Chapter 289: 289

I sit on a tree stump in the middle of camp. A thick cloth has been laid on it, but it is still far inferior in comfort to the chairs of my manor. When compared to my manor’s food, much of the food here is also inedible.

How long must I endure living like this? I hide a yawn behind my hand.

Ooh, I want to experience the thrill of battle as soon as possible. I want to let the world know of my outstanding military prowess. When I slay the low-born barbarians and return with the mythical beast in hand, I shall be the target of everyone’s adoration. When that happens, I shall become king of Ardesia both in name and reality.

My arms and legs rock back and forth in impatience. This is no good. Despite being the greatest noble of the kingdom and its next king, it is almost as though I’m acting like a child.

Suddenly I notice a change in my private army. Everyone is gathering to talk in low voices as though to discuss a rumour. Expressions of scorn are mixed into the expressions of the speakers.

As I am wondering what has occurred, the foremost officer of my 『Starved Hunters』, Azalea, approaches. Azalea truly is a thoughtful man. The moment he notices a change, he comes directly to inform me.

“Tolman-kakka, it seems Derek of the sixty-eighth unit has returned.”

I frown, and he elaborates.

“He is part of the unit that bore serious wounds from a monster attack while scouting for the Lithovar settlement. His whereabouts were unknown.”

“Hou, I see. That is excellent.”

Is that all? Now that I remember, there was talk of an idiot who died after being attacked by monsters while on a scouting mission. So he lived, then. Either way, it does not matter much.

“However, it seems he is saying strange things. He is ranting about having been left behind by the other members of his unit as a decoy. Perhaps he seeks some form of punishment for them.”

“Huh? What foolishness. Leaving behind the small fry as a decoy is a matter of course.”

“Yes, there is no mistake. He cannot be allowed to harm Tolman-kakka’s temper, so I shall personally dissuade him from taking further action.”

I have no recollection of anyone by the name Derek, but he is most likely a new recruit. The motto of the 『Starved Hunters』is 『the strong may oppress the weak』. It is his own fault for being made a decoy.

This is also my own motto. The domination of the strong over the weak is a matter of course. That is why, as the world’s strongest I shall become king and rule over all people.

“This is why. When a mongrel whines in my presence, my sword is liable to slip from my hand.”

Azalea smiles faintly at my words, but his expression changes upon hearing a shout.

“I want to speak with Tolman-sama! Where is Tolman-sama?!”

The shouting man certainly is familiar. I do no recognise the spear in his hand, but he is clad in the uniform of the 『Starved Hunters』. He must be Derek.

“I cannot apologise enough. I was too slow to act and your eyes have been polluted as a result. I shall punish that mongrel right away.”

Azalea swiftly draws near to Derek, blocking his approach.

“Hey Derek, if you have complaints about the members of your unit, then direct it to them yourself. There is no need to bother Tolman-kakka with such things…”

But Derek ignores Azalea and, upon seeing me, stretches out his neck and raises his voice.

“Tolman-kakka, please put a halt to this plan! The Lithovars are not the savage tribe that they are said to be! They saved me after I was wounded by a monster attack! They are certainly not senseless savages!”

“Haa…?”

I raise my voice in spite of myself. Azalea seizes Derek’s shoulder.

“If you intend to continue to show impertinence to Tolman-kakka, I could blow off your useless head now instead?”

“Come now, wait a moment, Azaelea. Derek, was it? What an interesting fellow. Bring him to me.”

Dragging him by the shoulder, Azalea brings Derek in front of me. Though put off-balance from from being dragged, once in front of me, he attempts to ward off the hand gripping his shoulder.

But, Azalea’s hand doesn’t move in the slightest. A few seconds pass, and Azalea slowly releases his grip. After glaring at him, Derek returns his gaze to me.

“Tolman-sama, as I said before, please put a halt to the Lithovar extermination plan.”

“Uh-huh, why?”

Taken aback by my reply, he frowns.

“Because, that is… I was saved by the Lithovars…”

“Uh-huh, and so?”

“…That is why, even though they are called dangerous barbarians, the people living around this forest have the wrong impression…”

“Uh-huh.”

I nod thoughtfully. Derek breathes as sigh of relief.

“So?”

“Eh?”

“Eh is not correct. You have something more to say, right? So hurry and say it.”

“N-no… Umm…”

Derek flusters, and I laugh scornfully.

“Hmm… Let’s see. This is hypothetical, of course. Suppose the Lithovars truly are peaceful people who cherish nature and live quietly.”

“…”

“Even if that were the case, would it have anything to do with me?”

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Derek’s face blanches, his mouth flapping open and closed.

