Otome Game Mob Villain

Chapter 771

Our group, having returned to the Fox Tribe territory from the Zubera diplomatic visit, along with the Cristy Company party, parted ways with Amon and moved to the mansion we were permitted to use as Baldia's garrison base.

Shortly after arriving at the mansion, as I was descending from the trailer house, a large, bald-headed knight came thundering over.

"Lord Ridd, welcome back!"

"Dainas, I'm home."

He is the captain of Baldia's First Knight Order, whom I had entrusted with management and administrative duties during my absence from the Fox Tribe territory.

Dainas scooped me up easily, narrowing his eyes and opening his mouth wide.

"Everything was completely without incident! More importantly, Lord Ridd... Have you grown a little?"

"As if, there's no way I'd grow in just one month."

"No, no, your features have become somewhat more robust. Your spirit must have been tempered, I'd say."

"Haha, that might be true."

As I smiled back, he gently set me down.

Afterwards, we moved to the study which also serves as my personal room, and I received a brief report from him about the Fox Tribe territory during my absence.

According to him, in the roughly one month we were away, the disorder within the Fox Tribe territory had considerably recovered, and public order had improved significantly.

The clan leaders who had expressed support for Amon but were rather passive about it have recently been actively showing their intent to support the new government, he said.

Probably, those were the clan leaders who became the main targets of Rapha's harassment.

I can only say, my condolences.

Being tired from the long journey, I only did a simple confirmation and some paperwork, and asked Dainas to leave the remaining reports for tomorrow.

"That's wise. Let's leave the difficult discussions for tomorrow or later."

"Thank you, I appreciate it."

As I thanked him, Dainas bowed politely and left the room.

I told Capella and Tink, who had been accompanying me for protection, to rest as well, and they both bowed in unison.

"Thank you for your consideration. Then, if you'll excuse us, we'll take turns resting with Ms. Capella."

"Indeed. Then, I'll take a short rest first."

"Okay, you're both tired from the long journey together, so don't overdo it."

Tink waited in the hallway outside the door, and Capella moved to another room.

Alone in the room, I changed into my nightclothes, then dove onto the bed in my room and buried my face in the pillow, lying face down.

They must have kept it clean even during my absence. The smooth sheets felt very pleasant and comfortable.

Plus, the scent of sunshine tickled my nose, making me feel at ease.

I've rested in various places, in the luxurious guest rooms of various tribal chiefs' mansions, but in the end, a place where your heart isn't tense is the most restful, isn't it.

Perhaps the tension had snapped. Overwhelmed by an unprecedented drowsiness, with my remaining consciousness I turned onto my back, pulled the covers over myself, and slowly closed my eyes.

◇

"Hmm... As I thought, there aren't any books with particularly new information."

I had finished looking through all the books lined up on the bookshelf provided in my room, and closed the last one with a pat.

The day after returning to the Fox Tribe territory. Having finished Dainas's report and administrative tasks in the morning, I returned to my room and was checking the books placed inside in order.

Tink and Capella were also in the room, helping me with the confirmation work.

The reason I'm doing something so reminiscent of some 'hero' somewhere is that there might be a clue to uncover the true meaning behind the words Ibi whispered to me: 'Do not delve deeper into the Beastman Country.'

This mansion we're using as Baldia's garrison base.

Tracing its origins, it's a mansion once owned by Amon's uncle, 'Gleas Granduke,' and as for this room I'm using as my own, he apparently spent his last day here before his death.

Gleas was the younger brother of the former tribal chief Gales, and reportedly a person who strongly opposed the military expansion he and Elva were pushing forward.

In the end, Gleas decided to part ways with Gales and the others and rose up to save the people suffering from famine, but he failed.

I heard he was executed on the battlefield where he rose up against Elva.

Executed... when I heard that, I couldn't help but shudder, feeling it wasn't something distant from me.

But regarding the deceased Gleas, Amon said that as a hobby, he used to research Zubera's history.

That's why I thought there might be some valuable materials or something left, but...

"Lord Ridd, I don't see anything likely over here either."

Capella, who had been checking another bookshelf, said that, and Tink also shook her head, saying, "Nothing here either."

"They're all well-known works, things you could probably obtain in Baldia as well."

"I see. I thought there might be a chance, but I guess things don't work out that conveniently."

As I returned the book I was holding to the shelf, perhaps due to the book's dust, an involuntary sneeze escaped me. "Heh, kshun!"

"Lord Ridd, are you alright?"

As I sniffled while rubbing my nose with my fingertip, Tink hurried over worriedly.

"Yeah, my nose just got a little itchy."

"You're also tired from the journey, so please take care of yourself."

Saying that, she walked over to the room's window.

"Lord Ridd. Let's change the air for a moment."

"Okay. Please do."

Hearing my reply, Tink unlocked and opened the window wide.

Outside air flowed in, and a gentle breeze passed through the room.

It seems the air had become more stagnant than I thought during the book-checking.

Just as the ticklishness in my nose began to subside, the wind made the curtains billow, and sunlight hit my face.

Dazzled, I averted my face from the light and looked down. Then I noticed a tiny gap directly under the illuminated bookshelf.

"What's this?"

I crouched down and tried hooking my toenail into it, but it didn't work.

This is it, I feel like you need sharp toenails like beastmen have, or it won't work.

"Lord Ridd, what happened?"

The one who called out was Capella.

"Oh, it's just, there's a gap here, though it's hard to see."

"...Indeed there is. May I take a look?"

"Yeah, please."

As I moved aside, he took out a multi-tool knife from his pocket and inserted the knife's tip into the gap.

As Capella skillfully manipulated the knife, a small, dry sound kako... echoed, and part of the floor came loose.

"Ah...!?"

I blinked my eyes.

Because hidden there was an old but elegant wooden box carved with decorations.

With a stern expression, Capella slowly extracted the wooden box and placed it before me.

"Lord Ridd, you noticed it well. I presume this is something Lord Gleas likely stored away during his lifetime so no one would find it."

"No, no, it's thanks to Tink opening the window."

As I shook my head and looked at her, she smiled gently.

"In that case, it was triggered by you sneezing, Lord Ridd."

"If that's the case, then it's because of the book dust that made me sneeze. Maybe Gleas-san made me notice it."

"Surprisingly, that might be the case."

"Eh...?"

Although I meant it as a joke, Capella nodded expressionlessly.

"I have heard that Lord Gleas was a person who worried about the Fox Tribe's future. It may be that he is expressing his gratitude to you, Lord Ridd, who defeated Elva and carved out a new future for the Fox Tribe."

"Ahaha, Capella, you're a romantic. But yeah. Let's go with that."

Saying that with a smile, I cleared my throat and carefully picked up the wooden box with both hands.

Next, I placed it on the desk provided in the center of the room and sat down on the sofa.

"Now then, I wonder what's inside."

I reached out to open the lid, but Capella stopped me, saying, "Please wait."

"What is it?"

"There is a possibility some kind of trap is installed. Please allow me to open it first. Ms. Tink, please stay with Lord Ridd in the corner of the room just in case."

"Understood. Lord Ridd, over here."

"Ehh...!? That's so exaggerated."

Feeling exasperated but doing as Tink said, I moved to the corner of the room.

Capella, after confirming we had moved away, carefully inspected the entire box.

"This is..."

Capella furrowed his brow and took out the multi-tool knife from earlier. Next, he traced the gap between the lid and the box with the knife's tip.

I wonder what he's doing.

As I tilted my head in confusion, before long, the knife's tip slid into the box, and I thought I heard a small click sound.