STGB Episode 444

Party(1)

The banquet held inside the Hall of Glory proceeded in a very quiet atmosphere.

Well, that was only natural.

Every single attendee here was the head of a noble family.

They had to mind their dignity a little more carefully, and besides, most of them were on the older side to begin with.

‘I’d say the biggest age group is around the fifties…’

That thought made me chuckle.

I’m supposedly the star of this banquet, yet here I am, sitting all alone and feeling miserable.

Munch, munch.

I take out my irritation on the meat, chewing and swallowing it.

For someone like me, who transferred schools a lot during my student days, this peculiar atmosphere is giving me borderline PTSD.

It really hits home.

The feeling of being completely new to a group.

“…….”

I felt like a monkey in a zoo.

‘Count Ferdehilt, Baron Serpia, Viscount Muelbark, and oh, there’s Baron Martoin over there too…’

Among those glancing at me from afar were familiar nobles, but none approached me first.

All those people at other banquets would say, “Let’s be friends,” and even Count Ferdehilt, who once joked about making me marry his daughter—today, not a word.

‘Well, I can see it from their perspective, too…’

This was a kingdom of beasts.

But governed by intellect, not instinct.

Munch, munch.

I pretended to just be tearing at the meat, but I was well aware of the situation.

What’s happening now is a kind of taming process.

They’re giving me an unspoken message: Just because you joined the kingdom’s nobility doesn’t mean you can stand on equal footing with us, who have a thousand years of history under our belts.

But, the solution was simple.

Just as the duke I met earlier advised, I just needed to approach them first. Then, they would smile and treat me kindly.

As if I were a subordinate.

‘Ugh, these people live such exhausting lives.’

Choosing who to approach first here was crucial too.

If I go to the Duke I met before, then the nobles under the Marquis—who competes with that Duke—will start treating me like I’m invisible.

Every action and every word of mine here becomes a political move.

Munch, munch.

That said, I just kept eating my meat.

For three reasons:

First, I really was hungry.

Second, the meat was unbelievably delicious.

And third—

‘They’ve finally arrived.’

From the start, I had no intention of jumping straight into the mainstream.

“No matter how long you wait, it’s useless.”

I smiled secretly as I recognized the approaching woman.

“Nobody will come anyway.”

White hair, white eyes.

And white skin.

If we set aside her vivid, multicolored outfit reminiscent of a hanbok, everything about her was white.

Ah, not to mention the rabbit ears sprouting from her head.

“Nice to meet you, Baron Jandel. How’s the food? Does it suit your taste?”

“Well, who knows. Want to try some yourself?”

When I picked up a piece of fresh meat and casually offered it, the woman’s eyes went blank for a second. She came back to her senses and smiled.

“No, I’m fine. I don’t have much of an appetite.”

Huh, playing hard to get.

Even though we’re both nonhuman races.

Plop.

It seemed I’d given enough explanation about myself, so I set the half-eaten meat down on my plate.

Then I cleaned my hands by sucking on them.

Suddenly, I wondered.

‘What if I offered a handshake… would she accept?’

Not sure, but I’m not actually going to try.

I’m a cultured enough Barbarian to know better.

At least when it’s to my advantage.

‘Anyway, nice to meet you. Baron Jandel.’

As I introduced myself, she smiled warmly and replied.

“I’m Baroness Lirivia.”

I already knew that.

After all, there’s only one noble family from the White Rabbit Tribe.

‘She’s forty-three years old, with three kids, if I recall correctly.’

“May I sit for a moment?”

“Sure. I was getting bored anyway.”

With my permission, Baroness Lirivia—the “Rabbit Baron” for short—took a seat right across from me. It was an eight-person table, and she was the first to join me.

However, there were no clapping hands to celebrate this momentous occasion.

Only sharp ridicule.

“Tsk, so that’s how it ends up.”

“There’s no reason to stop them. Let the lowly beings stay among themselves.”

They spoke so loudly that even my barbarian ears could hear them, so the woman with the rabbit ears must have heard them too.

Yet she showed no reaction.

She simply wore a familiar sort of smile and spoke quietly to me.

“The founder of my family was also a hero like Baron Jandel. During the Ironwall Rebellion, he accomplished the feat of stopping the Duke of the Inverted Sky. Have you heard of that?”

“Heh, no need to apologize. It’s only known to those who study history separately, it’s just an old tale now…”

“2,000 years.”

“……”

“It’s been 2,000 years since the Lirivia family crest was sealed in the Pact of Allegiance. It’s been a long time.  It’s been such a long time—long enough for the era of the so-called ‘immortal king’ to end and for a new dawn to rise.”

I had a feeling what she was getting at.

“That’s why you need to get used to it quickly, Baron Jandel. Time will pass, but their gaze won’t change.”

