Chapter 137 - Episode 25: This Is What Happens When You Oppose Me
Greetings! It is I, Violia Nico Fortesia!
I am currently quite excited after capturing Chris Bay Clarino alive!
He was saying things like 'hurry up and kill me,' but there's no way I would do something so wasteful!
From now on, Chris Bay Clarino will work as an example to make known 'what happens to a noble who tries to silence Violia Nico Fortesia'! Ohohohohoho!
And so, I transported the neutralized Chris by stuffing him casually into the Spatial Bag as usual... but first, I must handle this.
"Yes, you may come out now."
Yes. I shall finish off the 'spy' that Chris had sent in ahead of time.
I turned the Spatial Bag upside down and shook it, rolling the spy I had kept inside onto the floor.
"You seem to be one of Chris Bay Clarino's people."
When I pressed him like that, he seemed to realize he could no longer make excuses and silently began to watch for an opening. Well, I won't create any openings, and I have no intention of letting him escape.
"You don't have to be so guarded. I've brought a good offer for you."
I said that as a preface, smiling brightly to put the spy fellow at ease... and dragged in Chris, whom I had left lying in the hallway outside the room before bringing the spy out.
"As you can see, your master has lost."
"N-no... Chris-sama!? It's a lie, no, for Chris-sama to lose...!"
Yes. This is what I wanted to do.
This must be a shocking event for the spy to see his employer lose, but I think it's also quite unpleasant for Chris to be shown the sight of someone being shocked right in front of him.
The guilt of a subordinate being in danger because he lost... no, rather, it's the pain of having to face reality by being told 'to think Chris-sama would lose.' Yes. Chris intended to use all his soldiers as disposable pawns. There's no way he feels any guilt!
"Now, Mr. Spy? There are two paths left for you."
After enjoying Chris's reaction, I immediately brought the proposal to the spy.
"The first path is to die here. ...Since I am merciful, I wouldn't mind killing you here. Though I'll have Chris do something much more interesting."
'Killing because I am merciful.' Realizing the meaning of those words, the spy glanced at Chris with an expression of pity. That, too, must be quite humiliating for Chris!
"And the other path is to betray Chris Bay Clarino here and go home."
"Eh?"
...And when I presented the other path, the spy fellow looked blank. I suppose so. He probably didn't think there was a path like 'going home.'
"It's true, you know? I'm thinking I could even send you back without a single scratch. Of course, I'll need you to betray Chris properly... but there's no need to stay loyal to him now when he's about to face a fate 'worse than death,' is there?"
"Th-that is..."
The spy keeps glancing at Chris, but Chris can no longer say anything. It would be too pathetic to tell him not to betray him, yet it would be irritating to be betrayed.
The choice of the spy fellow that would please Chris the most would be 'choosing the path of death without voluntarily betraying Chris'... but well, that's not going to happen!
"There are two things you must do. First, accurately report if there are any other spies besides yourself lurking in this mansion. The other is to tell me as many 'things Chris hates' as you can think of. See? Simple, isn't it?"
Yes.
In the end, the spy brilliantly betrayed Chris!
I also found out about the other spies who were lurking, so the results are excellent.
Oh, by the way, the 'things Chris hates' that came up were things any normal human would hate, so to be honest, I didn't really care.
But it was fun watching Chris's expression grow grimmer every time a particularly outrageous suggestion came up!
After that, once I had completely thrown all the lurking spies out of the mountain, it was finally Chris's turn!
I waited for nightfall, put Chris into the Spatial Bag, and took off on the dragon!
"Heh. No wounds, and in good condition. ...Quite a fine job."
"I am honored by your praise."
I had come to Saki-sama's shop in Elsemarin. What I'm here to do... well, there's only one thing!
Chris seemed to realize his end as he looked at the cages lined up around him and the people inside them. But it's already too late.
"This is quite a high-quality slave. I could buy him here, but will you sell him?"
"I am sorry, but I shall be using this one myself."
"I thought so. ...There, it's done."
While Saki-sama and I were chatting, the preparations were already complete.
A Slave Collar is already fitted around Chris's neck. With this, Chris Bay Clarino is my slave from this moment on!
I hammered a set of prohibitions into Chris.
I didn't use a lukewarm phrasing like 'do not commit suicide.' I had him be told, 'You must exert the full extent of your abilities to always strive to survive.' At the same time, I also included the prohibition: 'You are forbidden from leaking any information regarding your master.'
I added more and more contracts, such as what he may do, what he must not do, what requires permission, and what he must use the full extent of his abilities to avoid... and only then was I finally able to remove Chris's gag!
"You! I will never forgive you! Fall into hell!"
"Yes, that is fine. I don't need your forgiveness, and I think hell might be an unexpectedly fun place."
By the way, I haven't forbidden Chris from using verbal abuse. That's because it's more interesting that way.
Being too rebellious is a problem, but having no reaction at all is far too bland.
"Now then. I wonder if you like that collar? Isn't it fitting for a 'dog' of the royal family?"
"Don't mess with me! Just kill me already! What is the point of doing this!"
My, my, he won't listen to reason. Hmm... well, I suppose it can't be helped. Chris has only just become a slave, after all; he doesn't have the awareness yet.
