Chapter 107: Five Great Houses Meeting 2
[space_man][space_man]”Kakkakka! I see, I see!”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Vandal bursts out laughing.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”So you brought out your underage brother to establish your own right to speak? No matter what you say, you haven’t given up on the position of head of the family, have you, Eld-bo?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Eld crosses his arms and doesn’t answer.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Ahem! I wish you wouldn’t start with a fight every single time.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Balza says while clearing his throat.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Now, as for today’s agenda, you remember that the other day, we went to each house to collect the books containing the forbidden spells, right?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]When Balza looks around, everyone nods.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Actually, a copy of it was found in the Central Temple.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Everyone is in an uproar upon hearing that.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”However, the copy only contained the most dangerous ones kept in each house, so it’s completely unknown which house it leaked from. That’s why we’ve set up this meeting this time, hoping that if anyone has any idea, they’ll honestly confess.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Your Majesty, even if we have an idea, I don’t think we can answer, can we?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Luria asks timidly.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Ah, that’s true. However, I don’t think anyone present here leaked it. It might have been leaked a long time ago. That’s why I swear that if you confess here, I’ll overlook it.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Balza’s declaration causes another uproar. Everyone looks around, and a long silence follows.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”That’s why I told you, there’s no way anyone would confess with this method. Even if His Majesty overlooks it, the house that did it will forever be relegated to a lower position among the Five Great Houses, so even if you didn’t do it, you wouldn’t answer.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Eld says as if mocking Balza.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”H-Hey, Eld…… You can’t speak to His Majesty like that……”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Luria admonishes him.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”That’s right, Eld-dono. Haa…… Well then…… I want you to tell us what you saw.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Eld puts his feet down from the table and sits up straight.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Well, when Marie was declared innocent in the Goddess Court earlier, there were clearly three people whose expressions crumbled. I could see it clearly because I was on the opposite side of you all.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Hoho. This is interesting.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]It was Brynas who interjected. This man always interjects in a teasing manner.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”First, Luria-niisan.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Eld says while pointing at Luria.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Eh? H-Hey, Eld!? I’m not particularly……”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Ah, it’s alright, it’s alright. As you know, Luria-niisan is always like this. You were just surprised that the guilty verdict was overturned, right? Really. You’re over 30, so I wish you’d be a little more dignified.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Mu……”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Luria frowns and falls silent.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”More importantly, it’s the other two. Vandal-baasan, Q-tool-ossan, it’s you two.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Eld says without changing his expression.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”I’d like to hear it. Why did your expressions crumble when Marie was found innocent?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”What’s with that? What, I also thought she was guilty, so I was just surprised that she was innocent. Besides, I was moved that I could worship the Goddess alive.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”W-Well, I’m the same……”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Vandal answers as if it’s a matter of course, and Q-tool follows suit.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”I see. So then, is Bry-jii the only one who’s being dignified here?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Eld says, looking at Brynas, who is listening to the exchange with a smile.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Ahahaha. Well, maybe so. Vandal-neesan is surprisingly timid. But still, Eld, what’s with this, gathering everyone on such a large scale for something like this? This just makes it look like you abused your authority as the head of the family, doesn’t it?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”No, I called for this meeting……”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Balza tries to answer Brynas’ question.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Your Majesty, considering the relationship with Marie, who is the suspect in this case, it’s clear that Eld was pulling the strings behind the scenes. In the first place, wasn’t it Eld who destroyed the Central Temple?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Balza falls silent upon hearing that.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Well, I can appreciate his attitude of trying to protect his woman, so I personally don’t want to make it an issue, but he did this much to the heads of the Five Great Houses, so we can’t just end it with ‘there’s nothing more to it,’ can we?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Brynas stares at Eld. Eld stares back silently.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Hihihi…… What, is there nothing more? Ah, really, the Faniaal House is always like this……”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]When Vandal says this in a slightly mocking tone, she notices that Eld is smiling.