“Oh, really? Strange. To my eyes, you and they don’t seem much different.”

Especially the way she talks so nicely but says the same kinds of things.

“…You really are as amusing as the rumors said.”

Amusing, huh.

I haven’t even gotten to the main point.

“Anyway, you didn’t come just to give advice, did you?”

“You’re truly exceptional. Yes, that’s right.”

“Then speak up.”

When I asked directly, the woman paused briefly.

The reason I said earlier that they didn’t seem different.

She might have rabbit ears, but in the end, she’s a proper noble who represents her house at this gathering—

Someone who finds a breach of etiquette distasteful.

“…I won’t say I came here to ‘help’ you. We don’t want to see House Jandel end up under someone else’s group.”

“Because I’m the first newly emerged noble of a different race in six hundred years?”

She flinched again at my question.

But after a short breath, she looked me straight in the eye and spoke in a more resolute tone.

“…And more than anything, you’re a Barbarian. The very first in the history of Raphdonia at that.”

From her words, it was clear that she no longer saw me as just some Barbarian—her perception had changed.

“Just as House Lirivia has the wholehearted support of the beast tribe, you, Baron Jandel, could be the one to bring the Barbarian people into the political arena.”

“That’s the end of it?”

“Even aside from that, we need every single person we can get.”

“Hmm, I see…”

“Along with the House Lirivia, there are 31 other houses working together for a common purpose. Of course, we’re still a minority in politics, but we can at least make our voices heard.”

As she continued explaining, I rested my chin on my hand, looking uninterested.

“I’m not suggesting we unite for the greater cause.”

Sure, the one who is more desperate should make the first move.

“If you align yourself with us, you’ll receive massive support in establishing your foothold as a noble house.”

“Care to elaborate?”

“Things like purchasing land immediately, constructing a mansion, hiring the myriad personnel needed to maintain a proper house—decades of work to build up a family could be cut down to a few years, minimum.”

Is it because it’s a noble society?

The rewards are astounding right from the start.

Even just receiving these benefits would more than cover the payoff for choosing a “title promotion” as my reward.

“Of course, that’s not the end of it. Our movement began simply as a matter of survival…”

Then she said,

“If Baron Jandel sides with us, our enemies become your enemies—”

“…….”

“—and your enemies become ours.”

That’s the reason I waited for these people instead of going around chatting up the other nobles.

Precisely because they treat every single one of us like we truly matter.

“So, what do you think?”

She asked for my answer, and I nodded.

“It’s definitely… not bad.”

“That means—”

“But it’s not enough.”

“…What?”

She looked perplexed, but I couldn’t help it.

It’s obvious there’s more on the table here. Why settle for less?

****

Baroness Lirivia’s eyes hardened at my response.

But soon she returned to normal and asked politely.

“Baron Jandel, I felt you were a clever man when I met you. If there’s something you desire, could you speak frankly?”

This alone told me.

How much the ‘Melvus,’ the coalition of mixed-species noble families, wanted me.

Of course, I was just as desperate for this group.

‘But they don’t know that.’

If I’m selling, I might as well get the highest price.

“I’ll continue to enter labyrinths in the future. I would like support for that too.”

“Could you give an example?”

“I’d like you to sponsor the clan I’m going to create. With superior essence or rare numbered items, for instance.”

“……That won’t be easy. We see no benefit in that.”

“Why not? You know as well as I do that this country starts and ends in the labyrinths.”

“If you’re talking about influence in the labyrinths, we already have sufficient alternatives.”

Tsk, they’re not giving in easily.

It seems it’s time to bring out the barbarian again.

“Why not?!”

“…Excuse me?”

“You said you’d buy land and build a house. Isn’t this cheaper than that!”

“Well… Baron Jandel? Could you lower your voice……”

“Give me a reason!!”

As I stood up abruptly, all the noble’s gazes turned our way.

And perhaps feeling pressured by that,

When I stood up abruptly, all eyes of the nobles turned in our direction.

“The support for your family and this are different. Supporting the independence of House Jandel will help when you are active in politics, but this will not.”

Baroness Lirivia rapidly explained the reasons.

But even after speaking, did she feel something was missing?

“But then again, who knows… If you become truly essential to us, We wouldn’t hesitate to give anything.”

“What! So I’m not needed now!!”

“No, that’s not what I mean……!”

“Haha! Just kidding, Baroness Lirivia.”

“……Eh?”

As I sat back down, laughing, the baroness stared blankly into space.

Come on, can’t I joke around a little?

“In simple terms, you’re saying I just have to prove my worth, right? Something beyond my ‘title as the first Barbarian noble’?”

“Uh… yes, that’s right… I suppose?”

