Reincarnated into a Game As the Hero’s Friend

Chapter 80

Schunzel and Neurath retreated back as Duke Grunding and Grand Duke Seyfart walked closer to me. I tried to give them the official bow but the Grand Duke stopped me.

This is an unofficial meeting so you dont need to do that.

Even if you say that, it is only going to make me more uncomfortable, you know Duke? Though I still needed to obey him so I just gave them a simple bow.

You dont look too surprised.

I am surprised, sir.

As the Duke commented on my behavior with a stern face, I replied. Though rather than being surprised by their sudden appearance, I was more surprised about how bad the situation has become since they both even came here incognito. It seems like my guess is right.

So, what is sirs take on that thing that you have yet to share with your subordinates?

Regarding that thing, I believe that it will be best to respect Princess Lauras wish.

The Grand Duke laughed again at my immediate answer while the Dukes expression turned sour.

Youre sharp.

Duke, if you said that with that kind of expression it didnt feel like praise at all. In any case, since this is an unofficial meeting, Im probably allowed to ask an impolite question, so lets confirm my guess.

Pardon my question if it seems rude but are there many people who participated in this war aiming for Her Highness?

Yes, there are quite a lot of them.

I sighed inwardly. In the past few days in the main camp, I noticed one strange fact about the noblemen that participated in this war.

All of them are either suitable age for marriage with Laura (10 years of age-gap marriage is common among nobles so even a guy in his 30s has a chance) or are old enough to have sons that age. There are no in-betweens.

In other words, they wanted to use this war to promote themselves or their son as Lauras marriage candidate.

The people of Count house and below must think of me as their or their sons rival in getting Lauras hand in marriage thats why they were so persistent at my questioning. Sigh how annoying.

One other reason why His Highness didnt or rather cant receive the reinforcement of other countries must also be because its going to be troublesome if they asked for Lauras hand in marriage in exchange for their help.

At first, this armys objective is to save Finnoi but somewhere along the line, the objective of the members of the army becomes twisted. With a little bit more twist, this war might be a good enough plot for a soap opera.

Sir, youve met Laura before, right? So what do you think of her?

She is beautiful but she is far above my league.

Im a bit surprised that the Duke just called her Laura. It looks like the Duke is here as her grandfather. In any case, this whole topic is definitely something that is impossible to talk in an official meeting. Is that why they came here secretly for an unofficial meeting? 

SighIf only everyone knew their place like you, The Duke replied my answer with a big sigh.

Duke, though its true Im no match for Laura but isnt your word a bit too much? This guy is he actually a doting grandpa?

In any case, I wont get in the way of Laura and Mazells love so Grand Duke, can you erase your wicked smile!? and Neurath, I can see that you are trying to hold back your laughter!

Anyway, I want to ask you a favor regarding this matter.

A favor, sir?

Duke, dont you mean order not favor?  Even if its a favor, it was a favor from a duke to a viscount so its basically an order.  What kind of crazy stuff will he ask me?

I want you to produce enough results in this battle to convince everyone.

Pardon?

That favor is far beyond my imagination. No, wait, you both came all the way here disguised as guards just for that!?

So basically you want to chase out the bugs that surrounded Her Highness with the pretext of even Viscount Zeavert with that many achievements didnt ask for that kind of thing so who are you to ask sort of thing?

To put it bluntly, yes.

What the heck are you asking me for, Duke? No well, I wont do something like asking Laura as a reward so I understand why he asks me but still

Since if I was called directly to the headquarter people might speculate, thats why you both came here for an unofficial meeting disguised as guards to ask me to rake achievement while putting an attitude that I have no interest in Her Highness, is that correct?

Yes. In exchange, we will also include your achievement here in the judgement of your unauthorized leave.

This is absurd

I blurted that out while holding my head. Its actually really rude to speak and act like this in front of the Duke but he didnt scold me or anything. I guess he also understands how absurd his request is. Still, it wont cure my headache.

The Grand Duke finally stopped laughing and said, I apologize for causing Sir a great deal of trouble for asking this request but you see this problem has a great deal of politics involved.

Politic?

As it seems like Sir didnt have the same intention as them, I will tell you. Everyone who brought a large army here has lost their qualification as Her Highnesss husband candidates.

Thats dangerous information. I immediately turned to Neurath and Schunzel.

Neurath, Schunzel, keep what you hear here a secret. If it ever leaks out Ill kill you both myself.

Y..Yes!

Both of them replied stiffly. After hearing all of this even both of them seem to be able to grasp the current situation.

