Chapter 40

"The World of Otome Games is Harsh for the Commoners" is also being serialized!

The manga version is currently available for free, with the first and fifth episodes.

Please enjoy it on Comic Walker and Nico Nico Seiga.

　In the dormitory of the elementary school.

　On its roof, there were three men.

"Any sign of them?"

"No problem."

"Looks like today will go smoothly, too."

　The men were having such a conversation.

　Then, a tall, masked man in black appeared as if stretching out of the shadows.

　His hands were abnormally long compared to his body.

　And he wore a rather eerie mask.

　The men picked up their weapons.

"What, what is this!"

　Then, the tall man spread his arms in greeting.

"Good evening. It's a fine night, isn't it?"

　Immediately after, subordinates dressed the same as the tall man appeared behind the men and stabbed them with knives, leaving only one man alive.

　The tall man chuckled.

"I apologize for interrupting your work. Well—"

　This dormitory was the boys' dormitory where Liam and others were staying.

　The tall man disappeared as if sinking into the building and sneaked into Liam's room.

　Liam, who was sleeping in bed—

　The tall man reached out and adjusted the blanket for him.

　Liam opened his eyes wide.

"—It was noisy, Kukuri."

　Kukuri, who had woken Liam, knelt and bowed deeply.

"I apologize, Master Liam. There was a noisy dog, and I was chasing it away."

"Dog? —If it's a pet, make sure to return it to its owner properly."

　Kukuri followed Liam's instructions.

"As you wish, Master Liam."

　Kukuri disappeared as if sinking into the floor, then reappeared outside and gathered his subordinates.

　He peered at the face of the man who had survived on the roof.

"Well, who's the owner?"

　The trembling man, too frightened to answer, suddenly began to speak with a vacant expression.

"—I was asked by Master Derrick. I received orders to capture and torture Liam."

　Hearing this, Kukuri's subordinates drew their knives.

　Kukuri stopped the agitated subordinates.

"Wait. Master Liam said to return the owner. If we cut him up, we won't know who he is, will we?"

　He chuckled, and his subordinates laughed too.

　The man, regaining his senses, was drenched in cold sweat.

　What a creepy group.

　Moreover, were they using magic? They used a kind of magic that even assassins like themselves had never seen before.

"Who are you?"

　Kukuri, tilting his head, answered.

"Who are we? Hmm—perhaps a clan that was supposed to be extinct, or a clan that has returned from the past? But that's none of your concern. I'll return you to your owner. Let's give you a nice decoration."

　Kukuri's large hand reached out to the man.

"Stop, stop it!"

　Kukuri whispered to the screaming man.

"You dared to lay a hand on Master Liam. For that alone, you and your master deserve to die a thousand deaths."

"AAAAAAH!!"

　In the second school dormitory.

　Derrick, awakened by the servant's scream, held his head and got up.

"It's so noisy. My head hurts from a hangover. Who screamed? Execute them—"

　Looking around the room, he saw the men he had sent to Liam.

　But they had turned into something very eerie.

"EEEEEE!"

　Even Derrick found it horrifying.

　He couldn't believe such a thing was in his room.

"Clean it up quickly!"

　The hangover vanished, and his heart raced.

(When? When did they sneak into my room?)

　The dormitory's security was tight.

　Since he was planning to kidnap and torture Liam, he had made the security as strict as possible.

　He had even hired skilled knights.

　Yet, they had managed to place the grotesque object without anyone noticing—Derrick knew how abnormal that was.

　The knights who entered the room upon hearing Derrick's scream were stunned, and the servants were vomiting.

"Master Derrick, are you all right!"

"Do I look all right! I've wet myself. But more importantly, clean it up immediately."

"No, we should contact the school authorities—"

"Idiot! They're the ones I sent to Liam! They're supposed to be missing from the school. If it's known that they ended up like this, it will be troublesome."

　Derrick understood that if they investigated, it would be bad for him.

