Ch.2323. I Almost Became a Pet Dog by Mistake.

“What about the knights?”

“They’re currently undergoing intensive training as you ordered, young master.”

“Tell the Knight Commander not to spare any expense on equipment and materials for training.”

I pressed my temples firmly with both hands due to the throbbing headache, causing Pedericks to look concerned.

“The knights are one thing, but aren’t you pushing yourself too hard with training since that day, young master?”

“I just have a slight headache, that’s all. By the way, did you keep everything quiet?”

“Yes, except for the Knight Commander and Rio Sergan, everyone believes you simply got lost while taking a walk.”

It had already been three days since I was kidnapped by Tras.

We quietly cremated the bodies with Pedericks, Knight Commander Rain Breaker, and Rio.

All things considered, we had cleanly erased all evidence.

Why did we destroy evidence when we did nothing wrong, you ask?

Even though Tras was an outcast, he was still the eldest son of the Cardrian family.

If we explained the whole situation, they might not charge us with a crime, but they would certainly demand compensation for the loss of their son.

That’s their logic.

That’s why murders among nobles require great caution, as they could easily escalate into war.

“What about Luna?”

“She’s still unconscious, but the doctor said her life is not in danger.”

Of course not. She collapsed right after killing everyone, so how could her life be in danger…

My head still throbs when I think about that moment.

-Lick it.

-…What?

-I said lick it.

I was at a complete loss for what to do in that awkward situation when she suddenly collapsed after saying those words. Thankfully she did, or I might have ended up licking Luna’s hand like a puppy.

“I almost became a pet dog.”

“…Pardon?”

“Never mind. Has there been any contact from the Cardrian family yet?”

“No, fortunately there has been no contact.”

“It’s fine. They won’t contact us anyway.”

“What do you mean by that…?”

The Cardrian family must know that Tras’s group was accompanied by three elite knights and a mage.

The only known elites in our mansion are the Knight Commander and Rio, just two people.

This means we’ll naturally be excluded from the list of suspects.

They’ll assume it would have been impossible for my subordinates to subdue Tras’s group by force.

Pedericks still tilted his head in confusion.

I adjusted my posture to explain it simply.

“How many elite knights do we have?”

“Knight Commander Rain Breaker and Rio Sergan, just two.”

“Remember those bodies we found at the abandoned house? They actually included three elite knights and one mage.”

Pedericks looked at me with disbelief.

“…You’re joking, right?”

“I’m serious.”

“Are you saying you dealt with all of them, young master?”

Technically, it was the awakened Luna who took care of them, but he wouldn’t believe that.

It would only complicate things if I told him the truth.

“They just fought among themselves. I got lucky.”

“Then there was no need to cremate the bodies and destroy evidence, was there? Especially since you were kidnapped.”

“Even if we told the truth, would the Cardrian family believe us?”

“Ah…”

“Anyway, what I’m saying is they won’t suspect us.”

“If what you say is true, then I suppose so.”

“Anything else to report?”

When I casually asked, Pedericks suddenly remembered something and clapped his hands.

“Ah, right! Baron Byron said he would visit the mansion again in a few days.”

“Again? Why!?”

“It seems the family has decided to hold their monster hunt here.”

“Sigh… With all that vast land elsewhere, why hunt here of all places?”

“I’m not entirely sure, but… I heard that the fourth young master, Leonard Alphonse, will also participate.”

First Baron Byron, and now my fourth brother is coming too?

I grabbed my hair in frustration and let out a sigh.

“Hah! What kind of relationship do Leonard Alphonse and I have?”

“Pardon? Why are you asking me that…”

“I’m just asking how our relationship looks from a butler’s perspective.”

“Hmm, to be honest, I think the relationship between you two isn’t very good.”

“Why’s that?”

“Well, weren’t you sent to exile because of Leonard, in a way?”

My eyes widened.

In the original story, “Selden Alphonse” was established as a scoundrel, but it never specifically explained why he was sent to exile.

