Counter-proposal

Counter-proposal

To conclude, instead of accepting my earlier proposal to ‘draw out someone above the rank of bishop’.

The condition of the deal was to further strengthen the friendly relationship with the Per family in the future.

“It seems that Father wants to firmly grasp Lord Deren, who is likely to become an Archmage in the future, through this opportunity.”

Not just an ordinary family, but a high noble family, even called a prestigious one – after knocking down all the magicians and knights of the Per family.

Having shown magic so powerful it could be described as unrealistic, it seems they’ve put forward such deal conditions.

‘Ah, and in addition to this…’

I can’t say that Sien’s repeated brainwashing-like question of ‘Are you going to do this to your son-in-law?’ from the side had no influence.

As I’m smiling slightly at Sien, who’s grinning somewhat proudly beside me.

Sien naturally fiddles with my hand and tells me.

“Oh, and Father asked when you and Lord Deren are planning to get married. Until now, he’s left us alone because we’re Academy students. I don’t remember exactly what he said, but he used words like ‘licking’ and ‘sucking’, saying we’ve already done everything, so we might as well just get married.”

Judging by the use of expressions like ‘licking and sucking’, it seems he must have caught me kissing Sien in the corridor earlier.

As I close my eyes tightly, embarrassed that my father-in-law had seen such a scene.

Sien, misunderstanding that I closed my eyes tightly because of ‘marriage’, whispers to me with a somewhat triumphant smile.

“Lord Deren, please don’t worry. Although I’m lacking in many ways compared to you… Still, since I’m older than you, I plan to personally take care of most things.”

I thought about saying something in response to this.

But feeling it would be meaningless to say anything, I inwardly sighed and told her, ‘I’m counting on you.’

“Yes. Since both Lord Deren and I have a lot to do, it might be difficult right away. But someday… definitely.”

Sien seemed to become embarrassed while speaking, covering her mouth with her hand and blushing.

Then, she quickly turned her gaze away from me and hastily concluded her words.

“Ah, anyway, I’ll keep that in mind.”

As I watched Sien talking like that, I contemplated whether to tell her the truth.

Seeing her so happy, it became somewhat difficult to speak, so I decided to keep my mouth shut for now.

* * *

About a week later.

A message came from the head of the Fer family.

[Tomorrow evening at 8 PM in the reception room.]

It seems they successfully negotiated with the Heaven God Cult and managed to draw out a bishop-level figure.

As I confirmed this and was contemplating how to deal with the enemy.

I noticed Rumi, who had been hovering around me nearby, approaching me with an awkward smile.

Wondering what was wrong, I silently looked at Rumi.

Rumi stood next to me hesitantly, and with an awkward tone, pretended to knead the air with her hands while talking to me.

“De-Deren, do you perhaps need a massage or something?”

“A massage?”

“Yes… I thought you might be stiff from all the research.”

Since discovering the will, rather than pushing me away, she’s been trying to do small but helpful things like this.

Of course, the problem was that her help didn’t really resonate with me much.

‘At least it’s better than running away like before…’

Deciding to be content with this situation for now, I straightened my body to make it easier for her to give a massage.

Rumi, with a bright red face, slowly massaged my shoulders… or to be more precise, it would be correct to say she was fiddling with them.

In any case, she was making an effort to give a massage while touching my shoulders.

‘……’

It seemed her goal was less about giving a massage and more about freely kneading my shoulders.

As I inwardly sighed while watching Rumi giggling behind me, clearly enjoying herself, Luna in my arms sighed and said.

[Rumi is a stupid idiot! I told her not to do it like that!]

It seems that giving a massage was included in the ‘week of practice’ I had mentioned before.

As I was trying to ignore them and continue my research, wondering what on earth these two were up to.

Suddenly, I felt something soft yet firm pressing against my back.

“De-Deren. How’s this?”

If it wasn’t an object placed on my shoulders, there was only one thing this sensation could be.

As I was fidgeting with my quill pen, unsure how to react to this sensation.

Rumi whispered to me in a small voice.

