Mobuseka Volume 6 Chapter 1

This is MTL. So, I cannot guarantee that the translation 100% contextually accurate or appropriate.

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Chapter 01 "Unlaughable Garbage"

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Part 1

[——So that's how it is. It is true that Master had a dog, Noel, in the past and then rescued Noel Beltre. Also, although he is suspected of cheating, Master does not have that much guts. Please rest assured.]

The place is my house.

I was being interrogated by Ange and Livia, who had lost the lights from their eyes, and the one who helped me is —— Luxion.

I was interrogated by the two for an hour.

No matter how many excuses I made, this situation could not be reversed, and Luxion has stepped in.

Ange puts her hands on her hips and sighs.

"So we were also jumping to a wrong conclusion. Forgive us, Leon. We were wrong."

Livia hugs me.

"I'm sorry, Leon-san. You were never cheating on me. And yet I am the worst for doubting you."

I decided to accept their apologies with an open mind.

"It's okay, both of you. It's my fault that you suspected me. But not you two. I'll never forgive you."

The two guys at the end of my hard stare are Luxion and Creare.

They both turned their eyes away from me.

Luxion was in a yare-yare atmosphere.

[You are a narrow-minded Master for not forgiving those of us who made a follow-up.]

Creare looks somewhat amused.

[It's true! Master who acted suspiciously is also at fault! If we had not supported you, the misunderstanding would never have been cleared up. And yet, you say you'll never forgive us. It's unjustified resentment.]

Is that all you want to say, you traitors.

"Don't mess with me. If you guys had intended to help me from the beginning, neither Ange nor Livia would have suspected me in the first place!"

[From a third party's point of view, I don't think it can be helped that Master's actions could be suspected of cheating.]

Ange is convinced by Luxion's opinion.

"That's right. When one hears about robbing a bride at her wedding, one can't help but be suspect."

"No, it wasn't. That wasn't robbery. It was just stopping an unhappy wedding."

Ange, hearing my excuses, looked like she wanted to say something, but didn't have her usual vigor because of the guilt she felt for suspecting me of cheating on her.

"I sympathize with Noel. So I don't blame you for helping her. But what are you going to do now? Leon, do you have any idea what to do next?"

When it comes to the subject of how Noel will be treated, I scratch my cheek with my fingers.

I don't think too much about it, and it's not my decision to make in the first place.

"It's up to Noel to decide."

Ange didn't seem satisfied with my answer.

"If the story of the priestess of the sacred tree is true, we should bring her back at all costs."

Sacred Tree —— it is an existence that supplies energy to people.

Or should I say "clean free energy"?

This is an amazing plant that can solve energy problems.

And in my hands, I have a sapling that will grow into such a sacred tree.

Conveniently, the sapling even chose a priestess.

If we return to our homeland with it and bury the saplings of the sacred tree, the Kingdom of Horfalt will not suffer from energy problems in the future.

Given Ange's position, she had no choice but to ask me to take Noel home with me.

However, it is Livia who is not convinced of that.

"W-Wait a minute! What about Noel-san's wishes? Noel-san hasn't given an answer, right? She is not sure, is she?"

She says that Noel's will should be respected.

Ange and Livia's opinions were in direct conflict.

Ange persuades Livia with logical arguments.

"I'm sorry for Noel, but the energy problem will be solved in the future. Because this is not a personal problem anymore. Sure, Noel will have a constricted life ahead of her, but in the future, one of the kingdom's most important problems will be solved. ——Sorry, but I can't give Noel a choice."

I can understand Ange's desire to bring her home for sure.

It would be a blessing if we didn't have to suffer from energy problems.

But Livia was not convinced.

Even when presented with the benefits, she is emotionally opposed.

"No, you can't do that. It doesn't make Noel-san happy. Besides, Noel-san can choose whether to stay here or come to the Kingdom, right? You can't force her to come with you."

"It was my poor choice of words. Then I will give Noel the utmost consideration. If Noel wants, I'll even let her live a luxurious life."

"That's not it. It's not that! Ange, what's wrong? This is not like Ange. If it were the usual Ange, you would never choose to sacrifice Noel-san."

The two gradually heat up.

Ange is getting emotional, too.

"If the sacrifice of one person can save many people in the future, my opinion is that I would choose the many. I am not saying that I will make Noel unhappy."

Although Ange promised to give the utmost consideration, Livia was not convinced.

"Noel-san is not a tool!"

