Chapter 15
After accepting Kuders"s proposal, Gunnard contacted the village"s local magistrate through the help of some acquaintances.
They must have wanted people desperately.
Because the magistrate gave his permission immediately.
Such an offer may be met with suspicion. Gunnard had thought, and so he was shocked at the lack of thought the magistrate seemed to put into it…or so he had told Kuders with a laugh.
Of course, there were no other Adventurer"s Guilds that tried to interfere with this agreement, and so the requests for help were instantly rescinded and the new plan was put into action.
…That being said, preparing necessary supplies, which included food, was not something that could be done quickly. And so the slave mansion where Kuders was kept was to make up much of the workforce. But in spite of Kuders having carefully laid out plans, it would take nearly a month for everything to be ready.
And if that were the case, the village was likely to die before any restoration could be started.
So it was decided that for now, they would try to buy some time until the main group arrived.
In just a few days, the first part of the restoration team, which was composed of the minimum amount of supplies and staff, arrived in the ravaged village.
However, there was someone standing next to Kuders who should not have been there…someone who caused everyone"s heads to tilt in confusion.
"So, that is the village."
"Yes, I do believe it is."
The words were near meaningless and the voice suggested extreme boredom… It was none other than the evilest woman of the kingdom, Lady Adelia.
Of course, it went without saying that there was great disagreement on this.
"Can I ask you something?"
"What?"
"Why have you brought me here? If you think that you can seduce me by showing off your achievements, then you will find that such a thing will have the opposite effect."
Adelia said with a cold look.
If Kuders had ignored all of the protests from the others and brought Adelia to this place, surely it could only have been for that reason.
Everyone thought so.
However, Kuders had been thinking quite differently.
"Ah, I forgot that I hadn"t told you yet. Well, I won"t say that you"re wrong about the seduction part…"
Kuders said as he looked straight into Adelia"s eyes.
"But I mean to make you a central part of this project."
"Me? I don"t understand."
If anything, wouldn"t putting such an infamous figure as herself in the center of it have a negative effect on team spirit?
She could think of no reason for Kuders to do this.
"Still, your heart must have fluttered a little just now, did it not?"
As he said this, Adelia"s heart thumped loudly.
Yes, Kuders"s words had made her feel unknown fear, but also known joy.
What was this feeling? It was strangely comforting.
"In the first place… You are most valuable personnel, my lady. I have viewed your school records and debates. And as someone who has spent a lot of time looking through all kinds of personnel, I was very impressed with you. Yes, you are brilliant."
But in spite of such praise, Adelia was sweating all over.
What is happening to me?
Her heart was being affected by his words and she felt happy.
Was she some kind of child who craved approval from her parents!
She had once lived a life where praise was offered to her constantly, but she could not remember ever being this affected by it.
This previously unknown feeling was causing the intelligent side of Adelia to set off a warning bell at the loudest volume.
However, before Adelia could think of something to say that would give her the upper hand once again, Kuders"s words flowed back into her ears.
"I was thinking, how many people in this country have knowledge and education to match yours? It was clear to me that having someone like you buried and tormented in that mansion was unfathomably foolish."
She could hear the words burrowing into her.
No…
Adelia now felt a sense of despair.
His words were too comforting to hear.
Most men would only praise her appearance and occasionally make comment about her good taste.
But this one was different.
No one had ever seriously praised her abilities.
She had been resigned to the fact that her life would be to act as an accessory to a husband and that her abilities would never be known to anyone.
This wasn"t fair…
To think that such a desire had lain secretly within her.
That desire had now been horribly stimulated, and her heart was as a stormy sea.
"I do have one pick up line for you. Would you like to hear it?"
"Very much so. It sounds interesting."
While she had maintained her calm smile, Adelia"s cheeks were slightly flushed and there was a sparkle in her eyes.
She looked like she was in love.
"Then I won"t hesitate. As one who has been educated to take on the mantle of the future queen…would you not like to test your abilities?"
Once those words were said, Adelia felt as if she had been freed from the thing that was shackling her.
"Hehe. Hahaha. Ahahahahaha!!"
Her very loud and improper laughter would not stop. But she no longer cared.
Why? It seemed as if the world was suddenly shining brightly.
Ahh, why had she felt so depressed for so long!?
"I like the way you think. Many men have tried me before, but none have pleased me as much as you. Yes, I would like to be tested. To be honest, my heart quakes more than it flutters."
Adelia smiled as if she were about to lick her lips. Her eyes shone with ambition.
Kuders faced her and adjusted his gla.s.ses. She looked like a ravenous beast. He grinned.
"A good answer. Now then, from now on you will be my aid. I"m counting on you Adelia, deputy leader."