I Became the Narrow-Eyed Villain in a Dropped Novel

When Til opened the meeting room door, empty seats came into view.

She clicked her tongue and went to sit in the sunniest spot.

‘Five minutes before the meeting starts and no one is here these bastards never change.’

She was a fool for thinking they might be on time just because a whopping six out of the eight members were participating at the news that Valheit had returned.

It was better than the old days when the meeting never started on the day it was scheduled, but still….

“This is unexpected. I thought I would be the first to arrive.”

“We will meet again soon, Cesare.”

Cesare took off his hat and bowed his head briefly.

As soon as he sat in the lowest seat, the third guest entered.

“Still diligent as ever, Regina.”

“Does arriving on time count as being diligent?”

“Here, it does.”

With this, all the model students had arrived.

It was completely unpredictable when the rest would show their faces.

“Have you been well, Mr. Cesare.”

“As for me, I’m just doing business as always. Speaking of business, is Leitche interested? The rate of return is guaranteed.”

“If it passes through customs properly, there’s no reason to refuse.”

“I’ll take that as a refusal. Still, if you ever need anything, just say the word. Aren’t we in the business of doing dirty work together.”

“I’ve told you several times, just because the Raven moves in the shadows doesn’t mean we go around doing dirty deeds.”

Cesare lightly snorted and brushed off Regina’s thorny words.

“Don’t waste your energy already. This meeting is different from the usual.”

“I know. Count Valheit is participating, isn’t he.”

“I heard he’s presiding over the meeting, I wonder when he plans to arrive.”

“Who knows.”

Though she said that, she had a rough idea.

There was no way that arrogant fellow would arrive early to wait for others.

He would wait until the very end and show up last.

“Normally, it would be time to start the meeting but it seems it will be postponed as usual.”

Regina, who had checked her pocket watch, sighed.

If Valheit comes last, there are two people left.

Avantnik and Kaseph.

Avantnik had set up camp by the lake, saying that camping was more comfortable.

He must have been drinking merrily with his subordinates, so it wouldn’t be strange if he was late.

It was unclear if Kaseph had even arrived at the headquarters.

When he had stated his intention to attend, he had always attended without fail, so he would come, but there was no telling when.

“I thought the Duke of Leitche would participate in person.”

“He is a very busy man with public and private affairs, so it is difficult for him to find the time to come here.”

“Is that so? Wasn’t he holed up in a resort?”

“Nothing good will come from digging into the Duke’s background.”

As Regina shot back, Cesare smiled brightly and waved his hands in dismissal.

“It’s just a rumor I heard during business. Digging into his background, I’m not that idle of a person.”

“You must be busy committing all sorts of sins.”

A hoarse voice echoed in the meeting room.

Cesare’s face hardened as he confirmed who had spoken.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you for the first time, Kaseph sir.”

“You can just call me Kaseph.”

Kaseph, who entered with creaking steps, went to a corner and took a seat.

Even though he was quiet, his presence was considerable.

Not just Cesare, but this would probably be the first time Regina had seen Kaseph in person as well.

And for good reason, because he had never once attended an Eight Council meeting after the Commander disappeared.

Even before that, he only showed his face very occasionally, so it was understandable that Cesare, who had joined last, or Regina, who had joined as a representative, wouldn’t know him.

“When did you arrive?”

“I arrived a little while ago. Unexpectedly, the work I had to take care of increased.”

“The matter you went on with Valheit last time?”

“No.”

With that, the conversation ended.

Til stopped asking questions because she knew she would only get a similar answer if she said more.

How long had the awkward silence flowed?

The door opened noisily and the smell of alcohol pierced their noses.

She knew who it was without even looking.

“Hic. So everyone was gathered!”

“Please have a seat, Lord Avantnik.”

Avantnik, who looked sober compared to the smell of alcohol he was emitting, barely managed to sit down, and Doruga, who had supported him, breathed a sigh of relief.

“So old man Kaseph is here too. I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve seen your face, no, your mask.”

“It’s been two years.”

“Two years. Was it only that long? No, don’t tell me. Right, two years ago you came near Charnirasho and beat up a few shamans, didn’t you?”

“Just because they are Demons doesn’t mean they can use curses as they please.”

“Pah. Do you know how much trouble I went through to calm them down thanks to you?”

When there was no answer, Avantnik began to mumble something in a low voice.

She couldn’t hear it clearly, but it was definitely a curse.

“Since everyone is gathered, we will begin the meeting.”

“What about Valheit?”

Before Doruga could answer Til’s question, someone entered the meeting room.

Everyone’s gaze turned to the person who had just entered.

Valheit walked towards the head seat, playfully twirling his staff.

After glancing at the head seat for a moment, Valheit passed it by and sat down next to it.

“It’s been a long time, my comrades.”

It was a serious voice, but because of his smiling face, it felt endlessly light.

“For a whopping six of us, including myself, to participate, what greater happy occasion could there be. Let’s start the meeting by clapping our hands in self-admiration.”

Clap, clap, clap.

The sound of Valheit’s frivolous applause, which had continued for a long time, abruptly stopped.

“Then we will now begin the 18th Eight Council meeting.”

***

“Let’s prepare the refreshments to be served during the meeting first, and then prepare the meal. The meal must be kept warm so that it can be served immediately upon the meeting’s conclusion.”

As Ron’s thick voice echoed, the pale servants nodded their heads in unison.

With a snap of his fingers, they all scattered in perfect order and began their work.

If someone hadn’t knocked on the door, Ron would have continued to stand in that spot.

