Chapter 6

Confusion spread through the conference room at the sudden appearance of Zeke. Some were simply surprised, but there were also many who did not look kindly upon Zeke’s presence. Even if Alderic’s words were true, it was difficult for them to suddenly switch their thinking. Even if their heads understood, their hearts and emotions could not keep up.

“So the key players have assembled…”

“Do not misunderstand. I am not here for your sake.”

On top of that, there was Zeke’s attitude. He was the prodigy of Lagias, who did not change his behavior even when the other party was the king. Those who had never met Zeke had heard the stories, but perhaps they had not expected him to be this bad, for their faces twitched. Conversely, those who knew Zeke had various reactions, from turning pale to giving wry smiles.

“Y-You! How dare you speak to His Majesty that way!”

The one who had just spoken was one of the powerful nobles. He was someone who had repeatedly advocated anti-Lagias views until now.

It was not because he had been driven by righteous anger on behalf of the unjustly treated people of the domain. Rather, he had been aiming for the Lagias Domain after it was dismantled.

And now, the truth had been revealed that Lagias had been heroes who supported the country from behind the scenes. His words were born from fear that the winds had changed and his own position would become dangerous.

“What is a noble from the lowest ranks misunderstanding!”

“You barbarian who has nothing but strength!”

High-ranking nobles voiced their objections. As if drawn along, criticism came pouring in.
From their perspective, this was only natural. The sudden revelation of the truth of Lagias alone was shocking. On top of that, the suspicion of murdering the Sword Saint had been wrong, and Zeke even had achievements of having protected and fought for the country from behind the scenes.

And now that very Zeke was declaring that they should obey him. Judging from Alderic’s expression, he did not seem inclined to deny it. Their pride would not allow them to be ordered around by Lagias, the disgrace of the nation they had looked down on so much until now. Moreover, some of them had repeatedly harassed Lagias. Considering Zeke’s behavior, it was entirely possible that he would take revenge.

They acted because they understood that if Lagias became heroes, they would lose their standing.

“Shut up and obey you!? What are you saying, boy! Do not get carried away, a brat like you who does not even belong to the national military!”

“Your Majesty! This boy cannot be trusted! …Even if the truth of Lagias that Your Majesty speaks of exists, this boy himself has done nothing!”

“He is far too dangerous. That man’s power is… One day, conflict will arise around him, and the country will collapse.”

The meeting fell into uproar because of some of those present. Their reasons varied. They simply disliked Zeke. They could not trust him. They feared him. Their desperate struggle to make Lagias into the villain at all costs instead made the people around them calmer.

“You are missing the point. What you should be concerned with is Elzen Freak, not him. …Why not stop this unsightly behavior already?”

Aktor tried to steer the discussion back on track.

From their perspective, Aktor and the Astera Ducal House had become extremely troublesome existences. They had secured the winning horse that was Zeke from an early stage. And now, to hear at this point that he was an ally of Diabalet was a complete bolt from the blue.

The existence of an intelligence organization that controlled the country from behind the scenes made it even harder for them to move.

“Aktor-dono! We cannot overlook such an insult toward us! …You brat, hiding behind the ducal house and watching which way the wind blows!”

Zeke, the center of the topic, had not said a single word since earlier. His attitude, as though he had nothing to do with this and was simply watching how things unfolded, irritated them even further. Seeing them, Aktor muttered in disappointment that he had tried to stop them. Those who knew Zeke well also wore sympathetic expressions.

“Your Majesty! Surely you do not intend to employ that man? You must not! You are being deceived!”

Alderic did not answer their appeal. They were not reflected in his inorganic eyes. In other words, that was his answer.

For the first time, Zeke showed a reaction toward the anti-Lagias faction, whose faces had turned pale. He was sneering with pity.

“W-What is so funny!?”

“No, it is just… everything about you people is so absurd. It was an entertaining comedy. You people are the best.”

A dry sound echoed through the conference room. Zeke was clapping. While showing a scornful smile.

The nobles, thinking they had been mocked, changed from pale-faced to red-faced and began railing at Zeke. But perhaps it had no effect on the person himself, for he continued to sneer. He laughed mockingly, chuckling under his breath.

“Now then, the farce is over. I do not know whether the phrase ‘disgracing your final years’ suits you people, but disappear already. You are in the way.”

“What are you saying! The one who should disappear is you, boy!”

The meeting erupted into disorder. Despite the emergency, the discussion was not progressing at all. Duke Alight, unable to keep watching, was about to open his mouth to bring the room together, but the one who moved first was the last Lagias.

“Did you not hear me? I told you to disappear. —You people are already finished.”

Pressure was released. His tone allowed no argument. Faced with killing intent unlike anything they had ever experienced, the nobles fell silent.

There were many who had felt displeasure toward them, given all the selfish things they had said until now. Some, such as Eris and Kratz, wore expressions that said, Do it!

