Otome Game Mob Villain

Chapter 155

Phew... It's almost complete, isn't it..."

I muttered to myself while staring at the ceiling in my room.

Nearly half a year has passed since Father informed me of the construction schedule for the dormitories to welcome the slaves.

By the way, during this time, I turned seven, and Mel turned five.

And while the new mansion construction still seems to take time, the dormitories are nearly complete.

They've turned out quite splendid, so I think the people moving in will be happy, but at the same time, I sighed.

"Even so, it's been busy lately..."

Yes, lately it's been really busy.

First, I was busy creating an "educational curriculum" for the people coming as slaves, in cooperation with Sandra, Diana, Capella, Ellen, and everyone.

The people coming are expected to learn various things like magic, martial arts, and general knowledge.

It might be easier to understand if I say we're creating a structure similar to an "educational institution" from my previous life's knowledge.

In this world, the concept of providing "education" to commoners or slaves is almost non-existent.

Because education requires a large amount of money.

Even if it's understood that education could bring future profits, it's difficult to decide to invest in it.

It's strange for me to say this since I proposed it, but I feel Father's judgment in approving this is remarkable.

Lost in thought while recalling past events, something suddenly caught my attention.

Then, I took out the paper on which I had written "Future Policies to Prevent Exile and Condemnation" in Japanese, stared at it intently, and muttered.

"It's not just about protecting myself anymore. I want to build the power to protect everyone..."

I spoke resolutely while looking at the paper.

Previously, the content written was aimed at "saving myself" except for "Mother's treatment." But now, it's not just that.

Of course, Mother's treatment, but also Fara, Father, Mel, and everyone who cares for me—I want to protect them all.

If things turn out like in my previous life's memories and I'm condemned, what will happen to Baldia?

If only I were condemned, that might still be okay.

But if I, the eldest son of the lord, am condemned, I think Baldia territory would inevitably face hardship.

Fara, who married me, would surely suffer too.

Besides, aside from happy things about the future, there's something that concerns me.

That is, Mother is beginning to recover.

I spoke aloud what was on my mind, as if to shake off the unease in my heart.

"...Mother's health is improving, and if she recovers like this, it means the gears of fate are changing, right?"

As I said this, I recalled a "trilogy of SF movies about modifying a car into a time machine" that I remembered from my previous life.

In the second movie of that trilogy, the villain misused the time machine.

He gave his past self a 'book containing future information,' erasing the future that was supposed to come.

And then, he created a future convenient for himself.

As a result, the villain gained great power and wealth that he wouldn't have obtained in the original future.

However, in the movie, the villains were stopped by the protagonists using the time machine to prevent the past from being altered, and the future returned to its original course.

What I've done, regardless of the reasons, is fundamentally the same as what the villain in that movie did.

As a result of my efforts to save Mother, who was supposed to die, she hasn't fully recovered yet, but she will surely be saved.

As a result, the future from now on will surely be very different from the future in the game I knew.

Will an invisible force work to correct the future I've altered?

Or will time simply pass without anything happening?

That remains to be seen.

But even if I have anxieties, I won't regret anything.

And if an 'invisible force' tries to attack me and Baldia territory, I will protect everyone no matter what, with my own hands.

I think that's my responsibility for changing the future.

Unlike the villain in the movie, for that purpose, I should aim to gain financial power and influence from now on.

After taking a deep breath, I spoke my resolve.

"...I will protect Baldia. I... this me will change everyone's future...!!"

After saying this, I gasped and stared at the paper with my previous goals written on it.

Then, I added new words in Japanese: "I will definitely protect Baldia."

◇

At the same time I added new words to my "Future Policies to Prevent Exile and Condemnation," my door was knocked, and when I responded, I heard Diana's voice.

"Lord Ridd, Lady Chris and her attendant Lady Emma have arrived on 'urgent business.' They are waiting in the reception room. What would you like to do?"

"Urgent business? Understood. I'll head to the reception room right away."

I carefully put away the paper with my policies written in Japanese, immediately left my room, and headed to the reception room where Chris was waiting with Diana.

Arriving at the door, I knocked, and after hearing Chris's response, I entered and immediately spoke to her.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

"No, I apologize for the sudden visit."

As Chris bowed, Emma, who was standing nearby, also lowered her head. Emma is Chris's attendant and a cat beastman.

