Otome Game Mob Villain

Chapter 431

'Lagarde and Noir. What are you doing here?"

I asked quizzically, and they both bowed their heads deeply with thoughtful looks on their faces.

'Master Rid, please forgive us ・・・・・・ for returning the favor!

'Me too. Please forgive me!"

'Um, ・・・・・・ what do you mean?'

The two men looked up and stepped in front of Elba as he was puzzled, not understanding the intent of their words and actions.

My name is Noir!

I am Lagarde!"

As he said his name, Noir stared at Elba.

"Elba Grandek. Revenge of the late Master Graeus, here and now we are applying for a duel. I must warn you, this is a private fight. Therefore, the Bardia family has nothing to do with it."

What the hell?

Everyone present involuntarily rolled their eyes.

It was not planned for the two of them to be here at all.

Besides, I have heard nothing from anyone about such a ridiculous offer to fight a duel.

But Elba seemed to have guessed what was going on, and he gave a "huh" and looked at Noir.

You're related to my uncle, aren't you? Interesting.

"Let's get to it!"

Just as Noir and Lagarde were getting ready, he shouted, "Wait a minute! I intervened between them and Elba to stop them.

Noir and Lagarde! Whatever the circumstances, you are members of the Order of Knights in the service of the House of Bardia. Therefore, I do not approve of 'private combat' here.

"・・・・・・⁉ Master Rid. I cannot allow this man ・・・・・・ Elba to be left alone. Please don't stop me!

:Master Rid, get out of the way!:

'No. No matter what you say, if you fight here, it will become a problem between the Bardia and Grandek families. Don't you understand that?!"

I raised my voice to restrain their excitement.

They gritted their teeth, "G・・・・・・.

They calmed down a little.

Then, quickly, they turned back around.

"Elba-dono. I do not know what the circumstances are. But I apologize for the rudeness of the knight in my service. I am sorry."

"Master Rid⁉"

"Oh, my..."

As I bowed my head deeply, I heard the astonished voices of Noir and Lagarde.

When he looked up, Elba shook his head lightly.

No, no, no, it is us who owe you an apology. After all, this is 'my mismanagement."

"・・・・・・What do you mean?"

He looked at Noir and Lagarde again, his eyebrows furrowed.

'It was a few years ago. A man who was my father's brother and plotted to rebel against him, 'Greas Grandek. I executed him with my own hands. And those who helped my uncle, under my orders, were exterminated along with their entire family. But I didn't know there were any survivors. I guess I'm still a bit naive.'

"What is this rebellion? The Master Greas stood up to save the people of the Fox tribe who were suffering from the military expansion!"

Lagarde quickly shouted angrily, but Elba sniffed.

'Nonsense. Whatever you say, the fact is that you 'rebelled'."

Elba・・・・・・ you say ・・・・・・⁉"

Noir glared at him more bitterly.

"But I can't leave him alone when he is related to my uncle who rebelled against me. This is a Grandek family matter."

Elba's mouth relaxed into a grin as he said this.

"That's all right,". I'll take the 'private fight' you just mentioned. Whatever the outcome, the House of Bardia has nothing to do with it."

"・・・・・・⁉ We will not accept such a selfish thing!"

I immediately raised his voice to refuse, but Malbus, who was standing next to him, stepped forward.

"It is not a question of approval or disapproval. From our point of view, those two are the survivors of the rebels who were to be executed. In other words, they are serious criminals who deserve the ultimate punishment among our fox people. What does it mean that we are protecting them? I don't need to explain, do I?"

(・・・・・・)

Publicly sheltering a serious criminal who should have been given the ultimate penalty in another country would be a very serious political issue.

The Bardia and Grandek families have just had a meeting that broke down.

"Or ・・・・・・ surely there is a reason to cover up for a serious criminal? For example, the rebellion that your uncle committed in our territory a few years ago. Behind it, the Bardia family was involved. ・・・・・・"

"⁉ That's not possible. ・・・・・・"

As soon as I was about to raise my voice, the air around me became heavy as if it was crushing my entire body.

I turned around with a start and saw that my father was exerting a tremendous amount of pressure.

Malbus-dono. If you had listened without saying a word, you would have heard what he said. It is an insult to our family. Or are you trying to provoke us into a quarrel?"

"U・・・・・・ and it is a terrible thing. I misspoke. Please forgive me."

He was stared at by Father and bowed his head deeply as he backed away from the fight.

But instead of fighting, Elba rather smiled pleasantly.

What a powerful thing. Indeed, you are the Sword of the Empire. But as I said before, we cannot afford to let those two slip through our fingers. As my brother said, they deserve the ultimate punishment in our tribe.

"・・・・・・ admit to a private fight. Is that what you're saying?'

"Yes. I'm glad you're so quick on the uptake, Reiner-sama. Besides, they seem to be very eager to do it."

Elba looked at Noir and Lagarde as if he was licking them and provoked them.

'・・・・・・⁉ Master Reiner, Master Rid! Please allow us a private fight!"

"Please!"

Father let out a deep sigh as the two made a desperate plea, "Huh.

"I understand. I grant you private battle".

Father!

I tried to stop him, but he looked at me and gave a small shake of his head.

Then he turned his gaze to Elba.

I'm going to change the location . is that all right with you, Elba-dono?"

'Yes, that's fine."

Thus, a private fight between Elba and Noir and Lagarde was suddenly scheduled to take place.

Shortly thereafter, we started moving to the place where the private fight would take place.

On the way, I went to Father's side and asked in a whisper

Father . Why did you approve of a private fight?"

"Since both sides would not back down, I had no choice but to admit once and for all that it was a private fight. After that, we will have to find a new settlement."

"That may be true,・・・・・・ but Elba is the one who is said to be the closest to the next Beast King, you know? I don't think those two can compete with him."

Indeed, in that situation, it may have been an unavoidable decision.

Elba and the others would have continued to provoke him, and Noir and Lagarde would not have backed down.

However, I felt nothing but unfathomable malice in Elba's words and actions.

There was no way he would engage in a proper private fight.

Such anxiety and certainty swirled in my heart.

I'll protect the two of you even if I have to jump in!"

'・・・・・・I intend to do that too. The two of them are citizens of Bardia and members of the Order of the Knights. So you must never do anything reckless."

I did not reply to Father's concern.