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(Mathrius) 「Is that story true!?」
The head of Mathrius Earldom, who is the parent figure of Reifell Viscounty, shouted at his subordinates right after he received an unbelievable report from his subordinate.
(Subordinate) 「Yes, I have heard the rumors from the servants and got curious. Thus, I went to check Aragon・von・Reifell’s residence and it turns out to be in the same state as the rumor
.
I tried to walk to the gate with a small package in my hand, 
then, I was hit directly by the crows’ droppings and the package was knocked off from my hand. The package that had fallen to the ground then was destroyed by a pack of dogs.
That was clearly an intentional behavior as if they were being ordered to do so, and if I have to compare that to the level of a human being, that is a bit
」
(Subordinate) 「And there’s also a rumor which says, 『Hasn’t he committed an atrocious sin, hence he got a divine punishment?』. Speaking of an atrocious sin, the most heinous incident that had happened in Reifell Viscounty recently would be
」
Yes, they could only think of one thing.
(Mathrius) 「
Mariel must not marry the scum who murdered her entire family! And, of course, I won’t let that kind of person lead Reifell household as well! Even if His Majesty and the Goddess overlooked him, this me won’t
 or rather, isn’t this situation happened because the Goddess didn’t overlook him?
The fact that he didn’t get struck by lightning directly means that the Goddess has judged that this situation can be resolved by human hands. And if we ignored her intention
」
Earl Mathrius and his subordinate have the same thinking as there are already numerous legends about the Goddess, Celestine’s punishment cases in the past. Yes, there are a number of divine punishment cases in which a large number of surrounding unrelated people were involved
.
(Mathrius) 「Not good! I will go to Reifell Viscounty tomorrow morning! Send a messenger at once to Aragon’s place and tell him that!」
(Subordinate) 「Understood!」
The Earl will go to the Viscounty directly instead of the no-titled Aragon’s residence. His residence is not some place where the Earl can personally visit and perhaps his envoy also.
And even if it’s not the case, there won’t be anyone who really wants to go to that filthy residence which has touched the Goddess’ anger.
***************
(Mariel) 「Earl Mathrius will come tomorrow morning.」
(Kaoru) 「Yes, it was faster than I thought.」
It was already late at night. Kaoru was having a cup of tea at Reifell Viscounty and meeting with Mariel.
None of the Viscounty residents now thinks that Kaoru is an ordinary human being. Instead they treat her completely as their superior.
(Kaoru) 「Tomorrow morning, that means the second morning chime
」
Kaoru muttered so.
Yes, in this region, saying 『Tomorrow morning』 or 『First thing in the morning』 in terms of work, meetings, and such, refers to the second morning chime, that is, around 9 am on Earth time. It can be said that this case is exceptionally an early time for an aristocrat to visit another household.
(Mariel) 「Perhaps he had just been informed today and became flustered
」
Perhaps as Mariel said.
In this kingdom, no, in most kingdoms in this world, 『Goddess Celestine’s punishment』 is regarded as something full of tremendous fear and terror, despite the fact that her followers’ faith and gratitude towards Celestine is huge.
It is not the fear of committing sins which will result in that divine punishment.
Instead, that fear is,



 『Goddess Celestine was too rough because she can also engulfed a large number of innocent people into her punishment and turned it into a national level of catastrophe』.
Therefore, it is a common practice to do capital punishment on the spot for the acts that might result in divine punishment. Even if he/she has the connection, bribery, status and power, it will all be powerless.


