The banquet held inside the Palace of Glory passed in silence. It was natural. All attendees were heads of families. They had reputations to maintain, plus they were all older to begin with.
The majority were around fifty.
That made me laugh a little. I couldn't believe that I was the star of this banquet and was sitting here crying in misfortune for myself.
Eat eat.
I gobbled up the food with some annoyance. For someone who changed schools often, this was the type of environment that could trigger my post-traumatic stress disorder. Now I realized that I had just joined a new group with absolutely nothing to defend myself with. I felt like a monkey at the zoo.
Count Ferdehilt, Baron Serpia, Viscount Mülbark... Oh? Even Baron Martoin is there.
Some of the gentlemen looking at me from afar looked familiar, but not a single one approached me first. Gosh, and everyone asked me to be my friends at the other banquets. Count Ferdehilt had even asked me to marry his daughter.
Well, I can understand where they come from.
This was the animal kingdom, after all. Except here, brains ruled instead of muscles.
Masticar, masticar.
I may have been rummaging through this food pretending not to be the wisest, but I had a perfect understanding of the situation. It was a kind of hazing, a tacit warning not to even think about joining their ranks, since they were backed by thousands of years of history. However, there was a simple solution to this matter of being ignored. As the duke had advised me before, all I had to do was approach them and talk to them first. Then they would smile and treat me kindly, like someone inferior to them.
Ugh, don't these bastards ever get tired of all this?
For reference, who I talked to first would be a big deal. If I addressed the duke I met earlier, the nobles under the marquis, his rival, would begin to treat me as if I were invisible. Everything I did and said here would have political implications.
Masticar, masticar.
But I kept eating my food. There were three reasons for this. First, I was very hungry. Second, this meat was very, very good. And thirdly, he had no intention of joining his small cliques in the first place.
Finally arrived.
«I guess there's no point in waiting. Anyway, it's not like anyone else is coming». I looked at the woman approaching me and smiled to myself. He had pale hair, pale eyes, and pale skin. Aside from her unique and colorful outfit reminiscent of a hanbok, this woman was whiter than snow. Oh, and of course, it had bunny ears on the top of its head. «Nice to meet you, Baron Yandel. Is this food to your liking?»
«Do you want to try a little?»
When I grabbed a piece of meat and handed it to her, the woman stared at me blankly for a moment, before recovering and smiling. «No, I'm fine. I'm not hungry».
How picky. And we are both not human.
Grifo.
I thought it was enough to give him a clear idea of who I was, so I put the meat back on the plate and settled down to have a conversation. Then I licked my fingers. Suddenly, an intrusive thought struck me: would you shake my hand if I asked you? I couldn't be sure, but I wasn't going to try. I was a well-educated barbarian. At least when it benefited me to be one.
«Anyway, nice to meet you. I am Baron Yandel».
When I took the initiative to introduce myself first, the woman responded with a friendly smile. «Baroness Lirivia».
I already knew this information, of course. There was only one noble family from the White Rabbit Tribe.
He is forty-three years old. He has three children, I think.
«Can I sit down for a moment?»
«Of course. I was getting bored».
When I gave her permission, Baroness Lirivia, Baroness Rabbit, sat in front of me. Another person was sitting at the eight-seat table I was at for the first time. But no one applauded this monumental occasion. There was only sharp mockery.
«Tsk, of course».
«Well, there's no reason to stop the unborn from entertaining each other».
Since that was loud enough to reach my barbaric ears, this rabbit woman must have heard it too. But he didn't even flinch. The Baroness simply smiled as if she was used to this treatment and spoke in a low voice. «The founder of our family was a hero like you, Baron Yandel. During the Iron Wall Rebellion, he accomplished the great feat of stopping the sacrilegious duke. Have you heard this story?»
«No, I'm sorry. It's the first time I hear it».
«Haha, don't be sorry. It's natural. Today, it is an old story known only to those who have studied history...» The Baroness's voice became a little melancholic. «It was no less than two thousand years ago when the coat of arms of the Lirivia family was placed in the covenant box. It's been a long time. The era of a king considered immortal had come to an end, and a new dawn had arrived».
I thought I knew where I wanted to go.
«So, Baron Yandel, you will have to get used to it quickly. Not even time will change these people's minds».
«Oh yeah? How strange. To me, you don't seem that different from them».
