Episode 75: The Overlord's Scheme - The ...

Episode 75: The Overlord's Scheme - The ...

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Episode 75: The Overlord's Scheme - The Other Side

The Duke of the Kingdom of Lumoria has finally come to our place. Well, actually, when I say "our place," I mean he's still in the capital city.

It's incredibly troublesome, but it's a path we can't avoid. Furthermore, Ilmit and Jousen have already gone to the capital city to welcome the Duke. It's too late to say "never mind" now... well, there's no point in canceling it, so I wouldn't do that anyway.

A duke, huh? He seems to be quite capable... I'm worried that he might see through my schemes, like some kind of warlord...

"Lord Fels, I'm back!"

Feeling gloomy, I was stroking Lumina, who was sitting on my lap, when I heard a knock on the door and Ilmit's voice. It seems the Duke's tour is over. They're probably relaxing in their guest rooms right now.

"Ilmit? You can come in."

"Excuse me~"

Ilmit enters the room with his usual cheerful smile as he opens the door. He still has that incredible chest armor. The other day when we had drinks together... it was a truly wonderful time... but I have to be careful of his gaze, like a warlord.

"You must be tired." I offered Ilmit words of appreciation as if nothing had happened.

"Oh, it's nothing special, just this much work."

"I see."

Guiding important people... that's a job I definitely wouldn't want to do if I wasn't the Overlord... though I doubt the Overlord would ever be doing guiding duties. As I was thinking about that, I noticed that Ilmit's gaze was fixed on Lumina, who was relaxing on my lap.

"Do you want me to pet you?"

"No, it's fine. I was just a little jealous."

"Hmm? If you're jealous, don't be shy, okay? I've asked the maids to feed the food, so they rarely object to anyone other than me."

Mid-sentence, the image of Jousen groaning and looking dejected flashed through my mind.

"Hehehe, I'll pass."

Seeing Ilmit laughing as usual, I felt a slight sense of unease.

"Ilmit, is something wrong?"

Ilmit tilted his head in response to my question, but I continued speaking.

"You seemed a little more tense than usual. Did something happen with the Duke?"

Assuming that this was the only possible explanation if something had happened, I asked him about it, and Ilmit let out a small sigh.

"...I can't compete with Lord Fels, can I? I thought I was doing as usual..."

Ilmit smiled as he said this, his demeanor softer than before.

"You guys are important to me, so I'll know immediately if anything happens."

"...That's a shame. I would have been so happy if you had said that I was important to you, not the others."

After saying that with a slightly joking tone, Ilmit's expression turned serious and he continued speaking.

"The Duke made a request that was beyond his means, so I was just a little annoyed."

"Beyond your station? What did you wish for?"

This is the kind of thing that would irritate Ilmit, who is usually laid-back and smiling, so the request must have been quite unreasonable. ...I really don't want to face the Duke... I wonder what kind of demands he'll make...

"An audience with Lord Fels... you want it to happen today?"

"Hmm..."

...Is that all? So why did Ilmit... Ah, I see. It's understandable that Ilmit would be angry if we set the date ourselves... and then asked him to move up his audience with me, the king. I'd like to say I don't mind... but I do have my pride to consider. No... but, yeah. Staying like this, feeling uneasy while petting Lumina until tomorrow, is going to be quite stressful...

I'm the type of person who eats the things I dislike first... and I'm the type who finishes my summer homework in no time. Yes, it's what the other party wants, and the Duke might be the type who wants to get troublesome matters over with as quickly as possible. Should I go along with the proposal...? It's best to get this troublesome matter over with as quickly as possible.

"Alright, Ilmit. Since you've gone to the trouble of making that offer... let's accept it."

I feel bad for Ilmit, who got angry, but I'll have to change my plans. Ilmit seemed to think for a moment after hearing my words, then nodded slightly.

"...I see, so that's how it is. I think that's interesting."

What do you mean?

"Yeah, I was so annoyed I didn't even notice. But there's no reason not to use it."

"...Anger is an important emotion, but losing your composure is unacceptable."

It seems like Ilmit noticed something, but... I haven't been told anything. For now, I'll buy some time by making a vague, overbearing statement.

I wonder... it must have been such a good move that it made Ilmit's mood soar... Well... it's like we accepted the other party's demands... so in terms of saving face... no, or is that wrong?

