Demon King of the Royal Class

Chapter 364

Owen de Getmora greeted me briefly before apologizing that he had business to attend to. He headed towards the main house, and I quietly watched his retreating figure.

Since he was guildmaster of the Merchant’s Guild, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him anywhere. He would always be on the hunt for profitable ventures, and the wealthy Granz family would certainly be of interest to him.

Until recently, I would have left it as that. Now, though, I knew he was connected to the Revolutionary Forces.

Owen de Getmora was someone who could go anywhere. He could visit the Granz family mansion for business, or for any other reason.

Moreover, there was no reason for Duke Granz to be interested in a revolution. The thought that Duke Granz might be involved with the Revolutionary Forces seemed like a stretch.

However, there were notable instances in history in which wealthy individuals had poured everything into such causes. I hadn’t described what kind of person Duke Granz was in the original story, so I had no idea how he thought or what kind of character he had.

My head felt like it was going to explode.

If Duke Granz were a key figure in the Revolutionary Forces, then what? From the perspective of the Demon Prince, it wouldn’t matter, since we would eventually be allies.

However, after the Gate Incident was resolved, if the Anti-Empire Alliance still existed, which side would I choose?

I used to think it was absurd to worry about cleaning up before the main course had even been prepared.

If I decided to dismantle the Anti-Empire Alliance to sustain the empire, the result would be a massacre. If I chose to support the Anti-Empire Alliance’s rise against the empire, it would lead to war.

Clatter!

From behind, I heard the sound of a window in the annex opening.

—Hey! Aren’t you coming in?

It was Riana, sparks of electricity crackling about her forehead as if threatening to zap me if I didn’t hurry.

It couldn’t be. Duke Granz wouldn’t be involved. There was no reason for him to be.

Duke Granz, who had been born with everything and would likely continue to live a life of luxury, had no reason to risk it all on such a reckless venture.

But if not, then what?

Whether the Gate Incident was resolved or not, the moment the Anti-Empire Alliance was formed guaranteed the fact that countless people would lose their lives.

I had just realized another truth: no matter whether I sided with the empire or against it, my decision would lead to the deaths of many.

“Stop standing there in a daze and come in already!”

Zap! Zap!

“Okay, coming!” I replied.

Riana de Granz was living her life without a care in the world, doing whatever she wanted. It would be nice if she could continue living such a naive existence forever.

***

Rianna had no idea what was worrying me. In the end, discussions about where to go during the rest of the winter break were tossed around, but responses were lukewarm.

“I’m planning to train. I rested too much after visiting my hometown,” Ellen said.

Even though Ellen hadn’t participated in the tournament, her desire to become stronger was greater than ever. She seemed to believe she needed to use her time wisely, as the moment might come when she’d have to lead the charge in the fight against the Demon King.

At the moment, Sabioleen Tana, the continent’s strongest swordsman, was residing in the Royal Class dormitory, though no one knew for how long.

Ludwig was constantly pestering Sabioleen Tana to teach him various things, but Ellen hadn’t been able to train with Tana because of her preparations for Miss Temple and then her visit to her hometown. She was understandably eager to train.

“Uh... I think the Magic Research Club is finally getting somewhere...” Adelia mumbled, reluctant to take a week off when the completion of the Power Cartridge seemed within reach.

Harriet, too, was busy with her dimensional magic research, and was feeling immense time pressure.

“Thanks for everything today, but I’ll be busy too,” I said.

Even if I couldn’t explain exactly what it was, I could always use personal training as an excuse, like Ellen.

In the end, everyone except Cliffman found it difficult to commit to a trip.

“Why is everyone... living so diligently...?” Riana murmured, her eyes unfocused.

I chuckled. “You seem to forget that, as Royal Class students receiving the empire’s full support, this is how we’re supposed to live, isn’t it?”

“Wow... hearing that from you... really... really makes me feel awful...” Riana muttered, still in a daze.

The students in the room were the best of the best. It would be strange if they weren’t like this.

‘While you might get away with playing around because your supernatural power output increases effortlessly, everyone else has to put in effort!’

“...”

Riana looked at Cliffman helplessly, as if to say, “What about you?”

Cliffman, despite his natural talent, still needed to train, since he hadn’t yet mastered Mana Reinforcement.

However, Riana had been rejected by everyone. If even Cliffman rejected her, she might lose her spirit.

“U-Umm... I, I... I...” Cliffman stammered, his face turning red. Clearly, if he agreed to go with her, it would be just the two of them going.

Riana stared at Cliffman for a while and finally hung her head.

“Fine... you guys win... you all go and live diligently... let’s see how well you guys do...” Riana muttered as if her spirit had left her.

Seeing her friends living overly-diligent lives had broken her spirit.