Especially since you have the same flowery and cunning way of speaking.
«...You're as funny as the rumors say.»
Ha, funny? I haven't even started yet.
«Anyway, I don't think you're here to give me advice, am I right?»
«You are remarkable, as expected. You're right».
«Then tell me».
At my abruptness, the woman stopped for a moment. That's why I said I was no different from them. She may have had those ears on her head, but she attended this event on behalf of her family as a full-fledged noblewoman, someone who considered conversations outside the realm of property to be beneath her.
«I wouldn't say I'm not here to help. We don't want you to work for another faction».
«Because I am the first noblewoman of another race to join the court in six hundred years?».
The woman shuddered at my question, but immediately took a deep breath. Then he looked me straight in the eyes and changed his tone. «And more importantly, one of barbaric origin. The first in the history of Rafdonia». With that, I could see that this woman's perception of me as a naive barbarian had changed, unlike those noble humans watching us. «Just as Lirivia receives all the support of the beast people, you can lead the barbarians into politics».
«Is that the only reason?»
«Of course, I would have approached you either way. We need each and every ally we can get».
«Hmm, or veo ...»
«A total of thirty-one families including Lirivia are joining forces. Of course, we are still a minority in government, but it is enough to have a voice». While resting her chin on her hand, looking bored at her explanation, Baroness Rabbit kicked off the negotiations first. «I will not ask you to join us for a higher cause». Beggars can't choose, after all. «But if you join us, you will receive enormous support to establish yourself as a noble».
«I want you to explain that.»
«For example, the decades it would normally take you to buy land, build a farm, and hire servants to maintain it will be shortened to a few years».
Was this what it meant to be an aristocrat? It was already an amazing offer. Even if I accepted just this, I would earn more than my money by choosing the promotion option as a reward instead of cash.
«Of course, that's not all. We started this alliance to survive», he explained. «If you join us, our enemies will become your enemies. And your enemies will become ours».
That was the reason why I had waited for her to approach me instead of going to talk to the other nobles. Each person they managed to add to their alliance was invaluable, and they took care of each other accordingly.
«So what do you think?» He asked me for an answer.
I nodded. «Certainly... not a bad offer».
«You mean...»
«But it's not enough.»
Even if you look at me like that, nothing will change. It's clear that I can get more out of this, I can't be content with just that.
Baroness Rabbit's expression hardened upon hearing my response, although she soon returned to her original placidity. «Baron Yandel, I am discovering that you are an intelligent man. If there's anything you want, could you be frank and tell me?», she asked politely, refusing to give up.
Just with her question I realized how much this woman - and, by extension, Melbeth, the alliance of non-human nobles - wanted me. Of course, I also desperately wanted to join their group, but they didn't know it.
If you are going to sell something, do it at the highest price possible. That's the philosophy of a K-Barbarian.
«I'm going to continue entering the maze. I want support for that too».
«Can you give me an example of what you mean by support?»
«I want you to sponsor the clan I am going to create. High-ranking essences, precious Numerical Objects, things like that».
«...That won't be easy. Especially because it doesn't benefit us».
«Why not? You must know. This country begins and ends in the labyrinth».
«If what you mean is that you can get us influence within the maze, we already have many alternatives».
Tsk, playing hardcore, huh? Looks like it's time to take out the barbarian again.
"¡¿Por qué?! ⁇
«...Sorry?»
«You said you would buy me land and build me a house. This is cheaper than that!»
«Um... Baron Yandel? Please lower your voice...»
«Tell me why!» When I jumped out of my seat, all the nobles turned to look at us. It seemed like it was used to twist his arm.
«This is different from us supporting you as a noble. Becoming independent will help you later, when you dedicate yourself to politics. This is different», Baroness Rabbit was quick to explain. But did you realize that you were missing an answer? «But you never know... If you become indispensable to us... We will not consider any support we can offer you a waste».
«That! So now I'm useless to you?!»
«No, that's not what I meant!»
«Ha ha! I was just joking, Baroness Lirivia.»
«...Eh?» When I laughed and sat down again, the baroness stared into space.
Wow, it's like I can't joke with you.
«Simply put, it seems like you want me to prove myself. That I am useful in other ways, not just as the first barbarian baron».
Yes... ah, yes. Is that right?