“Well then, no problem. It’s all too easy for me.”

“……?”

At my confident response, she again wore a puzzled look, and the surrounding nobles murmured.

“Thought they were having a big fight, now they’re laughing?”

“That’s why these half-breeds…… Really, just like beasts.”

“By the way, what do you think the Rabbit Baroness said to calm that Barbarian down?”

“Hm, you never know. I hear that Barbarian is into beast tribe women.”

“Wha—? You don’t mean…?”

“Ahem, it’s not entirely impossible, is it?”

The murmurs were so vulgar, even a barbarian like me could hear them.

Despite having endured many taunts, this was the first time Baroness Lirivia had openly faced such an insult, and her face reddened with shame.

It was somewhat impressive.

“……Baron Jandel.”

Even now, she worried I might cause trouble.

“Just let it go in one ear and out the other. If you want to be involved in politics,  you’ll have to hear endless such remarks.”

“Why?”

“…Because there’s no other way.”

A sincere answer, laden with the grief of the oppressed.

And with that face, saying those words… she really did look like a herbivore.

I gave a small chuckle and asked,

“You seem accustomed to it, but you’re not unaffected, are you?”

“How could I not be affected? I just hope and endure, longing for a day when I won’t have to feel this bitterness.”

“Hoping, huh…”

If all hopes were granted just by holding them tightly, there wouldn’t be anyone in this world left in misery.

Right. So in that case…

“How much do you think it would be worth?”

“…I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Let’s say I can’t grant that hope of yours entirely, but at least make those guys who whisper behind your back disappear.”

“How much value do you think that would have?”

Fortunately, the Rabbit Baroness didn’t quite get what I meant, so she answered naively:

“Well, in my heart, I’d give a fortune of gold if it could be so.”

An answer so vague and subjective.

But that was enough for me.

“Alright, then the deal is done.”

“……Eh?”

“I’ve analyzed your situation a bit. You’ve only been beaten because you never fight back.”

“W-what do you mean—”

What I mean is…

You guys need someone to charge headlong.

Whoosh.

I rose to my feet without letting her finish.

And then…

“Bethel—laaaaaaaaaaa!!!”

After drawing the aggro with a battle cry.

Step, step.

I stride forward with heavy footsteps.

“Hey, Jandel Baron!”

Ignoring the flustered cry of the Rabbit Baroness.

Stomp, stomp.

It didn’t take more than a few seconds to reach the destination.

In front of the nobleman who had been fussing about my taste for beast tribe women or whatever.

“…What business do you have, causing such a commotion?”

Regrettably, it seemed he still hadn’t grasped the situation.

Seeing him boldly glaring up.

“Baron Kypriot.”

We’ve never been formally introduced, but calling him by name poses no problem. I’d memorised all the noble houses’ crests since I’d decided to take the nobility route.

‘A baron with weak backing, just perfect to set an example.’

I spoke to him,

“You have insulted me.”

“Insult? Are you referring to that remark earlier…? Ha! Ridiculous. I doubt you even possess the honor to be insulted. But even if you did, what would you do about it?”

He’s trying to act tough.

But clearly, his words are getting longer because he’s terrified.

“If you really can’t contain your emotions, you can write up a complaint and submit it to the Committee. Ah, though I wonder if you can even write?”

As soon as he finished his line, some guys who appeared to be his friends chuckled beside him.

Seriously, they’re no better than third-rate assholes.

It’s clear who the real low born are.

“Well, if you have nothing to say, I’ll be on my—”

I do have something to say.

I cut him off and spoke:

“I challenge you to a duel.”

A duel.

The sole means of resolving disputes dating back to the ancient noble society of Raphdonia.

Of course, the number of times titled nobles have actually taken part in such duels is fewer than ten throughout that long history.

Which is why…

“Are you scared? Then feel free to use a proxy. Ah, but I’ll fight on my own.”

“…Are you serious?”

“Why, do you wish I were joking?”

“…”

He offered no response to my question.

His thoughts were obvious.

He probably finds this whole abnormal situation humiliating and frightening. Why is this happening to him, now of all times—especially when he was just doing the usual thing, and his friends were there to witness it?

But now…

‘It’s time for him to realize.’

A Barbarian noble has been born, after all.

It’s time to instill some fear in these complacent aristocrats.

So, then…

Step.

I took another step forward and looked down at him as I continued:

“Be they a knight, an explorer, or a mage—it doesn’t matter.”

Technically, using a mercenary for a proxy duel is against the rules, but—

“I don’t care if they’re not from your house.”

“…”

“Bring anyone.”

“…”

“Bring the strongest person you can find.”

He remained silent.

No answer came back.

“Why, aren’t you confident?”

I’m not.

I’m confident I can kill whoever you bring right here on the spot.