Chapter 298: Greeting Before the Raid

“Well, well. To think His Majesty the King of the Kingdom of Yelenetta would personally welcome us… I am humbled.”

Panamera said this with a smile and bowed. It was a very beautiful, ceremonial bow, but seeing Panamera’s expression, the people’s faces twitched.

Despite receiving such scathing sarcasm, the King of Yelenetta nodded without seeming particularly fazed.

He was a small, slender elderly man, but there was a strange power in his gaze.

“My Kingdom of Yelenetta has become a vassal state of the Kingdom of Scuderia. That is a fact… However.”

The King of Yelenetta muttered calmly, paused for a moment, and then looked up.

“Even if we become a vassal state, I am the King of the great Kingdom of Yelenetta, Airhart Asbach Yelenetta. Even if you are a high-ranking noble of the suzerain state, I will not have you treat me so lightly.”

When Airhart named himself and displayed his dignity as a king, the men and women surrounding him, who appeared to be royalty and nobles, gasped in admiration. It was the same for Panamera.

She curled up one corner of her mouth, revealing a ferocious smile.

“My apologies… Even so, I am glad to see that His Majesty’s fangs are still intact. It wouldn’t be interesting otherwise.”

Saying that, she looked at the faces of everyone present in turn. Perhaps Panamera’s gaze was more dazzling than high beams, as more than half of them looked away.

No, this is as scary as a mafia turf war. What is this tension? If Dee and Khamsin weren’t next to me, I might have wet myself. Since I’m ten, I wouldn’t be laughed at even if I wet myself, right?

While I was thinking such things, Airhart turned his eyes toward me.

“…Viscount Van, I ask for your regard as well.”

“Ah, please go easy on me!”

I was spoken to suddenly, but I returned a crisp greeting. Good job, me.

“…Such a boy…”

“The Demon of Scuderia, huh…”

“Do not be deceived by his appearance.”

I heard some terrifying whispers. No, I can hear you, though!?

Who is a demon? Who? Where is the demon in this beautiful and frail genius boy, Van? I want to interrogate them a little. As I pursed my lips in anger and glared at the adults, Panamera couldn’t suppress her laughter; her shoulders shook as she giggled.

“I have been given various strange names too, but it seems the Boy has joined the club, hmm? Shall I call you Demon Boy from now on?”

“Absolutely not. That is out of the question for many reasons. I will get angry if you call me that.”

I firmly shut down Panamera’s joke. I want to be spared from a nickname that would make me have to apologize to people everywhere.

Perhaps because I said it so flatly, Panamera widened her eyes in surprise, which was rare.

“Mu, don’t be so angry. It was a joke. Come to think of it, the Boy didn’t particularly want to rise up through military exploits. My bad.”

Panamera, having misunderstood my reason, apologized with a wry smile. I wasn’t actually angry, but I felt like I stood in a mental advantage over Panamera for once.

“Well, if you apologize, I will forgive you.”

“Ooh, I am relieved.”

As I acted strictly as the side accepting the apology, Panamera answered with a laugh.

The royalty and nobles of the Kingdom of Yelenetta who were watching this looked at each other again and started talking in hushed voices.

“…A Count apologized to a Viscount in a public place.”

“Apparently, we really must not be deceived by that appearance…”

“…So that is the Demon of Scuderia…”

“I said I want you to stop calling me that!?”

Being whispered about as a demon and whatnot, I inadvertently complained. Then, the people looking like nobles whispering behind me bowed their heads.

“I-I am sorry.”

“Please forgive my rudeness…”

“I beg your pardon.”

Adults apologizing. Seeing that state, I naturally felt sorry for them and accepted the apology.

“…I will forgive you only this time. In the first place, what part of me is a demon? Do I look like a demon?”

When I asked with my hands on my hips, Airhart spoke up on their behalf with a wry smile.

“No, my apologies for my vassals. After acquiring cannons and Black Orbs, many, including myself, overestimated our country’s power. We didn’t imagine our kingdom losing. Yet, we were broken through from the front by the unconventional tactics of a young noble who suddenly appeared… This is a major incident not only for our country but also for the surrounding nations. The name ‘Demon’ might be a bit ominous, but it means you were considered that much of a threat.”

“Muu…”

I inadvertently let out a dissatisfied sound at the consolation that wasn’t really consoling. Seeing me like that, Airhart smiled wryly.

“No, it would help if you could just accept that there is no malice intended.”

“…Understood. I shall accept the apology.”

Since His Majesty the King said so, it can’t be helped. I accepted Airhart’s apology with a proper attitude.

…Huh? For some reason, isn’t the atmosphere making it seem like I’m the most important person here?