I guess she can't tolerate Ange looking at Noel as if she were a tool.

When this is pointed out to Ange, she becomes a bit flustered.

It seems that she was also aware of it.

"I guess it's true that I saw her as a tool. I would have even suspected this delicious deal if Leon hadn't brought it to my attention. ——But now that I know, I'll do whatever it takes to bring Noel back to the Kingdom. Leon, you're going to have to help me."

When Ange asked me to agree, Livia grabbed my arm.

She gives me a sad look.

D-Don't look at me like that.

"Leon-san, please stop Ange. This is wrong. Do you want to make Noel-san happy even to the point of treating her like a tool?"

"L-Let's see~"

As I let my gaze wander, Ange grabbed my other hand.

"Leon, you are now the Count of the Kingdom of Horfalt. You have a duty to protect your people. I know you don't want the responsibility, but I won't let you get away on this one."

Livia looking at individuals.

And Ange sees the whole picture.

Livia wishes for Noel's happiness, and Ange wishes for the happiness of many others at the expense of Noel.

——Wait, so I get to choose? Such an important thing!?

When I was in trouble, it was Luxion who offered me a helping hand.

[If Master accepts Noel, then the whole problem is solved.]

This AI really likes to add fuel to the fire.

"I hate it when you ignore the feelings."

[Oya? I don't want to be told by Master who turns away from Noel's feelings. If Master accepts Noel, Noel will be happy. And the Kingdom of Horfalt will be happy, too, having the sacred tree. Everything will end happily ever after.]

Where!? Is my happiness there?!

"Are you saying that everything will be fine if I accept it—A-Areh? Ange, what's wrong?"

Ange looked down and was thinking about various things.

When she slowly raised her head, she looked into my eyes.

"Regarding Luxion's suggestion, it's not bad. Leon —— accept Noel."

Livia shakes her head at Ange's words.

"Ange, why is that? You said you wouldn't allow Leon-san to have an affair that much?"

Ange turned her head away from Livia, who looked at her in disbelief.

"——Because it's worth it. Leon, you can leave me. So you accept Noel."

I saw Ange muttering to convince herself, and I decided to escape from this place.

"N-No."

"Leon?"

"I absolutely don't want it! I don't want to break up with Ange!"

As I ran out of the room screaming, I heard Livia's voice.

"Leon-san!?"

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Part 2

[Isn't it awful to leave the two of them in the room?]

I ran out of the house and Luxion and I headed towards Marie's mansion.

"Shut up. Then again, it doesn't change the fact that you betrayed me. A~ah, after all, AI is a dangerous existence that will betray humanity."

[I will not betray humanity. It doesn't cover new humans, though.]

Isn't that the same as saying you would betray us?

"This traitor"

[If you think it's for Noel's sake, you should keep her by your side.]

"What does that have to do with your betrayal?"

I don't want to go through that again, or have Ange and Livia suspect me of cheating on them.

Even so, this guy's movements this time are too suspicious.

Is he really planning to betray me?

"Let's get serious. ——Luxion, why did you create that situation? You even went to the trouble of getting Creare involved, didn't you?"

[You noticed? That's very perceptive, coming from Master.]

He's a sarcastic guy every time.

This time, I ignored it and prioritized the main topic.

"Don't make fun of me."

[Unfortunately, Noel will not have a peaceful future. Then we should choose a method that will benefit us while fulfilling her wishes.]

"We, huh"

[If Master accepts Noel, the Kingdom will have the sacred tree. It won't be as powerful as the Republic's sacred tree at the moment, but it will solve our energy problems in the future. That's a huge benefit.]

"The future should be handled by the people of the future. Tell the truth."

[It's the truth, though. More to the point, there is no such thing as freedom for Noel. If they know her value, not only the kingdom, but even other countries will move. Master, we cannot protect Noel without her by our side.]

Luxion lays out the reasons fluently, but they all sound like lies.

"It's not true, is it?"

[Do you still doubt? Then let me make it clear. If another country secures Noel, they will use any and all means at their disposal. And that is an ending that Master will regret. If it is only an unwanted marriage, it is still lucky. The worst case scenario is they brainwash her, and treat her like a tool.]

The saplings of the sacred tree and Noel, the priestess, are something that other countries would want with all their throats.

That's understandable, but to that extent?

"Can't the Republic protect Noel? She's their priestess."

[Oya? Do you still believe in the Republic after all the trouble it has caused you?]

Since I came to the Republic, I've been getting into trouble with the six great nobles.