I had assumed Baron Byron sent him away because he couldn’t tolerate his son’s debauchery…

“Tell me more.”

“Do you really not remember? That day, you went to the pleasure district with Young Master Leonard and got caught by Baron Byron.”

“The pleasure district? Then Leonard should have been caught too. Why was I the only one exiled?”

Pedericks clicked his tongue with a slightly contemptuous look.

“Tsk… Isn’t it obvious? Leonard has a reputation for being well-behaved.”

“What? So we went to the pleasure district together, but I was the only one exiled?”

“That’s right. You both claimed the other suggested going there, but who do you think Baron Byron would believe?”

“Not me, I guess.”

“You know it well. You complained to me about how unfair it was for quite some time after coming here…”

Damn it…

If I had actually gone to the pleasure district in this body, I wouldn’t feel so wronged.

But what can I do? Now that I’ve possessed “Selden Alphonse,” I have to bear the consequences of his actions…

Anyway.

From what Pedericks is saying, it’s highly likely that Leonard lured me to the pleasure district.

In the novel, “Selden” may have been a scoundrel, but he was far from a liar.

It was due to his characteristically high pride and simple-minded personality.

He probably thought being sent to exile was fine since it meant being away from his father, Baron Byron.

“So anyway, Baron Byron and Leonard are coming for a monster hunt?”

“Yes, and…”

“And? There’s more!?”

“This monster hunt is different from the usual ones.”

“How so?”

“This monster hunt is planned for socializing between families.”

“So it’s a joint monster hunt? What’s my role in it?”

Pedericks promptly pulled out a map he had prepared and placed it on the table.

“You’re in charge of determining the hunting grounds and serving as a guide.”

“That sounds simpler than I expected. Which other family will be joining the hunt?”

“The Familia family.”

“Ah, Familia! I’ve heard that name somewhere… Wait, is that the Familia with Seri Familia?”

“Yes, that’s correct. They’re one of the families maintaining good relations with the Alphonse family.”

Why, of all families, are we hunting with the one that includes that crazy woman!

They’re not planning to set me up with Seri Familia, are they?

No, that can’t be.

I clearly expressed my rejection to Baron Byron, saying it was just a childhood crush.

Plus, I earned points by offering some of the remaining Fail Fruits to the family, so that shouldn’t happen.

‘Maybe it’s just a coincidence?’

Well, as Pedericks said, if they’ve always maintained good relations with the Alphonse family, a joint monster hunt makes sense.

After Baron Byron, now a meeting with my fourth brother Leonard.

And to make matters worse, the Familia family with their notorious madwoman is joining in. I’ll need to keep a very low profile that day.

“Pedericks.”

“Yes, young master?”

“In your opinion, what kind of person is Seri Familia?”

“Her beauty goes without saying, and her character is also excellent.”

Unlike Luna Brillhart, Seri Familia isn’t someone who becomes crazy due to some trigger.

She’s a villainess with psychopathic tendencies from birth.

Yet she captivates people with her mask of pretense, which makes her all the more dangerous.

“Excellent character, huh…”

“Why do you ask? Didn’t you once have feelings for Lady Seri Familia, young master?”

“That was the past ‘Selden Alphonse’ who couldn’t judge people properly.”

“Past or present, you’re still the same young master.”

Sigh!

What can I say?

This too is part of the karma of being possessed as “Selden Alphonse.”

Feeling like I’d get stressed if I continued the conversation, I waved my hand dismissively.

“Alright, you can go now. I’ll determine the hunting points by tomorrow.”

“Understood.”

BANG!

Just then, Rio Sergan burst through the study door without knocking.

I frowned deeply at the sudden intrusion.

“Hey, Rio!? Are you starting to take after Pedericks?”

Rio Sergan, wearing heavy armor and apparently having run here in a hurry, caught his breath before speaking.

“Th-that’s not it. Luna has woken up.”