Translator: Michiko
Editor: Elena
Ruthward let out a heavy sigh and described the circumstances of the beastmen territory.
“The current lord is very old. He’s considering retirement, but his heir is not a very nice person. I don’t know if it’s because he grew up in the capital, but unlike his father, he seems to hold the same values of human noble society, and he can’t seem to hide his discriminatory feelings toward beastmen… or maybe he doesn’t even try to hide them. In short, most of us beastmen don’t think he is the right person to be the new lord of the beastmen territory.”
“But the territories on the frontier aren’t hereditary, are they?”
“Gio, that’s just a facade. Although succession is not based on bloodline, sometimes it is allowed. So it wouldn’t be strange if he were to take over like this. If he were entirely incompetent, it would be a different story, but unfortunately, it’s his character that is problematic—not his competence. I’ve been trying to figure out what to do with this situation.”
Raising his gaze, which had been cast on his hand, Ruthward looked at Gio.
“Then, Gio, you said that you were going to refuse the marriage to Her Highness the princess for the sake of Reiru, and maybe go abroad. That’s when it kind of… hit me. Jeez, I don’t know what else to say.”
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Swvboyae’p ckt lyap eassrle yde bl yrrlyzle okvb yd lmralppksd vbyv kxrzkle vbyv kv oyp ekqqknwzv qsa bkx vs lmrzykd.
“Mbyv’p obld kv snnwaale vs xl, R alyzkgle vbyv usw yal vbl kelyz blye sq vbl clypvxld vlaakvsau. Zsw esd’v byhl vklp vs vbl dsckzkvu, yde usw’al dsv vykdvle cu vbl kelszstu sq vbl dsckzkvu kd vbkp nswdvau. Zsw byhl ds nsdnlrv sq obyv vbl rsrwzynl pbswze cl zkjl. Zsw yal kdekqqlaldv vs svblap kd y tsse oyu, usw nyd vbkdj vblsalvknyzzu yde esd’v rwv uswa lxsvksdp qkapv. Mblal yal ds ekpnakxkdyvsau qllzkdtp sa pwrrsav qsa vbl clypvxld; usw yal hlau qzyv yde qyka. Gde vbl qynv vbyv usw’al xselayvlzu xwpnzl-caykdle kp yzps olzz-xyvnble okvb vbl clypvxld vassrp…”
Swvboyae rywple kd bkp prllnb yde vbld pxkajle xlydkdtqwzzu.
“Gcshl yzz, Qks, kq usw olal vbl zsae, usw oswzed’v vbkdj sq lewnyvkdt wp clypvxld rasrlazu yde xszekdt wp kdvs bwxyd clkdtp, oswze usw?”
Mbl yka kd vbl assx oyp pzktbvzu vldpl.&dcpr;
Rv oyp wdwpwyz qsa Swvboyae, obs oyp wpwyzzu lhypkhl sq lhlauvbkdt, vs nalyvl vbkp jkde sq yvxsprblal.
“Fsxl bwxyd clkdtp yal yxygkdtzu yaastydv. Mblu yppwxl vbyv vblka psnkyz lvkiwlvvl kp ycpszwvl yde vbyv ydusdl obs eslpd’v yckel cu kv kp lkvbla yd keksv sa y cyacyakyd. Mblu vbkdj kv’p sdzu dyvwayz qsa vbl clypvxld pkel vs nsdqsax vs bwxyd pvydeyaep. Wsa lmyxrzl, ol clypvxld wpwyzzu esd’v pyu swa dyxlp yv y qkapv xllvkdt wdzlpp kv’p dlnlppyau clnywpl ol qsnwp sd pktdyzp kd pxlzzp yde pswdep.&dcpr;
“Gde ulv, bwxydp tlv pyanypvkn yde ydtau yv wp qsa clkdt awel. Lsdlvblzlpp, vblu pvkzz vau vs vswnb wp, pyukdt “qzwqqu” lhld vbswtb ol yal dsv nzspl. Ebknb kp xszlpvyvksd, lhld obld vbl svbla ryavu kp y clypvxld. Mblu dyvwayzzu valyv wp zkjl esxlpvkn ydkxyzp, yp kq vblu vbkdj ol’zz byrrkzu oyt swa vykzp kq vblu ryv wp.”
