Ch.244244. Is This For Real?

“By the way, Darwood.”

After my bombshell declaration about becoming an advisor to the Exorcism Department.

While His Majesty the Emperor’s mood was rapidly deteriorating, Sullivan spoke up without concern.

“Well, you know, that thing.”

…Uncharacteristically, he continued while fidgeting awkwardly.

His face was slightly flushed, and judging by how he was clearing his throat repeatedly, he seemed quite embarrassed.

His Majesty the Emperor was looking at him with an expression like he was staring at the corpse of a squashed cockroach.

“…That bet you proposed. The one where any club member can challenge you. That’s what I’m talking about.”

“What?”

“I’ve become a club advisor too, so…”

“…Yes.”

Feeling slightly uneasy, I answered, and Sullivan cautiously looked at me before speaking.

“…Can’t I do it too?”

“…”

“If I win, I can have you exclusively to myself, can’t I-“

“Absolutely not! Please have some decency-!”

Before I could say anything, a scream-like objection erupted.

Cecil and Sully.

In other words, His Majesty the Emperor and the Chancellor.

Fundamentally, they’re adversaries who don’t mix like oil and water, but the atmosphere emanating between these two right now is beyond that.

When Elnore and Sullivan were put together, they exuded a level of hostility where they could literally devour each other, but these two have a more sinister relationship where they mock each other with smiling faces.

“…You have a lot to say for someone who prepared something like match-fixing in advance, Your Majesty.”

“…”

“If you wish, I could referee that match?”

“…That won’t be necessary.”

His Majesty the Emperor replied with a smiling face.

However, he couldn’t hide the slight twitching at the corner of his mouth.

“How could I entrust such a task to a woman who doesn’t know her place, lusting after a much younger man despite her age? Have you ever thought that even thieves have limits?”

With an equally smiling face, a large well-shaped vein appeared prominently on Sullivan’s forehead after hearing that.

“My goodness. I think I’ll live longer than someone with one foot in the grave who shamelessly tries to hold onto a man in his prime. When it comes to time spent by this man’s side, I’d win by a landslide, wouldn’t I?”

“…Are you done talking?”

…Let me correct myself.

These two have a relationship where they hurl abuse at each other with smiling faces.

Then, a fierce exchange of verbal attacks continues between them.

“This damn leech-“

“Must be nice having all that fat on your body, you decrepit old witch-“

“…”

For a conversation between two rulers of the Empire, it was a colorful exchange of insults that had thrown dignity, intelligence, and even basic human decency into the gutter.

Listening to it made me feel like my own energy was being drained, so I closed my eyes and tried my best to let their conversation go in one ear and out the other.

I am a tree. I am the wind. I am a lake…

“…This piece of trash child…”

“…Where did your age go, with such a nasty personality…”

Meanwhile, the two women who had clearly unleashed all their explosive emotions were glaring at each other while breathing heavily.

And between them, I quietly sipped my tea with a blank expression.

Now that they both seem to have calmed down a bit, I should be able to speak.

In truth, I don’t care about anything else, but there’s one thing I must ask.

“…By the way.”

I redirected my words toward the two pairs of eyes now focused on me.

“Who exactly is running the Empire right now?”

If both the Emperor and the Chancellor have rushed over here, who on earth is handling the routine administrative duties?

In the first place, should people of their positions even be doing such ridiculous things here because of me?

My question was filled with such doubts, but neither the Emperor nor Sullivan seemed to think much of it as they simply shrugged.

“Rad is working hard.”

“I also have the authority to designate a proxy for my duties.”

“…No, that’s something you use only in emergency situations-“

My mouth snapped shut.

Because two pairs of eyes were simultaneously shooting me looks that seemed to say, ‘If this isn’t an emergency situation, then what is?’

“…”

What the hell is my club anyway?

It’s just something I had to create because of school regulations…

[Think about it, Darwood.]

‘What?’

[If you just use your lower body well, you could make these eternal enemies—the Chancellor and His Majesty the Emperor—get along-]

I completely remove the Soul Linker from my arm.

This person has developed a taste for this concept and has been actively pushing it for quite some time.