“Um… I, I, I came without wearing un-underwear for Deren.”

“……”

That single statement left me even more speechless, and I froze in place.

Luna, looking extremely proud in my arms, said to Rumi.

[Well done!]

What exactly was well done, I wonder.

I lightly flicked the foreheads of these two dumb and dumber, then pointed outside and said.

“Both of you, stop this and go outside. Any more of this will interfere with my research.”

At those words, they both looked at me with wide eyes and started to whine.

“What!?”

[… I worked so hard!]

Forcefully sending them out as it seemed they wouldn’t be able to focus on research if left alone any longer, dissatisfied voices spread around.

I sighed as I realized that adding a fool to another fool results in the worst synergy.

‘Putting those two together was a mistake.’

No, maybe it wasn’t a mistake after all.

At least their personalities have brightened up, and they no longer try to run away from me.

I sighed again, staring at my research, wondering whether I should like or dislike this situation.

* * *

The next evening.

I arrived at the Lercier Family residence as contacted, waiting for the person from the Heaven God Cult… or should I say demon?

Whatever the case, I was looking up at the ceiling while waiting for the Heaven God Cult representative.

‘After trapping them using space expansion magic to prevent escape, depending on their actions…’

Given who I was dealing with, I was formulating strategies in my head when.

Sien carefully entered the room and gave me a look.

‘Seems they’ve arrived.’

Upon receiving this signal, I slowly got up and headed towards the reception room.

As I slowly made my way to the reception room, I saw a woman sitting expressionlessly, sipping tea.

‘Is that her?’

Although she was hiding her power, the enormous amount of magical energy that leaked out despite her efforts proved that she was at least a bishop-level figure.

Inwardly smiling at this quite satisfactory result, I moved my steps forward.

She crossed her legs and spoke to me briefly.

“I’ve been waiting.”

I’ve been waiting? At first, when I heard those words, I thought the Fer family had betrayed me.

But considering how the head of the Fer family had used every means to stop me.

And seeing the head’s expression filled with bewilderment, I realized it wasn’t betrayal, but rather they had fallen into a trap.

‘Was this a setup to lure me out from the beginning?’

While I was thinking this was quite an interesting move.

The woman sitting down waved her hand and continued speaking.

“You go out, and only you come in.”

Along with an arrogant gesture, a strong magical energy pulled me in while.

Forcefully pushing the head of the Fer family out of the reception room.

Of course, I had no effect as I shattered the magical energy the moment it approached me.

But the head of the Fer family, perhaps due to being nearby, couldn’t react and was thrown out of the reception room.

Thinking this was quite an interesting act, I slowly walked forward.

She, finding me quite amusing, brightened her eyes and pointed to the chair in front of her.

“There’s a reason Firens was caught.”

Contextually, Firens must refer to the bishop I had captured earlier.

I sat down in the chair, sneering at her words.

She looked at me, snapped her fingers to summon a ‘contract’, and continued speaking.

“Let me make you one proposal. If you hand over Rumi and promise to turn to the Heaven God Cult, I’ll give you unlimited power and fulfill all the wishes you want to achieve.”

Certainly, as my value increased, her proposal became quite attractive.

‘Well, I have no intention of accepting it.’

I sneered at her words once again and slowly continued speaking.

“How foolish. Do you really think I need those things?”

While such things might be meaningful to others, I refused as they weren’t particularly necessary for me.

She made the contract disappear with a flick of her finger, as if she had expected this, and said.

“Hmm. Well, I suppose so.”

Looking at her arrogantly responding to my words, I decided to make a counter-proposal this time.

I took out a part of the ‘Bishop’ that I had stored using spatial expansion magic and said.

“Now, let me make a proposal.”

Then, while electrocuting the exposed body of the Bishop, I briefly said.

“If you don’t want to end up like this, kill yourself as painfully as possible in front of me.”

Whether it was because her colleague was being tortured, or because my provocation had worked, I’m not sure.

She lost her previous composure and started emitting a massive amount of magical energy.