“My way of speaking? The lowest rank of nobility? …Are your heads insane? What are you expecting from Lagias, whom you have so thoroughly hated? There is no way I would submit to incompetent fools like you.”

Aktor held his head, thinking it had begun. Once it had reached this point, Zeke would no longer stop. In the first place, this had been a mistake. There was no way they could win a war of words against him.

“You said I should not get carried away, boy, did you not? Then what exactly are you people, cowering before that boy? Tell me in a way that is easy to understand, will you?”

“You say I cannot be trusted? Are you an idiot? At a stage where the world may be destroyed, you people, who cling to your vested interests and self-preservation, are far more untrustworthy.”

“A conflict will arise around me and the country will collapse? Fool… The collapse has already begun. Because you people are incompetent. At this point, you are no different from rebels.”

A storm of abuse exploded. Blades of sharp words honed by malice mercilessly carved up the nobles. They tried to form words so as not to lose, but before his overwhelming verbal assault, they had no chance. Perhaps it was a difference in caliber. There was no opening to exploit.

“How much do you think I have cleaned up after you people? The royal capital, Westen, and Samaris as well. Because I was there, your wealth, status, and power still exist. Conversely, that means you are incompetent fools who have nothing else. …You called me a barbarian. You people, who cling to that barbarian, are insects lower than filthy sewer rats. Goblins would still be better.”

“If you have any objection, try saying it. Show me that you can do the same things I have done. If you cannot accept it, take up a sword. If anyone here says they can overturn this situation, step forward. What can you people, who have always done as you pleased from safe places, possibly change? If it is all talk, then you are no different from children off the street.”

Faced with Zeke’s one-man stage, those who had criticized him had no choice but to remain silent. The feeling that they could not accept it was plainly visible, but if they carelessly opened their mouths, they would be paid back twice over. Some had already lost their will to fight and hung their heads.

“Employ me? Do not be deceived? I do not know what you are misunderstanding, but I have absolutely no intention of cooperating with you people. Not with those of you who have used Lagias so thoroughly. …I will fight only for myself.”

It was not only the nobles who wore bitter expressions because they had thoughts about that. The knights and mages of the national military, as well as the royal guards who protected the royal family, were the same. They had forced Zeke to shoulder duties that should originally have been theirs. No matter what he himself thought, the fact that lives had been saved did not change.

“You understand this already, I am sure, but this country is rotten. What happens to you people has nothing to do with me, but if you drag me down, it would ruin my mood. —So you will disappear, will you not?”

“D-Disappear!? What are you talking…”

Zeke’s gaze turned toward the members of the anti-Lagias faction. They had very conveniently gathered together and taken seats as a group.

“The pus has to be drained completely. You can disappear for the sake of this country you love so much. That is what you wanted, is it not?”

“I-I am a noble! Why must we, who have served the country until now, disappear!?”

“Because this is the result. It is laughable that people who struggle against a mere trading company call themselves nobles. That is why you are used however others please. …Hiding behind status and waiting to see which way the wind blows, you decrepit old fool?”

Zeke smiled as if provoking him. His figure was that of a devil itself.

The noble, thinking he had been denied, flew into a rage once again.

“Silence, silence! You boy who knows nothing of politics! Do not get carried away, you mere Lagias! How much do you think I have contributed to the country? Do you know how hard I have worked myself to the bone!? A young man like you, who has nothing but strength, is the most dangerous of all! You devil who will cast this country into hell! I will not let someone like you decide my future!”

“Of course. The responsibility of those below is decided by those who stand above them. …I could not care less about your future, you disgusting creature.”

Hearing Zeke’s statement of genuine disgust, the noble suddenly came to his senses. He hurriedly tried to make excuses to the king, but…

“Your Majesty! You must not trust this man! He has clearly declared that he has no intention of cooperating! Perhaps he is someone sent by the Freak Trading Company! That must be it! Everyone, do not be deceived! If you think for even a moment, you should understand which of us is more trustworthy: I, who have served this country for many years, or Lagias!”

The other members of the anti-Lagias faction shouted as if following his lead. Their appearance was that of wounded beasts driven into a corner. Their piercing cries echoed emptily through the conference room, but they reached no one’s heart.

“How deplorable. …Take them away.”

“!? Y-Your Majesty… What are you…”

“You people truly have not changed at all.”

At Alderic’s command, royal guards appeared in the conference room. They restrained the anti-Lagias nobles and took them away.

“W-What are you doing!? L-Let go! Your Majesty, Your Majesty!”

After the room fell silent, Alderic spoke.

“Lagias is Diabalet’s ally. Not knowing that is no longer an excuse.”

Alderic glared around the room with a sharp gaze. Even those who had stood close to the nobles who had been dragged away could not argue after he had made his warning this clear.

“Those who cannot accept this may leave now. My country does not need you.”

Everyone remained silent. Those who had been negative toward Zeke had shrunk into petty figures waiting for the storm to pass.