ăWell, it seems pretty clear that Viscount Bushbaum dislikes everything about me, but Iâd like you to calm down and think about this rationally. When it comes down to it, from the perspective of Earl Dareinwald Houseâor rather, the people governing Earl Dareinwald territoryâit would probably be best if I didnât get too deeply involved in managing the territory or poking my nose into everything.ă
When I said this, Viscount Bushbaum fell silent, his face still dark and brooding. He was probably trying his best to process the meaning of my words with his overheated mind. In contrast to the Viscountâs reaction, Baroness Erztberger narrowed her eyes as she looked at me. Ah, I can sense that her mental state has shifted from one of caution and wariness to one of interest.
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ăIf I get too involved in the affairs of the Dareinwald territory, Marquis Holz might use me as a means to interfere in the Earlâs domain. I think this is probably the pattern you are most worried about. And frankly, I wouldnât put it past him. Thatâs why I think itâs better not to give me any political power, and let me act as any other mercenary. Of course, my main motivation for saying this is due to my reluctance to play politics.ă freŃweÉnovel.com
ăYouâre quite honest about it.ă
I shrugged my shoulders as I responded to Baroness Erztbergerâs remark.
ăIâm just someone who wants to live without burdens like schemes and political intrigues, Iâm just happy living leisurely while exterminating space pirates from time to time. Of course, I like Chris, so if she asks me for something, Iâd probably go along with it without much resistance.ă
As I said this and glanced at Chris, she tilted her head slightly with a face that seemed to say, âReally?â Now that I think about it, I donât recall granting Chrisâs requests all that often. In fact, I feel like Iâve denied most of her requests, but thatâs usually because Chris tends to offer her body as payment. But when it comes to protecting Chris or lending support to the Imperial Navy at her request, Iâve always complied, havenât I?
ăWell, Chris can discuss with Earl Dareinwald and decide how best to make use of me. I wouldnât mind taking on a longer-term assignment, depending on the situation. As long as Iâm properly compensated, of course.ă
By âlonger-term assignmentâ, I meant situations where I might need to stay in Dareinwald territory for an extended periodâlike while weâre building a house somewhere in the Comatt Star System, or if one or more of the crew members become pregnant, necessitating time for childbirth and child-rearing.
ăHmph, so it all comes down to money in the endâŠă
ăThatâs right. The inseparable relationship between money and responsibility is something I shouldnât have to explain to a noble like you, Viscount Bushbaum, donât you think?ă
I said this, nodding toward Viscount Bushbaum, whose face had regained some composure. Whether itâs for family or not, if youâre doing a job, you should take responsibility for it properly. And the guarantee for that responsibility is money. If youâre getting paid, you need to do the job with full responsibility. You canât trust any job done for free.
ăIâll say it again: my desire to wander around without taking on various responsibilities is just part of who I am, Itâs almost like my identity at this point, and I donât intend to hide that. No matter how I dress it up, I continue my work as a mercenary simply because thatâs what I want to do. However, thereâs another reason I canât do much about.ă
ăInteresting. May I hear it?ă
ăSure. I have an extraordinary knack for attracting trouble.ă
When I said this with a straight face, everyone except Chris and Earl Dareinwald, who knew a bit about my circumstances, looked at me as if to say, âWhat is this guy saying?â Yeah, itâs confusing, isnât it? Even I donât expect people to just suddenly understand when I say it like that, so Iâll explain. Iâll explain it all very thoroughly.
ăDo you know the odds of encountering space pirates in the time it takes a starship to reach a colony after exiting hyperspace? Of course, it varies greatly depending on the security level of the star system, but on average, itâs said to be about once in every 1,500 trips. For reference, Iâve had over thirty encounters in about half a year. And itâs not like I sought them out on purposeâI was targeted by interdictors, or I stumbled upon civilian ships already under attack by pirates. I encounter them just by taking a walk.ă
After hearing my story, Baroness Erztberger pulled a face as if to say, âWow, thatâs awful.â But this is just the tip of the iceberg.
ăLike that time I worked with the Imperial Space Navy to take down a pirate base, only to return and find the colony we were headed to in danger of being wiped out by a bioterror attack. Or when I defeated some pirates and salvaged their cargo, I ended up rescuing the princess of an Earlâs house and got entangled in her familyâs drama. Or there was that delivery job where the destination was suddenly attacked by crystal lifeforms. After barely surviving the battle, I went to the imperial capital to receive a medal for my efforts, only to catch the Emperorâs eye and get roped into a tournament with swords, power armor, and combat ships. Then there was the time when I accepted a job from a certain Earl to protect a group of settlers where, for some reason, I ended up having to land on a planet undergoing terraforming and fight a swarm of bio-weapons that could snap people in half with their bare hands. And letâs not forget the time I visited the elvesâ homeworld for a vacation, only for our aircraft to crash in the middle of a virgin forest while a group of pirates attacked the planet⊠Do you want to hear more?ă
ăâŠThereâs more?ă
I nodded, and even Viscount Bushbaum now looked at me with something akin to sympathy. Werenât you looking at me like I had murdered your entire family just a moment ago?
ăSo, if Hiro-dono were to stay in Dareinwald territory for an extended periodâŠ?ă
ăAs unscientific as it sounds, thereâs a chance I might attract some kind of trouble. Not that itâs guaranteed, of course. Things do tend to work out in the end, turning misfortune into fortune. But sometimes, I end up in situations so tough that my life is in danger.ă
ăNo matter how you look at it, that sounds incredibly unscientific⊠but there are some things in this world you cannot explain with science aloneâŠă
As she spoke, Baroness Erztberger glanced over at my companions who were observing from a little distance awayâor rather, she looked at Kugi. Although Mimi, Elma, and the others who accompanied me didnât have speaking rights in this meeting, they were allowed to attend as observers, so we arranged seats for them. I had briefly introduced everyone, so she knew who Kugi was and what country she hailed from.
ăIt seems that psionics can explain the reason for my bouts of bad luck.ă
ăSo, itâs the real deal, huh?ă
ăI suppose it is.ă
ăI support Hiro-dono continuing his mercenary work. And if possible, Iâd prefer it if you stayed away from the Stearine Star System.ă
Baroness Erztberger declared with a crisp snap of her folding fan. Arenât you straightforward? Itâs even refreshing.
ăWhether that happens or not depends on Chris and Earl Dareinwaldâs decision. So, just to confirmâViscount Bushbaum, Baron Schnorr, and Baroness Erztberger agree with the idea that I will continue to work as a mercenary, even after I become Chrisâs husband, and that I will not actively involve myself in the affairs of Dareinwald territory?ă
At my question, Viscount Bushbaum nodded with a sour expression, while Baron Schnorr nodded without any noticeable change in his demeanor. Hmm. Viscount Bushbaumâs reactions are quite straightforward, so he is easy to understand, but Baron Schnorr is harder to read because he barely changes his expression. Judging from the mental waves Iâm sensing from him, he doesnât seem to harbor any animosity towards me⊠Well, I guess thatâs to be expected since this is our first meeting.
After that, we discussed the finer details regarding the engagement and marriage with Chris, and the meeting concluded peacefully. Viscount Bushbaum threw a few jabs here and there, but when I mentioned that I was starting to get interested in the star system governed by his house and that maybe I would visit it before heading to the Holy Vuelzarus Empire, he fell silent. I know I said it myself, and I used it to make him shut up, but still, itâs somewhat unsatisfying to see him so thoroughly put offâŠ