***

As evening approached at the Granz mansion, though, Riana’s lost spirit began to return.

“Hehe.”

It was because the time for a hearty drink was approaching.

‘Is it okay for her to like alcohol this much at her age?’

Whether or not Duke Granz was involved with the Revolutionary Forces, it seemed like he had already failed in raising his child.

“M-Miss... there are guests here...”

“Oh, it’s fine. Go on and rest. Go rest. It’s fine.”

‘That’s probably not what they meant, was it?’

It was clear that the servants who were being shooed away knew exactly what was about to happen.

With plenty of money and no worries about the future, she was living the epitome of a carefree life.

“Is this really okay...?”

“Seriously...”

Harriet and Adelia, who knew what Riana was planning, looked anxious and restless.

In the Edina Archipelago villa, most of the people there had been servants. However, Duke Granz was residing within the main wing of the mansion. Wasn’t it rude to have a drinking party without even greeting him?

‘It’s not just my Confucian upbringing; this really is strange!’

Everyone except Ellen seemed to share the same thought, which was proof enough.

Riana pushed the servants out one by one, and the annex was emptied according to her plan.

“Hehe, shall we get started then?”

‘I can’t forgive you diligent ones,’ her expression said. Riana was just about to open the liquor cabinet when...

Bang!

“Riana! Why haven’t you introduced your friends?”

“D-Dad?!”

A robust man with a cheerful demeanor burst through the door to the annex, laughing heartily. Riana, clearly flustered, finally snapped, her eyes blazing.

“Argh! I told you not to come to the annex because I’m hanging out with my friends!”

‘Oh. What is this familiar feeling?’

“Well, if you’ve brought your friends home, you should introduce them! Do you know how long I’ve been waiting?”

“Ugh, you’ve already met these two last time! Why do you need to see them again?”

Thinking back, Riana had brought Cliffman and Ellen to the Granz mansion during their preparations for the Miss Temple and Mister Temple contests. Ellen and Cliffman, having met Duke Granz before, nodded politely in greeting.

“Hello.”

“G-Greetings, Duke.”

“Ah, yes, Ellen, still as cute as ever. Cliffman! Haha. You seem to have gained more muscle. Yes, hmm. But I see there are some new faces here.”

As Harriet, Adelia, and I stood up to introduce ourselves, Riana placed her palms against Duke Granz’s chest and tried to push him out.

“This is Reinhart, this is Adelia, and this is Harriet. Okay? Now get out! Hurry up and leave!”

“Oh my, she’s pushing her father away. Did I say I was going to scold you? I just want to chat. Hmm? Just a little chat.”

“I don’t care, get out!”

What was this? It felt like a teenage daughter yelling at her dad for entering her room. Their relationship seemed different from the one between Harriet and Grand Duke Saint-Ouen. At least Grand Duke Saint-Ouen pretended to be stern, even though he was a doting father. Duke Granz seemed a bit more carefree.

“Oh dear, you must have a hard time with my daughter’s temper, kids.”

“Stop saying weird things and get out!”

Duke Granz seemed less like a doting father and more like someone who enjoyed seeing his daughter flustered. Given Riana’s exasperated expression, he was clearly that type.

“Get out! Out, out, out, out, out!”

“Alright, alright, I’m going.”

In the end, Duke Granz was pushed out of the annex by his daughter.

Bang! Clang! Clang!

“Phew,” Riana sighed. “Seriously.”

After slamming the door shut, Riana locked it to keep him from coming back in.

“I told him not to come, so what’s his deal?” Riana huffed, unabashedly displaying her rebellious side.

Clang!

The sound of the lock turning was followed by the door opening again.

“I guess my daughter didn’t know about this?”

He jingled a large ring of keys in his hand.

This father-daughter relationship was chaotic.

“Do you think locking the door in my house will keep me out?”

Duke Granz laughed as he re-entered the annex, the keys still jingling in his hand.

“Oh, seriously!”

Zzap!

Electricity began to crackle around Riana’s hair. She was genuinely angry.

“Oh dear, I was just playing around, but now my daughter wants to roast her own father. They say raising a daughter is a thankless affair. Tsk, tsk.”

“Get out!”

“Alright! I’m going! I’m going!”

Clunk!

Duke Granz, perhaps believing that Riana might actually shoot lightning at him, finally left the annex for real.

—Don’t drink too much, kids!

He called from beyond the door, still trying to provoke a reaction.

After the storm had passed, Riana stomped her foot in frustration.

“This is exactly why I didn’t want to introduce him!” Riana huffed, clearly upset. Although his entrance and exit had only taken a few minutes, Duke Granz had overwhelmed all of us and made a strong impression.

“How should I put it... he’s quite something...” Harriet murmured, her mouth agape.

