The Reincarnated Lizardman Wants a Hamburger

Finally, we have reached the grand finale of our journey.

The beginning of this entire journey was when we arrived at the Holy Kingdom and met the Archbishop, when we discovered the Ancient Ruins in Astram, or perhaps the day Mari and I, who had just started our adventure, shared a sandwich together.

It might have started when we picked up that notebook in the hut inside the deserted cave.

Our journey, which began like that, was now nearing its end.

The capital of the Spine Empire.

We had arrived at the imperial capital.

This was entirely unexpected luck, thanks to the invitation written by the Border Count. If it weren’t for that invitation, we might have been harassed by human supremacist nobles several times by now.

However, unlike the interference of a mere noble, the Emperor of a vast empire was not someone you could just meet by sending a message.

Meeting the Emperor of the Empire would require a lot of preparation and procedures.

And to stop the Empire’s plot to open the Dimensional Gate, simply meeting the Emperor wouldn’t be enough.

If it could be resolved through dialogue, that would be best, but the chances of that are slim.

Information gathering, politics, and conspiracies will intertwine, and in the worst-case scenario, we might end up opposing the entire Empire.

Even for me, turning the entire Empire into an enemy is absurd.

Judging by Lakia’s reaction, who knows the future through Prognostication, it seems we won’t reach that worst-case scenario…

Ultimately, it might sound like a reckless statement, but without knowing the Empire’s detailed situation, we can’t make specific plans right now.

We decided to find a place to stay as usual before formally meeting the Emperor.

“Wow. There are only fancy buildings around here.”

“This is the area where the wealthy and nobles reside in the Empire’s capital. It’s probably one of the wealthiest places on the continent.”

“Hmm. It’s strange, but are we really allowed to go to the Border Count’s mansion?”

As usual, we would have found a suitable inn near the bustling area, but…

This time, thanks to the Border Count’s favor, we decided to stay at his mansion near the imperial capital.

“But to have such a mansion in a place that’s not even his territory. Isn’t he actually incredibly rich?”

“That’s right. He didn’t seem like it, but he must be someone who loves luxury. You really can’t judge a book by its cover.”

“Well, a Border Count of the Empire must be incredibly wealthy.”

As we passed through the wealthy district in the carriage, the group marveled at the Border Count’s wealth.

The wealth built by imperialism is indeed impressive.

If that wealth wasn’t built by exploiting the powerless, I could have admired it purely.

Then Daria approached us as we were looking around.

“Hmm. That admiration is only half correct.”

“Half? What do you mean?”

“It’s true that the Border Count is wealthier than you think, but this mansion in the capital wasn’t originally his. The mansion we’re going to was originally owned by a different count.”

Mari, who had been marveling at the surroundings, turned her head with interest to look at Daria.

“But now it’s the Border Count’s mansion? Why?”

“Hmm… It’s related to the Border Count’s family history. I didn’t mention it in front of him, but the Border Count actually killed or imprisoned all his siblings before inheriting the title.”

“He killed all his siblings? Really?”

“Hmm. He didn’t seem like it, but he must be an incredibly cruel person. You really can’t judge a book by its cover.”

“Ah. I think I’ve heard of this.”

Perhaps because the topic Daria brought up was provocative.

The group, who had been admiring the wealthy district of the capital, all turned their heads to focus on Daria’s story.

“But it’s not that the Border Count is a cold-blooded killer who killed his siblings. The Border Count we met was far from a bloodthirsty person, right? That’s because his siblings tried to kill him first.”

“His siblings tried to kill him first? Why?”

“Ah…”

“Ha. So the Empire, which claims to be a nation of humans, by humans, for humans, is just like any other ordinary nation.”

While Mari expressed confusion at Daria’s words, Karina vaguely grasped the truth and trailed off, and Serena sneered cynically.

I also realized what had happened in the Border Count’s family from Daria’s words.

“It’s a chair-stealing situation.”

“Yes. That’s right. Like most nations, the Empire follows the principle of primogeniture. But like most nations, there were younger siblings who believed they were superior to the eldest and rebelled against that principle. They argued that the true strong should wear the crown of the Border Count and started a rebellion.”

“Survival of the fittest. A logic that suits imperialists.”

The incurable disease shared by all imperialists is the insatiable desire for greater wealth and power, even after exploiting the weak to gain sufficient wealth.

“Thus, the Border Count’s siblings joined hands with other nobles to eliminate the current Border Count, the eldest. In the process, most of the vassals who supported the current Border Count died, and the Border Count himself was almost killed by assassins sent by his siblings.”

“Judging by the fact that the current Border Count is fine, their rebellion must have failed.”

Those immersed in the logic of survival of the fittest only realize their incurable disease when it’s their turn to be devoured. That’s no different for humans or monsters.

“After overcoming the assassins’ threats and returning to his family, the Border Count annihilated his siblings who had betrayed the family and cruelly killed the vassals, as well as the noble families who supported those siblings from behind. The only sibling who escaped execution was the youngest, who was too young to join either the Border Count’s faction or the traitors’ faction. The mansion we’re invited to this time was the main house of one of the nobles who supported those siblings. It was probably the maternal family of the second son.”

“That’s quite a bloody mansion.”

“Listening to Daria’s story, I don’t feel like going to that mansion anymore. Should we just find a suitable inn and stay there as usual?”

“That’s difficult. We were invited to the capital as guests of the Border Count, so staying separately would be suspicious.”

“Ugh. What if the ghosts of the annihilated nobles come out?”

“Don’t worry about that. The rebellion happened over 20 years ago, so it’s just a normal mansion now.”

After hearing the story, Mari seemed completely disillusioned.

By the way, hearing about the Border Count’s family history made me realize that we know almost nothing about the Empire’s Emperor.

Since we don’t have much time left before meeting the real Emperor, it would be good to ask Daria about what kind of person the Emperor is.

“Speaking of which, Daria. What kind of person is the Empire’s Emperor?”

“Ah. Come to think of it, we haven’t talked about the Empire’s Emperor. This is a good opportunity to explain the Empire’s history…”

“Ah. We’ve arrived.”

Just as Daria was about to start the story, we arrived at our destination.

The Border Count’s villa we had been talking about.

We had arrived at the mansion of the annihilated noble.

We must have been too focused on the Border Count’s family history, as more time had passed than we thought.

“…It would be better to continue this conversation after we enter the mansion.”

“That’s right. It’s quite a long story.”

While we were having this conversation, an elf slave who seemed to be in charge of managing the mansion checked the Border Count’s invitation and let us into the mansion.

Or tried to let us in.

“Hey. Do you know where you’re trying to enter?”

“Ah! The ghost of the annihilated noble has appeared!”

“Ha! Who’s a ghost? Have you ever seen a ghost as handsome as me?”

Blocking our carriage, a middle-aged man in his late 30s with a ruffian-like appearance, wearing expensive clothes haphazardly, revealed himself.

“What’s this? These demi-humans. Did someone call a circus?”

He drank wine straight from the bottle, looking at us with a displeased expression, and on his left and right, several elf slaves kept their eyes downcast, serving him.

The only dissolute noble in the mansion full of slaves, including elves.

The fourth son of the Border Count’s family, who was said to have been imprisoned over 20 years ago.

That was our first meeting with Tirving Roman.

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