Reliable Allies

I had been told it was a powerful enemy with strong resistance and inexhaustible stamina, so I went into the battle highly motivated… but the subjugation ended in no time at all.

Its durability was certainly high, but because its body was so large, it was not very fast.

Honestly, it was a perfect target for Black Projectiles and Element Fruits.

Still, I never imagined we would struggle so little.

This meant… we had grown stronger, right?

When I looked at the count, he gave a wry smile and jerked his chin.

Where he indicated, the noble armies of his vassals were waiting.

The nobles who had clearly mocked or looked down on me inwardly until we arrived here now approached with rubbing hands.

“M-my, as expected of Lord Woody. To think it was this much…”

“Indeed, indeed. With this, House Conrad was secure.”

“The things the soldiers were armed with earlier… f-fruit? …Those?”

The nobles under Count Tristan seemed to be sweating nervously inside.

They had not expected such a one-sided development either.

Well, even I had not predicted it, so that was natural.

But I was glad the plan to show everyone our power worked even better than expected.

At the very least, the vassal nobles of the Tristan family would soften their attitude toward me.

A little distance away from them, who sent stiff smiles our way, stood the men who had come as observing officers.

Many of them were trusted strategists or right-hand men of their respective lords.

Some even had the lords’ sons participating.

They whispered quietly among themselves, so I could not tell what they were saying.

So I asked Nadja, whose hearing was sharp, to listen in.

“‘Hey, who was it that said he was weak because he had a production aptitude!? From any angle, that was clearly the son of House Conrad!’”

“‘I must report to Lady Mirialia immediately… The key to the future was undoubtedly Lord Woody.’”

“‘If that power fell into House Conrad’s hands… the kingdom’s balance might collapse! We must somehow improve relations with House Conrad…’”

“Apparently everyone feared Woody’s power.”

“Well, better to be feared than not.”

“True enough.”

We walked toward the count together.

As expected, the count showed no sign of panic and simply scratched his head.

“Well now, I was surprised. To be honest, I had heard some unpleasant rumors about you, Woody-kun… but rumors were rumors. Seeing it firsthand, I understood how much power you possessed.”

As he looked down at me, the count narrowed his eyes.

They were the eyes of a merchant calmly appraising value.

“A golem sniping unit rivaling a mage corps, and powerful armaments in the form of explosive fruit… when it came to ranged combat, no one could rival your group.”

I had already finished discussing with the count the conflict between me and House Conrad and my future prospects.

So he understood I would not return to my father, and he neither feared nor suspected me.

Rather, he seemed more relieved than anything.

“The thought of your power falling into House Conrad’s hands sent chills down my spine. Even now we were at a slight disadvantage since Nadja left—if they strengthened further, we would certainly have been absorbed.”

“I am honored by your praise.”

Perhaps because he acknowledged my worth, his narrowed eyes returned to normal and he became the usual count again.

From him emanated a powerful aura that combined the elegance of a high-ranking noble of the kingdom’s blue blood with the ferocity of a Sword Saint who lived by the blade.

“Now then, let us talk about what comes next—ah, rest assured. It may be awkward to say this to you, Woody-kun, but House Conrad has earned a bit too much resentment around them. With a little prodding, stopping their movements would be easy.”

With this, we might finally make them pay for everything they had put us through.

Seeing Count Tristan laugh, I once again resolved that, if possible, I should avoid ever making an enemy of him in the future—