Maou no Ki Chapter 7

7: A Great Noble Has Taken An Interest In Me

TLC: Cryarc

There’s royalty in Class E1.

eye. After school, the classroom was thrown into chaos. Factionless students who

yet, visited Class E1

It appears that a lot of students surround Claudia every day.
「As expected, it’s impossible to hide your social status」

Theresa looked at the situation in which the students gathered around Claudia.

backers, even at this late hour. They’re a bunch of people who couldn’t announce

Theresa failed to notice this. On the other hand, competent but factionless people

「It’s amazing, right?」

「Are you curious about why I made it public？」

there in the academy, as if letting the people around hear it. If the rumour is spread

When they realized that the rumour is true, the entire academy is wrapped in

「If I did that, they won’t approach me, right?」

「I expected something like that.」

you’re fine with that?」

Otto became bewildered when the topic suddenly changed. Kamui words were just

hardly had any chances to converse with him.

right?」

a whole, the percentage coming from the transactions with the imperial court is

「Is that so? I thought the imperial family would spend more money」

Kamui thought that the imperial family has the image of living in every possible

「Well, they do use money. It’s just that unless it’s a large amount of money, our

「Then, in business terms, it’s something like a bribe, right?」

「Though nobody was ever actually prosecuted for bribing.」

receiving end」

who receive the greater amount of bribes. This is because they aim for the practical

imperial family.
「The world is over, huh」

「It’s still a considerably long way from the end of the world though.」

can follow up with a harsh remark like that」

「……As expected, a merchant’s intel is fast huh. When will that be? 」

information, he is still a little surprised that Otto – who is still a student – also knows

「It’

s right after new year’s. But Kamuikun’s

this. Only the merchants are subjected to this tax increase」

Kamui knew of the grevious financial situation of Viscount Kreutz’s house very
clearly.

「I mean, we have nothing to do with the tax decided by the empire」

be. Still, it doesn’t mean that it’s irrelevant to her, either.

「Yeah, that’s right. Thinking about it like that, it’s a good thing huh.」

Otto lightly complained to Kamui and Selene, who were showing relieved

「It looks like that to me but, is it really that bad？ Ottokun

large right？」

the tax rate will be in proportion with the property」

Various money of that kind will be flowing around, right?」

Merchants won’t quietly watch things develop to their disadvantage. They will use

「Obviously, I think there will be considerable amounts of ‘that’ flowing around.」

「Should I be answering that?」

Kamui knew very well that Otto hates explaining when things become bothersome.

「I didn’t mean it that way you know. The reason why ‘that’ failed to flow was

accept ‘that’.」
「Someone like that exists?」

Officials who refuse bribes. Even that should be the obvious case, such officials are

accept it.

guys should’ve known about this. A while ago, a newcomer was promoted into the

a rather excellent person you know」

「Well, that’s probably right」

That person is not even royalty, but capable of ignoring a prominent merchant’s

that Kamui is most interested in.

called off, then perhaps it’s a fact, huh.」

「This is getting interesting. That official is quite a mysterious person, huh?」

what that official was doing before this.」

Since the crown prince recommended that person, it’s possible that they have

prince’s true nature.

trustworthy. Because, even if he’s a crown prince, for him to suddenly promote an

reputation will be tarnished if that person wasn’t excellent」

perhaps that official is an honest person?」

honest person. If that is so, there might still be a little hope for the next era.

「I’ve told you not to use those words, right?」

「It’s still uncertain whether that official is an honest person or not, you know.」

「Why？」

of people that will not accept ‘that’. First is the honest kind of person as Kamuikun

「They already have alliances. If that’s true, that official would be quite the

In a situation where the other party was already in an alliance, it would mean that

rights. It would be the start of political strife.

「Just like in Kamuikun’s

merchant house that is similar to mine」

beyond that? What do you think, Alto? 」

house. How will they do that is uncertain, but there will be considerable chaos,

「That’s right. Even my house has its roots quite far and wide across the empire,

The structure of distribution of goods in the empire is composed of this type of

that is stopped, there’s no doubt that the circulation of goods in the empire will fall

「Even if it’s compulsory, it’s not a thing we’d like to do. It’s beyond the authority of

「Nobles with merchants backing them.……It looks like a coup d’etat, huh」

「I’m not saying that the imperial family is planning a coup d’etat, duh.」

high, though. Weakening the noble and at the same time increasing his fellow

The subject of the talk between Kamui and Alto grew rapidly.

