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428 p3. Noble Faction and New School Year [1]

「By the way, Allen-dono, why did you order water… Are you following some kind of calorie restriction diet?」

「W-Well, something like that.」

There’s no way I could say “I couldn’t read the menu”, so I just decided to go with the flow.

「Thorough nutrition management on a daily basis… How wonderful! A first-class swordsman would of course pay attention to such tiny details!」

「No, I’m not a first-class swordsman–」

「Hahahaha, please put aside your humility. If a swordsman such as yourself can’t be called first-class, then who in the world can be called first-class? Hey, don’t you think so?」

As Patriot-san directed the question to the man behind him,

「Yes, it is exactly as you say, sir.」

The butler bowed slightly and voiced his agreement while keeping his eyes down.

「This is a bit off topic, but… there was a time when I, Bornard, was also aiming to become the strongest swordsman.」

「Oh, is that so?」

「Yes. But… I’m ashamed to say that I wasn’t blessed with the talent for swordsmanship. Nowadays I only have an ugly stomach like this.」

Patriot-san said in a joking tone, and pinched his own love handles.

As we were having such a light chat, there was a knock on the door.

「Patriot-sama, I have prepared the drinks.」

「Oh, come on in.」

「Excuse me.」

The butler entered the room without a sound and quickly placed the glasses for the two of us on the desk.

「Water and Alfred Patty Dimblangold, sirs.」

「Thank you.」

「Umu, thanks.」

The butler silently bowed and returned to stand behind Patriot-san.

Even though they had gone to the trouble to prepare water for me, I couldn’t reach my hand out to pick it up. Because…

(Just how much will this cost…?)

The glass in front of me was no ordinary glass.

A ruby-like jewel was embedded in the center, and the handle had a delicate design.

It looks very expensive… No, it is most definitely a luxury item that’s going to be super expensive. My poor-sensor was sounding a loud warning in my mind.

「Um, I’d like to ask you something…」

「What is this?」

「How much does this glass cost?」

In response to my question, Patriot-san stiffened as if he was attacked by an enemy while he was unguarded.

「Eh… um, the price of this glass?」

「Yes.」

「I, see… the price of the glass… hmmm…」

As if it was a completely unexpected question, he displayed an extremely complicated expression.

It may be trivial for him, but it’s a very important issue for me.

「I think it’s… 50 million gold? Or maybe 60 million gold? –No, I’m sorry. I’m ashamed to say that I don’t know the price of daily necessities.」

While rubbing his beard, Patriot-san spoke an outrageous amount.

「Ha, haha… I-I see, 50, 60 million gold? Ha, hahahaha…」

I have decided.

I am never touching this glass.

「Now then… we are both busy people, so let’s move on to the main topic.」

Patriot-san began to talk slowly, perhaps judging that the ice had been broken.

「Allen-dono, do you know that the political scene in this country is divided into the royal faction and the noble faction?」

「Yes.」

「Oh, as one would expect. This Patriot is filled with awe that you are well-versed in politics while being a swordsman.」

He smacked his forehead and smiled brightly.

「You, of your vast wisdom, may already know this but… I don’t think there should be any discrepancies in our perceptions. For that reason, would it be okay if I quickly summarized the definition of the royal faction and the noble faction.」

「Please do.」

「First of all, the royal faction, Tenshi-sama and the Arcstria family, is centered around the core doctrine of the empire. On the other hand, the noble faction, the nobles and the populace, are centered around world peace. These two major influences have divided the empire in two.」

「I see, our understanding seems to be roughly the same.」

One point, though, I’ve never heard that the noble faction was a power centered on the nobles and the common people…

(Since Patriot-san is the one saying this, the stance of the noble faction is probably that it is a group of noble + common people.)

I’ll try to find out about that on my own next time.

(Speaking of which, what position is that person in?)

Since this is a rare opportunity, I decided to ask him about something that had been on my mind for a long time.

「Excuse me, but there is one thing that bothers me…」

「Yes, you may ask anything.」

「Is Rize-san, one of the Five Wealthy Merchant, a part of the noble faction?」

Rize Dorahein is one of the Five Wealthy Merchants and the head of the Dorahein noble family.

Is she also a member of the noble faction?

「…The Dorahain family, huh?」

Patriot-san’s expression turned serious for the first time.

「To be frank, Rize-dono is indeed a noble, but she does not belong to the noble faction.」

「Is that so?」

「Yes, even if it’s called the noble faction, it’s just a name.」

After scratching his cheek, he narrowed his eyes.

「Allen-dono, can I share a little old story with you?」

「Yes.」

「The Dorahein family was originally a small and weak noble in the countryside. They engaged in agriculture, livestock raising, sericulture, etc., and the relationship between the lord and the people was good. They lived quietly and peacefully.」

「I see.」

Rize-san and Ferris-san can be concluded as “nobles” just from looking at them, so this was quite surprising.

「Yes, those days were good. Everything was supposed to be in our hands as we wanted. There were no flaws in the plan and it was proceeding smoothly. And yet… that detestable Bloody Fox…」

The moment sharp words came out of Patriot-san’s mouth…

「「Patriot-sama!」」

The two butlers standing behind him suddenly raised their voices.

「With all due respect, you may have stepped too far, sir.」

「In the current situation where that one’s ability is unknown, please refrain from such careless remarks… You might be erased.」

Reprimanded, Patriot-san closed his mouth with a surprised expression.

「Oops… I apologize. It looks like I got too into the moment.」

After he apologized, he put on a somewhat thin smile.

「Allen-dono, let’s stop talking about Rize-dono.」

「Eh?」

「Let’s let sleeping dogs lie. We, the noble faction, also try not to have anything to do with Rize Dorahein. In her case, we don’t even know in which places she has her ears.」

「I see……」

It seems that Rize-san is feared even by the noble faction.

「Well, let’s get the conversation back on track.」

He clapped his hands together and leaned his body towards me.

「In fact, what kind of position is Allen-dono in right now?」

「What do you mean by position?」

「You are on good terms with the royal faction, especially the daughter of the Arcstria family, Sie Arcstoria…wasn’t it?」

「Well, yes.」

To be honest, I’m not on good terms with Tenshi-sama at all, but there’s no need to go out of my way to correct that.

「We, the members of the noble faction, are very concerned about this situation. We wonder if Allen-dono will be taken in by the royal faction.」

「No, there is no need to worry about that. I’m currently in the middle path, so I am not really backing anyone.」

「Oh, that’s good.」

Patriot-san let out a sigh of relief.

「That side is a “mud boat” that will sink soon. I hope that you will not get on it.」

With a soft smile on his face, he uttered some harsh words.