"...... What?　You tell me again: ......!

　The room was filled with an angry voice.

　The man reflexively trembled and shrank back when it was directed at him.
　It's not a good idea to listen to the man, although he only reported it, through no fault of his own.
　It's because he knows that that's why he doesn't say anything else.

　Besides, if you argue with him poorly, he might kill you.
　The man repeated his earlier words with his head down, because he was emitting such anger that he was not joking, but seriously thinking so.

...... haha. The alchemist said that he failed.
You ......!

　This really could get you killed as it is.
　The clear murderous intent directed at him caused the man to seriously consider in his head whether or not to run away ...... but soon afterwards the need to do so was no longer necessary.
　The other person who was present at the scene spoke up.

."--Brett.
"......, but father ......!
"I understand your frustration, but the man is not guilty. Do you intend to reduce the number of servants for nothing?
I'm sorry, ....... ......cch, I understand the report. That's it?
"Ha, that's it.
"Okay, you can go back to ......!

　That being said, the man looked up and glanced at the master.
　In the first place, the man came to report to the master, not to his son.
　Even if you are told to move back, you can't really move back.

　However, if you say it out loud here, it will surely cause your son's displeasure.
　From the way things are going, he might actually kill you.

　But the master of the house knows that, too, and he makes a sweeping motion to tell you to back off.
　Letting out a breath of relief at that, he bowed and left the room.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find the best way to get the most out of this article.

I'm sure at this rate, this house may not be around much longer.

　The words muttered in such a way that if someone heard them, you would not be able to get away with it, and even if the head of the family heard them, you might not be able to survive.
　However, the atmosphere inside the house is so bad that you may be tempted to murmur such words.

　It sounds like an old man to say that it used to be good, but it's true, so there's no way around it.
　At least about ten years ago, it was much better than now, or rather, compared to a month - or even a day ago, you could say that.

　Then there is only one reason why this is happening.
　It's because the family's trueborn ...... or even trueborn (・・・・) son, Allen, has disappeared.

　I don't know what the masters of this house think, but at least for the servants, the atmosphere of the house was terrible now.
　Especially Brett, who is now the only son of the house, is in no way inferior to the growing atmosphere.

　Brett hadn't reached that level when Allen was around.
　Although Brett called Allen a bastard, I think he was probably really frightened.
　He wondered if the always composed Allen would someday take his place in the house.
　In fact, if Allen remained in the house and the headship was passed on to the next generation ...... I'm sure most of the servants would have followed Allen's lead.

　It's not a matter of which one is more suitable for a mere servant.
　But when it came to who he wanted as the head of the house, it was definitely Allen.

　To put it simply, the people in the house did not think of Allen as a failure.

　The reason why Allen is called a bastard to begin with is because he didn't go up from level one, but if you say that, most of the people in the house are less than bastards, and most of the citizens would be as well.
　This is because most of the people in this world do not rise to level 0.

　What Allen probably doesn't understand is that only nobles and wealthy merchants, or soldiers and adventurers, would do anything to raise their levels.
　For most citizens, there is no time to level up.

　If you don't work, you don't live, and your level is not something that can be raised just by working.
　Soldiers and adventurers rise in level because they continue to fight demons, which for citizens is not much different from suicide.
　It's not something that can be duplicated by ordinary citizens.

　It's the same with children.
　Children are a valuable member of the work force, and most families cannot afford to let them play.

　And if you are a nobleman or a wealthy merchant, it is possible, partly because you have the time to do so, but also because money allows you to acquire special training.
　After all, for many citizens it is just impossible.
　Level and status are still considered absolute among the citizens, but it is mainly for knowing the direction of one's talents, which is far different from the meaning used by the nobles and soldiers.

　Because of this, it is more of a gift that the citizens think of as special.
　But that's only because it's related to your future, and it's not something to be despised just because Allen didn't give you the gift.
　Honestly, many of the servants had many question marks over their heads when they were told that Allen was banished because of it.

　Besides, Allen had been good to the servants.
　He was neither aristocratic nor arrogant, but rather he took good care of us.
　It's a good thing that you've got a good idea of what you're looking for. ......
　It's a good thing that you're not going to have to worry about the fact that you're not going to have to worry about the fact that you're not going to have to worry about the fact that you're not going to have to worry about it.

　It's a good thing to say that.
　Allen is already an outcast.

　You will be able to find out more about the particulars of the particulars and also the particulars of the particulars of the particulars.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find out what's going on in the world.
　If this situation continues, surely not a few people will quit.

　It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you're going to do with it.
　Not for long, that is what I meant.

But I don't think the head of the family, let alone his son, doesn't understand that ......