For the first time in the conversation, Otto failed to grasp the point.

Your generation might have it bad.」

「I mean your opponent is the crown prince you know. He is the future emperor.
Making an enemy of the the emperor is just too dangerous, right」

「Even you, Altokun……

「Good grief. You guys. Just how far can your imagination spread with just this kind

empire will fall into chaos, you know」

Unfortunately, her following remarks were quite dangerous.

as great merchants must have some connection with an earl’s house. It can be

Naturally, the compensation given to the earl’s house is also big. Trying to crush

the situation escalates into a confrontation between the imperial family and the

「Chaos, huh. Even so, this might be outside of their plans」
Unexpectedly, Alto showed a delighted expression after hearing Selene’s words.

「Why？」

「And they are？」

There’s no need to say who. It’s those who became the origin of the term of golden

「Indeed. Does Altokun

「I’ve been investigating various things, you know. Those guys – they’re not a

that will shine during chaotic times.」

Selene uttered those words that come to her mind, without even considering it.

「Oh, nice words, Selenesan

It seems that Alto was quite pleased with Selene’s remark.

Selene’s face suddenly changed to a serious one.

spreads all over the empire, the influence of the frontier territories, which occupies

side, aim for military achievements or even plot for independance.

much better than gradually letting the situation worsen as it is.

also has the disposition of shining during turbulent times, huh?

「I don’t have that kind of power, you know. Nevertheless, the chaotic era is what I

wish for. At the same time, I’m not the only one who’s wishing for it right？ 」

is a difficult woman. Who knew. However, I know a

After hearing what Alto said, all of their eyes naturally gathered at Kamui.

「It’s you, FOOL!」

「Hey you, stop being thickheaded. Rather than those guys, I think you’re the one

「I appreciate the concern, but that’s wrong. The one who lost his mind is someone

「……Who?」

「That person is superior in magic and sword, and has a nice personality. That

Impeccable. If it’s as Kamui says, there’s this kind of impeccable person in the

「It’s quite a rave review, isn’t it?」

「If I’m praising him this much, I thought I might get a reward, Diefriedsan

Saying those words, Kamui looked behind him.

At that place was the figure of Diefried, who was trying to getting closer to Kamui’s
back without being noticed.

「Since I’m not a blockhead that fails to notice people who are standing behind me.

「Shut up」

「My presence has been noticed huh, it seems that I’m still lacking in training」

「You’re wrong, to tell you the truth, I only noticed you due to Selene’s line of sight.

answer is clear」

「It comes to that, huh」
Kamui’s words, which were meant as a joke, was being used by Diefried.

「Because I failed last time. Thanks to a certain someone who’s standing happily

Diefried’s lightly pointed his chin toward Theresa.

failed, right?」

like me. Furthermore, choosing the wrong person to eavesdrop. As for that matter,

「Plan?」

you a treat」

「I wonder what will be good?」

Before even hearing Kamui’s acceptance, Diefried made as if they’ll eat together as

「Nah, it won’t matter if I don’t get a treat, you know.」

It’s meat, but it’s somehow so tender as if it melts in your mouth」

What came to Kamui’s mind when it comes to tender meat can only be at least

「Steak isn’t boiled, right? It can only be roasted. I can tell you that the condition of

like string」

「Since it’s fatty meat, it melts just by placing it on the tongue, and so it seems that
the whole meat feels soft and tender」

「And you will treat me to that?」

「……No, no, since I’ll be troubled if you asked for something strange after you’ve

Kamui was almost lured out by the steak but, he somehow managed to regain

「I won’t do such thing, you know. This is, well, it’s as an apology for this time」

Selene cut into their conversation timidly from Kamui’s side. Selene too has never

she heard Diefried’s description.

favourable to him.

「REALLY!? I’M IN!」

Selene’s interest.

「Isn’t it nice. There might be no second chance to eat something like that in a

「You glutton」

Before saying anything to Diefried, those two was started their own quarrel.

「Gourmet my ass. You were contentedly eating at the cheap food stall in the back

「Ah, I’ll report this to the General」

「Then, is Kamui saying that the dishes at General’s place isn’t delicious?」

Diefried didn’t have any chance at all to cut into the quarrel of Selene and Kamui.

「That’s just sophistry.」
「Geez, you’re so noisy. Anyway, let’s go. It’s steak, STEAK you know」

「Good grief, it can’t be helped then」

doing anything.

two quarreling like this from up close.