These two are not of equal standing. They are the overwhelming underdogs... and in that situation, they make demands of us... Of course, they don't expect us to accept them for a second... I see, this certainly makes for a good favor to do them. No, it's not that simple, is it? I have a feeling it's going to be a much more powerful move. Probably... yeah. Even if I don't fully understand it, I'm sure Ilmit and Kilik will be able to use it effectively. Looks like this is no time for summer homework.

"I'm sorry. Prioritizing substance over reputation is a move only Lord Fels could pull off, but I've learned a lot from his rationality and composure. And ultimately, it raises both his reputation and his actual standing, so it's the best of both worlds."

"It's because Ilmit and Kilik are there that I can move around as I please. I know I'll be putting you through some trouble, but I'm counting on you."

"Leave it to me. I will quickly prepare for the audience and invite the dukes."

"...I'm counting on you."

Ilmit leaves the room looking very pleased. This... I think it's become less likely that people will ask for unreasonable things, right? I suggested it as if it were homework, but... it makes me feel a little more at ease now, doesn't it? Ilmit and the others will probably get the preparations for the audience ready in no time... It's a bit of a relief, but it's still a hassle. I'd like to get this over with quickly. I reached out to put my hand on my lap again to calm myself down with Lumina's fluffiness, but Lumina noticed my approaching hand and preemptively began licking it. Whenever I tried to move my hand, it would try to hold it down with its front paws, so I just let it do as it pleased. It continued to lick my hand until Ilmit came to call me again.

Less than an hour after Ilmit came to my room to report, preparations for the audience were complete, and I sat on the throne, waiting for the delegation from the Kingdom of Lumoria to arrive. I always thought that in situations like this, the most important people would enter later... but is it different when it comes to audiences with other countries? I don't really understand... but I guess it's fine since Ilmit and Kilik prepared it.

By the way, my preparation consisted of simply putting on a cape over my usual clothes. He has neither a crown nor a scepter, and he is not wearing armor. The only thing that's really there is the Overlord's Sword placed near the throne.

Actually, the Overlord Sword isn't that flashy, so I think it would look better to display the exclusive weapons of other country's generals that are kept in the treasure vault. Well, it might mean I can't use a weapon in a sudden situation... but the fact that I'd have to pick up a weapon in this situation would be a big problem... so I guess I don't need to worry about that?

While I was lost in thought, the entrance to the throne room slowly opened, and I could see the delegation from the Kingdom of Lumoria on the other side of the door. The person in the center is probably the Duke, but... he looks quite surprised. Come to think of it, my eyesight has improved quite a bit, though not to the same extent as Uluru's... The throne room is easily the size of a school gymnasium, but I can clearly see the expressions on the faces of the people on the other side of it. As I smiled slightly at that fact, the Duke's expression hardened and he stepped into the throne room.

Incidentally, not all of my children are gathered in the throne room right now, but there are still about twenty of them, excluding the maids. The ones who are missing from the group with official positions are... Otonoha, Uluru, and Alandor. Otonoha is extremely busy installing the magic power collection device, and Uluru... may be extremely busy gathering information... or she might be waiting in a place I can't see.

Alandor is engaged in skirmishes with some rather simple-minded lords who refuse to submit unless he demonstrates military might by leading his troops. Well, surrendering to a powerless country would only leave them with no options, so you can't just dismiss them as muscle-brained... but from what I've heard from Alandor's report, they seem happy even when they lose, so maybe they are more on the muscle-brained side after all.

Well, that's beside the point... I suppose having only about twenty of my children in this vast throne room would be too lonely, so there's a whole line of inflated summoned soldiers around it. Is this perhaps...? Is it like they're being intimidating, or like it's a high-pressure interview...? Since we're the ones doing the intimidating, all we can think is, "Wow, they're lined up so neatly," but from their perspective, it must be quite a lot of pressure. I can't help but feel sorry for the members of the delegation as they slowly approach us with stern expressions, but... it's necessary to prevent Einherjar from being taken advantage of or having strange conditions attached to them.

The Duke at the front is walking towards me, staring straight at me... it's incredibly uncomfortable... I mean, isn't it disrespectful to stare at someone like that for so long? I am the Overlord, you see? However, avoiding eye contact just because you feel uncomfortable is an absolute no-no. Don't worry, I'm the Overlord who stared down Lumina for nearly an hour without averting my gaze, so I'll easily brush off a stare like this! As I watched the Duke with such strong determination, he approached me to a comfortable distance and suddenly knelt down and bowed his head.

...Is that how it works?

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