That is a given. There cannot be anyone who wants to accept killing one’s whole kingdom as a result for exchanging for a little bribe.
(Kaoru) 「Well then, our bout will be tomorrow morning
」
Saying so, Kaoru made a smile that will likely make the children cry.
Behind her were Emile, Bell and Francette, while Riette-chan was sleeping on Kaoru’s knees.
After that, Emile and Bell disappeared into the night city, and the others went back to their home, 『Convenience Store Bell』 to get some sleep in preparation for tomorrow and raise their spirit.
***************
(Mathrius) 「W-what’s with this crowd
?」
The next morning, by the time Earl Mathrius, who is the father figure of Reifell Viscounty, visited alongside with his companions, a large crowd has gathered around the Viscounty.
However, they didn’t bother the others, nor did they block the Earl’s pathway, hence the Earl can’t complain to the people who are on the side of the public path. Therefore, while doubting the situation, he entered Reifell Viscounty’s grounds.
When his companion knocked on the door knocker, a butler immediately appeared to guide everyone.
(Mathrius) 「How’s your health, Mariel?」
While thinking 『How can I be a father figure if I don’t save her now!』, the Earl was the one that helped Mariel, who had just lost her family and the only one left in her family, immediately after that incident. However, after her post-treatment process was over, he became a little bit distant from her.
That is also reasonable as it took him too much time for Mariel and led his own territory to be neglected, in which he was reprimanded by his retainers as a result and thus, he had to dedicate himself to the accumulated work.
Yes, for Earl Mathrius, Mariel can already be regarded as his own daughter rather than a lovely little girl who is his daughter-figure.
(Mariel) 「Yes, I’m doing well. 
and because 『There is something I have to do』, I have no time to be sick.」
Saying so, Mariel turned her gaze straight towards Uncle Aragon.
Eight people are now in the room.
There are three Reifell Viscounty members, Mariel, the butler and assistant butler.
Though, the assistant butler’s suit clearly does not fit his body and is too rugged for a high-ranked employee and there’s also not much of intelligence nor elegance that can be felt from him as well. 

Clearly, he’s an escort in disguise.
That is because it would make the Viscounty members anxious if the powerless Mariel and the elder butler were going against Aragon when he tries to do something forcefully.
And there’s only Aragon himself on his side.
There’s no need for an escort to come together with him to the main house as he will only meet the parent figure, Earl Mathrius. In the first place, there is no reason for a poor single no-titled noble to employ a servant as well.
If he decided to hire an escort for this time only, that would be a rude act against Mariel, who is the head of the main family, and the Earl himself as it can’t be helped if they will misunderstand by thinking, 『Is this a situation where an escort is necessary to go to the main family?』. Hence, that wasn’t the right option for Aragon today.
On Earl Mathrius side, there are two escorts and himself.
The escorts are usually kept in a separate room but, this time they are accompanying the Earl in the room instead. It’s a little bit impolite as he’s the top person on this situation but, for Mariel, this is a very grateful thing as her security could increase.
Aragon has been thinking that this is a talk about his marriage with Mariel, or perhaps a future exchange between Reifell Viscounty and Mathrius Earldom. Hence, he behaves normally like nothing happened.
With this, there are 7 people.
And the last one is
.
(Kao- Nagase) 「This is the first time we’ve meet. It’s Nagase, 
I’m a 『Detective』.」
(Mathrius & Aragon) 「「Detective?」」
Kaoru, who doesn’t want her name to be known, has introduced herself as 『Nagase』. Reason being is that she doesn’t like to utter unnecessary lies and to avoid causing suspicion or late reaction if she gave a name that is completely irrelevant to her.
Aragon and the Earl tilted their head not to her name, but to the unfamiliar word 『Detective』 instead.
Of course, Kaoru did not say 『Detective』 in Japanese. She selected words that would have similar nuances in this kingdom’s language and made up an appropriate coined word.
(Nagase) 「Yes, a person who looks for the truth and reconnaissance. That is, a 『Detective』.」
The Earl and Aragon wondered why such a person is here, but the Earl immediately found out her role from her present self-introduction and the fact that Mariel had made her attend this case.
Aragon, on the other hand, thinks that this meeting was directed by Earl Mathrius, and that is for the talk about the marriage between himself and Mariel, otherwise an exchange relationship with him by bringing a girl who will play the role of a shrine maiden so that they could perform a ritual before the wedding ceremony.
(Nagase) 「Now then, let’s get on to the main topic.」
And the conversation can now begin after Earl Mathrius made a brief greeting to Mariel while Aragon didn’t talk at all.
Mariel is the true head of Reifell Viscounty and is the hostess for today’s invitation but, Aragon, who does not pose a problem even if he’s being impolite since he’s a no-titled person, already feels like he’s the head of the Viscounty while making an unpleasant look. Despite being in front of the Earl.
However, the Earl was aware of it, but ignored him completely as that was only a trivial matter compared to what will start now.
(Mathrius) 「Aragon, seems like you have been receiving a divine punishment from the Goddess, yes?
Goddess Celestine usually won’t involved in every single human being. So what kind of crime have you done to receive a divine punishment from her!?
If you angered the Goddess, she could erase your life, or worse, this kingdom
no, this whole continent! Say it! What did you do!?」
(Aragon) 「Huh

?」
A sudden denunciation from the parent figure at the meeting where he thought that his ambition could now be achieved with this what should have been a final confirmation discussion.
Aragon’s face was warped in shock.