How to Survive as a Trash Extra Villain

Chapter 197

That was right. If we could find the Star Maiden, it would be for the best. Both for the war against the apocalypse and for Elisha’s healing.

The Star Child, who had been watching me quietly, asked suggestively.

“You’ve been concerned about it too, haven’t you? The Humanity Preservation Agency. Those guys who do nothing, despite possessing such immense power.”

The Humanity Preservation Agency… there was no one who didn’t know of its greatness. Although the Empire ruled the continent, the organization that represented humanity was, in name and reality, the Humanity Alliance. And at its center was the Humanity Preservation Agency.

But amidst various disasters, the Humanity Preservation Agency… did nothing. At most, they cleaned up the aftermath of incidents.

Brahmus, Kragach, Joverka. Which group had responded when the Demon Lords descended? It was the protagonist’s party and us.

“…Actually, I have been concerned about it.”

“And yet the Empire and the kingdoms tolerate its existence. It’s not like they’re under mass hypnosis.”

I didn’t know. Even in the original work, the story about the Humanity Preservation Agency wasn’t well-developed. In fact, the protagonist’s party had handled everything. Things like this Buster Order were not in the original work.

I had only vaguely seen that they had survived the end of the world through some method.

‘It would be good if I could find out the secret to that survival as well.’

“Alright.”

There was no choice.

“Let’s raid the Humanity Preservation Agency once.”

I looked around. Nerjin, Bianca, Savo…

“We will follow as you wish, President Martin.”

“Hehe, I’ll follow too if I can be of help!”

“Mission received.”

And even Lilac.

“I’ll shoot down everything that stands in my Master’s way.”

The opinions were unanimous. The Peacemaker’s next target was the Humanity Preservation Agency.

As if he had found the clue to a tangled skein of thread, the Star Child stood up from his seat and declared in a refreshed voice.

“Alright, then I’ll take care of coordinating the schedule with Sir Lukfels. I’ll set the date for the next meeting, so until then, everyone, stay true to your daily lives.”

With a flash, he disappeared using Blink. Now that the Star Child was gone, I should rest too. Just as I was getting up from my seat to return to my room.

“Ah, Master. There’s a letter.” Thıs text ıs hosted at novel(ꜰ)ire.net

“A letter?”

My brow furrowed. It was not welcome. Letters were always just bad news from the Imperial Palace or Imperium Academy.

‘…Hmm? This is…’

The sealing wax stamped on the letterhead was different.

A coin. A gold coin at that. As far as I knew, there was only one family that could use this crest so boldly.

[To my reliable supporter, Martin von Targon Ulvhadin.]

The Elidore family. The place where Luri and her father, Arnold, belonged. What could be the matter for people who must be busy just preparing for the succession ceremony this weekend to send a letter? It probably wasn’t Luri. We saw each other at the academy every day.

[It is Arnold. There is a reason I must write to you during this busy time.]

The content was simple.

[As you know, I am busy with preparations for the succession ceremony. I have a favor to ask.]

To put it simply.

[I would like you to create a drink or dessert that can surprise the guests who will visit for the succession ceremony. If you just send the recipe, I will have it mass-produced. I will pay you handsomely.]

He was asking me to help with the succession ceremony.

If business was the goal, we could enjoy a significant promotional effect through store sales after the succession ceremony, but that wasn’t us.

Business was a side job. Our main job was our Peacemaker activities and enjoying a normal daily life…

But to refuse the request, our relationship was not shallow, so this was tricky.

“…Haa.”

I sighed and placed the letter on the table where it could be clearly seen.

It was meant to be seen openly, so Nerjin saw it and.

“What should we do about business tomorrow…?”

“We’ll have to close…”

With less than a week left, we also had to start developing a recipe.

“Hmm, the most standard… a cake would be good, right?”

“Muffins aren’t bad either.”

“President, I like parfaits!”

“Personal opinion report. Cookies.”

“Um, Master. What about jelly?”

In the midst of all sorts of clashing opinions, everyone’s white bracelets beeped.

[Hey, isn’t everyone dispatching? You have to do public security activities too.]

It was the Star Child.

Belatedly, with several beeps, a list of crimes reported to the Imperium Bank from all over the capital scrolled up.

“…”

“…”

“…”

Everyone looked at each other’s faces and sighed. With a flash of light, everyone was clad in their Peacemaker uniforms. They held a large-caliber sniper rifle, magic cards, a sword, and a shotgun.

We would become the lanterns that light up the night.

‘But it would be nice if they could at least guarantee a minimum amount of rest time…’

***

It was unclear how the Star Child was contacting Principal Lukfels and setting a date. What was clear was that the weekend arrived without the next meeting date being set.

‘Ugh, I can’t even rest on the weekend.’

It was complicated due to various schedules, but the biggest official event was the succession ceremony. The ceremony for the Elidore family’s succession to the dukedom.

I expected the succession ceremony process to differ depending on tradition, culture, title, and situation.

But this time, the Elidore family had achieved great merit by securing exclusive diplomatic rights with Fog Island, caught Prohadin’s corruption, and even achieved distinguished military service during the Demon Lord’s terror attack.

It was truly the royal road. They were ascending to the dukedom after achieving all possible accomplishments.

“Wow! There! Over there!”

Bianca exclaimed, jumping up and down. There were a total of five people in the carriage. Me, Lilac, Nerjin, Bianca, and Savo.

[Woof?]

Yes, five people and one dog, including you. Anyway, it was a succession ceremony that normally only I, a noble, could attend, but Arnold had invited everyone in their capacity as supporters.

‘Thank you.’

I had always gone to places like this alone, but going together felt like a family outing, which was really nice.

‘Phew, I’m nervous.’