Pierre has taken advantage of his position as one of the six great nobles to do as he pleases.

In order to get Noel, Loic tried to force her to marry him.

They were certainly a troublesome bunch.

I've been able to twist everything by brute force, but how will it move when I'm gone?

"It's terrible that even though you were chosen to be a priestess, you can't be happy. In a game, it would have been a happy ending."

I end up complaining.

In that otome game, Noel would have been happy if she had been chosen to be a priestess.

Be united with the man she loves, and then rebuild the house that has been destroyed——.

However, what about Noel now?

She got nothing, and she's not happy.

"Luxion, what went wrong?"

[That Noel is not as happy as in the story?]

"——Our. No, it's my fault?"

Maybe because we came to the Republic of Arzel, Noel was unable to be happy? I was worried about that.

[You are as self-conscious as ever. Are you implying that the Master has that much influence on the world? Do you think the world revolves around you?]

"Do you hate me? Don't you feel anything when you say those harsh words to me? I'm your master, right?"

[Master's heart is as hard as steel, so it's all right.]

"I have a glass heart! I am sensitive! You should be more careful!"

[You should look up the word "sensitive" in the dictionary. Apparently Master remembers the word sensitive in a different way.]

He's really annoying.

He has a foul mouth and betrays me.

The AI in the otome game world is too terrible!

When I arrived at Marie's mansion while arguing with Luxion, there was a commotion at the entrance.

"What's that?"

When I peeked in, there was Marie with her head in her hands.

I can also see Jilk looking troubled.

When Luxion checks the conversation, a surprising fact is revealed.

[Oya, it appears that Jilk has committed fraud. Based on the conversation, I'm guessing this happened when Marie kicked him out of the house.]

"Eh!?」

When I heard that Jilk had earned money through fraud, I was shocked and cried out.

Then, Marie, who was holding her head in her hands at the entrance, ran towards us.

"A-Anikiiii!!"

When I tried to catch Marie as she jumped into me crying, I received a strong impact on my abdomen from the momentum.

"Ofu!?"

I felt like I had been tackled by Marie, and I was on my knees, holding my stomach.

Marie hugs me and explains the situation to me in tears.

Y-You, apologize to me first.

"Jilk is——Jilk is!"

"What's up with the shady bastard?"

When I managed to get up, Jilk came too.

"Marie-san, please listen to me!"

Instantly, Marie's face changed into the expression of a demon.

"Listen to me, you said!! Do you know what you've done! Who told you that you have to make money even if you have to cause trouble for other people!"

Rubbing my stomach and listening to the story, I learned that Jilk apparently committed fraud when he was making money as an antique dealer.

"That is not true! I-I tried to do business seriously at first. But no one wanted to buy any of my selections —— I was going to give the people with no sense of judgment suitable products – A-And then the product sold like hotcakes."

"Youu bastaaaard!! That's called fraud!"

Marie grabbed Jilk's chest and rocked him back and forth violently.

I'd like to think it's my imagination that Jilk looks a bit happy as he is being rocked.

But the issue now is about Jilk's fraudulent practices.

"I've always thought this guy was un-funny garbage, but it turns out he's a real piece of garbage?"

Luxion also seems to have the lowest opinion of Jilk of the five idiots.

[In a past duel with Master, he set up a bomb on the machine. Compared to the others, this one is certainly the most garbage.]

The five idiots are all garbage, but the other four are still laughable garbage.

But only Jirk couldn't laugh.

Marie gasps for breath as she releases Jilk.

Marie fell to her knees and put her hands on the ground, crying.

And shout.

"How many —— How many people do I have to get down on my knees toooo?!"

Marie's crying voice echoed around the area.

Seeing Marie in tears, even I feel a little sorry for her.

"Why does this girl attract only useless men?"

When I asked Luxion, the answer I got back was harsh.

[Isn't it more than attracting the useless men, isn't she ruining them? Well, some of the five idiots were no good to begin with, so it's probably both.]

"You're merciless."

[Is that so?]

Then, the residents of the mansion rush out.

Julius came out, but he was wearing an apron and a twisted headband.

"Marie, what happened!"

He may have heard Marie crying and ran out, but it is a strange sight to see the former crown prince —— a prince was wearing an apron with a twisted headband.

When Julius held Marie in his arms, Marie was crying and laughing.

And Brad was the next to pop up.

He comes toward us, hugging his friends, Dove and Rabbit.