Meanwhile, Chancellor Sullivan was bringing up a topic that couldn’t be ignored while wearing a bitter smile.

“The problem is that when the two of us are away, there’s someone who would be absolutely delighted.”

The Emperor’s expression also hardened slightly at Sullivan’s words.

“…You’re talking about the Council of Elders.”

“Marquis Bogart is troublesome in many ways, but at least he knows how to maintain boundaries in our presence…”

A meaningful light briefly flashed in her eyes.

“The other one is the problem. Your proxy.”

Without a doubt,

“…Count Nicholas. Second-in-command of the Council of Elders. I believe Your Majesty knows the name as well.”

“Count Nicholas?”

The Emperor’s face frowned slightly.

His expression showed that just hearing the name brought up feelings of displeasure.

“He’s a man with no issues regarding work capability.”

Sullivan’s mouth also wore an undisguisable bitter smile as she observed his reaction.

“…Though there are some issues with his reputation.”

His Majesty the Emperor sighed and pulled out that familiar pipe from his chest.

I hadn’t seen him use it that often while traveling with me, but it seemed he absolutely needed to take a puff when discussing this person.

“The Butcher.”

Such a word fell from his lips as if he were spitting it out.

“There’s talk that half of the ‘extermination operations’ against the Ain race in the Empire were carried out by that fellow’s hands. He acts as if he has some sort of mission to capture and kill all of them.”

“…”

“I’ve heard there are a few Ain race members around you as well. Not a very pleasant nickname to hear, I imagine.”

My eyes narrowed slightly.

How does he know that?

Weren’t Serath and Victoria thoroughly hiding the fact that they were Ain race?

But rather than answering my unspoken question, His Majesty tilted his head in confusion at my expression.

As if it would be stranger not to know.

“The story of the Grand Assassin in the Holy Empire is already famous, and as for her sister… Well. Didn’t she mention it herself once in front of me?”

“…”

Right.

That time when I told Serath to act cute like a dog in front of Professor Walter.

Come to think of it, I did something really inconsiderate.

While I was reflecting on that sentence, something impossible to ignore came out from His Majesty.

“And it seems the sister is entangled in some kind of contractual relationship with Marquis Bogart. Victoria, was it?”

“…What?”

That doesn’t make sense.

‘…Why is she cooperating with someone like that?’

Although it’s not Count Nicholas himself who committed such atrocities, Marquis Bogart is definitely affiliated with the same group as that man.

Unlike Serath, who is clearly affiliated with the Holy Empire, even if Victoria is a freelancer who takes all kinds of requests, it doesn’t seem likely she would have accepted without knowing.

“…She probably has some common goal they’re cooperating on. I don’t know what it is, though.”

Perhaps sharing the same doubt as me, His Majesty also responded with a bitter smile.

“Anyway, the problem is that Marquis Bogart is also planning to come over here for the Elphante Festival. If that man comes over too, it means that for a brief moment, he will be the loudest voice in the imperial administration, including the Imperial Court.”

His Majesty continued with a serious expression.

“…And Count Nicholas is the type of man who would scheme something nasty even in such a fleeting moment. His specialty is treacherous acts that walk a fine line.”

“…”

I understand the meaning hidden between the lines.

Probably, if he’s a man so obsessed with capturing and killing Ain race members.

With a fairly high probability, there’s a possibility he might reach out to me.

At the very least, he would do so the moment he discovers the information that there are two Ain race members around me.

“He used to work as a hunting dog for the Council of Elders. If he catches your scent, he’ll come to tear you apart. At least during the period when we’re away, try not to catch his eye.”

“…In the first place.”

I sigh and continue.

“If you know such a person is running rampant, why did you come to see me?”

“…Do you really not know?”

Sullivan responded with a puzzled expression to my words.

“Neither the Chancellor nor His Majesty are fools. We didn’t just designate work proxies and rush all the way here simply because you created a club.”

“…”

“…It’s true. About half true.”

Sullivan cleared her throat and answered as I gave her a suspicious look.

So that means half of it really was them rushing over because I created a club, but anyway.

