STGB Episode 445

Party(2)

Giving off a similar aura like at the round table. 

I look down at him as though I could tear his throat out at any moment.

But this wasn’t the community that merely connected our minds. Right now, we were here in the flesh, which is more than enough.

I continued to glare down at him, which was more than enough to make him roll back his eyes.

Yes, that’s how it should be.

Considering the privileged life he’s led as a direct descendant of the noble family, he’s never encountered situations like this before.

“……”

Silence hung in the air; but no reply.

The nobles, who go crazy for scandals, are quietly watching from afar.

If they really saw my status as inferior to theirs, they’d come running to help him. But:

‘Barbarians are really an overpowered character.’

If I’d been an elf, a dwarf, or someone from the beast tribe, someone would surely have come forward to scold my rudeness. 

At least they’d assume we speak the same language. 

But what about a barbarian—when there’s no frame of reference? The answer lies in this silence.

“……”

With no statistics, it’s hard to take action. They’re afraid of jumping in and catching fire themselves.

“……Are you sure it’s all right to just let that be?”

Indeed, someone voiced that worry, but as soon as our eyes met, he immediately looked away.

Common sense says I wouldn’t start a brawl right here in front of so many nobles just because we locked eyes. 

Even so, there is no certainty.

Who knows whether common sense applies to a barbarian who challenges people to duels over the slightest insult?

“It would be nice if you could answer soon.”

As I spoke, I stepped closer to him.

“Don’t you want to duel?”

At that, the nobles who had been chatting away with him moments earlier quietly shuffled back. Perhaps they realized he had to solve this situation on their own.

Finally, he made a decision.

“…Set a date.”

It’s not because he’s confident of winning the duel.

He just has no alternative

Refusing a duel request from a despised half-breed in front of everyone would be like a death sentence in this society driven by honor.

“Setting a date means you don’t have the guts to fight yourself?”

“…There are different knives for slaying beasts.”

Although he spoke bravely, it meant he was too scared to fight and would appoint a champion.

“Well, it doesn’t matter, but you’d better prepare several.”

“…Several?”

Did he not understand?

Did he think this would end after one duel?

“Setting a date means you don’t have the guts to fight yourself?”

“…There are different knives for slaying beasts.”

Although he spoke bravely, it meant he was too scared to fight and would appoint a champion.

“Well, it doesn’t matter, but you’d better prepare several.”

“…Several?”

Did he not understand?

Did he think this would end after one duel?

“Oh, didn’t you know? I’ll keep challenging you to duels from today until I feel my honor has been restored.”

A mad dog must not be let go after biting once.

“…W-What?”

See? You really should’ve watched your mouth. 

Or at least had some solid backing. Then maybe I’d have gone after someone else.

“Are you… really prepared to handle all this…?”

In other words, did I really need to go this far? From his perspective, it must have felt like a bolt from the blue.

“It’s strange to hear you ask if I can handle it.”

I made it clear for everyone to hear.

“Do I look like someone who cares about that?”

You’d better watch out if you don’t want to be next.

***

Thus, the duel was set.

All that was left was to set the date.

“This week works for me.”

“……”

“Need more time to call your people?”

“No, that should be enough.”

Seems like he’s gotten used to this abnormal situation.

The baron didn’t drag out his response anymore.

Maybe he had finished his calculations.

‘Perhaps he sees this as an opportunity?’

The barbarian, recklessly raging without understanding his place.

And him, accepting the barbarian’s duel and splendidly winning, upholding the dignity of a noble.

It’s quite a plausible future, isn’t it?

Though it’s unlikely to happen.

‘At best, he can probably pull in some knight with a bit of a reputation through personal connections.’

I can’t be certain about the level of his champion.

However, I am confident.

The royal knights’ captain wouldn’t stoop to represent the baron.

If it’s not that level, I am confident I will win.

But…

Regrettably, someone intervened at that moment.

‘Duke Keallunas.’

He parted the crowd like the Red Sea and patted my shoulder as if to soothe and pacify a sulking child.

“Isn’t it a good day?”

“……”

“It would be generous of you to let it go. Aren’t we all pillars supporting this kingdom?”

The duke’s timing and political intent were clear.

No one else dared to intervene in this situation; but as soon as he does, the raging barbarian calms down and backs off. That alone would raise Duke Keallunas’s stature in noble society.

But—

‘He wants to be friends?’

In a friendship, if you only ever take without giving, you’ll be cut off soon enough. If he wants something from me, he needs to offer something first.

“Baron Kypriot insulted me.”

When I openly defied him, the Duke’s lips tightened. I went on anyway.

“He called me a mongrel, and an animal.”

In truth, it was someone else beside him who had said it, but anyway.