Her cute cat ears and tail are distinctive features.

Usually, she handles paperwork on behalf of Chris, so she doesn't often come to places like this.

I wonder what's wrong?

After having them raise their heads, I sat on the sofa across from them as usual.

"Diana, could you prepare tea for the two of us and me?"

"Understood."

At my words, Diana lightly bowed and began preparing tea.

Then, Emma looked at me with an apologetic expression.

"Lord Ridd, please don't worry about preparing tea for me."

"You're the one who shouldn't worry, Emma. Besides, Diana's tea is delicious. I'd really like you to try it."

"...Thank you."

Hearing my words, Emma nodded happily.

Chris smiled at our exchange but immediately straightened up, changed her expression, and cleared her throat.

"Ahem... Lord Ridd, I apologize for this sudden visit. Actually, I've received information regarding the slave purchase via Balst that we had been discussing previously, so I came to report."

"I see... Actually, I had something to convey about that matter too, so this is perfect."

Chris seemed more tense than usual, or rather, I could sense her seriousness.

Looking closely, her attendant Emma also seemed slightly uneasy.

Is there some trouble?

Just as I made a puzzled face, Diana brought the tea.

"Lord Ridd, everyone, thank you for waiting."

"Yes, thank you, Diana."

Diana, who had prepared the tea, bowed to us and moved to a spot by the wall, slightly away so as not to interrupt our conversation.

I took a sip of tea and then continued the earlier conversation.

"Ah, so what I wanted to convey is that preparations to welcome the slaves are almost complete, and the dormitories are scheduled to be finished soon."

I had requested information about slaves from Chris about half a year ago, but the biggest problem was that the reception facilities weren't completed.

However, with the dormitories nearly finished, we can finally proceed with the plan.

Hearing my words, Chris and Emma looked at each other and showed slightly relieved expressions.

When I made a puzzled face at this, Chris's expression grew stern as she deliberately spoke.

"...Actually, we received information that there will be a large-scale beastman slave trade in Balst. Probably, if we miss this opportunity, it might be difficult to purchase beastman slaves for a while."

"That's... not very reassuring. By the way, how large is 'large-scale'?"

A large-scale slave trade, huh.

It's not something I should say, about to purchase slaves myself, but it's not a very pleasant phrase.

Thinking such thoughts, as if to change my mood, I took another sip of the tea Diana had brewed.

At the same time, Chris spoke deliberately.

"...I've heard it's about 150 individuals, across all beastman tribes."

"...!! Cough!! Cough cough!!"

Shocked by Chris's words, I was so surprised that I choked violently on the tea in my mouth.

Noticing this, Diana immediately approached and offered me a handkerchief.

"Lord Ridd, are you alright?"

"Ah, yes. Thank you, Diana."

I wiped my mouth and the spilled tea with the handkerchief Diana gave me.

Then, turning my gaze back to Chris and Emma, I asked in disbelief.

"Um, so, about 150 individuals across all beastman tribes... really?"

"...Yes. From about half a year ago when Lord Ridd made the request, beastman slaves have hardly appeared in Balst. And recently, information emerged about a large-scale sale of about 150 individuals. Probably, there was some kind of organized movement during these past six months."

Hearing Chris's words, I crossed my arms and pondered with a "Hmm."

As a premise, whether we can accept about 150 people—if it's about ability, we can.

However, both Father and I had been thinking of accepting them in batches of several tens at a time.

A sudden influx of about 150 at once would be quite challenging, I think.

But if we miss this opportunity, we don't know when we'll be able to purchase next, and there are other problems.

That is, capital recovery.

Considerable expenses have been incurred for the dormitory construction in this matter.

If the facilities are completed but no personnel arrive, the invested funds would stagnate, and in the worst case, could go to waste.

If capital recovery becomes impossible, it could even affect Mother's treatment.

In fact, considerable expenses are being incurred for research on Mother's treatment medication.

This is also the reason I submitted the business plan and one of the reasons Father viewed it positively.

I took a deep breath and deliberately muttered.

"...I understand. I'll consult with Father, so could you give me more details? That's why you brought Emma, right?"

"Yes. Exactly."

Chris looked at Emma as if to say she should explain.

Emma nodded slightly at that look, took a deep breath, looked at me intently, and began explaining about the beastmen.