Ruthward grumbled and complained with a sour look on his face. Gio inwardly thought, “Though this guy let young girls pat him amiably,” before responding.
“I get the general gist of what you’re saying, but isn’t this a very roundabout way? You should just be the lord, not me. I’m sure you’ve earned the title with military service in the demon king subjugation and are qualified enough to ask for it.”
Ruthward quipped at Gio’s assertion with a sarcastic smile.
“It may be called the beastmen territory, but the beastmen have never been the lords. That has been the will of the center figures of the country up until now. That might change after the crown prince ascends the throne, though. As of now, if I suddenly become lord, we can expect conflicts due to the excitement on the beastmen side and opposition on the human side. It’s too early for it.”
Ruthward laughed, not amused, “It’s really complicated,” before continuing his assertion.
“I hope that eventually, we will have a society where beastmen can become lords, but I am not that particular about it. I will fully support someone who respects the beastmen culture, and someone who is not trying to educate the beastmen in order to turn them into humans, but instead promote coexistence between beastmen and humans.”
“But if I become the lord, there would be opposition from both the beastmen side and the human nobility.”
“On the beastmen side, I’m not saying there won’t be any at all, but the other candidates’ scores are so low that there’s not much to worry about in that area. Besides, the beastmen prefer the strong; there are many among the beastmen who admire you. I’m sure the crown prince will handle any opposition on the noble side. I’m also sure he would prefer to have you on the frontier rather than abroad. I bet you, as the new king and as your friend, he would think so too. Plus, you know Gio, this isn’t a bad deal for you either.”
Ruthward looked as if he was about to divulge some treasured information.
“There is a pair system in the beastmen territory. Same-sex marriages are allowed.”
Gio blinked involuntarily.
“Even between humans?”
“Yes. Not many people know about it, but there are no restrictions on that. Gio, you were trying to get a title for Reiru, weren’t you? If Reiru becomes the spouse of the frontier lord, he will not be treated unkindly even if Lord Gio passes away. He can also inherit assets. Wouldn’t that protect Reiru?”
“Don’t tell me that’s why you gave Reiru the power to summon you?”
“As a spouse of the lord of the northern frontier, he must have considerable prestige, or else the nobles in the capital might butt in. On that note, I don’t think that Reiru, who has the right to summon the five title members of the demon king’s subjugation party, would be looked down upon even though he is a commoner. And Gio, as long as you stay true to yourself, you’ll need more allies to better protect Reiru. You know that, don’t you? If your only weakness is Reiru, then, by all means, those who want to pressure you will target him.”
The two were silent for a while.
Eventually, Gio muttered a few words.
“…Is that the scenario you crafted?”
Ruthward let out a deep sigh and shrugged his shoulders.
“It’s a strange thing, I feel like I was compelled to craft it, rather than I decided to. It’s like a puzzle… Gio’s position and character, Reiru’s innate goodness, the crown prince’s personality… luckily all of it fell into place so well that I felt like I was just filling in the lacking parts. It’s providence, so to speak.”
Ruthward insisted to Gio, who fell silent again.
“Gio, I’m not asking you for a favor. Of course, it is also not an order. It’s a proposal that we should join forces for our mutual benefit. You are an ideal lord, but not perfect. After all, both you and Reiru are too honest to be suited for subtle communication. That’s where I come in.”
Ruthward put his hand on his chest and winked in a silly manner.
“With me, you’re closer to perfection. I can cover your weaknesses. And if anything ever happens to you, I will protect Reiru. When I offered the right to summon me, such was the declaration of my intent.”
Ruthward got up from his seat and looked back at Gio as he was leaving.
“I won’t rush you to reply, so please talk it over with Reiru and make a decision. I expect a favorable response, of course.”
The door of the room was closed.
Through the open window, the laughter of Reiru and the children could be heard.
Gio looked out the window in silence for a while.
TN: Thank you very much for reading. Have a good day.
Thank you for translating this. Have a great day!