“He treated Baroness Lirivia, whom I was conversing with, as a prostitute just because she is a half-breed. When I protested, he scoffed, questioning if I even had the honor to be insulted.”

He even mocked if I could write, but I’d leave that out; it’s a bit petty.

“So, this is what Baron Kypriot did. Duke, on this ‘good day’ you speak of.”

After announcing the reason for my duel to everyone, I asked again.

“So why should I hold back?”

The duke’s gaze shifted to the baron.

Though he’d stepped in after seeing the situation, he probably didn’t know the full details until now.

“Tsk.”

After clicking his tongue at the baron, the duke looked at me. Perhaps he regretted intervening, but once he had, there were only two choices.

Either he could return ineffectually after stepping in so grandly.

Or…

“It seems Baron Kypriot has made a mistake.”

He had to concede something to me.

The Duke’s judgement was swift and decisive.

“I promise on behalf of Duke Keallunas that such mistakes will not happen again-not here, nor anywhere else.”

A promise made with the weight of Duke Keallunas’s name.

“Isn’t that so, Baron Kypriot?”

The baron, now trembling, answered without delay.

“Y-Yes, of course, Your Grace.”

It didn’t seem like mere lip service to escape the situation. The baron, and likely other nobles as well, wouldn’t dare repeat today’s actions.

The promise carried that much weight.

If such a situation were to recur, it would be akin to tarnishing the duke’s name.

‘It’s a bit disappointing that it didn’t come to a duel… But there will be other opportunities.’

I quickly made my decision.

The duke had stepped back, after all.

“So, will you calm your anger now?”

If I turn this down as well, it’s basically an open declaration of hostility.

“I haven’t even heard an apology from Baron Kypriot yet. And even if I do, the honor I lost today won’t be restored. But…”

I continue:

“I’ll end it here.”

“Ho….”

An exclamation of surprise rose amongst the nobles.

“Because it’s a request from a friend, after all.”

“……!”

Their eyes grow wide at my next words.

***

Friend.

A word that signifies a mutual and equal relationship.

“……”

The moment that word leaves my mouth, a hush falls over the Hall of Glory.

‘A barbarian… and the duke are friends?’

As if awaiting clarification, the air goes still.

In the silence, the Duke furrowed his brow slightly, then recovered his genial smile and spoke:

“I’m glad to hear it.”

A short phrase, neither confirming nor denying the use of “friend.” But it’s enough. Enough to raise the standing of Baron Jandel, who has only just joined the Royal Club, up several notches.

‘Unintentionally, I’ve gained quite a bit.’

Of course, the Duke must have weighed the politics carefully. He even pledged his family name to make up for a single noble’s mistake. 

Perhaps he felt that raising my status would be less damaging to the dignity of his house.

“Well, I have official business now, so I’ll take my leave. We’ll arrange another date to meet. Ah, and congratulations on your promotion”

Leaving those parting words before everyone, the Duke left.

‘This is almost too burdensome…’

But the results weren’t bad. I can already feel how the gazes on me have changed.

“…So he wasn’t just some lucky guy who happened to become a noble.”

“Wait, could it be that the Duke used his influence to get his baron title approved…?”

Curiosity began to stir in the eyes that had looked down on me.

A good sign.

In the end, the more attention I draw, the less recklessly that marquis can act against me.

Accordingly, after warning Baron Kypriot that there would be no “next time,” I returned to my seat. The “rabbit baroness” was standing there, blankly staring at me, not even bothering to sit.

“No need to stand up just to greet me.”

“…….”

“…Baroness Lirivia?”

When I waved my hand in front of her face, she finally snapped out of it and approached me.

Then, in a tiny voice, she blurted out rapidly.

“W-what were you thinking, doing all that…?!”

“…….”

“If the Duke hadn’t stepped in, we’d have been in serious trouble!”

Jeez, it looks like this place doesn’t give their ‘tankers’ much respect.

Wouldn’t it be nice to start with a ‘well done’?

“But it ended well, didn’t it?”

“……?”

“The duke’s promise won’t erase discrimination, but it will stop the whispers behind us.”

Just as she wanted.

As I cut to the chase, Baroness Lirivia’s expression turned strange.

“Did you really do all that just for that reason?”

“What other reason do I need?”

“That was too reckless. If the duke hadn’t intervened, even the houses of Melbes might not have been able to save you…!”

It was a bit disappointing.

That makes it sound like my achievement was all just luck.

“But in the end, it all worked out fine, didn’t it?”

“…?”

“A single promise from the Duke won’t eradicate discrimination, but no one’s going to whisper behind your backs anymore.”

Just like you wanted.

When I said that so matter-of-factly, the rabbit baroness’s expression turned strange.

“You… Did you really do all that just for that one reason…?”

“And why would I need any other reason?”