Even before we reached the entrance, I could feel the boisterous and excited atmosphere. The carriage stopped at the entrance of a mansion of an incredible scale even from the outside.

“Haha, welcome, everyone.”

Arnold von Halsa Elidore. He was standing at the entrance, dressed in a tight-fitting pink suit, the symbolic color of the Elidore family, and personally greeting the guests.

We also got out of the carriage and decided to go to the entrance to receive his welcome.

“Ah, it’s you.”

Arnold saw me and approached. His strong physique was the same, but the fact that he was worn out with fatigue showed that the preparations for the succession ceremony had been a difficult journey.

My family members first greeted him with courtesy. Only then did I also bow my head in greeting.

“I trust you have been well, Marquis.”

“I have not been well. I owe a lot to your shop’s coffee.”

It meant he had pulled some all-nighters.

“Congratulations on your succession to the dukedom.”

“Thank you. I can’t say it wasn’t thanks to you. Thanks to you, I have fulfilled my family’s long-cherished wish.”

“Don’t mention it.”

I could see something piled up behind Arnold. It was a barrage of gifts brought by the nobles who were the cream of the crop on the continent to get on the good side of Arnold of Elidore, the newly born of the Four Great Dukes.

It seemed that now was the only chance to give a gift.

“It’s not much of a gift, but I’ve prepared something.”

“A gift from you is special.”

“It’s the coffee concentrate from the café, Maid and Butler. Don’t drink it straight, but prepare it to your liking with drinks, water, syrup, etc. This is a coffee bean air freshener.”

“Oh, an air freshener? This is nice. The scent is so good, I was thinking of planting a coffee tree in my office. I’ll use it well.”

It was a lucrative and filial product that sold surprisingly well when displayed on one side of the café.

A carriage stopped behind me. Another noble must have arrived. I should probably make way.

“Ah, Sir Martin.”

“Please speak.”

Arnold caught me as I was about to leave.

“Did you hear from Luri?”

“Pardon?”

“I misunderstood you greatly. But please understand.”

“…?”

I wondered what he was talking about.

“I now permit your marriage to Luri.”

“Pardon me?”

“Whenever you feel like it…,”

“Oh, Marquis Arnold! Congratulations!”

“Ah, welcome.”

Saved. I used the interrupting noble as an excuse to escape.

‘Phew, I’m saved.’

It seemed that the Star Child and Arnold wanted me to marry Luri, but I only had Lilac.

- Wild Instinct (Master) laments.

‘Shut up. My head is ringing.’

With that, I entered the banquet hall. It was a sea of people, but there were tables, chairs, food, and maids and butlers to accommodate all of them.

As expected of Elidore. It was befitting of a family that reigned over the continent’s commercial sphere.

“Let’s sit here.”

Everyone scurried over and sat at the five-person table I pointed to. Bianca looked at me with sparkling eyes.

“Wow. They serve food here too?”

“Yes. You can bring as much of the food displayed over there as you want. Everything is free. Usually…”

“Yaaay! Let’s go, Savo!”

“Mission received. Commencing supply run.”

Bianca and Savo ran to where the buffet was.

Belatedly, only my mouth mumbled to the empty air.

“…Usually, you can just ask the servants to bring it…”

Nerjin stood up as if there was no other choice.

“They might get lost, so I will follow them.”

“Yes, please do.”

Then only Lilac and I were left at the table.

“Since it’s come to this, Master. Is there any food or drink you would like to have? I’ll bring it for you.”

“Ah, really?”

…I was about to accept as a matter of course, but I belatedly came to my senses.

“No, let’s go together.”

“Pardon?”

“You’re not a maid here. There are so many servants from Elidore to wait on us.”

Lilac placed both hands on her hips and glared with her eyebrows.

“No way!”

“U-Uh?”

“What are you talking about?! It doesn’t matter if there are a thousand or ten thousand maids here. I am the only maid for you in the whole world. I am your maid no matter where or what I do.”

“R-Right…”

I was overwhelmed by her firm statement of her position….

“Then let’s go together. I’m worried about Savo and Bianca, and I also want to see what kind of food there is.”

“Yes, I understand!”

I looked at the buffet food with Lilac. Lilac, holding a plate in one hand and scooping up food, looked so cute.

‘But I have to be careful, be careful.’

How much trouble I had last time at the banquet when other people got involved. This time, I planned to enjoy it among ourselves without any interference.

I would be on guard against my surroundings and avoid anything that could be a threat.

‘But this is amazing.’

The mansion was magnificent.

‘Is it newly built, as expected.’

The Elidore Marquisate originally did not have a separate mansion and resided on the top floor of the Imperium Bank.

But they couldn’t hold the succession ceremony there. With the situation being what it was, Arnold just built a new mansion.

A mansion that wouldn’t be a shame for a dukedom? No. A mansion so grand that it would make one exclaim, how can a mansion be this large, even for a duke?

“No, you! Aren’t you Sir Martin?!”

‘Damn it.’

When I turned my head, a noble I had never seen before was standing there.

Seeing as he wasn’t in my memory, he must be a local noble who had come up to the imperial capital for the first time in a long while…

“Nice to meet you, I am the Margrave of the southern border…”

“What?! The Black Knight?!”

“Ooh, nice to meet you! I am…!”

People were flocking. I hated this attention. Please, everyone, just make me an outcast…

- Wild Instinct (Master) shouts to look over there!

A familiar back was over there.

If that person were to fall backward while walking and break both the back of his head and his nose, and also his leg, I would burst out laughing with joy. I might even get off my heavy butt and give him a standing ovation.

I raised my hand high and shouted.

“Hey, Gilbert!”

“Uh, huh?! Martin?!”

Gilbert, who was looking around like a country person who had come to the city alone in the distance, smiled happily at me.