Otome Game Mob Villain

Chapter 762

"Hehe, Lord Ridd and everyone... It's like you're a family, or maybe siblings."

To me, the members of the Second Knight Order aren't just retainers or subordinates.

Like Fara said, they are precious family, like siblings.

They also treat me not just as a master or lord, but like a younger brother.

What would they think if they saw me troubled in this situation?

"...They'd probably be disappointed."

Letting out a faint, self-deprecating laugh as I muttered, Amon, who was beside me, tilted his head.

"Ridd, what's wrong?"

"Ah, no, it's nothing."

As I shook my head to deflect, Azteca lightly tapped the table with his finger.

"Finished your deep thoughts, Ridd? Even just a direction, c'mon, give us an answer soon."

"...Understood."

Taking a deep breath, I looked straight at Azteca.

"Very well. I accept."

"Ridd, are you serious!?"

As Amon's eyes widened in surprise, Chris hurriedly whispered to me.

"Lord Ridd, I understand your feelings. But accepting without any prior consultation with Lord Liner... isn't that a bit too arbitrary?"

"Maybe so. But like Azteca said, this is a golden opportunity to create a huge debt of gratitude with Zubera. And more than anything..."

"More than anything...?"

As Chris tilted her head, I smiled gently.

"Saving people in need right in front of you... that's not politics, it's basic humanity, right? If I turned this down, I couldn't face everyone in Baldia. Father might get furious, but taking responsibility and getting scolded is also my role."

"Wh..."

She was dumbfounded, her eyes wide, but soon sighed and shook her head in resignation.

"Really, Lord Ridd, you have such nerve. This is why you've earned the nickname 'unconventional maverick.'"

"Is that a compliment?"

"Of course."

Chris nodded with a smile and continued, "I've made up my mind too."

"The Cristy Company will also fully cooperate with this matter."

"Even you, Chris...!?"

Amon was astonished but soon let out a deep sigh.

"Understood. It's to save our kin. I'll cooperate as much as I can too."

"Thank you, Amon."

Just as I expressed my gratitude, the room was filled with applause and Azteca's "Haha" laughter.

"As expected from the unconventional maverick, the Cristy Company with its unstoppable momentum, and the new tribal chief who won the seat from Gales and Elva. You all live up to my expectations."

"Thank you kindly."

I gave a slight bow, then cleared my throat to change the subject.

"However, accepting them immediately in Baldia right now is difficult. We need time to prepare for their reception."

"Ridd, until then, we'll take them in the Fox Tribe territory."

It was Amon who spoke up.

"The Fox Tribe is now allied with the Baldia family, and we're a neighboring country sharing a border. We'll look after them until Baldia's acceptance system is ready."

"Got it. Thanks, Amon."

"These youngsters sure act decisively. It's good."

Azteca, who had been listening and watching our exchange, took a deep drag from his cigar and exhaled the smoke.

"Well, accepting them is decided. But gathering people from all the territories costs a fair bit of money. At the very least, I'd like you to cover those expenses."

"Expenses... how much are we talking?"

My eyebrow twitching slightly at his unpleasant tone, Azteca relaxed the corners of his mouth into a grin.

"Let's see. Roughly, about the amount of the joint investment we discussed earlier."

"...Don't you think that's a bit much?"

I asked back calmly, putting pressure in my tone, but he shrugged exaggeratedly.

"No, no, not at all. Considering the time and effort to gather info on the brats being culled from various villages and towns across Zubera's territories, protect them, and transport them to the Horse Tribe territory, that much money would move. But like Ridd said, this is also about basic humanity. So, I'll make a concession."

Saying this, Azteca stubbed out his cigar in the ashtray and leaned forward through the rising smoke.

"I'll cover the costs this time. Then, consider that as me paying my share of the joint investment. Well, if you won't agree to that, fine by me. But then I'd have nothing left to pay my share of the joint investment, and I wouldn't be able to save the brats."

"Lord Azteca. Isn't that a bit too tyrannical?"

As Chris frowned, he remained unfazed, taking out a new cigar and grinning.

"Unfortunately, the Horse Tribe territory is also short on funds. I have to prioritize saving my own people. Noble ideals and pretty words don't move reality. You, as an elf lady running a business, should understand that, right?"

"That's..."

Chris rarely faltered at the sharp point.

I could vaguely guess Azteca's aim.

He probably assumed from the start that, knowing my personality, I'd definitely extend a hand if told about children being culled.

He originally anticipated we'd present some conditions at the meeting, and kept this as a card to offset those conditions.

Azteca Zebrart, really a man you can't pin down.

Looking straight at him, I sighed and nodded, saying "Understood."

"Let's consider the joint investment amount proposed in the earlier meeting as paid through this matter."

"Lord Ridd, is that alright!?"

Chris's eyes widened, but I shook my head slightly.

"Can't be helped. Apparently, Azteca can't move otherwise."

Having said that, I continued, "However..." and glared at him.

"Azteca, consider this a debt owed, keeping in mind the future relationship between the Horse Tribe and Baldia. If you try something like this again, I won't be lenient. I doubt you want us, the real Baldia, as your enemy."

The air in the room tensed. In response to my emotions, a small magical wave rose, instantly dispersing the cigar smoke lingering in the room.

The smile vanished from Azteca's lips, and he snorted with a straight face.

"...You're right. I'll keep that in mind."

"Yes, please do."

As I smiled gently, he said, "Ah, right," and lit his new cigar.

"What happens to the kids kicked out by culling? There's an interesting story about that too."

"Interesting story...?"

As I frowned, he inhaled from his cigar and exhaled the smoke.

This time, he turned his face away so the smoke wouldn't come towards us.

"Sometime or other, whispers started spreading in villages and towns. That when a child with nowhere to go walks alone on the road, an angel descends and takes them to a new land."

"An angel? Isn't that just romanticizing death?"

As Amon reacted, Azteca grinned.

"Don't you think 'new land' is a strange way to put it if they're just dying? Besides, we have those in our tribes, don't we? Those who descend from the sky. Right, Ridd?"

"...The Bird Tribe?"

When I asked back in a heavy tone, Azteca nodded, "Yes."

"Commoners rarely see other tribes, even less so children. In a situation of despair awaiting death, if a winged figure descends from the sky, they'd probably mistake them for an angel. Though, I've deliberately not looked into this matter. Poking the bush and getting bitten by a snake would be troublesome. Ridd, you should be careful too. Sticking your neck in thoughtlessly with good intentions and knowing too much can shorten your life."

"Thank you for the advice. I'll keep it in mind."

"You're welcome. Hehe, I'd like to stay on good terms with you for a long time."

Azteca laughed cheerfully, but I felt I had glimpsed an unfathomable darkness within the Bird Tribe.

And simultaneously, Ibi's words resurfaced in my mind.

'If you value the Baldia territory and your life, I advise you not to delve any deeper into the Beastman Country.'

Secrets of the Bird Tribe that even a tribal chief like Azteca deliberately avoids investigating.

I have no intention of forcibly exposing them, but if that darkness threatens to harm Aria and the others of the Second Knight Order, I am prepared to confront it head-on.

I will absolutely never let anyone lay a hand on my family, Baldia.