"A kind-hearted individual cast a dispel magic. They did so because disaster would surely follow if such things continued, and they released the master from his delusions. The master collapsed from the backlash."
All of it was the butler's fabrication.
There was no one who had incited the Earl, nor anyone who had taken pity on him and freed him.
◇◇◇
This butler had been entrusted with the Earl of Krecia by the late previous generation.
*"My son is prone to running wild, but you are the only one who can rein him in. I'm counting on you..."*
Having left those final words before passing away, the butler honored the late Earl's dying wish and had spent every day trying to counsel his current master away from the path to ruin.
Plotting terrorism was one thing, but hiring adventurers left and right meant the upkeep costs were nothing to scoff at.
"Master, if this continues, the Earl's finances won't hold out."
"What nonsense. Once I seize the kingdom, I'll recoup everything in no time. These are necessary expenses — don't worry about it!"
No matter how many times the butler pleaded, the Earl of Krecia would never listen.
"This is beyond... Which comes first, bankruptcy or ruin? In the end, I suppose I have no choice but to see this through to the very end..."
Just as the butler was on the verge of giving up inside, the master now attempted to hire yet another young adventurer who had barely come of age.
The butler tried to counsel him once more, but as expected, his words fell on deaf ears.
"This boy, too, will likely lose his life as collateral damage of the master's schemes. The veteran adventurers are one thing, but surely there must be some way to protect these young people with promising futures..."
While the butler was lost in such thoughts, the master suddenly let out a tremendous shout.
Wondering what on earth had happened, the butler hurried back to the great hall, only to find the master foaming at the mouth and unconscious.
The mohawk-haired bunch had witnessed what the boy had done and, deciding it was none of their business, scattered like spiders fleeing in all directions.
The only one left behind was the boy himself.
Nothing in particular could be read from his expression.
He acted as though this were just another scene from everyday life.
To think he would dispose of the master so matter-of-factly — could he be one of the shadow agents the king had dispatched to eliminate them after sensing their treason?
Was he next to be disposed of?
"You are... no, could you possibly be one of the king's shadow agents?"
"Huh?"
The boy seemed caught off guard for a moment, but he quickly recovered.
"Nah, he was trying to use [Incite] or something, so I just wiped his memory."
To think he could erase memories.
He had heard that high-level magic capable of erasing memories existed, but...
It seemed unbelievable, but if it were true, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Since ruin was coming either way, perhaps he could afford to take a gamble on this boy.
"What memories did you erase?"
"Hmm, terrorism-related stuff."
Could it really be that convenient? The butler
doubted
it.
However, the butler, who had spent every day tormented by the earl's behavior and secretly driven to despair, decided to believe the boy.
◇◇◇
The earl regained consciousness and drank the water from the cup the butler handed him.
"My Lord, this will free you from your financial difficulties as well."
The steward muttered in a voice filled with genuine relief.
"Hmm? What do you mean?"
"You had been employing veteran adventurers as your retainers, which cost a fortune. You'll have to cut back on luxuries for a while."
"What did you say..."
"It is somewhat well known that you had been gathering fighting forces, but let us say this was merely a hobby of collecting strongmen. If it were thought you were plotting treason against the state, you would face the annihilation of your entire clan."
"Ah, ah, yes... what on earth was my past self getting up to..."
The earl, whose mind was still foggy from just having awakened, had no choice but to accept the steward's words as the steward dangled the threat of clan extermination before him.
And so the steward succeeded in averting the future in which the Kalesia Earldom, entrusted to him by the previous generation, would meet its ruin.
◇◇◇◇◇◇
(Revision 1)
In the steward's lines,
the mohawk people don't really matter, but
↓
the veteran adventurers aside,
has been changed to.
(Revision 2)
The earl, whose mind was still unclear from just having awakened, was persuaded against his will as the steward dangled the threat of clan extermination before him.
↓
The earl, whose mind was still foggy from just having awakened, had no choice but to accept the steward's words as the steward dangled the threat of clan extermination before him.
Skills: [Reverse][Divine Eye][Sword God][Fist God][Spear God][Scorching Heat Magic][Frozen Ice Magic][Clear Storm Magic][Rock-Iron Magic][Holy Magic][Dark Magic][Space-Time Magic][Thunder God Sword][Gentleman Thief][Ninja Master][Truth Investigator][Bizarre Strength and Divinity][Pain Relief][Complete Status Ailment Resistance][Dark Spirit's Protection][Super Intuition][Heaven's Gate][Abyss Contractee][Magic Hand][Treasure Search][Seduction][Incitement][Eloquence][Fortune][Growth Speed ×10][Growth Limit Breakthrough]
Rank: Orichalcum
Thank you for reading!