Chapter 152.2

Chapter 152.2. Father-Son Christmas

The jealous nobles must have thought they couldn’t let their guard down, and some branches who initially wore expressions of disdain and hostility when entering the hall had eased their attitude upon seeing Grandpa Kazemichi by papa’s side.

While there were certainly many friendly nobles and branches. There were also unpleasant individuals that we had to invite due to social obligations.

Grandpa Kazamichi’s power was great.

His power and network, which he had built up until his old age, seemed to have earned him respect and admiration as the controlling force behind Takano County.

Although Papa had earned a lot of money, he didn’t adopt a noble attitude. That’s why Grandpa Kazamichi was the perfect person to support him.

[Mmm, even though I’ll eliminate the nobles who bully papa.]

Mii-chan pouted with her cheeks puffed up.

[If the young lady is fine with that, I won’t oppose. However, are you planning to support your father all the time, year-round? You’re not a toddling baby anymore. From now on, there will be even more scheming and malicious interference from other nobles, and it won’t be possible to eliminate all of them. What do you think? Are you planning to decide everything, including who he talk to?]

Frigg-oneesan tests me with a teasingly bewitching smile.

[Papa is cool. So it’s not necessary! Mii-chan will grow up watching a cool papa!]

If it’s papa, he can handle such adversity easily. Mii-chan pouts and gets angry.

I’m sure he’ll learn to act like a noble. But he’ll also be a kind papa.

[Then I won’t interfere if that’s what you recommend. Rather than conflicts with his father. Dealing with other nobles is much more problematic. It’s dangerous both mentally and physically.]

Dangerous, huh? Frigg-oneesan’s right. Perhaps we expanded our reach a bit too much.

Sooner or later, papa, who will rebuild Takano County that the Martians had messed up, would’ve faced the same situation. Takano County’s power was already significant.

[Frigg-oneesan is a good person. Even though she’s a god.]

[If Takano Yoshiyuki collapses, it will be difficult for future business development.]

[Well, I thought so.]

With a calm face, Mii-chan answers, and she’s right. Mii-chan doesn’t care about human affairs. She squeals happily.

It must be stressful for papa to work with his father who has put him through a lot in his childhood. I’ll pat him on the back for enduring it.

[Kazemichi forcefully attended today’s Christmas party to participate in the New Year’s gathering and one more thing.]

[Huh? That old man?]

At the end of her gaze, the man who must have arrived late appears. He is a man with a square body and a crew cut, accompanied by several followers.

Looking around, he notices papa and approaches him without hesitation. Behind him, his entourage gives off a menacing glare.

Even his way of walking reveals his roughness.

Who is that?

[That’s Washizu Yoshitaka. He belongs to one of the branch families of the Takano family, which occupies a corner of the shipping industry. He’s a martial artist and believes that might is everything, a person stuck in an outdated mindset. The nature of the shipping industry he runs is also dubious.]

[Might be everything? The CEO of a shipping company?]

Such a person exists in this day and age. He’s like the Martians.

[That’s right. By the way, he’s the top contender among the branch families who are eyeing the position of the Takano County head. It seems like he saw the declining Takano County as an opportunity and sought the support of other nobles to seize the head’s position.]

[He seems like a troublesome opponent. Can’t he be caught?]

[Despite his brute strength, he’s good at covering up the evidence. Besides, is it permissible to arrest him? The shipping industry brings in considerable profits, you know?]

[Mmm… that’s a problem. The shipping business is a lucrative card, now and then. I see. If we seize this chance and expose his flaws, other families might steal away the shipping industry.]

[The Water Magic family is a specialized shipping business, my lady. The fact that the Wind Magic family occupies a corner of the shipping business is solely due to the power of the former County heads and their ability to repel monsters.]

[I can’t seem to corner this guy as usual. What a nuisance.]

Dealing with this guy is troublesome. It seems we can’t simply present evidence and arrest him.

Mmm, I ponder and hug Lion-san with Tamamo next to me. I should start giving presents to my other friends soon.

However, Washizu is a concern. With a slightly furrowed brow, I observe his actions.

As he approaches papa, he changes his face to a smirking smile and opens his mouth

“Thank you for the invitation. It’s an honor to meet the current acting head of Takano County who is famous for being a ‘magician who can’t use magic’ causing a stir in society.”

While saying it’s an honor, his eyes look down on papa. The dialogue carries ill intent.

“Welcome, Washizu-san. Enjoy the Christmas party.”

Papa’s expression barely changes, despite a slight twitch in his eyebrows.

“Thank you. So, has the acting head already run to Kazemichi-sama for help? Even though he may earn money, he lacks power. Oh, pardon me.”

As he glances toward Grandpa Kazamich, Washizu bursts into loud, disdainful laughter, accompanied by scornful eyes and mocking words.

His followers behind him also laugh, making it clear that they don’t belong to our branch. No, they do belong. Even though they’re from a branch family, they have this attitude.

I see. Grandpa Kazemichi attended today’s Christmas party knowing this guy was the cause.

The people around freeze at Washizu’s attitude, but he seems completely unconcerned.

“In the end, it’s money and power had the final say. Having one in your hands must be enviable. Oh, so you’ve already run to Kazemichi-sama for help? My apologies.”

He’s an incredibly rude man, to the extent that I think he must be a seal. Maybe I should throw him a ball. Oh, I want to play with him.

To utter such disrespectful words at a party hosted by the County head, he must have great confidence in his power and wealth. However, papa, being gentle, didn’t just take it silently. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Washizu-san, your way out is over there.”

Without stuttering or relying on Grandpa Kazamichi-sama, Papa frowns, indicating the exit with a displeased expression. Papa is so cool!

“What! …I went too far. I apologize; I seem to be a little drunk.”

Washizu is surprised by papa’s firm attitude but quickly offers an apology. It’s because Kazemichi-sama is glaring at him. I see, I understand the reason Kazemichi-sama came all the way here.

If papa hadn’t taken a strong stance before the New Year’s gathering. We would’ve been looked down upon.

However, since Washizu readily apologized, papa, who is always straightforward, doesn’t force him to leave. He didn’t make him leave forcibly.

After the greetings concluded in a tense atmosphere, Washizu left the scene.

To be so arrogant, the Washizu family, huh?

I wonder what papa will do. The name feels familiar to me. What was it again?