......
Damn? Fuck your mother's monster offspring! ? That bastard? Look at the way he talks! ? And who the hell are you, cursing me while looking for Ceres? You're asking for death.
I'm the only male in the world who can call me a female so casually. A mere ant-like human male dares to call me that? I really want to rush up and punch you… poor little brat. I'll let you off this time.
Even if I didn't do it, now… "…Hehehe… Viscount Avid…" The expression on Ceres's face was no joke.
Oh dear. It seems Ceres isn't the only one like this. Everyone's laughing, but the atmosphere is quite tense.
Those eyes look like they want to tear someone apart… cough hum. He says he's Viscount Avid? "Hmm~ Now, Master, he..."
"Oh my god... It's a nobleman..."
"Ahaha
♡ That brat's asking for it, isn't he?" If I were alone, one slap would have been enough... *cough*
Seeing my beasts, I don't think things will end so easily!
Although I don't know what you'll encounter, I'll give you a pre-emptive cleansing.
Viscount. "...Master. I'll be right back."
"Pfft. Let's go together. I'm curious what that guy will say."
"Heh. I understand. So..."
The nobleman came all the way to the Adventurers' Guild to find Ceres, what kind of nonsense does he want to spout...? I'll stop my beasts from going too far, so feel free to bark a few times. Viscount.
"How rude! Viscount. You've come all this way to cause a ruckus looking for me."
"I hope you are well, Lady Celestia. As rumored, you are here."
"Not well at all. It's all the fault of that ill-mannered viscount." He was just shouting a moment ago, but now he's offering such a polite greeting? Is this the etiquette of a nobleman? However, Celestia, burning with anger, seemed unwilling to accept. "...Tsk. Lady Celestia refused my request for a meeting, so she resorted to this tactic! I don't know the reason, but I heard you received a lordship from Lord Albert! If so, why aren't you at the castle...!!!"
"Please call me Celestia. Viscount Evid. The name change has been officially announced. Please address me correctly."
"The reason for your name change is irrelevant! More important than that!" Oh dear.
Isn't a viscount a lower rank than a count?
How dare he ignore the name of his superior?
The adventurers shouted loudly, completely oblivious to the stares... She looks cunning, but she's got some nerve, huh?
This Viscount.
Why is she so angry...? Was she ripped off?
"What the hell! Why are you ignoring my authority to manage the catering industry!?"
"Hmm... you say 'ignore'?"
"You are ignoring it! I manage all the catering businesses in Ladia! Why did you arbitrarily grant that monster a tax exemption!"... Wait, what?
She manages the catering industry?
Hmm... Come to think of it, nobles are divided into different categories for managing shop licenses and taxes... My Holshop is a catering business, right?
So... aha... this Viscount.
Is she here to protest Celeste's unauthorized takeover of my shop, which should be under her management?
How petty!
How many shops like my Holshop are there in the vast Ladia!
Besides, how many catering businesses are there?
Can't even tolerate one? This stingy noble bastard! "Even a lord shouldn't treat the nobles residing in Radia with such contempt!" "…Hmph…truly, insatiable greed…"
"Greed? How much fairness have I upheld in the taxation of the catering industry! Please don't make strange exceptions!"
"What's wrong with providing a stable source of income for the divine beast who hunts down the Hero Devourer to gain royal approval, Viscount?"
"Why did it have to be that way…!" Really. I thought it was something serious, but it's just a power struggle among nobles.
Why did they have to divide these tax areas among the nobles in the first place? If not, a lord would be no different from a king.
In that case, since our Ceres is a lord, I would be equivalent to the king of Radia.
I already considered Radia to be mine, but I always feel there's something lingering in my way.
"Whether it's suddenly seizing the lordship from Lord Albert, or returning to old ways after twenty years of adventure, I completely don't understand the Earl's thinking." The man clicked his tongue in annoyance and sighed deeply.
The middle-aged nobleman, Viscount Evid, muttered something, then suddenly glared at me and Celeste. "...Tsk...! Since you've become a lord, you should maintain some decorum... to be with that kind of monster..." Huh?
This brat?
He heard everything, huh?
Did he think he could be muttered like that?
"Anyway! Don't lower yourself to do those lowly adventurer activities! If you're a lord, stay in the castle and manage the nobles and handle government affairs! Don't arbitrarily deprive the nobles of their power!"
"Lowly?"
"Exactly lowly! People should just protect their own living space and live peacefully! The further you go out into the world, the less respectable you become!" Huh?
What did you say?
"Alarming monsters will only increase the danger! Celestia... no, Lady Celeste, you should know that!"
Wait, what?
"Tch...! How did Radia become an adventurer's paradise...!" Huh?
What's wrong with this guy?
Does he have to live in the city?
The further out you go, the less respectable you become?
That's a rather novel idea.
What's his background?
"Ah~ really, a complete old-fashioned nobleman..."
"Radia still clings to this outdated mentality?"
"He makes adventurers do all sorts of chores. What kind of noble is that?"
