The Goddess Granted Me the [Hatching] Skill and Somehow I Became the Strongest Tamer, Commanding Mythical and Divine Beasts - 154

Chapter 154: Nobles’ “Consultation”

The party had started with some drama right away, but after that, it went on peacefully.

Celia had joined up with Melissa and Charlotte, and they were enjoying the party together; she didn’t seem too bothered by what had happened earlier.

As for me…

“That’s really impressive, the way you’ve risen so fast, Lord Klaus.”

“In the past, the only one who became a noble thanks to a familiar’s achievements was the Boyle family. With this promotion, we might see more young people aiming to become tamers.”

I was surrounded by viscounts, barons, and knights.

After the Popkins Count family left, the other nobles had all come rushing over at once.

One after another, they talked to me, and I responded, and before I knew it, time was flying by.

I didn’t even have a moment to grab some food or drink; I was desperately trying to remember the names of the nobles who kept coming one after the next…

“Lord Klaus, is there some kind of trick to your rise?”

A knight asked me a question.

“…It’s all thanks to the guidance of the goddess Muse.”

That’s how I answered. In truth, everything about me now was because of her.

“Lord Klaus is such a devout believer.”

“He doesn’t boast about his own accomplishments and says things like that—he’s so humble.”

“We should take a page from his book.”

All the situation I was in right now was just something she had set up for me, but even though I was being honest, they were taking it in a good way, which made things awkward.

After a while, more people came and went, and before I knew it, five nobles had me surrounded.

At first, we were just chatting normally, but little by little, the mood started to feel heavy.

“By the way, Lord Klaus. Actually, there’s a problem in my territory, and I was hoping you’d give me some ‘advice’?”

(Here it comes.)

Nicholas had told me that ‘consultations’ between nobles were the trickiest and most annoying kind to handle.

When someone brings it up in a setting like this, it’s hard to turn them down, and depending on the content, it could affect things down the line.

These guys were from the anti-tamer faction, and they had close ties to Victor from earlier. Xavier had warned me to watch out for them.

With a ‘consultation’ like that from people like them, I probably shouldn’t take it on in the first place, but they’d surrounded me with their own group, and there was no way out.

“Yes, we’re all nobles of the same kingdom. I’m not sure if I can be of any help, but please, tell me about it.”

But if I handled this ‘consultation’ well, it could turn the tables on them. I put on a relaxed attitude and smiled at him.

Maybe because they didn’t get to see me flustered, they looked thrown off for a moment.

Even so, figuring they had to go through with it, the nobles surrounding me nodded to each other and started the ‘consultation.’

“Stesia as a whole has rich lands, but my territory’s harvests are always lower than the others’. We’re doing the same development and planting the same crops as the neighboring lands, but somehow we need to boost production, or our people won’t prosper. Any advice you could give?”

The one asking had a serious look on his face, but the people around him were smirking.

They were probably enjoying themselves, wondering how I’d handle this tough problem.

“Well…”

I put a hand to my chin and pretended to think it over while watching their reactions.

When nobles ‘consult’ each other, you have to give some kind of answer.

“Got any bright ideas?”

If you solve it neatly, your reputation goes up; if you give a ridiculous answer, you look foolish.

Their goal was to embarrass me. It was probably on Victor’s orders.

Over in the distance, Douglas and Nicholas were chatting with other nobles while glancing my way, but we’d talked beforehand—they weren’t going to help this time. If they stepped in here, it’d label me as someone who couldn’t handle things alone, which would be a weakness.

“Lord Klaus must have some idea we couldn’t dream of.”

When I stayed quiet, that noble prodded me for an answer.

“After all, you’re the one who’s tamed so many rare monsters.”

They were cornering me with words, closing off any escape. It was a sleazy way to play it… They probably figured I couldn’t come up with the best solution.