Ellen, having seen this spectacle a few times, sipped her tea calmly and said, “He’s a good person.”

It was the first time Ellen had spoken about someone like that, leaving us all speechless.

Riana glared at her. “What? What’s so good about that thing?”

“Hmm. I don’t know if your father is a scoundrel, but by my standards, you definitely seem like a brat,” I said, crossing my arms and looking at Riana.

‘Calling him a “thing”? You called one of your parents “that thing”?!’

“Do you want to die?”

Zap!

“No. Anyone can see that you’re the complete brat here,” I concluded calmly, and everyone nodded slightly, unable to disagree.

“That might be a bit much...” Adelia said.

“Having seen this... I think I was a bit too harsh on my dad...” Harriet said in a bout of self-reflection.

Even Cliffman chimed in. “Yeah, t-that was kind of...”

Ellen and Cliffman had clearly seen this before, and had to have witnessed more of Riana’s antics.

“Do you really want to die?”

“No, it’s just... I’m not wrong, am I...?” said Cliffman, surprisingly speaking his mind.

“Do you all really think that...?”

‘Typical brat characteristics: never listens to their parents, but listens to their friends.’

Even Cliffman, who would agree with Riana even if she said the sky was yellow, nodded in agreement, leaving Riana stunned, the crackling of electricity slowly fading away.

“Am I... am I really a brat...?”

Riana, in typical brat fashion, had roundly ignored her father but found enlightenment in her friends’ words.

***

In the end, Duke Granz had managed to dispel the last of our lingering unease, even if Riana remained unaffected.

He had clearly told us to drink in moderation. Telling us to drink in moderation was essentially giving us permission to drink. It was his way of saying we could enjoy ourselves without worrying about his presence, so even though he enjoyed seeing his daughter flustered, he wasn’t being unreasonable.

Riana and I drank whiskey, while the others had sweet wine, just like last time. Our conversations weren’t particularly profound. The main topic centered around the new students who would be joining the next year.

“I hope there aren’t any like you,” Harriet said to me, echoing what Riana had said earlier.

“Do you think people like me are common? It’s a talent, you know,” I replied.

“Wow... you actually know you’re exceptional in that area?”

“I’m surprisingly self-aware.”

“Knowing isn’t enough; shouldn’t you decide to change?”

“Isn’t it time you realized I’m not the kind of person who changes, you thick-skull?”

“Talking to you just makes me angry... and stop calling me that!”

“Aren’t you used to it by now? Wouldn’t you feel weird if I didn’t call you a thick-skull?”

“Aaagh! No, I wouldn’t feel weird! I wouldn’t!”

“Alright, Harriet.”

“... What?”

“You felt a bit awkward just now, didn’t you? Huh? It felt strange when I called you by your name, right? Doesn’t ‘Thick-Skull’’ sound more comfortable? Doesn’t it?”

“Aaaaaah! Stop it! You’re such a jerk! Why do you do this to me?!”

Successfully getting under Harriet’s skin after a long time filled me with immense satisfaction.

“Ugh... I’m getting dizzy... it’s because of him...”

“Lie down for a bit.”

“Okay...”

The alcohol seemed to get to her after she got worked up, so Harriet laid down on the sofa and eventually fell asleep without realizing it.

Adelia, tipsy and giggling, hugged Harriet like a pillow and dozed off.

“I’m sleepy,” Ellen said, sipping her wine with a sober expression, then lay her head on Riana’s thigh. She’d probably fall asleep soon as well.

The only ones still fully conscious were Riana, Cliffman, and me. Surprisingly, Cliffman didn’t seem drunk at all. I thought he might have a high tolerance, but it turned out he hadn’t been drinking at all. Perhaps he was afraid of what he might do if he got drunk.

“Ugh, what did I do that was so wrong...” Riana muttered. She seemed to be seriously pondering whether or not she was a brat, and seemed to conclude that she wasn’t at fault. She didn’t seem drunk, but she was definitely tipsy.

I hadn’t drunk much, but not for the same reasons as Cliffman.

“Hey, you,” I called out to Riana.

“I’m not a brat,” she blurted out reflexively, as if expecting a scolding.

“I didn’t say anything.”

Riana was indeed a brat. Of course, that wasn’t what I intended to discuss.

Owen de Getmora was a member of the Revolutionary Forces. I couldn’t suspect Duke Granz of being part of the Revolutionary Forces just because he had visited the Granz mansion. However, it was still a possibility. Though it was just a possibility, the truth could be uncovered by asking a very important question.

“Did your father... also attend the Temple?” I asked.

“The Temple? Well, of course,” Riana replied, taking a sip of whiskey.

My heart raced wildly.

Riana continued, “I think he graduated from the Orbis Class.”

‘Damn it.’