Sullivan continued to explain.

“…Aside from the ‘demon-related power’ that even the Demonic Spire covets, your position is important, Darwood.”

“My position?”

“There are people with good eyes and sharp ears everywhere. No matter how much Elphante tries to suppress it, your recognition has already spread quite far.”

“…”

I thought that might be the case.

Most of the incidents I’ve been involved in were efforts to quietly suppress them, but given their scale and everything else, it was absolutely impossible for my presence to be completely hidden.

“You have a close relationship with the Grand Chief of the Tribal Union. You’ve entered the Imperial Palace, come and go from the Tristan Dukedom like it’s your own home, maintain an unparalleled friendship with the current Hero, and maintain friendships with numerous dangerous Demonic Vessels on the continent—the only human to do so.”

Sullivan listed my specs and then sighed deeply.

“If such a person gathers everyone connected to them and creates a ‘force,’ it’s hard to see it as just a simple club anymore.”

“What do you mean-“

“You may not realize it, but if you combine all the people gathered in your club, it’s enough force to wage a conquest war against some small countries. And with a high probability of victory.”

Suddenly, my breath caught.

As soon as I heard those words, I instantly understood the meaning implied beneath them.

“…And if you clearly form such a force into some kind of ‘group’ in any form. Even if that’s not your intention, there will definitely be people who misunderstand.”

“…”

“It’s a faction. Your own faction, Darwood Campbell’s faction. One that could potentially influence the continent in some way. Haven’t all the perceptive people been trying to establish connections with you?”

…There was indeed an enormous crowd at the club audition.

I vaguely thought it was because Elia and I had quite a bit of recognition, but…

“And there are sufficient conditions for such faction formation to be considered a ‘stepping stone’ for the next stage.”

Sullivan twirled a pen in her hand once and said.

“You, given the right conditions, could become a ‘king’ in some form.”

“…”

My head feels numb.

“Two nobles with the highest authority in the Empire are sponsoring you. Moreover, it’s a well-known fact that you have a close relationship with the Tristan Dukedom. Everyone must have seen you dancing with the Duke’s daughter at the last Imperial Palace social gathering.”

“…”

“If you were to marry the Duke’s daughter and acquire ‘authority,’ and combine the ‘talents’ you currently have? The possibility of establishing an independent state in the form of a ‘dukedom’ is more than sufficient.”

“…Gossipmongers and opportunists who think themselves clever would think so, and more. The level of power that appears on the surface would suggest that.”

While I remained silent, His Majesty the Emperor also snorted in agreement.

“And, in other words.”

Sullivan said with a slight frown.

“As much as there are many people trying to establish connections with you, there are also many people within the Empire who are wary of you.”

“…”

“It would be the rant of a madman to say it’s your fault for simply gathering people around you to create a club. But… the atmosphere is undeniably tense.”

Sullivan ran her hand through her hair.

“The Council of Elders, the ministers under His Majesty, and even the nobles attached to my side… They were already in serious opposition beneath the surface before, but recently, the friction has intensified to the point of surfacing. Your presence is like a hot potato that has lit the fuse.”

“…”

“…His Majesty might have come here half-jokingly, but at least my presence here is largely due to that reason. Because we don’t know who might try to play what kind of trick on you.”

And the number one target of such vigilance is Count Nicholas, whom I just mentioned.

Such words were added, but I still looked dazed as I listened.

After hearing everything, I finally understand.

< System Log >

[Depending on how you operate your club, the progression of the upcoming main quest—Chapter 5, ‘The Great Imperial Turmoil’—will be determined!]

…Now I understand why such a message appeared before me.

‘…Calivan.’

[I’m listening.]

I continue speaking to Calivan, who responds in a stiff voice, with a still-dazed voice of my own.

‘…These two are saying some really nice things, but…’

[Hmm.]

‘I mean.’

I speak with an incredulous voice.

‘…Are they saying that just because I created one club, a war could break out?’

[Hmm.]

‘And they’re misunderstanding my intentions on their own?’

[That’s what it sounds like to me too.]

‘…’

Seriously.

Fuck.