Chapter 18

Chapter 18: Vespa

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By any standard within the Empire, beating up a noble is a serious crime.

In that sense, the fact that Carlisle had become entangled with Leon Grimbalt in any way could have escalated into a major incident.

‘Shouldn’t some kind of action be taken?’

It was the kind of incident that would make one think such thoughts.

Anyway, in order to extract the poison of hell that could be planted in the Cradle, he still needed to maintain his freedom of movement. Being conspicuous here and there was the last thing he wanted. 

He probably would have continued thinking that way even if Gray hadn’t sneered and brought it up.

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Pardon?”

“Just go and bring me a Magic Communication Device.”

“……?”

When he handed Gray something that looked similar to a modern telephone, Gray briefly explained to Lionel what had happened.

Grand Duke Chasefield was furious. Even more than Carlisle had expected.

He was furious that there were bastards who dared to make advances on his precious daughter, and he was doubly furious that they had dared to pick a fight with the young man he had brought into his family in such a vulgar manner.

Such facts would have been very clearly reflected in the letter he wrote and sent to the Count Grimbalt family.

Although it was composed of dignified, polite, and sociable sentences befitting Lionel’s character, the content of the letter could be summarized in the following sentence,

“If you don’t want to die, don’t mess around and stay quiet.”

The Count Grimbalt family decided not to mess with the Grand Duke family.

It could be said to be a wise choice.

They wouldn’t want to wage an all-out war with the Grand Duke family over an incident caused by someone far removed from the line of succession.

Therefore, Carlisle’s academy life wasn’t disrupted from the start. Fortunately.

……Well, it was rather pitiful to see him diligently massaging Gray who had returned from sword practice.

‘Am I actually being gaslighted?’

The fact that being overworked by Gray had become something like ordinary daily life was proof of that.

For now, let’s consider this as compensation for taking revenge for him with the Count family.

“Miss, should I knead a little harder?”

“Yeah.”

When he kneaded her legs with all his strength, Gray’s hand came down on Carlisle’s head.

A strange sound escaped from Carlisle’s mouth.

“Too hard, that.”

“……”

She was still demanding, but at least the hand just now hadn’t split his head open. He was satisfied with that point for now.

How should he put it, overall her attitude toward him had become somewhat softer.

‘I was a bit surprised that something like possessiveness had developed……’

The word itself was rather murderous. Possessiveness.

The desire not to be stolen by someone else.

Whether that was as a friend or as some cherished tool, he wasn’t sure.

[Good things are good things.]

‘……Should we go with good things being good things?’

As long as overly severe restrictions didn’t come into play, it didn’t matter. If a bond developed with Gray, it would definitely help in reforming her.

Of course.

“What are you going to do tomorrow?”

Every time he received such questions, he couldn’t help but become tense.

How should he put it?

Until now, she had pushed only her own agenda without caring about his schedule, so she had never asked such things.

He couldn’t grasp her intentions, making it difficult to respond.

“I’m planning to choose what classes to take with Marquis Anastasha’s daughter as my mentor. Originally, I should have done it on the first day, but my schedule got pushed back.”

Upon hearing those words, Gray’s face immediately scrunched up.

It was an expression that made his legs go weak just looking at it. Had he done something wrong?

She might still be displeased with him associating with Elena.

However, her expression gradually relaxed and she slowly exhaled.

“I see.”

“……?”

What was that about?

He had no idea what thought process she had gone through.

[She gauged the competition a bit.]

‘Gauged what?’

[Anastasha is someone she could easily crush and reclaim if she tried to steal something she had put her stamp on.]

‘……’

[If you had said you had business with the Gray Cardinal, the reaction would have been quite different.]

Poor Elena.

He had no idea what kind of treatment she was receiving in Gray’s mind……

“Then, classes will begin in earnest from tomorrow?”

“Yes, Miss.”

“Do well.”

“Thank you for the encouragement.”

“Engrave it in your mind. You know what happens if you don’t do well, right?”

“……I will stake my life on it to prevent my neck from being twisted.”

Gray nodded with satisfaction.

……The standards were still damn demanding as always.

Carlisle sighed and left Gray’s room to return to his own quarters.

“By the way, Hero.”

[Hmm?]

“Quite a bit has accumulated, so I think it’s time to spend it again.”

He said while looking at the status window that appeared before his eyes.

Through various incidents, the ‘rewards’ he could use had already accumulated quite a bit.

‘What I can use now is roughly……,’

The number of abilities he could copy was about 4.

And one ‘Command Authority’ he could use on Gray.

He didn’t know what degree of compulsive force Command Authority had, but that could be used later.

[Save that one. There will definitely be an occasion to use it.]

“Do you remember some part of it?”

[……I don’t really want to since it seems like I’m only making you do good things, but there is an incident where it will be needed.]

“Pardon?”

[It’s a matter of my dignity. Just let it slide.]

Dignity?

Dignity, huh.

“……Is there something embarrassing for you again?”

[……Just shut up when I tell you to shut up.]

Seeing her speech become aggressive, it seemed he had hit the mark.

There was probably some embarrassing something again.

Carlisle chuckled and changed the subject.

“Then let’s hear about that part when the time comes. What about abilities?”

[Close combat……We’ve found the one that produces results most quickly. It would be good to explore other areas.]

“Other areas?”

[Magic, miracles, sorcery, martial arts, choose any side you want. Anything is possible. Would there be any area where a Hero isn’t omnipotent?]