"If it weren't for monsters, it wouldn't be so bad, but how would they survive without hunting monsters..."
"The nobles I've met aren't like that... That old man, he's isolated among the nobles, isn't he?"
"He probably doesn't know how difficult it is for small villages without walls to protect their homes~"
"That kind of thinking is rare even in the current Goddess Cult. Is he some kind of relic from hundreds of years ago?" Oh ho?
The adventurers did say something interesting.
Although I don't quite understand the specifics, it's basically the outdated idea that one must stay obediently in the city, right?
To a viscount with such antiquated thinking, wandering adventurers are nothing more than a lowly profession?
*Pfft.*
Even if he truly harbors such outdated ideas, how dare he say such things in front of an adventurer?
This viscount must be brainless.
Moreover, most importantly… "…Viscount Avid."
The Celeste standing before me is a mage who was once an adventurer. How dare she insult my female?
"To dare speak such words in front of me is utterly rude."
Hmm. Rude. Killing her would be justified. Celeste.
"To speak such words in front of me, a former adventurer… how should I, how should I deal with you?" "…My apologies. Lady Celeste. My words were somewhat excessive…"
At least you know to bow your head and admit your mistake. Otherwise, I would have punched you in front of everyone.
Hmm… but letting you go like this is still a bit unsatisfying. Insulting my female cannot be resolved with just an apology.
Is there any more elegant way to deal with him? "...How has your wife been lately, Viscount?" "...? Ah. Well...she's doing quite well...?"
"Heh. Is that so? Regarding your business rights, I'll prepare appropriate compensation later." "...I'm very grateful. However, it seems there are still a few shops with the Divine Beast...I hope you can also look after the relevant nobles."
"I'll handle that. Stop making trouble and go back."
"Hmm...Thank you for your understanding. Then I'll take my leave..."
...What's going on?
Celes.
Just let him go like that?
Is it because there are too many onlookers?
Or because he's a noble?
Anyway, letting him go like this doesn't feel satisfying.
But Ceres didn't make a move, so I can't retaliate.
Sigh. If the Viscount were any more arrogant, I could have taken him down directly. What a pity. "...Ugh!?" As I turned around with slight regret, Viscount Evide, who was walking out, let out a piercing scream that made me stop.
That's...Cecilia?
"What?! Which bastard...!!!...Cecilia Eiei?"
"Huh? What? Is it Viscount Evid?" What's going on? What's going on?
Is Cecilia showing her legs now?
Pfft.
When did she get there to ambush us?
"Ah~ I'm sorry, Viscount~ I looked so much like a beggar that I thought you were a monster~"
"!? Hey, Miss Eiei! What are you talking about...!!!"
"I'm sorry for the misunderstanding~ But, there can't be monsters in the city, right? Hehehe
♡"
"No, such rudeness...!!!"
Hehe... That's too much, Cecilia.
Even though that viscount looks shifty, it's pitiful to be called a monster, isn't it?
But it's really strange.
Although the people of Ladia all have flat, muscleless bodies, their faces are usually handsome men and beautiful women.
How come he just happens to have such a lewd face?
Viscount?
"Can't you act like a noblewoman, Miss Yingai!? It's because of your appearance that the noble children run away in fear!"
"Ah~ Where did this old fogey come from, babbling on and on~"
"You, you rude wretch...!!! Anyway, the Earl and Yingai are both...!!!" Hehe.
If Celeste hadn't been quietly reminding me to watch, I would have joined the fray and slapped her already.
What a pity. "...Hehe...They say it's a monster..."
"Now that you mention it, that face does look a bit like a goblin..."
"Pfft...Hey, hey. You're a noblewoman, listen up." The adventurers seemed quite pleased. Did you hear the snickers? Pfft. Those flushed faces are quite a sight. Viscount Evid. "...This...this matter, remember it...Ei'ai."
"Hahaha
♡You look so weak yet still glaring at me, it's hilarious
♡Want a beating?
♡"
"Damn it...!!! You...! Just you wait...!!!" Viscount Evid trembled as he walked out of the guild office and disappeared into the crowd.
Letting him go like that left me feeling resentful, as if a refreshing soda had been poured over me.
Fine. Although I don't know what "just you wait" means, I'll let you off this time, Viscount.
His limping figure as he fled was so pitiful, it was quite satisfying.
Although it was unusually pleasant, it didn't matter, right?
For the punishment of insulting my females, this revenge was rather cheap.
Hehe...Today my females were all trying to stop me, so I'll just stand by for now.
But next time we meet, it will be my turn to take action.
Viscount.
"Well done, Cecilia. That was a beautiful blow."
"Hehe
♡ I was going to break her leg right away, but I held back a little.
♡ It seems Mom and my sisters have other plans.
♡"
"Hehe. Why do I suddenly feel a little sorry for the Viscount?" As I gently stroked her head and praised her, Cecilia happily laughed and jumped into my arms.
These are the miserable days of a reckless male who dared to bare his teeth at a wild beast.