Neither Duke nor the Grand Duke said anything regarding my words to Neurath and Schunzel. After all, they both are my subordinates so they are my responsibility. If what we talked here leaked somewhere from them Ill also receive punishment. After confirming their firm expression, turned to the Grand Duke.

Everyone?

Yes. Everyone. Have you heard that Her Highness is historys highest-ranked saintess?

Yes, I have heard about that.

To be more specific, Ive heard it in the game.

Good. Then, You know that there are several people who can receive an oracle, right?

Yes.

The game set Laura as the highest-ranked saintess but I think the person who advised the kingdom to appraise Mazells Skill because that person got an oracle wasnt Laura. 

If it was Laura, she will try to meet Mazell herself after receiving an oracle to appraise him, but in the game, their first meeting was in Finnoi so its probably not Laura.

A person received an oracle that Her Highness child will rise into the high position. Even Her Highness didnt know about this oracle.

(T/N

Neurath and Schunzel gulped. As for me, Im not that surprised because I know the games ending. That oracle might be referring to how Laura will marry Mazell and of course since Mazell at that time is the king, Lauras child has risen into the high position

This oracle didnt appear in the game but thats understandable since it was probably a top secret that only the highest-ranked nobles knew. Most nobles probably dont know about this oracle.

As I sorted the information I just got in my head, I asked for confirmation.

So thats why everyone that brought a large army here lost their qualification.

Yes. Since we cant let people who think of this war as an opportunity rise into a high position riding the coattail of Her Highness future child.

Rising into a high position, huh? Thats too vague. Nobles with peerage are already in a high position so to rise above thatit might seem far-fetched but people might think the high position here is the throne.

Theres even a possibility that if a greedy person that knew this oracle became Lauras husband or father-in-law, he might raise a rebellion in an attempt to make the oracle reality. Though actually, an oracle isnt absolute plus theres no oracle that explained important stuff like the demon kings strength.

This oracle can be pretty dangerous. The high position here can be interpreted as the throne so extremists among the royal family members might think of killing Laura and if the Crown Prince though that the high position is the throne he might think of locking up Laura to prevent her child for taking the throne form Prince Louwen.

But no one can also refute the fact that a high position can also be interpreted as prime minister, duke, or something around that level. Its still bad to let families of greedy nobles have influence at the level of a Prime Minister though.

The oracle talked about Lauras child so there are actually a lot of other possibilities. If its a daughter she might become a queen or it might even refer to Lauras adopted child and a lot more. With this many possibilities, even the royal supremacist might try to take advantage of Lauras marriage.

As an oracle that predicts the game ends, this oracle is correct. But for the people of this world that knew nothing of the game story this oracle is too vague. That might be why it was kept a secret.

By the way since the child in the oracle is Lauras child that means he or she will be the Dukes great-grandchild. By the time they were born the Duke has probably died though. I also need to take into account how the Dukes heir felt regarding this oracle and theres no slightest bit of mention regarding the hero here. Is it just I or this oracle is filled with malice?

Come to think of it, if I think more carefully there wasnt any explanation in the game about why the demon wanted Laura. In the past since it was a game I just thought Laura was being targeted because she was a beautiful princess a common game troupe but what if thats not the reason? What if the real reason has some kind of connection with this oracle?

Theres a lot of curious mystery but lets forget about that for now. Long story short the dispatch to this war was also intended to be some sort of screening for greedy nobles but the number of people brought by these greedy nobles in their armies was far larger than the kingdoms expectation thats why we currently have a lack of food.

But I think there might be other reasons why the nobles will try to vie for Lauras hand in marriage other than their greed. I mean, shes really beautiful. Did the royal family become so numb to good-looking people that they forgot this simple fact?

As someone who was born into the royal family, she wont be able to marry just because of love. She also needs to think about how her marriage will bring benefit to our kingdom.

The Duke continued. Thats a sound argument but I bet theres a ton of the Dukes personal feelings mixed into his request too. Laura might be the princess and the saintess but hes also the Dukes beloved granddaughter so I understand why the Duke wont let scum who thought of the danger of her life as an opportunity to be her daughters future husband or in-law.

Even if Sir only has the same achievement as other people I will do something to push the idea out so theres no need for Sir to be pressured. Ill pay enough compensation and Ill also put Sirs position into consideration so would Sir please be willing to grant my favor?

Rather than compensation isnt it more like hush money? Did I even have the option to refuse here

I understand. I will try my best

Can I cry?

T/N: Hey everyone, sorry for the delay. Ive been sick for almost a week, im cured now so heres your dose!

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