“Hero, you’re insufferable.”

[……]

“We agreed not to live for the taste of our own greatness, didn’t we?”

[……We did.]

Carlisle chuckled at the sheepish response that came back.

Well, but Carlisle also agreed with what Gray was saying.

This person really had nothing she couldn’t do.

But, even so.

“There’s definitely a better direction than just me growing alone.”

If he was going to do one thing, it was better to maximize gains in multiple directions.

Carlisle thought there would be roughly two directions.

“The growth of that Miss over there is the first.”

[……My growth? Why are you concerned about that?]

She would grow well on her own if left alone.

Such a question came back, but Carlisle shook his head and answered.

“Because ultimately, my power is based on that side.”

Anyway, the abilities he brought over were from Gray who was in the ‘current timeline’.

To follow the roadmap drawn by Gray in the Holy Sword, he also had to take care of the growth of Gray in the current timeline.

“Paradoxically, for me to grow quickly, that side needs to grow together too.”

And that direction was already set.

As long as he could somehow convey the knowledge the Holy Sword had taught him, that side would absorb it well and grow on its own. The basic foundation was already complete.

And there was definitely work that could be done ‘together’ while doing such things.

“We need to take care of important people together too.”

Even a Hero who was practically demigod-level couldn’t handle all the Archduke Demons.

Three Archduke Demons had to be dealt with by the remaining strong humans excluding the Hero.

Carlisle was talking about her.

“With your abilities and knowledge, we can nurture her together too.”

[……]

And as soon as he said such words.

The response from within the Holy Sword was cut off abruptly.

Carlisle looked down at the Holy Sword with a bitter smile.

What he was thinking about was obvious without looking.

“Hero.”

[Yeah.]

“It’s okay. We can change it this time.”

This time, he would not fail.

He would avoid the terrible results that had been derived last time.

“I’ll help you together. Don’t worry too much.”

[……]

“Let’s save them together. Those people.”

[……Thank you.]

A calm but heavily sunken voice flowed out.

Carlisle yawned and added one more sentence to that.

“That way you won’t cry like last time. Isn’t that right?”

[……]

“From the sound of your voice, you’re going to cry again, aren’t you?”

[………]

The sound of muttering some vulgar curses could be heard from within the Holy Sword.

But, well.

The atmosphere hadn’t become awkward, so that was fine.

[But, if we’re talking about important figures, who are you thinking of starting with? You can’t pay attention to all those people at once.]

“We don’t need to go far.”

Right now, there was one.

An ‘important figure’ who was right nearby.

“Shall we go raise a Grand Mage?”

It was time to go meet a member of the Hero Party.

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Vespa Luciana.

Gray Chasefield’s loyal personal attendant.

Recently, in a very bad mood.

‘……Is Miss alright?’

Vespa, who was lying in bed blankly staring up at the ceiling, had such thoughts.

Originally, she should have been spending time without a moment to spare, busy catering to Gray’s tastes, but recently her free time had increased.

It was probably because Gray had been gradually transferring the work she used to assign to her to other people.

‘This is all because of that man!’

Carlisle Belfast. The man the family head had suddenly brought to the family.

She didn’t know how he had caught the family head’s eye, but he had quickly become close with Miss and started stealing her work one by one, the bad guy.

‘……Idiot! Fool! Playboy!’

Vespa muttered such words for no reason while flailing her arms and legs.

She was born with a kind nature that made it absolutely impossible for her to say bad things about others. The variation of curses she could squeeze out was limited to that extent……

If Carlisle had seen it, he probably would have clicked his tongue in pity, thinking that it was because of such a nature that she had been able to stay by Gray’s side continuously, a collection of words that would make him do so.

‘Miss used to need me the most……’

She and Gray had been together since they were very young. Since just after getting through the baby stage, she had been exclusively attached to take care of her.

‘Miss was so cute……’

Her face relaxed into a grin.

The old memory of Gray toddling over and sitting on her lap giggling briefly came to mind.

Along with the memory of her holding her hand tightly with her small hands and not wanting to let go.

It was probably from then. That it was none other than herself who should take care of Miss to the end.

Although she was going through a turbulent period now and her personality had become a bit strange, Miss was still Miss. She would only assist her to the end.

If Carlisle had seen it, he probably would have questioned what kind of turbulent adolescence kills people when in a bad mood, but that didn’t matter to her.

……Even Grand Duke Lionel evaluated that she was thoroughly smitten, but that also didn’t matter to her.

‘Miss shouldn’t fall for a bad man!’

In that regard, the man named Carlisle who had been rapidly developing his relationship with Miss recently was like the axis of evil to her.

The image of Carlisle laughing ‘UWAHAHA’ came to mind in Vespa’s head. It was the evil laughter of Demon King Carlisle……

“Miss Vespa? Are you in there?”

The voice of the UWAHAHA Demon King was suddenly heard from outside the door.

Vespa startled and sat up.

“I’m, I’m sorry!”

“……What do you mean?”

“I, I never once thought Carlisle was bad!”

“……”

“Pla, playboy or that he was seducing Miss, I never thought such things……!”

“……”

“No, that is, I’m, I’m sorryyyy-!”

“……Could we talk for a moment?”

This woman.

She’s the same as before and now.

Such thoughts floated hazily in Carlisle’s mind as he stood outside the door.

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