　Moreover, the ones who boldly entered his room were undoubtedly working for Liam.

　The object was a message: "I can kill you anytime."

　Derrick held his head.

(Damn! My fleet was wiped out, I'm being blamed by my brothers—and I lost "it." If this continues, I'll lose my standing.)

　Derrick's position in the Berkeley family had weakened significantly after losing his fleet.

　He was being blamed by his brothers, and nothing was going right for him.

　And to make matters worse, he had lost the important "it."

　If this continued, Derrick might even be killed by his family.

"Damn—damn it! Why did I buy a fortress-class ship!"

　What awaited his fleet was a fortress-class battleship.

　A battleship that only the regular military and a few nobles possessed, deployed on a frontier planet.

　If such a monster of a battleship existed, Derrick wouldn't have attacked.

"This is a matter of my reputation. I have to take care of Liam myself."

　Derrick was already a fourth-year student at the elementary school.

　Liam was a second-year.

　If he didn't take care of it before graduating, his other brothers might act first.

　Then, he wouldn't be able to explain himself.

—That's right. The tournament. If I beat Liam up there, my reputation will still be intact. He will definitely participate. And—participating in the tournament is inherently dangerous.

　The tournament at the elementary school is designed to handle unexpected incidents involving mobile knights.

—Participants must be prepared to die to enter the tournament.

　Derrick decided to crush Liam, who had entered such a dangerous tournament, and to corner him using every means possible.

　Recently, things around me have been quite noisy.

　The other day, a dog wandered into the dormitory.

　A dog—I had one in my previous life, so I hope it found its way back to its owner safely.

　Still, Kukuri, my large bodyguard, has a rather cute name, doesn't he?

　The fact that he reported the stray dog shows that he understands I like dogs, which is a good point.

　I was rescued from petrification just like Marie, and now I can see that the pirate extermination at the Exner baron's house was a great success.

　Well, I'm a second-year student at the elementary school.

　The curriculum hasn't changed much from my first year.

　I'm getting bored.

　So, I've been thinking about how to make Rosetta submit.

　The basis of that lady's pride is her nominal status as a duke.

　Although they are poor, the title is genuine.

　As Wallace said, they have been suffering for thousands of years under a lecherous emperor.

　It's lecherous to an extreme.

　And the spirit of the Claudia family, which has not succumbed to it, would be interesting to break.

"But—it won't be easy."

　Thinking about breaking her pride, money won't be enough.

　Those strong eyes won't break easily.

　Being a count means nothing to her.

　She's a proud lady.

"Well, how do I break her?"

　I want to make that proud lady kneel and step on her head.

　That's the proper image of a wicked lord.

　Muttering in the classroom, Wallace looked at me with a frown.

"How can you look so happy?"

"Because I am."

　Thinking about how to make that haughty lady submit is my current enjoyment.

"I can't understand Liam's feelings. I spend every day in anxiety."

　You're a coward. But, you came to me yesterday complaining that you ran out of pocket money.

　With more than half the month left, you used up your allowance. You lack planning.

　And, do you even have the awareness to be my subordinate?

　Do you not think of me as just a convenient wallet?

　I want you to be useful sometimes, but—no, you can be.

"Hey, Wallace."

"What? More pocket money?"

　I hit him on the head and asked what I wanted to know.

"I want to know how to raise my title. And I want to do it as quickly as possible. As a prince, you must know something."

"Huh?"

　Wallace crossed his arms and thought about it.

　Then, he seemed to remember something.

"The quickest way is to buy a title."

"Does the palace sell titles? How much?"

"No matter what, the palace doesn't sell titles. You buy them from other families."

　According to Wallace, there are many families with nominal titles but no real power, like the former Banfield family.

　But, they can't easily give up their titles.

　So, a family that has gained power buys the title.

　They give the title to their daughter or son, who marries into the other family, and the title is transferred.

　However, there is a problem.