　However, currently, Craig seems to basically tolerate Brett's behavior, although he does bully on rare occasions.
　So, does he think it's okay for most of the servants to quit--or does he think it's okay for most of the servants to quit?

"Or are you still willing to do that, ......?

　But having thought it through, the man shook his head.
　It's not like he knew what Craig was thinking, anyway.

　One thing I do know.

Well, ...... I'll see if I can have a moment of your time: ......



　The man walked down the corridor, thinking about how to behave from now on.










I'm not going to be able to get a good look at you. ......　Remember that later: ......!　No, no, that's not the right time to do that. ...... nope, dad, so what are we going to do about it ......?　I didn't expect it to fail. ......

　Craig turned his face as calmly as possible to Brett, who was looking at him as if he were frightened.
　His words were deliberately soft, and he was

...... No, don't worry about it. If you fail, there's nothing wrong with that.
...... Really?　But this 'thing' is now ......
This was just the quickest way to get there. You don't have anything to worry about.
"Oh, really? ......

　Then let out a breath of relief, Craig looks at Brett with the same calmness in his eyes.
　You can't hide your anger if you don't.

　I didn't lie to Brett.
　If it fails, I have a plan for the next best thing, and we can fix it as much as we want from here on out.

　But I'm also certain that it was for the best that that thing worked.
　If things had gone according to plan, we would have been able to move on to the next phase now. ...... It's utterly disgusting.
　You will be able to find a lot more information about the particulars of the particulars on the website.

"So, father, what's the next step?
"Well, ...... no, you don't have to move right away.
Are you sure you want to go to ......?　As I recall, we were told beforehand that if this had gone well, we would have moved on immediately: ......
That is, if we had taken care of that thing. In that case, we needed to move immediately, but since we couldn't, we need to be more careful the next time.
Sorry about ......

　I didn't mean to blame Brett, but I didn't dare to correct him.
　The dark amusement at the shivering figure was masked by a mask of calmness.
　Unaware of this, Brett, trembling with frustration, opens his mouth and says, "By the way, that alchemy.

By the way, what do we do about the alchemist?　Is it still a disposal?

　The fact that you can't get rid of it, and then it will be as if the blunder didn't happen, makes Craig let out a small breath of air.
　It's a good thing that you're able to get rid of that bum, or maybe it's the sense of freedom that makes you feel free to finally get rid of that bum, but you can't get rid of the head butler and the alchemist.

　As for the head butler, there is no problem as long as he is gone, but if he is disposed of, it will be difficult to maintain the house at least.
　Even though the house will eventually be discarded, it has to be kept at least until that time.

　But Craig didn't dare to be so careful.
　However, he didn't want it to get rid of, so let's just say it.

"Well, wait. He's still good for something. And if you mean experiment, that's something, right?
It's ...... certainly. Thanks to this, I also have a better understanding of this power(s) and ......
"Oh. That was, in a way, the most important thing this time. Then I would say that this one was a success in a way.
"Yeah, I guess so: ......?
Yes, and this is just an exercise. And this is just an exercise, and it's after this that you really have to do. Isn't that right?
"Yes, yes, yes ...... you are right, aren't you ...... ah, yes . I'm not like that piece of shit ...... then and there. ......!
"Oh, I'm counting on you?

　While saying that, Craig was giving me a cold look.

　But as if to disguise it, he looked into the void.
　Then I turned my thoughts to why this thing failed this time.

　We were never supposed to fail.
　The next best thing was just as a precaution, and we had made careful preparations so that we would not fail.
　There was no chance of a contingency in terms of forces, and you should have been able to dispose of that thing with certainty.

　Of course, since I didn't do it myself, there was a possibility that the alchemist had made a mistake, but I had taken that into consideration.
　So it should still work, but in reality, it failed.

　So it's highly likely that something outside of the calculations happened ...... and that someone else was in the way--

"Hmph ...... I don't know who you are, but don't think you're going to get away with this for free when you're in my way. ......
"...... Father?
"...... No, it's nothing. I'm just talking to myself, don't worry about it.

　I coughed out a cough, faking the words that had escaped me.
　Then you return to Brett's face, which is once again masked.

Anyway, it will be a while before we work on that thing. To begin with, the "other" was probably more pressing right now, right?　With that in mind, maybe it's a good thing we failed.
...... Surely, that one will be important in that one, too.
Ah. Since the general is already gone, then my family will probably make a move. It's a farce, but we can't afford to cut corners.
"Yes, I know.
And once you succeed in doing that, you can honestly do whatever you want. --As long as we can get rid of that d*mned brave man.

　Muttering heartily to himself, Craig turned his gaze away.
　He narrowed his dark, cloudy eyes as if to stare at someone beyond.