Reconstruction 5

Royal meeting.

The Royal meeting establishes policies to lead the kingdom. It is attended by the city’s prominent nobles and, in modern terms, military officials of general rank.

In essence, the meeting represented the very core of noble authority.

Needless to say, gaining entry is incredibly difficult.

This was why Countess Ragna Pefroc drew so much attention in noble society—because she managed to claim a seat there.

For a noble house with no strong foundation to secure a seat in such a short time was unprecedented.

In her case, though, she had the Chancellor’s backing.

Anyway.

“I didn’t expect Melbes to have zero participants in the Royal Council.”

Honestly, for a place like Melbes with 32 families, I thought they would hold at least one seat. I never imagined they wouldn’t.

Perhaps this, too, is a form of subtle discrimination against non-humans.

Of course, for me, it worked out just fine.

The room went quiet when I announced that I was thirsty. No one knew how to react. As everyone fidgeted in silence, one of the nobles sitting in the corner spoke up.

“Could someone go get a cup of tea? Make sure to add plenty of ice so that it’s refreshing.”

He made sure I knew the order came from him. With that, things settled right away. The one who gave that order was the leader of Melbeth.

“Yes? Ah, yes… Council Leader.”

He made sure I understood it was his command. With that, the situation was clearly resolved.

After all, the one who spoke was the Council Leader.

A baron sitting next to the leader went outside the meeting room, placed an order with the servants, and returned.

And after a few seconds later…

“Place it over there for him.”

I had no idea how they trained their servants, but one appeared almost instantly with tea. The ice clinked as he placed it before me.

It was quite different from the sweet one I used to drink at the gaming cafe, but…

‘Not bad.’

As I took a long sip, savoring its coolness and aroma, the Council Leader spoke up and asked me,

“Now, shall you tell us your story?”

“Hmm… You say that, but I don’t even know what you expect me to say.”

“Then, let’s start with this. Baron, is it true you’ve obtained the right to attend the Royal Council?”

“It’s true. I was resting at the sanctuary when this letter arrived in a while ago.”

I took out the letter I’d kept with me and showed it to everyone. Their expressions stirred once more.

No one doubted me, of course, but—

“It’s genuine…”

“The royal seal is here.”

“The seat is lowly for now, but still…”

Still, seeing the evidence with their own eyes must have felt different.

“So, is that the end of the questions?”

When I phrased “Any other questions?” in a barbarian manner, the council leader paused for a moment before cautiously asking his next question.

“By any chance… have you decided to join hands with the royal family, Baron?”

“What a strange question. Aren’t we are all servants of the royal family.”

Those were just empty words. But if you ask like that, what else can I say?

The leader seemed to realize his mistake and quickly corrected his question.

“…Then let me ask again. I know it’s an impudent question, but…”

“It’s fine. Go ahead.”

“After returning to the city this time, did you meet separately with the royal family and secure some kind of promise?”

Even a socially oblivious Barbarian could tell what the Council Leader was worried about with this question.

He was worried about a brain drain.

He must have been anxious, wondering if I was going to abandon Melves and become a loyal vassal of the mainstream royal family.

I didn’t expect him to express that anxiety so openly in front of everyone, though.

“…What made you think that?”

“Even today, Baron. You wanted the rewards for the reconstruction contract, and when we asked about the information on Basement Floor 1, you said you’d tell us later.”

Ah, that…

‘From their perspective, it definitely must have looked that way.’

I have no plans to abandon Melbes and find a new nest.

I quite like the nature of this group itself.

The characteristic of being a group formed by non-humans who are subtly ostracized is also very advantageous for me.

However, the reason I was reticent about the 1st basement floor exploration was because I might make some deal with the royal family later.

“It seems there’s been a misunderstanding, so let me be clear here. I have made no promises with the royal family.”

“Then the Royal Council…?”

“I don’t know. The letter arrived without any prior notice.”

This was true. There had been absolutely no contact from the Marquis before the letter arrived.

And perhaps they believed me.

“I see…”

“Is your curiosity satisfied?”

“It is. I was worried at first, but now it seems the royal family has simply acknowledged you.”

“Acknowledged what?”

“That the Baron is already the center of the city’s political situation.”

The look in the Council Leader’s eyes as he said this while looking at me was more than just intense.

It was filled with a passion I hadn’t seen before.

He looked like a man who refused to let go of something valuable.

‘It’s a bit burdensome, but…’

Objectively speaking, it’s a very positive situation.

Having the other 31 families of Melves solidly backing me from behind, that was my ultimate goal here.

“I see.”

But the moment I said that, the passionate flame in the Council Leader’s eyes instantly died out.

“The questions end here. Marquis Maryblack, please continue the discussion.”

“Huh? Ah, yes… Understood.”

The Viscount took over, and the nobles spoke cautiously, glancing between me and the Council Leader.

For the rest of the meeting, however, the Leader did not direct any more words or glances my way.

‘…What’s this? Is he trying to play hard to get?’

That burning gaze, followed by this cold restraint, left me uneasy. But it didn’t take long for me to realize that the Leader was deliberately keeping his emotions in check.

“Then, with thanks to the family heads who graced this gathering with their presence, we hereby conclude…”

As the gathering completely ended and I was about to get up.

“Baron, could you stay behind for a moment?”

“……?”

“The tea from the Maryblack family is quite good.”

