“That aside, Dowd.”

After hearing the shocking announcement that Sullivan had become the advisor for the Exorcism Club…

Her Imperial Majesty the Empress’ mood worsened rapidly, but of course, Sullivan didn’t care about it and just continued on.

“U-Uh… You know…”

…For some reason, she was twisting her waist around, though. What the hell was she doing?

The slight blush in her face and the way she repeatedly tried to clear her throat… I could take it as she was feeling embarrassed.

Her Imperial Majesty the Empress made a face as if she had just seen a gruesome dead body of a cockroach that had imploded to death though…

“...That bet you are doing, you know, about how the members of the club can challenge you to a match…”

“Uh, yeah…?”

“Now that I’ve become the club’s advisor…”

“Uh-huh…?”

As I replied to her anxiously, Sullivan continued while trying to read my expression.

“...Can I join?”

“...”

“If I win, I want to have you all to my—”

“As if! Have some conscience—!”

Before I could say anything, an objection that was like a scream echoed inside the room.

Cecil and Sulli.

In other words, Her Imperial Majesty the Empress and the Chancellor.

I knew that they were on bad terms, just like oil and water, but the atmosphere between them at the moment was beyond even that.

But, even though they seemed like they could eat each other alive if left to their own devices, these two had a little more insidious relationship where they would mock each other with a smile on their faces.

“...That’s a big talk for someone who was ready to manipulate the match in your favor, Your Imperial Majesty.”

“...”

“Actually, why don’t I become the judge for the match instead?”

“...I don’t think that’s appropriate.”

Her Imperial Majesty retorted with a smile.

But even she couldn’t hide the corner of her lips that were twitching subtly.

“After all, how could we let a woman who doesn’t know her place like you—who, even though she’s already so old, yet she still lusts over a younger man, be in charge of something so important? I know of your thief-like mindset, but I didn’t expect you to be so shameless.”

After hearing that, Sullivan’s forehead furrowed hard. She was still smiling though.

“Oh my, despite my age, I still think I’ll live longer than a certain someone who doesn’t know her place and has no conscience whatsoever. You know, the woman who’s still trying to latch onto a man in his prime with a body that won’t last for long. Also, in regard to the time I can spend by his side, I’ll definitely win against you. And it won’t even be close.”

“...Are you done?”

…Correction.

These two had a relationship where they’d pour out toxic words on each other while smiling.

After that, a fierce exchange of words ensued between the two of them.

“You clingy bitch—!”

“Are you really proud of all the fat inside your body, you old ass hag—”

“...”

Even though this was supposed to be a conversation between two stateswomen who practically ruled the Empire, all the grace, semblance of intelligence and even human’s dignity were thrown away into the gutter.

Listening to them drained my energy as well, so I decided to just close my eyes and let their conversation go in one ear and out the other.

I’m a tree… I’m a wind… I’m a lake…

“...You damn brat…”

“...How could you still have such a disgusting mindset at that age…”

After a while, they seemed to have poured all emotions they had to let out as at this point, they were only glaring at each other while breathing heavily.

And while they were doing that, I just calmly drank my tea with a detached expression.

Well, now that both of them seemed to have calmed down, I guess I could speak out now.

Actually, whatever was going on in this room, it really didn’t matter.

Because there was one thing that took precedence over everything else.

“...By the way.”

I called out to both of them. Almost instantly, they fixed their gazes on me.

“Who’s running the Empire at the moment…?”

Both the Empress and Chancellor were here, so who the hell was in charge of the country’s administrative work?

Also, was it okay for people of their level to pull off such ridiculous antics just because of me?

My question was filled with these kinds of implications—which they should be able to tell—but they only shrugged it off.

“Radu is doing his best.”

“I just assigned a substitute to do my work.”

“...But, isn’t something like that is only used in an emergency—”

Before I could finish my words, I ended up clenching my mouth shut.

Because these two glared at me, as if saying ‘This IS an emergency situation’.

“...”

What the fuck did they think my club was? Why did they even do this…?

I just established it because of the school regulations…

[Dowd, think about it.]

What?

[You can actually make these two, who are bound to be political enemies until the end of times, to get along if you were to use your lower—]

Before he could finish, I took the Soul Linker off my arm.

This fucker was totally enjoying this situation. He had been going on and on about that bullshit for a while now.