«Then no problem. Because that's too easy for me».
The woman seemed confused by my confident response, and the nobles around us began to murmur at the turn our conversation had taken.
«I thought they were fighting... Now they're laughing again?».
«These mutts... They really are like beasts».
«Anyway, I wonder what Baroness Lirivia said to calm the barbarian's anger».
«Hmm, you never know. I heard that the barbarian likes beast women.»
«Excuse me? You mean...»
«Ahem, it's not outside the realm of possibility, is it?»
His whispers were raw even to a barbarian like me. Although she had been on the receiving end of endless teasing, it seemed that the Baroness had never heard this guy before, as her face turned red with embarrassment. The vision left an impression.
«...Baron Yandel.» Even in this situation, however, he seemed to be worried that it might cause a scene. «Just ignore them. You'll have to hear those things countless times if you plan to be active in politics in the future.»
"Because?"
«Because there is nothing to do». It was a sincere response that carried with it all the frustration of a helpless person. But the look on her face as she said it really made her look like a herbivore.
I chuckled. «You said you were used to it. But I guess you get angry too».
«Of course? The only thing I can do is endure their treatment while I dream of the day when I no longer have to feel this misery.»
«Dreaming, huh?» If dreams could come true just by having them, unhappiness would not exist. «How much would that be worth?»
«What do you mean?»
«I may not be able to fulfill your wish, but at least I can make those big-mouthed bastards disappear», I said. «So I ask, how much is that worth?».
It seemed that Baroness Rabbit didn't quite understand where she was going, because her response was weak. «I don't know. I think that for something like this I wouldn't regret losing my entire fortune». It was a very abstract and subjective answer, but it was enough for me.
«Okay then. The deal is over».
«¿Eh?»
«I have also done a little research on you. The reason people shit on all of you is because you let people shit on you all the time.»
«W-What do you mean!?»
What do you think? I mean what you need is an attack dog.
Deslick.
I got up from my seat, not giving him time to respond. «Behel-aaaaaah!» After attracting aggression with a war cry, I stomped away.
Step step.
«Baron Yandel!»
I ignored Baroness Rabbit's panicked screams.
Step step.
Within seconds, I stopped in front of the nobleman who was chattering about my supposed preference for beastwomen.
«What's happening? How noisy». Unfortunately, it seemed like this guy still hadn't realized the situation he was in, seeing how he looked at me like that.
«Baron Kypriot.» Although he didn't show up, I had no problem calling him by name. After deciding to take the noble route, I memorized all the shields of the noble families.
A baron of mediocre position. It will be a perfect example.
«You insulted me», declare.
»Insulted»? Is it because of what I said before? Ha! Ridiculous. Not only do I question whether you have the honor to insult in the first place, but even if you do, what are you going to do about it?
Jeez, pretending not to be scared, huh? He's obviously opening his mouth because he's scared.
«If you really can't control your anger, write to the committee. Ah, assuming you know how to write!» When he finished speaking, those next to him, who seemed to be his friends, began to laugh out loud.
Wow, these are third class bums. And who is the low-class one here?
«Now, if you have nothing more to say, I would like to ask you to move...»
Why wouldn't I have anything to say? I cut him. «I challenge you to a duel.»
Duels were the only means of conflict resolution in the aristocratic society of Rafdonia since ancient times. Of course, the number of times a titled nobleman had directly participated in a duel throughout the nation's long history was less than ten.
«Are you afraid?» I asked. «If you are, you can have a representative. Oh, of course, I'm going to represent myself in the fight».
«... Are you serious?»
«Why, do you want me to be joking?»
He didn't answer my question. It was obvious what the baron was thinking. Not only was it completely unprecedented, but it must have been insulting and intimidating. All he had done was act as usual and the others were doing the same, so he must have wondered why he was the only one they were addressing like this.
Now they should be understanding it.
A barbarian had just risen to the nobility. It was time to inject some tension into this overly lax aristocratic court.
Step.
I took another step forward and looked at him as he spoke. «Knight, adventurer, magician... it doesn't matter». The general rule was that mercenaries were not allowed as representatives for duels, but... «It doesn't have to be someone in your family. Bring anyone. The strongest guy you can get».
There was no response.
«What, you don't have confidence?»
Because I do. I'm sure I can kill anyone you put in front of me.