Likely as a consultation fee, Sebastian had brought wine. She poured herself a glass, took a sip, and smirked.
“Still, my partner really is something else, huh? This is the first time I’ve ever seen you make such a colossal blunder.”
“And what might that be?”
“You still don’t get it? Asking Suzuha-kun’s brother to handle such a laughably easy extermination request—that’s the kind of mistake you can’t take back.”
“……What do you mean?”
Of course, Sebastian wouldn’t understand.
“Hey, Sebastian. Whether it’s a cockatrice, a fenrir, or a kraken—how many troops do you usually prepare for a single monster nest?”
“With you leading the charge, my lady, a hundred elites for two weeks, I’d say.”
“Now, assume I’m not there.”
“We’d be helpless. Without someone like you—a fighter of an entirely different caliber—we shouldn’t even consider engaging such monsters.”
“Final question. What if Suzuha-kun’s brother went alone?”
“Based on all the intelligence we’ve gathered… I’d estimate he could slay the beast in about a week, preparation included.”
“And that’s where you’re dead wrong.”
Yuzuriha held up three fingers.
“Three weeks…?”
“Nope. Three minutes.”
“……!?”
“Though honestly, whether it’s a cockatrice or a fenrir, if he really went all out, they wouldn’t even last three minutes. But realistically, they’d survive about ten, wouldn’t they? Knowing him, he’d want to take them down without damaging the meat so he can cook them properly.”
“You mean… he holds back against monsters…?”
“In practice, yes—but not intentionally. To him, it’s just like hunting.”
“……So he’s… that strong…?”
In Yuzuriha’s analysis, Suzuha’s older brother was severely underestimated.
There were many reasons for this.
He was born a commoner. He looked like an utterly ordinary young man.
His personality made him reluctant to boast about his achievements—sometimes even erasing them from record.
The fact that she—the “Slaughter War Goddess,” Killing Godess—was always by his side.
And above all else…
The legends Suzuha’s brother had left behind were simply too absurd—
“If you saw him fight even once, you’d have to accept the truth. But those who haven’t? They assume I or the nearby Amazons must’ve helped him. As if. Every single one of his legends? He built them alone.”
“I see…”
“You probably subconsciously factored that into your assessment, didn’t you? But honestly, you’re better than most. There are still idiots out there who think I’m the stronger one. Compared to them, at least.”
“……I can only lament my own ignorance…”
Yuzuriha smirked, satisfied at the rare sight of Sebastian genuinely humbled. She continued:
“The other mistake was the bandits. That one’s even simpler.”
“Why is that?”
“Because Suzuha-kun’s brother has zero public recognition.”
While his name was infamous among the continental nobility, his face remained largely unknown.
And among commoners? Most didn’t even know his name.
The most annoying part about exterminating bandits was how they’d hide, flee, or fortify themselves the moment they sensed a threat.
Small or large groups were manageable—the worst were cunningly led bands of a few dozen.
At that size, they could post lookouts, execute diversions, stockpile supplies for a siege, and easily escape through hidden routes if cornered. In any case, it’s extremely difficult to annihilate them.
Sending a ducal army? They’d scatter at the sight of such force.
Sending Yuzuriha? They’d recognize her instantly and bolt.
“—But Suzuha-kun’s brother? He looks like some random guy.”
“And if Suzuha-dono is with him—”
“With that beauty and figure? Selling her to the nobility would earn the bandits enough to live in luxury for life—maybe even buy a small country if they played their cards right. Of course they’d try to kidnap her. Add a loli-busty-maid to the mix, and the odds double.”
“Or quadruple… But with the Frontier Margrave there, abduction would be impossible.”
“Well, even just Suzuha-kun would make it hopeless.”
“So any bandits would… willingly walk to their doom…?”
“Exactly.”
Nodding, she took another sip of wine.
Yuzuriha, her throat now wet, was far from done talking.
※
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT LOCALIZERMEERKAT.PAGES.DEV
Four hours later.
Long after midnight, Yuzuriha had been still rambling about how she was the one and only person worthy of guarding Suzuha’s brother’s back—until she suddenly checked the clock and clapped her hands.
“Whoops, it’s this late already? Let’s refocus.”
“Y-Yes… Where exactly are we refocusing…?”
“Sebastian’s mistake was wasting his ‘labor card’ on something as trivial as monster extermination. If you’re going to ask my partner to work, it should be for emergencies only he can handle—crises that would spell ruin if ignored. Assigning him tasks anyone could do is a waste of his talent.”
“But if catastrophes kept happening, we’d have other problems…”
“Even so, monster hunts can wait if there’s no immediate damage. That’s why you ignored them until now, right? And that’s exactly why we should keep building favors with him—for when we really need him.”
She turned to the solemn-faced butler and issued her decree.
“Thus, as the Sakuragi Ducal Family’s eldest daughter, I hereby order you—hm, let’s start by sending Suzuha-kun a dress.”
“……Pardon?”
“Since you requested eighty-eight exterminations, we’ve racked up another huge debt with Suzuha-kun’s brother. We must show our sincerity. Besides, sending him gifts just annoys him—unless it’s food.”
“Ah, I see now.”
“Suzuha-kun’s also been complaining lately—her chest got even bigger, and now nothing fits. She’ll love this.”
“Hmm… But given the Lohengrin Frontier Margrave’s current wealth, couldn’t they easily afford hundreds of dresses…?”
Yuzuriha shrugged as if it were obvious.
“There’s a big difference between a dress she picks and one gifted to her. At least, for Suzuha-kun.”
“Oh?”
“She wants to show off for her brother, but she’s too embarrassed to pick something risqué herself. But if it’s from the ducal family? Perfect excuse.”
“……I see.”
“Listen carefully, Sebastian. Do not attach your name to this. Officially, it’s from a female designer employed by the ducal family who just happened to pick something scandalous. If Suzuha-kun thinks a man from our family is making moves on her? Disaster. It’d backfire horribly.”
“Understood.”
“Though honestly, if that were the case, she’d refuse the gift outright—”
And so, Yuzuriha’s endless monologue continued—dissecting Suzuha’s brother’s capabilities, sharing handling tips, bragging about witnessing his legends firsthand, outlining future plans—until, at long last…
By the time she finally finished, the sky had grown bright.
8
The next day, we set out to hunt monsters immediately.
Why? Because if we stayed any longer, every day would turn into a sushi parade, a tuna extravaganza, or a meat championship—an unstoppable tsunami of extravagant food. If that happened, our bodies would never escape the Sakuragi Ducal Estate. Never underestimate a duke’s wealth.
The other reason? A preemptive strike—slaying the monsters before someone else could.
After all, no way would delicious monsters be left alone for long.
Thus, we devised a plan: blitzkrieg the monsters.
Of course, Suzuha and the others were more than eager.
“Let’s go, Big Brother! For the duchy’s peace! …gulp”
“Master’s cooking—monster edition! …gulp”
“Nyuuh~! (gulp)”
—By the way, Yuzuriha had tried to come along, but Sebastian swiftly vetoed her.
“Absolutely not, my lady.”
“Why the hell not!?”
“Had you properly explained things from the start, this mess could’ve been avoided. Thus, you shall atone by tackling the mountain of backlogged work. If you wish to visit the hot springs, you’ll labor diligently until all intel is gathered.”
“Damn it, you caught that!?”
“Huh, the butler and Yuzuriha ended up in some weird argument. They seem pretty close, don’t they?”
Now that I think about it, dragging a duke’s daughter into monster subjugation is a pretty strange idea to begin with.
*
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