"What's going on? Areh? Why is Bartfalt here? Oh, I see. You must have missed me."

"It ain't gonna happen."

Immediately brushing off Brad's narcissistic remarks, the next person who came out was Chris, dressed in a loincloth and holding a deck brush.

"I heard Marie scream. What happened? Hmm? Bartfalt, why are you here?"

It's too much trouble to explain.

Also, these guys have been getting into character lately.

The people themselves seem to be having fun, but I'm starting to question whether that's okay.

The next person to pop out was Greg, who had taken off his jacket.

"Marie's voice——Bartfalt, why are you here?"

Everyone seems to be curious about me being here.

But since it's not important right now, I'll give them a brief explanation of what's going on.

"It seems that Zirk has committed fraud. Marie found out about it and this is the result."

The four of them look at Marie, who is crying and laughing, and Jilk, who is lying on the ground with his eyes rolled back.

The way Julius looked at Jilk was filled with disgust.

"You, a man who said you wanted to compete with me and all that, and then you committed fraud?"

The same goes for the other three.

Brad looked coldly at Jilk while embracing the dove and the rabbit.

"It's crazy, it's a little, no, it's normally not a good idea."

Chris has his glasses glowing suspiciously.

"I've always thought there was something about this guy, and he's not afraid to use any means necessary."

Greg might have been in the middle of muscle training, his muscles were bulging.

"His personality becomes distorted because he just sits around and doesn't train his muscles."

I don't think it has anything to do with that.

Julius leaves Marie to me.

"Bartfalt, take care of Marie."

"Eh? What are you guys going to do?"

"Jilk is my foster brother. I grew up with him like a brother. ——So I'm going to teach Jilk a lesson!"

Marie came to her senses as the four men took Jilk away.

"Hah!? Where is Jilk?!"

"Julius and the others took him away. I think he's going to give his sermon"

Marie's shoulders slumped.

She holds her face with both hands.

"Why did he have to commit fraud? This would have been better if he still came back without earning a money"

"You're having a hard time, too."

Marie dreamed of a reverse harem and seduced five young noblemen —— but why? She did not look happy.

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Part 3

The place we visited with a pastry bag was a merchant's house where Jilk sold art works and other items.

It is a large merchant house with a very large mansion.

Jilk, who committed fraud against such a person, was a person who was born with an unpleasant talent.

The nervous Marie was shaking.

"T-T-T-T-T-Today is a good day"

We came to apologize, but Marie was too nervous to be of any use.

I had no choice —— I really had no choice, I'm accompanying them like this.

On behalf of Marie, I will talk to the head of the merchant family.

"I apologize for the sudden visit"

"——No, I knew you would come one day."

Did he realize that the product he purchased was counterfeit?

However, the slender and tall head of the family looks somewhat nervous in front of us.

"Etto, actually——"

"I know."

"——Eh?"

The head of the family gave instructions to a person who looked like a butler, and he took out the goods that Jilk sold to him, as if he had prepared them in advance.

However, it is handled very carefully.

They went to the trouble of putting on gloves and gently placing the teacups on the table.

If you didn't know it was a fake, the item would look very expensive.

In this case, I might have been fooled too.

However, the story takes an unexpected turn here.

"Is this the product you bought from Jilk?"

"——Yes."

The eyes of the head of the family looking at the teacups seemed to be very sad.

The butlers and servants around us also looked at us with a somewhat nervous look.

——Something is wrong.

Even though he was deceived, he doesn't seem angry.

No, maybe —— they don't even realize they've been fooled?

When she noticed that, Marie seemed to have guessed it from the atmosphere.

She was a little worried, but she was not as garbage as Jilk, and Marie opened her mouth to tell him that it was a fake.

"A-Ano!"

"I know! You've come to retrieve —— this item, right? This is the only item. I didn't expect to get it for that much."

"Y-Yes. ——Eh?"

The head of the family's reaction is strange.

I decided to probe.

"No, we are not trying to get it back. Actually, we came here to talk to you because we heard that someone we know is in the antique business, and we were in disbelief."

"W-What! I-Is that so?"

The head of the family was visibly relieved of tension.

"I'm not an expert on art, but are those teacups expensive?"

When I look at the teacup, the head of the family opens his eyes and explains it to me in a talkative manner.

"Of course it is! This is a product that was discontinued 500 years ago. I had a few, but none of them remained in perfect condition. It is one of the best masterpieces of its time, and there are only a few items that are in such a perfect state of preservation! I showed it to the people who knew about it, but it was hard because everyone wanted me to sell it!"