A noble’s way of asking for a private talk.

“Sure, why not.”

After I agreed and waited, the nobles who had attended the gathering tactfully skipped the formal greetings and left the chamber.

And then…

“I’ll have tea brought to you as soon as it’s ready. Please make yourselves comfortable.”

Even Viscount Mariblack, who hosted today’s meeting, stepped away to give us a quiet moment alone.

“Baron Jandel.”

The fire returned to the Council Leader’s eyes. It was an intense gaze full of desire, completely unbefitting a gray-haired old man.

However, while he showed his emotions openly, his voice remained calm.

“Baron Jandel, what are your thoughts on Melbes?”

Hmm, starting with a light question.

“I just think it’s a good place. The people are fine too.”

“Even after the clash with Count Goldbeard?”

“How can people meet and not clash? Everyone lives like that. I don’t dislike the Count just because of that incident.”

“Then I am relieved.”

Since he had tested me, I tested him back.

“What about you, Chairman? What do you think of Melbes?”

He looked genuinely surprised by the question.

“Ha… what do I think of Melbes, you ask…”

He paused to consider his response and answered so frankly that even I was caught off guard.

“I think we’re rabble.”

“……What?”

An outrageous choice of words, unbelievable coming from the Leader of Melbes.

“What, were you expecting the usual ‘we can do it,’ ‘united we are stronger than anyone’ positive talk?”

“It’s not that… I just didn’t expect you to be this honest.”

“Truthfully, Baron Jandel, this is the first time I’ve been this open about my inner thoughts. I couldn’t and shouldn’t say this to anyone else.”

The leader’s face, which was usually graced with a gentle smile, seemed clouded today for some reason. Clearly, he had been under great stress.

“What exactly do you mean by rabble?”

“Just what it sounds like. Even after thousands of years, the mixed-race houses don’t grow, while the pureblood lines only grow stronger. We gathered here because we had nowhere else, but we are not truly united.”

He poured out his pent-up frustration.

“And do you know the biggest difference between us and other factions? We have no central axis—no rallying point.”

“But aren’t you—?”

“Do I truly look like that to you?”

He’s certainly respected and all… but if he tried to lead with a vision, would all thirty-one houses follow? Not likely.

Seeing me press my lips shut, the Leader chuckled dryly.

“Even if each house grows stronger, without a central axis we remain rabble.”

“Because there’s no rallying point?”

“Exactly.”

Like kernels of corn that never become popcorn without heat.

I was starting to get an idea of what the Leader wanted to say.

“Truthfully, Melbes is too small a nest to contain someone like you, Baron Yandel.”

“…Well, I think you might be the only one who thinks that?”

“Heh heh, everyone knows it in their hearts. They just refuse to admit it yet due to personal feelings.”

“Even so, I don’t even have land for my house yet.”

“But you possess more retainers than anyone else in this city. The Baron Jandel I see is not a bird looking for a nest. You are a bird who builds nests.”

 

The Leader continued without stopping, heaping on the praise.

“Baron Jandel, you are the chief of a tribe, a Baron. You are also one of the most famous explorers in the city, and rumor has it you are a powerhouse whose skills are on par with the strongest in this world.”

Well… Nothing he said was wrong, but…

“However, I think you greatly underestimate yourself, Baron. Aside from your title, which of the 31 families do you think possesses even one of these things?”

“…I get it. Stop the gilding and tell me what you want to say.”

“I know it must seem ridiculous to say this to a Baron who has just joined Melbes. But if I miss this opportunity, we will surely wait meaninglessly again for thousands of years, wasting time.”

Then, the Leader looked at me with burning eyes and continued.

“Baron, become the central pillar of our Melves.”

It was much sooner than I expected, but it was the ultimate goal I desired.

Rather than being the tail of a dragon, I would become the head of a snake and grow into a dragon.

I had settled in Melbes with that very thought, ignoring offers from other groups.

But, I needed to ask this first.

“So, Council Leader, what is your wish? What do you want to achieve by growing Melves?”

It was the most important question to confirm first when dealing with a person.

What is this person’s desired wish?

Hearing my question, the Leader let out a hearty laugh and answered immediately without a moment’s hesitation.

“My wish is to one day say to those insolent nobles of human descent… ‘If you’re weak humans, then act like weak humans.'”

“…….”

“…’Know your place.'”

This old man is more extreme than I thought.

***

The Council Leader, having revealed his extreme and radical tendencies, proposed several things to me.

“If you accept my proposal, we of Melbes, and our Wellbeit Viscounty, will fully support and back Baron Jandel.”

“Rather than vague words like ‘full support,’ I’d prefer something more concrete.”

“We will, of course, entrust this reconstruction project to House Jandel, and we will also assist in purchasing land for your estate and building a manor.”

“And?”

“If a vote is ever needed, the thirty-one houses of Melbes will stand with you. Furthermore, if there is anything obstructing what Baron Jandel wishes to do, we will all join forces to remove that obstruction.”

Oh… now that was reassuring—

“But, there is one condition.”

Ah, I knew it. Well, I did wonder why he was being that generous.

I suppressed my disappointment and asked about the condition.

And then—

“What’s the condition? Let’s hear it.”

“No matter who it is…”

The words that followed made my mind go blank for a moment.

“…Just get married and produce an heir as soon as possible.”

……I did not see that condition coming.

 

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