Chapter 120

Helen’s investigation results were exactly as expected.

“The Porlang Viscount family has been confirmed as the source of the malicious rumors.”

“Yeah…”

Those stagnant humans went and did it again?

…Adding that would trigger a penalty, so I put on a pitiful expression and pressed my forehead.

While doing so, I thought to myself.

Of course. There really aren’t any other fools this oblivious in our circles, are there?

Right now, the Edelweiss Count family was a rising star of a territory, drawing not just the Emperor’s attention, but even the Pope’s and the Tower Master’s gazes.

Not because I’m the lord of the land saying this—for real.

On top of that, it was the territory drawing the most attention for its number one gate defense rate.

How many families would dare pick unnecessary fights in a place like this?

Tsk tsk.

They should’ve just slunk away quietly, but no, they have to make themselves conspicuous?

They begged to taste the terror of connections back then, but they haven’t even gotten a lick yet?

I couldn’t just let them keep poking at us like this.

But given Senia’s personality, she wouldn’t go chopping heads off either.

[Senia dr Edelweiss (Shin Yuri) >>> Porlang won’t try something like rebellion or anything?]

Then I could step in as the wastrel proxy?

You think an S-rank wastrel—no, a former S-rank now active B-rank wastrel—is something you can just find easily?

[Ivan Elethia von Carman (Shin Jae-heon bastard) >>> Want me to look?]

But the reply that popped up was the real kicker. I burst out laughing in disbelief.

You think that just pops up when you search for it?

She’s always spouting the same nonsense as usual.

The moment that thought crossed my mind, a subquest abruptly appeared.

The reward was, as always, ridiculously good. Hmm, strip Porlang bare and get stats as a bonus?

[Senia dr Edelweiss (Shin Yuri) >>> Go on, strip ’em and see what you find]

If there’s anything there, I’ll scrape it all clean and torch the place!

That’s when another system window popped up.

What the hell was that baseless number? It was the moment my long, math-phobic life began to distrust numbers entirely.

—Pling!

Out of nowhere, Family Honor started dropping.

What the—?

Isn’t that debuff way too harsh?

That was when I gaped wide-mouthed.

What did I even do in the social circles? I was just sitting here?

The rise was substantial too.

No way—the reward wasn’t just that earlier one?

I nearly shot up from my seat. Three times?

Even just holding steady at 10k would net 30k?

Suddenly, this got very interesting.

But seriously, why did the reputation go up?

I’d find out soon enough.

[Countess Senia dr Edelweiss fought in the swordsmanship tournament after taking a magic potion.]

That rumor swept through high society like wildfire.

As gossip always does, stories of unknown origin spread everywhere, tagged with an insidious “just in case” undertone.

“Come to think of it, didn’t she claim to be ill right up until the tournament?”

“And that swordplay was suspicious too. The Porlang style isn’t usually so brute-force heavy…”

“True. And stepping up right after Porlang… Wasn’t Lord Kikal already set as the family heir?”

Of course, they made sure to leave themselves an out.

Only after gossiping freely did they add,

“Ahem, could just be a rumor, right?”

“Let’s show some restraint. His Majesty has eyes everywhere, you know.”

“Besides, their high gate defense rate is a fact.”

Unaware that Senia dr Edelweiss’s honor score rose or fell with every word, they chattered on busily.

But there were those who pushed back hard against them.

Even before Countess Edelweiss could make a move.

“What did you just say? You’re dismissing Countess Edelweiss’s hard-earned prowess?”

“Where do you get off with that nitpicky obsession over sword styles?”

They were nobles from the ‘Miya’ alliance.

Count Biya in particular roared, his face flushed red with blood.

“Countess Edelweiss is a blood comrade who aided our territory alongside Count Tenchia! Insulting her is insulting Biya itself!”

“Ahem.”

“That’s not what I—”

Troubled nobles scattered every time.

“Got proof she took drugs during the tournament? And if she did, you think His Majesty wouldn’t notice?”

“Well…”

The hesitant nobles scattered at their roars.

But whispers persisted behind closed doors.

“No way there’s no fire where there’s smoke.”

“How else could a cripple show that kind of skill?”

“If she kept that power up with potions…”

Count Biya nearly threw down his gauntlet at those gossips.

“No quarter! If you wanna yap, first beat me—the one who acknowledged her skill!”

“Count Biya!”

“Calm down!”

As a brawl seemed imminent, someone stepped between them.

“A moment, please.”

A gentle yet firm voice. It belonged to none other than Lady Karenta, daughter of the Marquess.

She was also the one who had crossed swords with Countess Edelweiss right up to the tournament’s end.

“I wonder if those speaking so freely have ever personally clashed blades with her.”

“Lady Karenta?”

Overpowered by her advancing presence, the nobles fell silent and backed away.

Pretending to be cowed now wouldn’t help—they’d start yapping again later anyway.

