs and lowers her head.
Look at that-. While I was snorting inwardly, I suddenly became curious.

“Then what about thirty minutes? “I’ll just take a tummy nap for thirty minutes.”
“…”

Very small.
My head shakes so slightly that I don’t even notice.
The hair that hangs straight down also moves along.

“Well, then ten minutes… ?”
“…”

I thought this would be okay…
I’m sure it was only half-joking, but at this point, even I became suspicious.
You can’t last even ten minutes?
Just touching my stomach?

“Five minutes?”
“…”
“This person… No, one minute and thirty seconds. “How about just one minute and thirty seconds?”
“…”

Oh my god.

“Huh, it’s all because of the boss… !!”

Liv burst into tears as I was stunned.
After that we couldn’t say anything to each other for a while.