　Such powerless families often have huge debts.

"If you're willing to take on their debts and other problems, the empire will recognize the transfer of the title."

　Hearing this, I had an idea.

"If I have the money, I can buy a title."

　I thought.

　Being a count is still not enough for me.

　There are many peers, and above them are marquises and dukes.

　And, conveniently, there was a noble with the title of duke.

　I thought.

　If I take away the title she relies on, her pride will be broken.

"In other words, if I pay off the debts and other problems of a poor family and marry into it, my title will be raised, right?"

　Wallace nodded.

"Yes, it will. But, if you're talking about a title higher than Liam's, there are limited options. Margraves are a bit special, but can you pay off the debts of such a family? If you're going to increase your allowance—"

　I bonked Wallace on the head to shut him up and immediately started planning.

　If I directly ask Rosetta, "Give me the title you're going to inherit," she will probably glare at me coldly.

　Her rebellious attitude is good, but I want to see her face of despair.

　When she realizes that the thing she relied on has been taken away—what kind of face will she make?

　I remember the faces of those who laughed at my despair in my previous life.

　This time, it's my turn to trample on others and laugh.

　I stood up from my seat.

"Toilet? Then I'll—"

　When Wallace said this, I shook my head.

　No, you don't have to stand up. Why are you heading to the bathroom with me?

　Then, even Kurt, who was sitting far away, stood up.

　Why do you all want to go to the bathroom together so much?

"I'm just going to contact my family. I had a good idea."

　In the classroom.

　There was Rosetta, sitting alone and looking down.

　That aloof, solitary air is good.

　And, I like her rather poor grades.

　She's silly, and a klutz, but she tries hard, which is good.

　And, she's strong-willed.

　Rosetta—I like you.

　In the capital planet's palace.

　The prime minister received an urgent report from Selina.

"Is something wrong?"

"—Master Liam has decided to become engaged to the Claudia family. He says he will start negotiations immediately."

　Hearing the words of Selina, the head maid, the prime minister was surprised but shook his head.

"It might be a foolish move, but I feel a weight lifted off my shoulders."

　The mistreatment of the Claudia family was decided by an emperor from long ago.

　It had continued, and many nobles were tired of it.

　But, helping them would require more than just half-hearted effort.

　The nominal duke family, Claudia, had huge debts.

"They are already talking with the head of the Claudia family. They are suspicious, but if this continues, it will likely be decided."

"The Claudia family has no reason to refuse."

　The Claudia family, which had suffered for a long time, did not fully trust the Banfield family.

　But, such an opportunity might not come again.

　They will eventually agree.

"I will also talk to them."

"Are you not going to stop it?"

"You know, the Claudia family has suffered enough."

"But—"

"This will make the Banfield family respected by sensible nobles. They are in conflict with the Berkeley family, but they are thinking about many things."

　The prime minister smiled.

　Helping the Claudia family, who had suffered unjustly, would not be easy and would bring little return.

　But, it couldn't be said that there was no benefit for Liam.

　Those who understand would see how noble Liam is.

　And, the prime minister expected Liam, who was seriously competing with the Berkeley family.

"Having ignored them for so long, it's time to settle things. I will encourage the count."

"Will the palace recognize this marriage?"

"Of course. The empire will flourish, and we will be freed from guilt. If a powerful count becomes a duke and supports the empire, we will welcome it. The empire has become—too corrupt. It's time for a cleanup."

　The head maid was not convinced but reluctantly accepted the prime minister's words.

"I will inform Master Liam that the palace has no objections."

"Thank you."

　After the communication ended, the prime minister smiled.

"—Count. No, Duke. I have high hopes for you."

Bryan (´・ω・｀) "When I proposed the engagement to the other family, they said, 'We won't be fooled!' It's painful. —But, I'm happy that Master Liam is interested in a real woman."

Bryan (´；ω；｀) "But, the debt will increase again. It's painful overall."