And Lady Karenta knew exactly how to handle nobles with class.

“I’ve crossed swords directly with Countess Edelweiss. It was a fine match. But if those potion rumors are true, does that mean the storied sword house of Karenta failed to detect someone enhanced by magic drugs… and even lost to them?”

She said it with arms crossed.

“From here on, anyone caught spreading baseless rumors about the Edelweiss Count family will be tracked down in the name of Karenta—and reported not just to Edelweiss, but to His Majesty himself.”

Her bold voice rang out.

“That would be nothing less than deceiving His Majesty.”

At that, some clamped their mouths shut entirely, while others furtively sent “gifts” to the Edelweiss Count family—apologies in all but name, lest they be caught out.

And so.

No need for me to even show up in high society—I could just sit back and let the honey roll in from the relayed rumors.

“Thanks, everyone.”

I scratched my cheek with an awkward expression.

Having been born S-rank and constantly dealing with jealousy and rivalry at every S-rank gathering, receiving pure goodwill like this left me at a loss for what to do.

“I’ll make sure to do Vitality Transfer (SS) before I head out.”

Seemed like a good idea to give Count Biya a shot at some growth.

He’d seemed really troubled by his long plateau.

People like that can make huge leaps from even a small epiphany.

Were you all nursing thoughts that vicious? From those sweet personas?

A little touched, honestly? Right then, So Yeri Hunter’s chat popped up.

Independence or mutiny?

While the absurd chat flew back and forth, Porlang started taking heavy backlash.

Because the Miya alliance and Karenta had staked their family honors to root out the rumor’s origin.

Meanwhile, at the Porlang Viscount house.

“Move your asses already! What the hell are the knights doing?!”

“Everyone except the mansion guards is already out on dispatch!”

At the report, Viscount Porlang flew into a rage.

“Then why aren’t they back yet?!”

Well, you sent them to tough gates, so of course it takes time!

…No such sensible servants remained in Porlang anymore.

Anyone like that had been thrown into the hardest jobs or the front lines of battle and died off.

Thus, the butler reporting to Viscount Porlang was a new one.

It was already the second butler replacement since the gate crisis began.

He decided to keep his mouth shut to avoid becoming the third.

“Gates were scarce until recently, so defense was manageable. But if they keep surging like this, we’ll have to pull even the mansion guards starting tomorrow.”

“We can’t do that!”

Viscount Porlang bellowed.

The Porlang Viscount house’s gate defense rate was 40%.

Meaning more than half the gates that appeared rampaged, spewing monsters.

And naturally, it was the knights who had to clean them up.

Any monsters not dealt with attacked humans—and even swarmed the mansion.

To fend them off, Viscount Porlang had stationed an excessive number of knights around the mansion.

All while ignoring the territory’s people dying off nonstop.

“Kikal still says he’s sick?”

Viscount Porlang asked in a sharp voice.

Porlang’s second son, Rikas—who had been sitting dazed before him—finally reacted.

“…Yes. He says he’s still unwell.”

At the dazed, delayed reply, Viscount Porlang scowled.

This kid had never been all there since childhood.

He’d always been impossible to read, but after hanging around shady types outside as a boy, he’d gotten even dumber.

Tsk.

And his sword skills were abysmal to boot.

While his brother Kikal and sister Senia advanced swiftly, this one had never met even basic expectations.

So with Kikal out long-term sick and unable to command the knights, Rikas couldn’t be entrusted with field leadership.

“Guess I have to see him myself!”

No matter father and son, showing up unannounced this late at night was poor manners.

Especially to a sick man’s room.

But Viscount Porlang’s patience was fraying.

Was the problem that the boy was sick now?

If the knights got wiped without a commander, how were they supposed to hold the next gate?

The guy who should be at the vanguard slashing monsters was bedridden, wheezing away for months now!

Senia’s the one poisoned, not you! Huh?!

“Father, you’re really going to brother’s room?”

Rikas stared at him in shock. Viscount Porlang spat curses.

“What, you want me to just sit here?!”

Without looking back, he stormed toward Kikal’s room.

“Family head?”

“Send word in—”

He silenced the growing commotion among the servants with a gesture and flung open Kikal’s door.

—Bang!

He’d heard Kikal had been feverish yesterday afternoon, lying with a damp cloth on his head, but conversation should be…

“Ahaha!”

Ten… chi…?

Viscount Porlang blankly peered into the room.

Kikal was giggling as he read a book. Definitely not some dignified noble tome.

“Told you not to barge in. Get—urk.”

Irritated, he turned toward the door—locking eyes with Viscount Porlang.

“…”

“…”

Sick, my ass?

His firstborn, supposedly abed for months, wasn’t gaunt at all—instead sporting a plump, well-fed face while lounging.

“You little…”

Perfectly hale by any measure, Viscount Porlang’s face twisted in fury.