"Then, for now... Sit!"
So, I immediately issued an order.
Chris tried to resist at first, but when an order is not followed, the Slave Collar tightens. And since Chris 'must exert the full extent of his abilities to always strive to survive,' he must avoid dying by strangulation. And he's not allowed to slack off. He must avoid death with all his might!
...And so, Chris brilliantly sat. It's strange how he starts to look like a large dog when you see him like this.
"You...! What do you want!"
"Didn't I tell you? I'm going to make an example of you. Now, Hand."
While placing his hand on top of the hand I held out, Chris kept glaring at me. It's no fun if he just follows my instructions. It's better for him to be this rebellious.
"Now. You should gain the awareness of a slave properly during the night. And tomorrow at noon, we shall have your debut as a slave in the plaza of the Royal Capital!"
When I said that, Chris glared at me even more intensely, but even while glaring, he's giving me his 'hand,' so it's not scary at all! Ohohohoho!
...And the next day.
I headed to the Royal Capital on the dragon.
Naturally, the Royal Capital was on guard because they think 'dragon means Violia Nico Fortesia.'
But it doesn't matter! I landed right in the middle of the plaza without a care.
And then!
"Come, Chris, come here."
Amidst the gazes of the people gathered in the plaza! Chris makes his appearance!
I deliberately didn't make Chris's appearance look slave-like. I took his armor and sword, but his clothes are the same. I could have made him wear coarse hemp clothes like a slave, but that wouldn't look like a noble fallen into slavery, so it was a deliberate choice.
In exchange, a Slave Collar is around Chris's neck! And! On the sign hanging from his neck are the words: 'I was defeated by the Revolutionary Army and became a slave'!
This makes Chris's current situation very clear!
"Now everyone, please look! This here is Chris Bay Clarino, the son of House Clarino!"
Whether I try to show him or not, the eyes of the masses are already completely fixed on Chris. Well, naturally.
Then, the soldiers who had gathered after seeing the dragon also surrounded us, and Chris was brilliantly exposed to public scrutiny.
Looking at the man himself, he has an expression that makes you feel truly sorry for him.
"As you can see, he came to attack us, the Revolutionary Army, and was miserably defeated. From today, he is a slave working for the Revolutionary Army. I intend to have him work to pay back the exorbitant profits he has been extorting from the commoners as a member of the noble class. Of course, if he works sufficiently, I will accept him as a resident of the new kingdom at that time."
My explanation sounds quite like something the 'Revolutionary Army' would say, doesn't it? If I can't say this much with a straight face, I can't get by as a young lady! Ohohoho!
"Now, Chris. Greet everyone in the Royal Capital."
And when I pushed his back, Chris bit his lip hard, but a slave is a slave. Orders are absolute. Chris has no choice but to listen to my command!
"...While commanding the private army of House Clarino, I treated the soldiers as disposable pawns... and on top of that, I fought Violia Nico Fortesia and was miserably defeated."
As expected of the prodigy of House Clarino. He can say exactly what he was taught. Since his original abilities are high, he's excellent even as a slave.
"My behavior as a noble until now was wrong. The nobles and royals of this country are merely ordinary people who happened to be born as nobles or royals. I, too, shall know my place from now on and serve the Revolutionary Army as a slave..."
The last part was a rather weak way of saying it, but I suppose it's fine. The soldiers and the masses have seen it well, so the end of the heir of House Clarino will become widely known!
"Do you understand now!? Is that clear!? The Revolutionary Army does not give special treatment to nobles just because they are nobles! If any more nobles defy the Revolutionary Army in the future, every last one of them will fall into slavery!"
After making my declaration firmly, I hopped back onto the dragon. Chris followed me and got on the dragon as well.
The soldiers here hurriedly began trying to seize me, but it's already too late! My dragon took off lightly and was already beyond the reach of the soldiers.
"Well then, everyone, good day to you!"
After giving that final greeting, I shall return to the mountain!
The place I'm returning to will be exposed by this, but the fact that the Revolutionary Army has its base on top of the mountain should already be known to the royal family, so it's not a problem! If they want to attack, let them! Of course, if they lose there, they will fulfill a miserable fall into slavery just like Chris! Ohohohohoho!
...And so, I succeeded in humiliating Chris. I feel wonderful.
Chris is looking at me resentfully, but this is karmic retribution. If you frame me and denounce me in the throne room, you get made into a slave and made an example of in the plaza of the Royal Capital.
Now then.
House Clarino will undoubtedly fall into ruin now. Since the heir is in this state.
They could adopt from a branch family, but even so, their face as nobles is completely crushed. The whole clan will likely have a hard time living from now on.
As for the rest, well, I'll forgive him by bringing Chris to the Royal Plaza every now and then...
...The problem is the Revolutionary Army side.
For now, I've started the Revolutionary Army just to denounce Chris and the royal family... but since I'm at it, let's continue this a bit longer.
I'm going to crush the royal family anyway, so it shouldn't matter. Rather than assassinating them stealthily, it's more refreshing to go and punch them while carrying a righteous cause!
As for other benefits... well, Doran might be somewhat pleased. Yes.
Therefore, I shall start a revolution! I will thoroughly overturn this country!
And I shall make this country mine.