“A-are you truly saying that?”

“What about you, are you truly saying that? This expedition is being undertaken at great expense for the purpose of making me king, you know? Do you mean to suggest that an idiot like yourself could ever understand the trouble I had to go through to get permission to dispatch troops? If the subjugation of the Lithovar tribe were suspended now, the potential fame I could have claimed would disappear before my eyes, the cost of the expedition would be brought to nothing, and I would be laughed by those who would say I suspended  the subjugation out of fear of a tribe of barbarians.”

Truly, this is why unthinking idiots are problematic. I hate fools that are slow to understand. Most of all, I hate the fools who waste my time.

“In the first place, as we shall be laying waste to the forest in search of the mythical beast known as the carbuncle, conflict with the Lithovars is inevitable. Regardless of their disposition, it is no matter to me.”

I swing my sheathed sword, striking the ground next to him.

“…”

“Good grief, you make me sick. This is why idiots with poor births and poor heads are troublesome. Azalea, remove this idiot from my sight.”

“Hah!”

As Azalea moves to grip Derek’s shoulder, Derek steps back to avoid him.

“I had heard of your violent disposition, but I didn’t think it’d be this bad! Savage this, savage that… The savage here is you, Tolman! I shall follow you no more! I leave your awful private army today!”

Derek strips the jacket of his uniform and throws it on the ground before me. He moves to leave, spear tightly gripped in his hand.

The noble myself is a violent savage? I find myself close to losing my reason in anger, but then remember that it is no more than the drivel of an uneducated, low-born mutt. I regain my calm a moment later.

Derek is moving towards the depths of the forest. Is he really going to their village to warn them? Truly, this man’s idiocy knows no bounds.

“Derek, you bastard, do you understand what it is you’re trying to do?”

“What of it?! How about you reconsider what you’re doing yourself?!”

“It seems you don’t understand. With one order of mine, I can have the heads of all the members of your family that live my domain.”

“Hey…”

Derek is at a loss for words.

“But I am merciful. Even though you are trying to betray me by turning to the barbarians, I shall give you a option. If you swear to leave straight out of this forest, I shall not interfere. If you return to your family and leave my territory with them before I return, I shall not give chase. But, by any chance, you do not do that…”

Derek stands dumbfounded, then looks back at the forest depths. Then, eyes shut, he lets go of the spear. Turning inthe opposite direction, he breaks into a run.

I scowl at his back for a moment, then look away and yawn. I have no intention of going out of my way to capture him. After all, I promised to do nothing if he returned straight to my territory and took his family away.

“Hey, Azalea.”

“Hah!”

Azalea lets out a short reply, then raises a hand towards Derek’s back.

“Fire magic, [Flare].”

The surroundings are bathed in a red light. Amid the dazzling light, a single line flashes out. Tracing from Azalea’s outstretched hand, it hits Derek’s back.

Letting out a scream, he collapses ungainly on the spot. His charred knees fall to the ground and black embers dance as through the air. In his back there is a gaping hole in his back.

“How cruel, Azalea.”

I say, smirking. Azalea kneels on the ground.

“I cannot apologise enough. I could not bear his repeated insolence towards Tolman-kakka, and my hand moved on its own. This Azalea shall accept any punishment you give me.”

Of course, he cast the magic after I called him by name and he understood my intention.

“I said I would do nothing. But if my follower were to act rashly… This is why having followers that are too loyal is troublesome!”

“Tolman-kakka, you said that if he did not return and leave with his family, they would be executed. What should be done?”

“Hmm? Isn’t that decided? As a man with a strong sense of duty, I keep my promises. Unlike that charcoal scum who defied his master, that is.”

I jest, and the surroundings erupt in laughter.

Then, an eight-man group appears. In the lead is the officer of the 『Starved Hunters’』20th unit, Grodel. Beneath his red hair, he bears a large wound from his forehead to his eyes.

“Tolman-samaa, the magic circle has been completed! The effects should be felt soon.”

“Ooh, Grodel, you’ve done well!”

With this, the preparations for my plan are all complete. I can attack at any time.

“However, we were seen and so had to silence three people. Their bodies may already be found, so they might be on high alert.”

“Well, it can’t be helped. I don’t like the idea of moving the battle preparations too far forward. I wanted to wait to see the effects, but… Tomorrow morning, before the sun has risen, let us begin the assault. My beloved sword aches to kill the barbarians as soon as possible, after all.”

“Oorah! As expected of Tolman-sama! Let’s kill them at once!”

Fuhfuh, I shall be able to cut down humans for the first time in a long while. I should assemble those who are on standby and adjust the plan.

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