「Selenesan

「Yes?」

to.」

「If you want to capture the king, take his horse first. To persuade Kamuikun,
I was

thought that I had to start with Lutz and Alto. But it seems that Selenesan

option too. What’s the proverb for a case like this? ‘To persuade the husband, you

「WHO!」「ABSOLUTELY NOT!」

friendship with the wife, right.」

power.

Alto cut in at that moment. Furthermore, it was an approval to go to eat.

also feeling like going?」

uncomfortable with Diefriedsan
being here.」

The ones who Alto called “those guys” are the student in Claudia’s vicinity. They

Disregarding the house of the Earl of the West, but trying to get closer to Claudia,

Their anxiety is pointless. Diefreet had no interest in following anybody else, aside

「……That’s right. Shall we go」

「Come to think of it, he’s not here, is he？」

「Indeed. Then, let’s go」
Eventually, all the members of Kamui’s group was participating.

◇◇◇

schoolyard. Seeing it, Matthias unintentionally stopped walking.

Though Hildegard was walking in front of him, she noticed that Matthias stopped

「Look at that.」

of a building. The conspicuous silver haired male pupil walking in front is Kamui.

that Kamui.

Hildegard’s subject of interest isn’t Kamui, it’s Lutz.

「Are they joining Diefried?」

our invitation. It’s regrettable, but there’s no other way. This is Diefried’s victory」

「He’s originally Kamuikun’s

「I’m referring to Kamuikun.

follow someone as an underling」

accept if he can become part of the House of the Earl of the West. Even though

might have that kind of prejudice? 」
Hildegard’s evaluation for Kamui is low. That irritated Matthias in a way.

Judging from the appearance, Diefried is actively approaching Kamui. It can be said

Similiar to himself, Diefried noticed that there’s something else about Kamui. His

「It might be better for us to not underestimate that person called Kamui Kreutz」

Hildegard has the caliber to obediently lend her ears to the voices of her

daughter of house of the Earl of the East. If one must say, her shortcoming is the

That was why Kamui rejected Hildegard, but accepted Diefried to some degree.

wrongly. No, I think I can say that he’s deliberately aiming for that.」
「……What made you think so?」

It’s crazy theory but, since Matthias is the one who is saying it, Hildegard knew that

「First, it’s about Lutzkun.

didn’t show any kind of power which

surroundings. Don’t you think that it’s strange?」

「Indeed. There’s nothing to say that Kamuikun

same thing.」

elementary grade division?」

「In that case, you can’t say that his surroundings evaluated him wrongly 」

a fight without magic. Nobody has attempted to earnestly raise their actual physical
ability and polish their sword skills.

Therefore, it all came down to natural born talent – nobles who inherit blood which

compared to a commoner.

do you remember the match that resulted in his wound?」

「Yes. I saw it」

「It’s not as bad as they’ve said. That’s his level of evaluation」

magic at all? 」

people.

「……Under the assumption that he didn’t use magic, what do you mean?」

recall the match when he got injured. Since that’s the only time we ever saw his

「And so, what are you trying to say?」

can’t」

thought that it won’t be noticed unless he executes some level of movement. After

「Even so, it’s quite meaningless, isn’t it? Whether he intended to rely on magic or

「But, what if that condition is that he didn’t go all out yet? What if he actually can

If they assume that his current ability, without using magic, is on par with the other

students… that’s a monstrous ability.

increase?

Hildegard denied that assumption. That assumption surpassed Hildegard’s

「It’ll be good if that’s true」

Though she spoke of her denial for a moment, she still worried about it.

is giving advice, he was always thinking on her behalf.
「I’m unable to answer that. I can’t imagine his ability when he isn’t pretending」

「That’s natural, isn’t it. You can’t make a comparison with something that you can’t

「Even so, I understood something」

「He, if he and Lutzkun

will definitely lose」

Hildegard decided on this point. Kamui must be advancing forward with everything,

「If we go by what you said earlier, he’s not the type that will easily abide by

「It’s no good then……」

「Nope. Since I know it’s true, we still have time. It’s not like he’s already

」

I don’t mean that you must really solicit him, though. It’s plenty as long as he’s not

「Certainly. Depending on the situation, I’ll try to invite him for a talk with Hildegardsama

「Not just once, I’ll do it no matter how many times it’s needed. I have no intention

In a place where he’s not aware of, the competition for Kamui had begun.

In addition to Diefried and Hildegard, it is a fact that there’s another person with
strong interest in Kamui, though no one noticed that person at that point in time.

Chapter end