Meanwhile, Chancellor Sullivan let out a bitter smile as she brought up a topic I couldn’t just dismiss.

“The problem is that there’s someone who’s very happy if both of us are out of the office.”

Hearing her words, the Empress’ expression also turned stiff.

“...Are you talking about the Upper Nobles Association?”

“No. While Marquis Bogut is a troublesome person to deal with, he won’t cross the line. The problem is…”

For a moment, her gaze shone meaningfully.

“The other bastard, his substitute.”

Indeed…

“...Count Nicholas, the number two person in the Upper Nobles Association. I believe Your Imperial Majesty heard of his name as well.”

“Count Nicholas?”

There was a slight frown on the Empress’ face.

It seemed like just by hearing his name was enough to displease her.

“In regard to his ability, there’s actually no problem at all. He’s a competent man.”

After studying the Empress’ expression, Sullivan also seemed unable to hide her bitter smile.

“...The problem here is his reputation.”

Her Imperial Majesty the Empress let out a sigh while taking out her pipe—which I had seen before—from her inner chest pocket.

I hadn’t seen her using it often whenever she was around me, but it seemed like talking about that guy made her feel the need to smoke.

“Slaughterer.”

She said such a word as if spitting it out.

“There is a rumor that he had a hand in the ‘eradications’ of the Cardinal Humans in the Empire. They said that he acted as if he had a sense of duty to kill them all.”

“...”

“Right, there are a few Cardinal Humans around you. I guess this isn’t a pleasant thing to hear.”

I narrowed my eyes at that.

How did she know?

I thought Seras and Victoria managed to perfectly hide the fact that they’re Cardinal Humans?

After seeing my expression, for some reason, Her Imperial Majesty tilted her head instead.

As if it would be weird if she didn’t know that.

“I’ve heard various stories about the Grand Assassin of the Holy Land… While her younger sister… Well, she revealed her identity right in front of me, no?”

“...”

Wait, did that mean…

When I made Seras acting cute like a dog in front of Professor Walter…

Also, come to think of it, I wronged her so greatly back then…

As I was busy with my thoughts, Her Imperial Majesty suddenly said something that I couldn’t just ignore.

“Also, her younger sister… I believe her name was Victoria…? She seems to be related to Marquis Bogut through a contract.”

“...I’m sorry, what?”

That didn’t make any sense whatsoever, though…

…Why would she even work with that guy…?

While it might be Count Nicholas who committed all those atrocious deeds, Marquis Bogut was undoubtedly the same kind of person as him.

Unlike Seras—who belonged to the Holy Land—Victoria was pretty much a freelancer who’d accept any commission, but there was no way that she’d accepted the contract without knowing that fact.

“...There is a big possibility that their goals are aligned, although I don’t know what they are exactly.”

It seemed like Her Imperial Majesty was questioning the same thing as I did. There was a bitter smile on her face as she said that.

“In any case, the problem is that Marquis Bogut is going to come here for Elfante’s School Festival. Which means, for a moment, Count Nicholas would be the person with the highest authority.”

Her Imperial Majesty continued with a serious expression.

“...And he is the type of person who’d set up a disgusting plot in such a moment. He is extremely good at walking a fine line, after all.”

“...”

I could tell what she was trying to say.

Since he was someone who was so obsessed with killing the Cardinal Humans…

He would eventually cross paths with me.

The moment he got the information about the two Cardinal Humans around me, he’d definitely set his eyes on me.

“He used to act as the hunting dog of the Upper Nobles Association. Once he sniffs you out, he’ll come to bite you to death. That’s why, please try your best to avoid catching his attention while we’re away from the office.”

“...In the first place…”

I continued with a sigh.

“If you know that such a person would stir up such trouble, why did you even come here?”

“...Do you really not know why?”

Hearing my words, Sullivan looked at me strangely.

“Her Imperial Majesty and I aren’t stupid. We didn’t come all the way here and assigned our substitutes to do our work just because you made a club.”

“...”

“...I’m serious. Um, that is part of the reason, but it’s not the entire reason!”

After facing my doubtful gaze, Sullivan cleared her throat before replying.

I guess it was safe to assume that me establishing a club was half of the reason why they were here. Anyway…

Sullivan continued her explanation.

