Teihen Ryoushu

Chapter 20.1 – Don’t Flatter Snail-kun!

「---I’ve already expected Alicia to introduce herself as my fiancée but I was surprised by Irina’s lover introduction. Did you do it to match Alicia?」

「Y-yeah! That’s what I had in mind, Rize-dono! I felt a little unnatural to say that I am just a friend given the place and situation!」

「A-areh, Rize-sama, did you just accept me as your fiancée just now!? Ano, wait!?」

We were enjoying the party in the moonlit garden.

But the other nobles were not very excited. When we have a banquet with the people of Beibalon, we all celebrate until morning.

Well, anyway, my task doesn’t change! Make a lot of friends here and spread good words about Beibalon!

So, let’s take Alicia and Irina and get close to the organizer, Snail-kun!

「Viscount Snail.」

「!? If it isn’t Baron Rize and….a commoner and a filthy beastkin…ah, no, I mean partners! What on earth do you want from me….?」

Oh, I’m just talking to him normally but he’s kind of trembling.

Well, he said “Viscount is superior!” and “are you trying to show me the difference in class!” which I don’t really understand. But looking at him now, it’s probably because he’s sick.

「Nothing, I’m only trying to have a friendly chat with you….however, the viscount looks tired. Why don’t you go home?」

「W-what!? Y-you bastard are trying to take over this place!? Let me tell you this, I’m the one who organized this party!」

Huh? What is he talking about? Of course, I know that. You are looking down at this Rize-kun too much.

And what is this guy’s problem….I went to the trouble of worrying about his health so why is he suddenly snapping at me? Don’t you know the word “friendship”?

---ah, maybe he’s still holding on to the fact that I mistook the rank of “viscount” and “baron”!

Wow….how shallow-minded. However, I’m an adult so I’ll just apologize again.

「I see, if you are still angry about the peerage, I apologize. Well, you know. No one would make a mistake between baron and count but if it were baron and viscount, some people would get confused about which rank is superior, right? 」

「Rig-----right my ass! Only an ignorant commoner kid would make such a mistake!!! You said it on purpose, didn’t you!?」

Whaaaaaaattttt!? I know I made a mistake but!? Isn’t it terrible to treat me as an ignorant commoner kid!? Does this guy not know anything about common courtesy! I-d-i-o-t i-d-i-o-t!

“Is this guy a bad guy?” When I was about to ask that to Alicia and Irina, both of them were happily giggling for some reason. Cute.

I was relieved to see the smiles on their faces since it is a waste of their beauty if they don’t. And Snail-kun became even more pissed for some reason.

「Y-yo-you women! Don’t laugh at me! I-I have the strongest monster, a dragon, in my territory!? If you make a fool of me, I’ll make it eat you!」

「I have one too!」

「How dare you blatantly lie!?」

N-no….I’m not lying. He’s really rude.

I mean, the dragon that Snail-kun is keeping is that one in the abandoned mine, right?

If that is the case, I’ve already killed it myself….what the heck! I’ve killed someone’s pet! I thought it was a stray dragon because it looked like it was free! I’m sorry, Snail-kun!

「……Viscount Snail, does this dragon belong to you?」

「O-of course not! The previous lord made a contract with that thing making it protect this land!」

Ah, I didn’t know that! When we talk to the villagers in the villages around that abandoned mine, all they are saying is “I don’t want to be sacrificed to the dragon, I don’t want to be a sacrifice….!” so I thought it was a scourge of the territory!

I see, I see, so that dragon is like a partner to Snail-kun. I’ve done something terrible.

---Okay, I got it! Then, next time, I’ll make even one bigger dragon compared to the original and sneak it back there!

Then, Snail-kun will say, “Whoah! My pet Dorataro has suddenly grown up!?”. I’m sure he’ll be very happy and will be in a better mood. Perhaps his trashy personality will improve a little! Oh, come on! I’m too smart!

「I apologize for my rudeness, Viscount Snail. As someone who lives in a neighboring territory, I hope I can get along well with you.」

「Mou…….fufufufufufu…..! Ah, Baron Rize, as soon as we talk about the dragon, you suddenly become meek! Well, it’s good that you understand! From now on, you must properly understand my greatness so make sure you flatter me!」

「I understand---by the way, about your attempt to cast a spell on me, I heard that if I bring it to the high court with Duke Hohenheim’s signature, I can have you convicted for felony. Well.I.will.flatter.you.by.forgiving.you.」

「You bastaaaarrrrrrdddddddddddddddddd!!!!!!!!」

Oh, he got angry again!? Ah….he suddenly collapsed!

「V-viscount-sama has collapsed!」

「Take him to the infirmary!」

「His blood vessel on his head might have popped! Carry him carefully!」

….Viscount Snail disappears from the party venue, carried by his panicking servants.

Like his suit, his face was also bright red, and he looked like an octopus that was caught the other day.

Hmm, he asked me to flatter him so I gave him a grand favor. Why did he get mad at me? He’s crazy after all. You should learn a little common sense from him, Rize-kun!

—Scene Change—

「---Wahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!」

Duke Hohenheim laughed hysterically while holding his belly as Snail was taken to the infirmary---!

He knew that the man had been talking about him a lot behind his back. He has no room for sympathy for him.

At first, when Rize invited him to a party that Snail was organizing, he had some doubts.

He wanted to talk with Rize as much as he could but he didn’t want to see the face of Snail and his cronies.

Still, Hohenheim decided to attend the party thinking that he could at least surprise them if he went.

And when he went, he found the man, Rize Beibalon, putting up a great show!

He overwhelmed the nobles with the most stunning commoner and beastkin in tow and nearly drove Snail to the brink of death with a parade of egregious touches of sarcasm and provocations!

Only a genius schemer or an inhuman devil would be able to precisely make fun of someone like that. Hohenheim is convinced that he was definitely the former.

It was a truly heart-wrenching thought. Duke Hohenheim rejoices once again of being Rize’s ally.

「Wahahaha….Rize! You’ve done me a great favor!」

「Duke Hohenheim, ah, what in the world is wrong with him? He’s sick after all.」

「Fuhahaha, you’re still saying that!....you did it for me, right?」

「What is?」

Hohenheim’s mood was getting better and better as Rize continued to play along with him.

Rize’s modesty was pleasant as he never tried to show off. While laughing, Hohenheim raises his glass and holds it out in front of him.

「Cheers for you, Rize Beibalon! I’m so happy to have met you!」

「Thank you, Duke Hohenheim. Let us continue to strive for “peace”.」

The sound of glasses hitting against each other in the beautiful moonlit garden echoed.

Thus, Hohenheim enjoyed the best wine of his life while Snail’s cronies and sidekicks were at loss as to what to do.

Just like the color of the wine he was drinking---he hoped that the noble society would turn red….!