“Is the butler in?”

When he opened the door, a familiar face was there.

“Mr. Finance Head. What is it? The mealtime has already passed.”

“Ah, I didn’t come to talk about the fact that some food ingredients have arrived, and I wanted to ask you to check them.”

The Finance Head wiped his sweat with a tired face.

Ron, who knew well that people got nervous when they met him, responded gently.

“The food ingredients were received this Tuesday. Did you place an additional order because of the meeting, Mr. Finance Head?”

“Pardon? I thought you were the one who placed the additional order, butler.”

Ron frowned slightly.

It was such a small change that an ordinary person wouldn’t have noticed, but the Finance Head noticed the change.

“It seems you did not order them.”

“Yes. Do you know who ordered them?”

“It says it was sent from the management department, that is, your side, butler, as usual. The form and the contents were fine, so we purchased them.”

Ron personally managed most of the goods that came in and out of the villa.

Especially parts like meals or maintenance that never happened without passing through his eyes.

And yet an order was placed in his name.

The servants couldn’t have done it.

Because they couldn’t do anything without his command.

“Is there anything else unusual?”

“Um come to think of it, it was ordered from a merchant guild I’ve never seen before, not the usual one.”

“What is the name?”

“Falsh Guild. I requested an investigation from the Raven just in case, but there was nothing unusual.”

“I understand. You’ve worked hard. I will handle the rest.”

“Should I sound the alarm?”

The Finance Head asked with an anxious face.

It was a matter that could be seen as a breach of the headquarters’ security.

Ron shook his head.

“I will check it myself first. If it is not resolved at my level, I will sound the alarm then. We cannot interrupt the meeting.”

The Finance Head who nodded turned his body, but Ron was no longer there.

A ship was anchored at the pier, which was a little away from the villa.

Ron calmly observed the ship.

There was nothing strange about its appearance.

As he approached the ship, the sailors looked at him with curious eyes.

They were ordinary humans.

There was no need to be wary.

“Thank you for using the Falsh Guild.”

The man who appeared to be the captain grinned and greeted Ron.

The man, who had jumped down from the ship, stood in front of Ron without any sign of fear.

He was about to interrogate him, asking who he was and how he had forged the order, but the words did not come out easily.

He felt a sense of déjà vu from the human man standing in front of him.

It wasn't a déjà vu from his appearance.

Ron was sure that he was seeing this man for the first time.

The déjà vu came from the man’s attitude and smile.

Why on earth….

After a moment of thought, Ron found the reason.

“Lord Valheit?”

***

“We will conclude the matter of support for the Northern Federation like this.”

“Aren’t I the only one at a disadvantage?”

“Didn’t I say I’d give you money for each of your subordinates. Didn’t you need money?”

“Ah well, that’s true.”

Avantnik’s voice grew smaller.

The first agenda item, support for the development of the Northern Federation, had taken up a lot of time.

And it was placed first because it was the easiest.

“Next is the Duke of Leitche’s agenda. The strengthening of ties with the Raven will be managed directly by the headquarters and Count Valheit. Next, the pioneering is ....”

“Huh?”

Doruga stopped speaking at Avantnik’s displeased voice.

It seemed he had finally read the documents that were handed out and realized what Leitche’s pioneering meant.

“This encroaches on the Demon territory.”

“Yes, this northern pioneering also includes the land of the Demons.”

“A long time ago, your father and I definitely agreed to leave the Demon territory alone.”

Regina remained calm even seeing Avantnik baring his fangs and growling.

“Yes, so we decided on it so that no harm would come to Charnirasho. We also considered the diplomatic friction with Vestol.”

“You don’t seem to understand what I’m saying. The Demon territory I’m talking about is not Charnirasho, but all the land that the Demons stand on.”

It was the expected backlash.

Because it was a matter that directly contradicted Avantnik’s dream of uniting the Demons.

“I don’t understand. The Demons living in the place designated as a pioneering land are neither werewolves nor gnolls.”

“That’s right. My kin who live in that swamp are not there. But it is clearly the land of the Demons. Not you humans.”

“That is just unreasonable….”

Thump.

Both of them stopped talking when I struck the floor with my staff.

I looked at them alternately with a smile.

“May I say a word.”

“Of course, Your Excellency.”

“I don’t care about the promise between Avantnik and the Duke, but I do question why Leitche is pushing its pioneering lands north, even at the risk of conflict with the Demons.”

“Leitche has many mountainous regions, so the places for farmland and cities are already full. Pioneering is essential to accommodate the growing population.”

It was a story I already knew.

In the original work, they had also tried to expand north for that reason, and as a result, they went to war with the Demon tribes.

The details that followed were not exactly revealed, but there were many hints that it wasn’t simply about pioneering for lack of living space.

“That is not a very convincing argument. Isn’t the pioneering land that Leitche has already secured of a considerable size.”

“That is….”

“Creating conflict between members for no reason is not permitted. If you wish to proceed, you will have to prove that it is in line with the objectives of the Eight Council.”

“That’s right! You get it, kid?”

Avantnik waved his hand triumphantly.

It wasn't that I did it to boost his morale, though.

Rather, my gaze was directed at the flashing status window at my side.

Entering 49% death probability for the first time.

Additionally, a skill point has been acquired, currently holding 3 points.

While Avantnik and Regina were having a battle of wills, I stealthily moved my hand and enlarged the status window.

[Timer]

Valheit’s Death Probability: 49%

(+) Made a decision unfavorable to the Duke of Leitche

This is unexpected.