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Volume 12 Chapter 2 Part 10

Could it be that Rutina might have tried to rebel against the Duke if she got the support of the clan’s elder, and that’s why they didn’t want her to come with me?

That’s definitely a possibility, but I don’t know if she’d be capable of doing something like that.

Or rather, before worrying about something like that, wouldn’t it be more logical for her to go and target the enemy of her father personally first?

「Un, I thought about bringing her with me as well, but she said she’s not going to go somewhere where the enemy of her father lives… which got me thinking: would bringing her here to the stronghold of her father’s enemy really be the best thing to do?」

「No, you don’t have to worry about that, because we’re not going to be meeting her here. Instead, we are going to go directly to where grandmother Cassandra is. I will also be going there separately, so let us meet on the other side.」

So this escape route has been blocked off as well?

「It is alright. You should just go for a short time and just do a little greeting. That is all there is to it. Do your best while you are at it as well.」

The Duke says as he’s patting me on the shoulders.
Somehow it looks like he wants me to be the only sacrifice in here, even though just a while ago he said he doesn’t intend on running away himself. Where is all that tough talk of yours now, huh?

Nope. It is merely a greeting. A Greeting.

「The Duke is not coming with us?」

「If Rutina is also supposed to be coming with you, then I think it might be best for me to hold back on going after all, because, just like you said, right now she considers me to be her father’s mortal enemy. But I really am sorry about it, you know? It is such a shame, because I wanted to go together with you so badly. It is a pity, but it cannot be helped.」

The Duke said that while breaking a big grin on his face when Cassia wasn’t looking, which was honestly kinda irritating.

「That’s unfortunate. I’ll let the elder know that you’re busy with stuff in the castle then.」

「Thank you for being so understandable. Please, be sure to tell Lady Cassandra that I am so sorry for not being able to come together with you, and I will make sure to contact her regarding this matter as soon as possible as well.」

「I see. By the way, should I also tell elder Cassandra that Gozer was staying behind due to the important matters that he needed to take care of?」

Since Cassia was coming along with me, that’s probably going to make Gozer look guilty if he stays behind without any sort of tangible explanation to excuse himself, and he’s probably not going to find his way out of it that easily.

「What are you talking about? Putting the matter of Gozer aside, it is true that I am very busy…」
「Then I guess I will have no choice but to report the truth as it is to her….」

「Of course I am going to go with you as well.」

Before Cassia finished her sentence, the Duke thought about it and changed his mind in a hurry, even though he was mumbling something about being extremely busy only moments ago.

Looks like I found the Duke’s weak point. Although in this particular case, this could very well turn out to be a weak point for me as well.

「Didn’t you say you can’t go?「

「Because it is something important to Lord Michio and Cassia. It is more important than my work.」

「Since we are simply going to be introducing Lord Michio to grandmother Cassandra , there is no need to ask you to go that far.」

「I-it’s all right, really.」

The Duke retorts to Cassia.

She is the head of the whole clan, including the beautiful wife of the Duke, then he probably won’t think of doing anything nasty.

Since the Adventurers went ahead to the lobby, therefore I would like to ask Lord Michio to join my party, and I will act as your guide on our journey to grandmother Cassandra’s castle. Shall we be on our way then?

「Okay, let’s go.」

I followed Cassia towards the lobby.

On our way there, I felt like the Duke was staring at me with resentful eyes from behind, but since I didn’t dare to look back at him, then I don’t know for sure, and honestly, I don’t even care.

If there is anyone against whom he should be holding a grudge, then it should definitely be towards Gozer who used the opportunity to escape from this mess.

「Since we’re going anyway, then let’s at least make sure to point out that Gozer didn’t show up even though he was free.」

oh yeah. I am totally fine with doing something like that. No objections here.

「I am sorry, but what you were saying about me just now?」

「Nowaaooah!」

When we reached the lobby, we saw that Gozer was there, which caused the Duke to become greatly surprised, to the point where he let out a strange scream.

「From now on, I will make sure to guide Lord Michio to elder Cassandra’s castle.」
「is that so?」
When Cassia responded to him, Gozer looked at me with the eyes that contained a great deal of pity in them… or at least I think they contained pity.

I think that they did, but I am not entirely sure.

The important thing here is that Gozer is also going with us, which will allow him to avoid getting in trouble.

「We wer3 just talking with the Duke about whether or not we should truthfully inform the elder that you didn’t come visit her because you ran away.」

「What…?!」
He was given straight facts. If the elder was informed about this, then would probably be done for, or that’s the feeling that I get.

「Then let the Adventurers guide you. Would it be alright with you to go to grandmother Cassandra’s castle now and introduce yourself to her so that she might remember you and bring Rutina back to her with you tomorrow morning?」

Cassia explains indifferently, speaking as if she didn’t care about Gozer at all.

「Tomorrow morning?」
「Yes. The sooner, the better.」

「It will only be a short greeting today, so get it over as soon as possible. Just go, say what you need to say and be on your way.」

「Go now and introduce yourself, come back tomorrow morning with Rutina. Alright, I got it, so let’s go.」

「Yes… let’s go.」

The Duke was quite obviously annoyed.

I will definitely be sure to check it tomorrow.

「I trust you won’t do that.」

Gozer said something, but ignore it and enter the Adventurer’s Party.

「Well, I don’t do that for my subordinates.」

「I believe you.」

「I am glad that you understand.」
The Duke initially said that he didn’t want to go, but he didn’t have much choice since Gozer is here now as well.

And yet, he still seems to be evasive, so I’ll go with this strategy too.

「I also believe in Lord Michio.」
You are a nice guy, Gozer but your boss is a piece of shit.

「Well then, tomorrow morning please. Let’s meet over there.」

「I understand.」

「I believe in you!」

I left Bode behind while ignoring Gozer’s shout.