SLO Chapter 72

[Onboard Party End]

With the passionate Big Sister—the hidden boss—attack event passed, peace seemed to have been restored, but the atmosphere was still tense.

“Tashte.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Did you hear what Big Sister was saying?”

“I did, yes. I had a feeling that he had let me hear on purpose.”

“Mhm. You know what to do then, yeah?”

“As you wish.”

Tashte was really excellent.

He understood my intent without any need for words: I wanted him to give Count Caribbean a heads-up. Among the people important to me, he was the only one who wasn’t present and I could only protect those that were within my sight, after all.

I didn’t give a damn about other people.

“Now then, I will—”

“You can just stay by my side, Tashte.”

“Thank you very much.”

He understood without much explanation.

Glancing behind me, I saw the girls enjoying the buffet.

Being the heroines of Dan the protagonist originally, they played their own roles in the Rise to Prominence phase. Since Dan wasn’t around, I got to protect them.

Still, I couldn’t help but wonder; How did I end up being saddled with the role of protecting them…?

“Please welcome, Duke Deskustos!” The moderator announced, and at the same time, the dance hall went dark.

Activating two spells, I covered the people I wanted to protect in a barrier created with my mana.

“This is…”

Beside me, Tashte seemed to have noticed my mana.

“Just in case.”

“Thank you, my lord.”

As he whispered his thanks, the entire venue erupted into lively applause, and as spotlights shone down, four members of the Ducal House of Deskustos showed up.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the end of this year is almost upon us. Let us all countdown together.”

As my father announced, fireworks started rising outside the dance hall.

The number of fireworks decreased with each burst, just like a countdown.

There was a reaction to the barrier I cast around Tashte, and some people collapsed. Seemed like my Auto Sleep Arrow had been activated.

“Tashte?”

“Here.”

“Good, as long as you’re okay.”

“I’m most grateful!!!”

The target was apparently Tashte, not me. All the while, the heroines were enjoying the fireworks.

I exchanged looks with Syrup, but it seemed that the collapsed people had been swiftly carried away.

Distracting people with darkness and fireworks was such a classic move.

“Now that we have welcomed the New Year, I have some exciting news to share. My son, Testa, is getting married and two beautiful young ladies will be joining our Deskustos House. Will you come up here?”

In response to my father’s call, Bianca Gouf AcGee—dressed in a black dress—and Sandra Lecherouss Piggs went up to the stage.

“Allow me to introduce to all of you: Lady Bianca from the Maquis House of AcGee and Lady Sandra from the Count House of Piggs. Let us give them a warm round of applause, everyone!”

The hall was filled with thunderous applause.

Several screams rang out in the darkness but quickly died down.

“I’m delighted to be able to start the new year with such a great announcement. We have more events lined up, so go ahead and enjoy yourselves.”

Having said what needed to be said, my father left.

When the lights went back on, there wasn’t even a single collapsed person.

“Looks like we survived.”

“Indeed. It seems that the person I had prepared successfully completed the task as well.”

Huh? Were you doing something behind the scenes too? I never heard a word about it from Tashte.

“Everything is as you wish.”

No, no, I didn’t wish for anything. As long as I could lead a slothful life with Karin and Syrup, I didn’t really care about everything else.

“Hehe, we can’t afford to lose to the AcGees when it comes to behind-the-scene works, after all.”

Ehh?! That’s less my wish and more rivalry between your family and the AcGee family, isn’t it?

It has nothing to do with me, doesn’t it?

“I’m pleased to see you here. Brother.”

While I was distracted by the satisfied-looking Tashte, my older brother came over to me.

I only talked to my older brother several times when I was little.

We rarely met face-to-face.

Since Sister Iris was only one year older than me, I’d spoken to her quite a few times. But Testa was way older and lived in a different mansion, so we rarely had the opportunity to interact with each other.

I got off Bal and went down on one knee.

“Congratulations on your marriage, Brother Testa.”

“Thank you. In three years, you will also get married. To Lady Karin, daughter of Count Caribbean. Treasure her. Lady Karin, please take care of my brother.”

“Lord Testa, congratulations on your marriage. Please leave Lord Luc to me.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Behind my brother, his two wives followed closely. Sandra—dressed in a white Gothic Lolita-styled dress—was hugging a stuffed rabbit, her eyes seemingly vacant; I couldn’t even begin to guess what was on her mind. Meanwhile, Bianca—clad in a black dress—fixed a piercing stare at me, exuding an air of hostility.

Without uttering a word, the two of them left trailing behind my brother after he bid me and Karin farewell.

“Lord Iron Knight is the same as always.”

“Lord Iron Knight?”

I echoed Tashte’s remark.

“It appears to mean a knight who is as tough as iron and maintains an expressionless face; his thoughts difficult for others to discern. Nevertheless, he excels in his duties and possesses remarkable strength. His keen perception leaves no room for schemes to go unnoticed. He embodies a different kind of absolute perfection compared to Marquis Gordon.”

Tashte explained in length, but I beg to differ.

I could sense strong envy in Testa’s eyes. From my perspective, he seemed to be intensely jealous of everyone, and his eyes seemed to be practically shooting out green flames from their depths.

“Phew~ I’m feeling exhausted after all those greetings, so I think it’s about time we get back.”

“Now, Luc?”

“Yeah—or so I’d like to say, but it seems we can’t just yet.”

The place apparently wasn’t as safe as I had thought, and leaving whenever I wanted wasn’t an option. Just then, armed men stormed into the dance hall.

“Everyone, stick to me.”

Calling to the six, I moved to the window and deployed a magic barrier.

“Luc, are things going to be fine?”

“Hmm~ who knows? There are plenty of monsters here, but since they came in so boldly, they may have a card up their sleeve.”

I hugged Karin who looked worried as I watched the situation unfold, and… it seemed the terrorists’ target wasn’t me.

“Testa Hugaro Deskustos!!! For destroying the honor of our families, we’re taking your head!!!”

…They did well to have made it this far. They must have some inside help… but tonight, the main character was my brother.

“You’re here for me?”

“Lord Testa!”

Next to him, Bianca seemed to want to say something, but without paying her any heed, he cast his magic.

“Have a taste of them, [Envy].”

The mana seemed the same as Deadly Sin Magic that I was familiar with.

The Dark green ominous mana extended to the terrorists.

“Your envy… is not bad. Allow me to take it all away from you.”

The terrorists had been looking at Testa with hatred, but right then, they instantly lost all their emotions.

They turned hollow just like Caligula after I bestowed [Sloth] on him.

“Hmph. To possess such envy, I’m jealous of you.”

With the terrorists instantly subdued, my brother released an overwhelming amount of mana to show off his power to the gathered Noble Faction.

“Seems like it’s over.”

The bombs that the terrorists had wrapped around their bodies would never get to see their use.

I felt a gaze on me as I sighed. Looking over, I found my brother was looking at me.

In his eyes wasn’t the joy of defeating an enemy, but pure jealousy towards me.

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