Seeing the head of the family boasting about his collection with great joy, I nodded with a smile and said, "I see~"

Marie looks at me with a worried look on her face.

So——I asked Luxion in a low voice.

"Is it real?"

[Yes.]

Luxion's short reply puzzled me as I didn't know what was going on.

Don't let it show on my face.

"Ahahaha, I'm surprised he's doing so well as an antique dealer. ——By the way, do you know who else Jilk has done business with?"

Could this be a coincidence?

While finding out who the next client is, I also hear about Jilk.

"Jilk-dono is quite a connoisseur for such a young man. No, I can't call him a connoisseur. Or should I say, he has the power of attraction to find the real thing? He is a genius!"

Jilk, a person who has no discernment eyes, is getting rave reviews?!

Could it be that that guy really had talent?

The head of the family takes great care of the teacup.

And then he smiled at me.

"Nevertheless, when I heard that the Count of the Kingdom of Horfalt was coming, I had no idea what was going to happen."

"Me?"

"Yes. There were many rumors spreading, and some of them were outrageous. I was inwardly impatient, thinking that you might come to take back the items I had purchased."

No, I could fully feel that he was impatient.

More importantly, what's this rumor about me?

"I'm curious about the rumors about me."

"I can't really say it from my mouth. But the Count is a gentleman though he is young."

I am a gentleman? I certainly aspire to be like my shishou, but I am aware that I am inexperienced.

Do I look like a gentleman to him? Well, I'm flattered.

But I'm happy, so let's be pleased.

"You're very good at flattering people."

"No, it's true."

The head of the family's face became serious.

"——I envy the kingdom."

He did not say more, but I got the impression that there were some implications for the nobility of the Republic.

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Part 4

A follow-up investigation was subsequently conducted, but there was no need to apologize.

Everybody says the same thing.

"Jilk-dono is a genius! No, he is loved by the god of art!"

"He is a true savior of the arts in the way he sees through and rescues real treasures from piles of junk!"

"If Jilk-dono had been born in the Republic, I would have spared no effort in supporting him. I am jealous of the Kingdom."

Do you understand?

The only one who thought he had committed fraud was Jilk.

When we returned to the mansion, we were left scratching our heads.

"What's going on? We didn't expect everyone to be praising Jilk's aesthetic sense to us."

As a result, he had not engaged in any fraudulent activity, and Marie was relieved, or perhaps she was being absentminded.

"Did he actually have discerning eyes?"

While worrying in the mansion, Jilk, whose face shows bruises from a beating, arrives.

Despite his tragic appearance, he had a winning smile on his face.

"Well, isn't this the undiscerning Count Bartfalt?"

"You're an unpleasant guy too."

"Isn't it the fact? But still, I am troubled by your hasty conclusions. I just found an item they wanted and sold it to them at a fair price. If you call that a sin, I am troubled."

Although he says it with his mouth, what he has sold —— is a product that he does not consider to be art.

However, all customers who purchased the product were satisfied.

Luxion also confirmed, but it was all real.

It can't be called a coincidence.

Jilk glances at me.

"Oya? Won't you apologize?"

"It was Julius and the others who beat you up. Then be thankful I forgave you for using a bomb in a duel."

"Well, let's just leave it at that."

He shook his head and looked unconvinced.

He's an annoying and shady bastard.

However, Marie seems to have noticed something here.

"Wait a minute —— In other words, if Jilk prepares something that someone else wants, he can get the real thing, right?"

Seeing Marie's eyes sparkling, Jilk had a complicated look on his face.

"No, ano——Marie-san? I am usually a good judge of the real thing. But for this occasion, I have only prepared items that are appropriate for those who lack eyes of discernment."

"That's all right! Jilk, why have you not done that before!"

"E-Etto——"

"It's not a fraud if you're selling the real thing! In other words, if we rely on Jilk's aesthetic sense, our future life will be safe!"

Certainly, if they succeed, they will make a lot of money.

In fact, Jilk has made a lot of money in a short period of time.

Jilk has a complicated look on his face, but it seems he cannot refuse Marie's request.

He accepts Marie's suggestion.

"I-I understand. Then I will select an appropriate item for Marie-san."

"I'm counting on you, Jilk!"

"Leave it to me. I'll show you that I'm not like the other four."

He is lifting himself above the other four without hesitation.

I knew this guy had a bad personality.