“That was too reckless! If the Duke hadn’t stepped in, even Melves might not have been able to protect you, Baron…!”

A bit of a downer, that comment. It sounds like all my efforts amounted to nothing but luck.

“I don’t really see it that way.”

“…Granted, I personally hold Baron Jandel in high regard. But the other houses in Melbes might not feel the same. They could have decided that it wasn’t worth recruiting you, given that you’d barely begun to establish your position and yet were already drawing so much resentment—”

“Stop.”

It was an irrelevant response. Because that’s not what I meant.

“Melbes has nothing to do with this.”

“…What?”

“Nor does the Duke. Even if he hadn’t stepped in, the outcome wouldn’t have changed.”

“…?”

Seeing that she clearly didn’t follow, I kindly explained it to her.

“Didn’t you tell me to become indispensable?”

“…”

“That’s why I challenged him to a duel. Having someone like me around will stop the other jerks from getting cocky. And Baron Kipriot made a perfect example. His house is nothing special, and he doesn’t have any big connections.”

“Wait a minute! Baron… are you saying you planned all of that from the start?”

“For the most part.”

When I nodded, the rabbit baroness was flabbergasted, yet there was still one thing she seemed confused about.

Oh, that?

“When you told me to just let it pass earlier, and I asked you why, you said there was no other way.”

At that moment, I saw it clearly—what the nonhuman nobles’ faction lacked. Only a battle-hardened main tanker could recognize it at a glance.

“In truth, you guys did have a way. There’s always some way forward in any situation.”

I spoke firmly.

“If you find yourself surrounded by enemies and can’t see a path, it’s only because you have no one capable of making one.”

“…”

“Someone who’ll take all the arrows from the front and cut open a road.”

When I finished speaking, the rabbit baroness said nothing. Yet from her expression, I could tell—

‘Okay, guess I’ve made my self-PR loud and clear.’

‘Okay, that should have made a good impression of myself.’

Yeah, I set my own value.

***

I continued to converse with the Rabbit baroness.

She asked me various things as if she was deeply impressed, and I pitched like a door-to-door salesman.

And as time went on.

“You’re right, Baron…”

The Rabbit baroness’s face slowly changed.

“What has all our enduring changed up to now? If we had steadily made even small steps during all that long time, the outcome would have been different!”

The naive appearance of a herbivore was no longer there.

Only a resolute predator stood there.

“It’s time for our Melbes to change too. Don’t worry, Baron Jandel. I’ll take responsibility for securing the guild’s sponsorship. We need someone like you in Melbes.”

With those words, Baroness Rabbit left the table.

Watching her back, a thought occurred to me.

To hide the fangs or to reveal them. Perhaps the initial distinction between herbivores and carnivores was based on that mindset.

‘Man, this just shows how important environment really is.’

Is it because she’s a rabbit? Her ears sure are quick to pick things up.

Anyway, after she left, I sat down at the empty table and resumed my interrupted meal, and one by one, the nobles approached me.

“Baron Jandel, quite the scene earlier. I heard it, you were right to challenge him to a duel”

“Yes, once I heard the details, it was quite shocking.”

“Ugh, disrespecting other races – what era do they think this is?”

I was amused by their sudden change in attitude, but I socialised with them anyway.

From now on, connections are assets.

“Ha ha, thanks everyone. I’d be glad to visit if you invite me sometime.”

“Oh, really? I heard you haven’t shown up since the banquet at Count Ferdehilt’s.”

“That was when I didn’t know anyone, but now we’re friends, aren’t we?”

“…Friends? Ha ha! You’re quite bold, being an explorer and all. Let’s do that, be friends!”

Among those who approached me was Count Ferdehilt himself, who lamented not succeeding in marrying off his daughter to me before.

“I’m quite happy to see you’ve turned out so splendidly, but a bit disappointed, too. My daughter would have been delighted…”

As if. She was trembling like a leaf when we met, obviously dragged out there against her will.

“Haha, then I’ll take my leave. Don’t you forget—when I invite you next time, you’d better not ignore me!”

After sending off the count, I continued exchanging introductions and small talk with various nobles. Then it happened—

‘…Huh?’

Some middle-aged baron shook my hand and slipped me a small note, giving me a meaningful look before disappearing.

A chill ran through me.

‘No way… this guy…’

I thought about shredding the note on the spot, but just in case, I snuck off to the restroom alone and opened it. Good thing I didn’t tear it up—it turned out to be worth reading.

[Three days from now, I’ll be waiting where we first met.
— Your real friend]

Huh, so she reached out in secret like this? Well, that means I’ve at least completed one side-quest for this whole promotion ceremony, I suppose.

‘…Now I just have to meet the marquis.’

I tore the note into tiny pieces, then flushed them down with the tap water before stepping out of the restroom.