“...Even after putting your ‘Devil-related power’ that could even draw the Magic Tower’s attention aside, you’re still in an important position, Dowd.”

“An important position…? Me…?”

“People with good eyes and ears are everywhere. Just look around you. Elfante has tried so hard to suppress all the information about you, but you’re already quite popular.”

“...”

She had a point.

They really did try to suppress most of the incidents I was involved with, but due to the scale of them, it was simply impossible to cover up everything.

“You are someone who’s acquaintanced with the Tribal Alliance’s Chieftain, the only outsider who had entered the Imperial Palace, someone who could hang out in Tristan Duchy as if you’re at home, the best friend of the current Hero and someone who’s able to maintain friendship with most Devil’s Vessels—the most dangerous beings in the continent.”

Sullivan listed those things one by one before letting out a deep sigh.

“Just think about it, such a person is creating a ‘force’ by gathering all his acquaintances. It’s hard to consider your club as a simple club at this point.”

“What does that even—”

“I don’t know if you’re aware of it or not, but each of the people you are gathering in your club is able to start a war of conquest against some small nations. There’s even a high chance that they’d win against them.”

Hearing her words, I suddenly felt suffocated.

I understood what she was trying to imply.

“...Such people are ‘grouping up’ together, even if it’s not your intention to, there bound to be people who’d misunderstand you.”

“...”

“You’re creating a new party, Dowd Campbell’s party, a party that is more than likely to shake the ‘continent’ itself. There are plenty of people who have already started to make that kind of connection, you know?”

…Was that why there was such a huge crowd when we started the club’s application?

I thought it was because of Iliya’s and my popularity…

“Not only that, your party has met enough conditions for all those people to think that you’re going to take the ‘next step’.”

Sullivan continued while spinning a pen in her hand.

“To become a ‘King’. You have the perfect environment for it, as long as you could meet the rest of the conditions.”

“...”

At that, my head went blank.

“Two Major Nobles with the highest authority in the Empire are sponsoring you. Not only that, it’s already an open secret that you have a close relationship with the Tristan Duchal House since everyone had seen you dance with Lady Tristan at the Social Gathering back at the Imperial Palace.”

“...”

“You only need to get married with Lady Tristan to gain ‘authority’, now, combine that with the ‘capable personnels’ you’ve gathered, it doesn’t take a genius to tell that you’ll have enough power to become independent and create a whole new ‘principality’.”

“...Those busybodies and opportunists who consider themselves smart would think that you’d definitely do it. Since that’s the only thing they could see from the outside after considering the power level of your force.”

As I stayed silent, unable to say anything, Her Majesty the Empress expressed her agreement with a snort.

“But, you need to keep this in mind…”

Sullivan opened her mouth again, there was a slight frown on her brows this time.

“While there are many who are trying to build connections with you, there are also many who’d be wary of you in the Empire.”

“...”

“Of course it isn’t your fault for gathering such people and establishing a club on your own, only crazy idiots would think that, but… It still won’t change the fact that there are a lot of things going on…”

Sullivan swept her hair before continuing.

“The Upper Nobles Association, Her Imperial Majesty’s subordinates, the nobles on my side… There’s a strong friction among us, that’s for sure, but you see, we could at least coexist with each other before all this. And now, the hostility among us is slowly resurfacing. I’m not blaming you, but, your existence is like a hot potato that accidentally lit up a fuse…”

“...”

“...While her Imperial Majesty probably came here half jokingly, I came here for a good reason. We don’t know who would try to play tricks on you and how they’d do it.”

But, the number one person you need to look out for is definitely Count Nicholas.

She added as such, but by that point, I was already in a daze.

As I kept listening to her, I finally understood…

< System Log >

[ How the upcoming Main Quest - Chapter 5, ‘The Empire’s Great Turmoil’ will progress depends on how you run the Club! ]

…I finally knew the reason why such a message popped up before my eyes.

…Caliban.

[I'm all ears.]

Caliban replied in a rather unfriendly tone, but I still continued in a daze.

…They tried to tone it down by a lot, but…

[Mhm?]

They…

I continued with a dumbfounded tone.

…They are trying to say that a war could happen just because I established the club?

[Mhm.]

Because some fucker misunderstood my intentions?

[That sounds about right.]

...

Seriously?

Fuck.